Transcript Highlights:

• A report of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission pursuant to Section 69 of Chapter 23K of the General
• Massachusetts Gaming Commission pursuant to Section 69 of Chapter 23K of the General Laws submitting
• the temporary committee on rules order, Senate No. 5, shall continue to handle matters related to Chapter

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, briefly recessed several times, and noted receipt of Massachusetts Gaming Commission reports on December 2024 and January 2025 casino and sports wagering revenue, which were placed on file. The chamber also featured several ceremonial introductions, including Cohasset High School’s boys’ soccer team, recognized for winning the school’s first state championship, and a group of visitors from Northborough and Worcester welcomed by Senators Kennedy and Donaghue. The only substantive action taken was adoption of an order extending the previously established subcommittee under the temporary committee on rules so it could continue handling matters related to Chapter 250 of the Acts of 2024, with its membership unchanged. The Senate also adopted an order to adjourn and set the next meeting for Monday at 11:00 a.m. No roll call votes were recorded; both orders were adopted without objection, and the Senate adjourned accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• This budget funds Chapter 70 school aid at $7.66 billion.
• This budget funds Chapter 70 school aid at $7.66 billion and increases minimum aid for school districts
• not say 90%, and in beginning the steps that will be necessary to finally reform a dysfunctional Chapter
• the items in municipal government that are not school costs, that are addressed in other ways like Chapter
• this budget propose to convene a Foundation Budget Review Commission to crack open and reform the Chapter

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, adopted two commendatory resolutions honoring the Plimpton Historical Society’s Deborah Sampson Day recognition and Megan’s Light’s Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month observance, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committee. The chamber also briefly recognized Diane Talk of the South Shore Regional Emergency Communication Center on her retirement after 30 years of dispatch service. Later, the Senate passed two local bills to enactment: House No. 4006, authorizing Dartmouth to grant an additional all-alcoholic beverages license, and House No. 473, relating to the charter of Westwood. The main business was the Senate Ways and Means presentation of the fiscal year 2027 budget, totaling about $63.3 billion. The chair described the budget as balanced, with no new taxes or tax cuts, based on a consensus revenue estimate of $986 million in growth over FY26 (2.4%), and including about $15.8 billion in federal financial participation and roughly $2.7 billion from the Fair Share surtax. The budget emphasized record local aid, including $1.376 billion in unrestricted general government aid, $7.66 billion for Chapter 70 education aid, increased minimum school aid, higher regional school transportation reimbursement, rural aid, and the revival of the Foundation Budget Review Commission. It also highlighted major investments in MassEducate free community college, food security, housing, and support for vulnerable residents. Members then engaged in extended colloquy on the budget’s major cost drivers and policy choices. Questions focused on debt service, pension and OPEB liabilities, MassHealth caseload and rising per-enrollee costs, child care funding, and program integrity in DTA and other benefit programs. The chair said debt service would be about $2.67 billion, pension payments would be $5.1 billion, OPEB would receive a $150 million payment, and MassHealth enrollment was projected at about 2 million with costs driven by acuity and medical inflation. He also said the budget includes no collective bargaining agreements and no state tax changes. Senators supporting the budget praised its investments in education, local aid, homelessness prevention, public health, libraries, and housing, while minority leaders and others stressed the need for fiscal discipline, transparency, and further work on affordability and municipal support. The Senate also received a House message on House No. 5316, which the House had nonconcurred in, and a conference committee was appointed on the disagreement.

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposals I made tonight represent the beginning of our last chapter working together.
• I'm hopeful this chapter will be as productive as the previous seven.
• </c><00:59:38.440><c> I'm</c> last chapter working together. I'm last chapter working together.
• I'm hopeful<00:59:38.960><c> this</c><00:59:39.120><c> chapter</c><00:59:39.520><c> will</c><00:59:39.680
• ><c> be</c><00:59:39.800><c> as</c> hopeful this chapter will be as hopeful this chapter will be as productive

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 3 and page 9, we just exempted programmable money so we could give it a chapter all by itself
• programmable money unlawful acts and practices: It shall be a violation of the provisions of this chapter
• And that's what we put in there: It shall be a violation of the provisions of this chapter to require
• general definitions for the UCC and then specifically in secured transactions, which is, you know, Chapter
• 28... ...transactions, which is, you know, Chapter 28, or Title 28, Chapter 9, we've removed programmable

