Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, we know that not getting reinsurance done has really potentially catastrophic consequences
• Obviously, we know that not getting reinsurance done has really potentially catastrophic consequences
• Obviously, we know that not getting reinsurance done has really potentially catastrophic consequences
• Obviously, we know that not getting reinsurance done has really potentially catastrophic consequences
• disaster, frankly, for our health care providers that are already operating on the margins. ...catastrophic

Bills: HF837

Keywords: health insurance, premium security plan, federal funding, state innovation waiver, Minnesota, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• definition of great bodily harm, it's a broken bone, right, and or something that's kind of catastrophically
• , I guess, a catastrophic injury, but one that there is an.

Bills: SB1192, SB1264, SB1284, SB1810, SB1921

Keywords: substance abuse, counseling, assessment fees, mental health, alcohol and drug programs, domestic violence, domestic abuse, assault and battery, assault, battery, strangulation, dangerous weapon, family or household member, intimate partner, pregnant woman, great bodily injury, batterers intervention program, batterers' intervention, anger management, victim safety

Transcript Highlights:

• A catastrophic event now would suck up the resources of this pool of money in one shot.
• This is available money in the event of catastrophe. And we've had some close calls.
• catastrophic event now would suck up the resources<00:49:55.359> of<00:49:55.680> this
• And we've had some close catastrophe.
• It just aligns itself with the reality of a catastrophic event, and that is what this does.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• commission study reports that three-quarters to 90% of the U.S. population would not survive a catastrophic
• provide recommendations on how we can protect the irreplaceable transformers and avoid a major catastrophe
• commission study reports that three-quarters to 90% of the U.S. population would not survive a catastrophic
• <00:11:17.680> Other<00:11:18.000> states catastrophe in the future.
• Other states catastrophe in the future.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Catastrophic aid, I know, is going to be special education aid. Excuse me.
• Now, how does this relate to catastrophic aid and then the cost? Who were those?
• Now, how does this relate to catastrophic aid and then the cost? Who were those?
• Now, how does this relate to catastrophic aid and then the cost? Who were those?
• Now, how does this relate to catastrophic aid and then the cost? Who were those?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The work session focused on special education, especially the differentiated aid component and special education aid, which members noted is still often called “catastrophic aid.” The chair said the committee was trying to better understand how special education costs are growing, how districts are delivering services through SAUs or internally, and how reimbursement formulas affect local costs. Members also discussed the need for better data before making decisions on several education funding bills, and Representative Brown was tasked with capturing questions for follow-up information from the department or elsewhere. Testimony from the state special education director, Becky Fad, centered on why student counts in various disability categories have shifted over time. She said the categories themselves have not changed much, but autism has increased because of greater understanding and identification, developmental delay has grown because it applies to children under age 10 who may not yet have a clear diagnosis, and some students previously classified under speech/language or other health impairment are now identified in more specific categories such as autism. She emphasized that the IEP is based on a child’s individual needs, so a change in category would not necessarily change services, though it may help educators support the student differently. Members asked about whether the shifts reflect better diagnostic capability, whether the department should gather more data on the reasons for the changes, and whether autism-spectrum data could be broken down further. Fad said the department does not currently have data on the causes of the shifts or on where students fall within the autism spectrum, but that collecting and analyzing such data is on its list of priorities and a new data manager had recently been hired. She also explained that each child is counted only once on the chart by primary disability, that the IEP or eligibility team determines the primary category based on evaluations, and that any child can be referred for special education by a parent, teacher, or doctor, after which the district must meet within 15 days to decide whether to evaluate. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some think it's going to be catastrophic and lead to serious impacts in the workforce and our overall
• Some think it's going to be catastrophic and lead to serious impacts in the workforce and our overall
• It could be catastrophic for our state budget.
• And this is going to have catastrophic effects in the future when we have no real pipeline to fill jobs
• And this is going to have catastrophic effects in the future when we have no real pipeline to fill jobs

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• $849, and the amount for addressing the issue of special education differentiated aid—this is not catastrophic
• this is education uh differentiated Aid this is not<00:36:05.839> the<00:36:06.040> catastrophic
• Aid<00:36:06.880> this<00:36:07.000> is<00:36:07.200> special not the catastrophic
• Aid this is special not the catastrophic Aid this is special education<00:36:08.040> Aid<00:36
• Catastrophic aid, where there is so much commotion out in our local school districts right now with the

