Transcript Highlights:

• to afford quality child care.
• </c><01:04:12.240><c> me</c> child care or what is the direct me child care or what is the direct me
• And so these instituted direct payments to providers who are actively caring for children to boost their
• to family foster care.
• The new section 14 directs the commissioner to update the foster care licensing guidelines to expedite

Bills: HF1367, HF2732, HF1897, HF1424, HF1383, HF2728, HF2863, HF1685, HF2929

Keywords: child maltreatment, child abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, human trafficking, child protection, local welfare agency, county social services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, judicial review, district court appeal, venue, out-of-state abuse, cross-border investigation, Minnesota child welfare, family assessment, maltreatment determination

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent Seruka, which is the Southeastern Regional Urgent Care Association.
• Um, I work for American Family Care. I'm the chief medical officer.
• Um I work for American Family<00:07:48.000><c> Care.
• I'm the chief medical Family Care.
• We have about 48 urgent care officer.

Bills: HB146, HB276

Keywords: youthful offender, criminal justice, capital murder, public safety, victims' rights, social media, minor safety, child online safety, teen accounts, parental controls, age verification, digital privacy, online platform regulation, content moderation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General enforcement, cyber safety, mental health, youth mental health, screen time

Transcript Highlights:

• So these rules that have put child care out of business in rural communities has had a direct influence
• So these rules that have put child care out of business in rural communities has had a direct influence
• So these rules that have put child care out of business in rural communities has had a direct influence
• So these rules that have put child care out of business in rural communities has had a direct influence
• So these rules that have put child care out of business in rural communities has had a direct influence

Bills: HB2689, SB5420, SB5868, SB5877

Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care

Transcript Highlights:

• This is going to be a direct tax refund, apply towards your income, and get that taken care of.'
• </c> day care. day care.
• ." care." care."
• are amounts paid to a child care center, family child care center, or group family child care center
• </c> a child care center, family child care a child care center, family child care center,<00:29:41.560

Bills: HF495, HF4321, HF3902, HF4161, HF3755

Keywords: day care, tax subtraction, child care costs, licensed child care, dependent care assistance, HF4321, dependent care assistance programs, gross income exclusion, federal conformity, Internal Revenue Code, individual income tax, Minnesota tax law, tax conformity, child care assistance, employer-provided dependent care, taxable income, state income tax, retroactive tax change, family care benefits, housing tax credit

Bills: SB43, SB50, SB145, SM2

Keywords: parole, life imprisonment, rehabilitation, criminal justice, victim rights, law enforcement, training requirements, mental health, domestic abuse, child abuse, public safety, crisis intervention, auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, pediatric palliative care

Bills: SB43, SB50, SB145, SM2

Keywords: parole, life imprisonment, rehabilitation, criminal justice, victim rights, law enforcement, training requirements, mental health, domestic abuse, child abuse, public safety, crisis intervention, auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, pediatric palliative care

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> care center. care center.
• </c> care if they hurt people. care if they hurt people.
• </c> child care. child care.
• to child care facility, which would include family child care providers and child care centers that
• care providers and child family child care providers and child care<01:13:19.080><c> centers</c><01:

Bills: HF3415

Keywords: child care, day care, licensed child care center, license-exempt child care, immigration enforcement, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, CBP, USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, judicial warrant, facility access, sensitive locations, immigrant families, Minnesota Statutes chapter 142B, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Cindy Cunningham, family child care provider in St.
• </c><00:25:12.720><c> funding</c> significant rural healthc care funding significant rural healthc care
• </c> together to demand better health care together to demand better health care for<01:01:14.480><c>
• </c><01:03:37.119><c> of</c> generally people are taking care of generally people are taking care of
• And um you know in some of child care.

Bills: HF3831, HF3603, HF1900, HF495, HF3750, HF4316, HF2136, HF4384

Keywords: SNAP, income limits, asset limits, nutrition assistance, children and families, federal poverty guidelines, federal waiver, food assistance, low-income families, nutritional support, day care, tax subtraction, child care costs, licensed child care, dependent care assistance, child care, family child care, child care center, licensing, correction order

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, the bill directs the Health Care Authority to adopt network adequacy standards for nursing
• managed care organizations.
• We provide emergency care, inpatient care, surgical services, and obstetrics, delivering more than 400
• As a retiree, I care for an aging parent in my home who requires a variety of medical specialty care
• We get like 8.3% of the cost of our care for, it covers our care for Medicaid, for instance.

Bills: HB2689, SB5832, SB5922, SB5944, SB5988, SB6151

Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care

Transcript Highlights:

• These are just direct I'll skip through these.
• I'm going to be really direct.
• As you know, we continue to address child care issues, especially for our smaller child care providers
• As you know, we continue to address child care issues, especially for our smaller child care providers
• Agencies include child care businesses, child placing agencies, foster homes, group care facilities,

Bills: HB1544, HB2219, HB2253

Keywords: child welfare, risk assessment, investigation, child abuse, neglect, HB 2219, child care licensing, early learning, DCYF, Department of Children Youth and Families, Washington child care, preschool licensing, family child care, child care centers, nature-based child care, outdoor preschool, mixed-age ratios, staff-to-child ratio, group size, zero tolerance

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1544, which would require DCYF to study and improve its child abuse and neglect risk assessment tool, including better identification of family strengths and needs, substance use-related risk, service needs, and ongoing reassessment, with certification every three years. Staff explained the bill had passed unanimously from committee last year as a substitute but did not advance on the House floor. Representative Ruhl, the prime sponsor, said the tool would reduce bias and help workers distinguish actual child safety risk from subjective concerns. Testimony from Partners for Our Children and DCYF supported the bill and said the current tool is not evidence-based, while members raised questions about data limitations, fiscal impact, and how the department would validate the tool and track outcomes. The hearing on the bill was then closed after a brief continuation for testimony from DCYF. The committee then held a work session on juvenile rehabilitation with DCYF Assistant Secretary Jennifer Redman and security classification administrator Jeff Indermark. They described an older JR population, longer lengths of stay, and growth driven largely by adult-sentence youth who remain in JR until age 25 before transferring to DOC. They said Green Hill School remains crowded, Harbor Heights has added some capacity but is intended as a short-term placement, and the Caseload Forecast Council projects the need for at least 50 additional JR beds over the next five years. They also reviewed classification and placement processes, the new behavior management system, and community transition services (CTS), which uses electronic home monitoring for eligible youth. DCYF reported 41 CTS referrals, 23 participants, and a 70% successful completion rate, while members asked about racial equity, community resources, escapes, staffing, after-hours support, and concerns about safety, abuse, and lawsuits. The committee next heard House Bill 2219, which would allow longer mixed-age group time at child care centers and waive repeat pre-service orientation for people who have already completed it. The prime sponsor and supporters from SEIU 925, a family child care provider, the Washington Child Care Centers Association, and the Children’s Campaign Fund Action said the bill would ease staffing pressures, help providers take meal and rest breaks, and reduce duplicative licensing burdens without compromising safety. One provider group supported the licensing flexibility but asked that the bill’s time limits on mixed-age grouping be removed or revised as too restrictive. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2253, a DCYF technical corrections bill covering licensing and monitoring changes. Staff said it would allow child-specific licenses for certain interstate placements, exempt kinship caregivers from blood-borne pathogen training, remove physician and lawyer exemptions from licensing, allow inactive licenses to be terminated, revise license content requirements, adjust staffing ratios for crisis residential centers, and remove state monitoring requirements for the Washington School for the Deaf residential program. The prime sponsor and DCYF said the bill is intended to streamline licensing and right-size workload after prior staffing cuts. Testimony from Community Youth Services supported the crisis residential center staffing fix as budget-neutral, and Partners for Our Children supported the kinship care provisions. Members pressed DCYF on how inactivity would be defined, how licenses would be protected from errors, and why the fiscal note was zero despite the staffing and monitoring changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, if you are trying to get advice on how to improve things in hospitals and stroke care and things
• , Alzheimer's care, dementia care to make sure that they are accountable and actually providing the services
• This, I'm gonna hopefully get to do a couple of bills here related to foster care.
• Senate Bill 1377 directs DHS to provide a duffel bag to children in foster care who like a suitcase or
• Senator Thompson, Senator Peugh, do you care to vote? Senator Rossino: 9 ayes, 2 nays.

Bills: SB1423, SB1426, SB1502, SB1377, SB1983, SB1466, SB1645, SB1647, SB1847, SB1565, SB1562, SB1329, SB1383, SB1833, SB1555, SB1344

Keywords: Oklahoma Hospital Advisory Council, hospital licensure, public health, State Department of Health, State Board of Health, hospital regulations, healthcare regulation, hospital standards, hospital construction, hospital operations, stroke care, stroke system, emergency medical services, EMS transport, psychiatric treatment, chemical dependency treatment, substance use disorder, drug storage, pharmacy, quality indicators

Transcript Highlights:

• , Alzheimer care, dementia care, to make sure that they are accountable and actually providing the services
• Members, I'm going to hopefully get to do a couple of bills here related to foster care.
• Senate Bill 1377 directs DHS to provide a duffel bag to children in foster care who lack a suitcase or
• Senator Pugh, do you care to vote? Senator Rosino. Nine ayes, two nays.
• Senator Pugh, do you care to vote? Senator Rosino. Nine ayes, two nays.

Bills: SB1423, SB1426, SB1502, SB1377, SB1983, SB1466, SB1645, SB1647, SB1847, SB1565, SB1562, SB1329, SB1383, SB1833, SB1555, SB1344

Keywords: Oklahoma Hospital Advisory Council, hospital licensure, public health, State Department of Health, State Board of Health, hospital regulations, healthcare regulation, hospital standards, hospital construction, hospital operations, stroke care, stroke system, emergency medical services, EMS transport, psychiatric treatment, chemical dependency treatment, substance use disorder, drug storage, pharmacy, quality indicators

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee met and advanced a series of Senate bills, beginning with SB 1423, which repeals the Hospital Advisory Council because of repeated quorum and appointment problems; members discussed whether the council could instead be restructured, but the bill passed 9-1. SB 1426 changed vulnerable adult abuse reporting so only substantiated findings are reported, and SB 1502 repealed the Long-Term Care Advisory Council after it completed its original task; both passed unanimously. The committee also approved SB 1377 to provide duffel bags for children entering foster care and SB 1983 to support resource family partners and improve foster care/adoption outcomes, both by unanimous votes. Members then passed SB 1466, which extends the sunset on the advisory committee on midwifery after adopting an amendment changing the extension date; SB 1645, which sets rules and best practices for OHCA audits of medical providers; SB 1647, which allows up to $1 million from the County Community Safety Investment Fund to support evidence-based pretrial diversion programs through the Indigent Defense System; and SB 1847, which lets certain Advantage Waiver Medicaid recipients with cognitive impairment remain in assisted living and age in place. The committee also approved SB 1565, establishing the framework for Oklahoma to receive federal Transforming Maternal Health Model grant funds, after adding a reporting amendment requiring a final report to state leaders. Additional bills passed included SB 1562, described as an anti-poaching measure for hospice patients that holds hospices responsible for contractor conduct; SB 1329, requiring postpartum mental health screening during Medicaid-covered visits within a year after birth; SB 1383, a technical cleanup to the diabetes self-management education program; SB 1833, directing DHS to apply for a SNAP waiver to restrict certain purchases such as candy and soft drinks; and SB 1555, updating the statutory definition of intellectual disability to align with federal and Social Security standards. The final measure, SB 1344, created an insulin access and affordability program at the State Department of Health to expand low-cost insulin access and competition; it drew discussion about funding, pricing, and the nonprofit partner involved, and passed 9-2. The committee adjourned after the chair noted more double-assigned bills would be heard the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think many of us in this room, until there are robots to take care of us.
• We are going to need some kind of care like this at some point.
• We have almost 8,000 seniors approved for long-term care in 2025.
• The cost for long-term care was $51,000 per individual last year.
• Most do not want to go to long-term care, but no one knows the options.

Bills: HB3390, HB4199, HB4407, HB4412

Keywords: home care, community services, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, rating system, inspection reports, substantiated complaints, agency oversight, child care, workforce, pilot program, affordable care, income eligibility, long-term care, revolving fund, options counseling, funding, consultation services, Medicaid, community-based services, seniors

Transcript Highlights:

• practitioners or associations of health care practitioners.
• practitioners or associations of health care practitioners.
• with direct emission reductions.
• Last year, the targets had to be met with direct emission reductions.
• They don't care about their gold, silver, millennium, whatever they've got.

Bills: SB12, SB36, SB92, SB120, SB133, SB151, SB18, SB96

Keywords: tax credit, physician, healthcare, income tax, rural health, quantum technology, infrastructure, economic development, New Mexico, corporate tax, research and development, innovation, affordable housing, gross receipts tax, tax deduction, construction materials, multifamily housing, low income, journalism, local news

Transcript Highlights:

• Her leadership experience also includes directing the large-scale health and readiness programs for the
• This is a request bill from the Oklahoma Hospice and Palliative Care Association.
• Member of Senate Bill 1983 directs the Department of Human Services to provide foster care data to resource
• We'll take care of business in room 230. Senator Rader, you're recognized for an announcement.

Bills: SB1323, SB1863, SB1932, SB1950, SB1956, SB1970, SB1599, SB1312, SB1776, SB1858, SB1985, SB1302, SB1809, SB1401, SB2053, SB1503, SB1553, SB1427, SB1642, SB1421, SB1837, SB1566, SB1567, SB1794, SB1484, SB1557, SB1564, SB1591, SB1395, SB1456, SB1562, SB1613, SB1983, SB1550, SB2065, SB2152, SB2159, SB2172, SB2110, SB2111, SB2114

Keywords: memorial designation, highway, Sheriff Marty Grisham, transportation, Oklahoma Statutes, memorial highway, road designation, John Skelley, motor carrier, administrative hearing, legal representation, corporate liability, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes, memorial, highway designation

Transcript Highlights:

• She has served in the Saint Francis Health Care System as an ICU registered nurse, community volunteer
• board member, and advocates for patients, nurses, and equitable access to high-quality rural health care
• This is a request bill from the Oklahoma Hospice and Palliative Care Association.
• Members, Senate Bill 1983 directs the Department of Human Services to provide foster care data to resource
• We'll take care of business in Room 230. Senator Raider, you're recognized for an announcement.

Bills: SB1323, SB1863, SB1932, SB1950, SB1956, SB1970, SB1599, SB1312, SB1776, SB1858, SB1985, SB1302, SB1809, SB1401, SB2053, SB1503, SB1553, SB1427, SB1642, SB1421, SB1837, SB1566, SB1567, SB1794, SB1484, SB1557, SB1564, SB1591, SB1395, SB1456, SB1562, SB1613, SB1983, SB1550, SB2065, SB2152, SB2159, SB2172, SB2110, SB2111, SB2114

Keywords: memorial designation, highway, Sheriff Marty Grisham, transportation, Oklahoma Statutes, memorial highway, road designation, John Skelley, motor carrier, administrative hearing, legal representation, corporate liability, aviation, aircraft, surveillance, regulations, fees, Oklahoma statutes, memorial, highway designation

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and pledges, and recognized several guests and Senate family members, including the psychologist and nurse of the day. Members then moved to the agenda, laying over items 1 and 4 before taking up several bills. Senate Bill 1395, a recommendation from the Incentive Evaluation Commission, would eliminate the tax credit portion of the investment and new jobs tax credit incentive and limit carry-forward of the investment portion to seven years; it passed 48-0. Senate Bill 1456, as amended, extended the sunset of the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, with the amendment changing the sunset date to 2031; it passed 48-0 and was also approved as an emergency measure. Senate Bill 1562, requested by the Oklahoma Hospice and Palliative Care Association, was described as protecting terminally ill patients and families from aggressive hospice marketing practices; it passed 48-0. Senate Bill 1613, requested by the Oklahoma Liquefied Gas Association, was revised to remove language the governor had previously objected to regarding vehicle ownership and leasing outside OMES; it passed 48-0. Senate Bill 1983 directed the Department of Human Services to provide de-identified foster care data to resource family partners, including information on children without placement, demographic and geographic trends, areas of high need and low availability, placement disruptions, sibling separations, and distance from original homes. After a question from Senator Deevers about the scope of the data, the bill advanced and passed 48-0. The Senate then heard announcements about committee meeting times and adopted a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I see. that is that to give that foster care that is that to give that foster care placement<00:10:31.760
• </c> prohibition in both uh childc care prohibition in both uh childc care assistance<00:28:36.559><c
• </c> opening up their family to kinship care opening up their family to kinship care or<00:31:26.640>
• care providers.
• The National Family Child Care Association. It's family child care providers.

Bills: HF1918, HF2305, HF897, HF2191, HF2617, HF2551, HF2137

Keywords: HF1918, Department of Children Youth and Families, DCYF, child welfare, foster care, out-of-home placement, permanency planning, relative search, noncustodial parent, kinship care, family preservation, African American Child and Family Well-Being, racial disproportionality, maltreatment reporting, educational neglect, truancy, school attendance, Great Start compensation, child care provider payments, TEACH early childhood program

Transcript Highlights:

• to the floor, I really hope that we can, as a Senate, be a little bit more comfortable about the direction
• be reinforced so elderly could cross with dignity, without fear of falling through gaps in health care
• institute, formalize it in statute, and allow it to continue its good work of research, prevention, care

Bills: S0124, S0216, S0382, S0488, S0490, S0524, S0584, S0656, S0816, S0892, S1156

Keywords: Florida Virtual School, FLVS, virtual school, online education, distance learning, K-12 education, public school choice, charter-like franchise, student enrollment priorities, home education, homeschool, military families, active duty military, rural schools, inner-city schools, accelerated graduation, education technology, supplemental funding, direct-support organization, foundation

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and first postponed SB 524 and SB 1156. It then heard and favorably reported several bills, including SB 488 and SB 490 by Sen. Massullo, which update Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles procedures, raise the crash-reporting threshold, expand email use, and create a related public-records exemption. The committee also favorably reported SB 892 by Sen. Martin on enhanced sentencing for repeat offenders, SB 124 by Sen. Rodriguez updating Florida Virtual School statutes, and SB 584 by Sen. Yarbrough strengthening oversight of commercial driving schools and tax collector authority. SB 656 by Sen. Bradley, codifying the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and related grant program, and SB 816 by Sen. Bradley, formally establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute, also passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The most extensive debate centered on SB 216 by Sen. McLean, which would tighten unemployment assistance eligibility by adding job-search requirements, more frequent verification, and fraud-reporting measures. Supporters argued the bill would reduce fraud and improve program integrity, while opponents from labor groups and several senators warned it would burden claimants, especially rural residents, seniors, and workers facing layoffs, and could sharply reduce access to benefits. Despite those objections, the committee reported the bill favorably on a divided vote. The committee also considered CS/SB 382 by Sen. Truenow on electric bicycles, requiring riders to yield to pedestrians, sound an audible signal before passing, and limit speed near pedestrians, while creating a task force to study broader regulation of e-bikes and related devices. A mother whose son was killed on an electric scooter urged the committee to restore scooters to the bill, and several members expressed support for further work on that issue. The committee reported the bill favorably. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional affirmative votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That right to cure to owners and direct contractors, not to subcontractors.
• Thank you. ...they would not be able to take part of the health care benefit.
• they can continue to pay their health care benefits while they are recovering from an injury.
• worker is not going to receive enough to actually pay, to replace their health care benefits.
• worker is not going to receive enough to actually pay, to replace their health care benefits.

Bills: HB2188, HB2563, HB1571, HB2144, HB2191, HB2218, HB2243, HB2372

Keywords: transparency, industrial insurance, insurance rate increases, financial disclosure, regulatory oversight, unemployment, electronic notices, compensation, digital communication, order processing, workers' compensation, occupational disease, firefighters, fire investigators, law enforcement officers, first responders, heart disease, cardiac conditions, respiratory disease, cancer presumption

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee met on January 28, 2026, first taking executive action on several bills and then holding public hearings on House Bill 2563 and House Bill 2188. HB 1571, which makes heart conditions a presumptive occupational disease for certain firefighters and law enforcement officers, was advanced without amendment on an 8-1 vote. Supporters said the bill recognizes the stress, exposures, and hardships of those jobs, while the lone no vote was recorded by Representative Schmidt. The committee then considered HB 2144 on electronic monitoring notice requirements. Members adopted Tang 189, which clarifies the bill does not override existing laws on recording private communications, but rejected amendments that would have removed the word “imminent” from the emergency exception and eliminated the private right of action. The bill, as amended, passed 6-3. The committee also advanced HB 2191 on construction wage enforcement after adopting amendments that removed the Attorney General as an enforcement authority and made other changes to liability and cure provisions; amendments to add public entities and subcontractors back into the bill were rejected. HB 2191 passed 6-3. HB 2372, which requires workers’ compensation time-loss benefits to include the full employer-paid health care benefit amount, was also reported out 6-3 after the committee rejected an amendment that would have added notice and invoicing requirements and barred attorney fees from the health-care-benefit portion. Supporters said the bill ensures injured workers receive the full benefit needed to maintain coverage, while opponents raised access-to-counsel concerns. The committee then heard HB 2563, a pilot allowing the Office of Administrative Hearings to send unemployment-case notices electronically by default through July 2029. OAH said the change would save money and improve service, while the Unemployment Law Project warned it could harm claimants with limited digital access and make appeals harder to manage. Finally, HB 2188 was heard; it would require L&I to publish actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates and explain when rate caps shift costs to other classes. Business groups supported the transparency measure, and L&I testified the information is already available internally and could be posted publicly without fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um and and re needs to receive uh care um and and re needs to receive uh care if<00:42:28.240><c
• </c> connections with housing and health care connections with housing and health care and<00:56:17.599
• </c> housing, health care, you know. housing, health care, you know. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Yeah.
• , dental care.
• Prison dental care is horrible. Mental health care is important.

Bills: HB1997, HB2343, HB2566, HB2493

Keywords: students with disabilities, individualized education programs, emergency plans, evacuation procedures, support services, Hawaii education law, HB2343, Maui State Veterans Home, veterans home, veterans, long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, Alzheimer's care, respite care, assimilate, transfer deadline, Act 99, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1997, which would require IEPs for students with disabilities to include individualized emergency accommodations and evacuation supports. The Attorney General’s office supported the intent but recommended amendments to explicitly include students with Section 504 plans and to change references from “department schools” to “public schools” so charter school students are covered. Testimony in support came from disability advocates and several individuals, including Peter Fritz, who said emergency evacuation planning should be made explicit because it is not clearly required by federal law, and Ka Swan, who emphasized student safety during emergencies. No vote or final action was taken on the bill in the transcript. The committee then took up House Bill 2343, relating to the Maui State Veterans Home. The measure would repeal a deadline for transferring the home to a state agency with a Maui affiliation and instead require the transfer to occur as soon as practicable. The Department of Defense, the Office of Veterans Services, HHSC Oahu Region, and several individuals testified in support. Committee members asked whether a more definite deadline should be used, but the department said the open-ended language was preferable because the Maui entity is not yet ready and Oahu is currently providing oversight. No vote or final action was recorded. House Bill 2566, authorizing special license plates for Hawaii Civil Air Patrol members, was also heard. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services testified in opposition, while Johnny Perry testified in support. The committee did not take a vote in the transcript. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2493 on wrongful imprisonment compensation procedures. The Attorney General’s office opposed the bill, arguing it would create an automatic payment mechanism without a sufficient finding of actual innocence, could trigger payments within five days of dismissal, and raised concerns about insufficient time for prosecution review and about funding and appropriation issues. Supporters, including people who said they had been wrongfully convicted and later found actually innocent, argued the bill would reduce delays and help released individuals survive while awaiting compensation. Judiciary staff requested technical amendments and said operational details still needed review. Members questioned the AG about the meaning of “actual innocence,” burden shifting, and whether the bill would better define the standard, but no vote or final action was taken.