Transcript Highlights:

• was sitting on—they were still charging that fee, and yet their accounts were growing at a massive rate
• was sitting on—they were still charging that fee, and yet their accounts were growing at a massive rate
• was sitting on, they were still charging that fee, and yet their accounts were growing in a massive rate
• pulled back into the general fund or whether Fish and Game should be encouraged to charge a lower rate
• pulling money back into the general fund or pushing back on Fish and Game by recommending a lower rate

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe in here it says it is the 93% approval rate to get the gold card or the carryover.
• :04.880><c> approval</c> it's is the 93% is that the approval it's is the 93% is that the approval rate
• :05:06.160><c> gold</c><00:05:06.479><c> card</c><00:05:06.720><c> or</c><00:05:06.960><c> the</c> rate
• to get the gold card or the rate to get the gold card or the carryover.<00:05:07.919><c> My</c><00:05
• c> down</c><00:05:31.520><c> from</c><00:05:32.240><c> a</c> We negotiated down from a much higher rate

Committee: House Banking & Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the commission uses bond financing to provide below-market-rate financing to low-income
• For example, the commission uses bond financing to provide below-market-rate financing to low-income
• For example, the commission uses bond financing to provide below-market-rate financing to low-income
• I just am looking at you're providing below-market-rate financing to nonprofit and other developers for
• I'm looking at you're providing below-market-rate financing to nonprofit and other developers for housing

Bills: HB2118 , HB2236

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: common interest communities, restrictions, property rights, homeowners association, community governance, housing finance, affordable housing, housing commission, state agency, financial assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, when we brought on Form 1s, we had a total compliance rate of about 90,000.
• Form 1s, we had a total compliance rate of about 97%.
• the last date of the grace period before people started getting fined, we had an overall compliance rate
• of 98.1 percent before the We had an overall compliance rate of 98.1 percent before those fines started
• But that puts us at a 99.24% compliance rate, and we are really proud of that.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Florida Commission on Ethics on several proposed legislative changes. The commission asked for changes to the Whistleblower Act to better cover ethics complaints, a public records exemption for commissioners’ and staff members’ sensitive personal information, an expanded gift-disclosure family definition to include foster relationships, and a first-time waiver of fines for late financial disclosure filers. Staff also requested technical fixes, including treating a timely postmarked appeal as filed on time, clarifying Form 6 filing requirements for appointees to elected seats, extending ethics-training requirements to municipal appointees filling unexpired terms, and clarifying where Form 10 gift disclosures are filed. Commission staff reported high electronic filing compliance rates, the rollout of automated fines, and an average of 92 days for completed preliminary investigations in 2025. They also updated the committee on two federal court challenges involving the in-office lobbying ban and the Form 6 requirement for elected municipal officers. The committee then heard from Secretary of State Cord Byrd, who outlined preparations for the 2026 election cycle and several policy proposals. He discussed work with new supervisors of elections, ongoing election-crimes enforcement, cooperation with federal agencies on citizenship verification, and data-sharing agreements with other states. Byrd also proposed a statewide pre-certification audit system with grants for smaller counties, a more streamlined process for checking voter citizenship status after registration, and a modernization fix for voter records affected by randomized driver’s license numbers. Members asked about special elections, election-crimes investigations, returning-citizen voting determinations, chain-of-custody procedures, and interstate data-sharing agreements. Byrd said special election timing is controlled by the governor, the elections-crimes office investigates but does not arrest, returning-citizen applications are resolved within 90 days, and he is confident in current chain-of-custody practices. The committee also considered gubernatorial nominations. By unanimous vote, members approved a block of nominees, then separately took up Joshua Kellum’s nomination to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The committee heard sworn public testimony from Robin Blevins, who urged rejection of Kellum’s appointment and criticized his background and past involvement in FWC-related advocacy. After brief discussion, the committee voted unanimously to approve Kellum’s nomination as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that also drives up the rates of uncompensated care that our hospitals need to treat.
• are going up very quickly, while the cost of other things are not necessarily increasing at the same rate
• really important at this moment as we have providers... ...providers that rely on those commercial rate
• every health care provider that accepts Medicaid, for example, that they also have some commercial rate
• generating that higher income, I might be able to find a health program that would be more of a group rate

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• During COVID-19, several countries with significantly lower mortality rates than the United States had
• We're releasing A through F ratings every year, channeling disputes through legislative oversight rather
• taxpayer dollars to be used on administrative benchmarks or other issues, releasing these A through F ratings
• are doing, and I want to point out that one of the most litigants for two years in a row had an F rating
• We said students, schools should be rated just like students, A through F.

