Video & Transcript Research : 'Compact'
Page 46 of 76
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 087 Apr 11th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This amount shall be from the Interstate Compact Probation Transfer Cash Fund, created in section 18-
- to 15 4.5 FTE basin compact to 15 4.5 FTE 163,750,3,750,000 consultant<03:32:13.600>
expenses - Interbasin Compacts B2: 3.7 FTE. Platte River Basin Cooperative Agreement C5: 1.0 FTE.
- B2 3.7 FTE 3 Plat interbas compacts B2 3.7 FTE 3 Plat River<04:55:03.920>
Basin <04:55:04.240> - I shall be from the interbasin compact I shall be from the interbasin compact committee<04:55:31.440
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, approved the prior journal, and heard several brief recognitions before moving to business. Members welcomed foster care advocates for Child Abuse Prevention Month, Girl Scouts visiting the Capitol, and participants in Black Maternal Health Week, with remarks emphasizing foster youth voice, leadership development, and the need for culturally competent maternal health care and doula/midwife support.
The chamber then took up House Joint Resolution 1026, honoring former Governor Roy Romer and designating a portion of I-25 as the Governor Roy Romer Memorial Highway. Supporters highlighted Romer’s long public service, his work on education and infrastructure, and his role in major state projects. A proposed amendment to strike the word “memorial” was withdrawn, the House suspended the rules to allow Romer to speak from the well, and Romer offered remarks about legislative collegiality and the importance of democracy and listening to opposing views.
House Joint Resolution 1026 was adopted on a 60-0 vote, with four excused and one absent. After a brief recess, the House returned to special orders and resumed reading House Bill 1410 at length, continuing through extensive appropriations language for the Department of Human Services, including child welfare, youth services, Medicaid-related transfers, SNAP and benefits administration, and other funding line items. No final action on House Bill 1410 was taken in the portion provided.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
- on probation by the courts, released by parole by the parole board, or transferred via interstate compact
- >
interstate proboard or transferred via interstate proboard or transferred via interstate compact - compact for supervision in Kentucky. compact for supervision in Kentucky.
Bills:
HB60
Keywords:
geoengineering, weather modification, environmental safety, atmospheric pollutants, criminal pollution, Meeting Start: 00:00:02
Roll Call: 00:00:08
26 RS HB 60 - AN ACT relating to geoengineering: 00:01:35
Department of Corrections Update: 00:32:59
Kentucky Parole Board Update: 01:19:21, 958, all
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Fraud Committee Meeting - 2026-04-21
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- . >> Miss Assistant Commissioner Courtois is in Lexington, Kentucky at the Military Interstate Compact
- Excellent. >> Miss Assistant Commissioner Courtois is in Lexington, Kentucky at the Military Interstate Compact
- Excellent. >> Miss Assistant Commissioner Courtois is in Lexington, Kentucky at the Military Interstate Compact
- Excellent. >> Miss Assistant Commissioner Courtois is in Lexington, Kentucky at the Military Interstate Compact
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- is Senator Mann's Senate File 3626, and takes about 15 pages for the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact
- In education organizations, we strongly support adopting the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact in Article
- In education organizations, we strongly support adopting the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact in Article
- In education organizations, we strongly support adopting the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact in Article
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS Senate Floor - 12 March, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- $23,694 over LBR, which consists of vacancy funding, travel to participate, um, according to the compact
- travel to participate, um, according<01:50:08.840>
to <01:50:08.920>the <01:50:09.000>compact - <01:50:09.560>
agreement, <01:50:10.400>as according to the compact agreement, as according - to the compact agreement, as well<01:50:10.880>
as <01:50:11.200>IT <01:50:11.680>enhancements
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. The chamber also recognized several guests and groups, including the doctor of the day, visitors from Quebec, the Sumrall High School boys soccer team, Starkville public safety officials, and the Hattiesburg High School choral arts program. A resolution honoring the long-standing partnership between Quebec and Mississippi was read and adopted, and Ms. Nathalie Rivard of Quebec addressed the Senate about historical ties and economic cooperation between Quebec and Mississippi.
The Senate then moved through a series of procedural actions on the calendar, including multiple motions to table reconsideration on medical cannabis and ARPA-related bills, and several motions to not concur and invite conference on workforce and budget measures. Among those were Senate Bill 2294, the Mississippi Future Innovators Act, Senate Bill 2288 on workforce training, Senate Bill 2401 on workforce development, Senate Bill 2189 on budget transfers, Senate Bill 2895 on ARPA funds, and Senate Bill 2917 on appropriations transfers. These motions were adopted, sending the measures to conference or otherwise advancing them as noted.
A major portion of the meeting focused on appropriations bills. House Bill 1935, the Education Department appropriation, was explained in detail and adopted after a strike-all amendment; the bill includes funding for the student formula, teacher and assistant pay raises, special education supplements, school attendance officers, testing contracts, early learning coaches, and CTE instructor raises, with offsets from reduced or eliminated line items such as school safety platforms and certain vendor programs. The Senate also adopted strike-all amendments and passed House Bills 1936 and 1937 for Mississippi Public Broadcasting and the Library Commission, and then moved on to House Bill 1933 for the Bureau of Building. The Senate recessed until 2:30 p.m. and announced an appropriations meeting shortly after recess, while leadership noted that many supplemental appropriations bills would be considered later with attention to whether they contained reverse repealers and would go to conference or final passage.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 042 Feb 25th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- small footprint, what you end up doing, it's kind of like when you look at an economy car versus a compact
- car<02:00:15.679>
versus <02:00:16.000>or <02:00:16.320>a <02:00:16.480>compact - and an economy car versus or a compact and an economy car versus or a compact car<02:00:17.199><
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, approved the corrected journal, and heard several announcements about upcoming committee meetings, events at the Capitol, and recognitions, including Music Therapy Day, Black History Month activities, adoptable puppies, and a Colorado Agricultural Forum. Members also celebrated Representative Story’s birthday and recognized the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) for its long-running support of arts, culture, science access, and economic impact in Colorado. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 12, designating February 20, 2026, as Colorado FFA Day, by a vote of 64-1 with one excused.
The chamber then moved to special orders for several bills. The first major bill considered was House Bill 1017, which would prohibit insurers from receiving criminal restitution unless they are direct victims. Sponsors argued the bill prioritizes human victims, prevents restitution from becoming an unpayable burden on low-income defendants, and clarifies the law in response to court concerns and stakeholder feedback. Opponents argued it would shift costs to taxpayers and policyholders and could increase civil litigation and insurance premiums. An amendment, L005, was adopted to clarify the bill’s scope, and the bill then passed as amended.
The House also took up House Bill 114, concerning minimum lot size and local land-use rules. An amendment, L002, was offered to prohibit certain local lot frontage, setback, open-space, or coverage requirements that would effectively prevent construction of a single-family home on a 2,000-square-foot residential lot. Supporters framed the measure as protecting housing access, while opponents argued it would override local land-use decision-making and public hearing processes. The transcript ends during debate on a substitute motion related to the amendment, before final action on House Bill 114 is shown.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 5/7/25
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- We're doing the best we can to get through these days, and everything's compact, I know, but if you can
- days best we can to get through these days and<01:24:04.560>
everything's <01:24:05.120>compact - <01:24:05.920>
know, <01:24:06.080>but <01:24:06.639>if and everything's compact - , I know, but if and everything's compact, I know, but if you<01:24:07.040>
can <01:24:07.360><
Bills:
HF2435
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
HF2312, the higher education finance bill, passes out of committee 4/21/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Line 16 is the Midwest Higher Education Compact, remains at the $230,000 biennial base unchanged.
- Line 16 is the Midwest<00:04:10.959>
Higher <00:04:11.200>Education <00:04:11.599>Compact - <00:04:12.159>
remains Midwest Higher Education Compact remains Midwest Higher Education Compact
Summary:
The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration.
Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program.
The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 4/21/25
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Line 16 is the Midwest Higher Education Compact, remains at the $230,000 biennial base unchanged.
- Line 16 is the Midwest<00:05:13.520>
Higher <00:05:13.759>Education <00:05:14.160>Compact - <00:05:14.720>
remains Midwest Higher Education Compact remains Midwest Higher Education Compact
Bills:
HF2312
Keywords:
higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/13/25
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- lines 1.7 to 1.8, it says a license authorized by this section may be issued for space that is not compact
- section may be issued for space that is section may be issued for space that is not<00:25:52.880>
Compact - and<00:25:53.600>
contiguous <00:25:54.600>provided <00:25:55.000>that not Compact - and contiguous provided that not Compact and contiguous provided that all<00:25:55.320>
spaces
Bills:
HF1262, HF1741, HF472, HF1668, HF2055, HF1786, HF1876, HF1089, HF1121, HF509, HF1545, HF2027, HF642
Keywords:
food truck, liquor license, temporary license, community events, catering, municipal regulations, food hall, St. Louis Park, on-sale, intoxicating beverages, food vendors, common seating area, HF472, Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato, MSU Mankato, Taylor Center, special liquor license, on-sale wine license, malt liquor license
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 02/17/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- around<01:15:09.280>
having <01:15:09.560>private We often refer to the regulatory compact - 01:15:57.440>
to <01:15:57.560>the <01:15:57.679>regulatory <01:15:58.400>compact - we often refer to the regulatory compact we often refer to the regulatory compact this<01:15:59.520
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Veterans and Military Affairs Division 2/12/25
Veterans and Military Affairs Division
Transcript Highlights:
- And that was done through the Emergency Mutual Aid Compact.
- done through the emergency<00:21:01.320>
Mutual <00:21:01.720>Aid <00:21:02.120>compact - c><00:21:02.960>
as <00:21:03.120>well <00:21:03.360>as emergency Mutual Aid compact - as well as emergency Mutual Aid compact as well as uh<00:21:03.840>
we <00:21:04.000>sent<
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 03/26/25
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- this language request is related to the passage last year of the occupational therapy interstate compact
- occupational therapy year of the occupational therapy Interstate<02:09:10.079>
uh <02:09:10.320>compact - <02:09:10.800>
lure <02:09:11.679>statutory Interstate uh compact lure statutory Interstate - uh compact lure statutory modifications<02:09:13.000>
provided <02:09:13.320>in <02:09: - So thank you for your attention to the details needed to make sure we implement the compacts well. bill
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 094 Apr 18th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- colleague from Monizuma County is we've upped and we keep the $6 million flush for the compliance or compact
- colleague from Montezuma County is we've upped and we keep the $6 million flush for the compliance or compact
- colleague from Montezuma County is we've upped and we keep the $6 million flush for the compliance or compact
- <01:40:30.080>
compliance <01:40:31.040>um <01:40:31.600>or <01:40:31.760>compact - flush for the compliance um or compact flush for the compliance um or compact compliance<01:40:32.800
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal from April 16, 2026, and then moved to announcements and introductions. Representative Woodro welcomed fifth grade students from Denver Academy and recognized his son Ari on his 12th birthday, leading the chamber in singing happy birthday. The House then agreed to take up a memorial out of order.
Senate Joint Memorial 1, honoring the late Senator Faith Winter, was read at length and supported with remarks describing her legislative work on transportation, climate, paid family and medical leave, environmental justice, women’s leadership, and bipartisan efforts. Representative Wilford and others spoke emotionally about her public service and personal impact. The memorial was adopted on a 50-10 vote, with 15 excused, and Representatives Rutinel and Lindsay were listed as co-sponsors.
The chamber then considered committee reports and special orders. The Appropriations Committee reported several bills favorably, and the majority leader moved a slate of bills to special order. House Bill 1317, creating a unified system of post-secondary talent development and a transition plan for workforce development programs, was amended in committee to remove travel reimbursements, clarify adult learners’ inclusion, adjust advisory committee membership, and preserve type one status for affected departments; it passed the House. Senate Bill 85, concerning military protection orders in domestic violence cases, also passed after Judiciary Committee amendments clarifying law enforcement database checks. Senate Bill 95, supporting victim survivors of certain crimes, passed Judiciary but drew floor opposition from several members who argued the bill’s jury-related provisions conflicted with confrontation rights and due process; despite those concerns, the bill advanced after further debate continued.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (04/13/2026)
Education Policy and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm curious how this jives with something that comes later, because we do talk about interstate compacts
- So that a student from another state who is part of that interstate compact is not eligible for open
- Representative Damon. compacts. So that a student from another compacts.
- 59.040>
interstate state who is part of that interstate state who is part of that interstate compact - is not eligible for open compact is not eligible for open enrollment<03:11:01.920>
in <03:11:02.160
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
PUBLIC HEALTH WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE-SENATE AND HOUSE Jun 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- These were to enact the changes pursuant to Act 265 regarding the Interstate Massage Therapy Compact,
Summary:
The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas DHS and Department of Health rules, most tied to 2025 legislation. Early items covered Medicaid changes including presumptive eligibility application timing, adding a fictive kin definition for foster child eligibility, raising the able account disability onset age to 46, allowing continuous glucose monitors to be billed by both pharmacy and DME providers, increasing the RSV vaccine administration fee for children, a telemedicine exemption for ET3 ambulance services, and a physical therapy access rule that also included occupational therapy. Members generally asked limited questions and most rules were reviewed without objection.
