Transcript Highlights:

• Although animal cruelty is among those offenses.
• Although, again, I mentioned that animal cruelty is...
• And I want to preface my remarks by saying that I am an animal lover. So am I.
• I am okay with animal... So, as I am, I am okay with animal...
• And, as I mentioned, it's not an enumerated statute, and I'm an animal lover too. ...and that, but if

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Anti-Semitism met to focus on the role of law enforcement in responding to anti-Semitic incidents. After approving amended minutes, the chair opened with remarks emphasizing that the Commission would confront anti-Semitism from any political direction and outlined the day’s agenda: extremist activity trends, hate-crime statutes, intergovernmental coordination, and security funding. The first presentation came from Ben Pott of the ADL Center on Extremism, who described rising extremist propaganda and anti-Semitic incidents nationally and in Massachusetts, highlighting groups such as NSC-131, GDL, and Patriot Front. He said these groups increasingly use anti-Zionist language, public disruptions, and online platforms to spread hate, and recommended prosecution where possible, civil litigation, education about symbols and tactics, and community reporting to law enforcement and ADL. Assistant District Attorney David Solvin then reviewed federal and Massachusetts hate-crime laws, including federal civil-rights and hate-crime statutes and state provisions for civil-rights violations, assault and battery to intimidate, religious vandalism, terroristic threats, and criminal harassment. He explained that many of these laws enhance penalties based on bias motivation, but some do not create standalone offenses or qualify as dangerousness predicates under current law. Commissioners pressed him on hypothetical fact patterns involving anti-Semitic slurs, symbols, and attacks, as well as on the limits of existing law for pretrial detention and the need for better data collection. Solvin said more training, better reporting, and possible legislative updates could improve enforcement, and he noted pending bills that would require more regular hate-crime reporting and expand protected classes. Detective Lieutenant Ryan Cepiel of the State Police Anti-Terrorism Unit and HART described the unit’s creation in 2023, its role in implementing prior hate-crime task force recommendations, and its work with local, state, federal, and community partners. He said HART has trained civil-rights officers, developed recruit and in-service curricula, created resource pamphlets and a Teams page, and is building a GIS-based reporting portal to improve tracking and victim support. Cepiel reported a year-over-year rise in reported anti-Semitic hate crimes in Massachusetts, while noting that current numbers are incomplete because reporting is inconsistent and there is no mandate for local departments to notify HART. Commissioners discussed underreporting, rural versus eastern Massachusetts coverage, the need for more officers and training, and the importance of making victims feel safe coming forward. The meeting ended with agreement that better data, training, and coordination are needed to address the rise in anti-Semitic hate and bias incidents.

Transcript Highlights:

• volunteer status for retired veterinarians and RVTs who wish to provide unpaid voluntary labor to animal
• Together, these solutions will help eliminate many of the barriers that prevent countless animals from
• , and the San Diego Humane Society, a coalition that represents a wide variety of perspectives on animal
• Together, these solutions will help eliminate many of the barriers that prevent countless animals from
• receiving the will help eliminate many of the barriers that prevent countless animals from receiving

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly convened after initially lacking a quorum, completed the prayer and pledge, and then held a lengthy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month ceremony. Members from both parties and several caucuses spoke in support of HR 107, emphasizing AAPI contributions, resilience, and the need to oppose hate and discrimination. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, and the chamber then recognized 13 honorees for the 2026 observance, including community leaders, educators, advocates, business leaders, and cultural institutions. After guest introductions, the Assembly took up the Daily File and passed a series of measures, including AB 2050 on HOA reserve funding, AB 2106 on lawsuits involving licensed design professionals, AB 1794 on direct home delivery of enteral formula, AB 1829 on CalWORKs-related student aid, AB 2038 extending wildfire insurance moratorium protections, AB 2281 on election cybersecurity, AB 2448 on protecting sensitive medical information, AB 2568 on water district board compensation, and AB 1658 on county public contract change-order authority. Most of these bills passed with broad support, though AB 2050, AB 2038, and AB 2448 drew some no votes. The Assembly also adopted AJR 29, a resolution opposing a federal executive order affecting vote-by-mail and election administration, after a contentious floor debate over election trust, voter access, and decorum. Additional measures passed unanimously or near-unanimously, including AB 2125 on notice in water-rights adjudications, AB 2784 on State Bar fees, AB 1614 on e-bike passenger restrictions, AB 2503 on high school heat safety guidelines, AB 1703 on osteopathic title protections, AB 1920 on community college Promise eligibility, AB 1999 on veterinary workforce and animal shelter care, and ACR 123 recognizing Duan Wu Jie. The chamber then began consideration of ACR 189 designating May 2026 as Foster Youth Awareness Month, with supportive remarks from members, before the transcript cuts off.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we also offer a depredation permit that's not a license for nuisance animals, including some of these
• If you own property in Louisiana and you were from Texas, you probably could shoot those three animals
• And we also offer a depredation permit that's not a license for nuisance animals, including some of these
• If you own property in Louisiana and you were from Texas, you probably could shoot those three animals
• we need to think about barns and other structures where, you know, you may have that same nuisance animal

