Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, for those rules with for which a mandatory delegation of rule making authority remains
• But if there is not a mandatory delegation, the agency may reiterate rulemaking for proposed rules that

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The safeguards are clear: mandatory ID checks, responsible beverage service training, no happy hours,
• A firefighter who may work an approved overtime shift or a mandatory callback, that pay is earned.
• overtime<01:15:27.120> shift<01:15:27.360> or<01:15:27.520> a<01:15:27.679> mandatory
• <01:15:28.159> call<01:15:28.400> back, overtime shift or a mandatory call back, overtime
• shift or a mandatory call back, that<01:15:29.040> pay<01:15:29.199> is<01:15:29.360><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the amendment adds to the bill most of Senate Bill 14, Senate Bill 15, Senator Gannon's mandatory
• It will only incur a mandatory minimum if the person knew that it was fentanyl, should have reasonably
• It will only incur a mandatory minimum if the person knew that it was fentanyl, should have reasonably
• So there's not strict liability for knowing if there was something wrong. mandatory if uh the person
• knew that it mandatory if uh the person knew that it was<00:23:40.720> fentinel<00:23:41.280><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the last measure on this 9:35 a.m. agenda is SB 525, relating to mandatory prior written notice and
• The last measure on this 9:35 a.m. agenda is SB 525, relating to mandatory prior written notice and consent
• The last measure on this 9:35 a.m. agenda is SB 525, relating to mandatory prior written notice and consent
• <01:23:13.440> prior<01:23:13.760> written 525 relating to mandatory prior written
• 525 relating to mandatory prior written notice<01:23:14.199> and<01:23:14.440> consent<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened by outlining hearing procedures, including a two-minute limit for live testimony, a request not to repeat written testimony, and a reminder about decorum. The first bill heard was SB 697, which would create a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for expenses to retrofit residences with wind-resistive devices. The Insurance Division said it supported the concept but noted it may need an appropriation or outside expertise to develop certification standards, while the Department of Taxation said the bill should retain a third-party certification requirement if the Insurance Division cannot administer the credit. The Hawaii Insurers Council supported the bill, and the Tax Foundation suggested a subsidy-style program would be more efficient than a tax credit and criticized the bill’s 100% credit structure. A testifier in support argued the measure would help homeowners fortify houses against hurricanes and reduce shelter demand; written testimony from several others, including HIEMA, was noted as supportive. The committee then moved through SB 76, which would require the Hawaii Property Insurance Association to provide commercial property coverage after two private-market denials, and SB 83, which would require insurers to give advance written premium-change notices and explanations to common-interest community policyholders and the insurance commissioner, along with a report on premium increases. For SB 76, the State Insurance Division stood on its written comments, and testimony in support came from Michael Honda, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and Jessica Herzog. SB 83 drew more extensive discussion: the Insurance Division supported the need for better transparency, while the Hawaii Insurers Council opposed the bill, arguing that agents—not insurers—typically communicate with AOAO boards and that the measure could worsen an already difficult market. Insurance Division staff acknowledged widespread complaints from condo associations about lack of transparency and said the division had received many calls about premium increases and nonrenewals. The discussion on SB 83 expanded into broader concerns about condo insurance, nonrenewals, surplus lines, and the difficulty of getting timely explanations for large premium increases. Committee members and testifiers described older buildings struggling to fund repairs and upgrades while facing steep insurance costs, and some urged the committee to craft baseline statutory protections for unit owners. The Insurance Division said surplus lines serve a critical gap-filling role and warned against regulating that market in a way that could slow access to coverage. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not mandatory today, and I'll talk on that a little bit.
• It's not mandatory. It's not mandatory, and, you know, that's a big caveat, right?
• As I mentioned, cybersecurity maturity assessments are not mandatory to complete today.
• If we're not going to go the mandatory route, what are the other reasons that are preventing them from

