Transcript Highlights:

• The UTP is our 10 year planning document, and it's used to define, prioritize, and assign anticipated
• The IMS will also, the inventory management system will also allow the department to track assignment
• because now when a customer goes to buy a vehicle, there will no longer be a buyer's tag that's assigned
• to the vehicle, a paper plate, a set of metal license plates will be assigned at the time of sale.
• vehicle, which would also increase the inventory amounts that dealers have so they wouldn't have to assign

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, hopefully, yeah, generally on average nationally right now, without NEPA assignment, what we're
• I don't know that I can name each one of them for each parish, but they have then a court-assigned.
• Okay, so they're court assigned. So how many can be assigned to a person? How many devices?
• Okay, so they're court assigned. So how many can be assigned to a person? How many devices?

Bills: HR170, HR191, HR206, HR207, HR208, HCR53, HCR60, HCR68, HB714, HB762, SB40, SB48, SB55, SB56, SB69, SB115, SB133, SB151, SB170, SB235, SB278, SB330, SB420, SB438, SB449, SB489

Keywords: U.S. Highway 90, US 90, Highway 90, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, DOTD, bridge removal, closed bridges, bridge demolition, transportation funding, federal appropriations, THUD appropriations, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, infrastructure, road reconstruction, evacuation route, hurricane evacuation corridor, New Orleans metro area, Mississippi Gulf Coast, public safety

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on Tuesday, May 5, and considered a long agenda of mostly transportation, public safety, and local infrastructure measures. Among the bills reported favorably were Senate Bill 420, which adds Vermilion and Iberia Parish representation to the Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway Commission; Senate Bill 69, which updates appointments to the South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission after redistricting; Senate Bill 40, which expands Louisiana’s move-over/safety protections for emergency and disabled vehicles; and House resolutions from Rep. Dickerson urging DOTD action on Highway 16 widening, turn lanes on Highway 1024, and a roundabout on Highway 1019. The committee also advanced HCR 53 creating a study committee on oversized vehicle permits, SB 438 increasing per diem for the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, SB 449 giving the New Orleans Public Belt more procurement flexibility, SB 115 allowing DOTD to assume certain federal NEPA duties to speed project delivery, and SB 489 authorizing third-party verification of vehicle insurance coverage. Members heard testimony on several safety and enforcement measures. SB 151 would flag OMV records for people who owe DNA samples under CODIS-related criminal provisions; State Police explained it would help law enforcement collect required samples and aid cold cases. SB 48 would create driver’s license reciprocity between Louisiana and Ireland, and SB 235 would clarify payment and liquidated damages rules for public contracts, with contractors and industry representatives saying it would help ensure timely payment to contractors, subs, and suppliers. SB 55 clarified that seat belts must be worn across both the lap and shoulder, and SB 278 required ignition interlock devices for DUI-related license reinstatement; committee members raised questions about due process, vehicle use, and how the devices would work, but both bills were reported favorably. Several measures drew more extensive debate. HB 762, as amended, would give OMV discretion over referring certain debts to the Office of Debt Recovery or Attorney General, and the amendment passed 14-2 after discussion about relief for drivers who cannot pay. SB 330 on school-zone automated speed enforcement received an amendment preserving existing compliant pavement markings, but a separate amendment to exempt Shreveport, Gretna, Livonia, and Westwego from the law failed on a roll call vote. HB 714, as substituted, would have created a railroad commission and required railroads to address blighted or abandoned lines, but after concerns about federal preemption, definition of blight, and whether a new commission was needed, Rep. Phelps moved to defer the bill, and the committee agreed. The meeting ended with adjournment after a brief recognition of committee staff and visitors.

Transcript Highlights:

• A caseworker is assigned and begins reviewing the report, ideally trying to... to contact the child,
• Yes, Senator, the Senate Bill 42 assigned this to HCA, and what I understand...
• She's got assigned a leadership team to focus on compliance with Kevin S, and this is one of the things
• They have a full office of CASA, and I don't believe they've been assigned a child because nothing has
• The new Office of Family Representation will have a separate attorney assigned to the parents.

