Transcript Highlights:

• This relates to compensation for court-appointed representation, increases the rate of compensation and
• relates to compensation for court<00:59:09.520> appointed<00:59:09.920> representation
• of compensation in maximum lavel<00:59:13.240> amounts<00:59:13.720> per<00:59:14.079>
• This increases the rate of compensation in the maximum allowable amounts per case of court-appointed
• <01:19:30.480> in increases the rate of compensation in increases the rate of compensation

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Judiciary-related measures. SB 94 would increase the mandatory minimum jail term for a first knowing or intentional violation of a temporary restraining order from 48 to 72 hours. The Office of the Public Defender and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence opposed the bill, arguing the current penalty is effective, the measure treats very different conduct the same, and the mental health assessment language is unclear and could be harmful or misapplied. Some other testifiers were listed in support or opposition, but no vote was taken. SB 15 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution. The Hawaiʻi Financial Services Association offered comments rather than opposition, suggesting the bill should be clarified as applying to creditor claims rather than property taxes and possibly limited to a primary residence, with restrictions on frequency of use. Committee discussion focused on how the exemption would affect unsecured creditors, the role of recorded mortgages and judgment liens, and whether the bill should instead establish a clearer homestead-style exemption. The bill drew both support and comments, with no action taken during the hearing. The committee also took testimony on SB 117, which would protect people making sexual misconduct claims from defamation suits unless made with malice; SB 121, a constitutional amendment to give the Senate more time to confirm judicial appointments; SB 14, a reapportionment amendment tied to the decennial census and resident population; SB 175, which would raise the mandatory retirement age for judges and justices from 70 to 75; SB 173, creating a three-year pilot program for free child care for minor children of parties and witnesses attending First Circuit court hearings; and SB 261, increasing juror pay from $30 to $50 per day. Testimony on these measures was generally supportive in the case of SB 175, SB 173, and SB 261, with some opposition on SB 14 and SB 117. On SB 173 and SB 261, committee members asked questions about practical implementation, and on SB 261 the State Bar Association said the increase was overdue and intended to encourage jury participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second is compensated officers.
• Um the is compensated officers.
• So that's why it's compensated officers and compensated board members.
• <01:45:00.560> officers, individuals are, compensated officers, individuals are, compensated
• <01:46:56.000> and why it's compensated officers and why it's compensated officers and compensated

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1525, which would appropriate funds to counties to open more voter service centers for in-person voting, provide money to the Office of Elections to print and mail the voter information guide to all registered voters, and support a public outreach campaign to increase voter participation. The Office of Elections supported the bill and estimated costs of a little over $2 million to print and mail the guide and about $178,000 for outreach, noting it spent about $441,000 on election advertising in 2024. Testimony from advocacy groups including Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Common Cause Hawaii, and Indivisible Hawaii strongly supported the measure, emphasizing access for neighbor island voters, people with disabilities, new voters, and voters who need ballot assistance. County election officials from Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai provided comments or testimony that were more cautious. They said additional funding would be welcome, but staffing and logistics remain major constraints, especially for election-day service centers. Honolulu’s city clerk said funding alone would not necessarily solve long lines, while Maui’s county clerk explained that voter service centers require trained seasonal employees, extensive training, and the ability to handle many ballot styles. Maui also described its current pop-up sites, including Hana, as expensive but necessary for remote communities, and said the county is already running at bare minimum staffing. Members asked questions about who decides how many service centers are opened, how staffing is handled, and whether there is a middle-ground model between the old precinct polling places and the current voter service center system. Honolulu explained that county clerks make those decisions under current law and that the county has tried pop-up sites in addition to its main centers. The discussion also noted that in 2024 most voters used vote by mail, while a smaller number used early in-person voting or final-day service centers. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The current threshold for lobbyist registration is $33,000 in compensation.
• Volunteer board members who did not receive compensation specifically for lobbying, for example, I'm
• The first is, I think the issue that you raised is a highly compensated individual going to hit $33,000
• employment, but who are simply there to express their opinion, those individuals are not being compensated
• I think the issue that you raised is a highly compensated individual going to hit $33,000 sooner than