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The executive session focused primarily on HB 563, which revises the school funding formula, especially the adequate education grant amounts for special education students and the treatment of fiscal capacity disparity aid. Representative Ladd moved OTPA on Amendment 06508, explaining that FY 26 would largely hold the current formula steady, while FY 27 would increase several per-pupil amounts, including base cost, free and reduced-price meals, English language learner aid, and special education differentiated aid. He said the special education change was based on estimated case loads across disability categories and that the amendment also reinstates fiscal capacity disparity aid, using a formula intended to better assist property-poor communities. Several members supported the amendment as a step in the right direction, saying it better recognizes special education costs and separates property wealth from low-income student counts. Others raised concerns about the lack of time and the absence of a printed spreadsheet showing how the fiscal capacity disparity aid would affect each town. In response, sponsors said the spreadsheet existed, that the LBA had copies, and that the amendment would help about 40 target towns, while Manchester would be the main community receiving less under the new formula because of prior shifts in the extraordinary needs grant. Discussion also covered the broader impact of the bill, with members noting that about 200 of the state’s 245 cities and towns would see an increase and 45 a decrease under the proposed FY 27 changes. Supporters argued the bill was a compromise given limited revenues and that it should move forward so it can be considered by the full House and then Finance. No final vote on the amendment or bill was taken in the portion provided, and the chair indicated the committee was still deciding whether it had enough information to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• A way to mitigate this shortage is to provide international medical graduates, otherwise known as IMGs
• A<00:15:04.560> way<00:15:04.800> to<00:15:05.000> mitigate<00:15:05.520> this
• <00:15:05.720> shortage<00:15:06.480> is<00:15:06.720> to A way to mitigate
• this shortage is to A way to mitigate this shortage is to provide<00:15:07.320> international<
• conditions and having to catastrophic conditions and having to deal<03:22:24.720> with<03:22:

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:17:44.960> to academic freedom, and takes step to academic freedom, and takes step to mitigate
• :46.720> going<04:17:47.120> too<04:17:47.439> far<04:17:48.000> and mitigate
• the risk of going too far and mitigate the risk of going too far and denying<04:17:48.800> critical
• /c><04:31:12.560> would<04:31:12.800> be<04:31:12.880> a<04:31:13.120> catastrophic
• research labs would be a catastrophic research labs would be a catastrophic mistake.<04:31:14.239

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Anyway, what is being spent more on climate change mitigation?
• <01:14:00.719> mitigation?
• The other change to K-12 funding relates to special education aid, or catastrophic aid, to towns with
• aid to towns with unusually catastrophic aid to towns with unusually large<01:59:45.199> education
• And so while vaping may go up, I think much of the same social forces can mitigate that and discourage

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a House budget briefing focused on the overall state budget and the first of three divisions. The presenter reviewed the size and structure of the budget, noting that the state had eliminated the interest and dividends tax and still balanced the budget. He explained the major spending categories in the general fund and total budget, emphasizing that health and human services and education remain the largest areas, while transportation is largely self-funded. He also walked through the revenue picture, including business taxes, insurance taxes, court fees, communications taxes, and Medicaid recoveries, and said the remaining interest and dividends tax revenue reflected late payments from prior assessments. Members asked about the size of the tax cut from eliminating the interest and dividends tax, federal funding stability, and why Medicaid was being reduced if federal support was expected to remain steady. The response was that the lost revenue would have been about $200 million absent repeal, and that the budget gap was addressed through many small cuts across departments. On federal funds, the presenter said most aid is tied to multi-year grants and that core programs such as Medicare and Medicaid were expected to remain relatively stable, though some federal reductions could occur. He also said some agency reductions came from eliminating long-vacant, funded positions and from expected lapses. The discussion then moved into Division One, which covers smaller and miscellaneous agencies. The division made cuts to the governor’s office, eliminated a temporary position at the Governor’s Commission on Disability, reduced Department of Information Technology spending through a back-of-budget cut, and found savings in Administrative Services. It also delayed maintenance at the Sununu Youth Services Center, stopped advertising for paid family medical leave, changed retiree health insurance funding, and consolidated several personnel-related boards into one. The division eliminated the Commission on Aging and the Office of the Child Advocate, made a temporary special education advocate position permanent, reduced the Secretary of State’s budget, kept municipal rooms-and-meals distributions flat, and made changes to the retirement system, including $55 million to improve Group 2 retirement benefits and a new retirement structure for future state hires. The judicial branch was also asked to find savings and received two additional judges because of expected caseload increases from other eliminations.

