Transcript Highlights:

• There are three mandatory requirements of the 1115 waiver: people receive medication for opioid use disorder
• This bill will stop judges from being forced to sentence people to mandatory sentences of life in prison
• believes he cannot exercise the discretion to recommend a shorter sentence for me because of the mandatory
• And you are telling me that my only comfort of him spending his life behind bars has to wait for him
• And you were telling me that my only comfort of him spending his life behind bars has to wait for him

Summary: The committee began with a Department of Corrections update focused on agency culture, staff safety, reentry, and health services. Secretary Tim Lang highlighted DOC’s “Washington Way” approach, expanded visitation reforms, safety summits, community-corrections sanction changes, education and transportation improvements, partial confinement expansion, and efforts to increase volunteer and peer-led programming. Assistant Secretaries Danielle Armbruster and David Flynn described progress on Pell Grant implementation, reentry transportation, partial confinement, behavioral health standards, HIPAA compliance, the 1115 Medicaid waiver, telehealth expansion, and budget requests for opioid use disorder treatment, close-custody capacity, and staffing relief. Members asked about veterans’ units, telehealth for substance use treatment, women’s placement on the east side, correctional industries, and firefighting training. The new Office of Correction Ombuds director, Jeremiah Bourgeois, then outlined the office’s mission and limited resources, saying he would focus on the most serious complaints and continue building accountability with DOC. He described recent OCO reports, including findings of excessive force at the women’s prison, and said DOC had agreed to implement all recommendations. He also noted a new process for referring possible criminal misconduct to DOC leadership and law enforcement. Committee members praised the DOC-OCO partnership and Bourgeois’s appointment. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5895, which would add a new basis for extraordinary medical placement when DOC cannot meet an incarcerated person’s basic medical care needs. Senator Saldana said the bill is intended to provide a compassionate, workable path for people with serious or end-of-life medical needs while maintaining public safety. Testifiers in support included family members, Disability Rights Washington, and the League of Women Voters, who said the current EMP process is too restrictive and rarely results in release. DOC testified that it supports the EMP framework but has concerns about the bill’s definition of “basic medical care.” A former DOC physician suggested extending the qualifying time period and adding “approximately” to the language. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5873, which would expand escorted leaves of absence to include reentry-focused outings and broaden the family definition for funeral or bedside visits. Senator Wilson said the bill is meant to support a “slow release” and better prepare people for community reentry. DOC supported the concept, and witnesses from public defense, DOC reentry, and Amend said escorted reentry outings are consistent with evidence-based and international correctional practices. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5945, which would limit persistent offender sentencing to convictions occurring after age 18 and require resentencing for affected people. Supporters argued the bill aligns with youth brain-development research and would address racial disparities; opponents, including prosecutors, victim advocates, and sheriffs’ representatives, said it would reopen painful cases, undermine finality, and impose costs. The hearing on that bill was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires mandatory hearings and civil penalties for infractions such as running red lights or stop
• But I'm not complaining because I am a life is our most valuable resource and how we choose to spend
• Mandatory minimum to 10 days in jail. 5 to find between 1002 $1000.
• Vehicle impounded 5 Year license revocation, mandatory installation of a bit of a ignition interlock
• Most of the speakers made a great point why we should have mandatory bodily injury insurance statewide

Transcript Highlights:

• They spend about three days doing different activities.
• We're creating mandatory continuing education, both very substantive policy changes.
• We're creating mandatory continuing education, both very substantive policy changes.

Committee: House Consent and Procedure

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard several House Resolutions authorizing use of the House chamber for youth civic and recognition programs. House Resolution 3997 would allow the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives’ CYCLE program to hold a mock legislative hearing and floor discussion on July 16; House Resolution 4061 would allow the YMCA Youth and Government program to use the chamber for mock sessions across three weekends; and House Resolutions 4062 and 4113 would reserve the chamber on April 17, 2026, for separate Glory Awards presentations involving local schools. Sponsors described each event as educational, well-supervised, and respectful of the chamber, and committee members asked brief questions about attendance and scheduling overlap. The committee then moved into executive session and voted do pass on the resolutions. HR 3997 passed 7-0, HR 4061 passed 8-0, HR 4062 passed 8-0, and HR 4113 passed 8-0. The committee also took up House Bill 1940 on consent and voted it do pass 8-0 after brief discussion about why it had not advanced elsewhere, with the sponsor noting it had repeatedly passed committee and floor consideration in prior years. House Bill 2395 drew the most discussion. One member argued it was not appropriate for the consent calendar because it made substantive policy changes and raised fiscal concerns, while the sponsor explained that the bill mainly standardizes septic system testing by replacing perk tests with soil analysis and does not create a new program. After questions about fees and the consent process, the committee voted 7-1 to do pass HB 2395 on consent, with one dissenting vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> revenues associated with the mandatory revenues associated with the mandatory break<00:53:09.760
• And yet we continue to increase the spending in all the various agencies. Mr. Chair, my...
• So that's a net spending.
• So that's a net<01:04:44.079><c> spending.
• It's not savings and net spending.

