Transcript Highlights:

• c> lot</c><00:22:25.440><c> of</c><00:22:25.600><c> folks</c><00:22:26.400><c> lost</c><00:22:26.799>
• :32.000><c> going</c><00:22:32.159><c> to</c><00:22:32.320><c> be</c><00:22:32.480><c> the</c><00:22:
• 32.720><c> cash</c><00:22:33.120><c> crop</c><00:22:33.600><c> and</c><00:22:33.840><c> it</c><00:22:
• </c><00:22:44.559><c> This</c><00:22:44.720><c> is</c><00:22:44.880><c> not</c><00:22:45.039><c> an</
• So we<00:22:50.480><c> want</c><00:22:50.640><c> to</c><00:22:50.799><c> grow</c><00:22:51.120><c> as

Committee: Joint Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:04.600><c> we</c><00:22:04.720><c> have</c><00:22:04.919><c> a</c><00:22:05.039><c> larger</c>
• chair</c><00:22:15.919><c> we</c><00:22:16.039><c> have</c><00:22:16.200><c> one</c><00:22:16.360><c>
• 00:22:20.120><c> okay</c><00:22:20.320><c> let's</c><00:22:20.520><c> do</c><00:22:20.679><c> the</c>
• is<00:22:43.480><c> k</c><00:22:43.840><c> w</c><00:22:44.279><c> and</c><00:22:44.679><c> I</c><00:22
• :44.880><c> am</c><00:22:45.159><c> in</c><00:22:45.400><c> support</c><00:22:45.919><c> of</c><00:22

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The joint Housing and Health and Human Services hearing began with Senate Bill 878, which would extend the sunset date for the state rent supplement program for kupuna to June 30, 2028. Testimony was uniformly supportive, including from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Executive Office on Aging, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and others. Catholic Charities described a waitlist of seniors at imminent risk of homelessness and said the program helps seniors retain housing or secure units with landlord support. Members asked whether the bill would expand the number of households served; staff said the contract allows up to 127 households and that additional pending households could be funded, but applicants must still go through the program process. Both committees voted to pass SB 878 unamended. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1610 on Ohana Zones. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions supported the measure so long as it did not supplant existing funding, and described the funding as supporting homelessness services and wraparound supports. The Department of Human Services and Department of Land and Natural Resources offered comments, with DHS suggesting a definition of “kali” be added for clarity. The committee chair said the bill would receive technical amendments for clarity and consistency and accepted proposed amendments related to including “tales” in the program; the measure was advanced with amendments, with members voting in favor in both committees. In the joint Health and Human Services and Labor and Technology hearing, Senate Bill 1496 on civil rights and website accessibility drew support from disability advocates and organizations, including the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the National Federation of the Blind, the Deaf and Blind Task Force, and the Disability and Communication Access Board. Testimony emphasized the need for stronger state protections amid concerns about federal enforcement, while one testifier raised concerns about jurisdiction, minimum contacts, the use of WCAG 2.1 standards, and the bill’s immediate effective date. The committees decided to pass SB 1496 with technical amendments, including adding a defective date to allow further work before conference, and the recommendation was adopted in both committees. Later, the joint Health, Human Services, and Commerce and Consumer Protection hearing took up Senate Bill 404 on service animals. The Attorney General’s office raised a possible constitutional issue and the lack of an enforcement mechanism, while DHS deferred to other agencies. DCAB supported the bill but recommended amendments to identify an enforcement agency and require notices from professionals and sellers of service-animal or emotional-support-animal paraphernalia. Several advocacy and real estate-related groups testified in support. After discussion, the chair recommended deferring SB 404 for further work because of the Attorney General’s concerns, and the hearing adjourned without a vote on the measure. The final joint Transportation, Culture and the Arts, and Health and Human Services agenda heard SB 1526 on a drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory and SB 1492 on mobility management; both measures were advanced with amendments or as-is, with SB 1526 sent forward with technical amendments and SB 1492 moved ahead after members noted blank dollar amounts and requested the Department of Transportation provide figures.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are a total of 22 amendments that have been offered, 21 by Senator Christian and one by Senator
• It restores CPP for those that have committed a sexually violent offense as defined in Chapter 71.09,
• It updates the effective date of the statutes and updates chapter and session law to be repealed with
• I move adoption of Amendment A-22. Is there any discussion?
• All those in favor of adopting Amendment A-22, please signify by saying aye. Aye.

