Transcript Highlights:

• If you're online, please stand by.
• Oh, do we have the nominee online? Oh, in the room.
• Oh, do we have the nominee<00:43:42.760><c> online?
• </c><00:43:45.599><c> Would</c> nominee online? Oh, in the room. Would nominee online?
• </c> that you get caught on the feed online. that you get caught on the feed online.

Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard and considered multiple gubernatorial nominations, beginning with several appointments to the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund board. Testimony on the Hurricane Relief Fund nominees was overwhelmingly in support from the DCCA Insurance Division, Hawaii Insurance Council, Hawaii Insurers Council, the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, and various individuals and industry representatives. Nominees Michael Naka, Marie White, Raina Miamoto, Leslie Door, Edward Hike, and Gwen McDonald were discussed, with Miamoto and Hike offering brief remarks about the need to address hurricane insurance affordability, condo coverage, and the importance of attracting reinsurers. The committee spent substantial time questioning Hike about the fund’s strategy, including whether to keep eligibility broad in the first phase to move quickly into the reinsurance market, how much capital would be available, and whether later policy refinements such as owner-occupancy requirements could be added after an initial rollout. Hike said the fund intended to start with broad parameters to secure reinsurance and then consider more targeted changes later, and he indicated further responses to prior committee questions would be submitted later that day. No votes were taken during the excerpted discussion. The committee then moved to other nominations. Terresa Hernandez was considered for the Hawaii Board of Chiropractic, with support from the board, and she said chiropractic had been a passion for her for seven years. Terrence Aratani was considered for the Board of Nursing, with support from the Board of Nursing, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and others. During questioning, a senator raised concerns from constituents about a 2019 grant-related controversy involving a proposed resiliency hub project; Aratani responded that his organization had partnered on a grant-in-aid proposal, later withdrew when the project scope changed substantially, and said no money was transferred to the other group. Cheryl Schultz Hansen was also considered for the Board of Nursing and described her long nursing and teaching background, while a senator asked about alleged pressure on nurses to participate in employee give-back campaigns at Hawaii Pacific Health and the University of Hawaii; Hansen said the campaigns were voluntary and she was unaware of harassment, though she acknowledged managers may feel pressure to encourage participation. The excerpt ends before any final committee actions or votes on these nominations are announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your online programs, I’ve had the pleasure of talking to a number of online nursing schools, some of
• “So we actually do not dictate whether they do online or ground.
• “So we don’t state whether or not it has to be online or in person.
• We're 100% online. Good morning. Chris Con representing Nightingale College.
• We appreciate the conversation on the online model.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your online programs, I've had the pleasure of talking to a number of online nursing schools, some of
• So we actually do not dictate whether they do online or ground.
• So we don't state whether or not it has to be online or in person.
• We're 100% online. Good morning. Chris Con representing Nightingale College.
• We appreciate the conversation on the online model.

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate Business and Professions sunset oversight hearing focused first on the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), with opening remarks emphasizing legislative oversight, consumer protection, workforce access, and the need to evaluate whether licensing boards are efficient and effective. BRN leaders reported progress since the last review, including faster licensing timelines, streamlined enforcement, improved consumer satisfaction, expanded nursing program enrollment, and new statewide data collection on faculty. Committee members then questioned the board about nurse practitioner scope and supervision, international licensure, English proficiency, online nursing education and clinical placements, military and veteran pathways, workforce shortages, diversity in nursing, the LVN-to-RN 30-unit option, and the role of the board’s RN executive officer. The board explained California’s tiered APRN system, the NCLEX and national certification requirements, the 500-hour direct patient care clinical requirement, and its use of nursing education consultants and board-approved programs to oversee schools and placements. Members also discussed retention problems, especially for new graduates, and the board said shortages are often driven by burnout, lack of support, and employers’ reduced use of new-grad training programs. Public comment largely centered on proposed BRN sunset issues affecting advanced practice nursing, education oversight, and workforce development. Nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, and nurse anesthesiology groups generally supported the BRN sunset report but asked for clearer implementation of AB 890, support for APRN-to-RN delegation authority, streamlined renewals for nurse midwives, and protection of the current population-focus model. The California Medical Association raised concerns about out-of-state nurse practitioners practicing independently without California transition-to-practice requirements, specialty delegation, ratios, and data collection. Higher education representatives from UC, CSU, private nonprofit colleges, and nursing associations urged the board to reduce duplicative documentation, modernize clinical placement rules, improve parity between in-state and out-of-state programs, and address bottlenecks in securing clinical sites. An online nursing school argued that California should create a pathway for distance-learning programs so students can complete clinicals in-state rather than traveling out of state. Several speakers also highlighted the need to expand access for rural and underserved communities, support diverse and nontraditional students, and preserve affordable pathways into nursing.

