Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I think we need to give that flexibility to the officers.
• Well, I think we need to give that flexibility to the officers.
• give that flexibility to the officers. give that flexibility to the officers.
• Ultimately, of course, purchasing power.
• <03:07:31.920> of undervaluing the more flexibility of undervaluing the more flexibility of

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have tried all creative means in order to make this happen: lease-purchase agreements, public-private
• We have tried all creative means in order to make this happen, lease purchase agreements, public-private
• partnerships, tax policy. means in order to make this happen, lease purchase agreements, public-private
• And thank you for the presentation and flexibility.
• They go in, they purchase the land, they're saying there's going to be 50 homes here, and it's an SID

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It gives retirees the option to pay the remaining contribution as a one-time lump sum, adding flexibility
• Um, they'll then wait a week or two, until someone purchases, purchases the.
• It could be weeks or even months before the purchaser or the card recipient realizes that the card has
• A Criminal organization enters another retailer where the card is either cashed out or used to purchase
• So is the jurisdiction where it's purchased, where it's where it's, um.

Transcript Highlights:

• Program for the local food purchasing assistance grants, which allows food shelves and food hubs to purchase
• This policy change is intended to introduce a new market that schools can participate in by purchasing
• The eligibility requirements I took from the local food purchasing grants from the federal programs,
• I can only base it on how many producers are using the local food purchasing assistance grants, and I
• So by putting the A1 amendment on, it gives us some flexibility for the conversation to continue.

Bills: HF2784, HF2785, HF2778, HF2281, HF2576, HF2280, HF2579

Keywords: beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing

Transcript Highlights:

• of the time when a hospital has these devices, it's because a family has had a loss and they're purchasing
• My staff has collected information on multiple devices that the hospitals can purchase, not just one
• in Houston, Dallas, or Austin, there’s a good chance that a family has experienced this loss, has purchased
• And it took a lot of the COVID flexibilities for telemedicine and telehealth and made them permanent
• It also prohibits the purchase and sale of cigarettes and tobacco products within a thousand feet of

Bills: HB18, HB742, HB754, HB1644, HB2187, HB1887, HB 1275, HB37, HB1503, HB1699, HB1700, HB2735, HB1741, HB1731, HB1675, HB18, HB37

Keywords: rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, trafficking prevention, medical assistant training, health care facilities, hospital compliance, clinic compliance, anti-retaliation, whistleblower protection, employee reporting, good faith report

Transcript Highlights:

• If you want to backfill General Fund spending with that source, there's less flexibility there.
• What this project does is it gives us the flexibility. Now that we know and have been living...
• What this project does is it gives us the flexibility.
• We're anticipating... ...budget bill language that would provide a little bit more flexibility.
• So our proposals, budget bill language, allow that flexibility if that occurs. Thank you, LAO.

Summary: The hearing opened with budget framing from the chair and the LAO, who said the May Revision addresses roughly a $14 billion budget problem and that the environment and transportation subcommittee’s proposals account for about $1.9 billion of the solution. The LAO urged members to focus on solutions that do not worsen out-year deficits, to preserve reserves, and to defer major policy changes that are not necessary to pass the budget, including the newly introduced water-related trailer bills. Members also raised concern about a late-dropped Olympic-related trailer bill, which the LAO likewise suggested should be deferred for fuller review. The first major item was the Delta Conveyance Project and related water quality control plan trailer bills. The administration argued the proposals would streamline permitting, water rights proceedings, judicial review, and land acquisition, and would clarify DWR’s bond authority for the project. DWR said the project is needed to protect water supply reliability against drought, earthquakes, sea level rise, and other climate-related disruptions, and that the tunnel would help move water when conditions are wet and safer for the environment. Committee members from both parties questioned the timing, the use of budget trailer bills for major policy changes, the scope of the CEQA and water-rights changes, the lack of a bond cap, cost growth, and eminent domain protections. The LAO recommended deferring both water trailer bills without prejudice. Public comment was sharply divided, with labor, water agencies, and some business groups supporting the project as climate adaptation and reliability infrastructure, while environmental, tribal, fishing, county, and community groups opposed it as an attempt to bypass public process and weaken protections. The committee then briefly heard the DMV’s Digital Experience Platform fee trailer bill, which would reinstate a $1 system improvement fee to help fund the vehicle-registration phase of the project. DMV said the fee would raise about $7 million annually and offset roughly $59 million to $60 million of project costs, while the LAO noted it would help but would not solve the Motor Vehicle Account’s broader structural gap. The hearing then moved to California High-Speed Rail, where the new CEO presented an updated plan and said the project remains a major climate and infrastructure investment. He reported a revised Merced-to-Bakersfield cost range of $34.9 billion to $38.5 billion, said the agency is trying to reduce risk through direct procurement of materials, and argued that stable annual funding is needed to avoid higher costs from delays.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now here every year in the state of California, we spend millions of taxpayer dollars to purchase firearms
• And in the absence of such a vetting system, the state has purchased firearms, ammunition, and these
• from responsible, law-abiding... ...model procedure guidelines so that state agencies are only purchasing
• So when our agencies are looking to purchase weapons, that they're doing so under a set of guidelines
• Of course, we want any state agency to know that the company that they're hiring to purchase anything

