Transcript Highlights:

• Leslie has been able to I've omitted and it's the appropriation I've omitted and it's the appropriation
• 15.840><c> the</c><00:19:16.000><c> agricultural</c> appropriated out of the agricultural appropriated
• </c><00:19:29.679><c> shall</c> Also adding the sum appropriated shall Also adding the sum appropriated
• </c> for the appropriation language? for the appropriation language?
• It appropriates funds.

Bills: HB1602 , HB2246 , HB1707 , HB2216 , HB2594 , HB2595 , HB2155 , HB2113 , HB2207 , HB1832 , HB2015 , HB2152 , HB2548

Committees: House Agriculture & Food Systems , House Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: agriculture, grant specialist, financial support, farmers, Hawaii, federal grants, grant administration, revolving fund, department of agriculture and biosecurity, grant compliance, transportation, reimbursement, food security, local production, sustainability, agricultural loans, financing, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hawaii agriculture, loan portfolio

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:30.400><c> section</c> financing in the appropriation section financing in the appropriation
• Blank the appropriation. amendments. Blank the appropriation.
• Blank the appropriation amendments.
• Bank the appropriation and defer the date to 2050. Any discussion?
• </c><00:38:10.480><c> Any</c> blanking the appropriation. Any blanking the appropriation.

Bills: SB2088 , SB2925 , SB3263 , SB2047 , SB2087 , SB2100 , SB2268 , SB2353 , SB2781 , SB2902

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Summary: The joint committee on Ways and Means and Consumer Protection met for decision-making only on two agendas and took action on a large number of Senate bills, with no oral testimony heard. On the 1016 agenda, the committee recommended passage of measures including SB 2088, SB 2925, SB 2781, and several others, and passed a number of bills with amendments. Notable amendments included SB 3263, which adopted AG amendments related to the name, image, and likeness endowment trust fund; SB 2047 on pharmacy benefit managers, which incorporated Hawaii Pharmacist Association changes; SB 2087 on health insurance, which added Insurance Division clarifications; SB 2100 on pesticides, which added a blank appropriation; SB 2353 on outdoor signage, which removed provisions related to the Wiki special district; and SB 2902 on renewable energy, which clarified certification standards for portable solar devices and exempted them from certain disclosure requirements. Most recommendations were adopted without objection, though a few members noted reservations on selected bills. The committee also deferred one bill on the agenda, SB 3327. The committee then moved to the 1015 agenda and acted on additional measures. SB 2003 was passed with amendments tied to Act 255, including a repeal trigger if deadlines are missed; SB 2497 on utility-related transparency drew the most discussion, with one member warning about litigation and costs while another argued it was simply about electricity-rate transparency, and it ultimately passed with PUC-related amendments and an exemption for utility cooperatives. Other measures were passed unamended or with technical or fiscal amendments, including bills affecting land planning, tax credits, conveyance tax language, shoreline maintenance, and community improvement projects. Several bills had appropriations blanked or effective dates deferred to 2050, and many were adopted with members noting reservations rather than opposition. On the 1017 agenda, the committee continued approving measures, including SB 709 on crisis intervention officers and assisted community treatment, SB 2153 on defining bona fide farmer/agriculture activity, SB 2694 on water rate adjustments, SB 3025 on income eligibility limits, and SB 3085 on the Hawaii film studio, which included a five-year repeal provision if the studio has not relocated. The committee also passed numerous other bills unamended or with technical amendments, often deferring effective dates or blanking appropriations. Across both agendas, the committee’s actions were largely consistent: bills were advanced with amendments tailored to agency requests, technical corrections, or fiscal adjustments, and votes were generally unanimous or near-unanimous with occasional reservations recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning and welcome to the Appropriations Committee on Higher Education. I am delighted.
• Our base budget in AG appropriations was 4.7 billion dollars.
• have come out of that 3 billion dollar appropriation.
• Beside state appropriations in tuition and fees.
• And that's because of the appropriators and all the investments that have been made.

Transcript Highlights:

• of and worked on with the Appropriations of the<00:08:41.440><c> Appropriations</c><00:08:42.159><c>
• </c> the Appropriations and Budget Committee. the Appropriations and Budget Committee.
• ,</c> Committee on Appropriations, Committee on Appropriations, which<00:42:36.840><c> recommends</c>
• . the committee on appropriations.
• </c> appropriation discussing the per diem. appropriation discussing the per diem.

