Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is a measured, common-sense approach rooted in best practices.
• Third, the Consumer Protection Act prohibits unfair competition or deceptive practices.
• And then finally, a violation of the pricing practices is June 30, 2029.
• HB 2418 is a practical step in that direction, and I urge your support. Thanks.
• HB 2418 is a practical step in that direction, and I urge your support. Thanks.

Bills: HB2675 , HB2681 , HB2714 , HB2688 , HB2481 , HB2116 , HB1408

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: accounts, finance, business regulation, transparency, audits, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, HB 2714, caseload forecasting, food assistance, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, state food assistance, budget forecasting, caseload forecast council, caseload forecast supervisor, Washington State

Transcript Highlights:

• So the reality in rural pro bono practice is that most of the attorneys in our service area simply cannot
• So the reality in rural pro bono practice is that most of the attorneys in our service area simply cannot
• So the reality in rural pro bono practice is that most of the attorneys in our service area simply cannot
• So the reality in rural pro bono practice is that most of the attorneys in our service area simply cannot
• of law, and then they're going into private practice or going elsewhere.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Legal Aid Network of Kentucky, including Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, Kentucky Legal Aid, AppalRed Legal Aid, and the Legal Aid Society in Louisville. The presenters explained that the four nonprofit programs provide civil legal services in all 120 counties, focusing on low-income clients and matters such as domestic violence, family law, housing, expungement, public benefits, and veterans’ issues. They emphasized that they do not handle criminal defense cases and described statewide efforts such as the kyjustice.org website and Project Renew, which helps people in recovery with legal issues that affect stability, employment, housing, and family reunification. Each organization highlighted regional service challenges and examples of casework. Legal Aid of the Bluegrass described its 33-county service area, its mobile “justice bus,” and expungement work for people in recovery. Kentucky Legal Aid focused on disaster response after the December 2021 tornadoes, including insurance disputes and contractor fraud, and said it has continued to handle repeated FEMA-declared disasters. AppalRed described serving 37 rural counties with limited attorneys, the shortage of lawyers in “rural legal deserts,” and its disaster-response work after flooding and tornadoes, including FEMA appeals clinics and volunteer attorney support. The Legal Aid Society described its Louisville-area veteran services, including Social Security and VA disability cases, veterans treatment court referrals, and homeless outreach. Committee members praised the organizations’ work and noted the importance of their services. In response to questions about funding, the presenters said their support comes from a mix of Legal Services Corporation funds, state appropriations, federal grants such as VOCA, VAWA, and HUD, United Way, and foundation funding. They stressed that many grants are restricted, while state funding is more flexible and useful for emergencies and day-to-day operations. The presenters said current funding does not fully meet demand and requested an increase in the General Assembly’s appropriation from $500,000 per year to $1 million per year, or $2 million over the biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, under the Civil Practices and Remedies Code Chapter 15, it's going to be where the events
• Aren't y'all tired of spreading hate like it's a common practice?
• I have a trans friend, and we were talking about the practicality of a bill like this.
• The practical... of it seems impossible. So yeah, I don't have much to say past that.
• So just the fact that we've got that, that's not what's happening in practice.

Bills: SB7 , SB14 , SB 7 , SB 14

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: gender designation, civil penalties, private civil rights, multiple-occupancy spaces, Texas Women's Privacy Act, law enforcement, confidentiality, personnel files, employee records, misconduct, abortion, civil liability, abortion-inducing drugs, qui tam actions, Texas Citizens Participation Act, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, healthcare regulations, impact fees, water conservation, reuse projects

Transcript Highlights:

• It h it is<00:17:02.639><c> a</c><00:17:02.880><c> practice</c><00:17:03.199><c> by</c><00:17:03.519>
• <c> some</c><00:17:03.759><c> people</c><00:17:04.000><c> in</c><00:17:04.160><c> the</c> is a practice
• by some people in the is a practice by some people in the lakes<00:17:04.720><c> region</c><00:17:05.039
• Knowingly, the person might be practically certain that the conduct would cause a particular result.
• certain that the conduct practically certain that the conduct would<00:26:21.520><c> cause</c><00:26

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My practice is focused almost exclusively on historic buildings and our practice... senior project manager
• My practice Minneapolis.
• My practice is<00:10:59.680><c> focused</c><00:11:00.160><c> almost</c><00:11:00.839><c> exclusively<
• </c> My practice focuses on two areas.
• to keep some units practically to keep some units commercial<00:43:06.319><c> uh</c><00:43:06.480><c

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just as a reminder, we'd like to reserve the practice of holding questions until the end of testimony
• I’ve seen the letters that you’ve seen; that is not the common practice, at least with Chapter 303, and
• not the common practice.
• This practice is certainly alarming to us as the industry, to taxpayers, and to these local cities.
• We cannot risk that the practice continues no matter what.

