Video & Transcript Research : 'Inflation'
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US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine big fixes for big tech. Apr 1st, 2025 at 01:30 pm
Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- as buyers, sellers, brokers, platform owners, and so forth, setting their own rules and charging inflated
- One of the things that can help keep inflation in check, even amidst other circumstances that have caused
- inflation to spiral out of control, often hurting America's most vulnerable, its poor and middle-class
Keywords:
antitrust, competition policy, digital advertising, monopoly, America Act, big tech, consumer rights
Summary:
The meeting, titled 'Big Fixes, Big Tech', marked the first hearing of the Senate antitrust competition policy and consumer rights subcommittee in the 119th Congress. Chairman Lee opened the session focusing on the urgent need for effective solutions regarding anti-competitive behavior among major tech firms like Google and Facebook, highlighting several ongoing court cases regarding monopolistic practices in the digital advertising and search markets. Key discussions included the limitations imposed on small businesses and innovation due to the dominance of these tech giants, with many testimonies advocating for stronger legislative measures, including the America Act. The act aims to disrupt the monopolistic capabilities of these firms and restore competitive integrity in the marketplace, which has suffered under their oppressive market control.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Environment Committee Meeting - 2025-03-25
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Increasing operational and maintenance costs due to inflation are a challenge.
- the DNR received in 24-25 were one of two things: there was an operating adjustment to the DNR for inflation
- mentioned, the operating adjustment as it is included here does not actually cover the full cost of inflation
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Even as inflation has skyrocketed and the salaries for qualified lawyers have in the private and public
- Total inflation since 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics has been 34.5%.
- So I'm not even asking you to keep up with inflation.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (03/28/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- We came into the last biennium in a period of great inflation and previous two bienniums of below-rate-of-inflation
- <02:08:34.800>
and after a period of great inflation and after a period of great inflation - So we were seeing inflation increases.
- So have inflation these two years too.
- So I'm in 7% inflation last time, 6% here, plus whatever the rate of inflation is in these next two.
Summary:
The Division 3 work session focused largely on amendment 1176 to HB 2, which would have incorporated the substance of HB 548FN, a House-passed bill creating a direct-pay or membership-based model for health care facilities. Representative Mlan described the proposal as a way to increase competition in health care by extending the direct-care model used in primary care to facilities, arguing it could encourage innovation and that concerns about widespread harm to critical access hospitals were overstated. He pointed to Oklahoma’s long-standing Surgical Center model as evidence that the approach had not spread broadly or displaced hospitals there.
Several members and witnesses raised concerns. Representative Stringham questioned whether the model would shift profitable services and patients away from existing hospitals, potentially worsening their finances and affecting Medicaid-related funding. David Ross, speaking for county nursing homes, opposed the language because it also removed moratoriums on nursing home, skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, and self-pay beds, warning that it could increase pressure on Medicaid rates and undermine community-based care. Ben Bradley of the New Hampshire Hospital Association said the proposal appeared to create a separate regulatory framework for direct-pay facilities and raised concerns about patient safety, CMS participation rules, and a separate patient bill of rights.
The chair concluded that, because HB 548 was already moving through the Senate, the HB 2 process was not the best vehicle for the policy and that the issue should be left to the Senate’s more deliberative committee process. Representative Ferski moved to not accept or remove amendment 1176 from the agenda, and the committee approved the motion by roll call, 9-0, withdrawing the item from HB 2.
PA
Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Jul 12 2026)
Pennsylvania Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Way above our rate of inflation, way above what the taxpayers have to pay.
- blocking tax hikes and limiting the growth of state government by keeping spending below the rate of inflation
- Government by keeping spending below the rate of inflation. Is today's budget perfect?
- issues around affordability and income that's kind of been locked in and not able to deal with the inflation
- And while in that same period inflation has increased 86 percent, this budget finally steps up to respond
Summary:
The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, communications, committee reports, and leaves of absence. The journal was approved 50-0. The chamber then took up House Bill 1505, which drew extended debate over school funding and adequacy/tax equity. Senators Coleman and Keefer argued the bill continued to pour money into districts like Allentown without accountability or improved results, while Senators Costa, Miller, Haywood, and Anthony Williams defended the funding as a response to historic underfunding and the Commonwealth Court decision. A motion allowing Senator Coleman a third speaking turn was adopted 27-23, and the bill ultimately passed 45-5.
The Senate then considered House Bill 2400, the General Appropriation Act. Supporters, including Senators Martin, Dush, Phillips-Hill, Costa, Ward, Street, Hughes, and Pittman, emphasized that the budget was balanced without using the rainy day fund or raising taxes, reduced the governor’s proposal, increased education and child care funding, supported nursing homes, rape crisis centers, infrastructure, and workforce programs, and shifted money from lapsed or unused accounts to current priorities. Opponents, including Senators Saval and Muth, said the budget failed to address structural deficits and omitted new revenue options, emergency services funding, and other major issues. The bill passed 44-6 with amendments and was returned to the House for concurrence.
The Senate also passed a series of other bills, including House Bills 2412, 2413, 96, 858, 1042, 1286, 1646, 1851, 1862, 2017, 2024, 2401, and 2559, with varying margins, and sent them to the House, some with amendments. House Bill 1042 drew a negative recommendation from Senator Costa over a late amendment involving second-degree murder/felony language, but after reconsideration and vote changes it passed 30-20 with amendments. House Bill 1862, creating an Ignition Interlock Driver’s License, passed 45-5 after support from Senator Judy Ward. House Bill 1248 passed 43-7 and designates Pennsylvania rye whiskey as the official state spirit, with Senators Bartolotta and Robinson speaking in support. The chamber also adopted Senate Resolution 216, after defeating Senator Haywood’s amendment to narrow the scope of a proposed Legislative Budget and Finance Committee study of managed care organizations; the resolution passed 31-19. Several other bills were held over in their order, and the Senate later moved toward a condolence resolution.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Health Care Financing Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
Transcript Highlights:
- importantly, under this bill, annual contributions to the HRA are required to keep up with medical inflation
- The subsidies are protected and inflation-adjusted each year, and retirees are fully supported in making
- Furthermore, the administrative complexity of private employer-sponsored insurance inflates the total
- Furthermore, the administrative complexity of private employer-sponsored insurance inflates the total
- care of health cost of health care by an employer-sponsored insurance inflates the total care of health
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on 16 bills, with the chairs noting a busy legislative day and asking speakers to keep testimony brief. The committee first heard testimony on Senate 860/House 1405, the Medicare for All bill, with Sen. Jamie Eldridge and many advocates, clinicians, municipal officials, and patients arguing that a single-payer system would make care a right, reduce administrative waste, lower costs, and protect residents from rising premiums, medical debt, and hospital closures. Several speakers cited the Steward hospital crisis, affordability problems, and polling or ballot questions showing public support for single-payer coverage. No vote was taken during the hearing.
The committee then took testimony on S. 863, a bill on non-opioid options for chronic pain. Pain specialists, patients, and advocates said the bill would improve care coordination for MassHealth members, expand access to non-opioid medications, require provider education, and collect data on chronic pain. Testifiers described long delays in diagnosis and treatment, stigma toward pain patients, and the need for multidisciplinary care and transportation support. Again, the committee heard testimony only and took no action.
A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 1360/S. 869, which would prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in health care. Disability advocates, clinicians, and patients described being denied or delayed care, pressured into DNR orders, or treated based on assumptions about quality of life rather than medical facts. Speakers referenced COVID-era crisis standards of care, discriminatory metrics, and personal stories involving canceled procedures, inadequate accommodations, and poor treatment in hospitals. Committee members thanked speakers for their testimony and said they would review the bill and its implications, but no vote was announced.
The committee also heard testimony on H. 1399, an individual Medicare marketplace option for municipal retirees, where supporters said it would give cities and towns a lower-cost alternative for retiree health benefits through HRAs and individual Medicare plans. The hearing then returned to Medicare for All testimony, with additional supporters repeating arguments about cost, access, municipal budget pressure, and the need for global budgeting and universal coverage. The transcript ends with continued testimony and no recorded committee vote or final action on any bill.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Special Session E May 29th, 2026
Florida Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- health services, $16.1 million in contract increases to offset rising food service costs driven by inflation
- Senator Smith: Have we, in this budget, offered an increase in the reimbursement rate to make up for inflation
- , or have we perhaps just put an across-the-board rate increase, not tied to inflation?
- As population grows, inflation remains, this is the only way to truly move forward. Thank you, Mr.
- As population grows, inflation remains, this is the only way to truly move forward.
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved to the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27. Budget chairs presented the major spending areas, describing a $114.5 billion overall budget that they said was fiscally responsible and below the prior year’s spending. Highlights included pay increases and retirement adjustments for public safety employees, education funding for K-12, higher education, health and human services, criminal justice, transportation, environmental programs, and agriculture/regulatory agencies.
Members then questioned chairs on several items. In education, senators discussed K-12 declining enrollment funding, teacher salary set-asides, private school scholarship spending, mental health funding, preeminence funding for universities, the Hamilton Center at UF, and charter school PICO funding. In health and human services, questions focused on the iBudget waiver waitlist, provider rates, ADAP/HIV funding and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, KidCare, rural health funding, SNAP-related IT and error reduction efforts, and the IDD managed care program. In criminal justice, senators asked about correctional officer pay, prison staffing and infrastructure, air conditioning in prisons, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement recruitment, and court system funding. Environmental and transportation questions covered Florida Forever, water quality, state parks, water projects, housing, elections funding, and emergency management.
Several specific actions and explanations were given during debate: the budget includes $8.8 million for state attorney competitive area differentials but no funding for public defender CAD requests; assistant state attorneys will start at $70,000 and assistant public defenders at $65,000; the battery disposal issue was described as a temporary study/preemption approach; and the Senate said the budget does not fund Medicaid expansion, preeminence funding, or the SunBucks Summer EBT state share. Senators also noted that some proposals discussed in committee did not make it into the final budget. The transcript ends with debate statements from members praising the budget process and Chair Hooper, while also expressing concerns about public schools, health care access, affordability, and the lack of funding for certain priorities.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Health Care Affordability, Select May 1st, 2026
Health Care Affordability, Select
Transcript Highlights:
- enrollees from the market can leave only the sicker patients in the risk pool, which will further inflate
- But it's an inflated price with a fake rebate. **Unknown Speaker**: Yes, yes. Yes, it's true.
- I would say it's inflated with the rebate, but I will say... Yes, it's true. Okay.
- Obviously, that red bar in the middle of each of those columns is inflation.
- And what's driving that, you know, inflation and economic pressure certainly, you know, provider offices
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- 24.079>
question, <00:34:24.399>vice >> Just adjusting 2018's spend of $82 million for inflation - comparing apples to apples, spending the same amount of money that we spent in 2018 adjusted for inflation
- money that we spent in 2018<00:34:43.599>
adjusted <00:34:44.079>for <00:34:44.800>inflation - <00:34:45.280>
today, <00:34:45.599>we 2018 adjusted for inflation today, we 2018 adjusted - for inflation today, we would<00:34:45.839>
be <00:34:45.919>spending <00:34:46.159>
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on a series of economic development, tourism, and tax measures. SB 2411 drew broad support from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the University of Hawaiʻi, the Chamber of Commerce, and Retail Merchants, with one technical amendment suggested to change a partnership term from six to seven years. Members asked about implementation and annual costs, and the department said it would follow up with cost information. HB 2583 HD1, relating to economic development and a loan loss program, also received support, but DBED noted the state already has the CBED loan program and suggested the proposal could be placed under that existing framework rather than creating a new program.
HB 1612, based on business revitalization task force recommendations, was supported by DBED and several business and advocacy groups, including the Small Business Regulatory Review Board and Grassroot Institute. Testimony emphasized improving Hawaii’s business climate and using a ranking/reporting tool to measure progress, while one senator questioned whether the bill would simply fund another study instead of direct improvements. HB 1613, relating to HTDC, was supported by HTDC, the Chamber of Commerce, and startup and industry representatives who said a permanent marketing/branding specialist would help attract tech talent, founders, and investors; a member asked why the position was not in the budget, and HTDC said federal NIST funding uncertainty affected the request. HB 1614, also on economic development, was supported by HTDC and business groups, and members discussed whether the state was missing federal funds due to lack of matching dollars; HTDC said it was difficult to know, but matching funds could help leverage more federal grants.
The committee then took up HB 2590 on taxation for creative industries. The Motion Picture Association and Hawaii Film Alliance strongly supported the bill, saying it would correct GET treatment for payroll service companies, restore motion picture and TV production as manufacturing, and repeal a 2022 provision affecting qualified expenses; the Department of Taxation said it would provide revenue-impact information later. Finally, HB 1950 HD1 on the transient accommodations tax drew strong support from DBED, HTA, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, hotel and resort groups, and others, who argued for a dedicated tourism marketing fund and said the state needs more stable, long-term marketing investment. The Tax Foundation opposed the special fund approach, arguing it would reduce legislative flexibility. Members pressed witnesses on the appropriate percentage for the fund, with HTA suggesting 10% to 12% of TAT collections, and the discussion focused on how marketing spending relates to visitor spending, tax revenue, and long-term tourism competitiveness.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, January 20, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- administration reflected that health care spending has grown at an unsustainable pace, far outpacing inflation
- administration reflected that health care spending has grown at an unsustainable pace, far outpacing inflation
- administration reflected that health care spending has grown at an unsustainable pace, far outpacing inflation
- administration reflected that health care spending has grown at an unsustainable pace, far outpacing inflation
- administration reflected that health care spending has grown at an unsustainable pace, far outpacing inflation
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- It's the inflation. It's the tariff wars. Screws right now have gone up 70% for a screw right now.
- It's the inflation. It's the tariff wars. Screws right now have gone up 70% for a screw right now.
- It's<00:49:04.480>
the <00:49:05.160>inflation. - <00:49:06.160>
It's <00:49:06.319>the <00:49:06.559>tariff It's the inflation - It's the tariff It's the inflation.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII Feb 25th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII
Transcript Highlights:
- maintain our board staff and we're asking. for an increase that will offset the cost of living and inflation
- an increase in eight years, and they are. dipping into their reserve funds currently because of inflation
- The first is for Inflation Adjusted Operational Costs.
- Additionally, we want to mitigate the impact of inflation on our employees and ensure compensation remains
- trillion dollar budgets. of thousands of staff. requests like this of Texans who are suffering from inflation
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division II (01/29/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- It remains at $2.50 for the last 25 years, so it hasn't met inflation.
- and that's one area met the inflation and that's one area where<00:36:29.240>
I <00:36:29.359> - and you have a challenge with inflation and you have a challenge with the<00:37:46.720>
revenues< - We saw a lot of inflation and stuff coming out of COVID and coming back in the state.
- <04:52:21.120>
operating put it this way inflation operating put it this way inflation operating
Summary:
The Division 2 Finance Committee heard an overview and budget presentation from New Hampshire Fish and Game, led by new Executive Director Stephanie Simi and Business Division Chief Kathy Leonti. The agency described its mission to conserve and manage fish, wildlife, and marine resources, and emphasized growing pressures from disease, climate impacts, habitat change, and increased public demand. Simi said the department is largely funded by hunting and fishing license revenue and federal grants, is reviewing staffing and internal processes, and faces critical needs including permanent funding for environmental review staff, infrastructure and IT modernization, and possible service reductions if additional support is not found.
Members asked about specific program and policy issues, including chronic wasting disease in deer, hemorrhagic disease in rabbits and hares, moose population decline, and a proposed bait-disease bill. The department said it is actively monitoring diseases and did not see a need for the bait bill at this time. Legislators also discussed the Hike Safe program, which the department said has grown from an expected $100,000 annually to more than $300,000, and a possible boating version of that program, which the department said remains under consideration but would involve complex logistics and multiple agencies. Questions were also raised about rescue costs, out-of-state hikers, and whether boat registrations could be used as a revenue source; Fish and Game said boat registration is handled by the Department of Safety, though the department receives $5 per registered boat for the public boat access program.
The budget discussion focused on revenue projections, use of unrestricted Fish and Game funds, and dependence on federal reimbursements. Leonti said the department met the governor’s general fund target but not the Fish and Game fund target without using surplus unrestricted funds, leaving only about $100,000 in the fund by the end of the biennium. She said the budget uses more than $18 million in Fish and Game funds annually against about $14 million in unrestricted revenue, and that five of 193 full-time positions remain unfunded. The department warned that if federal grants were halted, it could cost about $5 million over five months and force the Fish and Game fund to cover the gap. Committee members also requested that future presentations be sent electronically in advance, and the department agreed to do so.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session-Day 13, February 24, 2026-PM
Wyoming Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, as the good senator said some about inflation, well, if inflation hits also, the sales tax
- inflation inflation where<02:37:16.000>
we <02:37:16.160>need <02:37:16.240>the - ,<02:37:44.319>
well, senator said some about inflation, well, senator said some about inflation - , well, if<02:37:46.319>
inflation <02:37:46.960>hits <02:37:48.080>also, <02:37: - tax if inflation hits also, the sales tax collections<02:37:50.240>
are <02:37:50.399>going
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (04/09/2025)
Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- And with inflation, we wanted to put forward policy that allowed for individuals in nursing facilities
- And<01:35:56.320>
with <01:35:56.639>inflation <01:35:57.760>um <01:35:58.080> - um we wanted to put And with inflation um we wanted to put forward<01:36:00.600>
policy <01:36 - uh look um every year that um inflation uh look um every year um<01:36:12.639>
in <01:36:12.880 - um rent or such as in on inflation um rent or such as in public<01:38:41.760>
housing, <01:38:
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- county government to levy dollars annually is a continual about 2 to 4% each year, depending on inflation
- county government to levy dollars annually is a continual about 2 to 4% each year, depending on inflation
- county government to levy dollars annually is a continual about 2 to 4% each year, depending on inflation
- seniors access services like assisted living, home care, or adult day, does not have any sort of inflation
- <01:42:04.159>
and have faced and we battled inflation and have faced and we battled inflation
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Pandemic-era inflation did a number on the national and global economies.
- The impact is the The pandemic-era inflation did a number on the national and global economies.
Summary:
The Senate convened for opening day of the 2026 regular session with prayer, presentation of colors by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a performance of the national anthem by the FAMU Marching 100. The chamber then administered the oath of office to newly elected Senator Ralph E. Misullo, Jr. of District 11, and welcomed a number of special guests, including statewide elected officials, Supreme Court justices, and former Senate leaders and members.
The Senate adopted SCR 1466, which authorized the House and Senate to meet in joint session to receive a message from the Governor, and waived rules to immediately transmit the resolution to the House. The Rules Chair also moved that the Secretary notify the House and Governor that the Senate was convened and ready to begin the 2026 regular session. No substantive legislation was debated; the session was largely ceremonial and organizational.
In remarks, the Senate President reflected on the role of the Senate, the need for balance, deliberation, and checks and balances, and highlighted priorities such as rural Florida, citrus recovery, farmers feeding Florida, rural health care, affordability, low taxes, property tax relief, and fiscal restraint. He also emphasized faith, service, and cooperation. At the end of the session, Senator Gates announced that 52 executive appointments would be considered the next day, and the Senate adjourned until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, with committee meetings and other business to follow.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Pandemic-era inflation did a number on the national and global economies. The impact is the...
- The pandemic-era inflation did a number on the national and global economies. The impacts are real.
Summary:
The Florida Senate convened for the opening of the 2026 regular session with prayer, presentation of colors by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance led by children in the chamber, and a performance of the national anthem by the FAMU Marching 100. Newly elected Senator Ralph Massullo was certified and sworn into office by Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz, and several current and former state officials and senators were recognized in the chamber.
The Senate then adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 1466 to convene in joint session with the House to receive the Governor’s message, waived the rules to immediately certify the resolution to the House, and notified the House and Governor that the Senate was ready to proceed with the 2026 regular session. In remarks, Senate leadership and the President discussed priorities including rural Florida, agriculture, citrus recovery, food insecurity, affordability, tax relief, balanced budgets, and the importance of deliberation and checks and balances.
The President also highlighted recent and planned initiatives such as the Farmers Feeding Florida program, rural health care investment, and property tax relief, while emphasizing faith, service, and cooperation in the chamber. Senator Gates announced that 52 executive appointments would be taken up the following day. The session concluded with a benediction by Senator Massullo and adjournment until the next scheduled meeting, with the Senate set to meet later in joint session with the House.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The major changes to the request since last session, lines 2 through 5, we've increased for inflation
- <00:43:09.920>
using <00:43:10.319>Minnesota <00:43:10.800>Management inflation - using Minnesota Management inflation using Minnesota Management Budgets<00:43:11.680>
inflation - ><00:43:12.079>
escalator <00:43:13.040>and <00:43:13.280>the Budgets inflation- escalator and the Budgets inflation escalator and the demolition<00:43:13.920>
and <00:43:14.240 - ><00:43:12.079>
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
JDC, JDC-TRS Public Hearings 02-03-2026
Transcript Highlights:
- services awarded by community organizations by the judiciary to include certain protections against inflation
- And when they do not have adequate resources or protections against things like inflation, those services
- And when they do not have adequate resources or protections against things like inflation, those services
- 16.360>
against to include certain protections against to include certain protections against inflation - . inflation. inflation.
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee heard several Senate bills. SB 2149 would exempt paternity proceedings involving allegations of domestic abuse from mediation and clarify the domestic abuse mediation exemption in divorce cases. The Department of the Attorney General and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence supported the measure but recommended technical and conforming changes, including updating references from HRS Chapter 584 to 584A and aligning the language more closely with the Uniform Mediation Act. Members discussed whether the bill’s wording could limit who may bring a support person to mediation, and the chair suggested the intent was to preserve survivor choice while avoiding ambiguity. No vote was taken in the portion heard.
SB 2203 would create an offense for law enforcement officers using masks or personal disguises. The Office of the Public Defender, ACLU of Hawaii, Legal Clinic, and many other supporters argued the bill would improve transparency, accountability, and public trust, while still allowing safety exceptions. Law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Law Enforcement, Honolulu Police Department, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, raised concerns about operational needs, undercover and auxiliary units, body cameras, and possible supremacy clause issues if the bill is aimed at federal officers. The chair noted the bill appeared likely to move forward and asked agencies and advocates to work on possible amendments; testimony count was reported as 114 in support, 3 opposed, and 2 comments.
SB 2251 would appropriate funds for the victim witness assistance program in the City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying it would replace shortfalls from declining federal funding and help maintain victim services and rights information. A former program director also testified in support. When asked, the office said it would not object to a simple reporting requirement. The committee then moved on to SB 2311, which would address claims against the state and add reporting and timing requirements; the Department of the Attorney General testified with concerns and recommendations, and members began questioning current practices for handling claims and settlements.