Transcript Highlights:

• And so, um, those were discussed.
• “That was not discussed.”
• The judges are trying to rank or discuss the options. So, on a temporary... ...discuss the options.
• This has several sections of several subjects that you’ve discussed and we’ve discussed earlier.
• There's only three pilots, which I will discuss further.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 1 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any further discussion? Okay. If not, Vice Chair Lamasao, for the vote.
• Any further discussion? If not, Vice Chair Lamasao for the vote. Chair votes aye.
• Any further discussion, comments, questions, or concerns?
• further discussion, comments, Any further discussion, comments, questions,<00:53:08.040><c> or</c><00
• And with that, any further discussion? Okay, if not, Vice Chair for the vote. Chair votes aye.

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2455, HD2, relating to employment practices. Testimony was limited, with support from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and UPW; the committee noted nine support, zero opposition, and zero comments. No vote was taken on this bill during the portion provided. The committee then took up House Bill 2165, HD2, relating to the Hawaii Employment Security Law. DLIR supported the measure but requested an amendment moving language in Section 2 from subsection A to subsection C to preserve the legal structure. Members questioned DLIR about a January 8 U.S. Department of Labor letter and whether the bill would keep Hawaii in conformity with federal unemployment insurance requirements. DLIR said the federal guidance requires the state to remove the carve-out for labor-dispute claimants, though unions with hiring halls and members in good standing could still be exempt from work-search requirements under an authorized list. UNITE HERE Local 5 opposed the bill and said the current law already gives the department discretion to exempt striking workers. The committee recessed the bill before any final action was taken in the portion shown. In the joint hearing with Commerce and Consumer Protection, the committees heard House Bill 1509, HD2, relating to workers’ compensation. DLIR supported the bill, DHER offered comments and requested an amendment, UPW supported it, and one Zoom testifier described personal experience with delayed care and urged faster decisions. After testimony, the committees voted to pass the bill with amendments. The adopted amendments restored the 7-day treatment-plan deadline from 10 days, changed the effective date to January 1, 2077, and struck the proposed $500 fine for employers who fail to respond within 10 days. Back in the Labor and Technology agenda, the committee heard House Bill 1515, HD2, also relating to workers’ compensation, with testimony noting seven in support, one in opposition, and one comment, but no action was taken in the excerpt. The committee also heard House Bill 1514, HD2, relating to workers’ compensation vocational rehabilitation plans. A Zoom testifier opposed the bill, arguing the 120-day timeline was unrealistic for complex cases. DLIR said the bill would give the director discretion to extend the vocational rehabilitation plan timeline beyond 120 days with no cap on extensions, and the committee noted five support, four opposition, and zero comments. Finally, the committee began House Bill 2458, HD3, relating to surveillance pricing. OCP said it stood on written testimony, while supporters argued the bill would prevent corporations from using personal data to set prices, especially for groceries. Retail and grocery interests opposed the measure, saying it was too broad and could restrict loyalty programs, promotions, and discounts; one witness asked that a loyalty-program exemption be restored.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any discussion by the members? Madam Chair. Please. Thank you.
• All right, discussion?
• Seeing no further discussion, hearing no further discussion, Mr.
• So with that, seeing no discussion, hearing no discussion. Let's have Mr.
• I could go back to my clients and discuss that.

Bills: SB1095 , SB1114 , SB1116 , SB1162 , SB1164 , SB1178 , SB1179 , SB1249 , SB1253 , SB1346 , SB1347 , SB1446 , SB1561 , SB1813

Committee: House Health & Human Services

Keywords: gender transition, minors, irreversible surgery, health professionals, puberty-blocking drugs, medical procedures, prohibition, Arizona Revised Statutes, behavioral health, patient brokering, appropriation, state funds, Maricopa County, claims review, medical necessity, American Indian health program, healthcare regulations, healthcare compliance, behavioral health technicians, licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• Any discussion?
• Any discussion? If those amendments. Any discussion?
• Any discussion or questions?
• </c><00:54:23.200><c> Any</c><00:54:23.520><c> discussion?</c> is to pass as is. Any discussion?
• Any discussion?

