Transcript Highlights:

• I'm excited to be in your committee.
• Public safety committee, yes.
• Chair and members of the committee.
• The committee amendments and those amendments are being technically taken in this committee.
• I'm accepting the committee amendments. Thanks for the work by the committee.

Committee: Senate Housing

Summary: The committee heard AB 736, a proposed $10 billion Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, with Assembly Member Buffy Wicks and numerous housing, local government, labor, and advocacy groups testifying in strong support. Supporters said the bond would fund multifamily housing, permanent supportive housing, homeownership, preservation, farmworker, tribal, and other programs, and argued that the state needs new capital because prior bond funds are exhausted and many shovel-ready projects are waiting. Habitat for Humanity California opposed the bill unless it was amended to dedicate 10% of bond proceeds to Cal Home for affordable homeownership, and several senators said they supported the bond but wanted Cal Home strengthened. The committee voted do pass to Senate Appropriations, with the measure placed on call for absent members. The committee also heard SB 1361 by Senator Durazo, which would limit local governments from using SB 79 transit-oriented housing requirements as a reason to stall or condition planned transit projects. Los Angeles Metro, the Building Trades, and several cities and advocacy groups supported the bill, saying it would protect transit investments, jobs, and federal funding from opposition tied to future density around transit stops. Several groups that had initially opposed or been concerned about the bill, including West Hollywood, Streets for All, Greenbelt Alliance, California YIMBY, and the Bay Area Council, withdrew opposition or moved to neutral after amendments. The committee approved the bill as amended to Senate Local Government, with the measure also placed on call. Senator Grayson presented SB 1003, creating an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local governments and developers fund infrastructure needed for infill housing, and SB 1014, which would require local agencies to provide early, good-faith estimates and itemized lists of required on-site and off-site improvements for housing projects. Both bills were supported by housing advocates, Habitat for Humanity, SPUR, and industry groups, who said the measures would reduce uncertainty, late fees, and project delays. The committee advanced both bills as amended to Senate Appropriations, placing them on call. The committee also took up SB 908, which streamlines energy-code-compliant window replacement and limits aesthetic review, especially for residential replacements; it passed as amended to Appropriations after support from affordable housing and green building groups and no opposition. Later, Senator Allen presented SB 1092 and SB 1093 on mobile home park preservation and post-disaster protections. SB 1092 would give residents notice and an opportunity to make a competing bid when a park owner intends to sell, with supporters arguing it would help preserve unsubsidized affordable housing and protect displaced residents, while park owner representatives argued it would devalue properties, create litigation risk, and interfere with market transactions. SB 1093 would require more communication, access, and consideration of rebuilding or closure after disasters, and would restore certain resident reimbursement rights; supporters cited the Palisades fire and survey data showing residents lacked information and access, while opponents said the bill imposed onerous timelines, liability issues, and penalties and could force owners into rebuilding or compensation assumptions they disputed. Both bills were discussed at length, but the transcript ends before final recorded votes on them.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill came through your committee.
• I move that House Committee Substitute for House Bills 3231 and 2531... ...for a motion on House Committee
• Committee Substitute for House Bill 2003, House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2004, House Committee
• for House Bill 2007, House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2008, House Committee Substitute for
• House Bill 2009, House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2011, House Committee Substitute for House

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm available for questions. members of the Committees uh my name is members of the Committees uh my
• </c><00:38:20.760><c> to</c> to have a running start not a hope to to have a running start not a hope
• </c><00:48:30.559><c> my</c> Vice chair members of the committee my Vice chair members of the committee
• </c> our residents support this so I hope our residents support this so I hope that<00:54:30.000><c>
• </c><00:59:50.000><c> that</c> legalization um I really hope that legalization um I really hope that

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

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:

• Resources Committee.
• Members, our first order of business is adopting the committee rules.
• Members, you received a copy of the proposed committee rules.
• Chairman, it's always good to be in front of your committee, Vice Chair Dean Zaffirini and committee
• I'm very grateful for what President Trump's doing, We're hopeful.

