Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Garratt? Yes. Right?
• I currently serve as the president of the Logan School Board and as vice president of the New Mexico
• President of the Logan School Board and as vice president of the New Mexico School Board Association.
• I'm the president of the Hobbs Municipal School Board and the president of the New Mexico School Board
• But that, Vice Chair Garratt. So thank you for that. So with that, Vice Chair Garratt. Mr.

Bills: SB23 , SB73 , SB210 , SB234 , SB243 , SB244 , SM16

Committee: House House Education

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, driver education, driver's ed, driving school, motorcycle safety, traffic safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, cyclist, bike lane, micromobility, scooter, moped, motorcycle training, DWI prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, my question is for both our vice president and president.
• <c> in</c><00:15:30.079><c> talking</c> vice president and president in talking vice president and president
• Well, thank you very much, Madam Chair, Madame President, Madame Vice President.
• </c><01:29:03.840><c> for</c> vice president that is accountable for vice president that is accountable
• Madame vice president Madame President Madame vice president if<01:36:44.840><c> we</c><01:36:44.960

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Allen.
• Vice Chair Allen.
• I started there as the academic dean, became the vice president, and I have been the president for the
• The famous figures, including President Barack Obama, President Jimmy Carter, and President Harry S.
• President Barack Obama, President Jimmy Carter, and President Harry S.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Summary: The Special Committee on Tourism met with 11 members present, established a quorum, and first went into executive session, where House Bill 2796 was voted do pass unanimously, 13-0. The committee then moved to public hearings. House Bill 2307, sponsored by Rep. Hayden, would designate the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico as the official military academy of the state. The sponsor and supporters said the academy is active, nationally recognized, and important to tourism, recruitment, and the local economy. The academy president testified that it brings an estimated $20 million to $22 million in economic impact and employs 122 people, and other supporters, including alumni and staff, described its educational value and statewide visibility. Members asked about the closure of other military academies and whether the bill would bring tourism and help recruitment. House Bill 3264, sponsored by Rep. Johnson, would make Kansas City the barbecue capital of Missouri. The sponsor highlighted Kansas City’s barbecue history, meatpacking roots, signature styles, and major restaurants and events. Members joked about Kansas City versus St. Louis barbecue and discussed possible promotion, but no opposition was offered. House Bill 3074, sponsored by Rep. Fountain Henderson, would designate April 30 as William Lacy Clay Sr. Day. The sponsor and NAACP testimony emphasized Clay’s civil rights leadership, long congressional service, and legacy of public service and education, with support also noting plans for community and school observances. House Bill 1960, sponsored by Rep. Peters, would designate the smooth chanterelle as Missouri’s official state mushroom. The sponsor and a long list of witnesses from the Missouri Mycological Society, educators, and children testified that the mushroom is native, edible, easy to identify, ecologically important, and tied to Missouri’s hardwood forests and outdoor education. Members asked about safety, look-alikes, and whether it was hallucinogenic; witnesses said it is not psychoactive and is generally safe when properly identified. The chair closed by praising the testimony and indicating support for advancing the bill, and the committee adjourned after concluding the hearing on HB 1960.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the Vice President of Government Affairs for the American Association of Payers, Administrators,
• I am the Vice President of Government Affairs for the American Association of Payers, Administrators,
• We have Travis Balzerini, who is the North Coast Regional Vice President for SEIU Local 1021, and Julie
• I'm speaking with you as the North Coast Regional Vice President for SEIU Local 1021 on behalf of our
• The current vote is 3 to 0, with the Chair and Vice Chair voting aye.

