Transcript Highlights:

• established as far back as 1913 and that predate the adoption of the state fire code.
• established as far back as 1913 and that predate the adoption of the state fire code.
• established as far back as 1913 and that predate the adoption of the state fire code.
• established as far back as 1913 and that predate the adoption of the state fire code.
• Established as far back as 1913 and that predate the adoption of the state fire code.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 80, Caballero, fusion energy hubs, do pass out on an A roll call.
• SB 551, Cortese, state corrections policy, do pass out on a B roll call.
• SB 444, Hurtado, state food policy, held in committee.
• SB 55, Umberg, free state park access, held in committee.
• SB 332, Wahab, state-run utility study, held in committee.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its August 29, 2025 suspense hearing on Senate bills, with the chair emphasizing the state’s ongoing budget constraints and the need to make difficult choices among 261 bills on the suspense file. After establishing a quorum, the committee began taking action bill by bill, with many measures receiving do pass or do pass with amendments recommendations, while others were held in committee or designated as two-year bills. The chair noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later on the committee website. The hearing covered a wide range of topics, including insurance and claims data, wildfire relief and prevention, water planning, energy and utility regulation, housing and land use, health care, labor and employment, criminal justice, education, environmental policy, and election-related measures. Several bills were amended before passage, often to narrow scope, remove sections, adjust definitions, delay implementation, or clarify funding and enforcement provisions. Some notable actions included moving bills on AI regulation, transit-oriented housing, paid family leave, wildfire mapping, chemical hair relaxers, and pharmacy benefit managers, while other bills on subjects such as controlled substances, high-speed rail, and certain education or housing proposals were held. The committee also took formal roll-call votes on selected bills, with some passing on A roll calls and others on B roll calls; a number of measures were advanced with Republicans not voting. One highlighted vote was SB 79 by Senator Wiener, which passed after amendments and a recorded roll call. At the end of the hearing, the committee reported that 190 bills were moved to the Assembly Floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, concluding the suspense hearing for the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• state energy office we stand on a written<00:21:13.919><c> testimony</c><00:21:14.400><c> and</c><00
• The State Energy Office has suggested that we like this other bill, 743, more than this particular bill
• The State Energy Office has suggested that we like this other bill, 743, more than this particular bill
• The State Energy Office has suggested that we like this other bill, 743, more than this particular bill
• The State Energy Office has suggested that we like this other bill, 743, more than this particular bill

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered Senate Bills 470, 828, 730, and 1383. SB 470 would create a deferred retirement option program for police officers. The Employees Retirement System warned it could worsen the system’s $14.1 billion unfunded liability by stopping employer and employee contributions during the DROP period, and the Attorney General raised possible tax-qualified status, Internal Revenue Code, and age-discrimination concerns. Police and other supporters testified in favor, but the committees ultimately recommended deferring the bill indefinitely. SB 828 would expand workers’ compensation medical benefits for firefighters to cover an additional respiratory condition. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Hawaii Firefighters Association supported the measure, citing occupational exposure and health risks. The committees recommended passage with amendments, and the motion was adopted by both committees. SB 730, which concerns allowance on service retirements, drew support from the Department of Human Resources Development and the Department of Law Enforcement, but also comments from the Attorney General and ERS. DHRD said the bill could help recruitment and retention but requested more time to work on language with ERS, Budget and Finance, and the AG’s office. The committees postponed decision-making until Friday, February 7, at 3:15 p.m. in Conference Room 225. SB 1383, relating to fire protection, received broad support from the Governor’s office, Department of Defense, DLNR, Hawaiian Electric, and others. The committees agreed to pass it with amendments, including language suggested by the Hawaii Insurance Council on wildfire-related insurance issues and a committee report link to the Lina fire forward-looking report, phase three. The amended recommendation was adopted by both committees. Later in the meeting, the committees also heard SB 1360 and SB 1361 on ERS administrative and reporting matters, SB 340 on HLRB enforcement authority, and SB 997 on energy; SB 1360 and SB 1361 were presented as housekeeping measures, SB 340 drew disagreement between the Attorney General and HLRB over enforcement authority, and SB 997 was amended to incorporate prevailing-wage renewable energy rate language from SB 743 and then passed with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank all the LGBTQ advocates, leaders in this state and outside of this state.
• I authored the age-appropriate design code.
• York, Wisconsin, and Washington.
• . now secured by our AG and those 30 states.
• And that's why these businesses are leaving our state.

