Transcript Highlights:

• Um, last year I applied for and qualified for EBT when I found a program called Food to Grow that I thought
• last year I applied for and qualified Um last year I applied for and qualified for<00:26:51.279> EBT
• 53.679> found<00:26:54.080> then<00:26:54.320> I<00:26:54.559> found for EBT
• uh when I uh found then I found for EBT uh when I uh found then I found a<00:26:54.960> program

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on February 18, 2026, and heard four bills. HB 2519 would shift University of Hawaii funding toward block appropriations, a stabilization fund, limited procurement and fiscal exemptions, performance-based metrics, and annual reporting. UH supported the bill, saying line-item budgeting hampers systemwide efficiency across its 10 campuses; the State Procurement Office commented on the procurement exemption. The chair proposed amendments to address concerns from Budget and Finance and procurement, including capping UH’s retained funds at 10%, requiring lapse after three fiscal years, removing CIP-to-operating transfers, narrowing procurement exemptions while keeping Chapter 103B principles, shifting performance metric-setting to the Board of Regents, and requiring annual reporting. The committee then voted to pass HB 2519 with amendments. HB 2409 would establish the Hawaii Geological Survey in Hilo and designate its director as the state geologist. UH Hilo supported the concept but said it would need sufficient general-fund support, estimating roughly $200,000 to start. DLNR and the Attorney General offered comments, with the AG calling it a matter of statewide concern. The chair said the DNR testimony raised public safety concerns and that UH Hilo had not identified a firm funding amount, so the committee voted to defer the bill. HB 2141 HD1 concerned state enterprise zones and would expand eligible business activities and allow DBED to designate up to two areas as enterprise zones with gubernatorial approval. DBED, the Tax Foundation, and other organizations submitted support or comments. After discussion, the chair said the current version no longer fit the higher education committee’s focus and recommended reverting to the original bill, which would limit the zone to Kakaʻako Makai for a biomedical health innovation hub near JABSOM and the Queen’s Cancer Center, with a defective date. The committee voted to pass HB 2141 HD1 with amendments. HB 2233 HD1 would appropriate funds to continue the SNAP-Ed program through UH and the Department of Health. DOH supported the bill and said it had been working on nutrition education and environmental changes; it estimated about $600,000 each for DOH and SEAR, or $1.2 million total. Testimony in support also came from several organizations and individuals, including a senior advocate who described the program’s practical benefits. The chair said the committee would reflect the $600,000-per-entity estimate in its report, and the committee voted to pass HB 2233 HD1 as is before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did request IT enhancement funding to automate the summer EBT program.
• We also have some one-time system change costs for chip-enabled EBT cards.
• And enabled EBT cards.
• And so we're sending people an EBT card that's loaded with benefits for the next few months.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 37.600> Services The Department of Health and Human Services, for the purposes of the summer EBT
• Something like, 'I would like the Department of Education blah blah blah receiving summer EBT.
• "Summer EBT. Is that another planet or magic, or does it come from the feds or state, or...?"
• >> Summer<03:57:32.880> EBT.
• Is that a another planet or >> Summer EBT.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um and then sections three and seven mandates uh investigations into out-of-state EBT use which ignores
• Um and then sections three and seven mandates uh investigations into out-of-state EBT use which ignores
• Um and then sections three and seven mandates uh investigations into out-of-state EBT use which ignores
• Um and then sections three and seven mandates uh investigations into out-of-state EBT use which ignores
• Um and then sections three and seven mandates uh investigations into out-of-state EBT use which ignores

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the things I've been working in Washington, let's allow EBT charges for folks to have home
• For example, the things I've been working in Washington, let's allow EBT charges for folks to have home
• Why don't you let people who have EBT cards get home delivery and let them, instead of having to pay
• EBT cards, you have to qualify to get it. You have to have a qualified card and a vendor.
• one of the loopholes that's going to change, this is back on the fraud by design theme, is to be an EBT

Bills: HB2190, HB2202, HB2233, HB2251, HB2252, HB2396, HB2437, HB2689, HB2796

Keywords: physician assistants, licensure compact, medical services, multistate practice, patient care access, healthcare workforce, military families, adverse actions, dementia care, telementoring, healthcare education, rural communities, grant funding, HB 2233, rural health transformation, rural health transformation program, AHCCCS, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Joint Legislative Budget Committee, JLBC

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we're seeing 45% of those receiving summer EBT are still reporting food shortages.
• Additionally, we have the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs and the Summer EBT (Electronic
• convenience stores and Dollar Generals as grocery stores—but then a chunk of those won't even take SNAP, EBT
• Electronic Benefits Transfers—that's what EBT stands for.

