Transcript Highlights:

• So we're going to breeze through some key differences between the executive...
• Both LFC and the Executive are at 1 for compensation.
• The Executive recommended 5 million as a transfer.
• Under the executive, none LAC a straight 3. Under LFC, he listed 1 average.
• Executive Session? I was just asked, and it wouldn't hurt to do so. Do we?

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Both LFC and the Executive are at 1 for compensation.
• The Executive recommended $5 million as a transfer.
• This is the document that we submit to HIFC along with PED, the Executive, and LFC that...
• Under the executive none, LEC a straight 3. Under LFC, he listed 1 average.
• Chair, Executive Session. I was just asked, and it wouldn't hurt to do so.

Transcript Highlights:

• Baker, executive director of Community Action Kentucky.
• Baker, executive director of Community Action Kentucky.
• I'm Shannon Hall, executive adviser, Department for Community Based Services. >> Rick Baker, executive
• > Department<00:02:18.879> for executive advisor of Department for executive advisor of
• ><00:02:58.239> of >> Rick Baker, executive director of >> Rick Baker, executive director

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Energy met for a public hearing and presentation on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). After approving the minutes, members heard from Shannon Hall of the Department for Community Based Services and Rick Baker of Community Action Kentucky, who explained that LIHEAP is a 100% federally funded block grant used in Kentucky to help low-income households pay home energy bills, prevent utility disconnects, and support weatherization and crisis assistance. Hall outlined the program’s income eligibility limits, the fact that payments go directly to vendors or utilities rather than households, and the program’s funding levels, including $43.4 million spent in federal fiscal year 2025 and an anticipated $58 million for federal fiscal year 2026. The presenters described LIHEAP’s main components: fall and spring subsidy programs, winter crisis assistance, and weatherization. They gave participation figures for recent program cycles, including tens of thousands of households served in each component, and explained that weatherization prioritizes elderly, disabled, households with children, and high-energy-burden homes. They also noted that weatherization is carried out in partnership with the Kentucky Housing Corporation and includes repairs and efficiency measures such as insulation, air sealing, and safety checks. Rick Baker described Community Action Kentucky’s role as the statewide administrator through 23 local community action agencies, emphasizing their presence in all 120 counties and their local board structure. Members praised Baker’s long service and the program’s importance for families facing high energy costs, especially in coalfield areas. One member asked for clarification on a slide reference to “Assurance 16,” but the transcript cuts off before the answer is completed. No votes or other committee actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:59.600> session will also recess this executive session will also recess this executive
• Uh next, I will open the executive Uh next, I will open the executive session<00:33:13.880> on
• Next, I will reopen the executive Next, I will reopen the executive session<01:11:50.080> on<
• 488 that have been noticed for executive 488 that have been noticed for executive sessions<01:16
• our executive our executive Representative<01:17:05.840> Garji.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• legislative branch within the executive legislative branch within the executive branch,<00:24:32.040
• When you hire an executive director, the board will go through the process.
• > session<00:46:10.320> and Whether it's an executive session and Whether it's an executive
• boards that have hired hired executive boards that have hired hired executive directors<00:46:41.920
• executive director? executive director?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a series of resolutions and a few bills, with testimony largely in support across the agenda. Early measures included HCR 15/HR 17 supporting Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy, and HCR 22/HR 22 urging Congress to pass federal kidney disease legislation; both drew support and no opposition. The committee also heard HCR 146 HD1/HR 138 HD1 on “excited delirium,” with testimony from advocates urging the resolutions be broadened to include related terms such as hyperactive delirium and agitated delirium, and from family members and disability-rights advocates describing the issue as harmful pseudoscience tied to police-custody deaths and calling for a ban on the term and better mental-health responses. The committee then took up HCR 123/HR 115 on creating a coordinated support and stabilization task force for Native Hawaiians experiencing homelessness or extreme low income. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands testified in support, describing its transitional housing work and saying collaboration and data-sharing with the state homelessness office would help beneficiaries and others; members questioned whether existing entities already do similar work and whether the proposal would extend beyond beneficiaries. HCR 32/HR 32, which asks the governor’s senior advisor on mental health and the justice system to develop a plan to increase access to Hawaii State Hospital for certain criminal defendants, drew support from the Department of Health, the governor’s office, and disability-rights advocates, who emphasized coordinated planning, diversion from arrest when appropriate, and matching people to the right level of care. Additional resolutions addressed a range of policy issues: renaming Leeward Community College to Puloulou Community College (with no testimony), creating an ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi pathway under the Niʻihau dialect at UH (UH noted existing courses already cover the dialect but not a degree pathway), moving to a demerit-point driver licensing system (support only), and coordinating transportation infrastructure planning for Hawaiian home lands (DHHL supported the measure and said an expired DOT memorandum of understanding had covered related collaboration). The committee also heard support for expanding DHHL financial literacy and homeownership-preparedness programs, a resolution asking the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to examine algorithmic discrimination, and a resolution urging the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Advisory Committee to follow its rules, comply with the Sunshine Law, review its executive director, and strengthen accountability; the last measure drew 11 written supports and no opposition. No final votes or decisions were taken in the portion provided, as the hearing focused on testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The LFC's recommendation funds eight new FTE, and the Executive Recommends 12.
• The LFC matched FY25 actuals, while the Executive Recommended their full request.
• Okay, so If the subcommittee were to adopt the executive Thank you.
• So the executive has a fund infusion in that amount.
• The executive recommendation included four additional FTE for the authority.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And as I mentioned previously, I serve as the executive director.
• And as I mentioned previously, I serve as the executive director.
• executive cabinet.
• We've also had the opportunity of providing training to the executive... executive order and as directed
• The executive order also calls for us to convene...

Summary: The committee heard a work session on voting access on tribal lands, beginning with a presentation from Dr. Chelsea Jones of the Brennan Center. She described barriers affecting Native voters and voters on tribal lands, including long travel distances to polling places and drop boxes, nontraditional addresses, unreliable postal service, language access, and limited broadband. Citing research, she said turnout on tribal lands trails turnout off tribal lands by about 10 percentage points nationally and about 10% in Washington, with larger gaps in some convenience voting measures. Members asked about the meaning of “lost votes,” the role of tribal leadership and community trust, and whether outreach by election officials and candidates could help; Dr. Jones emphasized that the study measured missed voting opportunities, not missing ballots, and that partnerships with trusted community leaders are important. The University of Washington Elections Database then presented data on voter registration, turnout, signature challenges, curing, and ballot rejection for voters whose addresses fall within tribal reservation boundaries. The presenters said registration on reservations increased from about 107,000 in 2010 to 137,000 in 2024, turnout on reservations remained about 8 to 9 percentage points lower than outside reservations in recent general elections, and signature-challenge and rejection rates were generally low but somewhat higher in off-year elections. They reported that about 60% to two-thirds of signature-challenged ballots are cured, with cure rates similar inside and outside reservations, and that late return is the most common reason for primary ballot rejection while signature mismatch is the leading cause in general elections. A question was raised about USPS postmarking issues and how those might affect future data; the presenters said they plan to track return method and cure timing more closely. The committee also received an overview of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. Staff reviewed the office’s history, the Centennial Accord, the Millennium Agreement, and related state-tribal frameworks, and GOIA Director Tim Rainan described the office’s role as a bridge between the state and tribal governments, including consultation, policy coordination, training, and convening work groups. He said GOIA now has six positions, is part of the governor’s executive cabinet, and is working on a statewide tribal relations training module and consultation handbook. In response to a question, he said tribal voting is not a major topic at the Centennial Accord but is discussed more extensively through ATNI. The committee then shifted to contracting equity, hearing from WSDOT, DES, OMWBE, and the Office of Equity. WSDOT described its race-neutral small business and veteran goals, mentorship and support programs, and its response to the federal suspension of the DBE program; DES discussed statewide contracting spend, the EDGE pilot for small construction firms, and efforts to improve procurement access; OMWBE reported growth in certified firms and about $371 million in state spend with certified firms in the most recent year, while noting ongoing impacts from federal DBE changes; and the Office of Equity outlined its broader work on agency consultation, dashboards, and systems change. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we have Randy Perreira, Executive Next we have Randy Perreira, Executive Director<00:18:28.080
• > for<00:20:28.920> HGEA, Perreira, executive director for HGEA, Perreira, executive director
• But, what this bill is executive branch.
• <00:24:58.960> officer Next we have Ely Lane, executive officer Next we have Ely Lane, executive
• I'm the executive officer for the Lane.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Labor met on February 19, 2026, and heard a series of bills largely focused on public employment, staffing, and professional licensing. Early measures included HB 2276 and HB 2472, both relating to Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund staff salaries, which were supported by trust fund representatives and received no opposition or questions. The committee also heard HB 1714 HD1 on housing, where the Hawaii Public Housing Authority testified with comments and the Deputy Attorney General raised concerns about the scope of autonomy, civil service, collective bargaining, and a possible separation-of-powers issue involving legislative approval of long-term contracts. The committee then considered several personnel and civil service bills. HB 2325 HD1, relating to civil service exempt positions at DLNR, drew support from DLNR and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, but HGEA opposed it and urged the department to seek other recruitment and retention solutions while keeping employees in civil service. HB 1541, relating to Department of Health positions, was supported by DOH on the grounds that the positions serve vulnerable populations and require specialized expertise, while HGEA opposed. HB 2140 HD1, relating to essential permanent positions, received support from OPSD, HGEA, and the Chamber of Commerce, with written comments from the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services. HB 2315 HD1, relating to state employment benefits, was strongly supported by DOH, UPW, and HGEA as a recruitment and retention incentive; members questioned the pilot program, and DOH explained it would allow employees to cash out vacation leave earlier than current policy allows. The committee also heard HB 2295 on government contracting, with DOE support not present and IBEW 1186 in opposition. HB 1720, relating to professional engineers, drew strong support from the City and County of Honolulu’s planning department, which argued the bill would help with affordable housing review and only affect eligibility to sit for the licensure exam, but strong opposition from engineering industry and licensing board representatives, who warned it would lower licensing standards and harm reciprocity; members questioned both sides about plan review experience and licensure requirements. HB 2367, relating to employment earnings and pay transparency, received strong support from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, AAUW, the Commission on the Status of Women, and others, who said transparency helps small businesses and retention, while written opposition came from the Maui Chamber of Commerce and NFIB. Finally, HB 1935, relating to personal information, drew comments from the Attorney General and the Campaign Spending Commission about implementation burdens and disclosure requirements, with UPW supporting the home-address redaction portion but opposing the broader disclosure process; additional written testimony was noted from OIP, the League of Women Voters, Public Press Law Center, HGEA, and DCCA.

Transcript Highlights:

• The site readiness bill we're bringing forward—the executive authorized $24 million.
• The executive recommended $61.3 million.
• The executive recommended $3,000 more from the general fund than LFC.
• Both the executive and LFC support increasing funding to the ORD.
• It's either the LFC, or it will either be the legislative or the executive.

Transcript Highlights:

• With me this morning is Connie Corona, our Executive Director.
• Connie Corona, Executive Director.
• I'm David for the Behavioral Health Executive Council, or BHEC.
• I'm the Executive Director for the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council; BHEC is how we'll refer
• At this time, our executive director, Ms.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will recess when we're done with our executive session today.
• Seeing no objection, we are in executive session. Seeing no objection, we are in executive session.
• Housekeeping item before we reenter executive session here this evening.
• Executive session here this evening.
• Seeing no objection, we are back in executive session.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I guess we going to change history, rewrite history by executive order.
• I guess we going to change history, rewrite history by executive order.
• I guess we going to change history, rewrite history by executive order.
• I guess we going to change history, rewrite history by executive order.
• Clerk, call the roll. >> All by executive order.

Bills: HB2, HB163, SB326, HB17, HB363, HB2, HB163, SB326, HB17, HB363, SB333

Keywords: vaccination, parental consent, minors, medical consent, guardian approval, income tax, research expenditures, economic development, tax deductions, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Alabama tax law, sheriff, credit card, debit card, financial procedures, Jackson County, purchasing authority, HB17, Alabama Squat Truck Law, squat truck

Transcript Highlights:

• executive compensation. executive compensation.
• c> compensation And what does executive compensation And what does executive compensation mean?
• this bill, those hospital executives this bill, those hospital executives would<01:00:51.520>
• College of Healthcare Executives College of Healthcare Executives Congress Congress Congress has
• doing and pay our executives well. doing and pay our executives well.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Joy Ridenour serves as the executive director.
• I am Joey Riedenow, the executive director of the Board of Nursing.
• And we'll hear from the executive director, Shana. Thank you for being here.
• Raquel Rivera serves as the board's executive director.
• the executive director, given that the current executive director was also previously a board employee

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee conducted sunset reviews for the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, the State Board of Nursing, the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners, and the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants. The Auditor General’s reports praised each board for timely licensing in some areas but identified recurring problems with complaint investigations, public safety oversight, fee analysis, records/documentation, and internal controls. For Pharmacy, the main concerns were weak enforcement of controlled substances prescription monitoring program (CSPMP) requirements and slow complaint resolution; the board said it had implemented some recommendations, was pursuing a new database vendor, and supported legislation to strengthen CSPMP enforcement. For Nursing, the audit found a large and growing backlog of complaints and repeated delays in resolving cases; the executive director said the board was under-resourced and requested 28 additional investigative positions, while nursing stakeholders supported process reforms and cited a bill to improve timelines and fairness. For Occupational Therapy, the audit focused on missing or poorly documented fingerprint clearance card checks, delayed action on a serious criminal-charge disclosure, and other compliance issues; the board said it had accepted and was implementing all recommendations, including new procedures and rulemaking. For Physician Assistants, the audit found weak oversight by the executive director, extensive delays in complaint handling, and an incentive-pay system that did not align with key performance goals; the board said it had already made structural changes, was improving tracking and IT systems, and planned to continue implementing recommendations. After discussion and testimony from board officials, public members, and nursing stakeholders, the committee voted to continue the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy for six years until July 1, 2032, the State Board of Nursing for four years until July 1, 2031, the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners for four years until July 1, 2030, and the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants for a continued term with statutory changes (the transcript includes the board review and related discussion, but the final motion text for the physician assistants board is not fully captured in the excerpt). The votes on the first three continuations were approved by roll call, with members generally supporting continuation while expressing concern about complaint backlogs and the need for reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• > it<00:15:31.360> in The executive order banning it in The executive order banning it
• Governor Basher’s executive order was one step forward.
• <00:21:40.400> was Governor Basher's executive order was Governor Basher's executive order was
• that executive order is addressing that executive order because<00:46:29.440> we<00:46:30.560
• <00:48:38.720> order the the executive order the the executive order that<00:48:41.119>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up administrative regulations, found no concerns, and then passed House Bill 389 with a favorable expression by a 9-0 vote. HB 389 was described as a cleanup bill for the CASPER prescription monitoring program: it clarifies that practitioners must have active CASPER accounts, exempts charitable health care providers from e-prescribing requirements, allows sharing CASPER data with certain federal entities such as military-base providers, and updates references to hydrocodone’s Schedule II status. The sponsor said there was no expected fiscal impact. The committee then passed House Bill 392, also by a 9-0 favorable expression. HB 392 would streamline payment for non-elective medical care for patients in state mental facilities when the facility cannot provide the needed treatment, allowing care in community-based settings and payment to those providers. The sponsor said the bill was intended to improve efficiency and would not have a fiscal impact on the cabinet. House Bill 501 was next and likewise passed 9-0 with favorable expression. The bill would allow pharmacists, in their professional judgment, to refill certain prescriptions for up to 180 days when a physician has died, while excluding controlled substances and preserving pharmacist discretion to require follow-up care. Senators raised concerns that the bill does not require patients to seek a new provider during that period, but supporters said the longer window addresses rural provider shortages and access delays. The committee then heard House Bill 495, as amended by a committee substitute. The substitute would prohibit Medicaid services and managed care organizations from covering cross-sex hormones above normal levels and gender reassignment surgery. Testimony on the bill was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers including a former senator, psychologists, advocates, and legal and social work representatives arguing that conversion therapy is harmful, that the substitute would deny medically necessary gender-affirming care, and that the measure could increase suicide risk and litigation. One witness from the Family Foundation of Kentucky spoke in favor, arguing the executive order on counseling limits free speech and that counseling should not be restricted by government. The transcript ends during testimony, with no final committee vote on HB 495 shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• little bit behind um for executive little bit behind um for executive sessions<00:37:48.400>
• Bill the executive session on House Bill 1147.
• <01:38:28.000> session chair will close the executive session chair will close the executive
• the chair will close the executive the chair will close the executive session<01:41:45.920> on
• that, the chair will close the executive that, the chair will close the executive session<02:00:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I close the executive executive executive session.<00:34:27.280> I<00:34:27.679> hereby
• I close the executive session. I open the executive session on House Bill 445.
• executive session.
• I open the executive executive session.
• executive session. executive session.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see the major buckets in the executive recommendation.
• , as well as a budget brief that covers the executive budget recommendation for executive agencies.
• LFC and DFA, and the executive is less than $200 million.
• The executive recommended $50 million.
• We need to open the budget up to min stuff for the executive.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:44:27.920> Northshore executive director for Makana Northshore executive director for
• I'm the deputy executive Garbin.
• It's Quinn, executive director.
• c> of<02:41:14.720> the Weller, executive director of the Weller, executive director of the
• I serve as the executive Nayata.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: This joint informational briefing on Act 310 grants and aid focused on organizations describing how federal funding cuts, Medicaid/SNAP changes, and related policy shifts are affecting their services and budgets. Committee members explained there would be no Q&A, testimony would be limited to one minute, and in-person participants would be heard before Zoom callers. Members repeatedly asked testifiers to identify the amount of federal funding lost or at risk. Testimony came from a wide range of nonprofits and community providers, including Aloha Care, Hawaii Bicycling League, Hawaii Literacy, Hawaii Youth Symphony, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, the Tsunami Museum, The Kohala Center, West Hawaii Community Health Center, West Hawaii Region Hospital Foundation, Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, Dynamic Community Solutions, Feeding Hawaii Together, Girl Scouts of Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaiian Lending and Investments, Homana, Honolulu Theatre for the Youth, Kids Hurt Too Hawaii, and Kokua Kalihi Valley. Most described reduced or threatened federal support and requested state funding to maintain services such as health care access, food security, disaster preparedness, literacy and digital inclusion, youth mentoring, arts education, housing, and climate or agricultural resilience. Several speakers emphasized direct impacts on vulnerable populations, including kūpuna, low-income families, immigrants, homeless youth, and people with disabilities. Requests ranged from relatively small planning or program grants to multi-million-dollar stabilization asks, with some organizations citing specific losses such as reduced Medicaid or USDA funding, canceled EPA or FEMA support, or expiring federal grants. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so you needed a strong executive. You needed energy in the executive, is what they often said.
• <00:26:14.320> most that most executives and most that most executives and most democracies
• And the same of the executive branch.
• power eroded by a strong executive. power eroded by a strong executive.
• um the um the agrandisement of executive um the um the agrandisement of executive power. power.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing with Professor Colin Moore on democratic norms and their erosion in the United States, with a focus on what that could mean for Hawaii. Chair Carl Rhodes introduced the topic and the professor, noting the briefing was livestreamed and could be rescheduled if technical problems arose. Moore defined democratic norms as unwritten guardrails that make written constitutional rules work in practice, emphasizing two core norms from political science: mutual toleration, meaning acceptance of political opponents as legitimate, and institutional forbearance, meaning restraint in using legal powers to the maximum for partisan gain. Moore used historical examples to show how norms develop and erode, including George Washington’s resignation, the Alien and Sedition Acts, the contested 1800 election, Franklin Roosevelt’s court-packing plan, and Watergate. He argued that democracies usually erode gradually rather than through sudden coups, often through leaders who reject opponents’ legitimacy, tolerate political violence, restrict civil liberties, or attack the press. He said the United States is vulnerable because of its strong presidency, an 18th-century constitutional design that did not anticipate modern political parties or a neutral civil service, and because polarization has encouraged “constitutional hardball” and retaliation. He cited comparative examples such as Hungary, Turkey, and other countries that slid toward authoritarianism over time, and said the U.S. has been rated a flawed democracy by outside indexes. Moore said the erosion predates Donald Trump, though he believes Trump has accelerated it, and pointed to recent actions and rhetoric as moving beyond ceremony into government practice. He also warned that Congress has not consistently checked executive power and that public willingness to excuse anti-democratic behavior from preferred candidates is troubling. The briefing ended with Moore turning to federalism and Hawaii, arguing that the state depends heavily on federal funding for health care, schools, housing, and infrastructure, and that delays or disruptions from an unstable federal government could create serious local harm even if no law is formally broken.