Bills: HB2510 , SGA9305

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: community custody, probation, Department of Corrections, DOC supervision, Washington criminal law, sentencing, felony supervision, risk assessment, sex offense, serious violent offense, domestic violence, repetitive domestic violence, failure to register, sex offender registration, dangerous mentally ill offender, indeterminate sentence, parole, conditional commutation, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> um I um I apologize<00:22:12.520><c> okay</c><00:22:12.760><c> I</c><00:22:12.960><c> I</c><00:22
• </c><00:22:21.799><c> laid</c><00:22:22.039><c> out</c><00:22:22.240><c> in</c><00:22:22.400><c> this
• </c><00:22:28.200><c> people</c><00:22:28.640><c> would</c><00:22:28.799><c> have</c><00:22:28.919><c
• <00:22:31.159><c> going</c><00:22:31.400><c> out</c><00:22:31.520><c> of</c><00:22:31.679><c> your</c
• <c> get</c><00:22:34.400><c> a</c><00:22:34.640><c> proxy</c><00:22:35.520><c> when</c><00:22:35.799>

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection met on February 20, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. HB 850, relating to condominiums, drew support from the Community Associations Institute and the Hawaii State Association of Parliamentarians, who said it would improve owner participation, clarify voting rules, and preserve the use of proxies as a personal choice. A Zoom testifier supported the bill’s intent but warned that special meetings can be abused and suggested further amendments to address board president authority. Members asked about proxies versus electronic voting and whether the bill would reduce proxy use; no vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 48 on coffee labeling, with the Department of Agriculture in support, and HB 1370 on taxation, where a local brewery representative supported equal tax treatment for beer served from 5-gallon kegs and larger kegs when dispensed from a faucet, arguing the bill would clarify draft beer treatment and encourage sustainability. HB 1422 on motor carriers received comments from the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of State Parks, while representatives from a community-based shuttle initiative supported the bill and said nonprofit, community-led transportation solutions should not be regulated like traditional carriers. HB 874, relating to child performers, received support from SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, and individual performers, who emphasized protecting minors’ earnings, safety, and schooling. Testimony also discussed whether to include social media influencers and whether to add annual income limits or trust-account protections; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said the issue was outside its wheelhouse. Later, HB 799 on healthcare drew support from health plans and HMSA, with the Department of Health requesting amendments such as a sunset date, a Maui-only pilot, and a report back before changing its position. HB 1379 on health received support from Hawaii Pacific Health, but the Hawaii Medical Board raised concerns about vague language and public-safety implications for internationally trained physicians, asking for more time to study national licensing recommendations. Finally, HB 439 on education was heard, with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board opposing the bill as drafted and warning about licensing standards and predatory third-party loans affecting J-1 teachers; the transcript ends before any action or vote on these measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:22:03.200><c> Speaker,</c><00:22:03.440><c> I</c><00:22:03.520><c> move</c><00:22:03.679><c>
• ><c> at</c><00:22:04.960><c> length</c><00:22:05.360><c> for</c><00:22:05.679><c> the</c><00:22:06.080
• </c><01:22:21.440><c> It</c><01:22:21.600><c> matters</c><01:22:22.000><c> less</c><01:22:22.400><c>
• But<01:22:26.960><c> to</c><01:22:27.280><c> deny</c><01:22:27.760><c> me</c><01:22:28.080><c> my</c>
• <01:22:28.480><c> right</c><01:22:29.679><c> and</c><01:22:29.920><c> then</c><01:22:30.239><c> to</c

Transcript Highlights:

