Transcript Highlights:

• They also created new terms not defined in the bill or existing statute, and this increases regulatory
• Senate amended House Bill 1397 to make it more in line with statute with the recently passed Senate,
• The rationale for that was to ensure that this statute wasn't conflicting with other statutes, which
• And what statute would it conflict with, based on those provisions?
• period to ensure that these drivers understand the responsibility to document the activity that the statute

Bills: HB5560 , HB2 , HB24 , HB3233 , HB1397 , HB2067 , HB3133 , HB5696 , HB5680 , HB2885 , HB3966 , HB3556 , HB3595 , HB144 , HB26 , HB2038 , HB521 , HB4 , HB 1178 , HB42 , HB 1211 , HB783 , HB3963 , HB2240 , HB1690 , HB 1234 , HB3372 , HB27 , HB4211 , HB2243 , HB2853 , HB4638 , HJR7 , HB 100 , HB 126 , HB3783 , HB5138 , HB2512 , HB5616 , HB4751 , SB17 , SB1637 , SB1833 , SB2155 , SB21 , SB2778 , SB260 , SB8 , SB12 , SB37 , SB379 , SB441 , SB1566 , SB2878 , HB4112 , HB3866 , HB4749 , HB2844 , HB150

Keywords: groundwater, civil penalties, water conservation, drought contingency, environmental protection, public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, zoning, public notice, local government, residential development

Transcript Highlights:

• I grew up in the neighboring state of Minnesota. I've been at Johns Hopkins since 1978.
• I grew up in the neighboring state of Minnesota. I've been at Johns Hopkins since 1978.
• off the market and leaving people in a given state where it may not be easy to drive to Montana or Minnesota
• Because you bought it in Minnesota or South Dakota, here's your parking ticket?
• Do we worry about interstate commerce going through with people buying an energy... ...drink in Minnesota

Summary: The Kratom Working Group met to hear public testimony and expert presentations on whether North Dakota should prohibit or regulate kratom and 7-OH products. Early testimony split sharply between speakers who described natural kratom as a helpful, lower-risk alternative for chronic pain, opioid withdrawal, PTSD, and recovery, and speakers who urged prohibition because of dependence, overdose risk, and the growth of concentrated or synthetic 7-OH products sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and online. Several witnesses, including consumers and shop owners, argued that banning kratom would push people to more dangerous drugs or unregulated internet sources, while public health and medical witnesses said the marketplace is confusing and inadequately controlled. A number of witnesses, including representatives of the North Dakota Public Health Association, the state crime lab, and addiction-treatment and pediatric clinicians, emphasized risks from adulterated or concentrated products, lack of labeling and age restrictions, contamination concerns, and harms to adolescents, pregnant patients, and newborns. The crime lab described recent cases involving mitragynine, 7-OH, and pseudoindoxyl, and said products purchased in a smoke shop were inaccurately labeled. A Sanford pediatric hospitalist testified that kratom exposure in pregnancy can cause severe neonatal withdrawal and that adolescents are using the product. By contrast, American Kratom Association representatives and other advocates argued that natural leaf kratom should be distinguished from synthetic 7-OH, that deaths usually involve other substances, and that a regulatory framework with testing, labeling, age limits, and product registration would better protect consumers than a blanket ban. No formal bill was debated or voted on in this transcript. The working group heard testimony, asked questions, and took no final action before breaking for lunch and later resuming with additional presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Gary Yaco, and I'm the mayor of pretty Red Wing, Minnesota.
• My name is Gary Yaco, and I'm the mayor of pretty Red Wing, Minnesota.
• In Minnesota, the Department of Revenue sets what they pay in property taxes based on Minnesota land
• I'm glad that you got to hear from the mayor from Minnesota earlier today.
• I'm glad that you got to hear from the mayor from Minnesota earlier today.

