Transcript Highlights:

• We were able to get almost 18 million meals into the community through this network last year.
• </c><00:11:43.079><c> who</c> the opportunity for our community who the opportunity for our community
• </c><01:08:06.559><c> we</c> neighbor Island and Rural communities we neighbor Island and Rural communities
• upset and also some damage to the community.
• ><c> then</c><01:18:01.040><c> my</c> damage to the community um and then my damage to the community

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um Cynthia Pabonis, um chief community um Cynthia Pabonis, um chief community integration<00:19:
• </c> people every year uh and 100 community people every year uh and 100 community organizations.<01:
• We call them across communities.
• </c> different communities different communities uh<02:05:56.320><c> being</c><02:05:56.880><c> uh</c
• </c> immediate community. immediate community.

Committee: House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs heard HB 1790-FN, which would address involuntary admissions for certain individuals with a substance use disorder. Representative Lucy Weber introduced the bill for Representative Long, and the committee heard extensive testimony both in support of and in opposition to the proposal. Opponents, including John Burns of SOS Recovery and Jake Barry of New Futures, argued that involuntary commitment is not well supported by research, can retraumatize people, may increase overdose risk after release, and could undermine New Hampshire’s existing recovery and harm-reduction efforts. They emphasized that treatment should be voluntary, trauma-informed, and paired with housing, recovery supports, and other community-based services. Representative Long said he was willing to accept DHHS’s request to amend the bill into a study commission, though he expressed concern that a prior state study had not led to action. He said the commission should focus on implementation details, including where people would be placed, staffing, withdrawal management, elopement prevention, length of commitment, and aftercare. He described involuntary commitment as one tool for people with severe dangerous addictions, distinct from drug court, and said it could help avoid criminal records. Committee members asked about capacity at New Hampshire Hospital and how the proposal would work in practice. DHHS officials Katya Fox and Cynthia Pabonis testified that the bill raises major policy and fiscal concerns. They said New Hampshire’s current system has benefited from investments in naloxone, medication-assisted treatment, recovery centers, and community-based services, and that those investments have helped reduce overdose deaths. They estimated the bill would require a new 70-bed facility costing about $40 million to build and about $33.3 million annually to operate, with only a small portion offset by insurance, plus more than $600,000 in annual legal costs and additional staffing and system changes. They also said New Hampshire Hospital has 185 beds, with about 100 patients typically ready for less restrictive settings, and that housing shortages are a major bottleneck. NAMI New Hampshire also testified in opposition, saying families often want any possible treatment for loved ones but still opposed the bill. No vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Louis Community College. It is a very critical jewel in the city of St.
• The Afton Fire District is a pillar in our community.
• We do a lot of good work for children and families in this community.
• It benefits families and communities.
• Join public service, improve his community, and one day join this chamber.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the 35th day by a 115-1 roll call vote. Members spent much of the opening portion introducing a large number of special guests and visiting groups, including university alumni and students, ambulance and first responder personnel, hospice and behavioral health advocates, public administrators, educators, transportation stakeholders, and other community leaders recognized for service or advocacy work. The chamber then received committee reports recommending passage of several measures, including House Bills 1625, 2383, 3035, 3205, and Senate Bill 888, along with committee substitutes for some of those bills. The House proceeded to third reading and passage on a long series of bills. Among the major measures were HB 2774, a fuel-source bill limiting state and local governments from dictating bids or purchases based solely on fuel source, which passed 138-5; HB 2383, addressing copper theft and related telecommunications equipment crimes, which passed 130-5; and HB 3205, regulating litigation funding and requiring disclosures, which passed 144-1. Several bills drew extended debate. A combined bill on statutes of limitation and child sexual abuse claims, House Committee Substitute for HBs 1664, 1610, 1645, and 2182, passed 98-12 with 39 present after members debated both the abuse-related provisions and a separate reduction in the personal injury statute of limitations. HB 3146, dealing with ballot summary statements and the initiative petition process, passed 90-55 after sharp disagreement over whether it protected voters or undermined judicial review. Other measures passed with broad support, including HB 2146 on hospital investment options (143-1), HB 1756 establishing June’s Week to recognize rare pediatric diseases and families affected by them, HB 1783 on public health contracting (138-6), HB 2099 on expedited removal of squatters (136-1), HB 2896 loosening residency restrictions for university board appointments (111-17), HB 2505/2044 giving grandparents priority in certain custody cases (144-0), HB 1625 increasing penalties for drug trafficking (137-2), HB 2302 removing barriers to employment for people leaving incarceration (142-0), HB 3035 setting depreciation rules for vehicle tax valuation (100-43), HB 1870 updating debt collection and garnishment laws (137-9), HB 2335 giving school districts more flexibility over teacher training schedules (146-2), and HB 1827 allowing occupational therapists to certify disabled parking credentials (145-0).

