Transcript Highlights:

• So it starts with a parental request.
• So it starts with a parental request.
• I wanted to share a personal story of mine.
• <01:11:20.920> as students um for coming and sharing as students um for coming and sharing
• Recess. program um and in what was shared um program um and in what was shared um earlier<01:17:01.159

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills, with testimony largely in support. SB 1388 and SB 1393, both concerning the School Facilities Authority and Department of Education representation and land conveyances, received support from DOE and the School Facilities Authority, with no questions or action taken. SB 423, which would add Head Start representation to the Early Learning Board, was supported by the Early Learning Board and the Executive Office on Early Learning, which explained the bill would realign the board with federal Head Start Act requirements after the board was restructured in Act 170; EEL also requested an effective-date amendment. SB 422, allowing DOE to award diplomas to students whose education was disrupted by war, drew support from DOE, the Chamber of Commerce, the Military Council, and the Special Education Advisory Council, but also significant opposition from the Hawaii Patriot Republicans and many individuals; members asked questions about the bill, and DOE explained the measure’s purpose, but no vote was taken. The committee also took testimony on SB 532, which would expand who may administer certain medications in schools. DOE, the Department of Health, and the University of Hawaii supported the bill. Members asked detailed questions about oral, nasal, and topical medications and the process for prescription review and administration; DOE explained that parents request the medication, a school form is completed, a nurse reviews it, and either a trained school health assistant or a contracted nurse administers the medication. DOE said the measure could improve attendance and learning, especially for students with ADHD, asthma, and other chronic conditions. The committee then heard SB 659 on locally sourced food products and school meals, where DOE’s procurement office opposed the higher small-purchase threshold and DOE exemption from procurement rules, while Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others supported the bill as a way to advance farm-to-school goals and the 30% local food target by 2030. Testimony and questioning focused on the proposed threshold increase, transparency, and whether an online bidding system would be preferable. Finally, the committee heard SB 1300 on subsidies for ALICE families’ school meals. DOE supported the bill but requested amendments: defining eligibility at 250% of the federal poverty level, delaying implementation until the 2026-2027 school year, and covering reduced-price lunch students in full for 2025-2026. HSTA, Hawaii Appleseed, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Pride at Work Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and others supported the measure, emphasizing food insecurity, the burden of meal paperwork, and the educational importance of free meals. Hawaii Appleseed suggested replacing ALICE with a federal poverty level standard and removing a rulemaking requirement that could delay implementation. No votes or final committee actions were reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• consent requirement under the parental consent requirement under the parental bill<00:25:25.600>
• We need to listen to parents.
• This is about parental choice and allowing parents to go from public school to public school, staying
• our obligation as a state and sharing our obligation as a state and sharing meals<02:45:37.760><
• share totaled more than 15 $140 million. share totaled more than 15 $140 million.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• children should lie with their parents. children should lie with their parents.
• They share everything and they eat food, and then they're sharing things again.
• They share everything and they eat food, and then they're sharing things again.
• and then they're sharing they eat food and then they're sharing things<01:24:32.080> again.
• , focuses on teaching teachers, parents, focuses on teaching teachers, parents, um,<01:45:01.440>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:53.400> on perspective that they want to share on perspective that they want to share
• , But like every other working parent, But like every other working parent, I've<00:37:37.640>
• <00:41:33.880> coming trees that other young parents coming trees that other young parents
• <00:57:23.080> their want to come and share their want to come and share their perspective
• <00:58:20.400> my<00:58:20.640> brief<00:58:21.680> um share my brief um share my

