Transcript Highlights:

• Up next, the Department of the Attorney General, not present.
• We did receive testimony from the Attorney General's office, noting that, excuse me, suggesting that
• Does that work for the Attorney General? I'm getting a thumbs up, so we'll proceed with that.
• Does that work for the Attorney General? I'm getting a thumbs up, so we'll proceed with that.
• Does that work for the Attorney General? I'm getting a thumbs up, so we'll proceed with that.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on January 31 and heard six bills. The chair opened by outlining committee practices, including giving at least 72 hours’ notice for hearings, releasing testimony by 5:00 p.m. the day before hearings, and deferring bills needing substantive HT1 changes so members would not vote “blind.” Members briefly thanked the chair for the transparency approach before moving to the agenda. HB 223 would create a Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy special fund and workforce assessment fee to support a pharmacy center. Testimony from the Board of Pharmacy, the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo College of Pharmacy, Mokai Drugs, and others generally supported the measure, emphasizing workforce data, rural access, student loan repayment, and retention. The committee later advanced HB 223 with amendments, including leaving fee amounts blank for further discussion and inserting a defective date, and the motion passed unanimously. HB 940 would appropriate funds for the rat lungworm lab at UH Hilo; HB 546 would establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute at UH to advance AI; HB 549 would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program; HB 1172 would add the Department of Taxation to the Statewide Longitudinal Data System for wage-data sharing; and HB 1320 would require UH to collect and publicly report graduate outcome data and create a dashboard. Testimony on these bills was largely supportive, with some privacy concerns raised on HB 1172 and a request to protect taxpayer confidentiality. In decision-making, the committee passed all five bills with amendments, generally deleting or blanking appropriations and FTEs for Finance Committee review, adding defective dates for further discussion, and in HB 549 adding a statement that the program is a matter of statewide concern. The committee recessed briefly for decision-making and then adopted the chair’s recommendations on each bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• They would work with the attorney general. They would work with the BCA.
• an external auditor like our office is, like the legislative auditor, can be like sometimes the Attorney
• 00:23:10.279><c> the</c> can be like sometimes the um uh the can be like sometimes the um uh the Attorney
• 00:23:11.279><c> will</c><00:23:11.440><c> be</c><00:23:12.120><c> uh</c><00:23:12.240><c> we</c> Attorney
• General's office will be uh we Attorney General's office will be uh we have<00:23:12.440><c> to</c><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, the Attorney General's office said that the Illinois case does not change their conclusion.
• General letter which I the last Attorney General letter which I received<01:31:28.600><c> which</c><
• ><c> the</c><01:31:36.120><c> letter</c> Attorney General wrote in the letter Attorney General wrote
• </c> received from the Maryland Attorney received from the Maryland Attorney General's<01:32:21.400><
• General's</c><01:32:32.520><c> office</c> And so, the Attorney General's office And so, the Attorney

Keywords: House streaming session for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> yet another Trump lackey, our attorney yet another Trump lackey, our attorney general,<00:34:23.040
• As an attorney by trade, I understand how concerning this is for our nation's future.
• ,</c><01:05:05.599><c> I</c><01:05:05.839><c> understand</c> As an attorney by trade, I understand As
• an attorney by trade, I understand how<01:05:06.559><c> concerning</c><01:05:06.960><c> this</c><01:
• Further, if a criminal charge is brought, you may have the cost of an attorney, and you have to spend

