Transcript Highlights:

• Ultimately, we had to change insurance to avoid more delays and denials.
• Although this has technically allowed the...
• and probably a change in the agency, so.
• These rates and this fee schedule have not changed. They have not changed for at least four years.
• I'm also wondering, would it be your recommendation to change any part of that law?

Transcript Highlights:

• There is one change right at home in the first page.
• And so it just made it simpler to include all 18 pages and to get those 2 technical am technical errors
• and was a subtle change for this important change that so they're all good if you do these things and
• that and that is a change in the law.
• as a serious material change to their job.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:11:43.800> difficulties hearing due to technical difficulties hearing due to technical
• <01:06:52.039> amendments going to put some technical amendments going to put some technical
• We will insert a defective date, some technical amendments.
• We will insert a defective date, some technical amendments.
• We will insert a defective date, some technical amendments.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Labor and Technology, Transportation, and Culture and the Arts heard testimony on Senate Bill 396 and Senate Bill 47, then later the Labor and Technology committee took up Senate Bill 136 and Senate Bill 1523. SB 396 drew support from the Metropolitan Planning Organization and others, with a question raised about implementation costs; the director said costs would depend on the scope of the benefit package and the transportation mode involved. The committees recommended passing SB 396 with technical amendments and added appropriation language with a blank amount, and the motion was adopted by recorded votes in both committees. SB 47, which would designate the Lunar New Year as a state holiday, received support from the Office of Collective Bargaining and several individuals, including Charlene Chun, who spoke about family traditions and cultural recognition. Members asked about the cost and whether the day would be a paid day off for state employees; the response was that observance would be subject to collective bargaining. The committees moved SB 47 forward with amendments, noting the collective bargaining and cost issues, and adopted the recommendation by vote. In the Labor and Technology committee, SB 136 on the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund drew strong support from iron workers and related supporters, who argued the bill was about safety, training, and keeping dismantling work within the ironworkers’ trade. Several other unions, including operating engineers, carpenters, laborers, and plumbers and fitters, opposed the bill as too broad and potentially infringing on their jurisdiction. The measure was not decided in the portion provided, but members discussed possible amendments and jurisdictional concerns. SB 1523, which would expand private-sector collective bargaining rights under the Hawaii Employment Relations Act to include independent contractors and others under NLRB jurisdiction, received broad labor support, including from IATSE, AFL-CIO, Hawaii Nurses Association, Unite Here Local 5, and many individual testifiers. Supporters framed it as protecting workers’ rights and strengthening labor protections, while the Hawaii Labor Relations Board warned it could significantly increase workload and require more staffing, space, and operating resources; the board estimated the bill could expand its caseload substantially and suggested an appropriation would likely be needed. The committee then moved on to the next measure, SB 1440, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• ability to correct some technical ability to correct some technical changes<00:53:42.880> automatically
• That is a good change.
• They’re technical changes, administrative items, and changes that are much needed and much appreciated
• The witness continues describing the bill’s technical changes and administrative items, emphasizing that
• They’re technical changes, administrative items, and changes that are much needed and much appreciated

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Their commitment to artistic excellence, technical mastery, and education has made them a cornerstone
• , technical correction; HB 4046?
• HB 2784, cities/towns technical; HB 4045, construction defects; HB 4046, technical correction; HB 4046
• HB 4136, unlawful entry; 8 CM 2017 Major Richard Star Act; HCR 2015, technical correction; HCR 2059,
• First reading of bills: HB 2999, municipal approval district technical correction, Commerce.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and introductions of the doctor of the day and numerous guests, including visitors for Lunar New Year, Arizona Statehood Day, school groups, local officials, and community leaders. A proclamation was read honoring Phoenix Ballet and National Ballet Day, and Representative Gress spoke in support of the recognition. The chamber also received committee and membership announcements, including temporary committee substitutions and several bills being re-referred or withdrawn to other committees. On third reading, HB 2190, which would have added Article 5 to Title 32 relating to the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants, failed after debate over whether it improperly authorized rulemaking; it was defeated 20-38 with two not voting. The House then took up HB 2206, relating to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program administration, and HB 2396, another SNAP-related bill focused on restricting certain purchases. Members debated the bills at length, with opponents arguing they would burden low-income families, worsen food access in desert areas, and limit personal choice, while supporters said the state should encourage healthier purchases and that existing public benefit programs already include restrictions. HB 2396 passed 34-25 with one not voting and was sent to the Senate. After announcements, including committee meetings, an African-American Legislative Day program, and a birthday acknowledgment for the Majority Leader, the House briefly recessed and then reconvened. Additional desk business was handled, including a first reading of HB 2999, a municipal approval district technical correction bill, and the referral of first-read measures for printing. The House then adjourned until Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's what we're changing, rather than having to wait for the Fiscal Committee to see it and approve
• 00:07:18.080> that's<00:07:18.240> what<00:07:18.360> we're<00:07:18.520> changing
• <00:07:19.479> rather so that's what we're changing rather so that's what we're changing rather
• The employees of the settlement fund process are technically employees of the judicial branch, so it
• The employees of the settlement fund process are technically employees of the judicial branch, so it

