Transcript Highlights:

• So this would just codify the authority that the governor has?
• This is not simply codifying the authority the governor has; it's giving new powers?
• Yes, we believe that we can authorize those powers. Got it.
• the governor's author uh without the<00:52:28.160><c> governor's</c><00:52:28.559><c> request.
• us um to be would have had to authorize us um to be on<00:56:46.799><c> status.

Bills: SB3240

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: defense, workforce development, local business, manufacturing, federal funding, economic resilience, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety-related measures and indicated at the outset that, because of short notice, the bills would likely be deferred to the later decision-making agenda. On SB 2645 relating to fire prevention, the bill would restructure the process for selecting the State Fire Marshal and make related changes to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The Governor’s office, the State Fire Marshal’s office, the Hawaii State Fire Council, DLNR, Maui Fire Department, AIA Hawaii State Council, and others testified, with DLNR supporting most of the bill but opposing the provision changing the marshal’s nomination process to a governor appointee. In questions, members reviewed the relationship between the State Fire Council, the commission, and the marshal, and the Governor’s office clarified that it supported the overall intent but wanted the commission to remain the sole appointing entity. The bill was not voted on in the hearing. The committee then heard SB 3083 relating to protective orders, with support from the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, the judiciary, the Hawaii National Guard, the Military and Community Relations Office, DBED, and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Members focused on whether the draft reflected language worked out with the judiciary and whether the bill addressed a previously identified gap in implementation. The Military and Community Relations Office said it had worked with the judiciary on amendments and wanted to ensure the statute created a collaborative process with installation partners and law enforcement. The witness also said the draft appeared to reflect the agreed language, though he noted there were multiple bills moving and that technical amendments might still be needed. No action was taken during the hearing. SB 608 relating to veterans’ rights and benefits drew both support and opposition. Support came from the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services, Veterans Benefits Guide, Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, and individual veterans and service members, who argued the bill would improve access to claims assistance and provide choice and faster help for veterans. Opposition came from the VFW Department of Hawaii and the Veterans Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, which argued the bill should be amended to align with federal law, especially on accreditation and fee caps. Testimony and questioning centered on whether third-party claims assistance should be regulated, whether fee caps are preempted by federal law, and whether there was evidence of fraud tied to non-accredited representatives. Supporters said the bill would help veterans navigate a slow system, while opponents said accredited representatives are accountable and that the bill should be narrowed. The committee also heard SB 2054 relating to public safety, which would prohibit the Hawaii National Guard from deploying to assist federal troops, federal law enforcement, or other states’ National Guard units in Hawaii when the governor objects. The Hawaii National Guard opposed the bill, while the ACLU of Hawaii, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and numerous other organizations and individuals supported it, arguing it would protect civil liberties and prevent federal overreach. The hearing ended without a vote or final action on these measures.

Committee: Joint Local and Private

Keywords: Local and Private - Room 210, 17 March, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Committee: Joint Local and Private

Keywords: Local and Private - Room 216, 11 March, 2026; 9:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, what we're simply doing here is authorizing the board of trustees of the Greenwood Laflur Hospital
• uh to the authority to petition for the relief from debt and financial obligations.

Committee: Joint Local and Private

Keywords: Local and Private - Room 210, 4 March, 2026; 9:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> We do have, to my right, the local legislation clerk, Gina Purdue.
• Normally our meetings with Local Legislation do not last too lengthy and such.
• </c> Normally our meetings with local Normally our meetings with local legislation<00:04:52.479><c> do
• On that particular night, the proposed bill ran four weeks consecutively in our local newspaper.
• </c><00:10:03.279><c> Full</c> in our local newspaper. Full in our local newspaper.

Bills: HB180

Committee: House Local Legislation

Keywords: education, county superintendent, appointed, elected officials, Conecuh County, local control, 1136, house, all

Bills: SB3

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: disaster relief, emergency funding, flood management, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriately on the House floor, but because of that, that's where normally—it's not where I've been authorized

Bills: HB486 , HB508

Committee: House Local Legislation

Keywords: Baldwin County, Belforest Landmark District, annexation, constitutional amendment, local governance, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll go ahead and call the meeting of the county local legislation to order.
• It would be found in their related city ordinances or their local regulations.

Bills: HB393 , HB497

Committee: House Shelby County Legislation

Keywords: entertainment district, alcohol consumption, local governance, city council, public spaces, 1136, house, all

Keywords: Local and Private - Room 409, 28 March, 2025; 10:45 A.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 138 by Dean relating to establishment of the health impact cost and coverage analysis program authorizing
• In my local community in the panhandle of Texas, that excludes a lot of my hardworking patients who have
• The, the, uh, committee at this time will stand at ease while we wait, uh, for our next bill author.
• for reviewing and approving or denying a prior authorization request.
• With the prior authorization.

Bills: HB139

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: ad valorem tax, tax rates, voter-approval, taxing unit, property tax, local government

Keywords: Local and Private - Room 210; 26 March, 2025: 9:00 AM, 925, all

Keywords: Local and Private - Room 409, 18 March, 2025; 9:30 A.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We began that authorized in 21, we actually started in 2023.
• Expense for local government.
• We don't really have the authority to go into someone's backyard.
• So there's rule making authority sometimes.
• But local development boards coordinate with local stakeholders on Chapter 380 and 381 agreements.

