Transcript Highlights:

• One that was highlighted during our human services hearing was the Minnesota Board on Aging.
• And so we had the opportunity to talk about those issues, and we also had the Board on Aging come and
• </c><00:02:29.200><c> And</c><00:02:29.360><c> they</c> the Minnesota Board on Aging.
• And they the Minnesota Board on Aging.
• </c><00:02:49.200><c> come</c> and we also had the board on aging come and we also had the board on aging

Transcript Highlights:

• In the state of Alabama, you have to wait until age 19 to participate in that program.
• Do you think that's why they set the age at 19 in the first place?
• But I think it's more about tightening up on what takes place here with the age.
• In the Middle Ages, kings often ruled that the authority of...
• My young children do not need an explanation of what adultery is at the age of six.

Bills: HB266 , SB85 , SB166 , HB266 , SB85 , SB166

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: education, diploma, adult education, dropout prevention, nontraditional high school program, driver's license eligibility, vaccination exemption, religious exemption, medical exemption, vaccine mandate, testing requirement, public schools, K-12, students, parents, guardians, higher education, college enrollment, university attendance, public institutions of higher education

Transcript Highlights:

• name or a face to a program, but we're trying this morning to show you some pictures of real working ag
• Going back to protecting ag lands, we're also protecting the second highest economic driver in Florida
• of water bodies, aquifer recharge areas, wetlands and watersheds, the perpetuation of open space on ag
• What's the goal from the ag place? You're recognized. Thank you.
• Equipment on our state forest is aging. It's very old. A lot of it is military surplus.

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met with a quorum and heard two Department of Agriculture presentations. First, the Director of Rural and Family Lands described the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which buys development rights through perpetual conservation easements on private agricultural land to preserve farming, wildlife habitat, water resources, and open space while keeping land taxable and avoiding state maintenance costs. He said the program has expanded rapidly since 2023 through streamlined applications, templates, and an online portal, increasing acreage protected from about 66,000 acres through 2022 to more than 210,000 acres, with a higher share in the Florida wildlife corridor. He also said review times were reduced by more than 85 days and that projects under $5 million can move faster under statutory authority. The department is seeking $200 million in nonrecurring funding on top of $100 million recurring, citing 203 existing projects and 224 new applications totaling nearly $2 billion in estimated need. Members asked about the scientific ranking process, South Florida participation, project prioritization, maintenance responsibilities, and whether landowners can exit the program; staff said land remains privately owned, easements are in perpetuity, and partnerships and cost-sharing are prioritized. The committee then heard from the Florida Forest Service director, who outlined the agency’s dual mission of wildfire response and land management. He said the service responds to roughly 2,200 to 2,500 wildfires annually, manages 38 state forests and one ranch totaling more than 1.1 million acres, and receives about 15 million visitors each year. He highlighted the impact of Senate Bill 1638 gaming compact funds, which provided $32 million for land management, recreation, equipment, roads, invasive species control, habitat restoration, prescribed burning, reforestation, and staffing support. He said Florida leads the nation in prescribed fire, with 277,818 acres burned on state forests last year and 2.47 million acres burned statewide, and noted ongoing restoration work such as Picayune Strand. He also described challenges including aging equipment, deferred maintenance, contractor availability, and timber market instability caused by hurricanes and mill closures, and suggested longer-term funding and a higher capital asset allowance. Members discussed timber markets, public communication and marketing, recreation fees, and coordination with other agencies and FDOT. The meeting ended with the chair noting that next week’s meeting would report out agency conversations and budget recommendations, and the committee rose.

Transcript Highlights:

• records; and House Bill 492, an act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age
• House Bill 492, an act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement
• House Bill 4142, an act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement
• records, House Bill 2112; an act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age
• Glerloppes, House Bill 4092; an act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age

