Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Rules will come to order.
• And I also am the chair of the Bar's Finance Committee.
• Today is the final day for Senator Jones to serve on this committee, on the Rules Committee.
• It has been an honor to serve on this committee.
• And I will miss you and the committee. I'm sorry?

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, members of the committee.
• On 13th, safety, we already have a safety committee that is working well.
• Good morning, Chair Mayfield and members of the Joint Select Committee.
• I appreciate the opportunity to address the committee this morning.
• Members, that concludes our committee agenda.

Summary: The Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining met for an informational public hearing on several state employee bargaining units at impasse. The Department of Management Services outlined negotiations for the FDLE special agents, security services/correctional officers, sworn law enforcement officers, Florida Highway Patrol troopers, and Florida State Fire Service units. Across the units, the state said most contract articles had been resolved, with remaining disputes centered mainly on wages, hours of work, grievance language, safety, grooming, travel, and other housekeeping items. The state repeatedly emphasized proposed 2% competitive pay increases plus specialty or special pay increases in some units, insurance held harmless with no added employee cost, and its desire to keep current scheduling practices and remove outdated grievance language referencing the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. No votes were taken. Representatives for the Florida State Fire Service Association argued that firefighters are being asked to perform work far outside their job descriptions, including major construction, and said the state’s work-schedule and on-call practices unfairly avoid overtime and underpay firefighters. They also sought higher on-call compensation, a stronger wage plan with incentives and certification-based increases, restoration of a pay differential for firefighter-EMTs, and added PPE, decontamination, and cancer-prevention protections. The PBA’s Florida Highway Patrol unit said troopers need a larger career development plan, veteran stipends, updated grooming/tattoo rules, safer and newer vehicles, and better pay to address turnover. The PBA’s law enforcement unit focused on vehicle safety, performance evaluation language to prevent case-presentation quotas, and a $7,000 across-the-board raise, while disputing whether certain articles were timely opened. The security services unit said correctional officers, probation officers, and ISS officers need an $8-per-hour starting pay increase, retention bonuses, special pay for death row and close-management assignments, and overtime pay for lieutenants and captains who currently receive comp time and sometimes work beyond their limits. The committee heard the presentations, asked a brief question about correctional officers’ overtime, accepted written materials from the FOP special agent unit, and adjourned without action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, members of the committee.
• On 13th, safety, we already have a safety committee that is working well.
• Good morning, Chair Mayfield and members of the Joint Select Committee.
• I appreciate the opportunity to address the committee this morning.
• Members, it includes our committee agenda.

Summary: The Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining met to hear impasse presentations from the Department of Management Services and several bargaining units. The department reported that most articles had been resolved in each of the full-book contracts, with remaining disputes centered largely on wages and a handful of non-economic issues. For the FDLE special agents, security services, law enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, and Florida State Fire Service units, the state described its wage offers as generally a 2% competitive increase plus a 3% special pay increase, along with various bonuses, retention funds, or career-development funding in some units. The department also said it wanted to keep existing language on work schedules, seniority, grooming, equipment, grievance procedures, and other items, often characterizing its changes as housekeeping or alignment with current practice. The department noted that insurance had been agreed to with no increased employee cost, and it confirmed that correctional officers do receive overtime pay. Representatives for the Florida State Fire Service Association strongly disputed the state’s position, arguing that firefighters should not be required to perform major construction work, that their work schedules and on-call/callback arrangements unfairly suppress overtime, and that wildfire and fire-rescue employees are underpaid and underprotected. They also pressed for better compensation for EMT/paramedic-certified firefighters, additional protective clothing, on-site decontamination and shower/laundry facilities, and stronger cancer-prevention language. The association said the state had not bargained in good faith and urged the committee to support the union’s proposals. The Police Benevolent Association’s Florida Highway Patrol unit focused on wages and a career development plan, saying troopers remain underpaid compared with other states and are leaving for better-paying agencies. It also sought a veteran stipend, broader grooming/tattoo language, safety improvements for high-mileage vehicles, and changes to seniority and inflation-related pay. The PBA law enforcement unit raised similar safety concerns about aging vehicles, sought limits on performance evaluations tied to case presentations, and requested a $7,000 across-the-board wage increase. The security services unit, representing correctional officers, probation officers, and ISS officers, said its main issue was wages and asked for an $8-per-hour starting pay increase, retention bonuses, special pay for death row and close-management staff, added pay for SOTEC officers, and overtime pay for lieutenants and captains who currently receive comp time instead. No votes were taken, no public testimony followed, and the committee adjourned after taking the presentations under advisement.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:45.039><c> meeting</c> we'll call the fiscal committee meeting we'll call the fiscal committee
• Chair and members of the committee.
• Chairman, members of the committee.
• </c> you further questions from the committee you further questions from the committee Senator Senator
• Further from the committee?