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But it's basically just approving their rates for the year, their compensation to **UT** for handling
• But it's basically just approving their rates for the year, their compensation.
• Significant funding changes include an increase of $9.2 million to pay workers' compensation claims.
• You may know us as the workers' compensation entity that pays the workers' compensation claims, but our
• Workers' compensation is retained by the state.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the definition of earnable compensation the definition of earnable compensation to<03:35:44.960>
• average final compensation because they average final compensation because they worked<03:42:59.760><
• Uh, the rule, what I call the haircut for compensation over base.
• c><03:56:09.920> that<03:56:10.080> you'll of compensation over base that you'll of compensation
• from five years to three years, and the third change was compensation over base.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 met to review revenue estimates and begin working through a side-by-side of the budget. New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre testified that lottery revenues are outperforming prior estimates, projecting a $27 million return to the state this year, up $7 million, and $200 million per year in the next biennium, up $6.5 million per year. He attributed the increase to stronger scratch ticket sales, no negative impact from Massachusetts sports betting, and overall better performance. Members questioned the assumptions behind the higher numbers, including the proposed $50 scratch tickets, the effect of inflation, and whether the projections were conservative enough. McIntyre said the $50 ticket could produce modest growth and that the estimates were intentionally cautious. The discussion also covered gaming revenue assumptions for historical horse racing and video lottery terminals, with McIntyre saying the state market is not yet saturated and that future conversions from HHR to VLTs should be net positive for the state. Members also discussed differences between House and Senate revenue numbers for gaming, including machine counts, daily revenue assumptions, and the tax split. The Senate version used higher machine counts and a 31.25% tax rate, with a quarter-point reserved for responsible gaming and the remainder split between charities and the state. The House had used a 30% rate with a different distribution. McIntyre and committee members also reviewed House Bill 2 items affecting Kino hours and local option games of chance, with McIntyre explaining that the bill would expand playing hours and shift towns to an opt-out model. No votes were taken during the lottery discussion, but the committee indicated it would continue refining the revenue model and circulate the spreadsheet used for the estimates. The committee then moved through the HB 1 detail change sheet, accepting several Senate positions and holding others for later. It agreed to a zero-cost realignment in the Department of Safety moving the international fuel tax agreement function from administration to motor vehicles, and it restored eight passenger motor vehicle inspection positions for later discussion in HB 2. The Department of Corrections reorganization was set aside for a later, more detailed discussion. The committee also accepted no-change positions for the Department of Employment Security and agreed to a technical footnote fix in the Judicial Council section. It discussed a new HB 2 item moving contract counsel for involuntary mental health admissions from the judicial branch to the Judicial Council, funded at $100,000 per year, and noted that the public defender funding issue would be revisited when the overall budget picture is clearer. The meeting ended with the committee continuing its review of the remaining pages of the detail change sheet.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Joint Resolution Number Two, the President<00:01:21.200> Judicial<00:01:21.680> Compensation
• President Judicial Compensation President Judicial Compensation Commission,<00:01:22.799> Recommendations

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate met in a brief pro forma session focused on administrative business and the formal start of budget season. The chamber waived the reading of the prior journal and substituted the previous day’s invocation. Leaders noted that the budget would be introduced and that committees would handle the detailed work later in the day. Several measures were read and referred to committees: Senate Bill 282, the President’s fiscal year 2027 budget bill, was sent to the Budget and Taxation Committee; Senate Joint Resolution 1, concerning salary recommendations for the governor and lieutenant governor from the President Governor Salary Commission, was also referred to Budget and Taxation; and Senate Joint Resolution 2, concerning judicial compensation recommendations from the President Judicial Compensation Commission, was likewise referred to Budget and Taxation. A Senate bond initiative from Senator Hedleman for a Pikesville High School comfort station was read and sent to the capital budget subcommittee. After the introductions, the presiding officer announced that the Senate had completed its constitutional duties for the day and that committee work would proceed. A quorum call confirmed three members present, and the Senate remained in session long enough for the majority leader to move adjournment. The chamber adjourned without objection until Thursday, January 22nd at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• bids are solicited, the contract must be awarded to the responsible bidder offering the highest compensation
• awarded to the responsible offeror providing a proposal determined to be the most advantageous in compensation
• to a competitive solicitation, a concessions contract may be entered by negotiation of adequate compensation
• bids are solicited the contract must be awarded to the responsible bidder offering the highest compensation
• A concessions contract may be entered by negotiation of adequate compensation.

Summary: The task force first approved the March 25, 2026 minutes as amended, including a correction removing language that suggested the auditor’s office would contract with a security vendor. Members then moved to a bill draft on concessions (LC 27.0161.00000), which would raise the competitive solicitation threshold from $25,000 to $50,000, allow requests for proposals in addition to bids, clarify that proceeds go to the entity’s operating fund or general fund, and make other technical updates. OMB explained the draft and answered questions about scope, fragmentation, vendor restrictions, school districts, and whether concession proceeds could be directed to nonprofits; OMB said the draft could be refined further, including clarifying covered entities and contract length. No vote was taken on the draft during the discussion. OMB also reported on other survey items. It said a proposal to broadly allow agencies to create pre-qualified architect/engineering/land surveying vendor pools would not move forward, because the existing authority is working well for the agencies that already have it. On legal notices, OMB said it has been working with the North Dakota Newspaper Association on modernization, including an ADA-compliant online notice system and possible statutory updates to reflect changing technology and notice definitions. On click-through agreements for routine IT purchases, OMB and the Attorney General’s office said policy clarification—not statutory change—was enough, and the $20,000 threshold was intended to distinguish low-dollar adhesive contracts from purchases where terms can be negotiated. The committee also heard that OMB and the Center for Distance Education had resolved questions about alternate procurements and food/beverage expenditures through existing policy, so no statutory changes were needed there. North Dakota University System representatives gave a brief update on ongoing collaboration with OMB on statutory efficiency ideas, including concessions and surplus property. Finally, the task force discussed a draft on requirements for new or expanded spending programs, which would require agencies to identify purpose, expected benefits, alternatives, success measures, and full implementation costs, and would require reporting on outcomes over time. Members debated whether OMB or Legislative Council should collect and report the information, how to use the new program evaluators, whether real-time dashboards should be used, and how to choose which programs to evaluate; staff from Legislative Council said they would work with OMB and the auditor’s office to revise the draft and process.

Transcript Highlights:

• you can see that those numbers don't match this year, and that's because you all included your compensation
• Bill 151, that bill is where you included the $36.043 million to fund a $1 average increase in compensation
• If you think back to the session, the HAFC version of House Bill 2 had a $1 increase in compensation.
• Starting at the top: $36 million for a 1% compensation increase, $73.2 million for the 80/20 health insurance
• We want to analyze how the roles, compensation, and evaluation structures recognize expertise beyond

Transcript Highlights:

• Lumpsome payments, especially from the patient compensation fund, are harmful for patients in the long
• Another way to reform our medical malpractice is to prevent lump sum payments from the patient compensation
• So, prior to the 2021 Medical Malpractice Act, there was a provision in the patient compensation fund
• 2021, after the legislative changes, lump sum amounts of money can be paid out of the patient compensation
• So for me, if we care about patients, we should go back to something like the patient compensation fund

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• like me have access<00:16:15.279> to<00:16:15.480> unemployment<00:16:16.240> compensation
• <00:16:17.199> in access to unemployment compensation in access to unemployment compensation
• this is leveling the playing field for people, and that this way we can make sure that everyone is compensated
• 00:22:45.400> that<00:22:45.600> everyone<00:22:46.120> is<00:22:46.360> compensated
• <00:22:46.919> fairly sure that everyone is compensated fairly sure that everyone is compensated

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We've just made it robustly difficult to be compensated when a sovereign is guilty of negligence against
• It gives the government entity the power to compensate a victim above the financial caps without requiring
• And when government acts out badly, that person should be compensated without the additional hurdles
• And, I mean, when I think of some of the things that we should be compensated for, And I mean, when I
• think of some of the things that we should be compensating for, I think of, let's say, for example,

Summary: The subcommittee first heard HB 6507, a claims bill for Marcus Button, who suffered severe permanent injuries in a 2006 school bus crash. Representative Andrade explained that a jury awarded Button more than $2 million in 2009, but only a small amount was paid under sovereign immunity limits. He said Pasco County later reached a settlement with Button, but believed it lacked legal authority to pay without legislative approval. The bill would give the county that authority. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed unanimously, 18-0. The committee then took up HB 301, which would substantially revise Florida’s sovereign immunity framework. Representative McFarland said the bill would raise liability caps for state and local governments from $200,000/$300,000 to $1 million/$3 million, with a later increase in 2030, align statutes of limitations with private suits, allow governments to settle above the caps without a claims bill, and prevent insurance policies from conditioning payment on legislative approval. She framed the bill as a way to reduce the need for the claims bill process and provide faster redress to injured people. Testimony on HB 301 was sharply divided. Local governments, school districts, counties, cities, hospital groups, and insurance representatives opposed the bill, arguing the higher caps would sharply increase insurance and taxpayer costs, especially for small or fiscally constrained entities, and that the claims bill process and special masters provide useful review and leverage. Supporters, including the Florida Justice Association and several members, argued the current system is too slow and political, leaves seriously injured people waiting years for compensation, and should be modernized to better hold government accountable. No vote was taken on HB 301 in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're compensated just like when I was in the House, I got compensated for mileage.
• You're doing it to be compensated.
• They're compensated just like when I was in the House, I got compensated for mileage.
• You're doing it to be compensated.
• You're doing it to be compensated. compensated. compensated.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the individual, or they can directly compensate the individual when they take that firearm in.
• the individual or they can compensate the individual or they can directly<00:23:00.480> compensate
• If the respondent permanently transfers to the law enforcement agency, the agency must compensate the
• If the respondent permanently transfers to the law enforcement agency, the agency must compensate the
• compensate them at fair market value. compensate them at fair market value.

Bills: HF3771, HF3658, HF3453, HF3358, HF1775

Keywords: disaster assistance, contingency account, Minnesota emergency management, public safety, state disaster aid, FEMA, federal cost-share, emergency relief, natural disaster, budget report, appropriations report, management and budget, local governments, utility cooperatives, public works, infrastructure repair, chapter 12B, chapter 12A, emergency management, disaster recovery

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1216, a bill to be entitled an act relating to public school personnel compensation.
• It allows districts to recognize relevant advanced degrees as part of compensation. ...educators with
• Senate Bill 1216, a bill to be entitled an act relating to public school personnel compensation.
• But compensation is the remedy the law provides, and it is the remedy the state owes.
• "It is not lost on me that my first bill is the Groveland Four compensation bill.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and a series of introductions recognizing guests, visiting groups, and special honorees in the galleries. The chamber then took up committee and executive appointment business, adopting a report confirming 42 gubernatorial appointments by a vote of 36-0. The Senate next considered a long special-order calendar of bills, most of them passing with little or no opposition. Measures included public-records sunset reviews and trade secret/cybersecurity exemptions; a child-abuse reporting statute of limitations bill; commercial driving school oversight; human trafficking training for nurses; a new injunction for protection against serious violence and its related public-records exemption; nature-based coastal resiliency and mangrove protection; a chiropractic trust-funds cap repeal; specialty license plates; a waiver of late financial disclosure fines; public school personnel compensation; the Florida Farm Bill with multiple agriculture, biosolids, and enforcement provisions; homestead exemption clarification for long-term leases; disability presumption clarifications for first responders; reinsurance intermediary manager conformity; patriotic displays in public schools; ADS-B aviation fee restrictions; autism-related law enforcement training and the Blue Envelope program; campus safety reporting procedures for public postsecondary institutions; and veterinary prescription disclosure. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary critical-need practice certificates, and domestic animals. The floor debate featured the most discussion on the farm bill, the HCSM/nonprofit religious organizations bill, the autism law-enforcement bill, and the school athletics bill. The HCSM bill drew extended debate over whether licensed insurance agents should be allowed to market faith-based health care sharing ministries, with supporters emphasizing consumer choice, free speech, and religious liberty, and opponents warning about unregulated products and commissions; it passed 32-5. The athletics bill, prompted by the Teddy Bridgewater/Miami Northwestern situation, would let coaches provide good-faith support to student-athletes while requiring reporting and FHSAA oversight; it passed 38-0. Most other measures passed overwhelmingly, including the autism bill 38-0, the campus safety bill 37-0, the public school patriotic displays bill 36-2, and the farm bill 38-0 after amendments addressing Everglades lands and biosolids timing were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll emphasize the intent of the bill, which is to increase the transparency of the total compensation
• I know it's very important to all workers to know how they're being compensated and how their paychecks
• Assembly Bill 1155 requires all law schools to allow students to accept compensation from externship
• However, they have adopted a resolution urging law schools to allow compensation.
• But this is not going to require that external sponsors provide compensation.