Summary: The Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee heard and advanced several bills covering workers’ compensation transparency, public pensions, prevailing wage, workplace harassment training, and employee benefits. AB 1048 would require disclosure of the contract justifying reduced workers’ compensation payments to medical providers; supporters said it would improve transparency without changing reimbursement rates, while opponents argued the problem was overstated and existing dispute remedies were sufficient. AB 1601 would give Sonoma County flexibility to target a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees rather than requiring an all-or-nothing COLA; county and union witnesses said retirees have gone without a COLA since 2008 and have lost purchasing power, and the bill passed unanimously. AB 1439 would commission a UC Berkeley study on labor standards in pension-funded real estate and infrastructure projects; labor groups supported it, while local governments, housing, and industry groups opposed it, and it passed on a 4-1 vote after one senator voted no in committee. The committee also heard AB 1697, which would delay implementation of a prior law restricting certain employment debt and pay-to-quit arrangements until 2027; the author said the delay would give employers, including professional sports leagues, time to adjust, while a financial services group sought a further delay to 2028. AB 1803 would require anti-hate speech content in existing workplace harassment training for employers with five or more employees; supporters cited rising antisemitic and other hate incidents and said the bill would help workers recognize and report hate, while opponents raised First Amendment concerns and argued existing harassment law already covers hostile conduct. AB 2120 would extend Los Angeles Unified’s selective certification hiring authority and allow retention of specialized employees in layoffs, and AB 2292 would bar providers from charging administrative fees for disability insurance and paid family leave certification forms; both drew support and were advanced without opposition testimony. AB 1198, the Fair Pay for Construction Workers Act, would require prevailing wage to be based on the time work is performed rather than the date a project is advertised for bid. Labor and contractor supporters said the current rule can lock in outdated wages and underpay workers on long projects and change orders, while cities, counties, and contractor groups warned it would create uncertainty, raise costs, and jeopardize projects funded by fixed grants or bonds. After testimony and questions, the committee voted to send all of the bills forward, with final recorded votes later showing unanimous or near-unanimous approval and several measures placed on call before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam President.
• She is joined by Vice President Bia Meshane, a communications major with an emphasis in multimedia journalism
• Thank you, Madam President. I too rise in support of SCR 132. Madam President.
• , Vice President, and Stephen Butler, Director of Finance.
• Kaufman, Vice President, and Stephen Butler, Director of Finance.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered a prayer recognizing World Water Day and the challenges of water scarcity, and then proceeded with several floor introductions. Members welcomed wildlife photographer Alice Cahill, outgoing California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham, Avalon Fire Chief Michael Alegria, and a delegation of Cal Poly Pomona students participating in CSU advocacy activities. The chamber also received a message that the Assembly had passed AB 2156, and the Senate approved the March 16-19 journals as corrected. The main floor action was on Senate Concurrent Resolution 132, which designates March 22, 2026, as California STEAM Robotics Day. The author and supporting senators emphasized the value of robotics and hands-on STEAM education for career readiness, problem-solving, and workforce development. The resolution passed by a 34-0 vote. Afterward, the author introduced student and industry guests connected to robotics education, including a Poway High School student and representatives from Garner Holt Productions. The Senate then considered five gubernatorial appointments, all of which were confirmed unanimously: Paul Toopee as Director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Peter Britery to the Southwestern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission, Dr. Youngping Chen and Gregory Lung to the California Acupuncture Board, and Roy Mather to the Board of Pilot Commissioners. The body also suspended Joint Rule 62A to allow the Governmental Organization Committee to hear AB 2156 on March 24 without sufficient notice. At the end of the session, the Senate adjourned in memory of Anne Colchin, a longtime Carlsbad city councilmember and public servant, and announced it would reconvene on March 26, 2026, after the State of the Judiciary joint convention.

Transcript Highlights:

• I agree with President Milliken.
• And here in Sacramento, President Nelson, the former president, was really the first head of that campus
• I also serve as a chapter president for CFA at my campus, as well as the associate vice president for
• My name is Jessica Dalton, and I am the Vice President of Representation for the California State University
• I'm also one of the Associate Vice Presidents for statewide CFA.

