Transcript Highlights:

• have moved to Coolidge or Eloy or anywhere else in fact our goal is to have our entire supply chain based
• The bill also allows the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to require watercraft and boat livery owners
• The bill also allows the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to require watercraft and boat livery owners
• Okay. ...homes, and that's what they base their projections on. Okay.
• So that's in the bill based out of those conversations. Mr. Chairman. Thank you. Mr. Camps.

Bills: HB2091 , HB2140 , HB2320 , HB2384 , HB2398 , HB2502 , HB2780 , HB2918 , HB2939 , HB2950 , HB2999 , HB4020 , HB4026 , HB4029

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, investment, state treasurer, gold bullion, treasury management, financial regulations, school districts, bonds, financial advisors, elections, municipal advisors, cost of borrowing, lease agreements, school property, tax exemptions, impact aid revenue bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have our freshly harvested game and fish program.
• Texas A&M, based on the strains and the genotypes and the negative G.EBVs?
• So they've been playing this game for two decades now.
• So they've been playing this game for two decades now.
• Is it washed through the sand base? Does it stay on top of the geological formation?

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, adoption of the agenda, and approval of the prior minutes. The main presentation was from Julie Grenwald of Louisiana Hunters for the Hungry, who described the nonprofit’s protein donation programs, including freezer clean-out days, deer and fish processing partnerships, and a paused feral hog donation program that had collected about 3,500 hogs and 137,000 pounds of pork before funding ran short. She said the group has donated roughly 300,000 pounds of protein over two years, works with food banks and local agencies, and is protected under Louisiana’s Good Samaritan Law. Members asked about processor locations, exotic species, signage, sponsorships, and whether the program could expand to other invasive species or mobile drop-off options; Grenwald said expansion is possible if processors and funding are available. The task force then received a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries update from Jonathan Bordelon on chronic wasting disease testing. He reported more than 2,800 samples collected and over 2,300 results returned, with nine positives total: eight in Tensas Parish and one confirmed in Concordia Parish on Richard K. Yancey WMA, which triggered preparation of an emergency declaration and future rulemaking to adjust the control area. He said harvest and sampling remain near record levels, most samples are voluntary, and the agency continues to monitor symptomatic deer reports and public submissions. The final major presentation was from William McKinley of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, who gave a detailed overview of Mississippi’s CWD response. He said Mississippi has 529 detections across 18 counties, with prevalence rising from about one in 500 samples to about one in 80 statewide, and much higher in some counties. He described Mississippi’s surveillance system, targeted tags within three miles of positives, environmental sampling, feeder bans in CWD zones, and research showing contamination at feeders and in scrapes. He also discussed possible multiple strains, including one linked to the Wisconsin whitetail strain and another around Vicksburg/Issaquena, and said the disease appears to be expanding about 3.5 miles per year. Members asked about high-fence enclosures, live deer movement restrictions, baiting and feeding rules, hunter participation, and whether Louisiana should develop similar environmental testing capacity; no votes were taken on these issues, but members discussed possible future legislative or budget action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so Brandon Wong, on behalf of CalStart, we're a California-based global nonprofit.
• It's all based on timelines of whether it's the judge, whether it's the date, so forth.
• I don't want to incentivize anybody gaming the system; that is the honest truth.
• It's not about gaming the system. Someone tears apart a home and takes it.
• I'm also a self-storage owner based in Santa Monica, California.

