Transcript Highlights:

• Commerce, the PUC, uh and the Attorney Commerce, the PUC, uh and the Attorney General's<01:13:23.199>
• extend my gratitude to the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Commerce, the AG, the Attorney
• the<01:15:27.360><c> AG,</c><01:15:28.480><c> uh,</c><01:15:28.719><c> the</c><01:15:29.280><c> Attorney
• </c><01:15:29.679><c> General</c><01:15:30.239><c> and,</c> the AG, uh, the Attorney General and, the
• AG, uh, the Attorney General and, um,<01:15:31.600><c> legal</c><01:15:31.920><c> aid</c><01:15:32.480

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Deputy Attorney General Randall Nishiyama.
• First to testify, we're going to call on Randall Nishiyama from the Attorney General's office in person
• Randall Nishiyama for the Department of the Attorney General.
• Randall Nishiyama for the Department of the Attorney General.
• General's office um as from the Attorney General's office um as we<01:35:01.480><c> noted</c><01:35:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Energy and Environmental Protection heard testimony on Senate Bill 897, which would create a Wildlife Liability Trust Fund within DCCA for administrative purposes. The chair opened by noting the hearing had to end by noon because of floor session, and that written testimony would be considered if not all witnesses could speak. Testimony included support from DCCA, the Attorney General’s office, the Public Utilities Commission, Charter Communications, Ulupono Initiative, AES Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Clearway Energy Group, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Hawaiian Telcom, and IBW Local 1260, with opposition or concerns from the Hawaii Association for Justice and some others. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill and asked for amendments, saying the fund would help address wildfire liability, protect customers and the economy, and support restoration of investment-grade credit; it also proposed a larger shareholder contribution and said the bill was part of a broader effort to raise settlement funds and improve grid safety and resiliency. Committee members focused heavily on whether the bill would actually lower costs for ratepayers and improve credit ratings. DCCA said there was a nexus between limiting liability, creating a sufficiently large wildfire fund, and transparent mitigation requirements, but acknowledged there was no guarantee of a credit-rating improvement or precise estimate of rate impacts. Members questioned Hawaiian Electric about the assumptions in its cost comparisons, the 30-year securitization structure, and whether funding could be shifted later to shareholders after credit was restored. Hawaiian Electric responded that the bill assumes the fund is paid through securitization, that removing that presumption could undermine the credit-rating benefit, and that its models suggest credit-spread savings could offset the customer charge over time; it also said it would follow up with additional analysis. The company and Ulupono both described the measure as a difficult but potentially necessary way to socialize wildfire risk and avoid a larger crisis later. The Hawaii Association for Justice opposed the bill’s liability caps and raised concerns about consumer rights, oversight discretion, statute-of-limitations changes, and evidence rules. Hawaiian Telcom suggested amendments to clarify compliance with FCC pole-attachment agreements. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided, and members indicated they wanted more analysis before being comfortable with the bill’s long-term ratepayer impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of our legal services have to come from the Attorney General's office.
• All of our legal services have to come from the Attorney General's office.
• We work closely with the Attorney General's office.
• </c> money we work closely with the Attorney money we work closely with the Attorney General's<00:35:
• </c><00:40:09.160><c> General's</c><00:40:09.599><c> office</c> ago has also Attorney General's office

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:52.679><c> general</c><00:25:53.600><c> if</c> concerns from the attorney general if concerns
• from the attorney general if you<00:25:53.880><c> wanted</c><00:25:54.200><c> to</c><00:25:54.440><c
• <01:33:36.400><c> General's</c><01:33:36.840><c> office</c><01:33:37.080><c> on</c> Attorney General's
• office on Attorney General's office on Zoom<01:33:38.920><c> they're</c><01:33:39.119><c> not</c><01
• </c> person good afternoon Deputy attorney person good afternoon Deputy attorney general<01:33:45.920