Transcript Highlights:

• His historic presidential campaign in the 1980s also showed that diverse communities could come together
• <00:36:53.280><c> through</c><00:36:53.520><c> voter</c><00:36:53.920><c> registration</c> communities
• through voter registration communities through voter registration efforts,<00:36:55.920><c> labor</c
• could come together to communities could come together to demand<00:37:09.119><c> change.
• ,</c> solidarity among black communities, solidarity among black communities, working<00:37:26.000><c

Transcript Highlights:

• May their work strengthen the bonds of community and help Maryland remain a home where every person can
• and help Maryland remain a community and help Maryland remain a home<00:02:40.239><c> where</c><00:02
• This day continues the community.
• </c><00:09:03.680><c> This</c><00:09:03.920><c> day</c> medications in our communities.
• This day medications in our communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• And for the workforce pipeline that we have, I'm well aware, I think even with our community college
• It's linked more to our community colleges. It's linked more to this group of... Thank you.
• It's linked more to our community colleges.
• And that involves both shortages of oncology and pathology in those communities.
• And that involves both shortages of oncology and pathology in those communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• That kana becomes painfully real when standards fail and communities are harmed.
• When standards fail to reflect science, it is our communities who bear the harm.
• </c> reflect science, it is our communities reflect science, it is our communities who<00:14:27.920><
• it is our communities who lose trust. trust. trust.
• And therefore, please community suffers.

Bills: SB2064 , SB2662 , SB2862 , SB2343 , SB2075 , SB2781 , SB2927 , SB3068 , SB3015 , SB2929 , SB2938 , SB3230 , SB3249 , SB3332 , SB3216

Committee: Senate Government Operations

Summary: The committee met on February 12, 2026, to take decision-making on measures previously heard earlier in the month. Several bills were deferred indefinitely or set for later discussion, including SB 2064 on the Office of the State Architect, SB 3068 on procurement, and SB 3216 after its contents were moved into another measure. SB 2862 on gubernatorial appointments, SB 2781, and SB 315 were all deferred to Tuesday, February 17 at 3 p.m. in Room 225 for further work. The committee also noted that if technical problems interrupted the meeting, it would reconvene later for outstanding decision-making. The committee passed SB 2343 on the Legislature with amendments incorporating language from SB 3216, technical changes, and a defective date of 2525. SB 2075 was advanced as a Senate draft 1 after amendments responding to constitutional concerns raised by the attorney general and SPO. SB 2927 on procurement was also passed with amendments clarifying debriefing requirements and adding technical changes, and SB 2938 on search and rescue was amended to place the position in Hima rather than the Governor’s office before being adopted. SB 3249 on procurement protests was amended to remove the term "frivolous," reduce the forfeiture to half the bond amount, and note unresolved issues, then adopted. The committee also took up SB 3332 on state-funded travel, amending it to remove certain lines, report travel by position number to protect confidentiality, remove subsection G, and add a defective date of 2525; it was adopted. SB 2929 on public notice was amended into a pilot project for counties with populations between 100,000 and 175,000, with a year-end report to the Legislature, and was adopted. Later, the committee returned to SB 2094 on environmental action levels, heard testimony from the Department of Health in support of its current scientific process and from an environmental caucus witness in strong support of the bill’s transparency and petition provisions, and then deferred decision-making to February 17 at 3 p.m. in Room 225. In the joint hearing portion, SB 3233 on agricultural workforce housing drew generally supportive testimony from ADC, the Farm Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, the Hawaii Farmers Union, and the State Procurement Office, with concerns focused on clarity, flexibility for smaller farms, and avoiding concentration of benefits in one large operation. The committee ultimately recommended passing SB 3233 with the State Procurement Office’s clarifying amendments and the Hawaii Farmers Union’s amendment to ensure workforce housing incentives benefit multiple farmers, and the measure was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• It just facilitates a communication for the minor to the content or posting individual.
• It just gives folks the ability to receive electronic communication.
• And so this eliminates that and creates some efficiency in the communications. Thank you.
• It just gives folks the ability to receive electronic communication.
• And so this eliminates that and creates some efficiency in the communications. Thank you.