• c> some</c><01:22:49.840><c> degree</c><01:22:50.159><c> unwilling</c><01:22:50.719><c> to</c><01:22:
• :22:10.000><c> without</c><02:22:10.720><c> due</c><02:22:11.120><c> evidence</c><02:22:11.520><c> in
• explanation<02:22:13.840><c> of</c><02:22:14.080><c> why</c><02:22:14.240><c> this</c><02:22:14.479>
• occurred.<02:22:15.120><c> And</c><02:22:15.359><c> so</c><02:22:15.520><c> this</c><02:22:15.840><c
• 02:22:21.600><c> in</c><02:22:23.040><c> uh</c><02:22:23.200><c> you</c><02:22:23.280><c> know</c> Um

Summary: The committee met as a special House committee on COVID response efficacy, noted absences, and restated its mission to review New Hampshire’s pandemic response, including federal guidance, federal funds, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID treatment, patient bill of rights implementation, and vaccination policies. The main business was discussion of a proposed letter or report language concerning current COVID vaccine recommendations for young children, especially those under age two, and how to support any conclusions with cited scientific and state sources. Representative Polozov argued that the committee should ask the governor or agencies to reconsider current recommendations, saying the committee should focus on whether vaccination is needed for that age group, whether it is effective, and whether the risks outweigh the benefits. He said he had distributed articles and wanted the committee to pair its conclusions with scientific and statistical data. Other members asked him to identify the specific New Hampshire DHHS and American Academy of Pediatrics sources for the recommendation, clarify the age range being discussed, and separate any evidence about adverse effects in other age groups from the infant/toddler demographic so the letter would be transparent and not misleading. Members generally agreed the letter should be carefully sourced and refined, with citations for each claim. The chair said the committee would treat the request as urgent and try to finalize a version by the next meeting, noting that some members would be traveling. The committee also discussed scheduling additional testimony in September and October, possibly with extra meetings, to continue gathering evidence and to hear from witnesses. The chair then began reviewing supporting articles, including studies he said were new since the 2024 report, and introduced a 2025 South Korea cohort study and another 2025 Italian cohort study as examples of the evidence he wanted to incorporate into an updated 2026 report.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:22:24.840><c> our</c><00:22:24.960><c> patients,</c><00:22:25.560><c> for</c><00:22:25.680><c>
• ><c> and</c><00:22:27.160><c> for</c><00:22:27.280><c> the</c><00:22:27.400><c> betterment</c><00:22:
• </c><00:22:35.760><c> As</c><00:22:35.880><c> a</c><00:22:35.960><c> preface</c><00:22:36.440><c> to<
• . chapter. chapter.
• :22:25.720><c> a</c><03:22:25.800><c> strain</c><03:22:26.360><c> on</c><03:22:26.880><c> on</c><03:22

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I offer House Concurrent Resolution No. 22 and ask that it be read.
• I offer House Concurrent Resolution number 22 and ask that it be read.
• House Concurrent Resolution No. 22.
• I move that House Concurrent Resolution No. 22 be adopted.
• The gentleman from Green County has moved for the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution No. 22.

Transcript Highlights:

• :23.799><c> great</c><00:22:24.799><c> road</c><00:22:25.120><c> to</c><00:22:25.320><c> go</c><00:22
• > look</c><00:22:30.000><c> like</c><00:22:30.320><c> exactly</c><00:22:30.799><c> or</c><00:22:31.039
• 22:36.840><c> that</c><00:22:36.960><c> you're</c><00:22:37.159><c> able</c><00:22:37.400><c> to</c><
• ><c> the</c><00:22:49.840><c> truth</c><00:22:50.720><c> if</c><00:22:50.960><c> you</c><00:22:51.159
• bachelor's<00:22:52.200><c> you</c><00:22:52.320><c> would</c><00:22:52.520><c> do</c><00:22:52.799><

