Transcript Highlights:

• It requires licensing from TDLR and disclosures and protection for folks who are being scammed by salesmen

Bills: SB1036 , SB1566 , SB1664 , SB2268 , SCR5 , SCR8 , SCR9 , SCR32 , SCR46

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: residential solar, solar retailer, solar salesperson, solar panel sales, solar lease, solar installation, renewable energy, clean energy, consumer protection, deceptive sales, door-to-door solicitation, occupational registration, TDLR, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, Public Utility Commission, electrical contractor, interconnection, net metering, Truth in Lending Act

Transcript Highlights:

• hospital or healthcare practitioner providing services in a rural hospital that does not have a licensed
• Have you registered as Steve Uecker, Compliance Manager for TDLR, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
• Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, good afternoon. Thank you for listening to me.

Bills: HB18 , HB742 , HB754 , HB1644 , HB2187 , HB1887 , HB 1275 , HB37 , HB1503 , HB1699 , HB1700 , HB2735 , HB1741 , HB1731 , HB1675 , HB18 , HB37

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, trafficking prevention, medical assistant training, health care facilities, hospital compliance, clinic compliance, anti-retaliation, whistleblower protection, employee reporting, good faith report

Transcript Highlights:

• They drafted a last resort bill that would provide a temporary license or conditional license just for
• </c> standards for licensing of engineers. standards for licensing of engineers.
• test to become licensed. Great. It'd be test to become licensed. Great.
• </c> license. What is that process? license. What is that process?
• , they get the license.

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Labor met on February 19, 2026, and heard a series of bills largely focused on public employment, staffing, and professional licensing. Early measures included HB 2276 and HB 2472, both relating to Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund staff salaries, which were supported by trust fund representatives and received no opposition or questions. The committee also heard HB 1714 HD1 on housing, where the Hawaii Public Housing Authority testified with comments and the Deputy Attorney General raised concerns about the scope of autonomy, civil service, collective bargaining, and a possible separation-of-powers issue involving legislative approval of long-term contracts. The committee then considered several personnel and civil service bills. HB 2325 HD1, relating to civil service exempt positions at DLNR, drew support from DLNR and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, but HGEA opposed it and urged the department to seek other recruitment and retention solutions while keeping employees in civil service. HB 1541, relating to Department of Health positions, was supported by DOH on the grounds that the positions serve vulnerable populations and require specialized expertise, while HGEA opposed. HB 2140 HD1, relating to essential permanent positions, received support from OPSD, HGEA, and the Chamber of Commerce, with written comments from the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services. HB 2315 HD1, relating to state employment benefits, was strongly supported by DOH, UPW, and HGEA as a recruitment and retention incentive; members questioned the pilot program, and DOH explained it would allow employees to cash out vacation leave earlier than current policy allows. The committee also heard HB 2295 on government contracting, with DOE support not present and IBEW 1186 in opposition. HB 1720, relating to professional engineers, drew strong support from the City and County of Honolulu’s planning department, which argued the bill would help with affordable housing review and only affect eligibility to sit for the licensure exam, but strong opposition from engineering industry and licensing board representatives, who warned it would lower licensing standards and harm reciprocity; members questioned both sides about plan review experience and licensure requirements. HB 2367, relating to employment earnings and pay transparency, received strong support from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, AAUW, the Commission on the Status of Women, and others, who said transparency helps small businesses and retention, while written opposition came from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and NFIB. Finally, HB 1935, relating to personal information, drew comments from the Attorney General and the Campaign Spending Commission about implementation burdens and disclosure requirements, with UPW supporting the home-address redaction portion but opposing the broader disclosure process; additional written testimony was noted from OIP, the League of Women Voters, Public Press Law Center, HGEA, and DCCA.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, gentlemen, do a lot of these small grocers have liquor licenses, or they do not?
• Madam Chair, gentlemen, do a lot of these small grocers have liquor licenses, or they do not?
• license reform.
• We created a liquor license for restaurants to compete against the national chains, so it may be worth
• . license.

Committee: Joint Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• requiring qualifications of mediators, arbitrators, and evaluators to have five years of experience as a licensed
• Normally, we just look and see whether or not retailers and wholesalers and dealers have their licenses
• Normally, we just look and see whether or not retailers and wholesalers and dealers have their licenses
• Normally, we just look and see whether or not retailers and wholesalers and dealers have their licenses
• in support bionic Petroleum in liquor in support bionic Petroleum in support<00:26:06.039><c> the</c

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held decision-making on SB 146, SB 147, and SB 1166. SB 146 and SB 147, both relating to condominiums, were recommended to pass with amendments. The committee adopted amendments based on testimony from Anne Anderson, including mediator/arbitrator qualifications, clarifications about disputes involving managing agents, small claims timing, lien rights, and refund determinations by an early neutral evaluator. For both bills, the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050 for further discussion. Each measure was adopted with no objections. SB 1166, relating to insurance, was also passed with amendments. The committee removed language that would have required insurers to bring claims and condition rates on doing so, replacing it with encouraging language. The amended bill adds a private cause of action against responsible parties, authorizes insurer actions under certain conditions, defines terms tied to climate-related events and fossil fuel products, and requires HPIA to report to the insurance commissioner on whether it exercised direct action rights. The effective date was likewise deferred to July 1, 2050, and the measure was adopted without objection. The committee then heard SB 985, relating to consumer protection and gift card fraud, and SB 1525, relating to electronic smoking devices and e-liquids. SB 985 drew support from a consumer fraud victim and others who said gift card scams disproportionately harm kupuna, while the Retail Merchants of Hawaii opposed the bill’s packaging/display requirements and suggested stronger penalties instead. The committee voted to pass SB 985 with amendments, deferring its effective date to July 1, 2050, and noted it would move on to Judiciary next. SB 1525 drew significant opposition from the Attorney General’s office, Department of Taxation, Department of Health, and public health groups, who argued it conflicted with federal tobacco law, was hard for Tax to administer, and would not effectively remove unauthorized vape products. After testimony, the committee recommended deferral of SB 1525 without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• removes certain restrictions on carrying concealed weapons in restaurants and makes related changes to liquor
• licensing regulations, that is most relevant here, as language to the Dram Shop statute to limit civil
• So with the new language, a liquor licensee could be civilly liable only in a situation where the liquor
• 6 in the Arizona Constitution, because it could cut off a claim of ordinary negligence against a liquor

Committee: House Rules

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> use it at your local you know uh liquor use it at your local you know uh liquor store<00:19:30.440
• One of them is: how easy is it to make an E license? Do I just sign up and do it?
• And so she has driver's license, and she had her driver's license scanned when she went in to make sure
• And so she has driver's license, and she had her driver's license scanned when she went in to make sure
• and she had her driver's license and she had her driver's<00:30:36.880><c> license</c><00:30:37.159>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• educational settings without obtaining liquor licenses, subject to certain limitations.
• educational settings without obtaining liquor licenses, subject to certain limitations.
• 281-39.5 prevents the issuance of a liquor license to any establishment located within 500 feet of an
• </c><01:00:40.319><c> that</c> liquor license and they take that liquor license and they take that liability
• day</c><01:00:47.359><c> or</c><01:00:47.599><c> for</c> the liquor license for the day or for the liquor

Bills: SB2003

Committee: Senate Water, Land, Culture and the Arts

Keywords: Mauna Kea, land management, University of Hawaii, astronomical observatories, leasable lands, natural resource management, stewardship authority, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts and Education heard testimony and discussed SB 20003, which would require the auditor’s report under Act 255 to include a recommendation on whether the Monarch Stewardship and Oversight Authority is fit to continue managing Monaca lands. Testimony focused on the bill’s reversion language, the role of the auditor, and whether the measure gave the auditor too much discretion without clear criteria. The Office of the Auditor’s position, read into the record, was that it had strong reservations because the bill did not provide standards for assessing fitness and asked that the requirement be held or amended. Other testimony suggested a work group with relevant agencies and Hawaiian practitioners to manage the transition and reduce conflict. Committee members debated whether the bill should simply restore the original reversion language or also require an audit-based fitness determination. Several members questioned the need for a 2031 audit when Act 255 already provides for a performance and financial audit in 2031 and noted that the bill could shift authority away from the legislature. In response, the committee chair explained that the measure was intended to restore language removed during conference and to address the transition back to the University of Hawaii if the authority was not meeting the act’s purpose. The committees ultimately recommended SB 20003 be passed with amendments. The amendments would strike the auditor/audit section, add language addressing timelines by providing a 10-year lease extension and sublease extension, and make technical changes including a defective date. The committees voted to adopt the amended measure and send it forward as an SD1. The transcript also included a separate Education Committee hearing on SB 3286, which would require the University of Hawaii to develop a facilities and student housing master plan and report to the legislature. University of Hawaii testimony said the system supports the intent but that the bill’s requirements are a heavy lift across 10 campuses and should follow development of a broader academic strategy. Members raised concerns about deferred maintenance, shifting priorities, and the lack of a systemwide plan, while the university said it already has a six-year capital improvement plan but acknowledged it does not fully incorporate the broader academic and housing strategy the bill contemplates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe it was something about the tag or licensing.
• Um, AVID gets notified when someone with an Alabama driver's license gets a new driver's license in another
• license address that could be used for...
• The ABC board has always controlled spirituous liquors. How do we get this spirituous liquors.
• How do you even get a license for a distribution license?

Bills: HB 14 , HJR 31 , HB 43 , HB 18 , HB 106 , HB 36 , HB 26 , HB 149 , HB 121 , HB 206 , HB 136 , HB 3114 , HB 2733 , HB 1732 , HB 3700 , HB 467 , HB 1130 , HB 1846 , HB 1442 , HB 1147 , HB 2176 , HB 2701 , HB 805 , HB 2890 , HB 1154 , HB 1644 , HB 2118 , HB 1718 , HB 2488 , HB 2596 , HB 1971 , HB 2468 , HB 484 , HB 2578 , HB 3204 , HB 1041 , HB 307 , HB 685 , HB 1710 , HB 538 , HB 2525 , HB 3125 , HB 2027 , HB 2894 , HB 3077 , HB 3684 , HJR 99 , HB 1399 , HJR 5 , HB 1330 , HB 2110 , HJR 2 , HJR 6 , HB 1587 , HB 14 , HJR 31 , HB 43 , HB 18 , HB 106 , HB 36 , HB 26 , HB 149 , HB 121 , HB 206 , HB 136 , HB 3114 , HB 2733 , HB 1732 , HB 3700 , HB 467 , HB 1130 , HB 1846 , HB 1442 , HB 1147 , HB 2176 , HB 2701 , HB 805 , HB 2890 , HB 1154 , HB 1644 , HB 2118 , HB 1718 , HB 2488 , HB 2596 , HB 1971 , HB 2468 , HB 484 , HB 2578 , HB 3204 , HB 1041 , HB 307 , HB 685 , HB 1710 , HB 538 , HB 2525 , HB 3125 , HB 2027 , HB 2894 , HB 3077 , HB 3684

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, farm products, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, agriculture, Texas Constitution, livestock, producer, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services

Transcript Highlights:

• Board from suspending or revoking a restaurant's liquor license under specific conditions.
• license, such as licenses to sell alcohol to go or dual licenses to operate as a bar, beer and wine store
• , liquor store, et cetera.
• package liquor.
• But nine out of 10 licenses, they can't.

