Transcript Highlights:

• It includes foreign governments, foreign corporations, foreign organizations, non-citizens, and their
• </c> property to foreign adversaries. property to foreign adversaries.
• , foreign corporations, governments, foreign corporations, foreign<00:12:41.040><c> organizations,</c
• foreign source.
• </c> aware of of foreign influence. aware of of foreign influence.

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:55.040><c> initiative</c> artificial intelligence initiative artificial intelligence initiative
• We have cybersecurity and intelligence, so absolutely the answer is yes to that.
• </c><00:15:47.639><c> so</c> cyber security and intelligence so cyber security and intelligence so absolutely
• Intelligence studies in the Asia-Pacific. We stand on our written testimony.
• </c> Professor practice in intelligence Professor practice in intelligence studies<01:19:31.400><c> so

Summary: The hearing covered Senate Bill 426, which would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the City and County of Honolulu, the Department of Human Services, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education, the Attorney General’s office, the Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, the University of Hawaiʻi’s early childhood educator project, and a Zoom testifier who described the importance of investing in high-quality early childhood education. Committee discussion focused on the program’s estimated cost, with figures of about $14.5 million in 2025-26 and $15 million in 2026-27, and on whether the program would require ongoing base-budget funding. The committee recommended technical, non-substantive amendments, including a statewide-concern amendment and a deferred effective date, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1622, which would appropriate funds to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute within the University of Hawaiʻi to support statewide artificial intelligence initiatives. University representatives described the proposal as the product of campus-wide input and outlined five pillars: governance and policy, outreach and engagement, research and development, workforce development, and AI tools for key sectors such as health care, creative industries, manufacturing, data science, astronomy, and climate change. Members questioned staffing distribution, tuition, enrollment timing, housing, campus placement, and whether positions would be permanent or temporary; the university said it planned about 10 positions across campuses, would start with internal resources, and would house the effort under the Vice President for Research and Innovation initially. The committees recommended an SD1 with the appropriation amounts blanked out, a July 31, 2050 effective date, and committee-report language on housing and West Oʻahu, and the higher education and labor/technology committees adopted the amended recommendation. Finally, the Higher Education Committee took up Senate Bill 1488, a housekeeping measure to consolidate existing University of Hawaiʻi conference center statutes into a single revolving fund structure, and Senate Bill 636, which would fund retention and internship coordinator positions and broader enrollment management efforts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. SB 1488 drew university support and no opposition. SB 636 prompted substantial questioning about Hilo’s declining enrollment, current retention rate of 72.8 percent, and the scope of the request, which includes not only two named positions but also about $432,000 for enrollment management initiatives such as data analysis, IT support, and other student services. Hilo said it is targeting 3 to 5 percent annual enrollment growth and that the positions would support recruitment, retention, internships, and data-driven enrollment strategy. The committee pressed for a clearer broader plan, but the discussion in the transcript ended before a final vote on SB 636 was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• From hostile foreign adversaries, yes, sir.
• These groups are spying on Americans; they're spying on foreign students.
• those hostile foreign governments.
• This is about receiving funding from one of these hostile foreign governments.
• governments. ...of these hostile foreign governments.

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• The disclosure needs to be that there is a foreign entity; this is the foreign entity.
• They're required to disclose if there is a foreign entity and which those foreign entities might be—whom
• That's the end of that when it does not involve a foreign entity.
• Foreign funders must be disclosed, and no foreign adversaries to this state or this nation are permitted
• who those foreign actors are.

Bills: S0144 , S0192 , S0332 , S0532 , S0620 , S0694 , S0820 , S0888 , S1000 , S1224 , S1396 , S1500

