Transcript Highlights:

• I share your concerns. It was created seven years ago.
• I share your concerns. It was created seven years ago.
• I share your concerns. It was created seven years ago.
• I share your concerns. It was created seven years ago.
• I share your concerns. It was created seven years ago.

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on House Bill 1064, which would implement recommendations from the Fire Safety Research Institute’s Maui wildfire report, clarify the role of the State Fire Marshal, and appropriate funds. Testimony was generally supportive from DLNR, the Climate Advisory Team, the State Fire Council, Hawaiʻi Electric, the Attorney General’s office, the Honu Fire Department, AARP, the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council, and others. Governor Green’s office said it supported the bill but wanted the office of the State Fire Marshal placed under the Department of Defense rather than the governor’s office, citing constitutional and administrative concerns. Members also questioned the State Fire Council about the selection process for the fire marshal and about defensible space and wildfire resilience in different communities. After discussion, the committees deferred decision-making on HB 1064 to Friday, March 14, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 225 for the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, with the same recommendation from the other committee. The hearing then moved to House Bill 697, which would expand who may review automated speed enforcement images. HDOT supported the bill but said it would prefer funding from the Highway Special Fund or the automated speed enforcement special fund rather than general revenues. Opposition testimony from the ACLU raised privacy concerns, argued the bill blurs the line between law enforcement and infrastructure management, and said DOT staff lack the mandate and expertise for the task. Judiciary said it would need additional capacity to process citations and hearings, and noted the program’s likely workload and costs were still uncertain. The committees then took up House Bill 277 on vehicular pursuit policy. The Attorney General and the Law Enforcement Standards Board urged the committees to defer the bill and let the board develop policy first, while Hawaii County Police opposed the measure as unnecessary, confusing, and too restrictive of officer discretion. Honolulu Police Department and the Policing Project supported the bill, arguing that clearer statewide standards and transparency are needed because pursuits can cause serious injuries or deaths and existing policies are inconsistent or not public. The Policing Project said the bill could be improved with amendments on serious crimes, but supported legislative action to set statewide standards while still involving the board. No final vote or action on HB 277 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Share with us, living Lord, both our own hopes and hallelujahs, our dreams and disappointments, and the
• I'll share some of the history of this bill with you.
• And I'll I'll share some of agencies.
• And I'll I'll share some of the<00:17:33.240><c> history</c><00:17:33.600><c> of</c><00:17:33.720><c>
• And that's on the employers to share that message.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Rosato, for coming and sharing your perspective.
• ><c> shared</c><02:36:25.200><c> by</c><02:36:25.480><c> the</c><02:36:25.640><c> DOE,</c> to be shared
• </c> there isn't a mechanism for even sharing there isn't a mechanism for even sharing the<02:38:42.880
• addresses, but apparently it's only the state-identified student ID numbers that are shared.
• So, we have no way to share information because we don't collect it.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is not shared.
• That is not shared.
• </c><00:30:26.600><c> the</c> recognize the fact that we share the recognize the fact that we share the
• I never shared that. It means a lot, and the nurses were struggling.
• And unless you've been a patient, I'm glad people have been sharing it.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Health and Labor heard testimony on HB 1244, a measure relating to labor standards at health care facilities and nursing staff ratios. Committee members opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a suggested two-minute testimony limit and Zoom rules. The bill drew extensive testimony from hospitals, nursing organizations, unions, and individual nurses, with the central debate focusing on whether staffing ratios should be set by statute or left to collective bargaining and unit-level staffing decisions. Opponents included the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Straub Benioff Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kapiolani Medical Center, and Queen’s Health Systems. They argued that fixed ratios are too rigid for the changing conditions of hospital care, could worsen workforce shortages, and should be handled through labor negotiations, staffing committees, and existing agreements. Several also pointed to investments in nursing education, loan repayment, and workforce development as better solutions. Queen’s said it had recently reached an agreement with nurses after more than 40 meetings that included a staffing framework, and Kapiolani and others emphasized the need for flexibility in emergencies and specialty care. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Pride at Work Hawaii, the Hawaii Nurses Association/American Nurses Association chapter, Hawaii Nurses Association Local 50, UNAC/UHCP, and individual nurses, said unsafe staffing levels contribute to burnout, turnover, errors, and patient harm. Testifiers described chronic short staffing, emotionally and physically exhausting workloads, and situations in which nurses were responsible for too many patients at once. Supporters argued that safe ratios are necessary to protect both patients and nurses, and that collective bargaining has not been enough to ensure safe conditions statewide, especially in facilities without unions. No vote or final committee action was announced in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> there's going to have to be risk sharing there's going to have to be risk sharing involved.<00:47
• </c> only two groups you can risk share with. only two groups you can risk share with.
• Um, we have the ability to share confidential information.
• Um, we have the ability to share confidential information.
• So, the minutes I shared with you McGee.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's our shared environment.
• </c> value our our environment, our shared value our our environment, our shared spaces,<00:27:25.279
• </c> at least have a share. It's not a shift. at least have a share. It's not a shift.
• There's a shared responsibility.
• There's a shared responsibility.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• To start, I'd like to share a number. That number is 288.
• You know, we both share transportation, and we deal with planes, trains, and automobiles, and sometimes
• Riding behavior, conflicts on shared-use paths, and confusion among riders and parents about California's
• And when you think about a sidewalk, because the sidewalk is a shared pathway, like you said, somebody
• And so if you're on a shared pathway, 10 is like an appropriate speed where you can go and react.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These systems all typically share similar characteristics, and they're similar to open primaries in that
• These systems all typically share similar characteristics, and they're similar to open primaries in that
• Alaska certainly has a higher share of independents.
• Polls show that two Republicans hold a higher share of voters, while the eight Democratic challengers
• Some of this labor can be shared with a strong group of volunteers, but most of this work is done by

