Transcript Highlights:

• planning and investment stuff, and on top of that some of the decisions in terms of expelling many immigrants
• :05:02.160><c> of</c><00:05:02.880><c> expelling</c><00:05:03.960><c> many</c><00:05:04.960><c> immigrants
• </c> in terms of expelling many immigrants in terms of expelling many immigrants from<00:05:05.840><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Americans, but also they serve a lot of communities: Somali, New American, Korean, and other new immigrants
• other</c><00:03:02.760><c> uh</c><00:03:02.959><c> uh</c><00:03:03.080><c> new</c><00:03:03.519><c> immigrant
• </c><00:03:04.000><c> to</c> and other uh uh new immigrant to and other uh uh new immigrant to integrate

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Lailani Stacy, and I'm the immigrants rights attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union
• <01:00:42.280><c> on</c> Keeping our community safe and federal law enforcement focusing on any immigration
• This is Liza Rain Gill with the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights.
• We are standing on for Immigrant Rights.
• bills, and we have many immigration bills, and we have worked<01:33:01.040><c> very</c><01:33:01.320

Bills: SB2580, SB2578, SB2259, SB3084, SB2816, SB2928, SB2075, SB3322, SB2377, SB2436, SB2835, SB3248

Keywords: SB2580, Hawaii film tax credit, motion picture tax credit, digital media credit, film production incentive, income tax credit, general excise tax exemption, DBEDT, DOTAX, local hires, local workforce, film industry, movie production, television production, streaming platform, streaming series, loan-out companies, motion picture project employer, qualified production, qualified production costs

Summary: The committee opened by reviewing hearing procedures and then took up SB 2580, which concerns Hawaii’s film production tax credit and related incentives. Testimony was strongly supportive overall, with witnesses saying the measure would help attract productions, extend the sunset date, include streaming platforms, and strengthen the state’s competitiveness. Several supporters asked for cleanup language on grant administration, tax credit management, local-hire uplifts, and limits on third-party audit requirements for smaller productions. The state film office said the bill was generally strong but suggested clarifying language and noted that DBEDT and DOTAX already provide oversight of the current credit. No vote was taken in the transcript, but the bill drew broad support with a few comments and one opposition noted later in the hearing. The committee then heard SB 2578 SD1, a measure to create a film commission and related grant structure. Testifiers said the proposal would formalize industry input, improve accountability, and help the state compete globally, but they also raised concerns about how a new grant program would interact with the existing tax credit system. The film office said the grant program and tax credit should be separated operationally, that the advisory structure should include industry voices and possibly union representation, and that county film commissioner language may need technical adjustment. A testifier also suggested a Hawaii film museum and related tourism opportunities. The measure was described as having 42 supporters, one opposition, and five comments, with no final action shown. The committee next considered SB 2259, a dementia training measure. Supporters, including the bill’s drafter and the Alzheimer’s Association, described personal caregiving experiences and said free dementia training could help workers and families. Suggested amendments focused on clarifying the relationship between EOA and DBED and allowing retraining every two years because of workforce turnover. DBED said the bill is worthwhile but is not really an economic development initiative, and it should align with existing dementia programs and be easy for businesses to use, preferably online. The committee then moved to SB 3084 SD1, which HTDC said would expand its R&D matching program beyond SBIR to other federal research grants because of uncertainty at the federal level; the transcript ends as testimony begins, with no vote or final action recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• This linguistic misunderstanding creates a dangerous gap that fraudsters exploit, misleading immigrants
• So when folks go out there into immigrant populations and communities and offer themselves as... ...there
• into immigrant populations and communities and offer themselves up as notaries.
• And they take advantage of people who are seeking legal immigration services.
• status and immigration-related issues.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledge, and several recognitions, including remarks from Senator Berman on Democratic priorities and introductions of military leaders and an intern. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar, with many bills substituted to House companions, amended, and passed, while several others were temporarily postponed. Major measures approved included the dangerous dogs/Pam Rock Act (SB 572/HB 593), which tightened penalties and procedures for dog attacks and passed 36-0; local government land regulation (SB 1080), which was amended to remove agricultural enclave language and passed 26-8; vessel/freedom-related legislation (SB 1388/HB 1137), which passed 35-0; blood clot screening and treatment (SB 890/HB 1421), which added registry and training provisions and passed 36-0; fleeing or eluding law enforcement (SB 468/HB 113), which increased offense levels and passed 36-0; concealed carry/licensing for certain officers and service members (SB 490/HB 383), which passed 33-3; timeshare management (SB 496/HB 897), which clarified governance and annual meeting requirements and passed 36-0; background screening education (SB 614/HB 531), which created a public webpage and passed 36-0; utility service restrictions (SB 1002/HB 1137), which preempted local energy-source restrictions and passed 36-0; Medicaid oversight (SB 1060), which created a joint oversight committee and passed 35-0; health facilities authorities (SB 68), amended to make fentanyl urine screening more discretionary, and passed 36-0; and veterans’ nursing home beds (SB 78/HB 797), which authorized veteran- and spouse-designated beds and passed 36-0. The chamber also passed disability history and awareness instruction (SB 540/HB 447), a highly personal bill honoring Evan Hartzell that drew extended debate about disability language, inclusion, and education; it passed 35-0 after 35 co-sponsors were added. Manufacturing policy bills SB 600 and SB 602 were approved after amendments to add reporting, ranking metrics, and fee-use restrictions, both passing 35-0. Educational opportunities for military children (SB 1528) passed 36-0 after testimony from student sponsors and senators praising the bill’s origin. Several other bills, including Medicaid oversight, mammograms, Parkinson’s disease, condominium/cooperative associations, waste management, human trafficking, and Bright Futures, were postponed or not taken up during this segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every country has immigration laws.
• </c><02:39:03.439><c> When</c> Every country has immigration laws.
• When Every country has immigration laws.
• </c> free speech when it came to immigration free speech when it came to immigration policies. policies
• </c><02:48:08.399><c> law</c> enforcement, at least immigration law enforcement, at least immigration

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Josiah Bartlett was an immigrant from Massachusetts.
• Josiah Bartlett was an immigrant from Massachusetts.
• </c><03:26:18.040><c> here</c> wealthy family when he immigrated here wealthy family when he immigrated
• I can, from that immigration, just ask. I don't know.
• </c> other than as designated by immigration other than as designated by immigration officers<04:32:01.560

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education to require objective, science-based evidence for pedagogical methods. The prime sponsor said the bill is a verbatim reintroduction from the prior session and argued that current federal definitions are too vague, allowing subjective surveys and other weak evidence to justify teaching methods. He said the bill is limited to pedagogy, not subject matter, and is intended to improve student outcomes, reduce fad-driven practices, and potentially save money by limiting unnecessary retraining and new materials. Members asked repeatedly about the bill’s scope, including whether it would affect classroom teachers, curriculum content, and existing instructional approaches such as phonics versus whole language or queuing. The sponsor said the bill applies to state and local education bodies and educator training policies, not individual teachers in their classrooms, and that teachers would retain flexibility. He also said standardized testing could be part of a scientific study but is not itself a study, and that textbook providers could be asked to furnish the studies supporting instructional guidance included in their materials. Several members raised concerns about the fiscal note and possible cost shifts to local districts and taxpayers. The sponsor disputed the idea that the bill would necessarily create major new costs or require additional staff, saying any costs would likely be limited and that the department is already applying federal evidence-based rules. He also said if some current methods are not science-based, updating them would be justified even if there were some initial expense. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another area where we must pick up the pieces from the federal government's disruption is immigration
• To help those with immigration cases accused of non-violent acts, this budget will create an immigration

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House met in a floor session that began with routine procedural motions, including quorum checks, roll calls, and brief recesses. Members also welcomed guests and observed a moment of silent tribute for Frederick Pat Waller of Dracut, a 101-year-old World War II veteran and longtime farmer, before taking up the day’s major budget business. The principal item was the FY2026 appropriations legislation. House leaders described the conference report as a roughly $61 billion budget that reduces spending from earlier proposals while increasing Fair Share spending to $2.4 billion. They highlighted funding for education, including Chapter 70 aid, universal school meals, higher education financial aid, MassReconnect, and school clean energy projects; transportation, including MBTA and regional transit authority support; housing and homelessness programs; food assistance; and a new $5 million immigration legal assistance fund. Supporters emphasized fiscal stability, timely passage, and aid to cities and towns, while noting uncertainty from the federal government. The House first passed the supplemental appropriations bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 142-0, then later passed it on final enactment by 143-1. The House then accepted the conference report on the main FY2026 budget by a roll call vote of 139-6, adopted the emergency preamble by a recorded vote, and finally enacted the budget by another 139-6 vote. The session ended with adoption of an order to adjourn to the following Thursday at 11 a.m., and the House adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This resolution also purposely calls out immigrant protections because that's the This resolution also
• purposely calls out immigrant protections because that's the reality on the ground being imposed upon
• It's sad to see a shift away from celebrating the historical contributions of immigrants to our state's

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact heard AB 2516 by Assemblymember Petrie-Norris, which would create the California Grid Manufacturing Initiative within GO-Biz. The author and supporters said the bill is intended to address supply chain delays and rising costs for critical grid equipment, speed clean energy deployment, improve reliability, and encourage in-state manufacturing and high-road jobs. Support came from labor and industry representatives including UAW, IBEW, the California Labor Federation, CWA District 9, BlueGreen Alliance, California Labor for Climate Jobs, TURN, and Ingersoll Rand; no opposition was registered. Committee members raised affordability concerns, and the bill was moved to Appropriations and passed 7-1. The committee also heard ACR 173 by Assemblymember Carrillo, which would formalize a sister-state relationship between California and Jalisco, Mexico. Carrillo emphasized cultural, economic, and demographic ties, cooperation on issues such as agriculture, labor, technology, and education, and immigrant protections. There were no witnesses in opposition, and the resolution was adopted. The consent calendar included AB 2163 by Gonzalez and ACR 164 by Bains and ACR 166 by Avila Farías, all of which were approved. After quorum was established, the committee took roll, recorded multiple aye votes from absent members, and then adjourned after reporting all items out.

Transcript Highlights:

• This resolution also purposely calls out immigrant protections because that's the This resolution also
• purposely calls out immigrant protections because that's the reality on the ground being imposed upon
• It's sad to see a shift away from celebrating the historical contributions of immigrants to our state's

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It cannot be used for immigration? Is that true?
• We appropriated $300 million for immigration last year, and we can do that again.
• WE APPROPRIATED $300 MILLION FOR IMMIGRATION&nbsp;&nbsp; 214 LAST YEAR AND WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN.

Summary: The Transportation Economic Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard four measures. First, the committee considered PCS for HB 1177, which originally addressed ad valorem tax exemptions for defense and aerospace operations and contract procedures for Space Florida. An amendment removed the tax exemption portion for later consideration in the tax package, and the bill then passed favorably after brief discussion about Florida’s competitiveness in the space industry. The committee next took up a conforming budget bill on documentary stamp taxes, which redirects a portion of doc stamp revenue from general revenue to the State Transportation Trust Fund. The sponsor said the change restores a $60 million transportation funding stream with a corresponding general revenue reduction, while maintaining a net zero fiscal impact overall. Members asked about why the funding was being restored and how the money would be used, and the bill passed favorably. Members then heard PCB 26-02, which re-creates the Emergency Preparedness Response Fund and adds restrictions and oversight. The proposal limits the fund to state appropriations for natural emergencies, requires legislative consultation for extended emergencies, keeps revenue in the fund, sends federal reimbursements to general revenue, adds quarterly reporting and inventory/accounting requirements, and sunsets the fund in 2030 unless reenacted. Testimony and debate focused on accountability, disaster response readiness, and concerns about prior uses of the fund; the PCB passed favorably. Finally, the committee considered HB 953, which strengthens oversight of commercial driving schools by authorizing county tax collectors to enforce related statutes and inspections. The sponsor said the bill responds to fraud and misrepresentation in the industry and would help protect driver licensing integrity, especially in South Florida. After supportive testimony from the Miami-Dade Tax Collector’s Office and a lobbyist, the bill passed favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• today I am honored to recognize Korean American Day, commemorating the first arrival of Korean immigrants
• your outstanding leadership and efforts in celebrating Korean American Day and in assisting Korean immigrants
• Uh, our first guest this year is going to be the director of the Governor's Office of Immigrant Affairs

Keywords: House streaming session for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Born in Ghana, Annette's family immigrated. Thank you.
• Born in Ghana, Annette's family immigrated to the United States when she was 2 years old.
• Representing my hometown of South Lake, Annette made history by becoming the first immigrant to be crowned

Transcript Highlights:

• Born in Ghana, Annette's family immigrated. Thank you.
• Born in Ghana, Annette's family immigrated to the United States when she was two years old. and Child
• Representing my hometown of Southlake, Annette made history... by becoming the first immigrant to be

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The current MyCA portal does not verify an applicant's immigration status.
• This check provides real-time verification of an applicant's legal immigration status, ensuring that
• status H HF 284 seeks to immigration status H HF 284 seeks to address<00:04:25.759><c> this</c><00:04
• alien query check check as immigration alien query check check as part<00:04:31.039><c> of</c><00:04
• <00:04:38.360><c> status</c><00:04:39.160><c> ensuring</c><00:04:39.600><c> that</c> immigration status

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Next person said they wish to testify as Liza Ryan Gill, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights.
• They have no jurisdiction over our federal civil immigration law, and therefore it's really important
• </c><00:59:38.200><c> and</c> use for example sending immigrations and use for example sending immigrations
• </c> co-opted for civil immigration purposes. co-opted for civil immigration purposes.
• And I do want to emphasize again that immigration law is solely the purview of the federal government

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 83, which would require hotel keepers to give adequate notice of service disruptions to guests and third-party vendors. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection supported the bill but asked for amendments to restore remedies and add a nonwaiver provision, arguing that without penalties the measure would lack consequences and that consumers should not be able to waive the notice rights. Supporters, including Unite Here Local 5 and individual testifiers, said guests deserve transparency and meaningful recourse when disruptions occur, especially for labor disputes, construction, or other service interruptions that affect the experience they paid for. Hotel industry representatives, including the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the Hawaii Hotel Alliance, and hotel workers/testifiers, opposed the bill in its current form while offering amendments. They said the measure was too broad, difficult to implement, and could interfere with collective bargaining, third-party booking systems, and existing contracts. They also argued that some disruptions are not easily known in advance and that the bill unfairly singles out hotels compared with other industries. One testifier emphasized that notice should be required only for actual, known disruptions rather than potential events, and another raised concerns about applying the bill to properties not directly involved in a labor dispute. After the SB 83 testimony, the committee moved on to SB 2798, which would make permanent and expand statewide the agricultural enforcement pilot program created in 2025 and rename it the agricultural enforcement program. The chair introduced the measure and called on the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity as the first testifier, but the transcript excerpt ends before testimony or any vote on SB 2798.

Transcript Highlights:

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the impacts that it's had on people, children, hospitals, and
• and increased activity by US Immigration and Customs<00:06:37.680><c> Enforcement.
• immigration enforcement has become<01:15:44.200><c> a</c><01:15:44.280><c> stark</c><01:15:44.680><c
• </c> citizenship or their immigration status. citizenship or their immigration status.
• has meant for our families, our children, and our mostly immigrant staff. uncertainty that threatens

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was in my lifetime and in my age growing up there that I first met immigrant labor.
• </c> no matter their immigration status. no matter their immigration status.
• </c> Latino immigrant workers. Latino immigrant workers.
• <02:30:29.360><c> less</c> immigrants less immigrants less make<02:30:31.000><c> it</c><02:30:31.160>
• Under this administration, immigration Under this administration, immigration enforcement<02:48:26.040