Summary: The committee heard several bills from Senator Umberg and Senator Allen, with testimony from supporters and opponents before roll-call votes were taken once quorum was established. SB 253, the annual State Bar fee bill, would keep fees unchanged while requiring two-year notice for substantial changes to the bar exam, including vendor changes, and returning to an older delivery method for the upcoming exam; it was presented as a response to recent State Bar problems and the February bar exam failure. SB 25, the Pre-Merger Notification Act, would require certain merger parties to provide California’s attorney general the same Hart-Scott-Rodino materials filed federally, so state antitrust review can occur in parallel with federal review; supporters said this would reduce delay and uncertainty, while members questioned whether it would add another layer of review. SB 36 would strengthen price-gouging enforcement after the January 2025 Southern California firestorms by requiring rental-listing platforms to report suspected gouging, expanding consumer and prosecutor remedies, and allowing warrants in housing-related cases; supporters said it would close loopholes, while opponents from business groups raised concerns. All three bills were later approved on roll call, with SB 36 and SB 413 placed on call before final passage and SB 253 and SB 25 moving forward on committee votes. The committee also heard SB 413, which would streamline access to juvenile case files in certain civil cases brought by or on behalf of the youth who is the subject of the file, allowing attorneys to use heavily redacted records without first petitioning the juvenile court. Supporters, including Los Angeles County counsel and county associations, said the current petition process is costly, slow, and routinely granted, creating delays in civil litigation and court congestion. Opponents, including the Youth Law Center, argued the bill would weaken longstanding juvenile confidentiality protections by bypassing judicial review and could expose sensitive information unnecessarily. After discussion about redactions, sealing, and the scope of access, the bill was passed on a do-pass-as-amended vote. Finally, Senator Wahab presented SB 436, which would extend the notice period for nonpayment of rent from three days to 14 days. Supporters, including tenant advocates, legal aid groups, and several local governments, argued the change would reduce unnecessary evictions, give renters more time to obtain assistance or a paycheck, and help prevent homelessness. Opponents, including apartment associations, property owners, and the California Association of Realtors, said the bill would burden landlords, especially small owners, and could unintentionally affect commercial leases; members also raised concerns about repeated late payment and the lack of stronger guardrails. The author said she would work on clarifying commercial coverage and safeguards, and the bill remained under discussion as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:18.880><c> upon</c> to the parents of the child based upon to the parents of the child based
• funding and 25% for incentive-based funding.
• funding and 25% for enrollment based funding and 25% for incentive<00:38:04.880><c> based</c><00:38:
• It is based on whenever they achieve that during high school.
• </c><00:47:54.720><c> uh</c> school board or the school-based uh school board or the school-based uh

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 669, sponsored by Representative Smith, which was presented as a response to a September shooting incident in his district that led to school closures and missed instructional days. Smith said the bill was intended to help school districts recover lost days caused by extraordinary emergencies and not to set a broad precedent. Members asked whether districts had adjusted calendars to make up time, and Smith said many had already extended days or moved calendars into June. The committee then voted to pass House Bill 669, with all members present voting yes. The committee next heard House Bill 621, as amended by a committee substitute that removed a homeschooling-related section and left only the school-threat provisions. The bill would allow courts to impose a fine on parents when a child is adjudicated for terroristic threatening if law enforcement incurred excessive costs, and it would require a mental health assessment for the child. Representative Duvall and Officer Steve Chappelle supported the measure, arguing that online school threats spread fear, disrupt attendance, pull law-enforcement resources from other schools, and should create more parental accountability. Representative Riley also supported the accountability goal, citing lost instructional time and a recent student suicide tied to online issues. Several members raised concerns about the bill’s scope and due process. Representative Josh Callaway questioned why this offense should be the starting point for parental fines and warned about a slippery slope in holding parents liable for children’s crimes. Representative Willner said the bill seemed more like a judiciary issue, questioned whether punishment can make parents better parents, and asked about diversion programs and the meaning of the detention language. Representative Tipton pointed to existing statutes on mental health assessments and terroristic threatening penalties, and said the committee substitute would alleviate many concerns. Scott West, speaking for Kentucky Policy and the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, argued that the mandatory detention language would remove judicial discretion and that the parental fine provision could conflict with existing due process protections requiring notice, a hearing, and a finding that lack of supervision was a substantial factor in the child’s delinquency. The transcript does not show a final vote on House Bill 621 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Pollinator-Friendly Solar Act, a voluntary program establishing a flexible, science-based standard
• for which solar arrays could be described as, quote, providing habitat beneficial to songbirds, game
• Chair Frentz and members, my name is the CEO of Enterprise Energy, a Minnesota-based community solar
• A Minnesota-based community solar developer, and I’m here in strong support of naming this program in
• Solar, a Minnesota-based developer and owner-operator of solar and battery storage projects.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in relation to the compensation paid to persons employed in positions requiring foreign language skills
• York in relation to granting members of the city police force eligibility for retirement and pension based