Summary: The subcommittee heard opening remarks and updates from UC President James Milliken and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia on the state of higher education, including federal funding losses, civil rights/Title IX compliance, enrollment, housing, and budget needs. Both leaders emphasized the value of UC and CSU to California’s workforce, research, and economic mobility, while warning that federal grant cancellations, investigations, and changes to student aid are creating major financial and operational strain. UC reported losing or having at risk more than 1,600 grants and over $1 billion in research activity, while CSU said it had lost more than 200 grants totaling about $161 million, including minority-serving institution grants that affected student support programs. Both systems said they are investing in civil rights services and trying to limit the release of personally identifiable information in response to federal requests. The committee then reviewed the higher education student housing grant program. Finance and Legislative Analyst’s Office staff said the governor’s budget does not include major new changes but continues support for the program. CSU reported 12 approved projects that will add about 5,047 beds, with roughly 75% below market rate, and said it has about 68,000 beds systemwide, a 92% occupancy rate, and ongoing housing insecurity among students. UC said its housing projects have added more than 7,000 beds when reduced-rent and regular-rent units are combined, but nearly 10,000 students were on housing wait lists at the start of fall 2025. Both systems described rapid rehousing efforts, emergency beds, and partnerships with community colleges, and UC noted several joint housing projects, including at Riverside, Merced, and Santa Cruz. Members discussed whether future housing bonds and use of surplus school sites could help expand capacity. In the enrollment section, the LAO recommended maintaining UC’s 2026-27 resident undergraduate target, funding enrollment growth separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident reduction plan at the three highest-demand UC campuses, and holding UC enrollment flat in 2027-28. For CSU, the LAO recommended revising the 2026-27 enrollment expectation downward to reflect updated projections, while also funding enrollment growth separately and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. CSU said it has rebounded from pandemic-era declines, is above its funded target by about 3,000 FTE, and is shifting about $89 million and 10,000 FTE from lower-demand campuses to higher-demand ones while developing turnaround plans for seven campuses with sustained enrollment declines, including Sonoma State. UC said it has already exceeded its compact enrollment goals and is planning continued growth, but that sustaining it depends on ongoing state support. Members raised concerns about campus-specific enrollment declines, nonresident caps at UC San Diego, and the need for stronger turnaround plans and teacher preparation pathways. The final section covered core operations and deferred payments: Finance said the governor proposes another one-year deferral of about $129.7 million for UC and $143.8 million for CSU, and the LAO recommended retiring the deferrals when one-time funds are available. CSU described rising compensation, financial aid, utilities, insurance, and deferred maintenance costs, and said it is pursuing cost-saving measures such as procurement alignment, campus integration, and shared administrative services.

Transcript Highlights:

• President for Administration Jan Goa; Vice President for Academic Strategy Deb Halbert; Vice President
• for Research and Innovation Vasilla Ceros; Vice President for Legal Affairs Krie Ok Naga; Vice President
• 00:10:48.079><c> for</c> finance Calbert young vice president for finance Calbert young vice president
• :50.639><c> president</c> administration Jan Goa vice president administration Jan Goa vice president
• colleges</c> vice president for community colleges vice president for community colleges Dela<00:11:

Summary: The House Finance Committee held an informational briefing with the University of Hawaiʻi, led by new President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance Calbert Young. Hensel outlined the university system’s scope, student demographics, research activity, and campus missions, emphasizing four strategic priorities: serving Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi, student success, workforce development, and economic diversification through innovation and research. She highlighted the system’s enrollment, research funding, and the roles of Mānoa, Hilo, West Oʻahu, the community colleges, and specialized institutions such as JABSOM and the Cancer Center. Young then reviewed the budget request, focusing largely on making prior one-time appropriations permanent and supporting recurring needs. Items included funding for Mānoa athletics, the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology, K-12 teacher education, Pamantasan Council support, Hilo programs, Windward’s mental health technician certificate, Maui’s practical nursing bridge program, and student support positions such as financial aid and admissions counselors. He also described workforce-related requests tied to nursing expansion at Mānoa and West Oʻahu, as well as facilities support at West Oʻahu. A major portion of the testimony addressed the university’s two Kakaʻako medical facilities. Young explained that declining tobacco settlement and cigarette tax revenues are no longer sufficient to cover debt service for JABSOM and the Cancer Center, so the governor’s budget includes general fund support to supplement those obligations. He also described a regents-approved request not included in the governor’s proposal: expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise financial aid program to the four-year campuses, estimated at about $11–12 million. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair, will you please move the bill? All right, Mr.
• You know, I'm the division president for Phoenix D.R. Horton.
• Vice Chairman, were you... Mr. Vice Chairman, were you... Mr. Windiger is gone, so Mr. ...
• Vice Chair, please move it anyway, sir. This is 23-4, right? This is 2320.
• Vice Chairman.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee approved the March 16, 2026 minutes and then heard testimony on several bills, with the chair noting that votes would be taken in batches because members were coming and going. HB 2939 would increase the rural qualified facilities tax credit from $20,000 to $25,000 per job for certain projects with initial investment under $2 billion; Lucid Motors supported it as a rural economic development tool, while Senator Epstein questioned the fiscal note and whether the higher credit would actually attract new investment. HB 2950 would authorize tourism improvement areas funded by voluntary lodging assessments to support marketing and tourism promotion; the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association and Visit Phoenix backed it as a competitive tool for rural and urban destinations, and committee members focused on whether participation was truly voluntary and how the assessments would be administered. HB 2780 made technical conforming changes to Arizona’s property tax lien foreclosure and excess proceeds sale process, building on a prior law that created a mechanism for delinquent property owners to recover equity; the sponsor and a longtime constituent said the changes would fix timing and credit-bid language so qualified entity sales could work in practice. HB 2502 would let certain elected officials in ASRS retire at normal retirement age without resigning their office, with the employer paying the alternate contribution rate; ASRS said it was neutral, and the sponsor argued the bill would treat elected officials more like other ASRS members. The committee then adopted do-pass recommendations for HB 2502, HB 2780, HB 2950, and HB 2939, with each passing on split votes. The committee also adopted a striker to HB 2140, allowing the State Treasurer to invest up to 10% of state trust and treasury monies in physical gold or silver bullion held in secure U.S. depositories. The sponsor and the Sound Money Defense League argued it would diversify reserves and hedge against market disruption, while opponents said gold is volatile, costly to store, and not something taxpayers need the state to buy. HB 2140 then passed as amended on a 4-2 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 2398, as amended, which requires commercial liability insurance for watercraft rentals and peer-to-peer boat sharing programs, with supporters saying it addresses uninsured rental boats and law enforcement concerns; the bill passed as amended on a 6-1 vote. The committee also heard HB 2999, a major housing-finance bill creating state affordability infrastructure districts to finance public infrastructure through bonds and assessments; proponents said it would lower housing costs by spreading infrastructure costs over time, while contractors and some senators raised concerns about payment risk, impact-fee treatment, and whether savings would reach homebuyers. After adopting a striker and hearing extensive questions, HB 2999 passed as amended on a 6-1 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator President Pizzo, you're recognized. Thanks.
• Senator President, Vizzo, you recognized. Thanks.
• Senator Vice Chair Smith, thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll get it right. I'm... Vice Chair.
• So I will turn the gavel over to Vice Chair Smith.
• Senator Yarborough, Vice Chair Smith, yes. Chair Martin, yes.

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee met and took up several criminal justice, public safety, and boating measures. It first heard SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which would create mental health diversion options for eligible misdemeanor and felony defendants, expand mental health and substance abuse grant uses, require evaluations and treatment recommendations in certain cases, add Hillsborough County to a forensic diversion pilot list, and create a behavioral health data repository. After adopting a technical amendment, the bill received strong support from NAMI Florida, family advocates, sheriffs, and the Murphy family, and was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. The committee also approved SB 86, expanding peer support programs for certain law enforcement support personnel, and SB 472, allowing inmates who complete approved education in correctional facilities to receive credit toward professional licensure requirements. Both bills were amended and then reported favorably without opposition. SB 276, which increases penalties for unlawfully sheltering or aiding an unmarried minor and creates a defense for actions taken to protect a minor from danger, drew questions about runaway youth, LGBTQ youth, and the scope of the defense; the sponsor said he was open to further amendment, and the bill passed favorably. Members then approved SB 402, updating the unlawful use of uniforms, medals, or insignia statute to reference the armed forces by definition rather than by branch. SB 490, as amended, would let law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers carry concealed off duty and exempt law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and active military service members from the three-day waiting period for rifle and shotgun purchases; it passed 8-1 after debate over the waiting period and equal treatment concerns. Finally, the committee passed SB 628, Lucy’s Law, to strengthen boating safety and penalties, after adopting an amendment that removed proposed changes to warrantless blood draws and boating education requirements; the bill was supported by the family of Lucy Fernandez and passed unanimously. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Karen Hegstad from NDSU, Associate Vice President for Finance Administration.
• I serve as the vice president for administration and finance for Minot State University.
• He said NDSU has a gem of a team, naming Vice President Bollinger, Assistant Vice President Higstead,
• Karen Higstead, Associate Vice President for Finance Administration at NDSU, said she had shared a couple
• For the record, I'm Bruce Bollinger, Vice President of Finance and Administration at NDSU.