Transcript Highlights:

• Between the EBT chip cards.
• I'm going to talk in a minute about why those EBT chip cards are important, but that also is not funded
• We have IT enhancements in our budget that we are requesting to automate the summer EBT program.
• We do have a request for over $7 million for one-time system changes for CHIP-enabled EBT cards.
• but we are looking at maybe making some operational changes in terms of how often we do replacement EBT

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , for embedding a chip in... ...survived the conference committee process for embedding a chip into EBT
• cards because we have seen, I'm not sure the right word to use is, but we have seen despicable theft of EBT
• will be a specific chargeable crime if you use a so-called skimming device to steal benefits from an EBT

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first debated and advanced Senate Bill 2561, an act to promote student learning and mental health, centered on a statewide bell-to-bell restriction on student cell phone use in schools. Supporters argued the bill would reduce distraction, improve academic performance and mental health, and encourage social interaction, while preserving flexibility for districts and exceptions for emergencies, special education, health needs, and instructional uses. Several senators emphasized local control and the need for public input, and a number of amendments were considered: some were withdrawn, some were rejected, and others were adopted, including an amendment requiring consistent and necessary exceptions and another requiring public hearings and local public input. The bill was then ordered to a third reading and passed to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 38-2. The Senate also took up a conference committee report on a $259 million FY2025 supplemental appropriations bill. The report funded EMS costs, home care, the Healthy Incentives Program, DTA chip card technology, veterans benefits, the state police crime lab, the SSI state supplement, the Fair Housing Fund, and the National Guard, and included major indigent defense provisions: $40 million for 320 new CPCS staff attorneys, rate increases for private bar advocates, guardrails to reduce future work stoppages, and an independent review of the indigent defense system. Senators questioned the timing of the report, the inclusion of items not previously voted on by either branch, and the funding sources, including use of the transitional escrow fund and excess revenues. The report was accepted, the emergency preamble was adopted, and the supplemental budget was enacted. In addition, the Senate passed other measures, including a bill authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to supply water to the Linfield Center Water District and a municipal roads and bridges financing bill, both by roll call vote. The chamber also enacted a health care protections bill, and it concurred in referrals on a governor’s municipal empowerment legislation. The session included a brief memorial tribute and adjournment in memory of Harry C. Christensen.

Bills: HB125, HB116, HB183, HB342, HB341, SB280, SB245, SB159, HB125, HB116, HB183, HB342, HB341, SB280, SB245, SB159

Keywords: HB125, sunset law, Alabama Sunset Committee, Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, veterinary medical examiners, veterinary board, veterinary licensing, veterinary regulation, professional licensing board, state board continuation, sunset review, regulatory board, animal health, veterinarians, disciplinary authority, HB116, Alabama Sunset Law, sunset bill, Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board, bail bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• It used to be the Pandemic EBT program; now it is the Summer EBT program, which has helped provide additional
• support specifically to children through an EBT card benefit to be utilized in the same way as SNAP.
• It used to be the Pandemic EBT program; now it is the Summer EBT program, which has helped provide additional
• support specifically to children through an EBT card benefit to be utilized in the same way as SNAP.
• It used to be the Pandemic EBT program; now it is the Summer EBT program, which has helped provide additional