Committee: Senate Civil Service And Pensions

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The State Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee met on February 10, 2026, with a quorum present and several members attending in person or by voting sheet. Chair Robert Jackson opened the meeting, welcomed a new committee member and visiting members of the Uzbekistan parliament, and noted that the committee would consider 11 bills. The discussion was procedural and focused on moving each bill through committee. The committee advanced a series of civil service, retirement, and benefits measures, including bills on compensation for employees with foreign language skills, health insurance and dental coverage for state employees, mental health care access for emergency dispatchers and correction officers, and several retirement-related proposals affecting correction officers, sheriffs, Nassau County members, and service credit transfers. Jackson also advanced his own bills on health disease presumptions for certain law enforcement and correction titles, retirement benefits, accidental disability retirement for sheriffs, and eligibility for city police retirement based on prior traffic enforcement service. Each bill was moved, seconded, and approved unanimously, with reported votes of 7 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions/without recommendation. All 11 bills were ordered reported to the Finance Committee. The meeting concluded without further discussion or additional actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• that kid to... $50,000 and you drop that game-winning touchdown, subjects that kid to mental anxiety
• It would be based upon GPA, ACT scores, or dual enrollment hours, whether they would have to have two
• House Bill 1249 by Representative Jackson enacts a new provision of Title 17 relative to school-based
• School-based health centers help address that.
• to work to protect the private, faith-based institutions from unnecessary governmental intrusion.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and so many of the lessons that he brought forward in the establishment of Black History Month, are based
• A Los Angeles-based nonprofit advancing food access, sustainability, and community wellness.
• He had such tremendous charisma, and it was kind of a game sometimes to see which direction he was going
• He had such tremendous charisma and you kind of was a game. trying to anticipate what he was going to
• say he had such tremendous charisma and you kind of was a game sometimes to see which direction he was

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• through an institutional review process that supports innovation and encourages outcome- and competency-based
• At least three accrediting agencies deemed best suited for higher education institutions, based on biennial
• the commission, further ensures that higher education aligns with industry needs, incentivizing a skilled
• You can choose from them, and we're going to evaluate them based on our criteria.
• And we're going to evaluate them based on our criteria of the state workforce needs and that kind of

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard several bills and took no final votes, leaving each measure pending. The first major item, SB 1322 by Senator Hagenbuch, would create a Texas Higher Education Accrediting Commission to evaluate and approve accrediting agencies for public colleges and universities using outcome-based metrics such as retention, graduation, employment, debt, and repayment. Supporters, including Kate Byerley of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, argued the bill would add competition and align accreditation with Texas workforce needs; Senator Menendez questioned the need for a new bureaucracy and noted the $3.6 million fiscal note, suggesting existing reporting and oversight structures could serve the same purpose. The committee then heard SB 1998, which would establish a pediatric subspecialty preceptorship program to encourage medical students to enter pediatric subspecialties. Dr. Lauren Gamble testified in strong support, saying the program would help address shortages and improve access for children, especially in rural and underserved areas. SB 2788, authored by Senator Menendez, would add the PSAT as an accepted assessment for dual credit and Texas Success Initiative purposes; Priscilla Camacho of Alamo Colleges supported the bill, citing strong student outcomes and widespread use of the PSAT as a readiness indicator. Senator Creighton laid out SB 2076, which would remove or modify certain Capitol view corridor restrictions affecting the UT Austin Academic Medical Center project, including the planned specialty hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center expansion. He said the existing corridors are outdated and limit development. The committee also heard SB 1418, a cleanup bill replacing outdated references to ACT Plan with Pre-ACT and removing obsolete SAT subject test language. After brief testimony and no opposition on the later bills, the committee closed public testimony and left SB 1322, SB 1998, SB 2788, SB 2076, and SB 1418 pending before recessing for the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, and to help in my mind-reading skills, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas has waved at me also.
• I would say success based on what a consumer would define as success.
• go into the facility based on the complaint and get information.
• Based on population and where the licensees are, yes, we absolutely do.
• Based on population and where the licensees are, yes, we absolutely do.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• before you is Senate Bill 6194, sponsored by Senator King, relating to allowing payments to be made based
• Finally, we have Senate Bill 6194 allowing payments to be made based on allowable costs for services
• They base all of their rates for the next year on their claims for the previous year.
• They base all of their rates for the next year on their claims for the previous year.
• Senate Bill 6210 would reduce plan offerings based on a meaningful differences standard.

