Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, House Bill 2586 qualifies students eligible for the Passport to Careers program as automatically
• income eligible for the Washington College Grant and aligns the Passport to Careers formula for determining
• 2586 also requires the Office of Student Financial Assistance to deposit funds received for the Passport
• amendment also requires the Office of Student Financial Assistance to deposit funds received for the Passport

Summary: At the February 3 meeting of the Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee, members reviewed several bills for possible executive session and noted that House Bill 2538 would be heard later in the session, while no action would be taken that day on House Bills 2422, 2427, and 2589. Staff walked the committee through proposed substitutes and amendments on multiple bills, including HB 2438 (early childhood education degree seekers scholarship), HB 2525 (heritage orchard program at WSU), HB 2586 (Passport to Careers and Washington College Grant alignment), HB 2458 (expanding Washington College Grant eligibility to certain non-degree credential programs), HB 2474 (student consumer protections and tuition recovery for school closures), and HB 2540/2450 relating to EMT recertification timing. Members discussed fiscal impacts, use of the GET account, student aid access, support for trades and vulnerable students, and protections for students when institutions or programs close. The committee adopted a proposed substitute for HB 2438 and reported it out on a 13-4 vote, with supporters emphasizing early childhood workforce shortages and opponents raising concerns about using GET account funds. HB 2525’s proposed substitute and a null-and-void amendment were adopted, and the bill was reported out unanimously. HB 2586 was reported out on a 17-0 vote, with members citing benefits for students experiencing homelessness and foster care. HB 2458’s amendment was adopted and the substitute bill passed out of committee on an 11-6 vote, despite objections about available financial aid funding. For HB 2474, members withdrew several amendments, adopted REN 076 to narrow exemptions for certain private institutions, and then reported the substitute bill out on a narrow 9-8 vote after debate over student protections versus institutional flexibility. The final bill considered, relating to EMT recertification intervals, was reported out of committee by voice vote with 17 ayes. Throughout the meeting, the committee generally advanced the bills with do-pass recommendations, while recording split views on funding sources, student consumer protections, and the scope of aid eligibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• Replacing passports and birth certificates takes time, money, and resources that many Texans simply don't
• mean that low-income voters will be subject to a modern-day poll tax by being forced to pay for a passport
• change their names, as 8 in 10 married women currently do in the United States, would need to get a passport

Keywords: legislation, public policy, testimony, committee meeting, debates

Summary: The committee meeting involved various discussions pertaining to legislative initiatives and public policy concerns. Members engaged in debates around significant topics, highlighting their diverse perspectives. The atmosphere was lively with members presenting arguments for and against certain measures. Testimonies from the public were also a key feature, shedding light on community sentiments related to proposed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• They went home to get their passport. They never ended up returning, is what I was told.
• They went home to get their passport. They never ended up returning, is what I was told.
• They went home to get their passport. They never ended up returning, is what I was told.
• They went home to get their passport. They never ended up returning, is what I was told.
• </c> they went home to get their passport they went home to get their passport they<00:26:41.520><c>

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• passports passports um<00:15:03.440><c> and</c><00:15:03.680><c> it</c> um and it um and it eliminates
• But that does not stop me from producing a passport and you saying, yes, this is who he is.
• </c><00:23:15.720><c> and</c> stop me from producing a passport and stop me from producing a passport
• And in many cases, like I said with a passport or something else, it might not, and that's okay.
• And in many cases, like I said with a passport or something else, it might not, and that's okay.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a passport. You're not supposed to actually carry your passport around, right?
• I have a passport. You're not supposed to actually carry your passport around, right?
• I have a passport. You're not supposed to actually carry your passport around, right?
• I have a passport. You're not supposed to actually carry your passport around, right?

Summary: State legislators and farm leaders held an impromptu discussion focused on the impact of federal immigration enforcement activity, especially ICE presence in Minnesota, on agriculture and rural communities. Speakers argued that agriculture is central to the state’s economy and said fear of raids is causing legal immigrant and guest workers, including H-2A workers, to stay home, disrupting farms, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, and other parts of the food supply chain. They also linked the issue to broader federal uncertainty, including USDA funding freezes and cuts, and said the lack of transparency from federal agencies is making it difficult for state officials and producers to plan. Senator Rob Kupec and Minnesota Farmers Union president Gary Wertish said ICE activity in both the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota is creating fear, trauma, and labor shortages, with reports of workers avoiding work, lunch trips, medical appointments, and school. Wertish said the organization supports comprehensive immigration reform and called for an end to the ICE surge, while also emphasizing the need to respect local law enforcement and the rule of law. Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Andrea Vaubel said immigrants are a critical part of Minnesota’s food and agriculture workforce, warned that labor shortages could raise production costs and food prices, and said the state would not have its current food supply without immigrant workers. In response to questions, speakers said they had anecdotal reports from rural areas such as Pelican Rapids, Willmar, and Detroit Lakes, but that the situation is changing quickly and many incidents may not yet be public. They said the lack of coordination with local law enforcement and the use of masks contribute to fear and confusion. Legislators said they have no direct jurisdiction over ICE operations but see their role as documenting what is happening, communicating with constituents, and avoiding state actions that would worsen the problem. They also said the issue is not purely partisan and may be mobilizing concern across political lines, especially among farmers worried about labor availability for planting and other seasonal work.

Transcript Highlights:

• be demonstrated through presentation of a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or valid passport
• Well, I think it's very clear because it says even a valid passport. So that's pretty clear.
• They could have that, but they could also have a valid passport.
• A valid passport, so I'm comfortable with making sure they have proof of citizenship or the ability to
• So, okay, that would implicate that a citizen in the United States would need to have a passport with

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• As I read the bill, you can't show a passport to say we are a citizen and then what does the licensee
• Unless they’re just checking a box to say they used a passport, but we don’t have any record of that
• to prove that they used a passport, if that makes sense.”
• Whether, you know, you take a photocopy of a passport, the licensee has to maintain those records for
• “Copy of a passport. The licensee has to maintain those records for three years.

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted do pass on House Bill 2423 and House Bill 2473, each passing 13-0. It then moved to public hearing on House Joint Resolution 159, which would modernize the Missouri State Treasurer’s investment authority by allowing investment in high-rated municipal securities and other prudent instruments, subject to voter approval. Representative Thompson and Treasurer Vivek Malik argued the change would update outdated constitutional limits, improve returns, and still preserve safeguards through written investment policies, asset allocation plans, and legislative oversight. Some members questioned the seven-year maturity limit and the meaning of “reasonable and prudent” investments, while supporters said the proposal remained conservative and was intended to expand options without removing oversight. No vote was taken on the resolution in the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2412, a foreign remittance bill sponsored by Representative Keithley. The bill would require money transmitters to verify the lawful immigration status of senders of foreign remittances, keep records for several years, and face penalties for noncompliance. Keithley and Treasurer Malik said the measure was meant to address illegal immigration, create a paper trail for enforcement, and reduce links to cartel activity and money laundering. Opponents from Remitly, the ACLU of Missouri, the Immigrant Justice Collaborative, and the Missouri Money Services Roundtable argued the bill was overbroad, would burden lawful users and businesses, raise privacy and data-security concerns, and could be difficult to implement because the bill did not clearly specify what documents would be required or how verification would work. Members also raised questions about interaction with federal banking laws, the Division of Finance’s role, and the 25% penalty. The hearing on HB 2412 closed without action. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2636, which would protect first-position lien status in certain mortgage modification situations by stating that amendments to a first deed of trust do not change its priority. Representative Owen and banking industry witnesses said the bill would reduce uncertainty and avoid repeated subordination agreements, and no opposition was presented. The committee then heard House Bill 2116, also by Representative Owen, which would limit Missouri’s 529 tax deduction to contributions made to Missouri’s own 529 plan rather than any state plan. Owen and Treasurer Malik said the change would keep tax incentives in-state, strengthen Missouri’s plan, and reduce the flow of deductions to out-of-state programs; members asked about savings, plan performance, and whether families would lose options. The hearing continued with testimony in support, and no vote was taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> older adults may not possess a passport older adults may not possess a passport or<04:13:59.120>
• So this would be a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers.
• So this would be a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers.
• So this would be a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers.
• So this would be a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• section shall not apply where a physical copy of an individual's current driver's license, valid passport
• individual's current driver's license individual's current driver's license valid<00:01:20.280><c> passport
• ><c> VISA</c><00:01:21.040><c> issued</c><00:01:21.360><c> by</c><00:01:21.439><c> the</c> valid passport
• or VISA issued by the valid passport or VISA issued by the federal<00:01:21.880><c> government</c><00

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met on a decision-making agenda and took up a series of bills, mostly accepting committee recommendations with either technical or substantive amendments. HB 472 would allow digitized identification cards to be accepted as valid ID under certain circumstances; the committee amended it to clarify that a physical ID may still be required where state or federal law demands it, and the measure passed. HB 510 on water shortages and emergencies, HB 871 on the effective date of Act 130 relating to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, HB 1120 on the Department of Health’s nuisance-abatement authority, and HB 1162 on motorcycle instruction permits all passed with amendments or technical changes. HB 544 establishing a pet insurance framework, HB 995 extending reporting time for firearm carry license reports, HB 10002 extending the White Correctional Oversight Commission coordinator term, HB 1093 clarifying the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s powers, HB 1291 expanding labeling rules for winged brown coffee to roasted coffee, and HB 1348 on public-land recreation leases and county-resident lotteries also passed, with HB 1348 amended to require a lottery within a year of vacancy and to limit renewal conditions. The committee also discussed HB 76, requiring skateboard users under 16 to wear helmets, and HB 1259, which would change how speed limits can be reduced without an engineering study. One member raised concerns about HB 1259, arguing the language could allow unsafe reductions on state highways; the committee noted a no vote from that member, but the measure still passed. HB 76 initially passed as amended, then the committee briefly revisited it after a member said they had intended to vote no; on revote, the bill was adopted unamended. Throughout the meeting, members generally voiced no objections to the remaining measures, and each bill was reported out with the stated recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the registration and showing a document that is potentially a birth certificate or a current passport
• , not even an expired passport, a current passport, which not that many people in our country or state
• I have a passport, but everyone doesn't have a passport.
• It's elitist because not everyone has a passport or the financial means to get one. Thank you.
• Because not everyone has a passport or the financial means to get one.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of recognitions for interns, staff, and guests. Members also honored retiring Senate staffer Susan Miller and recognized a veteran injured in combat. After routine announcements, the chamber moved to returning messages from the House and began taking up bills and amendments. The Senate concurred in House amendments and passed SB 118 on RV park assessments and SB 572 on ethics for public officers and employees, both by 38-0 votes. It then took up the elections bill, CS/CS/HB 991, which drew extensive debate. Supporters said it would strengthen election integrity by tightening citizenship verification and ID rules; opponents argued it would burden eligible voters, especially students, seniors, disabled voters, and others without the newly required documents. The bill passed 27-12. The chamber also passed the education package SB 182 after adopting a Senate amendment to the House amendment, and approved SB 474 on military affairs, SB 425 on historic cemeteries, HB 929 on local regulation of chickees, and HB 35/SB 1370 on habitual traffic offender designation, all with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The Senate then considered SB 902/ HB 733, the Department of Health package. Members adopted an amendment and amendment-to-amendment that preserved most Senate provisions while modifying or removing several House additions, including some early steps and medical marijuana-related changes, and the bill passed 37-0. The chamber also began work on HB 905, the foreign influence bill, with a strike-all amendment offered to expand restrictions on foreign influence, sister-city agreements, linkage institutes, and related activities, but the debate on that measure was still underway when the transcript ended. Several other returning messages and bills were temporarily postponed, and the Senate recessed briefly before resuming business.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the registration and showing a document that is potentially a birth certificate or a current passport
• , not even an expired passport, a current passport, which not that many people in our country or state
• I have a passport, but everyone doesn't have a passport.
• It's elitist because not everyone has a passport or the financial means to get one. Thank you.
• Because not everyone has a passport or the financial means to get one.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, staff, visitors, and a military veteran. After routine announcements, the chamber took up several House-returned bills and special-order measures, with most motions to concur or refuse to concur adopted without objection. Early actions included unanimous concurrence in House amendments to SB 118 on RV park special assessments and SB 572 on ethics rules for public officers and employees, both passing 38-0. The Senate then debated and passed CS/CS/HB 991 on election integrity by a 27-12 vote after extensive opposition focused on voter registration documentation, student IDs, provisional ballots, and potential disenfranchisement; the sponsor defended the bill as a citizenship-verification and election-security measure. The chamber also passed CS/CS/SB 182, an education package combining several related provisions, by 37-0, and later approved SB 474 on military affairs by 39-0 after a technical amendment restoring certain retirement eligibility positions. The Senate refused to concur in the House amendment to CS/CS/CS/SB 1014 on municipal utility service, and refused to concur in the House strike-all amendment to SB 598 after the House had added composting language to the cremation definition. Several other messages were temporarily postponed. On the special-order calendar, the Senate passed CS/CS/HB 425 on historic cemeteries by 39-0, allowing historic Black cemetery boards to sell surplus property not used for burial to fund maintenance. It also passed HB 929 on chickee regulation by 39-0, limiting local restrictions on chickee construction and setting spacing, fire-safety, and permitting rules. SB 1370 on habitual traffic offender designation was substituted with identical CS/HB 35 and passed 39-0, expanding habitual offender treatment to repeated driving without a valid license. The chamber then returned to CS/CS/CS/SB 902, the Department of Health package, which was substituted with CS/HB 733 and amended to retain the Senate’s medical marijuana location limits, adjust NICU nutrition language, modify the dental student loan repayment program, and require a pediatric trauma center designation for certain specialty children’s hospitals; it passed 37-0. The Senate also moved CS/CS/CS/HB 905 on foreign influence to the special-order calendar and began debate on a strike-all amendment defining foreign terrorist organizations and foreign countries of concern, restricting gifts and business ties, tightening sister-city affiliations, and adding ethics training and reporting requirements, but the transcript ends before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under this bill, if they don't have a passport, and half of Americans don't, they wouldn't be able to
• Did a passport number change? No. That simply isn't accurate.
• </c><01:15:49.679><c> That</c> Did a passport number change? No. That Did a passport number change?
• Are we really going to get a passport.
• Millions of Americans do not have a passport.

Bills: HR283 , HB1491 , HR282 , HR164

Keywords: committee election, House of Representatives, government structure, representation, foreign affairs, disaster relief, tax deadlines, Internal Revenue Code, collection notices, government response, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, Overdraft Lending, Digital Consumer Payment Applications, financial institutions, voting registration, citizenship proof, remote voting, proxy voting, parental rights, legislative process

Transcript Highlights:

• Um we'll let him have his passport.
• ,</c><00:07:54.400><c> they</c> Department um to get my passport, they Department um to get my passport
• So I think let him have his passport.
• </c><00:14:16.959><c> doesn't</c> $2,500, it doesn't the passport doesn't $2,500, it doesn't the passport
• They won't change the passport process unless it was zero.

Committee: Senate Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Um, the first slide shows that there is a tremendous backlog of both matters pending before the
• of these applications and 3.4 million backlog of immigration court cases. those who are applying for
• ><c> million</c><00:30:47.520><c> backlog</c><00:30:48.159><c> of</c><00:30:48.480><c> immigration</c
• > and 3.4 million backlog of immigration and 3.4 million backlog of immigration court<00:30:49.279><c
• Um, in Hawaii alone, as of I believe August, data showed that there was a backlog in our own Honolulu

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the impact and legality of federal immigration enforcement efforts in Hawaii, with Chair Carl Rhodes framing it as the sixth and final interim briefing in a series on the rule of law and local effects of federal actions. He said the discussion would focus on due process concerns, questioning and detention of citizens and lawful immigrants, free speech issues, and pressure on state and local law enforcement, and noted the issues may be revisited in the 2026 regular session. There was no public testimony or committee vote; only invited speakers presented. Dr. Amy Agayani opened by arguing that immigrants are integral to Hawaii’s history, economy, and communities, and contrasted that with what she described as harmful narratives portraying immigrants as criminals. She cited figures that one in five Hawaii residents is foreign-born, that immigrants make up about 20% of the labor force and over 27% of entrepreneurs, and that roughly 40,000 people in Hawaii are undocumented, many of whom may have pathways to legal status but face language, information, and court barriers. She also said federal enforcement has expanded beyond undocumented immigrants to include citizens and lawful residents, and warned that attacks on birthright citizenship and visa categories could affect many families. Matina Mock of the legal clinic emphasized the complexity of immigration law and the severe lack of legal representation, noting a nationwide backlog of 11.3 million immigration-related applications and 3.4 million court cases, plus about 1,400 pending immigration cases in Honolulu with only two immigration judges. She said Hawaii has only six or seven nonprofit immigration legal service providers, and that represented clients are far more likely to obtain relief. Mock described a recent case involving a lawful student visa holder who was transferred among multiple federal facilities before being brought to Honolulu without clear notice, which she said illustrated due process violations. She also said ICE activity in Hawaii has sharply increased, with about 150 arrests from January to July 2025, a 380% increase over the same period in 2024, and that many detainees have no criminal record. Stephanie Haro Sevilla and another clinic fellow described 2025 enforcement as a major shift driven by a January executive order, the end of prior limits on arrests in sensitive locations, and arrest quotas they said require 3,000 arrests per day nationwide. They said this has led to arrests without warrants or probable cause, broader targeting of people with minor offenses or no criminal history, and the use of resources from other federal agencies and local law enforcement for civilian immigration enforcement. They also said the federal detention center in Honolulu is holding roughly 40 to 80 civilian detainees on any given day, often in conditions they characterized as prison-like, and warned that the current escalation could eventually affect lawful permanent residents and naturalized citizens. The speakers urged the public to support immigrant-rights advocates and local protective policies and funding measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• They call it a passport.
• You can see the number of backlog permits is steadily going down for Minnesota.
• . backlogs. backlogs.
• </c> You can see uh the the number of backlog You can see uh the the number of backlog permits<01:21:
• Um we've time working on our backlogs.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the registration and showing a document that is potentially a birth certificate or a current passport
• , not even an expired passport, a current passport, which not that many people in our country or state
• I have a passport, but everyone doesn't have a passport.
• It's elitist because not everyone has a passport or the financial means to get one. Thank you.
• Because not everyone has a passport or the financial means to get one.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of recognitions for interns, staff, and guests. Members also honored a retiring Senate staffer and a wounded veteran, then moved into returning House messages and special order bills. Several measures were taken up and either concurred in or sent back to the House, with multiple unanimous or near-unanimous votes on noncontroversial bills. Among the bills addressed were SB 118 on recreational vehicle park assessments, SB 572 on ethics for public officers and employees, and HB 991 on election integrity. SB 118 and SB 572 were amended to reflect House changes and passed 38-0. HB 991 drew extensive debate over voter registration and identification requirements, with opponents arguing it would burden students, seniors, disabled voters, and others, while supporters said it would strengthen election security and streamline verification; it passed 27-12. The chamber also approved bills on historic cemeteries, chickee regulation, habitual traffic offender designation, military affairs, and a Department of Health package. The Department of Health bill (SB 902/HB 733) was the subject of detailed amendment work, including changes to medical marijuana rules, NICU educational materials, Early Steps, dental loan repayment, and pediatric trauma center designation. The Senate adopted an amendment to the amendment and then passed the bill 37-0. Other measures included a funeral services bill, which the Senate refused to concur in because the House strike-all would redefine cremation to include composting, and a veterans-related bill that was temporarily postponed. The Senate also recessed briefly, then returned to continue the calendar and additional recognitions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the registration and showing a document that is potentially a birth certificate or a current passport
• , not even an expired passport, a current passport, which not that many people in our country or state
• I have a passport, but everyone doesn't have a passport.
• It's elitist because not everyone has a passport or the financial means to get one. Thank you.
• Because not everyone has a passport or the financial means to get one.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is just a notification process and a requirement of a driver's license or a passport, is that the
• Driver's license, passport is gone.
• Driver's license, passport is gone.

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including Veteran of the Week First Sergeant Jeff Osterdock, Nurse of the Day Madison Lehman, Psychologist of the Day Dr. Jennifer Steber, and a large group of student pages and visitors. Members also made personal announcements and welcomed guests from schools and community groups. On the floor, the House considered and adopted Senate amendments to House Bill 1484, a schools measure, and passed it 96-1; the emergency clause also passed 96-1. The House then took up House Bill 1085 on contracts, which would standardize service warranty fees with a delayed phase-in schedule, adopted the Senate amendments, and passed the bill 8-1. The House also considered Senate Bill 133 on groundwater permits. After an amendment and debate, members discussed how the bill would apply to commercial water wells and how it would interact with marijuana-related licensing and notification to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. The bill passed 85-12, and the emergency clause also passed by the same vote. The chamber then adjourned until February 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because, as you know, the passport program that is in statute through the Department of Motor Vehicles
• if you have your car, your truck, and your boat with you, but your truck tow vehicle has the $10 passport
• have your car your truck and your boat with you but your your your truck tow vehicle has the $10 passport
• that's a you, but your truck tow vehicle has the $10 passport.
• in, they'll buy a day-use fee, then they'll figure out, hey, it's a better deal to go buy the $10 passport

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I am proud to carry this license along with my passport in my purse every day.
• </c><00:30:14.160><c> my</c><00:30:14.760><c> purse</c><00:30:15.120><c> every</c> along with my passport
• in my purse every along with my passport in my purse every day. day. day.
• After her dad grab her passport and citizen and take it to uh detention center say, "Here is her citizen
• After her dad grab her passport and citizen and take it to uh detention center say, "Here is her citizen

Committee: House Legacy Finance