Transcript Highlights:

• County jails are funded almost entirely by local property tax dollars.
• That is appropriately accountability when local property taxpayers are footing the bill.
• County jails are funded almost entirely by local property tax dollars.
• That is appropriately accountability when local property taxpayers are footing the bill.
• That is appropriately accountability when local property taxpayers are footing the bill.

Bills: HF962 , HF3541 , HF2936 , HF3762 , HF2879

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: Capitol security, public safety, emergency management, state buildings, law enforcement, corrections, legislative approval, rule-making, financial impact, jail regulations, expungement, firearm eligibility, criminal records, organized retail crime, retail theft, supply chain theft, theft enterprise, organized theft, cargo theft, shoplifting

Bills: SF856 , HF3168 , HF3528 , HF389

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Inspector General, fraud prevention, state audit, public funds, misuse, transparency, government accountability, ethnic councils, diversity, governance, state participation, community representation, barbering, licensing, examinations, barber schools, public safety, certifications, Barber Examiners Board, Minnesota Historical Society

Bills: HF2048 , HF2360 , HF2006 , HF950 , HF912 , HF3140 , HF2931

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: individual income tax, retirement contributions, tax corrections, annuity contracts, tax year attribution, tax credit, economic development, community investment, data disclosure, Minnesota regulations, tax increment financing, municipal authority, job creation, transferred increment, public hearing, nonresident employees, income tax exemption, Minnesota taxation, employment duties, tax withholding

Transcript Highlights:

• kind of well they similar to a leased kind of well they are<00:43:00.720><c> leased</c><00:43:01.119
• They just allow them to use public property.
• The DNR leases own their EV chargers.
• So, uh, another public property.
• </c><01:09:38.400><c> So</c> for the um u property tax refund. So for the um u property tax refund.

Bills: HF2048 , HF2360 , HF2006 , HF950 , HF912 , HF3140 , HF2931

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: individual income tax, retirement contributions, tax corrections, annuity contracts, tax year attribution, tax credit, economic development, community investment, data disclosure, Minnesota regulations, tax increment financing, municipal authority, job creation, transferred increment, public hearing, nonresident employees, income tax exemption, Minnesota taxation, employment duties, tax withholding

Bills: HB258 , HB308 , HB258 , HB308

Committee: House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections

Keywords: primary election, election calendar, off-presidential year, May primary, second Tuesday in May, fourth Tuesday in May, runoff primary, special primary, presidential primary, election administration, candidate filing, ballot access, political parties, county election officials, state election law, Alabama elections, elections, voter registration, publishing requirements, cost-saving

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:22.479><c> of</c><00:01:22.640><c> the</c> health, and property of the health, and property
• </c> you have your own lease somewhere? you have your own lease somewhere?
• >> An office building. >> We lease. >> You lease from an office building. Okay.
• &gt;&gt; We<00:56:42.720><c> lease</c> &gt;&gt; We lease &gt;&gt; We lease &gt;&gt; you<00:56:43.440>
• No, we lease a building.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• And maybe their shareholders, as part of their lease, gives the rights to the tenant.
• But the assessments being done through the property taxes, right? Am I understanding that?” “No.
• To the property itself. They go to the shares and to the shareholder.
• And then because the share is appurtenant to the land, it goes on the property.
• It can go on the property as well.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of energy, water, and utility bills. SB 952, SB 1417, SB 924, SB 925, SB 1011, SB 1168, SB 1196, and SB 1350 were all discussed, along with consent items SB 1008 and SB 1245. SB 952 would give the Department of Water Resources more flexibility in meeting clean energy procurement goals for the State Water Project; it drew support from the State Water Contractors and California Municipal Utilities Association and no opposition. SB 1417 would extend transparency and notice requirements to mutual water companies, especially in response to wildfire-related rate increases in Altadena; supporters described lack of notice, meeting access, and public accountability, while the California Association of Mutual Water Companies opposed the bill as overly prescriptive and potentially conflicting with existing law. SB 924 would modernize low-income energy assistance and weatherization programs to better measure affordability outcomes and tenant benefits, and it passed with broad support. SB 925 would direct the Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy; it was supported by industry and clean energy groups and passed without opposition. SB 1011 would require CPUC standards for human review of utility AI systems and labor consultation; supporters framed it as a safety and workforce protection measure, while utilities and business groups warned about cost, duplication, and overbroad regulation. SB 1168, now a study bill, would have the CPUC examine how data centers pay for load growth and rate impacts; it drew mixed reactions, with some industry opposition and some labor support after amendments. SB 1196 would speed utility hookups for ADUs and JADUs by allowing earlier applications and setting timelines; housing advocates supported it and it passed. SB 1350 would allow renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using green hydrogen, with strong support from hydrogen, labor, and utility interests, but TURN opposed it unless amended, arguing it lacked safeguards against greenwashing and resource shuffling. The committee also approved the consent calendar and several bills were reported out on recorded votes, with most measures advancing on strong bipartisan support and a few no votes from Senators Strickland and Dahle on selected items.

Transcript Highlights:

• And maybe their shareholders, as part of their lease, gives the rights to the tenant.
• But the assessments being done through the property taxes, right? Am I understanding that?” “No.
• To the property itself. They go to the shares and to the shareholder.
• And then because the share is appurtenant to the land, it goes on the property.
• It can go on the property as well.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• and describes the buildings, the height of the buildings, and the dimensions of the condominium property
• , and a description of each of the buildings on that property, and the identity, the identity... ...property
• Our Margate lease expired, and we opened up a second office in Fort Lauderdale.
• Our Margate lease expired, and we opened up a second office in Fort Lauderdale, so there's now two in
• leased to the House of Representatives on the 21st floor of the Capitol building.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for budget day, heard agency follow-up questions, and then presented its recommended budget for fiscal year 2025-2026. Chair Lopez opened with remarks about reducing spending, emphasizing vacancy reductions and recurring savings across agencies. The recommendation eliminated 452.5 vacant positions and produced recurring savings of $57.2 million overall, while still funding selected priorities. Notable funded items included $500,000 for a new DBPR website for condominium complaints and document filing, $481.3 million for the MICEF Florida Home Program in DFS, funding for Florida PALM implementation, $330,000 for a Tampa office in the Office of Insurance Regulation, $835,000 for warehouse space for confiscated gambling machines, $821,000 for the Lottery gaming system contract, and major DMS capital and facilities funding. Lopez also criticized DMS leadership and said the secretary’s salary would be held in reserve pending answers on fleet management, remote workers, SUNCOM billing, and other issues. The committee then questioned DBPR Secretary Griffin about condominium records, structural integrity reserve studies, and milestone-inspection compliance. Members focused on how the division tracks condominiums, whether it can identify buildings with three habitable stories, and whether the current filing system can be improved to better capture building height and story count. Griffin said the division relies heavily on self-reporting and complaint-driven checks, but has updated forms to capture whether a condominium has buildings three stories or higher and has received additional submissions. Members also asked about staffing and the Miami-area office; Griffin said DBPR now has two Fort Lauderdale offices and a Doral office, with about 82% of new positions filled. Secretary Davis of the Florida Lottery also testified, defending travel to Paris and other conferences as part of industry engagement, technology research, and best-practice sharing. He said the travel was reimbursed through lottery-related organizations, described the Lottery as an enterprise fund that receives no general tax revenue, and said the agency has remained a top revenue generator nationally. Members questioned Orlando travel reimbursements and dues to the Multi-State Lottery Association, and asked for more information on how increased revenue translates into more Bright Futures scholarships. Davis said he would provide additional details. The subcommittee then unanimously passed two conforming bills. PCB SAB 25-01 removed statutory references to the legacy FLAIR accounting system in preparation for Florida PALM and was reported favorably. PCB SAB 25-02 addressed Capitol Center space after the planned House lease cancellation, declaring the governor, cabinet, and legislature permanent tenants, protecting existing space and parking allocations, giving the legislature first right of refusal on vacant space, and giving legislative leaders control over utilities in their space; it also passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned after the bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the terms of the settlement agreement would allow the Coeur d'Alene Tribe to lease consumptive
• they need a consumptive water right for that, they can come to the tribe through the rental pool and lease
• an idea of the scope of what we're talking in terms of how many acre-feet do you have available to lease
• out, or how many acre-feet in total, which would include what you could lease out for consumptive use
• Owners Alliance, and the Coeur d'Alene Lakeshore Property Owners Association.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• or license your property?"
• So, you know, his initiative was there's a way for you to lease or license your property.
• . property. property.
• property in which the department holds a property interest.
• </c> Veteran Services to license and lease Veteran Services to license and lease property<01:53:56.800

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1015, Real Property and Condominium Flood Disclosures.
• out in a long-term lease in an apartment... ...to prior to leasing out in a long-term lease in an apartment
• to the people that pay their property taxes and bought that land.
• to the people that pay their property taxes and bought that land.
• Pete Dunbar, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Florida Bar, is waving in support.

Summary: The committee first temporarily postponed HB 381, then heard and passed HB 1015 by Rep. Hunschofsky, which expands flood disclosure requirements to long-term rental tenants in addition to homebuyers and clarifies that renters’ insurance does not include flood coverage. An amendment changed rental disclosure language to “dwelling unit,” and the bill received support from the American Flood Coalition, Audubon Florida, and the Florida Association of Realtors. Rep. Robinson praised the bill’s added protections, and the measure passed favorably on a unanimous roll call. The committee then considered HB 247 by Rep. Connerly, an affordable housing bill requiring local governments to adopt ordinances allowing accessory dwelling units in single-family residential areas without added parking requirements, while limiting ADUs in planned unit developments and master-planned communities. Two amendments were adopted: one removed mezzanine financing language and another added certain newer manufactured homes to the ADU definition. Testimony was generally supportive, including from AARP, Florida Realtors, Americans for Prosperity, the Florida Chamber, and the Florida Manufactured Housing Association, but several members raised concerns about parking, infrastructure, historic neighborhoods, and short-term rentals. The bill passed favorably, though Ranking Member Cross voted no. Next, the committee took up HB 913 by Rep. Lopez, a broad condominium reform package addressing governance, financial transparency, reserves, insurance, voting, recalls, structural safety, and related issues. Three amendments were adopted: requiring seven years of posted meeting minutes online, allowing reserve contributions to be paused if a building is deemed uninhabitable, and clarifying that certain 2024 condo-law amendments do not apply retroactively to pending matters. Support came from AARP, the Florida Land Title Association, the Florida Bar’s Real Property section, Association Reserves, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Marriott, and others, while speakers urged continued work on reserve-account clarity and caution on hotel-condo provisions. Members praised Rep. Lopez’s work, and the bill passed unanimously. Finally, the committee heard HB 579 by Rep. Overdorf on development permits and orders, which would require clearer application requirements, hold local governments to existing review timeframes, provide fee refunds when deadlines are missed, and prevent local governments from arbitrarily limiting quasi-judicial hearings. Members asked about incomplete applications, substantive changes that restart timelines, and whether the bill should address additional land-use changes; the sponsor said he was open to continued discussion but believed the bill’s definitions were broad enough. Public testimony supported the bill, and after debate from Rep. Hunschofsky and Rep. Cross noting some remaining concerns, the bill passed favorably. The chair then reminded members to engage sponsors early on future bills and moved to rise from committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• that's an important property tax exemption to keep California beautiful.
• So the bill is AB 1668, Pellerin, property tax welfare exemption.
• Next, we have AB 672, Colosa, Real Property Tax, Welfare Exemption.
• Next we have AB 1668 by Pellerin, property tax welfare exemption with the Secretary.
• Pellerin, property tax welfare exemption, with the Secretary, please call the roll.

Summary: The Committee on Revenue and Taxation met with a quorum and heard five bills, most of them tax exemptions or credits aimed at housing, veterans, and seniors. SB 1096, as amended, would provide a $1,500 tax credit for certain grandparents and other caregivers for tax years 2026 through 2030, with income-based phaseouts, a seven-year carryforward, and exclusions for dependents receiving foster care payments. Members praised the author’s amendments and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 672, extending a property tax welfare exemption for community land trust projects that create or rehabilitate low-income housing, and AB 1668, extending for five years the welfare property tax exemption for nonprofit land trusts that protect open space and recreational lands. Supporters for both bills emphasized permanent affordability, stewardship of natural lands, and relatively small public costs compared with the housing and conservation benefits. AB 672 and AB 1668 each passed unanimously to Appropriations, though AB 1668 drew one respectful opposition from the California Teachers Association. AB 2022 would expand the property tax exemption for disabled veteran homeowners, increasing the exemption for low-income veterans to 100% and to 50% of assessed value for others, while preserving current benefits through a loophole-closing amendment. The author and veteran advocates argued the bill would help keep disabled veterans and their families in their homes and make California more competitive with other states. The bill passed 5-0 to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. AB 2641 was placed on the consent calendar and adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is about property rights.
• Madam Whip and members, House Bill 2261 defines class two property as agricultural real property and
• They said that if you own a property with your spouse, well, then you only own 50% of the property, and
• They said that if you own a property with your spouse, well, then you only own 50% of the property, and
• They said that if you own a property with your spouse, well, then you only own 50% of the property, and

Summary: The meeting covered a very large number of bills across multiple committees, with most items presented on consent calendars and several sponsors explaining their measures. Education bills focused on moving statewide testing later in the school year, allowing paper testing by local choice, increasing transparency around district administrator pay, expanding religious excusal policies, creating a school fitness recognition program, and sending a resolution to voters to require sex-based designation of school sports teams and private spaces. Federalism and Government items included bans on foreign contributions to ballot-measure committees, a proposed ballot measure to eliminate voting centers and return to precinct-based voting, memorials urging withdrawal from the United Nations and the IMF, penalties for late agency financial reporting, restrictions on state contracts with China, and a bill limiting use of ADS-B aviation data for fee collection. Commerce bills addressed digital goods disclosure, child influencer trust accounts, liability for river outfitters, marketplace contractor termination rights, utility submetering charges, unemployment eligibility checks, and association-based health plans. Health and human services measures included lactation consultant certification and Medicaid breastfeeding support, a ban on gender transition procedures for minors, a requirement that chief medical officers hold active licenses, technical ambulance definitions, a SNAP waiver request to restrict non-eligible food purchases, hospital collection of patient immigration status, and enrollment verification for AHCCCS-related hospital presumptive eligibility. Judiciary bills included consent-verification requirements for online sexual material, a civil cause of action for DEI policy violations, hate-crime-style enhancements that also cover political affiliation, name-change disclosure rules for sex offenders, penalties for possession of falsified commercial driver’s licenses by unlawfully present persons, penalties for mailing abortion-inducing drugs, speed-inhibiting devices as an alternative to license suspension, longer transition services for inmates, stronger penalties for sexual extortion of minors, and legislative oversight of state shooting range closures. Natural resources and water bills dealt with brackish groundwater recovery and desalination studies, water augmentation authority financing, HOA drought-year watering restrictions, water-rate parity for customers outside city limits, and groundwater transportation from the McMullen Valley basin. Other topics included a ban on PFAS firefighting foam, restrictions on vaccine and mask mandates by governments and businesses, protections against employment or service discrimination based on medical interventions, elimination of long-vacant state positions, consumer protections against device disabling after owner modifications, and restrictions on Chinese-made critical infrastructure. The committee also heard a Space Commission update bill and a continuation of the Arizona Beef Council. Several bills were pulled from consent or flagged for amendments or legal concerns, including the testing-window bill, student directory information bill, river outfitter liability bill, ambulance bill, and others. No final floor votes were taken in the transcript, but many bills were advanced on third-read or consent calendars, while a few were set aside for amendments or further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• things being put in a lease. The problem things being put in a lease.
• It happens at properties.
• inactions taken by one of the parties, you know, damage to the property, lease violations, failure to
• </c> a serious material breach of the lease a serious material breach of the lease that<02:45:33.840>
• Uh, and I manage properties Thank you. Uh, and I manage properties for other people.

Committee: House Housing

Summary: The Housing Committee opened with a public hearing on HB 196, which would repeal the Housing Champion program. Representative Matt Drew, the prime sponsor, argued the program is an unnecessary and poorly targeted subsidy, saying it rewards municipalities after projects are completed and may not be limited to new housing production. He questioned the transparency of the program, cited difficulty finding required annual reports, and noted a fiscal note suggesting the state could recover up to $3 million if obligations are terminated. Committee members and witnesses debated whether the program’s criteria amount to political favoritism or a standard grant process; supporters said the rubric is specific and that municipalities are evaluated against objective requirements. Representative Priest, Nick Taylor of Housing Action New Hampshire, and Karen Benfield of Stay Work Play New Hampshire all opposed repeal, saying the program encourages local zoning and regulatory changes, helps smaller communities participate, and supports housing supply and young people’s ability to stay in the state. The hearing on HB 196 was then closed. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 1405, a bill establishing an affordable housing guarantee program within the Housing Finance Authority. Prime sponsor Representative Chris Muns said the bill would reduce lender risk by guaranteeing up to 80% of principal on qualifying loans for affordable housing, with a cap of $30 million per lender per year and $300 million outstanding at any time. He described the measure as a low-cost public-private partnership backed by the full faith and credit of the state, and said it was identical to a prior Senate bill that had received unanimous bipartisan committee support before dying later in the process. He framed the bill as one part of a broader housing package aimed at financing, infrastructure, workforce, zoning reform, and other housing-related issues. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided. The only formal actions were opening and closing the public hearing on HB 196 and opening the public hearing on HB 1405, with testimony continuing on HB 1405 at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pursuant to KRS 56.82311A, the Division of Real Properties recorded two square footage lease modifications
• </c><00:01:53.040><c> recorded</c> the division of real properties recorded the division of real properties
• 01:55.600><c> modifications</c> two square footage lease modifications two square footage lease modifications
• We're going to be re-evaluating all those leases. This was off of an eight-year lease, I think.
• We're going to be re-evaluating all those leases. This was off of an eight-year lease, I think.

Summary: The meeting began with routine business, including welcoming new committee member Senator Reginald Thomas, approving the minutes, and receiving a correspondence report on several information items. Those items included University of Kentucky research equipment funding, UK capital project funding using federal/private funds, debt issues from McGoffin County and Owen County school districts, lease modifications by the Division of Real Properties, asset preservation project revisions at Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University, and Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) information on Kentucky Wired critical infrastructure. The main discussion focused on a dispute over the Kentucky Wired communication shelters, or “huts,” and related payments under KCNA’s agreement with Asellicom/Excel. Brad Kilby of Asellicom testified that KCNA had not paid for the huts, that Asellicom had not received the alleged $8 million or any later payment, and that Asellicom remained the legal owner. Committee members pressed him on whether payment had been received, whether anyone else might have received it, and whether the lawsuit or dispute resolution process clarified the issue. Kilby said no payment had been received and that the matter was part of ongoing litigation. KCNA Executive Director Doug Hendricks and General Counsel Adam Atkins then testified. They said a certified check for $8.5 million was mailed in July, based on the Finance and Administration Cabinet secretary’s determination that $8.5 million was due under the model procurement code, even though KCNA had initially requested about $12 million to cover a worst-case estimate. They said the contract allowed payment in full or in tranches, that the huts were completed and operational, and that KCNA had not received documentation supporting Asellicom’s higher $10.1 million claim. Members expressed frustration over the missing check and the broader implications for Kentucky Wired, and one member requested that the committee obtain all agency requests related to KCNA/Kentucky Wired since inception; the co-chairs said they would look into making that information available. No formal vote was taken on the dispute during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm fortunate for that because if he did, my property value would plummet by at least 7% right off the
• And you just realize that all this property is being bought and used for solar farms. Yeah.
• And we could use, again, property that cannot be built on instead of beautiful farmland.
• That does need to be mentioned because they sign these leases that these landowners signed with them
• And then they sign 50-year leases.

Committee: Senate Energy And Telecommunications

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, chaired by Senator Kevin Parker, considered several Public Service Law bills and advanced each one to the Rules Committee after brief discussion and recorded no votes or without-recommendation votes on some measures. The bills included proposals to prohibit utilities from using ratepayer funds for certain activities (1012A), establish minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers (1327), adjust residential fixed charges (1329), require the Public Service Commission to consider economic impacts when setting rates (1847), require utilities to adopt PSC-authorized equity ratios and returns on equity (1896), create the Rate-Hike Notice Act (5553C), suspend certain utility rate changes while allowing retroactive revenue recovery (5593), allow consideration of non-economic losses in penalty determinations (7165A), change the composition of the Public Service Commission (7328A), and let utilities retain revenues above authorized returns on equity (7693). Members asked questions about who would be affected by the bills, including whether fixed-charge reductions would apply to vacant units or vacation homes and whether economic-impact considerations could affect customers differently depending on where they live; the chair and sponsors generally explained the measures as territory-wide or applicable to all residential customers, with no occupancy or income-based circuit breaker in the text. The committee then heard testimony from Alexandra Fasulo, introduced as an entrepreneur and farmer in Schuylerville, about her concerns regarding the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) and utility-scale solar development on farmland and grasslands. She argued that solar developers were pressuring landowners, including older and lower-income property owners, into long-term leases, that ORES approves most projects despite local opposition, and that the process lacks transparency, with redacted documents and limited public access to information. She also criticized the siting of solar projects on productive farmland and said decommissioning rules could leave equipment buried in the soil. Committee members responded that the Legislature has already taken steps to protect high-quality soils, that ORES was created by statute and operates within the Public Service Department, and that DEC and ORES are supposed to work together rather than ORES superseding DEC. Several senators said they were sympathetic to concerns about farmland and community engagement, but also emphasized the need to expand renewable energy and balance that with land preservation. Members suggested that specific complaints about ORES transparency or solar siting could be addressed through future legislation or by inviting ORES and PSC officials back for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lease-lease-back is often the best method to deliver new education facilities, sports fields, pools,
• For years, contractors have operated under significant legal uncertainty around lease, lease back 10,
• the lease-lease-back, is there a cost savings?
• That contractor builds on that property and then does a lease-back over time.
• I don't know that we do lease-lease-back on community college campuses. I don't believe we do.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 402, which would increase Cal Grant award amounts for students attending private nonprofit colleges and extend transfer entitlement eligibility to those institutions. The author and supporters argued the bill would improve affordability and access for low- and middle-income, working, military, and transfer students, while some senators emphasized the need to pair any increase with broader Cal Grant reform and funding. The bill drew support from private nonprofit universities, community college districts, and student advocates, and no opposition was presented. It passed on a due pass motion to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. The committee then took up AB 2067, a sunset extension for the competitive lease-lease-back process for TK-12 school construction through July 1, 2032. Supporters from school facilities groups, school districts, and contractors said the method provides flexibility, early contractor involvement, cost control, and legal certainty for school construction projects. Some senators questioned how often the method is used and raised concerns about the bill’s skilled-and-trained workforce provisions, with one senator opposing on the grounds that such requirements limit contractor participation. The bill passed on a due pass motion and was placed on call. Next, AB 1204 proposed changes to the Local Control Funding Formula, including a lower concentration-grant threshold, regional cost adjustments, a minimum annual COLA, and other equity-focused revisions. Supporters said the bill would better reflect regional costs and student need, while opponents—especially several school district leaders—argued it would shift money away from the base grant, widen disparities, and create new fiscal cliffs. Committee members raised concerns about the scale of the rewrite, the lack of a broader funding strategy, and the proposed 4% COLA guarantee, though the author said the bill was intended as a phased update to improve equity. The bill was supported by the chair and several members, then passed on a due pass motion to Appropriations and was placed on call. Finally, the committee heard AB 1235, which would require a skilled-and-trained workforce process for CSU design-build projects. Supporters said it would align CSU with other segments and promote quality training, while opposition from contractor groups argued it would add liability, reduce competition, and increase costs without evidence of better outcomes. Senators again focused on the effect of skilled-and-trained requirements on contractor participation, with one member stating opposition to limiting who can work in California and another noting the bill’s broader policy implications. The transcript ends during committee discussion of AB 1235, without a recorded final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:24:34.720><c> The</c> management lease with a nonprofit.
• The management lease with a nonprofit.
• 00:24:48.159><c> taxes</c> require them to pay the property taxes require them to pay the property taxes
• Uh and on the lease hold interest.
• ><c> the</c> required to pay property taxes on the required to pay property taxes on the land.<00:25:

Committee: Joint Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• management company and I said property management company and I said hey<00:26:11.200><c> we</c><00:
• </c><00:27:09.520><c> So,</c> documents with that lease agreement.
• So, documents with that lease agreement.
• </c> that agent to represent their property. that agent to represent their property.
• We'll be limiting the bill to just real property insurance, excluding notices.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce heard testimony on several measures. SB 1402, relating to vessels in state commercial harbors, drew opposition from Captain Andy Sailing Incorporated, and later the committee agreed to amend the bill to exempt tour boat operators before passing it. SB 1411, relating to Medicaid third-party liability, received strong support from the Department of Human Services, which asked that the effective date be restored to upon approval. SB 1438, relating to home care agencies, was supported by the Department of Health and one individual testifier, with the department arguing that unlicensed personnel performing skilled nursing services puts kupuna at risk. The committee later moved that bill forward with a clean date. SB 1449, relating to prior authorization of health care services, drew support from the Hawaii Medical Association and comments from the Hawaii Association of Health Plans and HMSA. Health plans asked that reporting requirements align with upcoming CMS regulations, and HMSA noted the work of the stakeholder process. The committee discussed the bill as consumer-focused and adopted amendments to add laboratory and diagnostic tests and to require the working group’s first report before the 2026 session and before each session thereafter. SB 1291, relating to certified public accountants, received support from the Board of Public Accountancy, the Hawaii Society of CPAs, Hong Consulting LLC, and Ron Heler, who said it was substantially the same as a previously passed House bill and would help increase the CPA pipeline in Hawaii. The committee also heard SB 752, relating to insurance, with opposition and comments from the Hawaii Insurance Council and Liberty Mutual, which requested amendments on non-payment of premiums, material misrepresentation, and limiting the bill to homeowners insurance. Greg Mskian testified in support but urged clearer notice and denial explanations for homeowners. SB 385, relating to condominiums, drew support from Hawaii Realtors and detailed comments from Ray Tenno and Greg Mskian about making governing documents available online or by email to owners and agents, with discussion of website costs and access. Finally, SB 140, relating to invasive species, received support from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and CAPS, while the Department of Agriculture offered comments and proposed streamlining language; supporters emphasized firewood treatment standards and the need to prevent invasive pests. After a brief recess, the committee took votes on several measures, adopting the chair’s recommendations on SB 1402, SB 1411, SB 1438, SB 1449, and SB 1291.