Transcript Highlights:

• 48.799> language >> Yes, that is statutory language >> Yes, that is statutory language
• I support that amendment. With that, I will take any questions.
• <02:21:27.040> and<02:21:27.359> not around it is statutory and not around it is statutory
• ,<02:30:26.319> if study so that an amendment, if study so that an amendment, if necessary
• an amendment to something. an amendment to something.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• do that right we have no the statutory do that right we have no the statutory it<01:07:48.880>
• you next up is s SP 255 uh this amends you next up is s SP 255 uh this amends section<01:22:00.280
• will accept the office of amendment will accept the office of elections<01:23:51.840> Amendment
• <01:25:44.440> are sb260 is to pass with amendments are sb260 is to pass with amendments are
• Thank you very much. pass with amendments chair rhs vice sh I pass with amendments chair rhs vice sh

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for this amendment.
• about the amendment.
• When asked whether this is an actual amendment, he said yes, it is an amendment.
• When asked whether this is an actual amendment, he said yes, it is an amendment.
• The amendment was on 537. Oh, I apologize. I confused those two. This is amendment 0823 H.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• amendments that that.
• Like contract amendments, the contract amendments that we were able to institute because of audits and
• And that committee meets at 12:30 or 1 o'clock, and I've already had to amend it.
• And that committee meets at 12:30 or 1 o'clock, and I've already had to amend it.
• Again, the contract amendments, what I can tell you is we are in compliance with the recommendations

Summary: The committee first considered the confirmation of Dr. John Lattell to the Florida Board of Medicine. In questioning, senators focused heavily on his views on abortion, vaccines, ivermectin, hormonal birth control, and the role of CDC/FDA guidance in board discipline cases. Dr. Lattell said the board should apply Florida statutes, described himself as strongly pro-life and skeptical of some federal health guidance, and said he would be sympathetic when judging fellow physicians because of his own experience in practice. Supporters praised his medical background, military service, and family medicine experience, while opponents argued his stated views could affect his ability to fairly discipline other doctors. The committee voted 5-2 to recommend confirmation, with Senators Polsky and Rouson voting no. The committee then took up the confirmation of Taylor Hatch as Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Hatch outlined her background at DCF and APD and described department priorities including streamlining services, improving child welfare and behavioral health systems, expanding peer support, and reducing SNAP error rates. Members asked detailed questions about Hope Florida, the number and role of Hope Navigators, agency responsiveness on bill analyses, and accountability for community-based care contractors. Hatch said Hope Florida is a partnership-based navigation effort aimed at self-sufficiency, that 143 Hope Navigators are in place, and that the department is working to improve transparency and oversight through contracts, audits, and a proposed funding model. Senators also pressed Hatch on the Hope Florida Foundation’s compliance history and on forensic audits of community-based care agencies, especially Northwest Florida Health Network. Hatch said the foundation is now in compliance and under audit, and that the contractor had completed corrective actions and was operating within current accountability limits. She said DCF had not yet conducted new forensic audits under her tenure but was preparing another round and was considering using contracted-services dollars to support that work. The discussion ended with continued questioning on oversight, staffing, and whether the agency could provide more formal bill analyses going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh section<00:10:40.480> 13<00:10:41.600> um<00:10:41.760> amends<00:10:42.160><
• 13 um amends the short call substitute<00:10:43.600> teacher<00:10:43.920> pilot<00:10
• Uh provides for certain statutory<00:15:53.600> duties<00:15:53.839> of<00:15:54.000>
• The uh amendment to this contract.
• The first three sections amend the Data Practices Act.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee staff at my direction offered you four separate sets of amendments, each new set of amendments
• Is it the amendment I just described?
• be the entirety of the amendment.
• Are you accepting the committee amendment, or declining the amendment? We'll see.
• the amendments in print.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To meet our statutory requirements, we had to find an alternative.
• Since the amendment was offered, I think it does beg some clarification.
• The amendment, which is not an AMC amendment, discusses the ability to publish in a paper or not, and
• There's been some discussion about the amendment.
• Is somebody going to be offering the amendment?