Summary: The House convened, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and first took up procedural matters. It suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow consideration of two petitions: one concerning the sale of nitrous oxides and another establishing a sick leave bank for a Suffolk County Sheriff's Office employee. The House also suspended Rule 7A to advance several bills reported by the Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee. The bills ordered to a third reading included legislation protecting employees’ right to rebuttal of personnel records, and local bills waiving the maximum age requirement for two Boston police officer applicants and establishing Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The House then passed two bills to enactment: one authorizing Scituate to issue four additional on-premises liquor licenses and another amending the charter of Aquinnah. Later, the House engrossed a Hull parking fines bill and considered a Randolph charter bill. On motion, the Randolph bill was amended by substitution with a related bill addressing compensation for town council and school committee members and meetings of multiple-member bodies, and then passed to engrossment as amended. The session concluded with adjournment, with notice that the House would meet in informal session on Wednesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• expert from county ops to the secretary's office, one program eligibility specialist from county ops to aging
• adult behavioral health services, one DHS division administrator from developmental disabilities to aging
• expert from county ops to the secretary's office one program eligibility specialist from county ops to aging
• and aging adult behavioral health services one DHS division administrator from developmental disabilities
• health services, one DHS division administrator from developmental disabilities to aging adult behavioral

Committee: All ALC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee met to consider several personnel and compensation items. Item B approved a request from the University of Arkansas Community College Hope-Texarkana to temporarily hire current Representative Dolly Henley in an extra help position as director of Hempstead Hall, with approval required under Arkansas law and the governor’s approval letter included in the packet. Item C approved special compensation award bonuses for employees at the Department of Shared Administrative Services and the Department of Finance and Administration who worked on specified projects and programs, including Sfor Hana, pay plan, onboarding, ERIBA, and performance goals. Item D approved a Department of Human Services reallocation of resources, including moving several positions among divisions and transferring roughly $180,000 associated with those positions. Items E through H were informational reports requiring no action, covering provisional higher education positions funded by unexpected revenues, special compensation and recruitment/incentive awards across state agencies, personnel actions previously authorized by the General Assembly, and a community correction quarterly caseload report. No questions were raised on the reports, and the meeting adjourned after all items were approved or received.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 492, an act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement
• House Bill 4142, an act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement
• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police
• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police
• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow several petitions to be referred, including a petition on the sale of nitrous oxides and a petition to establish a sick leave bank for a Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office employee. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling reported several House bills for consideration, including a bill protecting employees’ right to rebuttal of personnel records, two Boston Police age-waiver bills, and a bill establishing Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day; the House also suspended Rule 7A and ordered these bills to a third reading. The House then took up final passage on several measures. House Bill 4657, authorizing Scituate to issue four additional liquor licenses, was enacted. House Bill 2341, amending the charter of the town of Aquinnah, was also passed to be enacted. On third reading, House Bill 4247, authorizing Hull to establish a schedule of fines for parking violations, was passed to be engrossed. The House next considered House Bill 4400, relating to the charter of the town of Randolph. Representative Walsh of Peabody offered an amendment substituting House Bill 4891, which would amend the Randolph charter regarding compensation for town council and school committee members and meetings of multiple-member bodies; the amendment was adopted, and the bill was then passed to be engrossed as amended. The House then adjourned, with notice that it would meet in informal session on Wednesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• personnel records; House Bill 492, directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age
• House Bill 4142, directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement
• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police
• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police
• An act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police

Transcript Highlights:

• He's a partner and consultant with AG Bagget and PJ Weber Incorporated, and also serves as an adjunct
• Colleagues, there have been various attempts to outlaw or ban any marriages under the age of 18.
• Colleagues, there have been various attempts to outlaw or ban any marriages under the age of 18.
• Marriage is an adult commitment, and no child should be permitted to enter it before the age of 18.
• So there are occasions when children who are age 17-plus, just shy of their 18th birthday, do come up

Transcript Highlights:

• At a high level, these work-requirement changes apply to able-bodied working-age adults.
• In CalFresh, before considering any exemptions, the requirement applies to adults aged 18 to 64.
• Pregnant individuals are exempt, as are those caring for dependent children under age 14.
• For example, H.R. 1 expands the age range from age 54 to 64 and lowers the dependent child threshold
• Currently, we serve about 2.7 million adults age 18 to 64 on CalFresh. That is a statewide number.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on how H.R. 1’s new federal work and community engagement rules will affect Medi-Cal and CalFresh, especially for Californians with behavioral health needs, people experiencing homelessness, and justice-involved individuals. The Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined the scope of the changes, including Medi-Cal work requirements beginning in January 2027 and CalFresh changes beginning in June 2026, and estimated large potential coverage losses if people cannot document exemptions or comply with reporting rules. State departments said they are still awaiting some federal guidance but are already building implementation plans, data matching, outreach campaigns, and system changes to reduce disruption and automatically identify exemptions where possible. Department of Health Care Services and Department of Social Services officials described efforts to use existing data, CalSAWS, and cross-program coordination to streamline exemption screening, including for medical frailty, serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and student status. They said outreach will include text messaging, webinars, county training, and community-based partners, while also acknowledging that many people will still need direct worker contact. County representatives stressed that the new rules will create major administrative burdens, require significant new staffing, and could lead to coverage loss if counties are not adequately funded. They urged the Legislature to release the $20 million in current-year General Fund for CalFresh implementation and to consider a much larger county augmentation next year. Assembly members pressed the administration on outreach strategy, county funding, consistency across counties, and how to avoid harming eligible people through overly aggressive implementation. They also asked about coordination with universities, CDCR, and community-based organizations, and about how exemptions would be documented for mental health and substance use conditions. Department officials said they are working with counties, education institutions, and correctional agencies, and that they are trying to align Medi-Cal and CalFresh rules where possible, but not all federal definitions match. Public commenters from legal aid, counties, labor, and public hospitals warned that work requirements do not increase employment, will worsen food insecurity and health outcomes, and will strain county systems unless the state provides more funding and support.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if it's a student who's under the age of 18, that would be in the juvenile courts.
• That is what I taught my kids from a very young age. The Be Smart program is great. It's partisan.
• Chair, that is a totally different program, and Students Demand Action is more of a college-age, right
• Chair. ...Board of Education and getting the right curriculum for the age-appropriate, Mr. Chair.
• It specifies it needs to be age appropriate.

Committee: House House Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first considered SB 1422, which would continue the Credit Enhancement Eligibility Board for 10 years. Staff explained that the board supports a credit enhancement program used largely for charter school debt, helping borrowers secure better ratings and lower interest rates. There was no public testimony, and the bill passed with a due pass recommendation by an 8-1 vote. Members then heard SB 1166, allowing county school superintendents to offer high school equivalency preparation through accommodation schools to students in grades 11 and 12, provided they are at least 16. The Arizona Association of County School Superintendents supported the expansion, but one member opposed lowering eligibility from 12th grade to 11th grade. The bill received a due pass recommendation on an 8-1 vote with one present and two absent. SB 1684, which would create a cause of action against public schools for failing to address known bullying that leads to serious physical injury, drew strong opposition from school and legal groups. Opponents argued it was constitutionally problematic, overly broad, lacked key definitions, and could create liability for conduct outside a school’s control; supporters emphasized school accountability in serious bullying cases. After testimony, the committee held the bill with objection. The committee also passed SB 1424, requiring annual age-appropriate firearm safety awareness instruction in K-12 schools beginning in 2027-2028, despite opposition from gun-safety advocates and education groups who argued it shifted responsibility from adults to children and schools and was an unfunded mandate. The bill passed 6-5. Later, SB 1475, barring students with certain criminal convictions or juvenile adjudications from participating in school district-sponsored interscholastic activities, drew opposition from criminal justice advocates and some members who said it was overly punitive and could harm rehabilitation, while supporters argued the offenses were serious and that participation is a privilege. It passed 6-5. SB 1572, requiring Celebrate Freedom Week civics instruction in public schools, also passed 6-5 after members debated whether it duplicated existing civics requirements and whether it imposed new curriculum burdens. Finally, SB 1741, requiring districts and charters to allow release-time religious instruction and award credit under certain conditions, was presented and opposed by a secular education advocate who argued it undermined local control and could lead to legal and academic problems; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if it's a student who's under the age of 18, ...to be dealt with.
• And if it's a student who's under the age of 18, that would be in the juvenile courts.
• That is what I taught my kids from a very young age. The Be Smart program is great. It's partisan.
• Chair, that is a totally different program, and Students Demand Action is more of a college-age, right
• It specifies it needs to be age appropriate.

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• So making sure that a juvenile is 18 years of age or under.
• On page 8, under the juvenile section, on line 15, the reference to age is 17.
• I've got to raise the age bill this penny.
• Line 15 should say 18 years of age or older for placement in an adult jail.
• The average age has gone up substantially.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number 17 has an additional high-level item in your packet for the Aging and Long-Term Services
• The AG asks for half a million. I believe we could get by with less. I can't speak for the AG.
• The AG asks for half a million. I believe we could get by with less.
• I can't speak for the AG, but I think we need to have some funding for this.
• But I believe that what I'm saying is accurate, and I think the AG will affirm that.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• A gunman shot four children, ages two to 11, and the 32-year-old mother.
• This unfortunately occurs to Floridians of all ages and is a traumatic experience.
• sex trafficking of a child to create a capital offense for an adult who traffics a child under the age
• The bill maintains a life felony for a person under the age of 18 convicted of the offense, so there's
• The bill maintains a life felony for a person under the age of 18 convicted of the offense.

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee heard and voted on a long series of criminal justice, public safety, victim protection, and regulatory bills. Several measures were reported favorably, including SB 1374 on school district reporting requirements, SB 1378 on restitution for leaving the scene of a crash, SB 1072 creating an expedited DNA testing grant program, SB 1140 establishing a Hillsborough County criminal offender substance abuse pilot program, SB 1266 revising public records protections for crime victims and certain law enforcement identities, SB 1546 delaying and refining background screening requirements for athletic coaches, SB 1430 on post-judgment execution proceedings related to terrorism victims, SB 1444 making a broad set of criminal justice changes, SB 240 on domestic and dating violence protections, SB 606 clarifying public lodging and food service removal procedures for nonpaying guests, SB 1450 giving law enforcement discretion in arrests involving people with significant medical conditions, SB 44 increasing penalties for impersonating law enforcement with unauthorized red or blue lights, SB 1000 expanding court-ordered sealing options, SB 1400 requiring platforms to remove altered sexual depictions, and SB 1696 addressing rideshare impersonation and transit service rules. Many of these bills were amended before final passage, often with strike-all amendments or technical changes, and several had support from law enforcement, advocacy groups, or industry representatives. Testimony was generally supportive on the public safety and victim-protection bills, with speakers emphasizing faster DNA testing, better protections for domestic violence survivors, clearer rules for hotel and motel operators, and stronger tools against fraud, impersonation, and trafficking. Some bills drew notable concerns or opposition. SB 1266 prompted questions about whether a 72-hour cooling-off period for officer identities could be extended too broadly, while SB 606 drew concerns that the bill could affect families living in hotels or extended stays during the housing affordability crisis. SB 1444 generated discussion about false reporting language, off-duty carry for prosecutors and judges, and the scope of automatic sealing changes. SB 1000’s expanded sealing relief received broad support but was narrowed by amendments excluding certain offenses such as DUI and indecent exposure. The most contentious measure was SB 1804, which would create a capital offense for trafficking a child under 12 or a mentally incapacitated person for sexual exploitation. The sponsor argued it targets the most severe trafficking cases and includes safeguards such as excluding minors from capital punishment and preserving life imprisonment if the capital procedure is invalidated. Opponents, including the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, argued the death penalty is unconstitutional for non-homicide crimes, costly, and ineffective, and committee members raised concerns about whether the bill would incentivize traffickers to kill victims to avoid identification. Debate also touched on broader concerns about the death penalty’s constitutionality and whether life imprisonment is a more severe punishment. The transcript ends during that debate, without a final vote on SB 1804 included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the restrictions for individuals under the age of 18.
• It's, I believe, a model community. for people, especially for those who age in place.
• Age is a very common one. In general, I think that's it.
• At ages 16 and 18, it kind of dips down, bottoms out, and the 35 to 55 age bucket pays the lowest rates
• Ages have different credit scores.

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Office of Aging and support. Carolyn La Chair, Vice Chair. Christina Valenzuela: Thank you.
• I'm Christina Valenzuela with the Executive Office on Aging.
• I'm Christina Valenzuela with the Executive Office on Aging.
• </c><00:18:20.480><c> and</c><00:18:20.720><c> support</c> of Aging and support of Aging and support
• Okay, next we have Carolyn Kadal, Executive Office on Aging, in support.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services heard a series of gubernatorial nominations and board appointments, mostly to health-related advisory councils and commissions. Nominees testified briefly about their backgrounds and reasons for serving, including Melanie Lao for the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee; Asana Saragosa Torres and Jessica Stevens for the State Council on Mental Health; several nominees for the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee, including S. Brian, Jacob Pelo, Patrick Winfield Lougher, Dr. An Young, Marin Anka, and Kenneth Faria; Roxanne Row for the Hawaii County Health Planning Council; Lewis Johnson and Susie Schulberg for the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs; Mariah Nicholls and Evan Nakatsuka for the State Rehabilitation Council; and Co Woly for the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation board. Testimony in support came from the Department of Health, the Executive Office on Aging, the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, and other individuals and organizations, with several nominees emphasizing lived experience, rural health access, mental health advocacy, EMS experience, or community service. One nomination, GM 522 for Melanie Lao, drew favorable comments about her qualifications and written responses. GM 572, Roxanne Row’s nomination to the Hawaii County Health Planning Council, was the only item that raised concern because the committee had not received her questionnaire answers directly; after questioning, the chair deferred decision-making on that nomination until March 5 pending receipt of the answers. The committee also noted a title correction for GM 548, changing the reference from an advisory board to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee. At the end of the meeting, the committee voted to advise and consent on all nominations except GM 572, which was deferred. The adopted recommendations covered GM 522, 523, 525, 526, 540, 541, 548, 575, 576, 577, 579, 629, 630, 631, and 633. The meeting then adjourned after congratulating the nominees and inviting them to remain for a group photo.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I do believe that that aging workforce just reinforces that it's not just what we constantly need
• And I do believe that that aging workforce just reinforces that it's not just what we constantly need
• I think that what's the cliff, as you put it, is our aging out of our senior staff and owners.
• We have that problem of the aging out of manufacturing in the state. You know, we have over 24,000.
• I think that what's the cliff, as you put it, is our aging out of our senior staff and owners.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee met to hear an overview of its jurisdiction and then focused primarily on Florida manufacturing. Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly described manufacturing as central to a more resilient, diversified economy, citing the 2023 Florida Manufacturing Report and noting strong growth in manufacturing businesses, jobs, exports, and workforce programs. He emphasized that most Florida manufacturers are small businesses, that the sector is increasingly STEM- and technology-driven, and that the state’s main challenge is workforce aging and the need to retain trained talent. Members also discussed how to better expose students and parents to manufacturing careers, improve startup access to capital, and strengthen regional manufacturing corridors and transportation links. Kevin Carr of FloridaMakes said Florida is on track to become a top-five manufacturing state, but warned that productivity, technology adoption, and workforce shortages remain key issues. He said a proposed manufacturing bill would create a chief manufacturing officer and help address workforce, technology, and market-visibility challenges. Bain Beecher of PGT Innovations described the company’s growth and community role, but highlighted obstacles such as affordable housing, insurance costs, permitting delays, supply-chain disruptions, and limited awareness of manufacturing careers among students and parents. Andrew Kosowski of Veterans Metal focused on small- and medium-sized manufacturers, citing labor shortages, the cost of adopting new technology, regulatory burdens, and cybersecurity compliance as major pressures, and urged support for the draft manufacturing bill. Brian Giuliani of the Port of Tampa Bay outlined the port’s cargo mix, infrastructure investments, and role in moving fuel, construction materials, and manufactured goods, saying the port’s expansion and transloading plans could better connect Florida manufacturers to suppliers and markets. Committee members repeatedly stressed the need to promote manufacturing careers earlier in school, improve public perception of the industry, and reduce barriers to investment. No formal vote was taken during the discussion, but the panelists broadly supported the draft manufacturing legislation and the committee’s focus on manufacturing policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is compared to the total ag lease rental revenue the trust received for all four of...
• This is compared to the total ag lease rental revenue the trust received for all four of Fondomonte's
• So the current ag acreage leased is a little over $150,000.
• And so the ag lending industry starts talking about is it even worth lending on state lands?
• I think we need to have more partnerships with mines, ag, business, housing, et cetera.

