Video & Transcript : 'technology transformation' :
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development
Transcript Highlights:
- from discriminating against service animal users, they have the resources, both financial and technological
- When you said that they have the technology available, is it discriminatory to have a rideshare user
- Or is there some— When I'm talking about the technology, I'm talking about their location technology.
- That's what I mean by the technology. Thank you, Nora, for your testimony.
- side, my staff Sumia, who is always sitting here right next to me, LIS for making sure that our technology
Summary:
The hearing opened with the co-chairs introducing House and Senate members and explaining the hybrid format, three-minute testimony guidance, and the deadline for written testimony. The committee then heard extensive testimony on S. 2665, which would require employers to post notice to employees when an I-9 audit or similar federal immigration inspection is underway. Supporters, including immigration attorneys, a pediatrician, a labor leader, and an affected family member, argued the bill would protect privacy, give workers time to gather documents and consult counsel, and reduce fear and wrongful arrests. One witness from Illinois described a similar law there and said it had not caused the problems employers feared, while others said recent ICE enforcement has made notice especially important. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1360, a bill affecting collective bargaining rights for State Police, with the State Police Association arguing that a statutory gap lets departmental rules override their contract and that the bill would restore intended bargaining protections. A separate labor bill, S. 1305, was also briefly supported by the AFL-CIO as part of broader worker-classification protections for app-based delivery drivers.
A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 2066, which would impose fines on transportation network drivers who refuse rides to people with disabilities using service animals. Testimony from blind and disabled riders, service dog users, advocates, and the Disability Law Center described repeated ride cancellations, drivers pulling away after seeing a service animal, and the difficulty of enforcing existing anti-discrimination laws through MCAD or other agencies. Witnesses said the current system leaves riders without practical recourse because drivers are hard to identify and complaints can take years, and they argued that fines on individual drivers would create a real deterrent. Several witnesses also described the impact on employment, medical appointments, and daily independence. Committee members asked about service-animal verification, whether refusals are ever appropriate, and whether penalties should target drivers or companies; witnesses said legitimate refusals are limited to misbehaving or unsafe animals and that companies already have policies and some training, but enforcement remains weak.
The committee also heard from a witness supporting a related bill on rideshare accessibility and from advocates describing broader transportation discrimination issues. One witness discussed a separate proposal to study service-animal denial, and others noted that Uber’s self-identification feature and company policies have not solved the problem. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the meeting ended after the final witnesses on the service-animal bill and a brief organizational discussion about related legislation and committee business.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment May 26th, 2026
Natural Resources & Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- Systems and injection-based and then CO2-assisted technologies, like what are we looking at or for?
- hybrid, are three that I had been researching, whereas enhanced is basically using like fracking technology
- to be able to pressurize, crack Using like fracking technology to be able to pressurize, crack the rock
- As technology advances, the fact that Louisiana has an extremely long history of drilling capabilities
- and borehole technologies and Drilling capabilities and borehole technologies, and advanced drilling
Committee:
House Natural Resources & Environment
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- We have the technology now to do that.
- Good body, weather technology Thank you very much. Good body.
- Weather technology has been around since the 1950s.
- House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee will meet Monday, March 16th, 1:30 p.m., East Wing
- The Committee on Environment, Energy, and Technology reports that it has had under consideration Senate
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, welcomed a substitute member, and received multiple Senate messages and committee reports. Several bills were introduced and referred, including measures on medical advanced healing, insurance/state property claims, stablecoins, solid waste, public assistance definitions, and foreign ownership of single-family homes. The chamber also advanced a number of bills to second or third reading, and adopted House Concurrent Resolution 32 on energy policy, which urged a focus on baseload energy sources, transmission, ratepayer protection, property rights, and aquifer protection; it passed by voice vote.