A major portion of the meeting focused on the dental rate increase rule under Act 1025. DHS said it implemented rate increases for certain pediatric, special-needs, and oral surgeon services, but not orthodontics, and it interpreted the act as applying only to oral and maxillofacial surgeons, not general dentists. The Arkansas State Dental Association and legislative sponsors testified that the intent was to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures for special-needs patients, estimating the broader interpretation would add about $1.5 million annually. Committee members debated the plain language of the act versus legislative intent, and the rule was reviewed, but with testimony noting the issue should be fixed in future legislation.
Later items included the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies rule adding doula and lactation consultant billing and remote monitoring benefits; an adverse decisions rule extending provider appeal time from 35 to 65 days; CNA training program updates; PASSE network-status disclosure rules; certification rules for community-based doulas and community health workers; cosmetology, massage therapy, lead-based paint, radiation, radiologic technology, and RV park rule updates. Most of these were described as technical, statutory, or federally driven changes and were reviewed without objection. The committee briefly reopened the CGM rule after a motion to expunge the prior vote, and Representative Wardlaw said he would hold the rule for further review because he believed the billing changes did not match the law’s intent. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- backdoor authorization for agencies to share this information, for example, pursuant to an interstate compact
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day, Dr. May Modi. Members then spent much of the opening portion introducing guests and honoring Arizona Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year candidates from across the state, along with a proclamation recognizing the Junior League of Phoenix for its civic service and volunteerism. The chamber also heard a personal privilege statement marking Denim Day and Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month.
On the floor, the House first rejected Senate amendments to HB 2010 and appointed a conference committee. In Committee of the Whole, members considered several Senate bills and adopted do-pass recommendations on SB 1009, SB 1046, SB 1143, SB 1221 as amended, SB 1613, SB 1013, SB 1338, SB 1121 as amended, SB 1318, SB 1549, and SB 1786 as amended, while retaining SB 1270, SB 1400, and SB 1582 on the calendar. Testimony and debate focused on SB 1013’s merit-based hiring language and concerns about discrimination protections, SB 1338’s public benefits eligibility provisions, SB 1540’s fuel theft provisions and a related amendment, SB 1121’s radiation protection for health care workers, and SB 1318’s cleanup of conflicting breast cancer notification language.
The House then took up third-reading votes and passed SB 1113, SB 1193, SB 1448, and SB 1503, with SB 1503 receiving the required three-quarters vote for an emergency measure. Members also moved to not concur in Senate amendments to HB 2003 and appointed another conference committee. The day ended with adjournment until 10 a.m. the following day.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- all cite the salary adjustments that came from implementation of the pay plan within the class and compact
Summary:
The committee considered a series of appropriation, fund transfer, and reserve requests across multiple agencies. Section B temporary appropriations included funding for state technology upgrades, personnel management staffing and IT skills assessment, court reporters and interpreters, crime victim claims, juvenile sex offender assessments, radiation lab testing, and higher education workforce grants and credentialing pathways. Additional items covered an ARPA grant for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith LPN program, an IIJA grant for the Oil and Gas Commission’s critical minerals work, a restricted reserve transfer for State Police vehicle purchases, a transfer to the Arkansas Heroes Program, and cash fund requests for the Real Estate Commission’s AV system and HVAC work. Most of these items were approved by voice vote.
One budget classification transfer request from the Commissioner of State Lands drew extended questioning and was ultimately not approved. Members questioned the $250,000 transfer to operating expenses tied to the purchase of a West Little Rock office building, the ongoing lease costs at the prior location, and whether the agency had adequately planned for building-related expenses. After discussion, the motion failed, and members told the agency to tighten spending and return if needed.
The committee then took up 15 pay plan appropriation requests totaling $25.7 million and approved them after discussion with DFA, DHS, Corrections, and the State Board of Election Commissioners. Members focused heavily on DHS staffing shortages at human development centers, where officials said vacancies and turnover were driven by overtime and burnout rather than pay alone; one member asked DHS to submit a written plan to address the issue. Corrections reported the pay plan had improved hiring and retention. The committee also approved overtime appropriations for Emergency Management and Military.
