Transcript Highlights:

• It's supported by ad valorem taxes. Mr.
• When we were first talking, I support the education funds.
• I mean, I'm supportive of this.
• And so that's why I'll be in support of this issue.
• I'd like to see a resolution in support of it.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee met to consider a series of temporary appropriation requests, reserve fund transfers, federal grant appropriations, and review items. Early items included a $32 million appropriation and matching reserve transfer for the Department of Education’s educational freedom account program, a $476,000 request for the State Crime Lab, and a $90,000 assessment coordination request from DFA. Members asked questions about the assessment contract costs, and the item was approved. The committee also approved a $1 ARPA return to the CDC and a Department of Human Services reallocation package that moved general revenue and positions among divisions to meet client needs. The most extensive discussion centered on a $32 million restricted reserve transfer for the educational freedom account program. Members questioned the growing number of participating students, the program’s long-term funding needs, and safeguards against improper purchases. Agency representatives said about 44,000 students were being funded, that reimbursements and marketplace purchases are reviewed, and that reporting and audit controls are in place, though not every instance of fraud can be prevented. The committee approved the transfer after discussion. Members also approved smaller cash and federal grant items, including funding for a teacher shortage data dashboard, All Kids Bike grants, crime lab outsourcing, veterans cemetery operations, and a podiatric medicine licensing investigation fund. The most contentious item was a $7 million federal Forest Legacy grant request for Central Arkansas Water and the Department of Agriculture to acquire land in the Maumelle watershed, including acreage in Perry County and Pulaski County. Members debated water quality, development pressure, property tax impacts, local support, and whether Perry County had been adequately consulted. Agency and company representatives argued the acquisition would protect drinking water, preserve forested watershed land, and support recreation, while some legislators emphasized the county’s tax and development concerns. Senator Davis moved to defer the item to the full Legislative Council and to request removal of the Perry County portion; that motion passed. The committee then reviewed the remaining items, including a Veterans Affairs pay plan request, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd note that it had bipartisan support last year, and I appreciate the support again.
• I urge your support. Further remarks?
• So I ask for your support.
• I urge your support.
• I ask support. Further remarks?

Summary: The committee first approved moving Senate Bills 5067 and 5758 from the X-file to the white sheet. It then advanced a long series of measures from the white sheet to the floor calendar, including SB 5067 on impaired driving (lowering the per se BAC threshold from 0.08 to 0.05), SJM 8002 opposing Medicare privatization, ESSB 5061 on annual prevailing wage adjustments for public works contracts, SB 5855 restricting unlawful face coverings by law enforcement, SB 5865 updating garnishment forms for variable pay schedules, and SB 5081 clarifying remote vehicle starting on streets. Also advanced were ESSB 5268 on 12 months of community custody for unlawful firearm possession, SB 5272 on school event safety and interference penalties, SCR 8406 on civic health, SB 5000 making “the Evergreen State” the official nickname, SB 5500 modernizing Working Connections Child Care reimbursement rates, ESSB 5105 addressing digitally altered sexually explicit depictions of minors, and SSB 5156 on elevator standards. Additional measures moved forward included SJM 8006 asking the state Supreme Court to reinstate and expand the limited licensed legal technician program, SB 5325 designating the Columbia Plateau cactus as the state cactus, SB 5286 creating a community partnership policing program for Medical Lake and Eastern State Hospital while recognizing the existing Lakewood/Western State Hospital partnership, and SB 5937 concerning smart access systems in residential properties under the Landlord-Tenant Act. Several members briefly explained their bills, with some noting bipartisan support, prior committee approval, or existing budget provisos. The only recorded substantive opposition came from Senator King, who said he had concerns that SB 5067 might not achieve its intended safety outcomes. Most other motions were adopted by voice vote with no further debate. The meeting ended after a brief clarification that one motion should have been to the second-and-third-reading calendar, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• support this tax fairness.
• They all deserve our support.
• Speaker, again, I do not intend to support this budget. Thank you. I intend to support this budget.
• We support equality. We support uplifting individuals.
• Where's the supporting schedules?

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you support that? Would you support that amendment? Mr. Chairman, no. There we go.
• I am in support of Bill 1803 based on both my personal experience as a veteran and navigating support
• And that you can't support it, but you could support it if something were different.
• other organizations in support as well.
• So obviously I'm supportive of it, but Mr.

Committee: House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard an extended presentation and discussion on Arizona higher education research security, focused heavily on Arizona State University’s foreign funding, international partnerships, and alleged ties to Chinese military-affiliated institutions. The presenter argued that ASU and the Arizona Board of Regents had not been transparent about foreign gifts, contracts, and research collaborations, especially those involving the Chinese “Seven Sons” universities, and said the committee would pursue a congressional referral and other federal review. A strike-everything amendment to SB 1060 was described but then withdrawn; the underlying SB 1327 was then taken up as a companion measure requiring ABOR to adopt university research security policies and submit annual reports on those policies and on foreign contributions over $250,000. The committee heard testimony in support from Marina Macklin, who said the bill would help protect dual-use and defense-relevant research from being funneled to China’s military ecosystem, and she answered questions about biosecurity, semiconductors, AI model theft, and election systems. After debate, SB 1327 was approved on a 4-2 vote, with Delos Santos and Marquez voting no and Colloden, Powell, and the chair voting yes; the chair stated his support was to keep missile, armor, guidance, and other technology safe from the Chinese government. The committee then heard SB 1803, a veterans’ consumer-protection bill regulating private companies that help veterans file disability claims. The bill would prohibit unaccredited persons from preparing, presenting, or prosecuting veterans’ benefits matters, require service agreements to be filed with the Attorney General, cap compensation, ban certain practices such as overseas call centers and in-house doctors, and create consumer-fraud enforcement authority. Sponsor Sen. Gallin said the measure was intended to add guardrails for veterans and prevent bad actors from taking excessive fees or misleading claimants. Testimony from Veterans Guardian representatives supported the bill as a way to create transparency and preserve veterans’ choice while regulating the industry; they said many veterans seek private help after unsuccessful attempts with free services and that the bill would not eliminate competition. Opponents and skeptical members questioned whether the bill would effectively legalize one business model while restricting others, whether the contingent-fee structure was consumer-friendly, and whether the companies were engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. The discussion also referenced prior federal and state litigation involving similar laws and the possibility of future federal accreditation reform. The transcript ends during continued questioning on SB 1803, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:30.480><c> housing</c> uh purpose of of our supportive housing uh purpose of of our supportive
• ><c> stay</c><00:04:22.760><c> housed</c> People in supportive housing stay housed People in supportive
• </c><00:04:58.880><c> what</c> million in federal funds to support what million in federal funds to support
• </c> resources is permanent supportive resources is permanent supportive housing housing housing because
• </c> heads, that people have the support heads, that people have the support needed<00:10:14.120><c>

Bills: HF3425

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: supportive housing, grants, housing assistance, funding, Minnesota Statutes, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, really important and fully supported. Thank you.
• </c> doing but in general I really support doing but in general I really support this<00:20:58.799><c
• I would urge member support of the A2. All right.
• I would urge member support of the A2. All right.
• </c> activities fund victim Services support activities fund victim Services support 911<00:50:07.000

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• sessions on the Autism Competencies Checklist for direct support professionals who provide support for
• For direct support professionals that provide support for individuals with developmental disabilities
• So DSB, is that the disability support personnel? Direct support professional.
• Any of these organizations that run day support programs—day support programs are staffed by DSPs.
• they need to support the system.

Keywords: Disability Commission, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in support, please signify by saying aye. Those opposed, nay.
• He says he stands in support of Senator Epstein's amendment.
• You were in support? I am in support. Very good. All right.
• Search and supports a Miss the following report to committee.
• It isn't just supporting law enforcement; that's hardly it.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a series of guest introductions recognizing Maricopa County Community Colleges Day at the Capitol, the Doctor of the Day, Glendale Community College leadership, and other visitors. The chamber also received a gubernatorial communication withdrawing Holly Prangman’s nomination to the State Board of Psychologist Examiners. The body then considered multiple bills in Committee of the Whole. Measures advanced included HB 2342 on planned communities/HOA-related provisions, HB 2456 on small modular reactors and energy siting, HB 2457 on power plant and transmission line siting, HB 2752 on Commerce Authority trade offices, and HB 2923 on mental health court-ordered treatment, with several floor amendments adopted. Additional bills were also advanced from later calendars, including HB 2249 on parents’ bill of rights remedies, HB 2482 on school facilities and building renewal grants, HB 2895 on Native American language instruction certification, HB 2661 and HB 2662 on family law/parenting issues, HB 2793 on annexation procedures, HB 2805 on electronic signatures and nomination petitions, HB 467 on voter registration status, HCM 2005 on foreign government property ownership, HCM 2006 on Endangered Species Act reform, HB 2641 on PFAS firefighting foam prohibition, HB 2673 on incarcerated persons and mental illness treatment, HB 2745 on legislative subpoena/contempt, HB 2763 on shooting range closure conditions, and HCM 2011 on Mexican wolf delisting. The Senate then took up third-reading votes on several measures. HB 2035 on child welfare and placement passed 17-10, with senators citing concerns about kinship care definitions and LGBTQ exclusions. HB 2109, HB 2189, HB 2244, HB 2440, HB 2594, and HB 2932 all passed by varying margins, and HCM 2007 on renaming State Route 69 also passed. HCR 2059, supporting county sheriffs, passed after debate over the “supreme constitutional authority” language, with some senators objecting to what they described as a conspiratorial framing and others defending sheriffs’ constitutional role. SB 1503 on first responders’ state death benefits passed with the required emergency and supermajority votes, and HB 2342 and HB 2456 later passed on third reading. The Senate also agreed to a free conference committee on HB 2000 and adjourned until April 16, 2026, after announcing several conference committee meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here in strong support of House Bill 2735.
• I am asking for your support on this amendment.
• It's not something that I can support.
• I will be supporting the bill here in committee.
• Asking for your support for this bill today.

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2735, the “Troxel 2” bill relating to establishing a constitutional floor in family law cases. Staff explained that the bill would add legislative findings and intent to Chapter 26.09 RCW, emphasizing parental fitness, equal standing for similarly situated parents, and a duty to cooperate. The prime sponsor and public testifiers largely supported the bill, arguing that family courts too often restrict fit parents’ access to children without sufficient due process and that the bill would restore constitutional protections and reduce conflict. Some testimony also framed the proposal as a way to improve child safety, stability, and outcomes. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then moved into executive session on multiple bills. It advanced bills on garnishment forms (ESSB 5865), child hearsay/testimony rules (SSB 5169, amended), immigration-enforcement policies for health care and related facilities (ESSB 5906, amended), compensation claims for wrongly convicted persons (SSB 5520), reinstating the Indigent Defense Task Force (ESSB 5912), preserving streamlined administrative and land-use review procedures (SSB 6009), authorizing court security threat assessments (ESSB 6086), adding superior court judges in Skagit and Yakima counties (SB 5868), requesting reinstatement of the limited license legal technician program (SJM 8006), expanding personality rights to digital likenesses (SSB 5886), and liability protections for certain children’s item donations, including car seats (ESSB 6087). Several bills were amended before passage out of committee. Votes were recorded on each measure, with most passing on strong bipartisan margins. Notable split votes occurred on SSB 5169 and ESSB 5906, reflecting concerns about balancing child protection, due process, and immigration-related enforcement issues. The committee concluded by thanking staff and adjourned after reporting all listed executive-session bills out of committee with do pass recommendations, some as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I really appreciate this chance to speak in support of Senate Bill 6052.
• Today I am in support of Senate Bill 6052.
• Please support Senate Bill 6052 to support Washington State students. Thank you. Thank you.
• I'm here to testify in support of Senate Bill 6051.
• I am with the Children's Campaign Fund Action in strong support of SB 5907.