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Summary: The committee met to hear a series of presentations on advanced nuclear economics, workforce, community impacts, and financing. Nucleon Energy’s William Bridge presented a report estimating the economic impacts of hypothetical 200-megawatt and 600-megawatt SMRs, including construction and operating jobs, local spending, tax revenue, and the private-sector conditions needed to attract investment. He said the report used nth-of-a-kind cost assumptions, discussed security and water siting considerations, and argued that early community engagement and permitting work should be timed to when projects are closer to being economic. Committee members questioned cost assumptions, security staffing, transmission and water siting, and whether large reactors or SMRs are more likely to be financed in the near term. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning. She described declining labor-force demographics, the need for hundreds of thousands of new energy workers by 2050, and six workforce priorities: career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and non-traditional pipelines. She highlighted the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, robotics, and when training should begin relative to future plant construction; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers broadly and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. Red Wing, Minnesota Mayor Gary Yako described hosting the Prairie Island nuclear generating facility. He said the plant provides a large share of the city’s property tax base, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to local emergency preparedness, and is a strong community partner through donations and employee involvement. He said the city supports relicensing, has regular emergency drills, and has had no issues with dry cask storage. The committee also heard from NEI’s Benton Arnett, who reviewed the current financing landscape, including federal tax credits, DOE loan authority, offtake agreements, and the shift toward project developers and special-purpose vehicles. He said early projects face high first-of-a-kind costs, but federal support and long-term power purchase agreements are helping make projects financeable. Finally, DOE’s Julie Kazeraki described the Office of Energy Dominance Financing and its role in supporting new nuclear, restarts, uprates, and supply chain investments, emphasizing that federal loan and tax-credit tools are intended to reduce upfront risk and improve project affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so they were able to pass this bill for a tax, and it funds just the Humanities Council in Minnesota
• This is Minnesota. This is panel on community voices and policy impact. So we're going to start.
• And so they were able to pass this bill for a tax, and it funds just the Humanities Council in Minnesota
• This is Minnesota. This is panel on community voices and policy impact. So we're going to start.
• This is Minnesota. This is panel on community voices and policy impact. So we're going to start.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on how recent federal actions are affecting arts, culture, humanities, libraries, museums, and the creative economy in California. Chair Ben Allen and Vice Chair Chris Ward opened by describing the hearing as a response to proposed and ongoing federal cuts to the NEA, NEH, IMLS, and public broadcasting, as well as grant terminations and leadership changes at cultural institutions. Several members emphasized the economic and civic importance of the arts, while one Republican member argued for greater ideological diversity in the arts and noted the loss of music programs in small schools. Testimony from Aaron Harky of Americans for the Arts and Jolie Fisher of SAG-AFTRA described the impact of federal policy on grants, jobs, and production. Harky said executive orders and the FY 2026 budget proposal threaten arts agencies and arts education, and that rescinded grants are causing hiring freezes, shutdowns, and losses for small organizations, especially in rural and underserved communities. Fisher focused on runaway film and television production, outdated tax rules, and the need for federal incentives, intellectual property protections, and action on AI and digital replicas. Members also discussed bipartisan support, the role of business and tourism partners, and the need to include more diverse voices in arts advocacy. The second panel featured Rick Noguchi of California Humanities, Greg Lucas of the State Library, and Danielle Purcell of the California Arts Council. Noguchi said NEH funding was cut immediately, putting California Humanities’ grantmaking and documentary programs at risk and prompting consideration of litigation and possible state support. Lucas reported that IMLS funding for California libraries was briefly canceled but partly restored, though a budget gap remains. Purcell said the California Arts Council is still awaiting federal award language for state partnership funds, but NEA grant terminations and the proposed elimination of federal cultural agencies create major uncertainty; she also said the council is assessing the damage and tracking impacts on grantees. Members asked about measuring outcomes, AI’s threat to creative work, documentary funding losses, and possible state and national strategies to protect cultural institutions and jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; Sorry<00:02:30.720><c> chairs</c><00:02:31.320><c> to</c><00:02:31.720><c> just</c><00:
• 02:31.880><c> to</c><00:02:31.959><c> interrupt</c><00:02:32.560><c> we</c><00:02:33.000><c> are</c>
• :33.440><c> currently</c><00:02:34.120><c> live</c><00:02:34.680><c> on</c><00:02:34.880><c> our</c><
• 00:02:35.080><c> end.
• &gt;&gt; I<00:02:37.680><c> got</c><00:02:37.880><c> without</c><00:02:38.200><c> already</c><00:02:38.840

