Transcript Highlights:

• also want to expand it to uh uh Firearms also want to expand it to uh uh Firearms fire<00:38:57.560
• If not, if there's a delay in the certification of the contracts, it'll be soon.
• If not, if there's a delay in the certification of the contracts, it'll be soon.
• If not, if there's a delay in the certification of the contracts, it'll be soon.
• If not, if there's a delay in the certification of the contracts, it'll be soon.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony first from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Director Tommy Johnson outlined short-term goals to reduce overcrowding, improve living and working conditions, fill vacancies, expand mental health services, and update the correctional master plan. He said the department is still dealing with severe overcrowding at facilities such as OCCC and HCCC, with 947 people at OCCC against a design capacity of 628, and noted 938 inmates are currently housed on the mainland because of temporary repairs at Halawa. He also reported progress on staffing, saying the correctional officer vacancy rate has dropped from 34.3% to 24% through expanded recruitment. The department’s major budget request was $30 million for planning and design for a new Old Triple C project, along with other requests for re-entry services, identification documents, security systems, radios, sink-toilet modules, and trauma-informed care. Members asked about the timing and scope of the OCCC project, courtroom space in new facilities, and the department’s plan to use the funding to improve re-entry and reduce recidivism. The committee then heard from the Department of Law Enforcement on a wide range of priorities. The department described requests to expand agricultural crime enforcement, traffic enforcement, illegal fireworks enforcement, and facilities such as a police building at the DKI airport, a state training center, and new police facilities in central and Leeward Oahu. It also discussed a major IT request for a statewide law enforcement and critical infrastructure notification platform, plus funding for grants management, the Wahiawa Civic Center and court complex, the prescription monitoring program, narcotics enforcement operations, and the narcotics lab. A significant portion of the discussion focused on a proposed traffic enforcement program for commercial vehicle inspections, speeding, and DUI enforcement, which the department said would be funded with federal dollars and would operate concurrently with county police. Committee members questioned whether the effort duplicated county jurisdiction and how the program would be trained and staffed. Members also pressed the department on salary disparities for deputy sheriffs and related vacancies, and the department said the administration was working on a supplemental agreement and placeholder funding to address the issue. Additional discussion covered agricultural crime staffing, the Silver Alert program, and expansion of the forensic lab to handle explosives, firearms, and related evidence. No votes were taken in the portion provided, and the meeting moved from the corrections presentation to the law enforcement budget review with questions and answers throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• What can be done to firearm crimes?
• Thank you, Senator Inouye. relating to firearms. And this was one relating to firearms.
• uh relating to firearms. uh relating to firearms.
• . firearms. firearms. uh<00:14:31.920> the<00:14:32.320> clarifications<00:14:33.279>
• So, Hawaii Firearms gun community.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 3040, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Supporters, including Moms Demand Action and a crime-victim advocate, argued the office would improve data collection, research, and coordination to help reduce gun violence. Opponents, including several gun-rights advocates, said the proposal was duplicative, lacked oversight, and would exclude the firearms community. The chair noted 41 testimonies in support and 77 in opposition, but no vote was taken on the bill in the portion provided. The committee then moved through a series of decision-making items and adopted the chair’s recommendations on several measures. SB 17 on wildfire mitigation passed with amendments from multiple agencies and a report date shifted to the 2028 session. SB 2730 on criminal justice reform passed with a defective effective date amendment, SB 2749 on sentencing passed with a defective effective date, SB 2688 on compassionate release passed with amendments narrowing eligibility and adding notification and funding language, and SB 2798 on law enforcement passed with a defective effective date to make the agricultural enforcement pilot program permanent. SB 2645, a short-form bill, was amended to insert substantive provisions and recommitted to the committee. SB 2383, which would have provided a $15,000 retention bonus for sworn law enforcement officers, was reconsidered and held in committee because it was identified as a duplicate. The committee also passed SB 2575, relating to firearms, with amendments adopting a proposed SD1 that would establish minimum mandatory prison terms for certain class A firearm felonies and add clarifying language. SB 2720, which would create a Hawaii firearm injury restitution fund funded by firearm manufacturer licenses, also passed with amendments clarifying the fund’s scope and eligible injuries. Later, the committee began hearing SB 3107 on parole eligibility. The Office of the Public Defender and the Hawaii Paroling Authority supported language allowing the parole board to waive certain program requirements, while the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission opposed the bill, warning it could keep people incarcerated longer if program access remains limited. The Department of Corrections said it is working on classification changes and a pilot project to move inmates through the system faster.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the opportunity to present House Bill 202, a bipartisan measure aimed at promoting responsible firearm
• The goal is simple: to encourage firearm owners to take proactive steps in securing their firearms, helping
• Law enforcement, firearm instructors, and safety advocates all agree that secure storage is one of the
• most effective ways to prevent unintended injuries, suicide, and stolen firearms ending up in the wrong
• It empowers firearm owners to take an extra step in security. their firearms, protecting their families

Transcript Highlights:

• , bows, crossbows, and certain items for firearms or bows and crossbows.
• I'm here from a community permanently marked by what happens when firearms fall into the wrong hands.
• What happens when this tax break allows someone to buy a firearm tax-free and walk into a school?
• Making firearms more financially accessible without addressing the root causes of this violence...
• I know one of the speakers mentioned the firearm safety devices.

Summary: The Finance and Tax Committee considered several tax-related measures. SB 674, allowing county property appraisers to budget for and pay hiring or retention bonuses with Department of Revenue approval, was supported by property appraisers and reported favorably. C.S. for SJR 318, as amended, would create a tangible personal property exemption for agricultural land used in agricultural production or agritourism; the amendment clarified the property’s location and allowed the Legislature to define conditions, and the resolution was reported favorably with support from Farm Bureau and the Florida Chamber. The committee also advanced C.S. for SB 1664, as amended, which requires locally approved discretionary taxes to be reauthorized by voters when they expire and sets rules for taxes tied to revenue bonds. Local government and tourism-related groups raised concerns about impacts on tourist development taxes, beach funding, transportation surtaxes, and long-term planning, while supporters argued voters should periodically reaffirm taxes; the bill was reported favorably. C.S. for SJR 1510 and its implementing bill, SB 1512, were both amended to sharply narrow a proposed long-term lease property tax exemption to one qualifying property and to single-family homes, mobile homes, and condominiums; counties and cities opposed the measures as tax shifts, but both were reported favorably. The committee then took up SPB 7034, the Senate tax package, which includes permanent sales tax exemptions for certain clothing and bullion, multiple tax holidays, a temporary motor vehicle fee reduction, a property tax study, corporate and insurance tax credit changes, a communications services tax freeze, and other tax provisions, with staff estimating $2.1 billion in total revenue reduction. Testimony included support for studying property taxes and strong opposition to the firearm and ammunition tax holiday from students and advocacy groups, who argued it was unsafe and inappropriate; others urged adding combined reporting or removing tourist development tax changes. After debate, the committee reported the package favorably and also approved a motion to submit it as a committee bill. The meeting ended after Senator Bernard recorded an affirmative vote on tab 5 and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• screening and the ban on most firearms screening and the ban on most firearms in<00:04:46.560>
• <00:13:47.600> is how the the ban on firearms is how the the ban on firearms is implemented
• Now, I I think um uh like a firearm.
• I'm not one who uh you bear firearms.
• <00:46:43.760> Then permitted firearm. Is that correct? Then permitted firearm.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• defines me as a citizen of certificate defines me as a citizen of the<01:02:04.240> United<01
• So the notary certificate was just sealing the deal, right, confirming that the process—we now have a
• was just the the the notary certificate was just the sealing<01:36:36.119> the<01:36:36.280><
• <01:57:06.599> so<01:57:06.840> the the fix before the certification so the the fix
• But that's how they made the notary certificate go away.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Three armed robbers targeted his home in order to steal more firearms.
• Three armed robbers targeted his home in order to steal more firearms.
• This bill provides that unless a computer data center received a sales and use tax exemption certificate

Keywords: Scheduler, 972, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, I am in favor of more education. we can prevent firearms from being we can prevent firearms
• This measure relating to firearms.
• firearms from entering the black market.
• <00:40:50.800> related is to help reduce um firearms related is to help reduce um firearms
• firearms from entering the black market. firearms from entering the black market. um<00:40:57.280