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and advanced Senate Bills 6102 and 6103 with due-pass recommendations to the Rules Committee, and referred Senate Bill 6194 to the Ways and Means Committee without recommendation. SB 6102 would align the Ambulance Transport Fund quality assurance fee with federal regulations, SB 6103 would make payments for rural emergency hospital services subject to appropriation, and SB 6194 would allow cost-based Medicaid payments for rural hospitals on federally recognized Indian reservations under specified conditions. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. SB 6183 would require health plans, beginning in 2027, to cover FDA-approved HIV antiviral drugs without prior authorization, step therapy, or other utilization management, with one therapeutic-equivalent exception for prevention drugs. The prime sponsor and one testifier supported the bill as a way to reduce barriers to timely HIV treatment and prevention; sign-in testimony showed 53 pro, 58 con, and one other. SB 5985 would create an online endometriosis resource center, require Department of Health training modules, and direct OSPI to include menstrual health and endometriosis awareness in school standards. The sponsor and multiple patients and clinicians testified in support, emphasizing long diagnostic delays and the need for earlier education; sign-in testimony showed 36 pro, 56 con, and 92 not testifying. SB 6019 would revise home care rate statutes to clarify how Medicaid home care agency rates are set, cap administrative portions at 20%, and require verification that funds are spent as required. The sponsor, labor, and provider representatives supported it as a technical fix to preserve pay parity, while sign-in testimony showed 46 pro and 57 con. SB 6161 would direct the Department of Health to include dementia risk-reduction information in public and provider materials when appropriate and to consult experts; supporters said it could help reduce cognitive decline and align with the state Alzheimer’s plan, while sign-in testimony showed 61 pro and 62 con. Finally, SB 6210 would authorize the Health Benefit Exchange to add a new certification criterion for marketplace plans to address affordability and access, including possible requirements tied to county availability, plan differentiation, and metal-level offerings. The prime sponsor, the Exchange, AARP, and patient advocates supported it as a response to rising premiums and limited choices, especially in rural or single-carrier counties; insurers, brokers, and some carriers opposed it, warning it could reduce competition, create uncertainty, and raise costs. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the bill with a requested amendment to avoid premature disclosure of proposed rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• And those images still circulate based on the folders that he created, based on the situations he created
• based on the based<00:36:31.119><c> on</c><00:36:31.280><c> the</c><00:36:31.440><c> folders</c><00:
• he created, based on the folders that he created, based<00:36:32.800><c> on</c><00:36:32.960><c> the
• </c><00:48:32.319><c> on</c> would be probably more prudent based on would be probably more prudent based
• </c> in a rig game they didn't sign up for. in a rig game they didn't sign up for.

Bills: HB0083 , HB0102 , HB0178

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: subpoena, legislative authority, penalty, compliance, law enforcement, artificial intelligence, synthetic sexual material, child protection, self-harm, criminal liability, public employment, labor organization, dues withdrawal, collective bargaining, public funding, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I learned life-saving, woodworking, welding, and leatherwork skills alongside my new friends.
• My project strengthened my skills while giving me a chance to give back to my community.
• The moment when I age out of the troop and begin to put my skills to the test in the real world.
• years of age, of all races, religions, orientations, and backgrounds, helping them develop leadership skills
• Whereas scouting teaches a love of nature, the skills of conservation, and the importance of respecting

Summary: The Senate met in an informal session that mixed brief legislative business with a special program recognizing Scouting America. Early in the session, senators recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Scout Oath/Law with visiting scouts, and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr helped lead the chamber through the scouting presentation. The Senate also adopted an order to adjourn to meet again on Monday at 11 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar. On legislative matters, the Senate gave final passage to House No. 4225, authorizing Marblehead to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption, and House No. 4584, further regulating the appointment of a special police officer in Malden. The chamber also adopted a resolution commending the IBS patient support group on recognition of April 19, 2026, as World IBS Day. In addition, the Senate considered and adopted amendments and then engrossed House No. 4234, providing for the appointment of retired police officers as special police officers in Fairhaven, and engrossed House No. 4057, increasing the Haverhill Board of Health from three to five members. The main feature of the session was the annual scouting report to the Commonwealth. Eagle Scout Molly Murphy delivered remarks describing her experience in scouting, including leadership roles, an Eagle project, and the challenges and benefits of being one of the early female scouts in the program. She and other scouts presented statewide statistics for 2025, including 19,761 youth in 872 units, more than 23,500 merit badges earned, 482 Eagle Scouts, and over 203,000 hours of community service valued at about $3.06 million. The Senate voted to enter the scouting report into the Journal and received a gubernatorial proclamation designating April 23, 2026, as Scout Appreciation Day in Massachusetts.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need folks on the ground in these communities with the skills and technical expertise to bridge the
• I think it's going to do you so much good at increasing your tax base and doing so much more.
• It's going to do you so much good at increasing your tax base and doing so much more for your communities