Bills: HB2241 , HB1163 , HB1514 , HB1696 , HB2021 , SB2135 , SB2466 , SB2727 , SB3082 , SB3097 , SB2861 , SCR100 , SB3096 , SB99 , SB2138 , HB2289 , HB2319 , HB1711 , HB2270 , SB3138 , SB3076 , HB1642 , HB2338 , HB2171 , HB1785 , SB2881 , HB2505 , SB2552 , HB1518 , HB1815 , SB3125 , SB3234 , SCR162 , SB2614 , SB3118 , SB2053 , SB2494 , SB2851 , SB3073 , HB1678 , HB1721 , HB2475 , HB2246 , HB1667 , HB1516 , SB2532 , SB3131 , SB3154 , HB2297 , HB1737 , SB2143 , SB2398 , SB2623 , HB1740 , HB1920 , HB1682 , SB2153 , SB3140 , HB2158 , HB1718 , HB2207 , HB1801 , SB3229 , SB2338 , SB3069 , SB2600 , HB2300 , HB1800 , HB1960 , SB2999 , SB2060 , SB2866 , SB2239 , HB1741 , HB1713 , HB2023 , HB2417 , SB2877 , SB2598 , SB2921 , SB2645 , HB2547 , HB2275 , HB2452 , HB2329 , HB2339 , HB1838 , HB1509 , HB1661 , HB2271 , HB2272 , HB2344 , HB1888 , HB1707 , SB2340 , HB2474 , HB1576 , HB1853 , HB1804 , HB1854 , HB2095 , HB2050 , HB472 , SB3215 , SB2247 , SB2400 , HB1618 , HB1802 , HB1969 , HB1541 , HB2310 , HB2498 , HB2443 , HB2218 , HB649 , HB2104 , HB1710 , SB2802 , HB1973 , HB1974 , HB1894 , HB1891 , HB1890 , SB177 , SB2101 , SB3320 , SB2487 , HB2429 , HB1870 , HB1839 , HB2583 , HB1391 , HB2094 , SB2671 , SB2673 , SB2892 , SB2057 , SB3245 , HB306 , HB2592 , SB3157 , SB3204 , SB3324 , SB2580 , SB2074 , SB411 , SB3025 , SB2934 , SB2567 , SB2125 , SB3238 , SB2367 , SB2599 , SB3007 , SB2001 , SB2756 , SB3029

Transcript Highlights:

• Wai I move for the adoption of Senate Wai I move for the adoption of Senate resolution<00:02:57.280><
• c> number</c><00:02:57.560><c> two</c><00:02:57.959><c> Senator</c><00:02:58.440><c> Dort</c><00:02:59.319
• ><c> I</c> resolution number two Senator Dort I resolution number two Senator Dort I second<00:02:59.680
• ><c> the</c><00:02:59.840><c> the</c><00:02:59.959><c> motion</c><00:03:00.440><c> it's</c><00:03:00.599

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:22.720><c> a</c><00:02:22.959><c> subcommittee</c><00:02:23.920><c> for</c><00:02:24.160><c> further
• ><c> and</c><00:02:25.680><c> study.
• Order<00:02:27.760><c> and</c><00:02:28.000><c> decorum</c><00:02:28.959><c> will</c><00:02:29.280><c
• , including<00:02:32.879><c> periods</c><00:02:33.360><c> before</c><00:02:33.760><c> and</c><00:02:34.080
• </c><00:02:36.640><c> And</c><00:02:36.800><c> I</c><00:02:37.040><c> ask</c><00:02:37.200><c> that</

Bills: HB61 , HB176 , SB12

Committee: House Economic Development and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• Um what<00:02:24.480><c> we</c><00:02:24.640><c> have</c><00:02:24.879><c> seen</c><00:02:25.360><c>
• have seen over the years uh<00:02:27.680><c> are</c><00:02:28.080><c> programs</c><00:02:29.040><c>
• that</c><00:02:29.360><c> have</c><00:02:30.319><c> uh</c><00:02:30.800><c> been</c><00:02:31.040><c>
• ><c> burrow</c><00:02:32.080><c> into</c><00:02:32.319><c> the</c><00:02:32.480><c> state</c><00:02:32.800
• Um<00:02:54.080><c> most</c><00:02:54.319><c> of</c><00:02:54.480><c> those</c><00:02:54.640><c> line

