Transcript Highlights:

• Nichols Lence for the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center is also not present on Zoom.
• Nichols Lence for the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center is also not present on Zoom.
• Nichols Lence for the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center is also not present on Zoom.
• Nichols Lence for the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center is also not present on Zoom.
• Nichols Lence for the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center is also not present on Zoom.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs heard testimony on several public safety and criminal justice measures. HB 433 HD1 would appropriate funds for Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation re-entry services; DCR Director Tommy Johnson said the department supports the bill’s intent but noted the same $4 million request is in the governor’s executive budget, and the Correctional System Oversight Commission, Public Defender, ACLU, OHA, Chamber of Commerce, and other groups testified in support. Members asked whether the funding was already in the governor’s budget, and Johnson confirmed it was requested there for the next two fiscal years. HB 1045 would make emergency appropriations for law enforcement personnel costs, and the Department of Law Enforcement, DAGS, Budget and Finance, and the Judiciary testified in support, with DLE saying the amounts match what Budget and Finance will present. HB 1296 would require timely notice and reporting to the Legislature when the governor transfers money to the major disaster fund; Budget and Finance and the Governor’s office offered comments, and no opposition was noted. HB 1002 would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify inspection authority; DCR and the commission supported it, with the commission saying a longer term would help the coordinator do the job effectively and allow inspections without notice. HB 596 would clarify what events qualify as disasters and emergencies for emergency management purposes. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency opposed the bill, while maritime and Grassroot Institute representatives supported it. Members asked whether the bill’s 21-day limit should be extended to 30 days, and HEMA said it opposed any change that would limit the governor’s flexibility in the response phase. The committee also heard HB 1128 HD1, which would set factors for warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations and require officers to record the justification. The Office of the Public Defender, ACLU, and some reform advocates supported it as a check on police discretion and a way to encourage citations, while the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department, prosecutors, DLE, county police chiefs, SHOPO, and others opposed it as too restrictive and likely to create litigation and court delays. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:06:01.039><c> of</c><00:06:01.479><c> dragging</c><00:06:01.880><c> people</c> um in the reduction
• of dragging people um in the reduction of dragging people into<00:06:02.440><c> court</c><00:06:02.680
• we should do it while we're reduction we should do it while we're also<00:11:58.760><c> doing</c><00
• So just to follow up on maybe the administrative costs, do you think there will be some cost reductions
• Yes, uh, and we also would point out that there is going to be a 40% reduction no matter what happens

Keywords: Due to a technical issue in the room, the quality of the stream will be diminished. We apologize for the inconvenience. Meeting start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:02:00 SB 61 Discussion Only 00:03:25 SB 13 Discussion Only 00:07:19 SJR 25 Discussion 00:25:33 SJR 25 Vote 00:28:40 SB 61 Discussion Only 00:29:44, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 61, relating to swimming pools, but initially had no representative from the governor’s office or cabinet available to explain the fiscal estimate. Senators questioned why the executive branch’s estimate was $4.25 million to $8.5 million while the committee’s internal fiscal note showed little or no impact. When Department for Public Health staff later joined, they explained their estimate was based on a roughly $85,000 cost for a large outbreak investigation, using a 2014 outbreak as a benchmark, and said the bill could increase workload and outside laboratory costs if private swimming pools became more common as rental properties. They reported 822 waterborne cases in 2024, with 8 tied to private swimming pools, and later corrected an earlier figure to 14 private-pool-related investigations over five years. Senators pressed on the discrepancy between those numbers and the projected 50 to 100 incidents, and staff said the higher figure was a ballpark estimate. The discussion also clarified that private pools are generally excluded by definition, while pools held out for rent may be treated as public pools under current definitions. No vote on SB 61 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then heard Senate Bill 13, concerning the reprocurement of managed care organizations for Medicaid. Department for Medicaid Services officials said the bill would require work on a new RFP, system changes, and oversight improvements, and estimated the cost at $2.8 million based on prior procurement spending of about $2.5 million in 2018-2019, with a 10% growth adjustment. They explained that the work is administrative and therefore matched at 50/50 federal-state funding, not the 80/20 rate used for benefits, and said the expense would be incurred whether the bill passed or not if the state proceeded with an RFP. Senators discussed possible savings from reducing the number of MCOs from five to three, but agency staff said those savings were hard to quantify and that provider and member disruption could create offsetting costs. The committee later moved on to Senate Joint Resolution 25, which would ask the Revenue Department to report on the cost of issuing farmers a wallet-sized tax-exempt card instead of a paper certificate. The resolution was adopted by roll call, with all members present voting aye, and it was reported favorably to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we're looking at the timeline of rate reduction, there's a couple of factors at play.
• So when we're looking at the timeline of rate reduction, there's a couple of factors at play.
• And we're seeing those differences grow a bit and what the reduction, the indicated reduction is overall
• trying to make sure that this is something that they're in compliance and that they can keep that reduction
• We tracked the fill-out of companies' towers very closely, and we saw the first reduction in the cost

Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting on homeowners property insurance, with members from both parties introducing themselves and repeatedly noting that insurance affordability, roof condition, claims handling, and storm recovery are top concerns for their districts. Chair Yeager said the meeting was intended as an educational discussion rather than a legislative debate, and introduced a panel that included Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworski, consumer Chad Carr, agent Mary Catherine Lawler, insurer executive Melissa Burt DeVries, and policyholder attorney Chip Merlin. The panel and members discussed major cost drivers in Florida homeowners insurance, including inflation, home age, roof age, mitigation features, claims history, litigation costs, reinsurance, and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Commissioner Yaworski said underwriting has become more sophisticated and that litigation costs, reinsurance, and replacement-cost inflation all affect premiums; he also said litigation is down about 30% and average requested rate increases have fallen from about 22.1% in 2022 to 0.8% today. DeVries said age of home, replacement cost, roof age, and coverage choices can materially change premiums, and explained that reinsurance is a major expense passed through to consumers. Merlin emphasized transparency concerns, argued that insurers are increasingly individualizing risk, and said consumers often struggle with coverage limits, deductibles, and claim denials. Members asked about flood coverage, hurricane deductibles, managed repair programs, mitigation credits, new insurer capitalization, and whether savings from reforms are reaching consumers. Yaworski explained that flood is generally excluded from homeowners policies and covered separately, that hurricane deductibles are mandatory in Florida and usually around 5%, and that the office tracks savings from reforms through rate filings and insurer discussions. He said the state is updating mitigation discounts and monitoring new entrants closely for solvency and market conduct. Several members and panelists said recent reforms have helped reduce some abuses and litigation, but many consumers are still seeing higher premiums because replacement costs and reinsurance remain elevated. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• That primary care and behavioral health were not subject to any proposed service reductions.
• And prevention, preparedness, and harm reduction efforts that save lives are now at risk.
• We will hold on to that progress by standing firmly with harm reduction.
• services, other reductions would have resulted in a direct reduction in service to individuals that
• And there are some hospitals that are up in the 60% harm reduction.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a Health and Human Services budget hearing in Clinton, with opening remarks from Chairs Meg Kilcoyne and Robin Kennedy, local officials, and many House and Senate members introducing themselves. The hearing focused on Governor Healey’s FY27 EOHHS and MassHealth budgets, with repeated themes of rising health care costs, federal funding uncertainty, workforce shortages, and access to care in underserved regions. Members also raised concerns about primary care shortages, rural and regional disparities, behavioral health access, maternal health, food insecurity, and the impact of federal policy changes on Massachusetts programs. EOHHS Secretary Kiame Mahaniah said the FY27 EOHHS budget totals $33.7 billion, reflecting mostly non-discretionary growth from health care costs, labor costs, caseload increases, and provider rate pressures. He highlighted targeted investments in foster care, family resource centers, maternal health, youth services, nutrition programs, immigrant legal services, and human service workforce rates, while warning that federal actions could strip roughly $3.5 billion annually from the state’s health care funding. In response to questions, he defended the administration’s cooperation with federal audits and program integrity efforts, discussed the primary care crisis, and said the state is trying to preserve core services while preparing for a more difficult FY28 budget cycle. MassHealth Undersecretary Mike Levine then described two major FY27 challenges: double-digit cost growth and the expected effects of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He said MassHealth’s proposed $22.7 billion gross budget includes a 7.5% increase and relies on a moratorium on new expansions plus targeted reductions, including a $1,000 annual adult dental cap, ending GLP-1 coverage for weight loss only, reducing care management to peer-state levels, and work groups to slow growth in PCA, adult foster care, and adult day health spending. Members questioned the impact on Boston Health Care for the Homeless, preventive care, and regional access; Levine said the changes are meant to preserve sustainability, that children and certain disabled populations remain protected, and that the administration will continue working with providers, advocates, and the Legislature on implementation and longer-term reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that reduction in settle-up is used to increase the discretionary deposit into the rainy-day fund
• Turning to page two, another significant adjustment here: the May Revision has a reduction of about $3.8
• Achieving this larger reduction may prove difficult.
• Campuses have made admissions decisions with the intent to continue a reduction of non-residents.
• So that would be a significant reduction. The Legislature could provide a different amount.

Summary: The committee heard an overview of the May Revision’s Proposition 98 changes for K-12 and community colleges. The Department of Finance said the minimum guarantee rises by $6.4 billion over the Governor’s Budget across the three-year window, with higher guarantees in each year, full payment of the prior settle-up, and larger deposits into the school rainy-day fund. The LAO said the revenue and LCFF updates were reasonable, but urged caution about the settle-up approach and recommended using more of the available funding to protect ongoing programs and build budget resilience. Members focused heavily on the size of the proposed $3.9 billion settle-up, the $10.3 billion reserve deposit, declining K-12 enrollment, and how much of the new funding should be ongoing versus one-time. The committee then reviewed the community colleges portion of the budget. Finance described the May Revision’s higher SCFF COLA, additional funding for enrollment growth, a student support block grant, apprenticeship adjustments, and continued funding for deferred maintenance, Calbright, Common Cloud, and credit for prior learning. The Chancellor’s Office supported the core investments but asked for more funding for enrollment growth, changes to the growth formula, and a COLA for Student Equity and Achievement. The LAO recommended prioritizing the statutory COLA increase, noted that more than half of districts are already above current-year growth targets, and said the new adult learner demonstration project should be rejected because districts already have tools to support similar services. Members also discussed a $52 million current-year apportionment shortfall, which Finance said was discovered too late for the May Revision and would need to be addressed later. Finally, the committee took up the proposed implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance proposed one-time funding for the California Student Aid Commission and Cradle to Career to build eligibility and data systems, along with trailer bill changes to set up state approval processes. CSAC said the program is promising but highly complex, that California lacks the needed infrastructure, and that the state will need emergency regulations, data linkages, and ongoing funding beyond the one-time proposal. The LAO agreed that some initial funding is needed but warned that the amounts and ongoing costs remain uncertain and that the Legislature should carefully draft the trailer bill language. Members asked about timing, other states’ actions, and how the state would ensure the program is ready for students and institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this $2.7 billion in reductions.
• . reduction. reduction.
• . reduction. reduction.
• </c> deficit reduction. deficit reduction.
• <07:16:22.638><c> Um,</c> reductions Um, reductions Um, I<07:16:24.400><c> wanted</c><07:16:24.638><c

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Administrative costs to the Department of Fish and Wildlife are minor and absorbable, while a reduction
• While a reduction in renewal or transfer fee revenue is expected over time, it is offset by reduced workload
• The reduction in sales by utilities to rooftop solar customers is not an expense for the utilities.
• regretfully opposed to AB 967, as it will increase the board's workload without making a meaningful reduction
• As it will increase the board's workload without making a meaningful reduction in the application timeframes

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on May 21, 2025, with 86 bills on the agenda. The committee first approved two consent motions covering a group of bills eligible for the Assembly floor consent calendar and another group of unanimous bills not eligible for floor consent. Several bills were then heard individually, with authors and supporters emphasizing that many had no or minimal state costs and were aimed at climate, health, or regulatory improvements. Among the bills discussed were AB 39 on local planning for electrification and EV charging infrastructure; AB 1129 allowing local health jurisdictions to opt into reporting birth defects and early-life health conditions; AB 1332 to allow narrow direct shipment of medicinal cannabis to seriously ill patients; AB 1056 phasing out transfer of certain gillnet permits except for a one-time family transfer; AB 408 creating a new Medical Board health and wellness program for physicians; AB 546 requiring health plans to cover portable HEPA air purifiers for vulnerable people during wildfire emergencies; AB 942 revising rooftop solar subsidy rules to reduce costs for non-solar ratepayers; and AB 967 expediting licensure for out-of-state physicians. Supporters generally framed these bills as improving access, equity, public health, or affordability, while opponents on AB 942 and AB 967 raised concerns about implementation, workload, contract issues, and impacts on existing programs. The committee took action on each bill after testimony and questions. AB 39, AB 1129, AB 1332, AB 1056, AB 408, AB 546, AB 942, and AB 967 were all moved out of committee on roll call votes, with some members voting no or not voting on certain measures. The suspense calendar was then read and deemed approved, and the committee opened general public comment, where speakers voiced support for bills including AB 715, AB 1138, AB 782, AB 98, AB 53, AB 258, AB 330, AB 650, AB 649, AB 1048, and AB 425. The meeting adjourned after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• YOU WOULD NEED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE AND IN MOST CASES TO READ THE REACH THE OLD OBJECTIVE OF 55% REDUCTION
• 55%, THEN THERE ARE MANY THINGS YOU COULD DO TO BE ABLE TO GET CREDIT FOR WHAT WOULD BE A NET 55% REDUCTION
• BUT AS A PART OF THE TRADING PROCESS IS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE NUTRIENT REDUCTIONS IN THE
• FORM OF A MYRIAD OF OPTIONS IN THE RULE FROM OFF-SITE REDUCTIONS TO ON-SITE REDUCTIONS AND IN DOING
• IS ASSOCIATED WITH A DEVELOPMENT THEN THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE A CHECK, HAVE THAT NUTRIENT REDUCTION

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The second point I wanted to bring up is that there are also assumed significant reductions in scope
• The second point I wanted to bring up is that there are also assumed significant reductions in scope
• So we have greenhouse gas reduction fund revenues. They're anticipated to come in through 2045.
• According to the authority's draft business plan, these project scope reductions, often lumped under
• But that's assuming that they're just doing that for reasons of scope reductions only.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 draft business plan, with testimony from the authority, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the High-Speed Rail Inspector General. Chair Cortese framed the hearing around the project’s recent changes: a new CEO, revised delivery strategy, loss of federal funds, renewed interest in private financing and value capture, and proposed adjustments to the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment. He also raised concerns about statutory compliance, transparency, and whether the draft plan fully reflects required elements and true costs and timelines. Authority CEO Ian Chaudhry said the project has made substantial construction progress in the Central Valley and is moving toward track installation, with the state’s $1 billion annual cap-and-invest funding providing a stable base. He argued the plan uses design optimization, direct procurement of materials, and revised sequencing to reduce costs and support an early operating segment by about 2032-33. He also promoted broader commercialization of the corridor through real estate, energy, broadband, logistics, and public-private partnerships, saying private sector interest is now real. Several senators pressed him on station locations, tax increment financing, utility relocation authority, permitting delays, transparency, and whether the project can realistically reach Los Angeles and San Francisco on the current timeline and budget. The LAO and Inspector General were more skeptical. LAO analyst Helen Kirstine said the draft plan assumes major scope changes, including a shorter segment, a Merced station outside downtown, more single-tracking, and several statutory changes that have not yet been enacted. She warned that the plan may not comply with recent legislative requirements, that funding may still be insufficient even for the reduced segment, and that borrowing against future cap-and-invest revenues is risky because those revenues are uncertain and volatile. Inspector General Ben Belknap said the draft plan fails to comply with newer statutory requirements, especially regarding the Merced-to-Bakersfield scope, the funding plan, and missing procurement milestone dates. He said the presentation obscures cost increases and schedule delays and limits the Legislature’s ability to compare current estimates with prior reports. Committee members generally supported continued oversight and some form of project delivery reform, but several expressed concern that the plan relies on legislative changes that have not been approved and on private financing that may not materialize. Chaudhry said the authority would address the Inspector General’s findings in the final business plan and continue to pursue federal grants, private capital, and corridor commercialization. No vote was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second point I wanted to bring up is that there are also assumed significant reductions in scope
• We have greenhouse gas reduction fund revenues. They're anticipated to come in through 2045.
• So not only is California getting less train under these scope reductions...
• The other is we could do scope reductions, and here’s where those savings would be.”
• “But that’s assuming that they’re just doing that for reasons of scope reductions only.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• budgets and one account that is used in the transportation budget, which is the carbon emissions reduction
• would point out from this slide is you can see that there's the CERA amount, the carbon emissions reduction
• Beginning in fiscal year 2028, the distribution is 50% to the carbon emissions reduction account and
• You can see on net, it's a $109 million to $114 million reduction from the current-law levels.
• will be in place on the number two vessel for several... ...and a 20-vehicle capacity reduction will

Bills: HB2604, HB2436, SB6354, SB6352

Keywords: vehicle ownership, insurance, title transfer, consumer protection, motor vehicle, oil tanker, tank vessel, restricted waters, Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, Rosario Strait, Admiralty Inlet, Discovery Island, New Dungeness, tug escort, pilotage, marine safety, spill prevention, oil transport, petroleum shipment

Transcript Highlights:

• And I anticipate if we get a 30% reduction, then that can stay within that community, that area, for
• , then that can stay a 30% reduction, then that can stay within<00:11:19.200><c> that</c><00:11:19.440
• There will be a reduction, and I've heard numerous numbers.
• :15:20.800><c> heard</c><00:15:21.120><c> numerous</c> reduction and I I've heard numerous reduction
• And I think really a 30% reduction is a conservative number, but I'm trying to be ultra-conservative

Keywords: 00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 01:38 - Discussion of 26RS SCR 9 22:00 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS SCR 9 23:15 - Discussion of 26RS SJR 23 33:20 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS SJR 23 35:18 - Adjournment, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yesterday, DGS sent out a memo, statewide memo, about daily parking reduction, and that will begin on
• So that's a 90% reduction in the...
• Additionally, the administration will include a budget provision to impose the reductions if the state
• So one of the things is that imposing compensation reduction on bargaining units is something that is
• AFSCME is currently at the bargaining table. table, reject furloughs, reject pay reductions, reject a

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Local governments also contribute, primarily around defensible space and fuel reduction activities.
• It is recognizing that there is a need for fuels reduction, mechanical thinning. prescribed fire and
• Now, efficacy in fuels reduction, one of the items after talking to Assemblymember Petrie-Norris was
• You can also find it on our homepage because we want easy access and it's in fuels reduction, is the
• It is fundamental to why a fire risk reduction, this is not a hopeful sentiment.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lindsey Strad, Tobacco Harm Reduction 101, providing comments. Lindsay, are you present on Zoom?
• A tax increase of a dollar per pack would see a 6.9 reduction in smoking for youth under 18 years of
• Michael Young, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, in support.
• Michael Young, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, in support.
• </c><00:36:44.960><c> and</c><00:36:45.359><c> a</c> Cancer Centers debt reduction and a Cancer Centers

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Health, Human Services, and Higher Education hearing took up HB 441 HD2, a measure to increase cigarette taxes and dedicate the revenue to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. The Department of Taxation said it had no substantive objection but requested an effective date of January 1, 2026 if tax rates change so it can order new stamps. The Department of Health, the Deputy Attorney General/tobacco enforcement, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, the American Cancer Society, the Hawaii Medical Association, and several other health organizations and youth advocates supported the bill, arguing that higher cigarette prices reduce youth initiation, encourage cessation, and help fund cancer research and care. Several supporters asked for a larger increase, including at least $1 per pack, while opponents from retail, wholesale, and tobacco-related groups argued the tax would be regressive, burden low-income smokers, and drive sales to the illicit market. The Tax Foundation and other opponents also criticized reliance on sin taxes and said smoking rates are already at historic lows. After testimony and questions, members discussed how the revenue should be used and whether higher taxes change smoker behavior or push people toward vaping or other alternatives. The chairs announced they would pass HB 441 HD2 with amendments, replacing the contents with SB 528 SD1 except for changes reflecting the Department of Taxation’s request and a provision directing all proceeds from the tax increase to the Hawaii Cancer Center’s debt reduction, with an effective date of December 31, 2025. The House Health, Human Services, and Higher Education committees then voted to adopt the recommendation; the Health, Human Services committee vote was adopted with Chair and several members voting aye and one member voting no in the Higher Education committee vote. The hearing also briefly covered HB 1334 on meat donation, which drew support from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, food industry, and community groups, though no action was taken in the excerpt. The committee then heard HB 1098 on crimes against protective services workers. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, saying assaults on protective services workers can have chilling effects and deserve stronger deterrence; a committee question raised whether the bill should instead be part of a broader, more proactive approach to assault statutes. The Department of Human Services also described safety steps such as panic buttons and phone apps for social workers. The excerpt ends before any final vote on HB 1098.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor recommended a reduction to their...
• This represents a core reduction of $2,000 from the previous year.
• So there's an offsetting GR core reduction.
• There is an offsetting GR reduction. This is simply a fund switch.
• And I sell the FTE reduction. I saw, yeah, it looks great.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And can you then come back and say, hey, judge, I want you to consider under 1872 a reduction to a B
• Do you get the reduction from a 10A to a 10B or a 10B to a 10C?
• You know, the purpose of that, you know, you've got your reduction in class. of that. Right.
• You know, you've got your reduction in class, but you might not get a reduction in term.
• This is a post-sentencing reduction.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And can you then come back and say, hey, judge, I want you to consider under 1872 a reduction to a B
• Do you get the reduction from a 10A to a 10B or a 10B to a 10C?
• You know, the purpose of that, you know, you've got your reduction in class. of that. Right.
• You know, you've got your reduction in class, but you might not get a reduction in term.
• This is a post-sentencing reduction.

Summary: The Committee on Children and Families heard public testimony on three bills. House Bill 3470, sponsored by Rep. Schmidt, would create a Missouri partner network linking state agencies, nonprofits, faith-based groups, and private partners through a website and case-management system to connect adults 18 and over who opt in with resources for employment, housing, education, and self-sufficiency. Supporters described the model as already working in 36 counties through the Care Portal and emphasized efficiency, reduced duplication, and stronger family outcomes. Committee members generally supported the concept and asked about opt-in participation, navigators, and how nonprofits would be included as true partners; no opposition testimony was offered. House Bill 3322, sponsored by Rep. Hausman, would extend foster-care school stability timelines from 10 days to 30 days, or 60 days in summer, and increase the mileage limit for remaining in a school of origin from 10-15 miles to 30 miles. The sponsor and witnesses from the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition and Foster Adopt Connect said the current limits can force unnecessary school changes and are especially difficult in rural areas, while the bill would better preserve continuity for children in foster care. Committee members asked about edge cases, transportation, and whether the child’s best interests would still control; there was no opposition testimony. House Bill 1872, presented by Rep. Reuter, would allow survivors of domestic violence to seek resentencing if the abuse was related to the offense, so that the abuse can be considered as mitigating evidence after conviction or plea. Supporters, including a survivor, Missouri Appleseed, Forward.US, and Empower Missouri, said the bill would address cases where abuse was not fully considered at the original sentencing and would provide a second look for people serving long sentences. Several members raised procedural concerns about how the bill would interact with trial strategy, existing battered spouse syndrome law, evidentiary requirements, and appeals; the sponsor said he was open to revisions. No opposition testimony was presented, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not going to have a reduction in beds because we're keeping a workforce in place and asking for
• We're not going to have a reduction in beds because we're keeping a workforce in place and asking for
• We're not going to have a reduction in beds because we're keeping a workforce in place and asking for
• </c> reduction in revenue. reduction in revenue.
• </c><01:47:22.880><c> revenue</c> appropriate or as a reduction revenue appropriate or as a reduction

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Maintenance and purchase reductions, technology expenditures have been reduced, and the purchase of 10
• technology expenditures have reductions technology expenditures have been<00:04:24.320><c> reduced</
• If we were to maintain that same $600 per pupil request, this legislation's proposed 31.4% reduction
• </c><00:07:17.639><c> that</c> $700,000 in budget cuts reductions that $700,000 in budget cuts reductions
• </c><00:10:44.800><c> in</c> out a number of the the reductions in out a number of the the reductions

Bills: HF51, HF1161, HF2201, HF2786, HF1053

Keywords: HF51, Sibley County, State-Aid Highway 21, capital investment, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, transportation infrastructure, road improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, local infrastructure, county grant, Minnesota Department of Transportation, bond proceeds fund, public works, utility infrastructure, education finance, school district funding, tax base adjustment