Transcript Highlights:

• at doing that is Shared Administrative Services would purchase those vehicles, and then we could assign
• The way those gasoline purchases work is that each vehicle is assigned a WEX card.
• telematic software, which—I still get the alerts from the pilot—where if the vehicle isn't at the assigned

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard audit reports from Tom Bullington. For the Department of Public Safety FY24 audit, two findings were presented: a duplicate vendor payment of nearly $3,700 that was later recouped, and a $2.5 million collateral deficiency tied to bank deposits that exceeded FDIC coverage because securities were not properly pledged to the State Police. Agency representatives from Arkansas State Police and the Department of Public Safety answered questions, and members discussed how the collateral requirement works before the report was filed without objection. The committee then reviewed the Department of Transformation and Shared Services FY24 audit, which contained five findings. These included an $800 career service overpayment caused by incorrect rehire data, delayed deactivation and inaccurate listing of fixed assets including stolen cameras, a double count of more than $940,000 in year-end cash records, $10.3 million in health claims that should have been recorded as fiscal year 2024 payables, and repeated deficiencies in vehicle mileage logs. Agency officials said the stolen cameras were recovered through restitution, and they described corrective steps for asset tracking, cash reporting, and vehicle logs. Members asked detailed questions about the vehicle log issues and the planned statewide GPS/telematics rollout. Shared Administrative Services said it is negotiating a vendor contract, expects to implement the system first in its own department, and aims to use GPS, geofencing, alerts, and WEX fuel-card data to improve oversight while preserving privacy. The committee also discussed possible future vehicle sharing across agencies, but no action was taken beyond filing the report. The meeting adjourned after announcing the next meeting date.

Transcript Highlights:

• under existing authority that means because the doctors, the medical doctor, is the only person assigned
• So, it just lets the people we named, which are PAs and nurse practitioners and ... assigned physicals
• assigned physicals &gt;&gt; right &gt;&gt; right &gt;&gt; right &gt;&gt; and<00:10:28.640><c> you</c

Bills: HB146, HB276

Keywords: youthful offender, criminal justice, capital murder, public safety, victims' rights, social media, minor safety, child online safety, teen accounts, parental controls, age verification, digital privacy, online platform regulation, content moderation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General enforcement, cyber safety, mental health, youth mental health, screen time

Transcript Highlights:

• correction in previous days' journals, House and Senate bills and joint resolutions on second reading, assignment
• correction of previous days' journals, House and Senate bills and joint resolutions on second reading, assignment
• And just a reminder, if you have a bill assigned to my committee, you must make an appointment to see

Bills: HB3725, HB3260, HB3660, HB3369, HB3370, HB2937, HB3419, HB3264, HB3266, HB3267, HB3268, HB3310, HB4311, HB3841, HB3024, HB3075

Keywords: labor, e-verification, immigration, employers, employment eligibility, Department of Labor, penalties, funeral licensing, continuing education, Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, professional development, licensing requirements, HB3660, natural organic reduction, human composting, soil reduction, green burial, funeral services, cremation, burial permit

Summary: The House convened with a roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then proceeded through routine opening business. The speaker outlined the day’s order of business and the clerk noted measures considered read for the second time and referred accordingly. A large group of 14 pages was introduced, with members recognizing their academic, athletic, and extracurricular achievements and future college plans. Most of the remaining time was spent on announcements and introductions. Members highlighted committee meetings, including Insurance Committee being canceled for the week, Judicial Criminal, GenGov, Admin Rules, Public Health, and Energy-related scheduling reminders. Other announcements included a blood drive to replace canceled donor drives after snow, National School Counselor Week recognition, an Oklahoma Academy event, an OSBI Citizens Academy, and a request for members to meet with committee chairs about assigned bills. There was no substantive floor debate or vote on legislation in the transcript. The only formal action recorded was a motion by the floor leader to adjourn, and the House adjourned until Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Carroll's motion stays as is, which is to assign the bills properly. So the system is open.
• I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted and the bills be properly assigned.
• The report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted and the bills be properly assigned.
• And that the bills be properly assigned. All right, members, you've heard that motion.
• All right, we just have bill assignments left. So, you know, great day today. The all day.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the applicant's assigned student responsibility.
• </c><00:14:44.880><c> family</c> applicant's assigned family applicant's assigned family responsibility
• </c><00:14:49.440><c> student</c> the applicant's assigned student the applicant's assigned student responsibility
• The assigned responsibility for dependent students was increased from 79% to 95%.
• The<00:17:37.360><c> assigned</c><00:17:37.840><c> responsibility</c><00:17:39.120><c> for</c> The assigned