Summary: The Information Technology Committee approved the March 26 minutes and received a series of reports from NDIT on major IT projects, the annual report, mainframe modernization, and cybersecurity services. The project portfolio was reported at 116 major projects with a baseline cost of $546 million, overall under budget but modestly behind schedule. Several projects that had been in variance status last quarter were said to have closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning. New startup reports were mostly HHS efforts tied to refugee data management, technical debt cleanup, and legacy application decommissioning, while closeouts included HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT projects with mixed budget and schedule results. In the annual report discussion, NDIT described its service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management reporting, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how revenues and grants flow through the service fund, how NDIT charges agencies for services, and whether customer satisfaction or CSAT scores are tracked and could be reported more regularly. NDIT said it does track service-team CSAT and survey data, and committee members encouraged more regular reporting of those metrics. The committee also discussed application portfolio management, statewide IT planning, and whether agencies should slow new system replacements while the state pursues an ERP system. The mainframe update focused on the state’s ongoing effort to retire legacy systems by about 2030. NDIT and HHS said the work is being managed as a tech-debt program, but progress is slowed by data cleanup, integration complexity, staff retirements, vendor capacity, and federal requirements. Members asked whether there is a coordinated commitment and whether additional vendor support or consultants are needed; NDIT said it is working jointly with HHS and is seeking an RFP to help accelerate modernization. The cybersecurity presentation then shifted to statewide maturity assessments and services. NDIT said it provides endpoint protection, vulnerability scanning, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that assessments are based on CIS controls. Members raised concerns about low participation in the self-assessment process, the lack of mandatory reporting or audit authority, and whether insurance incentives through Enderf or possible State Auditor involvement could improve compliance. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• “So it’s not a mandatory penalty.
• “No, the one you passed was a second offense, 18 years mandatory prison.” “Right.
• Same argument: 18 months, not mandatory time.
• And again, it's not mandatory, correct, that it would be up to the judge to make the decision.
• voluntary manslaughter, criminal sexual penetration in the first, second, third, or fourth degree... ...mandatory

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As the law is written right now, a class A felony, if a B is amped up to an A, is a mandatory open 20
• As the law is written right now, a class A felony, if a B is amped up to an A, is a mandatory open 20
• > an<00:54:06.079> A,<00:54:06.319> is<00:54:06.559> a<00:54:06.720> mandatory
• <00:54:07.359> open amped up to an A, is a mandatory open amped up to an A, is a mandatory

Bills: HB1629, HB1630, HB1631

Keywords: economic development, business, state statutes, Hawaii Revised Statutes, legislation, development strategy, state funding, infrastructure, employment opportunities, legislative intent, state legislation, development initiatives, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with HB 1829 on marine affairs. Most testimony was in strong support, with speakers from state agencies, ocean-tech companies, startups, nonprofits, and community groups backing the creation of an Office of Marine Affairs and a marine affairs coordinator under HTDC. Supporters said the measure would better coordinate ocean policy, strengthen the blue economy, and help Hawaii capture jobs, investment, and innovation in marine-related industries. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up HTDC-related measures, including HB 1615 and HB 1613, which also drew broad support from business, technology, and economic development interests. Testifiers said the bills would strengthen Hawaii’s technology and innovation ecosystem, support advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, and help build a more diversified economy with higher-wage jobs. The committee also heard HB 1607 on public procurement and HB 1772 on small business procurement; state procurement staff and several business groups supported efforts to expand opportunities for local firms, while one speaker from the city’s economic revitalization commission argued that a flat 5% preference could help keep more revenue and jobs in-state. On HB 1636 relating to shopping carts, the Hawaii Food Industry Association and Retail Merchants of Hawaii testified in opposition, saying the bill would penalize businesses for carts that are stolen rather than abandoned and would add costs that could especially burden small and local retailers. HB 1810 on charitable solicitation drew support from Goodwill Hawaii and other nonprofits, who said the bill would improve transparency around donation bins and protect donors from misleading for-profit collection practices; the Attorney General’s office asked for a delayed effective date to allow system changes and staffing. HB 1782 on AI and the protection of minors received broad support from state agencies, educators, and advocacy groups, but some business and retail representatives urged narrowing the definition of covered AI services so ordinary customer-service chatbots would not be swept in. Finally, HB 1759 on theft drew opposition from the Public Defender’s Office, which said the bill could create overly harsh penalties and should include defense representation on any task force; the office also noted existing laws already address conspiracy and related conduct.

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes a mandatory arrest and criminal penalty for individuals removed from public lodging establishments
• The other thing that I'll point out as a part of this is we're removing the mandatory arrest provisions
• We're actually getting rid of some of the other things that could have happened, like the mandatory arrest
• We're actually getting rid of some of the other things that could have happened, like the mandatory arrest
• It is critical to understand that a bank's decision to offer IOTA accounts isn't mandatory.

Summary: The committee considered a long agenda of bills, with most measures reported favorably after brief sponsor presentations, amendments, and roll calls. Early bills included SB 658 on lien waivers/releases, SB 736 on Brownfields redevelopment, SB 1002 on utility service restrictions, SB 1132 on right-to-repair for certain equipment, and SB 1378 on restitution for leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage. Each was amended or discussed as needed and then approved by the committee. The committee also advanced SB 768 on foreign control interests in health care licensing, SB 772 on school diabetes management and access to glucagon, SB 1400 on removal of altered sexual depictions posted without consent, SB 1696 on prearranged transportation services, and SB 1374 on school district reporting requirements for educator arrests and misconduct. Several bills drew notable public testimony and debate. SB 1132 prompted strong support from the sponsor and agriculture interests, but opposition from equipment dealers, technology groups, and wireless industry representatives who argued the market already provides repair options and that the bill could harm dealer networks and security. SB 1730, the Live Local/affordable housing bill, received extensive discussion about parking reductions, height and density preemption, attorney’s fees, local government authority, and impacts on Monroe County and other areas; the committee adopted an amendment and reported the bill favorably despite concerns from some members and advocates about parking, due process, and local control. SB 606 on public lodging and food service establishments also generated significant debate, with opponents warning it could displace long-term guests and vulnerable families, while the sponsor said it clarifies transient occupancy and removes ambiguity in the removal process; the bill passed after the committee rejected a related amendment. Other measures advanced with less controversy. SB 576 updated service-of-process rules, and SB 1164 authorized email delivery of landlord-tenant notices if the parties agree in writing, though tenant advocates urged clearer safeguards and the sponsor said he was not yet committed to the House version. SB 940 prohibited the resale of restaurant reservations without consent and was supported by restaurant interests. SB 1690, allowing infant safety devices or “baby boxes” as a legal surrender option, drew emotional support from several witnesses who said it would provide anonymous, life-saving alternatives for mothers in crisis; the committee continued discussion into the latter part of the meeting. Throughout, the committee adopted several amendments, heard both support and opposition from industry, advocacy, and local-government witnesses, and reported the discussed bills favorably by recorded vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was mandatory that it had to get done. It was, you know, it had to get done.
• Then you have Cook County with 5,600 people and mandatory that they have these kind of things.
• <01:17:13.520> It<01:17:13.760> was<01:17:13.920> mandatory<01:17:14.400>
• It was mandatory that built a new jail.
• County with 5,600 people and mandatory County with 5,600 people and mandatory that<01:17:23.280>

Bills: HF3700, HF3982, HF3927, HF3933, HF3949, HF4238, HF4275, HF4476, HF4504

Keywords: Duluth, Lake Superior Zoo, capital improvements, funding, bonds, appropriations, capital investment, port development, grant caps, state assistance, navigation facilities, Dakota County, state bonds, park improvements, infrastructure, transportation, safety, congestion, water infrastructure, bond issuance

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill would instruct DHS to begin mandatory trainings for providers in these programs to fully inform
• training for providers the mandatory training for providers must<00:24:17.120> include<00:24:
• Subdivision two is the mandatory compliance training that Senator Muhammad already described.
• Subdivision two is the mandatory compliance training that Senator Muhammad already described.
• Subdivision two is the mandatory compliance training that Senator Muhammad already described.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In my audit response letter, I also noted that DHS had made grant training mandatory for those involved
• And I'm happy to report today that the BHA staff has a 100% completion in all DHS and statewide mandatory
• for those involved in the mandatory for those involved in the grant<00:32:28.000> process.
• 37.520> statewide completion in all DHS and statewide completion in all DHS and statewide mandatory
• grant training and overall DHS mandatory grant training and overall DHS has<00:32:42.920> a<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So while this could be good in some situations, I will say that if it's mandatory that children go to
• school, then it should be mandatory that children go to school.
• that children go to school, mandatory that children go to school, then<01:25:05.600> it<01:25
• :05.760> should<01:25:05.920> be<01:25:06.159> mandatory<01:25:06.719> that
• c> then it should be mandatory that then it should be mandatory that children<01:25:07.360> go

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• should instead look to whether the current drug-free zone law, which implements a location-based mandatory
• implements a location-based mandatory implements a location-based mandatory minimum<00:11:45.040
• So eliminate the mandatory 21-day filing deadline.
• So eliminate the<01:33:35.280> mandatory<01:33:35.840> 21-day<01:33:36.480> filing
• the mandatory 21-day filing deadline. the mandatory 21-day filing deadline.

Bills: HB1546

Keywords: Medicaid, health insurance, healthcare access, insurance subsidies, pilot program, affordable care, preventive services, low-income, community engagement, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2083, which would add homeless shelters to Hawaii’s drug-free/safe-zone protections. The City and County prosecutor’s office strongly supported the bill, saying service providers asked for the change because drug activity near shelters can undermine recovery efforts. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, focusing on a possible notice problem because many shelters are not readily identifiable and the bill’s 750-foot distance requirement could be difficult to apply. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii also opposed the bill, arguing it would expand criminalization of poverty and drug use and that drug-free zone laws are ineffective and disproportionately harmful. The prosecutor’s office said it would do more research on the notice concern. The committee then moved on without taking a vote in the transcript provided. The committee next discussed HB 2087, which would change the treatment of abuse of family or household member cases by ending the deferred-acceptance pilot and returning to the prior statute. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying the pilot had not reduced backlog as intended and that domestic violence cases should remain petty misdemeanors without deferral. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Public Defender’s Office both opposed HB 2087, instead urging extension of the pilot for another five years so the legislature can better evaluate how deferred acceptance is working. They said deferrals can be a useful incentive for behavior change and that more data is needed before ending the program. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about why Hawaii should differ from other counties and whether repeat offenders could keep receiving deferrals; the prosecutor said the deferral is available only once and reiterated support for returning to the old statute. The committee then heard HB 2096 on aggravated circumstances in child protective proceedings. The family court and Attorney General’s Office supported the bill, saying current law limits aggravated-circumstances findings to the early return hearing, which can prevent findings in the most serious abuse cases when key evidence is not yet available. They said the bill would allow such findings later in the case and, with proposed amendments, would let the court consolidate aggravated-circumstances and termination-of-parental-rights hearings to reduce delay and appeals. The Libertarian Party of Hawaii opposed the measure, arguing it would expand state power in family matters and could worsen outcomes for parents and children. Committee questions focused on the amended language, including what “another court of competent jurisdiction” means and whether a charge alone would be enough; the judiciary responded that criminal courts are included, but a hearing and opportunity to defend would still be required. Finally, the committee took up HB 1959, another domestic violence measure. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Public Defender’s Office, the Crime Victim Compensation Commission, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and county prosecuting offices testified in support. Supporters said the bill would extend the pilot program while keeping deferred acceptance of guilty pleas in place, giving more time to evaluate whether the program is working and whether a more formal diversion model should be developed. The coalition also suggested technical fixes to ensure judiciary data reporting continues and that the deferred-acceptance statute is not inadvertently repealed. No vote or final action was taken in the transcript before the committee moved on to the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is mandatory in most cases.
• It is mandatory in most insurance.
• It is mandatory in most cases.<00:20:21.120> So,<00:20:21.840> that's<00:20:22.640>
• Um, but the federal government again has a system of required notices to employees as to their mandatory
• as to their mandatory tip pool at<00:59:54.160> the<00:59:54.319> time<00:59:54.400>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you don't have the option to go somewhere else, this is just now a mandatory fee that you have
• And when you don't have the option to go somewhere else, this is just now a mandatory fee that you have
• And when you don't have the option to go somewhere else, this is just now a mandatory fee that you have
• And when you don't have the option to go somewhere else, this is just now a mandatory fee that you have
• mandatory mandatory fee<00:34:46.320> um<00:34:46.879> that<00:34:47.040> you<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• honor to present to you HF 2, a bill to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of our taxpayer dollars and mandatory
• Section 5 deals with mandatory reporting of violations and grant processes.
• fraud taxpayer dollars and mandatory fraud reporting<01:31:19.960> in<01:31:20.159> state<
• Section 5 deals with mandatory reporting of violations and grant processes.
• <01:32:25.400> reporting Section 5 deals with mandatory reporting Section 5 deals with mandatory