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• request of the new Attorney General.
• No attorney general's opinion, no court case.
• No attorney general's opinion, no court case to refer to, just, 'I talked to an attorney,' and took everybody
• But you're an attorney, are you not, sir? I am.
• But you're an attorney, are you not, sir? I am. Is it your understanding that when the... I am.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal by roll call, and a long series of special guest introductions recognizing family members, interns, public servants, nonprofit leaders, students, and a park ranger honored for life-saving actions. Committee reports and Senate messages followed, including Senate nonconcurrence on numerous amendments to Senate Bill 1421 and the appointment of a conference committee on another bill. The main floor action centered on budget conference committee reports, especially House Bill 2002 on public education. Members debated whether the conference version fully funded the foundation formula, with supporters arguing it maintained record-level funding and opponents saying it left schools about $190 million short and relied on uncertain funding sources such as blind pension, lottery, and possible ARPA dollars. After a substitute motion to send the bill back to conference was defeated, the House adopted the conference report 83-68 and then third-read and passed House Bill 2002 by the same margin. The House then took up House Bill 2003 on higher education, where members discussed a move toward a future performance-based funding model while keeping current funding flat; the conference report passed 119-28 and the bill was third-read and passed 109-32. The chamber next considered House Bill 2004, covering the Departments of Revenue and Transportation. Debate focused on transportation funding, rural roads, and a small local safety project in Lebanon that had already been addressed by MoDOT. The conference report was adopted 128-21 and the bill was third-read and passed 127-27. Finally, the House began debate on House Bill 2005 for the Office of Administration and IT-related functions, with the sponsor and supporters emphasizing IT accountability, the Movers project, and the transfer of some staff to DSS; the transcript ends during discussion of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and the legal representation is provided by the attorney general.
• is provided and the legal representation is provided by<00:29:14.559><c> the</c><00:29:14.799><c> attorney
• </c><00:29:16.000><c> Um</c><00:29:16.240><c> they</c><00:29:16.480><c> also</c> by the attorney general
• Um they also by the attorney general.
• But when I previously served in the AG's office as an attorney to boards, I've been in situations where

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 22 January, 2026; 8:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I first served as superintendent from 2003 to 2011, and then was elected to become Attorney General.
• I'm an attorney.
• I'm an attorney.
• I've been very cautiously listening to how this bill came about, and I'm grateful to have the attorney
• and concerned citizens and many of... ...parents and attorneys and concerned citizens and many others

Summary: The committee first heard Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horn’s annual State of Education address, which focused on school safety, academic outcomes, school choice, teacher pay, and opposition to DEI/CRT in schools and teacher preparation. Horn said the department has expanded school police officers, promoted Project Momentum and tutoring, supported cell phone restrictions in classrooms, and pushed for more phonics-based reading instruction and stronger university teacher-prep programs. Members questioned him about DEI complaints, cell phone implementation, ESA oversight, school safety funding, reading proficiency, and teacher compensation; Horn said ESA spending is reviewed and recovered when inappropriate, and argued teacher raises should come directly to teachers, not through districts. No formal action was taken on his presentation. The committee then considered HB 2008, which would prohibit public school libraries from using public funds to pay dues to professional library associations. Sponsor Representative Cooper argued the bill would keep school libraries politically neutral and prevent taxpayer money from supporting ideological advocacy, while saying membership itself would still be allowed if paid privately. Opponents, including a former librarian, a school board member, and the ACLU of Arizona, said the bill would undermine professional development, local control, literacy support, and constitutional rights of association and petition. Supporters said associations promote ideological content and that free professional-development alternatives exist. After public testimony and debate, the committee voted to return HB 2008 with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• if the town submits a plan to the Secretary of State, it would probably be a good idea to add the Attorney
• if the town submits a plan to the Secretary of State, it would probably be a good idea to add the Attorney
• I have faith in the judgment of the Secretary of State or the Attorney General if they get involved to
• I have faith in the judgment of the Secretary of State or the Attorney General if they get involved to
• General if if they State or the Attorney General if if they get<00:38:57.480><c> get</c><00:38:57.640

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Miller County, maybe this is petty on my part, but I remember going to Miller County, and as an attorney
• , But I remember going to Miller County as an attorney, and the judge would not come out for about 30

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is a follow-up that we've had previously introduced, made some changes on it, and it allows the attorney
• they're dealing with or the counselor, and this simply makes it so parents have an option, as the attorney