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We had specific assignments we were given to address and the notice of funding opportunity.
• We had specific assignments we process.
• We had specific assignments we were<00:04:33.360><c> given</c><00:04:34.080><c> uh</c><00:04:34.240><
• </c><00:16:08.800><c> That'll</c> officer assigned to your state.
• That'll officer assigned to your state.

Keywords: 00:00:20 - Call to Order/Roll Call 00:02:00 - Update on Rural Health Transformation Program 00:29:20 - Discussion of 26RS HB 134 00:36:35 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 134 00:37:41 - Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations 01:09:44 - Adjournment, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• automatically assigning an eligible parent<00:43:24.200><c> or</c><00:43:24.280><c> pregnant</c><00:
• Uh, it talks about automatically assigning eligible pregnant and parenting students.
• Uh<00:51:27.400><c> talks</c><00:51:27.680><c> about</c><00:51:27.920><c> assigning</c><00:51:28.960>
• <c> automatically</c> Uh talks about assigning automatically Uh talks about assigning automatically assigning
• pregnant parent- assigning eligible pregnant parent- parenting<00:51:32.040><c> students.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite patients already obtaining assignment of benefits, non-contracting providers may be excluded
• AB 1629 will end this limbo by requiring insurers to reimburse dentists with a written assignment of
• And second, AB 1629 requires plans to honor a patient's assignment of benefits request.
• Assignment of benefits is not a new concept, as the Assembly Member said.
• Assignment of benefits is not about providers.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health heard a series of bills focused on access to care, insurance coverage, and public health. AB 387 on youth sports AED access drew support from the author and safety advocates, but opposition from school, park, city, and county groups over liability, cost, and access concerns. The author said he would continue working on amendments to shift the bill toward requiring access to existing AEDs rather than mandating facility procurement. Committee members emphasized the life-saving purpose of the bill while also raising affordability and access concerns for youth sports programs. The committee also heard AB 1682, which would require health plans and insurers to cover FDA-cleared scalp cooling devices for chemotherapy patients. Supporters, including breast cancer survivors and health groups, described the emotional and quality-of-life benefits of preventing hair loss and said cost is the main barrier to access. There was no formal opposition, though one senator raised concerns about whether the mandate could exceed essential health benefits. The chair and members expressed support for the bill’s goals and said it would be taken up when quorum was established. AB 2093, a follow-up to the 988 crisis line law, sought to clarify statewide leadership, improve coordination among 988, 911, and mobile crisis teams, and create a more sustainable funding structure. Behavioral health organizations and crisis center representatives supported the bill, saying implementation challenges and demand growth require statutory fixes. Committee members generally supported the concept but noted the bill was a gut-and-amend and that additional work was needed with county and behavioral health stakeholders. The committee then heard AB 1843 on hepatitis C treatment, AB 1629 on dental assignment of benefits, AB 2540 on community college access to medication abortion services, and AB 1929 on disclosure of health plan investments. AB 1843 had broad support from medical and public health groups but opposition from health plans, which argued it conflicted with the prior-authorization framework in SB 306 and could raise drug costs. AB 1629 was supported by dental and patient advocates but opposed by dental plans and insurers over concerns about network participation and out-of-pocket costs. AB 2540 drew strong support from reproductive health advocates and student representatives, while community college health services and some others opposed or were neutral pending amendments; the author said the bill was about equity and accepted amendments to reduce burdens. AB 1929 was backed by labor and immigrant rights groups as a transparency measure, but opposed by health plans and insurers who said Covered California was not the right entity to administer the disclosures and that the information was already publicly available. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly weighed public access and transparency against cost, administrative burden, and implementation concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their stories are not here to assign blame or elicit sympathy, but they're here to remind us of what's
• Like if my 11-year-old boy, who is assigned male at birth, presents as a boy, and I'm a..."
• "If my 11-year-old boy, who is assigned male at birth, presents as a boy, and I'm the mom, and I go with
• I'm also non-binary, as I do not identify with the gender I was assigned at birth because I am intersex
• Or the Wales family from Colorado, whose middle school daughter was assigned to share a bed with a male