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard and advanced four bills. SB 110, by Senator Simon, proposed a broad rural communities package creating a state Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program for declining-population counties, higher SHIP housing allocations, new rural road funding, additional support for rural schools, and expanded rural health care resources. The bill drew extensive support from local officials, chambers of commerce, and rural advocates, with senators praising its local control and economic-development focus. It was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 218, by Senator Arrington, which would increase the ad valorem tax exemption for disabled ex-service members or their surviving spouses from $5,000 to $10,000. An amendment was adopted clarifying that the change applies beginning with the 2026 tax roll. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably. Next, SB 384, by Senator Burton, would require written notice to each member of the local legislative delegation when a municipality annexes state-owned land, and it also clarified related annexation language. After a brief question about the amendment, the bill as amended was reported favorably. After a recess, the committee took up SB 68, presented by Senator Trumbull for Senator Martin. The bill would allow not-for-profit organizations such as hospitals to bond for debt service and related purposes, including construction and refinancing projects. With no amendments, no opposition, and no debate, SB 68 was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and that everyone would be able to have safe travel home and the Senate would win in the baseball game
• , or the softball game tonight.
• He said, well, we could pass a 10% tax and it wouldn't do any good because we don't have the tax base
• a lot of peaks and valleys, ups and downs, but through it all, we stayed the course, we lost some games

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Actually, I do want to thank him for bringing this bill because, based on last Friday night at an auction
• community members find their children who never came home, seeing children that I see at the football games
• and the soccer games, including the soccer games my daughter played from 7th grade all the way through

Bills: SB108 , SB318 , SB507 , SB511 , SB533 , SB1026 , SB1386 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1596

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1596, which would remove short-barreled rifles from the list of prohibited weapons in the Texas Penal Code. The author, Sen. Hagenbuch, said the bill would align state law with federal realities and argued that the current prohibition is arbitrary and unnecessary. Supporters, including representatives from Gun Owners of America and Texas Gun Rights, said the bill would reduce confusion, protect lawful gun owners, and preserve the ability to use shorter firearms for self-defense, hunting, and for smaller shooters. One supporter also described a recent case in which an AR pistol was mistaken for a short-barreled rifle and led to a state charge that was later dismissed. Public testimony was split. Supporters said stabilizing braces and shorter firearms can improve accuracy, safety, and accessibility for women, children, and smaller-statured shooters. Opponents, including Texas Gun Sense and two Santa Fe shooting survivors, argued that short-barreled firearms are more concealable and dangerous, and pointed to the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting as evidence of the risks of easier access. They urged the committee to keep the existing restrictions in place to protect public safety. After public testimony closed, the committee took up pending business. Senate Bill 1505, relating to the Compassionate Use Program, was reported favorably to the full Senate on an 8-0 vote. Senate Bill 17, relating to the acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities, was first amended by adopting a committee substitute and then reported favorably to the full Senate by a 7-1 vote. The committee then recessed until after the Senate’s adjournment or final recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there have there are you basing this?
• , based off of other things in order to deal with dead trees.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Next<00:29:09.279><c> up,</c><00:29:09.440><c> fishing</c><00:29:09.840><c> game</c><00
• </c> &gt;&gt; Next up, fishing game uh rule 173. &gt;&gt; Next up, fishing game uh rule 173.
• I'm the legal coordinator for Fish and Game, and today with me is John McGee.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then adopted the consent calendar without objection. On the regular calendar, it took up a Health and Human Services Medicaid rule on laboratory services. Committee members questioned why an expired rule was still needed and whether any fees, fines, or appeals had occurred during the lapse. DHHS staff said there were no fees or fines, the service remains in the state Medicaid plan, providers continued to be reimbursed under the billing manual, and there had been no known appeals. The committee then approved the rule. The next item was a Natural Resources rule package covering wood processing mills, wood concentration yards, forestry health, forest fire, and administrative fines. Representative Leon pulled the item from consent and objected to the rule’s repeated 5-inch diameter limit for burnable material, arguing that the statute authorizes permits for camp or cooking fires but does not clearly authorize a diameter limit, and that larger wood can be responsibly burned or otherwise managed in forested properties. DNCR’s forest protection chief responded that the 5-inch limit is intended to reduce smoldering and wildfire risk, align with DEES air rules defining brush as 5 inches or less, and keep backyard burning consistent with air-quality regulations. He said larger material can be handled through other permitting processes and that the rule is meant to educate the public and prevent unsafe burning. Members continued to debate whether the rule exceeded statutory authority and whether it was practical for landowners managing larger wooded parcels. One member suggested narrowing the 5-inch restriction in the category 4 permit language, while another noted the statute appears to speak in terms of small or large amounts of material rather than a specific diameter. The discussion ended without a final resolution in the excerpt, with the committee still considering possible amendments to the Natural Resources rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• 57.880><c> a</c> own younger son had heat illness after a own younger son had heat illness after a game
• :00.000><c> uh</c><00:21:00.120><c> he</c><00:21:00.240><c> was</c><00:21:00.400><c> irritable</c> game
• uh in full gear uh he was irritable game uh in full gear uh he was irritable nauseated<00:21:01.760>
• He noted that the bill itself cites 4,000 estimated patients, based on the Michael J.
• care addressing a community- based care addressing a variety<01:41:42.760><c> of</c><01:41:43.679><c