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on February 21 and first approved the January 30 minutes and the consent calendar, with item 2540 removed by the Department of Education and item 25057 set aside for discussion. The committee then took up FIS 25057, a Department of Transportation request tied to a federal grant for building information modeling and related data standardization across DOT systems. Transportation officials explained that the $2.405 million consultant-heavy request would connect surveying, design, construction, and asset management systems, improve efficiency and long-term asset tracking, and help the department catch up with other states. Several senators questioned the lack of immediate, quantifiable budget savings and the reliance on consultants, but the item was ultimately adopted. The committee next approved FIS 25054 for the Department of Health and Human Services after questioning a $16 million shortfall in the Children’s Health Insurance Program. DHHS explained the variance as a budgeting and accounting issue tied to separating CHIP from Medicaid managed care, pandemic-era continuous enrollment, and the new federal requirement for 12 months of continuous coverage for children. Members also approved a Cannon Mountain fee item, where park officials described a proposed price freeze for early-bird passes, a new in-season tier, and modest increases in off-season pricing, while noting operating cost pressures, strong snow conditions, and favorable customer value ratings. That item was adopted unanimously. The committee also approved the Department of Corrections item after discussion of staffing, retirement eligibility, overtime, and recidivism. Commissioner Helen Hanks said retirement-eligible staff had declined slightly, recruitment was improving, overtime hours were down, one housing floor had been closed because of lower population, and the department had reduced reincarceration by 8% over seven years, which she said produced substantial savings. The item was adopted. During informational items, the committee heard a Legislative Budget Assistant performance audit of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. The audit found the commission inefficient and ineffective in processing complaints, with average case closure taking 840 days, significant backlogs dating back decades, expired administrative rules, weak management controls, disorganized and outdated procedures, unreliable data, and unresolved prior audit findings. The audit included 25 recommendations, two of which may require legislative action. Commission staff said they appreciated the recommendations and expected the additional resources from the prior budget cycle to help address the backlog and improve transparency and efficiency.

Transcript Highlights:

• County, with special prosecutors assigned to it, special detectives assigned to it through our special
• prosecutors assigned to it, special detectives assigned to it through our special victims bureau, and
• Chairman, committee, my name is Sebastian Griffin.
• Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Jeff Nye.
• Committee, for listening to this today.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• of the taxes committee.
• of the taxes committee.
• </c> yourself to the committee? yourself to the committee?
• </c> Senate Tax Committee. Senate Tax Committee.
• And again, I welcome the three new committee members and the committee legislative assistant.

Bills: HF9

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: energy policy, renewable energy standard, carbon-free standard, solar standard, hydroelectric, hydropower, electric utility, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, renewable portfolio standard, carbon capture and sequestration, CCS, greenhouse gas emissions, climate policy, nuclear power plant, certificate of need, fossil fuel plant demolition, utility compliance delay, beneficial electrification, sales tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• But what this bill is to do is it assigns the responsibility to...
• Does any member on the committee have questions? Representative Whaley? To inquire. Proceed.
• If you go to the committee substitute.
• So for us, it's a little more of a complicated issue if you go to the committee substitute.
• That concludes our hearing, and the Agriculture Committee will be adjourned.