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard opening remarks and ground rules from Chair David Tarnas, including a request for two-minute testimony limits, clear speaking, Zoom etiquette, and respectful conduct. The first measure taken up was HB 2062, relating to gun violence prevention, which would appropriate funds for enforcement of gun violence protective orders and for public awareness campaigns. Judiciary submitted written testimony recommending technical changes to clarify that it does not enforce laws and instead should be funded for personnel to process temporary restraining orders and gun violence protective orders; the Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill and said it is well positioned to conduct public education. Support also came from county and advocacy witnesses, including Moms Demand Action, Giffords Gun Owners for Safety, HGEA, and a retired police officer, while opposition testimony argued the measure raises due process and Fifth Amendment concerns and that education, not enforcement, should be the focus. The chair noted 37 testimonies in support, 103 in opposition, and three comments; no vote was taken in the portion provided. Testimony on HB 2062 emphasized both public safety and constitutional concerns. Supporters described the bill as a way to increase awareness of an existing legal tool, prevent suicides and shootings, and help law enforcement and the public understand gun violence protective orders. Opponents, including gun owners and firearms groups, argued that red flag laws can be abused, lack due process, and should not be expanded through state funding. A county neighborhood safety witness suggested an amendment to allow public, private, and nonprofit consultants to assist with training and implementation. Members asked a few questions, but the agencies with written testimony were not present, so the chair referred members to their submissions. The committee then moved to HB 2061, relating to firearms, which appropriates money for the state gun buyback program and requires at least two buyback events in each county. Written support was noted from the Department of Law Enforcement, Hawaii County Council, the County of Kauai Prosecuting Attorney, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties, with the latter emphasizing that buybacks are voluntary prevention tools that can reduce risk before crises escalate. Opposition came from the Mid-Pacific Pistol League, SDM Training Group/Bows and Bullets, and others; one witness argued buybacks are ineffective, costly, and can be vulnerable to misuse or black-market diversion, and suggested a year-round surrender option instead. The committee heard additional support from a retired police officer and from a gun violence survivor with Students Demand Action, but no final action or vote was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the household and to report any newly acquired firearms.
• for safe storage of firearms.
• This is merely about protecting the privacy of firearm owners in the state of Texas.
• They don't want them to have unauthorized access to those firearms.
• Your last sentence was, what was that about access to firearms?

Bills: SB397, SB481, SB596, SB760, SB855, SB1195, SB1196, SB1233, SB1257, SB1318, SB1368, SB1388, SB1398, SB1524, SB1558, SB1589, SB1677, SB1792, SB2034

Keywords: SB 397, telemedicine, telehealth, teledentistry, remote care, virtual care, consent documentation, patient consent, data collection, data sharing, audio-only telehealth, in-person examination, irreversible medical procedure, health professional regulation, Occupations Code, Texas Health and Human Services, medical records, provider compliance, data privacy, consumer rights

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:23:42.559> Really possess or transfer firearms. Really possess or transfer firearms.
• the licensed firearms dealer?
• the licensed firearms dealer?
• ...private firearms transactions and ones which did not go to a firearms dealer.
• Back up. firearm to a prohibited person firearm to a prohibited person >> for<00:47:12.640>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm understanding, I believe that you're also extending the ability to purchase a firearm and not go
• PFC and have a firearm.
• Do you think they should be able to carry a firearm?
• How about extending it to firearms, to, you know, nines and .45s? Mr. Chair.
• When that kid comes home, he deserves to be able to carry a firearm.

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:

• violence and effective implementation of GVPO would have resulted in that individual not having firearms
• Next, we have uh testifying for Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Andrew Roberts, uh, who submitted written
• even though there was awareness firearms even though there was awareness in<00:04:57.919> the
• Next, we have uh testifying for<00:05:25.600> Hawaii<00:05:26.560> Firearms<00:05:27.199
• > Coalition,<00:05:28.000> Andrew for Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Andrew for Hawaii Firearms