Summary: The Joint Natural Resources and House Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committees of Reference heard the Arizona Auditor General’s sunset review of the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. The audit found the board generally met some licensing requirements, but it did not timely investigate and resolve 49 of 159 complaints in fiscal year 2024, and it did not fully comply with conflict-of-interest disclosure and filing requirements. The Auditor General also identified weaknesses in continuing-education verification and other sunset-factor areas, and the board agreed to implement all 21 recommendations. Board staff said complaint volume has risen sharply since the pandemic, that the board’s process is slower because every case goes through an investigative committee and then the full board, and that it has already corrected some conflict-of-interest issues and is adding tools to improve continuing-education audits. The committee then heard testimony from the board’s executive director and from the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. The executive director emphasized the board’s public-protection mission, described the shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians, and said the board is working to improve efficiency through a new e-licensing system and staff training. Members asked about the shortage of large-animal veterinarians, complaint backlogs, and whether the board could do more to recruit rural practitioners; the board said it lacks direct recruiting authority but supports multiple licensure pathways and loan-assistance efforts. The veterinary association supported the board’s oversight and said it is also working on rural and large-animal workforce issues through partnerships and advocacy. The committee then voted to recommend continuing the board for eight years, until July 1, 2034. The committee next took up the Arizona State Land Department, beginning with the Auditor General’s presentation on the department’s sunset review and prior special audit. The audit found the department had not updated its required five-year disposition plan since 2011, had sold more than 48,000 acres without an active plan, had allowed agricultural rental rates to go unchanged since 2006 despite market increases, and had not consistently inspected mineral-related leases or properly managed reclamation bonds. The Auditor General said these issues created risks of lost revenue, reduced transparency, and public-safety hazards, and recommended 18 corrective actions in the main review plus 34 additional recommendations on other issues; the department agreed to most recommendations but declined to adopt a written policy for commissioner-initiated land sales. Commissioner Robin Sahid said the department is working through audit recommendations, has created a rules team, improved its customer portal, and is pursuing new policies on water use, transportation-basin leases, and disposition planning. Members questioned the department about agricultural leases, groundwater valuation, the Fondomonte leases and reimbursement for improvements, the canceled Coyotes land auction, backlog and processing times, and the use of consultants and administrative funds. The commissioner said the department had over 2,000 applications in queue when she arrived, that it has made progress reducing the backlog, and that it is conducting stakeholder outreach on water-efficiency standards and lease addenda. No final vote on the land department continuation was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• First up testifying in support is the Department of Ag and Biosecurity, not here in person, but in support
• Ag Stewardship Hawaii in support, and Lauren Zirbel for Hawaii Food Industry Association in support.
• Ag<00:01:17.920><c> Stewardship</c><00:01:18.440><c> Hawaii</c><00:01:19.680><c> in</c><00:01:19.880>
• <c> support</c><00:01:20.560><c> and</c> Ag Stewardship Hawaii in support and Ag Stewardship Hawaii in

Bills: HCR144

Committee: Senate Government Operations

Summary: The joint Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment hearing on April 16, 2020 considered only HCR 144, House Draft 2, which asks the Department of Agriculture to work with state and county agencies and community-based organizations to develop a comprehensive statewide food strategy. Testimony was generally supportive: the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity supported the measure, as did Kanaloani Ohana Farm, the Farm Bureau, Ag Stewardship Hawaii, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association. DBEDT submitted comments that were described as sounding more like opposition, citing existing efforts. No members of the public appeared to testify, and there were no questions from members. The Government Operations committee recommended the resolution pass as drafted, and members present voted aye. Because the Agriculture and Environment committee lacked quorum, its decision-making was rolled over to the next day, Friday, April 17, 2020 at 3:10 p.m. in CR 224. The chair noted that the measure had been adopted on the GVO side and, with the noticed time certain for the remaining committee action, the hearing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also helps Repair aging homes and invests in community infrastructure.
• On June 14th, there was a storm surge for the ages.
• She recently transitioned at the age of 81.
• But take a look at this: seniors per 100 working-age adults.
• U.S. population aged 65 and up: 2011, 41 million; 2026, so the year...

Bills: HB2478