Transcript Highlights:

• Part of our identifying and selecting sites would be assessing the cost-benefit, if you will, and how
• <05:44:54.280><c> and</c><05:44:54.558><c> manual</c><05:44:55.478><c> accessibility</c> assessments
• and manual accessibility assessments and manual accessibility testing<05:44:58.360><c> and</c><05:44:
• prioritized from a needs assessment.
• ><c> not</c><06:17:46.000><c> understanding</c> assessing because I'm not understanding assessing because

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Law Enforcement on its priorities following the January 1 transfer of law enforcement assets into the department, including the sheriff’s division, narcotics enforcement, criminal investigations, homeland security, and the inspector general’s office. DLE said its goals are to improve public safety, accountability, communications, training, and standards. The department outlined planned initiatives such as stronger federal partnerships, narcotics and gun-violence enforcement, an agricultural crime unit, traffic and commercial vehicle enforcement, an explosive/fireworks enforcement section, gun buybacks, new police facilities in the airport area, Aahu, and the leeward side, a state training center, upgraded law-enforcement IT, and efforts to narrow salary gaps with county departments to improve recruitment. A major portion of the discussion focused on illegal fireworks enforcement after the recent explosion tragedy. DLE said its current task force is small and relies on ad hoc support from HPD, the Attorney General’s office, criminal investigations, and sheriffs, which is not sustainable. The department requested eight FTEs for the effort—one administrator, two clerical staff, and six investigators—plus funding for a laboratory, equipment, storage, disposal, vehicles, safety gear, and a criminalist. DLE said the explosive enforcement section would use an existing facility and that the initial lab startup cost is about $2 million. Members asked for follow-up materials, and DLE said it would send the explosive enforcement forms and additional details to the Finance and Judiciary chairs. Members also questioned staffing vacancies, interagency coordination, and whether new specialized units could be filled. DLE said it has about 119 vacancies and that recruitment is hindered by a roughly $28,000 starting pay gap with county police departments; academy classes are down to about 12 to 14 recruits. The department said it is streamlining hiring, using QR-code recruitment, and hopes specialized units will attract applicants. On coordination, DLE said it works closely with HPD and other agencies on operations such as fireworks enforcement and public events, and that DOCARE remains a case-by-case partner but is not currently moving into DLE. The committee also received updates on the Silver Alert program, which is nearing rollout with county MOUs and a coordinator expected later in the month, the special duty officer program, which is being moved to a web-based vendor-managed system at no cost to the department, and the SaferWatch school safety system, which is being deployed statewide with annual software costs of $3,500 per school in the first year and $2,500 thereafter. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 57, signed into law last year, directs the CPUC to assess the extent to which data center loads result
• That assessment is due January 1, 2027.
• agencies to address barriers to long-term forest biomass feedstock supply, develop a life cycle assessment
• AB 2647 directs the California Energy Commission by July 1, 2027, to prepare a comprehensive assessment
• oppose the bill as amended, which would direct the Energy Commission to conduct a comprehensive assessment

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Several things may have occurred which need to be assessed to determine whether or not a trial is viable
• which<00:20:22.080><c> need</c><00:20:22.240><c> to</c><00:20:22.480><c> be</c><00:20:22.880><c> assessed
• </c><00:20:23.280><c> to</c><00:20:23.600><c> determine</c> which need to be assessed to determine which
• need to be assessed to determine whether<00:20:24.240><c> or</c><00:20:24.320><c> not</c><00:20:24.480
• </c> it's difficult to make an assessment it's difficult to make an assessment whether<00:21:43.360><

