Transcript Highlights:

• , defended rural energy independence, defended rural jobs,<00:12:15.040><c> and</c><00:12:15.279><c>
• For more than 80 years, the Schultz family has poured their time, energy, and faith into building not
• Schultz family has poured<02:41:23.840><c> their</c><02:41:24.080><c> time,</c><02:41:24.479><c> energy
• ,</c><02:41:24.880><c> and</c><02:41:25.120><c> faith</c> poured their time, energy, and faith poured
• their time, energy, and faith into<02:41:26.080><c> building</c><02:41:26.479><c> not</c><02:41:26.720

Transcript Highlights:

• chief clerk will report House File 75, number four on the calendar for the day, an act relating to energy
• <00:20:16.240><c> I</c><00:20:16.520><c> recognize</c><00:20:17.520><c> uh</c> an act relating to energy
• I recognize uh an act relating to energy I recognize uh the<00:20:17.720><c> member</c><00:20:18.039
• ><00:22:59.000><c> act</c><00:22:59.279><c> relating</c><00:22:59.640><c> to</c><00:22:59.840><c> energy
• </c> for the day an act relating to energy for the day an act relating to energy the<00:23:00.400><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• can be very stressful environments for patients, for visitors, and so we spend a lot of time and energy
• can be very stressful environments for patients, for visitors, and so we spend a lot of time and energy
• can be very stressful environments for patients, for visitors, and so we spend a lot of time and energy
• can be very stressful environments for patients, for visitors, and so we spend a lot of time and energy
• </c><02:24:58.600><c> from</c> this does take time and energy from this does take time and energy from

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

Transcript Highlights:

• But this has been part of the governor's initiatives for the clean energy of 2040.
• But this has been part of the governor's initiatives for the clean energy of 2040.
• But this has been part of the governor's initiatives for the clean energy of 2040.
• But this has been part of the governor's initiatives for the clean energy of 2040.
• </c><00:31:43.600><c> of</c> initiatives um for the clean energy of initiatives um for the clean energy

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• :08:21.279><c> time</c> it takes a remarkable amount of time it takes a remarkable amount of time energy
• <03:08:22.439><c> Grassroots</c><03:08:23.080><c> democracy</c> energy Grassroots democracy energy Grassroots
• He said their energy and abilities should be funneled into making a better funding system for the entire
• He said their energy and abilities should be funneled into making a better funding system for the entire
• He said their energy and abilities should be funneled into making a better funding system for the entire

Summary: The committee met in executive session on HB 563, which revises the adequacy education grant formula, including differentiated aid for free and reduced-price meals, English language learners, and special education, and also restores fiscal capacity disparity aid. Members explained that for FY 26 the formula largely stays the same with the usual 2% increases, while FY 27 would raise the base cost and several aid categories, including a substantial increase in special education differentiated aid. Supporters said the bill recognizes higher special education costs and separates fiscal capacity disparity from the extraordinary needs grant, which they argued better targets property-poor communities. A major point of discussion was the fiscal capacity disparity aid component. Some members asked for more detail on how the formula affected individual towns and how much money was being allocated. The sponsors said the spreadsheet showed the impacts and estimated the fiscal capacity disparity portion at about $13.3 million, benefiting roughly 40 communities, with Manchester the only municipality expected to receive less under the new approach. They also said the change partially rebalances money that had shifted heavily toward larger cities under the extraordinary needs grant and that the special education increase is new money, not taken from the hold harmless or extraordinary needs funds. Several members supported the amendment as a good-faith step and a bipartisan compromise, while others expressed frustration that they did not have enough time or information to review the spreadsheets in detail before voting. After extended debate, the committee recessed for lunch to allow the spreadsheet to be distributed and reviewed, with the understanding that the bill would continue later in the day and then move on to the other bills on the docket.