Bills: SB 3 , SB 16 , SB 2 , SB 5 , SB 10 , HB17 , SB 54 , SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , HB8 , HB25 , HB26 , HB192 , HB8 , HB25 , HB26 , HB48 , HB149 , HB192 , HB254 , HB17 , SB54 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , SB3 , SB16 , SB2 , SB5 , SB10

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to start by being very clear that this bill will simply freeze the tax at its current rate.
• It does not decrease the existing tax. ...freeze the tax at its current rate.
• It keeps the excise tax at 15%, which is its current rate, so it doesn't reduce the tax at all.
• It keeps it at its current rate. That's what I want to clear. Thank you.
• recommending an aye vote, and the motion is due pass as amended to apply a five-year sunset, to reduce the rate

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee met with a delayed start while waiting for quorum, then heard several bills before moving to the suspense file. AB 564 by Assemblymember Haney would freeze the planned cannabis excise tax increase at 15% rather than allow it to rise to 25%; supporters argued the legal cannabis industry is struggling against the illicit market and high taxes, while opponents said the measure would reduce funding for children, youth programs, environmental restoration, and enforcement promised under Prop. 64. The bill was sent to suspense during regular order and later approved out of suspense on a 6-0 vote with amendments, including a five-year sunset and a reduced rate. AB 1265, also by Haney, would extend and expand the state historic tax credit to encourage rehabilitation of vacant historic buildings for housing and mixed-use projects; preservation and housing advocates supported it, and it was also sent to suspense rather than voted on immediately. The committee then heard AB 1377 by Assemblymember McKenna, which would require studios seeking optional diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility film tax credits to complete the plans they submit to the California Film Commission. Labor supporters said studios should do more than make good-faith efforts, and the bill passed 5-1 to Appropriations. AB 1416 by Vice Chair Ta would clarify disaster-related property tax deferrals for homeowners who have requested installment plans, and it passed 7-0 to the Assembly Floor. Afterward, the chair gave a general warning that the bills on suspense represented large revenue losses and emphasized the committee’s need to weigh tax expenditures against other state priorities. On the suspense file, the committee approved AB 27, AB 53, AB 97, AB 231, AB 232, AB 429, AB 613, AB 984, and AB 1485, mostly on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while AB 547 passed 5-1. Several other bills, including AB 386, AB 389, AB 490, AB 6991, AB 814, AB 1057, AB 1219, AB 1282, AB 1354, AB 1431, AB 1435, and AB 1481, were held in committee. The meeting concluded with the committee adjourning after completing the suspense-file actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Typically, when I'm going for a refinance on my home, it's a rate and term refinance.
• The reason I seek a rate to refinance is to lower my interest rate, and when I go for this type of...
• And I said, "Okay, let me go for that." that so long as your interest rate is fine and allow someone
• The region of Texas continues to grow at an exceptional rate in South Texas.

Bills: HB1342 , HB2889 , HB3002 , HB3254 , HB4820 , HJR40 , HJR40

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: private activity bonds, housing, residential rental projects, low-income, affordable housing, bond measures, funding equality, political subdivisions, public communications, election fairness, debt collection, consumer rights, disclosures, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, settlement agreements, State Board of Education, group benefits program, health insurance, state employees, dependents eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• comprehensive studies on this topic in Maryland several years ago, compared to drivers with no violations, the rate
• So to increase the participation rate, the bill reduces barriers by not requiring payment of a significant
• So to increase<00:04:04.959><c> the</c><00:04:05.200><c> participation</c><00:04:05.840><c> rate,</c>
• <00:04:06.239><c> the</c> increase the participation rate, the increase the participation rate, the bill

Transcript Highlights:

• Failure in the management of water systems will lead to unreasonably high rates that oppress residents
• When political action was within the city of Birmingham, you couldn't negotiate rates fairly.
• There couldn't negotiate rates fairly.
• I've never seen this body attempt to take over the power company when the rates skyrocketed beyond control
• Every issue that impacts rates should be addressed and not bamboozled by Senate Bill SB330.

Bills: SB330

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: water management, regional boards, municipal governance, ethics compliance, public utility

Transcript Highlights:

• You have the amount of premiums that they're paying for this windstorm insurance rates in the Tier 1
• was consider... the balance of expenses, especially along the coast for their accelerated windstorm rates
• Windstorm Insurance Association, commercial property insurance rates for coastal properties remain underfunded
• We will still be recaptured for sure, but also understand that we're about ready to change the M&O rate
• So, a couple of examples of what the bill does: If the school district earns an F accountability rating

Bills: SB2920 , SB2929 , SB2398 , SB865 , SB401 , SB2619 , SB2927 , SB1395 , SB1972 , SB2540 , SB1635 , SB1581 , SB2008

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• Apparatus, coupled with insufficient and stagnant reimbursement rates that have not changed over some
• However, our reimbursement rate. have stayed the same.
• Because of the current funding structure where the tourist board determines member contribution rates
• in the state, contribution rates may not exceed one-third of the total contributions.
• At the current rate, we need to train 25 new firefighters.

Bills: SB868 , SB1337 , SB1371 , SB1377 , SB1426 , SB1620 , SB2064 , SB2065 , SJR4 , SJR 4

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The limit on the rate of growth of appropriations from state taxes, also known as the tax spending limit
• that was taken this session was the LBB board, in conjunction with the comptroller, adopted a growth rate
• based on an estimated rate of growth of the Texas economy, which was adopted at 8.93%.
• Of that amount, both the House and Senate introduced bills, including $3 billion for additional rate
• It grows government at a rate that would make D.C. Democrats blush.

Bills: SB1 , HB500 , SB 1

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• These positions have historically shown high turnover rates and/or high vacancy rates, exacerbated by
• more, are you able to come back to the legislature and get rid of those positions, come back for a rate
• For, and get rid of those positions, come back for a rate adjustment, and then that may help you with
• our service to, and we want to continue to see bringing people along, but when you have a turnover rate

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met for two workshops. The first focused on vacant positions in the Division of Early Learning and the Department of Education. Committee members reviewed vacancy reports, including long-vacant positions and positions that had received discretionary pay adjustments. Division and department officials said many vacancies were being filled, advertised, or under review, but acknowledged persistent recruitment and retention problems, especially for engineering, legal, finance, IT, and other specialized roles. Members questioned whether some long-vacant positions were still necessary, whether overtime and workload were being affected, and whether outside contracting, cross-training, combining positions, or eliminating some vacancies could help. Officials said they were considering those options and noted that hiring has become slower and more difficult since the pandemic, with lower applicant volume and more competition from other agencies and private employers. The second workshop addressed draft legislation related to school choice scholarships and the FEFP. The chair said the committee’s prior hearings raised concerns about student identification numbers, cross-checking between districts and scholarship organizations, duplicated FTE reporting, delayed district payments, scholarship payment timing, and inconsistent data sources. She said the proposed language is intended to standardize scholarship processing and improve accuracy and efficiency while preserving the long-standing FEFP principle that funds follow the student. She also said funding scholarship students below the line would not solve the identified problems and could create disparities. The draft would align processing for the Family Empowerment Scholarship and Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs and would reduce add-on weights by 50% while keeping the current policy structure. No votes were taken. The chair invited further comments and said the draft budget and legislation would continue to be refined before rollout. The meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• formulas are pupil based, and special education in Minnesota uses reimbursements for calculating aids and rates
• formulas are pupil based, and special education in Minnesota uses reimbursements for calculating aids and rates
• 14.160><c> and</c> reimbursements for calculating AIDS and reimbursements for calculating AIDS and rates
• 10:15.839><c> mean</c><00:10:16.640><c> and</c><00:10:17.040><c> does</c><00:10:17.279><c> that</c> rates
• what does that mean and does that rates what does that mean and does that make<00:10:17.760><c> the<

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, we've secured an ongoing $1.8 billion increase for special education base rates.
• I wanted to comment on AB 165, which extends the current skilled nursing facility reimbursement rate
• The W-QIP is an essential component of the Medi-Cal rate for skilled nursing facilities, as it has a
• The W-QIP is an essential component of the Medi-Cal rate for skilled nursing facilities, as it has a
• Perhaps an exploration of increasing the asset test by using the inflation rate might be a way to avoid

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the final three-party agreement for the 2026-27 state budget and 19 implementing bills, including two budget bill juniors and 17 trailer bills. Committee leadership and administration officials described the budget as a balanced plan that reduces out-year structural deficits, maintains large reserves, and makes major investments in health care, education, housing, child care, public safety, and other core services while also responding to expected federal cuts and fiscal uncertainty. The Department of Finance outlined the package’s major components, including Medi-Cal adjustments, education funding increases, higher education changes, child care and human services updates, housing and homelessness funding, energy and transportation provisions, and tax and general government changes. Members asked questions about several provisions, including CSU enrollment targets and turnaround plans, the Prop. 98 settle-up mechanism, the plastics market development payment program, housing accountability measures, NextGen 9-1-1 implementation, and veteran services. Staff and administration witnesses explained that the higher education language is intended to improve campus-by-campus reporting and oversight, that Prop. 98 settle-up would be finalized later through the statutory certification process, and that NextGen 9-1-1 now includes one-time funding, quarterly reporting, an independent technical review, and a state audit. Members also discussed the HAP homelessness funding increase to $900 million and the balance between accountability and timely distribution of funds. The most extended exchange centered on comparisons between funding for veterans and Medi-Cal/immigrant health coverage. Republican members argued the budget spends far more on undocumented immigrant services than on veterans, while Democratic members and Finance staff responded that the comparison was misleading because many veterans’ services are federally funded and the state budget also includes dedicated veteran support. The chair and other members emphasized that the budget reflects difficult tradeoffs and that the package protects vulnerable populations, preserves health care access, and advances affordability. No final vote was described in the excerpt, but members indicated support for the overall package and said they would support it on the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• But eventually, looking for the lowest bidder and highest quality, we had a very low problem rate for
• skilled and trained union member skills or workforce, it will end up minimum 15% higher than market rate
• Higher than market rate building cost.
• And so that is a board minimum to have that dollars above that reserve rate of roughly 17.2.
• rate, whatever we base it on, it’s 25% or more are registered as Hispanic.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills. SB 1154 would allow community college districts to use best-value procurement for public works projects over $1 million. The author and community college supporters argued it would give colleges flexibility similar to K-12, UC, and CSU and help avoid delays and costly change orders. Contractors and electrical subcontractors opposed the bill, saying its skilled-and-trained workforce requirement and safety provisions would narrow competition and disadvantage small and nonunion firms. The bill passed the committee on a due-pass vote and was placed on call. SB 1347 would clarify that stock albuterol may be stocked in all public schools, including preschool programs. The author and a physician testified that the bill would remove confusion in existing law and improve access to emergency asthma medication for students. School nurses, respiratory care advocates, and small school districts supported the measure, and there was no opposition. The bill passed unanimously on a due-pass to the floor vote and was placed on call. SB 1222 would create a pilot program to designate a lead county office to help regions struggling with career technical education implementation. Supporters said many students remain disconnected from school and work and that the bill would spread proven regional CTE practices. Some committee members questioned whether another pilot was needed, arguing existing CTE programs need more funding and fewer new structures, while the author and sponsor said the bill would build regional capacity and share successful models. The bill passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1378 would create a California Excellence in Service Learning Designation Program to recognize schools and districts with strong service-learning programs. Supporters said it would validate existing work and encourage civic engagement, while one member raised concerns about adding more designations and workload for schools. The bill passed as amended to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1048 would create a Seal of Climate Literacy for high school students demonstrating climate science knowledge through coursework and hands-on learning. Supporters, including the Department of Education and climate education groups, said it would align students with growing clean-energy careers; some members cautioned against adding more curriculum-related seals and noted equity and implementation concerns. The bill passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. Later, SB 1101, the Higher Education Data Sharing Transparency Act, was presented. It would require CSU, community colleges, independent colleges, and request UC to notify students, faculty, and staff when their personal information is shared with federal agencies such as the Office for Civil Rights, and to limit disclosure to what is legally required. Supporters said recent federal investigations and subpoenas have created fear and a lack of transparency on campuses. Committee discussion focused on subpoena authority, constitutional limits, and whether notice should be required; one member said she would abstain because of legal concerns, while another said the bill would continue to be examined in the next committee. The transcript ends during discussion of SB 1101 before a final vote is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Primaries typically have a lower participation rate.
• I apologize I wasn't here primaries typically have a lower participation rate I think nationally state
• Can you comment about whether or not the participation rate goes up in systems that are designed like
• They don't vote at the same rates as partisans.
• The legislative approval ratings are very high in California now.

