Transcript Highlights:

• The contractor, the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, has thus
• How big of a problem is pesticide drift in your schools? I know Kauaʻi had a lot of problems.
• bit of smelling.
• bit of smelling.
• bit of smelling.

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The joint AEN-PSM hearing on February 7, 2025 focused primarily on three agriculture-related measures and one animal welfare bill, with additional discussion of pesticide drift monitoring, coffee labeling, and a gas-pump labeling bill. SB 762 would create an Agricultural Crimes Council and authorize agricultural crime investigators; testimony from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Law Enforcement, the Attorney General’s office, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and several members of the public was generally supportive, with repeated calls for stronger enforcement, community involvement, and in some cases allowing investigators to be armed. Some testifiers also urged changes to the appointment process for council members, preferring neighborhood boards or local officials over gubernatorial appointments. The committee discussed combining related agricultural crime bills and noted concerns about investigator safety in remote areas. SB 763 would establish an agriculture enforcement program within the Department of Law Enforcement and a special fund. Testimony was strongly supportive from state agencies and farm groups, with speakers emphasizing the need for more effective response to agricultural theft, poaching, and related crimes. Several public testifiers linked the bill to broader community safety and asked for clearer funding, training, coordination, performance metrics, and technology use. The committee also heard SB 1022, which would prohibit leaving pets in dangerous conditions in vehicles and allow officers, firefighters, animal control, and in some cases private citizens to rescue animals; the Attorney General said existing cruelty statutes may already cover the conduct and suggested amendments, while HPD opposed the bill. Members asked about liability for rescuers and whether the proposal might affect property-crime enforcement. The committee also heard SB 1304 on pesticide drift monitoring funding, with the Department of Agriculture supporting the measure and explaining it was needed to complete a required project under an EPA-related agreement. A Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action representative raised concerns about the methodology of prior studies, and a public testifier described a recent odor incident near a roadway and school. SB 1015, requiring labels on gas dispensing equipment warning about fossil fuel impacts, drew support from the Department of Agriculture and the Public Utilities Commission but opposition from the Hawaii Energy Marketers Association. SB 500 on coffee labeling and regional origin was also heard, with the Department of Agriculture in support. In decision-making, the committees adopted recommendations to pass SB 762 with amendments, SB 763 with amendments, SB 1022 with technical amendments, SB 1304 with technical amendments, and SB 1015 as is; SB 500 was not acted on in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We changed the date of the sunset. Is that the only change in here?
• There's a little bit of a fray about House Bill 2 and what happened to the 1%.
• And remember, if you're making under $50,000, we're paying 100% of that.
• So there's a lot of money spent on our state employees. We've taken care of them very well.
• When do you anticipate doing the bill for the university fund? I don't know, we'll see.

Bills: HB253 , HB153 , HB255 , HB287 , HB371 , SB151 , HB8 , SB177

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee first corrected its action on Senate Bill 151, noting that the earlier motion had been made incorrectly after the committee substitute was amended. Members then moved to do not pass the Senate Finance Committee substitute and do pass the same committee substitute so it could be sent to the floor. The only change identified in the substitute was an adjustment to the sunset date. A roll call vote followed, with several members voting yes and a few voting no or being excused, and the motion to report the committee substitute out with a due pass recommendation carried. After the SB 151 vote, the chair said the committee was essentially finished and expected to meet on the floor the next day, likely around noon, with a plan to come in earlier and handle a few more bills. The discussion then shifted to House Bill 2 and the broader issue of state employee compensation. One member argued that over the past several years the state had already provided substantial pay raises and benefits, citing roughly $1.3 billion in raises, about $184 million annually for health care costs, and $116 million annually for employer pension costs, for a total of about $1.6 billion over four years. That member said the state had done enough on employee compensation and that a proposed 1% increase did not make sense given competing priorities such as child care and other needs. The committee then adjourned, and there was a brief question about when the university fund bill would be heard, but no firm timing was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item B is a request from the University of Arkansas Community College Hope-Texarkana to temporarily hire
• current Representative Dolly Henley into an extra help position to fill the role of director of Hempstead
• The extra help position is to fill the role of director of Hempstead Hall.
• The governor's approval letter is provided on page four of the packet.
• of resources.