Transcript Highlights:

• As everyone knows, particularly when your electric bill comes, energy prices are rising dramatically.
• on fixed incomes or property tax bills, and now have the double whammy of electric bills and other energy
• believe we could level the playing field for customers and citizens struggling to pay their bills as energy
• </c><00:05:46.400><c> costs</c><00:05:46.720><c> continue</c> pay their bills as energy costs continue
• pay their bills as energy costs continue to<00:05:47.280><c> rise</c><00:05:48.400><c> by</c><00:05:

Committee: House Election Law

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on CACR 30, a constitutional amendment that would make Public Utilities Commission members elected rather than appointed. Representative Thomas Opel testified in support, arguing that rising energy costs and the utility rate-setting structure make the PUC too insulated from ratepayers, and that elected commissioners would be more accountable. He also said the proposal should ideally include a ban on contributions from regulated utilities to PUC campaigns, and acknowledged the draft had errors and needed work. Representative Lane questioned whether a contribution ban would be constitutional, and Opel said there may be ways to structure one to survive legal challenge. The hearing closed with five online supporters and two opponents reported, and no one else testified. The committee then went into executive session on House Bill 1062, authorizing the Secretary of State to conduct random audits of voters’ citizenship qualifications. Representative Newsome offered an amendment to clarify how voters with no evidence either way would be treated and to require a public report on audit results, including referrals, costs, and databases used. Representative Aqua opposed the amendment, saying the bill should pass as written. The amendment failed 9-7, and after further debate over privacy and the purpose of audits, the committee voted 9-7 to recommend ought to pass on HB 1062. Representative Barry was assigned the majority report and Representative Newsome the minority report. The committee next considered House Bill 1388, which would clarify the form of ballots for constitutional amendments. Representative Weary said the bill simply provides clarity for voters and imposes no hardship on the Secretary of State’s office. The committee unanimously voted 17-0 to recommend ought to pass and placed the bill on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 1125, enabling school districts to adopt partisan school district elections. Representative Weary said partisan labels would help voters understand candidate positions and address low turnout in local elections. He emphasized the bill is enabling, not mandatory. Members questioned why the change was needed if few municipalities have used existing authority, and whether it would increase divisiveness. Weary said many voters are unaware of the option and that partisan labels would give them more information. The hearing closed with five online supporters and 184 opponents. The committee then began executive session on House Bill 1187, concerning the filing deadline for special-election candidates for state representative, but discussion was still ongoing in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said she is not saying that to be critical, but that a lot of time, energy, effort, and resources
• She said she is not saying that to be critical, but that a lot of time, energy, effort, and resources
• She said she is not saying that to be critical, but that a lot of time, energy, effort, and resources
• </c><00:52:46.960><c> lot</c><00:52:47.040><c> of</c><00:52:47.200><c> time,</c><00:52:47.520><c> energy
• ,</c><00:52:47.920><c> effort,</c> because a lot of time, energy, effort, because a lot of time, energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Water, soils, and plants are the ultimate, you know, derivation of energy.
• They're the solar cells that we rely on to get food, energy, and other energies into our systems across
• ><01:39:35.520><c> D</c><01:39:35.760><c> derivation</c><01:39:36.199><c> of</c><01:39:36.360><c> energy
• </c><01:39:36.760><c> they're</c> you know D derivation of energy they're you know D derivation of energy

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We waste a tremendous amount of time, energy, and money on made-up problems, on pretend boogeymen.
• He gave me a good amendment in the Energy Committee that we are adding data centers to this.
• Senate Bill 1191 by Bayshore of the House and Daniels of the Senate, an act relating to the Oklahoma Energy
• Senate Bill 1191 repeals the Oklahoma Energy low-carbon initiative board, a board that has no appointed
• Senate Bill 1191 by Bayshore of the House and Daniels of the Senate, an act relating to the Oklahoma Energy