Bills: HB21 , HB211 , HB223 , HB323 , HB524 , HB530 , HB636 , HB762 , HB21 , HB211 , HB223

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• The deception and the misleading practices of these organizations are not incidental; they're core to
• Then, you know, words on a page are one thing, but in practice, these facilities do not provide medical
• </c><00:51:15.880><c> support</c> services education and practical support services education and practical
• It's a crisis pregnancy center, and this kind of practice happens a lot.
• happens a lot and this kind of practice happens a lot and and and listen<00:53:04.079><c> religious<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And on page 3, line 19, for 'pattern or practice' to include the phrase 'with a common state of mind.
• :04.559><c> the</c><00:58:04.720><c> phrase</c><00:58:05.000><c> with</c><00:58:05.119><c> a</c> practice
• um to include the phrase with a practice um to include the phrase with a common<00:58:05.720><c> state
• We'll also change the definition of pattern and practice to add in the phrase with a common state of
• and now I forgotten pattern and practice and now I forgotten what<01:27:45.159><c> you</c><01:27:45.280

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• The practical reality is we're not trying to accomplish what RSA 651 is doing.
• We know from practice in courts, I know from practice as a public defender, that most of the litigation
• I practiced. I know people that use it. This has been used.
• </c><01:09:40.880><c> I</c><01:09:41.560><c> I</c><01:09:41.759><c> know</c> Criminal Court I practiced
• I I know Criminal Court I practiced I I know people<01:09:42.279><c> that</c><01:09:42.440><c> use</

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1819 is a practical, cost-effective way to protect seniors while keeping them active and connected
• AB 1983 provides a practical solution by allowing CCRCs to adopt a sequential order repayment method

Committee: House Aging and Long-Term Care

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that having read all of the Hammersmith Bill rulings that have come from the Supreme Court, as a practicing
• Are any repealed statutes still relied upon in practice or referenced elsewhere in Missouri law that

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 2363 concerning temporary exemptions from licensure for certain applicants for a license to practice
• Bill 2363 concerning temporary exemptions from licensure for certain applicants for a license to practice

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held its final regularly scheduled meeting of the 2026 session and moved into executive session to consider 11 bills. The bills covered a range of health care and licensing topics, including the dietician licensure compact (SHB 2088), ambulance transport staffing for inter-facility specialty care (E2SHB 2110), substance use disorder monitoring for nursing assistants (HB 2340), hospital inspections (SHB 2577), temporary licensure exemptions for music therapy applicants (SHB 2363), nursing regulation (SHB 2339), EMT recertification (HB 2540), supervision of radiologic and MRI technologists (HB 2113), continuing care retirement community oversight (2SHB 2384), and veterinarian-client-patient relationships (ESHB 2247). The committee also considered ESHB 1187, which protects patients involved in motor vehicle accidents from delayed ambulance bills, though it was not part of the initial briefing list read aloud in full. Several bills had amendments adopted. On E2SHB 2110, the committee adopted Senator Harris’s amendment changing hospital coordination with ambulance providers from a recommendation to a requirement. SHB 1187 received a striking amendment, and 2SHB 2384 and ESHB 2247 also had striking amendments adopted; the veterinary bill’s amendment clarified that the commercial breeding provisions apply to livestock, added a definition of livestock, and tightened prescription drug language. The committee also discussed the 2SHB 2384 amendment as making technical corrections and clarifying life care contract language. After each bill was moved, the committee voted to give it a do pass recommendation and send it to the Rules Committee. All bills considered in executive session passed the committee, subject to signatures. The chair then thanked staff and members for their work during the session, noted the committee would turn to interim work in a few weeks, and moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• I first met her when I was in private practice as an attorney, defending a case along with Raul Labrador
• , who was in private practice, defending the protection of American women's sports.

Summary: The House convened with 66 members present, approved the previous day’s journal, and received a Senate message returning HCR 20, which was referred for enrolling. The chamber also approved a long list of House attaches for the second regular session of the 68th Legislature, after which the attaches were sworn in and welcomed. Most of the meeting consisted of announcements. Members were told that respectful workplace training was mandatory that afternoon, a majority caucus presentation by Convention of States was scheduled for Thursday, and a House/Senate Bible study with breakfast would be held the next morning. Committee schedule notices were read, including several committees not meeting and House Education, Revenue and Taxation, and JFAC meeting the following day. A member used personal privilege to discuss the U.S. Supreme Court and Idaho’s role in protecting women’s sports, referencing the Hickok case and related litigation, and praising state leaders for their efforts. The House then adjourned by motion until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, zero states continue to mandate this practice today.
• In fact, an auditor in Missouri recommended this practice be halted, stating, and I quote, "State officials