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met on February 11 and began with introductions from members and staff, who shared brief personal and district facts. Chair Jim Nash then outlined the committee’s goals for the session, emphasizing bipartisan cooperation, the need to address a looming structural deficit, and the committee’s role in moving legislation forward. The committee also reviewed its rules for the year. The main item was House File 3, authored by Chair Nash and referred to Ways and Means. The bill would require the Office of the Legislative Auditor to produce an annual report tracking whether agencies have implemented prior audit and evaluation recommendations, with the goal of improving internal controls, transparency, and accountability and helping legislators make funding decisions. Nash described the bill as a preventative measure to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, and said it was modeled in part on practices used in Colorado. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall testified that the office already produces similar update reports but lacks resources to independently verify many agency responses; she said the bill would provide a framework for more regular reporting and discussion, not a “shame tool.” Ranna Lee of Americans for Prosperity testified in support, saying the bill would increase accountability and transparency for how public agencies manage taxpayer resources. A letter from the Minnesota Council on Nonprofits was also noted in support. Representative Clardy offered the A7 amendment to add an appropriation matching the fiscal note; Nash accepted it, saying savings could be found later in the process. The committee approved the A7 amendment by voice vote. During discussion, Representative Quam supported the bill’s focus on accountability, and Representative Freiberg questioned the Legislative Auditor about the office’s expertise on a specific ambulance-services recommendation in the report. Randall responded that the office’s staff are policy research generalists who use standards, best practices, interviews, surveys, and site visits to develop recommendations, and that the goal is to prompt further discussion rather than require blind acceptance. The transcript ends during that exchange, with no final committee vote on House File 3 shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• belts-and-suspenders approach to ensure that settlement payments, whether arising from a court judgment, private arbitration
• In 2004 and 2010, Congress temporarily raised the mandatory federal law enforcement age requirement from

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 27, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The move to an ordinary use standard and the removal of the mandatory five-year floor both reflect the
• It ensures that unless there is a valid California warrant or a mandatory federal reporting requirement
• It ensures that unless there is a valid California warrant or a mandatory federal reporting requirement
• , this deeply Warrant or a mandatory federal reporting requirement, this deeply personal data stays protected

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The move to an ordinary use standard and the removal of the mandatory five-year floor both reflect the
• It ensures that unless there is a valid California warrant or a mandatory federal reporting requirement
• It ensures that unless there is a valid California warrant or a mandatory federal reporting requirement
• , this deeply Warrant or a mandatory federal reporting requirement, this deeply personal data stays protected