Summary: The subcommittee hearing focused on House Bill 271, which would remove the exam requirement for licensure as a Licensed Social Work Associate (LSWA). The chair and several members expressed reservations about repealing a requirement that was only created in 2021, arguing that licensure should include some measurable demonstration of competency and that it is too early to judge whether the current standard is working. Members also raised concerns about the social work compact and the lack of uniformity across states, saying that changing the requirement now could undermine the standards New Hampshire agreed to at the outset. Testimony in support of the bill argued that the LSWA exam is a barrier for applicants because the level is intended for people without formal social work education, and the exam is the same national exam used for licensed social workers. The witness said there is only one LSWA in New Hampshire, so there is little pass/fail data, but noted that the Association of Social Worker Boards reported 78% of its membership favored retaining the exam. Supporters also emphasized that LSWA holders complete 30 hours of training and extensive supervised hours, and that they are not intended to work independently. Opponents or skeptics questioned whether the exam is the right measure for this role and asked for data showing actual failures or barriers. The discussion turned to possible alternatives, including a different exam, a practical skills assessment, or broader rulemaking authority for the board to set LSWA criteria. One suggestion was to amend the law to give the board authority to develop appropriate standards in rulemaking, rather than naming a specific exam in statute. Members also discussed whether the board could create a more suitable assessment and noted that the current law requires a national proctored examination approved by the board, but there is no national exam specifically for LSWA. No final vote or action was taken in the excerpt, and the subcommittee indicated it would gather more information, including the existing rule language, before moving the bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• address both<00:22:03.520><c> patients</c><00:22:03.840><c> from</c><00:22:04.080><c> other</c><00:22
• That's<00:22:11.200><c> again</c><00:22:11.440><c> high</c><00:22:11.679><c> level</c><00:22:11.919><
• that's article<00:22:13.360><c> one</c><00:22:13.679><c> which</c><00:22:13.919><c> the</c><00:22:14.159
• provisions.<00:22:17.600><c> Article</c><00:22:18.320><c> two</c><00:22:18.799><c> of</c><00:22:19.360
• Um our next testifier<01:22:37.280><c> um</c><01:22:37.440><c> is</c><01:22:37.760><c> here</c><01:22

Bills: HF1545 , HF2426 , HF1615 , HF2403

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: medical cannabis, cultivation, cannabinoid products, plant canopy, Minnesota statutes, cannabis, hemp, lower-potency, edibles, regulations, licensing, local control, consumer safety, age restrictions, commerce policy, financial institutions, insurance regulation, limited long-term care insurance, Medicare supplement, health insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• It can be found in the Education Code, Chapter 11, Section 169.
• I think this was in '22, perhaps '23. I'd have to go back. I can get you that answer though.
• , the Prayer Rights Chapter, and the Texas Education Code.
• Chapter 28 of the Texas Education Code is adequate for Texas school districts.
• to teach this post the passage of the new law SB 22.

Bills: SB204 , SB570 , SB735 , SB784 , SB1207 , SB1396 , SB1447 , SB2392 , SB2540 , SB747 , SB875

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: parental rights, education, school trustees, training, handbook, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district, open-enrollment charter school, student support services, school counselor, principal, administrator

Transcript Highlights:

• This is going to cost over $22 million.
• This is going to cost over $22 million.
• Members, by votes of 22 ayes, 31 nays, the ruling of the chair stands.
• Members, by your votes of 31 ayes, 22, the motion carries. Final reading of HCR 2048.
• Members, by our votes of 31 ayes, 22 nays, you have passed.

