Transcript Highlights:

• Some may be the- The sheriff takes care of that in the county.
• Required a fourth person, and now Ms. Swanson's coming in and it would be a fifth person.
• We conduct personal and criminal background checks.
• Care and strain local health care systems.
• I want to share my personal story with you.

Bills: HB240, HB2097, HB2731, HB3087, HB3234, HB3319, HB3394, HB3687, HB4105, HB4205, HB4350, HB4462, HB4642, HB4801, HB5403, HB240

Keywords: quorum, tax levy, county governance, local government, population regulations, quorum requirement, Texas counties, population threshold, deputy sheriff, civil service, law enforcement, appeals process, sheriff's department, HB 2731, roadside vendors, solicitors, county regulation, border counties, Mexico border, Transportation Code

Transcript Highlights:

• We will start the clock as soon as the first person speaks.
• Vice Chair Berghmans will start the timer when the first person starts speaking, both in person and on
• Vice Chair Bergman's will start the timer when the first person starts speaking, both in person and on
• You are the last person on this list. Go ahead.
• You are the last person on this list. Go ahead.

Bills: SB12, SB36, SB92, SB120, SB133, SB151, SB18, SB96

Keywords: tax credit, physician, healthcare, income tax, rural health, quantum technology, infrastructure, economic development, New Mexico, corporate tax, research and development, innovation, affordable housing, gross receipts tax, tax deduction, construction materials, multifamily housing, low income, journalism, local news

Bills: SB 32, SB 464, SB 996, SB 1163, SB 1173, SB 1277, SB 1452, SB 1453, SB 1548, SB 1882, SB 1883, SB 2016

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, fireworks, retail sales, regulation, public safety, holidays, municipal management, continuation elections, districts, debt management, voter approval, charter amendment, home-rule municipality, local government, petition requirements

Bills: SB 32, SB 464, SB 996, SB 1163, SB 1173, SB 1277, SB 1452, SB 1453, SB 1548, SB 1882, SB 1883, SB 2016

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, fireworks, retail sales, regulation, public safety, holidays, municipal management, continuation elections, districts, debt management, voter approval, charter amendment, home-rule municipality, local government, petition requirements

Bills: SB 32, SB 464, SB 996, SB 1163, SB 1173, SB 1277, SB 1452, SB 1453, SB 1548, SB 1882, SB 1883, SB 2016

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, fireworks, retail sales, regulation, public safety, holidays, municipal management, continuation elections, districts, debt management, voter approval, charter amendment, home-rule municipality, local government, petition requirements

Bills: SB 32, SB 464, SB 996, SB 1163, SB 1173, SB 1277, SB 1452, SB 1453, SB 1548, SB 1882, SB 1883, SB 2016

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, fireworks, retail sales, regulation, public safety, holidays, municipal management, continuation elections, districts, debt management, voter approval, charter amendment, home-rule municipality, local government, petition requirements

Bills: SB 32, SB 464, SB 996, SB 1163, SB 1173, SB 1277, SB 1452, SB 1453, SB 1548, SB 1882, SB 1883, SB 2016

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, fireworks, retail sales, regulation, public safety, holidays, municipal management, continuation elections, districts, debt management, voter approval, charter amendment, home-rule municipality, local government, petition requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• I see. that is that to give that foster care that is that to give that foster care placement<00:10:31.760
• </c> prohibition in both uh childc care prohibition in both uh childc care assistance<00:28:36.559><c
• </c> opening up their family to kinship care opening up their family to kinship care or<00:31:26.640>
• care providers.
• The National Family Child Care Association. It's family child care providers.