Summary: The committee began as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum and heard several privacy- and technology-related measures. The first item was H.R. 117, a resolution urging Congress to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The author and supporters argued the law is outdated and shields platforms from accountability for harms such as harassment, exploitation, scams, and other online abuse. Witnesses, including a survivor parent and a gender justice advocate, described harms to children, women, and LGBTQ people and urged a two-year sunset to force federal reform. Some members supported the resolution as a call for federal action, while one member said he could not support it because the resolution was too general and lacked specificity about the reforms being sought. No vote was taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard SB 898, which would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long they will support the software and to notify consumers when products approach end of life. The author said consumers deserve transparency about security updates and continued functionality, and supporters from Consumer Reports and PIRG emphasized cybersecurity risks, consumer confusion, and electronic waste from unsupported devices. Opponents, including business and industry groups, raised concerns about enforcement through the unfair competition law, notice burdens, labeling issues, and compliance challenges, especially for products with long support windows or third-party dependencies. One member expressed support, noting the cybersecurity risks of end-of-life devices, but again no vote was taken because there was no quorum. The committee also heard SB 435, which would narrow the CCPA definition of publicly available information to limit how businesses classify data as public. The author and supporters said the bill would close a loophole that allows data brokers and others to monetize personal information without meaningful consent and could help prevent surveillance and misuse of data, including by government agencies. Opponents argued the bill would upset the balance between privacy and the free flow of information, create compliance uncertainty, and retroactively reclassify information that businesses reasonably believed was public. Some members said they supported the goal of stronger privacy protections, while others said the bill was too broad. The committee again could not vote due to the lack of a quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 923, which would expand Californians’ right to delete personal information to cover data obtained from third parties and require online businesses to offer a web form or similar method for deletion requests. Supporters, including the California Privacy Protection Agency and consumer advocates, said the bill would make deletion rights meaningful and better address data broker practices. Opponents sought an opt-out-of-processing alternative and raised operational and legal concerns, but supporters said deletion is not the same as retention or processing limits. Members largely spoke in favor of the bill’s privacy goals, but no action was taken. The committee also heard SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would require human review for certain automated employment decisions and limit predictive analysis in workplace discipline and termination. Labor groups supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or erroneous AI-driven decisions, while business, public employer, and local government groups opposed it as overbroad and burdensome. Members voiced support for human oversight in employment decisions, but the item was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1114, the SOGI Data Privacy Act, which would restrict disclosure of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data to federal agencies absent a court order or legal requirement; the author and witness framed it as a response to federal efforts to obtain sensitive LGBTQ-related data.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Zerang, one of the recommendations from the legislative auditor was that we consider making it mandatory
• That we consider making it mandatory instead of voluntary participation.
• You know, if you're going to withdraw surface water, the CEA is going to be mandatory.
• So there is no mandatory process, you know, that requires folks to come and make the CEAs at all.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1209, which would pause new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals after December 31, 2026, while allowing existing agreements to continue and renew through 2036. The author said the bill is intended to force a broader, data-driven review of Louisiana’s surface water management and to improve funding for aquatic plant control, especially giant salvinia. An amendment was adopted to broaden the description of how the aquatic plant control fund may be used and to require annual reporting on agreements, withdrawals, revenues, deposits, spending, and non-monetary consideration. Department officials said the current program is voluntary, underfunded for monitoring, and that the bill could create a gap for new users if no replacement mechanism is enacted. The bill was reported favorable as amended after testimony from supporters including the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and opposition concerns from industry representatives were noted but not formally presented. House Bill 599 was then heard, which would prohibit the sale of Louisiana running surface water outside the state. The author argued that out-of-state sales, especially involving Toledo Bend and Texas, would be short-sighted and could harm Louisiana’s long-term water interests. Supporters said Louisiana lacks a water budget and should preserve water for in-state needs, while the Department of Conservation and Energy noted that the state currently has no mandatory process for such agreements and that the bill would not affect Sabine River Authority authority. The committee reported the bill favorable. Finally, House Bill 1206, dealing with permitting and reporting of water usage at data centers, was discussed. The substitute bill and amendment would give the department authority to monitor and regulate groundwater and surface water withdrawals, require public hearings, and improve transparency through reporting and a universal project identifier. The author and supporters said the bill was prompted by concerns in communities affected by large data center projects and the lack of public hearings on water use. Department officials agreed that more comprehensive data and a clearer framework are needed, but the author voluntarily deferred the bill to continue working with the department on a broader measure for next session. The committee also heard House Bill 1171 on allowing airboats in the Mar-Paw Swamp Wildlife Management Area, but after extensive debate over noise, habitat impacts, and existing restrictions, the discussion was ongoing in the portion provided and no final action on that bill was shown.