Transcript Highlights:

• We then reverted to PCA services.
• We then reverted to PCA services.
• The district controls the services.
• to adult services.
• And it establishes a special commission.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a hearing focused primarily on special education-related bills, with testimony centered on two major themes: transition planning for students aging out of school-based services at age 22, and the fiscal strain special education costs place on districts. Committee members explained hearing procedures, noted the House was in formal session, and periodically stepped out for votes while staff recorded testimony. A separate bill on special education due process was also taken up briefly, along with a bill on special education finance and another on equitable access/data reporting. On House Bill 752 and Senate Bill 313, witnesses from the Arc of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, the Developmental Disabilities Council, families, self-advocates, and Senator Comerford described the “Turning 22” transition as a crisis point that often leaves families without adult placements, services, or clear communication. Testimony emphasized earlier planning, more accountability, better data collection, and a commission to improve coordination and residential placement. Several parents and advocates shared personal accounts of traumatic transitions, delayed placements, and the need for plans to begin at least a year before age 22. The committee later closed testimony on these bills after hearing from all signed-up speakers. House Bill 4217, on special education due process, drew support from Representative Sullivan-Almeida, parents, and advocates who argued that the burden of proof should shift from families to school districts. Testimony described costly legal battles, delays, and parents having to become experts in reading instruction or hire advocates and attorneys to secure services. Brody Dwyer, a 10-year-old student with dyslexia, and his mother described how evidence-based instruction helped him after years of struggle. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 546/Senate Bill 317, which would require DESE to publish cross-tabulated data on race, disability, gender, income, and other factors; advocates said this would better expose disparities and help address the school-to-prison pipeline. Finally, on House Bill 691/Senate Bill 430, school leaders, educators, and union representatives testified that special education costs are outpacing district budgets and that increasing circuit breaker reimbursement and creating a commission to study long-term sustainability would help prevent staffing cuts and service reductions. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee repeatedly closed testimony on individual bills as speakers finished and moved through the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Connie Corona, Executive Director of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and Will West Wörsdorf,
• I hope I'm saying Public Utility Commission of Texas and Will West Wörsdorf, I hope I'm saying Welcome
• The Public Utility Commission is active in the critical infrastructure security discussion going on among
• The bill, the Public Utility Commission of Texas shall evaluate whether the existing methodology used
• But the last part of it, in particular, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, shall evaluate whether

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce convened to discuss critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, particularly focusing on Texas's power grid and associated vulnerabilities. The meeting highlighted Texas's recent ranking as 10th in electricity affordability, emphasizing the state's commitment to maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid. New committee members introduced themselves, and the agenda included testimony from ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission regarding the implementation of the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, which aims to mitigate risks posed by foreign entities to the power grid. Chad Sealy from ERCOT presented updates on the attestation process for market participants, revealing that over 1,500 entities had submitted attestations regarding their corporate structures and affiliations with designated foreign countries. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the current vetting process, particularly regarding indirect relationships with foreign adversaries. Testimonies from the PUC and the Attorney General's office underscored the challenges of enforcing compliance and the need for improved legislative measures to enhance oversight and security. The committee also heard from experts, including Dr. Emma Stewart from Idaho National Laboratory, who discussed the evolving threats to the grid from foreign adversaries and the importance of securing communication systems. Recommendations included prioritizing inspections of critical components and enhancing collaboration with national laboratories to address vulnerabilities. The discussion concluded with an acknowledgment of the balance needed between ensuring grid security and maintaining affordability for consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• A public notice will be posted on our website.
• State Public Charter School Commission stands on submitted testimony in support. Thank you.
• Hola Mua, Hawaii Public Health Institute. Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women. DGS.
• Stand on Department of Common Services.
• 24:55.360><c> Hawaii</c> Re-imagining public safety in Hawaii Re-imagining public safety in Hawaii Coalition

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee convened at 10:00 a.m. and opened with instructions about live streaming, one-minute testimony limits, and the possibility of reconvening on March 31 if technical problems interrupted the hearing. The committee then took up HB 300, which drew extensive testimony from state agencies, commissions, nonprofits, and advocacy groups. Many agencies, including Budget and Finance, Education, Health, Housing, and others, said they stood on their written testimony and supported the measure. One witness from the Kohala Island Reserve Commission supported the bill and asked for funding for a CIP project at its Kihei site to consolidate offices and generate revenue for Maui. Several groups, including the Hawaii Oral Health Coalition and the Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, supported funding for mandated oral health services and higher ABA provider rates for children with autism. In contrast, the Re-imagining Public Safety in Hawaii Coalition and Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice opposed $30 million for jail planning and additional incarceration-related spending, urging more investment in housing, mental health, youth programs, education, and restorative justice. The chair noted the testimony totals for HB 300: 186 in support, 91 opposed, and 52 comments. The committee then heard brief testimony on HB 794 and HB 795. The Department of Budget and Finance supported HB 794, and the Tax Foundation was listed for HB 795 but was not present. No additional testimony was offered on either bill. After the testimony phase, the committee deferred all three measures—HB 300, HB 794, and HB 795—for decision making to March 31 at 10:00 a.m. in the same room.

Transcript Highlights:

• uh the commission has recognizes<01:38:14.960><c> certain</c><01:38:15.199><c> public</c><01:38:15.440
• Uh, so the commission will look and see: can the resource sustain both the private users and the public
• Uh, so the commission will look and see: can the resource sustain both the private users and the public
• Uh, so the commission will look and see: can the resource sustain both the private users and the public
• Uh, so the commission will look and see: can the resource sustain both the private users and the public

Bills: HB1721 , HB1714 , HB1718 , HB1732 , HB1740 , HB1777 , HB1842 , HB1919 , HB1701 , HB1923 , HB1741 , HB1734 , HB1739

Committee: House Housing

Summary: The House Housing Committee met on February 4 and heard testimony on several housing measures, beginning with HB1721, which clarifies insurance, indemnification, and certificate-of-occupancy requirements for expedited permits. Testimony on HB1721 was uniformly supportive from the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Grassroot Institute, and individual testifiers, who said the bill would fix insurance issues for design professionals and encourage more participation in the expedited-permit program. No opposition was heard and no questions were raised. The committee then heard HB1714, which would raise salary caps for the executive director and deputy executive director positions at the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and allow more autonomy in personnel matters, including employment contracts. HHFDC supported the bill, saying greater flexibility is needed to recruit and retain staff and that current pay ceilings are not the main issue because the agency lacks operating funds to reach them. The Department of Human Resources Development offered comments and raised concerns about autonomous personnel authority and employment contracts, saying state personnel matters are governed by existing statutes and collective bargaining rules; the Hawaii Public Housing Authority also offered comments, and one board member and one individual opposed the measure. Members questioned whether performance-based pay or existing incentive policies could address retention instead of statutory salary changes. The committee also heard HB1718, which would make permanent county authority to facilitate mixed-use developments and issue county bonds for low- and moderate-income housing projects. Support came from OPSD, HHFDC, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Housing and Land Management, and Housing Hawaii’s Future, all emphasizing that permanent authority is needed to finance long-term mixed-use and transit-oriented projects. A member asked whether the sunset provision would make bonding impractical, and the city representative agreed that temporary authority would make financing difficult because development takes time. Later, the committee took up HB1732, establishing the Kamina Homes program to fund counties’ purchase of voluntary deed restrictions from eligible buyers. The Department of Taxation and several groups, including HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Holomua Collaborative, and others testified, with most supporting the bill as a way to help local families remain in Hawaii and age in place. Holomua said a recent survey found 75% of 3,200 working families were considering moving, and argued the bill could preserve housing for local residents. Members asked about the bill’s 8% cap on deed-restriction cost and why the program focuses on residency rather than resale restrictions; the bill’s proponents said the cap allows flexibility for county negotiations and that the measure is aimed at workforce preservation rather than land-trust-style appreciation limits. Finally, the committee heard HB1740, which would modify a prior HHFDC housing pathway by reducing the qualified-resident requirement from 100% to 80% and allowing more flexibility for long-term rental instead of owner occupancy. HHFDC and Holomua Collaborative supported the change, saying the earlier 100% requirement had produced no developments or applicants and that the revised standard would make projects more feasible while still preserving housing for local residents. The committee did not take final votes on these measures during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• that you do not hinder our efforts to provide services to the voting public and to ensure that our ballots
• Thank you. public official may accept travel.
• The real number is 547 public corruption convictions.
• We know that the service that we're providing is working.
• Aldridge also mentioned we increase in service.

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• We coordinate with different services, and we coordinate with field service staff.
• We coordinate with different services and we coordinate with field service staff.
• Field services, we deliver our reentry services to parolees to support...
• Every population we're servicing.
• This commission means a lot.

Summary: The Special Commission on Criminal Justice Reform 3.0 heard a presentation from the Massachusetts Parole Board focused on how parole works with the Department of Correction, county houses of correction, sheriffs, probation, and community providers to support reentry and public safety. Chair Angela Gomez described the board’s mission, organizational structure, and 2024 activity, including institutional release hearings, life-sentence hearings, victim-notification events, pardons, commutations, and the supervision of nearly 3,000 committed parolees. She emphasized that the board is increasingly using evidence-based practices, risk assessment tools, and individualized conditions, including more structured GPS use and graduated sanctions, rather than relying on a purely punitive model. Commission members and sheriffs asked for more detailed breakdowns of parole and supervision data, including the difference between releases from Massachusetts custody and all releases under supervision, the average length of supervision, the share of lifers, revocations, and how many people are on dual supervision with probation. The board said it would provide follow-up data on length of stay, housing, employment, treatment participation, and outcomes. Members also discussed why some people refuse parole, noting that refusals can be driven by pending cases, a desire to avoid supervision, or a preference for a shorter custodial sentence over a longer supervised release or treatment placement. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on collaboration and shared resources across agencies, including MASH housing, community justice support centers, CRJ beds, sheriff-run programs such as HOPE and Rocky Hill, and UMass partnerships on risk assessment and community pathways. Speakers said the main gaps are not duplication but limited housing, treatment, and mental health capacity, especially for older people, people with substance use needs, and difficult-to-place populations such as sex offenders and arson offenders. The commission also received an update on the Matus decision: 210 individuals were identified as affected, 144 were immediately parole-eligible, 100 hearings had been completed, 10 were scheduled, and the rest were being processed as eligibility dates were confirmed. The meeting ended with plans for a March 9 public hearing and a request that members who have not toured facilities do so before future votes on correctional policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• And unfortunately, the Public Service Commission has taken a bill that dealt with fossil keeping fossil
• And unfortunately um<00:02:36.000><c> the</c><00:02:36.239><c> public</c><00:02:36.560><c> service</c
• ><00:02:36.959><c> commission</c><00:02:37.680><c> has</c> um the public service commission has um the
• public service commission has taken<00:02:38.160><c> a</c><00:02:38.400><c> bill</c><00:02:38.560><c
• What the commission did under that.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:07:42.400><c> group</c><00:07:42.560><c> that</c> commission actually or the group that commission
• with the commission staff clearly work<00:26:47.039><c> with</c><00:26:47.279><c> commission</c><00:
• </c> allocated by the commission allocated by the commission proportionate<00:29:06.559><c> to</c><00
• </c><00:29:18.559><c> we</c> the community college commission we the community college commission we
• </c><00:58:08.240><c> In</c> guarantee that service provision. In guarantee that service provision.

Bills: HB0111 , HB0112 , HB0122

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a budget policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
• Moving on to the Management Services Division.
• This is the nonprofit software-as-a-service organization.
• They pay for music, like a streaming service as well.
• They pay for music, like a streaming service as well.

Summary: The committee met jointly with Senate Finance and House Appropriations to review the Idaho Department of Correction budget, beginning with an agency overview from Legislative Services analyst Noah Peterson and then testimony from Director Bree Derrick. Discussion focused on the department’s overall funding mix, declining balances in dedicated funds such as inmate labor and probation/parole receipts, vacancy management, and the impact of the governor’s holdback exemption. Members also asked about software and technology costs, the Hepatitis C Fund, replacement items, and why some positions remain vacant or are held open as a budget strategy. A substantial portion of the meeting covered the department’s major divisions and cost drivers. In state prisons, county/out-of-state placement, community corrections, community-based substance use disorder treatment, and medical services, the analyst and director explained enhancement requests, supplemental needs, and rising operating costs tied to inflation, population growth, and contract rates. Members questioned the inmate labor fund’s decline, the loss of work contracts, the cost and effectiveness of recidivism and transparency software, the Pocatello reentry center, body-worn cameras, RFID and drone detection technology, and the medical contract with Centurion. The department said some cuts were made or planned in response to budget pressure, including reduced spending on Recidivis and other contracts, while body-worn cameras and some public-safety tools were retained. The committee also discussed prison population pressures, county jail and out-of-state placement costs, mandatory minimum sentences, and the use of county jails as overflow. Director Derrick said the department is seeing more admissions than releases and that Idaho’s incarceration rate remains high relative to neighboring states. She also said the department is working to expand county and out-of-state options and to pursue more inmate labor contracts. Several members asked for follow-up information on staffing, contract counts, program impacts, and fund balances. The meeting then moved to the Commission of Pardons and Parole budget, where Director Christine Starr testified that commissioners are part-time but effectively work full-time, are not paid for training or all preparation time, and that turnover remains a concern. No votes were taken; the committee adjourned to resume the next day after work groups.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment 5 adds language stating that nothing in the bill impairs the Louisiana Public Service Commission's
• House Bill 364 by Representative Phelps is an act to amend Title 40 relative to public service announcements
• to provide notice to the public regarding the discharge of weapons in public.
• information among the other public service information that they give to the public.
• Of the Louisiana Sickle Cell Commission and provide for the members of the Louisiana Sickle Cell Commission

Bills: SR125 , SCR70 , SCR12 , HB4 , HB251 , HB623 , HB819 , HB944 , HB986 , HB1098 , HB1222 , HB1257 , HB221 , HCR58 , SCR22 , SCR24 , SB29 , SB30 , SB32 , SB41 , SB42 , SB43 , SB47 , SB84 , SB93 , SB113 , SB192 , SB199 , SB219 , SB220 , SB221 , SB222 , SB241 , SB253 , SB255 , SB289 , SB292 , SB306 , SB314 , SB351 , SB399 , SB404 , SB14 , SB102 , SB133 , SB151 , SB165 , SB169 , SB170 , SB200 , SB217 , SB280 , SB291 , SB300 , SB303 , SB330 , SB449 , SB489 , SB521 , SB45 , SB156 , SB181 , SB203 , SB274 , SB304 , SB379 , SB396 , SB410 , SB425 , SB427 , SB436 , SB424 , SCR61 , SCR9 , SB35 , SB65 , SB215 , SB246 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , HCR31 , HB296 , HB299 , HB322 , HB364 , HB519 , HB535 , HB538 , HB568 , HB571 , HB622 , HB635 , HB676 , HB772 , HB784 , HB1006 , HB1018 , HB1043 , HB1070 , HB1134 , HB1239 , HB62 , HB193 , HB203 , HB210 , HB220 , HB228 , HB246 , HB420 , HB475 , HB486 , HB574 , HB584 , HB750 , HB813 , HB815 , HB826 , HB870 , HB949 , HB953 , HB1045 , HB1092 , HB1151 , HB1162 , HB1176 , HB1177 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1241 , HB22 , HB28 , HB33 , HB41 , HB47 , HB87 , HB115 , HB162 , HB195 , HB214 , HB217 , HB233 , HB283 , HB290 , HB319 , HB324 , HB345 , HB362 , HB363 , HB368 , HB377 , HB380 , HB382 , HB386 , HB392 , HB406 , HB431 , HB441 , HB466 , HB503 , HB533 , HB559 , HB575 , HB590 , HB593 , HB618 , HB636 , HB655 , HB664 , HB685 , HB692 , HB707 , HB715 , HB732 , HB738 , HB741 , HB748 , HB776 , HB807 , HB822 , HB856 , HB860 , HB868 , HB887 , HB888 , HB905 , HB908 , HB961 , HB980 , HB990 , HB992 , HB999 , HB1000 , HB1010 , HB1146 , HB1157 , HB1233 , HB1236 , HB1243 , HB54 , HB137 , HB180 , HB192 , HB310 , HB321 , HB396 , HB512 , HB552 , HB578 , HB638 , HB663 , HB708 , HB717 , HB718 , HB1009 , HB1082 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1198 , HB1246 , HB1250 , HB17 , HB36 , HB73 , HB119 , HB126 , HB129 , HB133 , HB140 , HB159 , HB166 , HB211 , HB226 , HB245 , HB271 , HB280 , HB337 , HB351 , HB354 , HB399 , HB677 , HB712 , HB723 , HB726 , HB728 , HB759 , HB789 , HB844 , HB850 , HB966 , HB1036 , SB149 , SB382 , SB441 , HB134 , HB258 , HB359 , HB782

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, received an opening prayer from Pastor Elizabeth Ali Frank, and adopted the journal. The chamber then handled a large number of messages, committee reports, resolutions, and House bills, including several ceremonial resolutions and many House measures returned with amendments. Notable resolutions included recognition of World Preeclampsia Awareness Day, commendations for Louisiana sports honorees, and a resolution urging higher reimbursement rates for behavioral health crisis centers, which was adopted. The Senate also concurred in SCR 22 on opioid settlement fund reporting, with Senator Myers explaining the House changes were technical and improved the reporting deadline and detail. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to concurrence or rejection of House amendments on Senate bills. The Senate concurred in several bills involving telehealth, prenatal bereavement care, official journals, ambulance Medicaid coverage, insurance and licensing disclosures, peptide regulation, psychosocial rehabilitation services, university records confidentiality, the Inspector General, religious exercise protections, child care assistance, eye care coverage, teacher retirement, and electronic service of pleadings. The chamber rejected House amendments to SB 42 on AI-created child sexual abuse materials and SB 43 on psychedelic-assisted therapy, and also rejected amendments on SB 29 and SB 32 before later concurring in many other technical or clarifying House changes. Several members explained that the House amendments were mostly technical, clarified effective dates, or adjusted definitions and contact information. The Senate then took up numerous House bills on final passage. Bills passed included measures on inmate workforce development cleanup, jury bond filing by mail, free transcripts for victims testifying before pardon/parole hearings, public awareness on illegal firearm discharge, special masters in complex litigation, paternity acknowledgments in hospitals, juvenile court filing fees in East Baton Rouge Parish, drug-free school zone penalties, criminal history record confidentiality, body brokering/fraudulent patient referrals, bail notice and residence requirements, sex offender registration updates, parish court jurisdictional amounts, court technology fees, deferred retirement options, shared custody standards, women’s policy and research commission membership, sickle cell and uterine fibroids commission membership, child exploitation reporting on online platforms, recreation of the state civil service department, children’s cabinet membership, DCFS employee background checks, AI disclosure in health care visits, the psychology inter-jurisdictional compact, mental health advisory board updates, foster children’s rights, automatic renewal contract disclosures, Orleans sheriff term alignment, access to death records for financial institutions, insurance referral disclosures, radiologist assistant regulation, plumbing licensure reforms, legislative auditor thresholds, developmental disabilities office renaming, insurer investment rules, Medicare Advantage coverage for integrative care services, and more. Some bills were returned to the calendar for further work, including HB 571, HB 475, HB 750, and HB 1162, and HB 490 was set aside after extensive debate on private-use electrical networks and data-center power arrangements. The most prominent floor action was final passage of HB 636, the Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act, which Senator Boudreaux described as a comprehensive response to hazing tragedies on Louisiana campuses. He said the bill was developed by a task force that included the Wilson family and would strengthen education, reporting, accountability, and penalties, including permanent banishment for organizations involved in hazing deaths. After the bill passed 37-0, the Senate recognized the Wilson family and presented flags in Caleb Wilson’s honor. Throughout the day, many bills passed overwhelmingly, though a few drew dissent, including HB 296, HB 538, HB 568, HB 635, and HB 784. The meeting ended with continued consideration of additional House bills and unfinished items returned to the calendar for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:58.079><c> service</c> would allow the public service would allow the public service commission
• Um is it the public service commission.
• </c><01:41:06.159><c> service</c> directed by the public service directed by the public service commission
• Chris Petri, deputy chairman of the Public Service Commission.
• </c><02:59:32.080><c> service</c><02:59:32.479><c> commission</c> like any other public service commission

Committee: Joint Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• were handled just by the Public Utilities Commission.
• were handled just by the Public Utilities Commission.
• were handled just by the Public Utilities Commission.
• Just by the Public Utilities Commission.
• </c> rules were adopted by the Public rules were adopted by the Public Utilities<00:36:40.000><c> Commission

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:25.880><c> Service</c> or apply with the Public Service or apply with the Public Service Commission
• Also, in the short term, if it is granted, then that would mean that the Public Service Commission has
• c> determined</c> Public Service Commission has determined Public Service Commission has determined that
• I know that this freezes the base rate for 2 years, but will the Public Service Commission be able to
• </c><00:24:22.640><c> Service</c><00:24:23.040><c> Commission</c> but will the Public Service Commission

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• most recently in docket 23-151 in front of the Public Utilities Commission.
• In particular, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) can ensure appropriate cost allocation
• Another key point to this bill is that it gives the Public Utilities Commission the ability to provide
• Our Public Utilities Commission recently approved a large utility-owned virtual power plant as part of
• This was commissioned by the Natural Resource Service of Sauk Rapids from employees contributing to it

Bills: HF2928 , HF2912 , HF2297

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Archie Kppa, and I’m up for a commission seat for the Hawaiian Homes Commission, so a little
• </c> and not just doing your commission and not just doing your commission meetings<00:10:12.959><c>
• </c> Voyages will be around my commission Voyages will be around my commission meetings<00:13:26.000>
• :27.000><c> will</c> meetings as my commission meetings will meetings as my commission meetings will
• </c> this Commission this Commission my<00:15:00.040><c> PRI</c><00:15:00.440><c> is</c><00:15:00.600

