Transcript Highlights:

• It is important, with the weather, that we note that should we have to cancel or if this hearing is interrupted
• Christina Sablon, community and policy advocate for the Legal Clinic.

Bills: HB1577, HB1870

Keywords: Smart911, 911, 911 Board, emergency response, public safety answering point, PSAP, next-generation 911, NG911, dispatch, dispatcher, emergency profile, safety profile, medical information, disability access, access needs, functional needs, kupuna, aging, developmental disabilities, communication access

Summary: The committee reconvened on March 19, 2026, for decision-making on measures heard earlier in the week. It first took up HB 812 on agriculture, agreeing to move it forward with amendments and a Senate draft, and then HB 2388 on public notice, which was also passed with amendments after concerns about transparency and the need for local newspaper notice on Maui were discussed. HB 1414 on procurement and HB 2469 on a regular session review working group were both deferred to March 24 for further work with the author, while HB 322 on voter registration was deferred indefinitely in favor of a Senate vehicle. The committee then heard HB 1577, which would create a statewide emergency safety profile system pilot program and working group for 911. Testimony from disability advocates, emergency medical services, and others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing benefits for people without smartphones, better sharing of medical and emergency information, and improved response in the field. Committee members and witnesses discussed whether the 911 Board already had the authority to implement the system without legislation, and the bill was not immediately acted on in the portion of the transcript provided. The final major item was HB 1870 on protected community locations. Testimony in support came from the University of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, immigrant-rights groups, public health advocates, and many individuals, while the Department of Education supported the measure but requested clarity on federal compliance and raised concerns about a 1,000-foot perimeter beyond campus. Supporters said the bill would protect sensitive locations and help immigrant families feel safe accessing schools, health care, and other services. No final vote on HB 1870 is shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I call the meeting of the Committee on Energy Finance and Policy to order, and we have a quorum.
• To my surprise, the report mentioned MRETS in its policy recommendations.
• This cost shift is supporting the very households we often aim to support through public policy.
• Hello, Committee Chair Sudzinski and members of the House Energy Finance and Policy Committee.
• We haven't gotten as much built with that policy versus this policy. So I want to just note that.

Bills: HF2103, HF2793

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, community solar, energy policy, sustainability, solar garden program, regulation sunset

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Norris and members, articles 9, 10, and 11 are the Department of Revenue's policy and technical

Bills: HF9

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

Bills: HB 1026, SCR37

Keywords: transportation, Farm-to-Market Road, highway designation, Texas Transportation Commission, state highway system, SCR 37, Senate Concurrent Resolution, Panama Canal, Texas ports, port infrastructure, maritime trade, shipping lanes, supply chain resilience, global commerce, exports, LNG, liquefied natural gas, crude oil, refined petroleum, agriculture

Bills: SB2738

Keywords: tax haven, corporate tax, foreign subsidiaries, income reporting, state revenue, transparency, tax law, penalties, apportionment, economic policy, 912, senate, all

Summary: The meeting reconvened on Senate Bill 2760 during the Tuesday, February 17, 2026 decision-making agenda in Conference Room 229 at the Hawaii State Capitol. The only action discussed was a recommendation to defer action on the measure for one additional day. Members were informed that the committee would reconvene in Room 229 on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 10:07 a.m. to consider action on the bill. No vote was taken on the measure at this session. The meeting was then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For background, the State Environmental Policy Act establishes a review process for state and local governments
• The State Environmental Policy Act is one of the strongest tools that we have to understand impacts before
• We went through some of the current policies already. So that's a piece where...
• We went through some of the current policies already. So that's a piece where you go back to.
• That's already current policy that's already in NIST and some of those risk management frameworks.

Bills: SB5609, SB6284

Keywords: cultural resources, land use, environmental policy, exemptions, state laws, artificial intelligence, consumer protection, regulation, data privacy, technological impacts, 904, all

Summary: The Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee held public hearings on two bills. On Senate Bill 5609, the committee heard a proposed substitute concerning cultural resource reviews under SEPA. Staff explained that the bill would require cultural resource review for certain categorical exemptions, including infill housing and some GMA-related projects, unless a local government has approved protections such as a DAHP-approved cultural resources management plan, a local ordinance, or a data-sharing agreement with tribes. Senator Kauffman said the bill is intended to protect tribal cultural sites without stopping development. Supporters, including several tribal representatives and the City of Redmond, said early review and consultation help avoid irreversible damage and can provide certainty; opponents from builders, counties, and business groups argued the bill would add costs, delay housing and permitting, and shift review to the project level without clear standards or timelines. The public hearing on SB 5609 then closed, with testimony sign-in totals reported as 15 in support, 266 opposed, and 0 other. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6284 on artificial intelligence. Staff described the bill as creating risk-management and disclosure requirements for high-risk AI systems used in consequential decisions, requiring impact assessments, consumer notice, and Attorney General enforcement, while also extending the AI task force and adding a workplace subgroup. Senator Elias said the bill is meant to focus regulation on high-risk uses and balance innovation with consumer protection. Testimony was mixed: insurance, banking, hospital, technology, and business representatives generally supported the goal but asked for exemptions or amendments for regulated financial institutions and health care, and raised concerns about definitions, implementation, and overlap with existing regulation; a student testified in support, citing harm from non-consensual AI-generated sexual images and urging accountability. The hearing concluded with the sponsor and several witnesses noting the need for further work on implementation, and the committee adjourned after closing public testimony on SB 6284.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Michael Howard called the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee to order.
• The inspector<00:08:49.519><c> ended</c><00:08:49.839><c> up</c><00:08:50.000><c> cancelling.
• </c><00:08:51.040><c> During</c> inspector ended up cancelling.
• During inspector ended up cancelling.
• we're working on here around landlord-tenant work here in the Housing Committee as we work on our policy

Bills: HF4141, HF3951

Keywords: housing authority, criminal penalty, assault, public safety, redevelopment, submetered utility service, tenant rights, digital payment, eviction protection, housing policy, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The meeting of the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee is called to order.
• The first testifier signed up is an Aaron Spfelda, legislative and policy director for the Minnesota
• </c><00:11:02.560><c> director</c> Spfelda, legislative and policy director Spfelda, legislative and
• policy director for<00:11:03.200><c> the</c><00:11:03.360><c> Minnesota</c><00:11:03.839><c> Council<
• It is bad policy. Representative Schultz responded: No, sir.

Bills: HF1323, HF3500

Keywords: undocumented, financial aid, state policy, higher education, noncitizen eligibility, funding, storm damage relief, Bemidji State University, reforestation, state appropriations, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We haven’t gotten as much built with that policy versus this policy. I want to just note that.
• We haven’t gotten as much built with that policy versus this policy. I want to just note that.
• We haven’t gotten as much built with that policy versus this policy. I want to just note that.
• We haven’t gotten as much built with that policy versus this policy. I want to just note that.
• We haven’t gotten as much built with that policy versus this policy. I want to just note that.

Bills: HF2103, HF2793

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, community solar, energy policy, sustainability, solar garden program, regulation sunset, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the ETJ of a municipality. and under Texas local local government code chapter 232008 A county may cancel
• that ETG. under 242-001-D2, and there is no local authority, there is no. local authority that can cancel
• there's an existing agreement between the county. in the city allows that county the authority to cancel

Bills: HB23, HB363, HB447, HB954, HB23

Keywords: third-party review, property development, local government, permits, construction inspection, regulatory authority, land development, liability, occupancy certificate, municipal utility district, petition, county clerk, water code, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, traffic impact studies, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, extraterritorial jurisdiction, county authority

Bills: HB23, HB23, HB363, HB447, HB954

Keywords: property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support, youth programs, community education, county population threshold, large county, local government revenue, leasehold interest, possessory interest, county property tax, nonprofit-owned property, third-party review, property development, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:01:52.960><c> brought</c> Phone and Smartwatch Policies, brought Phone and Smartwatch Policies
• I were with their cell phone policies.
• Um what other one of the other policy.
• </c> school there's there's already policies school there's there's already policies in<00:16:20.800>
• They came back with new policies.

Bills: SF0035, SF0090, SF0072

Keywords: education, cell phones, smart devices, school policy, student conduct, school property, rental fees, youth activities, education policy, Wyoming legislature, teacher licensure, teacher mobility, interstate compact, education compact, licensure reciprocity, reciprocal certification, teacher certification, professional teaching standards board, out-of-state teachers, military spouse

Transcript Highlights:

• These are not abstract policy debates.
• </c> these are not abstract policy debates. these are not abstract policy debates.
• School policies typically speech.
• We advocate for policies that improve student outcomes and well-being. We do good things.
• </c><01:35:55.199><c> issues</c> I've worked uh on labor policy issues I've worked uh on labor policy

Bills: SF0035, SF0090, SF0072

Keywords: education, cell phones, smart devices, school policy, student conduct, school property, rental fees, youth activities, education policy, Wyoming legislature, teacher licensure, teacher mobility, interstate compact, education compact, licensure reciprocity, reciprocal certification, teacher certification, professional teaching standards board, out-of-state teachers, military spouse

Transcript Highlights:

• Management Act must also, in cooperation with the cities in the county, create a countywide planning policy
• And among other things, this countywide planning policy has to address urban growth areas.
• Countywide planning policies are required to address policies for joint city and county planning within
• forward because this is definitely a real issue, and ...and something that is right for additional policy
• We can annex land, and we want to participate in the policy to preserve those large tracts of areas so

Bills: HB2201, HB2154

Keywords: urban growth, city planning, county regulations, development standards, land use, land ownership, conservation districts, property rights, regulatory authority, environmental policy, 904, all