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Could members of the public come and purchase?
• Could members of the public come and purchase?
• Could members of the public come and purchase?
• <00:48:58.079> a to enally letting guests purchase a to enally letting guests purchase a glass
• /c><00:55:49.480> you have somebody walk in and purchase you have somebody walk in and purchase

Bills: HF1262, HF1741, HF472, HF1668, HF2055, HF1786, HF1876, HF1089, HF1121, HF509, HF1545, HF2027, HF642

Keywords: food truck, liquor license, temporary license, community events, catering, municipal regulations, food hall, St. Louis Park, on-sale, intoxicating beverages, food vendors, common seating area, HF472, Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato, MSU Mankato, Taylor Center, special liquor license, on-sale wine license, malt liquor license

Transcript Highlights:

• how that might reduce local flexibility how that might reduce local flexibility and<00:20:09.520
• Um, concerns that were raised around the flexibility that it would preclude, their flexibility of using
• that it would preclude their flexibility that it would preclude their flexibility<00:34:15.119> of
• Thank you. local districts the flexibility and local districts the flexibility and decision-making<02
• :29.600> community<02:35:29.920> from purchase insurance in the community from purchase

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, no, the Chinese will not be able to purchase the data.
• by the agreed-upon um if purchased by the agreed-upon people<01:30:54.840> who<01:30:54.960><
• It allows for more flexibility for those allowed to carry a firearm.
• <01:59:34.240> allowed<01:59:34.560> to flexibility for for those allowed to flexibility
• It allows more flexibility for those allowed to carry a firearm. It's still a firearm in there.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're mostly for the commercial markets and sophisticated purchasers of insurance.
• For example, in the earthquake realm, let's say Company A purchases $50,000 worth of coverage, and they
• They're also very flexible to design what that triggering event is, and they're often negotiable, which
• producers and account execs, we were always concerned about where the gaps are and if you cannot purchase
• There is flexibility provided in that they're not paying out premiums to a third party.

Summary: The committee heard a work session on earthquake insurance, beginning with background from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. OIC staff explained that earthquake and earth movement are generally excluded from standard property policies, that earthquake coverage is usually purchased through endorsements or standalone policies with high deductibles and relatively high premiums, and that surplus lines are a limited backstop market not covered by the state guarantee fund. They also described parametric insurance and captive insurance as more specialized products generally suited to commercial or governmental buyers rather than ordinary consumers. A second panel of insurance and banking experts focused on commercial earthquake exposure, especially for older buildings, collateralized loans, and potential knock-on effects to banks and consumers if a major quake caused widespread damage. Members asked about consumer impacts, mitigation incentives, inventories of vulnerable buildings, and whether legislation such as prior work on unreinforced masonry could help reduce risk. The Washington Bankers Association said earthquake insurance is expensive and that affordability is a major concern, while also noting banks participate in disaster-recovery planning and would be affected by major regional losses. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy on its cannabis and Initiative 502 research. WSIPP staff described the agency as a nonpartisan research institute that conducts legislative-directed studies and explained that its long-term I-502 assignment includes periodic reports leading to a final benefit-cost evaluation in 2032. Staff summarized findings from a 2023 report showing that cannabis possession convictions fell sharply after legalization, though some racial disproportionalities persisted, and that closer retail access was associated with higher reported adult cannabis use, more fatal traffic crashes involving drivers from nearby areas, and higher rates of cannabis use disorder diagnoses among Medicaid enrollees. A 2023 youth-focused report found that students attending schools near retailers were more likely to report cannabis use, had more unexcused absences, and were less likely to graduate on time. In the newest 2025 Medicaid study, staff said retail access was associated with higher probabilities of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, related hospitalizations, inpatient treatment, and co-occurring mental health diagnoses, with event-study analysis suggesting the increases appeared after retailers opened rather than before. Members asked about racial disproportionality, the meaning of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, THC and impairment, whether the findings reflected medical versus recreational use, and how the results should be interpreted in light of broader trends and data limitations. No formal committee action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The FTA program is shown to be flexible and fair.
• House Bill 5436 closes a dangerous loophole by allowing only licensed and regulated UAPRs to purchase
• When these illegal operators purchase these non-titled vehicles, they disappear, but the titles remain
• They're purchased solely for parts dismantling and end of life.
• Many smaller districts may benefit from this flexibility in enhancing their security measures.

Bills: HB1455, HB1777, HB2101, HB2136, HB2609, HB3142, HB3552, HB3846, HB4155, HB4514, HB4879, HB4995, HB5014, HB5139, HB5228, HB5436, HCR40

Keywords: mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation

Transcript Highlights:

• Doesn't give them the flexibility, and they have to hold on to cash through their investment management
• That's the State Procurement Services Program, also called the State Purchasing Division of the Department
• Been tasked with purchasing through appropriations through the legislature.
• As mentioned earlier, we did receive an appropriation in 2022 to purchase a new plane.
• Our State Purchasing Division is responsible for procuring anything from pencils to attorneys to services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• remove the proposed new language in section 2011H-381A in order to provide HHFDC and the county's flexibility
• remove the proposed new language in section 2011H-381A in order to provide HHFDC and the county's flexibility
• remove the proposed new language in section 2011H-381A in order to provide HHFDC and the county's flexibility
• future<00:22:45.440> home<00:22:45.600> purpose Building equity for future home purchase
• purchases and note HHFDC's intent to allow appreciation of 4.4% per year, consistent with previous long-term

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Housing heard and then took action on a series of housing-related bills concerning HHFDC, HPHA, inclusionary zoning, nonprofit housing trusts, housing project exemptions, the rental housing revolving fund, and a new for-sale housing program. Testimony was generally supportive from HHFDC and HPHA, with additional support from groups such as Hawaii YIMBY, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed, Housing Hawaii’s Future, Holo Collaborative, the Kobayashi Group, and others. On SB 2424, the Kobayashi Group argued the bill would help open housing to a broader pool of local households, including buyers slightly above income limits who still cannot afford market-rate housing. On SB 2342, the chair asked HHFDC for final figures on rental housing revolving fund appropriations since 2016 and was told the amount was about $1.1 billion, including conveyance tax revenue. In decision-making, the committee recommended passage of SB 2189 with amendments, noting concerns about transparency and accountability in HHFDC’s loan-award process; SB 2190 with amendments; SB 2234 with amendments; SB 2177 with amendments; SB 2194 unamended; SB 2342 with amendments; SB 2060 with amendments; and SB 2070 with amendments. The committee deferred SB 2195 and SB 2196 after testimony comments, and deferred SB 2063 because the chair said SB 2060 would be used instead as the vehicle for mixed-income subaccount changes. SB 2424 was discussed in hearing but then deferred in decision-making pending legal advice on issues including owner-occupancy, county income restrictions, buyback rules, and county council approval. The committee also heard testimony on SB 2062 and its proposed SD1, but deferred that measure because the relevant changes had already been incorporated into SB 2060 SD1.

Transcript Highlights:

• And basically, they denied the super expensive power purchase agreement.
• The power purchase agreement, though, remained the same. It was super high and super expensive.
• >> The<00:58:52.520> the<00:58:52.640> power<00:58:52.960> purchase<00:58:
• 53.359> agreement<00:58:53.920> though >> The the power purchase agreement though
• >> The the power purchase agreement though remained<00:58:54.560> the<00:58:54.680>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard and considered a long list of Governor’s messages for appointments to state boards and commissions, including the Board of Dentistry, Barbering and Cosmetology, Speech Pathology and Audiology, Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board, Elevator Mechanics Licensing Board, Real Estate Commission, Board of Naturopathic Medicine, State Boxing Commission, Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects, Hawaii Medical Board, Board of Physical Therapy, Board of Pharmacy, and the Public Utilities Commission. Most nominees and supporting agencies testified in support, and many nominees simply stood on their written testimony. Several nominees also answered questions about their experience and the issues facing their boards, including dental insurance and Medicaid concerns, condo and real estate disputes, pharmacy regulation and telepharmacy, boxing and MMA rule updates, and medical board service in rural areas. The committee discussed some contested or notable nominations in more detail. Richard Emery’s nomination to the Real Estate Commission drew opposition testimony tied to a condo management dispute, and he responded by emphasizing the need for factual evidence, mediation and complaint data, and better consumer education. Trinette Kahui and Andrea Ushijima were also nominated to the Real Estate Commission, with broad support. For the Boxing Commission, Robin Jumawan described ongoing statutory updates, MMA-related work, and delegation of amateur boxing rules. For the Hawaii Medical Board, Elizabeth Ignacio was strongly endorsed by state and industry witnesses as highly qualified and familiar with rural health issues, while Rebecca Sawai also received support from the board and Kaiser Permanente. In the decision-making portion, the committee moved to advise and consent to nearly all nominees on the agenda. Senator McKelvey stated reservations about Richard Emery due to opposition and possible conflicts, and also about nominees who were not present at the hearing, specifically Corrine Muldrow Soto and Stacie Kealoha Inouye; Senator Lamasao also noted reservations on those absent nominees. The chair disclosed personal acquaintance with Dr. Sawai and Andrea Ushijima. The committee then voted to adopt the recommendations, with the noted reservations and one no vote on GM 697 reflected in the record, and later reconvened to take up Governor’s Message 514/515 for John Etemura as chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, where additional support testimony was heard from the Governor’s office, DCCA, and former consumer advocacy staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS PROVIDES A GREATER LEVEL OF FLEXIBILITY ACROSS THE REGION BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE A CERTAIN INDUSTRY
• OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY AND FLEXIBILITY ENSURE STUDENTS CAN PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION ON THEIR TERMS
• ON A FLEXIBLE BASIS STUDENTS ATTENDING 8:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M.
• GRANTING AND FLEXIBILITY AS WELL AS BASICALLY JUST CONTINUED FINANCIAL SUPPORT OR INCREASING THAT SUPPORT
• BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE NOT THAT'S FLEXIBLE ENOUGH WHERE IF YOU HAVE A NEW BUSINESS COME IN

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What this would do is increase the Commissioner's flexibility and eliminate the obligation, though he
• What this would do is increase the Commissioner's flexibility and eliminate the obligation, though he
• <01:14:45.360> and Commissioner's flexibility and Commissioner's flexibility and eliminate
• Why did Why did you flexible provision. Why did Why did you choose<01:17:58.040> 2026?
• means that business cannot purchase means that business cannot purchase retail<01:21:05.240>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• need to be flexible in our definitions. need to be flexible in our definitions.
• in plan design. increased flexibility in plan design.
• off-site constructed purchasing of off-site constructed housing.
• This increase in the cash balance can be used for bulk purchasing of off-site construction housing.
• This increase in the cash balance can be used for bulk purchasing of off-site construction housing.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House resumed consideration of H.606 on firearm procedures and first took up Section 3 and its effective dates. A member from Northfield spoke at length in support, arguing the provision is narrowly tailored, based on actual dangerousness rather than mental illness alone, and is more limited than federal law because it applies only to specific court findings and is temporary, with rights restorable upon recovery. The House then approved Section 3 and its effective dates, approved the remainder of the Judiciary Committee report, and ordered third reading. The chamber then moved through third readings and passed H.385 on remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt, H.556 on exceptions to the state minimum wage, H.559 on the parole board, H.723 on posting of land, and H.757 on manufactured homes and limited equity cooperatives. On H.814, relating to neurological rights and AI in health and human services, the House adopted an amendment offered by the member from Burlington that required the advisory council to include proposed definitions for neurotechnology, artificial intelligence, and related terms in its report; the House Health Care Committee reported the amendment favorable 11-0-0, and the bill then passed. H.816, regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services, also passed, as did H.927, technical corrections for the 2026 session. The House then took up H.930 on chronic absenteeism. The committee member from Manchester described the bill as an AOE proposal responding to high post-pandemic absenteeism rates and their impact on learning, and outlined provisions adding definitions, updating compulsory attendance language, requiring a state model policy, strengthening notification and truancy procedures, and preserving existing penalties. The member said the Education Committee heard from a wide range of education and child welfare witnesses and passed the bill 11-0. After a brief clarification on the absences section, the House proceeded toward third reading of H.930.

Transcript Highlights:

• is reclaiming their own property, they have already paid sales tax at the time of their original purchase
• AB 1579 seeks to address this issue by increasing access through flexible, functional, equivalent, clinically
• We are asking for flexibility with purpose, not a compromise on quality.
• But because the state also purchases food for nutrition programs, for prisoners, for schools, that would

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on May 13, 2026, with a large agenda of 196 bills. After establishing quorum, the committee first approved two consent calendars covering numerous bills, then heard a series of author presentations and public testimony. Most measures discussed were housing, public safety, health care, and local government bills, with many authors and sponsors emphasizing that the proposals had minor, absorbable, or no state costs. Among the bills heard were AB 2641 on a sales tax exemption for pawnbroker redemptions; AB 2525 to create a narrow Surplus Lands Act exemption for Mission Bay Park in San Diego; AB 1732 and AB 2433 on student housing and the density bonus law; AB 2055 updating boating safety and enforcement laws; AB 1579 expanding children’s crisis residential options; AB 2139 for an Inland Empire sports-related Surplus Lands Act exemption; AB 2041 on EMS reporting compliance; AB 1973 expanding advanced practice clinicians’ authority for reproductive care; AB 1929 requiring health plan investment disclosures; AB 2700 on utility rates and wildfire victim compensation; AB 1809 removing the sunset on school job order contracting; SB 73 strengthening election security; AB 2418 streamlining commercial building permits; AB 1970 limiting step therapy for serious mental illness and substance use treatment; AB 2361 on peer-to-peer vehicle-sharing liability; AB 1976 streamlining bike and pedestrian project approvals; AB 2110 authorizing local tax increment financing for workforce housing; and AB 2146 easing documentation for supportive housing placements. Testimony was largely in support, often from sponsoring organizations, local governments, housing advocates, health groups, law enforcement, and wildfire survivors. AB 2700 drew especially extensive public support from Camp Fire and Tubbs Fire survivors and local officials, who urged stronger compensation for wildfire victims and relief from utility costs. AB 2034 and AB 1790 were mentioned during public comment as bills with opposition from industry groups, while AB 1903 and SB 417 also drew comment. Several bills were amended or noted as being subject to future amendments, including AB 1732, AB 2041, and AB 2418. The committee took action on the bills as they were heard, generally voting them out on due pass motions, many by roll call and several with members not voting on particular measures. The suspense calendar was then read and deemed approved, and the hearing concluded after public comment on bills not heard that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it does allow for the purchase of subsidized health insurance for children.
• And it does allow for the purchase of subsidized health insurance for children.
• loop, allowing that to be, of course, for those at 200% or below, but maybe we could look at some flexibility
• So we do already provide some flexibilities to assist families. Thank you.

Summary: The committee received a briefing from AHCA Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer and Florida Healthy Kids CMO Ashley Carr on implementation of HB 121, which was enacted in 2023 to expand Florida’s KidCare/CHIP eligibility from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level and replace the sharp premium “benefits cliff” with a tiered premium glide path. Sponsor Rep. Bartleman described the bill as a bipartisan effort to help working families keep children insured while moving toward economic self-sufficiency. The presenters explained that the program remains a joint federal-state structure, with Medicaid unchanged and the bill affecting only the CHIP-related portions of KidCare. AHCA said implementation has been delayed by federal CMS actions. The agency reported that CMS first rejected a state plan amendment approach, then required revisions to the premium tiers under a new maintenance-of-effort interpretation, and later issued a new interpretation of continuous 12-month eligibility that would prevent disenrollment for nonpayment of premiums. AHCA said it submitted an 1115 waiver, but negotiations over special terms and conditions reached an impasse, and the state has filed litigation challenging CMS’s interpretation. Members asked about the cost of litigation, the effect on future bills, the review process for CMS documents, disenrollment and reenrollment rules, and whether any additional legislative action is needed; AHCA said no further state action is needed at this time and that the key issue is the pending federal litigation. Several members and the sponsor emphasized the need for immediate implementation and asked about possible interim relief. AHCA said current coverage remains in place under the preexisting program, that there is a 30-day grace period for premium payment, and that reenrollment does not require a penalty or back payment, though coverage is not active during lapsed periods. The committee also heard public comment from Nicholas Hessing of the Children’s Services Council of Broward County and the Florida Alliance of Children’s Councils and Trusts, who supported HB 121 and said the expansion could make about 17,600 additional children eligible in Broward County alone. The meeting ended with Rep. Bartleman thanking staff and expressing hope that the new federal administration would allow the program to move forward, and the chair adjourned the meeting.