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• veterinary hospitals that operate long hours, perform surgery, treat complex medical cases, house animals
• We do not perform surgery, treat emergencies, carry controlled substances, or house animals overnight
• :01.720> house carry controlled substances, or house carry controlled substances, or house animals
• animals overnight. animals overnight.
• do business and allow these people in the underserved areas to have an opportunity to have their animals

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed several Fish and Wildlife regulations. Staff explained amendments to 301 KAR 2:176, 4:112, and 6:030, including updating wildlife control tag language, creating an impoundment agent program for seized wildlife, and clarifying boating safety rules. A member raised a concern about boat wakes near docks, and staff said the commission had recently voted on related changes that were not yet included because the regulation had been filed earlier; those changes would have to come back later. The committee approved the staff amendments without objection. The Board of Veterinary Examiners then presented 201 KAR 16:767, which would require veterinary managers to be physically present during business hours and limit them to five registered facilities. Board representatives said they had tried to meet with affected parties before the hearing but had not reached agreement. A representative for Kentucky Pet IQ argued the rule was written for full-service hospitals and would be impractical for short, limited-service clinics that only provide vaccinations, preventive care, and parasite testing. Members expressed concern about the rule’s impact on veterinary access in underserved areas, and the committee voted to defer the regulation until the next month so the parties could continue negotiating. The committee next considered Transportation Cabinet 601 KAR 9:120, the online insurance verification system, in both ordinary and emergency form. The chair said staff had identified conflicts with a bill passed the prior year and moved to find the regulations deficient. The motion passed on a roll call vote, with six ayes and two pass votes. The committee then found ordinary ABC regulations 804 KAR 12:020 and 12:030 deficient as well, again by six ayes and two pass votes, after noting that the emergency versions had already been found deficient the previous month. Finally, the committee reviewed Cabinet for Health and Family Services 902 KAR 55:110, which would require veterinarians to report dispensed controlled substances to KASPER while exempting administered medications. OIG staff said the rule was meant to align regulation with statute, which includes veterinarians as prescribers, and emphasized that the reporting duty applies to prescriptions, not administration to animals. Some members supported the change as a needed anti-diversion measure, while others worried about implementation burdens and timing. After discussion, the committee found the regulation deficient by a 6-2 vote. The meeting then moved into full review of 922 KAR 1:565, a Department for Community Based Services rule implementing kinship care provisions from Senate Bill 151; staff said it was needed for implementation once funding is available, but a member criticized the two-year delay and the inclusion of language conditioning implementation on funding. A public witness from the Kinship Families Coalition argued the rule should not shift the 120-day application window in a way that could affect federal funding eligibility and urged the committee to reject the regulation as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's for the arrival of live animals, dogs and cats.
• It's going to be a real new day when we can start handling the arrival of animals electronically.
• is free from know that your animal is free from rabies<06:07:52.798> so<06:07:53.080> the<
• be<06:07:55.920> I rabies so the animal portal should be I rabies so the animal portal
• <06:08:09.240> uh uh the arrival of animals uh uh the arrival of animals uh electronically