Bills: SB1687 , HB1687 , HB4431 , HB2894 , HB2979 , HB3262 , HB3298 , HB3369 , HB3431 , HB3462 , SB1226 , SB1876 , SB1916 , SB1920 , HB3467 , HB3498 , HB3500 , HB3521 , HB3581 , HB3650 , HB3673 , HB3764 , HB3767 , HB3781 , HB3800 , HB3831 , HB3834 , HB3941 , HB2749 , HB3970 , HB3972 , HB3979 , HB3980 , HB3981 , HB3996 , HB4095 , HB4104 , HB4191 , HB4248 , HB4298 , HB4338 , HB4427 , HB4428 , HJR1023 , HB3660 , HB3718 , HB4326 , HB3443 , HB3880 , HB3649 , HB3000 , SB1651 , SB504 , SB372 , SB1326 , SB1633 , SB248 , SB1242 , SB1238 , SB423 , SB1989 , SB1286 , SB904 , SB1213 , SB1216 , SB1827 , SB65 , SB1390 , SB259 , SB1944 , SB540 , SB2139 , SB346 , SB1595 , SB1400 , SB1555 , SB1209 , SB2110 , SB1670 , SB1061 , SB2104 , HR1057 , SB1946 , SB1734 , SB1316 , SB1360 , SB1557 , SB1684 , SB2049 , SB1410 , SB2011 , SB1437 , SB1204 , SB1732 , SB1775 , SB2084 , SB1380 , SB1572 , SB1772 , SB1224 , SB710 , SB1338 , SB1266 , SB1303 , SB1307 , SB1562 , SB1794 , SB1191 , SB1983 , SB1832 , SB1448 , SB1534 , SB1593 , SB1597 , SB1630 , SB1489 , SB1726 , SB1796 , SB1806 , SB1877 , SB1451 , SB1553 , SB1632 , SB1423 , SB1425 , SB1502 , SB2180 , SB1725 , SB2182 , HB3003 , HB3004 , HB4434 , HB4324 , HB4342 , HB2137 , HB4432 , SJR50 , SJR52 , SJR53

Summary: The House recognized several visitors and groups during the day, including the Norman North High School Cheer and Stunt Team, a student page, Bartlesville Day at the Capitol, and Leadership Elk City. The chamber then took up a long series of Senate amendments and final passage votes on a wide range of measures, with most amendments adopted without objection and many bills passing by wide margins. Topics included advanced health care directives, the Oklahoma Rural Jobs Act, motor vehicle and insurance changes, food truck fire suppression, foreign adversary land ownership restrictions, plumbing licensing reform, probate procedure, financial institutions, riots, Medicaid, court reporters, public finance, district attorney recruitment incentives, child care, the Oklahoma Brine Development Act, adjunct teachers, workers’ compensation, and other technical or policy updates. Several bills drew substantive debate. The Oklahoma Rural Jobs Act prompted questions about the additional $15 million funding tranche, return on investment, and the use of out-of-state fund managers; supporters said the program had created thousands of jobs and generated strong tax revenue, while opponents criticized the lack of independent ROI data and transparency. House Bill 3500 on probate procedure also drew questions about a nine-month deadline for successor affidavits, with the author saying the change would prevent a “gotcha” that could defeat a decedent’s wishes. House Bill 3660 on natural organic reduction was the subject of extended debate, with supporters arguing for personal freedom and rejecting claims about misuse of the resulting material, while opponents raised concerns about the practice and its regulation. The House passed most measures by comfortable margins, including bills on advanced health care directives, professions and occupations, motor vehicles, Medicaid, insurance, child care, court reporters, public finance, and criminal law. A few measures failed or were reconsidered: Senate Bill 1916 initially failed on a 46-39 vote, but the House later voted to reconsider and then passed it on reconsideration. Several bills also carried emergency clauses, which were adopted where required by two-thirds votes. The session ended with the House still considering debate on House Bill 3660 after the chamber had recessed and returned to order.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you had this amazing daughter, I imagine, Maddie, who was just a ball of energy like my two kids
• She had so much energy and so much love for people. She loved animals.
• that contradict evidence and lock people up for an egregious amount of time rather than focusing our energy
• on the root causes of crime. ...rather than focusing our energy on the root causes of crime.
• repeating itself, we encourage lawmakers to imagine an approach to public safety that focuses our energy

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• We also pray, Lord, that you would give them strength and energy for the tasks that you have called them
• give them also pray Lord that you would give them strength<00:05:26.320><c> and</c><00:05:26.560><c> energy
• for</c><00:05:27.360><c> the</c><00:05:27.520><c> tasks</c><00:05:28.000><c> that</c> strength and energy
• for the tasks that strength and energy for the tasks that you<00:05:28.639><c> have</c><00:05:28.800
• First reading of the bill. >> Wyoming Energy Transmission Study. >> Senate File 102 will be assigned

Transcript Highlights:

• And I went in there for a five-hour energy and I said, "What else do you guys got?"
• Energy, and I said, "What else do you guys got?"
• 00:52:16.319><c> hour</c> And I went in there for a five hour And I went in there for a five hour energy
• 52:18.720><c> "What</c><00:52:19.119><c> else</c><00:52:19.280><c> do</c><00:52:19.440><c> you</c> energy
• and I said, "What else do you energy and I said, "What else do you guys<00:52:19.680><c> got?"