Summary: The subcommittee met without a quorum and did not approve minutes, but heard testimony on budget line items for Data Seam and Teach for America. Andrew McNeel of Kentucky Free and representatives from the Commonwealth Policy Center argued that both programs rely heavily on recurring taxpayer support and should be re-evaluated. McNeel cited a 2020 Office of Policy and Audit examination of Data Seam, saying the program had received more than $30 million in state support since 2006, including $3.5 million in the current budget, and that the audit raised concerns about administrative overhead, alleged threats to districts, and the use of line-item language to justify sole-source contracting. He recommended suspending Data Seam funding this biennium, directing a new special audit, and requiring reimbursement of audit costs. The witnesses also urged the committee to withhold funding for Teach for America, saying the organization’s materials and history showed a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that they opposed. They pointed to past statements, leadership titles, and program language as evidence that DEI concepts remained embedded in the organization, and suggested any funding should be redirected directly to school districts instead. Mike Harmon and Richard Nelson echoed those concerns, while also saying long-running programs should be periodically reviewed for efficiency. Teach for America Appalachia representatives then testified in support of the program. Executive director C.D. Morton described the organization as a teacher-preparation and leadership-development program serving rural eastern Kentucky, saying it had recruited and supported more than 325 teachers since 2011, with about 30 current core members in several counties and roughly 2,800 students impacted daily. He said the program helps fill hard-to-staff vacancies, that about 80% of teachers stay for a third year, and that many alumni remain in education. In response to questions from Representative Bojanowski about retention and cost, Morton said more than 60% of alumni are still in education, but he could not give a precise classroom-teacher retention number beyond the program’s broader alumni data.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> Hawaiian</c><01:02:41.599><c> to</c><01:02:41.920><c> exercise</c><01:02:42.640><c> traditional<
• /c><01:02:46.640><c> say</c><01:02:46.839><c> again,</c><01:02:47.839><c> this</c><01:02:48.079><c> bill
• constitutional right of Native<01:02:51.839><c> Hawaiians</c><01:02:52.480><c> to</c><01:02:52.880><c
• regarding child birth.<01:02:58.480><c> For</c><01:02:58.720><c> all</c><01:02:58.880><c> these</c><
• 01:02:59.200><c> reasons,</c><01:02:59.520><c> I</c><01:02:59.680><c> ask</c><01:02:59.920><c> my</c>

Transcript Highlights:

• 02:34.280><c> all</c><00:02:34.599><c> this</c><00:02:34.760><c> so</c><00:02:34.920><c> we're</c><00
• all this so we're going to start<00:02:35.640><c> with</c><00:02:35.800><c> Senate</c><00:02:36.120>
• <c> Bill</c><00:02:36.360><c> 61</c><00:02:36.800><c> an</c><00:02:36.920><c> act</c> start with Senate
• </c><00:02:38.840><c> pools</c><00:02:39.840><c> um</c><00:02:40.800><c> do</c><00:02:40.920><c> we</
• we have someone someone someone here<00:02:43.879><c> from</c><00:02:44.080><c> the</c><00:02:44.280