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee held an informational briefing with the University of Hawaiʻi, led by new President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance Calbert Young. Hensel outlined the university system’s scope, student demographics, research activity, and campus missions, emphasizing four strategic priorities: serving Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi, student success, workforce development, and economic diversification through innovation and research. She highlighted the system’s enrollment, research funding, and the roles of Mānoa, Hilo, West Oʻahu, the community colleges, and specialized institutions such as JABSOM and the Cancer Center. Young then reviewed the budget request, focusing largely on making prior one-time appropriations permanent and supporting recurring needs. Items included funding for Mānoa athletics, the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology, K-12 teacher education, Pamantasan Council support, Hilo programs, Windward’s mental health technician certificate, Maui’s practical nursing bridge program, and student support positions such as financial aid and admissions counselors. He also described workforce-related requests tied to nursing expansion at Mānoa and West Oʻahu, as well as facilities support at West Oʻahu. A major portion of the testimony addressed the university’s two Kakaʻako medical facilities. Young explained that declining tobacco settlement and cigarette tax revenues are no longer sufficient to cover debt service for JABSOM and the Cancer Center, so the governor’s budget includes general fund support to supplement those obligations. He also described a regents-approved request not included in the governor’s proposal: expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise financial aid program to the four-year campuses, estimated at about $11–12 million. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, from Salem, Animal Control Officer O'Brien is here.
• Uh, she's the secretary of the New Hampshire Animal Control Officers Association.
• > Officer from Salem, Animal Control Officer from Salem, Animal Control Officer O'Brien's<00:30
• <00:30:04.559> Control of the New Hampshire Animal Control of the New Hampshire Animal Control
• from persons suspected of or charged with abuse of animals, establishing a committee to study the animal

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some sort of holistic journey for the animal. There's a market for it.
• Some sort of holistic journey for the animal. There's a market for it.
• Some sort of holistic journey for the animal. There's a market for it.
• Some sort of holistic journey for the animal. There's a market for it.
• Aloha. to treat animals, to treat animals, only<01:54:15.440> the<01:54:15.679> veterinarian

Bills: SB2350, SB2349, SB2407, SB3320

Keywords: agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, agribusiness, Department of Agriculture, regulatory functions, employee benefits, restorative practices, sustainability, environmental stewardship, local food systems, Native Hawaiian, workforce development, agricultural development, Hawaii Island, property manager, state employment, SB3320, Hawaii, Agribusiness Development Corporation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SP 2350, which would transfer oversight of the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Development Division and the aquaculture and livestock support services branch to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. The Department of Agriculture and ADC both testified, with ADC opposing the bill as written while supporting the goal of strengthening agriculture. ADC said the transfer could create federal operational and coordination risks, jeopardize federal funding and program continuity, and was unnecessary because ADC is a business development entity, not a regulatory agency. The Hawaii Farmers Union also expressed concern that moving the programs could weaken the department’s ability to access federal resources, while the Hawaii Farm Bureau submitted written testimony and the Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association and H-Plan were noted as supporting the measure; the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was noted as opposing it. Much of the discussion focused on aquaculture’s economic potential and the role of regulation, permitting, and funding. Committee members questioned why aquaculture had not grown faster, citing current gross revenues of about $66 million last year, a prior high of $82 million, and a possible long-term target of $500 million. Testimony identified permitting and feed costs as major barriers, along with market conditions and water quality issues affecting producers. ADC described ongoing efforts on feed development, permitting streamlining, coastal-state collaboration on seaweed and restorative aquaculture, and national advocacy for more parity in seafood import standards. Members also pressed the Department of Agriculture on its leadership and priorities, criticizing the lack of bills and resources dedicated to aquaculture and asking whether the department should have more authority to pursue land purchases and development opportunities. The department said it relies on divisions and industry feedback for bill ideas, noted it funds an annual aquaculture survey, and said it was pursuing congressional earmarks and other funding for aquaculture parks, research, and export/import issues. ADC said it would work with the department if the bill passed, but that its current statute does not give it regulatory authority and any such change would require a statutory amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Beyond that, there are many other people who travel with service animals and service dogs that serve
• You can ask two questions: Is this a service animal? What task is it trained to perform?
• If it's not a dog, it's not a service animal.
• If it doesn't perform a task, it's not a service animal.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the things that we do every from motor fuels testing program, weights and measures, amusement ride, animal
• , weights and measures, amusement program, weights and measures, amusement ride,<00:14:29.920> animal
• <00:14:30.240> a<00:14:30.560> health,<00:14:31.120> poacher ride, animal a
• health, poacher ride, animal a health, poacher operations,<00:14:32.320> office<00:14:32.560><