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on Senate Bill 103, relating to electric vehicle batteries, and then moved to Senate Bill 995, relating to renewable fuel. On SB 103, the Department of Health and the State Energy Office supported the measure, and Redwood Materials said it supported the bill’s intent but requested an amendment to add a battery recycler to the commission. Other testimony on SB 103 included support from several individuals and organizations, with one opponent noted. A committee member also raised a possible deadline change requested by the Alliance of Automobile Innovation for future work on the measure. The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 995, which would create tax incentives for sustainable aviation fuel and related renewable fuel production. Supporters included the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, Pono Pacific, Hawaiian Airlines/Alaska Airlines, the Tax Foundation, PAR Hawaii, Pacific Biodiesel, and others. Supporters said the bill would help build a local SAF industry, encourage camelina and other feedstocks, and advance decarbonization goals. Several supporters also said they had proposed amendments or technical comments and stood on their written testimony. Opposition testimony argued the bill could allow toxic waste feedstocks, such as construction and demolition waste, into fuel production, and questioned whether the incentives would truly benefit Hawaii farmers or consumers. One opponent said the bill’s benefits could flow to the producer and to imported feedstocks rather than to local agriculture, and another questioned the scale of local land and water available for camelina production. Committee members pressed witnesses on acreage, water use, expected yields, the role of PAR Hawaii’s refinery investment, and whether the state would be subsidizing a business decision that might not produce significant local fuel. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think you would see attorneys general, both from blue states, running to court.
• I serve as the Deputy Director and Attorney for the League of Cities.
• The attorney in me says there's an exception to everything, so I don't know if you want to outlaw it,
• We consult with the procurement team and our Attorney General's office.
• We have a liaison that we work with at the Attorney General's office to review all contracts that are

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, establishing its purpose as a study and policy-development body rather than one aimed at producing many bills. Majority Leader Hogue urged members to move quickly, focus on federal and other states’ AI laws, consider possible federal preemption, child protections, and the siting and economic impacts of data centers. Committee leadership echoed that the goal is practical, balanced governance that protects North Dakota while allowing innovation to continue. Legislative Council staff provided a background memo and NCSL presented a detailed overview of AI concepts and the current state legislative landscape. The presentations distinguished narrow AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and theoretical AGI/ASI, and summarized major state policy themes: comprehensive AI laws in states such as Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois; targeted laws on deepfakes, chatbots, health, education, notifications, and digital likeness; and growing use of appropriations and agency inventories. Members asked about Colorado’s repeal and reenactment, Texas’s sandbox and training provisions, oversight structures, and whether AI regulation is bipartisan; presenters said most issues cut across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfakes but more division on broader regulatory approaches. The federal update focused on executive orders, preemption, and congressional activity. NCSL described a White House framework favoring a single federal standard, a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department review of state laws, and possible funding conditions tied to state AI policy, though no formal state-law challenge had yet occurred. The presentation also covered a recent executive order creating a voluntary federal vetting process for advanced frontier models after safety concerns, and congressional proposals including a failed 10-year state moratorium, Senator Blackburn’s child-safety bills, the Kids Online Safety Act, a House-passed children’s digital safety package, a Senate data center moratorium proposal, and a House ratepayer/data-center bill. The committee took no formal action beyond receiving testimony and asking questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill complements efforts by our own Attorney General, so our constituents, nurses, pediatricians
• It relies on self-attestation from the same industry that has been sued by our own Attorney General for
• And the levels that—I'd actually like to take this opportunity to clarify—the levels set in that Attorney
• You said there was a lawsuit with the Attorney General that says that it has to exceed the EU formula
• The Attorney General settlement was specific to lead, and it established a new, more protective standard

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, related on line 53, there's appropriation from the general fund for the Office of the Attorney General
• And then on line 53, that would be the appropriation to the Attorney General for enforcement of that
• General for enforcement of the Attorney General for enforcement of that<00:39:56.480><c> provision.
• Not being the attorney penalty already.
• Not being the attorney of<01:15:16.880><c> record</c><01:15:17.240><c> here,</c><01:15:18.160><c> uh,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We work regularly with the Attorney General's office on those as well.
• to my attorneys on what that<00:47:53.720><c> obligation</c><00:47:54.240><c> would</c><00:47:54.359
• The Attorney General's office has done some shutting down and local towns have been able to do some of
• The Attorney General's office has done some shutting down and local towns have been able to do some of
• This is the attorney, the state forfeiture attorney information. Do we want to discuss it? No.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And here in the U.S., Minnesota's Attorney General secured a $4 million penalty against PSP's Havenwood
• First up, we have um let's see. of the deputy attorney general at a of the deputy attorney general at
• You guys have attorney generals. The city got corporate counsels.
• When you make a decision, that's the city attorney general. So, how can we get around?
• The resolution asks or encourages the Attorney General to pursue litigation for return of these lands