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 61, relating to swimming pools, but initially had no representative from the governor’s office or cabinet available to explain the fiscal estimate. Senators questioned why the executive branch’s estimate was $4.25 million to $8.5 million while the committee’s internal fiscal note showed little or no impact. When Department for Public Health staff later joined, they explained their estimate was based on a roughly $85,000 cost for a large outbreak investigation, using a 2014 outbreak as a benchmark, and said the bill could increase workload and outside laboratory costs if private swimming pools became more common as rental properties. They reported 822 waterborne cases in 2024, with 8 tied to private swimming pools, and later corrected an earlier figure to 14 private-pool-related investigations over five years. Senators pressed on the discrepancy between those numbers and the projected 50 to 100 incidents, and staff said the higher figure was a ballpark estimate. The discussion also clarified that private pools are generally excluded by definition, while pools held out for rent may be treated as public pools under current definitions. No vote on SB 61 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then heard Senate Bill 13, concerning the reprocurement of managed care organizations for Medicaid. Department for Medicaid Services officials said the bill would require work on a new RFP, system changes, and oversight improvements, and estimated the cost at $2.8 million based on prior procurement spending of about $2.5 million in 2018-2019, with a 10% growth adjustment. They explained that the work is administrative and therefore matched at 50/50 federal-state funding, not the 80/20 rate used for benefits, and said the expense would be incurred whether the bill passed or not if the state proceeded with an RFP. Senators discussed possible savings from reducing the number of MCOs from five to three, but agency staff said those savings were hard to quantify and that provider and member disruption could create offsetting costs. The committee later moved on to Senate Joint Resolution 25, which would ask the Revenue Department to report on the cost of issuing farmers a wallet-sized tax-exempt card instead of a paper certificate. The resolution was adopted by roll call, with all members present voting aye, and it was reported favorably to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Open a statute book.
• He was a traitor, but we in Florida get to recognize him because he's in statute.
• It's not going to ban anything that we have currently that's in statute.
• Statute remains, and there's absolutely nothing we can do about it.
• SB 816 formally recognizes the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum and journal business before taking up the special order calendar. Several bills were explained and moved through amendment and final passage, including CS/SB 590 on the statute of limitations for mandatory reporters’ child-abuse reporting violations, which was clarified on the floor to apply prospectively only and passed 111-0. CS/SB 418 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism spectrum disorder was amended to align with the House version and passed 111-0. The chamber also recognized Spina Bifida Week and guests in the gallery before considering additional measures. Members then passed CS/CS/SB 1668 on the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA), described as preserving the program’s actuarial soundness, by a 112-0 vote; CS/SB 1246 on the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund, expanded to support broader health science education programs and non-health-care partner contributions, by 112-0; CS/CS/SB 1404 on memory care facility standards by 111-0; CS/CS/SB 1030 on recovery residences, including transfer-of-ownership and MAT-related provisions, by 168-0; CS/CS/SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools, allowing limited coach support for student welfare with parental consent and other guardrails, by 112-0; CS/CS/SB 422 on automatic dependent surveillance broadcasts, limiting use of ADS-B data for airport billing, by 108-2; and CS/CS/SB 598 on funeral, cemetery, and consumer services, modernizing licensure and exclusivity rules, by 111-0. The House also took up CS/SB 1134 on official actions of local governments and DEI-related restrictions. The sponsor argued the bill would prohibit counties and municipalities from official DEI actions and related funding while preserving numerous exceptions for holidays, observances, public safety, and other activities. Members asked extensive questions about how the bill would affect local programs, events, and offices, and Representative Gant offered an amendment to narrow the bill’s DEI definition by removing two prongs; debate centered on vagueness, enforcement, and local-government impacts. The transcript cuts off during consideration of that amendment, so no final action on the bill is shown. The session also included lengthy farewell remarks from Representatives Eskamani and Overdorf, reflecting on their service, staff, constituents, and policy priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• , both chambers, every member,<00:02:45.040><c> our</c><00:02:45.360><c> governor</c><00:02:45.760><c
• ><c> all</c><00:02:50.160><c> their</c><00:02:50.480><c> families</c><00:02:50.879><c> and</c><00:02:
• :51.599><c> people</c><00:02:51.840><c> in</c><00:02:52.080><c> our</c><00:02:52.239><c> state</c><00
• c> to</c><00:02:55.280><c> Ocean</c><00:02:55.680><c> City,</c><00:02:56.239><c> and</c><00:02:56.480
• :57.040><c> and</c><00:02:57.360><c> world</c><00:02:57.760><c> be</c><00:02:58.000><c> blessed</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• :26.640><c> the</c><00:02:26.879><c> delivery</c><00:02:27.200><c> of</c><00:02:27.440><c> projects</
• to talk<00:02:28.239><c> about</c><00:02:28.720><c> uh</c><00:02:28.800><c> the</c><00:02:29.040><c>
• 30.160><c> Just</c><00:02:30.560><c> our</c><00:02:30.800><c> our</c><00:02:31.120><c> mission</c><00
• :02:31.760><c> is</c><00:02:32.160><c> to</c><00:02:32.720><c> be</c> cabinet.
• ><c> of</c><00:02:41.120><c> life</c><00:02:41.440><c> across</c><00:02:41.840><c> all</c><00:02:42.080