Summary: The committee heard AB 1988, which would require AI companion chatbots to respond to credible self-harm or violence-related crisis expressions by displaying the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, warning users, and pausing the chat for human review after repeated crisis signals. The author and supporters said the bill is a measured safety standard to redirect vulnerable users to human help, citing research and cases where chatbots worsened suicidal ideation or violent behavior. Support came from crisis and medical advocates, while no opposition testimony was offered. The chair and members expressed strong support, and the bill was held pending quorum before later action on the agenda. The committee then took up AB 1709, which would set a minimum age of 16 for users to create or maintain accounts on social media platforms with harmful addictive features and would create an E-Safety Advisory Commission in the Attorney General’s office. The author argued the bill targets product design, not speech, and is intended to curb compulsive features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithmic feeds while allowing safer or non-addictive platforms to remain available. Supporters, including a psychologist and the Organization for Social Media Safety, described cyberbullying, predation, compulsive use, and mental health harms; opponents, including EFF, ACLU-Cal Action, TechNet, and youth advocacy groups, warned about privacy, First Amendment, and access-to-community concerns, especially for LGBTQ youth and other marginalized groups. Committee members debated whether the bill is a ban or a delay, how age assurance would work, and whether the proposal would be effective or could push youth to less safe spaces. Several members said they would support the bill as a first step, while others raised concerns about enforceability, privacy, and constitutional issues. The author emphasized that the bill is limited to specific harmful design features, not content or general internet access, and that the new commission would monitor evolving technology and recommend future updates. No final vote was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The State of Hawaii has a bad landlord-tenant code, and this bill seeks to advocate for the tenant in
• The State of Hawaii has a bad landlord-tenant code, and this bill seeks to advocate for the tenant in
• The State of Hawaii has a bad landlord-tenant code, and this bill seeks to advocate for the tenant in
• within our state assets.
• within our state assets.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and for the state.
• and for the state.
• and for the state.
• States by eight states.
• So I cannot speak to all the states because I do not operate in those states.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on Senate Bill 1408, which would allow Missouri to raise the maximum speed limit on rural interstates from 70 to 75 miles per hour. Senator Berger, the bill sponsor, argued the change would better match neighboring states, improve traffic flow, and reflect modern vehicle safety technology. Several members supported the idea as a practical adjustment, while others questioned whether the time savings were worth the safety tradeoff, raised concerns about driver behavior, truck speed governors, road design, fuel use, and the possibility that higher posted limits would lead to even faster driving. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including a motorist advocate and some committee members, said 75 mph is common in surrounding states and worldwide, that most crashes are caused by inattention rather than speed alone, and that MoDOT should be able to set limits based on engineering and traffic conditions. Opponents included a Hazelwood police lieutenant, AAA, the Missouri Insurance Coalition, and MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger. They argued that higher speeds increase crash severity and fatalities, that Missouri’s roads and traffic volumes differ from flatter neighboring states, and that the bill could disproportionately affect young and older drivers as well as roadside workers. MoDOT said its data shows speed is a major factor in fatal crashes and cited fatality increases in Arkansas and Kansas after those states raised rural interstate limits. Committee members also debated whether the bill actually mandates 75 mph or merely authorizes MoDOT to set it where appropriate. MoDOT and AAA said any increase should be tied to engineering studies and roadway-specific analysis, while supporters argued the department already has that discretion and that the bill simply removes an outdated cap. No vote was taken in the excerpt. After closing the hearing on SB 1408, the committee moved on to House Bill 3447, a towing and recovery bill that would require more insurance for large commercial vehicles, improve notice and dispute procedures, and address abandoned vehicles; testimony on that bill began with the sponsor and representatives from the towing and trucking industries.

Transcript Highlights:

• One state, under God, one individual. Thank you. Thank you. I'll hear excuses for absent members.
• The officers who wield the judicial power of the state. state of Texas.
• That fact is a big reason why I can confidently say that the state of our judiciary is strong.
• . child, but if the state can't prove that, then why on earth would we destroy that family?
• But surely God was with our fathers, who built and sustained this beautiful state for us.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> work at nearly every campus in the state work at nearly every campus in the state so<00:14:27.480
• The way current state law works is that the state must be a pass-through for these federal funds, and
• The way current state law works is that the state must be a pass-through for these federal funds, and
• The way current state law works is that the state must be a pass-through for these federal funds, and
• That's where that 90% of funds comes into the state and passes through the state to the airports.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing and work session on House Bill 25/25A, the capital improvements budget. Representative David Mills introduced HB 25A, which makes appropriations for capital improvements for the biennium and extends certain lapses from prior appropriations, noting it is based on Governor Ayotte’s budget. The hearing then focused on requests to add or restore funding for several projects, including community college capital needs, Veterans Home ADA and safety upgrades, career and technical education renovations in Milford, and airport infrastructure funding. Shannon Reed of the Community College System of New Hampshire asked for an additional $2.6 million for IT infrastructure, critical maintenance, and energy management systems, citing failing boilers, roof work, cybersecurity needs, and a recent costly water damage incident at Lakes Region Community College. John Graham, representing the New Hampshire Veterans Home, requested $1.5 million for ADA compliance and safety improvements such as floor replacement and wider doors, saying the work would help the home before an upcoming VA inspection and protect federal funding. Lance Whitehead testified for Milford CTE, asking the committee to keep $9.9 million in the budget for a scaled-down renovation; members discussed the town’s failed vote, the need for local matching funds, and the possibility of another vote next year. Tim Thompson of Concord and Margaret Burns of NHMA urged restoration of airport matching funds, arguing that about $3.6 million in state money would leverage roughly $62 million to $65 million in federal FAA funds for safety and infrastructure projects. Trisha Lambert and Andrew Pomroy of the Bureau of Aeronautics and airport management association explained the airport program, the 12 federally funded airports, and how projects are selected through airport master plans and a capital improvement program. After public testimony, the committee closed the hearing on HB 25A. In the work session that followed, staff distributed supporting documents, including cost breakdowns and comparison sheets. The chair indicated the committee would work from the governor’s $143 million capital budget as a baseline and proposed reducing it by about $10 million, largely by removing the Milford CTE item because both towns had voted it down and would not have another vote for a year. The chair said the goal was to bring the overall budget to about $133 million and then repurpose the remaining funds through straw polls and further committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Harry is a three-time superintendent across three different states for school districts.
• finding jobs writing code because that job is dying.
• I've committed at noon today to an energy seminar, and it's not because I don't value this at all.
• We want to help think thoughtfully about that change, but take it seriously as a state and make sure
• So that expertise, as we'd be thoughtful about that as a state and how we build the appropriate path,

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first heard an informational presentation on artificial intelligence in education and workforce development. Presenters described AI as a rapidly changing tool that can support student AI literacy, help teachers with differentiation and data analysis, and operate through platforms such as chatbots and reading tutors. They also emphasized both opportunities and cautions, including concerns about screen time, overreliance on technology, and the need for human connection, especially for struggling students. Members discussed the potential for AI to change jobs and education pathways, and the presenters suggested schools and the state should thoughtfully develop safe, closed systems and prepare students for future work. The committee then considered three RS requests from Rep. Jordan Redman. RS 33434 would require daily recess for elementary students and unstructured activity time for middle school students, with at least 20 minutes and no withholding of recess for discipline; it was introduced after questions about local control and discipline. RS 33254 would define inappropriate online behavior by students directed at school employees and others, allowing school boards to investigate and discipline harmful online conduct; it was also introduced. RS 3331 would allow school boards and administrators to extend school levy cycles from the current two-year cap to as long as four years to reduce levy fatigue and improve budgeting stability; it too was introduced. The committee approved each RS for introduction by voice vote and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Harry is a three-time superintendent across three different states for school districts.
• finding jobs writing code because that job is dying.
• I've committed at noon today to an energy seminar, and it's not because I don't value this at all.
• We want to help think thoughtfully about that change, but take it seriously as a state and make sure
• So that expertise, as we'd be thoughtful about that as a state and how we build the appropriate path,

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> amendment is coded A7. amendment is coded A7.
• </c> huge costs on this state. huge costs on this state.
• </c> state. Thank you. state. Thank you.
• Right now in state statute, it's worded that state agencies or state employees are encouraged to report
• ><c> or</c> worded that uh uh state agencies uh or worded that uh uh state agencies uh or state<03:08

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If you took the states with the number, that's more bridges than any other state.
• Cones across the state.
• of the states.
• We're neutral, sir, as a state agency. State agency, yes, sir.
• Other states, and I'll pivot here a little bit, other states.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• agency has received since fiscal year 2022 to serve as a state match for energy resiliency projects.
• Chairman, so what's in the Miscellaneous Revenue Fund for energy resiliency grants is for a state match
• And then what is supplied for the state match is in that energy resiliency line at the very bottom.
• “State that energy is a national security issue.
• energy-wise.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee heard a series of budget presentations and acted on several FY 2026 and FY 2027 items. Noah Peterson reviewed the General Fund Daily Update, noting large FY 2026 supplemental actions for Medicaid and Corrections that reduced the estimated ending balance, and a FY 2027 outlook that still had room for remaining work. He also flagged several policy bills with fiscal impacts, including county jail per diem changes, a state police bill, and a health and welfare board/position bill. Janet Jessup then walked the committee through Department of Environmental Quality and Soil and Water Conservation actions. The committee approved adding four FTP for DEQ’s solid waste regulatory program and adopted related language transferring $400,000 from the hazardous waste emergency fund to support the new solid waste regulatory fund. It also approved a CREP supplemental for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission and then voted to move the commission from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Water Resources, including a corresponding reduction in Agriculture and an addition in Water Resources. The committee adopted language to align the new budget structure and approved a one-time $390,000 restoration in the Department of Water Resources to avoid reducing stream-gauging and water-monitoring services. The committee next considered the consolidation of the Office of Species Conservation and the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources into a new Office of Species, Mineral, and Energy Coordination. It approved reductions to the two existing offices and then debated competing motions for the new office. The substitute motion to cut four FTP and reduce spending more deeply failed, while the original motion to reduce two FTP and preserve more staffing for nuclear and mining coordination passed. Members and the agency administrator argued that Idaho needs a stronger “one-stop shop” for nuclear and mining projects, while others emphasized following the policy bill moving through the legislature and capturing consolidation savings. The committee also approved a DOPL budget item for replacement vehicles and IT hardware. Most motions passed with do-pass recommendations, and the committee announced it would meet again the next day; Senate Finance was noted as on hold, while House Appropriations would continue after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• agency has received since fiscal year 2022 to serve as a state match for energy resiliency projects.
• Chairman, so what's in the miscellaneous revenue fund for energy resiliency grants is for a state match
• And then what is supplied for the state match is in that energy resiliency line at the very bottom.
• “State that energy is a national security issue.
• energy-wise.

Summary: The committee received a general fund “green sheet” update from budget analyst Noah Peterson, who reviewed recent changes to the FY 2026 and FY 2027 balances, including large population-adjustment supplementals for Medicaid and Corrections and other committee actions. He also highlighted several policy bills with fiscal impacts, including county jail per diem changes, a state police-related bill, and a health and welfare board/position bill. Janet Jessup then walked the committee through several budget housekeeping items and supplemental/maintenance adjustments, beginning with the Department of Environmental Quality and a solid waste regulatory program change tied to House Bill 555. The committee approved multiple motions, including adding 4 FTP to DEQ and adopting revised language for a hazardous waste fund transfer; a FY 2026 Soil and Water Conservation Commission supplemental for the CREP program; and a major two-step reorganization moving the Soil and Water Conservation Commission from Agriculture to Water Resources. The committee also approved the related FY 2027 reductions and additions for the commission and Water Resources, including CREP funding and a one-time restoration of a rescission to preserve stream-gauging and water monitoring services. Members discussed whether those restorations should be one-time or ongoing, with some favoring one-time adjustments to preserve budget flexibility and others warning about agency stability. The committee then handled the consolidation of the Office of Species Conservation and the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources into a new Office of Species, Mineral, and Energy Coordination. It approved a reduction for the Office of Species Conservation and a reduction for OEMR, then considered competing motions for the new combined office. After extended debate over the appropriate number of FTP reductions and the importance of nuclear and mining coordination, the committee rejected a substitute motion and then rejected the original motion as well, leaving the new office budget unresolved. Finally, the committee approved the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses request for replacement vehicles and IT hardware, and adjourned with notice of upcoming budget hearings the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm State Representative Joy Garratt.
• We also help with Boy State and Girl State, where we take high school kids.
• Host annual state-tribal veterans leadership summits, rotating between tribal lands and state sites,
• How many chapters are in the state of New Mexico? The whole 110 are in the state of New Mexico? 33.
• They receive hardship energy.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in its own state or in the other states in its own state or in the other states of<01:13:40.000>
• Code to tell you where Supreme Court precedent has been said to say a state does not get the vote to
• Code to tell you where Supreme Court precedent has been said to say a state does not get the vote to
• Code to tell you where Supreme Court precedent has been said to say a state does not get the vote to
• Code to tell you where Supreme Court precedent has been said to say a state does not get the vote to

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> expungement be uh state initiated. expungement be uh state initiated.
• </c> Robert Harris, State Ethics Commission. Robert Harris, State Ethics Commission.
• Uh but we do have some state.
• </c> experts nationally and within the state. experts nationally and within the state.
• state states our fund or state &gt;&gt; can<03:42:12.720><c> I</c><03:42:12.800><c> ask</c><03:42:12.960

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs recessed briefly for a joint hearing, then reconvened and took up House Bill 2494, which would limit warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations, require officers to document arrest justification, expand citation-in-lieu-of-arrest use, and direct the Judiciary to create a standardized citation form. The chair also outlined hearing procedures and testimony time limits. Committee members later received an overview from the Policing Project about national trends in expanding citation use. Testimony was divided. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Office of the Public Defender, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and the Policing Project, argued the bill would reduce unnecessary arrests and pretrial detention, lessen jail overcrowding, save law enforcement time, and reduce harms such as job loss, housing instability, family disruption, and recidivism. They also said the bill preserves officer discretion through public-safety and flight-risk exceptions, and several supporters urged the committee to adopt a standardized citation form despite the Judiciary’s request for a delayed implementation date. Opposition came from the Department of the Attorney General, the Judiciary, county prosecutors, Honolulu Police Department, and other individuals. They argued the bill would unduly restrict law enforcement discretion, create administrative and data-processing problems, and make it harder to identify repeat or habitual offenders because of changes to citation information and fingerprinting. The Judiciary requested implementation no earlier than January 1, 2028 and said the citation form would need major changes. Opponents also warned the bill could increase litigation, suppress evidence, and not meaningfully reduce overcrowding because most jail populations are held on felony matters. The chair reported 14 testimonies in support, 21 in opposition, and one with comments; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll move on to HB 36, and this is relating to the state water code penalties.
• It adds a minimum penalty and maximum penalty per violation of the state water code, makes each day that
• Wayne Tanaka, on behalf of the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, you have our written testimony and support
• Hawaiʻi Energy State Energy Office: Aloha, good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, Senators.
• Hawaiʻi Energy State Energy Office: Aloha, good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, Senators.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several water, land, and conservation measures. HB 86, which would fund a permanent DLNR Makai Watch coordinator position, drew strong support from DLNR and community advocates. Testifiers said the coordinator is needed to connect community-based nearshore monitoring groups with government, support training and reporting, and provide stable civil-service funding instead of relying on grants and philanthropy. The committee discussed the position’s duties and cost, estimated at about $110,000 with fringe benefits, and noted broad support from organizations including Kuaʻulu, The Nature Conservancy, OHA, and others. HB 36, relating to state water code penalties, was also supported in principle by DLNR, but the agency proposed amendments to create two tiers of violations, distinguish first-time/non-harmful violations from repeat or harmful ones, and give the commission discretion on whether each day counts as a continuing violation. DLNR said the bill is intended to address egregious cases such as Red Hill while avoiding undue impact on small farmers and others without malicious intent. Testifiers from the Board of Water Supply, Lono Initiative, and others supported stronger penalties and transparency, while Earthjustice raised concerns about broader structural issues and the risk of penalties being applied unfairly. The committee then heard HB 316, which appropriates funds to continue the Green Jobs Youth Corps program. DLNR, the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, Kōkua, The Nature Conservancy, and other groups testified in support, describing the program as a workforce pipeline that places young professionals in communities, builds trust, and helps recruit future state employees. Supporters said the program has expanded capacity in watershed and reef management and has drawn extensive public backing. Finally, HB 506, funding equipment for the Oʻahu branch of DOCARE, received support from DLNR and others. DOCARE said recent recruit classes are moving through training, that the new positions will expand patrol capacity, including nighttime enforcement, and that the Oʻahu-specific funding is tied to priorities such as the Māʻili Bay herbivore rules. The committee also began hearing HB 510 on water shortage and emergency declarations. DLNR proposed limiting shortage declarations to 90 days unless extended, capping groundwater reductions at 20% for lower-priority permits, removing climate-crisis language as a standalone criterion, and moving the process into rulemaking for more public input. The Board of Water Supply supported the bill and the proposed changes, while Earthjustice urged deferral absent broader Water Commission reforms. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the chair indicated the committee would be decision-making after the hearing on items on the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think we should be rewriting the tax code that govern businesses in the state of New Jersey.
• the state budget for fiscal year 2027.
• This is not non-state resources, so it's just off budget. Yeah, non-state.
• I believe it's still Department of State. Still under the Department of State? Okay.
• Plan from the State Health Benefits Plan?

Keywords: 1146, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met on June 28, 2026 and considered a long list of budget and policy bills, reporting many of them out of committee, often with amendments. Early measures included AB 2550 on continued dependent health coverage for certain adults with disabilities, AB 4794 allowing tax data sharing with the New Jersey Innovation Authority and Secure Choice Savings Board, and AB 3381/SB 1493 updating occupational therapy licensure requirements. The committee also advanced AB 4014, creating a social media research center at a public four-year institution, though one member opposed it as unnecessary spending given existing research on social media harms. Another bill, AB 5048/SB 1281, would ban certain apparel and diaper products with intentionally added PFAS; some members opposed it over safety and cost concerns, especially for firefighter gear, but it was reported. The committee also moved AB 383, which promotes volunteerism to help FamilyCare and SNAP recipients meet eligibility requirements, and AB 4357, extending telehealth pay parity, though one member objected to parity between telehealth and in-person care. The committee then took up several energy, environmental, and housing-related bills. AB 5188, the Advanced Grid Technologies Act, was released despite opposition from some members and labor interests. AB 2524 would let dual-use solar projects participate in community solar, and AB 5236 would strengthen pediatric psychiatry and behavioral health services; both were reported. AB 5348, allowing temporary use of open-space and related funds for certain municipalities, drew sharp criticism as a diversion of preservation money to fill budget holes, but passed. AB 5280 returned unexpended county appropriations to Hudson County and authorized supplemental operating aid; it also passed despite objections about prior bidding violations. AB 5347 provided certain motor vehicle-related funding to municipalities and was reported, as was AB 5334/SB 4423, appropriating Green Acres and CBT revenues for local open space and park projects. A major portion of the meeting focused on tax and business-related bills. AB 5329 increased the child tax credit for 2026-2028, with testimony urging that the expansion be made permanent; it was reported. AB 3899, the General Contractor Licensing Act, also passed. AB 5310/SB 4406 clarified sentencing under certain circumstances and was reported. AB 5330, allowing temporary transfers in the pension system, drew testimony from NJEA warning that the State Health Benefits Program was in crisis and asking for a longer repayment period to avoid rate spikes; the bill was still reported. AB 1326 created a higher education governance and funding task force and was amended to add a Talmudic institution or theological seminary representative. Later, AB 5333/SB 4424 appropriated additional Green Acres and CBT funds for recreation and conservation projects and was reported. The committee also advanced several business and alcohol-related measures, including AB 5235 establishing the School-Based Partnership for Access and Resilience for Kids program, AB 5325 reducing business formation fees, AB 4836/SB 2368 on portable solar devices, AB 4881 establishing an advanced nuclear energy procurement program, AB 3974/SB 3183 revising renewable energy incentive and solar interconnection rules, AB 4013 creating a social media research center focused on addictive behavior, AB 5225 making temporary alcohol beverage provisions permanent, and AB 5295 revising alcoholic beverage licensing laws. The most contentious debate came on AB 4085, the Fair Price Protection Act, which would restrict “surveillance pricing” and regulate grocery pricing practices. Consumer advocates supported the bill as a protection against individualized pricing, while retailers and chambers of commerce argued the language was too broad and could undermine loyalty programs, discounts, and electronic shelf labels. Despite those objections, the committee voted to report the bill after amendments. Finally, AB 4530/SB 3739 on EV supply equipment standards was reported, and AB 5322 imposing a temporary cap on net operating loss deductions under the corporate business tax sparked strong opposition from business groups and a policy debate over whether legitimate losses and investment-related deductions should be limited; the bill was still moved out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• State your name for the record.
• I don't think that the state funds. The state funds go into the baby boxes.
• Children in this state were not doing well.
• We need those individuals to work in our state.
• I don't know how many states.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all