Committee: Senate Finance

Bills: SR44 , HCR1027 , SJR50 , SJR52 , SJR53 , HB1185 , HB1937 , HB2035 , HB2137 , HB2166 , HB3148 , HB3323 , HB3466 , HB3498 , HB3661 , HB3678 , HB3710 , HB3977 , HB3986 , HB4104 , HB4108 , HB4142 , HB4191 , HB4274 , HB4275 , HB4322 , HB4336 , HB4484 , HB3880 , HB1687 , HB3673 , HB1170 , HB2959 , HB3718 , HB3021 , HB3443 , HB3501 , HB4143 , HB4326 , HB2992 , HB3660 , SB171 , SB1325 , SB1980 , SB2045 , HB4422 , HB4423

Keywords: SR44, Senate Resolution 44, Teacher Appreciation Week, teachers, educators, Oklahoma educators, public schools, K-12 education, pre-K, school recognition, education resolution, appreciation week, National PTA, Eleanor Roosevelt, teacher recognition, school staff, classroom, Oklahoma Legislature, concurrent resolution, sine die adjournment

Transcript Highlights:

• teach more than 60,867,18 students enrolled in pre-K through 12th grade and whereas Oklahoma teachers spend

Bills: SR44 , HCR1027 , SJR50 , SJR52 , SJR53 , HB1185 , HB1937 , HB2035 , HB2137 , HB2166 , HB3148 , HB3323 , HB3466 , HB3498 , HB3661 , HB3678 , HB3710 , HB3977 , HB3986 , HB4104 , HB4108 , HB4142 , HB4191 , HB4274 , HB4275 , HB4322 , HB4336 , HB4484 , HB3880 , HB1687 , HB3673 , HB1170 , HB2959 , HB3718 , HB3021 , HB3443 , HB3501 , HB4143 , HB4326 , HB2992 , HB3660 , SB171 , SB1325 , SB1980 , SB2045 , HB4422 , HB4423

Keywords: SR44, Senate Resolution 44, Teacher Appreciation Week, teachers, educators, Oklahoma educators, public schools, K-12 education, pre-K, school recognition, education resolution, appreciation week, National PTA, Eleanor Roosevelt, teacher recognition, school staff, classroom, Oklahoma Legislature, concurrent resolution, sine die adjournment

Transcript Highlights:

• She wanted to spend her birthday today with her dad.

Bills: HR39 , HR40 , HR41 , HCR19 , HCR20 , HCR21 , HB2 , HB3 , HB15 , HB441 , HB976 , HB977 , HB978 , HB979 , HB980 , HB981 , HB982 , HR19 , HR20 , HR21 , HR22 , HR23 , HR24 , HR25 , HR26 , HR27 , HR28 , HR29 , HR30 , HR31 , HR32 , HR33 , HR34 , HR35 , HR36 , HR37 , HR38 , HCR15 , HCR16 , HCR17 , HCR18 , SCR10 , HB115 , HB208 , HB465 , HB964 , HB965 , HB966 , HB967 , HB968 , HB969 , HB970 , HB971 , HB972 , HB973 , HB974 , HB975 , HB474 , HB487 , HB503 , HB606 , HB633 , HB707 , HB720 , HB728 , HB733 , HB846 , HB852 , HB856 , HB868 , HB875 , HB78 , HB112 , HB148 , HB149 , HB190 , HB221 , HB346 , HB354 , HB355 , HB356 , HB358 , HB384 , HB427 , HB657 , HB675 , HB716 , HB207 , HB300 , HB331 , HB428 , HB464 , HB587 , HB618 , HB629 , HB801 , HB853 , HB891 , HB901

Keywords: St. Joseph's Day, Saint Joseph's Day, St. Joseph's Altar, Italian American, Italian heritage, Italian immigrants, Louisiana culture, New Orleans, Sicilian heritage, Catholic, Feast of Saint Joseph, cultural resolution, heritage caucus, legislative caucus, ethnic heritage, jazz history, Italian Louisiana, immigrant contributions, cultural recognition, House Resolution 40

Transcript Highlights:

• by public schools to ensure the safety of individuals with disabilities or impairments during a mandatory
• What that means for documentation after each of the mandatory drills to make sure that those accommodations
• Currently, the time a student spends in a setting or settings is used to estimate the cost to provide
• My favorite memories of high school have come from spending time with people on the squad, as they are
• The current gap between what districts are spending on special education and what they are allocating

Bills: SB568 , SCR5 , SB57 , SB1447 , SB27 , SB24 , SB 57 , SB 24 , SB 27

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance and instead shift to the auto itself, in the jurisdiction of that committee, to prevent mandatory
• I remain committed to working on issues like the mandatory additional 50% extended replacement cost and
• It also provides stronger penalties and mandatory restitution.
• The bill does include multiple mandatory coverage expansions, such as increased extended replacement
• You know, we spend so many hours, even on holidays and even on weekends.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1315, the “Drive My Car Act,” from Senator Cabaldon. The author explained that the bill was intended to address the overlap between autonomous features and human driving, with a focus on preventing software updates from disabling a purchaser’s ability to drive a vehicle they bought for that purpose. He said the bill would be redirected to the Transportation Committee and amended to remove insurance provisions. Members broadly supported the concept as a forward-looking issue, and the committee voted due pass to Transportation on a roll call vote, with the bill held on call until all members were recorded. The committee then took up SB 876, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, presented by the Insurance Commissioner and the committee chair. The bill would make a broad set of changes to disaster claims handling and coverage after declared wildfires, including stronger replacement-cost and contents coverage, higher additional living expense limits, building code upgrade coverage, faster claim payment timelines, adjuster status updates, insurer emergency response plans, and stronger penalties and restitution for unfair claims practices. Supporters, including United Policyholders, California Environmental Voters, the Los Angeles Mayor’s office, AARP California, and the Consumer Federation of California, said the measure would help wildfire survivors avoid underinsurance, delays, and repeated trauma in the claims process. Opposition came from insurance industry and related groups, including APCIA, the Personal Insurance Federation of California, the Pacific Association of Domestic Insurance Companies, the Civil Justice Association of California, and the California Building Industry Association. They argued the bill remained too broad even after amendments, would raise premiums, increase claim severity, reduce flexibility, and potentially worsen availability in an already fragile market. Committee members questioned several provisions, especially the cost and feasibility of mandatory coverage expansions and faster timelines. The commissioner and author said the bill was about disaster recovery rather than rates, that many provisions were optional or limited to declared disasters, and that any cost impacts could be reflected in future rate filings. The committee ultimately passed SB 876 as amended to Judiciary on a due pass vote, with one member absent and the bill held open briefly for additional votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we<00:26:43.040><c> spend</c><00:26:43.600><c> I</c><00:26:43.680><c> think</c><00:26:43.920>
• I think one of the the the we spend I think one of the the the biggest<00:26:45.800><c> prescription
• So, it's mandated spending that you're looking at in a structural deficit. >> Well, if it's mandated,
• , mandatory meetings on religious<01:07:08.720><c> or</c><01:07:08.800><c> political</c><01:07:09.200
• It It It's It's as mandatory meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's nothing wrong with you don't have to spend $1.2 billion, you know. Don't disagree.
• How much is the state currently spending on these types of third-party contracts?
• How much is the state currently spending on these types of third-party contracts?
• How much is the state currently spending on these types of third-party contracts?
• The reforms would not impose any mandatory timelines on it. To start over or reapply.

Transcript Highlights:

• She doesn't mind spending the 20. On the other hand, she goes to the tag agency.
• She doesn't mind spending the $23 to go to the public tag agency.
• This would be permissive if there's some costs, but it's not mandatory that the fees are...
• Permissive if there's some costs, but it's not mandatory that the fees are adjusted.
• When was it mandatory that we have Real ID? May of last year? May of '25?