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs took up several measures, beginning with House Bill 2413 on pre-trial reform, which had been deferred from a prior agenda. The chair said the committee would incorporate judiciary recommendations and other technical, non-substantive amendments to continue discussion, and the measure was adopted with amendments by a 2-1 vote, with one member excused. The committee then heard extensive testimony on House Bill 2062, which appropriates funds for gun violence prevention efforts, including processing temporary restraining orders and gun violence protective orders and funding public awareness campaigns. Supporters, including county, advocacy, law enforcement, and student witnesses, said the bill would improve implementation of an existing law, save lives, and reduce suicides and violence. Opponents argued red flag laws can be abused, raise due process concerns, and may create dangerous enforcement situations. Written testimony was reported as 60 in support, 47 in opposition, and one comment. The committee later passed HB 2062 with amendments, including a corrected effective date, by a 3-1 vote with one member excused. The committee also considered House Bill 1957 on safe entryways, which would establish enforcement procedures in larger cities to prevent blocking of private doorways and entrances. Written testimony included support and opposition, but no oral testimony was offered, and the bill was passed with technical, non-substantive amendments. House Bill 253 on fireworks, which expands civil asset forfeiture for felony fireworks offenses and clarifies air-delivery provisions, was also passed with an amended effective date. House Bill 2581 on emergency management, which would narrow the definitions of disasters and emergencies, drew testimony both supporting the bill as a check on emergency powers and opposing it as incomplete or too broad in its current form; decision-making on that measure was deferred to the committee’s March 23 meeting. House Bill 2498 on a care home resilience pilot program was also deferred to March 23 after no testimony was offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any destabilizing event, mention of guns and firearms, or mentions of the relocation of firearms.
• It reduces firearm suicide, but suicide rates overall don't decrease.
• and prohibiting individuals from purchasing or possessing firearms while the order is in effect.
• To have firearms safely stored away by police.
• So you need to understand that he can still respect me to a certain degree with what a firearm is.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's related to ordering in domestic violence convictions that firearms be taken up after due process
• It's related to ordering in domestic violence convictions that firearms be taken up after due process
• Firearm. Um, and then I'll explain first, under Section 1, starting in line 41.
• When firearms are involved, they are the most deadly part of the domestic violence situation.
• have had to said this is the firearms have had to said this is the firearms are<00:21:28.159>

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 2 February, 2026; 4:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee took up a series of criminal justice and public safety bills. Early discussion focused on immigration-related concerns and the costs of enforcement, with one senator pressing for data to support claims about crimes by undocumented immigrants and another citing specific cases and DPS removals of drivers with falsified CDLs. The committee also heard a bill requiring the sex marker on a driver’s license to match sex at birth; the sponsor said it was the same measure passed by the committee the prior year, and it received a title sufficient/do pass recommendation. Several bills addressed corrections and court procedures. One bill clarified that people in intervention court are subject to the sentencing judge’s sanctions and are not entitled to a separate technical-violation hearing like probationers or parolees; the sponsor said it would reduce, not increase, leniency, and the committee passed it. Another bill extended the statute of limitations for felonious assistance program fraud from five to ten years, citing the TANF fraud case and the need for more time to detect abuse in executive agency programs; it also passed. The committee then approved a bill allowing judges, after a hearing and specific findings, to order firearms removed in domestic violence cases and protective-order proceedings when the weapons pose a credible threat. The committee also advanced a bill increasing penalties for witness tampering, with the sponsor saying prosecutors wanted a stronger tool because defendants were sometimes willing to accept the current five-year penalty rather than face the underlying offense. Members discussed whether the bill covered intimidation versus tampering and whether the penalty should be tied to the underlying crime; a motion to reconsider/adjust the bill was adopted, and the bill ultimately received a do pass recommendation. Another measure increased fines for handheld mobile device violations while driving, especially in school and work zones, and members discussed whether the bill should be stronger and how any collected fines would be used; it passed. Finally, the committee approved a bill requiring reporting of certain convictions and adjudications to the Child Protective Services central registry, and ended by passing a bill increasing the fine for failing to use a screen on loads that can spill from vehicles and damage windshields, with members noting the fine had not been updated since 1974.

Transcript Highlights:

• INTRODUCING INTENTIONALLY FIREARMS ONTO THE CAMPUS IS A DANGEROUS PROPOSITION.
• THROUGH UNINTENTIONAL DISCHARGE AND THEFT OF A FIREARM.
• THEY DO NOT CHOOSE A CAREER WITH FIREARMS.
• THAT IS THE PRESENCE OF MORE FIREARMS ON CAMPUS.
• YOU WON'T HAVE THAT SCENARIO WHERE WE DON'T KNOW SOMEONE HAS A FIREARM.