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-12, H.503, a proposal to implement all-party state primaries for Massachusetts state and federal elections. The committee opened with procedural remarks explaining Article 48 requirements and then heard first from two subject-matter experts. Professor Costas Panagopoulos of Northeastern University testified that top-two primary systems in other states have produced mixed results: they may modestly increase primary turnout in some cases, but the research does not show a reliable reduction in polarization, and such systems can weaken party gatekeeping, increase strategic behavior, raise campaign spending, and reduce general-election choice for voters whose preferred party is not on the ballot. Katie King of the National Conference of State Legislatures outlined the different primary models used nationwide, explained that Massachusetts currently uses an open-to-unaffiliated primary, and reviewed legal distinctions between blanket primaries and top-two systems; she noted that blanket primaries were struck down by the Supreme Court, while Washington’s top-two system was upheld because it narrows the field rather than nominating party candidates. She also said voter education and administrative preparation would be important if the system changed. The proponents’ panel, led by Danielle Allen of the Coalition for Healthy Democracy, argued that Massachusetts has chronically uncompetitive elections, low turnout, and too many uncontested races, and that all-party primaries would give every voter a meaningful choice in the first round and force candidates to appeal to a broader electorate. Allen said the proposal is designed specifically for Massachusetts and differs from other states by allowing party endorsements to appear on the ballot, which supporters said would preserve useful information while shifting control of the preliminary election from party insiders to voters. Jim Henderson, the coalition’s counsel, said the bill is narrowly tailored to state-level primaries and would amend Chapter 53 to put all voters on equal footing. Other supporters, including Kevin Johnson, Kate Kavanaugh, and Spencer Reynolds, emphasized that the reform could increase competition, reduce polarization, improve participation by independents and underrepresented voters, and create more accountability to the full electorate. Committee members pressed the witnesses on turnout, the practical effect of endorsements, whether the proposal would simply shift party influence to an earlier stage, and whether it could disadvantage minority-party or independent candidates. Senator Fattman repeatedly asked about evidence that turnout would materially increase, while Representative Peisch and others questioned whether requiring or seeking endorsements would create new barriers or pressure candidates to clear the field. Supporters responded that the system would modestly increase primary participation, that the general election would remain the decisive contest, and that endorsements would be optional and handled through party rules. No vote was taken at the hearing; the committee heard testimony and questions only.

