Transcript Highlights:

• I heard your advice, Madam Chair, I... ...the reality of it. All right?
• Per your advice, Madam Chair, I looked up some statistics here on pass rates of the NCLEX, so a diploma

Bills: HB4336, HB1818, HB3194, HB3538, HB3682, HB3762, HB3793, HB3930, HB3931, HB3934, HB4124, HB4200, HB4410, HB4457, HB4473, HB3884, HB1912

Keywords: interventional pain management, pain management clinic, chronic pain, acute pain, spinal injections, epidural steroid injection, peripheral nerve block, nerve ablation, spinal cord stimulator, intrathecal infusion pump, endoscopic diskectomy, fluoroscopy, physician supervision, allopathic physician, osteopathic physician, CRNA, certified registered nurse anesthetist, nurse anesthetist, freestanding pain management facility, medical licensure

Transcript Highlights:

• to do in any of these many spaces that he led in, just call him, and he always had incredibly wise advice
• any of these many spaces that he led in, I would just call him, and he always had incredibly wise advice

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, observed a moment of silence for civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, offered a prayer and pledge, and welcomed several guest delegations, including Hubert Humphrey Fellows and Congressman Jim Clyburn. Members gave extended remarks honoring Clyburn’s civil rights and congressional leadership, as well as his work on rural issues, the Affordable Care Act, and bipartisan relationships. The chamber also announced a joint hearing of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions to be held upon adjournment. The main floor action was on Senate Resolution 72 by Senator Wahab, celebrating Lunar New Year. Senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support, highlighting the holiday’s significance across Asian cultures, its themes of family, renewal, courage, and community, and California’s large Asian American population. Several members also noted the history of Chinese immigrants in California and the importance of recognizing and supporting Asian American communities amid ongoing concerns about anti-Asian hate. The resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of 37-0. The remainder of the session was devoted to adjournment-in-memory tributes. Senator Becker honored Niles Telenius, a young climate and aviation advocate; Senator Gonzalez, joined by Senators Strickland, Laird, Cabaldon, and Umberg, honored former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster for his leadership in city government, energy policy, and public service; and Senator Wiener honored Terence Allen for his work in San Francisco’s cannabis, LGBTQ, small business, and nightlife communities. The Senate then announced it would reconvene on Thursday, February 19, at 9 a.m., with recess until 3:30 p.m. for adjournment proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• and it is for the appraisal of utility, communication, and transportation property, and to provide advice
• and it is for the appraisal of utility, communication, and transportation property, and to provide advice

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm eager to profit from your advice and counsel, and I look forward to coming over and working with
• Please seek wise advice and counsel from everyone in this room. My phone is open. Reach out to me.

Transcript Highlights:

• trying to take that advice will be sorely disappointed.
• Yes, thank you for that advice.
• Yes, thank you for that advice.
• Yes, thank you for that advice.
• Yes, thank you for that advice. Thank you for that advice.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division 2 work session first took up HB 506, a bill dealing with the return of seized firearms. Members discussed how the measure would shift background-check processing for firearm returns through the Department of Safety, while the physical firearms would still remain with local police unless State Police had taken custody. The department said the bill would change which cases come to it, and members clarified that the bill concerns the background-check decision rather than possession of the firearms. The committee then voted OTP on HB 506 FN by a 7-0 roll call. The committee next discussed HB 671, establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program. Department of Education staff explained that the bill grew out of a COVID-era Waterford contract that provided home-based early literacy support for families using federal relief funds, at a cost of about $600,000 per year, but that the program ended when those funds expired. Members raised concerns that the bill’s $1 appropriation was not realistic, that the prior program lacked sufficient outcome data, and that the references to ESSA tier-one benchmarks were unclear. The department said it was conducting a broader literacy needs assessment and updating the state literacy plan, including data from the zero-to-five range, K-5, and dyslexia-related work. Waterford representatives described the program as an early-literacy, pre-K readiness service for children ages zero to five, originally designed to work in homes with computers and internet provided where needed, and later expanded in some settings such as daycares and pre-K classrooms. They said the program used assessments at the beginning and end, had served hundreds of children, and was intended to support family engagement and kindergarten readiness. Despite that testimony, members remained concerned about funding and the lack of clear results, and one member moved to retain the bill for more information. The discussion ended with the bill retained rather than advanced.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• while court filings were in advice while court filings were in progress.<01:18:03.400><c> This</c><01
• So, anyway, that’s my advice. Thank you. Not administrative warrant, a real warrant.
• So, anyway, that’s my advice. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• 01:52:50.720><c> anyway,</c><01:52:50.960><c> that's</c><01:52:51.080><c> my</c><01:52:51.200><c> advice
• So, anyway, that's my advice. privacy. So, anyway, that's my advice. Thank<01:52:51.800><c> you.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She provided legal advice to them in many of the court proceedings.
• She provided legal advice to them in She provided legal advice to them in many<00:54:20.079><c> of</c
• </c> with those uh suggestions and advice. with those uh suggestions and advice.
• Um, and I've spoken with all of them, and I've noted all of their suggestions and advice.
• In addition, I have also spoken to several other circuit court judges who have also given me advice,

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard Governor’s Message 790, the nomination of Karen T. Nakasone to serve as chief judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals for a 10-year term. The chair announced that no vote would be taken that day and that the committee would vote on Thursday. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with the chair reading that there were 103 supporters, zero opposed, and one comment. Supporters included current and retired judges, public defenders, bar association representatives, former elected officials, and community members. They described Nakasone as intelligent, fair, hardworking, well respected, and a strong leader with deep legal experience. Several speakers emphasized her judicial temperament, her work as an advocate and judge, and her community involvement, including leadership in civic and civil rights organizations. One pro se litigant also testified that she had been treated kindly and respectfully by Nakasone in prior interactions. The Hawaii State Bar Association reported that it had conducted an interview and review process and found her qualified for the position. In her own remarks, Nakasone introduced family and colleagues, described her 30-year legal career, and said her first job after law school was as an ICA law clerk. She highlighted the court’s backlog reduction efforts under Acting Chief Judge Katherine Leonard, saying the number of older pending appeals had dropped significantly through team-based reforms, and stated that she would continue that work if confirmed. The hearing ended without questions from the committee and with the nomination held for a later vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and the point of this would be to give us guidelines and advice for determining how we appropriate
• the</c><01:22:20.239><c> page</c> At the bottom of the page, one can see develop recommendations, advice
• I certainly welcome advice if this on in terms of who serves on this and what the direction of it is.
• I certainly welcome advice if this on in terms of who serves on this and what the direction of it is.
• I certainly welcome advice in terms of who serves on this and what the direction of it is.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• example, wants to do something through the Municipal Association, for example, when we get legal advice
• that's where I'm going with it: you separate the lobbyist out from what we're paying from our legal advice
• I have the ability to provide legal advice and guidance to members, as well as to run the association
• 00:58:25.839><c> provide</c><00:58:26.119><c> Prov</c><00:58:26.359><c> legal</c><00:58:26.640><c> advice
• </c> the ability to provide Prov legal advice the ability to provide Prov legal advice and<00:58:27.160

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 118 in executive session and adopted Amendment 0882H, which would remove the House and Senate members from the Child Care Commission while leaving the commission in place. Members said the amendment was a continuation of earlier committee discussion and supported it as a needed change. The committee then voted 12-0 to recommend ought to pass as amended, and HB 118 was placed on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 142, dealing with Gold Star Mother’s Day. The sponsor explained that the bill was unnecessary because existing statute already directs the governor to issue a proclamation for Gold Star Mother’s Day and to urge appropriate observance, including flag-related ceremonies. Several members discussed how to ensure the proclamation and flag observance would happen and whether the committee report should note the existing statute. Other members said they would oppose killing the bill because the recognition was important. The committee voted 9-3 to table/ITL the bill, and HB 142 was declared inexpedient to legislate. The final major item was a public hearing on a non-germane amendment to House Bill 456, with a related draft amendment also discussed. The sponsor said the amendment would raise the annual membership allowance from $20 to $75, rename fees as dues, prohibit dues from being used to pay lobbyists, require NHMA dues to be brought before voters as a separate warrant article for transparency, and require separate accounting so lobbying funds are not co-mingled with other funds. Supporters said the goal was to keep taxpayer-derived money from funding lobbying while preserving non-lobbying services such as legal advice and training. Opponents argued the proposal was an overreach and would micromanage local towns. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• of years, we're placing a heavy emphasis on research and community engagement to ensure that our advice
• like state government and officials like yourselves<01:12:55.360><c> expert</c><01:12:55.719><c> advice
• </c><01:12:56.159><c> on</c><01:12:56.400><c> issues</c> yourselves expert advice on issues yourselves
• Community engagement to ensure<01:13:08.960><c> that</c><01:13:09.120><c> our</c><01:13:09.320><c> advice
• </c><01:13:09.800><c> and</c> ensure that our advice and ensure that our advice and recommendations<01