Reports on reserve funds, the Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, tobacco settlement, State Central Services, Education Adequacy, Medicaid Trust, IIJA, and revenue transfer activity were received. The Medicaid Trust Fund report prompted significant concern about February’s $90 million draw; DHS said the month was unusually high because of cash-flow timing and that the fund should end the year with a balance between $150 million and $200 million, while lawmakers noted a second $100 million set-aside is planned for FY27. The final discussion centered on DHS’s state hospital damage claim and reconstruction funding, where members expressed disappointment that insurance reimbursement would likely return only about $1.8 million now and possibly about $97,000 more later, far less than the roughly $5 million initially expected. DHS explained the policy was based on actual cash value and depreciation for old buildings, and said the work would proceed on Unit 3 for secured restoration because it was the most cost-effective option.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- This is for home studies for foster, adoptive, interstate compact on placement of children, and court-ordered
Summary:
The ALC-Review Subcommittee reviewed seven methods of finance, including university projects at ASU Jonesboro and Mountain Home, Black River Technical College deferred maintenance, UA Batesville’s Farm Project Gateway Center, UAMS PET cyclotron equipment, a new allied health building at UAPB funded by a federal grant, and UCA’s multi-purpose arena design work. The committee also approved an alternative delivery construction project for UAPB’s Allied Health and Sciences Building, with East Harding Construction selected and AMR Architects as designer.
Members then approved discretionary grants from the Department of Health and DHS, including support for a heart attack center designation, community health worker training, homeless services funding corrections, behavioral health transition support, and an enabling technology pilot. In the contracts section, the committee reviewed RFQs, construction-related contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and a large slate of out-of-state and in-state contracts covering topics such as seatbelt survey data collection, Medicaid and DHS systems, state hospital staffing and services, veterans’ services, education assessments, and state IT and procurement projects.
Several contracts drew extended questioning. Senators and representatives pressed DHS and the Department of Veterans Affairs about heavy reliance on contract nursing and staffing costs, and officials said they were using pay incentives and recruitment efforts to increase state employee staffing. Members also questioned AEDC’s lithium supply chain study and the Department of Education’s security contract, with concerns about projected costs and repeated amendments. The committee held three in-state contracts—Department of Education security services and two DHS staffing contracts—until Friday, then adopted the remaining contracts and received informational reports on contract amendments, executed contracts, and emergency procurements before adjourning.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Next up is SB 3118, relating to the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
Bills:
SB2057
Keywords:
immigration enforcement, sanctuary policy, detainer, ICE, federal immigration authorities, 8 U.S.C. 1357(g), 8 U.S.C. 1373, 8 U.S.C. 1644, deportation, undocumented immigrants, noncitizen, migrant rights, local police cooperation, law enforcement cooperation, hold request, judicial warrant, probable cause, civil immigration enforcement, county police, state police
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee met on Thursday, March 5, for a series of decision-making agendas and considered a long list of Senate bills. Early measures included SB 2151, which clarifies state and local authority during emergencies and revises the definition of “emergency”; the committee agreed to restore the broader, long-used definition and add a sunset date, then passed the bill with amendments. SB 3055, concerning false impersonation of an employee organization representative, was amended to remove liquidated damages and passed. Several technical or conforming bills also advanced, including SB 3067, SB 3077, SB 3131, SB 3134, SB 3144, SB 3152, SB 3154, and SB 3249, with most passed with technical amendments or unamended; some members noted reservations on SB 3249.
The committee also took up bills affecting public safety, health, and education. SB 3083 was amended to narrow notice requirements for protective orders involving military-affiliated individuals to a designated military security force, and SB 3118 on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children passed as is. SB 3134 modernized emergency medical services statutes, while another SB 3134 item addressed dangerous intoxication and civil protective custody. SB 3262, requiring the Hawaii State Teachers Board to submit nominees to the Board of Education, was amended to include a defective effective date. SB 3315, allowing a one-time medical cannabis purchase while registration is pending, was also amended to a delayed effective date and passed.
A substantial portion of the meeting focused on law enforcement and immigration-related proposals. SB 3322, which restricts facial coverings by law enforcement, requires visible identification, and sets agency policies on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, was amended to remove an affirmative defense, make the penalty a misdemeanor, and incorporate exceptions for undercover work and related preparation; it passed with one no vote. SB 3251, barring certain former ICE and Border Patrol personnel from employment in specified state agencies, was narrowed to apply to those with more than 90 cumulative days of such work during a defined period and passed with reservations. SB 2057, a reconsideration measure limiting use of state personnel and funds to assist federal immigration agents beyond their authority, was further amended to clarify definitions, protect First Amendment activity, and preserve cooperation required by federal law; it then passed without objection. The committee adjourned after adopting each measure considered.