Bills: HCR13, HCR61, HCR136, HCR185, HCR155, HCR68, HCR174, HCR178, HCR179, HCR91, HCR103, HCR115, HCR199, HR15, HR128, HR175, HR147, HR62, HR164, HR168, HR169, HR83, HR95, HR107, HR189

Keywords: coral reefs, sunscreen, environmental education, student stewardship, marine conservation, reforestation, Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, native forests, climate resilience, sustainable practices, economic opportunity, biodiversity, wildland-urban interface, WUI, wildfire mitigation, wildfire safety, Maui County, County of Maui, Kauai

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 31, 2026, and heard testimony on several resolutions. HCR 13/HR 50, which asks DLNR to work with DOE and the Public Charter School Commission on a student coral stewardship program, drew comments from DLNR, which said it stood on written testimony and had proposed amendments, and from supporters in the room. HCR 61, urging investment in reforestation policies, workforce, nursery capacity, and related support for public and private lands, received strong support from DLNR and multiple testifiers, including members of a reforestation policy hui, a resident, and others who emphasized watershed protection, flood and fire resilience, and the need to upgrade nursery infrastructure and staffing. Committee members asked questions about nursery modernization, staffing, island-specific needs, and whether reforestation could reduce wildfire impacts; the DLNR witness said all islands need investment, with especially large opportunities on Hawaiʻi Island, and that healthier forests improve resilience though they cannot eliminate climate-related risks. The committee then heard HCR 136/HR 128 on wildland-urban interface safety standards for Maui plantation towns, but no one testified. It also heard HCR 185/HR 175, which urges denial of permits for ICE detention-related warehouses; Chris Coffey of Immua Alliance testified in support, saying migrant survivors of exploitation are harmed when ICE detains people and that Hawaii would not be the first place to take such action, citing examples from other states and cities. In questioning, members explored whether a local facility would keep people closer to families and services or instead increase local detention; Coffey said detention generally cuts off access to services and can intensify fear, and that a local facility could incentivize more detention and make survivors less likely to come forward. Finally, the committee heard HCR 155/HR 147 supporting the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition’s Hawaii Water Safety Act. Testifiers included Allison Shapera, who described the statewide water safety plan, Hawaii’s high drowning rate, the economic and human costs of drownings, and her personal loss of her daughter in a preventable drowning; Kirsten Hermstead and Kalani Vierra of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association said the plan’s recommendations need legislative recognition to help with implementation and grant funding; and Jessamine Town Horner testified by Zoom as a co-founder and bereaved family advocate. The transcript provided does not show any votes or final committee actions on the measures discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are attorneys who have dedicated their lives to helping low-income adults, families, and older
• These are attorneys who have dedicated their lives to helping low-income adults. attorneys who have dedicated
• And so that's why having an attorney who can help you is important.
• We exist in a system here where you need an attorney to navigate your public benefits, but there are
• I'm a managing attorney with Disability Rights California.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's two, I know the Attorney General is looking at this with two suppliers, specifically, two
• speak to kind of what the department looks at, but I can assure you that the department, like the Attorney
• I know the department, the Attorney General's Office, and others look at every single item that comes
• And, you know, the team is looking into this, along with the Attorney General's Office and really picking
• I know the department, the Attorney General's Office, and others look at every single item that comes