Transcript Highlights:

• What other prices of homes? What are the prices of homes that are going currently in the area?
• And then you would see projected sales price, and I'm basing that off of the average sales price in that
• Where we could raise the price by 15% above and beyond the average sales price.
• And we can start working and truly bringing more lots online that are targeted at these affordable price
• Median home price of a sold new home in the Albuquerque MSA, and the line below it is the median price

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• If you are here in person and would like to testify but did not sign up online, please visit the signing
• If you are here in person and would like to testify but did not sign up online, please visit the signing
• If you're here in person and would like to testify but did not sign up online, please visit the signing
• No discounts after 10 p.m.; drink prices must be fixed during the promotion period; there have to be
• We've also, whether online or in time, to have happy hour, so I'm really grateful for the opportunity

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on alcohol licensing, sales, and consumption issues affecting bars, restaurants, package stores, and local communities. The chair outlined hybrid hearing procedures, including three-minute testimony limits and instructions for written testimony. The committee heard a local bill for Milford, H. 4169, authorizing an additional off-premises all-alcohol license for Charlie’s Mini Mart, with the understanding that the existing wine and malt license would be surrendered if the new license is granted. A major topic was the long-running debate over happy hour. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association opposed bills such as S. 217, H. 349, and H. 443, arguing that discounted alcohol would intensify competition, create pressure on restaurants to participate, and potentially raise liquor liability and insurance costs. In contrast, Senator Julian Cyr testified in support of repealing the happy hour ban through a local-option framework, saying the bill includes safeguards such as no discounts after 10 p.m., fixed pricing during promotions, and advance posting requirements, and that it could help downtowns and seasonal businesses without creating a public health risk. The Massachusetts Package Stores Association testified on a broad package of bills, opposing measures to reinstate happy hour, allow supplier control over retail shelf space (H. 350), impose a transfer fee on licenses (H. 351), authorize alcohol coupons or discounts (H. 381 and S. 219), and permit Thanksgiving alcohol sales (H. 428). It supported bills requiring beverage alcohol training for off-premise licensees (H. 344), restricting self-checkout for alcohol (H. 366), changing Section 15 grocery-store license rules (S. 213), and several other regulatory changes. The Distilled Spirits Council supported H. 350 on private label spirits, while acknowledging concerns about disclosure and preferential treatment; package store witnesses defended private labels as lawful products they create with manufacturers, and the council argued the bill should address consumer confusion and unfair competitive advantages. The hearing concluded with Chair Chan announcing committee poll results on other bills, including a number of favorable reports and study orders, and the committee then voted to close the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if they don't know, they look them up online.
• This would raise the price of the tag to $25, and this would approximately raise $330,000 annually.
• This would raise the price of the tag to $25, and this would approximately raise $330,000 annually.
• fuels, authorizes private license police agency to become authorized agents for IFTA, and allows online

Bills: S0174 , S0388 , S0470 , S0488 , S0490 , S0584 , S0628

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: transportation, memorial, honorary designation, Miami-Dade, Charlie Kirk, license plates, Florida Wildflower, vehicle registration, annual use fee, specialty plates, Fraternal Order of Police, license plate, funding, memorial foundation, law enforcement, motor carriers, fuel tax, military exemptions, safety regulations, electronic submissions

Transcript Highlights:

• I would assume there's something in how the materials placed online.
• I would assume there's something in how the materials placed online, but remember what Solomon says in
• They've gone from the price of a candy bar to the most expensive things in the store.
• The price of a candy bar to the most expensive things in the store.