Bills: HB1997 , HB2343 , HB2566 , HB2493

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: students with disabilities, individualized education programs, emergency plans, evacuation procedures, support services, Hawaii education law, HB2343, Maui State Veterans Home, veterans home, veterans, long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, Alzheimer's care, respite care, assimilate, transfer deadline, Act 99, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1997, which would require IEPs for students with disabilities to include individualized emergency accommodations and evacuation supports. The Attorney General’s office supported the intent but recommended amendments to explicitly include students with Section 504 plans and to change references from “department schools” to “public schools” so charter school students are covered. Testimony in support came from disability advocates and several individuals, including Peter Fritz, who said emergency evacuation planning should be made explicit because it is not clearly required by federal law, and Ka Swan, who emphasized student safety during emergencies. No vote or final action was taken on the bill in the transcript. The committee then took up House Bill 2343, relating to the Maui State Veterans Home. The measure would repeal a deadline for transferring the home to a state agency with a Maui affiliation and instead require the transfer to occur as soon as practicable. The Department of Defense, the Office of Veterans Services, HHSC Oahu Region, and several individuals testified in support. Committee members asked whether a more definite deadline should be used, but the department said the open-ended language was preferable because the Maui entity is not yet ready and Oahu is currently providing oversight. No vote or final action was recorded. House Bill 2566, authorizing special license plates for Hawaii Civil Air Patrol members, was also heard. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services testified in opposition, while Johnny Perry testified in support. The committee did not take a vote in the transcript. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2493 on wrongful imprisonment compensation procedures. The Attorney General’s office opposed the bill, arguing it would create an automatic payment mechanism without a sufficient finding of actual innocence, could trigger payments within five days of dismissal, and raised concerns about insufficient time for prosecution review and about funding and appropriation issues. Supporters, including people who said they had been wrongfully convicted and later found actually innocent, argued the bill would reduce delays and help released individuals survive while awaiting compensation. Judiciary staff requested technical amendments and said operational details still needed review. Members questioned the AG about the meaning of “actual innocence,” burden shifting, and whether the bill would better define the standard, but no vote or final action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• we’re going to create a working group to identify, gather, and report on any existing studies or assessments
• /c><00:05:03.680><c> or</c> report on any existing studies or report on any existing studies or assessments
• or data by DAB or University assessments or data by DAB or University of<00:05:06.160><c> Hawaii</c>
• </c> attention so that it is assessed. attention so that it is assessed.
• So, I would hope you would go back and assess what's been said and be like, okay, if there are changes

Bills: SB2094

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: toxic chemicals, environmental action levels, public notice, environmental safety, pollution control, Hawaii State Constitution, public participation, government transparency, environmental health, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 2094, which would require state agencies monitoring environmental toxins and pollutants to establish environmental action levels and limit changes to those levels without meeting procedural requirements. The chair recommended passing the bill with amendments, including inserting estimated costs for a secure portal website and webinars into the committee report and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. The motion passed unanimously among those voting, with excused members noted. The committee then considered several other measures and adopted recommendations to pass them with amendments, generally adding technical and clarifying changes and setting a defective date of 2525. SB 2862 was amended to broaden the preamble, make additional appointees confirmable, clarify reporting requirements for gubernatorial appointees, and was held for further discussion. SB 2781 on lei production created a working group to review existing studies and conduct a statewide study of Hawaii’s floriculture industry. SB 3015 adopted California’s definition of PII, applied it to government agencies and political subdivisions, created a private cause of action, and required a compliance report. SB 3230 removed a categorical prohibition on certain third-party project management procurements while preserving state oversight responsibility, in line with procurement office requests. The joint GVO Health and Human Services agenda then focused on two related bills requiring universal changing accommodations in public restrooms. SB 2932 would apply to new state building construction beginning July 1, 2026, and testimony from disability advocates, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and others supported the measure while asking for language clarifying that the requirement applies only where technically feasible and, in some cases, only to state-managed buildings. SB 2268 was described as broader, extending beyond government buildings into the private sector and including a private right of action; witnesses supported the concept but raised implementation concerns, especially for smaller businesses, and requested the same technically infeasible language and other clarifications. Both bills were advanced with amendments, and the committee noted adoption of the recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• follow up and make sure, very simply, if you're a district, let's say you had a total property assessment
• district let's say you had a total district let's say you had a total property<00:23:56.960><c> assessment
• of a billion dollars property assessment of a billion dollars with<00:23:58.400><c> a</c><00:23:58.559
• We look at property assessments, all this demographic data about students.
• all this demographic data assessments all this demographic data about<00:28:40.640><c> students.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 History of SEEK 00:02:15 Summary of On-Behalf Payments 00:12:40 Discussion on Collection of University Debt Department of Revenue 00:32:40 Northern Kentucky University 00:57:10, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the September 17 meeting, and heard a presentation from Kentucky Department of Education staff on SEEK school funding and KDE on-behalf payments. KDE explained recent SEEK changes, including the guaranteed base per-pupil amount, attendance-based calculations, second-month and January growth, the 2022 change funding kindergarten at 100% instead of 50%, and the existing add-ons for at-risk students, exceptional children, limited English learners, home/hospital instruction, and transportation. Staff also reviewed tier one funding, noting the 2024 increase from 15% to 17.5% and explaining that eligibility depends on local tax effort and property wealth. They also described Senate Bill 6 from the 2025 session as a reporting proposal to include on-behalf costs in education spending totals. KDE staff then outlined on-behalf payments made for districts, including roughly $458 million for Teachers Retirement System contributions, $942 million for health insurance, about $12 million for technology costs, and additional SFCC debt service outside KDE’s appropriation, for a total of about $1.5 billion. Members asked how a future Senate Bill 6 would affect local contributions and whether folding on-behalf payments into SEEK would shift costs among districts. KDE and Senator Gibbons clarified that the bill was intended only as a reporting mechanism and would not change local contribution or district payments; it would simply present a broader total of state education investment. The discussion also noted that Kentucky’s reported SEEK amount alone does not capture all state education spending. Members raised questions about home and hospital instruction data, saying local concerns suggest growth in some communities even if statewide numbers appear stable. KDE said the statewide figure has been relatively consistent but offered to provide district-level trend data. Co-Chair Petrie also asked about the accuracy of SEEK projections and on-behalf calculations, referencing prior concerns from the Office of Education Accountability. KDE responded that it works with the state budget director’s office in a consensus forecasting process and has been reviewing demographic and property-assessment data, including exceptional child counts, to improve forecast accuracy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, well, I agree with your assessment of what's going on with the national markets, but um I guess I
• Um, well, I agree with your assessment of what's going on with the national markets, but um I guess I
• Um, well, I agree with your assessment of what's going on with the national markets, but um I guess I
• Um, well, I agree with your assessment of what's going on with the national markets, but um I guess I
• Um, well, I agree with your assessment of what's going on with the national markets, but um I guess I