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee approved the minutes from February 25 and February 27, then considered and introduced several RS measures. Representative Manwaring presented RS-33619, a cleanup/replacement for a fast stablecoin proposal that clarifies the State Treasurer’s authority and removes references to the State Controller; it was introduced after a brief correction to the statement of purpose. Representative Skaug presented RS-33593, which would allow the attorney general or private parties to bring lawsuits over secret social transitioning of children without parental knowledge; the motion passed, with Representatives Rubel, Birch, and Church recorded as nays. Representative Raymond’s RS-33581, dealing with county fair boards and the population threshold that can make them advisory only, was also introduced. Representative Scott presented RS-3355-5, a major overhaul of Idaho custody law from the child custody task force. The proposal would establish legislative findings on parenting rights, create a presumption of substantially equal parenting time, require evidentiary hearings before restrictions in contested cases, set limits on temporary and ex parte custody orders, require restoration plans, protect parental access to records, tighten standards for supervised visitation, and limit court-ordered professionals to advisory roles. Members asked about judicial feedback and evidentiary standards; Scott said the bill had been discussed with judges, the Supreme Court, lawyers, prosecutors, parents, and law enforcement, and that some questions would be answered later. The motion to introduce passed. The committee also introduced RS 33590, a rules-related resolution for the Department of Commerce and Division of Veterans Services, and then shifted to Representative Ehlers’ measures. RS 33598 would remove a 50-cent fee from standard license plates tied to the Idaho Heritage Trust Fund and create a new America 250 specialty plate. RS 33607 would implement a task force recommendation by moving regulatory duties from agricultural commissions to the State Department of Agriculture, including the Honey Commission. Both were introduced, and the committee adjourned after noting more RS items may be coming.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an attorney representing the Brazos River Authority.
• Attorney lays out House Bill 2970 and recognizes Representative Gámez to explain the bill.

Bills: HB16, HB1618, HB2692, HB2712, HB2970, HB3609, HB3628, HB16

Keywords: water infrastructure, Texas Water Development Board, financial assistance, water supply projects, rural municipalities, water access assessment, aquifer storage, Edwards Aquifer, water injection, environmental regulations, groundwater management, San Antonio River, pollution control, flood management, water quality, conservation district, bonds, utility rates, ratemaking, water services

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> He was looking for an attorney that could explain to us what timber tax actually is. >> Okay. >>
• I'm an associate attorney at that firm, and I've done some research just in my general practice on the
• I'm an associate<00:12:55.839><c> attorney</c> associate attorney associate attorney um<00:12:57.200>
• </c><00:20:40.600><c> I</c> Attorney Rhodes I did not send to you.
• I Attorney Rhodes I did not send to you.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting opened with a quorum present and approval of the April 17 minutes. The commission then heard a presentation from attorney Jacob Rhodes of Cleveland, Waters and Bass on the history and legal basis of New Hampshire’s timber tax, explaining that timber was historically treated as part of real property, that a 1913 case confirmed that view, and that a 1949 constitutional amendment created a separate timber yield tax to discourage clear-cutting and support forest conservation. He described the tax as a tax on the yield when timber is severed, not an income tax, and noted that towns are reimbursed through a system based on Department of Revenue Administration market data and local reports of cut. Members and guests asked how “yield” is defined, how the timber tax interacts with current use, and whether carbon sequestration could be treated similarly. Testimony explained that current use generally is not affected by harvesting timber, that towns can tax standing timber under RSA 79:5 but rarely do because it is labor-intensive, and that carbon credits might be valued using a similar market-data approach. Several speakers discussed a prior bill drafted with DRA input that would have treated carbon more like timber, but noted it never fully advanced in the General Court and that the version ultimately discussed by the House differed from the earlier DRA-comfortable draft. The discussion also covered whether carbon sequestration agreements are effectively long-term leases or transfers of timber rights, with Rhodes suggesting that 99-year arrangements could be taxable transfers of real property under DRA rules, though he had not reviewed specific agreements. DRA staff said they do not currently have a timber-like survey mechanism for carbon and would likely need access to proprietary market data or a subscription service to build one. No formal vote was taken beyond approving the minutes; the commission appeared to agree to revisit the carbon/timber valuation issue and the draft bill at a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:22.040><c> General</c> negotiation between the Attorney General negotiation between the Attorney
• And I guess I should say the enforcement that the Attorney General has around charitable trusts.
• And I guess I should say the enforcement that the Attorney General has around charitable trusts.
• And I guess I should say the enforcement that the Attorney General has around charitable trusts.
• The enforcement authority that the Attorney General has around charitable trusts.