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and first postponed SB 532. It then heard and approved SB 620, which requires candidates for federal, state, county, district, judicial, and school board office to disclose any citizenship other than U.S. citizenship. The bill drew one waiver in opposition from Common Cause and passed 8-0. The committee also heard SB 1396 on litigation financing consumer protection. Supporters said it would add transparency, limit funder control over litigation, and require disclosure of foreign entities involved in funding; opponents argued it would create strategic advantages for defendants and could burden plaintiffs. The bill passed 7-2. The committee later approved SB 192, repealing a $1,500 cap on patient funds held in trust by chiropractic physicians, and SB 888, extending limits on indemnity and insurance requirements for design professionals in private contracts; both passed unanimously among those voting. The committee also approved several Judiciary-related measures. CS/SB 332, as amended, creates a narrow temporary public meetings/public records exemption for certain pre-suit Burt Harris litigation strategy discussions by local governments, and passed 7-0. SB 820, which strengthens quarterly reporting requirements for problem-solving courts, passed 10-0. SB 1500, implementing probate process recommendations to raise small-estate thresholds, clarify access to safe deposit boxes, and improve enforcement in uncontested probate, also passed 10-0. SB 144, creating a public records exemption for personal information of current and former Judicial Qualifications Commission employees and their families due to harassment concerns, passed 9-1. The committee then approved CS/SB 1224, as amended, making it a third-degree felony to fraudulently obtain possession of a rental unit through false written statements, counterfeit documents, or impersonation; the bill passed 10-0. SB 1000, setting a floor and ceiling for interest rates on law firm trust accounts tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate, passed 10-0 after testimony from banking and credit union representatives and support from Senate leadership. Finally, CS/SB 694, providing compensation to the descendants of the Groveland Four, was heard with emotional testimony from family members and advocates describing the wrongful convictions, killings, and decades-long effort for redress; an amendment specified equal shares for the four families, and the bill passed 10-0. Several members requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on specific bills before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The last one I want to mention and that LBB mentioned is the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center.
• You all have provided funds to us. to pass through to the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center in Tyler
• And since you the last thing you talked about was this financial crimes intelligence center and it seems

Transcript Highlights:

• One avenue is certainly foreign medical graduates, which we have relied on in the past and they make
• My 30-plus years at 20 Streets of Medical Center in Leitchfield, I had several foreign graduates did
• One avenue is certainly foreign medical graduates, which we have relied on in the past and they make
• My 30-plus years at 20 Streets of Medical Center in Leitchfield, I had several foreign graduates did
• "You know, every foreign medical graduate has to go through the same pathway to get here.

Committee: House Health Services

Transcript Highlights:

• An act relating to foreign national participation in Washington state elections, amending RCW.
• Effective and didn't really do anything to prevent foreign influence of our elections. And Mr.
• Speaker, let you and I be clear, we don't want foreign influence in our elections.
• Speaker, let you and I be clear, we don't want foreign influence in our elections.
• It's true: most of the reports about rampant foreign influence in our elections were hoaxes.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard a prayer before moving through introductions, caucuses, and messages from the Senate. Several bills were taken up under third reading, with the chamber suspending rules to advance them to final passage. The day also included recognition of Colville Tribal Business Council members and the adoption of prior minutes without objection. Members approved House Bill 1269, which raises pawnbroker interest rates and fees, with supporters arguing the changes are modest and needed to help small businesses serve unbanked customers; it passed 83-14. Substitute House Bill 2123, dealing with foreign national participation in Washington elections, passed 68-29 after debate over whether the bill appropriately reduces burdens on candidate campaigns while preserving restrictions for initiative campaigns. Substitute House Bill 2178, a technical court-rules bill aligning statutes with court procedures, passed 89-8, and House Bill 2120, which reduces or eliminates certain JLARC reports to free staff time for higher-value audits, passed unanimously 97-0. The House also passed House Bill 2309, eliminating postgraduate degree requirements for some state jobs to reduce barriers to state employment, by a 97-0 vote. Substitute House Bill 2158, authorizing electronic remote notarization of physical documents, passed 96-0 with bipartisan support focused on access in rural areas. Substitute House Bill 2411, expanding shared leave eligibility to include employees affected by hate crimes or immigration enforcement actions, passed 60-36 amid concerns about cost and scope. House Joint Memorial 4004, a nonbinding request to Congress related to tribal management of sea lions to protect salmon, passed 80-16, and Substitute House Joint Memorial 4001, honoring Russell Blount by naming the East 34th Street overpass over I-5, passed 96-0. The House then adjourned until the following Friday morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now artificial intelligence and tech advancements allow them to not only track worker movements, but
• Now artificial intelligence and tech advancements allow them to not only track worker movements, but
• the committee is going to hear this year in the realm of workplace surveillance and artificial intelligence
• Artificial intelligence systems sold to employers are no longer just simple chatbots or search engines
• You know, in the coming decades, we're going to have to grapple with artificial intelligence and the

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• want to just say AI therapy is not therapy, because therapy happens between people and artificial intelligence
• And artificial intelligence isn't intelligent. In the words of Dr.
• There's no intelligence behind it.
• providing mental or behavioral health services while preserving appropriate use of artificial intelligence
• We understand and appreciate the bill's objective to address the use of artificial intelligence and therapeutic

Bills: HB2564 , HB2599 , HB1809 , HB2242 , HB2261 , HB2384 , HB2505

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, certification, state regulation, health plan, therapy, psychotherapy, mental health, regulation, professional standards, behavioral health, mental health crisis, crisis response, co-response, co-responder, first responder, EMS, emergency medical services, paramedic, EMT

Transcript Highlights:

• Using foreign... I'm sorry. Which was that? Using a foreign national license? Uh-huh. Yes.
• Yes, foreign... presently issue foreign driver's licenses? Correct.
• Over the years, we've been challenged, but I've never heard of this issue of a foreign ID or foreign
• I'm a foreign national and I got to use this ID.
• Not just because it's attached to a certain, you know, foreign group to a certain, you know, foreign

Transcript Highlights:

• We also want to have a conversation to invite intelligent conversations into retail access at the local
• The strategy that we've adopted is an intelligence-led program.
• Intelligence-led policing is not a new concept, but it is probably one of the most effective means of
• We're working on initiatives that build our ability to gather information and intelligence on what the
• Crime and intelligence analysts do open-source intelligence gathering.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on State Administration heard several CalVet budget updates first. CalVet reported progress on the Southern California Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon, explaining that DGS is revising the earlier feasibility study to reflect a smaller footprint and lower grading costs, with updated numbers expected by the end of April. Members and public commenters emphasized the project’s importance and asked whether additional budget authority or trailer bill language was needed; CalVet said it may need more spending authority but wanted to return after the revised study is complete. The committee also reviewed the Yountville skilled nursing facility replacement project, where CalVet said construction is nearing completion, a certificate of occupancy was received, and the new 240-bed facility will replace Holderman Hospital while older buildings will be repurposed for lower levels of care. CalVet also defended eliminating about 178 vacant positions at Yountville and West Los Angeles as a fiscal and staffing efficiency measure, saying current care levels can still be met and that retention and hiring efforts are improving. The committee then took up the Department of Cannabis Control’s enforcement and legal affairs proposal. DCC described the size of the illicit cannabis market, said enforcement alone cannot solve the problem, and asked for additional sworn staff, a new Redding-area field office, and more analysts to focus on distribution networks, organized crime, environmental harms, and high-priority public safety cases. Finance supported the proposal as a targeted investment, while the LAO had no additional comment. Members asked about funding impacts and local co-location options, and DCC said the request would be funded from cannabis excise tax revenues and could help shift sales into the legal market. Public testimony from the cannabis industry strongly supported more enforcement against illicit retail and said it would help legal operators compete. DCC also presented its hemp enforcement and regulation proposal tied to AB 8. The department said the law closes loopholes around intoxicating hemp products, strengthens enforcement across agencies, and prepares for hemp to enter the cannabis regulatory framework in 2028. DCC requested staff for a civil enforcement unit, field-testing equipment, lab capacity to detect synthetic cannabinoids, a track-and-trace specialist, and a policy specialist. Members asked about enforcement in informal retail settings and consumer confusion, and DCC said the biggest problems have been smoke shops and online sales. Public commenters from the legal cannabis industry supported the proposal, saying intoxicating hemp has harmed the regulated market and created public safety risks. The Cannabis Control Appeals Panel then requested ongoing funding of $3.4 million to support 12 positions and its quasi-judicial appeals function. The panel said that with provisional licenses largely phased out, more annual licensees now have appeal rights and the workload is beginning to increase, with two cases currently on the docket. The LAO recommended limiting funding to three years and requiring a workload and comparative analysis before making the funding permanent, while Finance supported ongoing funding as consistent with the panel’s permanent statutory role. Members questioned the panel’s compensation and workload, noting that the five-member body is paid at a high statutory rate despite historically meeting only quarterly, though panel staff said the work now includes substantial case preparation and monthly hearings. Finally, the Department of Consumer Affairs introduced two proposals: $2 million ongoing for the Contractors State License Board’s IT needs and $251,000 plus one limited-term position for the Board of Pharmacy to implement Proposition 34-related licensing policy and reduce barriers to licensure.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:26:49.080><c> adversary</c> there this is a uh foreign adversary there this is a uh foreign adversary
• adversaries will come in and say foreign adversaries will come in and say just<00:29:20.360><c> for<
• He said he has never understood why a foreign entity can come into the country and buy ag land, that
• He said he has never understood why we allow a foreign entity to come into our country and buy our ag
• </c> allowed to loan money to these foreign allowed to loan money to these foreign adversaries<00:37:

Summary: The House Agriculture Committee first spent much of the meeting recognizing the large number of 4-H and FFA students and guests in attendance, with members from several counties introducing their groups and praising the programs for developing future agricultural and civic leaders. Comments emphasized the value of youth involvement in agriculture, leadership, and public speaking, and several members noted their own 4-H or FFA backgrounds. The committee then took up House Bill 356, and adopted a committee substitute before hearing testimony on the revised measure. House Bill 356, sponsored by Representative Carney, would create the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative, expanding the original urban farming concept into broader agricultural education, agribusiness, advocacy, and work-ready skills. The substitute removed the requirement that participants have access to farmland, lowered the age floor from six to five, broadened participation, and established a pilot program with implementation left to Cooperative Extension. Supportive testimony came from a 4-H student and Kentucky 4-H representatives, who described how the program helps youth explore many interests and removes barriers for urban students. Members from both parties praised the bill as a way to reach more youth and strengthen agricultural education. The committee approved House Bill 356 as amended by the committee substitute on a roll call vote, with all members present voting yes. The committee then heard House Bill 315 from Representative Sharp, a foreign adversary land bill intended to limit certain foreign entities’ ability to purchase Kentucky land. Before member questions, Tim Shank of the Kentucky Bankers Association testified in opposition to one section of the bill, saying banks already screen borrowers through federal systems and that Section 8’s reference to an Attorney General lien for “actual costs” was too vague. He warned the language could create uncertainty for mortgage holders and potentially affect credit availability for farmers. Representative Sharp said he had just learned of the concern and may need to work with the Attorney General’s office to address it. He also said the bill was largely the same as last year’s version, except for the removal of a leasing-related paragraph, and the committee began discussion of the bill after that testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have seen an explosion in artificial intelligence development in recent years.
• Is the definition of artificial intelligence in this? Is that expansive?
• I just want to make sure that there's not a bunch of different definitions of artificial intelligence
• Is the definition of artificial intelligence in this? Is that expansive?
• I think this will be the first instance of defining artificial intelligence in statute.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• These suits seek to impose foreign political agendas on Texas, and that's certainly something we don't
• what it takes to be a distinguished attorney and what is involved in going to law school, the intelligence
• of what takes to be a distinguished attorney and what is involved in going to law school, the intelligence
• As artificial intelligence grows, it causes me great concern about how that would be handled.
• I endured blows, bites, attacks with foreign objects, guns to my head and inside my mouth.

Bills: HB2242 , HB2446 , HB2799 , HB4502 , HB2920 , HB2790 , HB5620 , HB5060 , HB5076 , HB5080 , HB5081 , HB5128 , HB5130 , HB3847 , HB5116 , HB2969 , HB4546 , HB4202 , HB5624 , HB3964 , HB4803 , HB872 , HB4775 , HB4777 , HB4961 , HB5570 , HB2988 , HB4260 , HB1375 , HB5009 , HB5411 , HB5134 , HB4388 , HB3095 , HB1387