Transcript Highlights:

• We pray that in our time together today you allow us to share different...
• We pray that in our time together today you allow us to share differences of opinions, allow us to converse
• Thank you for this opportunity to share this section of the budget.
• Thank you for this opportunity to share this section of the budget.
• Thank you, Garcia, for sharing that information.

Summary: The Senate took up the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27, with Chair Hooper and the appropriations chairs walking through the $114.5 billion budget. Major highlights included pay increases for state law enforcement, firefighters, park rangers, and correctional officers; funding for teacher salary increases and K-12 enrollment stabilization; workforce and university funding in higher education; major Medicaid, nursing home, waiver, and opioid-related investments in health and human services; corrections and prison-capacity funding; transportation, housing, and emergency management spending; and large environmental appropriations for Florida Forever, Everglades restoration, and water quality projects. Members then asked detailed questions about specific items. Senators pressed on the Hamilton Center at UF, the difference between assistant state attorney and public defender pay, declining student enrollment funding, private school scholarship vouchers, mental health funding in schools, the lack of preeminence funding, APD’s iBudget waiver wait list and provider rates, ADAP premium assistance and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, prison staffing and air conditioning, Florida Forever land-buying versus easements, SNAP and Sun Bucks funding, Hope Florida, election audit funding, and the IDD managed care program. Chairs generally explained the negotiated compromises, noted where funding was flat or omitted, and in several cases said items would be revisited next year or depended on agency implementation. Several senators used debate to praise the budget while also criticizing major policy choices. Leader Berman argued the state should have expanded Medicaid, invested more in public schools instead of vouchers, and accepted federal summer EBT funds. Other senators highlighted local wins such as Biscayne Bay restoration, Tri-Rail, housing assistance, ADAP funding, and declining enrollment support. The transcript ends with debate remarks thanking Chair Hooper for his work on the budget; no final vote is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We pray that in our time together today you allow us to share different...
• We pray that in our time together today you allow us to share differences of opinions, allow us to converse
• Thank you for this opportunity to share this section of the budget. Thank you, Senator Rouson.
• Thank you for this opportunity to share this section of the budget.
• Thank you, Senator Garcia, for sharing that information.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved to the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27. Budget chairs presented the major spending areas, describing a $114.5 billion overall budget that they said was fiscally responsible and below the prior year’s spending. Highlights included pay increases and retirement adjustments for public safety employees, education funding for K-12, higher education, health and human services, criminal justice, transportation, environmental programs, and agriculture/regulatory agencies. Members then questioned chairs on several items. In education, senators discussed K-12 declining enrollment funding, teacher salary set-asides, private school scholarship spending, mental health funding, preeminence funding for universities, the Hamilton Center at UF, and charter school PICO funding. In health and human services, questions focused on the iBudget waiver waitlist, provider rates, ADAP/HIV funding and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, KidCare, rural health funding, SNAP-related IT and error reduction efforts, and the IDD managed care program. In criminal justice, senators asked about correctional officer pay, prison staffing and infrastructure, air conditioning in prisons, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement recruitment, and court system funding. Environmental and transportation questions covered Florida Forever, water quality, state parks, water projects, housing, elections funding, and emergency management. Several specific actions and explanations were given during debate: the budget includes $8.8 million for state attorney competitive area differentials but no funding for public defender CAD requests; assistant state attorneys will start at $70,000 and assistant public defenders at $65,000; the battery disposal issue was described as a temporary study/preemption approach; and the Senate said the budget does not fund Medicaid expansion, preeminence funding, or the SunBucks Summer EBT state share. Senators also noted that some proposals discussed in committee did not make it into the final budget. The transcript ends with debate statements from members praising the budget process and Chair Hooper, while also expressing concerns about public schools, health care access, affordability, and the lack of funding for certain priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've said it before, and I've shared a lot of my deep concerns with the Inspector General, I've said
• it before and I've shared a lot of my deep concerns with the Inspector General.
• The OIG was unable to ascertain whether he shared the information with the entire selection committee
• Like, I mean, the one thing around here, I mean, I shared Ways and Means for four years and shared bonding
• One is, which I've shared, you had to regularly...

