Transcript Highlights:

• This upcoming Saturday and Sunday, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be hosting their annual outdoor
• Over 120 exhibitors will be there showcasing the newest hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreational products

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of the doctor of the day. Members also introduced numerous guests and groups in the gallery, including the Dandy Project, Arizona Right to Life, Red State Reform, Reproductive Freedom for All, Somerton elected officials, Apache County Supervisor Alton Joe Shepard, and the family of the late Brad Brower. The chamber then adopted House Concurrent Resolution 2053 honoring Brower’s life and service, followed by a moment of respectful silence and remarks from members about his community leadership. The House considered several Senate bills in Committee of the Whole. SB 1020, relating to the Arizona Space Commission and a specialty license plate, drew debate over a proposed Villegas floor amendment to add a community college access and success plate; the amendment failed on a recorded division vote, and SB 1020 was then approved. SB 1127 and SB 1181 also received do-pass recommendations without controversy. The House later held an additional Committee of the Whole on SB 1426, adopted a floor amendment, and reported the bill as amended with a do-pass recommendation. On third reading, the House passed SB 1125 on child safety by a vote of 43-4 and SB 1415 on insurance adjusters by a vote of 46-1. The House also adopted the Committee of the Whole report, with a separate motion to include the defeated Villegas amendment in SB 1020 failing 19-28. The chamber announced upcoming committee meetings, made several brief personal and ceremonial announcements, and adjourned until Monday, March 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• This upcoming Saturday and Sunday, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be hosting their annual outdoor
• Over 120 exhibitors will be there showcasing the newest hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreational products

Transcript Highlights:

• The vast majority of the package is not advertising at all.
• The vast majority of the package is not advertising at all.
• The vast majority of the package is not advertising at all.
• We have seen the most egregious marketing and advertising in the illicit market.
• So I think we see the vast majority of, again, marketing and advertising...

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee heard an audit on the Department of Cannabis Control’s oversight of cannabis packaging and labeling, focused on whether products are attractive to children. The auditor said the department’s rules are often vague, enforcement is inconsistent, and licensees are left to interpret standards without prior review. In a review of 80 packaging cases, the audit team disagreed with the department’s conclusions in 13 instances, and the report highlighted examples involving cartoon imagery, colorful fonts, candy-like references, flavor names, and cannabis beverages that resembled ordinary drinks. The auditor recommended clearer statutory definitions, possible consideration of plain packaging or pre-approval models like Oregon’s, better internal guidance, and stronger tracking and escalation for repeat violators. Committee members and Assembly Member Irwin emphasized the rise in poison control calls involving children under five since legalization and argued that legal-market packaging can contribute to accidental ingestion, especially when products resemble candy or drinks. Several members pressed the department on why items such as root beer, strawberry lemonade, and cherry pie strain names should be allowed if they may appeal to children. The Department of Cannabis Control responded that it has already centralized label review, added staff and technology tools, improved compliance-history tracking, and is using progressive discipline tools such as notices to comply, citations, embargoes, abatements, and license actions. The department also argued that the illicit cannabis and intoxicating hemp markets are major drivers of youth exposure and that enforcement resources must be balanced across those markets. Public health witness Dr. Lynn Silver urged stronger restrictions, including plain packaging, bans on added flavors and child-appealing imagery, lower THC limits for edibles and beverages, and a dedicated pre-market review process. Industry representatives from the California Cannabis Industry Association and the California Cannabis Operators Association agreed that youth protections are essential, but argued that clearer, objective standards are needed so compliant businesses can know the rules and enforcement can be consistent. They said most licensed products are already compliant, that the most blatant youth-targeted packaging is concentrated in the illicit market, and that the Legislature should refine definitions and guidance rather than rely on subjective case-by-case judgments. No formal vote or bill action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This product advertises fruity crispy rice bars and depicts colorful images of rice cereal.
• And during the audit, we found other examples of flavors being advertised in edible cannabis products
• The vast majority of the package is not advertising at all.
• The vast majority of the package is not advertising at all.
• We have seen the most egregious marketing and advertising in the illicit market.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the FTC enforces these truth and advertising laws and applies the standards no matter where the advertisement
• And the FTC enforces these truth and advertising laws and applies the standards no matter where the advertisement
• And the FTC enforces these truth and advertising laws and applies the standards no matter where the advertisement
• Thanks, Chair. advertisement appears in newspaper advertisement appears in newspaper magazines<00:24:
• We feel this is an extension of transparency and advertising and sales, yet it does not always happen

