Video & Transcript Research : 'variable message signs'

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CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture Oct 1st, 2025

Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture

Transcript Highlights:
  • will continue to make the case and persevere, but he wanted to be clear-eyed that they have not seen signs
  • I think the governor may have just signed that.
  • It's not a good sign, and so we're going to be—I'm knocking on wood on this.
  • Today I'll share a few key messages from this effort that are most relevant to this discussion on kelp
  • You're aware that AB 263 was passed by the Legislature and signed last week by Governor Newsom.
Summary: The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture held its annual State of the Fishery forum, focusing on salmon, Dungeness crab, kelp, ocean conditions, and related aquaculture and committee reports. Opening remarks from committee leadership emphasized climate impacts, reduced federal NOAA support, state investments through Proposition 4, coastal resilience funding, and the importance of fisheries to rural economies and tribal communities. Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot described a decade of drought and climate stress, highlighted progress such as Klamath River dam removal, wetland restoration, and the state’s salmon strategy, and warned that federal funding uncertainty and staffing cuts could undermine restoration and fishery recovery efforts. Senator Cortese raised concerns about illegal cannabis cultivation damaging riparian habitat and water flows, and both Crowfoot and Fish and Wildlife Director Bonham said enforcement against illicit grows remains a major environmental priority but is constrained by resources. Director Bonham provided a broad update on California fisheries, reporting encouraging signs for salmon after several difficult years, including improved ocean conditions, stronger returns in some runs, and successful short recreational openings in 2025. He also noted major challenges, including reduced federal hatchery production at Nimbus, ongoing uncertainty around winter-run and spring-run recovery, and the need for continued habitat restoration, monitoring, and hatchery investment. On Dungeness crab, Bonham said the fishery remained valuable but constrained by whale entanglement risk, warming ocean conditions, and domoic acid concerns; he described new marked-line distribution, ropeless and alternative gear trials, and ongoing aerial and vessel monitoring. He also said the department’s unified cannabis enforcement task force had served numerous warrants and seized large amounts of illegal cannabis, but more funding is needed for sustained operations. In the salmon panel, Yurok Tribe fisheries director McCovey said the Klamath still faces low run sizes, climate-driven warming, wildfire impacts, and federal uncertainty, but he pointed to dam removal, restoration work, and AB 263’s river-flow protections as major advances. PCFFA president Bradshaw stressed that the three consecutive salmon closures have devastated coastal communities and argued for major reinvestment in aging Central Valley hatchery infrastructure and better broodstock management at Fall Creek. CalTrout’s Schneider said salmon remain at risk statewide, but cited Prop 4, habitat reconnection, floodplain restoration, improved water management, and monitoring as the main tools for recovery. In the crab panel, CDFW’s Schumann reported that the 2024–25 season produced record prices per pound and about $55 million in value despite delays and trap reductions, but he warned that three confirmed whale entanglements and elevated whale presence could force a conservative opener for 2025–26. PCFFA’s Domrash supported marked line, alternative gear, and a new gear-recovery network, while also criticizing the current ramp system as a response to a problem not fully grounded in science.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

S/C on Juvenile Justice Apr 7th, 2025

S/C on Juvenile Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • We, in my opinion, we can't send a message like that or else we're going to lose employees.
  • I was trying to explain, I think you had a question about the determinate versus indeterminate variability
  • Let me ask you, that same child when he was 15, would you have agreed, would you have signed off on him
  • He told me I had no chance and to sign for four years.
  • I signed because I was a scared teen who was convinced I was alone to fight this.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 4/8/25

Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • This section requires that CCAP providers sign each bill that they submit and declare under penalty of
  • each bill that they submit and uh, sign each bill that they submit and declare<00:20:05.360> under
  • ><00:36:16.640> not<00:36:16.960> reflect<00:36:17.520> the<00:36:17.839> signed
  • the DE does not reflect the signed the DE does not reflect the signed agreement<00:36:18.560>
  • 36:27.520> there<00:36:27.760> will<00:36:27.920> be<00:36:28.000> an signed
Bills: HF2436
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Please sign that up.
  • There are no signs permitted in committee rooms.
  • So, I'll just ask members signed up.
  • that are sitting at home, one variable that are sitting at home, one variable alone,<01:41:31.920
  • individual who signed up to speak. individual who signed up to speak.
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The House Postsecondary Education Committee held its first-ever meeting and first meeting of the session, with Chairman Tipton outlining committee procedures, attendance rules, and the process for submitting committee substitutes. After a roll call confirmed full attendance, the committee heard a presentation from Senator David Givens on the history and purpose of Kentucky’s performance-based funding model for postsecondary education. Givens said the model was created to replace an older “shares” approach that distributed funds based largely on prior-year allocations, and argued the new system better aligns funding with student success and the state’s long-term educational attainment goals. Council for Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson and CPE staff then explained the model in more detail. They said the system was designed to address long-standing funding disparities among institutions, reward outcomes such as degrees, credit-hour progression, and completion in high-demand fields, and support the state’s “60 by 30” goal of having 60% of Kentuckians hold a postsecondary credential by 2030. Thompson said Kentucky is now at 56.2% attainment, above the national average, and highlighted gains in graduation and retention rates, lower student borrowing, and improved completion outcomes. He also emphasized that the model is part of a broader strategy that includes affordability, adult learners, low-income students, and wrap-around support services. CPE staff described the work group process that developed and periodically revises the model, noting that the General Assembly created the framework in House Bill 303 and later enacted Senate Bill 153 and Senate Bill 191 to codify changes. They explained that in 2016 the legislature carved out about 5% of institutional budgets, roughly $43 million, to be redistributed through the new model, and that the model has been reviewed every three years with changes made each time. Recent revisions included increasing the student-success weight, adding a premium for low-income students, creating a premium for adult learners, and redefining underrepresented students as first-generation college students. No votes were taken at this meeting, and the committee adjourned after the informational presentation and discussion.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Dec 10th, 2025

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • But we cobble together this school choice revolution with its variable funding options and choices and
  • But we cobble together this school choice revolution with its variable funding options and choices and
  • explosive goals. ...revolution, with its variable funding options and choices and explosive growth,
Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and took up two bills. The first, SB 250 on rural communities by Senator Simon, was described as a broad rural development package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and transportation investments, added funding for rural education consortiums, and health care initiatives for rural areas. Senator Harrell asked about overlap between road funding programs, and the sponsor explained that eligible counties could receive both SCRAP and FARM funding. Several organizations waived in support or spoke in support, and the bill was reported favorably by unanimous vote. The committee then heard SB 318, the committee substitute for educational scholarship programs by President Gates. The bill was presented as a response to Auditor General findings about the rapid growth and administration of Florida’s school choice and scholarship programs. It would separate Family Empowerment Scholarship funding from the FEFP, require more frequent student enrollment verification, lower scholarship funding organization administrative fees, require return of overpayments, create a student ID system, establish a $250 million stabilization fund, require annual audits, and direct DOE to recommend future program administration through competitive procurement. Gates also offered five amendments, including technical changes to eligibility documentation and a substantive amendment requiring a DOE report on future administration and competitive selection; all five amendments were adopted. During debate and public testimony, senators and witnesses discussed accountability, software solutions, reimbursement delays, monthly attestations, and impacts on public schools and families. Supporters and opponents alike raised concerns about bureaucracy, fraud prevention, special education services, and whether the bill would help or burden parents. Gates said the bill aimed to fix tracking and payment problems without capping the program, and he noted the IEP timeline would be aligned with public school timelines. After debate, the committee reported CS for SB 318 favorably by unanimous vote, and then adjourned.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Jun 6th, 2025

Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • The first is, I'm just generally curious, what are the variables that you're using to measure impact?
  • So when you're looking at your variables for a different committee or for your LFC work, what are the
  • variables that you're looking at?
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Business and Commerce (Part I) Apr 1st, 2025

Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill requires a written agreement signed ... and the bill as filed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
  • The bill requires a written agreement signed. Formal relationship with a real estate agent.
  • The committee substitute corrects drafting errors to ensure buyers aren't mandated to sign agreements
  • The committee substitute corrects drafting errors to ensure buyers aren't mandated to sign agreements
  • Six years ago, last week, President Trump signed an executive order on that.
Summary: The committee first took up pending business and favorably reported several bills without objection or by recorded vote, including SB 783, SB 1238, SB 1706, SB 1791, SB 458, SB 1644, and SB 1810, with some of them also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then moved into hearings on additional bills. SB 1968, by Senator Schwertner, would update the Real Estate License Act by repealing subagency, requiring written buyer-agent agreements before showings, and clarifying when a formal buyer representation agreement must be signed. Texas Realtors testified in support, saying the bill modernizes agency rules and increases transparency, while a committee substitute corrected drafting issues. SB 2411, the annual update to the Texas Business Organizations Code, was also laid out and left pending after supportive testimony from the Texas Business Law Foundation and drafting committee representatives. The committee also heard SB 2321, which would codify ERCOT’s current practice of notifying TCEQ when backup generation needs enforcement discretion for grid reliability; Sierra Club and a chamber of commerce witness supported it with suggestions for clearer emissions reporting, and the bill was left pending. SB 2077 would broaden eligibility for the Texas Mutual Insurance Company board by narrowing conflict restrictions tied to insurance-related interests; Texas Mutual supported the change and the bill was left pending. SB 1405, a broadband bill, would align state law with FCC standards and streamline Broadband Development Office processes; it was left pending after supportive testimony. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit donor privacy, drew support from privacy advocates and concerns from one witness about transparency for publicly funded nonprofit operations; it was left pending. The committee then heard SB 776, which would bar government construction contracts from shifting delay damages to contractors when delays are caused solely by the public owner. Contractors, surety representatives, and water infrastructure advocates supported the bill, arguing it would improve fairness and reduce inflated bids, while water utilities and critical infrastructure entities opposed it, warning of more litigation and higher costs; the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 715, which would apply reliability requirements retroactively to all generation resources in ERCOT, drew opposition from renewable and storage groups and support from some critics of renewable subsidies, with witnesses split over whether it would improve reliability or raise costs; testimony was underway when the transcript ended.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • They signed up to mentor, to inspire, not to act as mental health therapists.
  • So there's a lot of variables that go into that conversation. I'm not sure I can...
  • So there's a lot of variables that go into that conversation.
Summary: The committee heard a series of school safety and discipline bills, beginning with SB 870, which would codify an attorney general opinion allowing local school boards to decide whether school marshals may openly carry, conceal carry, or store a firearm in a secure safe on campus. The bill was laid out with no public testimony and left pending. The chair then moved to a combined discussion of SB 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1924, all focused on school discipline, teacher authority, and student safety. Senators Perry and Creighton described the package as a response to rising classroom disruptions, assaults on teachers, and concerns that districts lack effective tools to maintain order. SB 1871 would expand teacher removal authority, require return-to-class plans before a student removed for certain conduct can return, make some serious offenses mandatory for placement in juvenile justice settings, and provide telehealth mental health services through a consortium. SB 1872 would require expulsion to a JJAEP for assaults on teachers or school volunteers and extend certain expulsion-eligible conduct to off-campus offenses. SB 1873 would restore the prior understanding that in-school suspension is not subject to a three-day limit. SB 1874 would grant teachers immunity from disciplinary action for reporting discipline violations or acting in compliance with Chapter 37. SB 1924 would restore authority for local police and school district police to issue Class C citations for school offenses and require criminal referrals for students posing an imminent threat or assaulting a teacher, with a substitute clarifying referral rules when a citation has already been issued. The committee adopted the substitutes for the bills and moved them forward. Invited witnesses from teacher and administrator groups largely supported the overall goal of stronger discipline and safer classrooms, while asking for refinements. The Texas Classroom Teachers Association testified that teachers need more autonomy to remove disruptive or violent students and that classroom removals should not mean removal from learning. Superintendents from San Angelo, Grandview, and Wiley ISDs supported the bills’ emphasis on safety, expanded ISS flexibility, mandatory placement for serious offenses, and telehealth mental health services, but asked for more local control, flexibility for Districts of Innovation, more than one campus behavior coordinator in large districts, clearer timelines for return-to-class plans, and more precise definitions for disruptive conduct. Several witnesses stressed that teacher retention and student learning are being harmed by current discipline problems, while some members raised concerns about vague standards and the risk of overuse or public humiliation through citations and removals.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

January 14, 2025 - 09:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's a lot of variability, and I think we get to do the... Projects are the same.
  • There's a lot of variability, and I think we get to do the best we can with the information we have.
  • have the framework in place, the catalog in place, they will be able to become interoperable just by signing
Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting to examine Florida’s information technology governance, budgeting, cybersecurity, data management, and telecommunications operations. Chair Schneider and other members framed the panel as a new joint policy-and-budget forum focused on reducing jargon, improving accountability, and asking whether technology investments are feasible, aligned with state goals, cost-controlled, and secure. State Affairs Chairman Will Robinson and members emphasized that the committee should avoid buying “shiny new objects” without clear business cases and should focus on long-term value, cybersecurity, and operational efficiency. Florida Digital Service and Department of Management Services leaders provided an overview of the state IT enterprise. Secretary Pedro Allende described DMS as the state’s business, workforce, and technology service provider, while State CIO Warren Spanholz outlined Florida Digital Service’s four core areas: cybersecurity, project success, data interoperability, and enterprise architecture. Chief Data Officer Ed Ryan said the state data catalog is about 400,000 elements and roughly half of agencies are participating, and he described efforts to identify authoritative data sources and improve interoperability. Chief Information Security Officer Jeremy Rogers discussed the state cybersecurity operations center, enterprise risk management, incident response exercises, and a recurring $35 million cybersecurity resiliency budget. Chief Technology Officer Leo Schoonover described oversight of major IT projects over $10 million, updated project management standards, and a shift toward smaller phased implementations and more flexible methodologies to reduce delays and overruns. Other presenters covered telecommunications, data center operations, and cybersecurity workforce development. Director Denise Atkins said the Division of Telecommunications manages Suncom and MyFloridaNet, with nearly $336.9 million appropriated for fiscal year 2024-25, and is procuring the next network contract while emphasizing security controls and vendor flexibility. Tim Brown said the Northwest Regional Data Center operates on a chargeback basis, serves state and local customers, and returned surpluses to customers in recent years. Cyber Florida Director Ernie Ferraroso described training, workforce pipelines, K-12 outreach, a cyber range, and research programs aimed at building Florida’s cyber workforce and improving public-sector readiness. Members asked about budget setting, project delays, change orders, cybersecurity reporting, data catalog participation, interoperability, and expanding cybersecurity operations centers. Officials said chargeback rates are based on actual direct and indirect costs, project delays often stem from unclear scope and insufficient upfront planning, and cybersecurity success is measured by mean time to detect, respond, and recover. They also said the state is moving toward more modular project delivery, broader agency participation in shared cybersecurity services, and expanded CSOC locations within existing staff and budget where feasible.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Education Committee Jun 17th, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • two years, we have secured funding for the bill, and now we just need to get the bill passed and signed
  • Furthermore, I provide him permission for all sorts of other activities simply by signing a form or providing
  • When I looked into this issue further, I learned that libraries all over the state have highly variable
  • But more importantly, when this gets passed and then when this gets signed, that our students know that
Keywords: 988, house, all
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences May 6th, 2026

Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Transcript Highlights:
  • schedule is now presented in a web format that can be searched and filtered on multiple different variables
  • We do have a member of the public who is signed in to provide public testimony, Keenan Kahnapasky.
  • And in times where, you know, our country is a little divided, it’s a great sign for public service that
  • Well, you can put the gone fishing sign up after that, right?
Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on May 6, 2026, with quorum present and unanimously approved the October 21, 2025 minutes. The Attorney General’s Office then provided its annual open government refresher, covering key points of the Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act, including broad disclosure requirements, records retention, response timelines for public records requests, and rules for meetings, special meetings, emergency meetings, and executive sessions. JLARC staff gave a 2026 legislative session update on tax preference bills. They highlighted 20 bills affecting tax preferences, including repeal of the coal-related sales and use tax exemption, changes to data center exemptions, new property tax exemptions for renewable energy facilities and land bank authorities, and a broad tax package in engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6346 that created multiple credits, deductions, and exemptions. Staff also presented the 2026 expedited tax preference review report covering 64 preferences, noting it is based on prior JLARC reviews and Department of Revenue studies and is now available in an interactive searchable format. The commission approved the 2026 public testimony questions without changes and then adopted the 2027–2036 tax preference review schedule, along with a new rolling 10-year schedule that will be updated each May. During discussion, commissioners raised concerns about how preferences are prioritized for full review versus expedited review, especially for older or high-revenue preferences without performance statements, and staff explained that legislative mandates, expiration dates, and workload constraints drive the schedule. The meeting also included a public and staff recognition of Commissioner Grant Forsyth’s 13 years of service and leadership, with remarks praising his collaborative approach and long tenure; the next meeting was set for August 4, 2026.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Business and Insurance 2ND REVISED Feb 19th, 2026 at 09:30 am

Business and Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Understanding the deductibles, understanding the coverage levels, there's so many variables that make
  • believe that if we try to cap profits, if we pass this bill and it goes all the way through and is signed
  • You may remember we passed Bill 913, which was signed into law and addressed these medical marijuana
  • medical marijuana license, prior to selling that business and transferring the The license holder would sign
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Government, Elections And Indian Affairs Jan 26th, 2026 at 08:35 am

House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Well, it says here, well, most PERA members are subject to the variable COLA, so members continue to
  • the beginning: Representative Joseph Sanchez and Senator Liz Stephanix, and anyone else who wants to sign
  • the beginning representative Joseph Sanchez and Senator Liz Stephonix and anyone else who wants to sign
  • Anyone else who wants to sign.
Keywords: 996, all
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Education Funding (01/15/2026)

Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:
  • talking about the state of New Hampshire and, of course, the rest of the country today regarding a message
  • that real clear so that, you know, I can hopefully stop some of those nasty phone calls and text messages
  • which I'm receiving which text messages which I'm receiving which I<00:12:30.399> have<00:12:
  • Please sign this blank check. I mean, I respect whatever the committee does.
  • >> Do you consider that variable part of the<04:12:58.800> discussion?
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • I think we need to look at NIH funding and look at all the different variables.
  • 01:39:36.639> all<01:39:36.800> the<01:39:36.960> different<01:39:37.239> variables
  • um look at all the different variables um look at all the different variables and<01:39:38.159><
  • 39:43.280> different that information all the different that information all the different variables
  • but then keep focusing on that variables but then keep focusing on that Northstar<01:39:46.400> which
Keywords: 1183, house
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 2/24/26

Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Signs and placards are not permitted in the hearing room.
  • When we looked at these different variables that come into those projections, sometimes they can actually
  • 22.079> different Um when we looked at these different Um when we looked at these different variables
  • > that<00:10:24.240> come<00:10:24.720> those<00:10:25.040> projections variables
  • um that come those projections variables um that come those projections sometimes<00:10:26.079> they
Keywords: 1183, house
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Budget Committee Apr 10th, 2025

Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • challenges this year with forecasting the Medi-Cal budget, when we look back over time, there is variability
  • As noted, the increase in caseload is a sign that that the program is acting as intended and that people
Keywords: 988, house, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Finance and Tax Feb 5th, 2025

Finance and Tax

Transcript Highlights:
  • Most of the sources here, again, are stable and growing, and so that is a good sign for our forecast.
  • We look at population for sure in the demographic conference because a lot of our Florida-based variables
Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax convened with a quorum present, heard an introductory presentation of committee staff, and then received a staff briefing from Azar Khan on Florida’s state tax structure and revenue outlook. The presentation covered fiscal year 2023-2024 revenues, noting more than $127 billion in total state revenue, with general revenue exceeding $48 billion and sales and use tax making up the largest share. It also compared Florida’s tax burden to other states, highlighted Florida’s low per-capita revenue ranking and strong business formation numbers, and reviewed major and minor revenue sources, tax rates, and the revenue estimating conference process. Members asked about what drives revenue growth, including population, tourism, construction, and auto sales, and about Florida’s regressivity, corporate income tax participation, and investment earnings on state balances. Khan said the state’s revenue picture remains positive and stable, but that future growth is slower than during the COVID-era spike; he also explained that some negative forecast changes were tied to legislative actions such as the insurance premium tax credit, while others reflected lower tobacco consumption and severance activity. He noted that revenue and spending forecasts are separate and that budget-side growth is driving concerns raised in other state economic projections. The committee also discussed possible tax package ideas for the upcoming session, including tax holidays and homeowner relief, but no specific proposals were acted on. The chair announced the committee would not meet the following week and that the next meeting would be in week three of February. The meeting concluded with no objections to a motion to adjourn.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Select Water Committee, March 6, 2026

Select Water Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • contamination in the Casper aquifer and then the understanding responding to future change in hydrologic variability
  • responding to future change in responding to future change in hydraologic<00:12:53.279> variability
  • <00:12:53.760> in<00:12:54.000> Wyoming hydraologic variability in Wyoming hydraologic
  • variability in Wyoming wersheds.<00:12:55.440> So<00:12:55.600> with<00:12:55.760>
Keywords: 916, all
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

LBT Public Hearing 01-31-2025

Labor and Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • We haven't defined it, so it's still, you know, we're still considering all the variables.
  • We haven't defined it, so it's still, you know, we're still considering all the variables.
  • We haven't defined it, so it's still, you know, we're still considering all the variables.
  • We haven't defined it, so it's still, you know, we're still considering all the variables.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard several labor and personnel measures. Senate Bill 1567 would require the Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a comprehensive review of the executive branch classification and compensation system and allow it to contract with a third party outside normal procurement rules. Director Brana Hashimoto testified in support, saying the state has more than 1,400 classes of work and limited staff to keep the system current; she said outside vendor help and market data are needed to update class specifications, minimum qualifications, and pay structures. She noted the project scope and timeline would depend on funding, and said the governor had approved about $1 million for the effort. Members asked about vendor scope, comparisons to the private sector and other public employers, consolidation of obsolete classes, and whether the exemption from procurement rules would speed the work. The committee also heard Senate Bill 326 on defense of state employees, with testimony in support from HGEA, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, and the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Senate Bill 337 would expand the pool of interest arbitrators used in collective bargaining disputes by allowing the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to request a list from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and to use arbitrators from both FMCS and the American Arbitration Association; HGEA supported the bill, saying the broader pool would improve selection and address communication issues. Senate Bill 1233 would create a State Internship and Workforce Development Program within DeHerd. The University of Hawaiʻi, HGEA, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and the Chamber of Commerce supported it. DeHerd said the program could help place interns into vacancies and convert them to civil service jobs, but said it would need about five FTE and roughly $330,000 in salaries to administer a program serving about 50 to 75 interns at a time; members questioned whether the positions could be filled and whether the program could proceed without added resources. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1359, which would increase the employer-based composite monthly contribution to the Hawaii EUTF Benefits Trust Fund beginning in January 2026 and then tie future increases to Medicare Part B premium changes with a lag. The EUTF administrator testified, and a member noted the measure resembled a bill that had died in conference the prior year. Senate Bill 1454 would give the Labor and Industrial Relations director authority to issue wage payment violation orders, establish penalties and appeals, and broaden the definition of wage; the department supported it, explaining it would align procedures under chapter 387 with existing chapter 388 enforcement and make investigations easier. Finally, the committee moved through a series of collective bargaining cost-item bills for various bargaining units and related entities, with testimony generally in support from Budget and Finance, HGEA, UH, HHSC, UPW, and other unions and associations. One amendment request was to include bargaining units 1 and 10 in the temporary hazard pay funding bill, and the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association noted its airport firefighters unit was still in arbitration and would provide final numbers later.