Bills: HB406

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: local economic development, notification, workforce development, municipal agreements, county contracts, 1184, house, all

Keywords: Local and Private - Room 409, 11 March, 2025; 12:30 PM., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would respect local control and decision-making.
• Everybody's seeing big increases to levy amounts at the local level.
• I am also the president of the local PA professional union.
• </c><00:48:08.359><c> optional</c> and with that also a local optional and with that also a local optional
• </c> of moving money and keeping local of moving money and keeping local control<01:19:49.920><c> does

Bills: HF957 , HF877

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education, mandate relief, school funding, local control, state laws, fund transfers, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• She committed to empowering parents and returning powers to states and local communities, which, by the
• across the country, when in fact the vast majority of decisions around public education are made by local
• decisions, licensure standards, hiring decisions, and so many other factors are in the hands of our local
• civil rights. rights protections, provides Title I and IDEA investments that help make it possible for local

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Keywords: Department of Education, Ms. McMahon, educational reform, public testimony, federal responsibilities, local governance

Summary: The meeting of the legislative committee encompassed discussions on key bills including HB22, SB4, and HB2214, with significant focus on the implications surrounding the Department of Education. Members expressed varying opinions on the nomination of Ms. McMahon to lead the department, underlining the need for reform and accountability. The committee witnessed passionate exchanges regarding educational values and the responsibilities of the federal government versus local authorities. Public testimonies contributed to the discussions, highlighting the community's concerns about educational policies and their impact on students from diverse backgrounds.

Transcript Highlights:

• All the access roads are flooded.
• Any authority which will allow counties to have similar authorities to those allowed municipalities and
• Our roads are falling apart.
• Our roads are falling apart.
• Buses are flipping because the roads are washing out secondary to run off. because the roads are washing

Bills: HB48 , HB66 , HB68 , HB71 , HB75 , HB164 , HB171 , HB254 , SB3 , SB18 , HB123 , HB149 , HB117

Committee: House Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select

Keywords: HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert, Silver Alert, Blue Alert, missing persons alerts, accessible alerts, hearing impaired

Summary: The committee met in special session to hear a series of flood, preparedness, and youth-camp safety bills, with members repeatedly noting that many of the measures were intended as planning, warning, or authority-clarifying bills rather than direct spending bills. House Bill 254 would expand eligibility for the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program to include Kerr County and 18 other flood-affected counties by raising the GDP cap and lowering the poverty threshold; it drew no opposition and was left pending. House Bill 68 would direct a study of flood mitigation in flatland areas, especially in the Rio Grande Valley, to develop cost-effective drainage and infrastructure recommendations; local officials and advocates supported it, and it was also left pending. The committee then heard several youth camp bills tied to the recent Hill Country flooding. House Bill 75 would impose flood-aware building and site standards for youth camps near floodplains, and House Bill 71 would require camps and youth activity entities to submit emergency preparedness plans to TDEM, coordinate with local responders, and maintain readiness protocols; both bills were supported by safety advocates and camp representatives, and both were left pending. House Bill 171 would require campgrounds near flood-prone waters to give written flood-risk notice to campers and obtain signed acknowledgment; it was presented as informed consent and left pending. Testimony on these bills emphasized Camp Mystic and other recent flood tragedies, with some witnesses urging broader building-code and floodplain reforms. The committee also heard House Bill 117, which would let counties regulate impervious cover for flood mitigation in unincorporated areas. Supporters, including county officials, environmental groups, and residents, argued that rapid development in the Hill Country and other growing areas is worsening runoff and downstream flooding; opponents from the builders’ association said counties already have substantial authority and warned about overreach into rural property use. After extensive testimony, the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 18 would streamline permitting for certain flood control districts to repair dams and reservoirs and build small holding areas, and it was left pending after supportive testimony from Plum Creek Conservation District. Senate Bill 3 would create a state-backed outdoor flood warning siren program for identified flood-prone areas, funded through a grant program; witnesses generally supported it, though some cautioned that sirens are not sufficient by themselves and may not be heard indoors or in overnight storms. It too was left pending. The committee also began hearing House Bill 149 on public-safety radio interoperability, but the transcript cuts off before the bill’s full testimony or action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 431 has several reported objections and is sent to local contest calendar.
• House Bill 1522 is reported with objections to the local and contested calendar.
• Available to authorized repair service providers.
• regulatory authorities, not the PUC.
• There are no questions for the author.

Bills: HB106 , HB144 , HB145 , HB252 , HB1732 , HB2221 , HB2467 , HB2468 , HB2517 , HB2518 , HB2963 , HB3016 , HB3689 , HB3960 , HB4386 , HB4490 , HB4751 , HB5247 , HJR175 , HB2213 , HB106 , HB144 , HB145 , HB252

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund, production safety, leasehold operations, electric utility, distribution poles, inspection

Transcript Highlights:

• It's for total land, a road that passes through and more of land.
• Here's the road. Here's Andy's property. So, and they've had meetings. It's farmland.
• Again, just give me a heads up if something comes up and it's something that's urgent and you need a local

Bills: HB82 , HB109 , HB202 , HB211 , HB82 , HB109 , HB202 , HB211

Committee: House Baldwin County Legislation

Keywords: registrars, election, qualifications, salary, state employees, diversity, podiatry, state board, healthcare regulation, Alabama regulations, political appointment, law enforcement, immunity, civil liability, use of force, recruitment, Calhoun County, local act, halfway house, sober living

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know, but I don't want to tie local governments' hands either based on experience.
• Except as otherwise provided by local... ...except as otherwise provided by local government law, but
• Is that by local government ordinance, or is that something that has to happen here?
• Since it's with the county, they don't have local control.
• Madison, I'm going to go with my local Jefferson County delegation folk.

Bills: HB134 , SB217 , SB180 , HB157 , HB92 , HB335

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: vehicle registration, disability access, fines, law enforcement, public accommodation, bond financing, municipal bonds, county debt, local government debt, debt service schedule, bond disclosure, public finance, bond underwriter, county commission, city council, refunding bonds, swap agreements, interest rate swaps, derivatives, fiscal transparency