The House passed a series of bills on the floor, including House Bills 838, 721, 817, 752, 680, 860, 875, 876, 877, 795, 826, 832, 843, and 872, along with Senate Bill 1373. The measures covered topics such as requiring draft policy bills with budget recommendations, plan review timelines for public projects, a mobile cigar business permit, restroom and changing-room restrictions, recorded investigative interviews of child abuse allegations, revisions to medical parental rights and emergency care language, vacancy-based budgeting calculations, the State Board of Education budget, vocational rehabilitation rent, a response to litigation over prior law, honey commission governance, CTE teacher recruitment, homeowners exemption proration, and ballot formatting. Most passed with comfortable margins, though House Bill 875 passed narrowly 35-34 and House Bill 752 drew substantial debate before passing 54-50-1.
Debate was especially intense on House Bill 752, with supporters framing it as a protection for women’s privacy and safety and opponents arguing it would criminalize bathroom use and target transgender people. House Bill 875 also drew concern that codifying budget-calculation methods could constrain future budgeting flexibility, while supporters said it would improve transparency and prevent funding vacant positions. House Bill 876, the State Board of Education maintenance budget, prompted criticism over a 6.8% base reduction and warnings about layoffs and program cuts at colleges and universities. House Bill 826, 832, 843, and 872 were all considered under suspended rules and passed, and the House also adopted HJM 18 urging action against geoengineering, with members citing concerns about sky streaks and climate intervention. The House recessed and later returned to continue business, with additional Senate bills and House bills referred for committee action.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Consumer Protection & Business Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Consumer Protection & Business
Transcript Highlights:
- The member then asked why the legislation did not include blockchain technology protocols, noting that
- Oklahoma, North Dakota, Kentucky, and Montana all have reference to blockchain technology protocols.
- My name is Amy Harris, and I'm the Director of Government Affairs for the Washington Technology Industry
- My name is Amy Harris, and I'm the Director of Government Affairs for the Washington Technology Industry
- My name is Amy Harris, and I'm the Director of Government Affairs for the Washington Technology Industry
Committee:
House Consumer Protection & Business
Keywords:
SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured, restoration contractor, mitigation contractor, public adjuster, insurance commissioner, claims handling, consumer protection, void and unenforceable, Washington insurance code, chapter 48 RCW, civil penalty
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Community Safety Feb 19th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Community Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- Artificial intelligence and advancing digital technology in general have some benefits, but there are
- Increasingly, our laws have a hard time keeping up with technology, especially in this space around child
- It responds to the rapid advancement in digital technology.
- When technologies advance to the point where police and prosecutors can't hold criminals accountable,
- When technologies advance to the point where police and prosecutors can't hold criminals accountable,
Committee:
House Community Safety
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Community Safety Feb 19th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Artificial intelligence and advancing digital technology in general have some benefits, but there are
- There are benefits, but there are also downsides, including the use of these technologies to alter or
- It responds to the rapid advancement in digital technology.
- And that was in response to the rapid advancement in technology.
- When technologies advance to the point where police and prosecutors can't hold criminals accountable,
Summary:
The committee heard briefings and testimony on several bills, with members repeatedly noting limited time and that some measures were already familiar from prior hearings. Second Substitute Senate Bill 5880 would allow cities and counties to use ISO/IEC-accredited private toxicology labs for blood or breath testing, accept private donations for that purpose, and reimburse the State Patrol for evidence transport costs. Senator Wagoner said the bill is a temporary fix for a major toxicology backlog that delays justice; prosecutors, police chiefs, and the Seattle City Attorney supported it as a way to relieve the backlog, while defense representatives said it would not solve the problem and raised due process concerns about out-of-state labs and access to witnesses. Members discussed possible amendments on in-state/out-of-state labs and litigation logistics, and the bill was set for executive action the following Tuesday.
Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5436 would create a gross misdemeanor for willfully or recklessly interfering with access to or from a place of worship or disrupting religious services through obstruction, trespass, repeated calls or electronic communications, or threats. Senator Solomon said the bill responds to rising intolerance and is modeled on protections for health care facilities; supporters from the Anti-Defamation League, Faith Action Network, Jewish and Sikh community organizations described harassment, threats, and security costs at houses of worship. Defense and law enforcement groups raised concerns about overbreadth, possible impacts on peaceful protest, and unintended effects on law enforcement or immigration enforcement, and asked for clarifying amendments. The sponsor said he was open to changes, and the committee indicated it would continue working on the bill before executive action next Tuesday.
Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5105 would expand child sexual abuse material offenses to cover digitally created or altered obscene depictions, even when the minor is not identifiable, extend the statute of limitations for those felony offenses from three to ten years, and broaden sexual exploitation of a minor to include knowingly causing a minor who is unconscious or unaware to be photographed or part of a live performance. Supporters including the Attorney General’s Office, prosecutors, and sheriffs’ chiefs said the bill is needed to address AI and other technology that can evade current law and to keep pace with rapidly changing digital abuse material. Opponents from the defense bar and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission argued the bill may still be overbroad and raise First Amendment problems under Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, especially where no actual minor is identified. The committee also heard and then quickly acted on other bills: Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5268, requiring one year of community custody for unlawful possession of a firearm, was amended and reported out due pass as amended; Engrossed Senate Bill 5272, addressing penalties for violence against referees and school volunteers, was reported out due pass; and Engrossed Senate Bill 5286, concerning reimbursement for costs in cities with state psychiatric hospitals, was also reported out due pass.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
House Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Committee, February 10, 2026
Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- It wouldn't surprise you, the federal government's a little antiquated on their technology, and bad actors
- Using technology today, we should be able to use AI and different systems to scan that federal database
- And technology to investigate some of these things.
- Using technology today, we should be able to use AI and different systems to scan that federal database
- You know, using technology today, we should be able to use AI and different systems to scan that federal
Bills:
HB0032
Keywords:
English proficiency, commercial drivers, vehicle operation, traffic safety, penalties, 916, all
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment & Energy Jan 15th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- the current definitions of textile and apparel, we are concerned that some FDA-regulated medical technologies
- While the use of filters to remove microplastics has been piloted elsewhere, the technology is still
- While the use of filters to remove microplastics has been piloted elsewhere, the technology is still
- We are also unaware of any third part The technology is still emerging.
- I'll note that there's additional information on available technologies, the ability to include bypasses
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several waste and recycling bills. House Bill 2212 would require microfiber filters on commercial and industrial washing machines, with Ecology authorized to consider residential machine rules later if cost thresholds are met. Supporters, including the sponsor, students, environmental advocates, and scientists, said washing machines are a major source of microplastics and that filtration is a practical way to reduce pollution before it reaches waterways and human bodies. Opponents, including appliance manufacturers, laundromat operators, business groups, and Ecology staff, raised concerns about technical feasibility, worker safety, cost, and the lack of third-party certification for commercial systems. Ecology said the science is emerging and the proposal would create new agency work and costs. No vote was taken.
House Bill 2233 would tighten the state’s carry-out bag laws by banning reusable film plastic bags, raising the paper bag pass-through charge to 20 cents, and extending certain requirements to manufacturers, distributors, and third-party sales platforms, while preserving protections for food assistance cardholders. Supporters argued the current thicker-bag approach has not reduced plastic waste, that plastic bags contribute to litter and microplastics, and that a stronger ban would better protect waterways and wildlife. Opponents from grocery, retail, hospitality, paper, and business groups argued the bill would raise consumer costs, create checkout and food-safety problems, and add operational complexity; some also said the state should wait to see the effects of the recent fee increase. Several local government and environmental witnesses supported the bill. No final action was taken.
House Bill 1420 would establish an extended producer responsibility program for textiles and apparel, requiring producers to form a producer responsibility organization to manage collection, reuse, repair, recycling, and related infrastructure. The sponsor described the bill as a response to textile waste, overconsumption, and landfill impacts, and said the proposal had been refined through extensive stakeholder work. Supporters from environmental groups, local governments, Ecology, counties, Goodwill, and circular-economy organizations said textiles are a growing waste stream and that producer responsibility could improve collection, reduce dumping, and support repair and reuse. Opponents from business, retail, hospitality, apparel, and medical-device groups raised concerns about complexity, consumer and compliance costs, governance, supply-chain reporting, and possible unintended coverage of uniforms or medical products. The hearing also included a State Board of Health health impact review noting likely increased awareness and collection but limited evidence on large-scale reuse and recycling outcomes. No vote was taken.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Dec 8th, 2025 at 09:12 am
Transcript Highlights:
- So it's A technology that we're going to advance, right? Because we don't have the staff to.