Bills: SB6052 , SB6051 , SB5907 , SB5860 , SB5574

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: digital transcript, transcript sharing, student records, education data exchange, K-12, higher education, community colleges, universities, school districts, charter schools, state-tribal education compact schools, educational service districts, data interoperability, secure platform, student consent, FERPA, privacy, education technology, records management, transcript standard

Transcript Highlights:

• For these reasons, the Port of Vancouver supports House Bill 2179 and asks for your support.
• We directly support all our local communities in Washington State.
• Our community supports us, and that makes it viable.
• Our schools can't function without support staff.
• I urge your support for this. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee heard staff briefings and testimony on four bills. House Bill 2124, a Department of Retirement Systems request, would raise the minimum monthly pension benefit that can be paid as a lump sum from $50 to $250, with future inflation adjustments by the director; staff said it would cost about $11,000 in administrative changes and have no actuarial impact on the pension funds. House Bill 2125 would remove a biennial restriction on using pension fund interest earnings for certain administrative and compliance expenses that protect the funds; DRS said it would have no fiscal impact and would continue existing practice. Seth Miller of DRS supported both bills as efforts to reduce complexity and improve consistency across retirement systems. House Bill 2179 would create a retroactive exemption from PERS membership for certain port district employees who are instead covered by federal railroad retirement or union-sponsored defined benefit plans. Staff said audits found a small number of affected employees, with a one-time administrative cost of about $18,000, and noted possible legal concerns because retroactive changes can implicate vested retirement rights. Testimony from the Washington Public Ports Association and the Port of Ponderay supported the bill as a narrow clarification needed to avoid dual coverage and large retroactive liabilities; the Port of Vancouver also supported it as a fix for building trades workers covered by union plans. House Bill 2160 would change SEBB eligibility rules for school employees, creating a presumption of coverage on day one for returning employees who previously worked 630 hours in prior years, effectively shortening the lookback period and extending it across SEBB employers. Supporters, including substitute teachers, WEA, SEIU, and other school workers, said the bill would reduce disruptive gaps in coverage, help workers and families maintain continuous insurance, and improve recruitment and retention. Opponents, including school administrators, business officials, and school directors, argued it would be an unfunded mandate that could significantly increase district costs and administrative complexity, especially because districts would have to track hours and rebut presumptive eligibility. The Health Care Authority explained that eligibility is determined by local benefits administrators using worksheets and appeals, that the current two-year presumption was built from earlier benefit rules, and that the bill could increase costs and create issues for retirees who currently manage hours to stay below the 630-hour threshold. The committee took no votes and adjourned after public hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not qualified to support this bill.
• support.
• You know I support it.
• I'm here to testify in strong support of Bill H.F. 1913.
• I'm here to support Bill H.F. 1913. 1913.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And I ver two emotional support.
• Next up we have Christine Morrison in support. Susan Tromley in support.
• I support HR 1834 and SB 2298.
• Christine Morrison in support. Gregory Makian in support. Hello again, Greg Nakian.
• I'm not inclined to support. I'm not inclined to support.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2294, which would require condominium associations, boards, and managing agents to comply with declarations, bylaws, county ordinances, and state and federal laws, including mortgage lending requirements. The Community Associations Institute opposed the bill as redundant, arguing existing law already requires compliance and provides penalties. Supporters, including condominium owners and board members, said the measure would clarify that associations are not “self-governing” in a way that exempts them from outside laws, and cited examples where local officials or police told residents to take issues back to their boards. Several supporters said the bill would reinforce board responsibility for permits, safety, and legal compliance. The committee noted 27 pieces of testimony, with 10 in support and 17 in opposition, and then moved on without taking a vote on the measure in the transcript provided. The committee also took up SB 2298, which would require common interest community proxy forms to include additional language explaining proxy selection options. The Community Associations Institute opposed the bill, saying the proposed language was inaccurate and would not improve consumer clarity unless significantly revised. Supporters argued that proxy forms are confusing and that clearer instructions would help homeowners understand how their votes are being used. Opponents said the added language would make the forms longer and more confusing, and suggested a separate instruction sheet or other educational material instead. Testimony also raised broader concerns about proxy voting being misused in some associations, with one witness urging that proxy voting be eliminated altogether. The committee reported 29 written testimonies, including seven in support, 19 in opposition, and three with comments, and again did not record a final vote in the excerpt. For SB 2300, which would shorten condominium reserve cash-flow projections from 30 years to 25 years, the Community Associations Institute opposed the bill, saying it would not make housing more affordable, would reduce transparency, and would increase the annual burden by giving associations less time to save for long-life components. The group suggested that if affordability is the goal, lawmakers should consider allowing future loans or special assessments with guardrails. Supporters of the bill said the shorter projection period would better reflect practical budgeting and help associations plan more realistically, though some supporters also warned against relying too heavily on loans and emphasized accountability and fiduciary responsibility. Other testimony stressed that the impact of changing the projection period would vary by association and that many owners are already struggling with rising fees. The discussion remained focused on testimony and policy concerns, with no final action on SB 2300 shown in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, I'm a Family Support Center, a DDS Family Support Center, so it made perfect sense for me to be
• As a family support center, we also struggled with that in Lawrence as well.
• What the data helped us see was that even when supports exist, they're not...
• So this shift for us has been less about creating new supports and more about refining how existing supports
• There's a whole section on the IEP about community and interagency connections and support.

Summary: The Employment Subcommittee of the Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities met on April 27 and approved the prior meeting minutes. The main presentation was from the Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment (LPTE), a five-year Administration for Community Living grant focused on improving transition outcomes for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Lawrence. Presenters described the project’s community conversations, consortium model, and four work groups, with emphasis on the family-partnership work group and a survey designed to better understand family engagement, barriers, and expectations around transition planning. The survey results showed that family participation increased significantly after Lawrence Public Schools helped distribute it, rising from a small number of responses to more than 200. Key findings included barriers such as meeting times, language access, child care, and limited understanding of IEPs and transition timelines. Families generally expected college or employment outcomes for their children, but many reported limited awareness of pre-employment training and transition planning, especially for younger students. Lawrence Public Schools described its five-person transition team, bilingual resources, workshops, and a new transition website, while noting that even with added supports, engagement remained lower than hoped and requires ongoing relationship-building. Committee members asked about cultural outreach, early transition planning, college and trade pathways, summer youth employment, and how to expand real-world work experiences. Presenters said the district is trying to start transition conversations earlier, improve access to accommodations and postsecondary options, and expand employment experiences beyond simulated settings. They also noted that the LPTE resource hub will be transferred to the Arc and remain available after the grant ends in September, and that the consortium model may continue in some form. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond adjournment, and members were reminded of an upcoming meeting with Seed on Massachusetts as a model employer and a future presentation from the Office of Veterans Affairs.

Transcript Highlights:

• also supports child health care after-school initiative. ...program also supports child health care after-school
• However, insurers have long supported premium taxes to support the regulation of the insurance industry
• They support...
• Insurers have long supported premium taxes to support the regulation of the insurance industry.
• I am here to testify in support of House Bill 1974.

Bills: HB2367 , HB1974 , HB2650 , HB2626

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: coal-fired plant, preferential treatment, energy policy, electric generation, regulatory reform, land bank, land banking authority, affordable housing, housing crisis, housing supply, public corporation, public housing authority, nonprofit housing, tax-foreclosed property, blight remediation, redevelopment, anti-displacement, equity, redlining, racial segregation

Transcript Highlights:

• It supports the ABCD program and also supports the child health care after-school initiative. cost of
• also supports child health care after-school initiative. ...program also supports child health care after-school
• However, insurers have long supported premium taxes to support the regulation of the insurance industry
• They support...
• Insurers have long supported premium taxes to support the regulation of the insurance industry.