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:59:32.240><c> which</c><00:59:32.559><c> allows</c><00:59:33.040><c> the</c> Statutes um chapter
• 21, which allows the Statutes um chapter 21, which allows the House<00:59:34.079><c> or</c><00:59:34.400
• 01:15:35.120><c> under</c> under our statutory authority under under our statutory authority under chapter
• 36.000><c> Hoy</c><01:15:36.560><c> statutes</c><01:15:37.280><c> and</c><01:15:37.520><c> to</c> chapter
• 21 Hoy statutes and to chapter 21 Hoy statutes and to investigate<01:15:38.320><c> the</c><01:15:38.560

Transcript Highlights:

• Re-engrossed Senate Bill 2390 is a bill for an act to create three new sections to Chapter 54-40.1 of
• Engrossed Senate Bill 297 is a bill for an act creating and enacting a new section of Chapter 54-60 of
• House Bill 1361 is a bill for an act to create a new section of chapter 12.1-41 of the North Dakota Century
• Re-engrossed House Bill 1476 is a bill for an act to create a new section of chapter 15.1-02 of the North
• Section of chapter 15.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the assessments of all public

Summary: The House convened with prayer, pledge, and roll call, establishing a quorum. It then took up a series of appropriations and policy bills, with the most extensive debate centered on Senate Bill 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs budget. The House approved amendments that shifted governance of the department and veterans’ home from ACOVA to the governor, citing concerns about ACOVA’s salary-setting actions and broader appropriation oversight. Members opposed to the change argued ACOVA had studied compensation and acted within its role. The amended bill passed 57-34, and the final bill passed 69-22 with the emergency clause carrying. The House also passed Senate Bill 2001, the legislative branch budget, which funds the 2027 session, legislative staff, chamber upgrades, IT improvements, and salary adjustments for legislative leaders; the bill passed 62-29, but the emergency clause failed. Senate Bill 2019, the Career and Technical Education budget, passed 82-10 with emergency clause. Senate Bill 2021, the Information Technology Department budget, passed 75-17 after discussion of data center migration, service automation, mainframe transition, ERP study, and DPI’s move from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. Other measures passed included Senate Bill 2228 for rural grocery store sustainability grants, Senate Bill 2390 creating a rural catalyst community grant program, Senate Bill 2188 adjusting the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, and Senate Bill 2265 authorizing a veterans national cemetery grant and line of credit with added reporting safeguards. Several House bills returned from the Senate were concurred in and then passed, including House Bill 1361 on mandatory minimum sentences for human trafficking offenders, House Bill 1017 for the Game and Fish Department, House Bill 1588 on firearms and dangerous weapons provisions, House Bill 1429 on harassment and stalking involving robots, House Bill 1591 on county fair resiliency grants, House Bill 1537 on service agreement protection for water projects, House Bill 1203 on edible medical marijuana products, and House Bill 1027 transferring administration of the State Fire and Tornado Fund from the Insurance Commissioner to OMB. The House also rejected a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 2307, which dealt with library materials and obscenity-related restrictions, by a vote of 48-51. In addition, the chamber appointed conference committees on several House and Senate measures where concurrence had failed, and laid over Senate Bill 2340 for two legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• allowed for all entities under the Texas Business and Organizations Code, but it's ambiguous in the chapters
• ... ...ambiguous in the chapters governing condominium associations, that's Chapter 82, well, 82 and
• 81, and Chapter 209, which governs single-family homeowners associations.
• And the Property Code, you know, Chapter 82 and Chapter 209 don't explicitly provide for it, and it's
• background checks to enhance consumer safety, and authorizes a fee to cover the cost of administering this chapter

Bills: SB438 , SB512 , SB647 , SB648 , SB1495 , SB2121 , SB2145 , SB2154 , SB2167 , SB2184 , SB2211 , SB2268 , SB2349 , SB2443 , SB2629 , SB2702 , SB2902

