Transcript Highlights:

• Power and Dominion Energy are required to petition the SCC for approval to construct, acquire, or procure
• Under the bill, APCO shall petition the Commission for approval to construct, acquire, or procure at
• With respect to Dominion, it shall petition the Commission for approval to construct, acquire, or procure

Keywords: House Room A, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 1293 this is relating to doe procurement 1293 this is relating to doe procurement for<01:18:20.440
• We have the State Procurement Office offering comments on Zoom.
• Bonnie Kcoy, Administrator, State Procurement Office.
• Do you know if in the current contract there's a provision for emergency procurement?
• For you to be able to procure, right, with another market-rate available service provider.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 707 on the College Savings Program. Members discussed a suggested amendment from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities to include the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program. The chair said the Department of the Attorney General advised there was no title problem, so the bill could be broadened to cover both the College Savings Program and the ABLE program. The committee also noted technical, non-substantive changes and a defective date of July 1, 3000 for further discussion. HB 707 HD1 was then voted on and the recommendation to pass with amendments was adopted unanimously by the members present, with two members excused. The committee then heard House Bill 424, which would provide free breakfast and lunch beginning the next school year to students who currently qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The Department of Education supported the measure, and testimony in favor came from teachers, public health and food security advocates, and several organizations. Supporters described students being denied meals because of unpaid balances, said school meals should not depend on family debt, and argued that the bill would reduce stigma and help hungry students learn. Committee questions focused on meal pricing, the impact of raising prices on families who pay full price, and whether portion sizes could be increased; DOE said breakfast costs less than lunch, full-price students would bear any increase, and portion sizes must follow USDA rules. Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute and Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network said many families above the free/reduced thresholds still cannot afford meals, citing estimates that the DOE collects about $20 million a year in meal payments and that federal reimbursement totals are much larger. The committee then heard House Bill 757, the universal free school breakfast and lunch bill. DOE and the Department of Health supported it, and testimony was overwhelmingly in favor from county officials, teachers, students, food banks, advocacy groups, and community organizations. Witnesses argued that universal meals would eliminate stigma, reduce paperwork and debt collection, and ensure students do not fall through the cracks because of income cutoffs, language barriers, or administrative hurdles. Several students from Castle High School described classmates asking for food and families struggling to keep meal accounts funded, while teachers said they regularly see negative meal balance notices and hungry students. Advocates also said the bill is the better equity vehicle because it avoids means testing and reaches students who are not currently receiving meals despite needing them. The hearing on HB 757 was still ongoing at the end of the transcript, and no final vote on that bill was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our full-time jobs right now are procurement, to make sure that we're able to sign the contracts we need
• But when we are able—and we are working hour to hour, which is our goal on procurement—once we sign our
• And that's really, it's as much of a comms as it is a procurement.
• As far as the procurement vehicles, the end goal is for the funds to get hyper-local, to get to the frontline
• For any of you who've ever worked with state agency procurement, it is not easy.

Keywords: House Select Committee on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Concurrent Resolution 9, a concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Research Commission to procure
• Concurrent Resolution 9, a concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Research Commission to procure
• Legislative Research directing the Legislative Research Commission<00:16:08.480> to<00:16:09.199> procure
• <00:16:09.839> a<00:16:10.160> vendor<00:16:10.800> to Commission to procure
• a vendor to Commission to procure a vendor to conduct<00:16:11.519> a<00:16:11.759> feasibility