Transcript Highlights:

• of due pass to Appropriations; item number 12, AB 1882 by Ellis, with a motion of due pass to Appropriations
• due pass to Appropriations; item number 29, AB 2538 by Macedo, with a motion of due pass to Appropriations
• of due pass to Appropriations; item number 12, AB 1882 by Ellis, with a motion of due pass to Appropriations
• amended to Appropriations.
• The motion is due pass to Appropriations. The motion is due pass to Appropriations. Bonta: aye.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• It's sort of a appropriation.
• </c> there's also some appropriations there's also some appropriations um<00:13:00.000><c> going</c><
• </c> Um next one there's one appropriation Um next one there's one appropriation going<00:13:29.120><
• </c> Um, line 39 there's one appropriation Um, line 39 there's one appropriation going<00:13:40.280><
• </c><00:13:50.960><c> is</c> And then the last uh appropriation is And then the last uh appropriation

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing no questions, I assume there'll be a motion at the appropriate time.
• I respectfully ask for your aye vote at the appropriate time. Thank you.
• The motion is due pass to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Umberg? Aye.
• The motion is due pass as amended to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
• Motion is due pass to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Umberg, aye.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would likely be held later because a quorum was not yet present. Early measures included AB 2393, which would create fixed statutory damages for false arrest or imprisonment claims involving aggravating conduct such as face coverings, restraints, forcible transport, or firearms; supporters said it would help victims obtain accountability, while no opposition appeared. AB 2050, the HOA reserve-funding bill, drew support from HOA and housing finance advocates who said underfunded reserves lead to special assessments and safety risks, while consumer groups warned of large cost increases; Senator Laird said he would move it when a quorum was available. AB 1564, making employee-union communications confidential in certain public-employment disputes, was supported by labor groups and opposed by counties, school administrators, and other local agencies who argued it would hinder investigations. AB 2231, a CEQA streamlining bill for two Sutter Health hospital projects, was backed by the author and health-care supporters but opposed by a construction trade group that said it would strip workers of wage-and-hour remedies. The committee also heard AB 2689, which would allow non-renewal of subsidized housing leases for over-income tenants under specified conditions; there was little testimony beyond the author’s presentation. AB 801 would require the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to regularly examine lenders for fair lending compliance; supporters framed it as a response to federal retreat from consumer protection, while credit unions and bankers said they shared the goal but wanted more work on impacts to smaller institutions. AB 2721, as amended, would require hotels to post notice when they have actual knowledge of ICE or CBP reservations; hospitality workers and labor supporters said it would improve worker safety, while hotel industry groups said they were moving toward neutral after amendments, though some owners remained opposed. AB 2035 would create a narrow, court-supervised alternative vote threshold for a single HOA, Laguna Woods Village, to amend outdated CC&Rs; the author and HOA representatives said the change was needed because repeated elections had failed to reach quorum. Later bills included AB 1827, which would raise the small-claims limit for businesses from $6,250 to $15,000 and allow up to three filings per year; supporters said it would modernize access for small businesses, while the Judicial Council opposed it as likely to crowd calendars and shift small claims away from its intended purpose. AB 1577 would require data centers to report energy-use information to the Energy Commission and local agencies; supporters said better data is needed for grid planning, while one industry group remained opposed in print but encouraged by amendments. AB 2164 and AB 1854 both expanded California shield-law protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care providers and related entities against out-of-state legal actions and extradition requests; supporters said the bills were needed to protect providers and patients after Dobbs, while opponents argued they would shield harmful medical practices and interfere with parental rights and other states’ investigations. AB 2529 would require claims against public agencies to include a declaration that the contents are true and correct, and AB 2247 would create the Thrive Act to fund trauma-focused mental health services for youth affected by gun violence; both drew support from local agencies or survivors, with no significant opposition recorded in the excerpt. The final bill discussed, AB 1821, would change Public Records Act response timelines from calendar days to business days to address large, complex, or bad-faith requests; the author said it would better match agency work capacity while preserving access, and the hearing continued with testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is our appropriation change review for FY24 and FY25.
• We did not receive an appropriation.
• They have state-appropriated funds for Head Start.
• So, you know, our carryover is $2 million for total appropriated dollars.
• And so it was not—the LCF payment that we have to make appropriation and payback was not appropriated