Transcript Highlights:

• , CROSS BOWS AND CERTAIN ITEMS FOR FIREARMS OR BOWS AND CROSSBOWS.
• I READ SPV 7034 IN HIS PROPOSAL TO CREATE A TAX HOLIDAY FOR FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION.
• WHAT HAPPENS ON THE TAX BREAK ALLOW SOMEONE TO BUY A FIREARM TAX-FREE AND WALK INTO A SCHOOL?
• FIREARMS, AMMUNITION AND RELATED ACCESSORIES WOULD BECOME TAX EXEMPT FOR 1/3 OF THE YEAR.
• ONE OF THE SPEAKERS MENTIONED THE FIREARM SAFETY DEVICES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :32:32.240> following is relative returning firearms following is relative returning firearms
• she probably had had some firearms she probably had had some firearms training.<00:35:12.480>
• whether it's for the return of a firearm whether it's for the return of a firearm or<00:40:28.800
• background checks for firearm purchases. background checks for firearm purchases.
• the department that has the firearm? the department that has the firearm?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think there's a lot of fear on firearms because they're not familiar with them.
• <00:13:18.639> means from the discussion that a firearm means from the discussion that a firearm
• in a different meaning of the firearm in a different district?
• ,<00:23:39.840> the easily can they access the firearm, the easily can they access the firearm
• <00:36:08.560> outside private possession of firearms outside private possession of firearms

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With access to firearms, tripling the risk of dying by suicide, the danger of allowing guns in places
• With access to firearms, tripling the risk of dying by suicide, the danger of allowing guns in places
• with firearms are fatal.
• Our data that we do have does show that there has been an increase in crimes with the firearm.
• Fanzon, again representing AZCDL, ASRPA, and the Firearms Industry Trade Association.

Bills: SB1039, SB1061, SB1068, SB1069, SB1099, SB1127, SB1148, SB1271, SB1426, SB1448

Keywords: attorney discipline, legal costs, reputation damage, state bar, court costs, fentanyl, drug offenses, narcotic drugs, criminal penalties, Arizona Revised Statutes, educational institutions, public order, disruption, concealed weapons, safety regulations, firearms, muffling devices, weapon regulations, Arizona law, public safety

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills dealing with attorney discipline, bar licensure, drug sentencing, campus firearms, suppressors, defamation, emergency-service calls by businesses, mandatory child-abuse reporting, eviction procedure, and protections for utility workers. SB 1039 would allow attorneys who prevail in disciplinary matters to recover lost earnings and seek compensation for reputational harm from the State Bar; SB 1148 would require the Arizona Supreme Court to directly license attorneys rather than delegate that function. Both bills were supported by the sponsor as restoring accountability and limiting delegation, and both received due-pass recommendations despite some opposition votes. Members also heard SB 1061, which lowers the fentanyl trafficking threshold from 200 grams to 9 grams; opponents from the ACLU and defense bar argued the threshold would sweep in personal-use cases and increase incarceration, while supporters said it targets traffickers. The bill was recommended do pass. SB 1068, barring public colleges and universities from prohibiting lawful concealed carry by permit holders, drew strong opposition from gun-safety advocates and campus representatives who cited suicide and campus safety concerns, and support from gun-rights groups who argued campuses are not exempt from constitutional rights; it also received a due-pass recommendation. SB 1069, removing suppressors from Arizona’s prohibited-weapons definition, was opposed by Moms Demand Action and supported by gun-rights advocates as aligning state law with federal law and protecting hearing; it likewise passed out of committee. The committee also advanced SB 1099, which would codify statutory defamation elements and add an internet-related limitation period; the ACLU warned it could chill speech and conflict with evolving First Amendment law, while the sponsor said it would clarify existing case law and address online defamation. SB 1271, prohibiting cities from penalizing businesses for legitimate emergency-service calls, passed unanimously after testimony that some municipalities had discouraged 911 calls for theft and other incidents. HB 1127, requiring mandatory reporters with direct knowledge of child abuse or neglect to report immediately and personally, passed after Phoenix Children’s Hospital and DCS said they supported the intent but wanted implementation language clarified for medical emergencies. SB 1426, changing forcible-detainer procedures by removing the written-demand requirement, passed despite concerns from the multi-housing industry that the current language could disrupt holdover-tenant evictions. Finally, SB 1448, as amended, expanded aggravated-assault protections to utility, telecom, video-service, and related workers; supporters cited threats and assaults against field crews, while opponents argued existing assault laws already cover the conduct and the bill is overly broad. The amendment and the bill as amended were adopted, and the committee gave SB 1448 a due-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• to be using within their firearms to be using within their jurisdiction<00:04:23.840> around<
• which of the two uh types of firearms which of the two uh types of firearms provides<00:08:43.800
• <00:16:50.000> safety are just a few of the the firearm safety are just a few of the the firearm
• principles thanks to required firearm principles thanks to required firearm safety<00:16:52.959>
• <00:30:22.880> but<00:30:23.519> the firearms but the firearms but the reality<00:30:25.279

Keywords: 1187, senate, all