Transcript Highlights:

• you ⚡⚡⚡ As we have done with other nominees, this meeting this morning will provide members with the
• Infants Hospital, and Hasbro Children's Hospital all provide. in the same campus provide, and yet they're
• Before doing so, I will provide a short introduction. Mr.
• It provides essential financial support for the retired and disabled.
• I'm a high quality provider of services. to customers. I have my whole life, right?

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Social Security, Medicaid, Frank Bisignano, Elon Musk, benefit processing, office closures, public testimony, administration policies, health care, vulnerable populations

Summary: The committee meeting focused heavily on the nomination of Frank Bisignano as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, with intense discussions around the current state of Social Security and its management under the current administration. Members voiced significant concerns regarding potential changes to Social Security and Medicaid, specifically addressing issues such as office closures, delays in benefit processing, and the perceived policies from Elon Musk's association with the administration. Public testimonies highlighted fears that these changes would severely impact the accessibility of benefits for seniors and vulnerable individuals, resulting in a chaotic environment at the SSA. Members expressed a unified opposition to the notion of dismantling these critical programs, emphasizing the long-term implications on their constituents' well-being.

Transcript Highlights:

• EPA has yet to provide guidance on viable alternatives.
• What once provided an avenue for farmers to diversify their products has forced many to choose whether
• We provide food. You know, you have...
• To provide certainty, we need to continue farming.
• International trade provides us with an additional $66 a pig.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Keywords: agriculture, avian flu, bipartisan farm bill, economic challenges, poultry, dairy, specialty crops

Summary: The committee meeting focused on crucial discussions surrounding the challenges faced by the agriculture sector, particularly concerning avian flu and its impact on poultry and dairy producers. Members provided insights into the economic struggles within the industry, emphasizing the need for a new bipartisan farm bill that addresses the diverse needs of specialty crop and livestock producers. Witnesses from various agricultural sectors spoke about their experiences, illustrating the high costs, regulatory burdens, and emerging diseases that threaten their operations. The meeting underscored a commitment to exploring solutions that will help maintain market stability and ensure food security.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this was a program created to provide workers' comp benefits for the teachers.
• 00:25:15.039><c> that</c><00:25:15.279><c> we</c> entity provides some expertise that we entity provides
• </c><00:26:08.159><c> services</c> questions was it does provide services questions was it does provide
• </c> And these contracts are to provide And these contracts are to provide statewide<00:26:51.440><c>
• </c><00:27:10.880><c> rehab</c> provide assistance to vocational rehab provide assistance to vocational

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Emily Ronko from NCSL provide a very nice presentation.
• So that's what that next table of information in your packets provides.
• Being better and doing more, providing more information on a proactive basis.
• So they're going to put those survey results... ...in that area of providers.
• basic health care services, provide health screenings, and provide education on wellness.

Committee: Joint Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this because this would provide this because this would provide a<00:14:14.000><c> lot</c><00:14
• I don't think that we provide direct appropriations in other capacities.
• I don't think that we provide direct appropriations in other capacities.
• </c><00:15:56.079><c> um</c> trying to provide um trying to provide um additional<00:15:57.920><c> safety
• </c><00:16:26.839><c> direct</c> don't think that we provide direct don't think that we provide direct

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have any guardrails or a list of services that this is going to provide?
• It provides that mechanism.
• You know, this will provide stability over crisis. I think it's imperative.
• It benefits both providers and patients.
• Is there a firearms dealer willing to provide some testimony?

Bills: SB4 , SB7 , SB9 , SB17

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, medical education, salaries, graduate education, clinician pay, health sciences, education funding, faculty salary, University of New Mexico, healthcare funding, general fund, state budget, New Mexico legislation, gun control, firearm safety, dealer regulation, illegal trade, background checks, 996

Transcript Highlights:

• I provided, I hope, enough for staff and for members.
• We provide numbers to DFA.
• And so we provide that to Corrections.
• to the level of protection that other crimes provide.
• Burglary provides as opposed to the level of protection that other crimes provide.

