Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I'm not the world's greatest mathematician, but that does not sound like 54% or..."
• And we have some of the greatest heroes of MWBE here today.
• And we have some of the greatest heroes of MWBE here today.
• And we have some of the greatest heroes of MWBE here today.
• President, in my opinion, are the greatest American art forms. Argue with me if you wish.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and adopted a resolution calendar with several exceptions before taking up a series of ceremonial resolutions and bills. Members welcomed student visitors from the YWCA of White Plains’ Voices Unfiltered Policy Program, then adopted resolutions honoring Senegalese independence and the Senegalese community, MWBE Advocacy Day, John Coltrane’s 100th birthday, the Sing Sing Prison Museum, I Love My Park Day, Animal Advocacy Day, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month, and Denim Day. Speakers emphasized cultural recognition, public service, environmental stewardship, animal welfare, rare disease awareness, and support for survivors of sexual violence; each resolution was adopted. The chamber then moved through the regular calendar, passing a number of bills on broad roll-call votes. Among the measures approved were bills amending the Penal Law, Executive Law, Public Housing Law, Retirement and Social Security Law, Social Services Law, Environmental Conservation Law, General Municipal Law, Railroad Law, Election Law, Labor Law, and Public Service Law. Several bills passed unanimously or nearly so, while a few drew notable opposition, including a public health measure that passed 39-19 and the labor-related bill on ghost job postings that passed 39-19 after extended debate. The most detailed floor debate centered on the Labor Law bill addressing “ghost jobs,” requiring employers with 100 or more employees to disclose whether postings are for current vacancies, expected future openings, or general resume collection, with Department of Labor enforcement and civil penalties. Supporters argued it would protect job seekers from deceptive postings; opponents said it was unnecessary, burdensome, and could invite litigation or penalties disproportionate to the problem. The Senate also debated and passed a bill expanding election-language assistance under the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act to Haitian Creole and Middle Eastern and North African communities, with supporters citing growing language-access needs and opponents raising concerns about scope and local costs. The Senate then adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• included in the tracking of hate crime, but in terms of reporting via social media, there's not a method
• As you know, we are seeing the greatest number of reported hate crimes you've ever seen in our history
• As you know, we are seeing the greatest number of reported hate crimes you've ever seen in our history
• Partners, community partners, because we recognize that it is such an important method and approach to
• Who in 2011 saw their greatest rates of hate crimes.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, if you could please join me in the pledge to the greatest country in the world.
• will be joining us here in the Capitol on Monday, March 16th, to teach everyone easy, life-saving methods
• will be joining us here in the Capitol on Monday, March 16th, to teach everyone easy, life-saving methods
• Thank you. teach everyone easy, life-saving methods to stop emergency bleeding.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• strength, but also the greatest vulnerability, and strengthening biosecurity is not optional.
• </c><00:21:42.000><c> strength</c><00:21:43.465><c> [snorts]</c> both our greatest strength [snorts]
• both our greatest strength [snorts] but<00:21:44.320><c> also</c><00:21:44.640><c> the</c><00:21:44.880
• ><c> greatest</c><00:21:45.600><c> vulnerability</c> but also the greatest vulnerability but also the
• </c> in um bio control methods in um bio control methods uh<01:34:20.080><c> or</c><01:34:20.480><c>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing from the House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment focused on the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity’s update on Hawaii’s biosecurity framework, especially implementation of Act 231 (2024) and Act 236 (2025). Chairs Corey Chun and Mike Gabbard opened the meeting by framing the briefing as an update on investments to fight invasive species and improve statewide evaluation and coordination. Department leaders Sharon Her and Richard Kim described historic legislative and executive investments that have allowed the department to rebuild and modernize biosecurity infrastructure to better prevent, detect, control, and eradicate invasive species. The presentation emphasized the importance of biosecurity to Hawaii’s agriculture, economy, environment, and public well-being, citing threats such as rapid ohia death, little fire ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, brown tree snake, and red imported fire ant. Staff explained the state’s layered approach—pre-border, border, and post-border—and compared it to New Zealand’s model, stressing that Hawaii must act as a “net, not a wall” and that prevention before entry is far more cost-effective than response after establishment. They also outlined agency roles across the system, including agriculture, natural resources, health, transportation, enforcement, and university partners, and noted that Act 231 strengthened authority over high-risk imports, offshore treatment, compliance agreements, and pest management plans, while Act 236 renamed the department and clarified statewide biosecurity coordination. Jonathan Ho then walked through specific program areas and progress. He said pre-border risk analysis is being supported by Act 231 funding and a university contract, while offshore compliance and treatment efforts have improved substantially, including Christmas tree inspections from Oregon and Washington and airline declaration systems that provide advance passenger information. For border work, he highlighted inspections, surveillance, detector dogs, and port monitoring. For post-border response and readiness, he discussed the invasive pest hotline and dashboard, trace-forward/trace-back and diagnostics, preparedness for future threats, and the need to build stronger internal capacity. He also described a developing transitional facilities program authorized by Act 236, modeled on New Zealand’s certified facilities system, and said the department has already begun outreach to industry groups such as the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• ENSURING WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE OUR VETERANS OF ALL THE BANK BRANCHES, BUT ESPECIALLY THE GREATEST
• AS A VETERAN OF THE GREATEST BRANCH, THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING
• ALL OF THE DEBATES, THE METHOD DEBATE THEY WERE HAVING WITH ONE ANOTHER, THE ONE THING THEY ALL AGREED

Transcript Highlights:

• priorities namely being protecting public health, safety, and welfare under the least restrictive method
• And I'd like to know what is the greatest challenge facing the Office of Tourism, Know what is the greatest
• But the greatest strength of Arizona, as I think you’ll agree, is not its landscape.
• Arizona brand representing the best interest of Arizona, we are all working together to ensure the greatest

Summary: The Senate Committee on Director Nominations met to consider Alex Scalpsa Ridgeway’s nomination to serve as Director of the Arizona Office of Tourism. Chair Jay Kaufman opened with remarks about the committee’s role in reviewing nominees for fidelity to state law and executive accountability. Ridgeway gave an opening statement describing her Arizona background, prior state service, and her view that tourism is a major economic driver for the state. She highlighted record visitation and spending, the importance of marketing the whole state, and efforts to expand social media, data use, and support for rural communities. Committee members questioned Ridgeway about the state of tourism, responsible visitor messaging, the need to market Arizona despite major attractions like the Grand Canyon, rural tourism strategies, international travel declines, return on investment for marketing, and how she would respond to unlawful or poor policy directives. She said she would always follow the law, would raise concerns about policy using data, and emphasized an activity-based marketing strategy focused on family travel, outdoor recreation, cultural travel, culinary, wellness, and luxury. She also discussed conflict-of-interest safeguards, said she would support more transparency and checks and balances, and noted plans to explore AI and other technology to improve efficiency. Public testimony strongly supported the nominee. Representatives from the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association, the Cactus League Baseball Association, and Experience Scottsdale praised Ridgeway’s experience, leadership, and collaborative approach, and emphasized tourism’s economic importance statewide. The committee then moved to recommend her confirmation. The motion passed 5-0, and Chair Kaufman congratulated Ridgeway on the committee’s approval and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that means as it not just relying on traditional conventional methods, but hopefully permaculture
• Community water fluoridation is regarded as one of the greatest scientific achievements of the 20th century
• defer to the experts and all many of them have said that community water fluoridation is one of the greatest
• You are truly putting all of these children at risk and it's not just children, but the big the greatest
• But that's where the greatest impact is.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are a lot of online sales, but are there other methods, and how does that kind of play into the
• Assume there are a lot of online sales, but are there other methods and how does that kind of play into
• With the greatest acceleration occurring since the pandemic, so I can present this to you, but... ...
• For us, we don't do a whole lot of takeout because, I mean, seafood's not the greatest thing that travels
• Greatest thing that travels.

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The commission met to continue studying credit card payments, interchange fees, fraud, chargebacks, and the impact of card processing costs on small businesses, especially restaurants and retailers. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurant owners, payment-industry representatives, and an airline trade group. Supporters of reform argued that swipe fees are a major and rising expense, that businesses are paying fees on sales tax and tips that are merely pass-through amounts, and that merchants have little negotiating power. Several restaurant and retail witnesses described thin margins, higher costs for card-not-present transactions, and chargebacks that they said usually favor cardholders and leave merchants absorbing losses and fees. Witnesses from the Cooperative Credit Union Association cautioned that state-level interchange regulation could reduce revenue used for fraud prevention, compliance, and member services, and could lead to higher rates or reduced access. Retail and restaurant representatives countered that fees have risen sharply, that statements are difficult to decipher, and that rewards programs and card-network pricing are subsidized by merchants and ultimately by all consumers. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association and independent operators urged legislation to bar fees on tax and tip portions of transactions and to allow businesses to pass along card fees if they choose, saying this would improve transparency and fairness and help keep small restaurants open. Other testimony came from the National Restaurant Association, which supported interchange reform and said modern point-of-sale systems can already separate tax and tip amounts, and from a payments-industry group that emphasized the broader economic benefits of digital payments and warned against state-by-state rules. Airlines for America opposed changes that could undermine airline credit card rewards programs. Commission members asked detailed questions about fee structures, card types, chargebacks, POS systems, and whether consumers paying cash are also affected. No votes or formal actions were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would ensure the law encompasses all FDA improved epinephrine delivery methods, including current
• traditionally relied on auto-injectors such as EpiPens. including nasal sprays and other emerging delivery methods
• Its immediate use gives patients the greatest chance of survival. survival while seeking additional emergency
• care and how to choose adoption if they do not desire to parent. research shows that one of the greatest

Bills: SB207, SB611, SB920, SB1174, SB1207, SB1325, SB1396, SB1551, SB1619

Keywords: SB 207, Texas Education Code, public school attendance, excused absence, mental health appointment, mental health care, behavioral health, school district, student absenteeism, same-day return, health care professionals, physician certification, religious holy days, court appearance, DFPS, foster care, education policy, student wellness, school mental health, attendance policy

Transcript Highlights:

• you for your many blessings and the... ...to do your bidding in the state's best interests to the greatest
• The Department's lab shall directly administer or contract for methods of... ...methods of sampling,
• The type and frequency of such methods shall be determined by the Department and may be changed based
• trying to leverage some of that strength that we have in our state in order to move cargo in that method

Bills: HB1, HB247, HB1

Keywords: DUI, driving under the influence, ignition interlock, interlock device, driver license suspension, restricted license, motor vehicle, alcohol offense, first offense, repeat offender, blood alcohol concentration, BAC, license revocation, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, ALEA, public safety, traffic safety, chemical dependency, substance abuse, court referral program

Transcript Highlights:

• population-level impacts, meaning the greatest number of fatal and serious crashes averted.
• Research shows that DUI statutes tend to have the greatest impact among those least likely to drink and
• I want to make sure I'm doing the right things in the right order that have the greatest impact.
• I want to make sure I'm doing the right things in the right order that have the greatest impact.
• Current enforcement of cannabis impairment relies on behavioral methods of detecting impairment.

Summary: The joint Senate Public Safety and Transportation hearing focused on DUI, impaired driving, traffic violence, speed management, and how criminal and administrative systems interact. Chairs Jesse Arreguín and Dave Cortese said the hearing was intended to inform upcoming legislation and noted that no bills would be acted on that day. They emphasized the scale of roadway deaths and serious injuries, the need for a holistic Safe System approach, and the importance of hearing from law enforcement, researchers, victims’ advocates, judges, and DMV officials. The first panel reviewed current DUI law and research. Thomas Nozowitz of the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code outlined California’s DUI penalties, including escalating misdemeanor and felony consequences, ignition interlock device requirements, license suspensions, Watson advisories, and homicide-related offenses. Stephanie Doherty of the Office of Traffic Safety described statewide crash trends, the role of alcohol, drugs, speed, and vulnerable road users, and the state’s Safe System and safety corridor efforts. Dr. Julia Griswold of UC Berkeley presented research supporting systemic interventions such as self-explaining roads, safer speed limits, speed safety cameras, ignition interlocks, sobriety checkpoints, and treatment for chronic offenders; she also noted that many DUI fatalities involve first-time offenders and that punitive measures alone have limited effect on high-risk drivers. Members pressed witnesses on ignition interlocks, speed governors, DUI treatment, diversion, and whether current penalties are strong enough. Several senators, including Archuleta and Blakespear, argued for stronger immediate consequences and better use of in-car technology, while witnesses said chronic offenders often need treatment and that some existing programs may be underused or inconsistently effective. The discussion also touched on data gaps, the need to distinguish alcohol- from drug-involved crashes, and the possibility of allowing diversion for some first-time DUI cases while preserving consequences for repeat offenses. The second panel addressed DMV and court processes. DMV Director Steve Gordon said the department handles mandatory, court-ordered, and administrative actions, and that recent process changes have reduced DMV hearing delays from roughly 170 days to under 70 days in many cases. Judge Lisa Rodriguez explained that county-by-county court practices, case filing delays, sentencing timelines, and paper or mixed electronic systems can slow reporting to DMV, especially for misdemeanors and felonies. She said courts are reviewing reporting requirements, training, and case-management coding to improve transmission of DUI orders, while DMV said it is open to simplification and better coordination but is constrained by aging systems and the motor vehicle account’s financial limits. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We must get upstream and follow the data that data of who is at greatest risk, the who is so important
• I'm deeply humbled, not only for. the opportunity to serve my country, the greatest country in the world
• disaggregated data collection so we can identify and address the disparities that put minority veterans at greatest
• Are there any other suicide methods that we've seen, I'll ask the veterans, any other suicide methods

Keywords: veterans, mental health, suicide prevention, Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Grant Program, HOPE Act, BRAVE Act, Every State Counts for Vets Mental Health Act, advocacy, legislation, mental health resources

Summary: The committee meeting focused primarily on the critical issues surrounding veterans' mental health and suicide prevention. Discussions centered on the reauthorization of essential programs aimed at providing non-clinical support services to veterans, particularly the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Senators emphasized the urgent need for adequate mental health resources as the suicide rate among veterans remains alarmingly high. Key testimonies were provided by various advocates and officials, illustrating both successful implementations of these programs and areas needing improvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so fraud methods, and this slide provides some information about the methods the scammers used
• to contact victims and the payment methods they used to extract money from them.
• Okay, so fraud methods, and this slide provides some information about the methods the the scammers used
• In terms of contact methods, In terms of contact methods, social media, text messages, phone calls, and
• They're also very fast transfer methods.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a Friday morning work session on emerging fraud issues with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. Assistant Attorneys General Joshua Steeter and Sean Colgan gave an overview of the division’s work and focused on elder fraud, charity fraud, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in scams. They described statewide and national fraud trends, noting that older adults are especially vulnerable to imposter scams, investment scams, and losses involving bank transfers, cryptocurrency, and gift cards. They also said Washington’s complaint data generally tracks national patterns, while in-person fraud such as deceptive door-to-door sales is also a notable local issue. Committee members asked about underreporting, recovery of stolen funds, and what consumers should do when they suspect a scam. The attorneys said money is often unrecoverable once sent, especially through wire transfers or crypto, and advised people not to click suspicious links and to report scams to the Attorney General’s Consumer Resource Center, the Department of Financial Institutions, or other relevant agencies. They also discussed possible legislative responses, emphasizing that slowing payments, adding warnings, and regulating crypto kiosks or transfer mechanisms may be more effective than trying to keep up with each new scam type. The discussion then shifted to charity fraud. Josh Studor, who leads the Charitable Asset Protection Team, explained common deceptive practices including fake charities, imposter charities, fundraising-first charities, sham PACs, and causewashing. He said charity scams are often underreported because donors may never realize they were misled. He recommended checking the Secretary of State’s charity registry and IRS tax-exempt records, and said there is no fixed legal percentage for how much a charity must spend on programs versus fundraising, though he offered a rough 70/30 rule of thumb. He also highlighted concerns about point-of-sale solicitations and online fundraising platforms, including a recent bankruptcy involving Flip Cause that left charities unpaid. In the final portion, the presenters warned that AI is making fraud harder to detect through deepfakes, voice cloning, fake websites, and AI-generated scam communications. They said AI may also be enabling fake charities and more convincing imposter scams. Members asked about current legal tools, task force work, and whether business or charity registrations should require more human verification. The presenters said the Attorney General’s AI task force is still active, but that current systems may need modernization. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with thanks and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Password a string of characters or other secure method used to enable, or other secure method used to
• Any methods implemented third party. C. Any methods implemented third party. C.
• One, verify through the app store data sharing methods. I the app store data sharing methods.
• A, age verification following methods. A, age verification following methods.
• moments in uh the uh one of the greatest moments in uh the uh one of the greatest moments in uh the

Keywords: 920, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But this is truly my greatest treasure.
• He's the greatest of all; I call him the GOAT. He's the greatest of all time.
• or the person who's wanting to contest it is the one who's not participating, it just gives them a method
• or the person who's wanting to contest it is the one who's not participating, it just gives them a method
• By gosh, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. We need to put it all in perspective.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to be clear that I am not set on pursuing one method to thread this needle.
• I know that... ...set on pursuing one method to thread this needle.
• What about non-electronic methods to solve this issue?
• What about office into electronic methods to solve this problem.
• What about non-electronic methods to solve this issue?

Summary: The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments heard several election-related bills. SB 1175 would require lobbyists to file employment changes, terminations, and amendments directly with the Secretary of State through the Cal-Access replacement system, rather than through their employer or firm, to reduce delays and improve transparency. SB 1357 would protect the privacy of voters who sign a notice of intention to circulate a recall petition by omitting signatures and street addresses from the published notice and adding a disclosure explaining that the notice is not itself a petition. Both bills drew support from the Secretary of State’s office and election officials, with no opposition heard in committee. The committee also heard SB 1369, which would add safeguards to judicial recall efforts by requiring disclosure when signature gatherers are paid and shortening the signature-gathering period for judicial recalls from 160 days to 80 days. Supporters, including judges and trial lawyers, said the measure would protect judicial independence and safety amid what they described as politically motivated recall campaigns; one member raised concerns about treating judges differently from other officials. SB 1414 would create an independent redistricting commission for San Bernardino County, modeled on other California jurisdictions, to draw supervisorial districts through a more transparent process. It had support from good-government groups and only limited concerns from the county, which said it wanted further amendments. The committee then heard SB 970, which would direct the Secretary of State to develop regulations allowing military and overseas voters to return ballots electronically, with the author saying California should modernize as fax service declines and mail service becomes less reliable. County election officials and veterans’ groups supported the bill, while the Secretary of State’s office and voting-security advocates opposed it, arguing that secure electronic ballot return is not currently feasible and could conflict with existing law. SB 1420 would expand voter education and guidance around “sign, scan, and go” voting, which lets voters cast a vote-by-mail ballot in person at a voting site; supporters said it can speed processing and improve voter convenience, while the Secretary of State’s office sought more clarity on double-voting safeguards. SB 1310 would allow limited information from jury questionnaires to be shared with election officials to help identify possible voter-registration issues, but opponents warned it could lead to wrongful purges and harm eligible voters. All bills were voted out of committee, with SB 1175 and SB 1357 receiving unanimous support, SB 1369 and SB 1414 passing on 4-1 votes, and SB 970, SB 1420, and SB 1310 passing unanimously or near-unanimously after absent members were added on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is with liability concerns, and one is with what is the communication method to the guest.
• I'll start with the communication method to the guest.
• Super reasonable communication methods to the guest. The second piece is with regard to liability.
• Communication methods to the guest. The second piece is with regard to liability.
• communication methods to the guest. The second piece is with regard to liability.

Summary: The committee heard several health-related measures. SB 27 by Senator Umberg would revise and expand California’s CARE Court by limiting the expansion to people with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features, clarifying the definition of “clinically stabilized,” and narrowing the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Supporters, including behavioral health officials and family members, said the bill would reduce dismissals and better serve people with severe illness; opponents warned the expansion would strain county staffing and housing resources and could undermine voluntary engagement. The bill passed on a do pass motion to the Committee on Public Safety. SB 503 by Senator Weber Pierson would require AI tools used in health care facilities to be identified, monitored, and mitigated for bias when used in clinical decision-making or resource allocation. The author and supporters from Kaiser Permanente and the California Medical Association said the bill would help prevent discriminatory outcomes and improve trust and safety. The committee discussed the need to clarify developer and deployer responsibilities, and the bill passed as amended to Privacy and Consumer Protection. SB 68 by Senator Menjivar would require restaurants to provide written allergen information for the top nine food allergens, with tiered flexibility for smaller establishments. The bill was supported by patients, families, nurses, and allergy organizations, who described severe reactions and the difficulty of relying on verbal disclosures alone. The California Restaurant Association opposed unless amended, seeking broader use of the national model food code and additional liability language. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 403 by Senator Blakespear, which would remove the sunset from the End of Life Option Act; supporters described the law as a compassionate, well-functioning option for terminally ill patients, while faith-based groups opposed it. The bill passed to Judiciary. Later, SB 41 by Senator Wiener was introduced to rein in pharmacy benefit manager practices that steer patients to mail-order pharmacies and reimburse community pharmacies below cost; community pharmacists and several health organizations testified in support, describing pharmacy closures and patient access problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:52:05.119><c> that</c> created through chemical methods that created through chemical methods
• I just think we got to really be careful about opening another method for folks to gain an addiction
• I just think we got to really be careful about opening another method for folks to gain an addiction
• I just think we got to really be careful about opening another method for folks to gain an addiction
• Let’s protect our young people that they will be the greatest generation of aloha that we have yet to

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture and Food Systems heard testimony and began decision-making on HB 1246, which would establish the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within DCCA to regulate cannabis. Chair Tarnas described the bill as divisive and noted the hearing had received 95 testimonies in support, 135 in opposition, and 11 comments. Members were told the office would be administratively attached to DCCA, and the department emphasized it would not direct day-to-day operations. DCCA also raised concerns about banking access due to federal law, while the Department of Agriculture supported a one-plant, one-agency approach and noted its current authority over cannabis plant importation and movement. Several agencies and advocates supported the bill with cautions or requested amendments. The Department of Health said it appreciated the bill’s public health protections but remained concerned about increased adult-use access, youth mental health, pregnancy-related risks, and effects on developing brains; it requested a 12-month delayed effective date. The Attorney General’s office said legalization should include safeguards, recommended a longer implementation timeline and seed funding, and flagged issues in the bill involving impaired driving, open-container language, and penalties for under-21 possession. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill but objected to new driving and possession offenses, saying existing law already covers impaired driving. Doctors for Drug Policy Reform supported the measure, citing regulation of intoxicating cannabinoids, testing, childproof packaging, and public education as public-health benefits. Opponents focused on youth access, public safety, and the bill’s broader social effects. The Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill over access and diversion concerns, and the City and County of Honolulu Prosecutor strongly opposed legalization, citing higher-potency cannabis, youth harms, psychiatric risks, and increased poison-center calls. The Hawaiʻi Substance Abuse Coalition argued legalization should wait until prevention programs are in place and funded first, while the Hawaiʻi Family Forum and Hawaiian Republican Women also opposed the measure, citing concerns about youth exposure, added bureaucracy, and taxpayer costs. The Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi questioned the purpose of the proposed cannabis taxes, asking why cannabis should be taxed heavily if legalization is intended. The hearing continued with additional testimony after a brief audio issue for one testifier.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so fraud methods, and this slide provides some information about the methods the scammers used
• to contact victims and the payment methods they used to extract money from them.
• methods, which is the top half of the slide, and again, this is all 2024 FTC data.
• Scammers are definitely using that method with older adults much more frequently.
• They're also very fast transfer methods.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a work session on emerging consumer protection issues, focusing on elder fraud, charity fraud, and the impact of artificial intelligence on scams. Assistant Attorneys General from the Consumer Protection Division described the division’s broader enforcement work, including actions on rent stabilization, government imposter scams, service member refunds, senior living facilities, data breaches, and cases involving TikTok and Meta. They said elder fraud is often the same fraud seen in other age groups, but older adults tend to lose more money when victimized, especially in imposter scams and investment scams. The attorneys reviewed FTC data showing rising fraud losses nationwide and in Washington, with social media, bank transfers, cryptocurrency, and gift cards highlighted as especially important channels for losses. Members asked about underreporting, recovery of funds, and what consumers should do when they suspect a scam. The presenters said complaints can be reported to the Attorney General’s Consumer Resource Center and DFI, and that the most effective policy responses would likely target payment methods, especially crypto kiosks and other fast, irreversible transfer systems. They also said the AGO uses enforcement, consumer education, and scam alerts, but that many scams are difficult to pursue because perpetrators are overseas or untraceable. On charity fraud, the Charitable Asset Protection Team described several deceptive practices, including false charities, imposter charities, fundraising-first charities, causewashing, and point-of-sale solicitations. They said charity scams are underreported because donors often do not realize they were misled, and they pointed to concerns about crowdfunding platforms and commercial fundraising processors, including the collapse of Flip Cause and unpaid donations to Washington charities. The presenters recommended modernizing the Charitable Solicitation Act, increasing transparency and disclosure for point-of-sale fundraising, and strengthening public education through the AGO and Secretary of State programs such as Assured Giving and Assured Impact. The presentation closed with a discussion of AI, which the attorneys said is making scams harder to detect through deepfakes, voice cloning, AI-generated messages, and automated scam operations. They said AI can also be used to create fake charities and online ecosystems that appear legitimate, and noted that business and charity registration systems can often be completed without human interaction. No votes were taken; the committee adjourned after questions and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• municipalities, parishes, and other political subdivisions can use FAST Act-compliant procurement methods
• But one of the greatest changes, or the best changes, in the bill, talks about the financials.
• These bills advocate for safer deployment methods and the funding for the implementation of that technology
• that process, and I would have no issue with incorporating what we're doing here into that to the greatest
• Members, before you go grab lunch, one more item: consider the use of the Seymour method for Lafayette

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1157, which would create a Louisiana State Infrastructure Bank to provide another funding mechanism for transportation-related projects, including roads, bridges, rail, ports, airports, and other surface transportation needs. Chairman Borek and DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD said the goal is to leverage state, federal, local, and private dollars, using models from Florida and other states. Members asked about board makeup, staffing, project selection, administrative costs, and how the bank would differ from capital outlay and existing transportation programs. Testimony in support came from business and economic development representatives, including Michael Hecht of Greater New Orleans, Inc., who said infrastructure is critical to major economic projects and that the bank could attract outside capital. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up several local and procurement-related bills. House Bill 860, allowing fillable electronic public bid forms, was reported favorably. House Bill 972, naming a portion of Highway 93 in Lafayette Parish the Desert Shield Desert Storm Memorial Highway, and House Bill 965, naming a portion of Highway 163 the Sergeant William Billy Earl Collins Jr. Memorial Highway, were both reported favorably after brief testimony honoring veterans and law enforcement. House Bill 692, authorizing local governments to enter group purchasing agreements, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 685, allowing use of FAST Act cooperative procurement for public motor vehicles and rolling stock, drew support from transit officials and was reported favorably after a roll call vote, with one member voting no. The committee also advanced House Bill 982, which designates portions of highways in Morehouse Parish in memory of local residents killed in a crash after attending an LSU game; it was reported with amendments. House Bill 506, creating special prestige license plates for local high schools as a fundraiser, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 839, lowering the contract limit for hospital service districts to use construction management at risk from $2 million to $1 million, was reported by substitute after testimony from hospital leadership and industry representatives. House Bill 1072, revising powers and emergency procurement authority for the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, was amended and reported favorably after discussion about its relationship to DOTD and emergency repairs. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 887, which revises construction management at risk procedures, including committee makeup, scoring, and financial qualification requirements; it was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 647, creating timelines and an annual application process for waterway projects under a waterway assistance program and fund, was reported by substitute. The last major item discussed was House Bill 873, which would fund pursuit intervention technology and training for law enforcement through a $2 fee on driver’s licenses. The bill was presented alongside emotional testimony from the widow and daughter of Sergeant Grant Candies and from a St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s captain, all urging safer equipment and better training for officers. Members expressed strong support, and the discussion continued into funding and grant administration details.