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 219, which would revise the renewable portfolio standard. Representative Bose explained that the bill would modify class one definitions, eliminate class two, reduce the utility obligation for class one thermal renewable energy certificates from 2.2% to 1.7%, and adjust alternative compliance payments for classes one, three, and four. He said the changes were intended to save ratepayers an estimated $5.7 million annually, would not materially harm the renewable portfolio standard, and would have little effect on class two because that market is already saturated. Members questioned the impact on consumers, the state budget, and the renewable energy fund; Bose said the fund had already been redirected in the state budget, and another member noted an amended fiscal note showing a $1.2 million reduction in general fund revenue. The committee also discussed the bill’s history, including that it had been added to HB 2 and later removed by the Senate, and Bose said the Senate’s eventual action was hard to predict. The committee then heard House Bill 164 on local records retention from Secretary of State David Scanlan. He said the long-standing local records manager position had never been funded, but that the need for it had grown as towns increasingly digitize records and must ensure accessibility, including ADA compliance. He described the bill as a way to provide state support and expertise to municipalities, especially smaller towns with limited resources, and said the fiscal note for hiring the position remained accurate, though broader website and storage costs could rise over time. Members asked about retrieving lost records, the cost of a public website, and whether records should remain local or be stored at the state level; Scanlan said the state would serve as a resource rather than take control of local records. Finally, the committee began work on House Bill 365, also with Secretary Scanlan, concerning proof of U.S. citizenship for indigent voters. He said the bill would help voters who may lack required documents under the new voter registration law by allowing the state to verify qualifications through federal, private, or other state databases and by providing vouchers to cover the cost of obtaining documents such as birth certificates. He compared the proposal to earlier voter ID accommodations and said the goal was to help qualified voters meet the new requirements without weakening them. Members raised questions about defining “indigent,” how out-of-state birth records would be handled, and the practicality of the verification process; Scanlan said the term would likely need further discussion and that the state would try to assist voters before election day whenever possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a Senate-only position that provides funding for a state MIn choices assessment team.
• On line 709 at the top of page 15 is another MIn choices modification for hospital contract assessments
• c><00:31:36.880><c> choices</c> funding for a state min choices funding for a state min choices assessment
• And this is uh has a assessment team.
• </c><00:32:29.760><c> and</c> um for hospital contract assessments and um for hospital contract assessments

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The board is requesting an additional FTE for a dam safety engineer in the field to assess dam sponsors
• We've been able to bring that number down to. 143 vacancies which has allowed us to more accurately assess
• We request applications, we can assess the need across all of our programs. then through the Texas Water
• a water loss division that works with almost all water. service providers throughout the state to assess
• Kind of assessment of that cost $80 billion what we did. to expedite that financial assistance, we relied

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, we're still working to assess those, but we do have outstanding questions on the next steps and
• request that you work with this committee on budget language that would require CDSS to not only assess
• However, Finance will continue to monitor policy and legislative developments to assess the potential
• I mean, I think I agree with that assessment.
• That said, to appropriately assess the likelihood of achieving savings and to ensure that the legislature

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from substance abuse services, mental health services, and we want to make sure that people do get assessed
• from substance abuse services, mental health services, and we want to make sure that people do get assessed
• There<00:58:41.400><c> are</c><00:58:41.560><c> assessments</c><00:58:42.240><c> that</c><00:58:42.440
• ><c> are</c><00:58:42.560><c> done</c><00:58:43.240><c> and</c> There are assessments that are done and
• There are assessments that are done and the<00:58:43.560><c> judge</c><00:58:43.880><c> is</c><00:58

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 963, which would make crimes against elders age 60 and over strict liability offenses by removing the requirement that the perpetrator knew or should have known the victim’s age. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing that removing the state-of-mind element would create unfair and subjective results and suggesting sentencing enhancements or broader vulnerability-based language instead. Supporters, including Sandy Wong and another testifier with elder-abuse experience, said the current knowledge requirement creates a loophole that lets offenders avoid the elder enhancement even when they target vulnerable older adults. No vote was taken on the measure in the portion provided. The committee also heard HB 384, which increases penalties for promoting minor-produced sexual images, extends probation terms for felony obscenity offenses, tolls the statute of limitations during a victim’s minority, and requires sex offender registration for certain felony obscenity offenses involving minors. The Public Defender opposed the bill as overly broad and warned of absurd results, while the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney supported it, saying the bill addresses sextortion and other exploitation cases where adults solicit images from minors and that the 3-year age-gap threshold preserves ordinary teen relationships. Committee members questioned whether the bill was aimed at adults only and whether the age-gap carveout was narrow enough; the prosecutor said it was intended to cover adult predators and not consensual peer conduct. No final action was reported. HB 1100, which renames the Neighbor Islands Blind and Visually Impaired Service Pilot Program to use “low vision” instead of “visually impaired,” was supported by the Department of Human Services and disability advocates, who said the current term is derogatory and that the change responds to the blind community. The department said it was beginning work on administrative rules and expected to seek an appropriation, with implementation hoped for in 2026. The committee then heard HB 1283, exempting paternity proceedings from mediation when domestic abuse is alleged; the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and others supported it as consistent with divorce law and important for survivor safety. HB 689, creating safe harbor protections for survivors of sexual exploitation who seek medical or law enforcement help, drew support from HPD, Emua Alliance, the Judiciary, and others, who said it would prevent traffickers from using prostitution charges to silence victims. Finally, HB 383, reinstating mandatory minimum jail terms for successive violations of protective orders and removing the court’s ability to suspend those minimums, drew opposition from the Public Defender, who said some repeat violations stem from mental health or substance use issues, and support from the Prosecuting Attorney, who argued the bill treats protective orders like temporary restraining orders and preserves judicial discretion within a misdemeanor framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the million is to assess what's needed in the state and then to explain where that need is in the
• future after the assessment.
• We are assessing service and how long it's going to take to get out there.
• The request that ONRT has made for the special appropriation is for an assessment fund that will allow
• External entity to conduct an organizational health assessment and an external contractor to maximize

