Transcript Highlights:

• But if we look heart to heart, then we will find a pathway forward.
• But if we look heart to heart, then we will find a pathway forward.
• look Heart to Heart then we will find we look Heart to Heart then we will find a<00:52:42.520> pathway
• a pathway a pathway forward<00:52:44.799> uh<00:52:45.200> along<00:52:45.520>

Keywords: House Agenda:, 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• its website and any publications related to obtaining a GED information about the MD diploma works pathway
• <00:35:32.240> Move<00:35:32.480> the diploma works pathway.
• Move the diploma works pathway. Move the amendments,<00:35:33.000> please.
• Publicly Funded Pre-Kindergarten Early Childhood Educator Career Ladder for Private Providers New Pathways
• providers new pathways. providers new pathways.

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, March 12, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House met in Annapolis on February 27, 2026, with 128 members present. After a prayer, the chamber adopted the previous day’s journal and recognized a resolution honoring Brunswick High School’s first Tech Challenge team, Minerva’s Mechanics, for winning the FTC Regional Championships and qualifying for the World Championship in Houston. The resolution was read and adopted with applause. The main legislative item was House Bill 355, concerning the Education, Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program and human and sex trafficking; the House adopted the favorable committee report and ordered the bill printed for third reading. The next bill, House Bill 534 on nonpublic school transcripts and prohibiting punitive measures related to student debt, also received a favorable report. Debate then centered on an amendment offered to HB 534 that would have tied school funding to student choice for students in repeatedly one-star-rated schools and allowed parents of habitually violent or disruptive students to consider military boarding school options. The sponsor argued Maryland’s public schools, especially in Baltimore City, were failing students despite heavy spending, citing low literacy, violence, and the book Failure Factory; several members echoed concerns about school performance, bureaucracy, and the need for educational freedom. Opponents and procedural speakers said the amendment was not germane to HB 534, which they described as a narrow bill about transcript access for students leaving nonpublic schools with unpaid fees, often students with disabilities. The floor leader urged the body to resist the amendment and stick to the bill’s actual subject. Despite multiple members explaining their votes in support of school choice and criticizing the Blueprint and school outcomes, the House ultimately took a roll call on the amendment after a voice vote was challenged. The transcript cuts off during the roll call and does not show the final recorded result on the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill does not overturn or prevent any guilty verdicts, but instead creates a pathway for the courts
• 04:19.920> a guilty verdicts, but instead creates a guilty verdicts, but instead creates a pathway
• for the courts to recognize pathway for the courts to recognize trauma<01:04:22.319> and<01:04
• standard so that there was no confusion about, um, both citizens and practitioners as to what the pathway
• <01:29:36.400> was practitioners as to what the pathway was practitioners as to what the pathway

Bills: HF3465, HF3782, HF4075, HF391, HF3946, HF2976, HF3350

Keywords: theft, vulnerable adults, public safety, penalties, Minnesota statutes, chemical irritants, law enforcement, transparency, building owners, tenant rights, notification, remediation, firearm restrictions, domestic violence, court orders, criminal convictions, firearms prohibition, gun surrender, order for protection, protective order

Transcript Highlights:

• The top two things I would love to see come out of this is a pathway to receivership that could also
• The top two things I would love to see come out of this is a pathway to receivership that could also
• The top two things I would love to see come out of this is a pathway to receivership that could also
• HOAs play a key role in creating pathways to homeownership.
• HOAs play a key role in creating pathways to homeownership.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the executive director at Community Pathways of Steele County in the great city of Owatonna.
• And he shared, "I saw my wife come home from a visit with you at Community Pathways and she had hope
• Pathways Pathways and<01:21:38.239> she<01:21:38.480> had<01:21:38.800> hope<01
• Uh, my name is Patrick Felker, and I am the director of food access services with Family Pathways.
• Uh, my name is Patrick Felker, and I am the director of food access services with Family Pathways.

Bills: HF45, HF1148, HF3624, HF3586, HF777

Keywords: HF45, Lake Benton, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Public Facilities Authority, public infrastructure, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, utility replacement, U.S. Highway 75, road reconstruction, municipal infrastructure, local government grant, Minnesota bonding, capital appropriation, food insecurity, prepared meals

Transcript Highlights:

• for districts to not require pathway for districts to not require insurance.<00:44:11.280> And
• for the compact is to facilitate the mobility of teachers across those states to give them a new pathway
• to licensure and um basically create a streamlined pathway to licensure mobility.
• across those states to give them<01:15:58.880> a<01:15:59.199> new<01:15:59.360> pathway
• streamlined pathway to lensure mobility. streamlined pathway to lensure mobility.

Bills: SF0035, SF0090, SF0072

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

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill modifies that second pathway to just be 80% of the units.
• There is the alternate pathway now which requires 100% of units basically to be qualified residents,
• c><00:47:57.839> requires alternate pathway now which requires alternate pathway now which requires
• We're just trying to clarify that second alternative pathway.
• , so that there'd be one pathway where 50% plus one of the units are affordable.

Bills: HB1721, HB1714, HB1718, HB1732, HB1740, HB1777, HB1842, HB1919, HB1701, HB1923, HB1741, HB1734, HB1739

Keywords: housing, expedited permits, insurance, indemnification, construction, affordable housing, executive compensation, Hawaii housing finance, legislative approval, low-income housing, moderate-income housing, mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, TOD, county powers, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, HHFDC, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, DHHL, affordable housing credits

Summary: The House Housing Committee met on February 4 and heard testimony on several housing measures, beginning with HB1721, which clarifies insurance, indemnification, and certificate-of-occupancy requirements for expedited permits. Testimony on HB1721 was uniformly supportive from the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Grassroot Institute, and individual testifiers, who said the bill would fix insurance issues for design professionals and encourage more participation in the expedited-permit program. No opposition was heard and no questions were raised. The committee then heard HB1714, which would raise salary caps for the executive director and deputy executive director positions at the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and allow more autonomy in personnel matters, including employment contracts. HHFDC supported the bill, saying greater flexibility is needed to recruit and retain staff and that current pay ceilings are not the main issue because the agency lacks operating funds to reach them. The Department of Human Resources Development offered comments and raised concerns about autonomous personnel authority and employment contracts, saying state personnel matters are governed by existing statutes and collective bargaining rules; the Hawaii Public Housing Authority also offered comments, and one board member and one individual opposed the measure. Members questioned whether performance-based pay or existing incentive policies could address retention instead of statutory salary changes. The committee also heard HB1718, which would make permanent county authority to facilitate mixed-use developments and issue county bonds for low- and moderate-income housing projects. Support came from OPSD, HHFDC, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Housing and Land Management, and Housing Hawaii’s Future, all emphasizing that permanent authority is needed to finance long-term mixed-use and transit-oriented projects. A member asked whether the sunset provision would make bonding impractical, and the city representative agreed that temporary authority would make financing difficult because development takes time. Later, the committee took up HB1732, establishing the Kamina Homes program to fund counties’ purchase of voluntary deed restrictions from eligible buyers. The Department of Taxation and several groups, including HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Holomua Collaborative, and others testified, with most supporting the bill as a way to help local families remain in Hawaii and age in place. Holomua said a recent survey found 75% of 3,200 working families were considering moving, and argued the bill could preserve housing for local residents. Members asked about the bill’s 8% cap on deed-restriction cost and why the program focuses on residency rather than resale restrictions; the bill’s proponents said the cap allows flexibility for county negotiations and that the measure is aimed at workforce preservation rather than land-trust-style appreciation limits. Finally, the committee heard HB1740, which would modify a prior HHFDC housing pathway by reducing the qualified-resident requirement from 100% to 80% and allowing more flexibility for long-term rental instead of owner occupancy. HHFDC and Holomua Collaborative supported the change, saying the earlier 100% requirement had produced no developments or applicants and that the revised standard would make projects more feasible while still preserving housing for local residents. The committee did not take final votes on these measures during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're offering programs and pathways that deliver immediate, flexible, and scalable solutions for
• And we're offering<00:41:42.800> programs<00:41:43.200> and<00:41:43.520> pathways
• c><00:41:44.240> that offering programs and pathways that offering programs and pathways that
• That represents truly unlimited pathways.
• represents truly unlimited pathways. represents truly unlimited pathways.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and I spent hours after school pathway and I spent hours after school with<00:15:57.279> my<00
• Madam Chairman, for Senate File 47, increase of pathway scholarship awards, do pass.
• increase of pathway scholarship awards do<00:22:40.080> pass.
• There would be no penalty associated with that, which traditionally you're really wasting your pathway
• if you're not enrolling as your pathway if you're not enrolling as a<00:25:41.279> full-time<

Bills: HB0076, HB0102, HB0115

Keywords: annexation, landowner rights, municipal law, city planning, property, local government, artificial intelligence, synthetic sexual material, child protection, self-harm, criminal liability, cardiac emergency, defibrillator, school safety, training, public health, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or a state pathway and...
• <01:10:13.440> and National pathway or a state pathway?
• Then you have 50 states that are some of which are opening pathways.
• So, given that under Genius, you can choose a federal pathway or a state pathway, why would an issuer
• choose a state pathway?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission met to review stable tokens, real-world asset tokenization, and blockchain-based trust, approved the agenda and December 12 minutes, and heard a presentation from Anchorage Digital after postponing a planned Bitco presentation because of its IPO quiet period. Anchorage’s Melinda Delos, Joe Mioli, and Kevin Wasaki introduced the firm, describing it as a global digital assets platform and the first crypto-native institution in the U.S. to receive a federal banking charter. They said their approach emphasizes security, regulated custody and trading services, and responsible innovation for institutional clients, banks, states, and sovereigns. The presentation focused on post-Genius Act momentum in the stablecoin market. Anchorage said the law provided regulatory clarity and helped spur activity with major clients, including Athena, Tether, and Western Union. The speakers highlighted Western Union’s planned stablecoin as especially significant because it reflects adoption by a long-established traditional payments company, and they said the project illustrates how stablecoins can support programmable, real-time, interoperable payments. They also noted that Anchorage is providing issuance infrastructure for the Western Union project. The commission and presenters also discussed government uses of tokenized assets, including reserve legislation, digital assets for tax collection and fees, and a Marshall Islands initiative to use a tokenized sovereign bond for direct citizen payments. In response to a question, Anchorage said it would follow up on which states are using digital assets for revenue collection, mentioning Louisiana and Pennsylvania as examples. The banking discussion centered on remittances, instant payments, and interbank settlement, with Anchorage arguing that stablecoins can reduce settlement time, fees, and foreign exchange risk while improving traceability and auditability.

Transcript Highlights:

• for getting for are multiple pathways for getting for PAS<01:21:47.520> landing<01:21:47.840>
• These compounds enter the environment through multiple pathways, including atmospheric deposition via
• <01:41:22.560> including<01:41:23.040> atmospheric pathways including atmospheric pathways
• It is also a pathway for that point of contact at the municipal level to elevate important priorities
• <02:29:00.720> for<02:29:01.040> that is also a ga is also a pathway for that is also

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's multiple pathways for that.
• <00:38:08.960> at this sets out a pretty solid pathway at this sets out a pretty solid pathway
• So, there's the two pathways.
• c> who<01:43:42.639> is<01:43:43.119> already pathway for somebody who is already pathway
• So, there's the two pathways. So, state. So, there's the two pathways.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first took up House Bill 525, which would have transferred administration of the program for the deaf and hard of hearing and the related board to OPLC. The chair said the sponsor was no longer interested in moving forward, and Representative Schmidt moved ITL. The motion passed 14-0 with two members absent, and the bill was placed on the consent calendar. The committee then considered Senate Bill 182 on the maternal mortality review committee. The chair described a narrower amendment that would keep the name change, clarify operations so recommendations are returned to the appropriate entities, and expand contact with family members and close contacts, while dropping a proposed addition of a Department of Corrections member. The amendment was adopted unanimously, and the bill was then moved ITL and placed on the consent calendar. Senate Bill 185, dealing with OPLC investigations and backlog reduction, received an update from OPLC General Counsel Nicholas Fry. He described efforts to improve public communication, clear the complaint backlog, standardize intake and expert review, add automated responses and website updates, use weekly legal-viability reviews, create preliminary investigation protocols, and establish a process for law-enforcement referrals. Members asked about board involvement and criminal-conviction cases; Fry said boards are kept informed and that such matters can proceed either through complaints or application/background-check processes. Representative Groa requested a follow-up update in January, and the committee agreed to an oral report then if needed. The bill was then voted ITL unanimously and placed on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 349 on optometrists performing ophthalmologic laser procedures. Dr. Angelique Sawyer testified in support, saying the amendment adds more specific proctoring and qualification requirements, based on language requested after earlier hearings, and that similar systems exist in other states. Representative Sers confirmed that the new sections were the key additions, while Representative Schmidt said he remained open to the concept but wanted a thorough review and asked about a subcommittee. The discussion was still ongoing when the transcript ended, with no vote recorded on HB 349.

Transcript Highlights:

• Given such, this model offers a pathway for patients to gain services in a way that is, I would offer
• Given such, this model offers a pathway for patients to gain services in a way that is, I would offer
• Given such, this model offers a pathway for patients to gain services in a way that is, I would offer

Bills: SB511, SB512, HB591, HB909, HB938, HB1154, HB1187

Keywords: automobile repairs, insurance transparency, repair shop liability, non-OEM parts, policyholder rights, automobile insurance, appraisal process, insurance policyholders, dispute resolution, claim valuation, family leave, insurance, paid leave, employment benefits, caregiver support, behavioral health, crisis services, mental health care, insurance coverage, healthcare access

Transcript Highlights:

• And we did that by opening up our state for licensure to, for what we call the fourth pathway, a different
• pathway.
• But in order to go through this licensure pathway, you had to commit to serve three years in what we

Summary: The committee reconvened and took up several amendments and bills. Senate Bill 15 was amended to transfer Keep Arkansas Beautiful functions to ARDOT and replace the current commissioners with an advisory council; the amendment was adopted without objection. An amendment to Senate Bill 7 lowering the claims-data threshold for group health insurance from 50 employees to 25, to help smaller employers and municipalities shop for coverage, was also adopted. An amendment to Senate Bill 41 that would have restricted University of Arkansas at Fayetteville athletic funding from academic funds was rejected after members questioned its scope and fiscal basis. The committee then considered an amendment to House Bill 1051 that would cap online sports-betting free play at 5% of gross receipts. Senator Hester argued the current unlimited promotions were predatory and effectively subsidized casinos, while other members questioned the tax and accounting assumptions and whether the proposal belonged in a fiscal committee. The amendment failed, and a separate agriculture-related amendment from Representatives Vaught and Painter to exempt certain tractor parts tied to diesel exhaust fluid systems was also not adopted, with members citing drafting and enforcement problems and suggesting it should go through the revenue committees. After suspending the rules to add items, the committee adopted a technical correction to Senate Bill 4 clarifying physician licensure language so the rural workforce pathway would apply to underserved and primary care shortage areas, rather than the narrower federal term originally used. The committee also adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 77 deleting a fund-transfer section and instead increasing appropriation authority and creating a matching-fund mechanism to help Arkansas TV pay PBS dues, with supporters saying it would leverage private donations and preserve PBS access while allowing the commission to decide programming. The bill passed as amended, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis shows that self-employment is one of the most important pathways
• It is a pathway to stability, ownership, and generational progress.
• It is a pathway to stability, ownership, and generational progress.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 2581 was presented as a request for a $1 million state investment in Fortis Capital, a Minnesota nonprofit economic development lender. The bill was described as supporting entrepreneurship and wealth-building by expanding access to capital for businesses that are underserved by traditional lending, especially in rural areas, communities of color, immigrant communities, and low-wealth areas. Testifiers argued that conventional underwriting standards leave viable businesses without financing and that Fortis provides flexible gap financing to help deals close, complementing rather than replacing banks and CDFIs. Brian Smith, co-founder and CEO of Fortis Capital, said the organization was established in 2019 and has deployed 37 loans totaling over $4 million since 2021, leveraging an additional $29.5 million through partnerships. He said Fortis seeks to increase lending capacity, reduce risk in innovative capital structures, expand statewide partnerships, and accelerate small business growth and job creation. In response to questions, he said Fortis typically charges about 6.12% on average, has had two defaults, and operates as a revolving loan fund. He also explained that Fortis already participates in some Department of Employment and Economic Development programs, but is not eligible for certain grant programs because those grants go directly to borrowers. Committee members asked how the proposal fits with existing state economic development efforts and whether competitive grant programs exist for this kind of work. A DED representative said he would need more detail to compare the proposal to agency programs, though he mentioned the emerging entrepreneur loan program as a possible fit. Members also discussed broader concerns about direct appropriations versus competitive grants. No public testimony was offered. Chair Frasier closed by saying the bill addresses a real need and laid House File 2581 over for possible inclusion in a budget bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• which I would say is even more corrupt than the one we have, and the fact that money doesn't lie, the pathway
• which I would see is even more corrupt than the one we have, and the fact that money doesn't lie, the pathway
• The pathway of money doesn't lie.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills and a memorial focused on foreign law, land ownership, presidential electors, and campaign finance/federalism. SB 1018 would amend Arizona’s foreign-law statute to explicitly include Sharia law; the sponsor and supporters said it was needed to prevent foreign legal systems from influencing Arizona courts, while opponents from the ACLU and others argued it singled out Islam, was unnecessary because foreign law is already prohibited, and would be unconstitutional. After debate, the committee recommended SB 1018 do pass by a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered SB 1075, which restricts conveyance of Arizona land to foreign entities deemed hostile to the United States and adds disclosure, penalty, and enforcement provisions through a five-page amendment. The sponsor said it was modeled on other states’ efforts to keep adversarial nations from acquiring land near sensitive sites; the committee adopted the amendment and recommended the bill as amended do pass by a 3-3 vote. SB 1141, dealing with presidential electors, would require electors to vote for a properly nominated successor if a winning presidential or vice presidential candidate dies or withdraws before the Electoral College meets, and would deem an elector’s office vacant if the elector fails to vote. Supporters said it closes a gap in Arizona law and improves election continuity; it received a unanimous do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard SCM 1003, a memorial urging Congress to support federalism and a constitutional amendment affirming state authority over election processes and campaign finance. Supporters argued that money in politics and out-of-state or international influence have grown too large and that states should regain more control; some members noted concerns about the rhetoric around ActBlue and other groups but still supported the memorial’s general purpose. SCM 1003 received a unanimous do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• would connect communities with STEM education and professional development opportunities and career pathways
• financial and employment outcomes for all students across the state. by introducing students to STEM pathways
• Career pathways for all students in New Mexico. Thank you very much. Thank you, Wanda.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:03:58.480> that kind of way to create a pathway that kind of way to create a pathway that
• . ...or in these alternative pathways.
• And we are open to all pathway to do it.
• And so that pathway includes things such as being an independent power producer.
• And so that pathway includes loads.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to brighter Futures Mahalo Pathways to brighter Futures Mahalo Mahalo<01:24:32.120> and<01:24
• to midwif free education Pathways to midwif free education through<02:00:06.159> financial<02
• ukulele bucket drums Jazz wind Pathways ukulele bucket drums Jazz wind strings<03:06:15.640> and<
• We can empower more students with real-world skills and career pathways in Hawaiʻi's growing creative
• in ha's growing creative career Pathways in ha's growing creative economy<03:28:01.080> Mahala

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Finance informational briefing on grants and aids was held February 14 and was organized as a high-volume public testimony session with strict procedures: no Q&A, one representative per applicant, one minute per testimony, in-person testimony first, and then Zoom participants. The chairs also announced a recess at 11:00 a.m. for floor sessions and a reconvening at 1:00 p.m. Testimony was heard first from neighbor island applicants, then Oʻahu applicants, with members repeatedly directing speakers to line up and keep remarks brief. Neighbor island testimony focused on a wide range of capital and operating requests. Health and community projects included Hawaii Island Community Health Center’s workforce housing in Kau, Wuli Hawaiian Homestead Association’s learning center and predevelopment work, Rescue Tube Foundation’s beach rescue tube expansion, Puna Community Medical Center’s planned hospital/ER campus, Maui Humane Society’s free veterinary care after the wildfires, Hawaiʻi Care Choices’ palliative care readiness, and the Lyman Museum’s HVAC replacement. Other requests included the Maui Advanced Manufacturing Alliance’s Pāʻia Mill redevelopment, Laua 2020’s preschool and learning lab, Mālama Aina’s USDA-compliant meat processing facility, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association’s water safety programs, Kaha P Organization’s agriculture education support, Ohana Arts’ youth performance project, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center’s emergency closet, EOA Pacific’s Marshall Islands teacher training, and the Central Pacific Youth Athletic Club’s new facility. Oʻahu testimony included the YWCA Oʻahu/Pythink Center’s renovation of Juliet M. Atherton Hall and its community kitchen, West Oʻahu Community Health Center’s wildfire protection and security needs, the Early School’s playground improvements, Surfing the Nations’ food distribution center expansion, and Sounding Joy Music Therapy’s weekly services for people with disabilities. Speakers generally emphasized community benefit, workforce development, health access, food security, disaster recovery, and support for children, seniors, and underserved populations. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Her work addresses persistent barriers to successful outcomes by building scalable, sustainable pathways
• to independence... ...successful outcomes by building scalable, sustainable pathways to independence

Keywords: 914, all