Transcript Highlights:

• This is more geared toward organized crime, where an individual may be in possession of multiple, if
• This is more geared toward organized crime, where an individual may be in possession of multiple, if
• Was that geared toward me or the chairman? Was that geared toward me or the chairman?
• I'm not for letting people get, you know, let off with less punishment. was that geared toward me or

Bills: SB1226 , SB1456 , SB1462 , SB1463 , SB1980 , SB1479 , SB1608 , SB1923

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1226 by Senator Rader, which would add property damage to the state’s leaving-the-scene statute so a driver who damages property and leaves would be treated similarly to a vehicle accident. After brief questions about whether the driver would need to wait for law enforcement or the property owner, the bill advanced unanimously, 6-0. Several sunset-extension bills from Senator Burstrom were then considered. Senate Bill 1456 would extend the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence to 2036 and passed 6-1. Senate Bill 1462 would extend the Oklahoma Organized Retail Crime Task Force to 2036; members questioned whether a task force created in 2023 needed such a long extension, but it still passed 6-2. Senate Bill 1463 would extend the Polygraph Examiners Board to 2036 and passed 8-1, with some members again objecting to the 10-year sunset length. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 1980 by Senator Logan, which updates larceny and forgery language to cover gift cards, gift certificates, and redemption information when possessed or used with intent to defraud. Members pressed the author on whether the offense would be a misdemeanor or felony and on the bill’s scope, but the measure passed 7-2. Senate Bill 1479 by Senator Stewart, dealing with release of crime- and collision-scene information by first responders, was amended to strike the title after concerns about scope and private entities; it then passed 6-2. Senate Bill 1608 by Senator Frick, as amended, would make school location and employer information searchable in sex offender and violent offender registries, and it passed 6-2. Finally, Senate Bill 1923 by Senator Murdoch would prohibit inmates from accessing social media, prompted by a constituent’s concerns about inmates contacting victims’ families through contraband cell phones. Members questioned whether the bill was necessary given existing DOC policies and whether it should address tablets as well; an amendment was withdrawn, and the bill passed 7-1. The committee also laid over Senate Bill 1612 and concluded its Public Safety agenda for the week.

Transcript Highlights:

• This included a total of three large screens, one indoor and one outdoor in the ticketed but free area
• This included a total of three large screens, one indoor and one outdoor in the ticketed but free area
• We like to be in outdoor living rooms. We like a good ratio of height to width.
• The outdoor living room is something that most American urban designers forget to create, and we work
• So our partners at the East Cut Community Benefit District put pickleball courts and outdoor bars and

Transcript Highlights:

• And uniquely, we take place predominantly outdoors, primarily, except for meals and naps.
• With us being outdoors, if they came to my front door, it’s very likely they wouldn’t see children unless
• If you want to see a great place where kids just enjoy the outdoors and learn things, you can get in
• If you want to see a great place where kids just enjoy the outdoors, learn things. place where kids just
• enjoy the outdoors, learn things, and you can get in there, but you're not ever, anyway, thank you for

Summary: The committee began with a work session on Washington’s child care oversight and subsidy system, focusing on Working Connections Child Care, licensing, audits, and fraud prevention. DCYF officials said the program serves over 63,000 eligible families, with about 6,600 licensed providers and roughly 2,200 license-exempt family, friend, and neighbor providers. They described annual unannounced licensing visits, complaint investigations, attendance tracking, eligibility verification, random and focused audits, and referrals to the Office of Fraud and Accountability or Office of Financial Recovery when needed. Senators asked about voucher amounts, visit frequency, and what happens when children are not present; officials said the average subsidy is about $2,200 per month, providers are paid directly, and repeated failed visits can lead to license closure. Child Care Aware and provider testimony emphasized the quality system, Early Achievers, and a virtual provider described the practical realities of home-based care and unannounced inspections. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5952, which would standardize the process for waiving high school physical education requirements. The bill’s sponsor said the goal was to make PE waiver decisions consistent across districts so students who move schools are not disadvantaged, especially in six-period schedules with limited room for electives. Student supporters said a uniform process would improve fairness and help students fit in AP, career, or other coursework. Opponents, including PE teachers and the Washington Association of School Principals, argued that PE is a core academic subject, that athletics is not interchangeable with PE, and that local flexibility should remain. The State Board of Education supported the bill, saying current district policies vary widely and a standardized process would improve equity and transparency. Next, the committee took testimony on Senate Bill 5961, which would transfer the Imagination Library of Washington from DCYF to OSPI. The sponsor called it a simple administrative move to align the book-gifting program with early literacy and K-12 education, noting the program serves about 120,000 children in all 39 counties. OSPI and program representatives supported the transfer, saying it better fits the birth-to-grade-three literacy continuum and strengthens accountability. Testifiers highlighted the program’s role in school readiness, early brain development, and access to physical books for young children. Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 5969, which would allow a student’s IEP transition plan to satisfy high school and beyond plan requirements if the IEP team chooses. The sponsor, a special education teacher, said the bill would reduce duplication and better support students with disabilities as they transition to postsecondary life. The committee then began hearing testimony on the proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• create a new section of State OSHA law requiring companies to ensure that any individual using scuba gear
• 02:06.840><c> individual</c><00:02:07.320><c> using</c><00:02:07.600><c> scuba</c><00:02:08.039><c> gear
• using scuba gear to do this<00:02:08.800><c> work</c><00:02:09.039><c> holds</c><00:02:09.399><c> at
• In other words, if our gear stops working, we stop living.
• In other words, if our gear stops working, we stop living.

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, um, we do have an emergency preparedness and I'm trying to gear it toward our aging population
• emergency preparedness and I'm<00:05:14.000><c> trying</c><00:05:14.240><c> to</c><00:05:14.440><c> gear
• it</c><00:05:14.919><c> toward</c><00:05:15.400><c> um</c><00:05:16.080><c> our</c> I'm trying to gear
• it toward um our I'm trying to gear it toward um our aging<00:05:16.600><c> population</c><00:05:17.320

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services held a hearing on several Governor’s Message nominations. The chair opened with instructions about live streaming, testimony limits, and the possibility of reconvening if technical problems occurred. One nomination, GM 542 for Jamie Gagnon to the West O‘ahu subarea of the Hawaii Health Planning Council, was initially deferred because he was not present and there was concern he may not have received notice; when recalled later in the hearing, he testified that he wanted to help address limited provider resources and improve coordination of care. The committee also heard from Christine Cabingao Ting Kang for GM 541, but she was not present and her nomination was deferred to Wednesday, March 11 at 1:00 p.m. in Room 225. The committee then heard strong support testimony for GM 688, Raelynn Tenno for the Pa‘ala Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs. Tenno said she wanted another term because of her experience caring for elderly family members and her work on emergency preparedness for older adults and condominium/HOA communities. Supporters from the Office of Aging, the PABEA chair, the Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, and others praised her knowledge of housing, elder issues, and community service. GM 712, Kathleen Merriam for the State Council on Mental Health, also drew support; Merriam described over 40 years in mental health work, including managing a community mental health center in Kaneohe and supporting clubhouse programs. The committee also considered GM 560, Jeffrey Hicks for the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council. Hicks said his career in justice and juvenile work motivated him to continue contributing to rehabilitation efforts for youth. The chair and members discussed the importance of prevention and rehabilitation in juvenile justice. After testimony, the committee moved to decision-making and voted to advise and consent on GM 542, GM 688, GM 712, and GM 560, while GM 541 was deferred to a later date and time. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• These tools are geared towards all members of the healthcare team, from physicians to pharmacists, dentists
• ><00:01:42.840><c> these</c><00:01:43.000><c> tools</c><00:01:43.240><c> are</c><00:01:43.439><c> geared
• </c> when needed these tools are geared when needed these tools are geared towards<00:01:44.240><c> all

Transcript Highlights:

• And man, I just love the great outdoors. I love tourism.
• And I love God's great outdoors. So I mean that's where my heart is.

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• I think more Minnesotans expected it to go to actual outdoor projects. ...going to outdoor-related projects
• I think more Minnesotans expected it to go to actual outdoor projects.
• I think more Minnesotans expected it to go to actual outdoor projects.
• We don't expect that these people, who are professional outdoors folks or have day jobs, to be here,
• outdoor outdoor recreation<01:08:11.760><c> and</c><01:08:12.760><c> it</c><01:08:12.880><c> is</c><

