Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:11:10.640> if to be frank, if the if the committee, if to be frank, if the if the committee
• >> Or March 19. >> No, it has to be out of committee by March 19th. >> Um, it'll be out of our committee
• have um a total of five second committee have um a total of five second committee bills.<00:58:32.880
• committee bills. committee bills.
• So, committee.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Judiciary Interim Committee.
• And then previously, in the 2023-24 interim, the Judiciary Committee studied charitable gaming in the
• And then previously, in the 2023-24 interim, the Judiciary Committee studied charitable gaming in the
• Chair Murdo, yesterday I was in front of the interim committee.
• But meanwhile, committee, we’re at that point in the interim where if we want a committee bill dealing

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in the last Congress, at least one bill out of the House committee.
• Prior to his appointment as Interim U.S. Attorney, Mr.
• Martin has served as interim U.S.
• He has failed. of required disclosures to the committee.
• I urge this committee to hold a public hearing, noting that Mr.

Bills: SB1040, SB1041, SB1095, SB1096, SB1097, SB527

Keywords: drug competition, product hopping, generic drugs, biosimilars, federal regulations, FTC Act, patent, biological products, healthcare access, affordable prescriptions, Medicare, Federal Trade Commission, sham petitions, competition, public health, unfair competition, healthcare, pharmaceutical, antitrust law, pay-for-delay

Summary: The meeting focused on addressing the high cost of prescription drugs and the abusive practices that contribute to elevated prices affecting American families. Several bills were presented, including proposals to end pay-for-delay deals and to enhance transparency in the operations of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The discussion was notable for its emphasis on consumer protection and ensuring that cheaper generic drugs reach the market more effectively. Members expressed frustration over past attempts to pass similar legislation stalling in the Senate, leading to renewed efforts to push these bills forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• The A8 represents a bill that we heard in Human Services Committee to take what might some might say
• last year putting up guardrails interim last year putting up guardrails on<00:04:11.840> the<
• Committee Committee to<00:05:05.560> take to take to take what<00:05:07.120> might<00:
• I was hoping that this legislature would have that opportunity over the interim to work directly with
• the Human Services Committee this year. the Human Services Committee this year.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 476, the human services policy bill on continuity of care, assisted living safety, vulnerable adult protections, and program integrity. Representative Noor, the bill’s author, described it as a broad policy package covering direct care and treatment, Department of Health policy, aging and disability services, behavioral health, maltreatment of vulnerable adults, continuity of care, and miscellaneous changes. Representative Schumacher also supported the bill, saying the final language reflected extensive stakeholder work and compromise, especially in aging and long-term care, while also adding guardrails around fraud-related processes and other DHS policy decisions. Several amendments were considered. A DE3 amendment was offered and adopted, and an A8 amendment to the amendment was initially discussed as a way to create a legislative working group and bring more community input into human services program changes, but Representative Curran withdrew it. Curran then offered A11, which would have changed billing limits for individualized home supports with training, but withdrew that as well after noting DHS concerns about possible costs. The House then suspended the rules to allow Noor’s A13 technical amendment, which was adopted. On third reading, Representative Frederick praised the bipartisan work and highlighted provisions addressing intimidation of staff in the Minnesota Sex Offender Program, extending voluntary return time for certain civilly committed individuals, and allowing some DCT staff to move from unclassified to classified positions. Noor thanked staff and reiterated that the bill protects vulnerable people while preserving program integrity and taxpayer dollars. The bill passed as amended by a vote of 93 ayes to 39 nays, and its title was agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm on HHS committee. Dr.
• Aloha, Chair and members of the committee.
• Good afternoon, Chair and committee. Mary Brogan, for the Department of Health.
• testimony good afternoon shair committee testimony good afternoon shair committee um<00:11:07.760
• She thanked the committee for taking up the measure and said that, while they tried alternative ways