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills, beginning with HB 2855, which would let the Department of Labor adjust workers’ compensation administrative taxes and the second injury fund surcharge in smaller 0.1% increments instead of 0.5%. The sponsor and the department said the change would better right-size collections and reduce the burden on employers; the Missouri Chamber also supported the bill as good governance. No opposition was presented, and the hearing on HB 2855 was closed. The committee then heard extensive testimony on HB 3142, a camp-safety bill prompted by the Camp Mystic flooding tragedy in Texas and a Missouri drowning case. The sponsor and multiple grieving parents urged mandatory emergency plans, staff training, background checks, licensing, weather warnings, and clearer oversight for summer camps. Supporters included the American Camp Association and some state and youth-safety advocates, while opponents—especially camp operators, the Missouri Afterschool Network, and park and recreation representatives—argued the bill was too broad, could burden day camps and church camps, and might worsen child-care shortages. Several witnesses suggested the bill should be narrowed to distinguish overnight residential camps from lower-risk day camps and possibly be housed under DSS rather than DESE. No vote was taken. Finally, the committee took testimony on HB 1893 and HB 2075, which would require sex-segregated multi-occupancy restrooms and locker rooms in private schools and public buildings, with enforcement tied to state funding in some cases. Sponsors said the bills were meant to create clear statewide standards and protect privacy and safety; opponents argued the measures would harm transgender and intersex people, be difficult or impossible to enforce, and create safety and discrimination problems. Supporters emphasized private-school autonomy and concerns about safety in shared facilities. The hearing concluded after extensive questioning, with no action or vote reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• 557 days, or 1.2 years, following investigator assignment.
• If a case was closed after investigator assignment but before probable cause determination, the case
• took an average of 384 days following investigator assignment.
• If a case was closed after investigator assignment but before probable cause determination, the case
• took an average of 384 days following investigator assignment.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on February 21 and first approved the January 30 minutes and the consent calendar, with item 2540 removed by the Department of Education and item 25057 set aside for discussion. The committee then took up FIS 25057, a Department of Transportation request tied to a federal grant for building information modeling and related data standardization across DOT systems. Transportation officials explained that the $2.405 million consultant-heavy request would connect surveying, design, construction, and asset management systems, improve efficiency and long-term asset tracking, and help the department catch up with other states. Several senators questioned the lack of immediate, quantifiable budget savings and the reliance on consultants, but the item was ultimately adopted. The committee next approved FIS 25054 for the Department of Health and Human Services after questioning a $16 million shortfall in the Children’s Health Insurance Program. DHHS explained the variance as a budgeting and accounting issue tied to separating CHIP from Medicaid managed care, pandemic-era continuous enrollment, and the new federal requirement for 12 months of continuous coverage for children. Members also approved a Cannon Mountain fee item, where park officials described a proposed price freeze for early-bird passes, a new in-season tier, and modest increases in off-season pricing, while noting operating cost pressures, strong snow conditions, and favorable customer value ratings. That item was adopted unanimously. The committee also approved the Department of Corrections item after discussion of staffing, retirement eligibility, overtime, and recidivism. Commissioner Helen Hanks said retirement-eligible staff had declined slightly, recruitment was improving, overtime hours were down, one housing floor had been closed because of lower population, and the department had reduced reincarceration by 8% over seven years, which she said produced substantial savings. The item was adopted. During informational items, the committee heard a Legislative Budget Assistant performance audit of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. The audit found the commission inefficient and ineffective in processing complaints, with average case closure taking 840 days, significant backlogs dating back decades, expired administrative rules, weak management controls, disorganized and outdated procedures, unreliable data, and unresolved prior audit findings. The audit included 25 recommendations, two of which may require legislative action. Commission staff said they appreciated the recommendations and expected the additional resources from the prior budget cycle to help address the backlog and improve transparency and efficiency.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's money that was floating along but not assigned to any purpose.
• So there's money that was floating along but not assigned to any purpose.
• So there's money that was floating along but not assigned to any purpose.
• So there's money that was floating along but not assigned to any purpose.
• </c> that was floating along but not assigned that was floating along but not assigned to<00:30:36.320