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> commission is just to do an assessment commission is just to do an assessment if<00:17:03.399><c
• What should we do now to make the best of it, to do risk assessment?
• </c> best of you know to do risk assessment best of you know to do risk assessment but<01:15:16.239><
• </c> information by conducting assessments information by conducting assessments and<03:47:48.560><c>
• making make a determination assessment making make a determination of<04:05:05.560><c> what</c><04:05

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• DEI assessments—what is a DEI assessment? Critical race theory.
• DEI assessments—what is a DEI assessment? Critical race theory.
• DEI assessments—what is a DEI assessment? Critical race theory.
• DEI assessments—what is a DEI assessment? Critical race theory.
• DEI assessments—what is a DEI assessment? Critical race theory.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 66, a right-to-know measure that would broaden access from “citizen” to “person,” including out-of-state requesters. Members also adopted an amendment removing the current no-filing-fee provision for appeals of unfavorable right-to-know ombudsman rulings, citing budget concerns. The bill was then reported ought to pass as amended on a 16-9 vote, with a minority report requested. House Bill 187, which would let a parent or guardian seek a protective order on behalf of a minor alleging abuse by someone outside the family or household, was described as a narrow fix with little fiscal impact. It passed unanimously, 25-0, and was placed on the consent calendar. House Bill 215, requiring landfill permit applicants to submit a report on potential harms and benefits, was retained because its policy had been folded into House Bill 2; the committee voted 25-0 to retain it. House Bill 219, dealing with renewable portfolio standard changes and lower renewable energy certificate values, drew opposition from members who said it would weaken renewable energy development and raise concerns about energy costs, but the motion to retain was adopted 14-11, allowing the bill to be moved into House Bill 2. The committee then retained House Bills 365, 552, 566, 572, 607, 611, and 624, all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, generally because the relevant policy or funding had been incorporated into House Bill 2 or because the bills were viewed as technical or low-impact. HB 566 was described as a landfill leach-management bill with a fiscal note under $10,000 annually and was sent to consent. HB 572 and HB 607 were retained because their money components were moved into HB 2, though one member objected that HB 607 represented an unfunded mandate for the Hampton Beach Area Commission. House Bill 511, concerning ICE detainers and county detention practices, generated the most debate. Supporters said the amendment clarified how long counties may hold detainees without a federal contract and compared the detention period to existing bail rules; opponents argued the bill could sanction detention of people not charged with crimes and raised due-process concerns. The committee adopted the amendment 14-11 and then reported the bill ought to pass as amended on another 14-11 vote, with a minority report requested. House Bill 639, involving securities and digital currency issues, was also reported ought to pass after members noted unresolved concerns but said the Secretary of State’s Securities Division was willing to continue working on it in the other body; the vote was 16-10.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because when assessing the best interest of the child, they have to factor in that that parent may not
• Because when assessing the best interest of the child, they have to factor in that that parent may not
• Because when assessing the alienation.
• Because when assessing the best<00:34:29.040><c> interest</c><00:34:29.320><c> of</c><00:34:29.360><c
• </c> and develop a new statewide assessment and develop a new statewide assessment aligned<00:36:33.880

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next one is climate change impact assessment.
• This is the money we need to do the assessment plus rulemaking for that.
• The next one is climate change impact assessment.
• This is the money we need to do the assessment plus rulemaking for that.
• I'm specifically talking about the West Oʻahu area. assessment this is pursuant to act assessment this

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Willie Downwell, Director of Property Assessment and Board of Review for the City of Detroit.
• Willie Downwell, Director of Detroit's property assessment and Board of Review.

Committee: Senate Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection met with a quorum, adopted the June 17 minutes, and took testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 1053, sponsored by Chair Kavanaugh, would raise the acreage cap for neighborhood enterprise zones from 15% to 20% for certain zones. Supporters from Invest Detroit and the City of Detroit said the change would help make housing and redevelopment projects viable, especially in high-tax areas like Detroit, and the bill was reported to the floor on a 6-2 vote. The committee also heard Senate Bill 988, sponsored by Senator Santana, which would extend from 30 to 35 days the deadline to appeal a denied poverty exemption to the Michigan Tax Tribunal. The sponsor and Detroit’s property assessment director described it as a technical alignment with the Tax Tribunal Act and a correction to conflicting timelines; the bill drew support from the Michigan Poverty Law Program, the Michigan Chamber, and the Tax Tribunal, and was reported unanimously. The committee then adopted S-1 substitutes for Senate Bills 1041, 1042, and 1043, the price-gouging package sponsored by Senators Moss, Chang, and Kavanaugh. Sponsors of the price-gouging bills said the package would strengthen Michigan’s emergency price-gouging protections by defining excessive increases during declared emergencies, covering lodging, essential goods and services, and energy products, and giving the Attorney General clearer enforcement tools. Supporters included the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association and the Attorney General’s office, while the Michigan Chamber, Mackinac Center, and NFIB opposed the package. Despite the opposition, all three bills were reported to the floor on 5-3 votes. The meeting adjourned after all reported bills were approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• are funded through a combination of resources: grants, state funding, federal funding, and the assessment
• The municipal assessments are also limited by Prop 2 1/2, which means that we cannot increase enough

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public service and retirement-related bills. Senator Kelly Dooner and Rep. O’Rourke supported a Taunton home rule petition to extend Chief Walsh’s service during the city’s transition to a new public safety facility, citing the need to manage new equipment, cameras, and 911 systems smoothly. Senator Lovely testified in favor of bills expanding retirement savings access through the SMART Plan and the CORE Plan, arguing that automatic enrollment and broader eligibility would help state, municipal, and nonprofit workers save for retirement. No questions were raised on the Taunton petition, and the hearing later moved through the remaining testimony without any votes taken during the transcript. Mary Waldron of the Old Colony Planning Council and Jeffrey Walker of the Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District urged support for legislation protecting regional planning agencies from being required to make retroactive payments to the State Retirement Board for past employer contributions. They warned that the costs would be unsustainable, could force layoffs or closures, and would jeopardize their ability to provide transportation, housing, economic development, and planning services. Bill Keith and Patrick Charles of PEREC testified on several retirement administration bills, including measures to ease statement-of-financial-interest filing rules, require payment for certain creditable service purchases, and clarify the definition of wages to include sick, vacation, and personal time; committee members asked questions about regional transit authorities joining retirement systems and about adding local retirement board representation to a proposed commission. Jonathan Osimo and Rob Fabino of the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System supported bills to penalize delinquent pension reporting by employers and to create a special commission to study retirement credit purchases, saying better reporting would improve retirement processing and that a broader review could improve fairness and sustainability. Eddie Boynton of the Braintree Education Association backed the SMART Plan bill, describing how automatic enrollment and low-fee fiduciary oversight could protect educators from high-cost supplemental retirement products. Matthew Nugent testified for a bill to divest public pension funds from firearms and ammunition. After the final witnesses, the chairs asked if anyone else wished to testify, heard none, and then adjourned the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• facilities for 20 years beginning after project completion, during which no property taxes will be assessed
• During that period, the developer will pay an amount equal to 10% of all property taxes that would be assessed

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The State Bond Commission met on May 21 with a quorum present and approved the April 16 minutes. The commission then reviewed and approved a large slate of local government and public authority financing requests, including election propositions for the November ballot, water and sewer infrastructure projects, fire protection and recreation district bonds, school board financing, and several refunding transactions. Most items were found to meet technical requirements and were approved on motions by Speaker DeVillier and seconded by Senator Talbot. Among the more notable items were the East Baton Rouge City-Parish refunding bonds for the Greater Baton Rouge Airport District, the City of Kenner’s retroactive approval request tied to a convention center agreement with GMB Basketball LLC, a Louisiana Housing Corporation financing increase for the Federal City Building 10 affordable housing project, and preliminary approval for the Northwest Louisiana Finance Authority’s Petro Tower redevelopment in Shreveport. The commission also approved financing for Southern University’s Scott’s Bluff student housing project and the Crescent City Schools/Harriet Tubman Charter School project. The Crescent City Schools item prompted questions about how MFP funds are used; staff explained that lease payments would support the bonds and that MFP funds are generally split between educational expenses and facilities-related costs. The commission received six monthly cost-of-issuance reports, which required no action, and a status update on the state debt schedule. It also approved Resolution No. 2 authorizing up to $425 million in general obligation refunding bonds to refund the Series 2016 bonds and tender other outstanding bonds for savings, with pricing tentatively set for June 16 and closing for June 30. During other business, New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morel thanked the commission for its role in helping address the city’s fiscal crisis and for approving a charter amendment election item aimed at strengthening budget oversight. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• facilities for 20 years beginning after project completion, during which no property taxes will be assessed
• During that period, the developer will pay an amount equal to 10% of all property taxes that would be assessed

Summary: The State Bond Commission met on May 21, established a quorum, approved the April 16 minutes, and then considered a long agenda of bond, refunding, and election-related requests. Items 3 through 10 were election propositions for the November 3 ballot involving ad valorem taxes, parcel fees, and charter amendments for purposes such as fire protection, agricultural centers, neighborhood security, recreation, aging services, drainage, and roads and bridges; staff said they met technical and legal requirements, and the commission approved them. The commission also approved several local financings, including water and sewer projects, fire district equipment and facility improvements, school board and parish bonds, and refunding transactions for the East Baton Rouge City-Parish and St. James Parish School Board. A retroactive approval request from the City of Kenner related to a CEA with GMB Basketball LLC was discussed; staff made no recommendation because it was retroactive, but noted it appeared to be an oversight, and item 22, the related airport district agreement, was approved. The commission approved additional financing for the Louisiana Housing Corporation’s Federal City Building 10 affordable housing project, a preliminary approval for the Northwest Louisiana Finance Authority’s Petro Tower redevelopment in Shreveport, and two Louisiana Public Facilities Authority projects: Southern University’s Scott’s Bluff student housing project and the Crescent City Schools project for Harriet Tubman Charter School. During discussion of the Crescent City Schools financing, a commissioner asked about the use of MFP funds; staff explained that lease payments would be the repayment source and that MFP dollars are generally split between educational expenses and facilities costs, with the school’s typical split around 72% instructional and 28% administrative/facilities-related. Both items were approved. The commission then received six cost-of-issuance reports for previously approved bond issues, with various fee adjustments but no motions required. It also reviewed a debt schedule update and adopted Resolution No. 2 authorizing up to $425 million in general obligation refunding bonds to refund Series 2016 bonds and tender other outstanding bonds for savings, with pricing tentatively set for June 16 and closing for June 30. In other business, the commission heard a brief public comment from New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morrell thanking the commission for helping place a charter amendment on the ballot to improve New Orleans budgeting transparency and oversight. The meeting ended after monthly reports were noted and no further business was raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the head of the taxes, fees, and assessments practice at Best Best & Krieger.
• I am the head of the taxes, fees, and assessments practice at Best Best & Krieger.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met, established a quorum, and first approved a consent calendar containing SB 1005, SB 1080, SB 935, and S.J.R. 11 on a 4-0 vote, with those items remaining on call until later. SB 992 had been pulled at the author’s request. The committee then heard SB 922 by Senator Laird, which would clarify that local governments may recover street maintenance and repair costs caused by public service operations, such as waste hauling, through rates, fees, or franchise agreements. Supporters included the League of California Cities, county groups, cities, waste haulers, and legal counsel who argued the bill restores a long-standing practice disrupted by a recent court decision and does not authorize new taxes or development fees. The California Building Industry Association opposed unless amended, warning the bill could inadvertently broaden local fee authority. After discussion about the bill’s scope and whether it would apply only to heavy service vehicles, SB 922 passed the committee 7-0 and was sent to the Senate floor. The committee also heard SB 1078, which would allow Santa Cruz County voters to consider raising the local tax cap to fund essential services, including health care, food assistance, and hospital support, in response to federal funding cuts. The County of Santa Cruz and the Central California Alliance for Health supported the measure, emphasizing Medi-Cal enrollment, CalFresh needs, and budget shortfalls tied to HR1 impacts. Some senators questioned whether the bill was effectively authorizing a tax increase and raised concerns about setting a precedent for other counties, while supporters stressed that the measure only allows voters to decide. SB 1078 passed 5-2 and was sent to the Committee on Revenue and Taxation. The committee then reconfirmed passage of the consent calendar items 7-0 and adjourned after concluding the agenda.