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard several resolutions focused on health care access, Medicaid services, and regulatory reform. SR 6 urged the Director of Health to create a working group on health insurance reform to reduce prior authorization delays; testimony was generally supportive, with DHS, SHIPA, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, the Hawaii Medical Association, and HMSA all offering comments or support. SHIPA said House Bill 250 would provide a better mechanism for the same goal, but the committee still moved forward with the resolution. SR 7 asked DHS Med-QUEST to cover behavioral health services for children in school-based settings, and SR 9 sought a program to incentivize community care foster family homes to accept people eligible under the Medicaid IDD waiver program. DHS supported the intent of both measures but raised concerns about regulatory limits. Testifiers on SR 9, including the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, argued the state should be more creative in expanding residential capacity, especially on the neighbor islands, while the chair questioned whether the barriers were state administrative rules or federal requirements. The committee also heard SC 14/SR 10 on a sunrise analysis for lactation consultant licensure. Supporters said lactation services can improve health outcomes and save costs, and that Medicaid coverage remains limited. After discussion, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendations: SR 6 and SC 14/SR 10 were passed with technical, non-substantive amendments; SR 7 was deferred; and SR 9 was deferred for further work. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, provide an interim rate reform adjustment to the existing RMR rates table, or the regional market
• Second, provide an interim rate reform adjustment to the SRR, or standard reimbursement rate, beginning
• Fifth, update the statutory hold harmless to include any interim funding rate increases to establish
• come to an agreement between the administration and the Legislature, that support is provided in the interim
• We want to thank, of course, a fantastic committee staff, thank the sergeants, thank the administration

Summary: The committee took up issue number seven, Child Care Rate Reform Transition Plan, and heard a presentation from the LAO on an eight-part transition plan for the period before implementation of the alternative methodology-based child care rate system. The plan would provide interim rate increases to existing regional market rates and standard reimbursement rates beginning January 1 of the budget year, keep the higher of SRR or ARMR as the single rate, annualize cost-of-care supplements, update hold-harmless language, eliminate the private market cap, authorize one-time systems transition funding with JLBC approval, and require annual reporting on parent co-pays. Members asked about the timeline and public/legislative feedback process, and administration staff said they were working toward the July 1, 2025 deadline while continuing stakeholder engagement through the rate and quality advisory process. Public comment was overwhelmingly focused on child care and early learning funding. Providers, county offices, advocacy groups, and education organizations urged the Legislature to move quickly on the alternative rate methodology, provide interim relief through a cost-of-living adjustment, reimburse based on enrollment rather than attendance, and preserve health and retirement benefits and workforce stability. Many speakers also pressed for funding to expand the promised 200,000 child care slots, warning that waitlists remain long and providers are under financial strain. Several commenters supported maintaining or extending grants and technical assistance for transitional kindergarten, inclusive early education, and mixed-delivery early learning programs. A separate set of comments addressed the Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program, with Sacramento County education officials and others urging a statewide plan that would extend support to the 20 counties not currently receiving grants, especially rural areas. Other speakers raised concerns about facilities and staffing impacts from TK expansion, the need for consistent eligibility rules across subsidized programs, and the importance of statewide systems-level funding. The chair thanked the LAO, administration, and public commenters, said the item would remain open until after the May Revision, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• At this time, we are going to introduce our wonderful committee to you.
• Johnson, and welcome to the committee. Jensie, could you find out that information for us?
• How important is it to this committee that our protocol is specific to EDs?
• And we can talk in the interim. Anything else? And we can talk in the interim, too.
• And we can talk in the interim. Anything else? And we can talk in the interim, too.

Summary: The first meeting of the Human Trafficking and Emergency Department Task Force focused on implementing Act 267, which created the body to develop a statewide human trafficking protocol to be incorporated into Louisiana’s sexual assault response plans. Chair Rep. Kelly Hennessy Dickerson and Office of Human Trafficking Prevention Director Mary Kate Andropont emphasized that the goal is a practical, transferable, survivor-centered protocol that can be adapted across regions and health systems. The task force also noted its timeline: use today’s presentations and member feedback to draft a protocol before the next meeting, then refine it into a final version. Presenters from hospitals, SANE programs, and advocacy organizations described current practices and gaps. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport’s Operation Rahab and FMOLHS’s human trafficking policies highlighted staff education, badge buddies, anonymous admissions, hotline and law enforcement reporting, and coordination with community partners. SANE and forensic nursing presenters described red-dot privacy alerts, trauma-informed interviewing, and the need to train all hospital staff, not just ED clinicians, because trafficking victims may present repeatedly or in non-ED settings. LaFASA described statewide advocacy and legal support, while Unbound Now and BCFS/Common Thread explained Louisiana’s juvenile trafficking response under Act 662, including 24/7 crisis response, relational advocacy, and care coordination for minors. Members repeatedly raised the lack of safe housing, transportation, and placement options after identification, especially for adults, male survivors, and adults with special needs. Several presenters said that identifying victims is only the first step and that Louisiana still lacks enough resources for discharge and long-term stabilization. The task force also discussed the need for broader training across emergency departments, residency programs, nursing, housekeeping, maintenance, student health, mental health, and law enforcement, with members stressing that protocols should be clear, trauma-informed, and usable statewide. No votes were taken; the main action was to gather testimony, identify gaps, and begin drafting the statewide protocol.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Chair and committee members.
• Members, at this time, we'll take up interim.
• I've been coming before this committee since 2015, when Chairman Aycock was chair of the committee.
• Chairman and committee members.
• For the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on the interim charge related to investments

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We can provide those reports, and have provided them to the interim committee before.
• We don't always get, you know, as higher ed interim committees always get an opportunity to kind of hear
• So we, in an interim committee about four or five years ago, we visited some of these centers.
• So we, in an interim committee about four or five years ago, we visited some of these centers.
• the next deeper dive on that, certainly working in conjunction with the education interim committee

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this bill is a work product of the Interim Select Committee on Protecting Texas LNG, uh, that we
• had this past interim.
• , uh, committee that he chaired.
• Happy to work with the committee.
• And from that, from work with this committee in the interim, from work with Representative Vardos and

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee.
• Chairman, members of the committee.
• Chairman and members of the committee.
• So we'll go to the committee. Are there any committee questions?
• I move a do pass on Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 152, Senate Finance Committee Substitute

Bills: HB2, SB152

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• You've been a great resource throughout this entire committee interim.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the committee.
• I don't know what the rest of the committee will say.
• I'm hoping that once we break up from our interim work and the two tax committees start working again
• committees.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c> the<00:03:32.640> difference committee is reconciling the difference committee is reconciling
• This was language that the House added that required KIA to report to the Interim Committee on Appropriations
• > funds Page 61, interim restricted funds Page 61, interim restricted funds appropriation<00:43
• Interim restricted funds appropriation increase.
• On page 175 interim appropriation On page 175 interim appropriation increase<01:20:00.840> increases

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Free Conference Committee on the 2026 General Assembly budget met to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of House Bill 500. Leaders opened by thanking the other chamber’s work, asking members to turn microphones on and off to avoid feedback, and stressing the need to clearly note decision points so both chambers record the same actions. Staff then walked through the bill page by page, explaining that the committee was comparing only House and Senate differences, not the governor’s proposed budget. The discussion covered a wide range of appropriations and language items, including next generation non-911 services, school safety reporting tools, restored funding for brain injury, epilepsy, veteran service, homeless veterans, and rocket docket programs, debt service changes, rural infrastructure, disaster aid caps, Attorney General and Medicaid fraud funding, agriculture and county fair grants, auditor and pension-related appropriations, school facilities and SEEK funding, and numerous education programs. Members also discussed charter-related funding such as Star Academy, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, school resource officers, school-based mental health providers, AP/IB exams, Governor’s Scholars and Entrepreneurs, and several pilot or initiative programs in economic development, energy, and labor. Several items were described as technical corrections or restorations of language and funding, while others reflected differences in amounts or how funds would be distributed. There were several questions and comments from members about wording such as “implement and carry out,” the absence of the governor’s budget from the comparison document, and whether SEEK funding should be tied to teacher raises. The chair and other members emphasized that the committee’s role was to reconcile the two chambers’ budgets, not to adopt the governor’s proposal. Members also raised concerns about opioid settlement funds and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library match rate, with one senator urging restoration of the House language. No final vote or formal action was taken in the portion provided; the meeting primarily consisted of explanation, questions, and discussion of proposed budget differences.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Ben member of the committee.
• <00:15:35.920> may for any questions that the committee may for any questions that the committee
• This is DJ Ostraki here for committee.
• Coinflip working with us during interim. Coinflip working with us during interim.
• ,<01:27:50.880> but work with them a lot this interim, but work with them a lot this interim

Bills: HB2227, HB1775, HB1560, HB1642, HB1647, HB2003, HB1640, HB2198

Keywords: eviction, housing stability, tenant screening, court records, writ of possession, foreclosures, public sale, eligible bidders, housing, downpayment, judicial foreclosure, digital financial assets, consumer protection, financial kiosks, refunds, transaction security, HB1642, Hawaii, cryptocurrency ATM, crypto ATM

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on February 5, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills, beginning with HB 227 relating to eviction records. Supporters, including the Public First Law Center and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, argued the bill would help people who prevail in eviction cases avoid long-term housing harm from online court records, while the Public First Law Center said keeping records off eCourt Kokua would not violate the First Amendment because the records would still be available in person. Members discussed access-to-justice concerns, and a witness said legal aid attorneys could still access the records through the attorney-only Jeff’s system and the court’s access-to-justice room. The chair also asked about precedent, and a witness cited a Hawaii Supreme Court case as supporting removal from the online database rather than sealing records entirely. The committee then took up HP 1775 relating to foreclosures, but the transcript only shows in-person opposition comments from the Hawaii State Bar Association Collection Law Section, the Hawaii Credit Union League, and the Hawaii Bankers Association. The credit union and banking groups said they had concerns about broader negative impacts on mortgage lending and other requirements, but no detailed discussion or action was captured before the committee moved on. The next measure, HB 1560 relating to consumer protection, drew support from the Office of Consumer Protection and cryptocurrency companies including Coinflip and America Digital, which said they already use wallet-pinning and other safeguards to prevent fraud. AARP Hawaii did not take a formal position but said the bill addressed a real problem, noting that Hawaii residents, especially in Kona, had lost more than $920,000 in 2024 to cryptocurrency ATM scams and arguing that stronger oversight was needed. The committee also heard HB 1642, which would ban cryptocurrency kiosks. The Office of Consumer Protection supported the ban as the best way to protect consumers from fraud, while Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, and America Digital opposed it, arguing kiosks provide cash-based access to crypto, especially for unbanked or underbanked consumers, and that targeted regulation would be better than an outright ban. AARP Hawaii took no formal position but strongly emphasized the harm caused by scams, saying victims are often frightened into acting quickly and that kiosk transactions currently lack enough friction or intervention. Finally, HB 1647, also on consumer protection, would impose liability on host businesses that provide space for crypto kiosks. The Office of Consumer Protection warned small businesses might not understand the liability, while Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, and America Digital opposed the bill, saying it would unfairly shift enforcement duties to host stores and could discourage businesses from hosting kiosks, effectively creating a de facto ban. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• What's the will of the committee?
• What's the will of the committee? What's the will of the committee? Second.
• Do we have a committee sub? Where's our committee sub? Thank you, Madam Chair.
• is interested in working on this let the committee chair for the interim know that we need to delve
• "Whoever the committee chair is for the interim, know that we need to delve deeply into this.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it was a good move to do in the interim. You know, we weren't in session.
• for them, but it failed in the House last session, and so far this session it hasn't advanced in committee
• to<00:02:10.879> do<00:02:11.039> in<00:02:11.200> the<00:02:11.360> interim
• <00:02:11.840> You good move to do in the interim. You good move to do in the interim.
• Uh you don't committee in the house.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm talking about some kind of a committee or agency or something.
• And I think a separate committee or a third party.
• Good morning, Chair and committee members.
• Uh, Chairman and committee members, thank you for hearing my testimony.
• That was in the interim from the last legislative session.

Bills: SB 15

Keywords: law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety and Veterans is in session.
• And I think a separate committee or a third party that includes law enforcement on this committee.
• That could fill those committees to do that.
• I did serve on the committee that helped.
• What is your perspective, as you were on the committee?

Bills: SB 15

Keywords: law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee report has been adopted. The ayes have it. The committee report has been adopted.
• President, I move adoption of the committee report. We have a motion to adopt the committee report.
• and also on the interim committees.
• I have the honor of being on the interim transportation committee.
• maintenance, the interim committees that we travel around the state, pre-session expenses, and interns

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Perry. up the committee substitute chair lays out the committee substitute for Senate Bill 95
• Senate Bill 1398, I do understand there's committee sub, Senator Hughes sends up committee substitute
• In the interim, this is a long answer, but it is an important. an answer in the interim.
• If some committee subs come back.
• business to come before the committee. Senator Cook moves that the committee stands in recess.

Bills: SB437, SB528, SB626, SB636, SB884, SB968, SB1044, SB1608, SB2336

Keywords: healthcare, training, abuse, neglect, penalties, chemical dependency, safety, regulation, inpatient competency restoration, competency restoration, forensic mental health, mental health law, criminal competency, incompetent to stand trial, Chapter 46B, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state hospital, behavioral health, local mental health authority