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum, so it could not approve the minutes. The chair announced an Eastern Kentucky University health forum later that day and then proceeded with testimony on alternative delivery methods for road projects. Jason Sawala of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Chad Laroo of the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors were sworn in and introduced themselves. Sawala explained KYTC’s use of alternative delivery tools, including design-build, construction manager/general contractor (CMGC), and public-private partnerships (P3s). He said the cabinet’s goal is to deliver the best value to taxpayers in terms of quality, cost, and time, and emphasized that alternative delivery is most useful on projects with special circumstances such as innovation needs, specialized technology, complex constructibility, schedule pressure, or early contractor input. He cited the cabinet’s wrong-way driving prevention project as an example where design-build helped evaluate technologies and coordinate with stakeholders such as EMS and first responders. He also outlined the main tradeoffs: alternative delivery can improve collaboration and sometimes accelerate schedules, but it also brings risks related to right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, changing scope, and the need for dedicated staff and compressed decision-making. He stressed that these methods are not a cure-all and are not appropriate for every project, while noting that traditional design-bid-build remains effective for most of KYTC’s work. Representative Branscum responded favorably, saying early contractor involvement is valuable and consistent with his experience in the vertical construction world. No votes or formal actions were taken because the committee lacked a quorum.

Transcript Highlights:

• :52.000><c> to</c><00:02:52.160><c> get</c><00:02:52.319><c> some</c><00:02:52.560><c> things</c><00:
• 02:52.720><c> done</c><00:02:52.959><c> quickly.
• Uh one<00:02:55.200><c> thing</c><00:02:55.360><c> that</c><00:02:55.519><c> was</c><00:02:55.680><c>
• </c><00:02:57.680><c> in</c><00:02:58.080><c> sort</c><00:02:58.239><c> of</c><00:02:58.319><c> the</
• </c><00:02:59.040><c> were</c><00:02:59.120><c> having</c><00:02:59.360><c> on</c><00:02:59.519><c> energy

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Open a statute book.
• Open a statute book.
• It's not going to ban anything that we have currently that's in statute.
• Statute remains, and there's absolutely nothing we can do about it.
• SB 816 formally recognizes the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute.

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:02:49.599><c> Anyone</c><00:02:49.840><c> else</c><00:02:50.000><c> that</c><00:02:50.160><c> wishes
• Anyone else that wishes to testify on<00:02:51.680><c> these</c><00:02:51.920><c> two</c><00:02:52.160
• If not, members questions.<00:02:56.160><c> If</c><00:02:56.239><c> not,</c><00:02:56.480><c> I'll</c
• ><00:02:56.640><c> turn</c><00:02:56.800><c> it</c><00:02:56.879><c> over</c><00:02:57.040><c> to</c>
• </c><00:02:59.040><c> Uh,</c><00:02:59.280><c> thank</c><00:02:59.360><c> you.