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Gomez, can we just do my amendment? Yes, do the amendment.
• :59.080> Amendment<00:26:59.480> this<00:26:59.600> amendment uh A10 Amendment this
• amendment uh A10 Amendment this amendment addresses<00:27:00.279> some<00:27:00.480> concerns
• The A13 amendment is adopted, and the last amendment is the A11 to your amendment, Representative...
• c> Representative Joy said the last amendment is the A11 amendment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• amendments. It's going to take longer. amendments. It's going to take longer.
• The Department of the Attorney General has proposed several housekeeping amendments to eliminate statutory
• . amendments. amendments.
• Bill 2424 HD1 with amendments. Bill 2424 HD1 with amendments.
• . amendments. amendments.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, with most measures drawing either support or comments rather than opposition. HB 2395, relating to taking marine deposits for research, education, management, or propagation, received support from the University of Hawaii and DLNR. HB 2585, relating to agricultural tourism, drew broad support for its intent to keep agritourism secondary to farming, but agencies and farm groups raised concerns about enforcement, county authority, and the rebuttable presumption language. Testifiers included OPSD, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau, a small farm operator, and others, with some urging clearer definitions, simpler registration, and protections for bona fide farms and hosted farm stays. HB 1728, on rainwater catchment systems, was supported in principle by DLNR, which cited drought conditions and said it deferred to counties and the Department of Health on safety and regulation. HB 1881, which would prohibit passenger ropeways on mountain lands, drew strong support from community testifiers who said it would help prevent development disguised as agritourism and protect forests and country lands. HB 1990, establishing penalties and possible foreclosure for unresolved zoning violations, received comments from the Attorney General recommending removal of AG references and more county-centered enforcement, while the Hawaii Association of Realtors warned the 30-day timeline could create problems for absent or unaware homeowners. The committee also heard HB 1712, which would expand and make permanent certain seats on the State Building Code Council. The Plumbers and Fitters union supported the bill, but BIA Hawaii requested amendments to add “licensed contractor” language, and architects and other professionals opposed the measure, arguing that increasing the council from 12 to 15 voting members would make it less efficient and harder to reach quorum. Finally, HB 2151, relating to hempcrete, was supported by a Kauai workforce development advocate and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, who said hempcrete could support agriculture, manufacturing, and affordable housing while reducing carbon and reliance on imported materials. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• wealth per pupil to some statutory wealth per pupil to some statutory Factor<00:10:24.839> um
• K12 code do have fixed statutory K12 code do have fixed statutory factors<00:10:42.880> um
• program does not have a fixed statutory program does not have a fixed statutory Factor<00:10:54.079
• You don't get back to the statutory allowance; you get to some number that's different.
• I'll note that grant agreements can be amended by mutual agreement of the two parties.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This does require. statutory action by the legislature. Okay.
• In the annual report this year, if you look at page five, we actually put the statutory citation.
• There's no statutory inundation to get to that 3, right? And then on top of the current law...
• So the statutory emendations that are contemplated in H.B. 1, that's where we get the 3.5.
• Proposition 7, which authorized an additional constitutional amendment for transportation funding.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• thoughts are on the uh amendment. Rep. thoughts are on the uh amendment. Rep.
• will not be supporting this amendment. will not be supporting this amendment.
• HP 1352 as amended? HP 1352 as amended? Rep.<01:25:25.600> Granger.
• . amendment. amendment.
• with statutory requirements context. with statutory requirements context.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> I did I asked you to make an amendment >> I did I asked you to make an amendment
• license agreements have been uh amended license agreements have been uh amended and<01:38:46.880
• Bill 1539-FN and offer Amendment 2026-049H.
• We'll pick up the amendment first. What does the amendment do?
• That now brings us to the motion of ought to pass as amended.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• instead, I received a long answer that included a discussion of three different voter-approved amendments
• And a key thing with the Gann limit, as it was amended in 1990, is that the Gann limit is designed to
• And there are three principal statutory discretionary reserves today: the projected temporary surplus
• And so those are the three statutory reserves where we can put discretionary deposits in.
• And so those are the three statutory reserves where we can put discretionary deposits in.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on proposals to reform California’s Budget Stabilization Account, or rainy day fund, ahead of the May Revision. Members and witnesses reviewed how Proposition 2 (2014) changed reserve rules, including mandatory deposits, a 10% cap on the fund, and limits tied to the Governor’s declaration of a budget emergency. LAO staff explained that California’s revenues are highly volatile, that current reserve rules are complicated by interactions with Proposition 98 and the Gann limit, and that under current law reserves would cover only about one-third of funding shortfalls in a benchmark scenario over 50 years. The LAO presented its report recommending a larger reserve target, including raising the cap to 50% by 2055 and pairing that with either broader, more flexible deposit rules or a simpler approach that deposits all excess capital gains. The Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to raise the cap from 10% to 20% and exempt BSA deposits from the state appropriations limit, while Assembly Member Valencia presented ACA 1, which would make similar changes and was described as an evolving proposal. Testimony generally supported