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Health heard testimony on several measures. On HB 1233 relating to storm water management, the Attorney General’s office said the state may need to share costs with counties for any new inspection or regulatory program. Testifiers strongly supported the bill, including the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association and a community member who described her daughter’s death in a poorly maintained detention pond and urged statewide inspections and a comprehensive approach. A member asked the Attorney General about the cost-sharing issue, and the office said state appropriations would be needed if counties are required to take on new duties. The committee then heard HB 245 on student heat exposure safety. The Department of Education, Department of Health, and the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the measure. A physician testifying for the Climate Change and Health Working Group described children’s vulnerability to heat and cited examples from other states that adopted stronger heat guidelines after school heat deaths. The Department of Education said it could do the feasibility study without additional funding and preferred to wait for the study before deciding on equipment needs. The Attorney General’s office later testified on HB 903, authorizing schools to maintain bronchodilators, supporting the concept but warning that the bill’s definition of school was broad and that DOE may not have jurisdiction over all covered entities; it suggested changing “protocol” to “guidelines” and involving the Public Charter School Commission. On HB 1314 relating to youth mental health, the Department of Education testified in opposition, though no additional testimony was offered. The committee also heard HB 1334 on meat donation, with DLNR and the Hawaii Farm Bureau supporting the measure. HB 799 on health care drew support from HMSA and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, while the Department of Health said it supported the intent but wanted amendments, including limiting the bill to Maui, adding a sunset, and requiring a study of quality and access impacts. On HB 952 relating to Parkinson’s disease research, the Department of Health said the proposal would require additional appropriations and staffing and suggested a public-private partnership approach; the Hawaii Parkinson Association, Queen’s clinicians, and other supporters testified that a registry would help identify the number of patients and improve care. Finally, SHPDA strongly supported HB 1431 establishing an oral health task force, saying the state lacks sufficient dental oversight and that both keiki and kūpuna need better access to services.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:18.640><c> from</c> gives us a very limited tax base from gives us a very limited tax base
• </c> however increases in their rents based however increases in their rents based on<01:03:17.680><c
• Of course, we would prorate that based on bedrooms, etc., and probably base it off of bedrooms rather
• Of course, we would prorate that based on bedrooms, etc., and probably base it off of bedrooms rather
• </c> based on bedrooms Etc and probably base based on bedrooms Etc and probably base it<01:26:25.159>

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second challenge: the bad actors continue to get more sophisticated, so we need to step up our game too
• to</c><00:10:49.040><c> step</c><00:10:49.320><c> up</c><00:10:49.560><c> our</c><00:10:49.800><c> game
• Providers providing two time-based claims for the same unit, one hour, that partially overlapped.
• Aligning statute with guidance for time-based codes from the Minnesota Department of Health's rule and
• I think this is too far into the game.

Keywords: 1183, house