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard and then took action on several measures. Senate Bill 3048, relating to the State Building Code Council and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, received support from OPSD and the Chamber of Commerce, with OPSD requesting amendments tied to software licensing and a public permitting dashboard. The committees ultimately recommended passing the bill with amendments, including an effective date, and later adopted that recommendation by vote. Senate Bill 3083, relating to protective orders, drew support from the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, the Military and Community Relations Office, and a member of the public, while the Judiciary asked that the bill be deferred or amended because a prior notification process had lapsed and a new mandate could be difficult to implement. The committees nevertheless recommended passage with amendments and an effective date, noting implementation concerns in the report, and that recommendation was adopted. The committees also considered Senate Bill 3010, which would allow law enforcement, animal control officers, and firefighters to enter unattended vehicles to rescue animals in distress. The Animal Legal Defense Fund supported the measure as a common-sense good Samaritan protection, and the Hawaii Association for Justice recommended a small amendment. The bill was recommended for passage with amendments and later adopted. Senate Bill 3187, relating to off-site construction and SPEED Task Force recommendations, received OPSD testimony in support with comments; the committees recommended passing it with amendments, deleting the dollar amount and adding an effective date, and adopted that recommendation. In a later joint hearing with the Committee on Education, Senate Bill 2138, which would expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to graduate study, received support from the University of Hawaii, the Department of Defense, the Hawaii Army National Guard, and the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office. Members asked whether the current law limited assistance to undergraduate degrees and whether the program would require new funding; witnesses said the bill would simply expand authority and could be implemented within the current budget. Senate Bill 2614, authorizing high school diplomas for certain veterans whose schooling was interrupted by military service or wartime practices, also drew support from DOE and the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, with DOE explaining it had previously issued diplomas under an earlier version of the law and would verify eligibility through an application process. Senate Bill 2687, requiring a 100th Infantry Battalion history curriculum plan and pilot program, drew mixed testimony: DOE said the topic is already covered in existing social studies standards and the bill was unnecessary, while supporters argued the history is not being consistently taught and should be mandated. The transcript cuts off before final action on the education bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, next on our agenda is a discussion of a piece of legislation that Senator Herring has been
• Not everything that was discussed in the interim is mentioned or recommended in this document.
• </c> bringing it forward and for discussion. bringing it forward and for discussion.
• We heard that discussion in the interim. I believe before you came on.
• We heard that discussion in the interim. I believe before you came on.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity met and first heard a presentation from Johnny Cole III, president and CEO of the African American Forum in Lexington. Cole described the organization’s 30-plus year history, its signature events and programs, and its mission to promote African American arts, culture, education, and community development. He said the group has reached more than 60,000 people through events and more than 90,000 students through its arts partnership work, and estimated its programs have generated about $4.5 million in local economic impact. He also outlined a proposed legacy project in Lexington’s First Council District that would include a facility, culinary kitchen, food court, mobile truck, and expanded communications and internship opportunities, and said the organization was seeking a $3 million state request to help purchase a building and expand its mission. The committee then discussed a juvenile justice funding proposal presented by Senator Catoria Herring. Herring said the bill would create a juvenile justice fund for prevention, early intervention, alternatives to detention, re-entry, and wraparound services, with money coming from state appropriations, gifts, grants, and federal funds. She said the proposal was based on her experience in juvenile justice and on concerns that the state has invested heavily in detention facilities but not enough in upstream services. She cited recent facility spending and said the bill would seek $9 million. Members asked how the fund would work, who could apply, and how it would be overseen; Herring said she envisioned a grant program open to local governments, law enforcement, nonprofits, and school districts, with reporting requirements and oversight through the juvenile justice system. No vote was taken, and the discussion ended with general support and a suggestion to adjust the request amount to a round $9 million figure.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know we discussed it.
• Can you please tell me, during the discussion previously, you were describing in the discussions around
• We're going to move to discussing, I think both workforce and adequate placements.
• Each of these three, well, I believe each of these three entities discussed.
• But they were also discussing these institutions were also discussing, Madam Chair, the stipends and

Transcript Highlights:

• So, briefly, is there any discussion?<00:11:05.680><c> Russ</c><00:11:06.079><c> McGuire.
• </c> discussion? Russ McGuire. Thank you, Mr. discussion? Russ McGuire. Thank you, Mr.
• There was some discussion about the start date.
• 22.559><c> the</c><00:52:22.880><c> start</c> was some discussion about the start was some discussion
• Uh, those all will be discussed. So, uh, I will chair that one.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first discussed HB 771, the open enrollment bill, which had returned from the Senate with language clarifying that districts should list both tuition expenses and offsetting revenue estimates from sending districts. The chair and Representative McGuire supported concurring with the Senate changes, while Representative Luno raised broader concerns about the bill’s structure and equity, arguing that tuition based on 80% of the sending district’s average cost could be unfair and could create problems for receiving districts with different cost structures. After a show of hands, the committee voted to concur and send that recommendation to the House floor, with Luno indicating he would speak against it there. The committee then took up SB 9 in executive session. An amendment, 1920H, was offered to clarify that the tuition calculation should use the sending district’s average cost and to support access to CTE programs, including allowing students to take academic courses at the receiving school and, in some cases, attend the nearest CTE center. Supporters said the bill would help more students participate in career and technical education and noted bipartisan sponsorship in the Senate. Opponents argued the amendment would increase district costs, strain property taxpayers, and could reduce CTE participation or create logistical problems. The committee adopted the amendment 10-8, then voted 10-8 to recommend OTPA as amended; Representative Lad was assigned the majority report and Representative Luno the minority ITL report. After closing the SB 9 executive session, the chair reminded members that committee reports were due immediately and announced retained-bill subcommittees. One subcommittee will address adequacy and school funding issues arising from HB 651, HB 772, HB 491, and HB 434, chaired by Representative Spillsbury. Another will address school building aid issues from HB 295 and HB 366, including whether to keep the current formula or revise it, and how to handle renovations, new construction, and lease arrangements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any further discussion? Represent you. Any further discussion? Represent Damon. Damon. Damon.
• Any further discussion? Representative Pelos.
• Further discussion. Not seeing any.
• Further discussion. Not seeing any.
• </c><01:24:01.920><c> any</c> before we look at this and discuss any before we look at this and discuss

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with housekeeping announcements about clearing office file cabinets by May 22, arranging lockers in another building, and the building’s cold temperature. The chair also reviewed the calendar, noting the May 29 reporting deadline, the May 26 Memorial Day closure, and possible dates for subcommittee or committee-of-the-whole meetings. Representative Damon then apologized for his word choice in a prior vote, and the chair accepted the apology. The committee recessed briefly for caucus before returning to the docket. The first bill taken up was SB 98, extending donations to regional career and technical education center programs. Representative Peoples moved OTP, the motion was seconded, and members noted the bill would allow continued private donations to support the program. The committee voted unanimously to pass the bill and then agreed to place it on consent, with discussion noting a fiscal note but no objection to consent. The committee then considered SB 294, concerning lab fees for career and technical education courses. Representative Peoples moved ITL, but members debated whether the bill would create an unfunded mandate or instead simply