Summary: The House convened, completed roll call, approved the journal, and took up several Senate bills and one Senate concurrent resolution through motions to reconsider, return bills for reconsideration, and refer measures to additional Committee of the Whole sessions for further amendment. Early actions included returning SB 1175 and SB 1198 to the Senate for reconsideration, rescinding passage of SB 1336 so it could be reconsidered, and referring SB 1111 and SB 152 to an additional COW. The House also recognized Representative Travers for a personal privilege statement honoring National Women Veterans Recognition Day and recorded attendance. In Committee of the Whole, members adopted floor amendments and recommended passage for SB 1511, SB 1552, SB 1198, SB 1110, SB 1618, SB 1431, and SCR 1004, with some debate on SB 1110’s home-confinement/reentry program, SB 1618’s Military Affairs Commission changes, and SB 1431’s city and town authority over residential project standards and streetscapes. The House later adopted the COW reports and moved the measures to engrossing or third reading as appropriate. SB 1336 and SB 1519 were also advanced from committee, while SB 1004 was reconsidered and ultimately failed on reconsideration. On third or final reading, the House passed SB 1127, SB 1180, SB 1428, SB 1198, SB 1336, SB 1511, SCR 1004, SB 1552, HB 2104, HB 2105, HB 2114, HB 2311, HB 2729, and HB 4117. SB 1687, SB 1004, SB 1519, and SB 1502 failed. Members explained votes on several measures, including support for tax administration clarity in SB 1180, objections and support for the May primary proposal in SB 1687, concerns about sex offender monitoring in SB 1004, support for the Arizona Beef Council in SB 1198, and debate over the photo enforcement referral in SCR 1004. The session also included recesses for caucuses, lunch, and dinner, plus a brief technical outage of the live stream.

Transcript Highlights:

• . uh three<01:22:03.199><c> out</c><01:22:03.360><c> of</c><01:22:03.440><c> the</c><01:22:03.600><c>
• Uh Honolulu,<01:22:08.000><c> which</c><01:22:08.159><c> I've</c><01:22:08.400><c> included</c><01:22
• <01:22:12.000><c> shows</c><01:22:12.400><c> that</c><01:22:13.360><c> regardless</c><01:22:13.840><c
• </c><01:22:22.400><c> Um</c><01:22:22.719><c> and</c><01:22:22.960><c> the</c><01:22:23.120><c> only<
• ><c> to</c><01:22:24.639><c> build</c><01:22:24.880><c> was</c><01:22:25.120><c> in</c><01:22:25.280>

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2592, which would clarify the powers of the Mauna Stewardship and Oversight Authority regarding land use on Mauna Akea and related property transfers. The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the rural property transfer but objected to language transferring conservation district use permits, saying CDUPs normally run with the land rather than being assigned to specific telescopes or observatories. The University of Hawaiʻi and the observatories generally supported the bill but urged clearer language, especially on the transfer of real property assets, related obligations and liabilities, and the inclusion of milestones for the transition. Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill’s overall intent but warned that some language could be overbroad and might improperly waive future beneficiary claims. Several testifiers opposed the measure, arguing it ignored DHHL lands and beneficiary rights, while others supported it as a way to clarify the authority’s role. Members questioned DLNR about the practical effects of transferring CDUP responsibility, and the committee emphasized that the bill was narrowly focused on specific land. The committee then took up House Bill 2593, which would authorize the Mauna Stewardship and Oversight Authority to extend existing leases and subleases for up to 10 years. The authority explained that the bill does not itself extend any lease, but instead gives the authority discretion to initiate a transparent public process if extensions are needed. The University of Hawaiʻi supported the concept but said the timing of any extension matters and noted possible legal requirements under state law. The observatories also supported the bill, describing it as a flexible tool during a broader transition process and noting that the authority has held many public planning workshops. Opponents, including Native Hawaiian and community testifiers, argued that the conservation lands should receive the highest protection, that the community had not consented, and that the observatories have had decades to plan ahead. One testifier urged the bill be deferred or killed for lack of clarity. In response to questions, the committee clarified that the bill only authorizes a process and does not itself extend leases, and that any extension would require public participation. The final measure discussed in the excerpt was House Bill 2047, relating to the AHAPU advisory committee. The discussion focused on the committee’s administrative relationship to the Department of Land and Natural Resources and whether DLNR should oversee basic legal compliance issues such as Sunshine Law and legislative reporting. DLNR explained that the committee is administratively attached to the department, which provides support on human resources, procurement, and legal questions, but that the committee itself generally handles its own operations. The department said it would route compliance questions to its attorneys and implement their advice. The hearing then moved on to House Bill 2231, which would transfer appointment authority for island burial council members from the governor and Senate to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees. OHA said it generally supported the change for geographic moku representatives, since it already nominates candidates for those seats, but expressed concern about taking on appointment authority for the large landowner seats because that role is less directly tied to its statutory duties.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:01.520><c> many</c><00:22:01.679><c> of</c><00:22:01.799><c> the</c><00:22:01.960><c> concerns
• c> been</c><00:22:05.520><c> amended</c><00:22:05.880><c> to</c><00:22:06.120><c> address</c><00:22:06.720
• ><c> of</c><00:22:07.000><c> the</c><00:22:07.120><c> concerns</c><00:22:07.520><c> that</c><00:22:07.640
• ><c> are</c><00:22:08.600><c> have</c><00:22:09.080><c> and</c><00:22:09.159><c> so</c><00:22:09.320>
• that conversation<00:22:14.320><c> I</c><00:22:14.440><c> would</c><00:22:14.640><c> say</c><00:22:14.880

Transcript Highlights:

• :06.080><c> months</c><00:22:06.360><c> to</c><00:22:07.360><c> um</c><00:22:07.559><c> get</c><00:22
• to</c><00:22:10.240><c> make</c><00:22:10.400><c> sure</c><00:22:10.679><c> that</c><00:22:11.200><c>
• :22:18.600><c> so</c><00:22:18.760><c> there's</c><00:22:18.880><c> a</c><00:22:19.039><c> checks</c>
• <00:22:19.960><c> there</c><00:22:20.159><c> we</c><00:22:20.279><c> want</c><00:22:20.400><c> to</c>
• and</c><00:22:32.840><c> upfront</c><00:22:33.679><c> uh</c><00:22:33.840><c> which</c><00:22:33.960

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Summary: The House Municipal and County Government subcommittee met on February 19, 2025 to gather additional information on House Bill 432, which concerns recovery houses. The first witness, State Fire Marshal Sean Tumi, said his office had worked with stakeholders for more than a year on the bill’s definition changes and supported the revised definition. He explained that the bill removes vague language such as “safe, healthy, family” and instead relies on fire-code requirements and certification standards, including a primarily non-transient dwelling unit and living as a single household. He distinguished recovery houses from boarding or rooming houses and from other congregate settings such as group homes or transitional housing, saying those other uses do not currently have the same exemptions. Members questioned Tumi about fire safety, inspections, smoke alarms, egress, and whether sprinklers should be required. He said recovery houses are inspected by the fire marshal’s office and local fire departments, with annual inspections under state fire code provisions, and that operators must work with a certifying body. He described the inspection process as checking alarms, extinguishers, heating systems, cooking equipment, street numbers, and no-smoking rules, and said new houses are generally given time to obtain certification. He also said he would prefer sprinklers everywhere but believed mandating them for these existing structures would likely shut down many recovery houses and significantly harm the recovery community. Bill McKenny of the New Hampshire Building Officials Association then testified in support of HB 432. He said recovery housing is an important step after treatment and that the 2024 code changes and the bill help align state law with federal disability law. He emphasized that certification through a recognized organization gives code officials confidence that standards are being monitored, and warned that if a recovery home loses certification it would lose the waiver from sprinkler requirements and could be treated more like a boarding or rooming house. No vote or final action was taken at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• for</c><00:22:10.159><c> years</c><00:22:10.480><c> as</c><00:22:10.720><c> an</c><00:22:10.960><c>
• ><c> in</c><00:22:12.480><c> Rhode</c><00:22:12.640><c> Island</c><00:22:12.960><c> nursing</c><00:22
• Every<00:22:14.799><c> time</c><00:22:14.960><c> our</c><00:22:15.200><c> paths</c><00:22:15.600><c>
• /c><00:22:22.640><c> even</c><00:22:23.039><c> my</c><00:22:23.360><c> own</c><00:22:23.679><c> story
• </c><00:22:41.600><c> last</c><00:22:41.919><c> week</c><00:22:42.559><c> after</c><00:22:42.799><c>

Bills: HJR89 , HJR87 , HJR88

Keywords: EPA, pollution control, California emissions standards, NOX regulation, congressional disapproval, HJR87, H.J.Res. 87, Congressional Review Act, CRA, EPA waiver, California waiver, preemption, vehicle emissions, heavy-duty trucks, engine emissions, Advanced Clean Trucks, zero-emission vehicles, ZEV, zero-emission airport shuttle, powertrain certification

Transcript Highlights:

• a favorable<00:22:01.200><c> report</c><00:22:01.520><c> by</c><00:22:01.760><c> of</c><00:22:01.919
• This<00:22:04.720><c> bill</c><00:22:04.960><c> received</c><00:22:05.200><c> a</c><00:22:05.360><c>
• </c><00:22:07.679><c> Secretary</c><00:22:08.080><c> call</c><00:22:08.240><c> the</c><00:22:08.400><
• c> and</c><00:22:16.000><c> zero</c><00:22:16.240><c> naz</c> from<00:22:20.799><c> county</c><00:22:
• House<00:22:22.240><c> bill</c><00:22:22.480><c> number</c><00:22:22.799><c> 499</c><00:22:23.919><c>

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum. Senators then adopted the prior day’s journal and excused absent members. A lengthy point of personal privilege followed, in which Senator Smith criticized the prior day’s handling of the special order calendar and argued that minority-party senators were denied the chance to speak, while Senator Coleman said Senate Bill 318 had been removed from the calendar and tied that to Child Abuse Prevention Month; she also noted Senate Bill 43, which would provide civil recourse for child sex assault survivors, had not advanced. The presiding officer also recognized guests in the gallery, including staff from the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The Senate then received multiple committee reports, largely on a unanimous or near-unanimous basis. Finance and Taxation Education reported favorably on House Bills 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 565, 517, and 98, and Senate Bill 380, with some substitutes or amendments; Finance and Taxation General Fund reported Senate Bill 378 favorably; County and Municipal Government reported House Bills 568, 499, and 433; Education Policy reported House Bills 8 and 380; Banking and Insurance reported House Bill 545; Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development reported House Bill 586 with two nays; Healthcare reported House Bills 533 and 605; Tourism and Marketing reported House Bills 513 and 626 and Senate Bill 357; and local legislation committees reported several Mobile County and Madison County bills, including Senate Bill 379 relating to Madison County and various House bills, all advancing to the next legislative day. In motions and resolutions, the Senate agreed to allow committee reports to be received at any time during the day. Several resolutions were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee, including Senate Joint Resolution 100 honoring Presley Skelton, SJR 101 commending Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, SJR 102 establishing the Alabama Forest Products Retention and Pulp and Paper Mill Stability Study Commission, SJR 103 mourning Norman Wendell Arnold, and SJR 104 designating Alabama as the river state. The chamber also suspended the rules to take up Senate Joint Resolution 105, commending Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth for his service; the resolution included a lengthy recitation of his background and accomplishments and was read for immediate consideration with all senators added as sponsors.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:03.640><c> will</c><00:22:03.840><c> be</c><00:22:04.159><c> that</c><00:22:04.279><c> you</c>
• five<00:22:05.600><c> okay</c><00:22:06.600><c> certainly</c><00:22:07.600><c> okay</c><00:22:07.760
• :22:09.120><c> so</c><00:22:10.120><c> um</c><00:22:10.720><c> in</c><00:22:10.840><c> the</c><00:22:
• ><00:22:15.919><c> that</c><00:22:16.039><c> are</c><00:22:16.279><c> in</c><00:22:16.520><c> the</c>
• uh Bill<00:22:18.080><c> if</c><00:22:18.279><c> we</c><00:22:18.679><c> don't</c><00:22:19.000><c>

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, pages 1 through 22 in your packet.
• Again, pages 1 through 22 in your packet.
• We proposed a new chapter of North Dakota Administrative Code.
• This chapter contains a total of 37 sections.
• It’s Chapter 99-01.3-09-01. Poker buy-in is increased from $300 to $1,500.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Committee met on June 11 and first approved the March 12, 2026 minutes by voice vote. It then granted the Board of Medicine an extension of time to implement rules tied to recent legislation, including North Dakota’s participation in the physician assistant licensure compact and a new physician nutrition continuing education requirement. The Board said it was waiting on compact rules and fee information before finalizing its own changes. The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the Office of Management and Budget on broad personnel rule revisions, including salary administration, recruitment, leave, sick leave, funeral leave, service awards, appeals, and shared leave. OMB said the changes modernize HR language and implement recent legislation such as enhanced annual leave for hard-to-fill positions and new hire leave. Members questioned the hard-to-fill leave provisions, but OMB and counsel said those standards come from statute, not the rules. The committee also heard and accepted rule packages from the Lottery, the Board of Examiners for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, the State Electrical Board, the Industrial Commission, PERS, and Health and Human Services, with each agency describing mostly technical, clarifying, or statutory-conforming changes and noting the public notice and comment process. The most significant action came during the Gaming Commission rules presentation. After questioning whether the commission had authority to raise the poker tournament buy-in limit from $300 to $1,500, members moved to void Section 99-01.3-09-01 on the ground that the agency lacked statutory authority for that change. The motion passed on a roll call vote. The committee also discussed several gaming-related issues, including online raffles, kiosk use, advertising restrictions, and the broader policy question of whether charities should be allowed to own bars, but took no further formal action on those topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Now<00:22:13.679><c> let's</c><00:22:13.919><c> look</c><00:22:14.159><c> at</c><00:22:14.240><c
• The<00:22:19.520><c> definition</c><00:22:20.400><c> in</c><00:22:21.200><c> 510</c><00:22:22.000><c>
• :22:24.799><c> is</c><00:22:24.960><c> enrolled</c><00:22:25.440><c> either</c><00:22:25.760><c> full
• 22:27.199><c> I</c><01:22:27.440><c> don't</c><01:22:27.520><c> want</c><01:22:27.679><c> to</c><01:22
• 22:17.200><c> and</c><02:22:17.439><c> and</c><02:22:17.920><c> so</c><02:22:18.160><c> that</c><02:22

Summary: The Education Funding Committee’s higher education subcommittee met to discuss HB 443, HB 510, and related issues. The chair explained the subcommittee membership and noted that Representative Luno was absent and replaced by Representative Bricky, with other full committee members allowed to participate in discussion but not final votes. No votes were taken during this meeting, and the chair said final subcommittee recommendations would likely come in the first week of November. On HB 443, which concerns terms of appointment to the Higher Education Commission, the chair described the bill as intended to let the governor replace members who are not attending or no longer representing the appointing organization. He said the prior governor supported the idea, but the current governor’s office believes the bill is unnecessary because nonattendance or loss of representation would already amount to resignation or removal. Members raised questions about legal authority and whether the same principle should apply to other boards. The chair said he was leaning toward finding the bill not needed, but would continue discussion later. The committee then spent most of the meeting on HB 510, which would establish due process rights for students, student organizations, and faculty at public higher education institutions and address collective bargaining issues. Supporters, including Representatives Papovich and Brown, argued the bill would provide clear, minimum protections, especially because campus rules are lengthy and vary by institution; Brown also suggested adding an independent ombudsman or representation for students. Opponents, including Representatives Burton and Bricky, said existing campus regulations already provide due process and that the bill could interfere with campus governance and collective bargaining. The chair and others discussed whether the bill’s definitions should be aligned with existing law to avoid confusion, and several members suggested using existing statutory definitions or cross-references. The chair also said the bill would apply only when disciplinary action is involved, not as a general challenge to DEI policies, though members referenced recent national examples involving DEI-related disputes as context.