Summary: The committee hearing covered several higher education bills, with extensive testimony on student aid, affordability, and institutional debt. AB 587 would add veteran representation to the California Student Aid Commission; the author said the change would bring lived experience from the veteran community to student aid policy, and members raised a concern about keeping the commission’s membership odd-numbered, which the author said would be addressed by amendment. AB 791 would standardize cost-of-attendance housing calculations using objective data and improve notice of the adjustment process; supporters said current budgets often underestimate students’ real living costs, while UC, CSU, and independent colleges opposed or had concerns about the bill’s prescribed methodology, fiscal impact, and a 14-day turnaround for adjustments. AB 850 would create a one-term grace period for students with institutional debt to re-enroll while arranging repayment, bar reporting that debt to credit agencies, and require more transparency; proponents described students being blocked from continuing school over debts, while CSU, UC, and private-college representatives said they already use holds and payment plans and worried about added liabilities and budget pressures. AB 537 would extend the California College Promise Program to part-time community college students; supporters said most community college students attend part-time and should not be excluded from fee waivers, while the committee noted fiscal concerns but ultimately advanced the bill. AB 7 would allow universities to consider whether an applicant is a descendant of American chattel slavery in admissions as a reparative measure; supporters framed it as lineage-based reparative justice, while opponents argued it would function as a racial proxy and conflict with Proposition 209 and equal-protection principles. The committee took roll-call votes on the measures, advancing AB 587, AB 791, AB 850, and AB 537 to Appropriations, with AB 850 and AB 537 receiving fewer votes and the roll left open for additional members.

Transcript Highlights:

• employees who work in the state of Minnesota... would be exempt from the state income tax on their compensation
• Minnesota is even tougher because it has a dollar threshold, and in many cases, employees who are compensated
• Minnesota triggers that filing threshold until the end of the year, until you know what your full compensation
• By excluding compensation received by qualifying non-resident individuals from gross income, it reduces
• Williams, Chair Davids, Representative Lee, under current law, if you are compensated on an annual basis

Bills: HF2048, HF2360, HF2006, HF950, HF912, HF3140, HF2931

Keywords: individual income tax, retirement contributions, tax corrections, annuity contracts, tax year attribution, tax credit, economic development, community investment, data disclosure, Minnesota regulations, tax increment financing, municipal authority, job creation, transferred increment, public hearing, nonresident employees, income tax exemption, Minnesota taxation, employment duties, tax withholding

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 912 by Moody relating to the compensation of distributed renewable generation owner in certain areas
• Um, this, this has to do with the fact that when we want to think through different compensation rates
• , the statute says we are locked into net metering as the source of, uh, as the only way we can compensate
• What this would allow El Paso Electric to do is to go to the PUC if there is another method of compensation
• as it grows, that's kind of why we want these opportunities, these options to look at different compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• require the PUC and ERCOT to create a voluntary program to allow large loads to be competitively compensated
• really hot summer days, or really cold summer days. other problems, and that they can be adequately compensated
• They can have that program and that compensation available. to them if they want to participate in EEA
• bill. leverage that and have the ability to direct that. for a voluntary service that would be compensated
• They could then plan their production or plan their ability to be responsive to that. and get compensated

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

Keywords: hemp, consumable hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, delta-8, delta-9, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, edibles, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, retailer registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, minor access

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, whether it was raising minimum wage or workers' compensation benefits or unemployment insurance
• Next is Senate Bill 4479 by Senator Ramos, an act to amend the Workers' Compensation Law, Labor Law,
• Workers' Compensation Board and the Department of Labor to publish a list of DRMDs as open data.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Labor met for its second meeting of the 2026 session, with Chair Senator Ramos welcoming members and inviting Mario Celento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO, to speak. Celento thanked the committee for its past labor-related work and outlined the AFL-CIO’s priorities for the session, including fixing Tier 6 public pensions, responsible regulation of artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, child care, staffing ratios in health care, housing-related labor standards, prevailing wage and project labor agreements, and protecting workers from federal actions affecting unions, organizing, OSHA, and collective bargaining. The committee then took up six bills. It reported Senate Bill 372A, relating to labor law and establishing certain notices, by a vote with one nay and an abstention. Senate Bill 681, concerning fingerprinting or mandatory iris and retina scanning of applicants, was reported with one nay. Senate Bill 1514, relating to support orders for a police classification, was reported unanimously. Senate Bill 4424A, the anti-labor of women rights bill, was reported with abstentions. Senate Bill 4479, requiring the Workers’ Compensation Board and Department of Labor to publish a list of DRMDs as open data, was reported unanimously. Senate Bill 7776A, relating to an act for a thinkless servant form act, was also reported with abstentions. All six bills were moved to the calendar, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on to the Crime Victims Compensation Commission.
• Anyone representing the Crime Victims Compensation Commission? Everett Johnson? Okay, so any...
• The motion to approve Holly Brown Owens to the Crime Victims Compensation Commission is approved.

Keywords: 923, senate, all