Transcript Highlights:

• And no, Medicaid is open, Medicaid is funded.
• Our offices are open. We're the doctor. Our offices are open. We're fully<01:23:21.600><c> staffed.
• So, open enrollment just Saturday, first day.
• So, open Uh, next slide, please.
• Next. major impacts, uh, the the primary ones major impacts, uh, the the primary ones that<01:29:19.679

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Human Services held an informational briefing on the impacts of federal funding cuts, inflation, labor shortages, and chronic underfunding on Hawaii’s nonprofit social safety net. Hawaii Community Foundation opened with a story about a federal worker family relying on food pantry support, then described a “perfect storm” facing human services nonprofits: historically high demand, rising costs, staffing challenges, federal cuts, and state and county contracts that do not cover true service costs. The foundation said it has reactivated its Hawaii Resilience Fund, launched strengthened service grants, and is tracking policy changes and data to help nonprofits respond. Trey Gordner of UHERO presented research on the vulnerability of Hawaii’s nonprofit sector, explaining a framework that assessed political, financial, and structural risk. He said about 8,200 501(c)(3) nonprofits are active in Hawaii, but only about 200 receive direct federal funds; 74 grants to 59 organizations were flagged as politically at risk, totaling about $126 million in unpaid obligations. He said about 68 of the direct-funding recipients rely on federal funds for more than 20% of annual revenue, and that human services nonprofits are among the most exposed subsectors because they serve vulnerable populations and depend heavily on federal support. Catholic Charities Hawaii and the Hawaii True Cost Coalition said community-based organizations were already under strain before the current crisis, with most contracts not covering full costs and many groups depending on private philanthropy to fill gaps. They reported that half of surveyed organizations expect to reduce programs, more than a third may decline future contracts, and some are waiting months for reimbursements. Examples included reduced shelter admissions, fewer case management hours, and cutbacks in kūpuna services. The coalition urged higher contract rates, regular inflation and cost-of-living reviews, and timely reimbursement; no votes or formal actions were taken. Partners in Development Foundation described the loss of Native Hawaiian education funding as especially damaging, saying the federal Department of Education has zeroed out support that creates a roughly $46 million gap, including about $20 million for early childhood programs. The speaker shared a family story from the Nā Pono program to illustrate how early learning services support both children and parents, and warned that the organization’s federal funds make up 72% of its budget. The briefing ended with a call for continued emergency funding and longer-term structural changes to sustain nonprofits statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section three is long COVID resources Section three is long COVID resources for<01:08:17.440><c> primary
• </c> For primary care providers and patients.
• They can identify existing evidence-informed standards, best practices, and training for primary care
• They can identify existing evidence-informed standards, best practices, and training for primary care
• Distribute these resources through the Department's website and to primary care providers.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We just need a door open. We just need a little bit of grace.
• I'm so glad that he's become more open and more out. In his own way.
• You know, I'm very open about my faith.
• You know, I'm very open about my faith.
• Could we please open up the board for co-sponsorship of the amendment?

Summary: The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions and introductions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. The chamber then took up a motion to reconsider the prior day’s failed vote on CS for SB 1080 (local government land regulation), which was adopted without objection, and moved into the special order calendar. A series of bills were debated and mostly passed, often after substituting House companions. Measures approved included funding for expedited DNA testing grants, additional aggravating factors in capital cases, fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients, commuter rail indemnification, migrant vessel disposition, specialty license plates, an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign, relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University, charter school changes, sexual offender registration updates, utility worker assault/battery penalties, juvenile justice revisions, student mental health outcome reporting, foster home licensure transfers, water access facilities, Florida Virtual School changes, school readiness resources for children with disabilities, sexual images/child exploitation penalties, tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certified recovery residences, the FSU Election Law Center, the Office of Faith and Community, and bonuses for county tax collector/property appraiser employees. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, benefits for certain officers injured in the line of duty, school social workers, and brownfields. Debate centered on public safety, health care access, education, recovery housing, and government administration. Some of the most substantive discussion came on the Office of Faith and Community bill, where an amendment to bar political activity by office staff was offered and defeated after extended debate over election-related communications and the proper scope of existing ethics laws. The certified recovery residences bill also drew extensive support and testimony about addiction recovery and housing stability. Most bills passed on strong bipartisan votes, with a few receiving notable opposition, including the charter schools bill, the aggravating factors bill, and the Office of Faith and Community bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• At least open it and look at it.
• At least open it and look at it.
• At least open it and look at it.
• </c><01:11:47.120><c> gets</c> applications mean any job opening gets applications mean any job opening
• </c><05:06:22.958><c> care</c> cash pay and go to a direct primary care cash pay and go to a direct primary