Committee: House A&B Natural Resources Subcommittee

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce on its FY26 priorities, recent performance, and budget requests. Commerce said it had helped announce about 8,000 direct jobs and nearly $14 billion in investment year-to-date, while noting challenges such as tariffs, workforce recruitment, staffing/FTE management, and the condition of its 100-year-old office building. The agency highlighted projects and initiatives including a new Taiwan trade office, Route 66 Centennial planning, the National Main Street conference in Tulsa, Olympic-related coordination, census outreach, and continued improvements to its grants and CRM systems. Requested funding included $8.3 million for building repairs or relocation planning, census support, $300,000 for EDGE, $135,000 for IT/cybersecurity upgrades, $250,000 for the Taiwan office, and additional support for Head Start, senior nutrition, and the Strategic Air and Space Commission. Members asked about the meaning of the investment totals, the building condition, delays in senior nutrition distributions, and staffing vacancies; Commerce said the investment figures reflected formal company capital announcements, the building had significant facade and roof damage, delays were due to multiple contracting layers, and several open positions were expected to be filled soon. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department then presented its FY26 budget and goals. New director Amy Blackburn and special advisor Sterling Zearley said the department oversees 38 state parks, six lodges, seven golf courses, and nine travel information centers, and emphasized tourism’s economic importance. They reported savings from bringing marketing and tracking functions in-house and from shared services, but said the department faces more than $271 million in deferred maintenance needs, staffing shortages, and connectivity problems at parks. Their goals include increasing park visitation to 10.2 million, raising occupancy to 36%, and growing travel to Oklahoma, with major marketing tied to the Route 66 Centennial, America 250, the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and other events. The department also discussed a request to raise its purchasing exemption cap from $25,000 to $75,000, a possible TravelOK.com redesign, and efforts to improve restaurant operations at lodges through a new RFP structure. Members questioned the apportionment cap, the size and timing of deferred maintenance requests, park revenue, and the use of parking pass funds; tourism said annual park-related revenue is about $32 million to $34 million and parking pass revenue is about $2.5 million. Finally, the OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority presented its budget request and program updates. The authority said it supports the veterinary teaching hospital and related student training, and that its FY26 budget is entirely state-appropriated. It requested continued support for hospital operations, the large animal scholarship program, and a new $12.5 million annual payment tied to the $250 million Legacy Capital Fund authorization for the veterinary teaching hospital, along with additional funding to expand in-state enrollment. Officials said in-state enrollment had increased from 58 to 69 students after prior funding, with a goal of reaching 90 of 106 total seats, and that there were 195 in-state applicants this year. Members asked whether standards would be lowered; the authority said academic standards would not change and noted strong board-pass rates and retention outcomes. It also said accreditation concerns tied to faculty shortages and off-site teaching had been addressed by bringing students back to the main campus and improving staffing. The committee ended by thanking the presenters and announcing its next meeting date.

Transcript Highlights:

• I move the recommendation to the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee appropriate $692,240 in one-time
• I would move that the recommendation for the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee appropriate 3.5
• I move that the recommendation to the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee appropriate $3 million in
• I move that the recommendation to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee appropriate $5 million
• I move that the recommendation to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee appropriate $25 million

Summary: The committee first approved the January 29, 2006 minutes, then spent most of the meeting reviewing Idaho Children’s Trust Fund and related prevention-focused grant requests. Members repeatedly discussed whether proposals fit the committee’s mission of youth substance-abuse prevention, the need for measurable outcomes and oversight, and whether some requests were more like child care or general social services than prevention. Several members also noted that future legislation and a clearer planning framework may be needed so the committee is not simply reacting to applicants’ own goals. The committee then considered individual funding requests. It approved one-time funding for the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund ($692,240), the Idaho Safety Assessment Center Coalition ($1 million through the Department of Juvenile Corrections), the Idaho Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers ($3 million through ICDVVA), a recovery center request ($150,000 ongoing through Health and Welfare), a statewide drug awareness media campaign ($5 million through the Office of Drug Policy), and the governor’s recommended $25 million one-time transfer to the Department of Health and Welfare/Division of Medicaid to help address the Medicaid forecast and general fund impact. The Children’s Bridge request for $3.5 million did not receive a second and died. Throughout the meeting, members emphasized that any approved funding should include intent language for distribution, oversight, reporting, and in some cases procurement or performance measures. There was also discussion that some programs should have a designated state agency “home” for long-term sustainability, and that the committee should better track whether funded programs are actually reducing youth substance use and related harms. The meeting ended after the committee adopted the motions and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT WITH THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
• APPROPRIATIONS FROM SUBSTANTIVE BILLS PASSED LAST SESSION AND APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR ARE ADDED AND
• ONE OF THE MOST HELPFUL SECTIONS OF THE FULL LIST OF ALL APPROPRIATION CATEGORIES IN THE BASE AND YOU
• NAME, BASE APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 26, AND EXPLANATIONS FOR EACH LINE ITEM.
• ALL $345 MILLION THAT WAS APPROPRIATED FOR THE PACE PROGRAM?

Transcript Highlights:

• The green column represents total appropriation that the agency has received each year.
• That includes federal, dedicated, and general appropriations, both ongoing and one-time.
• The green column represents total appropriation that the agency has received each year.
• That includes federal, dedicated, and general appropriations, both ongoing and one-time.
• in one-time appropriation for exotic pest monitoring and treatment.

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We appropriately referenced some of them and is granting the authority, but left out some.
• </c> specific projects with appropriations specific projects with appropriations and<00:09:52.399><c>
• It was funded in part through a new appropriation, which you see the 150,000 and change.
• </c><00:10:28.399><c> to</c> budget that governs appropriations to budget that governs appropriations
• she needs the additional space, and it's the appropriate place for the Senate clerk to be.

Committee: Senate Capital Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, the appropriation in this, or the money piece of... Mr.
• Section 7 appropriates $55,000 for a third party to conduct the study.
• Appropriation Department of Corrections. Okay, Section 7.
• It's only a $55,000 appropriation for it.
• Chairman and members of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Summary: The committee met to review fiscal aspects of House Bills 1417 and 1425, both part of a broader criminal justice reentry package. HB 1417 would eliminate the $35 public defender application fee and end court-ordered reimbursement of indigent defense costs, while also removing the $55 monthly community supervision fee. Testimony from the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents and the Department of Corrections said the bill would replace lost revenue with general fund appropriations of about $310,000 for indigent defense and $1.5 million for supervision fees, and that the fees are rarely collected and can hinder reentry. Representative Clemene said the bill is intended to reduce barriers to successful community reintegration and improve data and supervision practices. HB 1425 would create and fund front-end diversion, deflection, and pretrial services programs. Supporters described it as allowing prosecutors and local jurisdictions to divert appropriate low-level offenders from prosecution, establish deflection programs for people with behavioral health needs, and expand pretrial services. The bill includes a pilot program in three counties, a $1 million appropriation to DOCR for one FTE and contracts with local providers, $750,000 to DHS for treatment services, and $55,000 for a study of pretrial services cost savings. Committee members asked several questions about how the pilot counties would be chosen, how the consultant study would be procured, and what services the DHS funds would cover. The committee also heard House Bill 1603, which would provide a $500,000 matching grant for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act compliance, with $100,000 available to each of North Dakota’s five tribes if matched. Sponsor testimony said the funds would support a Historical Society NAGPRA compliance committee and help catalog and repatriate human remains and cultural items in coordination with tribes. After questions about the federal mandate and the difficulty of identifying artifacts, the committee voted 4-0 to give HB 1603 a do-pass recommendation, with Senator Meyer assigned to carry it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sorry, this is an amendment to the public safety appropriation.
• and commissions appropriation.
• They're asking for $7,000 in extra appropriation.
• They need additional appropriation for this year, the supplemental appropriation, so they can disperse
• Members, this is the appropriation for Northwest Technical Institute.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the House Committee on Appropriations, Monday, April 13, 2026.
• The ancillary bill appropriates funds to 11 budget units, including all...
• This year's appropriations breakdown follows.
• This year, that appropriation is $25.1 million.
• I was just going to move favorably at the appropriate time. Okay, thank you.

Bills: HB1 , HB312 , HB313 , HB314 , HB383 , HB983 , HB1126 , HCR3

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: revenue sharing, fund distribution, homestead exemption, state funding, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote at the appropriate time. Thank you.
• Do pass as amended to Appropriations. AB 706, Aguiar-Curry. Current vote 16-0.
• Do pass to Appropriations. Current vote 16-0. Archiletta, aye. 17-0. Do pass to Appropriations.
• Do pass as amended to Appropriations. Current vote 12-0. AB 2383, Zbur.
• Do pass to Appropriations. Current vote 16-0. Archiletta, aye. 17-0.

Summary: The committee heard several energy-related bills, with the chair announcing AB 2200 would be taken on consent. AB 353, by Assembly Member Boerner Horvath, would convert the CPUC’s internal audit office into an Inspector General office to improve transparency and oversight; it drew support from some local and consumer groups and opposition from the California Water Association. AB 706, by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, would create a fund to support projects that use forest biomass from wildfire mitigation efforts, with broad support from forestry, labor, local government, and energy groups, and opposition from environmental organizations that argued biomass electricity is costly and polluting. Members asked about the bill’s transparency and ratepayer impacts, and the author said she would work with opponents. Assembly Member Rogers presented AB 1761, which would increase transparency around the PCIA “exit fee” charged to community choice aggregators and other load-serving entities. Supporters said the bill would help CCAs forecast rates and audit calculations, while Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric opposed it, citing market-sensitive data concerns and CPUC oversight. Rogers also presented AB 2369, aimed at improving transmission planning for energy-only projects in rural areas by allowing the CPUC to begin planning before a project is formally proposed; it drew support and no opposition at the hearing, with members noting the need to break the “chicken-and-egg” problem in transmission development. Assembly Member Pacheco presented AB 2124, the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would require the California Council on Science and Technology to evaluate the cost and efficacy of proposed legislative mandates affecting utility bills before committee votes. Utilities and labor supported the bill as a way to inform lawmakers about rate impacts, while members questioned the analysis process and timing. Assembly Member Schultz presented AB 1787, which would require investor-owned utilities to offer dynamic electricity rates to customers after smart meter upgrades, with supporters saying it could lower bills and improve grid use; utilities opposed parts of the bill over cybersecurity and cost-shift concerns, though some CCAs moved to neutral after amendments. Finally, Assembly Member Zbur presented AB 2383, a data center rate bill intended to ensure new large loads pay their fair share and do not shift costs to other ratepayers; supporters included labor and oversight groups, while opponents said the bill still lacked key protections on clean energy procurement, transmission costs, demand response, and treatment of existing data centers. The committee also heard AB 2493, by Assembly Member Cardenas Norris, which would impose deadlines, audits, remedial action, and return-on-equity consequences to speed grid interconnection work; clean energy and environmental groups supported it, while utilities opposed it as duplicative and costly, though they said they were willing to keep working on amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rule is that the General Appropriations Act can only contain appropriations for the different departments
• not be effective if it's challenged. ...that the non-appropriation portion of the feed bill might not
• Kind of sounds like policy beyond the appropriation.
• Also, another example in the Department of Corrections appropriation provision, there's language that
• Also, another example in the Department of Corrections appropriation provision, there's language that

Committee: House Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:48.120><c> um</c> licenses and those are appropriated um licenses and those are appropriated
• </c><00:20:31.919><c> to</c> Highway fund um uh Appropriations to Highway fund um uh Appropriations to
• Those funds are directly appropriated by the legislature.
• </c><00:47:34.680><c> at</c> not items we seeking Appropriations at not items we seeking Appropriations
• </c><00:48:00.200><c> first</c> recommending Appropriations first recommending Appropriations first operating

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriating funds for nutritional assistance in response to the loss of SNAP benefits. 2.
• Making an appropriation to the Administrative Office of the Court.
• Making an appropriation to the Income Support Division of the Health Care Authority to provide state
• Reverting certain balances from certain general fund appropriations.
• Appropriations, providing for transfers from the general fund operating reserve to the appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• And then it also includes age-appropriate firearm safety.
• I don't think this is appropriate.
• First reading of bills: HB 4138, appropriations; HB 4139, appropriations; HB 4140, appropriations; HB
• 4141, appropriations; HB 4144, appropriations; HB 4146, appropriations; HB 4147, appropriations; HB
• 4148, appropriations; HB 4149, appropriations; HB 4150, appropriations; House Bill 4151, appropriations