Committee: House House Judiciary Committee of Reference

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard and advanced several bills focused on criminal justice, public safety, firearms, immigration-related enforcement, and victims’ rights. SB 1170 would enhance sentencing for selling dangerous or narcotic drugs to a minor when the drug sale contributed to the minor’s death; supporters, including grieving parents, argued it would hold dealers accountable, while opponents warned it would remove judicial discretion and increase prison terms for people with addiction. The committee also approved SB 1012, which narrows a restaurant-related concealed-carry restriction for properly permitted handgun holders in certain Series 12 restaurants; supporters framed it as a limited correction, while beverage industry representatives said it overrides property rights and creates confusion. SB 1511, requiring proof of lawful status for drivers using non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses and allowing citations and possible impoundment, also received a do-pass recommendation after emotional testimony about trucking-related fatalities. The committee then took up a strike-everything amendment to SB 1100 creating an Arizona registration and disclosure system for lobbying on behalf of foreign adversary principals, with the Department of Homeland Security supporting the measure and civil rights advocates objecting that it could stigmatize people based on origin rather than conduct. SB 1004, dealing with GPS monitoring for homeless registered sex offenders, was amended to remove DPS as the monitoring agency and passed despite concerns about overcriminalization and loss of judicial discretion. SB 1213, which would bar probation for people unlawfully present in the U.S. and require ICE notification, passed over objections that it conflicts with existing probation statutes and raises constitutional concerns. SB 1402, requiring probationers on electronic monitoring to pay the fee, also passed, with opponents arguing courts already have discretion and should consider ability to pay. The committee next approved SB 1709, which mandates re-arrest, probation revocation, and consecutive prison terms for adults on probation for dangerous crimes against children who commit new offenses or violate probation; supporters said it was needed to protect children, while opponents said it strips judges of discretion and can punish technical violations too harshly. SB 1413, removing a $100,000 cap on restitution for serious injury or death caused by moving violations, passed after the county attorney’s office said the cap had already been found unconstitutional. SB 1416, updating missing-child notification procedures and requiring faster photo and media dissemination, passed unanimously after testimony from missing-child advocates. Finally, SB 1725, creating a civil and petty-offense remedy for excessive marijuana smoke or odor drifting onto neighboring property, passed after debate over private-property rights, medical marijuana protections, local control, and possible conflict with the Voter Protection Act; the committee also heard SB 1723, a domestic-violence-related bill expanding protective-order, bail, and parenting-time considerations, but the transcript cuts off before action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• I had a food hall license for a new proposed restaurant and liquor establishment in the west end of St
• Senator Pappas had a special liquor license provision for the Science Museum and for the Union Depot.
• Senator Papus um had a uh special<03:20:06.800><c> liquor</c><03:20:07.200><c> license</c><03:20:07.680
• ><c> provision</c><03:20:08.160><c> for</c><03:20:08.319><c> the</c> special liquor license provision
• for the special liquor license provision for the Science<03:20:08.880><c> Museum</c><03:20:09.359><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First up on the agenda, we have HB 108 relating to intoxicating liquor.
• first up we have Bob intoxicating liquor first up we have Bob Gunter<00:10:19.519><c> from</c><00:10
• </c> also open it to um beer and and liquor also open it to um beer and and liquor uh<00:20:09.280><c
• or any of the ones on the continent could also then apply for a direct shipment license or permit.
• We are first up with HB 108, relating to intoxicating liquor.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on January 29, 2025, and heard testimony on HB 108, which concerns intoxicating liquor and would expand direct-to-consumer shipping for beer and spirits. Supporters included representatives of Koloa Rum Company, Maui Brewing Company, and Ola Brew, who argued the bill would modernize alcohol laws, help small local producers compete, support jobs and local agriculture, and give consumers more access to Hawaii-made products. They also said Hawaii already has experience regulating direct wine shipments, with age verification and carrier-based delivery systems in place, and that direct shipping could help businesses reach visitors after they return home and diversify beyond tourism. Opposition came from the Hawaii Public Health Institute, whose representative said the bill could increase access for underage drinking, especially because liquor commissions do not currently conduct compliance checks on alcohol shipments and may lack capacity to do so. The group also raised tax-enforcement concerns, saying the existing three-tier system makes excise and sales tax collection easier, while direct shipping would require additional auditing. They urged the committee to oppose the bill or defer it until more research is done, and suggested a common carrier reporting requirement to help reconcile shipments. Committee members questioned both sides about whether current law already allows some alcohol shipments, whether a Kentucky distiller could ship directly to Hawaii, and how reciprocity with other states would work. Supporters said the bill is modeled on wine-shipping language and could be amended to clarify reciprocity, while opponents said the bill lacks a common carrier reporting requirement and would place a burden on county liquor commissions. No vote or final action on HB 108 was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our liquor license can get revoked at any time for any reason whatsoever.
• Our<02:17:32.559><c> liquor</c><02:17:32.800><c> license</c><02:17:33.120><c> can</c><02:17:33.280><c
• > get</c><02:17:33.439><c> revoked</c><02:17:33.760><c> at</c> Our liquor license can get revoked at
• Our liquor license can get revoked at any<02:17:34.080><c> time</c><02:17:34.240><c> for</c><02:17:34.479
• I mean, I feel your issue with your license, uh, liquor license, as well, that argument.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• deals with contact information for attorneys that represent businesses interested in the sale of liquor
• Chairman, and Representative Haas, we'll probably have the Liquor Division back for these three sections
• other segment taken out, so we've hit all three, and I think we're going to need the Department of Liquor
• And it's family and property law, licensing and regulation, criminal justice system, and elections.
• And it's family and property law, licensing and regulation, criminal justice system, and elections.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AOE licensed data management. That was the $700,000 savings.
• AOE licensed data management. That was the $700,000 savings.
• AOE licensed data management. That was the $700,000 savings.
• AOE licensed data management. That was the $700,000 savings.
• AOE licensed data management. That was the $700,000 savings.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So our licensing statutes are tiered, and this is the lowest of the licensing tier under 1,000 cases.
• So if a beverage manufacturer or wine manufacturer did have an on premise license, a restaurant license
• </c> uh because we've always made the liquor uh because we've always made the liquor laws<00:31:53.919
• </c> actually have a beer and wine license. actually have a beer and wine license.
• have an on premise license, a restaurant license<00:35:17.200><c> already,</c><00:35:17.839><c> this

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• removes certain restrictions on carrying concealed weapons in restaurants and makes related changes to liquor
• licensing regulations, the most relevant issue here is the language as to the Dram Shop statute, to
• So with the new language, a liquor licensee could be civilly liable only in a situation where the liquor
• 6 in the Arizona Constitution, because it could cut off a claim of ordinary negligence against a liquor

Summary: The Rules Committee considered several Senate bills and heard constitutional/form reviews from rules attorneys. Senate Bill 1012, which would loosen restrictions on carrying concealed weapons in restaurants and adjust liquor licensing/Dram Shop liability, was flagged for a possible anti-abrogation issue but was still recommended constitutional and in proper form by a 5-2 vote. Senate Bill 1573, barring courts from relying on religious sectarian law, was flagged for a possible First Amendment Establishment Clause challenge under the Larson test and was also recommended by a 5-2 vote. Senate Bill 1613, the annual reviser’s technical corrections bill, was described as fixing drafting defects such as title problems and conflicting effective dates and was recommended unanimously. Senate Bill 1683, restricting property rights and certain equipment use by foreign adversary nations or their agents, was flagged for possible conflict with federal foreign-relations law and FIRRMA but was recommended by a 5-3 vote. Senate Bill 1725, defining excessive marijuana smoke or odor as a nuisance, was flagged for possible conflict with voter-protected marijuana initiatives and a potential VPA issue; it was recommended by a 5-3 vote. At the end of the meeting, the committee took a mass motion on a long list of additional Senate bills, with one correction made to change a bill reference from SB 1444 to SB 1445. The Rules Office said the measures in the mass motion were constitutional and in proper form, and the committee approved them unanimously, 8-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in order to get a license, license.
• . licenses. licenses.
• license? license?
• I'm the director of liquor enforcement licensing under the liquor commission.
• So, our investigators are in these stores; many of them have tobacco and liquor licenses.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that's a prerequisite for maintaining their liquor license.
• This version doesn't have it tied to a liquor license. I'd be open to that.
• That, I think, is more detrimental to the business than having their liquor license revoked.
• And liquor license revocation is actually a very effective tool for compliance.
• That is a financial burden on them, but there may be some stores that don't have liquor licenses that

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 12 amends 7 V.S.A. 241, caterer's license, to include that the holder of a caterer's license
• </c> sell products from other licensed sell products from other licensed manufacturers<00:07:18.720><
• </c> on or before January 15th, uh a licensed on or before January 15th, uh a licensed manufacturer<00
• </c><00:07:59.120><c> to</c><00:07:59.360><c> remove</c> caterer's license to remove caterer's license
• </c> third or second class licensed premises. third or second class licensed premises.

Keywords: 926, house, all