Committee: Joint Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Keshel? Present. Chairman Gillette? Thank you, Vice Chair Keshel. Okay, members.
• Madam Vice Chair, please move a bill. Mr.
• Vice Chair Keshel? Aye. Senator Powell? Aye. Vice Chair Keshel? Chairman Gillette? Aye.
• Madam Vice Chair, please move HB 2976. Mr.
• Madam Vice Chair, please move the bill. Mr.

Bills: HB2226 , HB2406 , HB2663 , HB2695 , HB2805 , HB2976

Committees: House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections , House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Keywords: veteran status, veterans court, treatment court, diversion program, initial appearance, arrestee processing, criminal procedure, DD-214, Department of Veterans' Services, prosecuting agency, court notification, military service, armed forces, veterans benefits, reentry, mental health court, drug court, specialty court, Arizona criminal law, pretrial hearing

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, as well, we have our Vice Chair, Senator Driscoll [member_12059].
• I'm the Senior Vice President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.
• Through you to the committee members, Bob O'Kadeski, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Massachusetts
• Through you to the committee members, Bob O'Kadeski, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Massachusetts
• You know, President Biden imposed the 100 percent tariff on the Chinese.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a public hearing on House Bill 5036, concerning consumer information related to tariffs, and House Bill 5138, concerning consumer protections for low-value tender scarcity and penny rounding. The chairs opened with procedural remarks, noted both chambers were in session, and explained that testimony would be limited to three minutes. The hearing also included light discussion of the committee’s one-year anniversary and the large volume of bills the committee handles. Testimony on H. 5138 was broadly supportive. Senator Paul Feeney, the bill’s co-sponsor, said the measure would address confusion caused by the penny’s scarcity by creating a statewide cash-rounding standard to the nearest five cents, with rounding up or down depending on the final digit. He emphasized that the bill would apply only to cash transactions and would require consumer notice rules from the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Representatives from the Massachusetts Package Stores Association, Massachusetts Retailers Association, Massachusetts Restaurant Association, and New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association all supported the bill, citing operational efficiency, legal clarity, fairness, and reduced burden on retailers and restaurants. The Retailers Association suggested amendments to make rounding discretionary rather than mandatory and to clarify that taxes and fees would not be affected. Testimony on H. 5036 was largely opposed by business groups. The Massachusetts Retailers Association, New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, and Massachusetts State Auto Dealers Association all said the tariff disclosure requirements would be difficult or impossible to implement in practice, especially given frequent tariff changes and the complexity of pricing goods and vehicles. They argued the bill would create compliance burdens and could increase costs rather than help consumers. No votes were taken on either bill. The hearing concluded after no further witnesses came forward, and the committee voted to close the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Berman? Chair Broder. Yes.
• Vice Chair Berman. Chair Broder. Senator Trunow. Yes. Vice Chair Berman. Chair Broder.
• Vice Chair Berman. Chair Brodeur.
• I am the president of Save Rodman.
• I am the president of Save Rodman.

Bills: S0302 , S0394 , S0480 , S0546 , S0636 , S0774 , S0796 , S1028 , S1050 , S1066 , S1120 , S1230 , S1288 , S1682

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, President Gates.
• Vice Chair Osgood? Yes. And by your vote, CS for SB 760 is reported favorably.
• Vice Chair Asgood? Yes. Chair Gruders? Yes.
• Chair, Vice Chair, and members of the Fiscal Policy Committee.
• Vice Chair Osgood? Yes. And by your vote, CS for SB 128 is reported.