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Senate convened for the opening of the 2026 regular session with an invocation and pledge, then administered the oath of office to Senator-elect Gary Clemens of Jefferson 37. The chamber adopted Senate Resolution 1, establishing the 2026 Senate membership, and declared a quorum present with 36 members. The absent senators were excused, and the journal from March 28, 2025 was approved. The Senate then adopted Senate Resolution 2, which set the rules of procedure for the 2026 session. The rule changes included moving certain resolutions and announcements, removing the 12-member limit on standing committees, shifting administrative regulation jurisdiction, eliminating hard-copy posting and bill-printing requirements in favor of electronic versions, allowing same-day action on conference reports, striking COVID-era remote voting language, tightening floor privilege and lobbying access rules for the temporary chambers, and repealing vote-pairing language. Democratic leadership also reported a change in majority whip, naming the senator from Jefferson 19 after the former whip resigned. The clerk reported a large number of newly filed measures, including memorial resolutions, policy resolutions, and bills on topics such as safe room rebates, trauma center coverage, planning commission membership, paid maternity leave for state employees, veterans benefits, wages, CASA, podiatry, mushrooms, motor vehicle operation, schools, city government, music therapy, dual credit scholarships, geoengineering, educational discrimination, cremation, solid waste, motor vehicle commission, economic infrastructure, recovery residences, property transfer at death, oaths, and an Article V convention term-limits resolution. Senate Resolution 3, inviting Frankfurt-area pastors to open sessions with prayer, was adopted. Members also announced an ethics training for the next day and a reception for Senator Clemens. The Senate then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting date announced by the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• support between a governmental entity and an abortion assistance entity or abortion provider for the procurement
• happy to see on line 23 and 24 of page 2, it's for the express purpose of assisting a woman with procuring
• Means any person that procures or facilitates a woman's procurement of an abortion. OK.
• Athens, where I'm from, it is against the law to to travel from or through Athens, uh, to, uh, uh, procure

Bills: SB 6, SB 11, SB 33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• support between a government entity and an abortion assistance entity or abortion provider for the procurement
• Happy to see on lines 23 and 24 of page two, it's for the express purpose of assisting with procuring
• Procures or facilitates a woman's procurement of an abortion, okay? Tell me where in the bill...
• In Athens, where I'm from, it is against the law to try to ...travel from or through Athens to procure

Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• Code and the Local Government Code to adjust the expenditure thresholds that trigger competitive procurement
• It increases the threshold for school district contracts requiring competitive procurement from $50,000
• House Bill 1998 allows local governmental entities greater flexibility and efficiency in their procurement
• We agree that it definitely moves forward with efficiency and flexibility in our procurement process.
• It would reduce the cost for advertising for those procurements that are within that range, and it would

Bills: HB158

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivision, government spending, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• Across the food system, Track One, the K-12 Procurement and Education Track, funds individual schools
• This evaluation determined that these actions alone had resulted in increased procurement of California-grown
• support the implementation of farm-to-school practices, such as capacity grants for farmers to meet procurement
• help the farmers expand their capacity, saying, "I want to grow more produce of X so this school can procure
• Procurement issues and contracting issues.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The procurement code is... you don't necessarily have to follow the procurement code.
• And if you're trying to move that along, you don't want to be involved with the procurement code.
• As you can see, most of this bill is everything that's exempt from the procurement code at this time.
• want to thank Representative Montoya for raising one of my first concerns about exemptions to the procurement

Transcript Highlights:

• And then eight went to procurement, which a lot of our state policy makers were really concerned about
• guide that goes with one of our reports, and it's the best procurement guide I've seen out there for
• And then eight went<00:10:05.480> to<00:10:05.560> procurement,<00:10:06.120> which<
• , which a lot of our went to procurement, which a lot of our state<00:10:07.600> policy<00:10:
• <00:10:15.880> guide<00:10:16.560> that we've created a procurement guide that we've

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Artificial Intelligence Task Force met and adopted the prior minutes before turning to AI in education. Jeff Gagne of the Southern Regional Education Board described SREB’s Commission on AI in Education, which has organized its work into committees on policy, K-12 instruction, postsecondary instruction, and skills development. He highlighted eight commission recommendations covering statewide AI networks, targeted guidance for different user groups, professional development, standards and curricula, local capacity assessments, risk management, procurement, and AI-ready workforce skills. He also emphasized that states need more specific guidance for students, teachers, faculty, administrators, and parents, and that training is essential because many educators have not been prepared to use AI in instruction. Gagne also summarized two recent SREB reports: one on AI-ready workforce skills and one on AI use in K-12 classrooms. The workforce report recommends embedding AI across standards, strengthening computer science and digital learning standards, collaborating with industry and workforce agencies, building AI competencies into training and upskilling, providing educator professional development, and monitoring readiness. He said the report identifies three skill areas: success skills, industry baseline skills, and technical skills. The classroom guidance report promotes responsible AI adoption, with four pillars focused on increasing cognitive demand, streamlining teaching and administrative work, supporting personalized learning, and developing ethical AI users. He also noted that the report includes an AI procurement tool for school districts. Members thanked Gagne for providing outside examples and resources. One member noted JCPS has an introductory AI professional development offering for educators. Gagne said Kentucky’s David Couch serves on the SREB commission and that the commission’s member list and reports are available on SREB’s website. The committee then heard from Travis Powell of the Council on Postsecondary Education, who said CPE had surveyed campuses and found that Kentucky institutions have broadly embraced AI in teaching, research, student services, and administrative operations. He said all institutions have AI-focused degrees, minors, or courses, and many are integrating AI into general education and across disciplines. Powell also said CPE is considering an AI consortium and that campuses are using AI in research partnerships and applied work, while continuing to focus on ethical and effective use.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill only proposes to cover our Stage 3, which is our most recent procurement, and then our next
• procurement, the first round of IGP RFP procurement.
• My name is Rebecca De Matsushima, Vice President of Resource Procurement for Hawaiian Electric.
• That's the concern, and that's what the competitive procurement process is intended to achieve.
• process is intended to one procurement process is intended to one of<00:23:35.320> the<00:23:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several energy and environmental bills. On HB 974, which would authorize state step-in agreements for certain power purchase agreements and create a trust fund/reserve mechanism, the Attorney General’s office raised concern that the state should not incur liability beyond the trust fund. The Division of Consumer Advocacy said it had comments but did not take a position, while the Public Utilities Commission, Ameresco, Hawaiian Electric, and other industry groups supported the measure, saying it would help developers secure financing for renewable projects and improve reliability. Hawaiian Electric said the bill would not use state funds and that its proposed reserve account would be held in trust and returned to customers if unused. Committee members questioned whether the reserve would raise customer costs; Hawaiian Electric said the amount would be small and would be offset by avoiding higher financing costs, while Consumer Advocacy suggested the language should be strengthened to ensure unused funds are fully returned. The committee then heard HB 338, which would clarify that premium interest-rate adjustments for non-fossil fuel generation are just and reasonable and allow the PUC to include them in rates. DCCA and the State Energy Office supported the bill, and the PUC also supported it. Hawaiian Electric opposed unless amended, arguing the PUC already has discretion and warning the bill could weaken competitive procurement by encouraging higher bids tied to the utility’s credit rating. DCCA said the concern was that developers might not seek the best financing if premium rates are recoverable, but said Hawaiian Electric’s suggested amendment requiring clear and convincing evidence of unavoidable financing-cost increases would help. Members also asked about refinancing and whether developers could later lower debt costs after locking in a premium rate; DCCA said that ability exists and suggested a time limit or review mechanism. For HB 337, which would direct the PUC to establish standards requiring utilities to remove certain fossil-fuel costs from the rate base when adding renewable resources, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, and the State Energy Office supported the measure. Hawaiian Electric opposed it, saying it misunderstood utility cost recovery and could threaten grid reliability because fossil plants provide ancillary services such as voltage regulation and balancing, not just energy. Hawaiian Electric pointed to its integrated grid plan and recent fossil-unit retirements as evidence of ongoing transition, and asked the committee to defer the bill and leave oversight to the PUC. The committee also heard HB 879 on cesspool conversions, which would raise the maximum grant from $20,000 to $30,000 and add DOH positions; DHHL, DOH, environmental groups, Hawaii Realtors, and others supported it, while DOH discussed staffing needs and the practical effect of the higher grant cap. The committee also began HB 379 on requiring denitrification capacity for certain wastewater systems near shorelines or groundwater, with DLNR testifying in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Does the administering agency have enough staffing, technical expertise, procurement infrastructure,
• I want to emphasize that this is not a procurement effort. Have partners been engaged?
• I want to emphasize that this is not a procurement effort. ...to the trestle corridor.
• I want to emphasize that this is not a procurement effort.
• Its objective is to provide information to policymakers, not a recommendation to procure.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um<00:12:39.000> because<00:12:39.320> whatever<00:12:39.839> procurement<00:12:
• 40.600> process Um because whatever procurement process Um because whatever procurement process
• And in the future, what does that process look like when you guys are going through the emergency procurement
• 33.880> through<00:14:34.040> the<00:14:34.160> emergency<00:14:34.760> procurement
• going through the emergency procurement going through the emergency procurement process?

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the end, it is mostly about trying to create a singular home for all of the expectations for procurement
• First, the bill states all purchases must comply with the procurement policy.
• <00:19:59.360> There<00:19:59.520> is<00:19:59.679> no the procurement policy
• There is no the procurement policy. There is no minimum<00:20:00.320> threshold.
• In that conversation, we encouraged MDE to work within Minnesota's existing procurement statutes, which

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• labor-related requirements of the bill, rather than directly requiring DLWD to establish standards and audit
• Act, which establishes an Advanced Nuclear Energy Procurement Program in the BPU.
• One, a transparent procurement process that directs the BPU and the EDA to negotiate on behalf of the
• One, a transparent procurement process that directs the BPU and the EDA to negotiate on behalf of the

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows for a procurement process between school districts.
• So, I'll go with the procurement... bill SB 580 actually does it does three bill SB 580 actually does
• There's a it allows for a procurement<00:46:07.680> process procurement process procurement process
• So, I'll go with the procurement process first.
• like they do will handle the procurement like they do for<00:49:39.440> other<00:49:39.720>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:00:06.799> for at least 1 million are procured for at least 1 million are procured for
• And I understand that you have a limitation on it, but we also don't understand if we procure energy
• And I understand that you have a limitation on it, but we also don't understand if we procure energy
• And I understand that you have a limitation on it, but we also don't understand if we procure energy
• And I understand that you have a limitation on it, but we also don't understand if we procure energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This establishes a procurement automation system special fund, which aligns with procurement statute.
• This establishes a procurement automation system special fund, which aligns with procurement statute
• I'm from the State Procurement Office.
• I'm from the State Procurement Office.
• This establishes automated special fund system alignment for procurement statute, and it adds the Ed

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Education met on February 6 at 2:00 p.m. and heard testimony on a series of education-related bills. HB 1200, which would codify teacher ratios in statute, drew support from the Department of Education, the Democratic Party of the Education Caucus, and 11 individuals; no opposition was noted and the committee moved on without questions. HB 1344, concerning mandatory FAFSA completion, received testimony from the Department of Education, Hawaii P20, and a University of Hawaiʻi student who cited unclaimed Pell Grant funds and low FAFSA completion rates as reasons to support the bill. Committee members asked about current outreach efforts, and DOE and P20 described FAFSA tracking data, hotlines, email support, school-based FAFSA nights, and coordination with counselors; members also raised concerns about federal education funding and Pell Grants. The committee then heard HB 1499, which would authorize staff and volunteers to administer certain medications. The Department of Education, Department of Health, University of Hawaiʻi nursing leadership, and the Hawaii State Center for Nursing all testified in support, along with several individuals and the Democratic Party Environmental Caucus. The next measure, HB 902 on the Public Safety Power Shutoff program, was supported by DOE, the Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaiian Electric, but it prompted extensive questioning from the Vice Chair about whether taxpayers should fund a study to help schools remain open during shutoffs. Hawaiian Electric said the bill would help DOE assess impacts in wildfire-risk areas and noted its wildfire safety strategy, outreach efforts, and potential community resource centers, while the Vice Chair argued the utility should bear more of the cost. The committee also heard HB 961, a bill on school libraries and a CASS pilot program, with DOE offering comments and HSTA and the Hawaii Library Association strongly supporting it. HSTA argued certified librarians are important for literacy, research, and digital literacy, and said many schools lack them because of cost; the association and 14 individuals testified in support. HB 962, a related bill on DOE libraries and the system, also drew support from DOE, HSTA, and the Hawaii Library Association, with 15 individuals in support. Finally, HB 730, concerning the Civil Rights Compliance Branch, received support from DOE, White Children’s Action Network, AAW of Hawaiʻi, and many individuals. Testifiers said the branch needs more resources and training and handles more than Title IX, including Title VI, Title VII, and ADA matters. A student plaintiff in a Title IX lawsuit described unequal treatment in athletics and facilities, and another supporter said the bill would help ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what I'm asking the next time around is how do these provisions correlate with procurement statutes
• , ...how do these provisions correlate with procurement statutes for public projects and also bond law
• So the timeline reflects the complexity of siting, permitting, procurement, finance, and building a regional

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy heard and approved two bills. First, it took up CS for SB 290, an agriculture and consumer services bill, and adopted a strike-all amendment that covered a wide range of issues: density limits for certain small municipalities, a delay in biosolids rule changes from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2028, higher insurance and penalty requirements for fumigation businesses, longer payment timeframes for contractors to pay subcontractors and suppliers, restrictions on county agritourism permitting ordinances, and renaming the Bonifay Forestry Station. Senators raised concerns about the contractor penalty increase, local government preemption, and the biosolids provisions. Audubon Florida testified in opposition to the state lands and biosolids sections, while several industry and agriculture groups waved in support. The committee then voted the bill favorably, with Senator Bracey Davis voting no. The committee next heard SB 320 on administrative efficiency in public schools. The bill would reduce district-level requirements in areas such as assessments, personnel, facilities, and budgeting; expand teacher apprenticeship and multi-year contracts; streamline salary supplements and testing calendars; give districts more flexibility with Title I and capital funds; update facility planning rules; and shift oversight of district-run VPK programs. Supporters from several school districts and education groups waved in favor. Senators generally supported the goal of reducing administrative burdens, though one question was raised about remedies if charter schools fail to respond directly to Department of Education inquiries. The sponsor said the bill is intended to create a more direct reporting path and reduce unnecessary layers of regulation. SB 320 was reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the state lobbying law to include certain communications with government officials regarding procurement
• and the state lobbying law includes certain communications with government officials regarding procurement
• and the state lobbying law includes certain communications with government officials regarding procurement

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met to take up several House bills and adopted recommendations on a number of them. HB 111, which would authorize civil claims against persons or businesses profiting from sexual exploitation or sex trafficking and extend the civil statute of limitations to 10 years, was recommended to pass unamended after discussion with the Attorney General’s office. HB 54, increasing penalties for repeated excessive speeding offenses, was recommended to pass with the Attorney General’s first suggested amendment requiring identification processing, including fingerprinting and photographing, for convicted violators unless already done. HB 70, dealing with condominium budget summaries and reserve requirements, was recommended to pass as amended, and HB 320, allowing supported decision-making agreements for qualified adults including those with disabilities, mental illness, or age 65 and older, was also recommended to pass as amended. These recommendations were adopted without objection, though some members noted reservations on HB 54 and HB 70. HB 239, which would clarify that inability to provide certain needs to a child due solely to lack of financial resources does not constitute abuse or neglect, was deferred to Thursday, April 3, at 10:00 a.m. HB 359, concerning covered offender registration and a proposed exemption related to sexual assault in the fourth degree, was recommended to pass with amendments deleting section 2 after concerns that the current statute already covers the issue and that the added language would create a title problem by addressing two topics. The committee adopted that recommendation. HB 412, establishing presumptions and expanding lobbying-related definitions for certain communications with government officials, was recommended to pass with an added clarification excluding purely informational, ceremonial, or routine relationship-building communications from the presumption; that recommendation was also adopted. HB 472, which would allow digitized identification cards to be accepted as valid identification and authorize law enforcement agencies to accept them under certain circumstances, was not decided. After a recess, the chair announced that everything after HB 412 would be deferred to Thursday, the 27th, at 10:30 p.m. in room 016, and the remaining items were postponed.