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:20 Approval of Minutes 00:00:41 Department of Agriculture 00:01:06, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met for its third meeting, approved the minutes, and heard a budget presentation from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Department representatives Brandon Reid, Lee Macintosh, and Mark Bolan outlined the agency’s funding mix and requested support for several priorities in House Bill 500, including continuation of existing items, county fair grants, and an additional $5 million for the new economic development fund. They also discussed a capital request to replace two aging scale trucks, noting the vehicles are from 2002 and 2006 and have become unreliable and expensive to repair. The department emphasized several additional needs: funding to begin regulating and inspecting electric vehicle charging stations through the weights and measures division, retention and recruitment funding after losing 108 employees over three years, and a request to pay off tobacco-related debt service so more money can flow through the tobacco formula. They also cited House Bill 417, filed by Speaker Osborne, as supporting farmland preservation, saying the agency has a program ready but needs funding to implement it. Officials said the farm-to-food-banks and rural mental health items in the budget were acceptable as reduced by the tobacco formula. Members asked questions about pump inspection fees and staffing losses. The department said the inspection fee is $100 per station, not per pump, and that the same fee applies even to larger stations. On retention and recruitment, officials said the cost of turnover is significant but they did not have a dollar estimate. No votes were taken beyond the motion to approve the minutes, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• DBPR will be championing an animal abuse hotline.
• You mentioned half a million dollars for an animal abuse hotline. What is that money for?
• You mentioned half a million dollars for an animal abuse hotline. What is that money for?
• For, you know, unfortunately, individuals around the state who feel the need to abuse animals, whenever

Summary: The Appropriations Committee first took up SB 7010, which would authorize Roth contributions in state and local deferred compensation plans. Senator Mayfield explained that current law only allows pre-tax contributions, and the bill would let the Department of Financial Services and local governments offer post-tax Roth options. The bill had one support appearance card, no debate, and was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then received a lengthy presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget on the governor’s recommended “Floridians First” budget, totaling $117.4 billion and $53.2 billion in general revenue. The presentation highlighted reserves, debt paydown, tax relief, and proposed reductions and efficiencies, along with major spending areas in education, health care, public safety, corrections, transportation, and economic development. Key proposals included higher K-12 funding, teacher salary increases, funding for Everglades and water quality projects, emergency preparedness, corrections staffing and facility funding, cybersecurity, law enforcement recruitment bonuses, and affordable housing and infrastructure investments. Members asked extensive questions about property tax reserves, litigation funding, emergency response fund balances and spending, the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility and federal reimbursement, the Second Amendment sales tax holiday, animal abuse hotline funding, Hope Florida, corrections staffing, and teacher pay. A major portion of the discussion focused on the Department of Health’s planned changes to the ADAP HIV medication program, with senators and a public witness expressing concern about access to life-saving medications and possible misuse or redirection of funds. The committee did not take further action on the budget presentation, and the meeting ended after additional comments supporting the budget and the corrections funding, with SB 7010 already approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, I want to recognize in honor of the family of two fallen animal control officers from Levelland
• Specifically, we added animal control officers as those worthy of recognition when loss of life occurs
• Specifically, we added animal control officers as those worthy of recognition when loss of life occurs
• cognitive disorders, and was heavily involved with the SPCA, advocating tirelessly for the welfare of animals

