Transcript Highlights:

• for all our leaders in the 3 branches of government, the executive branch, the judiciary, and the legislative
• Thank you for the 150 members of this Texas legislative body. Their families and loved ones.
• And I wanted to take a minute, uh, to bring his memory to this floor because he loved the legislative
• The Texas Legislative Black Caucus is honored to have our panelinic groups here to be at your Capitol
• David is visiting our Capitol today to learn a little bit about the Texas legislative process.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are establishing a separate procedure.
• Bifurcated penalty procedures came in the aftermath in 1976, which invalidated the single-phase procedures
• This is not just in this piece of legislation.
• I rise in opposition to this legislation.
• happen because of legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tara was my first legislative assistant, and I will never forget our first day in session.
• You are the true staples of legislation.
• I've just so enjoyed learning about procedure and about leadership and about the rules from you.
• We go through all the procedures.
• We go through all the procedures. it. We go through all the procedures.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Wolgamott delivered a farewell address reflecting on his eight years in the Minnesota House and the meaning of public service. He described his path to the Legislature, thanked colleagues and staff, and emphasized the House as a place where members are trusted to make a difference for their communities. He also spoke about the importance of maintaining a humane, family-friendly, and respectful workplace, especially for staff and members’ families. He highlighted several policy areas he was proud of, including bipartisan COVID-19 workers’ compensation protections for frontline workers, efforts to reduce the special education cross subsidy, and changes to teacher pensions. He also noted bonding and local projects in St. Cloud, such as road improvements, the Herb Brooks Hockey Center, and the Children’s Museum of the MAC. Throughout, he framed these accomplishments as examples of persistence and collaboration across party lines. The address also included extensive thanks to his wife, daughters, legislative assistants, higher education staff, sergeant-at-arms, maintenance crew, chief clerk’s office, and former and current colleagues, including a tribute to former Speaker Melissa Hortman and the Horton family. He closed by reading the Prayer of St. Francis and thanking the people of St. Cloud and the House. No votes or formal legislative actions were taken in the speech.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to say, if this procedure is about safety, they are failing miserably because during group
• Same, same procedure.
• In 2015 and 2017, Texas enacted legislation to expand who can receive an order of nondisclosure.
• The goal of this legislation is to keep public safety intact while also providing a second chance to
• This is the 2nd time, um, that I filed this piece of legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• certain prescriptions and procedures from minors shown to cause long-term damage, procedures children
• certain prescriptions and procedures from minors shown to cause long-term damage, procedures children
• In addition, there are nine other states that have pending legislation.
• In addition, there are nine other states that have pending legislation.
• Some key benefits of the legislation...

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard a series of health care-related bills, with Chair Tuck emphasizing respectful debate and noting that all bills on the agenda would be voted on that day. The first measure, HB 743, would give the Attorney General authority to investigate and bring civil actions against health care practitioners who violate Florida’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, and would make aiding or abetting such conduct a third-degree felony. Supporters said it closed loopholes and protected minors and parental rights, while opponents argued it was vague, overbroad, and could chill lawful care and professional judgment. The bill passed 13-4 and was reported favorably. The committee then unanimously approved PCS for HB 567, which narrows a continuing-education requirement for podiatrists so only those who prescribe controlled substances must take the related two-hour course. It also unanimously approved HB 439, allowing chiropractors, under specified training and certification requirements, to inject vitamins and nutrients while continuing to prohibit intravenous injections. The committee also passed HB 1235 to enter Florida into the respiratory care interstate compact, and HB 1237, a linked public-records/public-meetings exemption needed to implement that compact; both measures were supported as workforce and access-to-care bills and passed without opposition. Later, the committee approved PCS for HB 809, which addresses temporary physician certificates in areas of need and aims to prevent doctors from losing the ability to practice when area designations change. Members asked about licensure pathways and the effect of federal or board designation changes, and supporters framed the bill as protecting continuity of care in underserved communities. The committee also unanimously passed HB 1347 to align clinical laboratory personnel licensing with federal CLIA standards amid staffing shortages, and HB 1515, a public-records exemption tied to a uterine fibroid research database. Finally, the committee approved HB 169 updating acupuncture statutes, including terminology changes and limits on injection therapy, and HB 1021, Representative Young’s first bill, allowing qualified hospital pharmacists in Level I and II trauma centers to administer emergency medications at a physician’s direction during life-threatening situations. HB 1021 drew the most questions, mainly about scope, definitions, and who could authorize the pharmacist, but after a technical amendment it passed unanimously. All remaining bills were reported favorably, and the meeting adjourned after the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Restrictive Housing Legislative Working Group.
• The Act 292 Restrictive Housing Legislative Working Group was established by the Legislature and enacted
• <00:08:57.279> on their current policies and procedures on their current policies and procedures
• So, so again one we legislative session.
• the working group to make legislative the working group to make legislative recommendations.<00:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Restrictive Housing Legislative Working Group held its first meeting on August 21, 2025, to organize under Act 292, which directs the group to review and recommend laws, policies, and procedures on restrictive housing for vulnerable populations, including older adults, people with disabilities, people with serious mental illness, those with sensory impairments, and people perceived to be LGBTQIA+. Co-chairs Sen. Brandon Elefante and Rep. Della Au Belatti outlined the group’s purpose, membership, and timeline, noting the final recommendations are due to the Legislature by January 8, 2027. Members and invited participants introduced themselves, including legislative members, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation staff, the Department of Health, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, ACLU of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, UPW, and an OHA representative in the audience. The working group discussed its initial focus and agreed that a first priority should be understanding current restrictive housing practices at DCR, including policies on solitary confinement, training, reporting, and how the department currently handles vulnerable populations. Co-chair Belatti said the group should also hear from people with lived experience, including incarcerated individuals and family members affected by solitary confinement, and review litigation, settlements, and outside expert work on best practices. DCR Director Tommy Johnson, appearing by Zoom, said the bill contains specific implementation timelines and that the group should use future meetings to surface topics tied to the act’s requirements. Rep. Shimizu asked how the working group’s recommendations would fit with SB 104 and whether they would supersede existing provisions; Belatti responded that the act allows time for review and for both departmental policy changes and legislative recommendations, with section two’s implementation date set for July 1, 2026. Public comment was limited, with no online testimony. An OHA representative thanked the chairs and said the office looked forward to participating once formally designated. House legislative attorney Sean Aronson suggested the group should hear about any outside or court-mandated oversight of DCR in a future presentation. A member of the working group also asked about scheduling an in-person visit to a correctional facility, and the chairs said that could be arranged with DCR. The group tentatively scheduled its next meeting for October 16, 2025 at 9:30 a.m., noted that September would be skipped, and discussed holding future meetings on third Thursdays. The meeting ended with thanks to staff and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• S 272, an act relating to juvenile proceedings, criminal procedures, and forensic facilities for
• S 272, an act relating to juvenile proceedings, criminal procedures, and forensic facilities for criminal
• ,<00:07:03.680> and proceedings, criminal procedures, and proceedings, criminal procedures
• <00:09:30.640> Uh, break from your legislative life.
• Uh, break from your legislative life.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The lack of not passing this legislation means that we could have another death on our hands.
• The lack of not passing this legislation means that we could have another death on our hands.
• So thank you for your time in hearing this legislation.
• And that's Consistent and fair personnel procedures. And that's what I have for you.
• This legislation is more than a policy fix.

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

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

Summary: The subcommittee on county and regional government heard a long agenda of county-related bills, with most measures left pending after testimony. HB 2097, by Rep. Martinez, would let counties that opt in use an independent hearing examiner instead of a civil service commission for certain deputy sheriff discipline appeals; the bill drew support from CLEET’s Robert Leonard, who said it would be fairer and faster, and it was left pending. HB 4642, by Rep. Gonzalez, would require counties that contract with out-of-state jail facilities to include Texas jail-standard protections and oversight; Gonzalez, detainee Jess Hampton, his wife, Texas Jail Project’s Krish Kundu, and TCJS director Brandon Wood all discussed deaths and poor conditions in Louisiana facilities, staffing shortages, and the need for guardrails and data collection. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4350, by Rep. Capriglione, allowing peace officers to request redaction of personal information from online real property records. Supporters said officers face targeted threats and should have protections similar to judges; a title industry witness warned about preserving the integrity of land records. The bill was left pending. HB 3687, by Rep. Harless, would require county fire marshals in counties over 100,000 to meet training and certification standards within set timeframes; Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen supported professionalization, and the bill was left pending. HB 4105 would let very large counties give a local-bid preference for construction and infrastructure contracts, and HB 4205 would require pay parity for similar law enforcement ranks within large counties; both were supported by Harris County officials and constables and left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 5403, which would repeal a special rule limiting Dallas and Tarrant county sheriffs’ control over commissary funds; the author said it would remove an outdated population bracket, and the bill was left pending. HB 4462 would require large counties to allow elected officials named in civil suits to seek outside counsel and have a role in settlement decisions; supporters argued county attorneys and commissioners court can have conflicts of interest, while questions focused on who qualifies and whether the bill could complicate settlements. The bill was left pending. Finally, HB 240, by Rep. Swanson, would restore a five-member quorum requirement for Harris County tax levies, effectively preventing tax action without all commissioners present and defaulting to the no-new-revenue rate if quorum is not met; urban counties opposed it as a potential budget obstruction, while supporters said it protects taxpayers and representation. That bill was also left pending. The transcript ends as the committee begins HB 3319, which would create a civil service system for constable department employees in large counties, but the discussion is cut off before testimony or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Selena Reyes is my legislative analyst, and Jacqueline Andrade is a legislative aide.
• > analyst<00:16:33.519> and Reyes is my legislative analyst and Reyes is my legislative
• Jacqueline Andrade is a legislative aid. Jacqueline Andrade is a legislative aid.
• involving an unidentified legislator involving an unidentified legislator have<01:01:43.119>
• legislator. Thank you. legislator. Thank you.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Dental insurance and parents normally cover the cost of medically necessary dental procedures.
• The anesthesia is a medical procedure which is usually performed by a physician.
• , it must also provide the anesthesia for medically necessary dental procedures.
• Exclude general anesthesia when it is necessary for a dental procedure.
• As somebody who has provided general anesthesia for these procedures, I can personally attest to their

Bills: SB 227, SB 269, SB 407, SB 463, SB 527, SB 547, SB 1283, SB 1380, SB 1383, SB 1511, SB 1640, SB 1784, SB 2069

Keywords: school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, healthcare policy, vaccines, exemptions, religious beliefs, public health, workplace violence, healthcare facilities, definition expansion, safety regulations, health and safety code, health insurance, anesthesia, pediatric dental services, coverage, medical necessity

Transcript Highlights:

• It basically streamlines the procedures to provide or continue a psychotropic medication prescription
• So under the original legislation passed in 2023, there are no parental rights to allow a child to have
• They are not allowed to provide any treatment, any procedures, prescriptions.
• So the suicide rate goes way up after these procedures.
• What we've seen is providers use conventional medical diagnosis codes to hide these tragic procedures

Bills: S0560, S0590, S0778, S1010

Keywords: child welfare, psychotropic medication, Department of Children and Families, community-based care, liability insurance, forensic services, defendants, mental health, judicial system, defense, legal definitions, minors, healthcare, parental rights, criminal penalties, civil action, sex-reassignment, investigations, economic damages

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs considered four bills. SB 590, by Sen. Bradley, would toll the statute of limitations for failure to report suspected child abuse by mandatory reporters until the offense is known to law enforcement; an amendment clarified retroactive application for offenses not already time-barred by the bill’s effective date. Sen. Bradley said the bill is intended to ensure accountability in institutional abuse cases and not to change the reasonable-suspicion reporting standard. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 778, by Sen. Simon, which would update the definition of forensic client so certain individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism whose charges were dismissed for incompetency can be housed with other Chapter 916 residents, reducing duplicative staffing and space needs at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Barney Bishop appeared in support, and the bill was reported favorably without amendment. SB 560, by Sen. Garcia, would streamline procedures for psychotropic medication prescriptions for children in DCF custody, reduce duplicative background checks and reporting, and simplify consent documentation. Amendments removed language allowing licensed clinical social workers and marriage and family therapists to serve as evaluators and narrowed changes to the Road to Independence Program’s postsecondary education services and supports, extending eligibility ages from 18 to 26 while keeping the five-year cap. Senators discussed the fiscal impact and funding blend for the education stipend. The committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. The committee then took up SB 1010, by Sen. Yarbrough, which adds criminal and civil enforcement for violations involving sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures for minors and related parental-rights provisions. An amendment clarified that the civil action authority applies to minors and that damages benefit the affected minor. Public testimony was heavily divided, with supporters saying the bill enforces existing protections and opponents warning it would chill care, counseling, and school-based support for transgender youth. Senators Harrell, Sharief, and Rouson raised concerns about vagueness, standing, and impacts on teachers and health professionals; Sharief voted no, while the bill was still reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE BY SENATE BURGESS. SENATOR BURGESS YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
• BILL. >> Senator Burgess: SENATE BILL 448 OFFERS COMPREHANSIVE REFORM TO FLORIDA'S ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
• INCONSISTENT WITH RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT STANDING REQUIREMENTS.
• THIS LEGISLATION ALIGNS FLORIDA WITH OTHER STATES WHO HAVE TAKEN SIMILAR STEPS TO SUPPORT YOUNG CANCER
• I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS GROUNDBREAKING LEGISLATION TO US.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your legislation does not ban organizations that do...
• But it's not in the Code of Criminal Procedure. No.
• This is the first piece in a series of very important legislation designed to fit. God.
• Creating legislation like this, T visas and U visas have been created for a reason.
• Vote no on this piece of legislation. Mr. Smithee to close.

Bills: SB664, SB40, SB9, SJR1, SJR5, SB27, SB207, SB2938, SB1901, SB1227, SB1248, SB912, SB1321, SB2143, SB2145, SB1497, SB1239, SB2180, SB1388, SB1762, SB1662, SB1951, SB1537, SB493, SB378, SB1020, SB1018, SB992, SB958, SB920, SB1350, SCR25, SB687, SB1332, SB2185, SB552, SB664, SB40, SB9, SJR1, SJR5, SB458, SB482, SB927, SB984, SB651, SB1620, SB2124, SB2448, SB841, SB843, SB402, SB2662, SB2053, SB2332, SB2112, SB745, SB1247, SB1789, SB27, SB207, SB2938, SB1901, SB1227, SB1248, SB912, SB1321, SB2143, SB2145, SB1497, SB1239, SB2180, SB1388, SB1762, SB1662, SB1951, SB1537, SB493, SB378, SB1020, SB1018, SB992, SB958, SB920, SB1350, HCR76, HCR127, HCR9, HCR40, HCR118, HR559, HCR59, HCR135, HCR141, HCR46, HCR109, HCR10, SCR25, HB2525, HB142, HB140, HB29, HB451, HB3809, HB3307, HB 1130, HJR1, HB9, SB17, SB260, SB509, SB1506, SB1637, SB2308

Keywords: Texas courts, judicial officers, associate judge, magistrate, master, referee, hearing officer, court administration, Government Code Chapter 54, Government Code Chapter 54A, bail training, Article 17.024, Article 15.17, local administrative judge, State Commission on Judicial Conduct, Office of Court Administration, county courts, criminal justice, criminal jurisprudence, judicial qualifications

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing we decided on that— Yes, I mean, obviously the legislative bodies can change it, but
• Chairman, I have a procedure...
• And so that's what's kind of critical, and I don't know how you legislate it.
• We implore our legislators to cut back. on the fees, the taxes, the gas tax, the sales tax.
• Lots of people come in and out of the room during a procedure.

Bills: HB5, HJR3, HB155, HB513, HB5, HB155

Keywords: dementia, research, health care, Texas Institute, grants, medical breakthroughs, oversight, prevention, funding, healthcare, Texas, autopsy, confidentiality, public records, medical examiner, law enforcement, HB 513, surgical smoke, surgical plume, smoke evacuation

Transcript Highlights:

• There are financial incentives in the legislation.
• It's no particular role or particular types of procedures, correct?
• Why would we compare it to a procedure that's illegal in this state?
• I would assert that it would be a fallacy to compare those two procedures or medication in the procedure
• Well, Senator, the legislative counsel helped us with this.

Summary: The Senate began with a quorum call, prayer, approval of the previous journal, and messages from the House, then moved through several recognitions and resolutions honoring visiting groups. Members adopted resolutions recognizing the Texas chapters of Blue Star Mothers of America, Fine Arts Education Day, Donate Life Texas Day, Baha’i Capitol Day, County Government Day, Jack County Day, Crockett County Day, and a recognition of Navy Petty Officer Simon Urbanik for service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The chamber also heard remarks from visiting doctors, students, county officials, and community groups, with multiple senators speaking in support of military families, arts education, organ donation, and local government service. The Senate then took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2779, relating to the allocation and use of certain hotel occupancy tax revenues. Senator Birdwell said the bill would stop local governments from conditioning HOT funds on race- or class-based priorities and would require Galveston to transfer the full state rebate for beach cleaning and maintenance to its park board. After questions, the Senate suspended the rules, passed the bill to engrossment, suspended the three-day rule, and finally passed it, though the final vote showed significant opposition. The chamber also passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2322, described as a cleanup bill removing the compelling-factor test for dispatchable generation from the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act. A major debate centered on Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2253, which would phase out uncertified teachers in core classrooms and strengthen educator certification requirements. Senator Creighton argued the bill responds to a teacher pipeline crisis, adds parent notification, creates multiple preparation pathways, and provides financial incentives for certification; Senator West and Senator Sparks pressed for rural flexibility and implementation details. An amendment from Senator Gutierrez to add a teacher student-loan repayment program failed on a 11-17 vote, while other technical and fiscal amendments were adopted. The bill then passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed. The Senate also passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2371, updating skimmer-reporting rules to cover electronic terminals beyond fuel pumps, and Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2351, relating to the construction of certain concrete plants under a standard permit. Senate Bill 619, a conscience-protection bill for health care workers, drew extended questioning from Senators Cook, Eckhardt, and Menendez about patient abandonment, scope, and whether it could allow refusals of legal services such as vaccines, antibiotics, contraception, or personal care; despite those concerns, the Senate suspended the rules and passed the bill to engrossment. Finally, the chamber began consideration of Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1169, which would allow public entities to form public utility agencies to cooperate on water and wastewater projects without eminent domain or cross-collateralization, with Senator Hinojosa explaining it as a tool for small and rural communities facing utility infrastructure problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• Witt, members, House Bill 2584 prohibits the use of public monies to pay for genetic sequencing procedures
• 2352 appropriates $2,385,900 from the general fund to the Auditor General for county treasurer procedural
• Madam Witt, members, as amended by the Committee on Government, House Bill 2660 outlines the procedures
• Madam Witt members, as amended by the committee on government, House Bill 2660 outlines the procedures
• Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to evaluate and

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a rapid review of a very large bill package, with the chair repeatedly asking staff to keep descriptions high level and many bills placed on third-read consent or consent calendars. A major theme was artificial intelligence: bills would require minors to be told when they are interacting with AI, allow AI-assisted divorce arbitration by consent, create an AI education program, privilege certain AI communications, and require K-12 instruction on ethical and practical AI use. Other education measures addressed school district superintendents, health instruction, anti-Semitism prohibitions, fetal development standards, and school safety, including a bill allowing concealed firearms on school grounds under specified conditions. Several health and public safety bills were also discussed. These included funding and oversight measures for childhood cancer research, nursing care complaint timelines, firefighter cancer data collection, limits on pharmacy penalties, and a bill making it a felony to administer abortion-inducing drugs without consent. Members also heard bills on overtime wage enforcement, domestic violence evidence standards in parenting cases, probation limits for dangerous crimes against children, and a measure expanding manslaughter liability to online encouragement of teen suicide. One sponsor strongly opposed a provisional medical licensing bill for foreign-trained applicants, while other sponsors emphasized rural health access, nurse anesthetist reimbursement parity, and the need for a dental board member who is an oral surgeon. A large portion of the meeting focused on water, land, energy, and state agency oversight. Bills would streamline or change rules for small modular reactors, new power plants, water supply determinations, groundwater transportation fees, water hauling, and state land disposition. Members also considered measures affecting the State Land Department, including audits, oversight boards, continuation, land-use maps for data centers and energy projects, and rules for mineral leases and solar or wind siting. Other topics included wildlife and ranching, Mexican wolf policy, annexation, housing and development incentives, transportation and towing rules, digital driver licenses, and a proposed four-year moratorium on municipal and county fee, tax, and utility-rate increases, which drew questions about stakeholder input and the impact on enterprise funds and local utilities. No recorded roll-call votes were taken in the transcript; most items were simply presented, briefly discussed, and left on consent or calendar status, with one bill noted as held in rules and another pulled for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislation also caps the amount of medical damages recoverable in personal injury actions.
• Did you discuss the whole branch legislative agenda?
• McClure, to discuss the Judicial Branch legislative agenda, you are recognized, sir.
• They can also emanate from budget issues that are part of our legislative budget request.
• There are some positions legislatively prescribed in statute for the court system.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Gerdes on legislation in this, this whole area, and, but let me ask you, so I'm looking at the bill.
• , or MALCC, arguably promotes procedures and has, is designed in regard to race.
• The local voters can vote them out if they do not like these policies or procedures.
• Uh, this legislation is, of course, based on the Kennedy v.
• My name is Blake Roach, and I serve as Associate legislative director for Texas Farm Bureau.

Bills: SB 231, SB 667, SB 689, SB 825, SB 965, SB 992, SB 1059, SB 1220, SB 2368, SB 2601

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• This is exactly why a standardized response procedure is critical.
• No one in the DOE knows how to implement a response procedure consistently statewide.
• <00:44:04.800> consistant response procedure consistant response procedure consistant Statewide
• I think one of the things that we have been tightening up is the procedures.
• Hopefully it gets through the whole legislative session this year and doesn’t die.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Education met on January 30 and heard testimony on several bills, beginning with an announcement asking testifiers and members to keep remarks brief because of weather. The vice chair also explained that HB 440, relating to immigration issues in schools and state hospitals, was removed from the agenda because the proposal would not create meaningful legal protections and immigration policy is governed by federal law. The committee then moved through a series of education-related measures, with testimony largely from the Department of Education, the School Facilities Authority, the Attorney General’s office, unions, advocacy groups, and individual testifiers. On HB 330, concerning school impact fees, the School Facilities Authority supported the bill as aligning policy with implementation, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii said the fee accounts have accumulated large balances, including more than $20 million in impact fee funds and nearly $9 million from predecessor fair-share contributions, and urged that collected money be used rather than left idle. DOE said it would follow up on the balance and why it was not being used. On HB 1188, dealing with workforce housing, DOE and the Charter School Commission offered comments or support, the Attorney General suggested clarifying the phrase “within commuting distance” by using a mileage standard and adding repayment language, and HSTA, HGEA, and others supported the bill, with HSTA saying teachers need housing to be able to live and work in Hawaii. On HB 624 and HB 625, both related to school psychologists, DOE said it would participate in a work group on the pathway bill and supported the incentive program bill; school psychologists and related groups supported the measures, while one testifier said DOE should not lead the work group alone because school psychologists may work in many education settings beyond DOE schools. The committee also heard HB 1314 on youth mental health in schools. DOE described its student support process, universal screening tools, and behavioral health services, saying schools already identify and respond to concerns and that staff are trained to report issues, while the Attorney General warned the bill could expose schools to liability and recommended a broad liability waiver. Testimony was mixed, with several supporters and one opponent. On HB 616, concerning school safety and harassment protections for educational workers, the Attorney General sought clarifying amendments on harassment definitions, temporary restraining order costs, and paid leave, while HSTA, HGEA, and individual teachers strongly supported the bill, describing harassment incidents and arguing for a standardized statewide response. DOE said it already has reporting pathways, visitor codes of conduct, trespass notices, and an ethics hotline, but acknowledged implementation varies by school and that staff can escalate concerns if needed. The committee also began hearing HB 88 on a three-year pilot program for athletic travel, but the transcript cuts off before that bill’s testimony is completed or any votes are taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:07.399> just and but but none of them legislated just and but but none of them legislated
• That's what this kind of legislation is.
• <01:04:43.640> like than just those surgical procedures like than just those surgical procedures
• <01:07:31.799> because may may refuse uh a procedure because may may refuse uh a procedure
• access to these harmful procedures access to these harmful procedures children<02:14:48.280>

Keywords: 1189, house, all