Bills: H5001

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: election day registration, voter registration, proof of residency, provisional ballot, party affiliation

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-12, H.503, an act to implement all-party state primaries. Committee leaders explained the Article 48 process and said the hearing was part of the Legislature’s review before any measure could advance toward the 2026 ballot. The hearing format included subject-matter experts, proponents, opponents, and public testimony, though this excerpt mainly covers the expert and proponent panels. The first expert, Northeastern University political scientist Costas Panagopoulos, described top-two primaries used in states such as California, Washington, Alaska, Louisiana, and Nebraska, and said the research shows only modest or mixed effects. He argued that top-two systems do not reliably reduce polarization, can weaken party gatekeeping, may increase campaign spending and incumbent advantages, and can lead to undervoting when voters do not see a preferred candidate on the ballot. In response to questions, he said turnout effects are mixed and not substantially higher overall. Katie King of the National Conference of State Legislatures then outlined different primary systems, including closed, open, top-two/top-four, nonpartisan, all-comers, and blanket primaries, and reviewed Supreme Court cases holding blanket primaries unconstitutional while upholding Washington’s top-two system. She also noted that changing primary systems would require significant voter education and administrative preparation. The proponent panel, led by Danielle Allen of the Coalition for Healthy Democracy, argued that Massachusetts has too many uncontested elections, low primary participation, and too little accountability, and that all-party primaries would give every voter a meaningful choice in a higher-turnout general election. Supporters said the proposal is tailored to Massachusetts, would keep party endorsements visible on the ballot, and could broaden competition, improve representation, and help independent and minor-party candidates. Jim Henderson, coalition counsel, said the bill is narrowly focused on state-level primaries and was drafted to fit Article 48 requirements. Other proponents, including Kevin Johnson, Kate Kavanaugh, and Spencer Reynolds, echoed that the current system overrepresents a small partisan electorate and that the reform would shift power to voters. Committee members pressed the proponents on turnout evidence, party endorsements, ballot access, the role of fusion-style cross-endorsements, the effect on polarization, and whether the change would actually improve representation or simply move party influence to an earlier stage. No votes or final committee action were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And at a 5% level, it caused that 5% level to get charged out at an extremely high rate.
• And at a 5% level, it caused that 5% level to get charged out at an extremely high rate.
• And at a 5% level, it caused that 5% level to get charged out at an extremely high rate.
• Those who are still paying into it at the old rate will get the new rate, and then that'll be in place
• will will get the new at the old rate will will get the new rate<00:40:12.640><c> and</c><00:40:12.960

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, given the current unemployment rate, it is often that most of the departments and agencies
• current unemployment rate, uh it is often<00:19:53.760><c> that</c><00:19:54.000><c> most</c><00:19:
• Well, I think the Department of Health is not unique with respect to its vacancy rate.
• We have a high vacancy rate.
• We have a high vacancy rate. Uh and I We have a high vacancy rate.

Committee: House Labor

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