Committee: Senate Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs heard Governor’s Message 590, the nomination of Archie Kappa Kappa Kappa to the Hawaiian Homes Commission, and received extensive testimony in support from Department of Hawaiian Home Lands staff, labor representatives, and community members. Supporters emphasized his leadership during the Maui wildfire response, his cultural standing, his long community service, and his experience with the Polynesian Voyaging Society. In his own remarks, Kappa described his background as a lifelong Lahaina resident, former lifeguard supervisor, and community organizer, and said he would prioritize commission duties while balancing his voyaging commitments. Members questioned Kappa about attendance, his understanding of the Hawaiian Homes Commission’s responsibilities, and his views on commercialization and revenue generation. He said commission meetings would be his priority, acknowledged he could not guarantee attendance at every meeting, and explained that commercialization meant using commercial properties and leases to generate revenue for Hawaiian Homes communities. He also said he supported using land assets to reduce reliance on legislative appropriations. A senator raised Act 279 and the need to focus spending on reducing the waitlist; Kappa said the act was complex and that he did not yet know enough to speak confidently beyond what he had read. The committee did not vote on the nomination in the portion provided and said it would return to voting later. The committee then took up Governor’s Message 591, the nomination of Lawrence Luua to the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Testimony described his background in banking, military service, Maui County planning, and long involvement with Molokaʻi homestead matters. Luua told the committee he had lived the challenges of homestead life, including housing and road issues, and said he wanted to continue the work of Prince Kūhiō by helping Native Hawaiians return to and live on the land. In response to questions, he said he began attending DHHL meetings regularly in July 2024, discussed concerns about county road obligations versus homestead responsibilities, and said he had struggled with Act 279 because he was concerned about moving funds away from other projects even though he supported its goal of reducing the waitlist. The committee then moved on to the next governor’s message and testimony for another nominee, with a SHPD representative briefly introducing the background of that nominee, but no action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:07.600><c> Medicaid</c><00:17:08.600><c> um</c><00:17:09.000><c> public</c> Support Services
• Medicaid um public Support Services Medicaid um public health<00:17:09.799><c> and</c><00:17:10.039>
• I'm the Director for the Division of Public Health Services.
• I wanted just to go over today a little background on the Division of Public Health Services.
• Public health has a range of services available.

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• within their own commission.
• I applaud what the commission is trying to do.
• I hate to say the Commission starts weighing in and saying, "Hey, the membership of the Commission outvoted
• I assume on the Commission they say, "Hey, we're going to adopt tort reform at the Commission level,"
• . of release that would protect the public.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I share these numbers to give you a sense of the scale at which the public seeks our services.
• Legislators, judges, and executive officials alike are reminded tragically that public service can make
• Each of us is entrusted with advancing the rule of law through public service.
• Each of us is entrusted with advancing the rule of law through public service.
• Each of us is entrusted with advancing the rule of law through public service.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Corporation Commission.
• It just opens up the authority of the Corporation Commission that they could.
• , would you agree that those extension services, ...it's to the benefit of the extension services.
• Because, you know, in this regard, where we're trying to protect public health and public safety, nobody
• We have seen incidents where livestock have been mismanaged by the towing services or a third-party service

Bills: SB2173 , SB2028 , SB2117 , SB2127 , SB2134

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Wildlife

Summary: The committee first laid over Senate Bill 1573, then took up Senate Bill 2173, which would create a landowner/energy negotiation and agriculture preservation education program through OSU and Langston Extension, and authorize but not require the Corporation Commission to establish an energy land-remediation fee of up to $25 per acre on disturbed land, with a 50% credit for dual-use projects. Members discussed whether the fee would fall on landowners or projects, the role of county extension offices, and the bill’s lack of a fiscal impact after revisions. The bill was amended, title struck, and passed 12-0. Senate Bill 2028, as amended and worked from committee substitute, would allow advertising of raw milk and raw milk products, require labeling, and raise the incidental sales limit to 1,500 gallons per month while still barring commercial store sales. Senators debated whether warning labels should include health risks, especially for pregnant women, and whether the gallon limit was arbitrary. Supporters argued for consumer choice and parity with other risky foods, while opponents raised public health concerns. The bill passed 11-2. The committee then passed Senate Bill 2127, which creates an Oklahoma Department of Food and Forestry advisory council on product classification, by a 11-2 vote. Senate Bill 2117, dealing with contamination of grain and assigning responsibility to the Department of Agriculture after a sewage-related wheat contamination incident, passed 13-0 after members noted the need for clearer definitions of contamination. Finally, Senate Bill 2134, addressing livestock safety and humane treatment after truck wrecks by directing ODAF to develop rules and training for emergency responders, also passed 13-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Appropriation Public Safety Department. Appropriation Public Safety Department.
• </c> Compensation Commission. Compensation Commission.
• </c> Workers' Compensation Commission. Workers' Compensation Commission.
• </c> Coliseum Commission Livestock Show. Coliseum Commission Livestock Show.
• And also the treasury debt service bank service charge of $500,000.