Summary: House Finance heard several bills and took no recorded votes. HB 2367 would end special tax and emissions exemptions for the Centralia coal plant by limiting its Climate Commitment Act exemption to pre-2026 emissions, removing limits on additional greenhouse gas requirements, and repealing coal sales and use tax exemptions. The sponsor, Rep. Fitzgibbon, said the bill would help keep the plant’s transition to cleaner natural gas generation on track; Climate Solutions supported it, while business and clean-energy groups raised concerns about allowance-market impacts and asked for amendments to adjust the cap-and-invest allowance budget. HB 1974 would authorize public housing authorities, public corporations, and nonprofits to operate as land banks for affordable housing, give them priority for tax-foreclosed properties, and provide property tax, leasehold excise tax, and REET exemptions for land bank transactions. Rep. Hill said the bill was narrowed to reduce fiscal impact and support existing land banking work in Spokane; supporters said it would lower land costs and speed affordable housing development, while questions focused on how public land would be used and whether affordability should be permanent rather than limited to 30 years. HB 2650, a Department of Revenue request, would standardize notice and effective dates for local REET and lodging tax changes and clarify documentation for an affordable housing sales tax deferral. DOR supported the bill as an administrative efficiency measure, and there was no opposition testimony. HB 2626 would raise the premium tax on health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements from 2% to 3%, remove a dentistry-related exemption, and add a new 1% tax on certain disability and group stop-loss insurers. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help fund Apple Health and subsidies amid federal funding concerns; insurers and business groups opposed it as a cost increase likely to be passed on to consumers and employers, while patient and advocacy groups supported the revenue idea but urged that funds be dedicated to subsidies or other health care supports and that pass-through to consumers be prevented.

Transcript Highlights:

• She says, you know, choteria is in the house, so again supporting small businesses.
• If I bring that bill back you you would be a supporter of that bill.
• We're there to help meet your constituents and help support those businesses.
• And so I think maybe the state supporting a much broader.
• So is there anything that the state could do more to support?

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, I support the bill if it moves this way, but...
• Condition is paying child support.
• The bill passed with overwhelming support. support.
• I'm testifying in support of HB 46.
• So we're in support of the conversation.

Bills: HB46 , HB272 , HB551 , HB1661 , HB2820 , HB3181 , HB4145 , HB4157 , HB46 , HB272

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: low-THC cannabis, dispensing organization, Texas Compassionate-Use Program, medical use, patient access, registration, healthcare, legislation, credit card fraud, debit card fraud, prosecution, illegal possession, state law, political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, election supplies, ballots

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is David Sines, and I'm here to testify in support of SB1961.
• I think it's an excellent piece of legislation, and we're fully supportive.
• We're here to support you.
• We're always going to support innovation, free enterprise, and free markets.
• You may begin. support of this bill. I own two businesses here in Texas.

Bills: SB1998 , SB646 , SB2786 , SB2076 , SB2615 , SB1961 , SB1418 , SB2647 , SB1322 , SB2788

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• I was a former council member and didn’t support anybody.
• Supporting these councils indifference.
• </c> Burial Council. and we happily support Burial Council. and we happily support his<00:21:32.960><
• We strongly and happily support her nomination. Thank you.
• no support, any testifying whatsoever.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs heard multiple gubernatorial nominations to island burial councils, with testimony focused on the importance of filling vacancies so the councils can reach quorum and fulfill their kuleana to protect iwi kūpuna and burial sites. For GM 674, Kavuna Khalipi was introduced as OHA’s nominee for the Molokaʻi burial council, with OHA, SHPD, and several community members testifying in support and describing her cultural grounding, community service, and experience in mālama ʻāina. Testifiers also stressed that burial councils are essential for protecting ancestral remains and that prolonged vacancies have left sacred sites vulnerable. Khalipi herself said she was honored to serve but expressed concern about accepting the appointment without quorum, saying she did not want to waste a term if the council could not function effectively. The chair explained the Senate advice-and-consent process and the consequences of inaction, and after discussion Khalipi asked to pull her nomination from the committee. The chair then deferred decision-making on GM 674 until April 10 at 1 p.m. to clarify the process and avoid unintended rejection. The committee then heard testimony on GM 676, Dane Maxwell for the Maui and Lānaʻi burial council, GM 677, Noani Parisa, GM 678, Caroline Hartman, and GM 679, Benedict Duman. Supporters, including SHPD and OHA, highlighted each nominee’s cultural knowledge, preservation work, genealogy, and experience with burial or historic preservation matters. Testimony repeatedly linked the nominations to the need for functioning burial councils, especially in light of the 2023 Maui fires and long-standing vacancies. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided; the chair indicated votes would be taken at the end of the agenda.