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 946 Bryan, Outdoor for All and 30 by 30, do pass out on an A roll call.
• Do pass, sorry, AB 946, Brian, outdoor for all and 30 by 30.
• Do pass out on an A roll call. outdoor for all by and 30 by 30 do pass out on an a roll call.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on January 22, 2026, for its regular order hearing and suspense-file hearing. In regular order, the committee approved consent-calendar bills AB 683, AB 763, AB 1126, and AB 1278 on unanimous due-pass motions, and AB 34 and AB 442 on a second unanimous due-pass motion. The committee then heard and advanced several bills, including AB 35, which would create an APA exemption for Proposition 4-funded programs to speed implementation of water, wildfire, energy-storage, and grid-support projects; AB 748, establishing pre-approved housing programs for local agencies; AB 939, allowing immediate transfer of certain affordable homeownership units to qualified nonprofit housing organizations; AB 643, adding a narrow organic-waste-derived agricultural fertilizer product to SB 1383 procurement options; and AB 96, removing the high school diploma requirement for certified Medi-Cal peer support specialists. Testimony on these bills was largely supportive, with sponsors and coalition representatives emphasizing reduced delays, lower costs, and improved housing, environmental, or behavioral-health outcomes. The Department of Finance offered general budget comments but no bill-specific positions. The committee voted the bills out, with AB 643 and AB 96 receiving no recorded opposition in the transcript and AB 939 passing with some members noting support and interest in coauthoring. The committee also received a presentation-only discussion of AB 1091, a proposal to authorize eight-letter specialty license plates, which the author said could generate revenue for rural programs such as the Williamson Act; the bill was not acted on at that time. After public comment, the committee moved to the suspense-file hearing on 53 bills. Using a substituted motion for due-pass and due-pass-with-amendments items, the committee held some bills and advanced many others, often with amendments that narrowed scope, deleted provisions, or required reports or studies. Bills held in committee included AB 405, AB 298, AB 333, AB 296, AB 1091, AB 1241, and AB 577, among others. The committee reported moving 43 bills to the Assembly floor, with several on A roll calls and others on B roll calls or with amendments, and noted that amendment language would be posted later online.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 946 Bryan, Outdoor for All and 30 by 30, do pass out on an A roll call.”
• Do pass, sorry, AB 946, Brian, outdoor for all and 30 by 30. Do pass out on an A roll call.
• AB 946, Bryan, Outdoor for All and 30 by 30, do pass out on an A roll call.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is not something geared toward the rich, which is what my Democratic colleagues normally have
• Four of those bills were geared toward our veterans.
• A couple of them were geared Four of those bills were geared toward our veterans.
• A couple of them were geared toward currently serving guard reservists.
• A couple of those were geared toward protecting our children and looking out for our future rising generation

Transcript Highlights:

• outermost visible identification on the outermost garment<00:14:00.200><c> or</c><00:14:00.360><c> gear
• </c><00:14:00.640><c> that</c><00:14:00.839><c> includes</c><00:14:01.320><c> the</c> garment or gear
• that includes the garment or gear that includes the officer's<00:14:02.760><c> agency</c><00:14:03.120
• Engaged in an active tactical operation where protective gear is required for safe physical safety.
• Engaged in an active tactical operation where protective gear is required for safe physical safety.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee took up a large decision-making agenda and adopted most measures, often with technical or clarifying amendments. Bills addressed wildlife habitat conservation plans, civil identification cards for 16- and 17-year-olds, electronic and mail voting for associations, remedies for unauthorized disclosure of intimate images, traffic safety around stationary vehicles and pickup truck passengers, expedited permitting for housing for people with disabilities, rainwater catchment systems, EMS advisory committee membership, social media account deletion, limits on immigration-enforcement cooperation, prompt payment rules for professional solicitors, fetal death vital statistics, protections for gender-affirming care, passenger ropeways, law-enforcement facial coverings and immigration-related detention, domestic violence, health care facility access, guardianship record sealing, child protective proceedings, remote driver’s license hearings, disposable vaping products, dog attacks, insurance premium increase explanations, the DOE harm-to-student registry, Hawaiian Homes lease succession, EMS law modernization, hoisting machine regulation, release on recognizance, language interpretation rules, civil asset forfeiture for fireworks offenses, and assisted community treatment. Several bills were deferred, including HB 1897, HB 1957, HB 2121, and HB 2324, while HB 1957 was deferred indefinitely. Most measures were adopted without recorded opposition, though HB 1875 and HB 1961 drew no votes from Vice Chair Gabbard, and HB 2413 was adopted with reservations. A number of bills received substantive amendment instructions. HB 1682 was amended with committee report language noting concerns about departing from the model act. HB 1768 and HB 1886 were revised to narrow or clarify immigration-enforcement restrictions and law-enforcement identification and facial-covering provisions, including plainclothes and undercover exceptions, a narrower civil immigration arrest/detention offense, and savings clauses. HB 2540 received extensive amendments to convert policy language into mandatory terms, refine facial-covering and identification rules, align criminal and policy exemptions, narrow immigration-related offenses, and clarify the definition of law enforcement agency. HB 2413 was amended to define violent offenses, change written findings to oral findings on the record, limit reconsideration of bail, and restrict who may request sanctions or financial conditions. Other amendments included technical fixes, bad-date corrections, severability clauses, and chapter-consistency changes. The committee also heard a joint Education/Judiciary item, SCR 105 and SR 99, urging the Department of Education to provide students information on pre-registering to vote before reaching voting age. Testimony was reported in support from the Department of Education, Office of Elections, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and the League of Women Voters. With no opposition or further discussion, the committee voted to pass both resolutions with technical, non-substantive amendments (SD1).