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Rules and Administration Committee met on March 19, 2026, to consider the referral path for Senate File 4139, the sports betting bill, rather than the substance of the proposal. Senator Franzen, the bill’s chief author, asked that the bill be referred first to the Commerce Committee, saying he had discussed the matter with the relevant committee chairs and that Commerce was the best place to address the bill’s consumer protection provisions. He emphasized that any final path to passage would still require the bill to go through State and Local Government as well. Senator Rasmusson objected and argued the bill should go first to State and Local Government, citing Senate jurisdiction rules, which he said assign gambling bills to that committee. He noted that prior sports betting bills had been referred there first and said a predictable referral process is important. Senator Maye Quade, Senator Dibble, Senator Bar, and Senator Jasinski also supported sending the bill to State and Local Government first, arguing that the committee has primary jurisdiction over gambling and that the bill’s consumer protection language does not change that basic referral. Senator Champion and Senator Miller supported the Commerce referral, saying authors may request an initial committee and that the bill’s consumer protection sections fit Commerce jurisdiction. Senator Marty moved to re-refer Senate File 4139 to the Committee on State and Local Government. Before the vote, members continued debating whether the bill’s structure and prior referral history justified Commerce or whether committee jurisdiction rules required State and Local Government first. The transcript ends with the motion pending and no final vote or disposition shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• As part of that, we have had, uh, parents speak with us and, uh, share their concerns, their stories,
• recommending is uh parenting is hard. recommending is uh parenting is hard.
• The parent support outreach program. The parent support outreach program.
• interviewing parents and providers. interviewing parents and providers.
• So parents and families served.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The parent can opt in. It won't this. The parent can opt in.
• a parent a parent uh<00:29:34.960> choice<00:29:35.320> to<00:29:35.520> opt
• "So the parent, both parents would have to opt in. So there is an online portal.
• ; So the parent Both parents would have to >> So the parent Both parents would have to opt<00:29
• notifies the parent. notifies the parent.

Bills: HB91, HB95, HB255, HB318, HB91, HB95, HB255, HB318

Keywords: county housing authority, public housing, housing authority, affordable housing, low-income housing, mixed-use development, community facilities, subsidiary, affiliate, public corporation, municipal tax exemption, deed tax, mortgage tax, probate fee, bond financing, housing project, urban redevelopment, rural housing, public-private partnership, eminent domain

Transcript Highlights:

• second component, which is parental second component, which is parental consent.<01:02:38.720>
• <01:03:08.880> If<01:03:09.040> parent for parental permission.
• If parent for parental permission.
• I just wanted to say this only works if parents or step in and actually use the parental controls.
• This only works if parents or step in and actually use the parental controls.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As a parent, my heart breaks for the Murphy family.
• Thank you for sharing. Just a tragedy for your family.
• We know some parents that are not good parents to their kids that my kids are friends with, and they
• time to, you know, to make the parents aware of their staying at your house.
• Sometimes they may have been... ...finding affirming or supportive parents.

Summary: The committee met and took up several criminal justice, public safety, and boating measures. It first heard SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which would create mental health diversion options for eligible misdemeanor and felony defendants, expand mental health and substance abuse grant uses, require evaluations and treatment recommendations in certain cases, add Hillsborough County to a forensic diversion pilot list, and create a behavioral health data repository. After adopting a technical amendment, the bill received strong support from NAMI Florida, family advocates, sheriffs, and the Murphy family, and was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. The committee also approved SB 86, expanding peer support programs for certain law enforcement support personnel, and SB 472, allowing inmates who complete approved education in correctional facilities to receive credit toward professional licensure requirements. Both bills were amended and then reported favorably without opposition. SB 276, which increases penalties for unlawfully sheltering or aiding an unmarried minor and creates a defense for actions taken to protect a minor from danger, drew questions about runaway youth, LGBTQ youth, and the scope of the defense; the sponsor said he was open to further amendment, and the bill passed favorably. Members then approved SB 402, updating the unlawful use of uniforms, medals, or insignia statute to reference the armed forces by definition rather than by branch. SB 490, as amended, would let law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers carry concealed off duty and exempt law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and active military service members from the three-day waiting period for rifle and shotgun purchases; it passed 8-1 after debate over the waiting period and equal treatment concerns. Finally, the committee passed SB 628, Lucy’s Law, to strengthen boating safety and penalties, after adopting an amendment that removed proposed changes to warrantless blood draws and boating education requirements; the bill was supported by the family of Lucy Fernandez and passed unanimously. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• alongside others who I think share alongside others who I think share similar<00:04:32.080> beliefs
• Yeah, because teacher shortage is a very strong concern amongst parents and parents that do have children
• Yeah, because teacher shortage is a very strong concern amongst parents and parents that do have children
• Yeah, because teacher shortage is a very strong concern amongst parents and parents that do have children
• <00:48:30.800> We of their parents. No fault of them. We of their parents.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:45.120> suicide we have completed more parental suicide we have completed more parental
• <00:31:56.399> by following the loss of a parent by following the loss of a parent by Suicide
• Our parent literacy initiative aims to break generational cycles by equipping parents with the skills
• experiences into meaningful shared experiences into meaningful shared narratives<05:13:03.240>
• narratives that celebrate our shared narratives that celebrate our shared Humanity<05:13:22.718>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to protect and defend our their parents to protect and defend our nation,<00:04:57.560> is<00
• service that they carry on through their parents is special, or excuse me, unique.
• So when there's a good little bit of news about Vermont, it's easy to share.
• So I think we've got good news to share, and good for Vermont. Thanks.
• good news to share, and and good<00:28:35.080> for<00:28:35.200> Vermont.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with ceremonial readings and announcements, including a pledge of allegiance and a House Concurrent Resolution recognizing April 2026 as the Month of the Military Child in Vermont. Members also welcomed guests in the gallery, including military families, Vermont Library Association leaders Daisy Benson and Amy Williams, a legislative intern, delegates from North Macedonia under the Open World Program, and Norwich University students. Several caucus and event announcements followed, including a reception for an art exhibition, caucus meetings, and a legislative cabaret notice. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 89, relating to expanding survivor benefits. Committee members explained that the bill would extend the existing emergency personnel survivor death benefit to additional categories of workers, including law enforcement officers, certain corrections employees, family services workers, and certain state-operated mental health employees, with a prospective effective date of July 1, 2026. The House General and Housing Committee reported the bill favorably 10-0-1, and the Appropriations Committee reported 11-0-0, noting there was no new money in the bill and that the fund currently had enough for one claim. The House voted to propose the bill to the Senate as amended and ordered it to third reading. The House also considered House Bill 626 on sexual extortion, voyeurism, and nonconsensual disclosure of sexually explicit images. The Senate amendment added enhanced penalties for voyeurism involving victims under 18, with higher penalties for repeat offenses. After hearing from the Defender General, prosecutors, sheriffs, and the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the House Judiciary Committee recommended concurrence 10-0-1. The House agreed to concur in the Senate proposal of amendment, and third reading was ordered. At the end of the session, the House adjourned on a voice vote until Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of these programs is to promote child and maternal health, help parents build strong parent-child
• The purpose of these programs is to promote child and maternal health, help parents build strong parent-child
• educators visit parents' homes to provide developmental screenings and teach parents about early childhood
• development and effective parenting strategies.
• Community engagement. and cost-sharing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I was a caregiver for both of my senior parents.
• And I was a caregiver for both of my senior parents.
• I also have the pleasure of being an adoptive parent.
• I can share a lot of specific examples with you and I can share a lot of specific examples with you.
• to be the same as recruited foster parents.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee held its first meeting of the term and heard introductory remarks from the chair, vice chair, ranking member, and members, who broadly described their interest in child welfare, mental health, aging services, homelessness, and agency accountability. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction, including child welfare, mental health and substance abuse safety net services, domestic violence, developmental disabilities, elder services, and child support, and introduced the Department of Children and Families (DCF) as the first agency panel for the term. DCF presented an implementation update on HB 7089, a 2024 law aimed at increasing accountability and transparency for community-based care (CBC) lead agencies that deliver most child welfare services under contract. The department said the bill was prompted by forensic examinations that found problems such as noncompetitive procurement, related-party transactions, excessive executive compensation, and weak financial oversight. DCF described new contract requirements and monitoring tools covering board governance and annual training, conflict-of-interest disclosures, financial penalties for noncompliance, fidelity bond requirements, limits on direct service provision by lead agencies, related-party procurement rules, procurement thresholds, real-property approvals, compensation caps, expanded public reporting, and a new Future of Child Protection and Funding Work Group. DCF reported that some lead agencies had completed required board training, others were still on schedule, and two agencies exceeding the direct-service threshold had been referred to the Auditor General. Members asked DCF about the reasons for the bill, the impact on children, the work group’s regional representation, aging-out youth, the Embrace Families transition, board training requirements, and whether enforcement actions had been taken. DCF said the bill was intended to protect funds for children and families and improve oversight, and clarified that the Central Florida lead agency contract was awarded through competitive procurement rather than an absorption. DCF also said the board training was designed to be meaningful but not overly burdensome, with timing left partly to lead agencies as they implement the new requirements. The committee then heard from two CBC leaders, who generally supported the accountability goals of HB 7089 and said their agencies had already addressed most of the new governance and disclosure requirements. They reported that board training had been completed or was being scheduled, but both agencies said the fidelity bond requirement has been difficult or impossible to obtain in the market as written, though they were able to secure the separate performance bond. The CBC witnesses also warned that recruiting providers is increasingly difficult, especially for higher-acuity children and group-home placements, due to limited provider supply, regulatory burden, insurance costs, and rising risk. They said these pressures are contributing to budget deficits in some areas and urged lawmakers to consider the funding model, insurance and indemnification issues, and the risk of overregulation reducing provider participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• could still do that as a parent. could still do that as a parent.
• There's been ample research that shows that children who have big or difficult news to share with parents
• parents tend to have better long-term outcomes when provided with opportunities for them to share that
• The witness then shared a personal story about a classmate who was once told by their parents, who were
• . parents. parents.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the corn and the soybeans and the land that we share. I do want to share, Mr.
• I do want to share, Mr.
• parents have started and keep growing. parents have started and keep growing.
• share with the Buck family? share with the Buck family?
• Uh would you like to share that happy. Uh would you like to share that perhaps? perhaps? perhaps?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.
• So, lay with Moms for Liberty and parents and all.
• sorely lacking from the parental side. sorely lacking from the parental side.
• <00:18:25.600> and with moms for Liberty and parents and with moms for Liberty and parents
• Thank you for taking time out of your day to come and share it with us.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator Simon, for sharing your personal story and struggle there.
• Thank you, Senator Simon, for sharing your personal story and struggle there.
• These eligible adoptive parents could receive initially an incentive payment of up to $10,000.
• ...with a foster parent. Thank you very much. Any other questions for the sponsor?
• These are kids who sometimes the detention centers call the parents, and the parents don't even come

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs met with a quorum and first took up SB 398, which would create a statewide public health awareness campaign through the Department of Elder Affairs on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Senator Burgess said the campaign would focus on early detection, brain health, risk reduction, clinical trial access, and community resources. The committee heard supportive testimony from a caregiver, AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, and others, with members discussing the need for culturally responsive outreach and continued funding. SB 398 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 106, which would strengthen Florida’s exploitation injunction law for vulnerable adults by allowing service of an unascertainable exploiter through the same communication method used to contact the victim, such as text, Facebook Messenger, or WhatsApp. Senator Martin explained the bill as a way to close a loophole that lets scammers evade traditional service, and witnesses from the Florida Bankers Association and the Florida Bar’s Elder Law Section supported it, describing how the bill could stop ongoing thefts more quickly while preserving due process. Members asked about gift card scams, clerk workload, and the definition of an unascertainable respondent. SB 106 was reported favorably. The Department of Children and Families then presented an update on the Adoption Benefits for Qualifying Adoptive Employees Program, describing its expansion over time and the current one-time lump-sum benefit structure for eligible adoptive parents. The presentation covered eligibility rules, open enrollment, funding history, and the program’s impact on adoption placements, with members asking why tax collectors were included but other constitutional offices were not, and whether foster relatives could qualify. Finally, the committee considered SPB 7012, a committee bill addressing child welfare workforce shortages, treatment foster care for high-acuity children, and improved data collection on commercially sexually exploited children. The bill would direct DCF to recruit former public safety workers for CPI and case manager roles, create a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and require more detailed, analyzable data and capacity studies. The bill drew support from child welfare advocates, with some members urging DCF to return with a more developed framework; it was adopted as a committee bill and reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• What are the implications this could have on parental rights?
• Thank you. have on parental rights? This bill is have on parental rights?
• All Minnesota anti-parental rights.
• I'm just wondering if you would be able to share a little more insight with us.
• We are allowing for the healthcare providers and the parents.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I see a lot of this used in retaliation by parents who are going through divorce proceedings or parenting
• I see a lot of this used in retaliation by parents who are going through divorce proceedings or parenting
• Can you share if there were? That survey concluded not long ago.
• Can you share more details about why there was an issue with active treatment?
• So we share your concern. We work diligently and... So we share your concern.

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy update on Washington child welfare from Casey Family Programs and DCYF. Dr. David Sanders said Washington has sharply reduced out-of-home care and increased kinship placements, but he flagged concerns about low screening-in rates, long stays in foster care for many children, and a recent rise in repeat maltreatment and child fatalities, especially among infants. He urged more focus on infants and young children, better coordination among child protection, health care, and law enforcement, and more proactive review and investigation practices. Members asked for disaggregated data on children lingering in care, fatalities, and causes such as fentanyl exposure. DCYF said it has increased relative placements and guardianships, but also reported a concerning rise in 2025 critical incidents, mostly near-fatalities involving children age three and under, many opioid-related. The department described responses including safe child consults for opioid cases, more training, hotspot analysis, and proposed investments in peer support, public health nurses, community referrals, and an updated safety framework. Members also discussed whether a broader commission on child abuse prevention would be useful, and DCYF said it was open to that idea. The committee then received a DSHS reorganization update from Secretary Angela Ramirez, who described the “Reimagined” plan to consolidate four administrations into three new ones, with the stated goals of reducing silos, improving customer experience, and making transitions between services smoother. She said the agency is seeking statutory changes and CMS approval to align the new structure, and members asked about preparing for federal HR1 impacts, especially SNAP. Ramirez said DSHS is monitoring those impacts closely and emphasized the need for accurate data and cross-agency coordination. Finally, DSHS’s Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration updated the committee on residential habilitation centers and implementation of Substitute Senate Bill 5393, which phases out Rainier School by June 30, 2027 and limits new admissions. Officials reported current census and staffing levels at the state’s RHCs, said Rainier has had some residents transition to supported living or adult family homes, and explained that emergency and permanent rulemaking was needed to implement the law. They also said Rainier was recently cited by federal surveyors for not meeting the active treatment requirement for two residents, and that the facility has 90 days to return to compliance before possible payment penalties or further remedies. Members pressed for details on the citation, the meaning of active treatment, the assessment process for admissions, and whether Rainier could be repurposed for other services; DSHS said it is working on corrective action and will follow up in writing.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Did you share with me? >> Did you share with me?
• , they're facetiming a parent, they're facetiming a parent, grandparent,<00:09:07.519> something
• those with parents.
• those with parents.
• to share. She's >> Is that still going on? to share.

Bills: HB329, HB8, HB353, HB329, HB8, HB353, HB50, HB78, HB225, SB75, SB209

Keywords: military installations, tall structures, local government, construction approval, wind energy facilities, tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, public health, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, judicial compensation, salary adjustments, district attorneys, Judges, local officials, computer science, education reform