Transcript Highlights:

• About insurance rate reductions, certainly appropriately so, I think the best way to address that...
• They approve and disapprove rate increases and so on and so forth. Currently, the TWA and the...
• Anyway, first, let me address the regret rate, or detransition possibility.
• The regret rate for gender-affirming care is 1%. That means that it is 99% successful.
• And we know that in Texas. ...has the highest rate of uninsured Texans.

Bills: HB778 , HB 1266 , HB1576 , HB2213 , HB2517 , HB2518 , HB2841 , HB3306 , HB3320 , HB3388 , HB3508 , HB3520 , HB3689

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: credentialing, healthcare, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, managed care, hurricane, windstorm, loss mitigation, grants, insurance discounts, property retrofitting, insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, board composition, coastal counties, property insurance, taxation, Texas FAIR Plan Association, premium taxes, maintenance taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> criteria rather than market rate. criteria rather than market rate.
• He added that this also affects the rental vacancy rate, which is incredibly low.
• And I don't even know what the standard rate is because, you know, we're working pretty hard.
• We see countries like Canada reducing or removing retaliatory rates.
• So again, on its face, I while I rates.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• It affects graduation rates.
• Food insecurity doesn't just impact health; it affects graduation rates.
• rate for the general population of applicants remains around 3%.
• rates in the world as well.
• rates in the world as well.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its first hearing and heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including hunger-free campuses, FAFSA completion, early college/college-in-high-school programs, banning legacy preferences, AP credit consistency, and tuition equity for the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Committee leaders opened by outlining the hearing process and noting the three-minute testimony limit. Legislators and advocates generally framed the bills as equity and access measures aimed at improving college affordability, student success, and workforce development. Representative Vargas testified for H. 1466 and H. 1467, arguing that hunger-free campus should be codified because many public college and community college students face food insecurity, and that FAFSA completion should be improved through individualized outreach and an opt-out or completion requirement. Senator Lovely, the Greater Boston Food Bank, and other advocates supported the hunger-free campus bill, citing data that 44% of public university and community college students experienced food insecurity in 2023 and that food insecurity harms graduation rates. Femi Stoltz and Shanti Lopez Toro backed the FAFSA bill, saying many students miss out on Pell grants and need direct support; they pointed to state examples such as Louisiana and to recent state action requiring FAFSA awareness. Committee members asked about the federal FAFSA rollout, regional equity in food access, and the need for long-term funding and data collection. A large panel supported H. 1455 on college and high school/early college, including former Chair Roy, the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, a student graduate, MBAE, and Tripp Jones. They described early college as a proven model that helps low-income and first-generation students, improves degree attainment, and supports workforce needs; witnesses said the goal is to scale from about 9,000 students and 55 partnerships toward 22,000 to 25,000 students by 2030, with possible future growth beyond that. Members raised questions about funding, public-private partnerships, parental involvement, faculty development, and whether the bill should include data review and more standardized policies across institutions. Representative Garcia also testified for H. 1432 on AP credit, saying students should receive consistent credit for AP scores of 3, 4, or 5. Senator Edwards and James Murphy testified for the legacy preference ban, arguing it is unfair and rooted in exclusionary history; they said some states have already banned legacy preferences in public and private institutions. Finally, UMass Dean Michael Fox, alumnus Dan Mayer, and student Jake Rasmussen supported S. 920 to include Stockbridge associate degree programs in MassEducate, saying tuition equity would help enrollment and support Massachusetts agriculture and green-industry jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the rates that they get to support the... ...buildings for the universities.
• And so the rates that they get to support their research are much lower than the rates that we get.
• It’s one of our highest rated credits in the Commonwealth as a AAA credit.
• suppliers, high borrowing rates, slumping demand for offices and life sciences, and Washington, D.C.
• ed sustainability rating and tracking system.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its second public hearing of the 194th General Court on capital investments in higher education, focusing primarily on H.54, the Bright Act, along with H.1426/S.949 on green and healthy public colleges and universities and deferred maintenance, and H.1424 on capital investment in Gateway Cities. Chairs and administration officials framed the hearing as a response to aging campus infrastructure, climate goals, workforce needs, and federal pressures on higher education, and explained that testimony would be taken from pre-registered speakers in person and virtually. University of Massachusetts leaders strongly supported the Bright Act, describing large deferred maintenance backlogs, aging buildings, and the need to decarbonize campuses while modernizing research and teaching facilities. UMass officials said the bill would help keep tuition and fees lower by reducing the need for campuses to finance capital work themselves, and argued that the investments would improve competitiveness, support research, and create construction jobs. Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Secretary of Education Tuttweiler, and Secretary of Administration and Finance Gorzkowicz also backed the bill, saying it would leverage Fair Share surtax revenues for a proposed $2.5 billion in campus investments plus additional targeted grants, and that it would support affordability, economic growth, and climate resilience. Committee members asked about the balance between deferred maintenance and decarbonization, the role of grant programs versus direct spending, the impact on tuition and fees, and how the plan would help campuses respond to federal cuts such as NIH and NSF funding. Administration officials said the proposal was designed to be phased in quickly, with some projects ready to start immediately and others taking longer, and that the grant programs would be structured to include all campuses equitably. They also said the plan would build on an existing financing model similar to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and could help campuses avoid future tuition increases tied to capital costs. Additional testimony came from MassBay Community College, where President David Podell and recent nursing graduate Deanna Cavazos described the benefits of a new Framingham campus building and said community colleges need modern labs, better planning capacity, and deferred maintenance support to serve the enrollment growth from MassReconnect and MassEducate. State university leaders, including President Mary Grant, President Linda Thompson, and President John Keenan, said their campuses face outdated classrooms, insufficient electrical capacity, and aging facilities, and urged passage of the Bright Act as a long-overdue investment in student success and workforce preparation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, our interest rate is set at a minimum of 4%. Currently, the SRF program can do 0%.
• </c><00:17:43.280><c> Um,</c> a better interest rate than we can.
• Um, a better interest rate than we can.
• What other rate of returns do they have?
• of returns do they what what other rate of returns do they have?