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and first voted out several pending bills. Senate Bill 1612 was reported favorably to the full Senate with objections sent to the local and contested calendar. The committee then adopted committee substitutes and favorably reported Senate Bills 2717, 1468, 1642, and 1789, with 1642 and 1789 sent to the floor. SB 2717 would create the Texas Energy Efficiency Council and add agencies to it; SB 1468 and SB 1642 were discussed as changes affecting utility and insurance-related structures; and SB 1789 would establish pole standards, with the author saying it would clarify PUC authority and create more practical statewide standards. The committee also heard an ERCOT update from Pablo Vegas, who said Texas load growth remains strong but ERCOT is adjusting its large-load forecast downward using historical delays and realization rates for data centers and other large loads. He said the adjusted forecast is still very high, but more realistic for planning, and members discussed reliability, generation timelines, demand response, and the role of Senate Bill 6 in helping model large data centers as flexible load. The committee then took testimony on a series of bills and left most pending after public comment. SB 2629 would allow condominium and property owners associations to hold meetings and vote electronically; testimony supported it as a way to improve access, though some members expressed concern about overuse of virtual meetings. SB 2702 would let nationally certified professionals test backflow prevention assemblies instead of requiring a separate TCEQ license, and was supported as a workforce and public health measure. SB 2167 would let TDLR pause new massage-establishment license applications when an applicant is subject to a human trafficking emergency order or pending SOAH case. SB 2349 would exempt short-term residential leases and certain leasebacks from floodplain disclosure requirements while allowing the notice to be included in the lease packet. SB 2121 would tighten the data broker registry law from the prior session, and SB 2443 would allow TDLR to use electronic delivery for notices and contested-case documents. Additional bills focused on consumer protection, housing, and regulatory administration. SB 2902 would help victims of coerced debt and identity theft stop collection efforts by requiring proof such as a court order or FTC report; advocates said it would protect survivors while still preventing fraud. SB 512 would bar money transmission license holders from fining users for terms-of-service violations in a way that forfeits account funds, and supporters framed it as a protection against private financial penalties. SB 2145 would allow public improvement districts and tax increment finance districts to meet virtually with at least one member physically present, while SB 2268 would give the PUC flexibility to extend Texas Energy Fund loan deadlines in certain cases. SB 1495 would create an advisory board for electric vehicle supply equipment standards, SB 2154 would extend statewide regulation to delivery network companies, SB 2184 would lower the age for pyrotechnic operator and fireworks display licenses from 21 to 18, SB 438 would expand confidentiality protections for SOAH administrative law judges, SB 2211 would treat digital products and desalinated water as industrial products to support combined energy-water projects, and SB 647 would strengthen title-theft protections by improving notice and clerk authority to reject fraudulent filings. Most of these bills were left pending after testimony, and several drew support from industry, consumer, or advocacy witnesses along with some member concerns about electronic meetings, licensing, and data accuracy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Crime sub-chapter in the chapter<00:16:25.800><c> of</c><00:16:25.880><c> law</c><00:16:26.080><c> that
• ,</c><00:16:35.280><c> is</c> in the Crime Victims chapter, is in the Crime Victims chapter, is repealed
• repealed because it is being moved to the Attorney General chapter.
• . chapter. chapter.
• </c><01:17:00.240><c> shall</c> Permits issued under this chapter shall Permits issued under this chapter

Transcript Highlights:

• 40, Section 157 of Chapter 140.
• 40, Section 157 of Chapter 140.
• 40, Section 157 of Chapter 140.
• There's a backstop to all of this, as I mentioned: Section 157 of Chapter 140.
• Chapter 140, Section 157 says that the housing authority shall not be required to allow a pet that has

Transcript Highlights:

• to engage in the process to determine an accommodation may be a discriminatory practice under this chapter
• </c><00:05:10.080><c> In</c><00:05:10.280><c> what</c> practice under this chapter.
• In what practice under this chapter.
• ><00:05:16.080><c> this</c> discriminatory practice under this discriminatory practice under this chapter
• chapter? chapter?

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see across the different chapters there are different levels of funding moving out the door.
• I'll be giving a brief overview of the water-related chapter in the climate bond.
• I'm going to provide a brief overview of the coastal resilience chapter of the climate bond.
• Just a couple quick comments: we would just note for you that, relative to the other chapters of the
• proposition, bond spending is not happening at the same pace in the coastal resilience chapter.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I do have an individual, a chapter official, who's here to add his insight to this. Excellent.
• So when chapters are requesting funding in this sense, then they don't have access to the money that's
• Chairman, Senators, Sandy Barr, I'm the director for Sierra Club's Grand Canyon chapter, which is the
• chapter, and we are opposed to Senate Bill 1419.
• So in this case, a chapter request—has that ever been provided? Has that ever been provided? Mr.