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to shift gears to Mr. Landau. As you know, Iran's the world's leading sponsor of terror.
• But the fact is the gear... gears are not turning and the gears have to turn in order for contracts to
• And it is just double talk to say that the funding freeze is over when the gears aren't turned because
• administrations find other ways to keep them from turning, including having fired all the people who turned the gears

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Cloud, up to a quarter cent over 3 years for $7 million for an outdoor water park, which is adjacent
• Cloud, up to a quarter cent over 3 years for $7 million for an outdoor water park, which is adjacent
• Cloud, up to a quarter cent over 3 years for $7 million for an outdoor water park, which is adjacent
• Cloud, up to a quarter cent over 3 years for $7 million for an outdoor water park, which is adjacent
• water park, which is adjacent to outdoor water park, which is adjacent to the<00:30:59.560><c> St.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, members, please note we also have testimony in support from the Outdoor Circle, Hawaii Earth
• 12.880><c> the</c> also have testimony in support from the also have testimony in support from the outdoor
• <00:36:13.599><c> outdoor</c><00:36:14.000><c> circle,</c><00:36:14.400><c> Hawaii</c><00:36:14.800><
• c> Earth</c> outdoor outdoor circle, Hawaii Earth outdoor outdoor circle, Hawaii Earth Recycling,<00:

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on February 13 and heard several bills, with most testimony focused on House Bill 2340, an emergency appropriation for the University of Hawaii to expand and sustain the Maui wildfire exposure study and Maui Health Registry. Supporters described the program as a critical, community-based response to the Maui fires that provides health screenings, mental health support, referrals, and workforce training. Testifiers said the study has identified serious health issues, including respiratory problems, heavy metal exposure, high blood pressure, diabetes, and anemia, and several emphasized that the program has saved lives and should be expanded to reach more children and underserved residents. Committee members also noted broad written support from medical, public health, and community organizations. The committee then heard House Bill 65, HD1, on human and community resilience, which would fund development of a Human and Community Resilience Institute. The dean testifying for the University of Hawaii said the institute would take a data-driven, community-based approach to food and nutritional security, especially given Hawaii’s high food insecurity rate and the loss of SNAP-related positions. House Bill 6005, also on the agenda, drew testimony in support from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and others, though the transcript excerpt does not include the bill’s full description. The committee also heard House Bill 1605, HD1, expanding the Hawaii National Guard state tuition assistance program to graduate degrees; the Department of Defense, Hawaii Army National Guard, and University of Hawaii supported it, and members clarified that it is a state program separate from the federal GI Bill, though it may sometimes be combined depending on eligibility. Later, the committee heard House Bill 1967, HD1, on permitting workforce development, which would implement recommendations of the speed task force by creating a permitting workforce pipeline with community colleges and coordinating with state and county permitting agencies. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and the University of Hawaii supported the measure. House Bill 2139, HD1, on invasive species, would fund research on treatment methods for the Queensland Longhorn Beetle; DLNR, the Farm Bureau, CGAPS, University of Hawaii at Hilo researchers, farmers, and others supported it, citing damage to native trees, culturally important plants, and crops such as cacao, and noting promising early results from nematode biocontrol trials. The final bill heard was House Bill 2383, HD1, establishing a statewide workforce PELL grant framework for short-term training programs; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Workforce Development Council, and the University of Hawaii testified, and a committee discussion followed about how responsibilities would be divided among DIR, WDC, and the governor’s certification role. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I saw some of the videos of some of the Guard members in riot gear surrounding the federal courthouse
• And so is military-type gear.
• And so is military type gear. a no no.
• Um, I want to shift gears a little bit because I also understand Department of Law Enforcement.
• Um I want to shift<01:27:03.360><c> gears</c><01:27:03.760><c> a</c><01:27:04.000><c> little</c><01:27

Summary: The committee held an informational briefing on federal and state authority over National Guard deployment in response to civil protest or unrest, prompted by recent federal actions and the California litigation in Newsom v. Trump. The chair explained the purpose was to help lawmakers and the public understand the legal background, the status of the California case, and possible Hawaii policy responses. David Day of the Attorney General’s office outlined several recent federal immigration-related executive actions and enforcement directives, then described Hawaii’s participation in multiple lawsuits challenging federal funding conditions, data-sharing demands, and the birthright citizenship order. A major portion of the briefing focused on Newsom v. Trump. Day summarized the June 2025 Los Angeles protests and the president’s memorandum federalizing National Guard units under 10 U.S.C. 12406, which California challenged as ultra vires, procedurally improper, and violative of the Posse Comitatus Act, the Tenth Amendment, and the APA. He said the district court initially granted relief, but the Ninth Circuit stayed the TRO and held, in a published decision, that review under section 12406 is highly deferential and that the president lawfully exercised authority under paragraph 3. He also noted California-law issues about orders being issued through the governor, and said Hawaii had supported California through amicus briefs and would continue to do so; the bench trial was scheduled for August 11-13. Members then asked how Hawaii law differs from California’s and whether the Ninth Circuit ruling would control here. Day said the standard-of-review aspects would likely apply, but the California-specific procedural language about orders issued in the governor’s name does not appear in Hawaii law. The committee also heard from Colonel Lloyd C. Phelps of the Hawaii Department of Defense, who explained that National Guard activations generally occur under Title 10 federal orders, state orders, or other statuses, and said the June 2025 federalization mechanism was a Title 10 call-up. He began addressing the president’s authority, the Posse Comitatus Act, and Hawaii’s own preparedness, but the discussion was cut short and members indicated they would return to the topic later. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• , which provides sort of outdoor experiences and mental health services for first responders.
• </c> suspect so Hometown hero Outdoors suspect so Hometown hero Outdoors learned<00:15:59.319><c> about
• So I thought it was a really cool opportunity, like, yeah, you like outdoors, so do I.
• So I thought it was a really cool opportunity, like, yeah, you like outdoors, so do I.
• So I thought it was a really cool opportunity, like, yeah, you like outdoors, so do I.

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> masks</c><01:25:38.239><c> or</c> Our gear doesn't include masks or Our gear doesn't include masks
• Carrying gear uphill, suffering immense.
• Um, so for us, wearing, you know, big heavy gear like that would impede a lot of our abilities.
• You know, that gear that that work.
• Um, so for us, wearing, you know, big heavy gear like that would impede a lot of our abilities.

Summary: The task force met with a quorum, approved the August meeting minutes, and heard a presentation from Dr. Jerry Brosky of the Kentucky Mesonet and Kentucky Climate Center. He described the Mesonet’s statewide weather network, now with 84 stations in 78 counties, real-time data used by the National Weather Service, mobile apps, and more than a billion observations. He said recent legislative funding has allowed upgrades such as soil temperature and moisture sensors, cameras at every site, and improved communications and power systems, and has enabled expansion into new counties. He also highlighted products used for flooding, drought, and heat safety, including a wet bulb globe temperature tool being developed with the Department of Public Health. In response to questions, he said counties interested in a station should contact his center, that a station typically costs about $50,000, and that the program is already considering a second Pike County site. The committee then heard from Ryan Drain of Blue Skies and Chris McGee of the American Red Cross on long-term disaster recovery and a software platform called Darcy, short for Disaster Aware and Ready Communities Initiative. McGee explained the Red Cross’s long-term recovery work, including support for recovery groups, direct financial assistance, grantmaking, and coordination with local and federal partners. He emphasized that disasters are occurring more frequently and with repeated impacts, and shared examples from Kentucky and other states showing the need for organized recovery and storm shelter support. Drain said Darcy was developed after the 2021 Mayfield-Graves tornado recovery to replace fragmented spreadsheets and PDFs with a centralized, survivor-led system for preparedness, response, and recovery, designed to improve coordination, reduce duplication, and shorten recovery time. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond adoption of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, what this bill does, it deals with outdoor stewardship.
• </c><00:20:43.960><c> Currently,</c><00:20:44.960><c> uh</c> outdoor stewardship.
• Currently, uh outdoor stewardship.
• </c><00:22:12.240><c> stewardship</c> So when we set up outdoor stewardship So when we set up outdoor
• When we set up outdoor &gt;&gt; Sorry.

Transcript Highlights:

• activities, not just swapping prison for prison, but what kind of other activities, whether it's outdoor
• activities, not just swapping prison for prison, but what kind of other activities, whether it's outdoor
• activities, whether it's tourists, But what kind of other activities, whether it's outdoor activities
• But I think how we also leverage that sector and the outdoor sector to also give more love to areas like

Committee: Senate Senate Finance