Bills: HB0078 , HB0087 , SF0070 , SF0068 , SF0017 , SF0043

Committee: House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• So the local government could lower the millage rates.
• So the local government could lower the millage rates.
• But this amendment and this bill will raise insurance rates for Floridians.
• They all have to, they get their per diem rates, they get their travel expenses paid.
• The HIV rates, the STD rates in Florida are higher, the highest they've ever been since 2008.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and the Speaker announced schedule changes for the following week, including canceling the floor session on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main floor action centered on CS/HB 7033, the House tax package. Sponsor Rep. Duggan described broad tax changes, including reducing the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, exempting certain bullion sales, repealing the aviation fuel tax, delaying the natural gas fuel tax, changing corporate income tax treatment for charitable trusts, reducing the pari-mutuel tax on card rooms, and major changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use. The bill would redirect most TDT revenue toward property tax relief, dissolve tourist development councils, and include related property tax and local tax administration changes. Several amendments were debated: a Driscoll amendment to preserve local TDT flexibility failed; Duggan’s amendment giving local governments 25% discretion over TDT revenues was adopted; Eskamani’s combined-reporting amendment failed; and a Duggan amendment requiring audit certification of compliance with the TDT/property tax relief provisions was adopted. After debate, CS/HB 7033 passed 78-29. The House then took up CS/CS/HB 1221 on local option taxes, which was presented as a companion-style measure to give local governments more flexibility while redirecting TDT revenues toward property tax relief. Supporters argued the bill would provide immediate relief to property owners and restore accountability in local tax use, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism funding, infrastructure, and local services. An amendment allowing local governments to retain 25% of TDT revenues for general purposes was adopted, and the bill passed 62-45 after floor debate. The final item shown was the reading of CS/CS/HJR 1257, a proposed constitutional amendment related to property tax exemptions and assessment limits, but the transcript cuts off before debate or action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um and rate of compensation sizing etc.
• </c> rate payers of other potential options. rate payers of other potential options. uh<01:20:20.080>
• Of course, avoided cost is a marginal sub-wholesale rate.
• Chair, we've had a lot of discussion of the value of solar rate.
• </c> people who paid it in which the rate people who paid it in which the rate payers.<01:33:37.520><

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• President, the House amended the bill by reducing the rate from 400 percent to the current CMS rate.
• President, the House amended the bill by reducing the rate from 400% to the current CMS rate of 200%.

