Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:27.400><c> questions</c> 286 okay sing on members questions 286 okay sing on members questions
• </c> if not members if not members questions<00:07:53.759><c> okay</c><00:07:53.919><c> if</c><00:07:
• Members?
• </c> 311 okay see none members 311 okay see none members questions um<00:26:11.919><c> I</c><00:26:12.000
• </c> on S SP 289 is to pass unamended members on S SP 289 is to pass unamended members present<01:37:

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard several bills on January 30. SB 286 and SB 287 both concerned supplemental funding for the Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney: SB 286 for the career criminal prosecution unit and SB 287 for the victim witness assistance program. Testimony from the department explained that these bills are filed each year because the Attorney General’s core budget allocation may not be sufficient, though the department said the core had recently been increased and the supplemental request might no longer be necessary. For SB 287, the department also warned of a possible federal Victims of Crime Act funding freeze that could cut about $1.88 million and severely harm victim services. Both bills drew support from county and community witnesses, and members asked about prior-year funding and why the requests were limited to fiscal 2025-26; no votes were taken in the excerpt. SB 289, from the State Ethics Commission, would create a more uniform administrative fine process under the ethics code and lobbyist law. The commission said the measure would not change substantive enforcement but would let it issue a notice and order of fine first, with the respondent able to request a hearing within 20 days, which would speed up cases that are not factually disputed. Members questioned whether the bill would deny due process or function like an automatic parking ticket, and the commission responded that respondents could still challenge the fine and that the process would apply to violations with fines under $1,000. The committee also heard SB 304, which would add 11 positions for the First Circuit Adult Client Services Branch; Judiciary testimony said probation caseloads are high, with an average of 116 cases per officer, and the added staff would help meet national supervision standards and better serve higher-risk clients. Members asked whether the positions were already in the budget and about current staffing ratios; the witness said the positions were not already funded and that the Judiciary supported the bill with amendments. The committee then heard SB 311, a proposed constitutional amendment to exclude spending money to influence elections from protected free speech. Testimony was strongly divided: supporters argued that Citizens United has distorted elections and empowered special interests, while opponents warned the language was too broad and could affect nonprofit advocacy and grassroots groups. Finally, SB 313 would impose a 1% wealth asset tax on individuals with $20 million or more in assets. The Department of Taxation said it had concerns about the bill’s ambiguity and administration and noted it would require annual valuation and likely additional resources; opponents, including family business representatives and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, argued the tax would be difficult and costly to administer, would require sensitive business disclosures, and could force family businesses to pay from company cash. Supporters said wealthy residents should pay a fair share. The committee heard testimony and questions on these bills, but the excerpt does not show final committee votes or actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:27.440><c> of</c> book publishers, the 17,000 members of book publishers, the 17,000 members
• </c> members to please vote yes. Thank you. members to please vote yes. Thank you.
• &gt;&gt; Thank<00:47:19.200><c> you,</c><00:47:19.359><c> members.</c> &gt;&gt; Thank you, members.
• &gt;&gt; Thank you, members.
• </c> members consideration. members consideration.

Bills: HF3698 , HF4243 , HF4239 , HF4241 , HF4242 , HF4240

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• Co-Chair, members of the Tax Committee.
• The other 77,000 members of the The other 77,000 members of the Minnesota<00:39:58.000><c> Building</
• </c><00:40:01.600><c> on</c><00:40:01.720><c> a</c> When a member is injured on a When a member is injured
• Thanks for members of the committee.
• We'll move then to member discussion.

Bills: HF4841 , HF4234 , HF3697

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: Hennepin County, sales tax, health care facilities, ballpark improvements, tax revenue, HF4234, Minnesota private activity bonds, tax-exempt bonds, bond cap, aggregate bond limitation, residential rental projects, multifamily housing, affordable housing finance, housing bonds, public finance, bond allocation, private activity bond cap, Minnesota Statutes 474A.02, tax committee, tax refund

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> members during the process. members during the process.
• Thank you, committee members.
• >> Sure, committee member.
• So member.
• </c> community members. community members.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> the</c> of Columbus, and 30-year member of the of Columbus, and 30-year member of the Rot<00:34:
• c> refrain</c><00:57:45.680><c> from</c> Members are reminded to refrain from Members are reminded to
• [Music] [Music] Have all members voted? Does any member wish to change? Mr. Georgia, Mr. Roy, Mr.
• </c><03:23:27.600><c> Members</c> recorded vote is ordered. Members recorded vote is ordered.
• :29.279><c> votes</c><03:23:29.600><c> by</c> members will record their votes by members will record

Bills: HB4016 , HR580

Keywords: defense appropriations, military funding, national security, Department of Defense, fiscal year 2026, rules resolution, House Rules Committee, structured rule, appropriations, DoD appropriations, defense spending, digital commodities, cryptocurrency regulation, digital assets, SEC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, CFTC, Federal Reserve, central bank digital currency, CBDC

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:32.200><c> um</c> just mention as uh for newer members um just mention as uh for newer members
• </c><00:10:44.639><c> to</c> attention is to get members to attention is to get members to understand
• Chair and members, a homestead is excluded from the asset limit.
• </c><00:51:30.799><c> the</c> underman um Mr chair members the underman um Mr chair members the Northstar
• </c><01:02:36.279><c> um</c> it Miss Suman um Mr chair and members um it Miss Suman um Mr chair and members

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm like the only member of my family that's not a University of Minnesota...
• member on that board will have four years of experience.
• member on that board will have four years of experience.
• member on that board will have four years of experience.
• </c><00:54:01.240><c> so</c> relationships but also board members so relationships but also board members

Transcript Highlights:

• They are any of our member institutions.
• That's a member review process.
• That's a member review process.
• </c><01:00:54.720><c> accredited</c><01:00:55.520><c> to</c> members those who are accredited to members
• ><c> that's</c> budgetary oriented information that's budgetary oriented information that's necessary

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:16.919><c> public</c><00:08:17.759><c> you</c> so members uh members of the public you so
• members uh members of the public you can<00:08:18.159><c> imagine</c><00:08:18.720><c> why</c><00:08:
• Any questions at this point, members? Any questions at this point, members? No?
• </c><01:26:11.040><c> uh</c> thanks anything further members uh thanks anything further members uh Senator
• </c><01:35:59.719><c> systems</c> like the most commuter oriented systems like the most commuter oriented

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:04.560><c> Gail</c> member and former board chair. Gail member and former board chair.
• We're committed to listening members.
• Um members, are there other questions? Okay. Okay. Um members, are there other questions? Oh, yes.
• Um members, are there other Okay. Okay. Um members, are there other questions?
• > any</c><01:26:45.679><c> other</c> Um, members, are there any other Um, members, are there any other

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts held an informational briefing on May 22 with the Hawaii Arts Alliance, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA), and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission. Chair Capella said the purpose was to better understand the organizations’ work and strengthen relationships ahead of the interim and next session. The Hawaii Arts Alliance, led by Executive Director Gay Humphrey, described its mission to enrich Hawaii’s cultural fabric through arts education, advocacy, and community engagement, and highlighted its history tied to Alfred Price, including the creation of Hawaii’s 1% for art law and the alliance’s 45 years of service. The alliance outlined its current work, including administering SFCA-funded statewide programs such as Artist in the Schools and the new folk and traditional arts program, with 34 teaching partners serving more than 100 public and charter schools and Kumu Hawaii as the single grantee for traditional weaving instruction. It also discussed Arts First Partners, the incubation of Arts at Mark’s Garage, expanded advocacy efforts supported by Creative West grants, and new multi-year philanthropic support from the Hawaii Community Foundation and Atherton Family Foundation. The alliance said it is launching statewide listening sessions and an arts advocacy training program, and noted that most SFCA funds pass through the alliance to program partners, with the organization retaining 10 to 14 percent for administration. SFCA Executive Director Karen Ewald then described the agency’s role as the state arts agency, its strategic planning process, and its main programs, including Art in Public Places, the Capital Modern museum, Artist in the Schools, apprentice mentoring grants, community arts grants, the Hawaii State Poet Laureate program, a statewide cultural extension program, and the Hawaii Open Arts Program. She said SFCA has 21 staff with one vacancy, is awaiting a federal NEA partnership agreement, and is considering new revenue streams such as a cultural trust. She also noted that the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission was recently attached to SFCA, which has improved coordination and allows SFCA to provide funding for conservation and upkeep of the King Kamehameha statues statewide. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, with questions deferred until after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And ranking member, uh, for the committee.
• I just wanted to let the new members and returning members be aware that this is the best committee.
• ><c> be</c> the new members and returning members be the new members and returning members be you<01:
• </c> that's how I usually do the orientation that's how I usually do the orientation here<01:27:58.119
• </c> implemented when that service member implemented when that service member then<05:30:57.240><c>

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Transcript Highlights:

• good morning Mr chairman members sorry good morning Mr chairman members of<00:15:04.560><c> the</c><00
• I just realized we only have one new member here, but do you know some of your new members?
• I just realized we only have one members I just realized we only have one new<00:18:06.640><c> member
• </c> new member new member here<00:18:09.559><c> but</c><00:18:09.720><c> do</c><00:18:09.799><c> you
• This is a good orientation. Have to remember this when we do orientation. This is great.

Summary: The committee opened with House Bill 242, a liquor bill concerning brew pub licenses. Testimony from the New Hampshire Beer Distributors Association, the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, and the Liquor Commission explained that the bill is intended to correct a clerical error from the prior session and restore the agreed-upon language. The bill would allow a brew pub, within the existing 2,500-barrel limit, to self-distribute its own product to one authorized on- or off-premise license; otherwise it must use wholesale distribution. Witnesses said the measure is a narrow fix specific to brew pubs and does not affect other manufacturing licenses. No opposition was raised during the hearing, and the chair closed the hearing after no committee questions remained. The committee then heard House Bill 81, which would allow patrons to take purchased alcoholic beverages into restaurant restrooms. The sponsor argued the current prohibition is outdated and can create safety risks by forcing people to set drinks down, citing concerns about drink tampering and a personal story about a friend who was drugged and assaulted after leaving a drink unattended. Committee members and the sponsor discussed whether the bill would increase liability for restaurants, how enforcement would work, and whether the current law is aimed at preventing underage handoffs or drink spiking. The sponsor said the bill would be permissive for establishments, not mandatory, and that liability would still depend on overservice and Liquor Commission investigations. The New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association testified in opposition, saying the bill could raise liability and create concerns about underage consumption in bathrooms. The hearing ended without a vote, with the chair noting the bill would move on to further committee/subcommittee consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:20.799><c> of</c> means tough decisions uh by members of means tough decisions uh by members
• </c> And this slide is in members packets. And this slide is in members packets.
• I'm going to, members with questions.
• There is a slide deck and members packet. Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the committee.
• But let's be honest here, members.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, and members.
• Speaker and members.
• Assembly Member Haney, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members.
• Assembly member ward your Thank you, Assembly Member Sharpe Collins.
• Speaker and members.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call and prayer, then handled several procedural matters before moving to the daily file. Members approved a motion to withdraw Assembly Bills 100 through 219 to the second reading file by a roll call vote of 42-15, and unanimously approved re-referrals of AB 440 and AB 1265 to different committees. The chamber also welcomed international visitors, student and community guests, and later heard a series of guest introductions tied to agriculture, immigration, and Irish heritage. The main floor action centered on two resolutions. H.R. 19, recognizing California Agriculture Day, drew strong support from members representing agricultural districts, who highlighted the state’s farm production, exports, and the role of farmworkers and ranchers; the resolution was adopted by voice vote after 65 co-authors were added. ACR 51, honoring Irish American Heritage Month, was also adopted by voice vote after 66 co-authors were added, with members speaking about Irish immigration, labor history, California-Ireland ties, and St. Patrick’s Day. The Assembly also held multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes for the Honorable Leon Lawson Williams, a pioneering Black civic leader in San Diego who served on the City Council and County Board of Supervisors and helped expand public transit and advance civil rights. Members from San Diego and others described his barriers-breaking career and lasting influence on local government and community leadership. The House then received announcements about upcoming committee hearings and adjourned until Thursday, March 20, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, members.
• Members, any questions? Thank you for being here. Sure. Thank you, members.
• Members, any questions? Okay.
• Thank you, members. Any questions?
• Thank you, members, and I reserve my right to close. Members, any questions? Thank you, members.

Bills: HB1397 , HB1886 , HB3088 , HB4187 , HB4229 , HB4230 , HB5032 , HCR6 , HCR34 , HCR50 , HCR55 , HCR58 , HCR70 , HCR71 , HCR72 , HCR74 , HCR75 , HCR80 , HCR86 , HCR93 , HCR100 , HCR107 , HCR116 , HCR117 , HCR6

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: Texas Constitution, Declaration of Independence, victory or death letter, display, historic preservation, lifeguard requirements, public beaches, municipalities, county regulations, exemptions, Parks and Wildlife, procurement, goods and services, revenue generation, Texas legislature, historical preservation, Texas Historical Commission, fees, nonprofit organizations, fundraising

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, please register. Have all members registered. Have all members registered.
• Speaker, and members. Uh, members, uh, this has been a sad week.
• Members, please rise and join us in a moment of silence. Thank you members.
• Speaker, members.
• Members with us today in the gallery are members of the TCU Student Government Association.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members in the South Gallery, if you would, students, go ahead and stand up.
• Members, you have heard the reconsideration motion.
• Members, Senate Bill 1919 is before you.
• Members, Senate Bill 710 has received 47 aye votes and zero nay votes.
• A number of the members are receiving awards.

Bills: SB44 , SB546 , SB1213 , SB1256 , SB1287 , SB1443 , SB1644 , SB1653 , SB1716 , SB1209 , SB1826 , SB1919 , SB1930 , SB1976 , SB2028 , SB2067 , SB2072 , SB2117 , SB710 , SB1477 , SB1405

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered the daily prayer and pledges, introduced the Doctor of the Day, and welcomed several student and guest groups to the gallery. The chamber also laid over a few agenda items before moving through a long general order calendar of bills, most of them explained briefly by their authors and then advanced without objection to final passage. Measures passed included SB 44 on extending sales tax exemption treatment to contractors working for certain exempt entities; SB 546 on biometric data and controlled dangerous substance-related changes; SB 1213 on Department of Corrections inmate credit levels; SB 1256 requiring ignition interlock devices for repeat DUI bond situations; SB 1287 on abstractor licensing eligibility; SB 1443 on anesthetist physical status modifiers with an amendment excluding Medicaid plans; SB 1644 adding a reportable disease; SB 1653 joining the occupational therapy licensure compact; SB 1716 updating security breach notification rules and limiting class actions; SB 1826 removing a sunset from the local development and enterprise zone incentive leverage act; SB 1919 increasing the Tourism Development Act cap; SB 1930 on produced water handling and compensation; SB 1976 creating a tiered surety plan for small producers and then being adopted as an emergency; SB 2028 on raw milk advertising and labeling, also passed as an emergency; SB 2067 on financial institutions helping protect vulnerable adults from scams; SB 2072 on deed fraud and title theft; SB 2117 on contaminated grain authority and emergency treatment; SB 710 on teacher pathway pilot flexibility; SB 1477 restricting concurrent enrollment to traditional high school students and passed as an emergency; and SB 1405 reauthorizing the wildlife diversity income tax checkoff. The only bill to draw notable floor debate was SB 1209, which was reconsidered after initially failing, sent back to general order, and then passed 26-18. Supporters said it would reduce delays in eviction proceedings by excluding Sundays and holidays from summons timing, while opponents argued it would mainly help tenants who are already behind and burden small landlords. Senator Pugh later noted a personal-interest abstention on that vote. Several other bills passed with recorded votes ranging from narrow to unanimous, and some were designated emergency measures after final passage. The Senate concluded with announcements about upcoming events, including a reception, a visit from the Christian Employer Association, and the Bible reading marathon, and then adjourned until Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much, Chair, Vice Chair, Ranking Member, and members. Good morning.
• Vice Chair, Ranking Member, members of the committee, proud to be joined by my co-prime Rep.
• Thank you, members. Members, we have only gotten through five bills in a matter of almost an hour.
• Members, that is the bill. Members, we're in questions of the sponsor.
• Members, you may remember this.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are all members registered? Are all members registered?
• Thank you members. 137 138 Members, we have a memorial recognition, will you please take your seats.
• Members.
• Speaker and members.
• Members, chapters throughout the state have joined us today And their members are seated in the south

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Rehman, Chairman Brady, Senate members and representative members of the committee.
• Chairman, Chairman Ryan, Chairman Brady, members of the committee.
• I am also a member of the retirement board.
• Yes, good afternoon, Chairman Ryan and Brady and committee members.
• We received 133 responses, 70% of whom were MSNO members and 30% were non-members.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing on a wide range of credible service and retirement-related bills, with testimony largely focused on allowing public employees to buy back prior service time or receive more appropriate retirement classifications. Bills discussed included retirement buyback for Joint Base Cape Cod firefighters (H. 4317), clarification of call firefighter buyback rights (H. 2883/S. 1915), veterans’ buyback (H. 2957), a Bridgewater State University police death-benefit/heart-law issue (filed by Rep. Gallagher), unpaid parental leave buyback for municipal employees (H. 2946), school nurse creditable service (H. 2887/S. 1787), former private/parochial school teacher buyback (S. 1900/H. 2873), Massport police retirement classification (S. 1888), contract employee buyback (H. 2795), Retirement Plus late entry (H. 2792), CVTE/teacher-related buyback issues (H. 2762), Peace Corps/AmeriCorps creditable service (H. 2927), and institutional school teacher retirement fairness (H. 2757). Several speakers also referenced related bills for teachers and nurses that had been heard previously or were filed in parallel in the other branch. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support of the bills. Speakers argued that the measures would correct inequities, recognize prior public service, and help recruit and retain workers in hard-to-fill public jobs. Firefighters described the unique federal-to-state transition at Joint Base Cape Cod and said some members were left out of earlier buyback opportunities. Veterans, teachers, school nurses, correctional educators, and Massport police all described service requirements, administrative gaps, or outdated statutory language that they said unfairly limited retirement credit or placed them in the wrong retirement group. Several witnesses emphasized that the proposals were fiscally responsible because employees would pay the cost of the buybacks, and some noted that similar bills had been filed repeatedly in prior sessions. Committee members asked a few clarifying questions, mostly about why certain employees had been excluded under current law or how the retirement provisions would work. No opposition testimony was presented. The hearing concluded after all scheduled witnesses testified, with the chairs thanking participants for their service and the committee voting to adjourn.