Video & Transcript Research : 'reading screening'

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Finance Committee 3/3/2026

Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have several components in the READ Act.
  • READ Act. READ Act. >> Thank<00:36:02.880> you. >> Thank you.
  • have in your materials and on the screen have in your materials and on the screen and<00:36:16.960
  • Uh, we can read the slides, high points.
  • <01:38:02.400> How reading? How are we affecting math? How reading?
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The Education Finance Committee met on March 3, 2026, approved the minutes from February 26, and then held a lengthy informational hearing on the Minnesota Department of Education’s funding and internal allocation of resources. House fiscal staff walked members through several spreadsheets showing federal, non-general fund, and general fund administrative spending, noting the data was filtered from SWIFT and was not exact. The chair said the discussion was intended to help members understand how MDE is funded and how those funds are used internally, in advance of later budget decisions and a separate upcoming hearing on the Perpich Center. Commissioner Willie Jett opened by describing MDE’s mission, statewide reach, and FY 2026 budget of about $14.1 billion, most of which flows directly to districts and charter schools for instruction, special education, transportation, nutrition, and operations. He emphasized transparency, accountability, and the department’s role in implementing laws, distributing aid, and supporting schools and students across urban, suburban, and rural communities. He also noted the department serves more than 873,000 pre-K through 12 students in 2,264 schools. Deputy Commissioner Maren Holden outlined the Office of American Indian Education, the Office of General Counsel, and the Office of Inspector General, highlighting support for American Indian students, legal and rulemaking work, special education dispute resolution, fraud prevention, and student maltreatment investigations. Assistant Commissioner Dr. McCari Traum described the Office of Equity and Engagement, including equity and inclusion training, safe and supportive schools work, public engagement, family outreach, and fraud-prevention coordination. Assistant Commissioner Darren Cordy reviewed nutrition programs, special education services, and the charter center, including free school meals, commodity food distribution, IDEA compliance, and charter school support. Assistant Commissioner Bobby Bernham then described the Office of Teaching and Learning, including early education, academic standards, instruction and assessment, state library services, expanded learning, and literacy work. He highlighted early childhood alignment efforts, standards development across core subjects, professional learning, and library grants. No votes were taken beyond approval of the prior minutes, and the meeting remained informational, with members expected to ask questions after the presentations.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • Students walk up, they can simply tap on the screen to say, 'I'm here.'
  • There are tools within the industry, such as a screen reader, that read aloud what's on the screen.
  • reading software that the visually impaired will use.
  • This funding request also includes our summer reading program.
  • Read the questions themselves. Mr.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/28/2026 - Senate Health and Human Services

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Madam Chair, Senator Angius, we're reading the bill as that we would have to have office space for the
  • In fact, you're not even allowed to ask them any questions until they've been medically screened.
  • He spent many days at the screening center because of overcrowding.
  • They will be able to see the entire 90-day history of that child on their screen.
  • They don't have to click into other screens.
Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee approved the January 21 minutes and then heard a series of bills focused on developmental disabilities oversight, behavioral health fraud, AHCCCS operations, child safety, and state hospital capacity. SB 1179 would make the Developmental Disabilities Group Home Monitoring Program permanent and remove the appropriations contingency; Disability Rights Arizona and program managers testified that Commit had identified systemic care problems, while the sponsor said the work should continue. The bill received a 6-1 do-pass recommendation. SB 1114 would appropriate $1 million to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for behavioral health patient brokering investigations; Native advocates described widespread recruitment and exploitation of vulnerable people, especially Native Americans, and the bill passed 8-0. SB 1115 would prohibit AHCCCS from allowing remote work for Access employees; the sponsor argued in-person oversight was needed, while AHCCCS warned of space and staffing problems. It passed 4-3. SB 1051 would require hospitals to collect and report patients’ citizenship or immigration status for cost accounting; supporters called it a data-collection measure, while nurses and physicians said it would create fear and deter care. It passed 4-3. SB 1122, as amended, would replace prior authorization with 100% prepayment review for certain behavioral health services under the American Indian Health Plan, and passed 7-0 after AHCCCS said it had worked on the amendment. SB 1132, to appropriate unspecified funds for a new Arizona State Hospital wing, drew testimony from families and advocates describing severe shortages of state hospital beds and the need for more long-term treatment capacity; it passed 7-0. SB 1169, to fund graduate medical education and a new residency program, passed 6-0. SB 1171, requiring AHCCCS to check for dual enrollment in exchange plans and AHCCCS, passed 4-2-1 after AHCCCS said implementation would require system changes and costs. SB 1172, requiring more experienced DCS investigators for repeated abuse/neglect reports and court notification of hotline calls in dependency cases, passed 7-0. SB 1173, requiring behavioral health facility applicants, owners, and licensees to be U.S. citizens or lawfully present permanent residents with fingerprint clearance cards, passed 4-3 after an amendment clarifying the lawful-presence requirement.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House and Governmental Affairs Apr 29th, 2026

House and Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Both complaints were screened out and dismissed.
  • Well, I think you can get there by reading it, but here we go.
  • It says staff on my screen. Is it possible for me to read that in for us?
  • Souda, would you please go ahead and read in Senate Bill 292. Mr.
  • Schueter, would you go ahead and read in Senate Bill 41? You go ahead and read in Senate Bill 41?
Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee heard Senate Bill 123 by Sen. Morris, a proposed constitutional amendment to create a legislative-address process for removing certain judges for cause, with the governor certifying removal after a legislative vote and Senate trial. The bill was presented as a way to address perceived gaps and ambiguity in the current Constitution between impeachment provisions and the Judiciary Commission’s authority over judicial discipline. The committee also adopted a technical amendment (Amendment Set 4708) that renumbered paragraphs for clarity. Sen. Morris and supporters argued the measure is needed because current mechanisms have not adequately held judges accountable in serious cases. They cited several criminal cases, especially involving juveniles and electronic monitoring failures, and said the bill would provide a last-resort remedy for gross misconduct, incompetence, or malfeasance. Multiple family members of murder victims testified in support, including Anna Carter, James Carter, and Tracy Carter, who described the death of Jacob Carter and said the case showed a failure of oversight and accountability. Reverend Rodney Wood also spoke in support, describing another case he believed reflected a grave injustice. Committee members raised concerns about separation of powers, due process, political misuse, and whether the bill would reach beyond judges to district attorneys. Some questioned the mechanics of the proposed process, the role of the governor, the Senate trial, and whether the Judiciary Commission and existing impeachment provisions should instead be strengthened or clarified. The ACLU testified in opposition, saying the bill had technical inconsistencies in its vote threshold language, could be addressed by testing existing impeachment authority first, and should not single out judicial discretion while excluding DA discretion. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 03/11/25

Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'll go to Senator B., but I would just point out from my reading of the bill with the as amended, Minnesota
  • I'll go to Senator B., but I would just point out from my reading of the bill with the as amended, Minnesota
  • I'll go to Senator B., but I would just point out from my reading of the bill with the as amended, Minnesota
  • I'll go to Senator B., but I would just point out from my reading of the bill with the as amended, Minnesota
  • I mean, the short version that I've read says they can't change except when the calendar year ends, but
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • On the screen is our website page that you can access much of this information.
  • and on the screen is um our<00:38:20.640> website<00:38:21.480> page<00:38:21.920>
  • As you can see from the slide on the screen, in the primary election, 78.8% of Kentuckians who chose
  • As you can see from the slide on the screen, in the primary election, 78.8% of Kentuckians who chose
  • As you can see from the slide on the screen, in the primary election, 78.8% of Kentuckians who chose
Summary: The committee first handled House Bill 27, which would remove the prohibition on political yard signs in planned communities statewide while still allowing communities to regulate size, placement, and duration. The sponsor said the 2023 Planned Communities Act created an unintended consequence by treating similar homeowners differently based on grandfathering dates, and a legal explanation was offered that the bill would clarify the law and avoid constitutional problems. After discussion, the committee voted 15-0 to pass the bill with favorable expression. The next item was an update from the Secretary of State on the 2024 election and implementation of House Bill 53, which created prompt post-election audits. He said the audits were carried out smoothly, most found no discrepancies, and no election winners changed, though he recommended adding a specific timeline to the law. He also discussed voter-roll maintenance, saying Kentucky has removed more than 440,000 ineligible voters since 2020, and argued that federal law and limited access to federal databases remain the main obstacles to faster cleanup. Members asked about the possibility of improper removals, double voting across states, and how provisional voting works. The Secretary said anyone improperly removed can reregister, that any double-voting abuse is likely marginal but still unacceptable, and that provisional ballots are available when eligibility is in doubt and can be reviewed by the county board of elections. He also urged Congress to modernize the 1993 federal voter-registration law, improve access to death and citizenship data, and create a central interstate information-sharing system for election officials.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Health and Human Services (04/23/2025)

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Second, remote pre-screening for treatment.
  • Second, remote pre-screening patients. Second, remote pre-screening for<01:04:16.480> treatment.
  • We should do pre-screening appointments.
  • <01:05:39.039> the much depth because you can read the much depth because you can read the
  • I have like six bullets, and I'll just read them off quickly.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pension Funding Council Jun 23rd, 2026

Pension Funding Council

Transcript Highlights:
  • And I believe Amanda is prepared if we have a motion to put that up on the screen.
  • Amanda, do you mind pulling it up on the screen so we have it in front of us? Thank you.
  • So, for the members' information, there are the rates on the screen. Thank you.
  • So, for the members' information, there are the rates on the screen.
  • And then do I need to read all that, or do we—? No, that would not be necessary.
Summary: The Pension Funding Council met on June 23, 2026, for a work session that began with an overview of the Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP) and a 2025 accounting valuation of that plan. Staff explained that the SRP is a closed defined benefit supplement for higher education employees hired before the 2011 closure, with employer contributions currently pre-funding benefits in institution-specific trusts while institutions still pay benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis. The State Actuary’s office reported that the plan’s accounting position has improved, with combined market assets of about $245 million against $377 million in accrued liability, and that strong market performance since 2022 has increased the asset-to-liability ratio. The office emphasized that this was an educational accounting valuation, not a funding valuation for rate-setting. The council then received the 2025 actuarial valuation report for the state retirement systems. Actuaries reviewed the recent demographic experience study, noting updated assumptions for mortality, retirement, termination, and salary growth, and said the net impact on most plans was small. They reported that most plans’ funded ratios improved, with all plans at least 94% funded and several at or above 100%, and that contribution rates for the 2027–2029 biennium are generally lower than current rates. They also noted that future rates could be affected by market volatility as deferred gains are recognized over the next few years. During public comment, a representative of the Association of Washington Cities urged the council to consider rate reductions to help local governments facing budget pressures. In executive session, the council first approved a motion directing the Office of the State Actuary to perform an actuarial evaluation and analysis of each institution’s Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan, including institution-specific contribution rates, asset sufficiency, and funding policy options, due by July 1, 2028. The council then adopted the 2027–2029 pension contribution rates based on the 2025 actuarial valuation report. Both motions passed 5-0, with one member excused. The meeting concluded with no further business.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Minerals, Business & Economic Development Committee, February 25, 2026

Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • They have warning signs as you move through the screens.
  • No, you need a signed acknowledgement that they read it.
  • I think, you signs, right, on screen.
  • The warnings on the screen are absolutely a good idea. It's a component.
  • what that looks like because I did read what that looks like because I did read a<00:52:53.599><
Bills: HB0075, HB0128
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Nov 5th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • I would appreciate that because I haven't read it, and I would be interested in how this is fitting.
  • It's really worth the read if the committee would take a look at that.
  • It is listed who is on that committee up there on your screen and in your packet.
  • So as you see up on the screen, this is how we are going to be approaching the work.
  • Those are up on the screen.
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force Jun 24th, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I often try to read news out of what's happening in Philadelphia specifically, and I'm like, okay,
  • So I often try to read news out of what's happening in Philadelphia specifically, and I'm like, okay,
  • We improve outcomes by integrating prevention, doing nutrition screening in primary care, and catching
  • While I was reading all the psychedelic bills this session, I kept thinking, let's pull these experts
  • And so if you provide a negative urine drug screen, then you have the opportunity to earn a little bit
Keywords: 959, house, all
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force Jun 24th, 2026

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I often try to read news out of what's happening in Philadelphia, specifically.
  • So I often try to read news out of what's happening in Philadelphia specifically.
  • We improve outcomes by integrating prevention, doing nutrition screening in primary care, and catching
  • and potentially... ...to screen and intervene early so that we can prevent that from progressing and
  • And so if you provide a negative urine drug screen, then you have the opportunity to earn a little bit
Summary: The task force meeting opened with new leadership announcements, including Senator Nick Schroer thanking outgoing chair Representative John Black and naming Representative Del Taylor as vice chair. After some initial technical difficulties with audio and Zoom, members reviewed the task force’s statutory charge under Missouri law: to hold hearings on substance use, explore solutions, draft or modify legislation, and produce recommendations for prevention and treatment. The chair said the goal for this year is to develop concrete legislative ideas for the next session, with hearings focused first on field experts and later on alternative therapies and the Department of Mental Health. Dr. Rachel Winograd gave the first major presentation, describing Missouri’s overdose crisis as increasingly complex and driven primarily by fentanyl, now compounded by xylazine and metatomidine. She said overdose deaths have declined for a third straight year, with preliminary 2025 data around 1,200 deaths, and attributed the decline to a smaller fentanyl supply, wider naloxone availability, and fewer young people entering use. Her main recommendations were to focus on reducing harm rather than trying to eliminate drug use, expand evidence-based medications for opioid use disorder—especially methadone and buprenorphine—improve access to naloxone, and loosen methadone regulations, including take-home doses, the federal 72-hour rule, and broader methadone units. She also emphasized that peer support, housing, transportation, and other practical supports matter, and noted that naloxone can still reverse fentanyl overdoses even when tranquilizers are present. Dr. Heidi Miller, the state medical director, followed with two recommendations: integrate substance use disorder care into whole-person health care and follow the science when considering substance-related legislation. She argued that primary care, maternal health, workforce training, EMS, public health, and methadone access should all be part of a coordinated model, and said reimbursement should support teams rather than isolated providers. She also urged stronger enforcement of parity between behavioral health/SUD and physical health coverage, and highlighted tobacco and alcohol as major, under-addressed causes of death in Missouri. Dr. Doug Burgess then reinforced the need for a coordinated continuum of care, comparing substance use treatment to the seamless system used for heart attacks, and said patients should have standardized assessment, discharge planning from day one, transition coordinators, peer recovery coaches, and better information-sharing between levels of care. Members asked questions about relapse, treatment court, EMS referral barriers, reimbursement, and whether buprenorphine can be started in the field; no votes were taken, and the meeting ended with plans to continue hearing testimony and use it to shape future policy recommendations.
MA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair, I can see you on my screen. Can you give me a thumbs up if you can hear the audio?
  • From Isaiah Thomas's words to Worcester's first reading of the good independence, freedom was printed
  • of Independence, which is the day it was first read across America.
  • The initiative was started by the state of Hawaii, and the timing for the reading is 6 p.m.
  • People are then sharing their readings on social media all across the country.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The special commission on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution met without quorum, but proceeded with updates on major upcoming 250th events. Chair Sean Garballey and Senator Paul Mark opened the meeting, then Dusty Rhodes gave a detailed overview of Sail Boston and the Tall Ships festivities, including ship arrivals on July 9-10, the opening ceremony on July 10, the parade of sail on July 11, public boarding, harbor fireworks, and the Sail Boston festival. He noted the event will involve 20 countries, about 60 ships, multiple anchorages, and significant coordination with pilots, tugboats, and public safety agencies, with a budget of more than $5 million. Director Kate Fox and Sheila Green reported on Massachusetts 250 campaign efforts, including website and social media performance, merchandise sales, grant-funded exhibits and murals across the state, multicultural outreach, and July 4th programming tied to the Boston Pops Spectacular. They highlighted a series of MA 250 promotional videos, the I-Civics “We Declare” student reading project, the America 250 time capsule submission, the national reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, the Great American Block Party in Boston, and the flag sojourn that will bring a ceremonial flag to several Massachusetts sites before it is sent to Washington, D.C. They also mentioned upcoming MA 250 signage at MassDOT service plazas and a new schools-and-farms partnership announced by state secretaries. Jonathan Lane of Revolution 250 updated the commission on Bunker Hill-related events, the Gloucester battle reenactment, Treaty Day in Watertown, and the Declaration of Independence project. He said Revolution 250 secured funding to reprint the Ezekiel Russell Declaration of Independence for distribution to all Massachusetts cities and towns, using an 18th-century press and handmade paper. The commission then discussed creating a Massachusetts-specific time capsule, with members offering to help identify objects and suggesting it include both historic and contemporary items. The meeting ended with general thanks, an invitation to an upcoming Mass Humanities screening, and a motion to adjourn, which passed unanimously.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