Summary: The Senate took up a series of House amendments and concurrence motions on several bills. Senate Bill 4 on crimes against public justice was amended to restore a cleaner definition of harassment and then passed 31-2. Senate Bill 59 on voter eligibility and residency requirements was amended with clarifying language on challenges to voter residency, passed 33-0, and made effective January 1, 2027. Senate Bill 104, providing raises for certain state mine inspectors, concurred in a House effective-date change and was made effective July 1, 2026. Senate Bill 200, increasing penalties and fines for assault on certain public service workers, law enforcement officers, and police animals, concurred in a technical House amendment and passed 33-0. Senate Bill 481 on elections concurred in a House effective-date change and was made effective from passage. Senate Bill 531, the First Amendment Preservation Act, was amended to add entities associated with foreign adversaries, passed 31-2, and was made effective July 1, 2026. The Senate also concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 641 on above-ground storage tanks, which narrowed the bill by reducing the tank threshold and limiting covered fluids to brine water; it passed 25-8. Senate Bill 645 on surprise billing for ground emergency medical services was amended to reduce the rate from 400% to the current CMS rate of 200% and remove some balance-billing prohibitions; it passed 29-4. Senate Bill 800 on jury service policy was amended to allow certain people with expunged or pardoned convictions to serve on juries and passed 31-2. Senate Bill 878 creating an Office of Entrepreneurship within the Secretary of State’s office had House amendments removing redundant language and increasing flexibility; it passed 30-4 and was made effective July 1, 2026. The chamber also received a Rules Committee report recommending passage of Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5381, which concerns developing a comprehensive state energy development policy and plan for the Office of Energy. The bill was advanced to third reading with the right to amend. The Senate then moved through announcements and adjourned until the next day at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• immediately create jobs and provide much-needed relief to my community, in which the county's unemployment rate
• is... ...needed relief to my community, in which the county's unemployment rate is an astonishing 17.2%
• With the 17.2% unemployment rate and the loss, this impact is significant.
• As we heard, over 17% unemployment and a 21% poverty rate that we have, every job and every opportunity

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy met as a subcommittee because a quorum was not present, and the chair announced 16 measures on the agenda, nine of them on consent. The committee then took up AB 1016 by Assemblymember Gonzalez, which would create a five-year pilot program allowing certain counties with geothermal elements in their general plans to locally permit geothermal plants up to 150 net megawatts through 2030. The author and Imperial County representatives argued the bill would streamline a duplicative permitting process, support local control, and bring jobs, tax revenue, and clean baseload energy development to Imperial County, which they described as facing high unemployment and poverty and having significant geothermal potential. Supporters included Imperial County officials, Rural County Representatives of California, Independent Energy Producers, and local community representatives. They emphasized the county’s long history of geothermal permitting, its planning efforts, and the economic benefits of projects that could support schools, health care, and community colleges. Opposition came from labor organizations including the California State Pipe Trades Council, Western States Council of Sheet Metal Workers, California Coalition of Utility Employees, State Association of Electrical Workers, and State Building Trades. Their main concern was that shifting permitting from the California Energy Commission to local governments could remove the skilled-and-trained workforce requirement that currently applies to CEC-permitted projects. Committee members asked about that labor issue, and the author said he intended to work with the opposition coalition to ensure local workers are prioritized and that projects use skilled, trained, California-licensed labor. The discussion ended with the bill still under consideration; no vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• OUR SURVIVAL RATES CAN ONLY INCREASE WITH GOOD LEGISLATION LIKE THIS SO THANK YOU. >> Chair Brodeur:
• ENCOURAGING LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, IMPROVING INSURANCE AND COMMUNITY FLOOD RATINGS
• SERVICES, CONDUCTING STATEMENT FEASIBILITY STUDY HOW NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS REDUCE AND IMPROVE FLOOD RATINGS
• FINDINGS WOULD BE REPORTED TO THE GOVERNOR, SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FLOOD RATINGS FINDINGS