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing at UMass Amherst on Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, focusing on energy/environment-related transportation issues and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The hearing opened with welcomes from the co-chairs and local legislators, followed by remarks from UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes, who highlighted the university’s research, sustainability, transportation, and workforce contributions and thanked the administration and legislature for support of public higher education. MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng, along with agency leaders, presented the administration’s transportation budget package. They described a combined funding plan through House 2, a Fair Share supplemental budget, and a Chapter 90 bill, emphasizing investments in MassDOT operations, snow and ice response, regional transit authorities, the MBTA, bridge and pavement repair, housing-related transportation improvements, sustainable aviation fuel, microtransit, and local road programs. Officials also highlighted record highway construction activity, safety initiatives such as work zone speed cameras and pedestrian protections, RMV service and equity improvements, airport and drone technology programs, and MBTA gains in reliability, accessibility, ridership, and service expansion. Committee members asked about Western Massachusetts priorities, especially Chapter 90 funding for rural road mileage, bridge repairs, and the Compass Rail/West-East Rail program. MassDOT officials said pending federal grants were moving forward, with some awards recently obligated and others expected as federal processes advance, and they said Palmer Station remains part of the long-term rail plan. Members also raised the Cape Cod bridges and the need for multi-year Chapter 90 funding. Officials said the Sagamore Bridge procurement would begin soon, with construction targeted for 2027, and reiterated that transportation investments support jobs, local economies, and municipal infrastructure statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Association, the Kentucky Counties Association, and the Office of Attorney General. placed upon its
• Zerv, Zerv, the<00:11:24.720><c> Kentucky</c><00:11:25.279><c> Commonwealth</c><00:11:25.920><c> Attorneys
• </c> the Kentucky Commonwealth Attorneys the Kentucky Commonwealth Attorneys Association,<00:11:27.920
• <00:11:29.760><c> Association,</c> Attorneys Association, Attorneys Association, and<00:11:32.079><c>
• the</c><00:11:32.399><c> Office</c><00:11:33.120><c> of</c><00:11:33.519><c> Attorney</c><00:11:34.320

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now that the law has changed to be that it is a requirement, I'm not an attorney, but I think there's
• ,</c><00:42:11.440><c> but</c> requirement, I I'm not an attorney, but requirement, I I'm not an attorney
• I know that their attorneys will go over this and make sure it's compliant with the statute, and other
• I know that the their attorneys Jelcar.
• I know that the their attorneys will<00:49:54.960><c> go</c><00:49:55.040><c> over</c><00:49:55.280><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the draft minutes of its May 16, 2025 meeting, with one correction removing Representative Dry from the attendance list because she was present as a guest rather than an appointed member. The committee then received a Department of Health and Human Services update from Commissioner Lori Weaver, who focused on the rural health transformation grant process. She said the department has been gathering stakeholder input since July, issued a request for information on September 22, and is working toward an end-of-October draft and a November 3 deadline, with a grant writer request expected to go before Governor and Council at no cost to the state. The bulk of the meeting centered on federal changes affecting SNAP and Medicaid. Karen Heert explained that the federal law changes commonly referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill” or HR1 will affect SNAP eligibility and state costs, including a shift in administrative cost sharing from 50/50 to 75/25 beginning in October 2026 and a possible state share of benefits if New Hampshire’s error rate is too high. She said the program affects about 43,000 households, that New Hampshire’s federal fiscal year 2024 error rate was 7.57% versus a national rate of 10.93%, and that the state must get below 6% to avoid liability. She also said DHS is preparing remediation steps, auditing cases, and seeking technology and staffing support, including a grant for automation and training. Henry Litman then described Medicaid changes under HB2 and the new federal law. He said New Hampshire returned to pre-pandemic eligibility verification rules on July 1, including a 10% income compatibility standard and reduced ex parte renewals, which has increased manual work and contributed to a drop in enrollment from about 185,000 in late June to about 178,000 in early September. He also reviewed new child premiums, pharmacy copays, Granite Advantage premiums, and possible Medicaid work requirements, noting that DHS is working with CMS on implementation details and may use a state plan option rather than an 1115 waiver because it would be less expensive and faster. Members asked several questions about the SNAP error-rate rules, the distinction between administrative and client errors, the effect of unpaid copays, and the timing and legal risk of the Medicaid work requirement; no votes were taken on those policy issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• is harmed as a result, the individual can bring a civil suit to recover damages, court costs, and attorney
• I'm a senior attorney with BNSF Railway Company. Respectfully, I appear in opposition to HB4207.
• We have one council, we have a county attorney to take a look at these expenditures.
• I assure you that those were reviewed by our county attorney and our outside counsel.
• Each project that we do is reviewed by the county attorney, by my office, by our county attorney as well

Bills: HB2065, HB2462, HB2621, HB3187, HB3539, HB3563, HB3726, HB4164, HB4207, HB4368, HB4706, HB4916, HB4950, HB4967, HB5177, HB4429, HB5597

Keywords: commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• You go on Nextdoor, everybody's talking about the DA, the county attorney, law enforcement.
• I'm not an immigration attorney. So I'm like, yeah, help me out.
• And I do have some of our friends back here, our attorneys, and they can definitely answer. or maybe
• I'm a policy attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project. opposition to the bill.
• And in regard to the immigration attorney...

Bills: HB5141, HB4638, HB2264, HB2035, HB4813, HB4408, HB2684, HB1621, HB2300, HB216, HB3829, HB4466, HB1747, HB2284, HB3614, HB2587, HB3219, HB3318, HB5147, HB4014, HB216

Keywords: lease, state property, public purpose, Travis County, Health and Human Services, pharmaceutical initiative, drug distribution, healthcare services, generic drugs, advanced pharmaceuticals, cost savings, mental health, patient discharge, medical records, health care professionals, substance use, family involvement, chemical dependency, treatment facilities, minor admissions

Transcript Highlights:

• This would cover our Office of General Counsel, use of the Attorney General's office, and litigation
• This would cover our Office of General Counsel, use of the Attorney General's office, and litigation
• The funding that we use for the Attorney General's office is not specifically for staffing.
• long-standing lawsuits that we've had to engage in a range of litigation costs, and I know as an attorney
• The funding that we use for the Attorney General's office is not specifically for staffing.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the time you pass the bill uh between the time you pass the bill they they did training with the Attorney
• they they did training with the Attorney they they did training with the Attorney General's office uh
• times that the language going on they times that the language going on they may be talking to an attorney
• or may be may be talking to an attorney or may be may be talking to an attorney or may be talking to
• General step in there that the Attorney General step in there that the Attorney General approves the

Keywords: sessions, 2025-R, 1, 219

Transcript Highlights:

• At HAC, we represent developers, architects, attorneys, construction professionals, and labor unions
• I'm a Deputy Attorney General and Legislative Advocate for Attorney General Rob Bonta.
• The Attorney General is proud to sponsor AB 1457 to ensure that SB 1000 is fully implemented so that
• First off, just wanted to thank the Attorney General's Office and the author's office.
• I know the Attorney General would like to see this done.

Summary: The committee heard several housing, local government, coastal, and infrastructure bills. AB 306 would create a statewide appeal and code-interpretation process for building code issues at the California Building Standards Commission; supporters said it would reduce inconsistent local interpretations and speed housing delivery, while no opposition testified, and it was moved on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations. AB 956 would clarify ADU law to allow up to two detached ADUs on a property and address ADUs in HOAs/common interest developments; supporters framed it as a flexibility and housing-supply measure, while local government and county groups raised concerns about ministerial approval, parking, density, and impacts on neighborhood character. After committee questions, the bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations on a 2-0 vote, with the bill remaining on call. Members also considered AB 1751, which would create a ministerial approval path for qualifying townhome projects and allow local inclusionary ordinances for larger projects. Supporters said it would expand attainable homeownership and help produce missing-middle housing, while cities and counties objected to reduced density, by-right approval, and potential housing-element net-loss issues. The bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations on a 2-0 vote and remained on call. AB 912, which would revise the governance structure of the Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District board, drew unanimous support from the district, city, and county; it passed 3-0 to Appropriations and remained on call. AB 1710, aimed at preserving housing project entitlements from later regulatory changes, also advanced on a 4-0 do-pass-as-amended vote after opponents said they were awaiting the committee amendments. The committee also heard AB 2080, which would make county treasurer investment authority delegations ongoing until revoked rather than requiring annual renewal; supporters said it would reduce technical noncompliance and administrative burden without reducing oversight, and it was moved to the Senate Floor. AB 1740, a coastal bill for Santa Monica, would set timelines and reporting for a local coastal program and create an expedited Coastal Commission process for bike, transit, and pedestrian projects; supporters said it reflected a negotiated path forward with the city and commission, and it passed 3-0 to Appropriations. AB 2181, backed by Unite Here, would limit use of hypothetical density bonus value in hotel and motel appraisals; supporters said it would protect hospitality jobs from speculative lease-rent increases, and it was moved to the Senate Floor on a 4-0 vote. Finally, AB 2469 on data centers and water use drew the most extended debate. The bill would require water supply and water use assessments before approval, and shift infrastructure costs to project proponents; supporters said it would improve transparency, protect ratepayers, and ensure local governments have information before approving water-intensive facilities. Opponents, including business, city, county, and tech groups, argued existing law already covers water assessments and fees, warned the bill could create a separate permitting regime, and raised concerns about privacy, security, and investment impacts. The committee had not yet taken final action on AB 2469 when the transcript ended, and members were still asking technical questions about data center cooling and water reuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, it would go to the Attorney General, and the Attorney General, I believe, would have 10 days to
• county, there's a lot, but mosquito control, IT needs, procurement, economic development, county attorney
• Economic development, county attorney, and legal services, and others.
• And I don't know if that's going to happen this time, but if it does, I certainly don't want our Attorney
• That's what our Attorney General should be doing.