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Families hoping for relief, children hoping for opportunity, seniors hoping for security, communities
• hoping to be included.
• Show HB 5203E referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
• Show HB 5207E referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
• Show HB 5403E referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Summary: The Senate convened in special session for budget conference work, opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and moments of silence honoring Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateer and former Senator Bill Posey. The Secretary read the joint proclamation calling the special session, which was limited to the budget, implementing bill, collective bargaining/state employee issues, retirement, DMS, law enforcement radio system, health, higher education, K-12 education, government administration, correctional facilities financing, judges, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup programs, fuel taxes, and taxation. Chair Hooper outlined the process for moving Senate and House budget conforming bills into conference posture, noting that conference meetings would be on one-hour notice. The Senate then took up and passed a series of Senate conforming bills and House companion bills, generally by unanimous 32-0 votes, with delete-all amendments used to place Senate language onto House bills or to clear bills for conference. Measures addressed fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, judges, pre-K through 12 education, retirement, higher education, health care, government administration, correctional facilities financing and capital improvements, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup programs, state employees/collective bargaining, and the implementing bill for the 2026-27 budget. Senators repeatedly moved that, when the House version was not passed as received, the Senate request conference or accede to the House’s request for conference. The General Appropriations Bill was handled by substituting House Bill 5001E for Senate Bill 2500E, amending it with Senate substance, and passing it 32-0 before requesting conference. House Bill 7031E on taxation was also amended and debated; Senator Berman used the debate to urge consideration of suspending the motor fuel tax for summer relief, but the bill ultimately passed and the Senate requested conference after failing to pass the House version as received. The session ended with a motion to waive rules for publishing the Special Order Calendar for the remainder of the special session, followed by adjournment upon the call of the President for committee meetings and other Senate business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Madam Chair, committee members.
• Madam Chair, members of the committee.
• Chair, members of the committee.
• You have a do pass on your committee. Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the committee.
• We'll turn it over to the committee. Are there questions from the committee?

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Next order of business is a meeting of the Rules Committee and Committee on Committees.
• and Committee on the Rules Committee and Committee on Committees.<00:25:26.560><c> Senator</c><00:25
• of the Rules Committee and the Committee<00:25:31.640><c> on</c><00:25:31.720><c> Committees</c><00:
• the clerk's Committee on Committees at the clerk's desk,<00:25:32.720><c> please.
• The Committee on Committees has met and referred the following bills to these committees: to the Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Committee and Vice Chair.
• Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the committee.
• Seeing none, we'll go to the committee. Is there anyone from the committee who would?
• Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the committee.
• I hope I didn't just disqualify us.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• You used to chair this committee, I think.
• Chair, members of the committee, my name is Matt Freeman.
• And I know that we like to talk about balance in this committee.
• Chair and members of the committee. My name is Andrew Russell.
• I hope I'm clear.

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee.
• Chairman, members of the committee.
• We are here in respectful opposition, hoping we can fix an error, at least we hope it's an error, in
• Brandy Patron said they were in opposition, hoping the committee could fix an error in the budget.
• Chairman they hoped this was an oversight.

Summary: The joint House and Senate Appropriations committees met to hear the FY 2027 budget package, beginning with the General Appropriations Act (HB 4154/SB 1847). Staff outlined the overall budget, including one-time fund transfers, lump-sum reductions, funding for state employee health insurance, school facilities, corrections, flood and wildfire relief, education and child care, and other ongoing and supplemental items. Members briefly discussed the absence of a requested $1.5 million for the oversight office, but the chair said no amendments would be taken in committee and that only limited technical changes were likely later in the process. Public testimony on the feed bill was largely supportive but focused on specific funding concerns. Testimony highlighted school safety funding, Alzheimer’s services, small business tax expensing provisions, disability oversight for group homes, county use of opioid settlement dollars, adult education/community college funding, victim notification funding, and ESA oversight. Several speakers praised the budget for funding DDD and other services, while others opposed or sought changes to items such as the COMIT group home monitoring program, Maricopa Community Colleges’ lack of operating aid, and a possible cut to the victim notification program. The chair repeatedly emphasized that changes to the negotiated budget would be difficult and should be routed through leadership. The committee then moved quickly through the remaining budget reconciliation bills. Staff summarized bills covering amusement and wagering, capital outlay, commerce, criminal justice, environment, health care, higher education, human services, and K-12 education. Notable provisions included continued wagering assessments, highway and building renewal funding, defense innovation and economic development changes, corrections and wrongful conviction provisions, groundwater and water banking measures, health insurance oversight and opioid settlement provisions, higher education funding and ABOR operating caps, SNAP and housing trust fund changes, and a 2% inflation increase for K-12 formula components. The K-12 bill also included a biometric school safety pilot and a child sexual abuse prevention pilot. No votes were taken in the portion provided, and the chair indicated the committee would continue through the remaining bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm hopeful they will be passed.
• I would hope that they do comply.
• I would hope that they do comply.
• </c> committee hearing time, and some debate. committee hearing time, and some debate.
• </c> committee. Um so with that, Mr. committee. Um so with that, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let us breathe in the gift of God's hope. Hope.
• Committee's Committee, then the Senate Health, Public Affairs Committee, then the Senate Judiciary Committee
• Committee, then the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee, then the Senate Finance Committee
• Committee, then the Senate Finance Committee.
• Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, everybody, and happy first committee day of committee weeks.
• The Committee on Health Policy will now come to order.
• We're at the first committee meeting of the day, the first committee week.
• Thank you, Chair Burton, members of the committee.
• Knowing this committee will probably have some questions after the committee meeting, too.

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The committee opened with roll call, welcomed members back for the first committee weeks, and heard brief personal updates from several senators before moving into agency implementation updates on recently enacted health care laws. The Agency for Health Care Administration reported on Senate Bill 64 creating rural emergency hospitals, explaining that AHCA adopted the required rules effective June 1, 2025, but that no hospitals have yet been designated. Members asked about possible hospital conversions, accreditation and survey responsibilities, and whether Florida would apply for federal rural health transformation funding; AHCA said it intends to apply and has already been working on the issue with federal officials. AHCA also reviewed the non-emergent care access plan requirement under Senate Bill 7016. The agency said hospitals with emergency departments must submit plans that help redirect non-emergent patients to appropriate care settings while complying with EMTALA, and that 83 plans had been received and 63 approved as of September 30. Members asked about data collection, managed care coordination, and the state’s health information exchange; AHCA said it has moved to a new HIE vendor and will continue monitoring implementation and possible care gaps. AHCA then updated the committee on the TEACH program, saying $6.8 million was spent in 2024-25 across 59 parent organizations and 229 facilities, with more than 1,800 students and nearly 380,000 clinical hours reimbursed. The agency said rulemaking is nearly complete, a new nursing student category and expanded facility eligibility were added, and a federal 1115 workforce waiver remains stalled after CMS signaled it will not approve new workforce demonstrations. AHCA also reviewed House Bill 121 on KidCare eligibility, explaining that implementation of the 300% poverty-level expansion remains blocked by federal litigation and waiver issues tied to premium nonpayment rules; members and public speakers urged action to close the coverage gap. Public testimony on AHCA’s presentation came from representatives of health centers and advocacy groups, who said the non-emergent care access plan has improved hospital-health center coordination and reduced repeat emergency use, and who urged implementation of KidCare expansion for children in the coverage gap. The Department of Health then presented updates on FRAM, the Sanadi screening grant program, the Health Care Innovation Revolving Loan Program, telehealth maternity care, swimming lesson vouchers, and House Bill 159 on pharmacist dispensing of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis. DOH reported strong participation in FRAM and the telehealth maternity program, 24 Sanadi grant awards in 42 counties, 4,945 swimming lesson vouchers issued last year and 2,371 so far this year, and three approved certification courses with five pharmacist certifications issued under HB 159. Committee members asked about recruitment of dentists and other providers, telehealth maternity outcomes, and why participation in the maternity program remains below expected levels; DOH said outreach and regional referral networks are expanding and more detailed outcome data will be included in the upcoming legislative report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members of the committee.
• I hope that that can be... Thank you.
• I hope that that can be amended.
• Madam Chair, I move we suspend committee rule number four that requires committee amendments to be posted
• Please do not take that hope from our family. Please do not take that hope from our family.

Bills: SB1012 , SB1099 , SB1234 , SB1392 , SB1489 , SB1535 , SB1570 , SB1609 , SB1627 , SB1634 , SB1661 , SB1709 , SB1723 , SB1725 , SB1743 , SB1829 , SCR1027 , SCR1040 , SCR1048

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: concealed carry, firearms, restaurants, liquor licensing, public safety, defamation, private figure, public concern, statute of limitations, internet defamation, juvenile court, legal representation, appointed attorney, guardian ad litem, child welfare, election canvass, canvassing board, governing body, election inspection, election access

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the committee entertain that? the committee entertain that?
• All those committee amendments say I. I.
• I hope we can find some funding for this one.
• I hope we can find some funding for this one.
• I hope we can find some funding for this one.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the committee.
• I'm Chair of the committee now. Committee now, and people need to understand what HIPAA is.
• of this committee would stand strong.
• I'm hoping we can get it done right around there.
• Yes, they have an executive committee, and I would hope that is essential as to what the work is here