Transcript Highlights:

• to veterans who are disabled with a physical or mental impairment that has received a disability rating
• it can also address a non-service-connected disability if there is a service-connected disability rated
• there's a service connected<00:08:22.400><c> disability</c><00:08:23.039><c> at</c><00:08:23.199><c> rated
• </c><00:08:23.520><c> at</c><00:08:23.680><c> at</c> connected disability at rated at at connected disability
• at rated at at least<00:08:24.000><c> 50%</c><00:08:25.039><c> disabling.

Transcript Highlights:

• And on the last page of this contract addendum, it gives the hourly rate of each of these attorneys.
• I wanted to ask if this is a continuing Rate that was in place before or have the rates changed under
• These are the rates that were sent to us. They haven't changed.
• So, these were the rates that were sent to us by that firm.

Committee: House Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• Tourism Marketing Authority the state agency responsible for the governance of tax funds rather than the rate
• This amendment allows the removal of a rate payer oversight board member for inefficiency, neglect of
• we funded with is just not enough, and so the effort over the last few years to make sure that the rate
• So the effort over the last few years to make sure that the rate payer oversight board, which I consider
• industry board, will do all the legwork or most of the legwork and absolutely be connected to the actual rate

Bills: HB2325 , HB2481 , HB2503 , HB2397 , HB2278 , HB2417

Committee: House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

Keywords: tourism, tourism promotion, Washington Tourism Marketing Authority, assessment, self-supported assessment, visitor economy, destination marketing, statewide marketing, lodging, hotels, restaurants, travel services, attractions, recreation, retail, beverage producers, arts and culture, tribal nations, tribal businesses, rural communities

Transcript Highlights:

• If a health plan has a contracted rate and cost sharing is limited, the plan or insurer is still obligated
• to pay the entire contracted rate to the provider, and I'm committed to continuing conversations with
• If a health plan has a contracted rate and cost sharing is eliminated, the plan or insurer is still obligated
• to pay the entire contracted rate to the provider, and I'm committed to continuing conversations with
• look forward to working with Madam Chair and making a few small tweaks as it relates to reimbursement rates

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on January 13, 2026, and heard several two-year bills, with AB 634 (Gonzalez) and AB 298 (Bonta) receiving the most discussion. The chair also announced consent items AB 96 (Jackson), AB 1126 (Patterson), and AB 1366 (Flora), all with motions to do pass to Appropriations. Committee procedures, witness limits, and conduct rules were reviewed at the start of the hearing. AB 634 would prohibit the manufacture, distribution, or sale of tianeptine in California. Assembly Member Gonzalez described the drug as a dangerous substance sold in retail settings and said the bill had been amended to shift penalties from criminal to civil, narrow its scope so employees without authority over sales would not be targeted, allow cost recovery, and avoid a Commerce Clause issue. The California Narcotic Officers Association supported the bill, and there was no recorded opposition. The committee voted the bill out on a do pass to Judiciary motion. AB 298 would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for children’s health care services in large group commercial plans. Bonta argued that deductibles, copays, and coinsurance deter care and create financial strain for families, while noting the bill would not change provider reimbursement and that he would pursue cost-saving amendments in Appropriations, especially for CalPERS. Support came from Health Access California, Family Voices of California, and several medical and pediatric organizations, while the Chamber of Commerce and health plan groups opposed it, warning of premium increases and possible employer shifts to self-insured coverage. The committee advanced the bill on a do pass to Appropriations vote, and the chair later noted the bill was on call before final add-on votes were completed. The consent calendar items were also approved, and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they said they had cut the indirect cost rate from 55% to 15%.
• cuts, Department of Education, absolutely, through some of their cuts, as well as... tell you, the rate
• So the rate cap was another one. And then also, they did.
• And they have been able A very high retention rate, have a very high graduation rate, doctors, accountants

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• But not cortisol levels, heart rate, and blood cortisol levels, heart rate, and blood pressure,<00:15
• </c><00:41:06.400><c> of</c><00:41:06.560><c> of</c> education, uh self-reported rates of of education
• as the essentially the same rate as the previous<01:15:46.440><c> school</c><01:15:46.680><c> year.
• </c><01:20:05.640><c> in</c> had it has a strong response rate in had it has a strong response rate in
• Is there another pre-pandemic rates?

Bills: HF4213 , HF4198 , HF3930 , HF3585 , HF3451

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education finance, school funding, K-12, prekindergarten, pre-K, early childhood education, general education aid, special education, literacy aid, school meals, free school meals, school breakfast, school lunch, charter school lease aid, charter schools, nonpublic pupil aid, private school aid, transportation aid, desegregation aid, integration aid

Transcript Highlights:

• Send a message. rates when we saw a mass exodus after CO rates when we saw a mass exodus after CO when
• Do you guys understand provider rates. Do you guys understand that<01:43:19.199><c> hypocrisy?
• But that provider rate is going to impact them the most. It is.
• </c> RATE IS GOING TO IMPACT them the most. RATE IS GOING TO IMPACT them the most.
• </c> targeted rate reductions. targeted rate reductions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The CRA rating of the state is not really impacted by these programs, especially the BFA.
• </c><00:09:45.920><c> of</c> you. um the rating the the CRA rating of you. um the rating the the CRA
• That's a little above the median according to the rating agencies, but it's a good ratio.
• That's a little above the median according to the rating agencies, but it's a good ratio.
• That's a little above the median according to the rating agencies, but it's a good ratio.

Summary: The committee first heard testimony from State Treasurer Monica Misipelli on House Bill 1042, which would increase the contingent credit limit for the BFA. She explained that under RSA 66 the state’s debt capacity is capped at 10% of unrestricted revenue, and that guaranteed debt counts in the calculation even though it is not direct debt. She said the state currently has about 65% of its capacity used, roughly $120 million of remaining room, and that raising the BFA contingent credit limit from $200 million to $450 million would reduce that capacity. She noted the state’s debt-to-revenue ratio is about 4.2%, that the state’s credit rating is not immediately affected by the guarantee program unless the state actually has to assume the liability, and suggested unused guarantee authorizations, such as one for the Peace Development Authority, could be reviewed in the future. Members asked whether a credit guarantee affects bonding ability like actual debt, what the usual debt level is relative to the statutory cap, and whether the increase would crowd out future capital borrowing. Misipelli answered that guarantees are included in the formula and do affect available capacity, though the current ratio remains manageable. She also said she had been using a $120 million benchmark for capital budget planning and was now modeling $130 million in future state debt. When asked whether the full $250 million increase was necessary, she deferred to the BFA, saying the question should be answered by the agency. James Key Wallace, executive director of the New Hampshire BFA and interim commissioner of Business and Economic Affairs, then testified in support of the bill. He said the request was driven by larger project costs over the last several decades, with construction inflation causing guarantees to be used up in bigger chunks, and by the fact that the BFA has been close to its current cap. He said the agency does not use taxpayer funds, has never had a payout on a guarantee in nearly 35 years, and requires collateral, reserves, and an 80% loan-to-value buffer. He told members the Senate had a similar bill to raise the limit to $400 million and that the BFA considered that range acceptable. In response to questions, he said a smaller increase such as $150 million would cover known transactions but might not provide enough runway for future opportunities, and he confirmed the bill was brought at the BFA’s request. He also said businesses consider housing availability when deciding whether to locate in New Hampshire, since housing and workforce are key location factors. At the end of the work session, the chair closed House Bill 1042 and opened House Bill 241, a bill on health insurance coverage of pain management services for chronic pain. Representative Nagel began introducing the bill and asked for copies of the treasurer’s debt-capacity report, but the transcript cuts off before any further action on HB 241.