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Summary: The joint committees heard three resolutions first. STR 32/SR 18 asked the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to work with the Department of Transportation to use inmate work furlough programs for state roadway and highway maintenance. Testimony was generally supportive of the intent, but the Correctional System Oversight Commission raised concerns about using work furlough for maintenance and emphasized that participants should be paid at least minimum wage, be able to meet restitution and support obligations, and not have their release timing affected. The measures were later recommended and adopted by both committees with no amendments in the joint portion. STR 199/SR 179 concerned increased caution regarding foreign infrastructure. There was no public testimony. In decision-making, the committees split the measures: STR 199 was deferred because of a similar measure, while SR 179 was passed with amendments. The amendments were described as clarifying Hawaii’s goals of self-sufficiency, local self-reliance, and self-determination, and encouraging scrutiny by departments and agencies to reduce dependence on imports. STR 231/SR 207, which would direct DOT to install electronic equipment at state airports and harbors to scan for illegal fireworks, drew mixed testimony, including support from the Oahu Filipino Community Council and comments from Matson Navigation. DOT said it supported the intent. The committees adopted amendments to address Matson’s concerns by moving inspections to a place outside the immediate loading and unloading area, and both committees passed the measures as amended. The Public Safety and Military Affairs committee then took up additional resolutions. STR 113/SR 94, designating Hawaii as a Purple Heart state on August 7, 2025, received no testimony and was not discussed further. STR 204/SR 164, asking the Department of Law Enforcement for information on disposal, detonation, and destruction of explosive fireworks and similar hazardous materials, also drew no testimony in the excerpt. STR 107/SR 88, urging military branches in Hawaii to provide hurricane-resistant shelters for active and retired personnel and families, likewise received no testimony. STR 148/SR 119, supporting construction of a floating dry dock at Pearl Harbor, drew broad support from industry, military, and state economic development representatives. STR 149/SR 120, creating a vegetation management working group to address wildfire risk, received extensive testimony in support and comments, with speakers from DCCA, PUC, Hawaiian Electric, IBW 1260, Hawaiʻi Telecom, and Kamehameha Schools discussing wildfire hazards, responsibility for vegetation near utility infrastructure, and the need to include workers and landowners in the process. STR 126/SR 105, calling for an incremental reduction in the number of inmates housed in private out-of-state facilities, prompted a lengthy discussion with DCR. The director said Hawaii’s out-of-state incarceration is driven by overcrowding and security needs, not a quota, described the per-person-per-day cost of CoreCivic housing, noted that Hawaii pays about $96 per inmate per day out of state versus about $37 in-state, and said the department is working on a master plan and future facility needs. The committee also discussed the need for a new prison and possibly a new jail. The excerpt ends with the committee still in discussion, without showing a final vote on STR 126/SR 105.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota and Washington have unique restrictions on these anticoagulants.
• Minnesota and Washington have unique restrictions on these anticoagulants.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a brief hybrid hearing on late-file bills, with Chair Becca Rausch outlining procedures and limiting testimony to three minutes. The hearing focused on six home rule petitions from Ayer, Boxborough, Groton, Lincoln, Nahant, and Sharon that would restrict or prohibit the use of anticoagulant rodenticides, referred to by speakers as harmful “escars.” Testimony was uniformly in support of the petitions. Speakers including Christine Goulet, Heather Packard of Mass Audubon, Carrie Stamos of Save Lincoln Wildlife, and Lisa Nayan de Muel described the dangers of these poisons to bald eagles, other wildlife, pets, and ecosystems, and argued that towns had already shown local support for restrictions. Several witnesses said non-rodenticide pest management methods and integrated pest management can work effectively, and urged the committee to report the bills favorably. Mass Audubon also framed the local petitions as a step toward a broader statewide ban, citing recent action in Rhode Island, California, and other states. No opposition testimony was presented, and no votes were taken during the hearing. After the final witness, the chair asked whether anyone else wished to be heard and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• What these bills would do would be to modernize our superload statutes that have been in effect for over
• As of now, Minnesota just became the 13th state to pass a similar law.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on 31 bills covering driver privacy and data, distinctive license plates, public awareness signage, railroad safety, superload permitting, TNC/delivery data reporting, and MBTA safety measures. Chairs Jim Arciero and Brendan Crighton outlined the hearing process, and the committee heard testimony from state officials, advocates, family members of fallen officers and firefighters, transportation industry representatives, civil liberties groups, and others. No votes were taken during the hearing itself, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn. Several speakers supported bills creating a Blue Star Family license plate to honor families of fallen law enforcement officers, and a separate motorcycle plate for fallen firefighters. Colonel Jeffrey Noble and others from the Healey-Driscoll Administration and law enforcement groups said the plates would complement existing memorial practices and provide a lasting public tribute. Family members of officers killed in the line of duty gave emotional testimony in support, and Representative Steve Ultrino and Paul Jakes backed the firefighter memorial motorcycle plate as revenue-neutral, with proceeds supporting the fallen firefighter memorial. The committee also heard testimony on transportation policy and safety bills. Industry witnesses urged modernization of Massachusetts superload permitting rules, saying current requirements are slower and more expensive than neighboring states and delay public projects. Advocates supported a human trafficking awareness bill requiring hotline signage in transit facilities, a driver privacy bill limiting automatic license plate reader data retention and sharing, and a bill requiring two-person crews on freight trains and other railroad safety measures such as hotbox detectors and transportation for railroad employees. Senator John Keenan also testified for expanded naloxone availability in MBTA stations and said the MBTA had not fully complied with prior legislative directives.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second recommendation is to revise the statutes addressed by the municipal water law and grant Ecology
• Minnesota and California, for example, both provide downscaled climate hazard information roughly in

