Transcript Highlights:

• Marine combat. And that's very disheartening and heartbreaking to me.
• My son, my oldest grandson, is also a United States Marine.
• He served in Afghanistan, and what he tells me all the time is, what you already know: once a Marine,
• always a Marine.
• He's not in here right now, but I'm also a combat Marine veteran.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Greg Murphy, nephew; Teresa Miller, niece; Marine Kennedy, niece; Patrick Kennedy, grandnephew; and other
• Miller Krueger, great-great-grandniece; Reese Kroger, great-grandniece; Grant Kennedy, spouse of Marine
• Thank you for being here. niece, Marine Kennedy, niece, Marine Kennedy, niece.<00:00:49.760><c> Patrick
• Grant Kennedy, spouse of Marine niece.
• Grant Kennedy, spouse of Marine Kennedy,<00:01:36.479><c> and</c><00:01:36.799><c> Ash</c><00:01:37.360

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Marines taking care of Marines as we do. You may—we can. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care met without an initial quorum and heard four Senate bills focused on older adults and people with disabilities. SB 837 by Senator Reyes would require Aging and Disability Resource Connection programs to provide disaster and emergency preparedness education tailored to older adults and people with disabilities. Supporters, including the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers and the California Commission on Aging, cited recent wildfire deaths and the need for better evacuation planning and preparedness. The bill passed on a due pass motion and was re-referred to the Committee on Emergency Management. SB 971 by Senator Choi would create a Healthy Aging Community Partnerships Program to encourage voluntary local partnerships, including with community colleges and other entities, to support social connection, technology help, caregiver resources, and other healthy aging activities. Supporters said it would promote independence and prevent isolation at no mandated cost, while one member questioned whether the bill addressed a current legal gap and whether public health departments should be involved. The committee approved the bill on a due pass motion and re-referred it to the Committee on Health. SB 1261 by Senator Laird would allow Aging and Disability Resource Connections to continue operating for one to two years during transitions when an area agency on aging or independent living center operator changes, preventing service disruptions. Testimony from Access Central Coast and the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging emphasized the importance of continuity for thousands of clients. The committee passed the bill and re-referred it to the Committee on Appropriations. SB 991 by Senator Menjivar, presented by Assemblymember Gonzalez, would require the Department of Social Services to classify substantiated abuse in residential care facilities for the elderly by specific abuse type rather than a broad residents’ rights category. Ombudsman advocates argued this would improve transparency and accountability; members also discussed whether similar protections should extend to younger adults in other licensed settings. The bill passed on a due pass motion and was re-referred to the Committee on Human Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Member Gonzalez: Marines taking care of Marines, as we do. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee: House Aging and Long-Term Care

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Gage is being awarded the Navy Marine Corps Medal.
• Members, House Bill 2201 relates to the issuance of Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Specialty

Committee: House S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• that work with us went to college to be conservationists<00:30:47.039><c> and</c><00:30:47.279><c> marine
• </c> conservationists and marine biologists. conservationists and marine biologists.
• </c><00:37:37.440><c> specimens</c><00:37:38.000><c> for</c><00:37:38.240><c> the</c> critical marine
• specimens for the critical marine specimens for the aquarium<00:37:38.880><c> trade</c><00:37:39.200
• But as I read in the paragraph above, it says it shall not include marine environments.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered three measures. SB 1602 would appropriate funds to DLNR for monitoring wells for the Koho aquifer system; DLNR and HHFDC supported it, and written testimony from several organizations and individuals was also in support. Members asked whether monitoring wells are a statewide function rather than a county function, and staff confirmed they are done statewide. The second bill was an administration measure clarifying that criminal water pollution enforcement remains with the Department of Health rather than DLNR. The Attorney General’s office said it was a cleanup clarification and that DOH has stronger enforcement powers and better testing capability; DOH and DLNR supported it, and there was no opposition noted. The final and most heavily debated measure was SB 1074 on environmental impact statements. The bill would let previously authorized or permitted commercial activities continue for up to one year while an agency determines whether environmental review applies after a challenge, and would allow permit renewals during that review. DLNR said it stood on written comments and suggested aligning the bill with similar House language. Supporters, including several ocean tourism and Maui business representatives, argued the bill would provide certainty and keep families and small operators working while environmental review is completed, especially in the wake of the Lahaina fires and ongoing business losses. Some supporters said the measure should be narrowed with a sunset or limited to recently renewed permits. Opponents, including the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, and other environmental advocates, argued the bill was overly broad and could weaken HEPA/NEPA-style environmental review, especially for fisheries and other commercial activities. They said the bill could be used as a “Trojan horse” to avoid review and that DLNR could resolve the underlying disputes more quickly through settlement or existing exemption processes. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• can continue to show that this is not an isolated problem, that school meals are part of a larger ecosystem
• can continue to show that this is not an isolated problem, that school meals are part of a larger ecosystem
• of This is not an isolated problem, that school meals are part of a larger ecosystem of food security

Keywords: Virginia Commission to End Hunger, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• front of us is actually meeting the immediate needs of our residents, of our natural resources, our ecosystems
• front of us is actually meeting the immediate needs of our residents, of our natural resources, our ecosystems
• Advancing this work is critical to safeguarding water quality and supporting ecosystem health.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The ecosystem will come. You have to sink an Anchor. What's the other? What's the other?
• The ecosystem is starting to build. You need some big anchors to build the rest of the ecosystem.

Bills: HB2 , SB152

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• grow, the small businesses also are growing, and they are also able to participate in a healthy ecosystem
• Washington State visit for companies in Taiwan who are interested in learning more about our AI ecosystem
• of these related issues, but what our selling point is relates to both the place as well as the ecosystem

Bills: SB5871 , SB5919

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: motor vehicle, glass repair, insurance claims, consumer protection, regulations, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's an entire ecosystem of businesses that have developed here in the state of California around
• wasn't, and as a result, over the next few months, before next session starts, we're going to have ecosystems
• I implore the legislature to prioritize the health of constituents and ecosystems and uphold the commitments

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is where we scan from the inside, seeing what gaps exist across the ecosystem.
• So it helps with standardization. across the ecosystem because one local subscriber may have a one-page
• looking at because you need to replace that with whatever agency has this type of device across the ecosystem

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• the number one travel destination in the country, Visit California works within a... ...tourism ecosystem
• It has a very fragile economic ecosystem, and we have a lot of mouths to feed now.
• This helps the entire tourism ecosystem, right? People plant those seeds. They want to visit.

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a soil and ecosystem scientist, along with my husband, we co-developed a soil health test called
• Agricultural lands are a complex ecosystem.
• Over a 20-year period, $590 million in ecosystem services will be produced through, um, Texas Farm and

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a soil and ecosystem scientist.
• Agriculture lands are are a complex ecosystem.
• That's a pretty high number and pretty convincing. $590 million in ecosystem services would be produced

Bills: HB3032 , HB3434 , HB3574 , HB5339 , HB5646

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: nursing education, clinical sites, health facilities, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, legislative study, healthcare training, tuition, financial assistance, higher education, public institutions, student support, nonresident students, Texas Education Code, resident tuition, scholarships, regenerative agriculture, grants, sustainable farming, soil health, bioremediation

Transcript Highlights:

• in medical diagnostics and automation. have expanded operations to Austin because of the vibrant ecosystem
• Given our ecosystem in San Antonio, we will be opening a new college of AI, cyber security, and computing
• identified SFA's Center for Entrepreneurship as the key resource in East Texas's entrepreneurial ecosystem

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:15:48.079><c> marine</c><02:15:48.520><c> military</c> wonderful marine marine military wonderful
• marine marine military background<02:15:50.159><c> so</c><02:15:51.079><c> to</c><02:15:51.239><c> your
• There's nothing more disappointing than going to a shop, seeing a fellow Marine that's lost his legs,
• he's got 30% disability because that's what the Marine Corps gave me.
• He's, 'I got 30% disability because that's what the Marine Corps gave me.'

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It establishes the opae ula as the state shrimp to protect an aquatic ecosystems throughout Hawaii.
• </c><00:23:18.799><c> throughout</c> anulan pool ecosystems throughout anulan pool ecosystems throughout
• </c><00:23:52.720><c> in</c> majority of an anine um ecosystems in majority of an anine um ecosystems
• </c><00:23:59.400><c> and</c><00:23:59.559><c> raise</c> these these ecosystems and raise these these
• It plays a critical role in maintaining the health of these ecosystems, which are very fragile.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard several measures, beginning with HB 194, which would designate May 22 as Maritime Day. Testimony from labor, health, and community groups was in support, and the committee later recommended passage of the bill as is, with several members voting yes and some reserving or being excused. HB 458 would designate April 27 as Brother Joseph Dutton Day; the Department of Accounting and General Services, the Joseph Dutton Guild, and a descendant all supported it, and the committee recommended passage with technical amendments. HB 957 would designate the first Friday in May as Lā‘au Day; support came from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and many individuals, and the committee recommended passage as is. HB 345 would establish the ʻōpae ula as the state shrimp to promote awareness and protection of anchialine ecosystems; DLNR, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAu, and other supporters testified, and the committee recommended passage with technical amendments. The committee also heard HB 901, which would allow public charter schools to appeal directly to the Board of Education on certain operational, governance, or funding matters. The Attorney General and the Public Charter School Commission offered technical comments and suggested amendments, while the commission described its current monitoring and renewal process and said it works closely with schools over the life of a charter contract. Members raised concerns about whether the bill would shift too much work to the Board of Education, and one member voted no when the committee later moved the bill with the Attorney General’s amendments. HB 1066 would add Head Start-related ex officio members to the Early Learning Board; the Early Learning Board and the Executive Office on Early Learning supported it, explaining the changes were needed to align with the federal Head Start Act, and the committee moved it forward without opposition. HB 1069 would add voting members from the Department of Education and Board of Education to the School Facilities Authority Board. DOE and the School Facilities Authority supported the change as a way to strengthen collaboration, though questions from members focused on the current communication process between the agencies. HB 1343 would require the Board of Education to adopt a policy banning student phone and related device use during school hours; the committee noted written testimony in support and then moved to decision-making. At the end of the meeting, the committee adopted recommendations to pass HB 194, HB 458 with technical amendments, HB 957, HB 345 with technical amendments, HB 901 with amendments, HB 1066, HB 1069, and HB 1343.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we're requesting that you bring us back to the DWRS system, balance back the ecosystem that we all
• have cuts where it doesn't decimate one portion of the DWRS system that completely decimates the ecosystem
• /c><00:35:07.880><c> and</c><00:35:08.000><c> then</c><00:35:08.160><c> causes</c> decimates the ecosystem
• and then causes decimates the ecosystem and then causes a<00:35:08.680><c> great</c><00:35:09.040><c
• 00:36:06.560><c> this</c> we are equally as important in this we are equally as important in this ecosystem

Bills: HF4491 , HF4338 , HF4288 , HF4566

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: Medical Assistance, Medicaid, prepayment review, claims review, fee-for-service, provider integrity, high-risk provider, high-risk service, fraud prevention, program integrity, Department of Human Services, CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, health care billing, medical claims, provider enrollment, Indian Health Service, Minnesota Statutes chapter 256B, human services, medical assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• She said this is critical to the startup ecosystem and to local businesses and entrepreneurs.
• She said this is critical to the startup ecosystem and to local businesses and entrepreneurs.
• She said it is critical to the startup ecosystem and to local businesses and entrepreneurs.
• She said it is critical to the startup ecosystem and to local businesses and entrepreneurs.
• She said it is critical to the startup ecosystem and to local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on February 7, 2025, to hear testimony on several bills and later take up amendments and votes. HB 1405, HB 1406, and HB 1407 drew broad support from business, housing, utility, and development groups, with no opposition noted on those measures. Testifiers generally said the bills would streamline permitting, improve coordination, and expand support for chambers of commerce and small businesses. After recess, the chair recommended amendments to each bill, including changes to broaden eligibility, add reporting requirements, and include funding and staffing notes. HB 1405 was amended to allow certain projects with one state and one county permit to qualify, require annual DBEDT reports to the Legislature, and note one full-time position and $125,000 in funding; the committee voted to pass it with amendments. HB 1406 was amended to move the intergovernmental task force from DBEDT to the House Legislature, add a Speaker-appointed chair, and include a $125,000 appropriation note; it also passed with amendments. HB 1407 was amended to convert the chamber support from a grant process to an RFP process and require a 1-to-5 match on a $100,000 award; it too passed with amendments. In each case, the chair’s recommendation was adopted, with Representative Tam excused. The committee also heard HB 796, a tax-credit review bill, which drew no support and 12 opposition testimonies with three comments. Opponents, including SAG-AFTRA Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, argued that automatic sunset provisions or broad tax-credit cuts would burden working families and that existing review mechanisms already exist under state law. The Department of Taxation and DBEDT offered technical comments, and the Tax Foundation suggested the bill’s goals might be better addressed by cleaning up the existing review process. Later, the committee heard HB 303, which had 17 supporters and no opposition. Testifiers from the Department of Health, University of Hawaii, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Queen’s Health System, and the Hawaii State Chiropractors Association supported the measure, with the chiropractors asking to be included in eligibility. The Hawaii State Center for Nursing said the program had been successful for five years and had room to expand. HB 577 also drew support, with the Department of Taxation offering comments and the Tax Foundation noting technical issues. HB 949 generated mixed testimony: Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce supported it, while Hawaii Children’s Action Network raised concerns about the bill’s effects and the lack of fiscal analysis; Sugar Creek Capital also supported the measure and clarified that the credit would not offset the GET. Finally, HB 933 and HB 959 were heard, with HB 933 receiving six support testimonies and comments focused on grocery tax relief and food insecurity, and HB 959 drawing strong support from labor and advocacy groups for its broad tax relief package, while the Tax Foundation and Hawaii Appleseed urged caution about the proposed 50% GET increase and asked for clearer fiscal analysis.