Transcript Highlights:

• So now you're reaching in a catastrophic aid.
• So now you're reaching in a catastrophic aid.
• So now you're reaching in a catastrophic<01:24:30.560> aid.
• Um when you talk to catastrophic aid.
• <02:11:43.440> aid million over in the catastrophic aid million over in the catastrophic aid

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission to study the cost of special education met, confirmed a quorum, introduced members and guests, and approved the minutes from the October 29 meeting. Members noted the commission’s mandate under Senate Bill 57 and emphasized the need to focus on recommendations and findings by July 1, 2026. The chair also distributed additional handouts, including materials related to the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program and administrative rules tied to differentiated aid and disability determinations. The main discussion centered on how students qualify for differentiated aid under the EFA program. Matt Sutherton of the Children’s Scholarship Fund explained that the organization, which contracts with the state to administer EFAs, accepts either school-district/IEP documentation or a medical certification of disability (MCD) from a licensed medical professional. Members questioned how this process relates to the state’s special education rules and whether the school-district examiner standards in ED 107/1107.04 apply to EFAs. Sutherton said the MCD form, created with the department, requires the medical professional to sign that they are qualified to make the determination and to identify the disability. Several members expressed concern that the EFA process is less rigorous than the school-district IEP process and may be inflating disability counts. One member argued that the administrative rules cited are primarily for school districts, not EFAs, and said the Department of Education may not know how many of the roughly 890 EFA students receiving differentiated aid came through school-district documentation versus the MCD pathway. Another member said the EFA system appears more generous than the school system and raised concerns about oversight, auditing, and whether the program’s data are accurate. Sutherton said the organization reviews signed documentation, credentials, and diagnosis information, and may request additional records to help adjudicate expenses. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the prior minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• the address and telephone number of a person provided public emergency shelter during a storm or catastrophe
• Public emergency shelter during a storm or catastrophe event is exempt from public records and inspection

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met and first postponed Senate Bill 350. It then took up several Open Government Sunset Review bills, most of them extending or preserving public records or public meeting exemptions. Senate Bill 7000, relating to emergency shelter information for persons provided public emergency shelter during storms or catastrophes, was amended to set a new sunset date of October 2, 2031, and reported favorably. Senate Bill 7002, concerning Department of Military Affairs records in Department of Defense systems, was similarly amended to extend the sunset date to October 2, 2031 and reported favorably. Senate Bill 7012, dealing with Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records on motor vehicle registration, dealer licensing, driver licenses, and private inspection providers, was amended to conform the effective date with the House companion and reported favorably. The committee also approved Senate Bill 7006, which preserves public meeting and records exemptions for portions of Florida Public Service Commission hearings involving confidential proprietary business information, and Senate Bill 7008, which preserves similar exemptions for Florida Gaming Control Commission meetings and records. Senate Bill 7004, concerning conviction integrity unit investigation information, was explained as maintaining confidentiality for reinvestigation materials during active innocence reviews and was reported favorably without amendment. Later, Senate Bill 7014, on Department of Legal Affairs records related to investigations of social media platforms, was taken up as a committee substitute that extended the repeal date for two exemptions from October 2026 to October 2031 and was reported favorably. Finally, Senate Bill 7016, which preserves the exemption for certain financial information held by an economic development agency for administration of small business loan programs, was reported favorably without amendment. No opposition or public testimony was presented on the bills, and the committee adopted the amendments and committee substitute by voice vote before taking recorded roll-call votes. At the end of the meeting, members were invited to record missed votes, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• exemption for address, telephone number, and a person using public emergency shelter during a storm or catastrophic
• exemption for address, telephone number, and a person using public emergency shelter during a storm or catastrophic

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered two bills. HB 705, by Representative Weinberger, would preserve the public records exemption protecting the address and telephone number of people using public emergency shelters during storms or catastrophic events. Representative Anderson spoke in strong support, citing the vulnerability of shelter residents after recent hurricanes and the need to prevent criminals from targeting them. The bill drew no public testimony and passed the committee by a 15-0 vote. The committee then heard HB 11, by Representatives Mooney and LaMarca, which would designate the flamingo as Florida’s state bird and the scrub jay as the state songbird. Sponsors argued the flamingo is an iconic symbol of Florida and tied the bill to Everglades and Indian River Lagoon restoration, while also noting the scrub jay’s status as Florida’s only endemic songbird. Members raised questions about the birds’ native range, regional representation, and possible future amendments, including suggestions for a pelican designation and preserving the mockingbird’s historical role. One support card was filed by Jose Romano of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. During debate, several members voiced support while noting they might seek amendments later. Representative Miller supported the flamingo but objected to elevating the scrub jay because of property-rights concerns. Representative Andrade said he would vote yes to allow a future pelican amendment, and Representative Tant said he would support the bill while seeking recognition of the mockingbird as a songbird. The bill passed 15-1, with Representative Miller voting no. After the vote, the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, they patrol and they work to do preventative traffic mitigation on those roads, speeding, driving
• patrol and they work to, you know, do preventative<03:34:21.680> traffic<03:34:22.319> mitigation
• <03:34:23.120> on<03:34:23.359> those preventative traffic mitigation on those preventative
• traffic mitigation on those roads,<03:34:24.399> speeding,<03:34:25.600> u<03:34:26.239
• This bill would force catastrophically.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• shows the sources of unobligated funds and then the distributions for the restricted reserve and catastrophic
• The total catastrophic reserve fund balance is $1.8 billion.
• thing though: if under this new plan that we're doing like this, you know, if we have some major catastrophic

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• the address and telephone number of a person provided public emergency shelter during a storm or catastrophe
• Public emergency shelter during a storm or catastrophe event [is] exempt from public records and inspection

Bills: S7000, S7002, S7004, S7006, S7008, S7012, S7014, S7016, S0350

Keywords: public records exemption, open government sunset review, OGSR, emergency shelter, public emergency shelter, storm shelter, catastrophic event, evacuees, disaster response, hurricane, evacuation, privacy, confidential records, address confidentiality, telephone number, Florida Statutes section 252.385, agency records, public records law, Open Government Sunset Review Act, Florida Public Service Commission

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met and first postponed SB 350 for a future meeting. The committee then considered a series of Open Government Sunset Review bills preserving or extending public records and public meeting exemptions. SB 7000, relating to emergency shelter recipients’ address and phone information, and SB 7002, relating to Department of Military Affairs records in Department of Defense systems, were both amended to set a new sunset date of October 2, 2031 and reported favorably. SB 7012, concerning Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records, was amended to conform its effective date with the House companion and also reported favorably. The committee next heard SB 7006, which preserves exemptions for certain Florida Public Service Commission hearing portions involving confidential proprietary utility information, and SB 7008, which preserves similar exemptions for the Florida Gaming Control Commission; both were reported favorably without amendment. SB 7004, concerning conviction integrity unit investigation information, was also reported favorably after testimony that state attorney conviction integrity units support keeping the exemption in place beyond its current repeal date. Later, the committee took up SB 7014, presented by Senator Arrington on behalf of Senator Leitz, and adopted a committee substitute extending to October 2, 2031 two exemptions tied to Department of Legal Affairs investigations of social media platforms. The committee also approved SB 7016, which preserves the exemption for certain financial information used by economic development agencies to administer small business loan programs. At the end of the meeting, members recorded affirmative votes on several bills and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And airports do some things to mitigate fog banks at very low levels that would not be included in this
• And airports do some things to mitigate fog banks at very low levels that would not be included in this
• And airports do some things to mitigate fog banks at very low levels that would not be included in this
• Potential solar radiation modification results are not well understood and could be catastrophic, affecting
• Potential solar radiation modification results are not well understood and could be catastrophic, affecting