Bills: SB100

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: burglary, aggravated burglary, dwelling, criminal law, property rights, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the second arm being quality measures for health services that we provide.
• And the second arm being quality measures for health services that we provide.
• And the second arm being quality measures for health services that we provide.
• </c><00:21:34.720><c> perspective</c> a from a provider perspective a from a provider perspective um<
• If you have a provider for so complex.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting to discuss creating a Healthcare Transparency Dashboard focused largely on Kentucky Medicaid. Members introduced themselves and described their interest in using data transparency to improve policy, access to care, and program efficiency. The co-chairs said the dashboard should begin with a basic framework and expand over time, with a mission centered on collaboratively designing and maintaining a secure, data-driven dashboard housed with the Legislative Research Commission. Discussion focused on what should be measured and how data should be organized. Members agreed the dashboard should segment Medicaid populations rather than aggregate them, with separate attention to aged and disabled enrollees, expansion adults, and children. Suggested measures included emergency department utilization and follow-up, cancer screenings, child and adolescent well visits, adult well visits, postpartum care, newborn screenings and follow-ups, hospitalization and readmission rates, pharmacy, behavioral health, and claims data. Several members emphasized the need to include demographic and geographic information, while noting some items such as education may not be readily available in Medicaid data and that HIPAA and access issues will affect how detailed the public-facing dashboard can be. Members also discussed existing data sources and warned against duplicating work already being done by the cabinet, the Office of Data Analytics, CMS scorecards, and university Medicaid directed payment reporting. The group was encouraged to review the Medicaid and CHIP scorecard, which includes quality, administrative, and program characteristic measures, as a possible model. No formal votes were taken, but the subcommittee agreed to continue refining the mission statement, identify priority metrics, and consider benchmarking, outcomes, data-sharing, and technical platform issues before the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• , provides for certain limited liability.
• ><c> for</c> through a trusted contact, provides for through a trusted contact, provides for and<00:02
• </c> and provides for certain limited and provides for certain limited liability. liability. liability
• </c> insurance provider. insurance provider.
• Provides remedies and companions.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to walk through nonpartisan side-by-side comparisons of House File 4188, focusing on differences between House and Senate language across consumer protection, insurance, financial services, health, and technical provisions. Staff highlighted numerous Senate-only items, including rules for financial providers communicating through trusted contacts, virtual currency requirements for banks and credit unions, a prohibition on virtual currency kiosks beginning in 2026, mortgage servicing and student loan servicing changes, the Rental Home Marketplace Guarantees Act, insurance and travel-related provisions, scrap metal licensing changes, protections related to minors accessing chatbots and AI companions, and several technical or conforming repealers. Staff also noted that some provisions were identical or substantially similar between the chambers, including mortgage originator standards, student loan borrower protections, securities-related changes, unclaimed property provisions, and technical updates in the bill’s miscellaneous articles. The Senate-only health-related articles were also summarized, including repeal of the prescription drug affordability advisory council, technical changes to the reinsurance program, and a series of health insurance provisions on enrollment-growth notices, limits on officer and director salary increases under certain capital conditions, guaranteed issue rights for certain Medicare supplement enrollees, data-sharing between Commerce and Health, restrictions on using artificial intelligence alone to deny claims, reimbursement for clinical trainees, home care nursing coverage, and PBM transparency. The Senate’s telecommunications article was described as largely technical and conforming, with repeals of obsolete statutes. Staff also noted that some standalone bills had already passed and would be removed from the comparison report. Public testimony followed. Thomas Elness of AARP Minnesota supported inclusion of the cryptocurrency kiosk bill, expressed support for guaranteed issue protections for a narrow group of consumers affected by discontinued plans, and urged adoption of changes to the consumer protection restitution account, including raising the cap to $10 million per fiscal year. Representative Lee testified that the restitution account proposal should be treated as policy rather than finance because it has a zero fiscal note, and said the House would accept the Senate’s $10 million cap. Robin Rowan, representing the Minnesota Insurance and Financial Services Council and the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, urged adoption of Senate travel insurance language, requested a House-style change to lead-generation recordkeeping language, and supported a Senate provision allowing employers and insurers to coordinate notice to employees when group policies are cancelled. The Department of Commerce then responded to questions, explaining that the prescription drug affordability council would be sunset because the board already has other avenues for public input, that the reinsurance changes were technical and did not alter the prior agreement, and that the abandoned cryptocurrency provisions rely on statutory definitions of inactivity and known examples such as keys stored in safes or deposit boxes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> they tried to create a portal to provide they tried to create a portal to provide all<00:13:40.200
• You can always collect information and provide it to whoever need.
• </c><00:25:07.640><c> some</c> uh and and then, you know, provide some uh and and then, you know, provide
• </c> the intent for this table is to provide the intent for this table is to provide you<00:27:15.560
• But this is kind of provides a little bit more information.