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of assigned family responsibility so that any student assigned a negative parental contribution or student
• of assigned family responsibility so that any student assigned a negative parental contribution or student
• of assigned family responsibility so that any student assigned a negative parental contribution or student
• of assigned family responsibility so that any student assigned a negative parental contribution or student
• of assigned family responsibility so that any student assigned a negative parental contribution or student

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, sections four and 19 of article one repeal the process of assignment for the Minnesota Education
• <00:05:05.040><c> the</c><00:05:05.199><c> process</c><00:05:05.440><c> of</c><00:05:05.680><c> assignment
• </c><00:05:06.320><c> for</c> uh repeal the process of assignment for uh repeal the process of assignment
• Cope on articles, we'll start with article two. uh and clarifies how the assignability uh and clarifies
• how the assignability provisions<00:07:24.160><c> for</c><00:07:24.639><c> the</c><00:07:24.880><c>

Bills: HF9

Keywords: energy policy, renewable energy standard, carbon-free standard, solar standard, hydroelectric, hydropower, electric utility, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, renewable portfolio standard, carbon capture and sequestration, CCS, greenhouse gas emissions, climate policy, nuclear power plant, certificate of need, fossil fuel plant demolition, utility compliance delay, beneficial electrification, sales tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we run a large-scale training for people to grade the writing assignments, and then they get graded
• provide districts, and in fact parents, with direct access to how their kid answered the writing assignment
• there are many differences between how a student or a parent may look at how a teacher graded an assignment
• You're going to do great. parent may, um, look at how a teacher graded assignment.
• language arts— Exams in the state of Texas, from grades 3 through 10, and that includes a writing assignment

