Transcript Highlights:

• people in my district who are struggling to be able to pay their property taxes.
• But not everybody pays taxes.
• If you're under 18, or if you're over 65, you probably don't pay a lot of taxes.
• They have a lot of questions about how we're going to pay for those things.
• How we're going to pay for health care, for example.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have many pay programs available to departments; however, we'd also like some outside information
• We do have many pay programs available to departments; however, we'd also like some outside information
• issues that I address some of the pay issues that I think<00:02:45.879> you<00:02:46.000>
• other departments we do have many pay other departments we do have many pay programs<00:02:49.959
• cost items specifically for hazard pay cost items specifically for hazard pay Members<00:42:38.480

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard several labor and personnel measures. Senate Bill 1567 would require the Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a comprehensive review of the executive branch classification and compensation system and allow it to contract with a third party outside normal procurement rules. Director Brana Hashimoto testified in support, saying the state has more than 1,400 classes of work and limited staff to keep the system current; she said outside vendor help and market data are needed to update class specifications, minimum qualifications, and pay structures. She noted the project scope and timeline would depend on funding, and said the governor had approved about $1 million for the effort. Members asked about vendor scope, comparisons to the private sector and other public employers, consolidation of obsolete classes, and whether the exemption from procurement rules would speed the work. The committee also heard Senate Bill 326 on defense of state employees, with testimony in support from HGEA, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, and the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Senate Bill 337 would expand the pool of interest arbitrators used in collective bargaining disputes by allowing the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to request a list from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and to use arbitrators from both FMCS and the American Arbitration Association; HGEA supported the bill, saying the broader pool would improve selection and address communication issues. Senate Bill 1233 would create a State Internship and Workforce Development Program within DeHerd. The University of Hawaiʻi, HGEA, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and the Chamber of Commerce supported it. DeHerd said the program could help place interns into vacancies and convert them to civil service jobs, but said it would need about five FTE and roughly $330,000 in salaries to administer a program serving about 50 to 75 interns at a time; members questioned whether the positions could be filled and whether the program could proceed without added resources. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1359, which would increase the employer-based composite monthly contribution to the Hawaii EUTF Benefits Trust Fund beginning in January 2026 and then tie future increases to Medicare Part B premium changes with a lag. The EUTF administrator testified, and a member noted the measure resembled a bill that had died in conference the prior year. Senate Bill 1454 would give the Labor and Industrial Relations director authority to issue wage payment violation orders, establish penalties and appeals, and broaden the definition of wage; the department supported it, explaining it would align procedures under chapter 387 with existing chapter 388 enforcement and make investigations easier. Finally, the committee moved through a series of collective bargaining cost-item bills for various bargaining units and related entities, with testimony generally in support from Budget and Finance, HGEA, UH, HHSC, UPW, and other unions and associations. One amendment request was to include bargaining units 1 and 10 in the temporary hazard pay funding bill, and the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association noted its airport firefighters unit was still in arbitration and would provide final numbers later.

Transcript Highlights:

• If there is no match, we would not pay it.
• We would pay for airfare.
• There's the pay, and we're the chase.
• So this was around like $120, $130 an hour kind of thing, paying more than you pay a primary.
• So this was around like $120, $130 an hour kind of thing, paying more than you pay a primary care doctor

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• supposed to doing uh you know paying supposed to doing uh you know paying paying<00:08:26.319>
• reserve to pay fully pay down the reserve to pay fully pay down the liability.<00:32:05.440>
• They pay compensatory time.
• They pay compensatory time.
• They pay compensatory time.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:11 Executive Budget 00:00:50, 958, all

Summary: The committee met to hear a presentation from Dr. Hicks on the governor’s recommended budget for the next biennium. He reviewed the revenue outlook, noting modest general fund growth, a large rainy day fund balance, and the impact of recent income tax reductions. He said the budget was built around recurring reductions, lower debt service and retirement contribution rates, and the use of excess restricted funds, while protecting K-12 education, Medicaid, postsecondary education, public safety, and pension obligations. Dr. Hicks outlined several major spending and reserve proposals, including $350 million from the Department of Insurance’s excess restricted funds to support Medicaid in the first year, $150 million for the affordable housing trust fund, $125 million for rural hospitals, $100 million to offset lost federal ACA premium tax credits, $75 million for utility assistance, and $50 million for food assistance. In education, the proposal included a phased pre-K for all plan funded by sports wagering tax revenue, a 3% annual salary increase for full-time school personnel, continued full funding of teacher pensions, a 2.5% annual increase in SEEK base funding, and additional support for career and technical education and school facilities. He also discussed Medicaid cost pressures, including higher managed care, pharmacy, behavioral health, and nursing facility costs, and explained the expected effects of federal HR1 changes on Kentucky’s Medicaid program. Those changes include work and community engagement requirements and more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion members, which the administration estimated would reduce enrollment by about 4,300 in the first year and 28,000 in the second year. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting, which was limited to the budget presentation and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• out on a contract uh and how much paying out on a contract uh and how much is<00:24:15.000> left<
• the funds then they won't you to pay the funds then they won't lapse<00:39:04.240> even<00:39
• old system and the um ease of tax pay old system and the um ease of tax pay taxpayers<01:13:01.639
• The highway fund would pay its portion.
• 14.360> for other funded agencies would pay its for other funded agencies would pay its for portion

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to review the lapse extensions in the back of House Bill 25, which governs capital budget appropriations and bonding. Members were walked through how the bill is structured: section 1 covers general, federal, and other funds; section 2 covers highway fund appropriations; later sections authorize borrowing, restrict spending to the stated purposes, and explain why community colleges and the university system operate through their boards of trustees. The chair also explained that lapse extensions are needed because capital projects can span multiple years, and that appropriations normally expire at the end of the biennium unless extended. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on how to identify unspent balances and whether they should be extended, repurposed, or allowed to lapse. Members discussed that if a project is complete or an agency confirms it no longer needs the money, the remaining balance can be reused for another project or, if not needed, lapse back. The committee also reviewed the meaning of bill references and chapter numbers, and how to read prior-year appropriations and extensions in the worksheet. One example discussed was a 2023 Department of Administrative Services courthouse generators item, and members noted that some agencies may rely on encumbered balances rather than explicit lapse extensions, though the chair said he prefers including the extension for flexibility. The committee identified at least one specific change: the Jeffrey Ringe CTE renovation was removed from the governor’s recommended budget because the required local match was not approved, freeing about $18.5 million for possible reuse. Later, the chair noted that lapse extension 49 on the worksheet was no longer needed and could be removed, leaving an unspent balance of $81,500 available for repurposing. The discussion also referenced a Department of Transportation item, Caroline Stratford Freight Rail Improvements, which the agency asked to keep alive through a lapse extension so the funds would not expire on June 30. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• of that trust fund is to pay of that trust fund is to pay unemployment<01:31:05.719> benefits
• They pay 6%.
• They pay 6%.
• pay the benefits that's currently in the system.
• <05:53:15.798> that for weeks or months without paying that for weeks or months without paying

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:08.480> So<00:21:08.880> they pay pay those or play those.
• So they pay pay those or play those.
• promotional, they're paying taxes on it. promotional, they're paying taxes on it.
• We pay payroll taxes.
• We pay industry otherwise would be. We pay payroll<02:10:37.520> taxes.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No pay for training or duty.
• , no bond, no incentive pay.
• No pay for training or duty.
• , no bond, no incentive pay.
• No pay for training or duty.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If they pay for it themselves.
• You know, you're going to have to pay more money, wait, and get you off of the list.
• Private pay, more than half of ALs are licensed for fewer than 17 residents.
• How are they going to mandate that I pay for that? So that's, somebody has to pay for it. And.
• To pay your taxes. What are you trading for your life?

Bills: HB741, HB 1199, HB2070, HB2402, HB2542, HB2665, HB2789, HB3096, HB3396, HB3595, HB3747, HB4116, HB4127

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• rent, to pay for their other expenses in their lives.
• that they have money to pay rent to pay<00:09:16.440> for<00:09:16.640> their<00:09:16.800
• So here is the change: the master's versus a bachelor's, and the pay went up across the board.
• So here is the change: the master's versus a bachelor's, and the pay went up across the board.
• The pay went up across the board.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that clients are paying.
• We need the capital authority so we can pay for part of it.
• We may be able to pay for the full amount.
• HHSC for us to pay our bills.
• But moving into item 8, high-risk pay, as Ms.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , not going to be able to pay their rent, not going to be able to pay the debt service on that loan.
• Then we have taxes, 20% taxes off the back that you have to pay, right?
• If the operator has to pay for it, that's a bummer.
• So, by the way, I'm not going to have to pay the $250.
• You know, the price you pay for a plant that grows for free is ridiculous.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy held its first hearing of the 194th session to take public testimony on 21 cannabis-related bills. Chairs Donahue and Gómez outlined hearing procedures and noted that written testimony would also be accepted. Much of the hearing focused on the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), with Senator Mike Moore urging support for S. 90 to create an inspector general unit within the CCC. He argued the commission has suffered from dysfunction, workplace harassment allegations, delayed governance reforms, missed fee collections, and high legal costs, and said stronger legislative oversight is needed. Committee members largely agreed the CCC needs reform, though some expressed hope that new leadership would improve operations. A major theme was market structure and business viability. Representative Tyler testified for H. 183 to raise adult-use purchase limits from one ounce to two ounces, saying the change would reduce confusion and help retailers compete with neighboring states. Senator Payano supported S. 100, which would require a study of cannabis supply and demand to guide cultivation licensing, warning that oversupply is driving down prices and threatening cultivators. The Massachusetts Cannabis Coalition, represented by Ryan Dominguez, backed a package of bills aimed at increasing revenue, reducing regulatory burdens, attracting investment, and stabilizing the market, including higher purchase limits, simpler badge and testing rules, and a phased increase in the retail license cap. Attorneys Kevin Conroy and Mike Ross also supported raising the cap, arguing that the industry lacks capital and that more investment and exit opportunities are needed for provisional and distressed licensees. The most contentious issue was whether to raise the retail license cap from three to six. Supporters, including several business owners and industry advocates such as Peyton Shubrick, Tito Jackson, Armani White, Sean Burt, and others, said the current cap traps owners in declining businesses, prevents exits, and limits access to capital. They argued that many social equity and economic empowerment operators are struggling, that oversupply has pushed prices down, and that allowing more ownership could help businesses scale or sell. Opponents, including Senator Liz Miranda and several social equity operators, warned that lifting the cap now would let larger operators and multi-state companies dominate the market and harm equity-owned businesses. Miranda’s S. 88 would instead strengthen enforcement of ownership limits through audits, whistleblower protections, an anonymous tip line, and greater transparency. Another major topic was worker and consumer safety: Laura Bruno, Danny Carson, Al Vega, and others supported H. 194 after the death of Lorna McMurray, arguing for a CCC workplace and consumer safety department, better ventilation and PPE standards, stronger testing oversight, and retaliation protections for workers. The hearing ended without votes, with members thanking testifiers and indicating the committee would continue reviewing the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• You don't pay for our roads." But is that true?
• So, I should pay more, right? nice. I get nice.
• We also pay taxes and franchise fees on that electricity.
• We pay our fair share. The years. We pay our fair share.
• We also pay taxes and franchise free.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An organization that is registered because it is paying people to lobby the state of Minnesota.
• Whether they're paying Representative Falconer to lobby only for the federal government, they are paying
• <00:09:08.000> people registered because it is paying people registered because it is paying
• Whether they're paying Representative Whether they're paying Representative Falconer<00:09:12.960>
• government they are paying government they are paying Representative<00:09:15.840> Falconer

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you have enough money to pay claims based on the way these rates are set up?
• I'm all about making it easier to pay your bills. I have a question, though.
• The only other way I could pay it was by paying a $4.95 fee over the phone.
• either with check or pay with using the routing number and bypassing those fees?
• it before I could pay it off, let me know, because I'd like to save the $15.

Bills: S0158, S0314, S0618, S0684, S0838, S0990, S1000, S1082, S1452, S1494, S1500, S1568, S1706

Keywords: pet insurance, consumer protection, insurance regulation, policy disclosure, agent training, payment stablecoin, financial regulation, anti-money laundering, state oversight, digital currency, financial services, workers compensation, Florida statute, commercial insurance, insurance board, electronic signatures, vehicle titles, insurance regulations, auditing, total loss vehicles

Summary: The Banking and Insurance Committee heard and advanced a wide range of insurance, financial services, and probate bills. Early in the meeting, SB 1000 on trust fund interest for attorney trust accounts was explained as setting a floor and ceiling tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate and was reported favorably. The committee then took up CS/SB 1082 on a statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program for emergency out-of-network claims. After extensive discussion about the relationship between the state and federal No Surprises Act processes, an amendment was withdrawn due to concerns about clarity and scope, but the bill itself was supported by providers and insurers and was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 684 on electronic signatures for total loss vehicles and vessels, CS/SB 158 on pet insurance consumer disclosures and agent education, SB 1494 expanding breast cancer screening coverage, CS/SB 314 on digital assets and stablecoin issuers, and CS/SB 1500 on uncontested probate procedures and small-estate administration. SB 618 on workers’ compensation insurance was amended to raise the consent-to-rate cap for workers’ compensation policies from 10% to 20% and then reported favorably, with supporters saying it would help keep higher-risk employers in the voluntary market. CS/SB 1568 creating a Florida Stablecoin Pilot Program was amended to remove authority for a Florida coin and limit the program to existing stablecoins, then passed. Later, the committee approved CS/SB 838 on electronic payment convenience fees for retail installment contracts, with the sponsor emphasizing that a fee-free payment option must still be offered. SB 1452, the Department of Financial Services agency bill, was amended and reported favorably; it covered My Safe Florida Home administration, insurance and licensing changes, unclaimed property updates, and other DFS-related provisions. The committee also passed SB 1706 on the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, targeting owner-occupied condominiums at or below 80% of area median income, and SB 990 on protected cell captive insurance companies, which supporters said would modernize Florida’s captive insurance laws and encourage more competition. The meeting ended with all listed bills reported favorably and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know who pays for those costs?
• You know who pays for what, Mr. Speaker? You know who pays for those<00:41:38.640> costs?
• jobs Americans could have, good paying jobs Americans could have, good paying jobs,<01:30:35.840
• those taxes, companies top of paying those taxes, companies must<02:34:57.600> pay<02:34:57.840
• and on rural communities who are paying and on rural communities who are paying the<03:36:20.399

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, December 18, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's for all of the residents, and that makes them pay at the highest tier that we have here in Taunton
• So therefore, the water charges constitute a pass-through cost, which the residents do actually pay for
• to pay for new pipelines as well.
• For Blackstone Service Area customers, they're going to be paying over $100 more.
• Ratepayers will be stuck paying for this old, obsolete gas infrastructure for decades.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of late-file energy bills, with much of the discussion focused on battery storage siting, gas system expansion, propane consumer protections, gas workforce safety, and a Taunton home-rule petition on water rates for manufactured housing communities. Representative Sweeney urged support for H. 4689 and H. 4690, which would impose a moratorium and setback requirements for lithium battery storage facilities, citing fire risk, proximity to homes, and environmental concerns. Several local officials and residents from Oakham, Tewksbury, and other communities described proposed battery projects near homes, schools, wetlands, and conservation land, while industry and clean-energy advocates argued the bills would effectively block storage development and conflict with state energy goals and existing fire-safety standards. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2290/H. 3547, a bill to prevent gas expansion near environmental justice communities, from environmental justice advocates, municipal officials, and clean-energy groups. Testimony emphasized rising gas bills, the cost of new pipelines, methane and health impacts, and the need to avoid locking in long-term gas infrastructure costs. Witnesses also discussed related bills on gas workforce safety, gas shut-off valves, and gas meter replacement plans, with labor representatives supporting safety-focused measures and opposing changes they said would weaken inspections, while consumer and environmental advocates argued that some utility replacement practices are unnecessarily expensive and should be reined in to reduce ratepayer costs. Other testimony included support for H. 3518 on propane gas ratepayer protections, with the witness arguing for clearer contract terms and website price disclosure, and support for S. 2652, which would authorize Taunton to create a separate water billing rate for manufactured housing communities because residents there are effectively paying higher water costs through rent due to a single master meter. No committee votes or final actions were taken during the hearing, and members mostly asked brief clarifying questions or made no comment after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why shouldn't the departments have to pay some or all the claims out of their funds?
• , but I believe that that is the pay, but I believe that that is the exception,<00:15:57.040> not<
• department not either claim outright pay department not either claim outright pay their<00:19:14.480
• <00:27:01.279> I<00:27:02.240> I the lease by failing to pay rent.
• I I the lease by failing to pay rent. I I don't<00:27:02.559> know.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee first considered Governor’s Message 574, confirming Michael Tenoi to continue serving on the Commission to Promote Uniform Legislation through June 30, 2028. Several supporters testified, and Tenoi said he valued working with Hawaii and national commissioners and hoped to focus on emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data security. The committee recommended advise and consent and adopted the measure, with a photo taken afterward. The committee then heard HB 1519 on campaign contributions, which would require disclosure of compensated officers and immediate family members of certain state contractors and grantees. The Campaign Spending Commission and State Procurement Office supported the bill but asked for clarifying amendments; several advocacy groups supported the measure but urged stronger language, including removing branch-of-government limits and narrowing loopholes. The chair proposed amendments to remove monetary thresholds, limit the bill to paid officers, add appropriations for the Campaign Spending Commission and State Procurement Office, define “officer” more broadly, and note that false-name contributions are already felonies. The committee voted to pass HB 1519 with amendments. HB 2250, the claims against the state bill, drew testimony from the Attorney General and multiple departments in support, but members raised extensive questions about why many claims would be paid from the general fund, how corrective action is being pursued, and the handling of several specific claims, including wrongful imprisonment, a cesspool citation, Department of Corrections deaths, a large special education settlement, a charter school lease dispute, and an outdated check. Because of those outstanding questions, the committee postponed decision-making on HB 2250 until Tuesday, March 24, at 10:30 a.m. in Room 016. Later, the committee also considered Governor’s Message 725, confirming Daniel M. Gluck as an associate judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals; the committee recommended consent and adopted the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The local government has to pay if an appellant wins, but if the person appealing... ...to pay if an
• to pay for the house to be torn down, and they also would have had to pay me more money for the house
• to pay for the house to be torn down, and they also would have had to pay me more money for the house
• Well, I pay a mortgage. I guess maybe the bank does.
• You pay the mortgage off. If you don't pay your property taxes, your home vanishes.

Bills: SB1254, SB1431, SB1478, SB1566, SB1787

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial commission, safety regulations, employee protection, penalties, compliance, municipal planning, homeowners associations, design regulations, property rights, building permits, single-family homes, liquor, alcohol, spirituous liquor, liquor license, liquor licensing, Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control, restaurant to-go cocktails, mixed cocktails

Transcript Highlights:

• Pay [snorts] your rent in 14 same thing.
• <00:03:25.560> more renters are cost burdened, paying more renters are cost burdened, paying
• pay is coming<00:07:41.600> in.
• pay March. pay March.
• Folks want to pay rent and have jobs...

Keywords: 1183, house