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• from an incentivization bucket over to helping schools for their work on uploading data for summer EBT
• 01:06:51.000> uh<01:06:52.000> we<01:06:52.319> are transfer program or summer EBT
• uh we are transfer program or summer EBT uh we are repurposing<01:06:53.119> an<01:06:53.359>
• uploading<01:07:16.240> data<01:07:16.559> for<01:07:16.799> summer<01:07:17.119> EBT
• <01:07:17.680> And uploading data for summer EBT. And uploading data for summer EBT.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's something that I asked personally, because I grew up on SNAP and EBT pretty much my entire life.
• EBT stopped working. Food banks ran out of supplies as lines... EBT stopped working.
• We sent out press releases instead of EBT. We told everyone how much we cared while doing the...
• Instead of EBT. We told everyone how much we cared while doing the least we could.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard a long agenda focused largely on child welfare, child support, homelessness, and child care. Early items included AB 2083, which would authorize a regional child care special district for Marina Valley and Paris; AB 1579, which would expand the Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program to allow additional CDSS-approved residential models; and AB 1628, which would extend California’s safe surrender window for infants from 72 hours to 30 days. AB 1579 drew strong support from county human services agencies and providers who said the current crisis residential model has been financially and operationally unworkable, and opposition from youth advocates who argued the bill would move away from the original small, community-based crisis model. AB 1628 was supported by fire chiefs and child abuse prevention advocates as a way to give parents more time to make safe decisions after childbirth. The committee also took up AB 1634 on the “Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids” specialty license plate program, AB 1643 on automatic enrollment into child support services after a support order is finalized unless a parent opts out, and AB 1708 on the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program. AB 1634 sought to raise specialty plate fees and change the distribution formula to generate more funding for child safety and injury prevention; the chair raised concerns about reallocating money away from CDSS, and the bill received a no recommendation from the chair but still advanced on a 5-0 vote with some members not voting. AB 1643 was backed by child support agencies and anti-poverty advocates as a way to reduce barriers and increase participation, while opponents argued it could undermine parental choice and raise concerns for families with domestic violence or informal arrangements; it passed 6-0 as amended. AB 1708, supported by many cities, would require more meaningful engagement with smaller jurisdictions in HHAP planning and funding decisions; the committee emphasized that it does not guarantee funding but creates a process for smaller cities to be considered, and it passed 5-0. Later, the committee heard AB 2395, which would standardize and expand access to the state child support debt reduction program for low-income parents with government-owed arrears. Supporters said the current program is inconsistent across counties and leaves eligible parents unaware of relief options, while opponents, including receiving parents and child support officials, warned that reducing arrears could harm families who are owed support and that the program should remain case-by-case. Members discussed the tension between relieving uncollectible debt and protecting custodial parents; the bill advanced 4-0. The final item shown was AB 1914, which would require local governments to include child care in planning efforts, including general plans or separate child care plans. The author and witnesses argued that child care is essential infrastructure tied to workforce participation, economic development, and disaster planning, and the bill drew support from child care and planning advocates as the committee continued its hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill began with the SNAP and the EBT. Um, so we are talking about food.
• This bill began with the SNAP and the EBT. Um, so we are talking about food.
• This bill began with the SNAP and the EBT. Um, so we are talking about food.
• This bill began with the SNAP and the EBT. Um, so we are talking about food.
• This bill began with the SNAP and the EBT. Um, so we are talking about food.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2455, HD2, relating to employment practices. Testimony was limited, with support from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and UPW; the committee noted nine support, zero opposition, and zero comments. No vote was taken on this bill during the portion provided. The committee then took up House Bill 2165, HD2, relating to the Hawaii Employment Security Law. DLIR supported the measure but requested an amendment moving language in Section 2 from subsection A to subsection C to preserve the legal structure. Members questioned DLIR about a January 8 U.S. Department of Labor letter and whether the bill would keep Hawaii in conformity with federal unemployment insurance requirements. DLIR said the federal guidance requires the state to remove the carve-out for labor-dispute claimants, though unions with hiring halls and members in good standing could still be exempt from work-search requirements under an authorized list. UNITE HERE Local 5 opposed the bill and said the current law already gives the department discretion to exempt striking workers. The committee recessed the bill before any final action was taken in the portion shown. In the joint hearing with Commerce and Consumer Protection, the committees heard House Bill 1509, HD2, relating to workers’ compensation. DLIR supported the bill, DHER offered comments and requested an amendment, UPW supported it, and one Zoom testifier described personal experience with delayed care and urged faster decisions. After testimony, the committees voted to pass the bill with amendments. The adopted amendments restored the 7-day treatment-plan deadline from 10 days, changed the effective date to January 1, 2077, and struck the proposed $500 fine for employers who fail to respond within 10 days. Back in the Labor and Technology agenda, the committee heard House Bill 1515, HD2, also relating to workers’ compensation, with testimony noting seven in support, one in opposition, and one comment, but no action was taken in the excerpt. The committee also heard House Bill 1514, HD2, relating to workers’ compensation vocational rehabilitation plans. A Zoom testifier opposed the bill, arguing the 120-day timeline was unrealistic for complex cases. DLIR said the bill would give the director discretion to extend the vocational rehabilitation plan timeline beyond 120 days with no cap on extensions, and the committee noted five support, four opposition, and zero comments. Finally, the committee began House Bill 2458, HD3, relating to surveillance pricing. OCP said it stood on written testimony, while supporters argued the bill would prevent corporations from using personal data to set prices, especially for groceries. Retail and grocery interests opposed the measure, saying it was too broad and could restrict loyalty programs, promotions, and discounts; one witness asked that a loyalty-program exemption be restored.