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight

Summary: The committee met to review MassDOT’s failed service plaza procurement and the Inspector General’s findings. Chair Montigny opened with a broad critique of procurement culture, conflict-of-interest risks, and the need for stronger oversight, saying the committee’s role is bipartisan and investigative and that subpoenas would be used if necessary. Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro then summarized his investigatory letter, saying MassDOT had created procedures that could have supported a fair process but did not follow them. He identified eight major problems, including inadequate conflict-of-interest disclosures, undisclosed relationships and communications with Applegreen and Suffolk Construction, violations of contact rules, inconsistent weighting of evaluation subfactors, weak documentation of scoring, unclear information-sharing with subject matter experts, live roll-call scoring that increased perceived bias, and insufficient board/committee review before approval. He recommended clearer disclosure forms, stronger training, better documentation, sealed scoring, clearer rules for internal communications, and more public board involvement. Committee members pressed the Inspector General on whether the conduct violated law, how to define and police “appearance” of conflicts, whether employees should be held accountable, and whether prior evaluators should be excluded from the new process. Shapiro said his report did not conclude that laws were violated, but that the process was seriously flawed and that accountability should be handled within agencies. He also said he would provide additional written recommendations on broader procurement standards and noted that some oversight functions may need clearer definitions and better recordkeeping across agencies and quasi-public entities. The chair and members emphasized that the problems appeared systemic rather than limited to one administration or one contract. MassDOT Interim Secretary Phil Ting and Undersecretary Jonathan Gulliver then described the new procurement approach. They said the prior process had been a failure, but that the new effort is a complete reset with no one from the prior evaluation participating. MassDOT plans to split the plazas into three geographic packages, use a design-build/public-private partnership framework, and create a P3 Commission with appointments from the governor, legislative leaders, and treasurer, plus review by the Inspector General and Attorney General. They said the new scoring will be more objective, with financial scoring set at 60% and based on a guaranteed maximum price and other mathematical measures rather than projected revenues, and that technical and financial evaluations will be separated in a double-blind process. Members signaled cautious support for the changes but continued to question whether the new structure and oversight will be enough to prevent a repeat of the earlier procurement failures.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:47.760><c> the</c><00:15:47.920><c> information</c> consent for you to share the information
• consent for you to share the information with<00:15:48.480><c> the</c><00:15:48.720><c> dispatcher.
• I do want to share that I'm originally from Minnesota.
• sharing of information because<00:31:59.600><c> of</c><00:31:59.840><c> the</c><00:32:00.000><c> fact
• You know, I do share your concerns.

Bills: HB1577 , HB1870

Committee: Senate Government Operations

Keywords: Smart911, 911, 911 Board, emergency response, public safety answering point, PSAP, next-generation 911, NG911, dispatch, dispatcher, emergency profile, safety profile, medical information, disability access, access needs, functional needs, kupuna, aging, developmental disabilities, communication access

