Transcript Highlights:

• If Senator Hovie and Senator Price. If Senator Hovie and Senator Price.
• But you had senators like Senator Larry Dixon had senators like Senator Larry Dixon had senators like
• and relevant biometric data GPS data and relevant biometric data GPS data and relevant biometric data
• the Senate persuant to Senate petition the Senate persuant to Senate petition the Senate persuant to
• of the Senate rules in the Senate persuant to Senate rule 20 in the Senate persuant to Senate rule 20

Transcript Highlights:

• measures poverty using state income tax returns, public benefits data, and U.S. data.
• state income tax returns, public benefits data, and U.S. data.
• Census data.
• Chair and Senator.
• Chair, Senator Brandt, data with respect to outcomes is difficult to discern, primarily due to differences

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we have Senate Bill 6124 before us. There is an amendment labeled A offered by Senator Leas.
• Senator Dingre. Thank you.
• Senator Harris, yes. Offered by Senator Harris? Senator Harris, yes. Is there any discussion?
• Senator Short. Thank you, Madam Chair. Again, just another issue really... Senator Short.
• Thank you so much, Senator Short.

Summary: The Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee took executive action on 11 bills. It advanced SB 624 on an Appliance Affordability Index study with an amendment excluding consumer electronics, and SB 6284 on artificial intelligence systems with a proposed substitute adding definitions, developer requirements, exemptions for some entities, and clarifying enforcement. The committee also moved forward SB 5609 on cultural resource protection under SEPA after rejecting an amendment to the proposed substitute, and SB 6172 on coal plant treatment under cap-and-invest after adopting an amendment related to emergency federal orders. Several energy and climate bills were also approved, including SB 6246 on emissions-intensive trade-exposed facilities, SB 5932 on alternative jet fuel production, SB 6269 on the definition of motor fuel, and SB 6223 on community-scaled weatherization projects. On SB 5975 concerning lead in cookware, the committee rejected one proposed substitute and adopted another that bans intentionally added lead in cookware beginning in 2027 and directs future regulation through the Safer Products program. The committee then considered SB 5466 on electric transmission reliability and capacity, taking up multiple amendments to a proposed second substitute. Amendments addressing wildfire risk, corridor identification, landowner consultation, eminent domain, and wildfire liability were all rejected, and the bill was advanced on a due pass recommendation. In each case, the committee’s final action was to pass the bills or substitutes subject to signatures, with several measures referred onward to Ways and Means or Rules as noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kim, Senator Hashimoto, Senator Dort.
• We also created the data-sharing and data-flow infrastructure that enables the student data to come from
• We also created the data-sharing and data-flow infrastructure that enables the student data to come from
• We also created the data-sharing and data-flow infrastructure that enables the student data to come from
• So, their<00:27:27.520><c> data</c> their data their data &gt;&gt; So,<00:27:28.720><c> are</c><00:27

Bills: SB2901 , SB2902 , SB2903 , SB2904 , SB2905 , SB2906 , SB2907 , SB2908 , SB2909 , SB2910 , SB2911 , SB2912 , SB2913 , SB2914 , SB2915 , SB2916 , SB2917 , SB2918 , SB2919 , SB2920 , SB2921 , SB2922 , SB2923 , SB2924 , SB2925 , SB2926 , SB2927 , SB2928 , SB2929 , SB2930 , SB2931 , SB2932 , SB2933 , SB2934 , SB2935 , SB2936 , SB2937 , SB2938 , SB2939 , SB2940 , SB2941 , SB2942 , SB2943 , SB2944 , SB2945 , SB2946 , SB2947 , SB2948 , SB2949 , SB2950 , SB2951 , SB2952 , SB2953 , SB2954 , SB2955 , SB2956 , SB2957 , SB2958 , SB2959 , SB2960 , SB2961 , SB2962 , SB2963 , SB2964 , SB2965 , SB2966 , SB2967 , SB2968 , SB2969 , SB2970 , SB2971 , SB2972 , SB2973 , SB2974 , SB2975 , SB2976 , SB2977 , SB2978 , SB2979 , SB2980 , SB2981 , SB2982 , SB2983 , SB2984 , SB2985 , SB2986 , SB2987 , SB2988 , SB2989 , SB2990 , SB2991 , SB2992 , SB2993 , SB2994 , SB2995 , SB2996 , SB2997 , SB2998 , SB2999 , SB3000