Committee: All ALC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee met and considered several administrative personnel and compensation items. Item B approved a temporary extra-help hire at the University of Arkansas Community College Hope-Texarkana, allowing current Representative Dolly Henley to serve as director of Hempstead Hall, with the required council and governor approvals already provided. Item C approved a special compensation award bonus plan for employees at the Department of Shared Administrative Services and DF&A for work on specified projects and performance goals, and Item D approved a Department of Human Services reallocation of positions and related funding, including about $180,000 moved between divisions. The committee also received informational reports under Items E through H, including a provisional position report for higher education, reports on special compensation and recruitment/incentive awards across state agencies, personnel actions taken under previously approved legislative language, and a community correction quarterly caseload report. No questions were raised on the reports. All items were approved without opposition, and the meeting adjourned after no further business was brought before the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Several years ago, and they had a certificate of registration that they ended up doing in this last one
• keep that if they got a waiver, and they have that waiver all the way through. through until the end of
• hold the licenses have now been cut out, and this just extends for that group. 10 years now instead of
• My name is Carla Jackson, and I'm a registered interior designer in the state of Texas.
• us which speak for or against one of the bills.

Bills: HB 11 , HB491 , HB837 , HB1562 , HB1732 , HB1757 , HB1888 , HB2286

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the provisions of the bill said that these costs are One of the provisions of the bill said that
• Like are these, some of them, I mean, out of the 300, several of them over 50% were because of legislative
• Like are these, some of them, I mean, out of the 300, several of them over 50% were because of legislative
• We also defended universal service protections when a move to end the carrier-of-last-resort obligations
• a portion of top of utility management with the interests of ratepayers is to link a portion of top

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, reliability, and wildfire-related costs. The chair framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while keeping bills affordable and the system reliable, and noted the hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and Public Advocates Office. Professor Severin Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining the split between deregulated generation and regulated transmission/distribution, the basics of cost-of-service regulation, and the role of return on equity. He argued that high allowed returns can encourage capital-intensive spending and that many public policy costs now embedded in rates would be better funded through the state budget, while warning that price caps or performance-based regulation are not silver bullets. CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds described the commission’s role as economic regulator of investor-owned utilities and said affordability is being addressed through rate case scrutiny, reasonableness reviews, and legislative direction. She said wildfire mitigation and insurance costs have been major drivers of rate increases, but some wildfire-related costs are time-limited and will roll off rates over time. She also highlighted progress on clean energy procurement, battery storage growth, and integrated resource planning to meet climate goals while maintaining reliability. Reynolds said the CPUC is reviewing utility spending, disallowing imprudent costs where appropriate, and litigating at FERC to challenge transmission costs. Members pressed both witnesses on several issues, including whether rates are being inflated by legislative mandates and balancing accounts, whether utility returns are too high, and whether the state should shift more public-policy costs off electric bills and into the General Fund. Senators also raised concerns about load growth from data centers and ports, gas-system stranded assets as electrification advances, and whether the CPUC is over-regulating or discouraging innovation. Reynolds said the CPUC is working with the Energy Commission, CAISO, and the Air Resources Board on a holistic planning process, and pointed to tools such as interconnection reforms and demand flexibility. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up requests for reports and data.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to be discussing lots of weighty issues through the course of the next couple of months,
• One of the provisions of the bill said that these costs are One of the provisions of the bill said that
• Like, are these—some of them, I mean—out of the 300, several of them over 50% were because of legislative
• to a potential reduction of 88% of gas.
• We also defended universal service protections when a move to end the carrier of last resort obligations

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• Part of that, of course, is an increase in the price of crude oil.
• Part of it is... ...actual physical supply of gasoline, and part of it is not.
• Witness: ...a closure of a couple of, and closure notices of two refineries.
• , in terms of size of cars, density of cities, and so forth.
• We've got the University of Concerned Scientists asking.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Many University of Washington games and other Mariners games, Seahawks games, there was always a familiar
• So it gives you an idea of kind of the starting point.
• people are moving out of the state because of this.
• of the state of Washington because of our tax issues.
• has been one of the fastest growing of all.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Transcript Highlights:

• Jesse is a sophomore at the University of Central Missouri.
• He's vice president of the University of Central Missouri Student Government Association, and he is president
• of the University of Central Missouri Student Government Association.
• He's vice president of the University of Central Missouri Student Government Association, and he is here
• He is a sophomore at the University of Missouri, majoring in natural resources and minoring in economics

Summary: The House met with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by roll call vote, 133-0. The session then included many introductions of interns, guests, and a Teacher Appreciation Day statement. A committee report recommended passage of Senate Bill 903, and the chamber moved into third reading and amendment action on Senate Bill 1421 and related measures. Members debated and adopted a long series of amendments covering public safety, criminal justice, schools, and corrections. Topics included drone enforcement authority for law enforcement, a Missouri Ranger school safety program and school bus stop-arm penalties, Clean Slate automatic expungement language narrowed to drug offenses, an Alzheimer’s task force and dementia training for law enforcement, fire hydrant testing, pseudoephedrine access, banning portable electronic devices in prisons, hands-free cell phone law fixes, critical infrastructure protections, parental accountability for minors’ offenses, fentanyl trafficking, attorney general firearms authority, support for St. Louis and Kansas City police boards, DNA collection on arrest for additional crimes, a 25-foot buffer around first responders, a domestic violence registry, squatter and notary fraud fixes, gift card fraud, and post-conviction death penalty procedures. Several amendments drew opposition over civil liberties, school safety, prison penalties, and death penalty concerns, but most were adopted. The most contested item was the death penalty post-conviction relief amendment, which members argued either would streamline appeals and risk wrongful executions or would provide needed finality for victims; it ultimately passed 75-68 after a roll call vote. Another notable debate centered on the St. Louis Police Board amendment, with members disputing who should pay for police overtime and liability costs. The transcript ends amid discussion of a corrections-related amendment on good-time credit and rehabilitation programming, with the amendment to the amendment being supported by members from both parties.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a bunch of moving parts of this thing.
• What, of the $71 million, how much of it is related to the University of Missouri rate increase with
• My understanding is that the arrangement that was made with Anthem from the University of Missouri was
• I know that we spend a substantial amount of money as a plan with the University of Missouri health care
• I know that a lot of these, and that was part of our problem with Missouri Consolidated versus University

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• of current certification of rabies.
• And I greatly respect the opinion of of of the chief that week.
• higher level of suicide, that higher higher rate of of divorce.
• us of the people of Florida.
• Chair Legislature created the Florida State University College of Law Center in 2023.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent parts of the city of Andover, Ham Lake, Oak Grove, and all of the city of East Bethel and
• </c><00:03:59.439><c> of</c> Minneapolis, including the University of Minneapolis, including the University
• </c> definition of violation for purposes of definition of violation for purposes of the<00:57:44.480
• </c> definition of custodian for purposes of definition of custodian for purposes of the<00:58:05.680
• of it out of can and we get that portion of it out of the<01:11:11.880><c> way.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this was an economic predictive model that was generated by a professor at the University of Colorado
• And this was an economic predictive model that was generated by a professor at the University of Colorado
• University of Colorado at Boulder.
• Facilities such as campuses at the University of Minnesota and state correction sites are declining.
• Facilities such as campuses at the University of Minnesota and state correction sites are declining.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• of San Diego.
• She has also been an adjunct professor at the University of Redlands.
• Of that 42%, half are owned by women of color.
• of California, and California State Universities.
• González. for an aye vote in the name of all of the survivors of conversion therapy.

Summary: The Senate began with a roll call, a moment of silence for the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The body then moved through gubernatorial appointments, confirming Julia Montgomery as General Counsel for the Agricultural Labor Relations Board and reappointing Dr. Cynthia Glover Woods, Dr. Brenda Lewis, and Gabriela Orozco Gonzalez to the State Board of Education, and George Cardona as Chief Trial Counsel for the State Bar. The Senate also heard a guest introduction welcoming Cal Lutheran University students, faculty, and staff to the gallery. The chamber then took up several resolutions, including SR 111 recognizing the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex Phobia, and Transphobia; SCR 129 designating part of Highway 152 as the Rusty Arraes Highway; SCR 169 proclaiming October 2026 as Women's Small Business Month; and SCR 173 designating May 2026 as California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month. All of these resolutions passed, with members speaking in support of Arraes, women-owned businesses, and the public safety and community roles of fairgrounds. The Senate also passed a series of policy bills. These included SB 1154 on best-value procurement for community college public works, SB 1369 on judicial recall safeguards, SB 1106 shortening the data broker deletion timeline under the Delete Act, SB 1417 increasing transparency for mutual water companies, SB 1408 authorizing a future Contra Costa transportation sales tax measure, SB 1172 adding guardrails to local tax sharing agreements, SB 1383 protecting locally adopted labor standards in density bonus projects, SB 1371 barring waste haulers from suspending service during lawful labor disputes, SB 908 streamlining residential window replacement permits, SB 1361 limiting actions taken solely to avoid transit-oriented housing standards, SB 1014 requiring early fee and improvement estimates for housing projects, SB 1272 giving homeowners more time to fix preexisting code violations, SB 1406 targeting the Montana tax loophole, SB 1238 increasing HOA transparency and oversight, and SB 868 creating a plug-in solar framework. Most passed on largely party-line votes, with some Republican members objecting to labor-related or regulatory measures. Later in the day, the Senate approved additional health, education, privacy, and AI measures, including SB 950 on early-onset Alzheimer’s treatment coverage, SB 874 on Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment oversight, SB 1049 on correcting health plan claims, SB 1067 on early math screening, SB 1202 on Medi-Cal outreach amid federal changes, SB 944 on acupuncture coverage, SB 957 on notice for federal subpoenas to social media companies, SB 998 on discrimination prevention coordinators, and SB 1000 on AI content transparency. The final item shown, SB 1056 on protective orders for sexually explicit material involving adult victims, was introduced with the author noting ongoing work on amendments, but the transcript cuts off before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• He then went on to the University of Notre Dame, which became one of the great loves of his life, graduating
• of 83.
• of 83.
• I am proud of the leadership of the Speaker.
• Currently, universities may seek a restraining order on behalf of a student or an employee who has suffered

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a lengthy consent and concurrence calendar. Early actions included adopting the consent calendar, approving a rule waiver to allow floor amendments on several Senate bills, and re-referring a few bills to committees. The chamber also observed adjournments in memory for the father of Assembly Member Stephanie and for Thomas Dennis Moore, with family present for both tributes. On the floor file, members approved or concurred in a wide range of measures. Notable bills included SB 1247 on minors’ online exploitation and removal of material when they reach adulthood; SB 1223 requiring competitive bidding at state and county fairs; SB 1238 adding disclosures and duties for HOA managers; SB 983 creating a Port of San Diego job-order contracting pilot; SB 959 addressing school funding during wildfire smoke days; SB 1443, an education omnibus cleanup bill; and SB 802 creating a Sacramento County homelessness joint powers authority, which drew extensive debate over Housing First, treatment, accountability, and local coordination. SB 923 strengthened privacy deletion rights, and AB 1267 set 18 as the minimum age for marriage, drawing broad bipartisan support and emotional testimony from survivors and advocates. The concurrence file then moved through many Assembly bills, most of them technical, support, or cleanup measures, with votes largely in favor. These included bills on Medi-Cal, youth athletics, digital financial assets, jail administration, health care prior authorization, fish and wildlife, elections, emergency services, pupil safety, employment, victim rights, attorney discipline, emergency medical response, seed program funding, naloxone training, child care facilities, cannabis, and dual language immersion coordination. Several bills were passed with unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while a few drew some opposition, including AB 801 on fair lending examinations, AB 1661 on oil-field community assistance, AB 2161 on Medi-Cal work requirement implementation, and AB 2230 on child care facilities. The chamber also adopted multiple Senate amendments and continued a number of items to later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• a payment in lieu of taxes for a certain period of time.
• </c> know of? know of?
• </c><00:42:30.480><c> taxes</c> agreement of a payment in lie of taxes agreement of a payment in lie
• ><c> of</c> for a certain period of for a certain period of time<00:42:34.880><c> Is</c><00:42:35.119
• little bit of the activity kind of a little bit of the activity that's<01:17:09.600><c> going</c><01

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 302, which would allow the state treasurer to invest public funds in precious metals and digital assets. The sponsor was not present, so Representative Urs introduced the bill briefly and said he did not know much about it. No one from the Treasury Department testified, and members repeatedly noted the treasurer’s absence. Susan Elme testified against the bill, arguing that these investments are highly volatile and contrary to the treasury’s duty to remain stable and liquid. She said the bill should be killed. In questioning, she estimated the 5% cap in the bill would amount to roughly $10 million, depending on available funds, and said such investing would be more appropriate for an individual day trader than for the state treasury. Members also discussed prior legislative experience with Bitcoin-related proposals and raised concerns about whether the treasury had the staff expertise to manage commodity or digital asset investing. The committee did not take a final vote; instead, it agreed to hold a work session and seek additional information from the treasurer, with a plan to revisit the bill on April 1.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also a member of does the next version of it look like? does the next version of it look like?
• I'm the director of the Office of Enterprise Sustainability at the Department of Administration.
• > putting</c> before we get to the point of of putting before we get to the point of of putting together
• </c><00:24:37.120><c> of</c> General Mills and the University of General Mills and the University of
• Please state your name for the record and you may begin. of of one of the municipalities, but the of

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> city of Morgantown. city of Morgantown.
• </c> of constituents. of constituents.
• are aware of of all the crisis Members are aware of of all the crisis that<00:43:28.480><c> we</c><00
• I'm the chair of the interdisciplinary early childhood education program at the University of Kentucky
• /c> University of Kentucky and the University of Kentucky and the [clears throat]<00:54:04.720><c> faculty