Committee: Joint Technology

Keywords: Technology - Room 409, 5 March, 2026; 8:00 A.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> internet provider or a government unit. internet provider or a government unit.
• </c> access, the requesttor should provide access, the requesttor should provide the<00:35:18.560><c>
• They don't have the affirmative duty to provide an agreement or must provide the underlying easement
• affirmative must provide a an agreement or<00:48:14.160><c> must</c><00:48:14.480><c> provide</c><00
• Broadband<00:49:41.839><c> provider</c> Broadband provider Broadband provider are<00:49:43.599><c> excluded

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met in August with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee then reviewed several regulations, generally adopting staff-suggested amendments without objection, and heard brief explanations from agency representatives on each item. The Board of Pharmacy regulations would clarify what registered and certified pharmacy technicians may do under supervision and what certified technicians may not do, while updating registration applications. The Board of Cosmetology package included changes to executive director authority, licensure and reciprocity rules, school requirements, training hours, instructor ratios, sanitation and disease-related rules, complaint procedures, and permit terms; members asked about straight razor language and the increase in student-to-instructor ratios, and the board explained that cosmetologists are not permitted to use straight razors and that the higher ratio was intended to give schools flexibility, especially for part-time students and schools with wait lists. The Occupational Therapy emergency compact regulation added four compact rules adopted in April 2025, and Senator West raised a technical question about certification requirements under House Bill 6; the agency said it had been instructed to file the regulation as submitted. The Department for Fish and Wildlife Resources presented a package covering wildlife management area rules, a northern pintail bag limit increase, reportable disease reporting, and a repeal tied to boat registration fees. After a brief explanation of the new wildlife disease reporting rule, the agency requested and received a deferral of 301 KAR 2:031 to avoid a gap while replacement language is finalized. The Economic Development Finance Authority explained an emergency regulation for the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive Program, saying it was needed because the program had become oversubscribed and because administration was shifting to a new film office and council; members also asked about certification issues under House Bill 6, and the agency said it had filed the regulation as directed. The Department of Workplace Standards emergency PPE regulation was also discussed, with members asking about HB 6 certification language, and the agency gave the same response. The Department of Insurance regulation would create a $10,000 registration fee and a $1,000 annual licensing fee for pharmacy benefit manager licenses, with an agency amendment exempting PBMs that solely serve workers’ compensation plans. Members asked how many PBMs would be affected and why workers’ compensation PBMs were carved out; the agency said there were 70 registered PBMs total, four solely workers’ comp, and that workers’ comp rates are set by statute and could not absorb the fee. Finally, the Public Service Commission’s pole attachment regulation was summarized as a broadband-expansion measure that speeds application review, increases the number of poles allowed in a single application, and shortens dispute timelines; the commission explained it grew out of earlier legislative direction and subsequent emergency amendments, and the committee adopted the staff amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• enrollment, that provides a vision that it's going to provide housing commensurate with increases in
• housing commensurate with increases in enrollment that provides a vision that it's going to provide
• And so I think that starts to provide a timeframe on what this can look like, but we'd be happy to provide
• happy to provide more detailed information for you.
• So my priority with this bill is to provide flexibility and collaboration.