Transcript Highlights:

• 40 relative to nursing facilities and to provide for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Quality Rating
• 413 by Representative Carver is an act to amend Title 22 relative to property and casualty insurance rate
• making to prohibit certain rating factors.
• Relative to property and casualty insurance rate making to prohibit certain rating factors.
• This bill prohibits property and casualty insurers from increasing a policyholder's auto insurance rate

Bills: SB525 , SR112 , SR109 , SCR61 , SCR62 , SCR12 , HB175 , HB276 , HB437 , HB456 , HB457 , HB459 , HB488 , HB579 , HB656 , HB804 , HB818 , HB841 , HB981 , HB1052 , HB1089 , HB1101 , HB1154 , HB1166 , HB1193 , HB1194 , HB1203 , HB1209 , HB1244 , HB1249 , HB221 , HCR69 , HCR58 , SB57 , SB405 , SB414 , HB62 , HB193 , HB203 , HB205 , HB210 , HB220 , HB222 , HB228 , HB246 , HB420 , HB475 , HB486 , HB574 , HB584 , HB750 , HB799 , HB813 , HB815 , HB826 , HB870 , HB949 , HB953 , HB1045 , HB1092 , HB1151 , HB1162 , HB1176 , HB1177 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1236 , HB1241 , SB106 , SB206 , SB248 , SB441 , SR86 , SCR30 , SB83 , SB135 , SB143 , SB155 , SB157 , SB202 , SB237 , SB276 , SB295 , SB388 , SB450 , SB465 , SB35 , SB65 , SB215 , SB246 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB484 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , SB501 , SB513 , HCR31 , HB301 , HB358 , HB359 , HB384 , HB413 , HB428 , HB450 , HB462 , HB547 , HB613 , HB631 , HB657 , HB669 , HB675 , HB680 , HB691 , HB712 , HB716 , HB720 , HB723 , HB727 , HB728 , HB735 , HB747 , HB759 , HB825 , HB845 , HB846 , HB903 , HB904 , HB907 , HB923 , HB929 , HB941 , HB962 , HB965 , HB1036 , HB287 , HB370 , HB515 , HB521 , HB570 , HB1200 , HB29 , HB39 , HB58 , HB67 , HB73 , HB76 , HB77 , HB82 , HB112 , HB121 , HB125 , HB132 , HB134 , HB151 , HB154 , HB155 , HB161 , HB166 , HB187 , HB191 , HB207 , HB211 , HB224 , HB238 , HB241 , HB242 , HB250 , HB260 , HB265 , HB275 , HB300 , HB320 , HB338 , HB339 , HB349 , HB379 , HB399 , HB427 , HB463 , HB464 , HB468 , HB545 , HB550 , HB551 , HB565 , HB588 , HB639 , HB725 , HB782 , HB805 , HB808 , HB834 , HB847 , HB853 , HB858 , HB861 , HB883 , HB916 , HB937 , HB977 , HB1012 , HB1027 , HB1044 , HB1054 , HB1091 , HB1117 , HB90 , HB127 , HB138 , HB150 , HB201 , HB268 , HB273 , HB285 , HB315 , HB354 , HB355 , HB360 , HB376 , HB445 , HB506 , HB606 , HB649 , HB665 , HB681 , HB721 , HB746 , HB757 , HB781 , HB835 , HB844 , HB857 , HB872 , HB886 , HB889 , HB892 , HB972 , HB982 , HB987 , HB1037 , HB1068 , HB1072 , HB1078 , HB1085 , HB1132 , HB1137 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1232 , HB1238 , HB23 , HB136 , HB36 , HB119 , HB126 , HB129 , HB245 , HB271 , HB280 , HB337 , HB351 , HB677 , HB726 , HB789 , HB850 , HB956 , HB966 , SB149 , SB382