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on January 30, 2025, and first organized itself by electing Senator Jim Gray as vice chair, electing Representative F as clerk, appointing Michael Caine as legislative budget assistant, and adopting the committee’s rules and procedures. The committee also adopted an amendment to the rules allowing audits to be automatically released to the public once placed on the Fiscal Committee agenda, with members discussing that the change would improve transparency and reduce paper handling. The minutes from the November 15, 2024 meeting were approved, with members who were absent abstaining. The committee then worked through a consent calendar and several individual items. It removed or noted withdrawals on a few items, including item 25004 for further discussion, item 25016 withdrawn by the Department of Education, item 257 removed by Representative F, and item 25001 removed under Tab 4. Item 25004, concerning the newborn screening program, prompted testimony from the Department of Health and Human Services explaining that the program is mandatory with an opt-out provision; officials said 99.2% of newborns were screened in 2023, meaning the opt-out rate was under 1%. The committee also approved item 25007, related to DHHS community health workers and telework policy, after hearing that the workers are not placed in schools and that DHHS follows statewide telework policy. On the regular calendar, the committee approved a Department of Administrative Services request to extend the release date for fiscal year 2024 numbers to March 31, and approved a Department of Fish and Game item. It also approved winter maintenance funding for the Department of Transportation after hearing that the $5.7 million request might not last through the winter if additional storms occur; DOT said even a small storm can cost more than $1 million and that crews are dispatched based on road conditions and supervisory judgment. The committee then approved items for the Judicial Council and the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant. The final discussion focused on the Health and Human Services dashboard and the Youth Development Center claims. DHHS acknowledged a data error in the APS client line and said Community Mental Health Center caseload data is still not fully accurate because two centers are undergoing EHR conversions. Members also asked about the low census at the Sununu Youth Development Center and about the process for managing future claims related to the YDC settlement fund. Witnesses from the Attorney General’s office said the fund is handled through a unique arrangement involving DOJ appropriations and judicial branch staff, that current judicial budget cuts are not yet affecting the litigation pace, and that the average resolution so far has been about $500,000, though future claims may vary. No votes were taken on the discussion items beyond the approvals noted above.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of it is technical in nature.
• Most of it is technical in nature.
• Most of it is technical in nature.
• Most of it is technical in nature.
• change anything except the bookkeeping. change anything except the bookkeeping.

Bills: HB415, HB419, SB219, SB170

Keywords: police abuse registry, law enforcement registry, officer assault, assault on police, resisting arrest, battery on law enforcement, law enforcement injury fund, Back the Blue Act, Attorney General, clemency, pardon, commutation, rehabilitation costs, medical costs, public safety, criminal records, background checks, registry removal fee, privacy, due process

Transcript Highlights:

• from those changes because the state has not yet adopted those same changes in statute.
• HB 2275, technical correction, Rules. HB 2276, technical obstruction, Rules.
• HB 2314, technical correction, private, Rules. HB 2315, exchange teachers, technical, Rules.
• HB 2622, technical correction, voting, Rules. HB 2623, technical correction, liquor, Rules.
• HCR 2030, technical correction, ROs. HCR 2030, technical correction, state land.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There shall be some technical amendments needed for clarity and consistency, and we'll also be changing
• There shall be some technical amendments needed for clarity and consistency, and we'll also be changing
• There shall be some technical amendments needed for clarity and consistency, and we'll also be changing
• There shall be some technical amendments needed for clarity and consistency, and we'll also be changing
• We're going to also change the defective effective date to the House effective date, and any technical