Keywords: geological subsurface characterization, groundwater, geothermal resources, environmental review, Hawaii groundwater and geothermal resources center, scientific research, non-extractive, public trust doctrine, clean energy, greenhouse gas, carbon sequestration, climate change, energy policy, Hawaii state energy office, emissions reduction, sustainable development, fare-free transportation, greenhouse gas emissions, public transit, tax on petroleum

Transcript Highlights:

• The data isn't showing that it's working.
• decisions, but we can't get the data, so.
• Um, so, um, with regard to the Senate, you can tell I was really, um, very interested in Senate Bill
• 3 and Senate Bill 1.
• Um, thank you, Senator.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We have another freshman senator, Senator O'Malley.
• Senator Stewart. I see Senator O'Malley anxiously wanting to.
• That is data-based.
• Senator Bradley, Mr.
• And, Senator, Mr.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Elson: Aye. Senator Gallum: Aye. Senator Sears: Aye. Senator Schrope: Aye.
• Senator Gallum: Aye. Senator Sears: Aye. Senator Schrook: Aye. Senator Reid: Aye.
• Senator Olson: Aye. Senator Gallo: Aye. Senator Sears: Aye. Senator Schrope: Aye.
• Senator Alston. Senator Gallant? Senator Sears? Senator Trove. Aye. Senator Sintervation.
• Senator Alston. Senator Gallant? Senator Sears? Senator Trove. Aye. Senator Senator Sintervation.

Bills: HB2134 , HB2253 , HB2270 , HB2402 , HB2404 , HB2673 , HB2941

Committees: Senate Public Safety , Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Keywords: critical infrastructure, foreign adversaries, China, communications, security, law enforcement, disciplinary action, administrative appeals, investigative files, due process, retaliation, county seal, law enforcement authority, sheriff's posse, public safety, county governance, ambulance services, certificate of necessity, emergency medical services, state regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Senator Keith Gander. Good morning.
• And we need... ...that data to make improvements.
• But we also have detailed historical data.
• Thank you, Senator Leah. Thank you. Is this mic working?
• This is our statewide fatality data for the last decade.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met in Yakima to focus on tribal traffic safety, with members and Yakima Nation leaders emphasizing the importance of safety, the right to travel, and continued partnership on U.S. 97 corridor improvements. Yakima Nation Vice Chair Christopher Wallachie and engineering staff described the Tribal Traffic Safety Committee, the U.S. 97 safety project, heritage connectivity trails, roundabout construction, and the use of federal grants and advanced sensing technology to identify hazards before crashes occur. They highlighted collaboration with WSDOT, the Traffic Safety Commission, the University of Washington, and other regional partners, and explained that the goal is to move from reactive crash response to proactive risk reduction. The Yakima Nation engineering team and AI Vision presented the MUST sensor project, which uses compact AI-enabled devices to collect traffic counts, speeds, near-miss events, roadway conditions, and pedestrian activity, with data transmitted to a dashboard and used for real-time warnings and longer-term planning. Committee members asked about speed tracking, driver behavior, enforcement, and partnerships with WSDOT and counties. Yakima Nation staff said the relationship with WSDOT has improved over time, especially after community outreach on proposed roundabouts, and that the tribe now supports several roundabout projects and broader safety coordination. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission then presented statewide fatality trends and tribal traffic safety data. Mark McKekney said 2024 showed a roughly 10% decrease in fatalities statewide, though recent years remain among the highest in decades. He noted that race and ethnicity data are only available for people who die in crashes, and that many American Indian and Alaska Native fatalities involve passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists rather than drivers. Penny Rerick outlined tribal traffic safety coordinator grants and other state-funded tribal projects, including work with Yakama Nation, Colville, Kalispel, Makah, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Muckleshoot, Lower Elwha, and Puyallup, stressing that flexible state funding helps fill gaps left by federal programs and supports community-led solutions. The final presentation covered impaired driving enforcement and ignition interlock compliance in Yakima County. Yakima Police Chief Sean Boyle said the city created a DUI enforcement and education officer program that helped reduce serious injury and fatal impaired-driving crashes, supported by state funding and social media outreach. Yakima County District Court’s Nick Bazan described a supervision program for DUI offenders and interlock compliance, reporting more than 1,000 DUI convictions in 2024-25 and about 3,800 noncompliant interlock users countywide. He said the court is using a two-pronged approach—pretrial assistance for indigent clients and post-conviction accountability and case planning—to improve compliance and reduce impaired driving. The committee expressed support for the work, noted the progress made, and adjourned the work session after thanking presenters for their updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Senator Carol, Senator Neil, Senator Nun, here. Senator Reid, here. Senator Thomas, here.
• Senator Thomas, >> here.
• Senator Thomas, >> Senator Wheeler, Representative Blandon, here, here, here.
• We're providing data out of any data.
• Uh Senator &gt;&gt; Okay. Thank you, Senator. Uh Senator Thomas.

Summary: The committee received an update on Kentucky’s statewide emergency responder voice system (SERVS) and the supporting microwave network, known as KYeS. Michael Brandon Marshall, the state’s statewide interoperability coordinator, explained that the project began as a replacement for Kentucky State Police’s radio system and has expanded into a statewide public-safety trunked radio system. He reviewed work completed in phases 1 and 2, including upgrades to existing tower sites, construction of new sites, installation of generators and DC power plants, and replacement of microwave routers and stations. He said the microwave upgrade is a separate but necessary part of the project and that the remaining microwave work on existing sites is expected to be finished in 2026, with roughly 20 more sites likely to move from blue to green by the next monthly report if conditions allow. Members pressed Marshall on the pace of deployment and the lack of coverage in parts of Eastern Kentucky. Senator Thomas said the coverage map was especially unfavorable to counties from Whitley and McCreary up to Lewis County and asked when that gap would be fixed. Marshall said the eastern buildout is planned, but those areas have not yet been funded; he estimated that by the end of 2026 the areas around Posts 14, 8, and 11 should be live, while other eastern post areas would remain unbuilt until additional funding is provided. He said the decision to start in Western Kentucky was technical rather than political, based on terrain and the relative ease of building coverage over flatter ground. Senator Wheeler asked whether newer low-orbit satellite systems such as Starlink could reduce the need for tower construction. Marshall said satellite technology could be a useful tool, especially for outdoor or disaster-response communications, but it cannot replace terrestrial radio for public safety because responders often work indoors and need reliable penetration through buildings. He also noted that lower-frequency spectrum such as 700 MHz is better suited for that purpose. Representative Smith asked about contracting and delays; Marshall said the Finance Cabinet’s DECA manages the construction contracts, while his office helps define the scope of work and reviews whether it is adequately met. The committee indicated it will continue to receive monthly updates on the project.

Transcript Highlights:

• state senator.
• This item is to implement Senate Bill 660, as you're familiar with, Madam Chair, which expands the data
• There is a data lag.
• There is a data lag.
• Thank you, Senator. Thank you, Senator.

Transcript Highlights:

• . data. data.
• Senator<00:58:06.800><c> Kohl.</c> Senator Kohl. Senator Kohl.
• </c><01:04:16.360><c> into</c> data uh and turning that data into data uh and turning that data into
• . data. data.
• . data. data.

Committee: Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, for the record, B.
• In addition to charge-level data, we also have data on the individual.
• In addition to the charge-level data, we also have data on the individual.
• They have to match up the data.
• They have to match up the data.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on the effects of H.R. 1 on Washington’s Medicaid, developmental disability, long-term care, and food assistance systems, followed by a separate discussion of juvenile rehabilitation caseloads and placement capacity. DSHS officials said HR1 could affect home equity rules, immigration-related eligibility, work requirements for some expansion-population enrollees, and provider taxes, while also creating a future opportunity for a new 1915(c) waiver. Advocates and providers warned that any state response that cuts home and community-based services would worsen already thin provider networks, increase waiting lists, push more people into hospitals or out-of-state placements, and strain families and workers. A pediatric behavioral health expert and a supported living provider said Medicaid reimbursement is already too low and further reductions would threaten outpatient, residential, and inpatient services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and severe behavioral needs. The committee then turned to SNAP and the state food assistance program. DSHS said HR1 would tighten work requirements and exemptions, end some immigrant eligibility for the federal program, eliminate the SNAP education program, raise state administrative costs, and eventually require Washington to share in benefit costs based on its error rate. Officials estimated large numbers of residents could lose or see reduced benefits, with significant added state costs. Anti-hunger advocates, a food bank director, and a SNAP recipient described the program as essential for low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities, and said the changes would increase paperwork, reduce benefits, and worsen food insecurity while also harming local food economies. Testimony emphasized that food banks cannot replace SNAP and that work requirements may be difficult to meet for caregivers, people with disabilities, and those facing child care or transportation barriers. In the juvenile justice portion, the Caseload Forecast Council presented the JR forecast, which is currently mostly flat through the end of the biennium but expected to grow modestly over the longer term. Members discussed how policy choices, including the 2019 JR-25 law, have increased lengths of stay for adult-sentenced youth in JR, while diversion and other reforms have affected regular JR trends. A court researcher explained the data available to help forecast admissions and noted ongoing efforts to improve data sharing with JR, AOC, and county systems, though staffing and system-lag issues limit how quickly data can be produced. Juvenile court administrators and DCYF officials described the community-based juvenile justice continuum, rising complexity in the JR population, overcrowding at Green Hill and placement constraints at Echo Glen and Harbor Heights, and the need for more flexible community transition and mental health capacity. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Weber Pierson for her incredible leadership on the Senate side as our Chair of Senate Health.
• Thank you, Senator.
• Thank you, Senator.
• with data.
• with data.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator.
• Thank you, Senator.
• data-driven policy by implementing a cloud platform data warehouse.
• Senator Laird, Senator Grove, thank you both for being here.
• Thank you, Senator. Kim Olson with SOS Meals on Thank you, Senator.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services heard a series of budget items focused first on the California Department of Aging and then on the Department of Social Services. For Aging, the director reported the state is at the midpoint of the Master Plan for Aging, with about 300 initiatives launched and roughly three-quarters completed, nearly $1 billion invested, and expanded local planning, research, and stakeholder engagement. The committee also discussed HICAP modernization, which would add ongoing funding from the Special HICAP Fund to expand Medicare counseling capacity, and senior meal programs, including support for virtual congregate/to-go meals and the use of prior one-time nutrition investments. The chair raised concerns about federal H.R. 1 and its downstream effects on older adults, food assistance, and other safety-net programs, and the department said its direct budget was not affected but that other programs serving older adults could be under pressure. The committee then reviewed multiple CDSS proposals. These included implementing the federal Medicaid Access Rule by creating a statewide grievance process and critical incident reporting system for IHSS and other home- and community-based services; housing and homelessness programs such as CalWORKs Housing Support, Housing and Disability Advocacy, Home Safe, and Bringing Families Home, where the department described strong outcomes but warned that one-time funding is expiring and services are scaling back; and permanent position authority for the Housing and Homelessness Division. Members also heard about the facility management system modernization for Community Care Licensing, home care services branch solvency and regulation work, child care centers in multifamily housing, the Seizure Emergency Response Act, licensing during emergencies and disasters, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, and social services automation projects including CalSAWS, the enterprise data pipeline, and CalWORKs child support notices. The LAO and Department of Finance generally had no additional comments or were still reviewing several requests. A notable exchange occurred on the Community Care Licensing item, where Senator Grove pressed the department about the Autumn Oaks facility in Tulare County, citing dozens of complaints and severe conditions affecting seniors. The department said it had worked with the county and ombudsman on relocation, was reviewing what went wrong, and had authority to pursue administrative action even after a license surrender. The hearing ended with a stakeholder presentation from the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging supporting a $62.3 million Older Californians Act request, followed by public comment from advocates for housing, Meals on Wheels, HICAP, Home Safe, and H-DAP. The subcommittee adjourned without taking votes, and all items were held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I've got some numbers, Hart and Addis, and then Senator Nilo, Senator Cabaldon.
• So I've got some numbers Hart and Addis, and then Senator Nilo, Senator Cabaldon.
• Thank you, Senator Neelow. Senator Cabaldon. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Madam Chair.
• Thank you, Senator Neelow. Senator Cabaldon. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Madam Chair.
• We had to update data systems to be able to collect that data, but we've now done that.

Summary: The joint Sunset Review Oversight Hearing focused on the Bureau for Private Post-Secondary Education (BPPE) and its reauthorization, with committee chairs and members emphasizing the Bureau’s role in protecting students, overseeing private postsecondary schools, and responding to a changing federal higher education landscape. BPPE and the Department of Consumer Affairs reported that the Bureau has modernized data systems, improved enforcement, increased citations and inspections, reduced pending complaints, and is now meeting its statutory inspection mandate. They also said the Bureau faces a structural budget deficit and has reduced costs through staffing cuts, streamlined inspections, and shifting some student-relief functions to the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF).

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Beckettel. Here. Senator Beauchay. Here. Senator Corey. Here. Senator Davison.
• Senator Beauchay. Here. Senator Corey. Here. Senator Davison. Here. Senator Roars. Here.
• And that is specifically North Dakota data. Senator Beckett, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Senator Becadol. Senator Beauchay. Aye. Senator Corey. Senator Davison. Aye. Senator Roers.
• Senator, I think Senator Davidson had his light first, but then Senator Becknell.

Summary: The Employee Benefits Committee met to approve prior minutes, hear presentations on state employee health insurance, compensation, leave, and related policy issues, and then recess for lunch. PERS reviewed the history and structure of the state health plan, noting the long-standing state-paid family coverage, cost-control measures, wellness incentives, the current grandfathered PPO and high-deductible options, and the effects of recent benefit mandates such as insulin caps, prosthetic coverage, medication management, prescription copay changes, and ambulance balance-billing limits. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact of adding benefits and the possible cost of moving to a non-grandfathered plan, while PERS and HRMS emphasized that health insurance remains the top-ranked employee benefit and that any major plan changes should be considered carefully. HRMS also presented compensation comparisons showing state pay generally below private-market benchmarks, discussed targeted market equity adjustments, identified ongoing recruitment and retention concerns in fields like nursing, IT, engineering, and attorneys, and reviewed leave policies, tuition reimbursement, and family leave comparisons with neighboring states. Job Service provided labor market data showing low unemployment, high labor force participation, and wage growth that still trails some neighboring markets, and OMB explained that prevailing wage requirements apply to federally funded projects under Davis-Bacon, not to ordinary state contracts. After lunch, the committee took up the required process for health insurance mandate bills and adopted an amendment to Joint Rule 211. The amendment clarified that the deadline for submitting mandate measures is intended to allow time for all required reports, including both the cost-benefit analysis and any Employee Benefits Committee actuarial report, while leaving the existing deadline unchanged. The amendment was adopted on a roll call vote, with several members voting yes and a few no votes recorded. The committee then moved into its jurisdiction review of bill drafts, beginning with a bill that would automatically renew pre-tax dental and vision elections; members debated whether it had any actuarial or administrative impact on PERS or the state, and the chair explained that the committee’s role was only to decide whether further analysis was needed before later testimony and recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator. Senator Figueroa, welcome to the Senate. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• I am your newly elected State Senator for Senate District 9.
• our data dashboard—all of our data in-house.
• I data.
• Census data.

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Senator Gray, yes. >> Senator Inis, yes. >> Senator Ward, yes. >> Senator Rashardy, no. >> Senator
• . >> Senator Murphy, yes. >> Senator Pearl, yes. >> Senator Sullivan, yes. >> Senator Bzil, yes. >> Senator
• Senator uh Senator Apprentice. &gt;&gt; Okay. Senator uh Senator Apprentice.
• Senator Ward, yes. Senator Rashardi, no. Senator Fettton, no. Senator Mcu, yes. Senator Avar, yes.
• Senator Rashardy, yes. Senator Fenton, yes. Senator McU, yes. Senator Avar, yes. Senator Rose, yes.

Transcript Highlights:

• and sale of their data.
• Senator Ihara votes aye. Senator Moriwaki votes aye. Senator Fevella is excused.
• Senator Morywalki. &gt;&gt; Sen. Senator Morywalki. &gt;&gt; Hi. &gt;&gt; Hi. &gt;&gt; Hi.
• </c><00:28:42.240><c> Chair's</c> Senate Bill 1036. Chair's Senate Bill 1036.
• </c> next item, which is Senate Bill 1163. next item, which is Senate Bill 1163.

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The Senate Labor and Technology Committee heard testimony on several measures. SB 2245 would tighten revolving-door restrictions for state employees by barring new employees from acting on matters they worked on before state service and imposing a 12-month post-employment restriction for certain former Governor and Lieutenant Governor staff; the Ethics Commission and League of Women Voters supported it, and the committee later passed it as is. SB 99 would allow certain retirees to return to work as school resource officers or investigators without losing retirement benefits; the Attorney General supported the investigator portion, ERS and other agencies offered comments and suggested amendments, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including changes from the Attorney General, ERS, and the Department of Law Enforcement, plus a far-future effective date. SB 2304, which would expand identity theft law to cover AI/deepfake or materially deceptive media impersonation, drew opposition from the Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor over prosecution burdens and First Amendment concerns, while some prosecutors and others supported it; the committee deferred the bill. SB 2115, dealing with collective bargaining impasse procedures for repricing public employee classes, drew opposition from human resources officials who said arbitrators lack the technical expertise needed, while unions and HGA supported the measure; the committee deferred decision-making to a later hearing. The committee also heard SB 1036, a net neutrality bill that would bar broadband providers from blocking, prioritizing, or zero-rating traffic. Supporters argued Hawaii needs stronger consumer protections, while the Hawaii Broadband Office said it saw no current problem in Hawaii and warned the bill could affect federal BEAD funding unless exempted; the committee deferred the measure. SB 1163 would prohibit the sale of geolocation and browser data and data collected through microphone-based background apps; Consumer Protection supported the intent but urged a broader privacy framework, and the Honolulu Prosecutor sought an exemption for lawful law-enforcement investigations, which the committee later accepted along with Hawaiian Telecom’s proposed amendments before passing the bill with amendments. SB 2076 would update publicity-rights law to address AI/deepfake uses of a person’s likeness; testimony supported the goal and amendments from the Recording Industry Association of America, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including replacing references to AI/deepfake with “digital replica.” After hearing testimony, the committee recessed briefly to obtain quorum and then reconvened for decision-making. It adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass SB 2245 as is, passed SB 99 with amendments, deferred SB 2304, deferred SB 2115 to a later hearing, deferred SB 1036, passed SB 1163 with amendments, and passed SB 2076 with amendments. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Shortner? Present. Senator King? Here. Senator Blanco? Here. Senator Campbell?
• Senator Creighton? Senator Johnson? Senator Kolkhorst? Senator Menendez?
• Call the roll senator Blanco senator Campbell senator Creighton senator Johnson Senator Kolkhorst?
• Senator Kolkhorst, Senator Menendez, Senator Middleton, Senator Nichols.
• Senator Blanco. Aye. Senator Campbell. Senator Crayton? Senator Johnson? Senator Kolkhorst?

Bills: SB 6 , SB6 , SB504 , SB765 , SB815 , SB929

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce