Transcript Highlights:

• > outside<00:58:45.359> management stop contracting with outside management stop contracting
• You've got somebody assigned. Oh, hi. Great.
• You've got somebody assigned. Oh, hi. Great.
• <01:30:52.800> And<01:30:53.040> of somebody assigned. Oh, hi. Great.
• And of somebody assigned. Oh, hi. Great.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the execution of our recent labor contract between our sister hospital, Kapiolani Medical Center
• execution of our recent labor contract execution of our recent labor contract between<00:14:30.600
• I was not able to hire an attorney because, as a minor, that contract would be null and void.
• <02:15:45.119> with nearly impossible because contracts with nearly impossible because contracts
• online yes yes so we have a contract online yes yes so we have a contract with<02:39:00.120>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Health and Labor heard testimony on HB 1244, a measure relating to labor standards at health care facilities and nursing staff ratios. Committee members opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a suggested two-minute testimony limit and Zoom rules. The bill drew extensive testimony from hospitals, nursing organizations, unions, and individual nurses, with the central debate focusing on whether staffing ratios should be set by statute or left to collective bargaining and unit-level staffing decisions. Opponents included the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Straub Benioff Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kapiolani Medical Center, and Queen’s Health Systems. They argued that fixed ratios are too rigid for the changing conditions of hospital care, could worsen workforce shortages, and should be handled through labor negotiations, staffing committees, and existing agreements. Several also pointed to investments in nursing education, loan repayment, and workforce development as better solutions. Queen’s said it had recently reached an agreement with nurses after more than 40 meetings that included a staffing framework, and Kapiolani and others emphasized the need for flexibility in emergencies and specialty care. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Pride at Work Hawaii, the Hawaii Nurses Association/American Nurses Association chapter, Hawaii Nurses Association Local 50, UNAC/UHCP, and individual nurses, said unsafe staffing levels contribute to burnout, turnover, errors, and patient harm. Testifiers described chronic short staffing, emotionally and physically exhausting workloads, and situations in which nurses were responsible for too many patients at once. Supporters argued that safe ratios are necessary to protect both patients and nurses, and that collective bargaining has not been enough to ensure safe conditions statewide, especially in facilities without unions. No vote or final committee action was announced in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to clarify, how does the contract work between the construction workers and their employer when it
• > uh<00:23:14.400> the contract work between uh the contract work between uh the construction
• So, have a contract with their employer.
• Um, and those contracts are fairly new for the state to enter into, right?
• Um, and those contracts are fairly back.

Bills: SB2141, SB2593, SB2824, SB2135, SB2115

Keywords: retirement, law enforcement, pension, public safety, employee contributions, Law Enforcement Standards Board, LESB, civil service exemption, collective bargaining exemption, law enforcement certification, police standards, law enforcement training, officer certification, training and curriculum coordinator, lead investigative agent, administrative manager, administrator, Hawaii HRS 76-16, Hawaii HRS 139-3, personnel exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• KR2010 amends provisions to require the Board of Cosmetology executive director to perform duties assigned
• perform duties assigned by the board. perform duties assigned by the board.
• Establishing minimum content requirements for special contracts for applications exceeding 3,000 poles
• Facilitating the complaint process for a special contract that cannot be negotiated within 15 business
• Because according to the contract, the legally binding eminent domain or the easement contract there.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met in August with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee then reviewed several regulations, generally adopting staff-suggested amendments without objection, and heard brief explanations from agency representatives on each item. The Board of Pharmacy regulations would clarify what registered and certified pharmacy technicians may do under supervision and what certified technicians may not do, while updating registration applications. The Board of Cosmetology package included changes to executive director authority, licensure and reciprocity rules, school requirements, training hours, instructor ratios, sanitation and disease-related rules, complaint procedures, and permit terms; members asked about straight razor language and the increase in student-to-instructor ratios, and the board explained that cosmetologists are not permitted to use straight razors and that the higher ratio was intended to give schools flexibility, especially for part-time students and schools with wait lists. The Occupational Therapy emergency compact regulation added four compact rules adopted in April 2025, and Senator West raised a technical question about certification requirements under House Bill 6; the agency said it had been instructed to file the regulation as submitted. The Department for Fish and Wildlife Resources presented a package covering wildlife management area rules, a northern pintail bag limit increase, reportable disease reporting, and a repeal tied to boat registration fees. After a brief explanation of the new wildlife disease reporting rule, the agency requested and received a deferral of 301 KAR 2:031 to avoid a gap while replacement language is finalized. The Economic Development Finance Authority explained an emergency regulation for the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive Program, saying it was needed because the program had become oversubscribed and because administration was shifting to a new film office and council; members also asked about certification issues under House Bill 6, and the agency said it had filed the regulation as directed. The Department of Workplace Standards emergency PPE regulation was also discussed, with members asking about HB 6 certification language, and the agency gave the same response. The Department of Insurance regulation would create a $10,000 registration fee and a $1,000 annual licensing fee for pharmacy benefit manager licenses, with an agency amendment exempting PBMs that solely serve workers’ compensation plans. Members asked how many PBMs would be affected and why workers’ compensation PBMs were carved out; the agency said there were 70 registered PBMs total, four solely workers’ comp, and that workers’ comp rates are set by statute and could not absorb the fee. Finally, the Public Service Commission’s pole attachment regulation was summarized as a broadband-expansion measure that speeds application review, increases the number of poles allowed in a single application, and shortens dispute timelines; the commission explained it grew out of earlier legislative direction and subsequent emergency amendments, and the committee adopted the staff amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we decide that it's worthy enough of opening up a case, I'll assign two investigators to it.
• However, they began contracting out the staff, which in January KDE told them that they had to become
• However, they began with<00:42:52.160> contracting<00:42:53.119> out<00:42:53.520> the
• <00:42:53.920> staff<00:42:54.960> which<00:42:55.680> in with contracting out
• to look at at we've not been assigned to look at at any<00:48:13.440> point.

Keywords: Meeting start 00:00:09 Roll call 00:00:24 Election of Co-Chairs 00:01:11 Office of Education Accountability Annual Report 00:04:41 Office of Education Accountability District Data Profiles, School Year 2024 00:23:50 Update from the Education Professional Standards Board 00:58:19 Adjournment 01:08:00, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting with roll call and procedural business, including elections of co-chairs. The House elected Representative Truett as House co-chair, and the Senate elected Senator Denine as Senate co-chair. After the organizational votes, the committee heard the Office of Educational Accountability’s annual report, beginning with Brian Jones and Deborah Nelson describing OEA’s investigations and research divisions and recent staffing turnover. On the investigations side, OEA said it handled complaints only when submitted in writing and generally opened cases only when it had enough facts to evaluate. Jones reported complaint volume declined from 805 in 2023 to 738 in 2024, with 325 in the first half of the current year. He outlined the kinds of matters OEA investigates, including school-based council issues, open meetings, board eligibility, nepotism, conflicts of interest, certification, activity funds, and surplus property, while noting that routine personnel matters, bullying, child interviews, and cases tied to litigation are generally handled locally or referred elsewhere. He also said OEA refers special education, assessment/testing, discrimination, and serious misconduct matters to the appropriate agencies, and that he did not see a need for statutory changes to improve OEA’s work, though he said cases should move more quickly. The research division presentation focused on OEA’s district data profiles and annual research agenda. Nelson explained that OEA reviews KDE-reported data and underlying datasets to verify accuracy, analyze trends, and produce reports for the General Assembly. She highlighted 2024 publications on district governance models and student achievement, and said this year’s agenda includes district data profiles, student discipline analysis, and a review of early childhood regional training centers. She also noted OEA received an NCSL notable document award for its 2023 staffing shortages report, its 10th such award. Sabrina Smith then walked through the district data profiles, which compile demographic, staffing, finance, and performance data for all 171 districts, plus statewide and comparative data. She noted changes in the report format, the continued availability of an online interactive version, and several trends: adjusted average daily attendance declined statewide from 2015 to 2024; the counselor-to-student ratio has improved but has not yet reached the statutory goal of one counselor per 250 students; the share of teachers moving from rank three to rank two has declined; special education identification has risen from 13% to 16%; and starting teacher salaries vary widely by district, with Kentucky’s average starting salary around $40,000 ranking near the bottom compared with surrounding states and the nation. Members asked about the history of the research division and whether the paper copies of the district profiles would continue, and staff said the printed versions would continue unless legislators asked otherwise.