Committee: House Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2280, sponsored by Representative Nulte, but did not have a quorum. The bill would require the state land surveyor’s office to determine and publish the geometry of abandoned railroad rights-of-way so adjoining landowners and surveyors can identify ownership boundaries, with the work potentially contracted to private surveyors or engineers. Nulte said the measure is intended to address uncertainty over abandoned rail corridors, where the Surface Transportation Board is the entity that formally abandons rail lines, and noted the bill includes a sunset date in 2046 to spread out the work and reduce fiscal impact. Members asked about how abandonment is defined, how landowners would reclaim or survey former rail property, how the bill might affect rail-to-trail corridors such as the Katy Trail, and whether railroad fences or other remnants remain the railroad’s responsibility. Nulte said the bill is aimed at long-abandoned lines and that a committee substitute would likely add more detail on how the geometry would be reconstructed from historical maps and records. He also said title insurance and existing boundary records may help in some cases. The Missouri Railroad Association testified in opposition to the bill as drafted, saying the issue is more complicated than it appears because abandoned lines can involve reverted property, state-owned trail corridors, industrial sites, brownfields, and older records that may be proprietary or incomplete. The association said it was concerned about privacy, liability, and the burden of scrubbing historical ownership information from its files, and noted that Missouri’s rail network remains heavily used for freight and national defense shipments. No witnesses testified in favor, no votes were taken, and the hearing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee. My name is John Voss.
• Please vote House Bill 3142 out of committee.
• Good evening, Chairman and Members the Committee.
• Chair, members of the committee.
• Good evening, Chair, committee members.

Committee: House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills, beginning with HB 2855, which would let the Department of Labor adjust workers’ compensation administrative taxes and the second injury fund surcharge in smaller 0.1% increments instead of 0.5%. The sponsor and the department said the change would better right-size collections and reduce the burden on employers; the Missouri Chamber also supported the bill as good governance. No opposition was presented, and the hearing on HB 2855 was closed. The committee then heard extensive testimony on HB 3142, a camp-safety bill prompted by the Camp Mystic flooding tragedy in Texas and a Missouri drowning case. The sponsor and multiple grieving parents urged mandatory emergency plans, staff training, background checks, licensing, weather warnings, and clearer oversight for summer camps. Supporters included the American Camp Association and some state and youth-safety advocates, while opponents—especially camp operators, the Missouri Afterschool Network, and park and recreation representatives—argued the bill was too broad, could burden day camps and church camps, and might worsen child-care shortages. Several witnesses suggested the bill should be narrowed to distinguish overnight residential camps from lower-risk day camps and possibly be housed under DSS rather than DESE. No vote was taken. Finally, the committee took testimony on HB 1893 and HB 2075, which would require sex-segregated multi-occupancy restrooms and locker rooms in private schools and public buildings, with enforcement tied to state funding in some cases. Sponsors said the bills were meant to create clear statewide standards and protect privacy and safety; opponents argued the measures would harm transgender and intersex people, be difficult or impossible to enforce, and create safety and discrimination problems. Supporters emphasized private-school autonomy and concerns about safety in shared facilities. The hearing concluded after extensive questioning, with no action or vote reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Secretary Chair, thank you, committee.
• This bill is double assigned. If we Hard on issues, and in this case she did.
• This bill is double assigned.
• What changed from the introduced version to the committee sub?
• I got that about 10 minutes before walking into the committee room.

Bills: SB1421 , SB1427 , SB1484 , SB1503 , SB1553 , SB1557 , SB1564 , SB1566 , SB1567 , SB1591 , SB1642 , SB1794 , SB1837 , SB2044

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard and advanced a series of health-related bills. Senate Bill 1503 would allow a digital abortion-related service provider to participate in the Choosing Childbirth grant program without requiring a brick-and-mortar Oklahoma presence; it passed 10-2. Senate Bill 1553, dealing with appeals reviewed by psychologists, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1427, as amended, would add antibody screening for type 1 diabetes with parental consent and Medicaid reimbursement for the Medicaid population; it passed 9-3. Senate Bill 1642, allowing physicians to prescribe opioids in divided quantities during the initial seven-day period, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1421, requiring non-physical intervention training for direct-care staff and volunteers in certain mental health facilities, also passed unanimously. The committee also approved several behavioral health and rural care measures. Senate Bill 1837 would ask the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to seek a federal exemption so rural providers of home- and community-based services can also provide case management and person-centered planning; it passed 12-0. Senate Bill 1566, aimed at expanding access to autism diagnosis and ABA therapy by broadening who may diagnose ASD and allowing telemedical supervision of behavioral techs, passed 9-3 with title off due to fiscal concerns. Senate Bill 1567, a cleanup bill for APRN prescriptive authority and medical board fee language, passed 9-3. Senate Bill 1794 would create a statewide behavioral health vacancy registry to help place people in crisis more quickly; it passed 11-1 with title off after fiscal concerns were raised. Later, the committee approved Senate Bill 1484, requiring medical examiner investigations of SIDS and sudden unexpected infant deaths to include review of immunization and medical records and adding parental notification/consent provisions unless a crime is suspected; it passed 12-0. Senate Bill 1557, transferring ABA therapist licensing duties from DHS to a licensing board, passed after an amendment shifting the board involved. Senate Bill 1564, requiring a standardized billing code and reimbursement rate for certain dental surgeries under general anesthesia, passed 11-1 with title off because of a $1.9 million fiscal note. Finally, Senate Bill 1591, as amended, would cap THC in medical marijuana edibles at 10 mg per edible and 100 mg per package to reduce child poisonings; it passed 10-2. Several bills were amended during discussion, and multiple members noted fiscal concerns, parental consent, and access-to-care issues throughout the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to walk through with the committee.
• I would like to walk through with the committee.
• Thank you, Chair Taylor, members of the committee.
• They're not assigned in every family law case.
• They're not assigned in every family law case.