Bills: HB668 , HB677 , HB766 , HB3133 , SB3070

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The committee met to hear several bills, beginning with House Bill 766, which would require precinct chair applicants to provide an email address, phone number, or both on their applications while keeping that contact information confidential. No one testified for or against the bill, and it was left pending. House Bill 677, a companion to a previously approved Senate bill, would bar county election administrators from simultaneously holding another office or position appointed by an elected official; it also drew no public testimony and was left pending. Members then heard House Bill 3133, which would add explicit deepfake material to the list of content social media platforms must handle through complaint systems, including prompt acknowledgment, investigation, and status updates. Senators discussed concerns about how platforms would verify whether reported content was actually a deepfake, and the sponsor indicated the bill may be held pending while federal law on the subject is reviewed. House Bill 668 would create a one-year grace period for renewing an expired Texas handgun license to carry, codifying an existing DPS practice; it also received no testimony and was left pending. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 3070, a major overhaul of the Texas Lottery system. The bill would move oversight from the Lottery Commission to TDLR, dissolve the commission, impose new restrictions on ticket sales and internet play, create a lottery advisory committee, increase transparency and audit requirements, and include a sunset review that could lead to abolishing the lottery if not continued by 2027. The author described the bill as a response to alleged misconduct and illegal practices by the commission, while a witness from the Christian Life Commission testified in favor, supporting changes to prize anonymity and other lottery restrictions. After testimony, the bill was left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then it goes back to how much does policy affect the prices of homes, you know?
• <00:48:23.520><c> $30,000</c> prices $30,000 prices $30,000 $40,000<00:48:26.160><c> how</c><00:48:26.280
• You know, we have a supply problem, and because we have a supply problem, we have a price problem.
• You know, we have a supply problem, and because we have a supply problem, we have a price problem.
• You know, we have a supply problem, and because we have a supply problem, we have a price problem.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Each final decision must be available in an online format.
• Oh dear, Julie, you've frozen, so if you stay online...
• And can we have Colby Williams and Jared Legard online?
• I know that the prices could range.
• Can we have Taka Yoshida online? And for online on deck, can we have Dr.

Summary: The House Education Committee heard several bills related to special education records, artificial intelligence in schools, financial aid access, educator preparation, school health, and student mobile device use. Substitute Senate Bill 6268 would require OSPI to keep an online public record of final special education community complaint decisions for 20 years; the sponsor and several parents, attorneys, and open-government advocates said the records help families, schools, and researchers understand past decisions and remedies, while no one testified in opposition. Substitute Senate Bill 5956 would limit school use of automated decision systems, school surveillance technology, biometric data, and facial recognition in student discipline and safety contexts; the sponsor and supporters said it would prevent harmful false positives and discriminatory impacts, while an industry witness warned the bill could unintentionally reduce school safety by limiting emergency facial-recognition uses. Committee discussion focused on the bill’s scope, especially whether it affects classroom grading or only discipline-related decisions, and staff noted the bill does not require teacher training. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5841, which would add financial-aid application data to the High School and Beyond Plan platform and require students to receive information about the Washington Opportunity Scholarship Program. The sponsor said the bill would make aid status more transparent and easier to track, especially for families facing language or access barriers, and a student advocate testified in support; a committee member raised concerns about privacy for immigrant and DACA students, and the sponsor said the portal would be opt-in and guided by privacy protections. Senate Bill 6278 would codify and update Professional Educator Standards Board review of teacher and principal preparation programs, including program standards, educator role standards, evidence, and input from P-12 partners, while allowing field placement plans to be submitted on a less frequent schedule; PESB staff said the bill largely reflects current practice and adds flexibility. Substitute Senate Bill 5240 would expand who may administer epinephrine in schools and allow use of any available epinephrine when a student with a prescription on file has anaphylaxis; school nurses supported broader access to stock epinephrine but warned against using one student’s medication for another and raised legal and ethical concerns, while the sponsor emphasized faster response in emergencies. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5346 would direct OSPI to study and report on school mobile-device restrictions and update digital citizenship resources to include research and best practices on student phone use. Staff said OSPI already has some guidance, but the bill would create formal legislative reports and expand the state’s digital citizenship materials. The committee began taking testimony on that bill as the hearing time ran short, and the chair noted there were ten people signed in to testify.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this conversation is about the price this conversation is about the price that<01:40:16.000><c>
• Governor support. the price of the meals to uh match the price of the meals to uh match what's<01:40:
• That demand will push them to buy online, maybe shop out of state.
• </c><02:45:31.279><c> sellers</c> the black market or online sellers the black market or online sellers
• </c><02:52:49.120><c> are</c> the store is closed, fair, prices are the store is closed, fair, prices