Summary: The committee reconvened on March 19, 2026, for decision-making on measures heard earlier in the week. It first took up HB 812 on agriculture, agreeing to move it forward with amendments and a Senate draft, and then HB 2388 on public notice, which was also passed with amendments after concerns about transparency and the need for local newspaper notice on Maui were discussed. HB 1414 on procurement and HB 2469 on a regular session review working group were both deferred to March 24 for further work with the author, while HB 322 on voter registration was deferred indefinitely in favor of a Senate vehicle. The committee then heard HB 1577, which would create a statewide emergency safety profile system pilot program and working group for 911. Testimony from disability advocates, emergency medical services, and others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing benefits for people without smartphones, better sharing of medical and emergency information, and improved response in the field. Committee members and witnesses discussed whether the 911 Board already had the authority to implement the system without legislation, and the bill was not immediately acted on in the portion of the transcript provided. The final major item was HB 1870 on protected community locations. Testimony in support came from the University of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, immigrant-rights groups, public health advocates, and many individuals, while the Department of Education supported the measure but requested clarity on federal compliance and raised concerns about a 1,000-foot perimeter beyond campus. Supporters said the bill would protect sensitive locations and help immigrant families feel safe accessing schools, health care, and other services. No final vote on HB 1870 is shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 807 supports shared instructor models.
• It gives the system flexibility to, HB 807 supports shared instructor models.
• Bacala, again, I share the sentiment to some of my colleagues that I think this is important.
• Baccarat, again, I shared a sentiment to some of my Yes, thank you, Madam Chair.
• Rob Bacala, again, I share the sentiment to some of my colleagues that I think this is important.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 18, 2026, with 11 members present and adopted prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee first heard HB 649 by Rep. Brass, which would create a statewide common application portal for dual enrollment. Supporters from the Pelican Institute and the Board of Regents said the bill would simplify enrollment, reduce paperwork for counselors and families, and improve awareness of dual enrollment options. Members asked about nonparticipation by institutions and access for nontraditional students; the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up HB 807 by Rep. Brass, which would establish the Workforce Instructor Capacity Investment Program within LCTCS to help recruit and retain instructors for high-demand workforce programs. Testimony from River Parishes Community College, Dow, and the Louisiana Chemical Association described instructor shortages as a bottleneck for training workers for major industrial projects, and said employer-sharing models and apprenticeships have been successful. An amendment expanded eligibility to include LSU Eunice and Southern University at Shreveport, and the committee adopted the amendments. After debate about whether the state needed a new fund versus using existing systems, the bill was reported favorably by a 13-1 roll call vote. Next, the committee heard HB 285 by Chairman Bacala, which authorizes school boards to cooperate with banks and credit unions to operate branches in high schools as part of financial literacy programs. Bacala said the bill clarifies statutory authority, and an amendment added banks to the original credit union language. Members discussed ethics, exclusivity, student access, and whether the branches could market products; supporters from LABI and financial industry groups said the programs improve hands-on financial education. The bill was reported with amendments without objection. The committee also considered HB 28 by Rep. Owen, which adds a BESE-level appeal for certain teacher certification applicants affected by administrative or contractor errors. Owen described a case in which applicants paid for certification programs but were denied because of a mentor-signature issue, and said the amendment would require BESE or its designee to act within 30 days. Department of Education staff said the Teacher Certification Appeals Council had already granted extensions rather than outright denials in the affected cases, but the committee advanced the bill after a 9-4 roll call vote. Finally, the committee began HB 268 by Rep. Carver, which would strengthen career exposure requirements for students by tying activities more closely to high-wage, high-demand jobs and adding an annual exposure requirement in K-5; testimony emphasized early workforce awareness, and discussion focused on keeping the requirements manageable for schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• Once that memo was updated and shared out from the Philippines Ministry of Education, it aligned with
• We actually have two schools in one strip mall located right next to each other, sharing a similar space
• Thank you for sharing that.
• I shared earlier that I was a teen parent. I had my daughter when I was 16.
• So in that situation, with more licensees, you have the potential for more information sharing, more

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do, and I will follow up with the committee to share that. Any other questions?
• We do, and I will follow up with the committee to share that. Any other questions?
• He was intending to testify but had a family emergency and asked me to share some words.
• And I know there are still more, so I believe what I'm about to share is not just about my district,
• Running Start students make up a significant share of enrollment at many colleges, and when sections

Bills: SB5998

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do, and I will follow up with the committee to share that.
• We do, and I will follow up with the committee to share that. Any other questions?
• He was intending to testify but had a family emergency and asked me to share some words.
• And I know there are still more, so I believe what I'm about to share is not just about my district,
• Running Start students make up a significant share of enrollment at many colleges, and when sections