Summary: The Fiscal Policy Committee met and first adopted a late-filed amendment to SB 774, which expands enhanced workers’ compensation coverage to 911 public safety telecommunicators for mental or nervous injuries. The bill drew supportive testimony from a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher and others, and was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 770 on forensic services for certain defendants, which would allow the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to consolidate secure forensic services for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism whose charges were dismissed after incompetency findings. Members then considered several public safety, family, and workforce bills. CS/SB 86, which declares unauthorized aliens operating commercial vehicles an imminent safety hazard and imposes vehicle impoundment and a $50,000 penalty on motor carriers, was reported favorably after questions about impound procedures and cargo handling; one speaker opposed it. SB 1594, protecting veterans’ benefits for foster youth so the funds are reserved for postsecondary education, training, and after-care services, was reported favorably with supportive testimony from a former DCF attorney. CS/SB 760, creating a new offense for willful violations of no-contact pretrial release conditions in violent crime cases, was reported favorably despite criminal defense attorneys’ concerns about a provision allowing warrantless arrests without officer observation. The committee also approved a complete rewrite of the nonprofit corporations chapter in SB 554, a sickle cell continuing education bill (SB 844) after extensive emotional testimony from patients, advocates, and family members, and SB 1022 adding two children’s initiative programs in Bay County and Broward County. CS/SB 1246 broadened the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund to include health science education programs and related workforce needs and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved CS/CS/SB 1230 restricting use and sale of certain firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS, and CS/CS/SB 128 directing DEP to mark Red Harris Spoil Island; both passed with favorable votes. Several senators later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on specific tabs, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Vice President Roberts Davis. Welcome, Vice President.
• >> Vice President, Mr.
• &gt;&gt; Vice<00:26:51.120><c> President,</c> &gt;&gt; Vice President, &gt;&gt; Vice President, &gt;&
• >> Vice President Robert Davis, I will have to get somebody from our finance team to explain to me so
• >> Vice President Robert Davis, I will have to get somebody from our finance team to explain to me so

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• FOR THE FIRST TOPIC WE HAVE WITH US DAN THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STATE POLICY FOR DATA CENTER COALITION
• ON REMOTELY AND WE HAVE CEE JAY MEYER THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF IMPLEMENTATION FOR CLL DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE
• REMOTELY AND WE HAVE TIFFANY & CO AND VICE PRESIDENT OF RIGHT AND REGULATORY STRATEGIES ARE FLORIDA
• I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STATE POLICY FOR THE ENGAGEMENT CENTER OF COALITION.
• CASEY REED FROM AT&T. >> CASEY REED WITH AT&T VICE PRESIDENT GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Chairs, Vice Chair. Um, G.
• morning chairs Vice chair um G morning chairs Vice chair um G takaka<00:02:41.200><c> uh</c><00:02:41.480
• </c> questions or concerns seeing none Vice questions or concerns seeing none Vice chair<00:33:07.000
• Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, members.
• Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, members.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The joint Health and Human Services and Judiciary meeting heard testimony on several measures, with most of the discussion focused on SB 709 and SB 955. On SB 709, relating to mental health data and related appropriations, the Department of Health supported the bill’s intent and said the funding would help maintain a data dashboard and positions, though it had no suggested amount for one blank appropriation. Members also discussed whether sections of the bill were duplicative of existing data reporting. The committees later recommended SB 709 be passed with amendments, including technical changes, deferring the date to December 31, 2050, and blanking out the appropriation for later clarification. SB 955, relating to fitness to proceed, drew mixed testimony. Judiciary opposed portions of the bill, saying some changes could have unintended practical consequences. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill’s intent but urged keeping a three-member evaluation panel rather than reducing it to two, warning that a two-panel process could create delays if a third evaluator had to be added later. A former Hawaii State Hospital clinician said the bill placed too much blame on the courts and should address institutional and administrative problems at the hospital more directly. The Department of Health supported the intent and said it appreciated efforts to address overcrowding. After discussion about examiner shortages and status hearings, the committees recommended SB 955 be passed with amendments reducing the number of qualified examiners from three to one and making related technical changes. The committee also heard SB 1228, a child welfare services measure creating a working group related to youth legal representation and child welfare reform. DHS requested adding a Child Welfare Services representative to the work group, and multiple advocates, including the National Center for Youth Law and Hawaii Youth Services Network, testified in strong support, emphasizing the need for youth voice and implementation of Malama Ohana recommendations. Members asked whether this working group overlapped with another recently passed working group bill; testimony indicated the two measures addressed different issues. The meeting then recessed and later resumed for decision-making on the 9 o’clock calendar, where SB 709 was adopted with amendments and SB 955 was adopted with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, a couple of administrative comments here.
• Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Jeremy Burciaga and I serve as vice president and academic
• Do we need to call the president? up are we good? Okay, great.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, Vice Chair. Congratulations.
• I'm Corinne Phaeton, Chancellor and President of Texas.