Bills: HB372 , HB582 , HB593 , HB613 , HB712 , HB722 , HB732 , HB746 , HB762 , HB781 , HB845 , HB882

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Summary: The House Transportation Committee heard an update from Office of Motor Vehicles leadership, who said the agency had achieved efficiencies, was operating in the black, had improved employee morale and staffing, and expected to begin testing the driver’s license portion of its modernization project in September. Members then took up several OMV-related bills. HB 781, creating a fleet vehicle registration program, was amended to delay implementation until January 1, 2028 or until the OMV registration system is updated, and was reported with amendments. HB 712, which waives OMV fees for driver’s licenses and state IDs for homeless persons who meet eligibility requirements, drew support from homelessness advocates and some members who said it would remove a barrier to work, safety, and housing; concerns were raised about verification and workload, but the bill was amended to require the department to waive fees and to require proof of homeless status, then reported by a recorded vote. HB 372, requiring OMV public education on roundabouts, was discussed as a safety and awareness measure, but the author agreed to voluntarily defer it in favor of pursuing a resolution or other approach. The committee also advanced HB 746 on oversized trucking permits after amendments clarified a one-year moratorium on new local permit requirements while preserving existing permits, and HB 732, which would allow the OMV commissioner to waive or reduce certain fees in humanitarian cases such as hospice, was reported favorably. HB 722, providing for automatic reinstatement of driver’s licenses after payment of fees and fines except for DUI-related suspensions, was amended and reported with amendments. HB 593, increasing the maximum local service fee for certain OMV field offices, prompted debate over costs to motorists and local control; an amendment exempted Shreveport, and the bill was reported with amendments by a 9-5 vote. HB 613, adding an eagle image to indicate U.S. citizenship on licenses and IDs, was amended and reported with a recorded 8-5 vote after members questioned its practical effect and recognition outside Louisiana. The committee also heard HB 582 and HB 762 on insurance lapse fees and debt recovery, with HB 582 reported favorably after the author agreed to work with another member on a similar bill, while HB 762 was discussed as a way to avoid adding a 15% Office of Debt Recovery fee to OMV-related debts.

Transcript Highlights:

• She doesn't mind spending the $20. They can afford it, okay? That's a choice.
• She doesn't mind spending the 20. On the other hand, she goes to the tag agency.
• She doesn't mind spending the $23 to go to the public tag agency.
• Permissive if there's some costs, but it's not mandatory that the fees are adjusted.
• When was it mandatory that we have Real ID? May of last year? May of '25?

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on March 23 with a quorum and received an update from OMV leadership. Director Brian Adams and Commissioner Keith Neal said the agency has improved morale, staffing, and efficiencies, is operating in the black, and expects to begin testing the driver’s license portion of its modernization project in September. They also said the agency is working on customer service and technology upgrades. The committee then considered several OMV-related bills. HB 781, creating a fleet vehicle registration program, was amended to delay implementation until the OMV system is ready and was reported with amendments. HB 712, which waives OMV fees for driver’s licenses and state IDs for eligible homeless persons, drew extensive testimony for and against; supporters said it would remove a barrier to employment, housing, and identification, while opponents raised concerns about eligibility, fraud, and policy scope. The committee adopted amendments clarifying the waiver and verification requirements, and the bill passed on a roll call vote. HB 372, requiring OMV education on roundabouts, was discussed but voluntarily deferred in favor of a House concurrent resolution approach. HB 746, dealing with oversized trucking permits, was amended to preserve existing permits while imposing a one-year moratorium on new local permit requirements and was reported with amendments. HB 732, allowing temporary waiver of certain OMV-related debts for people in special circumstances such as hospice, was amended and reported favorably. HB 722, providing automatic reinstatement of driver’s licenses after payment of fees and fines except for DUI-related suspensions, was amended and reported with amendments. HB 593, raising the maximum service fee for certain OMV field offices, was amended to exclude Shreveport and reported 9-5. HB 613, adding a citizenship indicator to Louisiana driver’s licenses and IDs, was heavily debated over its purpose and implications but was reported 8-5. Finally, HB 582, reducing reinstatement fees for insurance lapses, was reported favorably, and HB 762, which would block referral of certain OMV debts to the Office of Debt Recovery, was taken up with testimony emphasizing the burden of added collection fees.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just very quickly, I also see that it removes mandatory commitment periods as well.
• I also see that it removes mandatory commitment periods as well. Could you speak to that?
• In 1998, the legislature imposed enhanced mandatory minimum sentencing for firearm possession.
• This is the only area of Massachusetts law in which adult mandatory minimum sentences can be required
• Subjecting someone to years of additional mandatory punishment based on something they did as a child