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on the Senate operating budget proposal, beginning with a staff briefing from James Kettle. He described the budget as built on relatively flat revenue after multiple forecast updates, with substantial mandatory cost growth, especially in Health Care Authority, DSHS, and DCYF. He highlighted major policy-level additions and savings, including large tort liability costs, continued support for long-term services, reductions tied to child care and K-12 items, several assumed revenue bills, and major transfers from reserves and other accounts. Kettle also noted the four-year outlook remained positive overall, with about $1 billion ending fund balance in the final year and roughly $3 billion in total reserves. A committee member asked about a diagram showing the loss of federal funds, and staff said they would follow up. Public testimony then focused first on K-12 education, where school leaders, teachers, OSPI, PTA, and rural district representatives largely opposed the proposed cuts to local effort assistance, transition to kindergarten, bus depreciation, and related school funding items. Many argued the reductions would disproportionately harm rural and property-poor districts and weaken early learning access, while several students and educators spoke in favor of career and technical education and IT Academy funding. The committee also heard support for wildfire prevention funding from the Commissioner of Public Lands, who thanked the Senate for restoring those dollars but raised concerns about recreation program reductions. Higher education testimony was mixed but generally supportive of the Senate proposal compared with the governor’s budget. Community and technical college leaders warned that the budget still shifts compensation costs to tuition and reduces Running Start funding, while university representatives from Western, Eastern, Central, WSU, and UW thanked the committee for avoiding deeper cuts. Private vocational college students and administrators urged extension of Washington College Grant eligibility for students already enrolled, and others asked to preserve IT Academy and related certification funding. In early learning, child care and advocacy groups praised the decision not to cap Working Connections Child Care but warned that child care and transition to kindergarten still bear a disproportionate share of cuts; they also requested continued support for Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Pierce County early childhood programs, including Family Connects. The hearing continued with testimony on employee compensation, mental health, and human services. State employee and retiree groups supported the budget’s COLA and wildfire funding but objected to cuts in retiree health benefits. Behavioral health and public safety advocates supported mentoring, Trueblood-related funding, crisis stabilization, and the Recovery Navigator Program, while others opposed reductions to those programs and to community-based recovery services. In human services, witnesses thanked the committee for funding victim services, child welfare supports, health homes, adult day care, community health centers, energy assistance, and disability services, while urging the committee to avoid further reductions to skilled nursing, case management, and recovery navigation. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think it's really important for the Energy Commission to just share the information here that as
• we I think it's really important for the Energy Commission to just share the information here that as
• So the state currently owns two-thirds of the shares in the company.
• In general, what they have shared is that many of these refinery sites were filled and constructed a
• Just when it comes And you even shared it's about a 2% decrease in demand.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But, you know, I guess it shares this birthday with several people, birthday day, I guess.
• I just wanted to share some exciting news as well, and I hope the chamber can join me in congratulating
• I just wanted to share some exciting news as well.
• And I would like also to ask the sponsors with me to see if they wanted to share something about this
• With me to see if they wanted to share something about this bill, Mr. Speaker?

Bills: HB111 , HB103 , HB60 , HB108 , HB120 , HB145 , HB154 , HB164 , HB291 , HJR6 , HR1 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50 , HB38 , HB47 , HB63 , HB64 , HB127 , HB165 , HB184 , HB200 , HM20 , HM51