Bills: HB 1105 , HB1527 , HB1787 , HB1972 , HB2081 , HB3296 , HB3976 , HB4071 , HB4234 , HB4438 , HB4701 , HB5092 , HB5150 , HB5180 , HB5265 , HB5333 , HJR203

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: tuition exemption, paramedics, higher education, laboratory fees, emergency medical services, peace officers, criminal justice, law enforcement, degree programs, public institutions, HB 1787, HPV, human papillomavirus, college health, university health, student health, public health education, prevention program, screening, early detection

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Schulte: Here. Representative Sharp: Here. Anderson: Here. Banderman: Here.
• And right now, with the party in power at the federal level, with President Trump leading things, you
• Vice Chair Schulte. Aye. Chair Myers. Aye. Vice Chair Schulte. Aye. Representative Sharp?
• Vice Chair Schulte. Aye. Representative Sharp. Aye. Anderson. Present. Banderman? Bosley? Aye.
• Vice Chair Schulte. Aye. Representative Sharp? Yes. Anderson? Yes. Banderman? Yes. Bosley? Yes.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The House Committee on Crime and Public Safety met in executive session and first took up House Bill 3105, which drew the most discussion. The committee adopted a House committee substitute and two amendments: one replacing references to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission with the Director of Public Safety, and another changing venue language to Cole County. Members debated the bill’s effect on cooperation with federal law enforcement, Second Amendment rights, and local control, with supporters saying it would protect law-abiding citizens and allow public safety agencies to work with federal partners, while opponents argued it was unnecessary, politically motivated, or could weaken local authority. The committee then voted the substitute do pass by 11 ayes to 6 noes. The committee also voted House Bill 1740 do pass without discussion. House Bill 3186, relating to sex offenders, received one present vote from Representative Anderson, who cited possible constitutional concerns, but it still passed 15-0-1. House Joint Resolution 124 also passed, 12-4-1. The committee then combined House Bills 3068 and 3049 into a single committee substitute on sex offender registry matters and approved it unanimously, 17-0. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 2868, which would expand DNA swabbing requirements for certain felony offenses. An amendment added several felony categories, including controlled substance offenses, forgery, fraud, auto theft, felony DWI, and felony evading arrest, while removing check forgery language after member concerns. Representative Seitz said the change addressed his concerns and referenced a recent local officer shooting as a reason for support. The committee adopted the substitute and voted the bill do pass unanimously, 17-0, then adjourned the executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Vice Chair. I don't... Thank you, members.
• Kevin Cunningham is president and would like to speak.
• Vice Chairman. Members, this is House Bill 943 by Chairman Firmitt.
• Thank you, Vice Chair Ilk.
• Vice Chairman. Members, we have an amendment originating in committee.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 14 with a quorum present and first deferred Senate Bill 241 to the following week. The committee then took up House Bill 1117, which would clarify that an insurer’s payment on a first-party claim does not restart the two-year prescriptive period for filing suit. The sponsor said the bill responds to a Louisiana Supreme Court decision and is intended to restore a fixed deadline from the date of loss. Testimony from the Department of Insurance and industry representatives was generally supportive, and members discussed whether policyholders could be confused by partial payments and whether insurers have any duty to warn them about prescription. Representative Glorioso moved the bill favorably, and it was reported favorable without objection. The committee next considered House Bill 943, which creates a process for insurers to check for delinquent child support before issuing certain settlement payments and to withhold and remit arrears to DCFS. The committee adopted a substitute bill and then a committee amendment narrowing the scope by removing annuities and life insurance beneficiaries from the definition of covered recipients. The sponsor described the measure as a tool to help children receive overdue support, and DCFS said Louisiana currently lacks a legal mechanism to capture some settlement payouts owed by noncustodial parents. Members discussed how the bill differs from existing child support liens and whether it would close gaps in current enforcement. The transcript cuts off during that discussion, before any final vote on House Bill 943 is shown.