Bills: HF4343

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, advertising tax, taxable services, digital advertising, online marketing, marketing services, search engine marketing, lead generation, internet advertising, ad agency, media buying, campaign planning, Minnesota tax law, service tax, broadening tax base, web advertising, promotional services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Deputy Attorney General Randi for the Department of the Attorney General.
• c><00:09:28.200><c> Deputy</c> good morning Good morning Deputy good morning Good morning Deputy Attorney
• General Randi for the Attorney General Randi for the Department<00:09:31.279><c> of</c><00:09:31.399
• of the Attorney General we've Department of the Attorney General we've submitted<00:09:33.440><c> our
• Representative Loen, I guess for HEO first, just the Attorney General.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several energy and environmental bills. On HB 974, which would authorize state step-in agreements for certain power purchase agreements and create a trust fund/reserve mechanism, the Attorney General’s office raised concern that the state should not incur liability beyond the trust fund. The Division of Consumer Advocacy said it had comments but did not take a position, while the Public Utilities Commission, Ameresco, Hawaiian Electric, and other industry groups supported the measure, saying it would help developers secure financing for renewable projects and improve reliability. Hawaiian Electric said the bill would not use state funds and that its proposed reserve account would be held in trust and returned to customers if unused. Committee members questioned whether the reserve would raise customer costs; Hawaiian Electric said the amount would be small and would be offset by avoiding higher financing costs, while Consumer Advocacy suggested the language should be strengthened to ensure unused funds are fully returned. The committee then heard HB 338, which would clarify that premium interest-rate adjustments for non-fossil fuel generation are just and reasonable and allow the PUC to include them in rates. DCCA and the State Energy Office supported the bill, and the PUC also supported it. Hawaiian Electric opposed unless amended, arguing the PUC already has discretion and warning the bill could weaken competitive procurement by encouraging higher bids tied to the utility’s credit rating. DCCA said the concern was that developers might not seek the best financing if premium rates are recoverable, but said Hawaiian Electric’s suggested amendment requiring clear and convincing evidence of unavoidable financing-cost increases would help. Members also asked about refinancing and whether developers could later lower debt costs after locking in a premium rate; DCCA said that ability exists and suggested a time limit or review mechanism. For HB 337, which would direct the PUC to establish standards requiring utilities to remove certain fossil-fuel costs from the rate base when adding renewable resources, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, and the State Energy Office supported the measure. Hawaiian Electric opposed it, saying it misunderstood utility cost recovery and could threaten grid reliability because fossil plants provide ancillary services such as voltage regulation and balancing, not just energy. Hawaiian Electric pointed to its integrated grid plan and recent fossil-unit retirements as evidence of ongoing transition, and asked the committee to defer the bill and leave oversight to the PUC. The committee also heard HB 879 on cesspool conversions, which would raise the maximum grant from $20,000 to $30,000 and add DOH positions; DHHL, DOH, environmental groups, Hawaii Realtors, and others supported it, while DOH discussed staffing needs and the practical effect of the higher grant cap. The committee also began HB 379 on requiring denitrification capacity for certain wastewater systems near shorelines or groundwater, with DLNR testifying in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• If I'm a business, a manufacturer, and I hire an attorney, that is still tax exempt.
• So what if an attorney offers his or her services pro bono and then on the side charges that same client
• um offers uh his or her attorney um offers uh his or her Services<00:06:30.639><c> pro</c> Services
• and the client is pro bono so attorney and the client is pro bono so Madam<00:07:10.599><c> chair</c
• </c><00:59:25.799><c> that</c> you might ask the the um attorneys that you might ask the the um attorneys