Bills: HB1977 , HB1764 , HB1934 , HB2533 , HB1790 , HB2181 , HB1870 , HB2140 , HB2468 , HB2358 , HB1588 , HB1688 , HB1986 , HB2030 , HB2195 , HB1949 , HB1695 , HB1950 , HB2094 , HB2115 , HB2297 , HB2336 , HB2416 , HB2049

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: maternal health, infant health, mobile application, Medicaid, healthcare access, state programs, music education, public concerts, Hawaii State Library, cultural collaboration, music accessibility, libraries, education, reading programs, early childhood, nonprofit, community engagement, teacher retention, Hawaiian language education, special needs schools

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:53:11.680><c> of</c> because of the astronomical prices of because of the astronomical prices
• It's an online manufactured housing.
• That's one of the major cost drivers of why the land is going up in price.
• That's one of the major cost drivers of why the land is going up in price.
• That's one of the major cost drivers of why the land is going up in price.

Bills: HF4234 , HF484 , HF483 , HF2614

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF4234, Minnesota private activity bonds, tax-exempt bonds, bond cap, aggregate bond limitation, residential rental projects, multifamily housing, affordable housing finance, housing bonds, public finance, bond allocation, private activity bond cap, Minnesota Statutes 474A.02, tax committee, natural gas, gas hookups, residential construction, energy policy, local control, state preemption

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm hearing some folks—if you are online in Hibbing, would you please mute your microphone?
• All right, we have our testifier online.
• Yeah, so we'll have some bills tomorrow, and those are all around ... post it online.
• Yeah, so we'll have some bills tomorrow, and those are all around ... post it online.
• Yeah, so we'll have some bills tomorrow, and those are all around ... post it online.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The tariffs and the trade wars have jacked up prices, and that includes energy prices.
• and that includes jacked up prices and that includes energy<00:41:15.920><c> prices.
• And we need energy prices.
• </c> pipeline, entire regions pay the price. pipeline, entire regions pay the price.
• I yield back. online. This week, Australia implemented online.

Bills: HB3668

Keywords: pipeline, natural gas, Natural Gas Act, FERC, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, NEPA, environmental review, permitting reform, LNG, liquefied natural gas, certificate of public convenience and necessity, section 7, section 3, Clean Water Act, section 401, water quality certification, state authority, interagency coordination, pipeline safety, pipeline security

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> can price your premiums. can price your premiums.
• It's really the prices.
• It's really the prices. So, in words. It's really the prices.
• And so the VA gets the best price out of anybody in terms of drug pricing.
• </c> terms of drug pricing. terms of drug pricing.