Summary: The Senate convened with 27 members present, heard a guest minister’s prayer for the National Day of Prayer, and adopted the pledge. The chamber then dispensed with the journal and received a legislative bureau report on numerous House bills. It also received House messages on several Senate bills and joint resolutions, including concurrence on multiple Senate measures with amendments, and introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 63, which would request an audit of the fiscal note process. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 86, which would prohibit eyeglasses with video or audio recording capability on the Senate floor without approval from the President. Several Senate bills were advanced, including measures on human trafficking training in schools (SB 83), bulletproof vests for peace officers (SB 143), dental care for cancer patients (SB 155), parental leave for educators (SB 157), election board compensation days (SB 202), child welfare and the state child ombudsman (SB 237), brain injury treatment coverage (SB 295), foreign-adversary contract review and homeland security (SB 388), school safety reporting (SB 450), and prompt-pay standards for health care claims (SB 465). Most of these bills passed the Senate unanimously or near-unanimously and were moved to reconsider, while SB 513 on public works average-bid contracting was amended and returned to the calendar. The Senate also took up many House bills, passing measures on voluntary portable benefits for independent contractors (HB 301), memorial highway and terminal designations (HB 358, HB 384, HB 428, HB 657, HB 675, HB 716, HB 972), insurance and health-related changes (HB 413, HB 450, HB 631, HB 680), workforce development (HB 680), and a seafood research authorization near Grand Isle (HB 669). Several bills were amended before passage, including HB 359 on election qualifying rules and HB 675 with an added memorial corridor for crossing guard Katie Wells. Other House bills were received but not acted on or were returned to the calendar. The session ended with committee announcements, a brief recognition of mothers in the chamber, and adjournment until Monday, May 11 at 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a 2025 study by Stanford University that showed the immigration rates were associated with
• were associated with a immigration rates were associated with a 22%<00:23:40.040><c> decrease</c><00
• According to child development experts, immigration rates are taking a terrible toll on our children's
• According to child development experts, immigration rates are taking a terrible toll on our children's
• According to child development experts, immigration rates are taking a terrible toll on our children's

Summary: The Committee on Education heard three tandem resolution packages. HCR 13 and HR 15 sought collaboration among the Department of Education, the State Public Charter School Commission, and DLNR to develop a student coral stewardship program. DOE said it was willing to work with DLNR, and DLNR supported the measure but said it did not want to be the lead agency for reporting or curriculum development because of existing reporting burdens and because it was already active in school outreach. Testimony in support was received, and the committee later amended the measure to restore DLNR as the lead for the report while keeping DOE and the Charter School Commission as collaborators. The committee then voted to pass HCR 13 HD1 and HR 15 HD1 with amendments. HCR 91 and HR 83 proposed a long-term collaborative program between DLNR and DOE to expand and sustain tree canopy coverage at public schools statewide. DLNR strongly supported the measure, DOE offered comments, and the Boys and Girls Public Health Institute testified in support, citing research on heat reduction, student health, and academic impacts of shade trees. Additional supportive testimony came from the Kaululu Nani Urban and Community Forestry Program Advisory Council and others. The committee voted to pass HCR 91 and HR 83 unamended. HCR 183 and HR 183 addressed guidance and protections related to immigration enforcement in schools. DOE said it supported the resolution but noted it already had guidance in place; the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Boys and Girls Public Health Institute, Roots for Warren Maui, ACLU, 50501 Hawaii, General Strike Hawaii, and others testified in support, emphasizing student safety, attendance, and the effects of enforcement-related fear. A committee member asked about a reported Konawaena Elementary incident, and DOE clarified that the student was not deported and the event occurred off campus, with some newspaper details said to be inaccurate. After discussion, the committee deferred HCR 183 for further work with DOE and the Board of Education on definitions, enforcement, and guidance.