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• more orders than we can currently fulfill, and so that's definitely going to be the challenge in the primary
• I think there's a couple primary proposals in general.
• Our primary role is to advise the Executive Office of Public Safety on the development of the firearms

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met for its fourth hearing on emerging firearm technology, focused on personalized firearms and related privacy issues. Co-chairs noted the commission’s charge to study personalized firearm incentives, risks from digital manufacturing codes and AI, and the costs of requiring personalized firearm and microstamp technologies, and said the report deadline is being extended to July 31. They also announced the next public hearing for April 17 at 11:00 a.m., limited to Massachusetts residents. The first witness, Kai Kloepfer of Biofire, described the company’s personalized 9mm smart gun and argued it is designed to prevent unauthorized use through biometric authentication, local encrypted data storage, no wireless connectivity, and automatic disarming when released. He said Biofire opposes any mandate requiring personalized firearms, calling such mandates a de facto gun ban that would stifle innovation, limit consumer choice, and burden a still-developing market. He said the company has a patent portfolio, has received thousands of pre-orders, is shipping in all 50 states, and is approved for sale in Massachusetts; he also said the gun costs about $1,500, is currently sold online, and is intended mainly for home defense. Members questioned him about sales, manufacturing, battery life, repairability, transfer of ownership, possible expansion to other firearms, and whether microstamping could be incorporated. A Massachusetts firearms roster official, Michaela Dunn, explained the state’s testing and approval process for handguns and confirmed that the Biofire firearm is now on the Massachusetts roster and commercially available for retail sale in the state. Kate Crockford of the ACLU of Massachusetts testified only on facial recognition, warning that commercially available systems show significant demographic bias and that Massachusetts lacks comprehensive biometric privacy protections. She urged passage of pending data privacy and biometric privacy bills, including the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act and related measures, before any broader use of biometric verification in firearm laws. Commissioners discussed privacy concerns, and Biofire said its system is zero-knowledge and would likely comply with stronger biometric privacy laws. No votes were taken and no formal action was reported beyond the scheduling announcement and the extension effort.

Transcript Highlights:

• 44.799><c> evolved</c><00:01:45.439><c> into</c><00:01:45.759><c> this</c> Just as there are three primary
• in the right proportion and combination, all other colors can be created, so too there are three primary
• And those three primary virtues are kindness, wisdom, and courage.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not just a collaboration between primary care and behavioral health.
• Those are the three primary spend areas. You gave us six.
• </c> Those are the three primary spend areas. Those are the three primary spend areas.
• And that was certainly a primary factor as we were evaluating the expansion of OneQuest Health and how
• As I mentioned a little bit in the presentation, one of our primary goals is to reduce the length of

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call, approval of the September 17 minutes, and an introduction of Sarah Rome to the committee. The chair also noted that the committee would stay on schedule and then moved to presentations. Representative Amy Neighbors and Taylor Williams of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association presented a refiled “pharmacy parity” proposal, formerly House Bill 3, to require Medicaid reimbursement for pharmacist clinical services already authorized under current scope of practice. They said the bill would not expand Medicaid or pharmacist scope, but would align Medicaid with commercial insurance, improve access and outcomes, and likely save money; they cited a Cabinet report under Senate Joint Resolution 26, which found similar laws in other states were producing savings or trending toward savings and would require only modest administrative updates. No member questions were raised after that presentation. The committee then heard an update on the Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Program from Senator Stephen Meredith, Dr. Whitney Jones, Melissa Carrier, and Representative Neighbors. They described the program’s goals of increasing screening, reducing deaths through earlier detection, and preventing cancers by finding polyps, saying it has produced substantial savings and improved outcomes. Speakers emphasized Kentucky’s high colorectal cancer burden, especially in younger adults, and said the program helps uninsured and underinsured Kentuckians access stool-based screening and follow-up colonoscopies through a network of partners including the Department for Public Health, Kentucky Cancer Link, and university cancer programs. They requested an increase in funding from $500,000 to $1.25 million annually, or $2.5 million over the biennium, to expand services, fill geographic gaps, and support education and navigation. Members asked whether the colon cancer screening was already covered by Medicaid, and the presenters replied that Medicaid does cover it, but the program serves people who are not on Medicaid or who fall into a separate eligibility category based on income and insurance status. A member also clarified the requested funding increase. The committee then moved on to the next agenda item, an update from the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, where board member Sal Santoro and CHNK Behavioral Health leaders began a presentation describing the organization’s broader behavioral health work and its request, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concludes or any action is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• This afternoon, primary witnesses and support with me today to highlight the impact of this bill are
• But in an emergency, the doors must always stay open.
• But in an emergency, the doors must always stay open.
• We would love to open the conversation down the line about how we can open that eligibility because we
• We'll open the roll for file item 6, AB 1906. Assistant, please call the absent members.