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Summary: The work session began with testimony on expanding opportunities in the legal profession, especially in response to rural attorney shortages and public service recruitment. Washington State Bar Association Executive Director Tara Nevitt described a growing but aging attorney workforce, noted that younger attorneys have declined, and outlined efforts including supervised practice as an alternative to the bar exam, reduced admission-by-motion experience requirements, expansion of the law clerk program, rural job fairs and grants, and a pilot program for innovative legal service delivery. Members asked about bar passage standards, loan repayment assistance, and the former limited license legal technician program. Representatives from the University of Washington, Seattle University, and Gonzaga discussed law school pipelines into public service and rural practice. They described early outreach to students, loan repayment assistance and scholarships, public service stipends, clinics and externships, and partnerships that place students in government, nonprofit, prosecution, and defense roles. Seattle University highlighted its Flex JD and hybrid hub model in rural communities; Gonzaga presented data showing many graduates remain in Washington and enter public interest work; and UW emphasized that unpaid internships and debt remain barriers. The Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and the Office of Public Defense both testified that prosecutor and defender vacancies are severe in rural counties, and that salary, hiring bonuses, housing support, internships, and loan repayment programs are important tools. The Office of Public Defense said its new recruitment and retention program, funded by SB 5780, has already placed interns in underserved counties and helped some commit to future jobs there. The Washington State Bar’s law clerk program was also described as a pathway that helps people train and remain in their home communities. The committee then shifted to family law, guardians, and guardianships. On guardian ad litem practice in Title 26 cases, Northwest Justice Project and private family law practitioners said training has improved since 2018, but concerns remain about inconsistent investigations, bias, inadequate domestic violence training, lack of oversight, high costs, and uneven county practices. They suggested more robust training, better accountability, and possible use of mental health professionals for custody evaluations. For minor guardianships under the Uniform Guardianship Act, a Superior Court judge said filings have increased and courts struggle to find qualified attorneys and court visitors, while the Administrative Office of the Courts said its $3 million annual reimbursement program for local courts is running out earlier each year and that minor guardianship costs make up most of the spending. The Office of Public Guardianship reported rising demand for adult guardianship services, noting that recent legislation expanded its caseload capacity and added a navigator role, but that referrals and active cases continue to grow statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments adopted.
• Without objection, measures reported by the Appropriations Committee with the recommendation due pass
• Without objection, measures reported by the Appropriations Committee with the recommendation due pass
• Senators, we are now at committee announcements. Senator Caballero, you are recognized.
• Seeing no further committee announcements, we will now return to motions and resolutions.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and handled routine announcements and motions, including a request by Senator Arreguín to remove SB 239 from the inactive file for second reading. The chamber then took up SJR 9 by Senator Durazo, a resolution concerning immigration rates, which was debated briefly and placed on call before later amendments were adopted by a 29-10 vote. The Senate next considered SR 70 by Senator Pérez, commemorating the third anniversary of the Monterey Park tragedy. Senator Pérez and Senator Rubio spoke about the 11 lives lost, the injuries, the heroism of Brandon Tsay, and the need to remember the victims and support the community. The resolution passed unanimously, 39-0, after which Senator Pérez introduced Monterey Park Mayor Elizabeth Yang on the floor. The remainder of the session was devoted largely to adjournment memories honoring Mary Gutierrez Hunter, labor activist Bob Mulholland, former Yolo County Supervisor Betsy Marchand, and Vietnamese American community leader Vu von Locke. Senators described each person’s public service, organizing work, and lasting impact on labor, veterans, local government, refugee resettlement, and community institutions. The Senate also announced the Appropriations Committee would meet shortly after adjournment and noted the next floor session would be held Monday, January 26, 2026, at 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments adopted.
• Without objection, measures reported by the Appropriations Committee with the recommendation do pass
• By the Appropriations Committee, with the recommendation do pass, will be given their second reading
• Senators, we are now at committee announcements. Senator Caballero, you are recognized.
• Seeing no further committee announcements, we will now return to motions and resolutions.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then handled routine procedural matters, including deeming various messages and committee reports read. Senator Arreguín requested removal of SB 239 from the inactive file for second reading. The chamber then took up SJR 9 by Senator Durazo, which was presented as amended and placed on call before later receiving the amendments by a 29-10 vote. The main floor action was on SR 70 by Senator Pérez, commemorating the third anniversary of the Monterey Park mass shooting and honoring the 11 victims. Pérez and Senator Rubio spoke at length about the tragedy, the victims, the community response, and the heroism of Brandon Tsay, who disarmed the shooter. The resolution passed unanimously, 39-0. After adoption, Senator Pérez introduced Monterey Park Mayor Elizabeth Yang as a guest on the floor. The remainder of the session was devoted largely to adjournment-in-memory tributes. Senators honored labor leader Mary Gutierrez Hunter, veteran and political activist Bob Mulholland, former Yolo County Supervisor Betsy Marchand, and Vietnamese American community leader Vu Von Locke, with remarks highlighting their public service, organizing work, and community impact. The Senate also announced that Appropriations would meet after session, and the desk was declared clear before recessing until the next floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Questions from the committee? Well, seeing none. We will now move. Let's see any amendments.
• Members of the committee and we want to thank the representative for bringing this great Bill forward
• We're going to go to the other side of the committee desk to Representative Michael.
• Yes, I can offshoot of comic out of it any any other comments or questions from our committee.
• It's it's great to be on this committee and to be with you, you know, throughout this session.

