Transcript Highlights:

• , to innovate, to explore, to drive services ...innovate, to explore, to drive services to the citizens
• That confidentiality is who has access to data, who should have access to the data.
• /c> is who has access to data, who should is who has access to data, who should have<00:34:19.919><c>
• the vendor and actually get access to those.
• So, actually get access to those those.

Committee: Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our members depend on public services from transit to public schools to health care to survive.
• Our members depend on public services from transit to public schools to health care to survive.
• needs versus having access to health insurance.
• So, we do thank, uh, access to health access to health insurance.<01:05:37.119><c> No</c><01:05:37.359
• </c><01:07:46.799><c> access</c><01:07:47.280><c> needed</c> abilities to access needed abilities to

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• owned and occupied by people with low incomes who otherwise wouldn't have access to housing is a good
• be accommodated by the existing power service to the building, dwelling unit, or circuit.
• RLTA landlords can require window-mounted devices to be subject to inspection or servicing after installation
• I think we should not be limiting homeownership just for folks who can afford it today and access to
• So we are trying to provide access to those communities of hope, those communities of opportunity, and

Summary: The Housing Committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5496, which would limit certain business and investment entities from buying additional single-family homes after reaching 100 holdings, with exemptions for banks, nonprofits making affordability-related improvements, and some development/foreclosure situations. Senator Alvarado said the bill is intended to curb speculation and help Washington families compete for homes, while opponents argued it would interfere with the market, reduce rental supply, and could affect REITs and retirement investments. Supporters, including Habitat for Humanity, said institutional buying has made homeownership harder and that the bill would create needed guardrails; opponents from the building and rental housing industries said the data did not justify the restriction and asked for clearer exemptions or data on impacts. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6200, which would prohibit landlords under the residential and manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant laws from banning tenants from installing portable cooling devices, subject to safety, code, egress, insurance, and damage-related exceptions. Senator Slatter and supporters framed the bill as a public health response to deadly heat events, especially the 2021 heat dome, and said it would help renters, seniors, and people with disabilities stay safe during extreme heat. Landlord and property management representatives were generally neutral or cautiously supportive, but asked for changes on notice, lease language, insurance, and window-unit safety; one testifier raised concerns about evaporative coolers and potential moisture damage. In executive session, the committee acted on several bills. It adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 5156 on elevator standards in smaller apartment buildings and reported the bill out with a due pass recommendation. It rejected amendments to Senate Bill 5938 on the foreclosure prevention fee, adopted an amendment removing a study requirement, and then reported the bill out as amended with a due pass recommendation. It also adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 6054 on fire-hardened building materials and reported that bill out as amended with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee reported out Senate Bill 6237B on flood disclosure with a due pass recommendation. After those votes, the committee reopened public hearing on SB 6200 and SB 5496 to hear additional testimony, then adjourned for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> company would not have access to. company would not have access to.
• </c> companies to provide users with access companies to provide users with access to<04:23:44.720><c
• I want to acknowledge that timely access to mental health services is a very real problem right now.
• capacity concerns. access to mental health services is a access to mental health services is a very<
• So that we don't need to staff the school districts to handle this type of service. additional services

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The people of Barre thank him for his service, and we're going to miss him very, very much.
• The people of Barre thank him for his service, and we're going to miss him very, very much.
• The people of Barre thank him for his service, and we're going to miss him very, very much.
• youth to obtain certain services without parental consent.
• House Bill 657, which is an act relating to enabling unaccompanied homeless youth to obtain certain services