Committee: Senate Health

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The record was held open for written comment until February 19, 2026.
• After the public hearing, the comment period was held open until April 7, 2026.
• After the public hearing, the comment period was held open until April 7, 2026.
• The hearing was recorded and was held open for written comments until the close of business on Monday
• Looking at page 193, it talks about a permit, and the permit is dealing with the primary prize under

Committee: Joint Administrative Rules Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The record was held open for written comment until February 19, 2026.
• After the public hearing, the comment period was held open until April 7, 2026.
• After the public hearing, the comment period was held open until April 7, 2026.
• The hearing was recorded and was held open for written comments until the close of business on Monday
• The hearing was recorded and was held open for written comments until the close of business on Monday

Summary: The Administrative Rules Committee met on June 11 and first approved the March 12, 2026 minutes by voice vote. It then granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rules tied to recent legislation, including North Dakota’s participation in the physician assistant licensure compact and a new physician nutrition continuing education requirement. The Board said it was waiting on compact rules and fee information before finalizing its own changes. The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the Office of Management and Budget on broad personnel rule revisions, including salary administration, recruitment, leave, sick leave, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR language and implement recent legislation such as enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions and new hire leave. Members questioned the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but OMB and counsel said those standards come from statute, not the rules. The committee also heard and accepted rule packages from the Lottery, the Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, the State Electrical Board, the Industrial Commission, PERS, and Health and Human Services, with each agency describing mostly technical, clarifying, or statutory-conforming changes and noting the public notice and comment process. The most significant action came during the Gaming Commission rules presentation. After questioning whether the commission had authority to raise the poker tournament buy-in limit from $300 to $1,500, members moved to void Section 99-01.3-09-01 on the ground that the agency lacked statutory authority for that change. The motion passed on a roll call vote. The committee also discussed several gaming-related issues, including online raffles, kiosk use, advertising restrictions, and the broader policy question of whether charities should be allowed to own bars, but took no further formal action on those topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that concludes my remarks, and I'm open for questions. Thank you so much.
• I'm going to open the hearing on HB 2608 with a briefing from Christina King.
• Our members are both union and open shop and build the energy...
• We're going to open the hearing on House Bill 2528 with a briefing from Serena Dolly.
• I’m going to open the public hearing on House Bill 2292 with a briefing from Tracy Taylor.

Summary: House Finance heard bill briefings and testimony on several tax and property-tax measures. HB 2175 would exempt licensed nonprofit providers of free durable medical equipment from retail sales and use tax on items reasonably necessary to operate and provide care; the sponsor and a nonprofit provider described how the bill would help organizations that refurbish and donate wheelchairs, beds, walkers, and similar equipment, and staff noted a small Department of Revenue fiscal impact. The committee then heard HB 2608, which revises the targeted urban area property tax exemption for nuclear facility projects by requiring labor standards, including submission of a workforce or project labor agreement and related wage/apprenticeship information, and extending project-completion deadlines. Supporters said it would help attract major clean-energy and nuclear supply-chain investment and jobs, while opponents from construction groups, environmental advocates, and some public commenters objected to the PLA requirement, the tax preference for nuclear projects, and the broader policy direction; tribal consultation concerns were also raised. No votes were taken on these bills in the transcript. The committee also heard HB 2227, which expands an existing REET exemption for affordable homeownership sales from self-help housing to other nonprofit affordable homeownership programs, including community land trusts. The sponsor and nonprofit witnesses said the change would lower transaction costs, improve affordability, and support permanently affordable resale models; staff clarified the exemption applies to the initial sale from the nonprofit to an income-qualified buyer, not later resales. HB 2528 would allow cities and counties that fully plan under the Growth Management Act to impose the second local REET without voter approval, aligning opt-in jurisdictions with those required to plan under GMA. Supporters from cities and counties said the revenue would help fund sidewalks, ADA upgrades, water, sewer, and other infrastructure, while opponents argued it would raise home-selling costs and bypass voters. Finally, the committee heard HB 2292, which would subject long-term capital gains from qualified small business stock to the state capital gains tax beginning in 2026. Staff said the bill would affect about 260 taxpayers and raise roughly $1.2 million in FY 2027, while the sponsor and supporters argued the current QSBS exemption mainly benefits very wealthy investors and should be treated like other capital gains; opponents from the tech and startup community said the exemption helps founders attract investment, keep companies in Washington, and create jobs, and warned the bill would send a negative signal to entrepreneurs. The committee also heard HB 2257, a Department of Revenue request bill making technical and administrative changes to the tax code, largely to codify guidance from last year’s sales-tax-on-services law and make other clarifications; DOR said it was intended to provide certainty and had no fiscal impact. School groups testified that the 5814-related service-tax changes have increased costs for districts, especially for staffing and professional learning, and asked for relief or a broader exemption.

Transcript Highlights:

• These providers rely on federal funding to keep their doors open and to continue to see patients.
• Pond said around vaccinations in her opening testimony.
• open, just to track the vaccines and get them to the correct place within the jurisdiction.
• We'll open up to public comment then.
• Thank you for your time, and I'm open to any questions. Well, thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What you offer requires that we be open to reason and full of mercy.
• By connecting primary care providers in rural areas with specialists and academic medical centers or
• By connecting primary underserved areas.
• </c><03:32:54.399><c> care</c> go undetected in the primary care go undetected in the primary care setting
• The bill will also open the door for more small businesses to participate in federal contracting.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, July 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, this is clear just clearing up a bit of a math error in the primary amendment.
• </c> a math error in the primary amendment. a math error in the primary amendment. repres<00:09:25.920
• It's really going to open up a lot of opportunities. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• </c><01:42:51.760><c> Thank</c> open up a lot of opportunities.
• Thank open up a lot of opportunities.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A solar energy system is a set of devices whose primary purpose is to collect solar energy, convert it
• purpose is to devices whose primary purpose is to collect<00:59:53.680><c> solar</c><00:59:54.000><c
• In 1990, coal was Minnesota's<01:04:49.760><c> primary</c><01:04:50.079><c> energy</c><01:04:50.480><
• c> source</c><01:04:50.720><c> and</c><01:04:50.880><c> it</c> Minnesota's primary energy source and
• The primary driver of the sharp uptake in installations are community solar gardens, which account for

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We will now open to debate or discussion on the underlying report, which has been adopted, but if there
• So, would the floor leader then be open to an amendment of adding that in today?
• So, would the floor leader then be open to an amendment of adding that in today?
• So, would the floor leader then be open to an amendment of adding that in today?
• primaries and presidential elections<01:07:40.799><c> at</c><01:07:41.039><c> the</c><01:07:41.200><

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Well, there was the primary case that we cited in our briefs when we were litigating the school
• the</c> &gt;&gt; Well, there there there was the the &gt;&gt; Well, there there there was the the primary
• 50.640><c> cited</c><00:40:51.160><c> in</c><00:40:51.360><c> our</c><00:40:51.480><c> briefs</c> primary
• case that we cited in our briefs primary case that we cited in our briefs when<00:40:52.280><c> we</
• comments, and then we have some opening comments, and then we can<00:57:53.480><c> we</c><00:57:53.600

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:09 State of the Judiciary: 00:02:33 The Corrections - KCTCS Reentry Program: 00:49:44 Update on 2022 RS SB 90: 01:27:49, 958, all

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council met with a quorum, approved the October 8, 2025 minutes, and welcomed guests including Marshall County Attorney Jason Darnall. The main topic was juvenile interrogation, with a presentation from Kentucky Youth Advocates by Courtney Downs and Shannon Moody. They said their organization is supporting a 2026 Blueprint priority requiring children to consult with an attorney before waiving Miranda rights, and they emphasized research on adolescent brain development, susceptibility to peer pressure and impulsive decision-making, and the risk of false confessions. They cited National Registry of Exonerations data showing high rates of false confessions among exonerated youth, especially younger children, and described approaches in other states such as Maryland’s Child Interrogation Protection Act, Indiana’s statute allowing certain adults to waive rights in some circumstances, and laws in other states requiring recording of interrogations or limiting deceptive tactics. Members asked about trauma and adverse childhood experiences, whether the proposal would require attorney consultation in every juvenile interview, whether parents could instead be the ones consulted, and how such a rule would affect law enforcement investigations and juvenile accountability. Senator Carroll and others raised concerns about feasibility, delays, and whether juveniles might avoid accountability if attorneys are required before questioning. The presenters responded that they were focused on ensuring children understand their legal rights, that some states use age- or offense-based limits, and that parent consultation is another model used elsewhere, though they said a lawyer is best suited to explain legal rights and process. Members also discussed the role of the Department of Public Advocacy and whether legislative action or court decisions should address the issue. The council did not take final action on the policy, but requested additional materials, including the text of laws from Maryland, Indiana, and North Carolina, for further review.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you'll see others that'll say, well, the PUC has an open docket on this.
• And you'll see others that'll say, well, the PUC has an open docket on this.
• SEAM's primary role is to ensure strategic implementation and execution of the initiative's programs.
• Seam's primary role is to Commerce.
• Seam's primary role is to ensure<00:42:08.480><c> strategic</c><00:42:08.960><c> implementation</c><00

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, before we open up the public hearing for House Bill 1291, if you would all please join me in the
• And we have three minutes before we open our next hearing at 10:30.
• I'm open to any questions. Seeing none, thank you very much. Thank you so much.
• I'm open to life. So that's my story. I'm open to any<01:04:05.680><c> questions.
• </c><03:18:21.279><c> a</c> Okay, at this time I'm going to open a Okay, at this time I'm going to open

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I totally recognize that we are always open to finding improvements in our process, and we've been, I
• 29:38.399><c> always</c> totally recognize that we are always totally recognize that we are always open
• to finding improvements in our open to finding improvements in our process<00:29:41.279><c> and</c><
• I'm open to any questions. Thank you so much.
• I'm open to any questions. Thank you so much. And then we have Mark Healey on Zoom.

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection opened its first hearing of the session and heard testimony on several energy and environmental bills. On HB 470, relating to noise and leaf blowers, the Department of Health supported the bill’s intent to reduce noise pollution but raised concerns about using decibel limits alone and suggested using dBA measurements; testimony also noted the bill would regulate future sales rather than current use, and there were three additional testimonies, two in support and one in opposition. No questions were raised before the committee moved on. The committee then heard HB 742 on transit-oriented development, which would require HCDA to prepare a programmatic EIS for Ewa, Kapalama, and West Oahu improvements. UH supported the bill, HHFDC said it was already preparing a master plan and programmatic EIS for the Ewa area, and HCDA explained that the projects are already underway or completed, including infrastructure work funded by prior appropriations. Supporters said the bill would streamline environmental review and potentially reduce costs for future housing, while HCDA emphasized the work is already in progress. On HB 340, concerning a streamlined grid-ready home interconnection process and related cost recovery, DCCA provided comments, the Attorney General suggested changing a deadline to a specific date, and the PUC said it wanted to study the matter further while still meeting the 180-day reporting requirement. Solar and clean energy groups strongly supported the bill as a way to speed interconnection and advance grid-interactive technologies, while Hawaiian Electric supported the goal of more DERs but opposed the process, saying its interconnection performance has improved and that collaboration would be preferable to legislation. Members asked about newer technologies, UL 1741, and ratepayer impacts, and the Consumer Advocate said removing the cost-recovery section would alleviate its concerns. The committee also heard HB 243, requiring PV- and EV-ready new residential construction, which the Hawaii State Energy Office described as a cost-saving no-brainer because installing these features during construction is much cheaper than retrofitting later. The hearing then shifted to HB 350, expanding the water-heater systems that can satisfy building-permit requirements to include heat pump water heaters alongside solar hot water systems. The Energy Office supported the bill, Solar Ray supported the concept but asked for amendments to align efficiency standards and noted the bill’s removal of a 15-year lifespan limit for solar thermal systems, and Hawaii Solar Energy Association raised questions about how heat pump performance should be measured and whether PV-plus-heat-pump combinations should qualify. Committee members asked about impacts on smaller homes and ADUs, and the discussion remained focused on technical standards and possible amendments; no votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.