- And there's a difference between nuclear power and nuclear bomb technology. Okay?
- I think that means information technology jobs. That's interesting...
- To me, that we're having a decrease in information technology when we understand that there's an increase
- I mean, how much can we use technology?
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Energy and Natural Resources (05/13/2025)
Energy and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- It's the miracle of modern technology, Mr. Chairman. It's cooler. I'll wait. It's all after this.
- It's the miracle of modern technology,<00:27:27.679><c> Mr.</c><00:27:28.000><c> Chairman.
- </c><00:27:28.559><c> It's</c><00:27:28.720><c> cooler</c> Technology, Mr. Chairman.
- </c><00:33:46.559><c> that</c><00:33:46.799><c> we</c> if if if there's new technology that we if if
- if there's new technology that we can<00:33:47.120><c> take</c><00:33:47.200><c> advantage</c><00:33:
Committee:
Senate Energy and Natural Resources
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration Apr 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- that push funding, forcing the industry to invest and think about new ways to invest in those technologies
- that push funding, forcing the industry to invest and think about new ways to invest in those technologies
- that push funding, forcing the industry to invest and think about new ways to invest in those technologies
- It includes $25 million for Natcast, the operator of the National Semiconductor Technology Center, to
- The operator of the National Semiconductor Technology Center would build out the design and collaboration
Summary:
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration heard presentations from Go-Biz and the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation on the Governor’s budget proposals. Go-Biz described California Jobs First, the state’s 10-year economic development strategy, and emphasized support for small businesses, workforce development, and targeted investment in sectors such as ag tech, life sciences, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. Members raised concerns about federal policy changes, tariffs, tourism, housing, child care, and whether state incentives are truly additive; Go-Biz responded that it tracks federal actions closely, works with chambers and advocates, and uses programs like California Competes to target jobs that would not otherwise come to California.
The committee then reviewed the proposal to restore the California Competes grant program with $60 million. Go-Biz said the grant would help businesses that cannot use the nonrefundable tax credit, and explained the program’s five-year contracts, milestone-based awards, and recapture provisions. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the grant could be effective but recommended stronger oversight and clearer eligibility criteria, while also noting the 30% cap in trailer bill language may be too restrictive given the smaller funding level. Public testimony supported the grant and suggested considering refundability or transferability for the tax credit to broaden access for smaller and startup businesses.
Members also heard the CHIPS-related proposal for $25 million to support Natcast’s semiconductor design and collaboration facility in Sunnyvale. Go-Biz and public witnesses argued the state investment would help secure a major federal research facility, retain engineering talent, and leverage billions in broader investment, while the LAO recommended rejecting the item because of its dependence on uncertain federal funding and the state’s budget condition. The committee also considered a $17 million continuation of CA RISE, which supports employment social enterprises; Go-Biz and several grantees cited strong job placement and workforce outcomes, while the LAO recommended rejection absent a more rigorous evaluation, noting prior LA RISE evidence did not show long-term employment gains.
Finally, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation presented budget requests for IT security and rent increases, and a trailer bill to raise fees across several programs. DFPI said decades-old fee schedules, inflation, and new regulatory responsibilities have created a structural deficit and warned the department could face insolvency without adjustments. The LAO recommended approving the fee increases only on a three-year limited-term basis and asked for more detailed revenue plans for programs not covered by the proposal, so the Legislature can assess actual collections and market impacts before making the changes permanent.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Organizational business meeting to consider an original resolution authorizing expenditures by the committee during the 119th Congress; to be immediately followed by hearings to examine the real impacts of debanking in America. Feb 5th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- The Act of 1987 requires the Federal Reserve to make payments move faster as technology allows.
- Let's say $100 on technology in terms of compliance.
- So banks have poured money into technology, into compliance, et cetera. Now, are banks perfect? No.
- Look, our outdated payment system runs on this technology called a batch, which...
- The technology exists to do it, but it's usually more broad-based than that.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 42 (3-9-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It requires platforms to use the same technology that they are already using to analyze, addict, and
- technology technology that<00:32:27.920><c> they</c><00:32:28.320><c> are</c><00:32:28.720><c> already
- technological aspects of social<00:34:11.840><c> media</c><00:34:12.159><c> that</c><00:34:12.399><c
- It's hard to get the balance right with new technologies and speech issues and other freedom issues,
- To Small Business and Information Technology, House Bills 809 and 810.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Ways & Means Feb 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- of Revenue to take on, with just incredible changes to the tax system and all of the information technology
- It also requires that the Department of Health and Health Care Authority, instead of developing technology
- Substitute Senate Bill 6070 permits law enforcement agencies to use certain technologies to aid in locating
- move that Substitute Senate Bill 5975, as substituted by the Committee on Environment, Energy and Technology
- move that substitute Senate Bill 5975 as substituted by the Committee on Environment, energy, and technology
Summary:
The Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on February 9, 2026, first hearing a staff briefing on Senate Bill 6346, which would impose a tax on individuals earning over $1 million. Staff described the bill’s revenue and spending impacts and reviewed a proposed substitute and 11 amendments addressing items such as public defense funding, charitable deductions, out-of-state tax credits, small business credits, diapers, constitutional issues, and a contingent constitutional amendment. The committee later took up the bill and rejected all of the offered amendments, then advanced the substitute bill with a due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. Members supporting the bill argued it would help address tax fairness and fund public services, while opponents raised concerns about constitutionality, economic harm, and the effect on businesses and charitable giving.
The committee also acted on a series of policy bills. It advanced a substitute bill on grocery store closures in food deserts after adopting a narrower substitute, despite concerns from some members about burdening grocers. It approved a substitute bill expanding voting access for military, overseas, Native American, and disabled voters, adopting a second substitute that removed a cybersecurity review requirement. The committee also advanced bills on tort claim arbitration against governments, victim and witness protections in sexual assault and domestic violence cases, JLARC review of student aid fraud, agricultural collective bargaining, labor relations if federal preemption ends, a cost-of-living adjustment for Plan 1 retirees, workers’ compensation and medical care access, line-of-duty death reimbursements, law enforcement background checks and eligibility, veterans’ discharge definitions, and extraordinary medical placement. Several of these bills had amendments adopted, including changes to tort claim oversight, victim-requested standby counsel, agricultural labor definitions, workers’ compensation penalties, law enforcement volunteer support, and extraordinary medical placement criteria.
In the second group of bills, staff briefed measures affecting property taxes, housing, cannabis, disaster-related tax relief, technical tax code changes, aircraft fuel tax revenues, the estate tax, and a pesticide tax exemption. The committee heard that a substitute for the fire protection district bill would alter how city or town levy capacity is reduced and include consultation requirements and board-creation provisions. It also heard that the property tax relief expansion for seniors and disabled retirees needed a substitute to make the consolidated school levy revenue-neutral. Other bills would expand tax exemptions for low-income housing and nonprofit homeownership, authorize local cannabis excise taxes, extend disaster repair tax relief, expand housing-related local sales tax uses, make technical tax code changes, redirect aircraft fuel tax revenues to aeronautics, reduce the estate tax rate, and extend a pesticide tax exemption. The transcript ends during the committee’s consideration of Senate Bill 6346, with the committee debating and rejecting amendments before moving the bill forward.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Utilities and Energy Committee and Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Jan 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It is an important part of our technology economy, but we need to do so in a way that doesn't hurt Californians
- that the administration, the PUC, the CEC will lean into what to me sounds like some really great technology
- that the administration, the PUC, the CEC will lean into what to me sounds like some really great technology
- Some really great technology and brilliance that can help us better plan.
- And those may operate differently than those of today as technologies evolve. Next slide.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 9:00 A.M.
Judiciary, Division B
Transcript Highlights:
- requirements of our DL examiners on things that they just don't have to do anymore with the digital technology
- requirements of our DL examiners on things that they just don't have to do anymore with the digital technology
- requirements of our DL examiners on things that they just don't have to do anymore with the digital technology
- But then to go back to Senator Barrett's uh point, you know, it all goes back to technology and communication
- Senator Barrett's uh point, you know, it all goes back to technology and communication and putting things
Committee:
Joint Judiciary, Division B
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/24/26
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Thermal energy networks are an innovative technology that Minnesota should continue to advance.
- Thermal energy networks are an innovative technology that Minnesota should continue to advance.
- Thermal energy networks are an innovative technology that Minnesota should continue to advance.
- That could change a lot if the will if and we've seen amazing advancements in drilling technology now
- </c> things in terms of uh technology things in terms of uh technology changes,<01:04:41.839><c> places
Committee:
House Energy Finance and Policy
Keywords:
public utility, interim rates, utility rates, rate case, general rate case, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, PUC, rate increase cap, rate freeze, refunds, customer refunds, ratepayer protection, electric utility, gas utility, regulated utility, ratemaking, return on equity, rate base, test year, rate design
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> to impose uh that kind of a technology to impose uh that kind of a technology on<00:59:20.000><c
- And I believe in the bill it says only if they don't have the technologies.
- In the bill, what I'm getting shown here, that if they don't have that technology then they don't.
- </c><01:04:32.160><c> I</c><01:04:32.400><c> think</c> don't have the technologies.
- I think don't have the technologies.
Committee:
Senate Transportation
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN-AEN, CPN-EDT, CPN-HOU, CPN-EIG Public Hearings 01-29-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- He says these technologies will allow for higher penetrations of renewables and bring costs down for
- </c><00:39:02.640><c> and</c> of grid interactive Technologies and of grid interactive Technologies and
- are going to allow for Technologies are going to allow for higher<00:39:06.760><c> penetrations</c><
- You know, my pal over here enlightened me on the technology, moving when it comes to firm energy and
- </c> day and age now with all the technology day and age now with all the technology all<01:08:31.239
Committee:
Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection
Summary:
The committee first heard SB 252 on invasive species, which would broaden the Department of Agriculture’s authority to inspect items moved into or within Hawaii, prohibit the sale of pest-infested merchandise, and allow quarantine, treatment, or destruction of affected materials with clarified penalties. Testifiers from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, the Farmers Union, and many others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing gaps in current inspection authority and the need to address high-risk non-agricultural commodities such as outdoor furniture and other cargo that can carry pests like red imported fire ants. Members raised concerns about staffing, inspection capacity, commerce impacts, and whether better manifest descriptions or scanners could help target higher-risk shipments. The chairs recommended passage with Department of Agriculture and technical amendments, and the committees adopted the recommendation.
The joint CPN/EDT hearing then took up SB 148 on combat sports, which would create a Hawaii Combat Sports Commission and regulate combat sports while prohibiting no-rules contests. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments on effective dates and later said other jurisdictions generally use a single commission for boxing and MMA. Supporters, including a professional fighter and a longtime advocate, argued the bill would help revive the sport in Hawaii, improve local opportunities, and reduce costs associated with separate commissions; one testifier initially appeared opposed but clarified he was actually in support. Committee members asked about safety, medical coverage, staffing, vacancies, and whether separate commissions could share staff. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including an Attorney General effective-date amendment, amendments from the Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses to increase health-care coverage at fights, and DCCA’s recommendation to unify boxing and MMA under one commission; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050, and the recommendation was adopted.
A later joint CPN/Housing agenda began with SB 69 on deposits of public funds, which would require the Director of Finance to consider the benefits of using in-state depositories, including favorable lending terms for affordable housing. The Department of Budget and Finance and the Hawaii Bankers Association offered comments, and no other testimony or questions were noted before the discussion moved on. The next measure introduced was SB 24 on limited profit housing associations, which would create a regulatory framework and a limited profit housing council; the transcript cuts off as testimony on that bill was beginning.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions, May 22, 2026 - PM
Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions
Transcript Highlights:
- ,</c><01:07:35.480><c> and</c> on blockchain, financial technology, and on blockchain, financial technology
- We know that technology<02:51:39.400><c> changes.
- But I think newer technology, right?
- . technology. technology.
- A lot of it happens with technology, you know? A lot of it happens with technology, you know?