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We would have to meet with those who do the access there.
• We would have to meet with those who do the access there.
• We would have to meet with those who do the access there.
• We would have to meet with those who do the access there.
• We would have to meet with those who do the access there.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several measures on agriculture, energy, stadium governance, and hotel consumer protections. On SB 448 relating to agriculture, Agra Business Development Corporation and the Hawaii Farm Bureau testified in support of a proposed conservation easement acquisition in Central Oahu; the chair asked follow-up questions about the exact location, cost, and agricultural potential of the land, and the witness said the parcel had good soil and water and was former pineapple land, with cost still to be provided. On SB 827 relating to meat processing, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism said the state needs more meat-processing capacity and that any grant program should complement, not compete with, existing efforts; the Attorney General’s office warned the bill lacked legally sufficient standards for grants of public money under the state constitution and offered draft standards. Several industry and chamber witnesses supported the measure, while discussion focused on the need for brick-and-mortar or modular facilities, infrastructure costs, federal inspection needs, and access for hunters and neighbor islands. The committee then took up SB 1269 relating to geothermal resources, which drew broad support from county officials, energy consultants, utility representatives, and community advocates, with one witness opposing it. Supporters described geothermal as a viable, indigenous, firm baseload energy source that could help reduce Hawaii’s high electricity costs and support clean energy goals; one witness emphasized prior work in New Zealand and another urged the state to move forward with exploration. A DBEDT representative explained that the department is coordinating geothermal-related work with the Hawaii Technology Development Corp., the University of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Energy Office, noting a prior $3 million appropriation, phase-one community engagement work, and plans to seek a contractor for geoscience and exploration in phase two. Members pressed DBEDT to explain how this bill fits with other geothermal measures moving through different committees, and the chair asked the department to review SB 993 and better coordinate the package of geothermal bills. On SB 1337 relating to the Stadium Authority, the stadium manager testified in support of clarifying quorum rules, explaining that the authority currently has eight seated voting members out of nine possible voting seats and that the bill would help ensure voting members are counted for quorum; he said meetings have not been delayed. Finally, on SB 883 relating to hotels, the Attorney General’s office raised First Amendment and contract-law concerns and recommended adding a purpose statement and a non-impairment savings clause. Unite Here Local 5 and other supporters said guests should be notified of hotel service disruptions such as construction, closures, or labor disputes, while opponents questioned who would enforce the law, what penalties would apply, and whether the measure could require hotels to pay damages even without a complaint. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide emergency shelter and services to
• to</c><00:37:37.119><c> unaccompanied</c> shelter and services to unaccompanied shelter and services
• the Department of Human Services to provide emergency shelter and services to unaccompanied homeless
• we</c> licensed in order to access a funding we licensed in order to access a funding we would<00:56
• to access all the and then can able to access all the different<01:07:46.880><c> Services</c><01:07:47.880

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness met on February 6, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. HB 44, which would appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to work with community-based organizations on social services needs, drew broad support from nonprofit providers and coalitions that said contracts and reimbursement rates have not kept pace with the actual cost of services, leaving agencies unable to retain staff or meet demand. DHS said it supported the bill’s intent but asked for clarification because the language was broad and did not specify which organizations or how funds should be allocated. Committee members and the bill’s introducer discussed how to make the measure more specific and equitable, including whether to set a percentage increase, use a baseline date, and direct DHS to distribute funds among different program areas; the True Cost Coalition and DHS agreed to follow up in writing with proposed language and a funding number. The committee then heard HB 1349, which would authorize Medicaid/CHIP coverage for income-qualified pregnant persons and children regardless of immigration status. Supporters, including the Legal Clinic, Aloha Care, and the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, said the bill would improve prenatal and child health, reduce the chilling effect of immigration enforcement on care-seeking, and help prevent premature or underweight births by ensuring earlier access to providers. DHS provided comments and the committee asked where the measure would fit in the budget; the department identified the relevant budget code. Written testimony in support came from multiple advocacy and health organizations and dozens of individuals. Finally, the committee heard HB 613, which would appropriate funds to DHS for emergency shelter and services for unaccompanied homeless youth. The Office of the Public Defender, the Statewide Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions, the Office of Youth Services, Rise, the Hawaiʻi State LGBTQ+ Commission, and others supported the bill, emphasizing youth homelessness, the need for coordinated shelter and outreach, and the high share of LGBTQ+ youth among homeless minors. OYS asked that the committee consider funding its existing Safe Spaces pilot rather than creating a new program, while DHS said it supported the intent but wanted clarification because multiple department programs could be implicated. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair instead requested follow-up language and funding information for HB 44 and continued the measures for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is designed to standardize how you handle service in that kind of a situation.
• Too often parents are caught in a conflict, required to admit wrongdoing to comply with services while
• prevent that, you know, I, I think the Department of Family Services has to have two answers, right?
• So we do continue to fill a gap in legal services for these relatives and caregivers who do need more
• We've also assisted with access to education, assistance with special education, obtaining Medicaid,

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would appropriate $1 million to the Department of Veterans Services to expand... ...$1 million
• to the Department of Veterans Services to expand their mental health program.
• They're going to trust what the Department of Veterans Services is doing, and if they're able to provide
• Again, I'd like to see the services continue to grow.
• For us to undertake having a social worker to start providing services and managing a... ...of having

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee met with a quorum and heard two bills from Representative Martinez. House Bill 56 would appropriate $1 million to the Department of Veterans Services to expand behavioral health and suicide prevention efforts for veterans. Supporters, including the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Veterans Services, the Disability Coalition, New Mexico Professional Firefighters, the New Mexico Veterans and Military Families Caucus, and NAMI New Mexico, said the funding would help veterans navigate a difficult system, improve outreach in rural areas, and address New Mexico’s high veteran suicide rate and related alcohol and drug deaths. Committee members asked about whether the program was new or an expansion of an existing effort, how services would be delivered, and whether outreach would reach homeless and rural veterans. The secretary explained that the bill would augment an existing Suicide Prevention Act program, use contracts with outside providers rather than direct services, and require two term employees for contract management and outreach. The committee voted 7-1 to give HB 56 a due pass and send it to the next committee. The committee then heard House Bill 55, which would create an income tax deduction for retirement income earned by first responders, similar to an existing benefit for military retirees. Supporters argued it would help recruit and retain firefighters, law enforcement, and other first responders, and could encourage retirees to move to New Mexico and contribute economically. Several members raised concerns about the fiscal impact, the lack of a sunset, the narrow definition of first responder, and Taxation and Revenue Department concerns that the bill could reduce general fund revenue by about $6.1 million in the first year and might not attract retirees on its own. The sponsor said he had not yet met with Tax and Rev but would do so, and noted he was open to a sunset if it helped the bill move forward. Despite concerns, the committee voted 7-1 to pass HB 55 to the next committee, with members explaining their votes and emphasizing that the bill would receive further vetting in Tax and Revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• to receive such services.
• To better define the pain and suffering by the patient; two, to remove the stigma and to allow access
• offered the very services I am here to speak on behalf of, which is my daughter.
• And they try to work with the guidance center in Flagstaff, but that this service...
• And we want to ensure that people have equal access to the ballot.

Summary: The Judiciary and Elections Committee approved the January 21, 2026 minutes and held SB 1208. It then heard SB 1211, which would allow victims of felony aggravated harassment involving domestic violence to seek a lifetime injunction against a convicted defendant. Supporters from victim advocacy organizations and a survivor described the bill as an important safety measure that would reduce repeated court appearances and trauma. The committee voted 7-0 to give SB 1211 a do pass recommendation. The committee next considered SB 1239, which removes the statute of limitations for failing to register as a sex offender or providing false registration information. The sponsor said the bill closes a public-safety loophole and was requested by DPS, while opponents argued existing warrant procedures already address the issue and raised due process concerns. After discussion, the committee voted 4-3 to recommend SB 1239 do pass. SB 1240 would exclude probationers convicted of dangerous crimes against children from the probation incentive payment formula. The sponsor tied the bill to a recent child sexual assault case and said the change would keep those cases separate from probation performance incentives; defense attorneys warned it could discourage treatment and push more people into prison. The committee voted 4-3 to recommend SB 1240 do pass. The committee also heard and approved SB 1095, as amended, which bans gender transition procedures and referrals for minors and restricts public funding and facilities for such care; supporters called it necessary child protection, while opponents said it was discriminatory. The committee then heard SB 1243 and SB 1244, both related to court-ordered mental health treatment. SB 1243 adds notice to guardians and lets them seek continued treatment, while SB 1244 creates a continuing court-ordered treatment process after repeated annual reviews. Supporters, including family members of seriously mentally ill patients, said the bills would close gaps and prevent dangerous lapses in care; opponents raised due process concerns and warned about expanded involuntary treatment. Both bills received do pass recommendations, with SB 1243 passing 7-0 and SB 1244 passing after amendment and roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• 2000 when she retired from state 1997 to 2000 when she retired from state service. service. service.
• </c><00:21:13.760><c> to</c> dedicating her life in service to dedicating her life in service to others
• But for choice to matter, it must be accessible.
• , it must be But for choice to matter, it must be accessible. accessible. accessible.
• pay for and provide federal law to pay for and provide services<02:15:16.800><c> to</c><02:15:16.960

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, however, pain and anxiety remain significant barriers to accessing this crucial medical
• Telehealth is effective, efficient, and accessible for patients who need these services.
• HB 3695 simply allows patients receiving physical therapy during the direct access period to pay the
• their services to commercial health plans and thus lower costs for health plans.
• for medical services, It must comply with the same patient protections that apply to all utilization

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Several government agencies have access to sealed records.
• Just to start, I would like to say Jenna Redbomb: that in 2023 it is no longer accessible, but there
• And people are going to hurt themselves if we Jenna Redbomb: don't give them access that they want.
• the state altogether when we already John Harris: have a crisis of access to healthcare.
• I look forward to an amendment coming forward to protect the mental health services for individuals,

Transcript Highlights:

• get access to that because, as everyone knows, Representative Omar had some role, whether inadvertent
• These were emails in her official capacity that we should be able to get access to regardless of the
• to get access to that we should be able to get access to regardless<00:05:12.800><c> of</c> regardless
• in her congressional office, and we should be able to get access to them."
• in her congressional office, and we should be able to get access to them."

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of the bill is to expand the scope of practice for optometrists and improve patient access
• HB 36 aims to improve access to care for New Mexico, including decreased wait times, decreased travel
• There was absolutely no improved access to care.
• But I do wanna say that I appreciate your uh comments when it comes to access for New Mexicans because
• Uh, the USDA Forest Service did the same thing to the alpine horses and publicly auctioned them.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• We promote higher quality institutions and better service to the public.
• different ways, such as where they currently live and their access to transportation, their access to
• regular healthy food, and their access also to change. their access to regular healthy food and their
• access also to child care in a lot of instances.
• So by prohibiting this type of training, Idaho will only work to decrease access to quality health care

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee first approved the minutes from February 25 and February 26, 2026, then took up House Bill 928, the Merit-Based Health Care Act. The bill’s sponsor said it would prohibit DEI-related considerations in Medicaid-funded health care hiring, promotion, contracting, and training, while preserving compliance with federal law and allowing certain clinical and quality-improvement activities. Committee members questioned how the bill would apply in practice, especially to hiring and patient preferences, and the sponsor said an amendment would remove certain terms to align with federal code. The committee heard extensive testimony on HB 928. Physicians and the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians opposed the bill, arguing it would restrict evidence-based training, create legal uncertainty, worsen recruitment and retention in a state already facing provider shortages, and interfere with use of social determinants of health and implicit bias training to improve patient care. Supporters, including a plastic surgeon, Idaho Family Policy Center, and the bill sponsors, argued DEI undermines merit and that taxpayer-funded health care should be based on qualifications and excellence. After debate, the committee voted to send HB 928 to the 14th order for possible amendment, with Senators Harris and Wintrow recorded as opposed. The committee then heard House Bill 916, which would create a legislative rural health transformation oversight committee to monitor federal rural health funds flowing to Idaho. The sponsor said the committee would provide legislative stewardship over the money without appropriating funds, while some senators raised concerns that the bill did not require rural representation on the committee and that appointments should reflect rural advocacy. After testimony from a supporter emphasizing oversight and taxpayer stewardship, the committee voted to hold HB 916 in committee. The meeting ended with notice of a two-hour committee meeting scheduled for the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• They customize a flag at no cost to a family member, to the family of a fallen service member, and I
• access it and they may or may not have the funds to access it. in danger to rescue the rest of us.
• it would give them access to it.
• Um he couldn't get access to help him.
• </c><01:24:49.520><c> few</c> know, just to buy access for the few know, just to buy access for the few

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to the Senate. to the Senate.
• And Barbara Tom, please stand, to the Language Access Advisory Council.
• Their dedication to advocating for equitable language access ensures that all members of our community
• Thank you very much for willing to volunteer. the language access advisory council. the language access
• But I don't want to 6,290,000 to start.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Aggregated as virtual power plants to provide grid services to reduce or shift customer load or to export
• enable distributed energy resources to be aggregated as virtual power plants to provide grid services
• services to reduce our shift customer load or to export power as needed.
• The goal is not to pay for devices; the goal is to pay for grid services actually delivered.
• The broader you go, the less expensive it is to provide service. Um... To provide service.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pre- and post-release to ensure timely access to community-based services and ongoing support after
• pre- and post-release to ensure timely access to community-based services and ongoing support after
• pre- and post-release to ensure timely access to community-based services and ongoing support after
• pre- and post-release to ensure timely access to community-based services and ongoing support after
• pre- and post-release to ensure timely access to community-based services and ongoing support after

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all