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Certainly, we know that legislators should really work to mitigate public health harms that affect our
• My son Jude, who's now eight years old, had a catastrophic onset of epilepsy when he was three.
• Since then, he's... ...had a catastrophic onset of epilepsy when he was three.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a public hearing on a large slate of bills, with the chairs emphasizing time limits, written testimony, and grouping similar measures together. Early testimony focused on opioid use disorder education in schools (S.382), with Senator Keenan arguing that students should be taught about the risks of substance use disorder and naloxone use as part of health curricula. Representative DeCost also briefly introduced H.551, a narrow bill concerning parent rights for children in third grade and younger. Several bills were then closed without testimony, including measures on type 1 diabetes informational materials and other diabetes-related proposals. A major portion of the hearing centered on school health and emergency response bills. Supporters of H.652/S.342 on diabetes management in schools described inconsistent district practices and urged clearer standards so students can receive care in classrooms rather than being sent out of instruction. Bills on epinephrine access and seizure disorders drew extensive testimony: advocates for stock epinephrine in schools argued that unassigned epinephrine can save lives and should be funded in a cost-neutral way, while a pediatrician opposed one version as an unfunded mandate. For seizure-safe schools (S.422/H.635), students, parents, educators, and advocates described missed or delayed responses to seizures, stigma, and the need for staff training, seizure action plans, and emergency medication protocols. A separate bill, H.645, allowing anti-seizure medication on school buses, was supported by a parent and student who said current law forces costly and restrictive transportation arrangements. The committee also heard testimony on youth skin health bills (S.334/H.600/H.619), which would let students carry and apply sunscreen at school and camp without a physician’s note. Supporters from melanoma prevention, dermatology, and industry groups said the bills would remove unnecessary barriers and promote sun-safe habits, while one witness cautioned about drafting details and unintended consequences. The hearing then moved to CPR/AED education for graduation (S.456), where Senator Tarr, a student advocate, and the Red Cross all supported requiring hands-on CPR certification for high school students. Finally, the committee took testimony on healthy school lunches (H.539/S.401): supporters from the Healthy School Lunch Coalition and school food directors backed stronger nutrition standards and a standing advisory council, while Consumer Brands Association witnesses opposed the bill as too vague and potentially disruptive. A nutrition scientist also warned about unintended restrictions on medically necessary or innovative foods. The chairs closed the hearing on the healthy lunch bills and then opened testimony on universal school meals for virtual schools (H.700), with Superintendent Patrick Latuka supporting access for students in Commonwealth virtual schools who currently receive no meal support.

Transcript Highlights:

• And 2.29 is deleting section three from that article, and that is the catastrophic insurance requirement
• And 2.29 is deleting section three from that article, and that is the catastrophic insurance requirement
• And 2.29 is deleting section three from that article, and that is the catastrophic insurance requirement
• And 2.29 is deleting section three from that article, and that is the catastrophic insurance requirement
• And 2.29 is deleting section three from that article, and that is the catastrophic insurance requirement

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:49:52.040> hazards<00:49:53.040> be<00:49:53.520> conditioned or catastrophic
• hazards be conditioned or catastrophic hazards be conditioned on<00:49:54.160> agreement<00:49
• to recover damages from third parties whose actions or negligence are actually underlying the catastrophic
• events<00:53:07.319> that<00:53:07.400> are<00:53:07.559> driven with catastrophic
• events that are driven with catastrophic events that are driven by<00:53:08.119> responsible<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1 and SB 1561 on vegetation management near utility lines and wildfire prevention. Testimony focused on requiring DLNR to create and update wildfire hazard maps, setting vegetation-trimming responsibilities for property owners near rights-of-way and utility lines, and authorizing utilities to enter property to remove hazardous vegetation. DLNR, the PUC, and Hawaiian Electric all testified, with Hawaiian Electric asking for clearer access language, after-the-fact notification in imminent-risk situations, and liability limits. Committee members discussed balancing wildfire response with property rights and the need for clearer responsibility and enforcement, including on easements and utility poles. The committees ultimately recommended SB 1 pass with amendments, incorporating comments from testimony, and SB 1561 was deferred. The next major item was SB 640 on artificial intelligence disclosures. The bill would require businesses and individuals in commercial transactions to clearly disclose when consumers are interacting with an AI chatbot or similar technology, and it would create private rights of action and penalties. TechNet, the Office of Consumer Protection, and the Chamber of Commerce raised concerns about vague definitions, overbroad application, enforcement, and the private cause of action; the Chamber also argued the bill could burden small businesses that use AI tools for routine functions. In response to questions, OCP said the measure was ambiguous as to who it applies to and that the remedies and treble-damages provisions were unclear. The committee recommended SB 640 be deferred. The committee also heard SB 454 on prorating the rental motor vehicle surcharge tax when a vehicle is rented for only part of a day. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii said the proposal would make the tax system fairer but more complex and would require better recordkeeping by rental companies; the Department of Taxation and Enterprise Mobility also submitted comments. Senator Melby noted possible effects on the special highway fund and said that could affect his vote. The measure was referred onward, with the discussion indicating it would proceed to Ways and Means. Finally, the committee heard SB 1272 on towing, which would create a licensing framework for tow companies. Testimony from tow-industry representatives strongly supported the measure, describing unlicensed or noncompliant operators, poor insurance practices, and the need for accountability and consumer protection. They said a licensing board would give regulators a clearer enforcement avenue and help ensure fair treatment of vehicle owners. The hearing ended before a final action was taken on SB 1272 in the portion provided.