require that lab fees be addressed in regional agreements. Supporters argued it would make costs transparent and prevent students from being surprised by fees, while opponents said it would shift costs onto sending districts and add to an already underfunded CTE tuition and transportation line. After discussion, the committee voted 10-8 to pass the bill, with Representative Peoples assigned the majority report and Representative Bricky the minority report. Finally, the committee turned to SB 195, which revises the composition and duties of the New Hampshire Advisory Council on Career and Technical Education. The chair initially asked questions about how CTE funding works for part-time students, then corrected that he was on the wrong bill before returning to SB 195. Representative Lad offered amendment 1938H and explained that it largely tracked current law while making changes to council membership, including the appointment process for business and trade representatives. Discussion focused on how the amendment and bill would alter council appointments and whether the current structure should remain, but the transcript cuts off before any final action on SB 195 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have engaged in discussions with the Green Infrastructure Authority. We met today.
• We're meeting again tomorrow to further the discussions on what we can come up with here.
• Excuse me just for a moment. discussions to occur and um see if we discussions to occur and um see if
• </c> participate in any of that discussion participate in any of that discussion because<00:37:02.079
• that, and I'm open to discussion further.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on February 5, 2025, and heard testimony on several bills. HB 918, relating to labeling, drew support from the Department of Health, INDA (the nonwoven fabrics industry), and Hawaii Realtors. INDA said the bill aligns with do-not-flush labeling laws in other states but raised a concern about the six-month compliance deadline tied to FIFRA approval. In response to committee questions, witnesses explained that the bill is aimed mainly at disinfecting wipes, that most products are already labeled nationally, and that the proposed timing issue could be addressed by using Oregon’s approach. No vote was taken on the measure during the portion shown. The committee also heard HB 1482, relating to controlled substances. HPD supported the bill, and Aloha Green Holdings and the Department of Health both said they supported the intent but recommended technical amendments. Their testimony focused on clarifying the treatment of Delta-8 THC, distinguishing synthetic or artificially derived cannabinoids from naturally occurring forms, and avoiding confusion in the hemp law. Members asked whether Delta-8 would show up on drug tests; witnesses said it would test positive for THC and would not be distinguished from Delta-9. The bill was then set aside as the committee moved on. HB 981, relating to attorney’s fees, drew opposition from a law firm representing homeowners and associations, which argued the bill would limit access to legal services, favor developers and contractors, and make settlement harder. The witness suggested instead using existing consumer-protection fee-shifting concepts, and committee members explored whether a capped fee award or a broader attorney-fee rule would be more appropriate. The committee then took up HB 807 and HB 336, both relating to condominiums. HB 807 received support from the Green Infrastructure Authority and the Hawaii Bankers Association, while one testifier urged deferral over unresolved questions about commercial PACE financing; the bank association asked for more time to work with HGIA, and the chair indicated decision-making could be deferred to allow that discussion. On HB 336, the Community Associations Institute opposed the bill as removing checks and balances, while the Hawaii Workers Center and others supported it as a step toward clearer enforcement of health and safety issues in condominiums and rental housing.

Transcript Highlights:

• recess, if anyone needs to recess, obviously we want you here for as much as possible during the discussion
• So I look forward to hearing a bit more discussion about that as we wander down this table and reserve
• We need to continue to have the robust discussions that we're having, and of course anyone who does need
• I appreciate the efforts of the staff to capture the earlier discussion.
• I'm open for discussion on that. I think that'd be important, in my view.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission held its 16th and final meeting to review and vote on revisions to its draft report on combating antisemitism. After roll call, members approved the prior meeting minutes, adopted a procedure for handling substantive and technical edits, and authorized limited technical corrections after the meeting. Senator John Velis’s letter was read into the record noting his military deployment and support for the final report, and the commission discussed the scope of the report, including its 118 findings and recommendations and the large volume of testimony received over the year. Members then worked through a series of amendments to the report. The chair’s prefatory statement was revised to restore language and data about Massachusetts Jews’ relationship to Israel and the impact on the commission’s work. Commissioner Liken’s proposal called for DESE guidance and teacher training to support intellectually diverse K-12 classrooms; members debated how to ensure it could not be used to justify biased or false material, and the amendment passed with discussion about existing guardrails. Commissioner Hay’s technical edits were adopted, and commissioners also discussed whether DESE’s new reporting system should anonymize data; the language was revised to specify anonymized data and approved. Additional amendments were adopted on public safety and higher education, including clarifying support for nonprofit security grants and personnel grants, refining language on academic boycotts, and adding references to Zionist identity and presumed Zionist identity as possible bases for antisemitic treatment. Commissioner Kipnis’s revisions to the prefatory statement were also considered, with some members objecting to the removal of language about minimization and traumatic invalidation and others supporting a more concise, fact-driven tone. The commission also approved language strengthening recommendations by changing several “should” statements to “must.” Treasurer Deborah Goldberg then delivered closing remarks praising the commission’s work and sharing personal family history to illustrate the persistence of antisemitism in Massachusetts. She said the report offers a practical roadmap, including bias reporting in schools, security coordination, and broader anti-discrimination training, and emphasized that the recommendations will help all communities. Commissioners thanked her for her leadership and testimony. The meeting continued with further amendments, including one on law enforcement security grants and another on higher education findings and recommendations, and the commission repeatedly voted by roll call, generally approving the revisions unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• I look forward to discussing these issues and more with you today and over the months ahead.
• So appreciate the point that you're raising and would love to continue to discuss that as we continue
• Many of them were already on their own, and there's been discussion within the last decade or so of a
• In regard to the campuses that have had to submit turnaround plans, I look forward to that discussion
• Oh, wait, before I move on, DOF, Elio, did you have any comments on the last discussion? Okay.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education held its first 2026 hearing on higher education, focusing on UC and CSU system updates, student housing, enrollment, and core operations. In opening remarks, the chair noted recent state fiscal stress, the prior rejection of proposed UC/CSU cuts, and the Governor’s proposed 5% ongoing compact increases. UC President James B. Milliken and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia described the systems’ public value, research and workforce roles, and the impact of federal actions on grants, financial aid, and campus operations. Both also emphasized Title IX and civil rights efforts; CSU said it had implemented nearly all state auditor recommendations and was on track to finish the remaining one, while UC highlighted its systemwide civil rights and Title IX offices. Both leaders said federal investigations, grant cancellations, and litigation demands were consuming staff time and money, with UC reporting more than 200 grants lost or affected and CSU citing more than $161 million in lost grants and more than 1,600 grants affected overall. The committee then heard on student housing. Finance and LAO staff said the Governor’s budget made no major new housing proposal but continued support for the Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program. CSU reported 12 supported projects that will add about 5,047 beds, most below market rate, with four already open and seven more expected this year; it also said it has about 68,000 beds systemwide, a 92% occupancy rate, and ongoing emergency housing support. UC said the program has supported seven UC projects and two joint community college projects, adding more than 7,000 beds total, but nearly 10,000 UC students were on housing waitlists at the start of fall 2025. UC asked for additional state support, including possible bond funding and a statutory change to allow UC participation in public-private partnership housing projects. Members discussed rapid rehousing, student homelessness, faculty and staff housing, and community college housing partnerships, with both systems describing existing emergency beds and support services. On enrollment, LAO recommended maintaining UC’s 2026-27 resident undergraduate target, funding enrollment growth separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident reduction plan, and holding UC flat in 2027-28. For CSU, LAO recommended revising the 2026-27 target downward to reflect current projections, funding growth separately, and holding 2027-28 flat. CSU said it had rebounded from COVID declines, now exceeds its funded target by about 3,000 FTE, and is shifting about $89 million and 10,000 FTE spots from lower-demand campuses to higher-demand ones while developing turnaround plans for seven campuses with sustained enrollment declines, including Sonoma State. CSU also described direct admissions, transfer success pathways, and new degree programs aimed at workforce needs. UC said it had surpassed its compact enrollment goals, planned to add 2,721 California undergraduates in 2026-27, and was seeking $5.5 million for health professional programs. Members raised concerns about underprepared freshmen, K-12 alignment, nonresident caps at UC San Diego, deferred maintenance, ROTC access, and the need for stronger turnaround plans and teacher preparation pipelines. The final item on core operations addressed the Governor’s proposal to defer 3% base funding again, moving the one-time deferral to 2027-28 and allowing short-term zero-interest loans to cover it.

Transcript Highlights:

• A conversation you will hear time and again, certainly in this year's discussions of this committee,
• We can discuss that further.
• And we will leave the issue open to further discuss and make a decision on this. Thank you.
• There was some discussion last year about potentially extending that deadline.
• In that discussion, we also mentioned to the board that those requests from L.A.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Discussion only. So we have discussion only regarding the strike-everything amendment to HB 2211.
• I think this is a very, very important issue. ...to discussion only.
• The ADU you discussed, or ADUs you discussed, that appear to be a blight, I believe, in your opinion—do
• I'm just telling you that I had that discussion with her.
• That discussion with her.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first took up a discussion-only strike-everything amendment to HB 2211, which would make it unprofessional conduct for certain health care providers to submit offers in independent dispute resolution above 300% of Medicare or the qualified payment amount. The chair said he was not ready to move the bill because more stakeholder meetings were needed. Testimony split between insurers, who said a small number of providers were abusing the No Surprises Act and driving up costs, and provider representatives, who argued the proposal would improperly cap rates, relied on opaque insurer-set QPAs, and could threaten licensure in a billing dispute. No vote was taken on HB 2211. The committee then considered HB 4028 on accessory dwelling units. The bill would remove the 1,000-square-foot cap, change setback rules, bar municipalities from requiring an administrative use permit and certain elevation criteria, and extend the deadline for cities to adopt ADU regulations. The sponsor argued it would give homeowners more flexibility and help address housing affordability, while cities, neighborhood groups, and residents warned it would allow oversized ADUs, reduce local control, create density and safety concerns, and invite investor-driven development. After extensive debate, the committee voted 8-9 with one present, and HB 4028 failed. Next, the committee heard HB 2620, as amended, which appropriates $300,000 annually for five years from the General Fund to the Department of Veterans’ Services for grants to emergency shelters. An amendment removed age and non-congregate-setting conditions for eligibility. The sponsor and a shelter provider said the funding would help shelters better serve homeless veterans and connect them to services. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed HB 2620 on a 17-0 vote with one member not voting. The committee then considered HB 2960, as amended, which creates a veterans specialty court grant program and a dedicated fund to support local veterans treatment courts. An amendment shifted administration of the fund to the Office of the Courts and allowed support for expansion of existing programs. The sponsor, a Lake Havasu judge, and a veteran graduate testified that veterans courts reduce recidivism and save lives by linking veterans to treatment and support. The bill was still being taken up when the transcript ended, with testimony continuing from supporters including a veterans shelter founder.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as we discussed during the presentation of the bill, my main concern, As we discussed during the
• Was there any discussion of landlines, the issue with landlines?
• Was there any discussion of landlines, the issue with landlines?
• And one last thing is that there was discussion.
• There was discussion about them being at the no-new-revenue rate.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum call, invocation, and approval of the previous day’s journal, then observed a moment of silence after Senator Eckhardt referenced a mass shooting in Austin. The chamber also agreed to postpone reading and referral of bills until later in the day. Early procedural business included a motion not to print Senate Bill 3, which was adopted without objection. Later, Senator Mendez raised a parliamentary inquiry about moving flood relief bills to the top of the calendar, but the presiding officer said the order of business was up to the chair. The main floor action centered on Senate Bill 4, the congressional redistricting bill. Senator King laid out the bill, describing it as the companion to the House version, based on 2020 census data, and arguing it was legal, race-blind, more compact, and likely to elect more Republicans. Senators asked extensive questions about the process, public hearings, and the map’s effects on districts and communities. The Senate voted to suspend the regular order of business and the three-day rule, then passed SB 4 to engrossment and finally passed it, with the recorded votes showing 19 yeas and 2 nays. The Senate also took up Senate Bill 6, relating to abortion and civil liability for the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs. Senator Hughes argued the bill was needed to stop illegal abortion pills being mailed into Texas and harming women and unborn children. The Senate suspended the regular order of business and the three-day rule, passed the bill to engrossment, and then finally passed it, with the recorded votes showing 18 yeas, 10 nays, and one present not voting. A lengthy discussion followed on the committee substitute for Senate Bill 14, which would standardize law enforcement personnel and departmental files statewide. Senator King said the bill codifies a TCOLE model policy and limits public access to personnel files to substantiated misconduct, commendations, and evaluations, while keeping other records available through other legal processes. Senators Eckhardt, West, Hinojosa, and others questioned how the bill would affect transparency, meet-and-confer agreements, civilian review boards, and access to unsubstantiated complaints. An amendment by Senator Hinojosa of Dallas to narrow the bill to unfounded complaints failed, and SB 14 was then passed to engrossment on a vote of 18 yeas and 10 nays. The final major item was Senate Bill 1, the natural disaster omnibus bill responding to the July flooding. Senator Perry said the bill addresses camp and RV park safety, evacuation plans, emergency rooftop access, lines of succession for local emergency management, annual drills, volunteer management, drone restrictions over disaster areas, small-business recovery loans, and a statewide data hub for flood and weather monitoring. Senators Menendez, Eckhardt, and Kolkhorst asked about autopsies, volunteer background checks, liability, warning systems, floodplain mitigation, and coordination with FEMA and local governments. Perry said the bill focuses on preparation, response, and recovery, while broader prevention and mitigation issues may be addressed later. The transcript ends during this extended discussion, before final action on SB 1 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• damages because in previous attempts, discussions on capping damages because in previous attempts the
• Judges were allowed to discuss... ...tailored to defendants' needs.
• So in Washington State, a lot of the same discussions were happening as were happening nationally.
• Good morning, Senator Ingram, thank you for having us here to discuss this today.
• I think that there was a lot of the discussions earlier about tort liability.

Summary: The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims. Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes. The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.

Transcript Highlights:

• The public has are out on the table before we begin our discussion.
• Our state budget is constrained, and uncertainty... ...really have a full discussion.
• We may call you back up for some comments during the discussion. Thank you.
• And so we're inviting the panelists to offer insights as we have our discussion.
• So just urging that these be prioritized in these discussions. Thank you. Thank you.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee No. 4 hearing focused on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and cap-and-trade reauthorization, with members and panelists discussing how to balance climate goals, affordability, and legislative oversight. The chair emphasized the hearing as a broad review of past GGRF spending and future options, while the LAO outlined how GGRF revenues are generated, how variable they have been, and the tradeoffs between continuous appropriations and annual budget control. Two academic panelists, Dr. Kyle Meng and Danny Cullen Ward, argued that cap-and-trade remains an effective climate policy, but stressed that future revenue will depend heavily on market design, allowance allocation, and price levels. They also raised the idea that GGRF could be used more directly for affordability, especially by lowering electricity costs, and for targeted investments in technologies that the market would not otherwise support. Committee members pressed the panelists on where revenues come from, how much has actually been spent, and whether continuous appropriations reduce oversight. CARB staff said more than $33 billion has been generated to date and a little over $11–12 billion has been spent, with the rest committed or in process, and noted that project timelines can be lengthy. Members also asked about ways to lower electricity rates, reduce wildfire-related utility liabilities, and support electrification. The panelists said transportation fuels are the largest source of GGRF revenue, that industrial emitters receive a smaller share of free allowances, and that reducing wildfire liability and investing in grid-scale batteries could help lower costs and speed decarbonization. Public commenters largely urged the Legislature to preserve or expand continuous appropriations for specific climate programs. Speakers supported funding for nature-based solutions, natural and working lands, urban greening, agricultural climate solutions, waste and composting programs, clean transportation, AB 617 community air protection, clean cars, transit, affordable housing near transit, and dairy digesters. Several groups argued these programs are cost-effective, provide public health and affordability benefits, and should receive dedicated shares of GGRF. Others urged reducing free allowances and using more GGRF revenue to directly lower energy costs for households. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any further discussion to the amendment?
• </c><00:02:05.600><c> Thank</c> discussion? Representative Ryer. Thank discussion?
• Discussion to the amendment. I speaker. Discussion to the amendment.
• Further discussion<00:47:09.119><c> to</c><00:47:09.359><c> the</c> discussion to the discussion to the
• Further discussion to the bill reading. Further discussion to the bill as<00:47:42.520><c> amended.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• On slide 12, this is a part of a discussion and a good lead-in to a much longer discussion that we probably
• discussions you have today.
• Remember the discussion associated with advising and where is the advising inserted?
• continued discussion? All the items that are in this report here?
• I'm sure we'll be discussing that again. Members, this concludes. Sir, thank you so much.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've discussed this bill quite thoroughly already, but kind of an agenda here because I don't feel like
• We've discussed this bill quite thoroughly already, but kind of an agenda here because I don't feel like
• Thank you, Representative Johnson, for bringing this bill and appreciate the discussion today.
• Chair, and thank you, Representative Johnson, and members for this good discussion.
• Chair, and thank you, Representative Johnson, and members for this good discussion.

Bills: HF4 , HF173

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief, state surplus, fiscal forecast, wealthy taxpayers, high-income exclusion, 2026 ballot, referendum, surplus distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the discussion back and forth as well as your initial testimony.
• I appreciate the discussion back and forth as well as your initial testimony.
• So I believe that is the key element: having those ongoing discussions.
• Which is geo-fencing, as we have been discussing here.
• I welcome the opportunity to discuss this and what the gradual integration will look like.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 988, house, all