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. On SB 9, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation testified in support, and there were no questions or objections. On SB 148, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments, and a member of the public testified in support of combining boxing and MMA oversight into a single combat sports commission, with amendments to preserve safety standards and separate or distinct treatment for the two sports. Committee discussion focused on whether proposed requirements were primarily safety-related or cost-related, how to handle smaller events, and whether a one-year implementation delay was necessary; the department said many safety provisions already exist in the MMA program, that it was open to continued discussion on costs, and that it needed time to combine rules and appoint new commissioners. The chair suggested possible amendments to account for event size and to reduce burdens on smaller events. The committee then heard SB 816, which drew extensive testimony on providing legal representation for immigrants in immigration proceedings. Supporters included the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, ACU Hawaii, the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, the Legal Clinic, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Pride at Work Hawaii, and others. Supporters argued that immigration cases can be as serious as criminal cases, that counsel is essential for due process, and that representation improves outcomes; several also emphasized the economic importance of immigrants to Hawaii. One supporter noted a suggested amendment to include training for attorneys and partners doing deportation defense and asylum work. Opposition came from a Navy veteran who argued the bill would use state resources for a federal issue, create inequities, and impose fiscal burdens. The chair noted 69 testimonies in support and 44 in opposition, and later an additional supporter brought the total to 70 in support. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The committee also heard SB 125, with the Department of Economic Development, the Agreed Business Development Corporation, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii offering technical comments about complicated nested definitions in the bill. Testimony on SB 125 focused on updating the Enterprise Zone Program so local manufacturers selling directly to retail could qualify, along with value-added products and certain health-related sectors. Finally, on SB 732, the State of Hawaii Creative Industries testified with comments, raising concerns about county permit-fee waivers, implementation timing, and the bill’s lack of a carry-forward provision for the film tax credit. The witness said uncertainty in the credit was already causing productions to delay coming to Hawaii and urged stability to support the industry and local workers. The committee then moved on to additional testimony on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• We changed that number, so that should be changed in the bill.
• We changed that number, so that should be changed in the bill. See that?
• Are we going to make some changes to this? Well, the $30 million is going to change to $6. Yeah.
• We changed that.
• Well, we didn't make significant changes.

Bills: SB2015

Keywords: corrections, rehabilitation, prison budget, department of corrections, adult services, youth services, correctional facilities, Heart River correctional center, Missouri River correctional center, James River correctional center, minimum security facility, county jails, regional jails, deferred maintenance, capital construction, strategic investment and improvements fund, Bank of North Dakota, line of credit, tasers, body cameras

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division met with all members present and took up several bills, focusing most of the discussion on SB 1577 and SB 1619, along with a detailed review of the HHS budget bill draft. On SB 1577, Senator Magrum explained that the bill was being revised to focus on wastewater rather than raw water, possibly shifting the Washburn project to the Department of Water Resources so it could access matching funds, and potentially converting the bill into a line of credit if federal money is restored later. Members discussed whether to keep an emergency clause or instead use a date-based approach, and agreed the bill would likely be handled through the full committee and possibly reconsidered later. On SB 1619, Senator Davison said amendments were still being worked on, including changes requested by the Bank of North Dakota, and the committee planned to hold it for possible amendment before full committee consideration. The bulk of the meeting was a section-by-section review of the HHS appropriations bill draft. Members discussed one-time funding items such as technology projects, child care programs, housing programs, behavioral health facility grants, infant and toddler care provider support, juvenile justice diversion, medical housing, and other public health and human services projects. Several adjustments were noted, including reductions or changes to IMD-related funding, incarcerated-person treatment funding, the child welfare technology project, and the provider rate increase. The committee also discussed the FTE block grant structure at length, with staff explaining that the apparent increase in positions reflected budgeting mechanics, zero-dollar “phantom” positions, and positions approved previously but not counted in the FTE total. Members raised concerns about transparency and whether the bill should list FTE numbers, but staff said the block grant was intended to give the department flexibility while quarterly reporting would provide oversight. Other topics included Medicaid expansion funding and provider reimbursement rules, the move toward certifying human service centers as certified community behavioral health clinics, a moratorium on new ICF beds, and studies or reports on Medicaid, obesity, disability services, truancy, and behavioral health facility grants. The committee also discussed removing or revising broad intent language in Section 31 so the department would report findings rather than implement changes without further legislative action. No final votes were taken in the transcript; instead, members agreed to make a few technical adjustments, continue reviewing the bill, and likely revisit it the next day before moving it to conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:21:04.760> changes<01:21:05.400> that did there's some technical changes that did
• <01:21:13.120> changes<01:21:13.520> side department on the technical changes side
• There's some technical changes to DCT program locations and the crisis services that's retained within
• changes to DCT there's some technical changes to DCT Program<01:22:54.880> locations<01:22:55.320
• <01:45:44.880> the not technical changes and so for the not technical changes and so for the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• business architecture and a technical business architecture and a technical architecture,<00:27:
• hope there won't be any change orders. hope there won't be any change orders. you<00:57:55.040><
• But there is a component there related to meeting those continuous changes, whether those are changes
• again changes in federal regulations. again changes in federal regulations. you<01:07:40.559>
• change do change<01:10:26.719> requests<01:10:27.120> with<01:10:27.360> them<01

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 24 February, 2026; 1:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: Legislative leaders opened the hearing by focusing on statewide technology issues affecting agencies, including rising IT costs, cloud migration, cybersecurity risks, procurement delays, and the need for better coordination across government systems. They said the meeting was intended to hear from agency directors about current challenges and possible legislative solutions. The ITS director described the state’s IT structure as decentralized but increasingly moving toward shared services. He highlighted recent legislative and executive actions on cloud computing, artificial intelligence, procurement modernization, and data sharing, including House Bill 1491, Senate Bill 2426, Senate Bill 2267, House Bill 958, and an executive order on AI. He said ITS has worked with large agencies on a cloud center of excellence, a procurement modernization advisory council, and a state data exchange, and noted plans for a master contract, potentially with OpenAI, that could be available to all public entities. He also emphasized cybersecurity, saying the state is seeking a secure operations center and a broader “cyber maturity” approach after recent incidents. On procurement, he said the goal is to speed up purchasing while keeping it safe, and on optimization he pointed to potential savings from consolidating duplicate agreements, such as multiple Microsoft enterprise contracts. In response to questions, he said exceptions to centralization would be based on business and technical architecture and regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, CISA, or FERPA, rather than ad hoc decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• savings measure and a technical savings measure and a technical correction<00:23:04.799> first
• even increased dependency on Technical even increased dependency on Technical Services<01:13:53.600
• <01:13:57.440> and generally you know look to Technical and generally you know look to Technical
• uh what we refer to as technical uh what we refer to as technical<01:15:52.320> debts<01:15:52.840
• have these systems of the technical have these systems of the technical advisory<01:36:02.520>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In closing, the changes in this bill are technical in nature, but they are necessary to ensure that the
• In closing, the changes in this bill are technical in nature, but they are necessary to ensure that the
• in this bill are In closing, the changes in this bill are technical<00:36:43.920> in<00:36:44.160
• Chair, as the amendment is being passed out, it’s a technical amendment changing some references in chapter
• Chair, as the amendment is being passed out, it’s a technical amendment changing some references in chapter

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Chair Norris and members, uh, the author's amendment mostly makes technical changes to the underlying
• Uh, Chair Norris and members, uh, the author's amendment mostly makes technical changes to the underlying
• And sections 2.28 to 2.29 of the author's amendment are conforming technical changes. Great.
• technical changes. technical changes.
• There's a total net changes. The cost um There's a total net changes.

Bills: HF2730, HF2257, HF2768, HF1932, HF2437

Keywords: local government debt, municipal bonds, county bonds, capital improvements, public financing, bond issuance, public hearing, notice period, bond guarantee, Minnesota Public Facilities Authority, volume cap, private activity bonds, housing finance, residential rental bonds, LIHTC, low-income housing tax credits, redevelopment, courthouse financing, jail financing, law enforcement center

Transcript Highlights:

• This change followed the Attorney General's opinion, KP-0443.
• This bill is going to change people's lives, and it's really incredible.
• This change is important; it will alter the trajectory of young people's lives.
• I can't imagine—did you say seven high school changes? Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
• There is a very simple change that you can make to this bill.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Should any member experience technical difficulties, please contact Wyatt.
• So if the patient does not want to change over, then...
• But also, as technology changes, right?
• Again, this is a technical issue.
• So we're going to go as technical as we can here.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, but much of the meeting focused on House Bill 306, which would require disclosure when a consumer is interacting with a chatbot rather than a human. Sponsor Senator Townsend described it as a consumer protection measure and said the bill is meant to keep pace with rapidly changing AI technology. Committee members and witnesses raised concerns about the bill’s enforcement structure, especially private rights of action and penalties that could apply even without actual consumer harm. The Department of Justice said the bill would apply where the conduct has a Delaware nexus, and that the disclosure requirement is the key consumer protection. Industry witnesses and chambers of commerce opposed the bill as drafted, arguing it would create broad compliance burdens and expose businesses to excessive litigation risk without a harm requirement or clearer safe harbor language. Earlier in the meeting, the committee discussed House Bill 429, which would update Delaware’s step therapy exception process to include biosimilars and interchangeable biologics. Senator Poore and supporters from Highmark and the Department of Insurance said the bill would modernize insurance law, improve access to effective treatments, and reduce costs; they cited national savings from biosimilars and said the bill has agency support. Members asked about Delaware-specific savings, patient switching, and how the process would work, but no vote was taken during the discussion. The committee also heard House Bill 310, which would exclude large data centers from Blue Collar Jobs Act tax credits; the sponsor said the bill is intended to ensure large energy users contribute more to state and local revenues, while supporters and opponents debated competitiveness and community impacts. House Bill 406, on allowing insureds to choose their auto repair shop, and Senate Bill 347, a cleanup bill related to medical debt collection and personal property levies, were also presented without opposition in the hearing. House Bill 253, concerning who may receive letters testamentary or of administration, was described as a cleanup to align statute with existing practice. The committee approved the meeting minutes, but the transcript does not show final votes on the bills discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know we have a sub and there were so many changes, I think, with AOC and some others and changing
• <00:10:12.200> the basically changed some of the basically changed some of the definitions
• <00:25:33.600> their You don't think you're changing their You don't think you're changing
• office You can you could technically office You can you could technically meet<00:30:52.560>
• You're not changing that process.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• changes.
• But I know technology changes and priorities change.
• change.
• The co-chair, Jake Chatfield, and the technical advisory subcommittees have not changed.
• , and the technical advisory subcommittees have not changed.

Summary: The committee met on May 26, 2026, and first approved the minutes from the May 22, 2025 meeting. The main topic was the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster, with testimony from Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy staff, LSU and Tulane geoscientists, and later LSU law professor Keith Hall. Witnesses said the cause of the swarm has not been definitively identified, but induced seismicity from wastewater injection or hydraulic fracturing remains a concern. They described 50 earthquakes reported by the USGS in Red River, Bienville, DeSoto, and Natchitoches Parishes, including a magnitude 4.9 event on March 5, 2026, and explained that Louisiana’s sparse seismic network limits detection and depth/location estimates. C&E said it inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the events, found no violations, now requires more frequent injection reporting, and is working with researchers and LSU on a possible state monitoring network and future policy changes. Committee members asked about injection depths, fault locations, whether the activity could be natural, and whether Louisiana should adopt stronger monitoring or a traffic-light regulatory system like other states. The witnesses said more data is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn, but that denser monitoring can detect smaller quakes and help identify patterns. Professor Hall summarized responses in other states, including more frequent reporting, increased monitoring, injection reductions, moratoria, and traffic-light systems in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Ohio, and Illinois. Members also discussed whether operators should share more seismic and geologic data, and several said the state should avoid jumping to conclusions while still improving oversight. The committee then heard from William Berger, a Texas geoscientist, who described using AI and operator data to model wastewater injection and seismic risk, and said broader data sharing would improve forecasting and siting decisions. He and another witness emphasized that many earthquakes arise from clusters of wells rather than a single well, and that proprietary concerns limit voluntary disclosure. The committee also received a brief update from GOSEP and the Louisiana National Guard on the Barksdale Air Force Base drone incursions. GOSEP said it logged the incident in WebEOC and shared releasable information, while State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose. Officers said a task force has been formed, some personnel have received federal drone-mitigation training, and House Bill 940 is intended to mirror the task force MOU. Finally, Major General Thomas Friloux and Brigadier General Jason Maffus updated the committee on the merger of GOSEP into the Louisiana Military Department. They said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, brought back employees to in-person work, modernized the state’s common operating picture, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance through staffing and contract changes. They also noted the planned transfer of the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, ongoing hurricane preparedness, and continued coordination with parish emergency managers. No votes were taken on the substantive topics, and the meeting ended with the committee moving through its agenda items and receiving informational testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I ask that nonpartisan staff may make any technical changes that are necessary to reflect the will of
• I ask that nonpartisan staff may make any technical changes that are necessary to reflect the will of
• I ask that nonpartisan staff may make any technical changes that are necessary to reflect the will of
• I ask that nonpartisan staff may make any technical changes that are necessary to reflect the will of
• changes that are may make any technical changes that are necessary<00:44:01.440> to<00:44:01.680

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant