Transcript Highlights:

• You can make some comments. Thank you.
• I hope it will make it on the bill so the bill can pass and be signed. Excellent.
• Social and emotional learning helps students build essential skills like self-management, decision-making
• If you make an amendment or a bill... If you make an amendment or a bill, you can withdraw it.
• So we will make sure we have the 1997 ball sitting in my office.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, approved the journal, and announced a recess at 11:30 a.m. for a proclamation honoring the University of Arizona men’s basketball team. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several bills, mostly on education and finance topics, including school assessment accountability, mental health instruction, public education, accumulated sick leave payments, tax administration, depository state money, dental board regulation, environmental quality, and competitive bidding. On the education calendar, HB 2032 and HB 2033 dealt with school assessment accountability. An Angius amendment to HB 2032 changed a testing timeline from four to six weeks and was adopted; HB 2032 later passed 26-0. A Diaz amendment to HB 2033 would have limited written statewide assessments to grades 3-8, but after debate over testing uniformity and local control it failed 15-10, and HB 2033 passed without it. HB 293, relating to mental health instruction requirements, drew extended floor debate, with senators arguing it was important for student well-being and social-emotional learning; the bill passed 16-10. HB 4033, relating to education bond elections, also passed. On the finance and regulatory calendar, HB 2812 on accumulated sick leave payments was amended and recommended do pass in committee, but later failed final passage on the floor 15-11 after concerns were raised about a provision affecting Attorney General representation. HB 2016 and HB 2140 were amended and recommended do pass in Committee of the Whole, HB 2308 and HB 2439 also received do-pass recommendations, and HB 2320 was retained on the calendar. HB 2873, a competitive bidding bill, became the subject of extensive debate over an emergency clause and a strike-everything amendment tied by opponents to a Marana data-center referendum; supporters argued it restored the ability to withdraw referendum petitions. The amended bill ultimately received a do-pass recommendation. The Senate then adopted the Committee of the Whole report, heard the University of Arizona proclamation, and adjourned until Monday, April 13, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• their<00:42:55.359> tax can make the decision on their tax can make the decision on their
• the right decisions and sometimes we make the wrong decisions.
• the right decisions and sometimes we make the wrong decisions.
• the right decisions and sometimes we make the wrong decisions.
• Right decisions, and sometimes we make the wrong decisions.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on HB 402, a bill dealing with whether Education Freedom Account (EFA) payments should be described in state law as not constituting taxable income. The bill sponsor argued that the current statute is misleading because New Hampshire should not imply a federal tax result, and said the bill would remove that language and could also be amended to clarify that families should consult tax advisors. He emphasized that the measure was not intended to impose a state tax on EFAs, but to avoid giving inaccurate advice about possible federal tax liability. Testimony was divided. A retired representative and a tax preparer both opposed the bill, saying EFA payments are already treated consistently with IRS rules and that the bill would create confusion, administrative burden, and possible tax consequences for low- and moderate-income families. They argued the bill is a solution in search of a problem and warned that requiring 1099s could add costs for the scholarship organization and recipients. A tax attorney supported the bill’s repeal of the state language, saying New Hampshire should not put tax advice into statute and that the current wording is inaccurate because federal law, not state law, controls taxability. He cited IRS Section 117 and Publication 970, explaining that only some scholarship-like payments are tax-free and that many EFA-eligible expenses may not qualify for federal exemption. Members asked questions about what would be misleading, whether the bill was trying to tax EFAs, and the cost of issuing 1099s. The sponsor and witnesses repeatedly said the bill was not a state tax on voucher payments, but a clarification about federal tax treatment. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we were to make a decision to add some state-owned assets across the state in our regions, and if
• state to make sure that the decision-maker is making the decision one way or the other for that local
• We made the decision thereafter to pull you out and make you the eighth Aggie agent.
• sure that they have what they need to be able to make good decisions.
• When it's appropriate to make that decision to change. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They need to respond to a number of issues, make quick, informed decisions, particularly in emergency
• They need to respond to a number of issues, make quick, informed decisions, particularly in emergency
• the decision and 10day time to make the decision and communicate<03:43:25.920> not<03:43:26.080
• The word 'shall' seems to suggest this little discretion in the decision-making process.
• -<03:51:15.840> making table but I think local decision- making table but I think local decision

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:

• <00:47:09.960> that<00:47:10.200> decision appear where and who makes that decision
• because they were instrumental in making that decision.
• make that decision on their make that decision on their own And could you refresh my memory what
• <04:28:28.520> a<04:28:28.720> decision agencies before we make a decision agencies
• make make decisions<05:15:01.040> that<05:15:01.160> will<05:15:01.440> make decisions

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sure the projects move along, and making sure we're making the right decisions in that process. serious
• along, and making sure we're making the right decisions in that process.
• Chair, we have to make some really serious decisions that maybe a lot of us don't like.
• We have institutions and we have adults that are making tough decisions.
• We're going to have to make some serious changes and decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I am not going to, or we are not going to, delve into the decision-making of the criminal process
• or decision around this case. or decision around this case.
• And it's those facts and Senator Mitchell's conduct, the acts she took after making her decision to take
• <01:38:43.200> those<01:38:43.480> acts, making her decision to take those acts, making
• this decision lines up. this decision lines up.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The families will be given a voice in the decision-making process.
• Who's going to make that call if we fail to act?
• The things we are consistently told we have no money to make better, we are actually going to make worse
• It makes it worse. Thank you, Mr. President.
• But until the governor stops making unilateral decisions that affect that benefit, it. decisions that

Keywords: Scheduler, 972, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Principals in the state are extensively trained, but we do need the flexibility to make decisions.
• Principals in the state are extensively trained, but we do need the flexibility to make decisions.
• Principals in the state are extensively trained, but we do need the flexibility to make decisions.
• Principals in the state are extensively trained, but we do need the flexibility to make decisions.
• decisions about our voices when making decisions about our education<00:53:02.839> thank<00:53

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If we insert decision-making by counties and municipalities, we are adding a lot of confusion.
• And the lawmaking and the decision-making regarding the environment and the natural resources.
• Through permits and through decision-making.
• It's unlikely, very unlikely, that a SECIAs or a land grant is going to make a decision on any kind of
• They do not make decisions that would harm our environment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think you need to make that individual decision.
• And I think you need to make that individual decision.
• <02:29:55.680> a<02:29:55.840> decision right mindset um to make a decision right mindset
• It's well known that women make the health care decisions in their families.
• save<04:06:43.279> the basically make the decision to save the basically make the decision

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a well-founded decision based on the facts and the law, and that Brad Tabke won the election.
• The rest of the Court's reasoning we'll see later when they issue a longer written decision.
• Well, the decision just came out, so it's going to take folks a bit to sit with the decision and then
• I think you can interpret the decision and the oral argument from the words that the court used.
• But we're in legislative session now, and so I think if the Republicans were to make a decision like

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Minnesota House Democrats reacted to the Minnesota Supreme Court’s ruling that a quorum in the House is 68, saying the decision confirms that neither party can act alone and that Republicans and Democrats must negotiate to organize the chamber. They argued that the GOP’s actions over the prior two weeks were illegitimate once Secretary of State Steve Simon determined there was no quorum, and said all committee activity and the election of a presiding officer during that period were not valid. A major focus was the status of Rep. Brad Tabke’s seat in Shakopee. Democrats said Republicans were trying to use a temporary one-seat advantage to oust Tabke despite his election win, recount victory, and court ruling, which they said found it mathematically impossible that he lost. They said they would not return to the Capitol unless Republicans agreed not to remove him and to respect the voters’ will. Democrats said they were still open to a negotiated power-sharing deal and emphasized that such agreements should be in writing. They described their current offer as allowing Republicans to run the chamber while they hold a one-seat advantage, with committee members from the DFL not voting, and then moving to full power sharing if the House returns to a tie. They said the special election timeline was not changed by the court ruling and that the governor could still issue the writ on February 5, with the session having begun on January 14.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we will be making decision, uh, after this hearing, uh, as well.
• we deal with the um final decision we deal with the um final decision making<00:20:32.559> but
• Otherwise, the committee will go into decision making.
• for decision making on the measures for decision making on the measures before<00:26:45.440>
• making on its is going into decision making on its hearing<00:27:31.440> notice<00:27:31.840>

Bills: SB2697, SB2399, SB2665, SB2851, SB3102, SB2521, SB3157

Keywords: SB2697, Hawaii transportation, motor vehicle law, road shoulder, shoulder lane, shoulder driving, high occupancy vehicle lane, HOV lane, vehicle registration, expired registration, out-of-state vehicle, vehicle tax delinquency, impoundment, vehicle seizure, public auction, county finance, Department of Transportation, law enforcement, antique motor vehicle, traffic penalties

Summary: The joint hearing of the Transportation and Labor and Technology committees considered HB 2097, which would allow administrative driver’s license revocation hearings to be held by interactive conference technology such as Zoom and permit electronic exchange of evidence. DOT and the Administrative Driver’s License Revocation Office supported the bill, saying Zoom hearings have worked well since 2021 and save time and money. Both committees passed HB 2097 with technical and nonsubstantive amendments. The Transportation Committee then heard HB 1163 on commercial driver licensing, HB 2113 on funding vegetation removal from the Kaola Stream drainage way, HB 2283 on port pilotage, HB 1588 on a noise detection camera program, and HB 2333 on airport special districts and aeronautics penalties. DOT asked for HB 1163 to use “non-domiciled” language to match federal rules, and the committee passed it with amendments. For HB 2113, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity said the project would likely need about $1 million, and the committee passed the bill with amendments while noting the funding would be reflected in the committee report rather than the measure itself. HB 2283 drew broad support from maritime and labor interests, but the committee deferred it, saying the Senate version was already moving and would be used instead. HB 1588 received support from DOT and several community and health-related testifiers who said noise from traffic is a serious problem, but the committee expressed concern about enforcement language and re-referred the bill to Judiciary/Ways and Means while still passing it forward. HB 2333 was supported by DOT and airline interests; after questions about airport loitering and sleeping rules, the committee passed it as is. In the final decision-making, the committee adopted the chair’s recommendations on HB 1163, HB 2113, HB 1588, and HB 2333, and deferred HB 2283.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this hearing today will guide us in how we make some of those decisions.
• super key, and I think maybe even the creation of more committees that involve students in this decision-making
• And the earlier that we can provide those admissions letters, the better they can make those decisions
• believe there's a requirement for a report to the Legislature on this, or would you consider your decision-making
• on the program selection... ...on this, or would you consider your decision-making on the program selection

Summary: The joint Assembly Higher Education and Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the future of the California State University system, with opening remarks emphasizing CSU’s major role in California’s economy, workforce, and degree production. Chairs and members said the hearing was intended to inform 2026 budget decisions and to examine three main issues: declining enrollment at some campuses, cost controls and possible consolidation, and oversight of recent state investments at campuses such as Humboldt and Sonoma. The meeting was briefly delayed by microphone and sound problems before reconvening. The first panel featured CSU Academic Senate Chair Dr. Elizabeth Boyd and Cal State Student Association Vice President Katie Karam. Boyd urged the Legislature to protect academic freedom, strengthen faculty governance, provide stable ongoing funding, end unfunded mandates, support student food and housing security, fund flexible course schedules, improve transfer systems such as ASSIST, avoid over-centralizing academic programs, protect immigrant students, and expand intersegmental collaboration. Karam said students are feeling the effects of budget shortfalls through fewer course sections, reduced advising and services, longer time to degree, and tuition pressure, and she called for transparency, meaningful student involvement in budget decisions, and sustained state investment rather than cuts that harm the student experience. The second panel covered enrollment management and included CSU Chancellor’s Office and campus administrators from Chico State, Cal State L.A., and San Diego State. Dr. Delcy Perez said CSU Forward and the new systemwide enrollment plan are aimed at expanding access, aligning programs with workforce needs, and increasing resident enrollment; she reported systemwide enrollment gains and strong application numbers, including a direct-admissions pilot that expanded from Riverside to more campuses. Campus representatives described local recruitment and retention strategies, including early outreach to high school students, community college partnerships, guaranteed admission programs, and expanded advising and student support. San Diego State highlighted record enrollment and high demand, while Cal State L.A. described efforts to recover from impaction and rebuild enrollment. Members pressed CSU officials on the accuracy of enrollment data, the gap between funded targets and actual enrollment, and the system’s reallocation formula. CSU staff explained that campuses below target will see a 5% ongoing reallocation beginning in 2026-27, with one-time reserve funding also being directed to campuses that can grow, and that fiscal health reviews have been completed for 21 of 22 campuses. Legislators also asked about turnaround plans required by the budget act; CSU said those plans are being developed and will be shared in the spring after campus consultation. No formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:38.679> now for decision making we have quarum now for decision making we have quarum
• c> was decision- making regarding what was decision- making regarding what was discussed<01:08:31.560
• Let adults be adults and make decisions for themselves.
• Let adults be adults and make decisions for themselves.
• Seeing none, let's proceed with decision-making.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Health and Human Services and Judiciary meeting heard testimony on several measures, with most of the discussion focused on SB 709 and SB 955. On SB 709, relating to mental health data and related appropriations, the Department of Health supported the bill’s intent and said the funding would help maintain a data dashboard and positions, though it had no suggested amount for one blank appropriation. Members also discussed whether sections of the bill were duplicative of existing data reporting. The committees later recommended SB 709 be passed with amendments, including technical changes, deferring the date to December 31, 2050, and blanking out the appropriation for later clarification. SB 955, relating to fitness to proceed, drew mixed testimony. Judiciary opposed portions of the bill, saying some changes could have unintended practical consequences. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill’s intent but urged keeping a three-member evaluation panel rather than reducing it to two, warning that a two-panel process could create delays if a third evaluator had to be added later. A former Hawaii State Hospital clinician said the bill placed too much blame on the courts and should address institutional and administrative problems at the hospital more directly. The Department of Health supported the intent and said it appreciated efforts to address overcrowding. After discussion about examiner shortages and status hearings, the committees recommended SB 955 be passed with amendments reducing the number of qualified examiners from three to one and making related technical changes. The committee also heard SB 1228, a child welfare services measure creating a working group related to youth legal representation and child welfare reform. DHS requested adding a Child Welfare Services representative to the work group, and multiple advocates, including the National Center for Youth Law and Hawaii Youth Services Network, testified in strong support, emphasizing the need for youth voice and implementation of Malama Ohana recommendations. Members asked whether this working group overlapped with another recently passed working group bill; testimony indicated the two measures addressed different issues. The meeting then recessed and later resumed for decision-making on the 9 o’clock calendar, where SB 709 was adopted with amendments and SB 955 was adopted with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• in making that decision as to included in making that decision as to how<00:15:23.199> uh<00:15
• Is there any discretion or policy decisions being... making any um discretionary choices on making any
• <00:29:42.080> decisions<00:29:42.640> on attorney general is making decisions on attorney
• general is making decisions on um<00:29:45.279> the<00:29:45.679> uh<00:29:45.840>
• <01:02:21.280> that<01:02:21.599> they decisions that they decisions that they make.<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• weighty decisions that lie ahead.
• And then make that decision if we are to go to church and to our parents' funeral.
• A green vote gives the decision to us.
• But this body is not designed to be the body that makes those quick decisions, and our track record,
• as Representative Freiberg pointed out, is not very good when it comes to making hard political decisions

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I wasn't trusted to make decisions about my own life, even as I was becoming an adult.
• When a child comes into foster care, they are surrounded by adults who begin to make decisions for them
• And so I wasn't trusted to make decisions. required to listen to me.
• And so I wasn't trusted to make decisions about my own life, even as I was becoming an adult.
• WIC 303 clarifies that the participants retain all their legal decision-making rights.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard and advanced a series of foster care, benefits, housing, and poverty-related bills. AB 373 would require appointed counsel for nonminor dependents in dependency proceedings to represent the young adult’s expressed wishes rather than substitute counsel’s judgment; supporters said it would respect autonomy for foster youth ages 18 to 21, and the bill passed 4-0, later updated to 6-0 and then 7-0 as absent members were added. AB 42 would exempt merit-based scholarships, grants, loans, and fellowships from income calculations for CalWORKs and CalFresh and align the two programs’ exclusions; student and anti-poverty advocates said it would prevent students from losing benefits when they pursue education, and it passed 6-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 534 would encourage transitional housing providers serving foster youth to move from leasing to owning properties by extending contract terms and improving access to financing; witnesses said ownership would improve stability and reduce landlord barriers, and it passed 4-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 562 would require counties below the state average for family placements to use a family-finding checklist and best-practice support; supporters emphasized family-first placements for foster youth, and it passed 6-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 661 would direct the Department of Social Services to develop an implementation plan for a permanent statewide guaranteed basic income program; supporters described positive results from pilot programs and the bill passed 5-2, later updated to 7-0. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• -<00:20:35.120> making we're gonna be doing decision- making we're gonna be doing decision
• decision making. Mahalo. decision making. Mahalo. >> Thank<00:35:37.440> you.
• You guys are making the first decision.
• You guys are making the first decision.
• > Tuesday,<01:22:55.120> February decision making until Tuesday, February decision making

Bills: HB1924, HB2121, HB1928, HB1979, HB1650, HB1543, HB1981, HB1982

Keywords: mattress recycling, waste management, producer responsibility, environmental health, steafardship program, electronic cigarettes, disposable devices, environmental protection, plastic pollution, lithium batteries, pollution control, public health, deposit beverage container, bottle bill, container deposit law, container redemption, recycling refund, extended producer responsibility, EPR, deposit return system

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to waste, recycling, and environmental review. On HB 1924, which would establish a mattress stewardship program, the Department of Health said it stood on written testimony and offered comments, while Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and one individual supported the bill and the International Sleep Products Association opposed it. No questions were raised and the committee moved on. A large portion of the hearing focused on HB 2121, which would prohibit the sale of disposable vapes in Hawaii. The Department of Health supported the measure but suggested the bill may be better placed in a different part of state law because the cited waste-management section regulates products after consumption, while still praising the effort to remove disposable vapes from the market and environment. Testimony in strong support came from the Coalition for Tobacco Free Hawaii Youth Council, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii COPD Coalition, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, the City and County of Honolulu, and many individuals; supporters emphasized youth vaping, toxic waste, lithium battery fire risks, and environmental harm. There was at least one opposing individual and the International Sleep Products Association was listed in opposition. The committee noted there were many written testimonies and no immediate vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 1928 on the deposit beverage container recycling program. The Department of Health stood on written testimony. The Solid Waste Task Force of Hawaii Environmental Change Agents and Upstream supported the bill but urged amendments to better integrate reuse and reusables, strengthen enforcement, clarify definitions, and protect existing redemption centers. The Hawaii Food Industry Association supported the concept of a backdrop program but preferred strengthening the existing program and raised concerns about undefined fees, existing infrastructure, and future audit costs. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii supported the bill, and the chair said the measure needs work and that decision-making would occur in a few days. Finally, the committee took up HB 979 on environmental review and HB 1650 on environmental assessments. For HB 979, OPSD offered amendments, HCDA supported the bill but suggested clarifying the affordable-housing definition, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative supported it, and Earthjustice was asked about the court process for environmental challenges; the chair asked about shortening the challenge period and the relationship between environmental court, the intermediate court of appeals, and the Supreme Court. For HB 1650, OPSD and the State Historic Preservation Division stood on written testimony, OHA asked to retain historic sites, and several groups and individuals testified in support or opposition. Opponents argued that removing Wiki special district and historic sites from Chapter 343 trigger language would weaken environmental review and risk impacts to iwi kūpuna and historic resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lord, we ask that you would reside and abound within our hearts as we make the decisions that will be
• we make the decisions that our hearts as we make the decisions that will<00:02:15.040> be<00:02
• sure that it isn't redirected out of an entity that has the authority and the expertise to make decisions
• authority and the expertise to make authority and the expertise to make decisions<00:20:08.240><
• the final decision and actually making the final decision on<00:20:18.880> things.

Bills: SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233, SB79, HB379, SB253, HB278, HB438, HB233

Keywords: sex-based terminology, gender identity, male, female, man, woman, boy, girl, single-sex spaces, women's rights, privacy, safety, fairness, anti-discrimination, vital statistics, birth certificate, intersex, DSD, differences in sex development, transgender