Transcript Highlights:

• gotten a chance to let the Senator know we've been speaking with our vendor Morse that does run the SNAP EBT
• would just have to work with, obviously, Senator Abraham, and in the rulemaking process, and with the EBT
• would just have to work with, obviously, Senator Abraham, and in the rulemaking process, and with the EBT

Bills: HR174, HR194, HCR98, SB39, SB124, SB190, SB236, SB270, SB273, SB359, SB415, SB426, SB437, SB451

Keywords: fenbendazole, cancer treatment, public health, FDA, clinical trials, patient safety, visual acuity, student health, de-identified data, longitudinal analysis, education policy, SNAP, food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, grocery delivery, delivery fees, service charges, online grocery, food access, food insecurity

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 12 and first reported HCR 98 favorably without objection. The resolution asks the Louisiana Department of Health to study whether SNAP benefits could be used to pay grocery delivery fees and related costs, especially for elderly and mobility-limited recipients. The author said the measure would not change SNAP rules, only request a study, and LDH was not opposed. The committee then advanced several Senate bills. SB 273, on hospice care in inpatient licensed facilities, was amended and reported favorably; the bill requires documentation of hydration, nutrition, and care decisions and clarifies facility responsibility when multiple providers are involved. SB 415, creating the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program, was amended and reported favorably; the author described it as a privately funded, charity-run food card program for people in need, with LDH to develop rules. SB 437, a cleanup bill on judicially referred residential substance abuse treatment facilities, was reported favorably, with LDH explaining that facilities providing treatment must be licensed and surveyed. The committee also approved SB 451 on newborn hearing screenings, which updates terminology and expands reporting requirements to improve early detection and intervention for deaf or hard-of-hearing children. SB 426, modernizing the addictive disorder regulatory authority and creating a licensure pathway for peer support specialists, was reported favorably with amendments after testimony from behavioral health providers and training organizations. SB 236 on annual LDH reviews of kidney disease treatment in Medicaid, SB 39 creating provisional licenses for massage therapist graduates, SB 190 tightening oversight of nursing facilities in the CMS Special Focus Facility Program, and SB 124 allowing peer review sharing within a health system were all reported favorably, most with technical amendments. The committee also reported favorably HR 174 urging study of fenbendazole for cancer, SB 270 allowing terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in health care facilities, SB 359 changing terms for a Morehouse Parish hospital district board, and HR 194 requesting de-identified school visual acuity screening data for researchers. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• chance to let the Senator know—we've been speaking with our vendor, Morris, that does run the SNAP EBT
• would just have to work with, obviously, Senator Abraham, and in the rulemaking process, and with the EBT
• would just have to work with, obviously, Senator Abraham, and in the rulemaking process, and with the EBT

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 12 and considered a wide range of health, social services, and licensing measures. Early in the meeting, the committee reported favorably HCR 98, which asks the Louisiana Department of Health to study whether SNAP recipients should be allowed to use benefits for grocery delivery fees. The author said the proposal would not change SNAP rules directly, but would examine access issues for elderly, disabled, rural, and transportation-limited residents. The committee also advanced SB 273, a hospice patient-protection bill requiring documentation of hydration, nutrition, and care decisions in inpatient licensed facilities where hospice is provided, with LDH oversight and enforcement authority; members discussed how responsibility is shared between facilities and outside hospice providers, and adopted technical amendments. The committee then approved SB 415, creating the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program, a privately funded charitable food-card program intended to let nonprofits distribute food-only cards to people in need. Members and the author discussed whether the cards would be reloadable, which retailers could accept them, and whether prepared foods could be included; LDH said the program could use all SNAP-authorized retailers, and the bill was reported favorably with amendments. SB 437, a cleanup bill for judicially referred residential substance abuse treatment facilities, was also reported favorably with amendments after LDH clarified that facilities providing treatment must be licensed, while residences only housing individuals would not be. SB 451, updating newborn hearing screening terminology and reporting requirements, was reported favorably after testimony that the bill would strengthen early detection and follow-up for deaf or hard-of-hearing children. Later, the committee advanced SB 426, which modernizes the addictive disorder regulatory authority and creates a formal peer support specialist licensing pathway. Supporters said the bill would strengthen the behavioral health workforce, improve accountability, and create a progression from peer support to higher credentials; the committee adopted technical and transition amendments and reported the bill favorably with amendments. SB 236, requiring LDH annual reviews and reports on kidney disease treatment services in Medicaid, was also reported favorably with amendments. Additional measures approved included SB 39, allowing provisional licenses for massage therapy graduates; SB 190, which tightens oversight of poor-performing nursing facilities in the CMS Special Focus Facility Program and sets an 18-month improvement timeline; SB 124, allowing hospitals within the same health system to share peer review records without waiving privilege; HR 174, urging study of fenbendazole as a possible cancer treatment; SB 270, allowing terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in health care facilities; SB 359, changing terms for certain Morehouse Parish hospital district commissioners; and HR 194, requesting de-identified school visual acuity screening data for research. The committee adjourned after reporting all measures favorably, several with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• by the State Board, which has a photo, any ID card with a voter's photo and name, or a food stamp, EBT
• by the State Board, which has a photo, any ID card with a voter's photo and name, or a food stamp, EBT
• ID fraud using a Social Security card or a SNAP card, but we have seen trafficking of SNAP cards and EBT
• ID fraud using a Social Security card or a SNAP card, but we have seen trafficking of SNAP cards and EBT

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:05 Attendance Roll Call: 00:10 SB 70 Discussion: 00:58 SB 70 Vote: 04:36 SB 80 Discussion: 05:16 SB 80 Vote: 31:45 SB 127 Discussion: 32:30 SB 127 Vote: 39:38 SB 154 Discussion: 41:25 SB 154 Vote: Adjournment: 47:14, 958, all

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 70, which would modify the Public Pension Oversight Board by adding one House member and one Senate member, automatically placing the House and Senate chairs of state and local government on the board, adding the state treasurer, broadening who the Speaker and Senate President may appoint, and reducing the governor’s board appointments from two to one. After a brief procedural correction about a committee substitute, the bill was explained and then passed by a 9-0 favorable vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 80, a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to people with felony convictions after they complete imprisonment, probation, and parole, while excluding certain offenses such as election fraud, violent felonies, sex offenses, and crimes against children. The sponsor and Senator Herron argued that Kentucky’s current system is confusing and leaves the state as one of the few with lifetime disenfranchisement, while witnesses from the Sentencing Project, the League of Women Voters of Kentucky, and an advocacy group for people with lived experience supported restoration but urged a simpler, broader, automatic approach without offense-based carveouts. Committee members raised questions about implementation, clerk guidance, and how the proposal interacts with expungement and gubernatorial pardons; one senator specifically asked whether serious offenders, including child rapists, would regain voting rights under a broader version, and the witness answered yes. The bill passed with a favorable expression by an 8-1 vote. The transcript then began discussion of Senate Bill 127, also sponsored by Senator Hickden, but the exchange was cut off before the bill was fully explained or any vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• program from the Minnesota Humanities Center to the Commissioner of Health and add SunBucks, or summer EBT
• adds SunBucks Commissioner of Health and adds SunBucks or<00:30:19.360> summer<00:30:19.679> EBT
• or summer EBT benefits to the program. or summer EBT benefits to the program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• children who would benefit from the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, also known as Summer EBT
• And Summer EBT is the solution and the way to help supplement and make sure our kids have meals over
• I wanted to start with an important program that you heard a little bit about: summer EBT.
• The summer EBT dollars would provide significant... ...a boost to retailers and local economies across
• We can both address hunger and reduce state health care costs by implementing Summer EBT.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the state has been pretty generous with its policy around issuance of new EBT cards, the
• have a new fraud detection system where we can sort of see more clearly as people are selling their EBT
• So you're kind of really talking about sort of a one EBT card for everybody kind of thing.

Transcript Highlights:

• also don't think it's unusual that the organizations that are involved with the distribution of the EBT
• also don't think it's unusual that the organizations that are involved with the distribution of the EBT
• also don't think it's unusual that the organizations that are involved with the distribution of the EBT
• 16:58.960> the<01:16:59.080> use<01:16:59.560> and<01:16:59.720> the the EBT
• cards and the use and the the EBT cards and the use and the redemption<01:17:00.400> of<01:17

Keywords: 1189, house, all