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, offered an invocation, pledges, and a series of recognitions and guest introductions, including a memorial honoring J.B. White, a young Santa Fe basketball player killed by gun violence, and presentations for Disability Rights Awareness Day, Down syndrome advocacy, adult education and literacy, and Western New Mexico University’s 133rd birthday. Members also welcomed students, legislative fellows, and other guests, and several speakers used the announcements period to highlight community work, family milestones, and advocacy efforts. The chamber then received and referred several executive and Senate messages. Governor-authorized bills included HB 282 on school attendance enforcement and juvenile probation coordination, HB 292 creating the New Mexico Prison Rape Elimination Act, and HB 149 involving charter school facility financing; these were referred to the Judiciary or Appropriations and Finance Committees as applicable. The House also received Senate-passed bills and committee substitutes, which were referred to the appropriate House committees. In committee reports, multiple bills and memorials were adopted, including HB 4, HB 7, HB 65, HB 66, HB 80, HB 88, HB 96, HB 270, HB 280, HB 275, HB 285, HB 20, HB 166, HB 295, HM 46, HM 54, and SJR 1. On third reading, HB 38 on wheelchair insurance coverage was announced as being remanded back to the House Health and Human Services Committee for a simple amendment before returning to the floor. The main floor debate centered on HB 120, which addresses restraint and seclusion in schools. Sponsors said the bill is intended to improve student safety, clarify when intervention is allowed, require de-escalation and behavior-support training, improve documentation and parent notification, and prevent harmful or punitive practices. An amendment was adopted to replace the term “punishment” with “disciplinary action” and to add reporting to a legislative study committee. The bill then drew extended questioning about definitions, school resource officers, PBIS references, training requirements, data collection, and possible costs and liability, with sponsors emphasizing that the measure clarifies existing practice rather than imposing a specific curriculum or program.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is the state share of SNAP admin increases from 50% to 75%, at an ongoing cost of $33 million.
• The state share of SNAP benefits also increases from 0% to 10% if we have a high error rate.
• Chairman, we share your concerns with fatalities at intersections.
• I've got a few statistics here I'd like to share with you.
• I've got a few statistics here I'd like to share with you.

Summary: The committee first received a lengthy presentation from JLBC staff comparing the JLBC baseline budget with the executive proposal. Staff said the baseline shows about $577 million in available cash above statutory formulas, but that major items not included—especially tax conformity, ongoing health and school repair costs, and new federal Medicaid/SNAP administrative requirements—would significantly change the picture. The executive budget was described as about $1.1 billion larger than the JLBC baseline, driven by revenue and spending proposals including border security funding, tax conformity, higher sports betting taxes, elimination of a data center equipment exemption, short-term rental and water surcharges, SNAP administrative and error-rate costs, and several one-time items that staff argued appear ongoing. Members also discussed rising caseloads and supplementals in developmental disabilities, Medicaid/Access, and education, including concerns about declining enrollment, possible fraud in Access, and the SNAP error rate. The committee then heard and passed SB 1032, which appropriates $1.5 million from the General Fund in FY 2027 to fund the Independent Correctional Oversight Office. Testimony from the sponsor and advocates emphasized the need for independent oversight of the Department of Corrections, transparency, whistleblower reporting, and avoiding federal receivership. The bill was given a due pass recommendation on a 10-0 vote. Next, the committee considered several transportation appropriations. SB 1064, as amended, would appropriate $3 million to ADOT for improvements along West Route 66 in Flagstaff; the mayor and local planning officials testified that the corridor is congested and dangerous, with significant growth and crash history. The bill passed 7-3. SB 1059 would appropriate $9.2 million for an additional right-turn lane at SR 87 and SR 260 in Payson; supporters cited severe backups and safety concerns, and it passed 7-3. SB 1062 would appropriate $1 million for an additional left-turn lane at US 60 and Superstition Mountain Drive in Gold Canyon; supporters said the intersection is a major bottleneck and safety issue, and it passed 6-4. Finally, the committee began hearing SCR 1004, which would place on the ballot a prohibition on photo enforcement systems used by local authorities or state agencies for speeding and red-light violations. The sponsor and public testimony argued that automated enforcement is unpopular, unconstitutional, and prone to abuse, citing allegations of campaign money tied to ticket revenue and forged judicial signatures on citations. The transcript cuts off during public testimony, before any committee vote on SCR 1004 or the remaining bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Risks and liabilities are not shared among the participants.
• Again, so that risk and liabilities are not shared amongst participants.
• Risks and liabilities are not shared among the participants.
• Again, so that risk and liabilities are not shared amongst participants.
• </c> are not shared amongst participants. are not shared amongst participants.

Keywords: 926, house, all