Bills: HB0103 , HB0070 , HB0091

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• They just—the widget happens to be a kilowatt of energy, right?
• generators today that also was hashed out on House Bill 696 yesterday at House Science and Tech and Energy
• yesterday at house Science and Tech 696 yesterday at house Science and Tech and<01:19:00.800><c> energy
• </c><01:19:01.760><c> is</c> and energy is and energy is um<01:19:03.800><c> is</c><01:19:04.000><c>

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2 by Senators Kipp and Exum, Representatives Willford and Velasco, concerning energy affordability
• opportunities to work with, really put me over the top in introducing an amendment to a bill about energy
• So, um, Robert, just thank you for all the time and energy and sacrifice that you've put...
• And energy and sacrifice that you've put in here.

Transcript Highlights:

• smashing success, and we're looking to just remove that this year to really continue to build that energy
• continue to that this year to really continue to build<00:54:15.920><c> that</c><00:54:16.080><c> energy
• /c><00:54:16.440><c> behind</c><00:54:16.760><c> this</c><00:54:16.880><c> Housing</c> build that energy
• behind this Housing build that energy behind this Housing Tax<00:54:17.480><c> Credit</c><00:54:17.640

Bills: HF495 , HF4321 , HF3902 , HF4161 , HF3755

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• As filed, TPPA opposes this bill because it could create a barrier to investing in our energy future.
• When you look at the enterprise operations, and you've heard stories from other people, energy folks
• It doesn't affect these energy...
• I just don't understand how we would even have the time and energy to get the education out to share

Bills: HB26 , HB73 , SB 14 , HB46

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• It's energy efficient.
• </c><00:51:54.079><c> Uh</c><00:51:54.319><c> it's</c><00:51:54.559><c> energy</c><00:51:54.960><c> efficient
• Uh it's energy efficient. Uh it's safe. Uh it's energy efficient.

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its June 4, 2025 meeting and then heard a series of presentations focused largely on housing and land-use policy. Senator Robbie Mills and Representative Josh Bray discussed two 2025 housing measures: Senate Bill 50, which would create residential infrastructure development districts to help local governments finance infrastructure for new housing developments through special assessments and local debt, and House Bill 7, which would let local governments identify development areas and rebate new property tax revenue to developers as an incentive for housing growth. They said Kentucky faces a statewide housing shortage of roughly 210,000 units, projected to grow if building patterns do not change, and argued that regulatory relief and financing tools are needed to increase supply. Representative Rebecca Rymer presented House Bill 371, which would require local permitting when an industry’s residual waste landfill is located in a different county from the industry itself. She said current law lets such landfills bypass local review, leaving host counties with no say despite road impacts and other local burdens. She said the bill would preserve the existing exemption when the landfill and industry are co-located, and noted support from KLC and KO. Representative Steve Doan also described House Bill 806, a statewide backyard chicken bill that would allow domesticated hens, prohibit roosters, set a minimum of six hens that local governments could not go below, and preserve local authority over setbacks, sanitation, maintenance standards, and egg sales. He said it would override outright local bans but not HOA restrictions, and cited a current Northern Kentucky dispute and ADA litigation as reasons for the proposal. The committee then heard a broader discussion on housing and land use from Charlie Gardner of the Mercatus Center and Nolan Gray of California YIMBY and the Bluegrass Institute. They outlined categories of land-use regulation, described the recent growth of state-level housing reforms nationwide, and cited examples such as ADU legalization, smaller lot sizes, reduced parking minimums, streamlined permitting, and single-stair or other building-code reforms. They argued that housing shortages are a statewide concern, that localities often have incentives to block growth, and that state intervention can reduce costs and uncertainty without compromising health and safety. Members asked about the housing shortage estimate, the effect of red tape on safety and local authority, and how state reforms could be phased in; the presenters said reforms often include lead time, can be targeted to larger jurisdictions, and should focus on reducing time and cost while maintaining basic standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• For commercial developers, inconsistent requirements for safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility
• For commercial developers, inconsistent requirements for safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility
• For commercial developers, inconsistent requirements for safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility
• For commercial developers, inconsistent requirements for safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 94, which would prohibit municipal amendments to the state building code and move New Hampshire toward a more uniform statewide code. Senator McConi and several supporters, including the Josiah Barlo Center for Public Policy, the State Fire Marshal, the Associated General Contractors of New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association, argued that local variations create confusion, raise housing costs, and make compliance harder for builders operating in multiple towns. The Fire Marshal said the goal is a single state building and fire code with only limited administrative amendments at the local level, not technical changes, and noted that municipalities could still seek exceptions through the Building Code Review Board if needed. The chair explained that a similar House bill was already moving forward with fire code and administrative amendment language, and members agreed that retaining SB 94 would avoid conflicting bills. The committee then voted to retain SB 94 by roll call, 13-0, with no minority report. The committee then took up Senate Bill 30, which would designate the Virginia opossum as New Hampshire’s state marsupial. Senator Fenton presented the bill as a light-hearted measure inspired by Chesterfield School fourth graders, who had submitted written testimony and supported the idea. Members discussed the bill in a humorous but mostly supportive way, with one member objecting that it trivialized the legislature, while others said it could help engage students in the legislative process. The committee voted ought to pass on SB 30, 11-2, and agreed to place it on consent with no minority report. Later, the committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 95, concerning youth camp cabins and state fire/building codes. Senator McConi said the bill would exempt new residential cabins in youth recreation camps from sprinkler requirements and allow them to omit electrical, mechanical, or plumbing systems, while requiring any such systems that are present to comply with state code. He said the measure was intended to resolve recurring interpretation problems that have caused expense and uncertainty for camp owners, and he praised work with the Fire Marshal’s office to reach a workable compromise. Representative Schmidt asked about cabin sizes and whether larger cabins with multiple occupants would still be safe; the senator explained that camps typically use counselors, drills, and supervision, and that the people behind him could answer more detailed questions. The transcript cuts off before the hearing concludes or any vote is taken on SB 95.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speed is kinetic energy that causes damage, which can result in death.
• that leads to uh injury speed is factor that leads to uh injury speed is kinetic<00:04:10.760><c> energy
• that</c><00:04:11.840><c> causes</c><00:04:12.319><c> damage</c><00:04:12.720><c> that</c> kinetic energy
• that causes damage that kinetic energy that causes damage that causes<00:04:13.239><c> injury</c><00

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Our energy costs are so high.
• So we're not providing, you know, artificial lighting here so that we are more energy efficient, and
• So we're not providing, you know, artificial lighting here so that we are more energy efficient, and
• So we're not providing, you know, artificial lighting here so that we are more energy efficient, and

Summary: The joint Committee on Higher Education and Agriculture heard Senate Bill 1158, which would authorize general obligation bonds and appropriations for a controlled environment agriculture research and demonstration facility at the Magoon Research and Teaching Site in Manoa. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the University of Hawaiʻi, Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau, Maui County, MetroGrow Hawaiʻi, and other agricultural groups, who said the project would strengthen food resilience, support year-round production, create clean jobs, and provide a demonstration site for urban vertical farming. University representatives said the project would include demolition of an existing condemned building, a research and lab component, and a multistory vertical farm, with an estimated cost of $6 million and a projected two-year build time. Members questioned whether Manoa was the best location, whether the project fit the university’s broader strategy, and whether the request would displace other priorities. The University said the site is tied to SEAR activities, close to students and faculty, and intended to support hands-on training and commercial-scale production. In response to concerns about soil testing and stakeholder needs, the University said it would restart the soil testing lab using internal funds, though not as part of this bill, and would request additional staff for efficiency. The committee then recessed and later reconvened in decision-making, where the chairs recommended and the committee adopted amendments to SB 1158, including a name correction and deferral to July 31, 2050, and the bill passed with amendments. The committee then took up Senate Bill 663, relating to the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and SEAR research and experiment stations. The University testified that the stations are important for locally relevant agricultural research but are short staffed, with 34 positions down since 2005, and that the bill requests eight new positions, including agricultural technicians and four county community coordinator positions, to improve station operations, community engagement, and workforce development. The Farm Bureau supported the measure, saying the positions are needed to revamp extension services and that Manoa is an appropriate urban location for the vertical farming component. Members questioned why vacant or existing positions could not be used instead of new ones, and the University explained that some listed vacancies reflected old federally funded positions or inaccurate counts, promised a written update, and said it was working to fill current openings. No final vote on SB 663 was reached in the portion provided.