Transcript Highlights:

• introduce an all-star cast of my Senate staff, my office manager, Margarite Olen, please stand; my committee
• :27.159><c> my</c> manager margarite Olen please stand my manager margarite Olen please stand my committee
• Each spring, the chair of the Senate and House committees designate a week during which we invite teachers
• </c><00:04:56.080><c> on</c> state as chair of your committee on state as chair of your committee on
• President, I move for the adoption of Standing Committee Reports Nos. 1089 to 1097.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security will now come to order.
• The bill directs FHFC, in conjunction with the local public housing authority and case managers assigned
• to the veterans, to establish and oversee a... ...and case managers assigned to the veterans, to establish
• Does any Senator wish to be recorded on voting on any bills that came before the committee today?
• Is there any other business before the committee?

Summary: The Senate Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and took up several measures. The committee first heard SM 1714, urging Congress to pass the federal No Tax Dollars for Terrorist Act to prevent U.S. funds from benefiting the Taliban; after brief explanation and no testimony or debate, it was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 1512 on Space Florida, which expands certain sales and use tax exemptions for qualifying tangible personal property and allows Space Florida to bypass competitive bidding for certain purchases when state funds are not used; support was noted from Space Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 1656, designating the SS American Victory as Florida’s flagship, with discussion focused on the ship’s World War II and later service, museum role, and lack of known fiscal impact; it too was reported favorably. The committee next approved SM 1186, which urges Congress and the National Guard Bureau to increase the Florida National Guard’s force structure, with the sponsor citing Florida’s population, emergency history, and outdated allocation levels; one senator voiced support and the memorial was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 1602, creating the Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Pilot Program in selected counties to help landlords house veterans through vacancy relief and risk mitigation trust funds; two amendments were adopted, including technical and clarifying changes, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. Finally, SB 1604 created the related vacancy relief and risk mitigation trust funds within the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to support the pilot program; one technical amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably as amended. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the committee.
• </c> Welcome to the committee. Welcome to the committee.
• Welcome to the committee. Go ahead. Good morning, Chair Marty and committee members.
• Welcome to the committee.
• on the committee.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I submitted a letter to the committee, and I just want to take a minute to say thank you to the committee
• After that, welcome to the committee.
• My name is Travis Matthews committee.
• Please state your name for committee.
• </c> either provide it to the committee either provide it to the committee afterwards<01:14:40.960><c

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• What about a new, if there's a new committee, like an advisory committee, and they get one bill draft
• Good morning, Chair and Committee.
• Thank you, Chair and committee.
• Questions from the committee? Thank you very much. Questions from the committee? Senator Titus?
• Other questions from the committee?