Transcript Highlights:

• branch<00:04:52.800> or regardless of their branch or regardless of their branch or assignment
• 54.320> the<00:04:54.560> same<00:04:54.720> level<00:04:54.960> of assignment
• , receive the same level of assignment, receive the same level of investigative<00:04:55.919> integrity
• He said he has not received a single dime after his initial contract scholarship, and his buddies who
• My my buddies are contract scholarship.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the practitioners made it clear that many of these who are on Medicaid, once they are assigned
• to the Medicaid managed care plan, each of them have their contract with ACCA, and they're obligated
• their question is, you know, what happens with those individuals who have just entered into a new contract
• And these services will be covered under the new contracts, whatever.
• And these services will be covered under the new contracts, whatever.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, pledge, and several introductions recognizing guests and groups in the gallery, including representatives from Moffitt Cancer Center, students from Lakeland Christian School, space industry guests, Kappa Alpha Psi, the Florida Association of Licensed Investigators, and local visitors from Groveland and Polk County. The chamber also noted the doctor of the day and later adopted Senate Resolution 1856 honoring the life and legacy of Senator Geraldine Thompson, with 38 co-introducers recorded. In addition, Senate Bill 1324 by Senator Simon was withdrawn from further consideration. The main floor action was on Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 112, relating to children with developmental disabilities. Senator Harrell explained that the bill is aimed at improving autism diagnosis, early intervention, and services by expanding screening and referral grants, extending Early Steps services, designating the University of Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment as a coordinating research hub, creating grants for autism-focused charter schools and summer programs, and establishing a microcredential for workers who serve children with autism. Several senators spoke in support while raising implementation concerns, especially about provider recruitment, Medicaid managed care coverage, and the need for more research and technology support. In closing, Senator Harrell said the bill is a first step in a broader effort to improve services and research, and she addressed concerns by stating the services would be covered under new contracts and Medicaid, subject to a federal waiver, and that the microcredential would be developed online by the University of Florida with a stipend to encourage participation. The Senate then voted 38-0 to pass the bill. Afterward, the Rules Chair moved to waive rules and immediately certify the bill to the House, which was adopted without objection, and the Senate adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, when a school board decides to end a superintendent's contract, there are currently no limits
• They then brought in two police officers from Schertz PD that were assigned to the high school campus
• So this same... ...had been asked to resign by Fort Bend ISD before the end of his contract in the 2022
• Explicitly, the requirements moving forward state that in plain language, the Commissioner shall assign
• The bill prohibits the university from entering into a contract with a private entity to construct student

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the adoption of SB 905, the permanent positions that... we have in front of you, as well as the contract
• In addition, they've also been working on the contracts.
• Contracts that are necessary to support the overall rulemaking process and the work to implement **SB
• I will note that we've already, since 2022, started adding provisions in our terms and contracts for
• We've taken those actions where we can through our contracts, but the regulatory process has taken a

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so you can look in a book and see that's how that's built, and it's assigned a number.
• And so you can look in a book and see that's how that's built, and it's assigned a number.
• They can go and purchase through contracts, you know, go through a website and click, I need all this
• It's going to be forward contracting, forecasting, getting direct relationships with school nutrition
• >> since the general assembly is assigned >> since the general assembly is assigned

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the August 20 meeting, and then heard testimony from Representative Steven Doan on House Bill 439, a school nutrition bill aimed at restricting certain ultra-processed foods in schools. Doan said the bill was inspired by his own health journey and his work in agriculture, and he described the measure as targeting specific chemical additives in foods served during the school day, not concession sales or after-hours activities. He said the bill would phase in later to give schools time to adjust and noted that the list of restricted additives was drawn from efforts in other states and advocacy groups. Members asked about the chemical abstract numbers, fiscal impact, summer meal programs, fundraisers, and whether the bill would affect parent-provided items; Doan said he had not done a fiscal note and explained that the bill was intended to apply only during instructional time on school property. Committee members generally reacted favorably, with some raising practical concerns about cost and implementation. One member asked about high fructose corn syrup, which Doan said was not included because it is too pervasive in the food system. Another member noted that schools already limit some homemade items and asked about the line between school-provided and parent-provided food. Doan also said the list was based in part on Turning Point USA materials and similar laws in other states, and he referenced federal efforts to define ultra-processed foods. The committee then heard from Kentucky Department of Education officials Matt Ross, Lauren Moore, and Katie Embry on school meals and nutrition programs. They outlined Kentucky’s school lunch, breakfast, summer meals, and other USDA child nutrition programs, including participation and reimbursement figures, and explained how community eligibility provision schools, meal patterns, offer-versus-serve, smart snacks, and local wellness policies work. They said USDA and FDA are currently seeking public input on a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods, that there are no current USDA requirements specifically on ultra-processed foods, and that schools already operate under federal and state rules governing competitive foods, including a state time restriction on smart snacks. They also discussed local purchasing, noting its benefits but also the procurement and staffing challenges schools face. No votes or final actions on the bill were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it's just under our current, it's a pretty narrow assignment we have here to just look at Minnesota
• Um, it's just under our current, it's a pretty narrow assignment we have here to just look at Minnesota
• it's a pretty narrow um,<00:29:20.640> uh,<00:29:21.520> narrow<00:29:21.919> assignment
• we have here um, uh, narrow assignment we have here to<00:29:23.200> just<00:29:23.360> look
• or anything of that any contracts or anything of that particular<00:56:03.200> nature.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I spent two years assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, and then about two or three years at
• When your company received this contract, was there any kind of bidding process for you to get that contract
• So all of the vendors that work with FDEM have been awarded competitively bid contracts under a master
• And do you know if those contracts have been published the way they're supposed to be?
• As she mentioned, her company was contracted by the state to provide health care services during COVID

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met to consider several executive appointments, beginning with Matthew Walsh, Secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice, for confirmation. Walsh outlined his long law-enforcement career, social work background, and priorities at DJJ, including staff wellness, reclassifying juvenile detention and probation officers as officers under statute, adding beds to move youth from detention into residential programs, and increasing per diem funding. Members asked about detention “dead time” and the need to get adjudicated youth into programming sooner. Public testimony included support from Barney Bishop and Christian Minor, and the committee voted unanimously to approve Walsh’s nomination and forward it to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Tina Vidal-Duarte, nominee for the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees. She described her business background as CEO of CDR Health, her education, and extensive nonprofit and board service, including leadership roles with the Florida Grand Opera, the Homeless Trust of Miami-Dade County, FAU, and the Hope Florida Foundation. Senators questioned her about free speech issues involving FAU faculty, her relationship with the new FAU president, student diversity, AI and workforce planning, and her prior role on Hope Florida. She also answered questions about her company’s work at the Everglades detention center and the bidding process for state contracts. Public testimony opposed her nomination, citing concerns about her business ties, Hope Florida, and detention-center contracts. Debate split largely along partisan lines, and the committee approved her nomination on a recorded vote. Afterward, the committee took up the remaining nominations in Tabs 2 through 15, excluding Tab 10, and approved them as a group by voice/recorded vote for forwarding to the full Senate. The meeting then concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rather than<00:27:22.720> assigning<00:27:23.120> new<00:27:23.360> tasks<00:27:
• through a state MA contracted through a state MA contracted management.<01:04:28.880> ment
• <01:05:28.559> with<01:05:28.799> Medicaid from their contracts with Medicaid from
• their contracts with Medicaid managed<01:05:30.079> care<01:05:30.319> organizations.
• essentially non-negotiable contracts essentially non-negotiable contracts with<01:09:55.360>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And frankly, it wouldn't matter because even if we had the presumption, what we're assigned to do is
• You'd have to contract, I think, individually with each one of those apps, which you couldn't do as the
• Well, there's a link to it, but the court contracted with an outside entity and they basically have it
• It was all their contract, and now it's part of the budget.
• Like our contempt hearings are held in front of the judge that is assigned to the case, not in front

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Child Custody Review Task Force met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and reviewed a memorandum compiling member suggestions for possible legislation. The memo grouped ideas into topics including creation of a family court, expanded education for parents, attorneys, and judges, expedited hearings for parenting-time violations, limiting law enforcement involvement in custody disputes, creating parenting time expediters, and adopting more uniform court procedures. Members also discussed whether to form subcommittees, but the task force decided to continue working as a full committee rather than create subcommittees at this time. The committee then heard testimony from Dr. John Perez, a mental health professional, who described his personal custody experience and his professional work with families he believes have been affected by parental alienation. He argued for stronger education, faster court response times, and better tools to address intentional interference with parenting time. Members questioned him about his case history, the concept of parental alienation, and whether specialized family courts or judges with family-law training could help. Dr. Perez said a dedicated family court and faster hearings would likely have helped his situation. The task force spent substantial time discussing the possible creation of a family court. Judge Hovey supported the idea of a specialized family court or at least a study of one, saying family cases are distinct from ordinary adversarial litigation and that judges with family-law experience could better handle them. Several members agreed that a family court could improve consistency, expertise, and speed, but others cautioned that the task force’s current directive is focused on enforcement of existing orders rather than broader custody policy, and noted that voters had previously rejected equal shared parenting proposals. The group also discussed expedited procedures for parenting-time disputes, with Judge Hovey suggesting a 30-day hearing timeline may be workable. On education, members generally supported requiring parents to complete a parenting education course and adding educational materials explaining court process, child support, and what judges can and cannot do. Mr. McLean suggested a short instructional video for litigants and more family-law education for judges and attorneys, while Ms. Moldenhauer said education could be incorporated into scheduling orders or mediation orders. Members also discussed the Parents Forever course, including whether it should be mandatory in all counties and whether cost is a barrier; no vote was taken on any of these proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• That project has to be in a certain level of shape as what's negotiated in the contract.
• They're not charities, so they build their risk premium into those contracts.
• contract is available to the public.
• You can go on the civic clerk portal to see the justice center contracts.
• You can go to the civic clerk portal to see the justice center contracts.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Metzky, just to clarify, when you say contraction, are you saying a contraction in a number of charities
• or contraction in a number of sites?
• But for now, the TRPB contract is a big deal.
• We have of, um... contract is a big deal.
• So how does that get assigned to the offender?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we do have the opportunity to assign we do have the opportunity to assign deferral<00:37:41.920>
• I can't think of another product for which teens sign a contract, especially one which takes on average
• ,<00:47:25.680> especially which teens sign a contract, especially which teens sign a contract
• ,<00:47:32.600> the When teens enter into this contract, the When teens enter into this contract
• , yet they're allowed to sign a contract, yet they're allowed to sign over<00:53:36.720> their

Bills: HF4502, HF3388, HF4106, HF400, HF4138, HF4118, HF4203

Keywords: trusted contact, financial exploitation, elder abuse, elder financial abuse, fraud prevention, financial institution, banking, credit union, broker-dealer, account security, dormant account, consumer protection, scam, suspicious activity, protective services, law enforcement reporting, Minnesota Statutes chapter 45A, HF3388, Minnesota premium security plan, reinsurance

Transcript Highlights:

• All but one of those projects has a current grant-funded contract in place already.
• <00:04:29.520> in<00:04:29.720> in<00:04:29.880> place grant-funded um contract
• And we have to go through contract negotiations like we would with any grantee.
• , and we have to go through contract negotiations like we would with any grantee.
• I mean, obviously we have contracts in place. They were all able to find eligible expenses.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But there is at least an implied contract: we’re taking money and we’re providing the services to the
• He removed Section D1, which talks about the prohibition of private contracts.
• Yes, it's... yeah, do you... it says enter into contract to detain immigrants.
• <00:49:52.119> should indicative of what a contract should indicative of what a contract should
• When they raised the issue that I'm being assigned to prison transport two and three hours a week and

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 180, which concerns critical incident stress management teams. Representative Mark PR, the bill sponsor, proposed an amendment to add a definition of “team leader” and to clarify that teams may or may not be affiliated with a municipality. He argued that a certification test offered by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation is unnecessary and too expensive at $400, since team members are volunteers who already receive training and continuing education. Committee members asked about the training structure and certification language, and the sponsor explained that the teams are self-certified and that the amendment was intended to clean up the bill’s language. The committee then voted on HB 180 in executive session. Amendment 0261H was adopted 11-0, and the bill was then moved as amended and passed 11-0. The committee placed the bill on consent. Later, the committee heard House Bill 438, sponsored by Representative Timothy Horan, dealing with immigration detention and related state policy. Horan described the bill as an update to earlier legislation and said it would codify best practices, prohibit state cooperation with mass deportation efforts, bar for-profit operation of immigration detention facilities, and require Executive Council approval before the governor could deploy the National Guard for immigration deportation activities. Committee members questioned whether the bill could be read as authorizing detention facilities and discussed the relationship between the state and Strafford County Jail. An amendment presented on behalf of Representative Patrick Long was described as a technical rewrite that removed several sections and changed language, but the hearing ended before any vote was taken on HB 438.

Transcript Highlights:

• I then became an assistant United States attorney assigned to the white collar and public corruption
• We are assigned to prisons at random. We are assigned to case files at random.
• We are assigned to prisons at random. We are assigned to case files at random.
• They're issuing contracts, or they're adopting regulations, or they're really in the weeds of the administrative
• I am a life coach assigned to San Quentin State Prison.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several governor’s appointments, committee referrals, and a budget rule waiver. The committee approved Jim Cervantes and Martin Motto to the California Housing Finance Agency Board of Directors unanimously, and also approved Larry Schingold to the State Mining and Geology Board unanimously. Preston Prince and Stephanie Landergan were approved on 3-2 votes. The committee also approved a Budget and Fiscal Committee request to suspend JR61B10 so budget subcommittees 1 through 5 could meet during the blackout period on May 28. The committee then heard testimony from five appointees to the Board of Parole Hearings: William Munis, Michael Ruff, Rosalind Sergeant Burns, Mary Thornton, and Jack Weiss. Senators focused heavily on recent controversial parole decisions involving child sexual abuse cases, asking how commissioners weigh current risk, what discretion they have, how they use risk assessments and coping plans, and whether parole-board votes in en banc review should be made public. The commissioners repeatedly said they must follow the law, rely on structured, evidence-based assessments, and evaluate current unreasonable risk rather than the original offense alone. They also discussed recidivism data, reconsideration hearings, use of medical-assisted treatment records, and the role of age, time served, institutional behavior, parole plans, and community support. A major portion of the hearing centered on respect for victims and public confidence in the parole process. Commissioners described training and practices for handling victim participation, protecting privacy, and conducting hearings professionally. Senators expressed concern that some commissioners were too deferential to process and not sufficiently accountable in their own judgment, while others emphasized the need for transparency and the importance of the board’s quasi-judicial deliberations. Public commenters largely supported the confirmations, though one witness raised concerns about professionalism and questioning style, particularly regarding Commissioner Weiss. The hearing concluded with public testimony in support of the appointees.