House Chamber - Tue Mar 31, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 36

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Item number two, reading of the journal. Representative Morikawa, may this matter be deferred?
  • and support for students who may struggle with reading.
  • students who may struggle with reading.
  • Said bill passes third reading. Item number eight, announcements.
  • Item number eight, reading.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Feb 20th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Read the next bill.
  • Read the next bill.
  • Read the next bill.
  • Read the next bill.
  • Read the next bill.
Summary: The Senate began with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into floor consideration of the 2026-2027 budget. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented Senate Bill 2500, describing a $115 billion budget that reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental and agricultural programs. Highlights included increased funding for school scholarships and safety, workforce and university programs, Medicaid and child welfare, corrections operations, affordable housing, rural communities, Everglades and water quality projects, and infrastructure. Members then asked detailed questions about several budget items. Senators sought clarification on the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries, charter school capital outlay funding, EASE grants, New College funding, DOC inmate counts and reimbursement, lottery staffing, concealed weapons licensing positions, election security funding, iBudget waiver support, ADAP funding, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, and scholarship and enrollment supplements in K-12 education. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected technical shifts or right-sizing, that some funds were being moved below the line for better tracking, and that several items—such as ADAP and corrections operations—would likely remain conference issues with the House. After questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the budget and implementing measures and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles to prepare for conference. The chamber passed the budget-related bills and several conforming measures, including bills on retirement, fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, court trust funds, judgeships, and K-12 and higher education conforming changes. Votes on the major bills were overwhelmingly unanimous or near-unanimous, and the Senate repeatedly voted to accede to the House’s request for conference on the substituted bills.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Because I read medical journals sometimes, and I saw that we were actually trimming IQ ... ...and we
  • I kind of read through here and you're like, "Oh, leave flexibility to our med schools."
  • You know, I remember when we were doing reading academies and...
  • He goes, "You know, my wife had migraines, and she started using these screens over her lights."
  • They have a natural vanilla bean that has about five ingredients that I can read.
Bills: SB 25, SB25, SB314
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

MS Senate Floor - 4 February, 2026; 10:00 AM

Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • title read. title read.
  • title read. Mr. title read. Mr.
  • . read. read.
  • read. Please. Mr. read. Please. Mr.
  • be read. be read.
Summary: The Senate convened, confirmed a quorum, received an invocation from Dr. Lenon Duncan, and led the pledge of allegiance. Routine business followed, including unanimous consent to dispense with reading the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. Several guests were introduced, including a governmental affairs representative, a doctor of the day and medical student, a county leadership group, agricultural youth council participants, a former senator’s spouse, and MSMS students. The chamber then took up several appropriations and finance measures. Senate Bill 2189, the transfer bill for state funds and agency budget setup, passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 2190 increased the Working Cash Stabilization Reserve Fund minimum balance from 10% to 15% of general fund revenue; supporters said it would strengthen the state’s fiscal position, and it passed by morning roll call after no questions. Senate Bill 2480, a capacity project bill providing $265 million from CAPEX to MDOT for highway projects in Madison and Rankin counties and initial work on Highway 90, was amended to make it effective upon passage and then passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 2832 extended the railroad tax credit repealer to 2029, and Senate Bill 2847 required state and local tax calculations to round to the nearest nickel in response to the federal penny phaseout; both passed by morning roll call. The Senate also approved Senate Bill 2191, which expands the purposes for which municipal use tax funds may be spent to include sidewalk repair and building acquisition/rehabilitation, after questions about municipal and subdivision sidewalks. Senate Bill 2885 created the Mississippi Work and Save Program, a voluntary retirement savings option for small employers and employees, with the sponsor emphasizing that participation is optional and that the program is intended to help workers without access to retirement plans; it passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 2834, the omnibus tag bill, and Senate Bill 2838, the omnibus qualified resort area bill, were each amended with committee substitutes and passed by morning roll call. Later, the Senate suspended the rules and took up a large block of resolutions and commemorative measures, including sympathy and congratulatory resolutions, arts awards, sports championships, and other recognitions, along with House concurrent resolutions and two House bills designating observances. The transcript ends while the clerk is reading the long list of titles in the block.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 3/17/26

Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • and screened-out reports.
  • <00:14:56.320> in This statistic includes both screened in This statistic includes both screened
  • <00:14:58.680> Many<00:14:59.000> children and screened out reports.
  • Many children and screened out reports.
  • <01:46:18.400> the I mean, I That's the way I read the I mean, I That's the way I read the
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • That means the words that voters read and verify on the paper ballot are going to be read by our technology
  • That means the words that voters read and verify on the paper ballot are going to be read by our technology
  • The machine will scan all the barcodes and produce on the screen a summary screen which details exactly
  • <01:00:58.000> details screen a summary screen which details screen a summary screen which
  • This slide's a little hard to read, so I'm going to bring this one in.
Summary: The committee met, approved the October 21 minutes, and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal to prohibit the use of tax dollars and public resources to advocate for or against ballot questions, including constitutional amendments. Senator Rawlings and the other presenters argued the current law already bars such advocacy but lacks meaningful enforcement, citing the 2024 school choice amendment campaign and other examples where public officials and school systems allegedly used taxpayer-funded resources to influence voters. They said the bill would add civil and criminal penalties, while preserving First Amendment rights for public employees acting in their personal capacities. Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill should be limited to school districts or broadened to cover other public entities, and on how to define terms such as “advocating in impartial terms.” Members raised concerns about possible effects on county and city lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, on legitimate factual explanations by public officials, and on whether the bill could unintentionally restrict needed representation for local governments. The sponsors said the measure was intended to be narrow, would be vetted further, and would not bar individuals from speaking on their own behalf. Several members suggested revisions. Representative Lockett asked that schools and school employees be specifically named, and suggested separating the lobbying restrictions from the ballot-measure provisions into different bills. Representative Layman questioned the meaning of the bill’s language and whether it would cover factual testimony by officials. Representative Heen asked about a Jefferson County example involving legal fees used to challenge petition signatures; counsel said that situation would likely be allowable under the bill as drafted, though some members thought it should be covered. No final vote was taken on BR 25 during this discussion.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

HHS-WLA-HWN, AEN-HWN, HWN DEFER, HWN Public Hearings 02-12-2026

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • I will be reading a list of individuals who submitted written testimony for each measure.
  • I will be reading a list of individuals who submitted written testimony for each measure.
  • . screen. screen.
  • Those proposed amendments are extensive and substantive and are too long to read into the hearing, but
  • into the hearing, but the long to read into the hearing, but the summary<00:37:01.920> of<00:
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Triple C committee heard SB 2799, relating to the Kalopa settlement. Testimony was largely supportive, with several individuals and homestead organizations urging passage and asking that Hawaiian Homes Commission, HHCA beneficiaries, and community representatives be included in transition planning. The Department of Health opposed the added reporting requirement as unnecessary and argued its role is limited to patient care, while committee members pushed back and emphasized the need for broader community input and landowner participation, especially from DHHL and DLNR. The chair recommended passage of SB 2799 unamended, with a committee report noting that the required May report should include the interagency transition working group timeline, proposed budget, and proposed procedures. The recommendation was adopted unanimously by the committees present. The joint agenda also took up SB 2887, which would expand the important agricultural land qualified agricultural tax credit to include Hawaiian homelands used for subsistence or agricultural/pastoral purposes and broaden eligible costs to include orchard or fruit-bearing crops and clearing former sugar and pineapple lands. The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the concept but requested amendments; the Department of Taxation and Department of Agriculture provided comments and information on administration and existing claims. The Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the intent but argued the bill should create a new tax credit in Chapter 235 rather than fold DHHL lands into the existing IAL credit. After discussion, the chair recommended passage with the Hawaii Farm Bureau’s amendments and technical changes, and both committees adopted that recommendation. The Hawaiian Affairs committee then acted on several bills. SB 1406, SB 521, and SB 1654 were deferred indefinitely because the chair said related work was already underway and the committee wanted to avoid duplicative paperwork. SB 3247, relating to Mona Ala/Royal Mausoleum, was amended to convert the proposal into a Royal Mausoleum Working Group with periodic reporting and stakeholder input, and it passed with amendments. SB 112, SB 131, and SB 2443 were advanced with amendments that primarily deferred effective dates to keep the measures moving while discussions continue. The committee also noted that some measures were being deferred or reshaped to align with ongoing administrative or companion-bill processes, and the amended recommendations were adopted by the members present.