Bills: HF1867, HF1240

Keywords: lottery, retailer contracts, Minnesota Statutes, contract qualifications, public integrity, criminal background, legislative auditor, public funds, state government, compliance, transparency, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And even on the dental side, you know, the advice that I've been receiving from stakeholders for the
• on aging and their senior centers do, they are increasingly relied on as a trusted place to seek advice
• They're not going to the regular doctor, which means they're not getting advice.
• If I get invited to the gala again this year, maybe you can give me some fashion advice, because I got
• They also work with hospitals to identify root causes and offer expert advice on how to prevent future

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> provided advice and guidance on this. provided advice and guidance on this.
• Just a little advice. Yeah. No, no, I appreciate that, Madam Chair.
• No, I was just asking, I just said, Madam Chair, advice, and since you given the advice, so yeah, you
• , and since you given the chair, advice, and since you given the advice,<00:52:42.720><c> so</c><00:52
• </c> advice, so yeah, you know, I don't know. advice, so yeah, you know, I don't know.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I believe that the state of New Hampshire should not put what could be viewed as tax advice into
• a statute, and that tax advice could be wrong and someone could rely on it and suffer consequences.
• </c> put what could be viewed as tax advice put what could be viewed as tax advice into<00:28:36.519>
• </c><00:28:38.480><c> could</c> into a statute and that tax advice could into a statute and that tax
• It's unwise for the state to give advice as it's essentially doing in this case on federal tax law in

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on HB 402, a bill dealing with whether Education Freedom Account (EFA) payments should be described in state law as not constituting taxable income. The bill sponsor argued that the current statute is misleading because New Hampshire should not imply a federal tax result, and said the bill would remove that language and could also be amended to clarify that families should consult tax advisors. He emphasized that the measure was not intended to impose a state tax on EFAs, but to avoid giving inaccurate advice about possible federal tax liability. Testimony was divided. A retired representative and a tax preparer both opposed the bill, saying EFA payments are already treated consistently with IRS rules and that the bill would create confusion, administrative burden, and possible tax consequences for low- and moderate-income families. They argued the bill is a solution in search of a problem and warned that requiring 1099s could add costs for the scholarship organization and recipients. A tax attorney supported the bill’s repeal of the state language, saying New Hampshire should not put tax advice into statute and that the current wording is inaccurate because federal law, not state law, controls taxability. He cited IRS Section 117 and Publication 970, explaining that only some scholarship-like payments are tax-free and that many EFA-eligible expenses may not qualify for federal exemption. Members asked questions about what would be misleading, whether the bill was trying to tax EFAs, and the cost of issuing 1099s. The sponsor and witnesses repeatedly said the bill was not a state tax on voucher payments, but a clarification about federal tax treatment. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think that's one thing is to look for advice from those who are figuring that out.
• higher education as well as K-12 as well as early childhood, and being able to bring a vision to the advice-giving
• And being able to bring a vision to the advice-giving around that without having all sort of the responsibility
• higher education as well as K-12 as well as early childhood and being able to bring a vision to the advice
• giving around that. and being able to bring a vision to the advice giving around that without having

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And Rob's in the room, so I'm going to give them a little political advice.
• That's my political advice to you. Could be good, could be bad. You may want to take it.
• And Rob's in the room, so I'm going to give them a little political advice.
• That's my political advice to you. Could be good, could be bad. You may want to take it.
• Do you have any advice after I gave them some on how to do that? Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , not legal advice, so that these folks can file their cases and get a hearing scheduled.
• You'll read in my written testimony the details, but we provide advice to 6,000 requesters per year.
• I'm going to take advice from Chairman Kilcoyne, and we had submitted last night our testimony as well
• We support members of the private bar with advice on prison litigation, and members of the Legislature
• That allows us to help promote and push the idea that prisoners need access to expert medical advice

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was held in Clinton Town Hall as part of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means’ budget review, with local officials welcoming legislators and noting the long agenda of many panels. The main presentation was from Secretary Terrence Reedy of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, who outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s FY26 proposal for the secretariat, including a $1.7 billion budget and a 7% increase over FY25. He described investments in emergency preparedness, hate-crime prevention, reentry programming, technology modernization, internships, and public safety training, while also noting some reductions driven by resource constraints, including cuts to certain grant programs and administrative costs. Committee members also raised concerns about federal uncertainty and how it could affect state budgets and public safety planning. A major portion of the questioning focused on the Department of Correction. Secretary Reedy and Commissioner Sean Jenkins said the biggest challenges are staffing, officer wellness, facility safety, and contraband—especially K2. They described steps taken at MCI Souza and other facilities, including reducing population at the maximum-security unit, changing management, removing metal products and free weights, improving screening and roll calls, adding a rapid response team, and increasing investigative and technological efforts to combat K2. They also discussed the closure of MCI Concord, saying it was driven by high maintenance costs and staffing needs, and explained that savings are being used to improve staffing patterns and address deferred maintenance over time rather than producing immediate large budget reductions. Members also questioned the budget’s impact on police training and community policing. The administration defended the increase in police academy tuition from $3,200 to $6,000 as reflecting true training costs and said it would still be subsidized by the state, while acknowledging the burden on small municipalities. They said the MPTC is expanding regional training and considering proposals such as Greenfield Community College’s. On community policing, officials emphasized uniform statewide training, de-escalation, and communication skills. The State Police also announced an outside review of the academy by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and said the next class will be split into two smaller groups to improve oversight and allow quicker implementation of recommendations. Other topics included ICE and federal immigration enforcement, with Reedy saying state law prohibits Massachusetts law enforcement from acting in a civil immigration capacity and that no state dollars were used in the Tufts-related ICE operation mentioned by a member. Senators and representatives also raised the upcoming FIFA World Cup, warning that it will require significant public safety resources and likely federal funding. Additional discussion covered restorative justice and juvenile diversion, health care costs in DOC, electronic health records, and the need for more diverse and culturally competent public safety staffing. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• encouraged the user to isolate themselves from others, validated suicidal ideation, gave detailed advice
• As people turn to chatbots for advice on acts of violence, it's paramount that we do not expect AI systems
• As part of those minimum ...requesting dangerous advice are flagged for human review.
• suicide and crisis lifeline and a notice that the chat will pause if prompted again for this harmful advice
• let We don't just let chatbots, as they are wont to do, you know, start to hallucinate and provide advice

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also, on the advice of our consultant, did a review of best practices across the country of other
• </c><00:24:15.880><c> of</c><00:24:16.000><c> our</c> We also, with on the advice of our We also, with
• on the advice of our consultant,<00:24:17.360><c> um</c><00:24:17.560><c> did</c><00:24:17.720><c> a
• And then lastly, I want to point out the investments are, you know, advice and analysis is provided to
• </c><00:39:18.200><c> and</c> investments are you know, advice and investments are you know, advice and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We were given poor advice. >> and we acted on that advice and I apologize for that.
• We were given<00:32:29.279><c> poor</c><00:32:29.600><c> advice</c> given poor advice given poor advice
• /c><00:32:31.279><c> acted</c><00:32:31.679><c> on</c><00:32:31.840><c> that</c><00:32:32.159><c> advice
• </c><00:32:32.559><c> and</c><00:32:32.799><c> I</c> &gt;&gt; and we acted on that advice and I &gt;&
• gt; and we acted on that advice and I apologize<00:32:33.519><c> for</c><00:32:33.679><c> that.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, approved the minutes from the November 10 meeting, and then approved a large agenda of contracts and related items, with the total agenda amount stated as $359,638,393.88. Most items were approved without objection, but two contracts were pulled for discussion: attorney general panel counsel contingency fee contracts and a Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission personal services contract. For the attorney general’s office, Chris Lewis explained that the contracts were panel counsel contingency fee agreements, with 14 qualified awards from 16 applicants. He said the contracts were contingency-based, so no money would be paid unless cases were successful, and that the fee structure worked out to roughly 5% under the statutory waterfall. Senators asked about the size of the contracts, whether the terms were uniform, why no Kentucky firms were among the awardees, and how the public should understand the large dollar figures. Lewis said one Kentucky firm applied but was disqualified for a late submission, other Kentucky firms had inquired but did not apply, and local firms could still work with national firms on cases. The committee then approved the contracts. The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission contract drew more extensive questioning. Commission representatives said they had previously had a contract disapproved because the proper process was not followed, so they used an RFI process posted on the state and commission websites for at least three weeks. They received one applicant, a Kentucky firm, and set the rate at $125 per hour. Members questioned whether the commission was acting beyond its ethics mission, whether staff were helping draft complaints against legislators, and whether the commission was taking on a prosecutorial or human-resources role. The commission said its role is limited to enforcing the legislative code of ethics, providing advisory guidance, and following the formal complaint process; it does not pursue matters outside that code. Members also raised concerns about the earlier procurement misstep and the commission’s credibility, and the commission apologized, said it had corrected the process, and pledged to comply going forward. The committee then approved the contract.