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The committee hearing began with opening remarks from the House and Senate chairs outlining procedures for a large public hearing with more than 100 witnesses on 64 legislative proposals. They explained time limits, rules for in-person and virtual testimony, written testimony procedures, and the committee’s reporting deadline. Testimony then moved through a series of juvenile justice, child protection, and civil liberties bills, with witnesses generally urging favorable reports or, in one case, opposing expanded juvenile court transparency and child advocate access to records. Several witnesses supported bills aimed at juvenile justice reform. Representative Hendricks backed H. 1744 to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking, citing federal findings of child labor in seafood processing and calling for stronger penalties and a ban on minors working in such facilities. Senator Gomez supported S. 1131 and S. 1121 to reduce juvenile fees, fines, restitution burdens, and bail-related costs, arguing they worsen racial and economic disparities. Senator Crean and other advocates supported S. 1051/H. 1695 to expand juvenile diversion eligibility, while multiple witnesses from juvenile justice and immigrant advocacy groups supported H. 1657/S. 1058 to expand juvenile expungement and to limit sharing juvenile fingerprints with federal authorities, describing recent ICE detentions of Chelsea students and the resulting fear in immigrant communities. Witnesses also supported H. 1918/S. 1240 to narrow the youthful offender statute, raising the minimum age and reducing mandatory adult-style penalties for youth. The committee also heard testimony on child safety and bodily autonomy bills. Middlesex District Attorney Marion Ryan supported H. 1752 to protect children left in extreme temperatures, explaining it would create civil penalties, allow emergency responders to remove children from cars without liability, and add criminal penalties when serious injury results. Representative Thurber and Senator O’Connor testified for H. 2011/S. 1227, a bill prohibiting coercion or mandates for health-related interventions, including vaccinations, and allowing legal remedies for violations. Senator Jalen supported S. 1136/H. 1847 to prevent false confessions by requiring recording of interrogations and banning deceptive tactics, and several innocence-project and legal-services witnesses described wrongful convictions tied to false confessions and coercive interrogations. Another major topic was H. 1626, which would require age verification for pornographic content and launch an education campaign about online sexual exploitation; Representative Cruz and survivor Udoz Wallace testified in support, describing nonconsensual image sharing and deepfake harms. Not all testimony was supportive. The Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed S. 1035, which would increase transparency in juvenile court proceedings, and H. 1689, which would expand the child advocate’s access to confidential juvenile records, arguing both would undermine privacy and trauma-informed protections for children and families. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the session consisted of opening remarks and public testimony on the listed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• On page seven, subsection number five is the mandatory—it's mandatory retention for third graders if.
• Mandatory retention for third graders if they’re not at the right reading level.
• So what is the, I mean, in your mind, what’s the purpose of mandatory retention?
• Mandatory retention for third graders if they're not at the right reading level.
• And then the mandatory retention.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2710, which would require the State Board of Education to create a simple A-through-F report card for every public school, charter school, and district, based on academic achievement, growth, and college/career readiness measures. Sponsor Rep. Dane Deal said the bill is intended to improve transparency for parents, keep the current testing system intact, and create a reward program for high-performing schools. Committee members raised concerns about the bill’s “moving target” provisions, the constitutionality and administration of performance bonuses, whether the grading system would oversimplify school quality, and how poverty, school size, and other demographics would be accounted for. Deal said he was open to revising timelines, bonus language, and other details with DESE and the committee. Supporters included a Louisiana education board member, who said Louisiana’s A-through-F system helped make school performance more understandable to families and was associated with major gains in NAEP rankings and reductions in the share of D/F schools. A researcher from the University of Missouri explained the state’s growth model and said growth measures are statistically designed to compare students to similar peers and are publicly available through DESE. Parent and advocacy witnesses from Missouri said families want a clear, digestible rating and that growth should be emphasized. They argued the bill would help parents make decisions and hold schools accountable. Some supporters also said the bill should be refined to ensure the letter grade is prominent and to better explain the underlying metrics. Opponents, including the Missouri State Teachers Association and other witnesses, argued that a single letter grade would oversimplify school performance, ignore factors such as poverty and staffing shortages, and create a punitive “moving target” by raising standards automatically as schools improve. They warned it could narrow curriculum, increase burnout, and lead to more administrative burden and possible litigation. Several witnesses said parents need a broader dashboard of information rather than one grade, and some questioned whether the system would fairly compare schools with very different student populations. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, there is no mandatory training for public school employees on human trafficking prevention
• Currently, there is no mandatory training for public school employees for human trafficking prevention
• They are trusted adults who spend significant time with children, observing their behavior, building
• Current law makes it mandatory that transportation must be provided to elementary school-aged children

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met and considered a wide range of education-related bills, with most measures receiving favorable reports. Early in the meeting, the committee approved CS/SB 754 on International Baccalaureate bonus funding, CS/SB 1122 on Florida Virtual School updates, and CS/SB 430 requiring public schools to adopt cardiac emergency response plans, train students and staff in CPR/AED use, and maintain accessible AEDs. Testimony on the cardiac bill came from the American Heart Association and the Florida chapter of the American College of Cardiology in support, and the chair noted a survey suggesting many districts already have AEDs in schools. The committee also approved CS/SB 1528 on educational opportunities for military children, which expands coordination and training under the interstate compact, and CS/SB 364, which would move the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys from the Department of Legal Affairs to Florida Memorial University for research and administrative support. The committee then adopted amendments and favorably reported CS/SB 1590 on educator preparation, which modernizes teacher standards and certification pathways, including updates to FEAPs, a revised teacher exam, and an alternative certification program. The SPLC testified in opposition to part of the bill, arguing that language on historical instruction and systemic racism was contradictory and could limit accurate teaching of history. The committee also approved CS/SB 1702 on education, incorporating a wireless-device-in-schools pilot and other education provisions, with support from the Florida Charter School Alliance and others. CS/SB 444 on human trafficking awareness was amended to require no-cost training for school employees and charter schools; FSU law students testified in support, emphasizing the need for school personnel to recognize trafficking indicators. The committee also approved CS/SB 650 on hazardous walking conditions, expanding transportation eligibility for students walking near limited-access facilities, though members noted the bill carried an indeterminate fiscal impact and no dedicated funding. Later, the committee favorably reported CS/SB 1102 on school readiness, which expands how disabilities can be identified for early learning services and ties additional funding to training on early identification of delays. It also approved SB 1382 on access to school readiness programs for economically disadvantaged households, revising eligibility and priority tiers to use state median income rather than federal poverty level and refining the waitlist and forecasting process. Several members recorded votes on bills they had missed during the meeting, and the committee adjourned after reporting all of the above measures favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• access to the records by the parent would cause the child any harm, then I would hope that, as the mandatory
• They're not spending their whole life in the therapist's office.
• Awards of attorney's fees can be mandatory or discretionary, but I think that this cleanup is really
• more geared towards saying that whether it is mandatory or discretionary, the court has to award these

Bills: HB368 , HB3311 , HB1734 , HB2495 , HB2716 , HB793 , HB3376 , HB2524 , HB3421 , HB3446 , HB3181

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Keywords: electronic devices, family violence, criminal prosecution, protective orders, tracking, harassment, family allowance, decedent's estate, surviving spouse, minor children, inheritance, child support, maintenance, HB 1734, Family Code, Section 155.207, suit affecting the parent-child relationship, SAPCR, continuing exclusive jurisdiction, jurisdiction transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• Make it mandatory that they move over when it's possible to move over, right?
• So, we'll spend time with that, of course. Thank you so much for being here.
• So, we'll spend time with that, of course. Thank you so much for being here.
• </c><01:49:32.639><c> the</c> told somebody you're going to spend the told somebody you're going to spend
• </c><02:08:19.920><c> jail</c> I do believe that the mandatory jail I do believe that the mandatory jail

Bills: HB1694 , HB1695 , HB1986 , HB1797 , HB1879 , HB2034

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The committee opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a two-minute oral testimony limit and that decision-making would follow after testimony. It then took up SB 20008, which would set 55 mph as the maximum speed limit on all parts of the DKI/Saddle Road highway. The bill’s introducer described it as a response to safety concerns and noted prior public opposition when the speed limit was lowered from 60 mph; the Hawaii Police Department was listed in opposition, while DOT and several individuals testified in support. No vote was taken during the portion provided. The committee next heard SB 20009, requiring new plates/tags or emblems for used motor vehicles transferred between private individuals, and SB 2026, which would require drivers approaching stationary vehicles on the shoulder or roadside to slow down and, if necessary, change lanes. The Attorney General supported SB 2026 but recommended narrowing and clarifying the language by removing references to shoulder/roadside, collision or mechanical problem, and other limiting definitions so the duty would apply more broadly and be easier to enforce; AAA and OMA also supported the measure. Members discussed the practical need for a mandatory move-over rule, especially for roadside workers and tow operators, and the committee heard concerns about enforceability on two-lane roads and in accident scenes. SB 2053 was then heard, authorizing electronic signatures on supporting documents used to transfer ownership of total-loss vehicles to insurers without notarization and requiring insurers to indemnify the finance director for claims arising from those electronic title issuances. The Hawaii Insurers Council, Copart, the City and County of Honolulu, and others supported the bill, with Copart describing it as a modernization that would reduce delays for total-loss settlements; technical amendments were requested. The committee also heard SB 2172, which would allow all-terrain vehicles to operate at night if equipped with lights and a slow-moving vehicle emblem, adjust helmet requirements, define utility terrain vehicles, and include ATVs in motor vehicle insurance law. DOT said it could support the bill only if limited to low-speed areas, and the insurance industry warned it could create a new insurance scheme; the City and County of Honolulu opposed while the Hawaii Farm Bureau and an individual supported. Finally, SB 2253 was introduced to expand first-degree negligent injury to include injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers, with DOT, county prosecutors, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office in support; Honolulu prosecutors said they would oppose a proposed amendment because they wanted the language to preserve the offense as a lesser included offense tied to negligent homicide.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:38:04.240><c> binding</c> the no fault mandatory binding the no fault mandatory binding arbitration
• </c> five-year mandatory minimum. five-year mandatory minimum. &gt;&gt; All<01:12:11.120><c> right.
• It's a mandatory really going on here. It's a mandatory penalty. penalty. penalty.
• </c> opposing mandatory criminal penalties. opposing mandatory criminal penalties.
• </c> &gt;&gt; So, honestly, I don't want to spend &gt;&gt; So, honestly, I don't want to spend another

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I should note that these appendixes are all mandatory, so that's important.
• The mandatory adoption is they're not mandatory to be used.
• And I'll probably spend more time on the financial ones.
• As Alon mentioned as well, given that we cannot spend public dollars to support ballot measures to support
• from the current limit, which is four, with the discretion to go up to nine, increasing that to mandatory

Summary: The committee held a work session on local government issues, beginning with an update from the State Building Code Council on four legislatively mandated code amendments now in CR-102 rulemaking: temporary emergency shelters, reduced minimum dwelling unit size, multiplex housing up to three stories and six units, and single-exit apartment buildings up to six stories. Council staff also described a separate embodied-carbon appendix proposal that remains under public review, with testimony both supporting and opposing it. Members asked about the rationale for some of the code limits, including the restriction on connecting multiplex buildings. The committee then heard a panel on annexations from MRSC, Pierce County, and the Association of Washington Cities. Witnesses reviewed annexation methods, including petition, election, and interlocal agreement approaches, and said larger annexations are increasingly using interlocal agreements because they can address infrastructure, revenue sharing, and public process concerns. They described barriers such as inconsistent local standards, the cost of infrastructure, referendum risk, census requirements, and the difficulty of persuading residents and local officials to support annexation. Members asked about the five-year restriction on residential zoning changes in one annexation method and whether a hearing examiner could reduce political pressure on local decision-makers. A second panel discussed subdivision reform. The Master Builders Association urged raising the short-plat threshold within urban growth areas to 30 lots as a simpler first step, citing permitting delays and added housing costs. The City of Spokane described implementation problems with recent housing laws, including uncertainty about how to review plats under HB 1110, lot-splitting administration, and added notice requirements for unit lot subdivisions. AWC said there was broad agreement that subdivision decisions should be more administrative, but public hearings remained a point of disagreement. The committee also heard from FutureWise, the Washington State Association of Counties, and Lewis County on county development regulation and enforcement, with witnesses emphasizing underfunded code enforcement, inconsistent standards between counties and cities, and the need for better coordination, incentives, and possibly stronger enforcement tools. No votes were taken; the chair said the committee would continue working on possible solutions in future sessions.