Transcript Highlights:

• The results of the race were confirmed.
• The results of the race were confirmed.
• The results of the race were confirmed.
• The results of the race were confirmed.
• The results of the race were confirmed.

Keywords: Consideration of HB 27 00:04:20 Presentation by Secretary of State 00:10:44 Presentation by Karen Sellers and Jason Denny 00:35:56 Consideration of HB 45 00:55:36, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled House Bill 27, which would remove the prohibition on political yard signs in planned communities statewide while still allowing communities to regulate size, placement, and duration. The sponsor said the 2023 Planned Communities Act created an unintended consequence by treating similar homeowners differently based on grandfathering dates, and a legal explanation was offered that the bill would clarify the law and avoid constitutional problems. After discussion, the committee voted 15-0 to pass the bill with favorable expression. The next item was an update from the Secretary of State on the 2024 election and implementation of House Bill 53, which created prompt post-election audits. He said the audits were carried out smoothly, most found no discrepancies, and no election winners changed, though he recommended adding a specific timeline to the law. He also discussed voter-roll maintenance, saying Kentucky has removed more than 440,000 ineligible voters since 2020, and argued that federal law and limited access to federal databases remain the main obstacles to faster cleanup. Members asked about the possibility of improper removals, double voting across states, and how provisional voting works. The Secretary said anyone improperly removed can reregister, that any double-voting abuse is likely marginal but still unacceptable, and that provisional ballots are available when eligibility is in doubt and can be reviewed by the county board of elections. He also urged Congress to modernize the 1993 federal voter-registration law, improve access to death and citizenship data, and create a central interstate information-sharing system for election officials.

Transcript Highlights:

• in job-creation-based incentives available to life sciences companies.
• Incentive Program, EDIP.
• Our life sciences center tax incentive also gives greater incentives broadly throughout the state.
• Incentives broadly throughout the state.
• But if you allow the cheaters to continue to cheat, it is a race to the bottom.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on any given race."
• on any given race."
• on any given race."
• on any given race."
• any given race."

Bills: SB2004 , SB2039 , SB2042 , SB2043 , SB2044 , SB2132

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: outdoor advertising, billboards, public safety, penalties, community pollution, elections, campaign finance, business entities, political activity, regulation, liability, non-natural persons, insurance, captives, examination, regulations, policyholders, dormant captive, tax exemption, Hawaii revised statutes

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee opened its first hearing of the year with remarks from Chair Jared Kohole outlining hearing procedures, a two-minute testimony limit, rules for remote testimony and decorum, and a revised testimony-publication pilot that keeps 96-hour notice but returns to a standard 24-hour testimony deadline. He then moved through the agenda, beginning with SB 2004 on outdoor advertising, which would increase penalties for violations of billboard and outdoor advertising laws. Testimony on that measure was limited; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land was first up, and written support was noted from Hawaiian Electric and the Outdoor Circle. The committee then heard SB 2039 on election campaign finance, which would prohibit certain business entities from engaging in campaign finance activities. The Attorney General’s office offered comments and did not take a formal position at the hearing. Several proponents testified in support, including Josh Frost, Tom Moore of the Center for American Progress, Hapa/Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, and Common Cause Hawaiʻi, all arguing the bill would curb corporate and dark-money influence and return elections to the people. Moore distinguished between regulating corporate “rights” and limiting corporate “powers,” and said the state can redefine the powers it grants corporations. In questions, Senator McKelvey asked whether the bill could be expanded to include unions; the Attorney General said he would need to get back with legal analysis, while Moore said his preferred approach would include all entities and that leaving out nonprofits or unions would create problems. Members also discussed whether the bill would affect PACs, and Moore explained that the proposal would prohibit corporate and dark-money flows into PACs while leaving individual political giving and existing political committees in place. The committee then moved on to the next measure. SB 2042, relating to insurance, was heard next. The bill would reduce the unimpaired minimum capital and surplus required of class 4 sponsored captive insurance companies under certain circumstances. The DCCA Insurance Division said it stood on its written testimony, and the Hawaii Captive Insurance Council testified in support, describing the change as a narrow, risk-based adjustment that would not affect the commissioner’s authority where actual risk resides and would help keep Hawaii competitive. The committee noted additional written support and proceeded without a vote or final action in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• corneal transplants on people who are awake, and I could blind them, and I will tell you my heart is racing
• well, and what we're hearing from driver educators around the state is that teens have less of an incentive
• You think about connectivity with social media, Have less of an incentive to learn to drive these days
• And so I think there already are a number of incentives in place for training such as this.
• Personally, I don't have a horse in this race, but I think it is something that could benefit the students

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a recount for a local race. It was a pick 5 with eight candidates, with 20 teams.
• We had a recount for a local race. It was a pick 5 with eight candidates, with 20 teams.
• We had a recount for a local race. It was a pick 5 with eight candidates, with 20 teams.
• We had a recount for a local race. It was a pick 5 with eight candidates, with 20 teams.
• We had a recount for a local race. It was a pick 5 with eight candidates, with 20 teams.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To use race as a tool to...
• Quit relying on race.
• They just made it more difficult to prove if we did it on race.
• red congressional delegation is by looking at race to change up the districts. ...looking at race to
• So, at the core of this is race. And I know people don't like to talk about race.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ferguson brushed the legislature side and joined the 1918 race for governor anyway.
• of race, ethnicity, or gender? Those are the intended goals of the act, yes.
• to teach all students of any race.
• But you cannot promote it. based on race, color, or ethnicity. That's what it is.
• But race has always been a factor. Discrimination has always been present.

Bills: SCR5 , SCR13 , SB3 , SB6 , SB10 , SB12 , SB13 , SB15 , SB17 , SB18 , SB19 , SB24 , SB35 , SB57 , SB65 , SB112 , SB284 , SB290 , SB388 , SB400 , SB402 , SB412 , SB495 , SB499 , SB502 , SB509 , SB621 , SB706 , SB740 , SB815 , SB842 , SB854 , SB875 , SB893 , SB917 , SB974 , SB1025 , SB1061 , SB1073 , SB1106 , SB1268 , SB1281 , SB1300 , SB1362 , SB1379 , SB1447 , SB1451 , SB1555 , SB1902 , SJR36 , SJR12 , SCR13 , SCR25 , SCR5 , SCR22 , SCR12 , SCR24 , SB495 , SB412 , SB10 , SB18 , SB565 , SB372 , SB842 , SB765 , SB62 , SB19 , SB666 , SB707 , SB888 , SB687 , SB706 , SB847 , SB290 , SB13 , SB1248 , SB740 , SB14 , SB1006 , SB504 , SB917 , SB925 , SB388 , SB1902 , SB1121 , SB995 , SB857 , SB305 , SB296 , SB284 , SB35 , SB6 , SB815 , SB3 , SB1281 , SB1379 , SB1300 , SB1497 , SB1499 , SB1498 , SB1451 , SB1061 , SB15 , SB65 , SB241 , SB304 , SB402 , SB499 , SB621 , SB974 , SB1023 , SB1024 , SB1025 , SB1106 , SB686 , SB112 , SB371 , SB204 , SB400 , SB609 , SB1447 , SB670 , SB502 , SB427 , SB850 , SB854 , SB413 , SB1555 , SB1362 , SB1346 , SB1033 , SB1220 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB987 , SB1539 , SB893 , SB447 , SB875 , SB406 , SB509 , SB985 , SB965 , SB17 , SB1119 , SB1505 , SB12 , SB24 , SB57 , SB1194 , SB1253 , SB1215 , SB1532 , SB1268 , SB1302 , SB856 , SB650 , SB583 , SB673 , SB840 , SJR57 , SCR8 , SB213 , SB681 , SB1172 , SB1252 , SB378 , SB610 , SB918 , SB1343 , SB608 , SB487 , SB955 , SB957 , SB988 , SB990 , SB1019 , SB1021 , SB1120 , SB251 , SB958 , SB535 , SB761 , SB1 , SB541 , SB315 , SB379 , SB1018 , SB1737 , SB266 , SB1415

Keywords: SCR 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Texas School for the Deaf, TSD, Robert Rives, gymnasium naming, building naming, honorary resolution, commemorative resolution, deaf education, hard of hearing, Gallaudet University, alumni hall of fame, football coach, school facility naming, education K-16, State Affairs, Texas Legislature, public school tribute, water rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of those that I want to touch on: one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;
• the concept that the United States is fundamentally racist... ...other race or sex.
• So it sounds like what I'm hearing is we aren't hiring doctors based on race, right?
• Line eight: one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex.
• One race or sex is inherently superior to another sex or race. Like, that's prohibited.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:06:22.079><c> in</c> races in races in I<01:06:25.440><c> couldn't</c><01:06:25.760><c> tell</c><
• a presidential race or Senate race.
• ,</c> level races, level races, uh<01:07:35.280><c> you</c><01:07:35.720><c> know,</c><01:07:36.720><
• </c><01:07:47.680><c> But</c> representative race at all. Yeah. But representative race at all.
• </c><01:07:58.000><c> So</c> race or senate race. Yep. Yep. So race or senate race. Yep. Yep.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to have somebody rent downstairs in your garage and moving cars out... ...incentive to have somebody
• That will ensure that housing incentives remain tied to real projects and valuations reflect legally
• Housing incentives remain tied to real projects, and valuations reflect legally permissible, realistic
• Elizabeth Tapia, representing the Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment, in strong support of
• Districts do support lawn and garden incentive programs, and in fact approximately 70% of the state's

Summary: The committee heard several housing, local government, coastal, and infrastructure bills. AB 306 would create a statewide appeal and code-interpretation process for building code issues at the California Building Standards Commission; supporters said it would reduce inconsistent local interpretations and speed housing delivery, while no opposition testified, and it was moved on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations. AB 956 would clarify ADU law to allow up to two detached ADUs on a property and address ADUs in HOAs/common interest developments; supporters framed it as a flexibility and housing-supply measure, while local government and county groups raised concerns about ministerial approval, parking, density, and impacts on neighborhood character. After committee questions, the bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations on a 2-0 vote, with the bill remaining on call. Members also considered AB 1751, which would create a ministerial approval path for qualifying townhome projects and allow local inclusionary ordinances for larger projects. Supporters said it would expand attainable homeownership and help produce missing-middle housing, while cities and counties objected to reduced density, by-right approval, and potential housing-element net-loss issues. The bill was moved do pass as amended to Appropriations on a 2-0 vote and remained on call. AB 912, which would revise the governance structure of the Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District board, drew unanimous support from the district, city, and county; it passed 3-0 to Appropriations and remained on call. AB 1710, aimed at preserving housing project entitlements from later regulatory changes, also advanced on a 4-0 do-pass-as-amended vote after opponents said they were awaiting the committee amendments. The committee also heard AB 2080, which would make county treasurer investment authority delegations ongoing until revoked rather than requiring annual renewal; supporters said it would reduce technical noncompliance and administrative burden without reducing oversight, and it was moved to the Senate Floor. AB 1740, a coastal bill for Santa Monica, would set timelines and reporting for a local coastal program and create an expedited Coastal Commission process for bike, transit, and pedestrian projects; supporters said it reflected a negotiated path forward with the city and commission, and it passed 3-0 to Appropriations. AB 2181, backed by Unite Here, would limit use of hypothetical density bonus value in hotel and motel appraisals; supporters said it would protect hospitality jobs from speculative lease-rent increases, and it was moved to the Senate Floor on a 4-0 vote. Finally, AB 2469 on data centers and water use drew the most extended debate. The bill would require water supply and water use assessments before approval, and shift infrastructure costs to project proponents; supporters said it would improve transparency, protect ratepayers, and ensure local governments have information before approving water-intensive facilities. Opponents, including business, city, county, and tech groups, argued existing law already covers water assessments and fees, warned the bill could create a separate permitting regime, and raised concerns about privacy, security, and investment impacts. The committee had not yet taken final action on AB 2469 when the transcript ended, and members were still asking technical questions about data center cooling and water reuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hard to not do anything that was race-based. Okay, let's go on to District 18.
• ; they're not race-blind, as you stated they are.
• But I don't want to speak about someone's political preference based on race. So...
• To draw those maps race blind, as you have done, it's simply impossible.
• Race blind. And I close. If I may respond, Chairman.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ensure that enforcement fines continue to reflect the seriousness of the violation and provide an incentive
• Since PBMs own their own health plans and mail-order pharmacies, they have a great incentive to steer
• Effectively, it allows federal agents to stop suspects based solely on their race, language, or job.
• message that routine use of masks by law enforcement violates our values and creates a powerful incentive
• This creates a further incentive for agencies to... ...and scope of their official duties.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum after a roll call, observed a moment of silence for John Burton, and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance and routine procedural motions. Members approved a rule suspension to allow floor amendments on SB 271 and SB 67, and several committee notices and bill referrals were handled. The chamber then moved through a long third-reading file, with many bills passed and a number of items temporarily passed or retained on file. Among the major measures approved were bills on civil rights and public safety (SB 477, SB 19, SB 36, SB 571, SB 580), health care and coverage (SB 257 on pregnancy as a qualifying life event, SB 530 on Medi-Cal access standards, SB 660 on health data exchange, SB 754 on menstrual product contaminant disclosure), housing and disaster recovery (SB 610, SB 655), transportation and climate (SB 533 on EV charging payments, SB 30 on diesel locomotives, SB 71 on CEQA exemptions for transit, SB 263 on tariff impacts), and natural resources/energy (SB 283 on battery storage safety, SB 88 on biomass emissions, SB 427 extending the Habitat Conservation Fund). The Assembly also passed urgency measures including SB 864 on tribal gaming compacts, SB 663 on wildfire-related property tax relief, SB 471 expanding DDS ombudsman authority, and SB 497 on privacy protections for legally protected health services. Several bills drew notable debate. SB 41 on pharmacy benefit managers saw opposition over concerns about moving ahead before broader PBM data and licensing reforms take effect, but it still passed. AB 1340, a concurrence item on gig worker collective bargaining rights, prompted extended debate over labor rights, consumer costs, and union influence. Other concurrence items included AB 671 on restaurant permitting, which passed without opposition. The Assembly also took up SB 640 on direct admission to CSU, SB 702 on demographic reporting for appointees, SB 710 preserving a solar property tax exclusion, and SB 793 on counterfeit lighter safety, all of which passed. The session ended with the Assembly continuing through the file, including concurrence votes and additional bill actions, with most measures approved by substantial margins.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that is in the horse racing space. that is in the horse racing space.
• </c> on a race. on a race.
• Um by the time the race goes six to one.
• </c><00:15:06.400><c> and</c> realize you might win the race and realize you might win the race and you've
• </c> even historical horse racing. even historical horse racing. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm.

Committee: House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations

Keywords: 00:00 CALL TO ORDER 00:05 ROLL CALL 01:03 HB 566 DISCUSSION 03:05 HB 566 VOTE 05:10 HB 885 DISCUSSION 08:03 HB 885 VOTE 09:55 HB 904 DISCUSSION 33:10 HB 904 VOTE 34:28 ADJOURNMENT, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I can compare it to the race to the moon in the 1960s.
• We are in a race right now for AI, and the data centers are a critical part of this.
• I can compare it to the race to the moon in the 1960s.
• I will be voting yes. fully how big the race to AI really fully how big the race to AI really was.<00
• </c> obviously it wasn't around, but the race obviously it wasn't around, but the race to<00:13:51.200

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , and judicial races.
• </c><00:01:29.759><c> races.
• </c><00:01:30.720><c> It</c> legislative, and judicial race races.
• It legislative, and judicial race races.
• , as well as judicial races.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so it's different for each race. Right.
• </c><00:25:58.840><c> Um</c> it's different for each race. Right. Um it's different for each race.
• But it will probably be a chart that has each race differently, correct? >> Yeah.
• </c> each race differently, correct? each race differently, correct?
• Let's take, for example, a House race: $20,000, and they would get X amount of that money.

Bills: HB389 , HB469 , HB1510 , HB1573 , HB1705 , HB1858 , HB1875 , HB1946 , HB1961 , HB1962 , HB2001 , HB2093 , HB2096 , HB2097

Keywords: HB389, uncrewed aircraft, drone, drones, UAS, unmanned aerial vehicle, misuse of uncrewed aircraft, criminal offense, felony enhancement, drone crime, public safety, police, deputy sheriff, fire department, intoxicated operation, registration number tampering, property damage, bodily injury, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package, Hawaii Revised Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• This is reflected here in Minnesota, also in the 2024 State House race.
• those candidates in the top 15 races total.
• </c> also in the 2024 State House race also in the 2024 State House race spending<00:03:10.239><c> from
• </c><00:03:18.159><c> total</c> candidates in the top 15 races total candidates in the top 15 races total
• Senate races, used red boxing by at least one of the candidates or the parties.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He couldn't issue a complaint, and he was the candidate in one of the races that was affected.
• </c> in one of the races that was affected. in one of the races that was affected.
• </c><00:35:07.280><c> This</c><00:35:07.440><c> is</c> about the legislative race.
• This is about the legislative race.
• </c><00:37:46.400><c> in</c> way through in the legislative races in way through in the legislative races

Bills: HB0086

Committee: Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: county officials, election code, misconduct, removal, government accountability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the past, historic horse racing.
• Uh historic horse racing did not bill.
• These things, I think, were created in races that had a large horse racing industry as a way of making
• </c> racing at least as far as the users are. racing at least as far as the users are.
• </c> races that had a large horse racing races that had a large horse racing industry<00:06:45.520><c

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Undermining incentives for them to pursue change will send the wrong message.
• Nor am I arguing against rehabilitation or existing incentives for rehabilitation.
• suppression as a tool of what's been called the new Jim Crow—law enforcement practices that claim to be race-neutral
• In essence, SB 1203 will start a race to the bottom in this important industry.
• SB 1203 will start a race to the bottom in this important industry.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing several bills on public safety, parole, criminal justice oversight, Proposition 36 implementation, behavioral health, gang database reform, cargo theft, and nonconsensual intimate images. The chair explained hearing procedures and noted that SB 906 was pulled from the agenda. Several measures were heard but not voted on because quorum was lacking. SB 1446, a committee bill, would expand discretion in en banc parole review, make en banc votes public record, and allow CDCR referrals for sexually violent predator evaluation of certain incarcerated people serving determinate or indeterminate terms. Support came from the California District Attorneys Association; opposition came from the Ella Baker Center, Uncommon Law, public defenders, and others who argued it would add confusion, litigation risk, and unnecessary duplication. The author said the bill was intended to clarify review standards and improve transparency. SB 1278 would exclude certain sex offenses and habitual/one-strike offenders from elderly parole eligibility. The San Diego District Attorney’s Office and California District Attorneys Association supported it, citing cases such as Gregory Vogelsang and David Funston; opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and others argued elderly parole is already highly restrictive, evidence-based, and cost-effective. Vice Chair Seyarto strongly supported SB 1278, emphasizing victim justice and public safety. SB 1354 would bar out-of-state military personnel not operating under Title 10 from entering California to perform military or law enforcement functions without the governor’s permission; a committee amendment removed a criminal penalty and left enforcement to the Attorney General. SB 926 would provide funding for Proposition 36 implementation, with committee amendments deleting a specific appropriation and shifting funding decisions to the budget process; supporters said counties need resources for treatment, probation, and administration, while opponents criticized the bill as fiscally reckless and duplicative. SB 874 would require background checks and clearer statewide standards for Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, especially ABA services for children; supporters said it would improve patient safety and program integrity. SB 1210 would extend CalGang-style oversight, notice, appeal, and DOJ regulation to all gang databases, not just shared ones; supporters described harms from inaccurate, unregulated local databases, while police chiefs opposed applying the CalGang framework to all local investigative files. The committee also heard SB 1019, which would create a DOJ cargo theft task force and add reporting requirements; supporters from BNSF, trucking, shipping, ports, and law enforcement said organized cargo theft is harming supply chains and worker safety, and no opposition was presented. Finally, SB 1217 would create a DOJ clearinghouse to help victims remove nonconsensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, from covered platforms; amendments narrowed the bill’s scope and clarified law enforcement’s role. The author and survivor witnesses described ongoing trauma from repeated reposting of exploitative images and argued the bill would provide a centralized removal process. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 1217, with no final votes taken on the measures heard.