Summary: The committee heard several climate, environmental, and housing bills. AB 1425, dealing with pit dewatering near the San Joaquin River Parkway, drew extensive testimony. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect the river, groundwater, floodplain conditions, tribal and cultural resources, and public access from a proposed mining project near the river. Opponents, including Cemex, labor representatives, and industry groups, said the bill would bypass the CEQA process before it was complete, threaten jobs, and create uncertainty for an existing operation. Members questioned both sides about hydrology, blasting, dewatering, and the adequacy of the ongoing environmental review. The bill was moved, but several members expressed concern about preempting CEQA and some did not vote or voted no. AB 881, which would allow California to move forward with carbon capture and sequestration pipelines, was presented as a way to advance state climate goals and capture federal funding. Supporters, including SMUD, labor, and industry groups, said the bill would help deploy carbon capture safely and preserve jobs. Environmental justice opponents supported stronger safety direction and warned that CO2 pipelines pose serious risks and that the state should not move ahead without clearer standards. The bill received a due-pass recommendation to Appropriations. AB 1207, on the cap-and-trade allowance price ceiling and the social cost of carbon, was presented as a science-based update to California’s climate policy. The author and EDF said the bill would keep the program aligned with current economic and climate data and protect it from federal political interference. It received broad support and a due-pass recommendation. AB 1106, creating a coordinated network of air quality incident response centers, was also approved after testimony about wildfire smoke, toxic emissions, and the need for better real-time monitoring during disasters. AB 28, the Landfill Fire Safety Act, focused on the Chiquita Canyon landfill fire and related health impacts in Castaic and Val Verde; residents described serious illnesses and contamination concerns, while landfill and county representatives warned about costs and asked for more study. The committee nonetheless advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation. The committee also heard AB 357, which would speed Coastal Commission review of student and faculty housing projects, with supporters citing student homelessness and opponents urging caution but acknowledging the need for more housing; the bill was presented and discussed, with the committee emphasizing the need to balance housing production and coastal oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• With getting the proper language that addresses that and fixes that, where we provide the protection
• You addressed my concern about the public versus provider-facing information in terms of the signature
• Meadows whether, if the necessary adjustments are made so that only the provider community has access
• to the information, there would be someone within that provider community who would take on a role,
• </c><00:26:00.080><c> the</c> feeling safe and secure to provide the feeling safe and secure to provide

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:09 SB 64: 00:01:20 SB 73: 00:05:33 HB 662: 00:09:40 HB 320: 00:20:17, 958, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and first approved Senate Bill 64, as amended, on a 14-0 vote. The bill was described as a copper theft prevention measure aimed at protecting key infrastructure assets, including telecommunications and electrical highway infrastructure. Testimony in support came from Senator Brandon Storm and representatives from Charter Communications and law enforcement, who said copper theft and related vandalism are damaging fiber and other infrastructure across the state. A committee substitute was adopted before the vote. The committee then considered Senate Bill 73, relating to sexual extortion. Senator Julie Rocky Adams and Kentucky Youth Advocates testified that sextortion is a fast-growing crime against children and that the bill would make sexual extortion a felony, create civil remedies for victims, and require school-based education and resources. The bill passed 15-0 and was reported favorably for floor consideration. House Bill 662, relating to personally identifiable information, was also approved after discussion and a committee substitute. Representative John Blanton said the bill would help protect judges and certain medical review personnel from public disclosure of personal information while preserving provider access needed for appeals and communications. The Kentucky Medical Association supported the concept but stressed the need to preserve provider-facing information so doctors can conduct peer-to-peer reviews and appeals. The bill passed 15-0 with one pass vote. House Bill 320, relating to controlled substances on hospital property, was taken up for discussion only and no vote was taken. Representative Mike Klein and a St. Elizabeth nurse testified that hospitals are seeing illicit drug use and trafficking on campus and argued for a drug-free zone to protect staff, patients, and visitors. Committee members raised concerns about how the bill would apply to unconscious overdose patients, lawfully prescribed medications, emergency situations, and whether possession should be treated differently from trafficking. The chair ruled a motion out of order because the item was for discussion only, and the bill remained under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> your children this is just providing your children this is just providing transparency<00:38:23.800
• </c><00:57:18.400><c> that</c> before and so that is this provides that before and so that is this provides
• </c><01:01:26.319><c> that's</c> if they have a Prov provider that's if they have a Prov provider that's
• </c><01:01:36.880><c> um</c> wanting to get healthc care provider um wanting to get healthc care provider
• Providers are actively being educated.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met on House Bill 553, which concerns the definitions of child abuse and neglect in RSA 169-C, including psychological maltreatment and the rebuttable presumption of harm. The chair and members emphasized that the bill is intended to clarify definitions rather than create punishments, and they discussed concerns that had arisen after the bill’s earlier drafting. Representative Eimon stated his view that the bill is constitutional, citing case law, and members noted that amendment 114 would restore language refined by the prior study committee and address trauma-informed wording, especially around substance use disorder and newborns. A major portion of the discussion focused on whether the bill could be read to treat ordinary parental discipline or disagreements with a child—such as grounding, taking away car keys or a phone, or refusing gender-affirming care—as abuse or neglect. DCF Deputy Director Jen Ross explained that screeners look at the nature of the allegation and whether the parent’s conduct is likely to cause serious psychological or emotional harm; she said routine discipline or prudent parenting would not be screened in, while persistent ridiculing, terrorizing, bullying, isolating, threats, or similar conduct could qualify. She also said that denial of gender-affirming care, by itself, would not be treated as neglect, but the agency would consider the full context and any resulting harm or need for mental health care. DCF General Counsel Susan Larby added that the legislature’s earlier definition of psychological maltreatment and related policy already focus on pervasive emotionally abusive behavior, and that the bill is meant to make the statute more understandable and transparent, not to change the core neglect standard. She and other speakers said the goal is to identify serious harm and provide services, not to remove children for ordinary parental decisions. Lisa Massio of the Office of the Child Advocate said the bill and related placement language are intended to preserve family unity and fill gaps where courts have interpreted neglect too narrowly or inconsistently. Members also discussed a proposed concise analysis from Representative Maral and asked about CPSW qualifications and training; DCF said staff generally have backgrounds in human services, social work, psychology, or education and receive a 12-week Core Academy on policy, law, investigations, and family engagement. No vote was taken in the portion provided, and members indicated they wanted to continue refining the amendment before sending anything to the Office of Legislative Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the medical education fund and to provide for a source of funding, declaring an emergency and providing
• ... ...declaring an emergency and providing...
• It provides common sense solutions that allow our in-home daycare providers to continue operating safely
• Finally, it provides enforcement mechanisms.
• On the health care providers, is it the immediate health care provider? Is it the chief of staff?

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> service that they provide. service that they provide.
• </c> of providing protecting Hawaii's keiki. of providing protecting Hawaii's keiki.
• </c> Um so I think thank you for providing Um so I think thank you for providing your<01:21:09.640><c
• </c> uh I hope we can uh you know, provide uh I hope we can uh you know, provide some<01:22:54.720><c
• Chair recommends to add language that specifically provides services that provides remarks that is in

Bills: SB2908 , SB2671 , SB3085 , SB2907 , SB2353 , SB2074 , SB2360 , SB2057 , SB3251 , SB2354 , SB3001

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Keywords: permit processing, permitting reform, county permits, development permits, building permits, land use, construction delays, housing development, infrastructure development, county workforce, differential pay, salary incentive, performance bonus, recruitment and retention, expedited hiring, vacancy rates, permit backlog, government modernization, county mayor, county council

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Senate bills, with most measures drawing broad support and a few generating significant opposition or policy questions. SB 2908 SD1 and SB 2671 SD1 were taken up first; both appeared to have majority support, with SB 2908 receiving seven in support, one in opposition, and one comment, and SB 2671 receiving five in support and two comments. SB 3085 SD2, related to film industry operations, drew 11 supporters and no opposition. Georgia Skinner explained that the bill would streamline the approval timeline for productions by reducing delays tied to Land Board review, and she said DLNR supported the effort. Committee members asked about the need for the change and the relationship between the film studio, DLNR, and the approval process. The committee then discussed SB 2907 SD1, which would create an Office of Marine Affairs. Testimony was largely supportive, including from DLNR, HTDC, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, ocean industry representatives, and others. The governor’s office supported the bill’s intent but objected to placing the office within the Office of the Governor, urging instead that it be housed at HTDC. HTDC said it was willing and excited to take on the work and described ongoing stakeholder engagement. Members asked about the rationale for the placement and the long-term structure of the office. SB 2353 SD2, concerning the Aloha Stadium district and billboard/naming-rights issues, drew strong opposition overall, with four in support, 23 in opposition, and one comment. Andrew Pereira of the Stadium Authority argued the measure could generate revenue to help maintain and operate the stadium and said the district would remain self-contained; he also emphasized that the development would respect the character of the area. The committee then heard SB 2074 SD1, which had five in support and 26 in opposition; only one support testimony from the Carpenters was heard before the discussion moved on. Finally, SB 2360 SD1, an enterprise zones measure, received 14 supportive testimonies and two comments. Testimony focused on updating the program for modern business models, especially e-commerce and direct-to-consumer sales, while committee members questioned whether the program overlaps with higher tax burdens and whether businesses receiving subsidies should be monitored for job retention after graduation from the program.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're providing guidance. We're providing support.
• And having local providers there, they know exactly where to go.
• So anybody, whether it's a service provider, foster care, law enforcement, or a medical provider, they
• So anybody, whether it's a service provider, foster care, law enforcement, a medical provider, they can
• So anybody, whether it's a service provider, foster care, law enforcement, a medical provider, they can

Committee: Joint Protection and Victim Services Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> critical access hospitals it provides critical access hospitals it provides additional<00:12:47.560
• Or you could extend the Medicaid enhancement tax as a levy, a tax on all the other providers.
• Or you could extend the Medicaid enhancement tax as a levy, a tax on all the other providers.
• </c> services that the hospitals provide services that the hospitals provide inpatient<00:28:33.399><
• </c> outpatient revenues and other providers outpatient revenues and other providers are<00:31:27.919

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the Department of Human Services providing comments, and the Department of Taxation providing comments
• </c> support next Attorney General providing support next Attorney General providing comments<00:29:08.320
• providing providing comments<00:29:12.120><c> Department</c><00:29:12.519><c> of</c><00:29:12.720><c
• > Taxation</c> comments Department of Taxation comments Department of Taxation providing providing providing
• </c> Association are you going to provide Association are you going to provide testimony<00:48:24.760