Summary: The meeting covered a very large number of bills across multiple committees, with most items presented on consent calendars and several sponsors explaining their measures. Education bills focused on moving statewide testing later in the school year, allowing paper testing by local choice, increasing transparency around district administrator pay, expanding religious excusal policies, creating a school fitness recognition program, and sending a resolution to voters to require sex-based designation of school sports teams and private spaces. Federalism and Government items included bans on foreign contributions to ballot-measure committees, a proposed ballot measure to eliminate voting centers and return to precinct-based voting, memorials urging withdrawal from the United Nations and the IMF, penalties for late agency financial reporting, restrictions on state contracts with China, and a bill limiting use of ADS-B aviation data for fee collection. Commerce bills addressed digital goods disclosure, child influencer trust accounts, liability for river outfitters, marketplace contractor termination rights, utility submetering charges, unemployment eligibility checks, and association-based health plans. Health and human services measures included lactation consultant certification and Medicaid breastfeeding support, a ban on gender transition procedures for minors, a requirement that chief medical officers hold active licenses, technical ambulance definitions, a SNAP waiver request to restrict non-eligible food purchases, hospital collection of patient immigration status, and enrollment verification for AHCCCS-related hospital presumptive eligibility. Judiciary bills included consent-verification requirements for online sexual material, a civil cause of action for DEI policy violations, hate-crime-style enhancements that also cover political affiliation, name-change disclosure rules for sex offenders, penalties for possession of falsified commercial driver’s licenses by unlawfully present persons, penalties for mailing abortion-inducing drugs, speed-inhibiting devices as an alternative to license suspension, longer transition services for inmates, stronger penalties for sexual extortion of minors, and legislative oversight of state shooting range closures. Natural resources and water bills dealt with brackish groundwater recovery and desalination studies, water augmentation authority financing, HOA drought-year watering restrictions, water-rate parity for customers outside city limits, and groundwater transportation from the McMullen Valley basin. Other topics included a ban on PFAS firefighting foam, restrictions on vaccine and mask mandates by governments and businesses, protections against employment or service discrimination based on medical interventions, elimination of long-vacant state positions, consumer protections against device disabling after owner modifications, and restrictions on Chinese-made critical infrastructure. The committee also heard a Space Commission update bill and a continuation of the Arizona Beef Council. Several bills were pulled from consent or flagged for amendments or legal concerns, including the testing-window bill, student directory information bill, river outfitter liability bill, ambulance bill, and others. No final floor votes were taken in the transcript, but many bills were advanced on third-read or consent calendars, while a few were set aside for amendments or further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Washington Council provides crisis services statewide in all of your communities.
• We need systems of care that support people in their own communities, not policies that pull them out
• Support community care and choice and not coercion.
• We need systems of care that support people in their own communities, not policies that pull them out
• Support community care and choice and not coercion.

Summary: The committee began with Senate Bill 5962 on spring blade knives, first suspending the five-day notice requirement. Staff explained the bill would remove spring blade knives from the list of dangerous weapons while keeping restrictions on carrying them in schools, child care, and other protected locations. Proponents, including Knife Rights and the prime sponsor Sen. T’wina Nobles, described the measure as a modernization and cleanup bill that would reduce confusion and support lawful use and manufacturing; one testifier strongly objected to the bill’s added location-based restrictions. Public testimony was overwhelmingly in support, and the hearing then moved on without a vote. Senate Bill 6105 would raise the wage exemption from garnishment for medical debt judgments from 30 to 60 times the state minimum wage, while keeping the 80% disposable earnings exemption and adding notice requirements identifying the debt as medical. Sen. Marko Liias said the bill is intended to protect low-wage workers from severe financial hardship and reduce incentives to work off the books. Supporters from patient, consumer, AARP, and anti-poverty groups said medical debt is often unexpected and garnishment can destabilize families; opponents from collectors and trade groups argued the bill was too broad, lacked stakeholder input, could hurt providers, and should define medical debt more clearly. The hearing closed with no action taken. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6203, which would clarify that out-of-state convictions can include foreign-country convictions for offender scoring if obtained with sufficient due process safeguards. The sponsor, Sen. Matt Boehnke, said the bill closes a gap in sentencing law; prosecutors supported the concept and suggested simplifying the language, while the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, defense attorneys, and public defense opposed it, citing undefined standards, difficulty verifying foreign convictions, and due process concerns. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6296 on involuntary treatment, which would expand who may petition for detention, change rules for assisted outpatient treatment and police assistance, require firearm surrender compliance procedures, and make other ITA changes. The sponsor and several providers and family members supported the bill as a needed modernization, while DCRs, disability advocates, behavioral health organizations, hospitals, and others raised concerns about due process, implementation, rural transport, capacity, and unintended consequences. No votes were taken on either bill during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• For many, especially in rural areas and in unsupportive homes, online communities are their lifeline,
• I think we could work on a definition that would feel better for communities.
• It seems very, very subjective. ...concerns for us around what are contemporary community standards.
• We've also seen increasing incursions of ICE into our communities. And...
• We've also seen increasing incursions of ice into our communities. And...

Bills: HB2112

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: age restrictions, online content, digital media, youth protection, cyber safety

Transcript Highlights:

• For many, especially in rural areas and in unsupportive homes, online communities are their lifeline,
• I think we could work on a definition that would feel better for communities.
• Concerns for us around what are contemporary community standards.
• The bill's definition of sexual material harmful to minors is subjective, and it's based on community
• We've also seen increasing incursions of ICE into our communities. And...

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2112, which would require commercial entities, including some social media companies, to use age verification before allowing access to websites where more than one-third of the material is sexual content harmful to minors. Staff explained that the bill would require reasonable age verification methods, prohibit retention of identifying information, exempt bona fide news and public-interest sites, and authorize the Attorney General to enforce the law through civil penalties. The bill would also require warning notices on landing pages and advertisements, with content to be developed by the Department of Health. Prime sponsor Representative Mari Leavitt said the bill is intended to protect children from harmful online sexual content and argued that parental controls are not sufficient. She cited pediatric and public-health concerns, said the bill is modeled on laws upheld elsewhere, and emphasized that the measure is aimed at commercial entities rather than school-based sharing or general adult access. Supportive testimony from parents, clinicians, and advocates described early exposure to pornography, mental health harms, and the need to place responsibility on platforms rather than families alone. Opposition testimony focused on privacy, free speech, enforcement, and scope. Several witnesses argued that age verification systems create data-security risks even if data is not retained, that the bill’s definitions and one-third threshold are vague and could sweep in LGBTQ, health, educational, or artistic content, and that enforcement would be difficult against out-of-state websites. Some opponents said the law would push users to less-compliant sites and would not effectively protect children. A technology industry witness said the bill is narrow and comparable to carding for alcohol or tobacco, while a Free Speech Coalition representative said the law is ineffective in practice and offered to discuss amendments. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• But ultimately, we grew up in a community where poverty perpetrated this concept of circularity.
• But ultimately, we grew up in a community where poverty perpetrated this concept of circularity.
• As a city, we are fortunate to have a vibrant community of resale businesses that keep some items in
• These elements address gaps that ecology is identified in community statewide and aligns with existing
• My name's Mike Winnrich, Director of Purpose at PCC Community Markets.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several waste and recycling bills. House Bill 2212 would require microfiber filters on commercial and industrial washing machines, with Ecology authorized to consider residential machine rules later if cost thresholds are met. Supporters, including the sponsor, students, environmental advocates, and scientists, said washing machines are a major source of microplastics and that filtration is a practical way to reduce pollution before it reaches waterways and human bodies. Opponents, including appliance manufacturers, laundromat operators, business groups, and Ecology staff, raised concerns about technical feasibility, worker safety, cost, and the lack of third-party certification for commercial systems. Ecology said the science is emerging and the proposal would create new agency work and costs. No vote was taken. House Bill 2233 would tighten the state’s carry-out bag laws by banning reusable film plastic bags, raising the paper bag pass-through charge to 20 cents, and extending certain requirements to manufacturers, distributors, and third-party sales platforms, while preserving protections for food assistance cardholders. Supporters argued the current thicker-bag approach has not reduced plastic waste, that plastic bags contribute to litter and microplastics, and that a stronger ban would better protect waterways and wildlife. Opponents from grocery, retail, hospitality, paper, and business groups argued the bill would raise consumer costs, create checkout and food-safety problems, and add operational complexity; some also said the state should wait to see the effects of the recent fee increase. Several local government and environmental witnesses supported the bill. No final action was taken. House Bill 1420 would establish an extended producer responsibility program for textiles and apparel, requiring producers to form a producer responsibility organization to manage collection, reuse, repair, recycling, and related infrastructure. The sponsor described the bill as a response to textile waste, overconsumption, and landfill impacts, and said the proposal had been refined through extensive stakeholder work. Supporters from environmental groups, local governments, Ecology, counties, Goodwill, and circular-economy organizations said textiles are a growing waste stream and that producer responsibility could improve collection, reduce dumping, and support repair and reuse. Opponents from business, retail, hospitality, apparel, and medical-device groups raised concerns about complexity, consumer and compliance costs, governance, supply-chain reporting, and possible unintended coverage of uniforms or medical products. The hearing also included a State Board of Health health impact review noting likely increased awareness and collection but limited evidence on large-scale reuse and recycling outcomes. No vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We typically go to organizations that know their communities.
• Educators play a. role in all communities, but especially in rural ones.
• Students are showcased in the community through art shows, artist statements, and at home.
• I have two things in mind that I want to communicate: how thankful I am for teachers.
• School counselors support the academic community of a campus.

