Transcript Highlights:

• So, earlier this morning, I was actually joined by Mel Miler and Diane Miler over at her grave site,
• Both were along down at Cape Canaveral when the Challenger launched.
• But I just wanted to sort of read the inscription that's on her grave site, just up the road here.
• , which is just a half mile from site, which is just a half mile from here.<00:18:18.160><c> And</c>
• So, uh, anyway, the Challenger launched.

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• line, routes calls directly to our emergency response liaisons, and provides clear protocols for on-site
• In April 2025, Aurora became the first company in the world to commercially launch autonomous trucks
• This launch was the... This launch was the result of a careful and thoughtful process.
• Importantly, we did not launch until we knew that our trucks were going to be safe on public roads.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, one statement besides that: I wish the NCAA had organized this thing better when they first launched
• organized this thing better when<00:15:58.880><c> they</c><00:15:59.120><c> first</c><00:15:59.360><c> launched
• </c><00:15:59.759><c> the</c><00:16:00.399><c> NI</c><00:16:00.959><c> nil</c> when they first launched
• the NI nil when they first launched the NI nil money.<00:16:02.240><c> It</c><00:16:02.399><c> made<
• all available serviceware, including compostable serviceware, because we do not have a composting site

Bills: HB2384

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The joint committees heard HB 2384, relating to student athlete compensation, with testimony largely in support from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Athletics, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Athletics, and several other supporters. UH Mānoa said the bill would create a framework for name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies, including education, financial literacy, agent regulation, transparency, and reporting. Supporters argued NIL is now a necessary part of college athletics to recruit and retain athletes, keep Hawaiʻi talent in-state, and remain competitive, while also helping student athletes develop as future leaders. One supporter also emphasized the need for financial guidance so young athletes do not mishandle NIL income. Committee members questioned why the bill would direct public funds to NIL payments rather than broader athletic operations or other student groups, whether other states are funding NIL directly, and whether the approach could create a bidding war. UH representatives said the university already has NIL contracts in place, but the bill would strengthen and formalize policies. They said the requested funding model includes about $5 million for NIL and $10 million for athletics operations, with the NIL amount intended to supplement private fundraising; they also noted UH has raised roughly $1.5 million to $2 million for NIL since July 1 and is targeting $3 million this fiscal year. Members also raised concerns about fairness, public spending priorities, and whether the university’s policies adequately protect student athletes. The committees voted to pass HB 2384 HD1 with amendments. The chair said the bill should be amended to explicitly state that allocated funds may be used by UH for NIL payments to student athletes, and asked the next committee to examine whether a different payment scheme, similar to those used elsewhere, might be more appropriate for public funds. One member announced a no vote, citing concerns about direct public funding of NIL and unequal treatment of student athletes versus other students. The JHA committee adopted the same recommendation, with some members voting with reservations. Afterward, the meeting moved on to HB 644 HD1 on single-use plastics, where the first testimony was in opposition from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and the Biodegradable Products Institute, both arguing the bill as drafted would improperly exclude certified compostable products and should better align with composting and certification standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• Christina and I are with our Juvenile Justice Program team at CSG, and about six or seven months ago we launched
• passage of SB 3, the waiver approval to get access to health care for young people in facilities, to launching
• And through that conversation, it was prior to us launching the CYPSI initiative.
• When we launched CYPSI, we offered the opportunity, and CYFD, healthcare authorities, Senator Lopez,
• Last week, my husband almost died because he had a small bleed from the stoma from the trach site.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• For some crafts, the minimum skilled-and-trained percentage on a job site is 60%.
• For some crafts, the minimum skilled and trained percentage on a job site is 60% for some crafts.
• There are hundreds of satellite sites across the state at the UC, CSU, and Community College systems.
• There are hundreds of satellite sites across the state at the UC, CSU, and Community College systems.
• Some of these sites might be just down the street on the main campus, and some may be over 100 miles

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So for on-site cleanup, Remember our agency name? Sorry about that.
• So for on-site cleanup, which is basically at the oil field site itself, our office, our department,
• And you're saying site, is that site within the scope of the well, the tank battery, the lines running
• Would this also include, like, a place like Smitty's on-site?
• So it's the upstream aspect of it; it's basically the production site.

Summary: The House Natural Resources Committee met on April 29, 2026, with a quorum present and took up several bills related to property rights, expropriation, renewable energy recycling, and local permitting. Representative Domangue first presented HCR 80 on private property rights, using it to highlight the 2025 landman code of conduct and the need for stronger guardrails in expropriation negotiations. She then deferred the resolution in order to allow Chairman Geymann to present HB 841, which was described as establishing a code of conduct for landmen and expropriation-related negotiations. The committee heard testimony and watched video examples from landowners describing intimidation, inadequate compensation offers, and the need for fair treatment. Amendments were adopted to broaden the bill to all certificate holders, prohibit threats about court costs and attorney fees, shorten response times, and add graduated fines and public posting for violations. HB 841 was reported favorably as amended, with no opposition cards recorded. The committee then considered HB 621 by Representative Coates, which would require recycling of decommissioned renewable energy infrastructure to the extent practical. After discussion with DEQ, the bill was amended to clarify that existing universal waste rules apply and to remove language that would have required the renewable facility owner to pay decommissioning costs in that section; the effective date was set for January 1, 2027. Testimony from renewable energy industry representatives supported the measure and explained that solar panels and related components can be recycled at high rates, with established markets for recovered materials. The committee adopted the amendments and reported HB 621 favorably. Next, Representative Jacob Landry presented HB 595, aimed at preventing local governments from unreasonably delaying or impeding energy projects through permit requirements, especially road permits affecting Haynesville Shale operations. After amendment, the bill required timely action on local road permits and deemed them approved if not acted on within 30 days. Supporters emphasized the economic importance of the Haynesville and the need for predictable permitting, while opponents argued the bill could further erode local authority, particularly regarding carbon capture and sequestration. The committee reported HB 595 favorably. Landry then presented HB 1191, creating a certificate of compliance process for oilfield and exploration and production sites to provide a cleaner path for cleanup, finality, and future investment. The bill drew technical and substantive amendments, including changes to definitions, confidentiality, and the role of DEQ; discussion continued over whether the bill should be deferred to allow more time to work through the remaining issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Creative Jobs Collective was launched in 2021 in response to the economic disruption of the pandemic
• At the local level, we developed and launched a creative employer toolkit that provides recommendations
• of Land Use and Climate Innovation with another cultural fellow to embed with them to support the launch
• employed post-internship, 95 were working in the creative sector, while 69 were hired by their work sites

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on the Arts

Transcript Highlights:

• Gavin Newsom launched the development of California's Master Plan for Career Education.
• Today, we are here to highlight the College Corps program, launched in 2021, which has created essential
• successful program model has now spread to other states, including New York and Minnesota, who are launching
• We appreciate the support staff and the recommendations around shifting grant site cycles to at least

Transcript Highlights:

• We have only, in the two and a half years since the program launched, I believe, less than $5,000 of
• I asked HHSC the<01:42:55.760><c> the</c><01:42:56.080><c> site</c><01:42:56.320><c> that's</c><01:42
• I asked HHSC: the site that's running out of Leah, is that a Kohale or is that a core program?
• But in recent years in particular, the number of deputy sheriffs that have been able to be on site in
• We issued an RFP for one of our most popular camping sites in Māʻili? Kohana.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 5971 will help unlock federal tax credit funding to launch Washington's green fertilizer industry,
• It starts with license type and then breaks it down by acreage and number of harvest sites.
• But acreage and number of harvest sites doesn't reflect how many pounds, tons, or bales of shellfish
• For a harvester with two or fewer harvesting sites, their current fee is $616 a year.
• , and we're two acres and one harvest site.

Bills: SB5816 , SB5971

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, green fertilizer, low-carbon, sustainability, incentive program

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m going to talk to you all today about the process that you go through to actually site a shelter.
• I’m going to talk to you today about where we’re at right now in looking at how these shelters are sited
• That really increased the urgency of siting capacity.
• Circa 2023, we built a model ordinance that local governments can use to govern the siting of shelters
• Over the past year, the ACLU of Washington launched our Mapping Displacement Project.

Summary: The Housing Committee held work sessions on federal Continuum of Care homelessness funding and on state step-housing siting rules before moving into public hearings on House Bill 2266 and House Bill 2489. Commerce staff said HUD’s late and restrictive Continuum of Care funding notice put about $120 million a year in Washington operating support for existing homeless housing projects at risk, but a lawsuit led by the Attorney General forced HUD to restart renewal funding. Commerce also reviewed how local governments are implementing step-housing requirements, including model ordinances, planning updates, and ongoing compliance reviews under recent state law. House Bill 2266 would require cities and counties to allow step housing in all nonindustrial zones, apply the same permitting and environmental review as other residential uses, limit design review to administrative processes, and remove certain local standards and conditions on existing buildings and affordable housing. Supporters, including Plymouth Housing, Disability Rights Washington, King County, the Attorney General’s Office, and Catholic Community Services, argued the bill would reduce discriminatory barriers, protect people with disabilities, and make it easier to site shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. Several city representatives and the Association of Washington Cities opposed or sought amendments, saying the bill was too broad and could limit local authority over operational agreements, safety plans, spacing, community engagement, and funding conditions; some asked for clearer carveouts for emergency shelters and related uses. House Bill 2489 would bar local governments from enforcing public-space anti-camping or similar laws unless adequate alternative shelter space is available, with “life-sustaining activities” and “adequate alternative shelter space” defined in detail. Rep. Gregerson said the bill would create a statewide floor and prevent punishment for survival conduct when no real shelter option exists. The ACLU, service providers, and shelter operators supported the bill, citing displacement from fragmented local ordinances, enforcement costs, and the need to align enforcement with actual shelter availability. Testimony also described low-barrier shelter operations and examples of people stabilizing once housed. The hearing on HB 2489 began with staff explanation and initial testimony; no votes were taken on either bill in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• or lands within your within the site of this project that are actually going to be having to use the
• hopeful with this program when I saw it launched in terms of that, and I'm not unappreciative of the
• site later this fall.
• Yeah, that fund is used for investigations and cleanup of former battery recycling sites.
• How many sites do you have on your list to investigate?

Transcript Highlights:

• Mehta launched Ahana, a nonprofit organization with a mission of elevating cultural awareness of South
• Launching in 2024, Sacramento State's Combat U program is dedicated to building discipline, confidence
• It minimizes the voices in rural communities who live far and few between polling sites.
• Rollbacks of early and mail-in voting, closures of community polling sites, has become commonplace in
• Rollbacks of early and melding voting, closures of community polling sites has become a commonplace in

Transcript Highlights:

• Education invites you to attend the career and technical education ribbon-cutting and mobile workshop launched
• Launched today at the Alabama Association School Board parking lot at 12:15.
• The VPF site selection said that, "Well, we found that it's not good to squeeze local governments."
• At the peak of construction, there were 28,000 construction workers per day working on that site. per
• day working on that site, 3,600 acres.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's usually between ages 19 and 20, to now 22 with a new launch age.
• These audits and reviews often require a significant amount of time from providers, with some being on-site

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee heard several Department of Social and Health Services-related bills. Senate Bill 6024, sponsored by Senator Gildon, would streamline oversight of community residential service providers by limiting DSHS to one annual routine review per subject area when possible, requiring better document sharing within the department, and preserving investigations tied to complaints, incidents, mortality reviews, and other legally required oversight. Supporters said the bill would reduce duplicative audits and paperwork so providers can spend more time on direct client services. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6063, an agency-request bill sponsored by Senator Bateman and supported by DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez, to update statutes to reflect DSHS’s recent reorganization into the Home and Community Living Administration and the Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration. Testimony described the measure as a technical cleanup with no fiscal impact. In addition, Senate Bill 6036, sponsored by Senator Kaufman, would exempt certain former foster parents and kinship caregivers from adult family home licensure when they continue caring for a former foster youth who is now an adult and the only unrelated adult in the home. DSHS supported the bill as a narrow way to preserve continuity and stability for vulnerable young adults. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 5681, sponsored by Senator Cortez, as amended in a proposed substitute. The bill would lower the age for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to access employment and community inclusion services from 21 to 20, and rename community access as community inclusion. Senator Cortez and multiple advocates, educators, and service providers argued that earlier access would reduce service gaps, support transition from school to work, and help young adults maintain employment. Staff explained that the substitute changed the eligibility age from the original bill’s 19 to 20. No final action was taken; the chair closed the hearings and announced upcoming executive sessions on previously heard bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're going to keep building up that site as a way for Idahoans to see the information as to what's
• So we're going to keep building up that site as a way for Idahoans to see the information as to what's
• So the parade's kind of launched. I don't know.

Summary: The committee received updates on Idaho’s America 250 preparations, including financial status, ambassador outreach, the Capitol celebration, the Liberty Bell tour, and related statewide events. LSO staff reported about $54,967.53 remaining for America 250 purposes and $17,500 pending disbursement in celebration fund grants. Treasurer Ellsworth described broad ambassador participation across cities, counties, businesses, schools, and veterans groups, along with numerous recent local events branded for America 250. Director Gallimore also reported that the Freedom Truck was on display, the Great American State Fair was underway, and the Liberty Bell had shipped from South Carolina and would be secured nightly as it tours the state. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on planning the July 4 Capitol celebration in Boise. Secretary McGrane outlined the parade, pancake feed, concert, vendors, live broadcast by Idaho Public Television, and the role of partners such as the Veterans Entrepreneurs Association, Just Serve, Duck Club, and Boise Family RV. Committee members asked about event timing, sponsorships, tribal participation, and the vehicle transporting the Liberty Bell. McGrane requested additional spending authority for unanticipated costs, including green rooms/trailers for performers, Ada County paramedics, water for attendees, and performer compensation. After discussion about costs and fiscal oversight, the committee approved a motion to grant an additional $10,000 in spending authority for the America 250 Capitol celebration, specifically for paramedics, trailers for performers, water, and performer compensation. Members also discussed contingency planning for inclement weather, with general agreement that the committee should revisit the issue at a later meeting and aim to preserve some form of celebration even if the outdoor event must be adjusted. The committee then set its next meeting for June 24 and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• At that particular site, the bell itself is only rung twice in a year, and it really is a special moment
• region; so much of the heritage, those beautiful homes, that beautiful community in Altadena, wonderful sites
• Folks have housed their neighbors, launched nonprofits, raised millions of dollars to help, used their

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and took up Senate Concurrent Resolution 106 by Senator Choi, which designates January 13, 2026 as Korean American Day in California. Senator Choi and many members spoke in support, highlighting the history of Korean immigration, the contributions of Korean Americans in business, public service, culture, education, health care, and civic life, and the significance of Korean American communities across the state. Several members also shared personal and district-specific examples, including Koreatown, the Korean Friendship Bell, Pachappa Camp in Riverside, and Korean American organizations and businesses affected by the recent wildfires. The resolution was adopted on a 38-0 roll call vote. After the vote, Senator Choi introduced Korean American guests visiting the chamber, including the Consul General of Korea in San Francisco and other community leaders. The Senate then returned to motions and committee announcements, including notices that the Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee and the Human Services Committee would meet after adjournment. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas also requested that SB 626 be removed from the inactive file and returned to the Assembly for amendments. The remainder of the session was devoted largely to adjournment memorials. Senator Umberg honored Monica Lynn Martinez-Hays, a longtime legislative staffer and artist. Senators Pérez and Allen jointly memorialized the 19 people who died in the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, describing the devastation, the community’s recovery, and the names and lives of many victims. Senator Menjivar also asked for adjournment in memory of Marine Corps Sergeant Adrian Carrillo, who died in a December traffic collision. The Senate announced its next floor session for Friday, January 16 at 9 a.m. and then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fiscal year 2026, they reported that the website was launched in July.
• This is just from their site regarding who they were looking to pollinate.
• There isn't a list of the organizations on the site, but that might be coming because I know they just

Committee: House Tobacco Settlement Revenue Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I have three children now who have all graduated from college and launching their lives.
• On their respective sites.
• This represents about 175 sites and locations across the state. because our Florida colleges have multiple

Transcript Highlights:

• In partnership with the legislature, we have stabilized the child care sector, launched free community
• investment will complement the more systemic, long-term work happening under the Governor's Literacy Launch
• Boston Public Schools was passed to prevent inequities in funding at the school site level and in the
• $25 million a year for a several-year period, aligned with the investments being made in Literacy Launch
• investment of approximately $7 million to be spent over the next three years to develop, pilot, and launch

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 55, the governor’s FY25 supplemental budget proposal to spend about $1.3 billion in surplus Fair Share revenue. House and Senate chairs framed the bill as a one-time opportunity to invest fairly in education and transportation, while also noting the need to protect the state’s long-term fiscal balance. Administration officials said the proposal should be considered alongside the FY26 budget and related bills, since the governor’s broader Fair Share plan aims for roughly an even split between education and transportation over time. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz, Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, and Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler outlined the administration’s priorities. Transportation funding would go mainly to the MBTA and related reserves, including money for the Federal Transit Administration reserve, MBTA stabilization reserve, low-income fares, winter resilience, RTA workforce support, MassDOT workforce and project delivery, and micro-transit grants. Education funding would support universal preschool expansion, early education and care capacity, early literacy tutoring, adult basic education and ESOL, early college and career technical education, MyCAP expansion, and special education circuit breaker funding. The administration emphasized that many of these investments are one-time or multi-year measures designed to address current needs without creating unsustainable recurring costs. Committee members raised concerns about regional equity, especially the large share of transportation money going to the MBTA versus regional transit authorities and rural areas. Several members asked for more detail on how the proposal would benefit Western Massachusetts and other non-MBTA regions, and whether micro-transit and Chapter 90-related investments would be sufficient. Education questions focused on special education reimbursement shortfalls, federal funding cuts to school districts, and how CTE and vocational investments would align students with workforce needs. The administration said it would provide additional data on MBTA versus RTA investment and explained that the special education circuit breaker and transportation reimbursement changes were intended to improve predictability and relief for districts. After the administration panel, Jessica Tang of AFT Massachusetts testified in support of using Fair Share funds to protect public education amid federal uncertainty and cuts. She argued that schools are facing a fiscal cliff, that vulnerable students would be hit hardest by funding losses, and that the Fair Share revenue should be used to preserve services and support students’ needs.