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, an invocation, and routine business including dispensing with the previous day’s journal, receiving a House message on HB 104/HJR 34, and a gubernatorial message naming two appointees to the Texas Real Estate Commission. The chamber also adopted several resolutions recognizing Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day, Golf Day in Texas, Cindy Ramos-Davidson, and the 50th anniversary of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District. Members then adopted memorial resolutions honoring fallen first responders, including Deputy Jesse Ray Perez and Deputy Melissa Pollard, and the Senate agreed to adjourn in their memory. The Senate considered and passed several bills. SB 2199 increased penalties for loading overweight vehicles transporting hazardous materials; SB 1959 adjusted permit factors for the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District; SB 1376 changed supervision rules for code enforcement officer trainees; SB 2595 created a new offense for harassing, intimidating, or threatening someone while concealing identity with a mask or similar headgear; SB 1012 authorized sale or lease of certain surplus state property in Austin; SB 2245 revised bonded title procedures; SB 2605 created a municipal housing authority asset commission; SB 3044 expanded and adjusted the board of the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District; SB 628 clarified county fire code enforcement authority through interlocal agreements; SB 2778 raised the spending threshold for emergency services district employees; SB 3039 addressed public higher education transfer issues; and SB 2523 allowed release from municipal extraterritorial jurisdiction by petition. Most of these bills were passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and final passage was completed, often by wide margins. The chamber also took up SB 1844, which would require cities to provide services before expanding taxing areas into limited-purpose jurisdictions; a floor amendment narrowed the bill, and it was passed to engrossment. SB 2284 clarified municipal and county authority over firearms, airguns, archery equipment, and related items, and was passed despite opposition. SB 2529, dealing with the vote threshold for taxing units to adopt higher tax rates or issue tax bonds, prompted extended debate over voter approval and representative decision-making; after questions, the bill was passed to engrossment and held. At the end of the session, the Senate recessed for 20 minutes and announced it would meet as the Caucus of the Whole.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're not, but the state parks is a little bit of a different animal.
• 00.480> different parks is a little bit of a different parks is a little bit of a different animal
• 01.680> are<00:16:02.000> these<00:16:02.240> rules<00:16:02.560> are animal
• These are these rules are animal.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the prior meeting and adopted the consent calendar without objection. It then postponed the Board of Licensed Dieticians item until next month after granting a waiver, and also postponed the Board of Accountancy item to next month so the agency could respond. The Board of Registry and Optometry received conditional approval. Staff noted the board had addressed editorial comments, but flagged one substantive issue involving the drug formulary and whether it should be exempt from rulemaking requirements; the committee agreed to add that as a legislative suggestion for later review. The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources interim rule drew more discussion, focused on a provision regulating kindling size for Category 3 fires. Staff and committee members questioned whether the agency had authority over Category 3 fires under the statute, but agency representatives said the interim rules were needed because the prior rules had expired and forest rangers lacked enforcement authority while final rulemaking was pending. The committee ultimately granted conditional approval to interim rule 25-4, with one member voting against it over concerns about consistency with the law. The Board of Examiners’ Dental 304 rules were presented next. The agency explained that it had revised the rules to address prior committee concerns about anesthesia and sedation for children, including creating a pathway for oral surgeons and dentist anesthesiologists to obtain exemptions for under-13 patients, setting a 20-patient-every-two-years threshold for certain permits, adding pediatric minimal sedation permitting, and loosening moderate sedation rules for pediatric dentists. Members also discussed whether the rules were compatible with House Bill 470, and staff said they appeared compatible and would not require additional rulemaking. The committee then approved the dental rules, and after that it adjourned after announcing it would cancel the continued meeting and take up remaining business next month.

Transcript Highlights:

• to prevent such actions by promoting safe and humane removal practices, ensuring that these vital animals
• As a rehabilitator and in my role at Bat World, I train animal control officers, pest control operators
• We are the greatest cause of death for these magnificent and valuable animals.
• We also strongly object to the exemptions in C1, because animal control officers and licensed pest control

Bills: SB1169, SB1285, SB1583, SB1611, SB1898, SB1976, SB2160, SB2161, SB2658, SB2661, SB2662, SB2692, SB1055, SB1359, SB2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill, which names the act Trooper's Law, creates a new offense of animal abandonment for abandoning
• Next we have Diana Ferguson, Florida Animal Control Association, who waves in support.
• Xylazine is a drug used by veterinarians, mostly to sedate or treat large animals.
• He lost his limbs after using fentanyl and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer also known as Trank, that