Bills: AB49 , AB93 , AB108 , AB169 , AB188 , AB212 , AB221 , AB224 , AB251 , AB282 , AB284 , AB296 , AB304 , AB331 , AB356 , AB366 , AB375 , AB409 , AB467 , AB475 , AB476 , AB479 , AB494 , AB514 , AB515 , AB533 , AB542 , AB550 , AB558 , AB567 , AB568 , AB571 , AB581 , AB583 , AB584 , AB585 , AB595 , AB596 , AB597 , SB170 , SB427 , SB460 , SB508

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• has</c><00:01:28.280><c> already</c> And we The committee has already And we The committee has already
• Okay, so we'll do the JDC, the Judiciary Okay, so we'll do the JDC, the Judiciary Committee Committee
• </c> that in the committee report. that in the committee report. &gt;&gt; Okay. &gt;&gt; Okay.
• </c> members of the Transportation Committee? members of the Transportation Committee?
• I think was in another committee.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard several Senate bills. SB 2149 would exempt paternity proceedings involving allegations of domestic abuse from mediation and clarify the domestic abuse mediation exemption in divorce cases. The Department of the Attorney General and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence supported the measure but recommended technical and conforming changes, including updating references from HRS Chapter 584 to 584A and aligning the language more closely with the Uniform Mediation Act. Members discussed whether the bill’s wording could limit who may bring a support person to mediation, and the chair suggested the intent was to preserve survivor choice while avoiding ambiguity. No vote was taken in the portion heard. SB 2203 would create an offense for law enforcement officers using masks or personal disguises. The Office of the Public Defender, ACLU of Hawaii, Legal Clinic, and many other supporters argued the bill would improve transparency, accountability, and public trust, while still allowing safety exceptions. Law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Law Enforcement, Honolulu Police Department, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, raised concerns about operational needs, undercover and auxiliary units, body cameras, and possible supremacy clause issues if the bill is aimed at federal officers. The chair noted the bill appeared likely to move forward and asked agencies and advocates to work on possible amendments; testimony count was reported as 114 in support, 3 opposed, and 2 comments. SB 2251 would appropriate funds for the victim witness assistance program in the City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying it would replace shortfalls from declining federal funding and help maintain victim services and rights information. A former program director also testified in support. When asked, the office said it would not object to a simple reporting requirement. The committee then moved on to SB 2311, which would address claims against the state and add reporting and timing requirements; the Department of the Attorney General testified with concerns and recommendations, and members began questioning current practices for handling claims and settlements.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're convening the joint committees on energy and intergovernmental affairs and our friends from the
• Committee on Government Operations on this Thursday, February 19th, in Room 224.
• Aloha, chairs, vice chairs, and members of the committees.
• the Committee on Government Operations.
• Government Operations Committee, same recommendation. We're going to do a Senate draft one.

Bills: SB2066

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The joint committees on Energy, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Government Operations heard Senate Bill 2066 on county permitting and inspection. Testimony focused on whether the bill should exempt state projects from county permitting requirements. One testifier opposed the measure, arguing it would bypass established permitting processes, weaken good government, and put the public at risk. A DOE representative said the intent was to speed up state projects, but suggested a different approach: funding county positions dedicated solely to state permits, possibly as a pilot program, rather than removing county review entirely. Committee members discussed the difficulty of moving state projects through county systems, the lack of special treatment, and whether a more systematic or standardized process could be created for repetitive projects. After the discussion, the chairs announced a substantive rewrite of SB 2066. The amended version would delete the county-permitting exemptions for state projects and instead create a cooperative working group to address the intersection of state projects and county permitting needs. The revised measure would also include a blank appropriation for counties to fund personnel to expedite permitting for state projects only. Members clarified that any funded staff would be dedicated solely to state projects. The committee then took votes on the revised measure. The committees adopted the amended bill. The Government Operations Committee recommended the Senate draft one version, and members present voted yes, with Senator Awa excused. The measure was adopted with the revised approach and an effective date set for April 19, 2042.