Committee: Joint Health Insurance Affordability Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of times what's happening here, these are transactions that start online.
• A lot of times what's happening here, these are transactions that start online.
• A lot of times what's happening here, these are transactions that start online.
• A lot of times what's happening here, these are transactions that start online.
• They go to online. They can't get done.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> online system and do that. online system and do that.
• I'm sorry, not online.
• </c> uh required to accept online payments. uh required to accept online payments.
• </c> be a simplification of this the online be a simplification of this the online standard<01:49:31.160
• The standard The I'm sorry, not online.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the August 26 minutes, and then took up a discussion of county jail funding. KACO representatives and county officials said jail operations are an ongoing strain for counties because they must pay for inmate care, facilities, and mandated standards, while many counties also rely on jail revenue to offset costs. They described Kentucky’s jail system, including 77 jails, 43 closed counties without jails, and the mix of county, state, federal, and controlled-intake inmates. KACO emphasized that counties remain financially responsible for inmates even when they must contract with other jails, often at costs above the state’s per diem rate, and said it is developing a broader proposal to present later. The testimony focused on rising expenses and shrinking revenue. KACO said counties spent about $374 million on jail operations in FY24, up 24% from FY19, and about $41 million on jail medical costs, up 40%. General fund support for jails was said to total $147 million in FY24, more than double pre-COVID levels. Speakers also noted that state inmate populations in county jails have fallen from about 11,500 in 2019 to 7,212 in 2025, while federal inmates have increased because they are more lucrative for counties. The state jail per diem of $35.34 was described as insufficient to cover actual costs, especially medical care. County judges from Webster, Knox, and Hardin counties gave examples of local budget pressure. Webster County said it now houses 114 state prisoners, 47 county prisoners, and 24 out-of-county prisoners, and that it transferred $512,000 from its general fund to the jail last year, about $77 per taxpayer. Knox County said its jail budget has grown from an initial $2.8 million projection to $5.7 million, with $3 million coming from occupational tax revenue. Hardin County said its jail has an approximate $11 million expense budget against $5 million in revenue, creating a $6 million deficit, driven by higher payroll, medical, and insurance costs and a 29% drop in state prisoner revenue. The judge said the county has responded with property tax increases and an expanded occupational tax district, but still uses reserves to cover other county services. A Grant County magistrate then began speaking from the perspective of magistrates and commissioners, describing her background working at a local jail before serving in county government. The discussion remained centered on the fiscal burden of jails and the need for counties and the legislature to work together on a long-term solution.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can also submit public comment online via the committee website.
• also what California has done in response and what we can do to ensure that we get these projects online
• and when they actually came online.
• So anything that's going to come online between now and 2030.
• When timelines cannot be forecast, investors priced that as... Project.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, [snorts] just, you know, I heard, you know, I was looking online just a few minutes ago.
• , I was looking on online just a few<00:28:00.320><c> minutes</c><00:28:00.480><c> ago.
• The online was different. Yeah, let's see. It was 1274. I'm so sorry. Relative to dog licenses.
• And the online portal says we have two people in favor, one person opposed.
• And the<01:30:51.600><c> online</c> the online the online uh<01:30:53.280><c> portal</c><01:30:53.920

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• I yield back. wholesale price of electricity this wholesale price of electricity this resulted<00:52:
• </c> that have cont contributed to gas prices that have cont contributed to gas prices and<01:05:42.960
• </c><01:17:57.719><c> for</c> going to painfully raise prices for going to painfully raise prices for
• </c> 2021 to 2025 time frame Energy prices 2021 to 2025 time frame Energy prices would<01:19:55.639><
• </c><01:20:01.760><c> this</c><01:20:01.880><c> would</c> prices rising by 324 per. this would prices

Bills: HR26

Keywords: domestic terrorism, Antifa, law enforcement, criminal activity, violent protests, political ideology, federal response, socio-political conflict

Transcript Highlights:

• Each final decision must be available in an online format.
• Do we have questions for any of the panelists who testified online?
• And can we have Colby Williams and Jared Legard online?
• I know that the prices could range.
• Can we have Taka Yoshida online? And for online on deck, can we have Dr.

Bills: SB6278

Committee: House Education

Keywords: teacher preparation, principal preparation, educator preparation, alternative route certification, teacher certification, principal certification, Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, PESB, field placement, student teacher, residency, mentoring, school district partnerships, K-12 education, preK-12, high-need schools, Title I, special education, English language learner, rural schools