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee heard and advanced a series of bills on inmate medical billing, court-order transmission, animal abandonment during disasters, first responder peer support, firearm purchase waiting periods, capital felony aggravators, domestic violence protections, boating safety, restitution for leaving the scene of a crash, xylazine trafficking, and offenses against law enforcement officers. Testimony was generally supportive across the agenda, with some opposition or caution raised on the xylazine bill, the boating safety bill, and parts of the law-enforcement-officer bill. Several measures were presented as responses to specific tragedies, including the Martin County jail medical billing bill, the Baker Act transmission bill, Trooper’s Law for restrained dogs, the Jason Rayner Act, and Lucy’s Law. HB 407 would cap certain emergency medical charges for Martin County jail inmates at 110% of Medicare rates, mirroring Department of Corrections practice; it passed 15-0. HB 513 would require faster electronic transmission of certain court orders, including Baker Act orders, to law enforcement within six hours; it passed 15-0. HB 205, Trooper’s Law, creates a third-degree felony for abandoning a restrained dog during a natural disaster; it passed 15-0. HB 421, as amended, expands peer support for first responders to certain support personnel involved in crime scene work or evidence handling; it passed 16-0. PCS for HB 383 would let law enforcement, correctional officers, correctional probation officers, and active military service members bypass the three-day handgun waiting period without a concealed carry permit; it passed 18-0. HB 693 adds an aggravating factor in capital cases when the victim was gathered with others for a school, religious, or public government meeting; it passed 17-1 after opposition testimony from Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. PCS for HB 19 and HB 41, the Haven Act, would expand domestic and dating violence protections, including a feasibility study for a web-based 911 alert system and confidentiality/public-records protections for victims; both passed 18-0. PCS for HB 289, Lucy’s Law, would align boating penalties with driving offenses and expand boating safety card requirements; it passed 18-0 despite concerns from one witness that the bill should go further. HB 479 would allow courts to order restitution in leaving-the-scene property-damage cases; an amendment changing mandatory to discretionary restitution was adopted, and the bill passed 18-0. PCS for HB 57 would regulate xylazine, add trafficking penalties, and include veterinary-use exceptions; it passed 17-0 after one witness opposed mandatory minimums. HB 175, the Jason Rayner Act, clarifies that officers are protected when acting within the scope of their duties and adds manslaughter of a law enforcement officer to offenses requiring life imprisonment; it passed 17-0 after debate over self-defense and unlawful police conduct.

Transcript Highlights:

• to include Hilo in a working group, because they, of course, have their own egg program with other animal
• to include Hilo in a working group, because they, of course, have their own egg program with other animal
• to include Hilo in a working group, because they, of course, have their own ag program with other animal
• I know I have one more: so there's no other campus that has anything with veterinary, and there's animal
• <01:14:28.639> Sciences vetar and there's animal Sciences vetar and there's animal Sciences

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The meeting covered several Senate resolutions related to the University of Hawaiʻi system, the East-West Center, and related education and workforce issues. On SCR 178 and SR 48, testifiers strongly supported the East-West Center, describing it as an important Hawaii asset that promotes cultural exchange, global citizenship, diplomacy, and ties to the University of Hawaiʻi. Speakers said the Center has helped train leaders and bring international connections and investment to Hawaii, and they urged continued funding despite federal cuts. The chairs then recommended passage with technical amendments, and both resolutions were adopted by the committees. The committee also heard testimony on resolutions calling for audits of University of Hawaiʻi operations. On SR 32 and SCR 50, the University of Hawaiʻi said it supported the resolution and had already begun work on establishing a Bachelor of Science in nursing at the UH Maui campus, with additional staff available on Zoom to answer questions. On SR 160 and SCR 142, which sought a financial and performance audit of UH Mānoa facilities, UH Athletics said it already undergoes annual financial audits required by NCAA bylaws but not performance audits, and discussed its internal evaluations, contingency planning, and efforts to address concerns raised by student athletes and staff. The committee then took up SCR 138 and SR 55, requesting a management and performance audit of the UH Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy. Vice President Deborah Halbert and P20 Director Steve Shotz said they did not oppose the audit and believed it could provide clarity, while explaining that the office is relatively new and works collaboratively across campuses on articulation, transfer, grants, and workforce alignment. They described grant programs including Perkins, GEAR UP, preschool development, and data-sharing efforts, and said they are focusing more resources on teaching, health care, and skilled trades. The discussion also touched on SR 54, a proposed performance audit of the UH Foundation, where foundation representatives said they already undergo annual financial audits, acknowledged some donor communication issues, but emphasized improved stewardship and growth in fundraising over recent years.

Transcript Highlights:

• animal fertilizers. animal fertilizers.
• Egg educator money is so important, as is large animal vet loan forgiveness money.
• Egg educator money is so important, as is large animal vet loan forgiveness money.
• Egg educator money is so important, as is large animal vet loan forgiveness money.
• Egg educator money is so important, as is large animal vet loan forgiveness money.