Committee: Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several appropriation and policy bills. SB 1488 would appropriate $600,000 for a workforce development study on coal-impacted communities in northern Arizona, especially areas affected by the closure of Navajo Generating Station and related coal operations; supporters described it as a needed transition study, and it received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1523 would provide $340,000 to the Navajo Nation for the Ganado waterline pipeline project serving 235 homes; testimony emphasized long-standing lack of safe drinking water, and the bill also received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1041 would appropriate $500,000 to the Arizona Trail Fund; supporters highlighted the trail’s statewide recreational and cultural value, and it passed with a do-pass recommendation. SB 1447 would extend the groundwater withdrawal fee moratorium and related Pinal AMA fund provisions through 2033; irrigation district representatives said the extension would help maintain infrastructure amid Colorado River shortages, and it was also recommended do-pass. The committee also considered several regulatory bills. SB 1445 would let smaller cities and towns use approved on-site bacteriological testing equipment and limit required sampling frequency for certain ADEQ permits; the sponsor said it would save small towns money, while some members raised concerns about limiting sampling during discharge events, but the bill still received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1580 would appropriate $2.545 million for a statewide fire incident management platform for fire and law enforcement agencies; supporters said it would improve accountability, information sharing, and interoperability, while one member objected to the targeted funding approach, and the bill passed on a 5-3 vote. SB 1418 would streamline siting and permitting for small modular nuclear reactors in smaller counties, especially when co-located with large industrial users; supporters argued it would help energy reliability and rural economic development, while opponents warned it would weaken local review and environmental safeguards, and it passed 5-3. The committee took up two bills involving consumer protections and access. SB 1419 would add inspection and disclosure requirements for rooftop solar installations and restrict sales claims about estimated savings; supporters said it responded to consumer complaints about roof damage and misleading sales practices, while opponents argued it would burden rooftop solar and restrict speech. After extensive testimony, including from county officials, former ROC leadership, and solar industry representatives, the bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 6-2 vote. SB 1363 would create a rural opportunity initiative to issue additional marijuana-related licenses for underserved rural communities; supporters said it would improve access and reduce illicit-market activity, while opponents argued the bill was confusing and could expand licenses too broadly. The committee ultimately recommended the bill do pass on an 8-0 vote, with members noting possible amendments before floor consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Evgenia Spears on behalf of the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter for the bill, is that correct? Yes.
• I'm with the Coastal Bend chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.
• And the chapter for biosolids is Chapter 312.
• Sure, so the Fertilizer Act falls under Chapter 16.63 of the Texas Agricultural Code.
• Chapter 63.

Bills: HB1341 , HB1674 , HB4028 , SB2321

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Keywords: hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• The only chapter that I've read carefully is the education chapter.
• I have some quibbles with some of it, but I wrote none of the words that are in that chapter.
• But I wrote none of the words that are in that chapter.
• Again, I agree with most of what's in that chapter.
• The chapter that I was asked to write is: What can trustees do?

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee first heard a confirmation from UCF trustee reappointee Mr. Christie, who described his background in medical devices and prior board service and said he wanted to help UCF strengthen its financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology pipeline. Members asked about UCF’s direction, and he emphasized the university’s role in producing engineers and supporting Florida’s space and technology sectors. The committee then moved to the higher education budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which was presented as an $11.5 billion total budget including local funds and focused heavily on workforce education, nursing, agriculture technology, tutoring, student aid, and university initiatives. Chair Harrell highlighted increases for school district workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education grants, the GATE program, nursing education through USF’s Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS rural and agricultural programs, UCF’s Community School Grant Program, UF’s literacy and tutoring initiatives, autism and neurodevelopment services, full funding for major scholarship programs, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and Harrell said a conforming bill would address the details. The budget proposal was adopted as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee, with staff authorized to make technical corrections. The committee then took up a series of confirmations, beginning with Florida State University reappointee Peter Collins, who emphasized his long FSU ties, leadership on the board, and goal of keeping FSU on a path toward top-10 status and AAU membership. Rebecca Matthews, a new University of West Florida appointee, discussed her education-related volunteer work, Florida Education Foundation service, and interest in supporting UWF’s continued excellence; senators questioned her on Title IX and she said she would support student protections and compliance. Rachel Moyah, another UWF appointee, highlighted her education, school board experience, and priorities of student safety, fiscal discipline, and workforce readiness; she also said she would comply with Title IX and other applicable rules. Ashley Ross, also nominated to UWF, said she would focus on university advancement, military ties, cybersecurity, civil engineering, and strong governance, and agreed that Title IX protections should be preserved and advanced. The most extensive questioning came during the confirmation of Adam Kessel, a UWF appointee and Heritage Foundation fellow, who was asked about prior writings on privatizing public universities, his comments about the GI Bill, and his views on free speech and Project 2025. Kessel said he did not recommend privatizing Florida universities, clarified that his comments about the GI Bill and over-enrollment were about broader higher education policy, and said he supports veterans and the GI Bill. He described his higher education work as focused on civic education, accreditation, student success, tenure, and free speech, and said trustees should improve campus culture through policies, training, and institutional neutrality. Public testimony on UWF was sharply divided: former UWF leaders and community members warned that the new slate of trustees and their vote to make Scott Yenor chair had chilled donations, enrollment, and community trust, while a James Madison Institute representative praised Kessel’s scholarship and thoughtful approach. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment Belvin Perry, who cited his judicial career and board service and said his goal is to support student success, retain strong faculty and staff, and help FAMU continue rising in national standing. Finally, the committee began hearing from remote appointees, including UCF nominee Mark Philburn, who emphasized his construction, affordable housing, and higher education board experience, and FSU nominee Peter Jones, who described his finance and investment background and long service to FSU boards and committees. The last nominee heard before the transcript ended was Florida Gulf Coast appointee Paul Applegarth, whose audio issues delayed his remarks; he began by noting his prior federal confirmation, military service, and GI Bill-supported education.

Transcript Highlights:

• My sweet, sweet sister, Shea Collier from the Columbia Alumni Chapter.
• President of the Kansas City, Missouri Alumni Chapter.
• My chapter president, Shalada Scales Ferguson, of the St. Louis Metropolitan Alumni Chapter.
• Louis Alumni Chapter, my home chapter.
• Issa Smith is the president of the Alpha Omega Chapter for St. Louis Collegiate. Home chapter.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cecilia Palm, Hawaii Care Association of America, Hawaii Chapter, in support.
• Cecilia Palm, Home Care Association of America Hawaii Chapter, in support.
• Cecilia Palm, Home Care Association of America Hawaii Chapter, in support.
• Cecilia Palm, Home Care Association of America Hawaii Chapter, in support.
• Cecilia Palm, Home Care Association of America Hawaii Chapter, in support.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee hearing opened with notice that the meeting was being streamed and could reconvene later if technical problems forced an abrupt end. The chair also announced a one-minute testimony limit and proceeded through several bills, taking mostly written and oral support testimony and asking limited questions. No votes were taken in the portion provided. HB 1626, relating to youth penalties, drew strong support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, youth advocates, the ACLU, the Department of Education, and others. Testifiers said financial sanctions on youth are ineffective, disproportionately burden Native Hawaiian youth, and function as poverty penalties; they urged replacing fines with community service, restorative practices, and ʻāina-based programs, and eliminating uncollectible legacy debt. The chair moved on after no member questions. HB 1643, relating to pharmacy, was discussed with support from the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, Kaiser, the Board of Pharmacy, independent pharmacies, and PBM representatives. Testimony focused on amendment language, audit procedures, HIPAA concerns, and the need for flexibility for small island pharmacies. HB 1668, relating to Medicaid, received broad support from disability advocates and the Department of Human Services; witnesses said CMS had already approved the underlying state plan amendment removing income and asset limits for certain workers with disabilities, but they wanted the protection codified in law to preserve it long term. The chair asked whether codification was necessary and was told it would not be harmful and would help ensure continuity if federal policy changed. The committee then heard HB 1550 on drug paraphernalia and syringe access, with support from Shipta and the Department of Health; testimony emphasized preserving flexibility for the statewide syringe access program to respond to emerging drugs like xylazine. HB 1974, relating to health, was presented as a planning measure for hearing loss; testifiers said Hawaii lacks a comprehensive hearing-loss plan and that the bill would fund a state planning process, not direct services. HB 1858 on vital statistics drew support from clinicians and medical organizations, who said better data on spontaneous fetal deaths is needed and that the term used in the bill is standard medical and CDC terminology. HB 1871 and HB 1966 also received support, with HB 1966’s EMS special fund prompting discussion about the cigarette-tax revenue source; the chair questioned the nexus to EMS, and the Department of Health said the revenue currently funds the special fund and there is no alternative funding stream.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then chapter 89 deals with included versus excluded.
• </c> a that's under uh chapter 89, right? a that's under uh chapter 89, right?
• And then<00:20:38.960><c> chapter</c><00:20:39.360><c> 89</c><00:20:39.919><c> deals</c><00:20:40.320
• ><c> with</c><00:20:40.880><c> included</c> then chapter 89 deals with included then chapter 89 deals
• </c><00:21:04.240><c> 89</c><00:21:05.200><c> not</c> that is is a function of chapter 89 not that is

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Labor and Technology and Public Safety and Military Affairs considered three bills. SB 2141 would reclassify certain Department of Law Enforcement leadership and employees as Class A members for retirement purposes and adjust retirement benefit calculations. DLE supported the bill, saying it would address retirement classification without enhancing benefits, while the Employees’ Retirement System said it had no formal board position but wanted key provisions preserved. The Deputy Attorney General raised a potential title/subject issue and warned the bill could be vulnerable to challenge because the reclassification, contribution changes, and benefit calculations are in separate statutory sections. After questions about the number of affected employees and possible amendments, the committees deferred the bill. SB 2593 would exempt certain Law Enforcement Standards Board positions from civil service and collective bargaining. The board’s administrator said the positions would handle sensitive and confidential information and require specialized experience, and the board chair’s representative said the bill was important to meet certification deadlines. Opposition testimony from HGA argued exempt employees are at-will and suggested civil service protections should remain, with any staffing issues handled through reclassification or other personnel tools. Committee members questioned whether the positions could instead be civil service but excluded from bargaining, and staff explained the distinction between civil service exemption and collective bargaining exclusion. The committees ultimately recommended passing SB 2593 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of January 1, 2077, and the recommendation was adopted. SB 2824 would create a bribery-related reporting duty for public servants. Supporters, including Indivisible Hawaii, said it would establish a clear duty to report known or suspected bribery and strengthen public trust. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, saying it would criminalize an affirmative duty to report another person’s misconduct. After limited discussion, both committees voted to pass SB 2824 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050, and the recommendation was adopted. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3448 addresses this by amending the Utilities Code to add Chapter 254.
• This chapter in the code is applicable to certain telecom entities.
• This is in addition to the other existing chapters that already address these matters.
• 253 applicable to broadband providers, and then Chapter 252 applicable to cable providers.
• This chapter takes away their private property rights.

Bills: HB3445 , HB3448

Committee: House S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband

Keywords: telecommunications, electric cooperative, rights-of-way, infrastructure, provider access, right-of-way, pole attachment, regulatory access

Transcript Highlights:

• and it provides that a public body may use social media to live broadcast a meeting subject to this chapter
• 00:02:14.160><c> this</c> broadcast a meeting subject to this broadcast a meeting subject to this chapter
• 16.239><c> under</c><00:02:16.959><c> the</c><00:02:17.200><c> open</c><00:02:17.440><c> meeting</c> chapter
• Um, so under the open meeting chapter.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a proud member of the Purple Heart Chapter 483 in Hawaii.
• member of<00:12:07.920><c> the</c><00:12:08.639><c> heart</c><00:12:09.440><c> uh</c><00:12:09.680><c> chapter
• </c><00:12:10.800><c> uh</c><00:12:10.959><c> 483</c><00:12:11.760><c> in</c> of the heart uh chapter
• uh 483 in of the heart uh chapter uh 483 in Hawaii.<00:12:12.800><c> I'm</c><00:12:13.120><c> send</

Bills: HB9 , SB2723

Committee: House Culture & Arts

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts heard testimony on HB 9 HD1, which would designate Hawaii as a Purple Heart State, and SB 2723, relating to State Sheriff’s Day. On HB 9 HD1, Takumi Abby of Purple Heart Chapter 483 testified in strong support, saying the bill would recognize the service and sacrifice of combat-wounded veterans and honor Purple Heart recipients and their families. Additional support was noted from the Office of Veterans Services, the Hawaii Military Affairs Council, and CARES, whose representative Angela Melody Young described related veteran-honoring efforts in Honolulu and across Oahu and said the state designation would extend that recognition statewide. Members then moved to decision-making on HB 9 HD1. One member briefly commented on family military service and the importance of remembering Purple Heart recipients. The committee voted to adopt the chair’s recommendation to pass the measure as is, with all members present voting aye. For SB 2723, the chair indicated the committee would further defer the date, while also recommending passage with amendments. The committee voted on the amended version and adopted the chair’s recommendation with no objections or reservations.