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal was to meet with my constituents and their attorney and get a tour of the facility.
• The attorney I spoke to flatout lies.
• ,</c><07:44:30.160><c> facility</c> to access their attorneys, facility to access their attorneys, facility
• </c> my own constituents and their attorney. my own constituents and their attorney.
• This is not attorneys, no path forward. This is not immigration<07:50:11.760><c> policy.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Attorney, Counselor, Solicitor, Barrister, and Proctor, Dan Daly. With that omission, Mr.
• To each analyst and attorney, to every legislative research assistant and administrative assistant, to
• Then we have a commander-in-chief who's bullying attorneys and law practices.
• If an attorney is looking at a total possible compensation...
• that victim's ability to retain an attorney.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum calls, and introductory remarks, including recognition of former Representative Ardian Zika and law enforcement officer of the day Representative Chuck Brannan. Members also unveiled a portrait of Speaker Daniel Perez, with extended remarks praising his leadership and the institution of the House. The Speaker then explained the process for taking up returning messages from the Senate, noting that the House would consider Senate amendments to bills already passed by both chambers. The House first concurred in Senate amendments and passed CS/CS/HB 1503 on computer science education and certification, which adds computer science and artificial intelligence content to high school instruction and creates a teacher certification program, with implementation delayed to give the Department of Education time to develop curriculum. The chamber then considered CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, adopting a House amendment to allow local governments to buy into the cyber grant program whether or not they receive a grant, add a five-year sunset, and keep the program under the Florida Digital Service rather than a university. The House concurred in the Senate amendment and passed the bill 104-1. Members also refused to concur in Senate amendments to CS/HB 351 on concurrent legislative jurisdiction over military installations and HB 6011 on reporting gifts or honoraria, sending both bills back to the Senate. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/HB 1471, which would create a process for designating domestic terrorist organizations and related restrictions. Supporters said the Senate amendment clarified the definition of “promote,” refined notice and timeline requirements, and aligned the bill with federal-style procedures; opponents argued it lacked due process, could chill speech, and gave the governor and cabinet unprecedented power without adequate evidentiary standards or judicial review. Members also debated a related public records bill, CS/CS/HB 1473, which would exempt certain records tied to the designation process; critics said the exemption would further reduce transparency and due process. Despite objections, the House adopted the amendments and passed HB 1471 by 80-25, while the public records measure was taken up as a technical companion to align with the newly amended bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• , as you know there are special attorneys who specialize in school district law, school board law.
• you look at the language, it's that first sentence that I have some concerns about. the special attorney
• of cansen or the special attorney of cansen or whoever<00:34:03.039><c> it</c><00:34:03.200><c> might
• I think it will bring down a lot of the attorney fees that we're seeing with districts.
• fees that we're seeing with the attorney fees that we're seeing with districts<00:37:38.079><c> um</

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I put that gentleman in touch with an attorney immediately to check whether this was legal, but he had
• Unfortunately, the attorney said, I'm not going to take the case. He didn't think it was winnable.
• 32:53.320><c> to</c><00:32:53.559><c> check</c><00:32:53.799><c> to</c><00:32:53.919><c> see</c> attorney
• immediately to check to see attorney immediately to check to see about<00:32:54.399><c> legal</c><00
• the attorney said I'm not<00:33:01.840><c> going</c><00:33:01.960><c> to</c><00:33:02.080><c> take</

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• denied after an accommodation did not pose an undue hardship, then they can file a complaint with the attorney
• :05:02.919><c> a</c><00:05:02.960><c> complaint</c> And what we've also required it to do is the attorney

Keywords: 1191, senate, all