Bills: HB8

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Summary: The House Committee on Public Education met to hear House Bill 8, which would replace STAAR with a new assessment and accountability system beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The chair described the bill as reducing testing time, limiting benchmark tests, adding beginning-, middle-, and end-of-year assessments, requiring faster score turnaround, involving Texas teachers in test development, and tightening accountability timelines and transparency rules. Members also discussed provisions on A-F ratings, cut scores, CCMR, local accountability plans, and TEA reporting requirements. Committee members and invited witnesses split sharply on the bill’s approach. Supporters, including the chair, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, and Ed Trust’s Nicholas Munyon Penny, argued the bill would reduce high-stakes pressure, provide quicker and more actionable data, limit over-testing, and better align assessments to Texas standards while preserving criterion-referenced accountability. They said the new system would help teachers and parents intervene sooner and would improve transparency, including parent access to student responses and automatic rescoring in some writing cases. Opponents, including Rep. Hinojosa and student witness Ella Moran, argued the bill still increases testing and replaces one high-stakes test with multiple TEA-created tests. Moran testified that STAAR creates anxiety, disrupts instruction, and does not reflect real learning, while Hinojosa said the House had previously passed a better bill based on a nationally norm-referenced model and criticized the new proposal as a concession to the Senate. Questions also focused on AI scoring of writing, rescoring rates, and whether the bill’s new accountability rules would be reliable and fair. The committee did not take a final vote during the portion provided, but the chair said a vote on HB 8 would be called after public testimony later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cover your face because I may not need you today on an undercover assignment, but I may need you in a
• Cover your face because I may not need you today on an undercover assignment, but I may need you in a
• Cover your face because I may not need you today on an undercover assignment, but I may need you in a
• </c><00:26:17.800><c> And</c><00:26:17.880><c> when</c> but I was assigned to the unit.
• And when but I was assigned to the unit.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard several Senate bills. SB 2149 would exempt paternity proceedings involving allegations of domestic abuse from mediation and clarify the domestic abuse mediation exemption in divorce cases. The Department of the Attorney General and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence supported the measure but recommended technical and conforming changes, including updating references from HRS Chapter 584 to 584A and aligning the language more closely with the Uniform Mediation Act. Members discussed whether the bill’s wording could limit who may bring a support person to mediation, and the chair suggested the intent was to preserve survivor choice while avoiding ambiguity. No vote was taken in the portion heard. SB 2203 would create an offense for law enforcement officers using masks or personal disguises. The Office of the Public Defender, ACLU of Hawaii, Legal Clinic, and many other supporters argued the bill would improve transparency, accountability, and public trust, while still allowing safety exceptions. Law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Law Enforcement, Honolulu Police Department, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, raised concerns about operational needs, undercover and auxiliary units, body cameras, and possible supremacy clause issues if the bill is aimed at federal officers. The chair noted the bill appeared likely to move forward and asked agencies and advocates to work on possible amendments; testimony count was reported as 114 in support, 3 opposed, and 2 comments. SB 2251 would appropriate funds for the victim witness assistance program in the City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying it would replace shortfalls from declining federal funding and help maintain victim services and rights information. A former program director also testified in support. When asked, the office said it would not object to a simple reporting requirement. The committee then moved on to SB 2311, which would address claims against the state and add reporting and timing requirements; the Department of the Attorney General testified with concerns and recommendations, and members began questioning current practices for handling claims and settlements.

Transcript Highlights:

• differentiate our cases as quickly as we can with various priorities based on risk so that we can assign
• differentiate our cases as quickly as we can with various priorities based on risk so that we can assign
• differentiate our cases as quickly as we can with various priorities based on risk so that we can assign
• are aware of the vacancy rate and what it means, and you are even trying in a very practical way to assign
• people the week of May to deal with the intake, to... ...trying in a very practical way to assign people

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• specifically for their purposes, they can fund that position and then that deputy attorney general is assigned
• 39.120><c> is</c> and then that deputy attorney general is and then that deputy attorney general is assigned
• <00:05:39.680><c> specifically</c><00:05:40.160><c> to</c><00:05:40.400><c> that</c> assigned specifically
• to that assigned specifically to that department.<00:05:41.280><c> It's</c><00:05:41.520><c> kind</c
• follow up on that. >> Um, if in fact, have you talked with the counties, any county, to have an assigned

Bills: SB2066

Keywords: permitting, construction, efficiency, state projects, county collaboration, funding, staffing shortages, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Government Operations heard Senate Bill 2066 on county permitting and inspection. Testimony focused on whether the bill should exempt state projects from county permitting requirements. One testifier opposed the measure, arguing it would bypass established permitting processes, weaken good government, and put the public at risk. A DOE representative said the intent was to speed up state projects, but suggested a different approach: funding county positions dedicated solely to state permits, possibly as a pilot program, rather than removing county review entirely. Committee members discussed the difficulty of moving state projects through county systems, the lack of special treatment, and whether a more systematic or standardized process could be created for repetitive projects. After the discussion, the chairs announced a substantive rewrite of SB 2066. The amended version would delete the county-permitting exemptions for state projects and instead create a cooperative working group to address the intersection of state projects and county permitting needs. The revised measure would also include a blank appropriation for counties to fund personnel to expedite permitting for state projects only. Members clarified that any funded staff would be dedicated solely to state projects. The committee then took votes on the revised measure. The committees adopted the amended bill. The Government Operations Committee recommended the Senate draft one version, and members present voted yes, with Senator Awa excused. The measure was adopted with the revised approach and an effective date set for April 19, 2042.