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Health and Human Services and Judiciary meeting heard testimony on several measures, with most of the discussion focused on SB 709 and SB 955. On SB 709, relating to mental health data and related appropriations, the Department of Health supported the bill’s intent and said the funding would help maintain a data dashboard and positions, though it had no suggested amount for one blank appropriation. Members also discussed whether sections of the bill were duplicative of existing data reporting. The committees later recommended SB 709 be passed with amendments, including technical changes, deferring the date to December 31, 2050, and blanking out the appropriation for later clarification. SB 955, relating to fitness to proceed, drew mixed testimony. Judiciary opposed portions of the bill, saying some changes could have unintended practical consequences. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill’s intent but urged keeping a three-member evaluation panel rather than reducing it to two, warning that a two-panel process could create delays if a third evaluator had to be added later. A former Hawaii State Hospital clinician said the bill placed too much blame on the courts and should address institutional and administrative problems at the hospital more directly. The Department of Health supported the intent and said it appreciated efforts to address overcrowding. After discussion about examiner shortages and status hearings, the committees recommended SB 955 be passed with amendments reducing the number of qualified examiners from three to one and making related technical changes. The committee also heard SB 1228, a child welfare services measure creating a working group related to youth legal representation and child welfare reform. DHS requested adding a Child Welfare Services representative to the work group, and multiple advocates, including the National Center for Youth Law and Hawaii Youth Services Network, testified in strong support, emphasizing the need for youth voice and implementation of Malama Ohana recommendations. Members asked whether this working group overlapped with another recently passed working group bill; testimony indicated the two measures addressed different issues. The meeting then recessed and later resumed for decision-making on the 9 o’clock calendar, where SB 709 was adopted with amendments and SB 955 was adopted with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:35:36.520><c> uh</c> coordinator will help to provide uh coordinator will help to provide uh
• </c> investing in that area would provide investing in that area would provide meaningful<00:35:45.240
• </c><00:52:37.480><c> additional</c> governor then we can provide additional governor then we can provide
• <01:15:33.880><c> for</c><01:15:34.120><c> by</c> provided for by provided for by sv502<01:15:35.840>
• </c> here that the monies that is provided here that the monies that is provided that<01:42:25.520><c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The hearing covered Senate Bill 426, which would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the City and County of Honolulu, the Department of Human Services, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education, the Attorney General’s office, the Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, the University of Hawaiʻi’s early childhood educator project, and a Zoom testifier who described the importance of investing in high-quality early childhood education. Committee discussion focused on the program’s estimated cost, with figures of about $14.5 million in 2025-26 and $15 million in 2026-27, and on whether the program would require ongoing base-budget funding. The committee recommended technical, non-substantive amendments, including a statewide-concern amendment and a deferred effective date, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1622, which would appropriate funds to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute within the University of Hawaiʻi to support statewide artificial intelligence initiatives. University representatives described the proposal as the product of campus-wide input and outlined five pillars: governance and policy, outreach and engagement, research and development, workforce development, and AI tools for key sectors such as health care, creative industries, manufacturing, data science, astronomy, and climate change. Members questioned staffing distribution, tuition, enrollment timing, housing, campus placement, and whether positions would be permanent or temporary; the university said it planned about 10 positions across campuses, would start with internal resources, and would house the effort under the Vice President for Research and Innovation initially. The committees recommended an SD1 with the appropriation amounts blanked out, a July 31, 2050 effective date, and committee-report language on housing and West Oʻahu, and the higher education and labor/technology committees adopted the amended recommendation. Finally, the Higher Education Committee took up Senate Bill 1488, a housekeeping measure to consolidate existing University of Hawaiʻi conference center statutes into a single revolving fund structure, and Senate Bill 636, which would fund retention and internship coordinator positions and broader enrollment management efforts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. SB 1488 drew university support and no opposition. SB 636 prompted substantial questioning about Hilo’s declining enrollment, current retention rate of 72.8 percent, and the scope of the request, which includes not only two named positions but also about $432,000 for enrollment management initiatives such as data analysis, IT support, and other student services. Hilo said it is targeting 3 to 5 percent annual enrollment growth and that the positions would support recruitment, retention, internships, and data-driven enrollment strategy. The committee pressed for a clearer broader plan, but the discussion in the transcript ended before a final vote on SB 636 was shown.