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 11, a proposal to create a matching-grant program for neighborhood storm shelters in rural Kentucky. Sponsor Steve Meredith and supporters from the Kentucky League of Cities and the City of Morgantown said the idea was to use FEMA-style funding to help residents who live far from community shelters, noting that in some rural counties it can take 30 to 45 minutes to reach a shelter during severe weather. The committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill 11-0, with no nay votes. The committee then considered Senate Bill 41, which would require a ballot referendum whenever a taxing entity raises property taxes more than 4 percent, rather than relying on the current petition process. Sponsor Gary Boswell said the bill would give taxpayers more direct control and argued that local governments should simply avoid raising taxes above the threshold. Superintendents from Rockcastle and Casey counties opposed the bill, saying it would weaken local control, add election costs, delay budgets, and make it harder for school districts to keep up with inflation, insurance, transportation, and construction costs. After debate, the committee passed the bill 7-3 with favorable expression. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 59, which would add criminal penalties to KRS 65.013, the law barring public funds from being used to advocate for or against ballot questions. Sponsor Steve Rawlings said the measure was prompted by reports of school officials using public resources to oppose a 2024 ballot issue and argued the law needs real enforcement to protect taxpayers and election integrity. Members raised concerns about First Amendment issues and the bill’s gray areas, especially for public employees speaking on their own time; Rawlings said the substitute removed volunteer references, allowed balanced issue debates, and clarified that employees acting on their own time and resources would not be prohibited. The committee passed the bill 8-3 with favorable expression. The committee also began hearing Senate Bill 57, as substituted, from Senator Danny Carroll. The bill would create a nuclear-ready site readiness pilot program under the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority, with up to three projects receiving up to $25 million each to help cover early site permitting and related licensing costs. Carroll, along with witnesses from the UK Center for Applied Energy Research and the Public Service Commission, said the goal is to build a nuclear energy ecosystem in Kentucky, with safeguards including surety bonds, deadlines, and cost-recovery provisions. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• of giant sort of anomalous, some sort of giant sort of peg<00:26:20.559><c> python</c><00:26:20.960>
• of they're in fact part of they're part of they're in fact part of a<00:29:50.880><c> bunch</c><00:29
• So it would be reciprocal. would be the cost of of of a half year would be the cost of of of a half year
• </c> this because of the potential loss of this because of the potential loss of $18<01:17:52.800><c>
• </c><01:21:40.480><c> the</c> University in Ohio has one of the University in Ohio has one of the preeminent

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• He was president of Southern New Hampshire University many years ago. And Dr.
• He was president of Southern New Hampshire<00:14:56.720><c> University</c><00:14:57.199><c> many</c><
• </c> is bill relative to the terms of is bill relative to the terms of appointment<00:19:32.160><c> of
• </c> level raises a lot of there's a lot of level raises a lot of there's a lot of unknowns<00:57:41.920
• c> religious</c> schools of institutions of any religious schools of institutions of any religious sector

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met to consider eight bills, beginning with HB 443 on the terms of appointment for members of the Higher Education Commission. Department of Education Director Steve Applebee explained that the commission supported a language change to address a holdover issue, but members raised concerns that the bill did not solve the problem of inactive members and might not address the broader question of whether the commission should continue to exist. The committee agreed to retain HB 443 for further work and voted 18-0 to do so. The committee then voted on HB 137, which would allocate excess statewide education property tax funds for local school and municipal purposes. Supporters of ITL argued that using the statewide property tax to reduce the state’s school funding obligation could create a slippery slope and shift more burden to property taxpayers. The committee voted 15-3 to ITL the bill, with a minority report to be written. HB 237, which would prohibit the use of special education and differentiated aid funds on students not receiving special education services, was also ITL’d after members said federal law already governs how IDEA-related funds may be used and that the bill was unnecessary. That motion passed 16-0, with some members not voting because they were out for medical reasons. The committee next advanced HB 354, creating alternative certification pathways for career and technical education instructors. Members said the bill could help recruit qualified tradespeople and retirees to teach in CTE programs, and it was approved 18-0 and placed on the consent calendar. HB 491, establishing a committee to study alternative public education funding methods and reduce reliance on local property taxes, was retained for further study after members said the committee or a subcommittee could continue the work over the year; it passed 18-0. HB 656, concerning local school districts’ authority to accept federal grants, was also retained after discussion focused on transparency, grant conditions, and the need to avoid delays in services; it passed 18-0. The committee then moved on to HB 729, an appropriation for an attorney to recodify education laws, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was acted on.