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:42.960><c> Uh</c> committee members. Thank you guys. Uh committee members.
• I'm hoping they can fix it.
• I'm hoping they can fix it.
• I'm hoping they can fix it.
• I'm hoping they can fix it.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee heard SB 3263 SD2, which would create a University of Hawaii NIL (name, image, and likeness) endowment trust fund, require UH to establish an NIL program and distribution criteria, allow student athletes to be compensated through registered athlete agents, permit parents or guardians to assist in some areas by agreement, require annual reporting to the legislature, and appropriate funds. UH Athletics Director Matt Helliot testified in strong support, saying NIL funding is critical to recruit and retain athletes and keep UH competitive, especially as the program moves into the Mountain West Conference. He cited the men’s basketball team’s success and said UH had already raised private NIL money for that team. The Iron Workers Stabilization Fund also supported the bill, calling it a modest but important investment in UH athletics and a way to help keep local talent in Hawaii. One supporter said the bill would help UH compete with larger schools and retain athletes amid rising costs and large NIL deals elsewhere. Another supporter, Cliff LaBoy, said the current NIL environment makes funding essential and argued UH needs more money than the bill’s structure provides. A testifier noted the Senate version’s corpus may be insufficient and said they preferred the House version. During questioning, Helliot said UH’s private fundraising target for the current year was $3 million and that the department was already more than two-thirds of the way there. In decision-making, the chair said the committee would move the bill forward as an HD1 replacing the contents with the House version, remove the blank appropriation section because $5 million had already been inserted into the UH budget through HB 1800, and focus the bill on the framework rather than the funding amount. The committee then voted to pass SB 3263 SD2 with amendments, with all voting members present voting in favor and one member excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] I'll call to order the Committee on Jobs and Economic Development.
• Chair and members of the committee. My name is T. Shong.
• </c><00:02:28.400><c> only</c> year as you know on this committee only year as you know on this committee
• You might want to just wait because if the committee has any questions, we hope that we can engage you
• </c> just can't speak highly enough and hope just can't speak highly enough and hope you<01:22:03.920

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• You are in Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee.
• She is in another committee at this time.
• Chairman, committee members.
• Thank you, Chairman, and committee.” “Thank you, Chairman and committee. She says she was coming.
• Yes, the nominating committee that's within the act that created the authority is the committee that

Bills: SR86 , SB491 , HB205 , HB210 , HB228 , HB813 , HB1045 , HB1177

Committee: Senate Senate & Governmental Affairs

Keywords: Senate rules, Louisiana Senate, Senate Chamber, smart glasses, recording eyewear, audio recording, video recording, wearable technology, covert recording, legislative security, media access, chamber decorum, Senate President, internal rules, public access, lobbyists, official journal, public notices, competitive bid, Louisiana legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• Lovely for the committee.
• It has now been reduced to six because two have been reported from the committee.
• But in light of that, the distinguished chair of this committee reached out to me.
• , which is one of the joint committees that receives the most bills referred to it.
• I hope this amendment is adopted. Senator Turner. Thank you, Mr. President.

Summary: The Senate continued debate on House 5175, An Act Relative to Energy Affordability, Clean Power, and Economic Competitiveness, taking up a series of amendments focused on clean energy procurement, oversight, gas infrastructure, housing impacts, and ratepayer costs. Amendment 22, offered by Senator Rogers, was rejected 5-34 after he argued the underlying bill already improves clean energy procurement and reduces utility middlemen. Senator Tarr then offered Amendment 34 to expand reporting, oversight boards, and consumer representation, and to strike provisions on consumer choice, gas program frameworks, and municipal procurement authority; it was also rejected 5-34 after supporters of the bill said the legislation already strengthens oversight through the EEAC, a new review board, and DPU audits. The chamber also considered Amendment 77 by Senator Eldridge to end ratepayer-funded gas line extension subsidies for new construction. Supporters said the subsidy unfairly shifts costs to all ratepayers, favors gas over cleaner alternatives, and could save about $1.6 billion over ten years; opponents argued it could raise housing construction costs, especially for gateway cities and large projects. After extended debate, the amendment failed 19-20. Senator Moore withdrew Amendment 65, which would have created a commission on reducing emissions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles while preserving long-term zero-emissions goals. Several other amendments were adopted, including measures on low-income discount charges, environmental justice protections, data and tax printing, and increased access to plug-in solar. The Senate also adopted the Ways and Means amendment, ordered the bill to a third reading, and then passed it to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 32-8. Separately, the Senate adopted a Judiciary extension order after removing two bills from it, and agreed to adjourn in memory of Robert G. Najarian.