Video & Transcript Research : 'merit evaluation'
Page 77 of 402
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Education Committee Apr 30th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- As stated by the chair of the UC Board, the UC uses K-12 content standards to evaluate high school courses
- AB 1217 requests the UC to use K-12 content standards, frameworks, and model curriculum when evaluating
- The report on evaluating the local control funding formula found that funding for unduplicated pupils
- We believe that we need to evaluate the performance of public schools, including charter schools, all
- There's currently enough performance data on the dashboard to evaluate charter schools.
Summary:
The Assembly Education Committee heard AB 84, a charter school accountability measure focused on non-classroom-based charter schools and fraud prevention. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to respond to the A3 charter fraud case and related scandals by strengthening audits, transparency, authorizer oversight, and funding determination rules, while ensuring public education dollars are used for public education. Supporters included FCMAT, CSEA, CTA, and CSBA, who argued the bill would improve oversight and protect taxpayers. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, Green Dot, many charter parents, educators, and charter operators, said the bill was too broad, would impose major new costs and bureaucracy on all charter schools, and could reduce options for families, especially those using flexible, homeschool, or special-needs charter programs. After extensive testimony and committee discussion, the bill passed on a 5-1 vote and was sent to Appropriations, with the item left open for additional votes.
The committee then approved a consent calendar of 11 education bills, including AB 542, AB 563, AB 731, AB 753, AB 784, AB 964, AB 988, AB 1034, AB 1233, AB 1255, and AB 1381, all moving to Appropriations. The consent calendar passed unanimously.
Later, the committee heard AB 1454, a literacy and reading instruction bill authored by Assembly Members Rubio and Revis. The bill would require the state to create professional development resources for evidence-based literacy instruction, update English language arts and English language development instructional materials, and revise administrator preparation standards to include literacy training. The authors and a broad coalition of supporters, including CTA, EdVoice, Families in Schools, Decoding Dyslexia, school administrators, and parent advocates, described the measure as a compromise aimed at improving reading outcomes and addressing California’s literacy crisis. There was no opposition testimony at the hearing, and members voiced strong support for the bill and its collaborative approach.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Public Works and Highways (03/24/2026)
Public Works and Highways
Transcript Highlights:
- Understanding all of the merits that have been presented to you today, and I don’t disagree with
- the merits of advertising for great activities in Concord, but I wanted to share this part.
- all of the merits uh that have<01:59:12.560>
been <01:59:12.719>presented <01:59:13.040 - 01:59:16.080>
disagree <01:59:16.480>with <01:59:16.560>the <01:59:16.719>merits - and I'm I don't disagree with the merits and I'm I don't disagree with the merits of<01:59:17.599
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 497, a technical correction to last year’s capital budget. Shannon Reid of the Community College System of New Hampshire explained that the bill removes leftover state-agency boilerplate from a repurposed capital appropriation and replaces it with community college language, without changing any dollar amounts. She also described a requested amendment to rename a respiratory therapy renovation appropriation at Nashua Community College as an allied health instructional center, so the space can be used more flexibly for programs such as phlebotomy, radiologic technology, and LNA training. Terry Poff of the General Court then testified on the second part of the bill, which changes legislative space references to support the move of General Court offices from the second floor to the fourth floor of the annex as part of the legislative office building reconfiguration.
Members asked whether the community college changes affected funding, and Reid confirmed the amounts do not change and that the bill simply speeds up a correction that otherwise would have been handled later in the lapse process. Poff said the annex space change is part of a permanent transition, though the work cannot proceed until the General Court has legal control of the space. The committee then entered executive session, adopted Amendment 1031H on a 12-0 vote, and voted ought to pass as amended on SB 497 by a 12-0 vote, with several members absent. The bill was placed on the consent calendar.
The committee next opened a hearing on Senate Bill 529FN, which would give preference to lumber sourced in the United States on state-funded building projects. Representative Davis, introducing the bill for Senator Roachford, argued that New Hampshire timber is disadvantaged by grading rules that treat U.S. lumber differently from Canadian SPF lumber, even when the wood is from similar species and climates. He said the bill is intended to support New Hampshire’s timber industry and that architects and engineers would still be able to specify stronger materials when needed. Committee members questioned whether the bill should instead refer specifically to New Hampshire lumber, how it would be enforced, and what the cost impact would be. Davis and later witness Mike Olette said the issue is tied to industry grading standards rather than a government code, that the bill is meant to create a preference rather than a mandate, and that price differences are hard to pin down because lumber is a commodity. Olette, who lives near the border, testified that New Hampshire logs are often sent to Canada for milling and then return under a different grade, which he said puts New Hampshire loggers and mills at an economic disadvantage.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Public Works and Highways (03/24/2026)
Public Works and Highways
Transcript Highlights:
- In this proposed legislation, understanding all of the merits that have been presented to you today,
- and I don't disagree with the merits of advertising for great activities in Concord, but I wanted to
- all of the merits uh that have<01:59:12.560>
been <01:59:12.719>presented <01:59:13.040 - 01:59:16.080>
disagree <01:59:16.480>with <01:59:16.560>the <01:59:16.719>merits - and I'm I don't disagree with the merits and I'm I don't disagree with the merits of<01:59:17.599
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- Is<00:19:15.919>
is <00:19:16.160>there <00:19:16.480>merit <00:19:17.360>in< - /c><00:19:17.840>
structuring <00:19:18.400>that Is is there merit in structuring that - Is is there merit in structuring that around<00:19:19.440>
the <00:19:19.679>same <00:19 - I actually really do appreciate those comments, and I think there's merit to them.
- I would like to there's merit to them.
Bills:
HB0045
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- I didn't rule out any institutions because of a high price tag because people kept telling me that merit
- c><01:09:29.359>
telling <01:09:29.520>me <01:09:29.679>that <01:09:29.920>merit - <01:09:30.239>
aid, people kept telling me that merit aid, people kept telling me that merit - the type of student that received that offer, mostly their financial need situation, their academic merit
- the type of student that received that offer, mostly their financial need situation, their academic merit
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 1 - 03/27/26
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- That is regardless of the merits of the case.
- panels to do a pre-screening or merit panels to do a pre-screening or merit review<00:39:28.440>
- That is regardless of the merits<00:39:39.160>
of <00:39:39.280>the <00:39:39.360>case - So, I am proposing merits of the case.
- or very high merit.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on Budget May 4th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Conference Committee on Budget
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm not saying that that's not merited, all of those things.
- many of them at the table doing this work, but anything we can support those efforts, I think it merits
- Anything we can support those efforts, I think it merits some discussion here.
- understand here at the last minute this isn't going to be probably feasible, but I do think this would merit
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- because you have in front of us, to the public, for review and for further discussion on the new merits
- now<00:13:27.240>
on <00:13:27.399>the <00:13:27.480>new <00:13:27.680>merits - <00:13:28.199>
the <00:13:28.320>bill <00:13:28.560>so on now on the new merits - of the bill so on now on the new merits of the bill so I<00:13:28.880>
have <00:13:29.480>
Summary:
The Committee on Public Safety met on Wednesday, April 2 at 11:05 a.m. and began with housekeeping instructions for Zoom testimony and meeting conduct. The first major item was House Resolution 43, HD1, which urged the City and County of Honolulu to work with stakeholders on an emergency access road on the West Coast. The acting chair proposed a substantial HD2 amendment to add Makakilo language, expanding the resolution to call for two emergency access roads—one on the Ewa coast and one in Makakilo—and to request community meetings and a timeline for an alternative Makakilo access road by early 2026. Testimony on the resolution was strongly supportive overall, with 14 written testimonies in favor and none opposed.
The committee then debated whether the proposed HD2 was appropriate without prior concurrence from the original introducer or prior committee chair. Several members objected to the amendment process and said they would vote no because the amendment had not been posted in advance and lacked concurrence, while the acting chair argued the rules did not require concurrence for resolutions and that the amendment was needed to address Makakilo residents’ safety concerns. The discussion also included references to prior conversations with leadership and the Speaker about whether resolution titles could be amended. After debate, the committee first voted on the amended version of HR 43, but the recommendation was not adopted.
The acting chair then moved to pass HR 43 HD1 as originally presented, without the new Makakilo amendments. That motion was adopted, with the committee voting to pass the resolution as is. The record notes that members supporting the original measure cited the written testimony and the need for a second access point on the West Coast, while others voted no because they viewed the Makakilo language as duplicative or preferred a separate measure. After HR 43, the committee moved on to HCR 9, and the acting chair indicated that the committee would need to take a reconsideration vote before proceeding to a final vote on that resolution.
NE
Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Afternoon Session Apr 7th, 2026
Nebraska Unicameral Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Timeline for evaluation: initial evaluations must be completed within 45 school days.
- Independent educational evaluation: parents may request an independent evaluation at public expense if
- they disagree with the school's evaluation.
- Timelines for evaluation, Rule 6.04: initial evaluations must be completed within 45 days of receiving
- Independent educational evaluation, or IEE: parents may request an independent evaluation at public expense
Bills:
LB815A, LB838A, LB912A, LB972A, LB1126A, LB962A, LB1114, LB921, LB937, LB803, LB803A, LB1032, LB1032A, LB1075, LB1075A, LB889, LB878, LB933, LB304, LB304A, LB1096, LB1096A, LB1165, LB1165A, LB958, LB958A, LB762, LB1187, LB966, LB929, LB962, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB743, LB745, LB749, LB778, LB787
Keywords:
LB815A, LB815, appropriation, appropriations bill, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Motor Fuel Tax Enforcement and Collection Cash Fund, motor fuel tax, gas tax, fuel tax, tax enforcement, tax collection, cash fund, budget, state spending, per diem, salaries, fiscal year, enrollment and review, final reading, Nebraska
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session - Session 2 - 42nd Legislative Day Jun 30th, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Delaware Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- business tax credits and deductions, out of Banking, Business Insurance and Technology, five on its merits
- Assurance and Technology, five on its merits.
- 'good grief' that you utter, and there's so much that's happened federally and even locally that merits
- relating to student elopement from school, was reported out of the Education Committee for honest merits
- language means instead of allowing judges and juries to hear the evidence and decide cases on their merits
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, I think it does have merit. Um, I don't feel empowered to accept the amendment at this point.
- Um, I think it does have merit. Um, I don't feel empowered to accept the amendment at this point.
- 35.440>
have for the um idea um I think it does have for the um idea um I think it does have Merit - um I don't feel Merit um I don't feel empowered<00:54:40.440>
um <00:54:40.680>to <00:54 - Um, I think it does have merit. Um, I don't feel empowered to accept the amendment at this point.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Another program I’m really proud of is the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund, which in just the first three
- when she got a call from her superintendent and heard that she was getting a $7,000 bonus through the Merit
Summary:
The transcript covers the opening of the Arkansas House and a joint session of the 95th General Assembly’s fiscal session. The House first established a quorum, granted leave for absent members, recognized guests, and adopted House Resolution 1001 to convene a joint session with the Senate for Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s address. Several bills and resolutions were read for the record, including House Resolution 1002 and House Bills 1001, 102, and 103, before the House recessed to await the Senate and then the governor.
In the joint session, leaders recognized the late Representative Stan Barry with a moment of silence, introduced constitutional officers, judges, and other guests, and appointed committees to escort the governor. Governor Sanders then delivered a lengthy fiscal-session address focused on her budget priorities and policy agenda. She emphasized continued funding for education under LEARNS, teacher pay and literacy gains, public safety and law enforcement funding, government efficiency and tax cuts, and the 1033 initiative aimed at helping vulnerable Arkansans move from crisis to self-sufficiency. She also urged lawmakers to avoid new Medicaid mandates or ongoing spending and said she would call a special session to cut income taxes further if the budget is passed.
After the governor’s remarks, the joint session adjourned. The House then reconvened briefly, adopted a motion to adjourn until the next day, and announced that the Joint Budget Committee would meet later that afternoon and again the following morning.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Mar 11th, 2025
Environment and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- The merits of the bill are there, the bones are there, but how you do it, how you achieve the goal, that's
- The merits of the bill are there, the bones are there, but how you do it, how you achieve the goal, that's
Summary:
The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources considered several environmental and infrastructure bills, most of them sponsored or presented by Senator McLean, along with measures on stormwater, wastewater, brownfields, marine facilities, and a confirmation package. SB 492 on mitigation banking would allow mitigation credits to be purchased outside an impact area when local credits are unavailable, with distance-based multipliers and a statutory credit release schedule; Senator Smith raised concerns about how far credits could be moved from the impacted ecosystem, while supporters said the bill would preserve net environmental benefit and provide predictability. The bill was reported favorably, with Senator Smith voting no.
SB 800 would update Florida’s battery recycling program and require manufacturers to support more robust recycling and disposal information, prompted by testimony from waste, recycling, and industry groups describing truck, landfill, and facility fires caused by batteries. SB 1228 would advance a spring restoration project for Kentucky Springs and the Santa Fe spring flows by allowing JEA to amend a compliance plan to deliver more than 35 million gallons per day of reclaimed water to replenish the aquifer; it was reported favorably without debate. SB 796 would create a general permit for distributed wastewater treatment systems to help local governments address failing septic tanks, and SB 736 would update the Brownfields program with technical changes, revised definitions, and a change allowing smaller ownership interests to participate in cleanup efforts; both were reported favorably after supportive testimony.
SB 810 on stormwater management required annual inspections of local government waterways and drainage works before hurricane season, motivated by flooding after recent storms. Senators Harrell and Smith questioned who would be responsible for inspections and repairs, the scope of structures covered, and the fiscal impact, and the sponsor said the bill would be refined to better define responsibilities and possibly narrow the scope to higher-risk infrastructure. The bill drew opposition from the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Stormwater Association, but also strong support from senators who emphasized the need for better preparedness; it was reported favorably. SB 1162 on water access facilities would add a clean marine manufacturer designation, provide a lease fee discount, and include parking for boat-hauling vehicles and trailers in the grant program; it was reported favorably. The committee also unanimously recommended confirmation of five Florida Inland Navigation District appointees, and Senator DeSantis? no, Senator DeCeglie recorded affirmative votes on SB 492, SB 800, and SB 1228 before adjournment.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- They can hire Texas contractors, and they'll be able to work hand-in-hand designing and evaluating this
- Mayors even went to the regional transportation entity and requested an evaluation in regional transit
- future in North Texas and the growth in Fort Worth, I'm not here to wade into the discussion about the merits
- my tenure in the transportation industry is comparably short, my ability to objectively review the merits
Bills:
HB2065, HB2462, HB2621, HB3187, HB3539, HB3563, HB3726, HB4164, HB4207, HB4368, HB4706, HB4916, HB4950, HB4967, HB5177, HB4429, HB5597
Keywords:
commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: DFL Members Announce Fraud Prevention Package - 03/17/26
Transcript Highlights:
- 08:17.320>
their funds are going to programs to their funds are going to programs to their merits - effectiveness,<00:08:18.840>
not <00:08:19.160>because <00:08:19.520>of merits - and effectiveness, not because of merits and effectiveness, not because of favors,<00:08:20.320>
Summary:
Senate DFL leaders held a press conference outlining a fraud-prevention agenda centered on transparency, accountability, and modernization of state systems. Majority Leader Erin Murphy said Minnesotans are angry about fraud and that the caucus has already passed multiple fraud-prevention measures, but more work is needed. She and other senators emphasized that outdated county and state IT systems leave programs vulnerable to waste and abuse, and said they want to pursue both immediate upgrades and longer-term funding solutions, including possible bonding for technology infrastructure.
Senator Zena Mohamed described legislation to overhaul program integrity in Medicaid and human services by adding safeguards before, during, and after provider enrollment and service delivery. She said the goal is to prevent theft before dollars are spent, rein in third-party entities that profit without accountability, and improve consumer protections and reporting pathways. Senator Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger highlighted a bill to ban cryptocurrency kiosks, arguing they are heavily used in scams targeting seniors and vulnerable people, and also backed a state consumer financial protection bureau and stronger False Claims Act enforcement.
Senator Rob Kupec focused on ethics and conflicts of interest, including a proposal to bar legislative members and certain state employees from quickly moving into jobs tied to entities receiving state appropriations or grants. He also said lawmakers should strengthen penalties for theft of public funds and restrict state contracts for people convicted of fraud. Senator Heather Gustafson promoted her Office of Inspector General bill, saying oversight is fragmented and an independent office is needed for investigations, safeguards, and early detection; she said the Senate passed the bill 60-7 last year and she wants it enacted. In response to questions, Murphy and Gustafson said the OIG should have law-enforcement powers, that bipartisan support exists in principle, and that the House needs to settle on a single proposal. The senators also said prepayment review can be useful but can disrupt services, and they argued agencies must use the tools already given to them while lawmakers continue oversight.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill creates a framework for merit-based hiring without placing undue burdens on ADOA.
- Under SB 1665, direct hiring is transformed from a discrepancy loophole into a merit-driven exception
- SB 1435 has no exceptions for materials with artistic, literary, or scientific merit.
Summary:
The committee heard and acted on a series of Senate bills and one concurrent resolution, with most measures receiving due-pass recommendations. SB 1078 would require de novo judicial review in public records disputes; supporters from the sponsor and Goldwater Institute argued it would restore transparency and prevent deference to agency denials, and it passed 4-3. SB 1184 would bar HOAs from prohibiting display of military division flags; it drew support as a veterans’ issue and passed unanimously. SB 1586 would require Arizona agencies to post federal guidance they create, adopt, or receive; supporters said it would improve transparency, while one member argued existing websites already provide this information, and it passed 4-3.
The committee then considered SB 1665, which would standardize state agency hiring with weighted grades, interview panel grades, an overall grade, and an appeal process for unsuccessful applicants. The sponsor and the Arizona State Personnel Board argued it would create merit-based hiring and a needed check on ADOA, while ADOA warned it would add bureaucracy, cost more than $3 million, and slow hiring; the bill passed 4-3. SCR 1024 would change legislative residency requirements from county-based to district-based and add a one-year district residency requirement for party nomination as well, sending the proposal to voters; after extended discussion about district/county complications and ballot-measure concerns, it passed 6-1.
Later, SB 1135 would raise the workers’ compensation burial expense for fallen first responders from $5,000 to $10,000, with emotional testimony from surviving spouses and first responders; it passed 6-1. SB 1136 would allow surviving spouses of first responders to keep death benefits after remarriage, and survivors testified that benefits should not be conditioned on remaining unmarried; it passed 5-2. SB 1435 would make it a class 6 felony for school and public library employees or contractors to refer minors to sexually explicit material, and supporters framed it as protecting children from explicit content while opponents warned it could chill library access and criminalize librarians; it passed 4-3. SB 1567 would extend similar restrictions to state and local agencies and public facilities, including limits on exposing minors to sexually explicit materials and using public property for filming explicit acts; the sponsor said it was another child-protection measure, and it passed 4-3. The committee then adjourned.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 19, 2025 - 09:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- to step into the legislative role to review a case and whether there's guilt or negligence or the merit
- We kind of look at the bill and we just weigh it on its individual merits.
- And I think that there are merits to both sides of this argument.
Summary:
The subcommittee first heard HB 6507, a claims bill for Marcus Button, who suffered severe permanent injuries in a 2006 school bus crash. Representative Andrade explained that a jury awarded Button more than $2 million in 2009, but only a small amount was paid under sovereign immunity limits. He said Pasco County later reached a settlement with Button, but believed it lacked legal authority to pay without legislative approval. The bill would give the county that authority. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed unanimously, 18-0.
The committee then took up HB 301, which would substantially revise Florida’s sovereign immunity framework. Representative McFarland said the bill would raise liability caps for state and local governments from $200,000/$300,000 to $1 million/$3 million, with a later increase in 2030, align statutes of limitations with private suits, allow governments to settle above the caps without a claims bill, and prevent insurance policies from conditioning payment on legislative approval. She framed the bill as a way to reduce the need for the claims bill process and provide faster redress to injured people.
Testimony on HB 301 was sharply divided. Local governments, school districts, counties, cities, hospital groups, and insurance representatives opposed the bill, arguing the higher caps would sharply increase insurance and taxpayer costs, especially for small or fiscally constrained entities, and that the claims bill process and special masters provide useful review and leverage. Supporters, including the Florida Justice Association and several members, argued the current system is too slow and political, leaves seriously injured people waiting years for compensation, and should be modernized to better hold government accountable. No vote was taken on HB 301 in the portion of the meeting provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- and the recommendations almost all have to do with funding: reduce high turnover rates by providing merit
- You don't necessarily have to make people work... ...re-evaluate the methodology.
- That's one of our asks: a merit increase and step ladders on the commission side.
Bills:
SB 1
Keywords:
campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee heard a presentation from the Legislative Budget Board on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Article 5 budget. LBB recommended $3.7 billion in all funds for 2026-27, a 5.2 percent decrease from the base, while FTEs would rise by 856.7. Major items included funding for driver license services, DPS facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, border security, and rider changes. The committee also reviewed DPS exceptional items not included in the recommendation, including additional staffing, technology, and facility requests.
Members focused heavily on driver license operations, criticizing long wait times, call abandonment, and repeated staffing increases without clear process improvements. LBB said the agency’s call-answer rate was about 9 percent in fiscal 2024, with average hold times around 34 minutes, later reduced to roughly 22-25 minutes. Senators questioned whether more FTEs alone would solve the problem and urged a broader efficiency study and better use of technology. DPS officials said they were pursuing process changes, including appointment-system upgrades, online pre-population of forms, and remote issuance options, while noting that Real ID requirements and population growth continue to drive demand.
DPS leadership then outlined the agency’s priorities: completion of the Williamson County training academy, recruitment and retention of troopers, capital needs for vehicles and aircraft, and expanded responsibilities at the Capitol complex and the Alamo. Officials said the new trooper funding would help address staffing shortages, public safety, and border operations, and that overtime and deployment patterns had been adjusted to reduce burnout and improve flexibility. They also discussed Operation Lone Star, saying DPS spending is largely overtime, travel, and fuel, and that the agency continues to coordinate with federal partners while awaiting clarity on possible federal reimbursement for border security costs. Senators also raised concerns about oilfield theft, cartel activity, high-speed pursuits, bilingual pay, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and DPS said it would follow up on some of those issues.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- people that was opposed to the sexual education bill, not that I am opposed, not that it didn't have merits
- people that was opposed to the sexual education bill, not that I am opposed, not that it didn't have merits
- people that was opposed to the sexual education bill, not that I am opposed, not that it didn't have merits
- people that was opposed to the sexual education bill, not that I am opposed, not that it didn't have merits
- people that was opposed to the sexual education bill, not that I am opposed, not that it didn't have merits
Bills:
SB255, SB199, SB47, HB605, HB216, HB621, HB148, HB389, HB509, HB248, SB255, SB199, SB47, HB605, HB216, HB621, HB148, HB389, HB509, HB248, SB336, SB293, SB43, HB420, HB60, HB188, HB106, HB105, HB11
Keywords:
SB255, cannabinoid, hemp, hemp-derived THC, THCa, delta-8 THC, HHC, CBD, THC, novel cannabinoid products, hemp products, intoxicating hemp, delta-8, retail license, Department of Revenue, Department of Agriculture and Industries, testing and labeling, third-party laboratory, product safety, public health
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- But findings from the five-year evaluation of the preceptor tax credit program showed growth in the number
- I think it's a good bill, not because I introduced it, but because I think it has much merit.
- c><01:29:22.199>
diagnosis communication to the diagnosis communication to the diagnosis evaluation - >
and <01:29:23.639>treatment <01:29:24.480>of <01:29:24.760>mental evaluation - and treatment of mental evaluation and treatment of mental health<01:29:25.880>
disorders <01:
Summary:
The House Health Committee held its first hearing of 2025, with Chair Greg Takayama and Vice Chair Representative Leoy opening the meeting and outlining housekeeping rules, including a two-minute limit for testifiers and Zoom etiquette. The committee first heard HB 303 on health care preceptors. The Department of Health, Department of Taxation, University of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, and several health care organizations supported the bill, saying the existing preceptor tax credit program has been successful and that expanding eligibility to additional professions and students would help address workforce shortages. In response to questions, the Department of Health said the annual tax credit cap is $1.5 million, about 650 to 670 credits are currently used each year, and the bill applies only to unpaid preceptors. The committee then moved on to HB 441, which would raise cigarette taxes. The Attorney General, Department of Health, University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, Hawaii Public Health Institute, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and others supported the measure as a way to reduce smoking, especially among youth, and to support tobacco control and cancer-related programs. Opponents, including the Taxpayers Protection Alliance and the Cigar Association of Hawaii, argued the tax is regressive and unreliable as a revenue source. The Department of Health noted the last cigarette tax increase was in 2011, and one witness urged a larger increase than proposed. No vote was taken on either bill in the portion of the hearing provided.
The committee also heard HB 557 on telehealth. The Department of Health supported the bill so long as it did not displace executive budget priorities, and the Hawaii State Health Planning and Development Agency and Hawaii Primary Care Association supported it. HPCA said the bill would conform state insurance law to recent Medicare changes expanding audio-only telehealth coverage beyond mental health services, and it emphasized access for rural residents, kupuna, and people with disabilities. HMSA opposed the bill as written, saying it strayed from the intent of Act 107 and that audio-only telehealth should remain limited because of quality-of-care concerns, though it supported continued access and asked for a different amendment approach. A telehealth provider also testified that payment disparities limit provider expansion and that audio-only access remains important for patients with serious illness. The hearing ended in the excerpt before any committee action or vote on HB 557.