Committee: Joint JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee I-900 Subcommittee heard JLARC’s annual update on the status of State Auditor recommendations. JLARC staff said that for the 2024 review period there were three new legislative recommendations and three previously unresolved recommendations from earlier years. They reported that the legislature did not convene the civil asset forfeiture work group recommended by the auditor, and took no formal action on two water-use-efficiency recommendations. Two recommendations related to concurrent Medicaid enrollments were addressed in a bill introduced this session, but that bill was not adopted. The committee then heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on ensuring climate-resilient electricity infrastructure. The audit concluded Washington has opportunities to better adapt new energy infrastructure to climate change by using more site-specific climate information, broader collaboration, and stronger use of vulnerability assessments. The auditors recommended expanding the Climate Impacts Group’s analyses if funding is available, using forecasted information in DNR wildfire maps, designating a non-regulatory coordination office, and expanding vulnerability assessments in Ecology and Commerce processes. Agency witnesses generally agreed with the importance of resilience but emphasized existing efforts, the need to avoid duplicating current planning and SEPA processes, and concerns about funding, staffing, affordability, and preserving regulatory roles. The final audit examined fines for human trafficking and related sexual exploitation crimes. Auditors found courts assessed these mandatory fines inconsistently, collection rates varied widely, some revenues were sent to the wrong local government, and some jurisdictions did not clearly use the money for enforcement, prevention, or survivor services as required. The audit recommended better coordination with prosecutors, improved court coding and templates, and stronger local processes for tracking and spending fine revenue. King County provided testimony thanking the auditors and describing its anti-trafficking work. The meeting ended with no votes taken and the next meeting announced for September 17.

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Minnesota require a 60% vote by the people.
• Constitution. ...to have a more streamlined Constitution because we should be able to change things in statute

Bills: HCR3025

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Summary: The State and Local Government Committee first heard House Concurrent Resolution 3025, a resolution honoring the police and first responders of Fargo. Representative Hendricks presented it as a straightforward tribute tied to a tragic incident, and several members and a representative of the Chiefs of Police Association and North Dakota League of Cities spoke in support. There was no opposition, and the committee closed the hearing and later gave the resolution a 6-0 do pass recommendation, with Senator Braunberger volunteering to carry it. The committee then heard House Concurrent Resolution 3010, which would direct Legislative Management to study legislative responsibility to review existing law before proposing new law. Representative Kempinock said the idea was to reduce repetitive or duplicative bills and improve legislative education, but also noted that current efforts by Legislative Council and leadership had made the resolution largely unnecessary. Members generally agreed with the premise but questioned whether a study was needed, and the committee ultimately gave it a 4-2 do pass recommendation, with Senator Lee volunteering to carry it. Next, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 3003, which would raise the threshold for approving constitutional amendments from 50% to 60%. Speaker Wise argued constitutional changes should be difficult and cited other states’ higher thresholds, while Eric Spencer of the Greater North Dakota Chamber supported the measure and emphasized how often North Dakota’s Constitution has been amended. Members discussed the irony of asking voters to raise the threshold by a simple majority and the broader issue of an overused constitution, but the committee still recommended it do pass on a 6-0 vote. The committee then spent considerable time on House Bill 1297 and related House Bill 1307 amendments dealing with approval voting, ranked-choice voting, and a Fargo-specific exemption. Members and witnesses from the Secretary of State’s office and the League of Cities debated whether Fargo should be exempted and how to avoid conflicts between the two bills. An amendment to strip approval voting from 1297 failed on a 3-3 tie, after which the committee gave 1297 a 4-2 do pass recommendation so the floor could decide the issue, with plans to reconcile 1307 afterward based on that outcome.