Summary: The joint hearing of the House Committees on Tourism, Housing, and Economic Development and Technology began with House Bill 604, which would raise the transient accommodations tax by 1 percentage point starting January 1, 2026 and direct the revenue to the Hawaiian Homes General Loan Fund. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supported the bill as a source of consistent funding, while the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed it, warning that Hawaii already has very high tourism taxes and that further increases could hurt visitors, workers, and the broader economy. The committees later voted to pass HB 604 with amendments as an HD1 and to defer the date; the vote was adopted, with one member noted as having reservations in the housing committee vote and one no vote in that committee. The committees then heard House Bill 973, which would require transient accommodations brokers and others to display all resort fees, taxes, and government-imposed charges upfront in advertised prices and would establish penalties. The Office of Consumer Protection expressed concerns about the bill’s intent requirement and noted a forthcoming federal FTC rule on junk fees; the Hawaii Hotel Alliance strongly supported the measure as promoting transparency and uniformity, and a public witness also supported price transparency while questioning the size of the penalties. After questions about federal rescission of the FTC rule and enforcement authority, the committees voted to pass HB 973 with amendments as an HD1, including removal of the intent requirement and technical changes, and the recommendation was adopted unanimously. House Bill 594, relating to hotel service disruptions, would require hotel keepers to give notice of disruptions to guests and third-party vendors and allow damages. The Attorney General’s office recommended amendments to add a purpose section and savings clause to address First Amendment and contract clause issues, and Unite Here Local 5 supported the bill, saying guests are not always notified of disruptions and that the measure would improve transparency; the union agreed with the legal amendments. The committees voted to pass HB 594 with amendments as an HD1 and to defer the date, adopting the recommendation. The final measures were House Bill 448 and House Bill 449, both related to technology enablement and economic development for small businesses, including tourism-related businesses. HTDC strongly supported both bills but emphasized that technology should be targeted to the actual problem and coordinated with sister agencies rather than applied broadly; the Hawaii Food Industry Association and Chamber of Commerce also supported HB 448, and HB 449 received support from HTDC and HFIA. The committees adopted amendments to HB 448, including moving a $250,000 appropriation to the committee report, and to HB 449, including deleting duplicative language tied to HB 448 and moving a $500,000 appropriation to the committee report; both bills were passed as HD1s with deferred dates, and the hearing adjourned after the votes were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• It had a specific call out to economies that were focused on outdoor activities.
• </c><00:37:44.000><c> So,</c><00:37:44.240><c> our</c> focused on outdoor activities.
• So, our focused on outdoor activities.
• They saw the same Kiplinger report that talked about outdoor states without a lot of outdoor activities
• uh states without a lot of outdoor uh states without a lot of outdoor<01:21:36.640><c> activities</c

Summary: The Committee of Conference on HB 1 and HB 2 was called to order, and Legislative Budget Assistant Michael Kaine reviewed the working documents before the committee. He explained the compare report, the detailed change sheet, the HB 1 index, the HB 2 side-by-side, the surplus statement, and a revenue handout, noting that the committee would vote up or down on all detail-change items and that unresolved items on hold would be removed from the final bills. He also identified staff available to answer technical questions and noted that the committee would track the dollar impact of decisions as it proceeded. Members then turned to the revenue outlook, with discussion focused on the gap between the House and Senate budget positions. House members said their budget guidance was based on revenue estimates that were significantly below the governor’s proposal, and they discussed whether additional revenue could close part of the gap. Department of Revenue Administration Commissioner Lindsey Stepp presented updated revenue estimates based on May data, explaining the methodology and the ranges for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027. She said business taxes were the largest source of uncertainty, with estimates reflecting current economic conditions, recent revenue performance, and a range of possible growth rates. Committee members questioned the assumptions behind the business-tax ranges, including why the low and high scenarios were set at 2% and 8% growth. Stepp said the range was based on historical performance and current economic factors such as inflation, tariffs, and business behavior, and she noted that June is a major estimate-payment month for business taxes. Members also discussed recent revenue trends, including the effect of tariffs and the possibility of federal tax policy changes affecting repatriated profits. The commissioner and House members also discussed other revenue sources, including rooms and meals and real estate transfer taxes, with the House side arguing that lower mortgage rates and home prices could increase real estate transfer revenue. No votes were taken in the portion provided, but the committee discussed possible upward adjustments to House revenue assumptions, including increases of roughly $70 million in total based on the updated outlook and additional insurance-related revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• It deals with advertising law institute. It deals with advertising law institute.
• There's a time advertise the bid. There's a time advertise the bid.
• They didn't they didn't advertise it three times like didn't advertise it three times like didn't advertise
• But the advertise in different places. But the advertise in different places.
• considered to be already advertised considered to be already advertised considered to be advertisement

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to present SB 1050, the Advertisement Integrity Act, on behalf of Senator Ashby.
• The bill requires advertisements using AI-generated performers to include a disclosure if the performer
• advertisements.
• , we see advertisements all the time.
• The bill doesn't, we're not trying to outlaw AI advertisements.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• The whale tail plate was created to fund programs that connect Californians to the coast through outdoor
• The whale tail plate was created to fund programs that connect Californians to the coast through outdoor
• These efforts play a critical role in expanding equitable access to the outdoors and ensuring that all
• Californians, regardless of background, have equitable access to the outdoors and ensuring that all
• $1 million was available to support these programs, limiting opportunities for outdoor education and

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• . advertisements. advertisements.
• advertisement? advertisement? &gt;&gt; The<05:11:15.440><c> what?</c> &gt;&gt; The what?
• You show your advertising.
• You show your advertising.
• You show your advertising.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• The vast majority of our advertising is shareholder funded.
• Other public utilities can and do spend public dollars on advertising.
• SMUD has about a $40 million advertising budget, all paid for by... ...dollars on advertising.
• One would be political advertising, and the other is public service communication.
• And in my opinion, strongly reflecting the bill to advertise against munis forming.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy met without a quorum at first and began as a subcommittee, then later established quorum and heard several measures. The main policy bills discussed were SB 24, which would restrict investor-owned utilities from using ratepayer funds for political advertising, lobbying, and efforts against municipal utilities, and SB 283, the Clean Energy Safety Act of 2025, which would strengthen safety standards for battery energy storage facilities after the Moss Landing fire. The consent calendar also included SB 80, SB 491, SB 593, SB 804, and SCR 25, which were taken up without debate. SB 24 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates, who argued that ratepayer money should not be used for political or promotional activity and that current rules lack meaningful consequences. Opponents from the utilities and business community said the bill was too broad, could interfere with shareholder-funded advocacy and legal work, and might unintentionally affect public service communications and expert consulting. Several committee members shared support for the bill’s goal but raised concerns about its breadth, especially around legal fees and communications; the author said he was willing to work on amendments, including on consultant fees, and accepted committee amendments. SB 283 received broad support from firefighters, local governments, utilities, labor, and business groups. Supporters said the bill would improve fire safety, require fire authority consultation and inspections, and prevent battery storage from being sited in unsafe indoor combustible facilities. The author described the Moss Landing fire and said the bill would add standards based on NFPA guidance while preserving local governments’ ability to adopt stricter rules. No opposition testimony was presented. The committee voted SB 283 out 16-0, and SB 24 was also approved after a roll was held open and later closed, ultimately passing 11-1. The consent calendar passed 16-0, and the meeting adjourned after the final roll calls were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:06:48.240><c> from</c> removing the political advertising from removing the political advertising
• </c><00:19:08.559><c> is</c> primary goal of political advertising is primary goal of political advertising
• And I'll take any questions. advertisement, which is why holding advertisement, which is why holding
• </c><00:31:31.919><c> is</c> the age of AI, political advertising is the age of AI, political advertising
• We're in executive session. advertisement on municipal property. advertisement on municipal property.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The second piece is surveillance advertising.
• Now surveillance advertising, I would define as predatory.
• This goes beyond just advertising, of course.
• However, they are explicitly using it for what they call personalized advertising—surveillance advertising
• To close, these bills would not prevent relevant advertising.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Summary: The committee hearing focused on a package of Massachusetts privacy and technology bills, especially measures to ban the sale of location data, establish a comprehensive consumer data privacy law, and regulate biometric recognition and surveillance pricing. Chairs and sponsors argued that self-regulation has failed, that data brokers and large tech companies routinely collect and monetize sensitive information, and that state action is needed because federal protections are weak or absent. Several speakers tied the bills to reproductive health, gender-affirming care, domestic violence, children’s data, and other sensitive uses of location and biometric information. Supporters included legislators and advocates who backed H. 86/S. 197 (Location Shield), H. 78/S. 45/H. 104/S. 29 (comprehensive privacy bills), H. 99/S. 47 (surveillance pricing in grocery stores), and H. 36/S. 36 (biometric recognition accountability). They emphasized data minimization, bans on selling sensitive data, consumer rights to access, delete, and opt out, and in some cases a private right of action. Several witnesses said Massachusetts should lead or align with other states, while others argued that stronger protections are needed because data can be weaponized by stalkers, anti-abortion actors, abusive partners, insurers, or law enforcement. Industry and coalition witnesses urged the committee to favor a more standardized, interoperable framework modeled on laws already adopted in other states, warning that novel definitions, data-minimization rules, and private rights of action could create compliance burdens, confusion, and costs for businesses, including small businesses. They argued that entity-level exemptions for sectors already covered by federal laws like HIPAA or GLBA promote consistency, and that Attorney General enforcement is preferable to private lawsuits. Committee members questioned witnesses on patchwork concerns, the scope of exemptions, and whether the proposed bills would harm or help consumers and small businesses. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; written testimony was noted as due later, and the committee continued taking testimony from multiple panels and virtual witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• We rescue and remove less social cats from outdoor environments, particularly cat colonies.
• We rescue and remove less social cats from outdoor environments, particularly cat colonies.
• </c> that a cat has access to um, outdoors that a cat has access to um, outdoors um,<01:47:58.800><c>
• If a cat is caught outdoors at large and they don't have health or age exemptions or cat registry, then
• Um, I do see the damage the outdoor feral cats do to these endangered birds, and this bill goes a very

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1552, which would make the attorney general the interim chief election officer if that office becomes vacant until the Elections Commission appoints a replacement. The Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill, saying it could create a conflict of interest if the attorney general were both the state’s lawyer and the chief elections officer in any related litigation. The League of Women Voters supported having some interim backup for the office, but said it was not necessarily advocating that the attorney general fill the role. Several other testifiers, including the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women, opposed the bill, arguing the current law already provides for a prompt commission appointment and warning about partisan bias and concentration of power. Supporters, including Indivisible Hawaii, said an interim mechanism is needed to ensure election certification in a crisis. The chair also asked whether any statutory acting capacity already exists, and the attorney general said none was known. The committee then took up House Bill 2125, which would bar corporations operating under state law from engaging in election activity. The attorney general opposed the bill, citing Citizens United and arguing that corporations have First Amendment-protected political speech rights and that the bill would likely be unconstitutional. Indivisible Hawaii supported the measure, saying it would keep elections focused on the will of the people rather than corporate influence. Libertarian Party testimony was mixed: one witness supported the goal of reducing corruption but warned the bill could suppress organized dissent and sweep too broadly by treating many associations as corporations. The bill’s introducer asked whether the legislature could still enact it as a policy matter, but the attorney general maintained federal constitutional law would control. No vote was taken on either bill during the portion of the hearing provided. The committee also heard House Bill 2493 on wrongful imprisonment, which would set procedures and compensation for people whose convictions are reversed or vacated on grounds consistent with innocence and whose charges are dismissed. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation supported the bill’s intent but objected to language assigning it responsibility for helping released individuals secure housing, identification, health coverage, and other reentry needs, saying it no longer has jurisdiction after release and suggesting the courts or a community-based contractor handle that role. The Office of the Public Defender strongly supported the bill, emphasizing the harm of wrongful conviction and the need for compensation, case management, and medical coverage after release. No action or vote was reported on this measure in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our partners have been Bowser, Lassard, Sam’s Outdoor Heritage Fund, LCCMR, and flood hazard mitigation
• </c><00:36:36.320><c> Heritage</c> Bowser, Lassard Sam's Outdoor Heritage Bowser, Lassard Sam's Outdoor
• Uh, have you been able to receive any funds for the wildlife components on the impoundments from outdoor
• Uh, have you been able to receive any funds for the wildlife components on the impoundments from Outdoor
• Uh, have you been able to receive any funds for the wildlife components on the impoundments from Outdoor

Bills: HF2080 , HF356 , HF1968 , HF228 , HF569 , HF603 , HF692 , HF1455 , HF2224 , HF1361

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• We do not have a way like some other states, like Colorado, to charge, you know, people in the outdoor
• We do not have a way like some other states, like Colorado, to charge, you know, people in the outdoor
• We do not have a way like some other states, like Colorado, to charge, you know, people in the outdoor
• We do not have a way like some other states, like Colorado, to charge, you know, people in the outdoor
• We do not have a way like some other states, like Colorado, to charge, you know, people in the outdoor

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• that advertises?”
• . advertising. advertising.
• </c> including u advertising. including u advertising.
• </c> of the advertising expense. of the advertising expense.
• </c> get enough uh advertisements. get enough uh advertisements.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• above some political advertisements.
• </c> she didn't write political advertisement she didn't write political advertisement above<00:04:20.400
• /c><00:04:23.320><c> I</c> above some um political advertisements I above some um political advertisements
• </c><00:24:58.520><c> which</c> destroy any political advertising which destroy any political advertising
• </c> also say here no political advertising also say here no political advertising shall<00:27:20.520

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Advertising to continue.
• </c> only doing away with the advertisement only doing away with the advertisement and<00:33:07.360><
• the advertising that has been put out there actually do?
• :34:00.720><c> certainly</c><00:34:01.039><c> an</c> the advertising has had certainly an the advertising
• ,</c><00:48:30.480><c> but</c> take away some of the advertising, but take away some of the advertising

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to present SB 1050, the Advertisement Integrity Act, on behalf of Senator Ashby.
• The bill requires advertisements using AI-generated performers to include a disclosure if the performer
• With the evolution of AI and its impact on commercial media, the state must ensure existing advertising
• , we see advertisements all the time.
• The bill doesn't—we're not trying to outlaw AI advertisements.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard a long agenda focused largely on AI-related consumer protection, child safety, and privacy bills. Members first adopted the consent calendar, then took up SB 1050, which would require disclosures when advertisements use AI-generated or synthetic performers. Supporters, including SAG-AFTRA, Common Sense Media, and labor groups, said consumers should know when an ad depicts a non-human performer and that the bill protects both consumers and workers. Opponents from TechNet, the Motion Picture Association, broadcasters, and business groups argued the bill was too broad, lacked a deception standard, could burden accessibility uses and short audio ads, and created litigation risk. The committee voted the bill out on a party-line-leaning roll, with several members noting concerns but supporting continued work on the measure. The committee also approved SB 1111, which creates liability and remedies for non-consensual digital replicas using a person’s voice or likeness, and SB 1146, which targets deceptive AI-generated health advertisements that depict synthetic health care providers. Both measures drew support from consumer, labor, medical, and child-safety advocates and faced no formal opposition. Members emphasized the need to prevent deepfake abuse, especially in health-related ads where consumers could be misled into trusting fake doctors or medical endorsements. Several child- and privacy-focused bills were also heard and advanced. SB 867 would place a four-year moratorium on AI chatbot-powered toys for children, with supporters warning about harmful content, addictive design, and privacy risks; some opposition raised definitional concerns and asked for clearer standards. SB 1247 would give child influencers the right to delete monetized content posted during their minority, and it moved forward without opposition. SB 1000 updated California’s AI Transparency Act to align content provenance rules with newer technology and international standards, with support from Google and Adobe and no opposition. Finally, SB 957 would require social media companies to notify users when the federal government seeks their data through administrative subpoenas, give users time to challenge the request, and report disclosures; supporters framed it as a First Amendment and due process protection, while one member opposed it as an overreach against federal law enforcement. All of the measures discussed were reported out of committee, with several rolls left open for absent members.