Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to say Ed policy is so cool because we get so many young people sitting at the table, and
• sort of just want on the bill I just I sort of just want to<00:09:46.000> say<00:09:46.240> Ed
• policy is so cool because we to say Ed policy is so cool because we get<00:09:48.360> so<00:09
• Representative Mueller continued, “I’ve seen this when I went to my Excel and Ed conference this past
• commissioner of uh the office of High Ed commissioner of uh the office of High Ed Wendy<01:03:47.400

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And Natalie is going to look into inviting public librarians as well as higher ed librarians.
• I have some panhandle people that for higher ed that I'm kind of tapping into.
• I'm sure there will be one for higher ed of people wanting to participate, but they can't.
• Higher ed is going to have a meeting. Career tech is going to have a meeting.
• It's not just higher ed; it's K-12 and libraries and OETA and career tech and so much more.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> If you've traveled through Shelby County, Martin County, or Whitley County and Fayette County, you've
• /c><01:32:44.960> through<01:32:45.679> uh<01:32:46.239> uh<01:32:46.480> Martin
• Shelby County through uh uh Martin Shelby County through uh uh Martin County<01:32:47.120> or
• Fayette County on Richmond Road, I-75, and Whitley County, and then two locations in Lawrence and Martin
• of the work zones—Shelby County, eastbound and westbound I-75 in Whitley County, and Highway 3 in Martin

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Representative<01:17:01.760> Martin<01:17:02.080> followed<01:17:02.320> by
• >> Representative Martin followed by >> Representative Martin followed by Representative
• >> Member<01:57:49.840> Martin. >> Member Martin. >> Member Martin.

Bills: SB2936, SB2850, SB2851, SB2521

Keywords: accessible parking, disability, kupuna, public accommodations, small business exemptions, Hawaii Revised Statutes, parking permit, blind, deaf, accessibility, deafness, traffic safety, law enforcement, vehicle registration, communication, emergency services, commercial driver's license, first responders, public safety, authorized emergency vehicle

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 1871, establishing a maternal health monitoring pilot program, drew support from the Department of Health, the Hawaii State Commission on Status of Women, and the Hawaii affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives, with testimony urging provider-neutral language so midwives and other qualified providers would not be excluded. HB 1977, requiring a maternal and infant health information mobile app, received support from ACNM and Philips, which said similar apps in other states improved awareness of services and helped families navigate care; a member asked the Department of Health about implementation time. HB 1858, relating to certificates of fetal deaths, was supported by the Department of Health and clinicians, who said the current statute is outdated and inconsistent with CDC guidance; the department and a physician testified that the bill should shift documentation responsibilities to physicians and APRNs, and members discussed optional versus mandatory issuance language and whether the bill would improve data on home births and transfers. The committee also heard HB 1591, expanding definitions for preceptor and volunteer-based clinical training to improve income tax credits. The Department of Health supported the measure but preferred a similar, broader bill; Taxation suggested clarifying terms; the University of Hawaii and the State Center for Nursing supported it. ACNM asked that midwifery preceptors and Hawaii-based students enrolled in mainland programs be included, while the Hawaii Public Health Institute supported expansion of the program as a workforce solution. HB 1574, on the health care education loan repayment program, also drew broad support, including from the governor, SHPDA, OHA, and health organizations, but ACNM raised concerns that the bill’s 30% Medicaid-client threshold could exclude many providers and limit participation. For HB 1575, creating a feasibility committee on Parkinson’s patient air transport, the Department of Health supported the intent but said transportation is more likely an insurance or benefit issue and suggested redirecting funds to Parkinson’s research; the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Hawaii Parkinson Association supported the bill, citing inter-island travel barriers and high costs for patients and caregivers. HB 1854, establishing certification of community behavioral health clinics, was supported by the Department of Health and DHS, which said certification would help clinics qualify for enhanced Medicaid reimbursement and expand access; the Attorney General’s office raised a legal concern about the special fund language and recommended a purpose section, and the committee discussed whether the fund would be self-sustaining and noted a possible amendment to change membership language and reduce the board size if the amendment moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have Kathy Johnson followed by Zach Martin. Please introduce yourself and proceed.
• , we have Kathy Johnson followed by Next, we have Kathy Johnson followed by Zach<00:26:02.240> Martin
• Please introduce yourself Zach Martin. Please introduce yourself and<00:26:03.919> proceed.
• Next, we have Zach Martin followed by Peter Waginius. Please welcome back to the committee.
• My name is Zach Martin, and I'm the manager of government affairs for Minnesota Power, and I'm here on

Bills: HF2928, HF2912, HF2297

Keywords: water appropriation, data centers, environmental review, energy conservation, permit application, carbon-free energy, geothermal energy, renewable energy, Macalester College, appropriation, sustainability, solar energy, pollinator programs, license plates, agrivoltaics, environmental sustainability, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• When I was in high school, I took my driver's ed at my high school.
• about DUI education, which is some of the only statutory language around what's taught in driver's ed
• This is just to help ensure that it's always a topic that's covered during a driver's ed class.
• Chair, Representative, it would be for anyone who's taking... a driver's ed class for the first time.
• I'm pretty sure for older people who don't necessarily need to take the driver's ed class, as long as

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a special ed bill Several years that didn't seem to pass.
• You know, we're not quite sure what the status is of the federal special ed.
• The chatter about these special ed issues that was in everywhere before that is gone.
• It is designed to continue to help our special ed students, teachers, and parents.
• Special Ed is something that is so important, but I want to make sure that we get this right.

Bills: SB48, SB64, SB100

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• Ed Brodsky. Next up, we have David Rambo. Ed Brodsky, you're recognized. My name is Ed Brodsky.
• Chairman Leek and members of the committee, my name is Ed Brodsky.
• Ed Brodsky. Next up, we have David Rambo. Ed Brodsky, you recognized? My name is Ed Brodsky.
• Chairman Leak and members of the committee, my name is Ed Brodsky, I'm the state attorney for the 12th
• And this is my attempt, with the state attorney Ed Brodsky, who brought this to me five years ago, way

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism met with a quorum present and considered several bills. It first took up SB 232 on debt collection, where the sponsor explained a strike-all amendment and the committee adopted a Gruters amendment clarifying that email communications may be sent at any hour while other off-hours communications remain restricted. Testimony was sharply divided on a proposed change from “any person” to “debt collector,” with consumer advocates, legal aid, and the Florida Justice Association warning it would narrow Florida’s consumer protections, while supporters said the bill and amendment would address ambiguity affecting businesses. After debate, the committee rejected the broader amendment, adopted the email-only clarification, and reported CS for SB 232 favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard and unanimously reported favorably CS for SB 126, which would allow prescription hearing aids to be sold and distributed by mail after a Florida-licensed audiologist or hearing aid specialist conducts the required examination, including remotely through telehealth. Supporters said the bill would improve access and reduce barriers for seniors and others with hearing loss, and no opposition was heard. The committee also heard SB 600 and SB 602 on manufacturing, which would create and fund a statewide Office of Manufacturing, a promotional campaign, workforce grants, and related fees; multiple industry and economic development groups appeared in support, and both bills were reported favorably. Next, the committee considered CS for SB 92 on hit-and-run accountability in vehicle repair shops. The sponsor described the bill as a response to rising hit-and-run incidents and explained that repair shops would have to complete a transaction form or retain a crash report for certain repairs, with a clarifying amendment adopted without objection. Prosecutors and law enforcement supporters said the bill would help identify offenders, while auto dealer representatives argued it could impose burdens and penalties on repair shops. The committee nevertheless reported CS for SB 92 favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 412, the Motorized Wheelchair Right to Repair Act, which would require manufacturers to provide repair manuals, diagnostic tools, and parts to owners and independent repair providers under fair and reasonable terms. Disability advocates and wheelchair users testified that repair delays can leave users stranded for weeks or months, and the committee reported the bill favorably by roll call vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• those program types that I mentioned: career certificate, applied technology diploma, adult general ed
• Adult general ed, no more than 1,300.
• These are community opportunities that aren't dependent upon adult ed enrollment.
• While a lot of our students That aren't dependent upon adult ed enrollment, while a lot of our students
• who are testing for a GED are in our adult ed programs, a lot of them are not.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee for Higher Education met to review Florida’s workforce and Florida College System funding models as part of budget planning. Chair Harrell opened by emphasizing the state’s growing focus on technical education and workforce pathways, and the committee first heard from Tara Goodman of the Department of Education on district workforce education. Goodman explained the programs funded through district workforce dollars, including career certificates, applied technology diplomas, registered apprenticeship, and adult general education, and described the model’s reliance on lagged enrollment, program cost weights, local tuition offsets, and supplemental factors such as disability services, GED testing, and minimum funding for small rural districts. She also noted federal support through Perkins and WIOA and said the model is used to determine unmet need and guide appropriations. In response to questions, she said health care programs are generally among the higher-cost offerings and may be supplemented by pipeline funds. The committee then heard from Kathy Hebda, Chancellor of the Florida College System, on the college system’s funding model. Hebda described the main funding sources, including the program fund, student success incentive funds, pipeline funds, tuition and fees, and performance-based incentives, and explained that the current model was developed by the 28 college presidents under legislative direction. She said the model uses a three-year average FTE, weights workforce enrollment more heavily than non-workforce enrollment, gives significant weight to completions, includes a small-college factor and regional cost differentials, and also provides targeted funding to bring colleges up to a floor based on per-FTE funding. Senators asked about colleges below the target, cost differences among programs, faculty salaries, and health insurance costs; Hebda said the model is meant to provide flexible operating dollars that colleges can use for those expenses, but specific salary and benefit decisions are left to the institutions. Seminole State College President Georgia Lorenz also testified in support of the college funding model, saying it holds institutions accountable for enrollment and completions, can be adjusted to reflect state priorities like workforce, and addresses differences in size and regional costs. No bills were voted on, and the committee adjourned after brief closing remarks thanking Seminole State College and the presenters.

Transcript Highlights:

• I show you registered as Ed Johnson.
• I show you registered as Ed Johnson.
• I show you registered as Ed Johnson.
• I show you registered as Ed Johnson.
• I show you're registered as Ed Johnson.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 3709, which would change the partial manual audit process so early voting could be audited by voting location rather than by randomly selected precincts. The author and several supporters said the current precinct-based process is antiquated, labor-intensive, and especially difficult in countywide voting systems and large counties. Opponents and some neutral witnesses raised concerns about whether the change would still allow an apples-to-apples audit against official precinct results, whether random selection procedures should be more clearly defined, and how ballot secrecy and mail ballots would be handled. The Secretary of State’s office said counties already use random selection methods and that the bill would largely standardize early voting audits with election-day procedures, while also noting ballot privacy issues can arise in public records requests. After testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee then took up House Bill 766, as substituted, which would require precinct chair applicants to provide an email address, phone number, or both, while making that contact information confidential. Supporters said the change would help parties and local officials contact applicants more efficiently. Opponents argued it could expose personal contact information to public records requests and harassment, and some suggested the information should instead be handled through party rules. The bill was left pending after the committee substitute was withdrawn. House Bill 3775 followed and would set clearer timelines for when early voting ballot boards may begin opening carrier envelopes, with different start times based on county size. Supporters said the bill would address counties opening ballots too early and improve ballot security, while opponents warned it could delay defect notices and cure opportunities for mail voters and create problems in large counties that process high volumes of ballots. Testimony also focused on whether the bill referred to carrier envelopes or secrecy envelopes and on how counties like Harris County currently image and secure ballot materials. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4275, which would require countywide polling systems to have polling places in each election precinct, intended to address uneven distribution of polling locations across county commissioner precincts. Supporters said the bill would make polling place distribution fairer and more consistent, especially in Harris County, while opponents said it would undermine countywide voting, increase costs, require more equipment and staff, and reduce local flexibility. Several witnesses also raised concerns about ballot secrecy and the practical burden on large and rural counties. The bill remained under discussion as testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• hundreds of emails, in person, and online testimony, letters, phone calls, rallies, and published op-ed
• Martin Luther King Jr.'
• <05:51:43.280> Martin the ought to pass motion and Dr.
• Martin the ought to pass motion and Dr.
• Martin Luther<05:51:44.080> King<05:51:44.480> Jr.'

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's a call to them with declining enrollment, with special ed, and where things are at and those
• And it's a call to them with declining enrollment, with special ed, and where things are at and those
• And it's a call to them with declining enrollment, with special ed, and where things are at and those
• And it's a call to them with declining enrollment, with special ed, and where things are at and those
• And it's a call to them with declining enrollment, with special ed, and where things are at and those

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, chair calls, uh, Charlie Flatten, Marvin Jones, Ed McCarthy, and William Davis.
• Ed, I'm sorry. Members, any other questions? Mr. McCarthy? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Members, my name is Ed McCarthy.
• Ed makes a great argument for raising TCEQ's penalty authority to a higher amount.
• Ed McCarthy. chairs in the rates OK. And we'll go and call up Ashley Myers as well.

Bills: SB 1169, SB 1285, SB 1583, SB 1611, SB 1898, SB 1976, SB 2160, SB 2161, SB 2658, SB 2661, SB 2662, SB 2692, SB 1055, SB 1359, SB 2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:58.400> application, uh higher ed application, uh higher ed application, uh<00:09:00.720
• are not opposed to teaching Indian Ed are not opposed to teaching Indian Ed for<01:03:56.040>
• Have we really done that for Indian Ed for All?
• One is Aux Ed, and they're geared towards pre-K through first grade.
• One is Aux Ed, and they're geared towards pre-K through first grade.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Martin? Mr. Matias? Ms. Matsumoto? Mr. Miyake? Ms. Morikawa? Mr. Muraoka? Ms. Nakamura? Mr. Olds?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Martin? Here. Mr. Matayoshi? Ms. Matsumoto? Present. Mr. Miyake? Here. Ms. Morikawa? Here. Mr.

Bills: SB3136, SB2521, SB2851, SB3154, SB3262, SB2387, SB3001, SB2818, SB2972, SB2372, SB2108, SB888, SB3320, SB2798, SB2110, SB3007, SB2615, SB2095, SB2101, SB3138, SB2756, SB3229, SB2969, SB3286, SB3238, SB2557, SB3140, SB2014, SB3097, SB3096, SB3069, SB99, SB2930, SB2268, SB2543, SB3022, SB3109, SB3215, SB3152, SB3156, SB3234, SB3053, SB3067, SB2673, SB411, SB2041, SB2919, SB2532, SB2152, SB2721, SB2446, SB2601, SB2239, SB2804, SB3324, SB2802, SB2577, SB2320, SB2706, SB2595, SB2781, SB2961, SB2433, SB2657, SB2340, SB3045, SB3203, SB2861, SB3245, SB2803, SB3204, SB3025, SB2138, SB2645, SB3082, SB2109, SB2261, SB3332, SB2811, SB2567, SB2125, SB2866, SB83, SB874, SB2386, SB3137, SB3132, SB2175, SB2272, SB2271, SB847, SB3302, SB2089, SB2102, SB2050, SB2694, SB2487, SB2061, SB709, SB3083, SB2151, SB2852, SB2471, SB2568, SB2253, SB2697, SB2429, SB2929, SB3032, SB2057, SB148, SB2353, SB2075, SB2907, SB2074, SB3219, SB3218, SB2367, SB3048, SB17, SB3253, SB2376, SB3103, SB2999, SB3255, SB1166, SB3157, SB2698, SB3029, SB2146, SB2470, SB3040, SB3076, SB2575, SB3294, SB2438, SB2530, SB2688

Keywords: lead-free, lead in drinking water, drinking water, water infrastructure, public water system, plumbing, pipe fittings, solder, flux, fixtures, cast iron pipe repair, nonpotable water, Safe Drinking Water Act, Department of Health, water quality, lead exposure, lead contamination, water utilities, backflow preventer, fire hydrant

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to acknowledge Carmen Martin, who is one of the staff here and the account maintenance specialist

Transcript Highlights:

• I WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR CHARTER SCHOOL IN MARTIN COUNTY, HOPE SCHOOL FOR AUTISM, AS WELL AS THE CENTER

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For many years, Ed was a labor lawyer for the ILWU.
• Ed's legacy is one we can all admire, and Ed would have been so proud of you.
• CJ, like Ed, you understood the real-life problems of people.
• would would have can all admire and Ed would would have been<00:58:26.599> so<00:58:26.880>
• you understood the real life CJ like Ed you understood the real life problems<00:58:40.839> of

Keywords: State of the Judiciary Address by Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Alex Sidell and Ben Martin, I think it says. Good morning, gentlemen.
• /c><00:30:56.919> I<00:30:57.159> think<00:30:57.320> it Alex Sidell and Ben Martin
• I think it Alex Sidell and Ben Martin I think it says good<00:31:06.320> morning good morning
• <00:31:21.320> mcdna Commission and I'm with Ben Martin mcdna Commission and I'm with Ben
• Martin mcdna who's<00:31:22.320> also<00:31:22.559> a<00:31:22.639> senior<00:31

Keywords: 1191, senate, all