saving more during boom years, but differed on how much to hardwire into the Constitution versus leave flexible, and on whether to broaden the deposit formulas beyond capital gains. Public witnesses and committee members raised additional issues, including whether reserve reforms should also address debt repayment, the treatment of unemployment insurance fund debt, and whether the Gann limit should be adjusted to better allow reserve growth. Supporters argued that stronger reserves would protect Californians from cuts during downturns and help the state weather volatility and federal funding threats. Some advocates warned that reforms should not come at the expense of current public needs, while taxpayer representatives cautioned against turning the BSA into a pass-through account that weakens constitutional spending limits. The hearing ended without a vote, with the committee chair noting the complexity of the issue and adjourning after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are proud sponsors of AB 635 as amended.
• Chair, support if amended? Sure. Okay.
• We have a supportive amendment.
• We'll be accepting all committee amendments.
• Oh, and you've accepted the amendments. Yes, I have accepted the amendments. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• After providing the statutory portion of the COLA, we think you have several reasonable options for what
• One option is to approve the May Revision proposal to provide an increase for SCFF above the statutory
• The May Revision also requests statutory language to specify the Golden State Teacher Grant funds or
• The May Revision also requests statutory changes to support the state's implementation of the federal
• The administration is open to amending the trailer bill language if that becomes necessary.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard May Revision proposals covering higher education, including the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, the University of California, California Community Colleges, the California Student Aid Commission, UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and trailer bill reporting changes. For the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, the administration proposed a one-time $10 million General Fund backfill to repay a special fund loan taken to cover litigation costs, plus provisional language to adjust for a pending legal expense and to repay the loan without interest. The LAO opposed shifting costs to the General Fund and raised legal concerns about an interest-free loan under Proposition 26. Senators asked about whether the $10 million would cover the litigation and about the estimated $245,000 in interest savings. For UC, the May Revision maintained the Governor’s ongoing support and included budget language requiring campuses to grow by 2,968 California undergraduates in 2026-27. UC also sought $1.5 million in one-time General Fund support for the First Star foster youth program. UC described strong outcomes for the UCLA program, while the LAO recommended rejecting the new spending because UC already has overlapping outreach programs, including the Early Academic Outreach Program, and because the need for new state funding was not clear. Senators debated whether the proposal duplicated existing services and discussed the program’s reported college-going and completion rates. The committee also heard a request for $1 million ongoing General Fund for UC College of the Law, San Francisco, to maintain campus safety services; the college described its shared-campus model and public-interest mission, while the LAO noted the college was also raising tuition and that the proposal would maintain, rather than expand, current security spending. The committee then reviewed community college proposals. Finance outlined a larger May Revision package centered on a 4.31% SCFF COLA, enrollment growth funding, categorical COLAs, a one-time Adult Learner Demonstration Project allocation, deferred maintenance, and other ongoing and one-time items. The Chancellor’s Office supported the package but asked for more enrollment growth funding, a higher growth rate, and additional policy changes. The LAO recommended at least funding the statutory 2.87% COLA, then considering whether to redirect remaining funds to enrollment growth, categorical COLAs, or one-time priorities; it recommended rejecting the Adult Learner Demonstration Project. Senators questioned the use of the discretionary COLA to cover paid pregnancy disability leave, the impact on hold harmless and basic aid districts, and whether the state should instead create a separate categorical. The Chancellor’s Office and Finance said the COLA approach was intended to provide flexibility, though Finance said it was open to further discussion about districts that would not receive direct funding. For student aid, Finance described May Revision changes to Cal Grant and the Middle Class Scholarship, including a one-time reduction tied to lower estimated costs and a later true-up, as well as proposals for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program and implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. CSAC supported the financial aid investments but urged more time and clearer implementation planning for Workforce Pell, noting the need for state approval processes, data linkages, and likely ongoing administrative workload. The LAO recommended rejecting additional Golden State Teacher Grant funding and cautioned that the Workforce Pell trailer bill and one-time funding were premature given the new federal rules and unclear workload. Senators also raised concerns about the Middle Class Scholarship reduction, the need to support students facing higher living costs, and the decline in CADA/DREAM Act applications, with CSAC saying the drop did not reflect reduced need and that outreach should be strengthened. The final item was a set of technical trailer bill changes to shift some UC, CSU, and community college reporting from annual to biennial and consolidate reports; Finance said there were no programmatic changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• They speak about exemptions for state projects, as well as some of our statutory exemptions as well.
• They speak about exemptions for state projects, as well as some of our statutory exemptions as well.
• They speak about exemptions for state projects, as well as some of our statutory exemptions as well.
• They speak about exemptions for state projects, as well as some of our statutory exemptions as well.
• So of our statutory exemptions as well.

Bills: SB2066

Keywords: permitting, construction, efficiency, state projects, county collaboration, funding, staffing shortages, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Government Operations heard Senate Bill 2066 on county permitting and inspection. Testimony focused on whether the bill should exempt state projects from county permitting requirements. One testifier opposed the measure, arguing it would bypass established permitting processes, weaken good government, and put the public at risk. A DOE representative said the intent was to speed up state projects, but suggested a different approach: funding county positions dedicated solely to state permits, possibly as a pilot program, rather than removing county review entirely. Committee members discussed the difficulty of moving state projects through county systems, the lack of special treatment, and whether a more systematic or standardized process could be created for repetitive projects. After the discussion, the chairs announced a substantive rewrite of SB 2066. The amended version would delete the county-permitting exemptions for state projects and instead create a cooperative working group to address the intersection of state projects and county permitting needs. The revised measure would also include a blank appropriation for counties to fund personnel to expedite permitting for state projects only. Members clarified that any funded staff would be dedicated solely to state projects. The committee then took votes on the revised measure. The committees adopted the amended bill. The Government Operations Committee recommended the Senate draft one version, and members present voted yes, with Senator Awa excused. The measure was adopted with the revised approach and an effective date set for April 19, 2042.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> advances constitutional amendment which advances constitutional amendment which advances a<00:
• this constitutional amendment is needed. this constitutional amendment is needed.
• :13.839> just This constitutional amendment is just This constitutional amendment is just one<
• I'm also a constitutional amendment.
• <00:17:19.919> is violence victims, this amendment is violence victims, this amendment is

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• law, the amendment places limitations on...
• ordinary principles of statutory ordinary principles of statutory construction<00:11:13.120>
• Of course, this the amendments here.
• The other thing I statutory scheme.
• That was part of the floor amendment. That wasn't part of the first two amendments.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment corrects that. Uh Mr. amendment corrects that. Uh Mr.
• That amendment has passed also. You have both those amendments. >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. >> Okay.
• That amendment has passed also. You have both those amendments. >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. >> Okay.
• That amendment has passed also. You have both those amendments. >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. >> Okay.
• for engrossed House Bill 120 as amended. for engrossed House Bill 120 as amended.

Bills: SF0102, SF0123, SF0021, SF0099

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, energy, funding, grants, loans, coal, natural gas, mineral processing, economic development, stable token, liquidity, trust account, Wyoming, fund distribution, financial regulation