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce property taxes by lowering assessment caps on non-homestead property, expanding homestead exemptions over time, and allowing local governments to increase exemptions further. The sponsor argued the measure would provide broad property tax relief while requiring revenues to be directed to core services such as public safety, education, infrastructure, and natural resource projects, with a trust fund intended to help local governments transition. Senators raised concerns about the lack of a fiscal score, the effect on counties, cities, school districts, and special districts, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. Several amendments were debated. Senator Polsky’s amendment to explicitly authorize user fees and non-ad valorem assessments to offset lost property tax revenue failed. Senator Avila’s amendment broadening permissible uses of ad valorem revenue to include county constitutional officers and other expenditures approved by local governing bodies was adopted after debate over whether the bill would otherwise underfund essential functions. Senator Smith’s sunset amendment, which would have made the constitutional changes expire after five years, failed. Senator Smith’s amendment to allow tourism development tax revenue to support public safety and education also failed. Senator Graal’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund language was adopted, with supporters arguing the Constitution should not promise an unfunded account. Additional late-file amendments were considered. Senator Berman’s proposal to change the ballot title to more neutrally describe the measure as affecting property taxes and local community service reductions failed. Senator Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal was adopted, preserving school taxes. Senator Smith’s amendment narrowing the non-homestead assessment cap reduction to small businesses only failed. The committee then returned to the bill as amended and continued questioning the sponsor about eligibility, fiscal impacts, and whether the proposal could lead to local governments offsetting lost revenue through special assessments or other charges.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, it would go to the Attorney General, and the Attorney General, I believe, would have 10 days to
• that the legislature could also provide their own alternative instead of relying on our unelected Attorney
• Economic development, county attorney, and legal services, and others.
• And I don't know if that's going to happen this time, but if it does, I certainly don't want our Attorney
• That's what our Attorney General should be doing.

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, the proposed constitutional amendment on property tax relief, which would reduce assessment growth on non-homestead property, expand homestead exemptions, create a new exemption for new homesteaders, and direct counties, cities, and school districts to use property tax revenues for specified core services. Senator Avila presented the measure as the governor’s plan to provide historic relief and argued that local governments should tighten budgets and prioritize core functions. Senators raised concerns about the lack of fiscal scoring, the breadth and ambiguity of the permitted uses, the effect on special districts and local services, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. The committee adopted several amendments, including Avila’s amendment clarifying that ad valorem revenues could be used for county and municipal operations and administration and other expenditures not prohibited by law, and Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal. Other amendments failed, including proposals to allow user fees and non-ad valorem assessments, add a sunset, redirect tourism development taxes, narrow the small-business provision, and change the ballot title to reference local service reductions. Grall’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund requirement was adopted, while the committee also rejected Berman’s title-change amendment and Smith’s sunset and tourism-tax amendments. The committee then returned to the bill as amended for questions, including extended debate over whether the proposal would affect noncitizen residents, the impact on local government finances, and whether local governments would respond with higher fees or special assessments. The meeting ended with the bill still under discussion after the final round of questions, with Avila saying he would continue working with the governor’s office on the language before the next vote.