Summary: The Local Government Committee first held a work session on the Washington Zoning Atlas. Commerce staff explained that the atlas is a statewide, web-based zoning map built from local zoning codes with help from university planning students. It lets users compare zoning across jurisdictions, query where uses like residential, industrial, commercial, multifamily, or agriculture are allowed, and link back to local development codes. Members asked about using the atlas as a “single source of truth,” layering it with other state data such as transportation or public works projects, update frequency, and whether environmental sensitivity data could be added in the future. Commerce said the atlas is not a parcel-specific buildability tool, is being updated on an ongoing basis, and needs additional funding because the planned update source is not in the governor’s budget. The committee then heard House Bill 2201, which would require counties to align planning and development regulations within urban growth areas with the city’s regulations unless the city agrees otherwise or another law requires a different standard. The sponsor and several city representatives said mismatched county and city rules can undermine annexation planning, infrastructure investment, and long-term development coordination. Cities from Vancouver, Pasco, Ferndale, and Lynnwood described “donut holes,” infrastructure misalignment, and the need for better annexation pathways. The Association of Washington Cities and planning groups said the issue is real and merits more policy work, but the bill needs refinement. Counties, the Washington State Association of Counties, and other opponents said the bill is too broad, does not account for existing interlocal agreements, would add workload without funding, and fails to require timely annexation by cities. The sponsor said the bill needs more work and invited continued discussion. No vote was taken. The committee also heard House Bill 2154, which would prohibit conservation districts from buying or acquiring interests in agricultural land 20 acres or larger that is actively used for farming and would require districts to inventory certain land holdings. The sponsor argued that taxpayer-funded district purchases can drive up farmland prices and reduce opportunities for private farmers to expand. Conservation district representatives, the Washington Association of Conservation Districts, the Puget Sound Partnership, and several local districts opposed the bill, saying conservation districts use voluntary tools such as purchases, easements, leases, and donations to keep land in agricultural production, support beginning farmers, and preserve farmland from development. They said many district-owned parcels are donated rather than purchased, often leased back to farmers, and used for education, demonstration, and conservation. Testifiers emphasized that farmland conversion to development is the larger threat and that the bill would remove an important preservation tool. The hearing closed without action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said his expectation is also to keep it to transportation policy and the merits of the policy that's
• /c><00:03:58.200><c> merits</c><00:03:58.480><c> of</c><00:03:58.599><c> the</c><00:03:58.760><c> policy
• </c> policy and the merits of the policy policy and the merits of the policy that's<00:03:59.280><c>
• good</c> that we could get some good that we could get some good Transportation<00:04:46.400><c> policy
• I stand for any questions. extend and then these are policy extend and then these are policy recommendations

Bills: HF5

Keywords: tax modification, transportation funding, electric vehicle tax, Social Security subtraction, retail delivery fee, motor vehicle registration, state budget, transportation policy, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, part of the threshold was to make a public policy decision on opting some people out of that,
• decision on on opting some public policy decision on on opting some people<00:59:24.839><c> out</c><
• Apparently, when we were looking at this policy last year, I wanted to make sure that it didn't take
• Apparently, when we were looking at this policy last year, I wanted to make sure that it didn't take
• last year we I looking at this policy last year we I wanted<01:16:59.080><c> to</c><01:16:59.239><c>

Bills: HF5

Keywords: tax modification, transportation funding, electric vehicle tax, Social Security subtraction, retail delivery fee, motor vehicle registration, state budget, transportation policy, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the system has been rigged in favor of the rich through corporate welfare policies and
• And there have been times when things are policy or things are changed, and we hear... ...been times
• when things are policy or things are changed, and we hear from the people and we adjust.
• I am Assistant Director of Fiscal Policy at the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, and I'm here in
• For the reasons I've described here, I think that this is great policy. We absolutely should do it.

Bills: SB1142, SCR1028

Keywords: scholarships, tax credit, education funding, nonprofit organizations, Arizona Revised Statutes, constitutional amendment, state revenue, tax policy, legislative approval, two-thirds vote, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• not about taking opportunities away from families; it's about fairness and about recognizing that a policy
• I've seen firsthand how inconsistent policies...
• I've seen firsthand how inconsistent policies or administrative barriers related to in-school access
• while allowing schools to continue enforcing neutral, generally applicable safety and operational policies
• James, my son, doesn't know about meetings, policies, or paperwork. He doesn't know what an IEP is.

Bills: H4867, H4927

Keywords: school choice, education policy, educational funding, public schools, student enrollment, applied behavior analysis, autism, education, special needs, school access, therapeutic interventions, 1212, all

Bills: HB332, HB166, SB336, HB447, HB244

Keywords: education policy, wireless communication devices, internet safety, social media, mental health, gender identity, sexual orientation, public schools, classroom instruction, Alabama, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I call this committee meeting of State Government Finance and Policy to order on April 9th, 2026.
• </c> Unfortunately, yet our voices remain underrepresented in the state policy making.
• That means cities with prevailing wage ordinances or labor standards policies like Richfield, Bloomington
• </c> ordinances or labor standards policies ordinances or labor standards policies like<00:15:23.839>
• The bill also requires that rounding policies be posted at locations where the cash transactions occur

Bills: HF4364, HF4821, HF4543, HF3945

Keywords: Central and Eastern European Affairs, ethnic council, advisory council, Minnesota state government, immigrant communities, refugees, humanitarian parolees, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Czech Republic, Baltic states, Slovakia, Slovenia, Kosovo, Russia