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills affecting civil practice, judicial conduct, and attorney regulation. HB 4961 and the similar HB 3095 would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages after a collision, with HB 3095 also addressing certain exceptions and limiting economic damages in some cases. Supporters said the measures would encourage insurance coverage and fairness for insured drivers, while opponents argued they would unfairly punish injured people who were not responsible for the lack of insurance, including pedestrians, passengers, children, and others. HB 3095 drew constitutional concerns from witnesses, and the committee later withdrew the committee substitute and left the bill pending; HB 4961 was also left pending after questions about its scope, including passengers. HB 5570 would expand a continuing legal education exemption to attorneys appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate who serve on boards or commissions. The author and witness said the bill would free up time for public service while still requiring ethics training. A committee member raised a discrepancy in the number of attorneys covered, and the bill was left pending. HB 2969 would prohibit the State Bar from adopting rules or penalties that unreasonably burden attorneys’ religious exercise or free speech, especially in relation to sincerely held religious beliefs. Supporters framed it as a protection for lawyers of faith against an ABA-style speech code, while no one testified in opposition; the bill was left pending. HB 4260 would prohibit county judges and county commissioners from practicing law in courts over which they have jurisdiction. The author described it as an ethics measure to avoid conflicts of interest, but county officials and the County Judges and Commissioners Association opposed it, saying existing ethics rules already address conflicts and that the bill would impose hardships, especially in rural counties. The bill was left pending. HB 4388 would require all judges, including those who serve only in administrative roles, to remain subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct; supporters said some judges avoid discipline by relinquishing judicial functions, while opponents said the bill was unnecessary and could burden county judges who serve as administrators. It was also left pending. The committee also heard HB 5134, which would limit Rule 202 pre-suit depositions to people who have suffered or reasonably expect to suffer actual damages and allow attorney’s fees against abusive petitioners. The author said the bill would curb harassment and fishing expeditions, but members questioned how the standard would work in practice; the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 3964 would narrow common-law public nuisance claims by barring suits over lawful conduct, conduct already addressed by other remedies, and products, while preserving other causes of action. Supporters said the bill would prevent regulation through litigation and protect legislative authority; opponents said it would eliminate important remedies and that no Texas abuse had been shown. The author indicated he would revise the bill, and it was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• challenges that exist with copyright and protecting the creative works in this age of artificial intelligence
• And on the other, we want to make sure that artificial intelligence in that industry continues to thrive
• Ross Intelligence case is now pending before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
• I think we'll know more after the appellate decision in the Ross Intelligence case, which is now before
• I'm a senior research scholar at Stanford's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee and Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing at Stanford on the intersection of artificial intelligence, copyright, transparency, and California’s creative economy. Chairs and members emphasized that the hearing was not on a specific bill and no vote would be taken. Opening remarks framed the issue as balancing protection for artists and other rights holders with the need to keep AI innovation and related economic activity thriving in California, while noting that federal action is unlikely and that state policy may influence national standards. The first panel featured Professor Pamela Samuelson and Stanford researcher Rishi Bommasani. Samuelson reviewed the current copyright litigation landscape, including dozens of lawsuits over AI training, and explained the fair use framework, the Google Books precedent, and the uncertainty around newer theories such as market dilution. She said states can likely regulate transparency, deepfakes, privacy, and safety, but warned that some proposals may be preempted by federal copyright law. Bommasani described widespread opacity around training data among major California AI companies, discussed AB 2013 and the EU AI Act as transparency models, and identified gaps in disclosure design, enforcement, and whether transparency alone can address copyright and IP concerns. Members asked about open-source models, opt-outs, machine unlearning, user data, and state options for protecting creators. The second panel included SAG-AFTRA board member Jason George, Animation Guild president Danny Lynn, and OpenAI copyright counsel Mark Gray. George and Lynn argued that AI training on performers’ and artists’ work without consent or compensation threatens jobs, bargaining power, and reputations, and they supported stronger transparency and licensing requirements so creators can identify when their work is used. Gray said AI is already being used as a productivity tool and highlighted partnerships between AI companies and publishers, record labels, and studios, while arguing that specific harmful uses such as deepfakes should be regulated directly rather than restricting general-purpose AI development. Committee members discussed labeling and watermarking of AI-generated content, transparency around model use, and whether state law should require more detailed disclosure of training data; no formal action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool to fight fraud, but it requires both strategies for maximum
• The proposal is for a pilot to use artificial intelligence to flag anomalies for Medicaid providers through
• build this capability across executive branch programs with recent advancements in artificial intelligence
• build this capability across executive branch programs with recent advancements in artificial intelligence
• capability that can be leveraged broadly across the executive branch as it relates to artificial intelligence

Transcript Highlights:

• This session, there has been a lot of bills focused on artificial intelligence and the impact that that's
• We know that artificial intelligence is increasingly being utilized in public sector workplaces, often
• This session, there has been a lot of bills focused on artificial intelligence and the impact that that's
• We know that artificial intelligence is increasingly being utilized in public sector workplaces, often
• Essentially, obviously artificial intelligence is changing our lives. It is a positive thing.

Committee: House Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, foreign national is an individual Well, foreign national is an individual Well, foreign national
• were defined as a foreign national? were defined as a foreign national?
• the bank if it's written on a foreign the bank if it's written on a foreign from a foreign bank cuz
• So you're you're not out soliciting foreign national soliciting foreign national soliciting foreign national
• But when I look at uh foreign national when I look at uh foreign national when I look at uh foreign national

Transcript Highlights:

• Artificial intelligence rapidly Technological Displacement Act.
• Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming our economy and workplaces.
• It also provides California with critical information about how artificial intelligence and automation
• Today, artificial intelligence tools threaten a dehumanization of the economy, hitting large swaths of
• If they're positions that you just stop hiring for because artificial intelligence is taking its place

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:55.200><c> speed</c> that I learned about intelligent speed that I learned about intelligent
• Intelligent speed assist is a no-nonsense effective solution. Please support House File 3429.
• ><c> a</c><00:32:28.640><c> nononsense</c> Intelligent speed assist is a nononsense Intelligent speed
• </c> Speeders bill and require intelligent Speeders bill and require intelligent speed<00:37:40.000><
• Um, intelligent speed great danger.

Bills: HF3429 , HF3418 , HF3431 , HF1597

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: intelligent speed assistance, transportation, speeding offenses, public safety, license restrictions, speed control, pedestrian safety, traffic safety, roadway improvements, nonmotorized transportation, crosswalks, sidewalks, bike lanes, complete streets, Vision Zero, Toward Zero Deaths, MnDOT, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, local road authority