Video & Transcript Research : 'Technology'

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HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

LBT-PSM, EIG-LBT, LBT Public Hearings 02-03-2025

Labor and Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • Labor and Technology Committee: same recommendation, defer until Friday.
  • adopted thank you labor and Technology adopted thank you labor and Technology committee<00:19:55.640
  • Technology recommendation? Questions or concerns? Vice Chair, a vote please.
  • Technology recommendation? Questions or concerns? Vice Chair, a vote please.
  • Technology recommendation? Questions or concerns? Vice Chair, a vote please.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The joint hearing covered Senate Bills 470, 828, 730, and 1383. SB 470 would create a deferred retirement option program for police officers. The Employees Retirement System warned it could worsen the system’s $14.1 billion unfunded liability by stopping employer and employee contributions during the DROP period, and the Attorney General raised possible tax-qualified status, Internal Revenue Code, and age-discrimination concerns. Police and other supporters testified in favor, but the committees ultimately recommended deferring the bill indefinitely. SB 828 would expand workers’ compensation medical benefits for firefighters to cover an additional respiratory condition. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Hawaii Firefighters Association supported the measure, citing occupational exposure and health risks. The committees recommended passage with amendments, and the motion was adopted by both committees. SB 730, which concerns allowance on service retirements, drew support from the Department of Human Resources Development and the Department of Law Enforcement, but also comments from the Attorney General and ERS. DHRD said the bill could help recruitment and retention but requested more time to work on language with ERS, Budget and Finance, and the AG’s office. The committees postponed decision-making until Friday, February 7, at 3:15 p.m. in Conference Room 225. SB 1383, relating to fire protection, received broad support from the Governor’s office, Department of Defense, DLNR, Hawaiian Electric, and others. The committees agreed to pass it with amendments, including language suggested by the Hawaii Insurance Council on wildfire-related insurance issues and a committee report link to the Lina fire forward-looking report, phase three. The amended recommendation was adopted by both committees. Later in the meeting, the committees also heard SB 1360 and SB 1361 on ERS administrative and reporting matters, SB 340 on HLRB enforcement authority, and SB 997 on energy; SB 1360 and SB 1361 were presented as housekeeping measures, SB 340 drew disagreement between the Attorney General and HLRB over enforcement authority, and SB 997 was amended to incorporate prevailing-wage renewable energy rate language from SB 743 and then passed with amendments.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee Jun 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 am

Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • You have to have the technology.
  • It's really where technology meets the inputs necessary to apply that technology.
  • You have to have the technology.
  • It's really where technology meets the inputs necessary to apply that technology.
  • And it certainly can and will change as technology is developed.
Keywords: 908, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am

Joint Committee on Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • We'll be taking up matters on financial literacy, financial fraud, and financial technology, fintech.
  • We also ask that a special commission be set up concerning the blockchain technology.
  • As someone fluent in the technology, I've... ...targeted by scammers and fraudsters.
  • I’ve had calls from college professors, chief technology officers, and retired executives.
  • technology that’s hit the streets and is making it even easier.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several financial services bills, with the main focus on cryptocurrency kiosk regulation, financial literacy, and earned wage access. Legislators and witnesses described widespread crypto-related scams targeting older adults, often involving impersonation, urgency, spoofed phone numbers, and rapid transfers through kiosks that are difficult to trace or recover. Supporters of the kiosk bills said Massachusetts needs licensing, registration, transaction limits, warning notices, receipts, refund protections, and other safeguards; some also urged a “pause” or hold on transactions to give victims time to reconsider and allow law enforcement to intervene. The Attorney General’s office, AARP, local law enforcement, and several prosecutors and sheriffs backed the consumer-protection approach, while Bitcoin Depot supported a narrower regulatory framework but opposed low fee caps and strict daily limits, arguing they would function like a ban and reduce legitimate use. Witnesses from Waltham police, Middlesex and Essex County law enforcement, and the AG’s office said crypto scams are growing quickly, losses are often unrecoverable once funds move, and current tools are limited. They described cases involving elderly victims losing thousands of dollars, and said warnings alone are not enough because scammers keep victims on the phone and guide them through the process. Some witnesses said a temporary hold or refund mechanism has worked in at least one case, while others emphasized that transaction limits and visible disclosures could reduce harm even if they do not stop fraud entirely. The AG’s office also said it would submit written opposition to separate earned wage advance legislation, while DailyPay testified in support of that bill, saying earned wage access helps workers bridge short-term gaps without debt or credit reporting. The committee also heard support for mandatory financial literacy education from Representative Jim Hawkins, who said high school students need instruction on credit, debt, and inflation before they enter adulthood. In addition, the committee took testimony on litigation financing bills from insurance industry representatives, who argued for disclosure and regulation of predatory litigation lending and warned about foreign interference and reduced plaintiff recoveries. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; members asked questions throughout, and the chair noted the need to move testimony along because of time constraints.
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama Senate Children and Youth Health Committee Jan 28th, 2026

Children and Youth Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • Not once did any parents say, "Hey, this technology is already there."
  • They h they already have the technology. They h they already have the technology.
  • Not once technology is already there."
  • the technology is there. the technology is there.
  • They said technology, the filter bill.
Bills: HB161
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

EIG-HRE, EIG DEFER, EIG, EIG Public Hearings 02-04-2025

Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • so um those all available Technologies so um those comments<00:21:57.159> added<00:21:57.480>
  • We're talking about different technology, um, so I just want to know if we pass this, is that what you
  • We're talking about different technology.
  • It's on a container that you can wheel around, so the technology is dramatically different today than
  • <00:27:23.919> is wheel around so the technology is wheel around so the technology is dramatically
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committees heard testimony on several measures, with the main discussion centered on energy policy. SB 993 on geothermal exploration drew support from the State Energy Office and others, who described geothermal as a key low-cost, firm renewable resource and said the state should fund community outreach and resource research. However, the chairs deferred further action on SB 993 because a similar bill, SB 1068, had already passed the prior week. SB 202 on renewable energy also received broad support, including testimony that net energy metering benefits households and helps clean energy adoption, while Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill’s changes to the NEM forfeit feature as unfair to non-solar customers. SB 1588 on nuclear energy drew sharply divided testimony: supporters argued the bill would only study nuclear options and that the state should consider all tools, while opponents from 350 Hawaii and Greenpeace said nuclear is unsafe, costly, and inconsistent with Hawaii’s clean energy goals and constitution. The committee also heard SB 73 on county permits, SB 100 on intoxicating liquor, SB 1234 on government efficiency, and SB 1336 on a greenhouse gas sequestration task force. SB 100 was described as helping a Maui nonprofit recruit board members by addressing liquor commission-related fingerprinting or background-check issues, and the Attorney General’s technical amendments were accepted. SB 1234 was framed as improving coordination among state, federal, and local agencies, though HGEA opposed it as an opening to privatize government services. SB 1336, which would establish a task force to study greenhouse gas sequestration and related mitigation topics, drew some questions about its scope but was supported as a way to study climate mitigation and green infrastructure. In the later portion of the meeting, the committee took votes and adopted recommendations on several bills. SB 73 was passed with an amendment setting a defective date of May 13, 2040. SB 100 was passed with amendments, SB 202 was passed with amendments including technical changes and allowing the PUC to set the customer credit rate, SB 1234 was passed with amendments and a defective date of May 13, 2040, SB 1336 was passed as is, and SB 1588 was passed with amendments and a defective date of May 13, 2040. The committee also took up SB 161 on county permitting and inspection, agreeing to a package of amendments that would soften exemption language, remove some inspection and certificate-of-occupancy provisions, add flood-hazard language, require reporting and a working group, and set a defective date of May 13, 2040; the bill was then passed with those amendments. SB 635 on energy efficiency was passed with amendments assigning the State Energy Office to lead a survey and prioritizing first responder facilities, and SB 700 on renewable energy was introduced with proposed amendments, though the transcript cuts off before its final disposition.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 2/25/25

Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • These include research and demonstration projects, as well as development of new techniques and technologies
  • These include research and demonstration projects, as well as development of new techniques and technologies
  • new tech well as development of new tech techniques<00:27:28.919> and<00:27:29.080> Technologies
  • <00:27:29.720> to<00:27:29.960> improve techniques and Technologies to improve techniques
  • and Technologies to improve the<00:27:30.640> protection<00:27:31.520> of<00:27:31.679
Keywords: 1183, house
AR

Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE Apr 14th, 2026

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • I believe it is more than one company that has this technology. Okay, thank you.
  • Or would we actually own the technology?
  • technology.
  • I think we all agree that it's a problem, both technologically, It's done.
  • I think we all agree that it's a problem, both technologically and security-wise.
Summary: The committee first received a report on the executive protection detail, which was filed without questions. Members were then given a long advance list of House and Senate bills ready for consideration, followed by several amendment requests from agencies. The committee adopted amendments for the Auditor of State to increase special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and several other items including local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, and local law enforcement funding. It also held one amendment on House Bill 1034 and moved a Northwest Arkansas Community College cash fund increase tied to tornado-related campus repairs. The committee then considered a series of member amendments and appropriation items, including increases for the Public Defender Commission and deputy prosecuting attorneys to cover higher bar license fees, and a $12 million federal appropriation-only item. A lengthy discussion followed on a proposal from Senator Wallace and Representative Tosh to fund a pilot program for prison cell-phone detection/jamming technology at two correctional facilities. Sponsors and Department of Corrections officials said the system would target illegal contraband phones, would be procured through an RFP, and would be a two-year pilot; members raised questions about legality, cost, scope, data, and whether the department should use existing budget authority. The committee ultimately advanced the item by motion. The committee also took up an amendment from Senator Caldwell for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, seeking a $4 million appropriation increase. Testimony emphasized that the division’s extension offices and research functions are underfunded, that salaries are not competitive, and that the request would help with staffing and flexibility; other members questioned why the division needed more appropriation authority when it already had room under current limits and noted that the request exceeded the higher education board’s recommendation. The amendment was adopted after extended debate. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a $150 million increase to the homestead property tax credit, a $23,000 reallocation for the Insurance Department’s conference costs, $100,000 for property appraisal review work, $1.5 million for career and technical education professional development, $300,000 for DFA regulatory federal spending, $5 million for Inspector General fraud investigations, a consolidation of appraiser/abstractor/home inspector appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee readiness center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation for corrections capital projects that would add special language restricting use of the $73.7 million prison-expansion reappropriation. The committee also heard a summary of a supplemental appropriations package involving fund transfers for pregnancy resource centers, senior centers, assistance grants, used tires, and UAMS pregnancy/stroke programs.
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE Apr 14th, 2026

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:
  • I believe it is more than one company that has this technology. Okay, thank you.
  • And we can use the technology to cover both facilities at the same time. Okay. All right.
  • technology, and B, technology changes.
  • And, you know... ...and technology changes.
  • I think we all agree that it's a problem, both technologically and security-wise.
Summary: The committee first filed a report on the executive protection detail and then reviewed a long list of House and Senate bills that were ready for action, with members instructed to hold any items they wanted removed. The committee then took up several agency requests to amend bills: the Auditor of State’s request for a $370 increase for special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts’ requests for additional funding for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and requests tied to local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, emergency medical and law enforcement support, and Northwest Arkansas Community College tornado-related repairs. All of those amendments were adopted, and one amendment on House Bill 1034 was held over at Senator Johnson’s request. A major portion of the meeting focused on an amendment for the Department of Corrections to fund a pilot program using mobile technology to identify and disable illegal inmate cell phones at Varner and Cummins prisons. The bill sponsors and Corrections officials described the problem as a serious public safety issue, saying inmates use contraband phones for criminal activity, trafficking, scams, and outside coordination. Members asked about FCC rules, procurement, whether the system would jam or only identify phones, whether it would affect staff or nearby users, how quickly it would work, whether it would be a one-time or ongoing cost, and whether the department had existing budget authority. Officials said the proposal would require an RFP, that current funding was not available in the department’s budget, and that the technology would be a two-year pilot. The committee ultimately adopted the amendment and then gave the underlying bill a do-pass recommendation. The committee also considered an amendment for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, which sought a $4 million increase in appropriation authority. Senators discussed the division’s role in county extension offices, 4-H, research, and salary competitiveness, while others questioned why the division needed more appropriation room when it already had about $10 million in headroom and had requested a different funding level through higher education. Division representatives said the increase would help with salaries and provide flexibility for future funding, and Higher Education staff clarified the original request and recommendation amounts. After extensive discussion, the committee adopted the amendment and gave it a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a homestead property tax credit increase, insurance department conference travel, property appraisal analysis support, career and technical education professional development, regulatory and casino gaming appropriations, a new program integrity line for the Department of Inspector General, consolidation of licensing board appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee Readiness Center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation package for prison expansion that included special language limiting use of the funds. Members asked several questions about the prison reappropriation, including whether it still related to the earlier Calico Rock project and whether special language should be considered separately; the committee moved the governor’s letters forward for drafting and further action.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Finance Aug 19th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • The original cooling technologies in the data center.
  • I'll tell you, I think the best technology ever created is when God created humans, all right?
  • . to do can happen with the right technology.
  • My take on it is that we certainly have this technology, like the U.S. Navy has it.
  • Around these technologies to where we will advance rapidly on them. Thank you very much.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Science, Technology and Energy (01/14/2026)

Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:34:46.879> caught me that we finally technologies caught me that we finally technologies
  • The good news, as I mentioned before, technology, proven technology exists to mitigate this threat.
  • developed<03:17:11.200> over This technology has been developed over This technology has
  • of it and solve it technologically of it and solve it technologically with<03:22:21.359> their
  • technologies could give us. technologies could give us. Thank<04:36:41.680> you.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • We are a technology trade association focused on the innovation economy.
  • Ford has invested heavily in autonomous vehicle technology.
  • These are all the objectives and the state of the technology right now.
  • , as we call them. in a situation where technology cannot ultimately handle a task.
  • And technology can always be messed with; you can mess with your phone. So, Mr.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

EIG-TCA, EIG Public Hearings 03-25-2025

Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's so much better technology when it come to waste your energy.
  • One, two, I don't know what technology you looking at. We're not talking about each power.
  • You look at the technology today, it's way better than any technology that have, especially when you
  • know what technology you looking at. know what technology you looking at.
  • technology that have, better than any technology that have, especially<00:42:27.920> when<00:
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The joint Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs and Committee on Transportation, Culture, and the Arts heard several resolutions, with most public testimony focused on Senate Concurrent Resolution 159 and Senate Resolution 129, which urge continued U.S. support for the Ukrainian military. Testimony on those measures was largely opposed, with witnesses arguing Hawaii should prioritize local needs such as homelessness, infrastructure, and cost of living over additional aid to Ukraine; one support testimony was noted from the Democratic Party of Hawaii. Despite the opposition, both committees recommended passage with technical, nonsubstantive amendments, and the recommendations were adopted. The committees also considered transportation-related resolutions. Senate Concurrent Resolution 182 and Senate Resolution 152 would initiate a summer streets pilot program, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 200 and Senate Resolution 180 would ask AMPO to coordinate a transportation management training program. Testimony on the summer streets proposal included support and opposition, with one witness saying community input should be gathered through existing district and community meetings rather than creating a pilot. The training-program measure drew opposition from a witness who argued it would add unnecessary bureaucracy. Both pairs were recommended for passage, with the summer streets resolutions passed unamended and the training-program resolutions passed with technical amendments. In the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee, Senate Concurrent Resolution 18 and Senate Resolution 14, concerning relocation of the Pearl City post office to Navy property, were recommended for passage with technical amendments. The committee also heard extensive testimony on Senate Concurrent Resolution 136 and Senate Resolution 150, which call for a geothermal energy working group. Supporters included the State Energy Office, PUC, consumer advocate, and others, though the energy office asked to move the report deadline to 2027. Opponents raised concerns about cost, health impacts, environmental risks, and Native Hawaiian representation. The chair proposed amendments to add a Native Hawaiian member, the consumer advocate, and the House and Senate energy committee chairs, clarify participation by utility, geothermal, and nonprofit representatives, and extend the report deadline to 2027. The resolutions were then recommended for passage with amendments, and all recommendations were adopted before adjournment.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Transportation Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Advanced Aviation Technologies Group has taken shape over the last several years, since 2017, and
  • Similarly, the Aeronautics Advanced Aviation Technology Group supports the Commonwealth by managing a
  • To align with the goals of our Aviation and Airports Group and Advanced Aviation Technologies Group,
  • But that is the technology that the airspace is on. It is safe, but it is old.
  • And then, as you said, really investing in the technology is important as well. Thank you. Sure.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held an informational hearing with invited testimony from MassDOT leadership, the MBTA, Massport, and the state’s Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office. MassDOT officials outlined work across highways, rail and transit, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and aeronautics, emphasizing major capital spending, bridge and roadway programs, transit grants, rail expansion, airport safety, and modernization efforts. They highlighted Chapter 90 and municipal grant programs, the Compass Rail and West-East Rail efforts, RMV upgrades such as electronic titles and driver licensing systems, and aeronautics work on airport pavement, drones, and advanced air mobility. Committee members focused on safety, service access, and project implementation. Questions to MassDOT covered automated enforcement and rising roadway fatalities, the Allston multimodal project’s federal funding, Complete Streets access for rural communities, and South Coast Rail staffing and future electrification. The RMV was asked about the Work and Family Mobility Act, Real ID demand, and appointment access, especially in Metro West. Members also raised concerns about South Coast Rail operations, Keolis staffing, and whether the Stoughton route remains part of future plans; MassDOT and MBTA officials said they are working on staffing, service reliability, and long-term expansion, while noting that nothing is off the table for future rail improvements. MBTA General Manager Phil Eng reported progress including workforce growth, elimination of subway speed restrictions, expanded reduced-fare access, bus network redesign, South Coast Rail launch, and commuter rail signal upgrades. He said the agency is pursuing a new commuter rail operating contract designed to support future regional rail, electrification, and higher-frequency service, while maintaining service and workforce stability amid funding uncertainty. Members also asked about fare collection data privacy and the impact of state funding levels; Eng said the MBTA needs the governor’s proposed funding to preserve service and staffing, and that the fare system’s data are encrypted and handled through a secure vendor system. Massport CEO Rich Davey reported record activity at Logan, Worcester, and the cruise and maritime facilities, along with major capital and climate investments such as sustainable aviation fuel planning, shore power at Flynn Cruiseport, renewable diesel, and expanded ground transportation. He said Massport is planning for continued passenger growth and managing congestion through parking, HOV, and curbside changes, while monitoring federal policy, tariffs, and air traffic control staffing issues. Federal Funds Director Quentin Palfrey described the administration’s efforts to secure federal infrastructure dollars, citing about $9 billion in federal awards since the start of the administration, including major transportation grants for the Cape Cod Bridges, Allston, West-East Rail, North Station drawbridge replacement, roadway safety, and clean school buses. He warned that changing federal policies, grant delays, and possible future congressional actions create uncertainty, but said the office is working case-by-case with municipalities and agencies to protect awarded funds and find alternative financing where needed.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Senate - Conservation Jan 28th, 2025

Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:
  • There are many other models that use different technologies.
  • of that technology in the future.
  • agnostic, so folks like Secretary Black can attract that technology here through economic...
  • Secretary, all of those technologies, with perhaps the exception of growing more trees.
  • There are considerations like cost, practicality, available technologies, and other factors.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Fraud Committee Meeting - 2025-09-17

Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • We really need to modernize our program integrity technology.
  • Is really stressing the fact that we have been working in the dark ages with the technology.
  • So, we need business technology solutions and upgrades, right?
  • To the extent we can automate our system and modernize our technology, that's where we need to go.
  • Technology is one thing.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Regulated Industries Mar 4th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • And then this market technology, investments in smart grid technology, both on our laterals, on our feeders
  • And then the smart technology, again, over 100,000 outages avoided with all the smart grid technology
  • And we stress our technology. We stress our processes.
  • So our self-healing technology is one piece of our portfolio of the storm protection plan.
  • Now to the use of this technology, it's only impacting around 400 customers on average.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee Jul 1st, 2026

Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:
  • ... ...of what we've seen is that the technology is still new and working through the implementation
  • Elizabeth Escobald, California Manufacturers and Technology Association, also recognizing the recent
  • Jackie Anast was Slovakins-Jensen, on behalf of the Consumer Technology Association.
  • Jackie Anast was Slovakins-Jensen on behalf of the Consumer Technology Association.
  • improves and as technology changes.
Keywords: 988, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • We will hear from GoServe, the California Privacy and Protection Agency, Department of Technology. with
  • And it also involves the Department of Technology, the Department of General Services, the Department
  • We also met with federal partners to talk about technology standards.
  • People are interfacing with new technology all the time, many times.
  • The Office of Digital Services is providing the technology development.
Keywords: 988, house, all
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • Okay, good afternoon, Committee on Labor and Technology. It has a 3M agenda.
  • We believe it's a crucial time with the advancement of replacement needs, technology, as well as closing
  • replacement with the advancement of replacement needs<00:01:31.400> uh<00:01:31.600> technology
  • Is AI covered under the deepfake technology and current law?
  • infrastructure renovation tax credit and expands the definition of technology-enabled infrastructure
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several measures. SB 338, relating to taxation, would temporarily reinstate the Act 221 technology infrastructure renovation tax credit and expand eligible technology-enabled infrastructure to include data servers; Tax Department said it had no requested changes, SurfPAC supported the bill, and the Tax Foundation offered comments. Members later advanced SB 338 with amendments, including a report to the Legislature before the 2029 session and technical changes. SB 1491, on departmental data sharing, would add the Department of Taxation to the state longitudinal data system to share aggregated wage data; UH, Hawaii P20, and the Tax Foundation supported it, and Taxation said it could comply as written. The committee amended the bill to also include DBEDT and then passed it with amendments. The committee also considered SB 1156 on sexually explicit deepfakes, SB 853 on an immigration services trust fund, SB 436 on limiting State Fire Marshal service to three terms, and SB 1034 on rest periods in the food service industry. The Attorney General said SB 1156 was unnecessary because existing law already covers AI-created deepfakes, and the committee deferred the bill. SB 853 drew support from DLIR/Office of Community Services and civil rights advocates, but opposition testimony noted substantial public opposition; the committee deferred the measure, saying existing resources from Act 7 made the trust fund premature. SB 436 drew concerns from the State Fire Council representative that term limits would add complications, but the committee passed it with amendments. SB 1034 drew mixed testimony: DLIR stood on comments, the restaurant association supported the intent but suggested changing the five-hour threshold, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association opposed it over the lack of a definition of food service industry; the committee amended the bill to add that definition and passed it with amendments. At the later 3:15 p.m. decision-making-only agenda, the committee deferred SB 730 indefinitely after conferring with the PSM chair, saying it was special legislation needing further work in the interim.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Finally, technology.
  • Brandon Hanser, Deputy Director of Benefit Enrollment Technology at the Office of Technology and Solutions
  • that comply with all of the various regulations and policies, maximizing our reusability of the technology
  • So I do think that there's, you know, maybe there's room in some other technology efforts that we have
  • underway to, You know, maybe there's room in some other technology efforts that we have underway to
Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services heard an overview of efforts to streamline access to safety net programs and move toward more automatic, person-centered enrollment. CDSS, DHCS, and CalHHS described current cross-enrollment between Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and CalWORKs, including data showing high overlap among programs and a text-message outreach pilot that increased CalWORKs applications and enrollments but reached only a small share of potentially eligible people. Witnesses emphasized barriers such as differing federal eligibility rules, data-sharing limits, privacy concerns, and the need for better technology, consent management, and stakeholder engagement. Members pressed the administration on how to institutionalize these efforts across administrations and asked for concrete budgetary and regulatory steps to support “no wrong door” enrollment and automatic referrals. The committee also reviewed several chair priorities. On the proposed foster care multi-agency office, CDSS said existing coordination structures already address much of the intended work and asked to verify prior fiscal scoring. On the Employment First Office, CalHHS explained that the office’s $1 million budget was eliminated in the 2024-25 budget as part of deficit reductions, while noting that employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities remains an administration priority through existing departmental coordination. For the food insecurity proposal, CDSS said it could provide technical assistance but would need new data-sharing agreements, could not separately calculate a CFAP participation rate with current data, and would likely need until July 1, 2027, plus ongoing staffing, to complete the requested report. The mandated reporter proposal drew support for reform, with CDSS estimating low-millions in one-time training costs and ongoing costs in the hundreds of thousands. The subcommittee also discussed a guaranteed income proposal. CalHHS suggested drafting new statutory language and considering a county-administered model rather than a state-run competitive grant process to reduce administrative burden, while members and public commenters urged support for AB 661 and a study of a permanent statewide guaranteed income program. Public testimony also supported automatic enrollment, community-supporting mandated reporting reforms, and cash assistance for fire recovery. In the final items, CSD described how local nonprofit partners helped during the Los Angeles fires with food, housing vouchers, transportation, and emergency energy assistance, and explained that LIHEAP and CSBG remain important but limited tools for disaster response. CSD also said recent federal staffing cuts and possible future federal budget threats could affect LIHEAP and CSBG administration, though no immediate service disruptions had occurred and additional LIHEAP funds were expected to be released soon.