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with 58 members present and seven excused, establishing a quorum, and approved the April 15, 2026 journal as corrected. The chamber then moved through announcements recognizing visiting railroad workers, LIUNA Local 720, Colorado West Christian Schools, Religious Freedom Day, and several school and community groups, along with birthday acknowledgments and committee schedule notices. The House also adopted a motion to remove House Bill 1245 from special orders and returned it to the general orders second reading calendar, and set House Bills 1290, 1312, and 1321 as special orders. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 18, recognizing Nowruz and expressing support for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Iranian people, including the Women, Life, Freedom movement. Supporters described Nowruz as a holiday of renewal and resilience and tied the resolution to solidarity with Iranian communities. Representative Zokaie also spoke at length about the personal impact of war on Iranian families and urged a vote. The resolution passed 59-2 with four excused. The chamber then considered several bills in committee report. House Bill 1290, concerning assault and clarifying sentencing, was amended in Judiciary to remove the medical professional provision and passed after testimony emphasizing strangulation as a serious warning sign in domestic violence cases; it then passed the House. House Bill 1312, dealing with peace officer participation, POST Board composition, academy training, and related grants, was amended for clarity and passed the Judiciary report and then the bill. House Bill 1321, modifying the School Security Disbursement Program, had the Education Committee report defeated, but amendments were adopted to broaden eligible service providers and adjust funding language; the bill then passed as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• :29.199><c> a</c><01:31:29.520><c> basis</c> Making immigration status itself a basis Making immigration
• </c> the expert judges who are in immigration the expert judges who are in immigration courts<01:39:34.800
• Um, I'm not an immigration lawyer, but I looked into federal immigration law a little bit for a bill
• Um, I'm not an immigration lawyer, but I looked into federal immigration law a little bit for a bill
• Um, I'm not an immigration of this.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Agencies shared ALPR data with hundreds, even thousands, of outside entities, including federal immigration
• Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Sacramento counties, where ALPR systems have been used to track immigrants
• When law enforcement officers misuse ALPR data to stalk ex-partners, harass journalists, or target immigrant
• And we continue to see... where ALPR systems have been used to track immigrants, facilitate unlawful
• public records requests have revealed that law enforcement are performing searches on behalf of immigration

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills, with testimony focused on transportation safety, enforcement, privacy, curb management, rail service, and high-speed rail. SB 953 by Senator Nilo would require two DMV points to be applied in misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter cases even if the criminal case is dismissed through diversion; supporters, including a victim’s mother and the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, said the bill would prevent serious fatal crashes from disappearing from driving records, while no opposition was presented. SB 1292 by Senator Richardson would authorize selected cities to use stationary cameras or sensors to enforce curb and loading-zone rules, with human review of citations and a pilot-style, optional local framework; supporters argued it would improve safety, turnover, and compliance, while privacy concerns were noted but softened by amendments, and the bill drew neutral or conditional support from some groups. The committee also heard SB 1228 by Senator Rubio, which would create a permanent compliance path for a small number of existing redevelopment-era outdoor advertising displays. Supporters said the bill would preserve local revenue and avoid penalties for legally established signs, while the California State Outdoor Advertising Association opposed it over federal highway beautification compliance and fairness concerns. SB 1013 by Senator Cervantes would tighten safeguards for automated license plate reader systems by requiring DOJ audits, employee training, limits on data retention, and restrictions on hot lists and queries; privacy advocates supported the bill as a response to documented misuse, while sheriffs and narcotics officers opposed it as an unnecessary restriction on a valuable law-enforcement tool. The committee voted to move SB 1013, but the roll call was 4-1 and the bill remained on call. Other measures discussed included SB 1218 by Senator Arreguín, which would block vehicle registration renewal for owners with unpaid illegal dumping fines, using a process similar to unpaid parking citations; Oakland officials and several local government and waste-management groups supported it as an accountability tool, and the bill passed committee on an 8-0 vote and remained on call. SB 1136 by Senator Blakespear would require rail agencies to better coordinate service, fares, and trip planning for large events and intercity/regional rail connections; supporters said it could boost ridership and make rail more useful for major venues, and it also passed 8-0 and remained on call. The committee also advanced the chair’s SB 1425, which would create a permitting program for new encroachments along the high-speed rail right-of-way; supporters said it would help protect the project and manage utilities and other uses, while some utilities and the City of Burbank raised concerns, and the bill passed 8-1 and remained on call. Finally, SB 1411 by Senator Stern would expand high-speed rail authority to pursue public-private partnerships and early works, remove a project cap, and support bookend investments; it drew broad support from transit, labor, and rail groups, with some local agencies noting amended concerns, and the discussion continued as the hearing moved toward the final bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• This project is critically needed, especially now as immigrant and refugee communities are experiencing
• ACHD empowers the community of African diaspora immigrants, refugees, and their descendants in the greater
• it's with the Latino population, in Spokane, or with hard-working folks in Port Hadlock, or with immigrants
• will provide mental health healing and culturally competent services to refugees and vulnerable immigrants
• and preserve the food we grow, reduce waste, and expand culturally relevant meal production for immigrant

Bills: SB6003, HB2353, HB2431, HB1983

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, HB 2353, predesign thresholds, capital construction, major capital projects, Office of Financial Management, OFM, Washington state, state agencies, infrastructure planning, construction costs, inflation adjustment, capital facilities, project review, allotments, lease approval