Bills: HF1918, HF2305, HF897, HF2191, HF2617, HF2551, HF2137

Keywords: HF1918, Department of Children Youth and Families, DCYF, child welfare, foster care, out-of-home placement, permanency planning, relative search, noncustodial parent, kinship care, family preservation, African American Child and Family Well-Being, racial disproportionality, maltreatment reporting, educational neglect, truancy, school attendance, Great Start compensation, child care provider payments, TEACH early childhood program

Bills: HB1805, HB2110, HB2180, HB2184, HB2219, HB2469

Keywords: child welfare, advocacy, oversight, independent office, foster care, child advocate, child safety, nepotism, ethics, government transparency, accountability, legislative standards, electronic voting, legislative transparency, Hawaii House, voting system, appropriation, lawmaker safety, political violence, confidentiality

Summary: The House Committee on Legislative Management heard testimony on several measures. HB 1805, relating to child welfare, drew support from the University of Hawaii and concerns from the Attorney General about the bill’s definition of state agency and possible separation-of-powers and supremacy clause issues. During decision-making, the committee opted to move the child advocate function to the Attorney General’s office, accepted the Attorney General’s suggested scope and jurisdiction amendments, set the salary at 90% of the Department of Health deputy director’s salary, and passed the bill with amendments. HB 2110, relating to nepotism, received support from the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, which said the bill would apply the rule consistently and noted the existing good-cause exception process. The committee later deferred the bill, saying existing House rules on nepotism were already strict and that the proposal would be duplicative in statute. HB 2180, relating to voting boards, had no oral testimony in the room during the hearing, but the committee later amended it into a blank appropriations vehicle for the House of Representatives and passed it with amendments. HB 2184, relating to lawmaker safety, drew concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the bill would require redaction of address information and could create implementation issues, and the Attorney General noted missing language regarding appointed officials and an internal cross-reference issue. The committee adopted amendments to address those concerns and passed the bill with amendments. HB 2219, relating to disclosure of privileged communications to the Ombudsman, was clarified by the Ombudsman’s office as not requiring disclosure of privileged material, only preserving privilege if such material is voluntarily provided; the bill passed with amendments. HB 2469, relating to a regular session review working group, received testimony from the State Procurement Office, the Legislative Reference Bureau, and others in support and opposition, and the committee passed it with amendments after changing references and funding language.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; person. Is it Mr. Fritz? Go ahead. &gt;&gt; person. Is it Mr. Fritz? Go ahead.
• c> who</c><00:42:21.839><c> does</c><00:42:22.079><c> qualify</c> person who does qualify person who
• </c> housing, health care, you know. housing, health care, you know. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Yeah.
• , dental care.
• Prison dental care is horrible. Mental health care is important.

Bills: HB1997, HB2343, HB2566, HB2493

Keywords: students with disabilities, individualized education programs, emergency plans, evacuation procedures, support services, Hawaii education law, HB2343, Maui State Veterans Home, veterans home, veterans, long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, Alzheimer's care, respite care, assimilate, transfer deadline, Act 99, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1997, which would require IEPs for students with disabilities to include individualized emergency accommodations and evacuation supports. The Attorney General’s office supported the intent but recommended amendments to explicitly include students with Section 504 plans and to change references from “department schools” to “public schools” so charter school students are covered. Testimony in support came from disability advocates and several individuals, including Peter Fritz, who said emergency evacuation planning should be made explicit because it is not clearly required by federal law, and Ka Swan, who emphasized student safety during emergencies. No vote or final action was taken on the bill in the transcript. The committee then took up House Bill 2343, relating to the Maui State Veterans Home. The measure would repeal a deadline for transferring the home to a state agency with a Maui affiliation and instead require the transfer to occur as soon as practicable. The Department of Defense, the Office of Veterans Services, HHSC Oahu Region, and several individuals testified in support. Committee members asked whether a more definite deadline should be used, but the department said the open-ended language was preferable because the Maui entity is not yet ready and Oahu is currently providing oversight. No vote or final action was recorded. House Bill 2566, authorizing special license plates for Hawaii Civil Air Patrol members, was also heard. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services testified in opposition, while Johnny Perry testified in support. The committee did not take a vote in the transcript. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2493 on wrongful imprisonment compensation procedures. The Attorney General’s office opposed the bill, arguing it would create an automatic payment mechanism without a sufficient finding of actual innocence, could trigger payments within five days of dismissal, and raised concerns about insufficient time for prosecution review and about funding and appropriation issues. Supporters, including people who said they had been wrongfully convicted and later found actually innocent, argued the bill would reduce delays and help released individuals survive while awaiting compensation. Judiciary staff requested technical amendments and said operational details still needed review. Members questioned the AG about the meaning of “actual innocence,” burden shifting, and whether the bill would better define the standard, but no vote or final action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Primary care is the gatekeeper to health care services.
• Primary care is the gatekeeper to health care services.
• It’s been a long time that they’ve needed more primary care, especially care that accepts all people
• But primary care, again, is the gatekeeper and where all care has to start.
• The primary care, again, is the gatekeeper and where all care has to start. We don't have enough.

Bills: SB21, SB42, SB81, SB101, SB139

Keywords: SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation, senior health coverage, elderly, retiree, Medicare beneficiaries, preexisting conditions, underwriting restrictions, premium discrimination, New Mexico insurance law, superintendent of insurance, health care coverage, policy portability, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows child care operators and at-home child care facilities to provide assistance or to provide
• child care without additional regulations.
• Finally, child care is a revenue generator.
• For every dollar invested in child care, states realize about $2 in local spending because child care
• Which would be utilities and health care.

Bills: HB303, SB96, HM6

Keywords: public utility, certificate of public convenience and necessity, certificate of need, Public Regulation Commission, PRC, utility regulation, ratemaking, energy storage, battery storage, grid reliability, renewable energy, transmission, distribution, generation plant, utility expansion, service territory, mutual domestic water consumer association, economic development department, clean energy, fossil fuel reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you care to clarify how you believe this will add efficiency to resolve Would you care to clarify
• We'll hear from Sean Graham in person.
• We need more primary care doctors and staffing for primary care doctors, which impacts our quality of
• We have to fund our health care systems better, but without ...we have to fund our health care systems
• We'll go to in-person testimony.

Bills: HB2255, HB2320, HB2548

Keywords: litigation finance, legal funding, lawsuit, financial services, access to justice, firearm regulation, manufacturing, safety standards, background checks, license requirements, health care market standards, hospital consolidation, merger review, health care transaction notice, attorney general review, antitrust, provider organizations, hospital systems, contracting affiliation, material change

Summary: The committee held public hearings on three bills. HB 2255 would regulate third-party litigation funding by requiring disclosure of funders and financing agreements, limiting certain funder practices, capping funder recovery at 25% of a monetary award, and creating enforcement remedies. The bill sponsor and supporters from insurance and business groups described it as a transparency and consumer-protection measure that could improve case management and reduce costs, while opponents from the plaintiffs’ bar and litigation finance industry argued it would chill access to justice, create satellite litigation, and unfairly expose plaintiffs’ financing arrangements. No vote was taken; the chair asked testifiers to submit written comments and closed the hearing. The committee then heard HB 2548, which would expand state notice and review requirements for health care market transactions, including broader definitions of material changes, pauses for Attorney General information requests, interagency data-sharing, and revocation of nonprofit designation in certain transactions. Supporters, including patient advocates, nurses, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, and the Attorney General’s office, said the bill would help address consolidation, private equity involvement, and rising health care costs. Hospital and medical association representatives opposed or sought changes, citing drafting problems, undefined terms, concerns about overbreadth, and questions about how nonprofit status would be affected. Staff was asked to follow up on the alleged drafting error and other language concerns. Finally, the committee heard HB 2320, which would tighten restrictions on the manufacture and distribution of 3D-printed and CNC-produced firearms, digital firearm manufacturing code, and devices marketed for firearm production, and would make certain violations per se CPA violations. The sponsor and supporters, including school officials, gun violence survivors, students, researchers, and gun safety advocates, said the bill would close a loophole in existing ghost gun laws and respond to growing use of untraceable firearms. Opponents, including the NRA and a makerspace representative, argued the bill was overbroad, raised First, Second, and Fifth Amendment concerns, and could sweep in lawful 3D printing and CNC activities. The hearing ended with additional testimony in support and opposition; no action or vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• For those of you that may or may not know this, foster care is a passion for me.
• I've sent it to my judges that make the decisions on foster care and that kind of thing.
• Oklahoma, foster care, got adopted at ages two and four.
• If I may, may I take one moment of personal privilege about this topic? Yes, sure.
• And that's my personal statement. Thank you. Thank you, Representative Blancett.

Bills: HB4422, HB4117, HB4300, HB4298, HB2984, HB3344

Keywords: immigration, public assistance, legal status, food assistance, state benefits, family resource center, community support, employment services, kinship families, social connections, child care, criminal history, background checks, child safety, licensing, Oklahoma laws, advisory committees, daycare, licensed child care facility, child care subsidy

Summary: The Children, Youth, and Family Committee met for its first meeting, with the chair emphasizing a shared goal of improving outcomes for children and families and describing the bills before the committee as work in progress. The committee first adopted a working draft and heard House Bill 4422, which would require applicants for welfare benefits to be checked through the SAVE system to verify American citizenship; the speaker said amendments removed earlier child-only and WIC changes. The bill was reported out 7-1. The committee then considered several DHS- and child welfare-related measures. House Bill 4117 would broaden the definition of family resource centers to better reflect Oklahoma organizations and support access to public and private grants, including faith-based and workforce-training efforts; it was reported due pass after discussion about the range of services such centers provide. House Bill 4298 would allow child care facilities to receive rule-change notices electronically instead of only by mail, while preserving mail delivery as an option, and House Bill 4300 would add a fingerprint requirement to child care background checks to align state law with federal Child Care Development Fund requirements; both were reported due pass. House Bill 2984 would direct DHS to seek a waiver limiting SNAP purchases to Oklahoma in order to reduce out-of-state card skimming and fraud; members discussed border-area concerns and possible radius exceptions, but the bill was reported out 6-0. The final major measure was House Bill 3344, a foster care bill intended to improve placement and support for foster children and families. The author said the bill was only a starting point and that he had been working with DHS, judges, and other stakeholders; members raised concerns about a felony penalty in the bill, and the author said that provision would be revised as the bill moved forward. The committee passed the bill 7-0. Several members also used the discussion to stress the need for stronger funding for vulnerable populations and state agencies, especially foster care and mental health services. The meeting ended with plans for further revisions and a follow-up meeting the next Wednesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't care who's supposed to request it. It's law and you have to request it.
• I don't care who's supposed to request it. It's law and you have to request it.
• , skilled nursing, memory care, rehab services, and hospice.
• SB 1522 addresses this issue by updating what constitutes continuing care.
• What a continuing care contract is and what it is not.

Bills: SB500, SB1522, SB1137, SB1266

Keywords: SB 500, Texas adoption law, Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child-placing agency, prospective adoptive parents, adoption records, confidential information, nondisclosure agreement, child history report, health history, social history, educational history, genetic history, termination of parental rights, permanency plan, single source continuum contractor, privacy, redaction

Summary: The Committee on Human Services met with a quorum and first voted out Senate Bill 1589, relating to contract requirements between a single-source continuum contractor and DFPS. The motion to report the bill favorably to the full House with a recommendation that it do pass and be printed prevailed on a 7-0 vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 500, which would set deadlines for providing foster care adoption records, including health, social, educational, and genetic history reports, to speed adoptions. The bill’s author and witnesses from Addie’s Hope Social Services supported it, saying delays in redacted files can take months, slow permanency for children, and increase costs to the state. Members asked about redactions and sibling/family information, and witnesses explained the bill would mainly speed the preliminary file used to decide whether to proceed with placement. SB 500 was left pending. Members also heard Senate Bill 1266, which would require regular reevaluation of the Medicaid provider support team and add written notice of provider disenrollment at least 30 days in advance. There were no witnesses, no questions, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1522, concerning continuing care retirement communities, was then laid out and supported by LeadingAge Texas and counsel, who said it updates outdated definitions, clarifies licensing and disclosure rules, and strengthens consumer protections for seniors. It was also left pending. After a brief recess, the committee heard Senate Bill 1137, which would prohibit group home consultants from referring people to unlicensed or unpermitted group homes except in limited circumstances, require disclosure of complaints, and create a Class B misdemeanor for violations. Members discussed whether consultants are regulated and noted concerns about unlicensed referral practices. The bill was left pending, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• The person involved, the victim, deserves recompense. But I will vote no today, Mr.

Bills: S0014, S0016, S0024, S0208, S0762

Keywords: negligence, settlement, police conduct, municipal liability, personal injury, compensation, injuries, Miami-Dade County, land use, development regulations, local government, application fees, affordable housing, zoning, residential construction, criminal defense, legal representation, death penalty, indigent defense, regional counsel

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 762, which was amended by a strike-all to remove a one-year sunset and delete a reporting requirement to the Legislature. The bill would allow offices of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel to take on certain capital cases from outside their region on an optional basis, with supporters saying it could save money and use existing in-house death penalty expertise. After testimony from Senator Martin and the Second Region’s regional counsel, the committee reported CS/SB 762 favorably. The committee also considered three local claims bills. SB 16, relating to relief for Heriberto A. Sanchez Mayan by the City of St. Petersburg, described severe injuries allegedly caused during an arrest and transport; the claimant’s counsel supported the bill, while President Gaetz spoke against the claims-bill process generally and voted no. The bill passed 9-1 and was reported favorably. SB 14, for Jose Correa against Miami-Dade County, involved injuries from a bus-pedestrian collision and was supported by the claimant and county; it passed 9-1 and was reported favorably. SB 24, for Lourdes and Edward Latour against Miami-Dade County, was an uncontested $500,000 settlement bill and passed unanimously. Finally, the committee took up SB 208 on land use and development regulations. A late-filed strike-all amendment, described as a negotiated compromise, would make development application fees transparent and cost-based, tie them to direct and reasonable indirect review costs, and set subjective compatibility standards for residential projects, with carve-outs for PUDs, master planned communities, and historic districts. Multiple local government, planning, environmental, and business groups appeared in support. The amendment was adopted, and the committee then reported CS/SB 208 favorably on a 10-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• at such a critical moment in time for health care.
• Through the Health Care Authority, Washington also has important tools to address health care cost affordability
• , and primary care.
• the acute care hospital.
• We're facing a health care access and affordability crisis alongside a primary care workforce shortage

Bills: SB5899, SB6292, SB6094, SB6182, SB5947, SJR8206, SB5933, SB6138, SB5823, SB6210, SB5921, SB6226, SB6159, SB5924, SGA9291, SGA9307

Keywords: chiropractic, animal care, veterinary medicine, license endorsement, nonhuman animals, health care, financing, legislative committee, joint committee, policy management, pediatric care, transitional services, healthcare, licensing, children's health, abortion, reproductive health, pregnancy termination, clinic access, abortion access fund

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee began with confirmation hearings for Ryan Moran, nominated to lead the Washington State Health Care Authority, and Dennis Worsham, nominated as Secretary of Health. Both nominees gave extensive opening statements about their backgrounds, priorities, and commitment to improving access, equity, public health, and agency operations amid federal policy changes. Senators asked about Washington’s health care system, social determinants of health, behavioral health, communication and public trust, and how each nominee would respond to federal disruptions such as HR1 and CDC changes. At the close of the hearings, the committee voted to recommend both appointments for confirmation. The committee then moved through executive session on a series of bills. It advanced measures including a chiropractic animal care endorsement bill, a joint legislative-executive health care financing committee bill, a pediatric transitional care facilities bill, an abortion savings program bill, a Washington Health Care Board bill, a constitutional amendment establishing a right to affordable health care, and an overdose mapping information bill. The abortion savings program bill drew the most debate, with several proposed amendments offered by Senator Christian; most were rejected, one amendment was withdrawn, and one amendment clarifying funding for contracted providers was adopted before the bill was sent forward. The committee also approved the gubernatorial appointments of Moran and Worsham in executive session. In the second group of bills, the committee advanced a patient advocate bill, a health plan certification process bill, a psilocybin bill, an audiologist clinical autonomy bill, and a pharmacist prescriptive authority bill. The pharmacist bill prompted comments about access, affordability, rural workforce shortages, and the role pharmacists already play in care delivery. All measures considered in executive session received do-pass recommendations or confirmation recommendations and were reported out of committee, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In child care, and certainly not quality child care, their options are limited to lower quality.
• We need to ensure that we provide the kind of child care that allows us to take care of these children
• associated with delivering quality care.
• Cammie's Home Daycare, a home child care program in South Arlington, was approached by Child Care Aware
• We offer unlimited in-person, private training classes for every person that takes a puppy home from

Bills: HB74, HB175, HB460, HB576, HB2271, HB2294, HB2874, HB3016, HB3133, HB3191, HB3458, HB3929, HB4063, HB4115, HB4394, HB74, HB175

Keywords: Puerto Verde, Port Authority, eminent domain, bonds, tax assessments, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, public welfare, child care, certifications, Texas Rising Star Program, grant program, disability inclusion, family income, affordability, economic impact, state study, cost analysis, government support

Transcript Highlights:

• in the state's child care program.
• So if we're thinking about child care access, we know that there is a big gap for care. with disabilities
• and their access to child care.
• We're the only child care providers who do get state funding to support our families through child care
• , for their child care needs.

Bills: HB74, HB175, HB460, HB576, HB2271, HB2294, HB2874, HB3016, HB3133, HB3191, HB3458, HB3929, HB4063, HB4115, HB4394, HB74, HB175

Keywords: Puerto Verde, Port Authority, eminent domain, bonds, tax assessments, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, public welfare, child care, certifications, Texas Rising Star Program, grant program, disability inclusion, family income, affordability, economic impact, state study, cost analysis, government support

Transcript Highlights:

• This prohibits the public disclosure of a legislator's personal contact information and a voter's affidavit
• legislator's</c> the public disclosure of a legislator's the public disclosure of a legislator's personal
• <c> contact</c><00:03:30.879><c> information</c><00:03:31.360><c> and</c><00:03:31.440><c> a</c> personal
• contact information and a personal contact information and a voter's<00:03:32.000><c> affidavit</c><

Bills: SB2731, SB2830, SB2914, SB3072

Keywords: sentencing, nonviolent offenses, misdemeanor, prison reform, criminal justice, public servant, misconduct, statute of limitations, fraud, abuse of authority, breach of trust, lawmaker safety, political violence, confidentiality, personal information, Hawaii Revised Statutes, theft, mandatory sentencing, felony, prison

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met on a decision-making agenda and considered four Senate bills. SB 2731 would cap misdemeanor jail terms at 364 days and allow people previously sentenced to one year to seek modification; the chair recommended passage with amendments limiting the change to nonviolent offenses, and the measure was adopted with one no vote. SB 2830 would extend the statute of limitations for misconduct-in-office offenses by public servants to allow prosecution during service and for 10 years afterward; members discussed tightening the definition of misconduct in office while leaving the public servant definition unchanged, and it was adopted with amendments. SB 2914, which would prohibit public disclosure of legislators’ personal contact information and certain voter and campaign records, was deferred because the chair believed existing law already covered much of the issue and wanted to see how that law works over time. SB 3072 would require a mandatory 12-month minimum sentence for first-degree theft involving property or services valued over $250,000; the committee recommended passage with amendments clarifying that the sentence could be imposed as a condition of probation or before parole, and it was adopted with the vice chair voting with reservation. The committee then adjourned.