Bills: HF4698, HF4608

Keywords: higher education, identity verification, enrollment fraud, funding, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, postsecondary education, community college, university, developmental education, remedial education, remediation, corequisite, co-requisite, English composition, college readiness, adult basic education, ABE, student placement, credit-bearing courses, noncredit courses

Summary: The committee first approved the March 26 minutes after Representative Coulter pointed out and moved a technical correction to add a missing “T” in “Regents.” The committee then took up HF 4698, which Representative Duran said would address enrollment fraud at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities by funding an automated identity-proofing system. Testimony from Chief Information Security Officer Craig Munson described a commercial software system that would verify student identities using a selfie and a state ID image, reduce ghost students and fraud, speed enrollment, and lessen staff time spent on manual investigations. Members focused heavily on privacy, data retention, and biometric concerns. Representative Cleveland asked what biometric data would be collected, and Munson said it would be limited to a selfie and ID images, not fingerprints or retinal scans. Chair Klippert and others urged stronger Chapter 13 protections and clearer data practices, while Chair Scott asked how long images would be stored; Munson said they should be deleted as soon as identity is validated, with possible revalidation later. Members also raised concerns about racial bias in biometric matching and the need for alternate verification methods. The bill was laid over, and Duran said he would work on the data practices with committee members. The committee then heard HF 4608, presented by Representative Allen for Representative Koznick, on developmental education reform. Allen said too many students are placed into remedial courses that do not count toward a degree, costing time and money and reducing completion rates. Jane Groatman of the International Institute of Minnesota supported the bill, describing students who spent years in noncredit remedial coursework and arguing for a one-semester cap on remedial classes and clearer notice that such credits do not count toward a degree. Mark Grant of Minnesota State College faculty opposed the bill’s approach, saying it imposed a one-size-fits-all model, could undermine open admissions, and should not limit colleges’ flexibility to meet diverse student needs. The bill was laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their three-year-old brother survived physically unharmed but orphaned.
• Their three-year-old brother survived physically unharmed but orphaned.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AND THIS ALLOWS US TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE READY TO PRODUCE, HOW TO MAXIMIZE OUR RETURN KEEPING AS MANY ANIMALS
• ALIVE AND TAKING THEM TO MARKET BECAUSE THE OTHERS ARE ANIMALS, THEY DON'T TALK, THEY DON'T YELL, WE
• BAD STRESSORS ON AN OYSTER, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I CAN SORT OF SOMETIMES MONITOR AND PROTECT MY ANIMALS

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of House Bill 698, Senate Draft 2, relating to animal cruelty.
• HB 1155 SD2 passes. draft 2 relating to animal cruelty. Is draft 2 relating to animal cruelty.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lovely for legislation to study discrimination in public accommodation for individuals with service animals
• comes from the Senate with the endorsement that it had been referred. ...for individuals with service animals

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then concurred with a Senate referral of a petition by Joan B. Lovely to study discrimination in public accommodations for individuals with service animals, sending it to the Committee on Consumer, Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. The chamber also suspended Joint Rule 12 for two petitions by Adam J. Scanlon: one asking CHIA to analyze eliminating or capping copays for mental and behavioral health services, and another concerning no-cost calls for incarcerated individuals, referring them to the appropriate committees. The House then took up a slate of bills recommended by the Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee and, after suspending Rule 7A, ordered several to third reading. These included Marnie’s Law on inflammatory breast cancer awareness in nursing education, Haverhill election bills, a New Salem election validation bill, Plymouth charter and digital legal notice bills, a Nantucket charter gender-neutrality bill, and a Nantucket land conveyance bill. The House also separately suspended Rule 7A for House Bill 2614 on medical parole and ordered it to third reading. On final passage, the House passed House Bill 4249 on vital statistics to be reenacted, adopted emergency preambles for House Bill 3388 designating September 22 as Military Service Members and Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day and for House Bill 1024 concerning sewer service in Sharon, and passed House Bill 23/Senate Bill 23 on alternate members to the Squabskine Conservation Commission. The House also engrossed Senate Bill 1830 on continued employment for Herbert A. Chafee II in Brookfield, House Bill 4109 on harbor line changes in New Bedford Harbor, and House Bill 4524 renaming Williamsburg’s Board of Selectmen as the Select Board. The session ended with adoption of an order to adjourn and the House standing adjourned to meet Wednesday at 11 a.m. in informal session.