Bills: SB596 , SB961 , SB1398 , SB1183 , SB1952

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, foster care, child welfare, Family Code, conservatorship, managing conservator, parental child safety placement, authorization agreement, temporary authorization order, child abuse, child neglect, placement reporting, court-ordered removal, investigation, family preservation, transparency, public reporting, data reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• This change is not only practical, it's urgent. The CPUC...
• This change is not only practical, it's urgent.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy met as a subcommittee because a quorum was not present, and the chair announced 16 measures on the agenda, nine of them on consent. The committee then took up AB 1016 by Assemblymember Gonzalez, which would create a five-year pilot program allowing certain counties with geothermal elements in their general plans to locally permit geothermal plants up to 150 net megawatts through 2030. The author and Imperial County representatives argued the bill would streamline a duplicative permitting process, support local control, and bring jobs, tax revenue, and clean baseload energy development to Imperial County, which they described as facing high unemployment and poverty and having significant geothermal potential. Supporters included Imperial County officials, Rural County Representatives of California, Independent Energy Producers, and local community representatives. They emphasized the county’s long history of geothermal permitting, its planning efforts, and the economic benefits of projects that could support schools, health care, and community colleges. Opposition came from labor organizations including the California State Pipe Trades Council, Western States Council of Sheet Metal Workers, California Coalition of Utility Employees, State Association of Electrical Workers, and State Building Trades. Their main concern was that shifting permitting from the California Energy Commission to local governments could remove the skilled-and-trained workforce requirement that currently applies to CEC-permitted projects. Committee members asked about that labor issue, and the author said he intended to work with the opposition coalition to ensure local workers are prioritized and that projects use skilled, trained, California-licensed labor. The discussion ended with the bill still under consideration; no vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• INVESTMENT IN THE RESTORATION AND INCREASES TRANSPARENCY OF PLANNING, FUNDING, BUDGETING AND BUSINESS PRACTICES
• THIS IS MINE 196 THROUGH 200 WHETHER PRACTICE IS OPERATING WITH A DRAFT OPERATING MANUAL INCLUDED IN

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that were inserted into this that we were considering retaining are colleagues of mine in my law practice
• that were inserted into this that we were considering retaining are colleagues of mine in my law practice

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I am an attorney who practices in Manchester.
• </c><02:17:07.040><c> which</c> pertain to uh physician practices which pertain to uh physician practices
• </c> went to a hospital or physician practice went to a hospital or physician practice to<02:19:52.319
• So my question is how this will change practice. Can people still call in anonymously?
• </c><03:59:43.920><c> that</c> mind knowledge of sexual practices that mind knowledge of sexual practices

Committee: House Children and Family Law

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , or dental practice to temporarily take into custody and detain a person who presents a security or
• The House substitute also clarifies the definition of health care institution, medical practice, and
• dental practice to ensure the law is applied consistently.
• This legislation creates an exception allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to target practice without direct
• This can create practical barriers for families, hunting clubs, and outdoor sports participants.

Summary: The Senate received communications from the House on numerous measures, including several bills and resolutions passed with amendments, committee reports on bills such as large energy use facilities, campaign finance, voting rights, and appropriations, and a list of pre-file legislation. The chamber then moved through a long floor session with confirmations, bill readings, and roll-call votes, ultimately confirming the nomination of Morgan T. Zern to the Delaware Supreme Court by a 21-0 vote. Among the major policy items considered were property tax and school tax measures tied to the statewide reassessment. The Senate passed House Bill 460, clarifying monthly municipal permit-data reporting to New Castle County; House Bill 461, granting temporary authority for New Castle County school districts to reset school tax rates for one cycle; and House Bill 462, making the split school tax rate permanent with a lower nonresidential cap. Members discussed the fiscal effects at length, including testimony from a school district finance officer that HB 461 would allow revenue-neutral rate setting and offset the fiscal note on HB 462. The Senate also passed House Bill 365 creating a Delaware Indigenous Affairs Commission, House Bill 458 on backflow requirements for low-hazard buildings, Senate Bill 27 establishing the Office of New Americans with a sunset and interagency coordination, and Senate Bill 315 on the Delaware Technical Innovation Program. The chamber also approved Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 300, a firearms dealer regulation bill, after extensive debate over amendments, confidentiality, background checks, and the balance between public safety and burdens on lawful dealers. Several members raised constitutional and practical objections, while supporters argued the bill would reduce trafficking, straw purchases, and theft from dealers. In addition, the Senate passed House Bill 305 creating a diabetes wellness pilot program, with supporters emphasizing the state’s diabetes burden and the program’s federal funding, and House Concurrent Resolution 157, which asks the State Lottery Office to report on iLottery’s impact on small businesses. Senate Bill 325, a fire prevention/background-check bill, was laid on the table after concerns about a late House amendment and requests for more time to consult stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are practical support items that can make a real support you overall.
• These are practical support items that can make a real difference in your lives, in your future, in the
• It is a practical way to honor those who serve, supporting housing stability, and help disabled veterans

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 987, senate, all