Bills: SB26 , SB 26

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• On August 27th, my community joined so many other communities around the state and the country that have
• ><c> our</c><00:09:58.480><c> school</c> Our community already had our school Our community already had
• </c> go to church, to live in the communities go to church, to live in the communities without<00:25:
• Nothing we say here today community.
• :38:16.720><c> the</c> communities deserve better than the communities deserve better than the partisan

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for example family and community for example family and community involvement involvement involvement
• </c> in the community. in the community.
• </c><00:46:42.400><c> who</c> choices down to the local community who choices down to the local community
• </c><01:06:39.280><c> I</c> need to be having in our community.
• I need to be having in our community.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> community all around around the state. community all around around the state.
• So, page page eight is community eight.
• </c> community college system? community college system?
• </c><01:11:03.280><c> by</c><01:11:03.520><c> the</c> in community colleges enroll by the in community
• </c> What's the gross budget of the community What's the gross budget of the community college<01:14:

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a little history: Stewart is a very small community, as I said, about 400 and something people.
• I sincerely appreciate, Madam Chair, your consideration and support of helping this small community out
• Just a little history: Stewart is a very small community, as I said, about 400 and something people.
• </c> Aid and several of your communities Aid and several of your communities across<00:20:26.120><c>
• How do we do that while protecting the underlying community itself?

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• It has been very successful in the past, and in talking particularly to many of our communities, they
• </c><00:14:41.839><c> to</c> in order for local communities to in order for local communities to acquire
• this program would be to support those communities rather than be involved in the project itself.
• this program would be to support those communities rather than be involved in the project itself.
• </c><01:06:00.839><c> have</c> of years ago I think it communities have of years ago I think it communities

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• The community they can dine out as well.
• your community invests in you.
• and you make that community community and you make that community better.<03:36:12.239><c> But</c><03
• /c> recognize the community members, recognize the community members, advocates<03:45:12.880><c> um,<
• </c> able to buy a home uh in the community able to buy a home uh in the community where<03:54:59.840

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh we are the everyday in your community uh we are the everyday in your community so<00:20:48.000
• </c><02:02:09.400><c> that</c> would like to see the communities that would like to see the communities
• </c> town by the way is a smaller Community town by the way is a smaller Community but<02:02:44.679><
• 06.520><c> the</c><02:03:06.639><c> municipal</c> community in the in the municipal community in the
• </c><02:03:08.239><c> would</c> officials within the community would officials within the community would

Committee: House Municipal and County Government