Transcript Highlights:

• privilege of presenting our state and local government omnibus bill, legislation that reflects our shared
• When we started off the session with the power-sharing agreement, one of the first hearings that we had
• <01:54:40.320> with the same language that I had shared with the same language that I had
• shared with you.<01:54:41.199> Senator<01:54:41.520> Rest.
• I share Senator Marty's would be abused.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I love sharing data. I love working with organizations to get data.
• Uh, if the bill is passed, I would plan to do ride-alongs, or ask permission to do ride-alongs, uh, see
• If the bill is passed, I would plan to do ride-alongs, or ask permission to do ride-alongs, uh, see how
• And I believe I tried to share this with another committee.
• that's something that you could share that's something that you could share with<02:44:32.479>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1790 HD1, which would require law enforcement and oversight agencies to collect and report data on stops, use of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab, which would publish incident-level information and annual reports. Supporters, including the Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii Justice Rising, and the Policing Project, said the bill would improve transparency, help identify disparities, and support better policy and accountability. OHA requested amendments to ensure Hawaiians are identified as a distinct category in the data, and the University of Hawaii’s Ashley Rubin said the Crime Lab would work with agencies to make implementation as seamless as possible. The Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill’s intent but asked for a longer timeline and culturally appropriate methodology, while HPD opposed the bill as written, saying it would require too many new data points, create a significant administrative burden, and rely on subjective perceptions of race and ethnicity; HPD also noted it is piloting an e-citation system that could help with data collection. Committee members questioned HPD about current manual processes and technology options. The chair reported 18 testimonies total: 15 in support, one in opposition, and two with comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then heard HB 1611 HD1, which would phase down the general excise tax on groceries and nonprescription drugs until a full exemption takes effect in 2034. The Department of Taxation offered technical recommendations, including clearer definitions for groceries and nonprescription drugs and a technical change regarding the county surcharge exemption. Supporters, including the Hawaii Public Health Institute and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, argued the GET on groceries is regressive and worsens food insecurity, especially for low-income households, and said the bill would provide needed relief. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical concerns, including a possible wholesale-tax enforcement issue once the exemption is fully phased in. The excerpt ends during testimony on HB 1611, with no final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you mind sharing our presentation?
• Sheep herds from all over would be there to share their own.
• And we've heard us from all over, but we'd there to share their own.
• The sheep herders from all over would be there to share their sheep.
• They bought in that area, and the shearers brought 20 shares in it.

Keywords: 985, all

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• Then she started college with Antoinette and took horseback riding, dancing, and all the things you do

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I really do want to because, you know, this ride like I'm a masochist.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will share more information and data in writing with the committee.
• Cody shares: “As a student, there are many things in my schedule that I must be on top of.
• First, I want to share our overall support for S. 1302, H. 2149, and S. 1334, H. 2111.
• He has several bills before the committee, but he is sharing Financial Services.
• Thank you for letting me share in the committee. I ain't got much time, two minutes. I know.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid public hearing with testimony on a wide range of labor, workforce, unemployment insurance, apprenticeship, disability services, farm labor, hospital staffing, and workplace harassment bills. Chairs Jake Oliveira and Paul McMurtry outlined hearing procedures, limited testimony to two minutes, and noted written testimony would be accepted after the hearing. Committee members and staff were introduced throughout the session as witnesses arrived in person or remotely. A major portion of the hearing focused on unemployment insurance legislation. Greater Boston Legal Services, the AFL-CIO, and Rep. Joan Meschino supported bills to adjust UI eligibility for workers with fluctuating schedules and to streamline waivers and write-offs for non-fault overpayments, arguing the current system unfairly denies benefits or burdens workers who were not at fault. They also backed bills calling for more oversight and resources for the Division of Unemployment Assistance, citing persistent delays in benefit payments. NFIB opposed the UI changes, warning that the trust fund is headed toward insolvency and arguing the bills would worsen the system’s finances. Rep. Meschino and committee members emphasized that the proposals were meant to protect good-faith claimants and did not apply to fraud. Another large set of bills addressed wages, workforce development, and working conditions. Testimony supported raising and modernizing direct care wages to address severe staffing shortages in human services and disability services, with advocates from the Massachusetts Developmental Disability Council, The Arc of Massachusetts, parents of adults with disabilities, and a direct care worker describing how low pay and turnover harm people needing support. The committee also heard support for apprenticeship-related bills from the AFL-CIO and the Carpenters, while Associated Builders and Contractors opposed mandatory apprenticeship ratios and urged changes to align them with licensing laws. Farm worker advocates supported a bill to raise farm labor standards, including minimum wage, paid breaks, and paid time off, while the Farm Bureau opposed parts of it beyond the minimum wage increase. The hearing also featured testimony on workplace harassment training, overtime protections, hospital mandatory overtime, suicide prevention signage on construction sites, and a proposal to update the Massachusetts Medical Society’s mission language from “citizens” to “people.” Labor groups, educators, and compliance trainers strongly supported mandatory annual sexual harassment training, saying it would improve workplace culture and reduce harm. SEIU 1199 supported extending the hospital nurse mandatory overtime ban to the broader hospital workforce. Witnesses on the suicide prevention bill described personal losses in construction and recovery work and urged posting 988 information on job sites. The committee took no votes during the hearing; witnesses repeatedly asked for favorable reports, and members asked follow-up questions on UI calculations, apprenticeship ratios, small-business impacts, and emergency exceptions for hospital staffing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides an exception for religious head coverings, persons riding a motorcycle, or wearing a mask
• Additionally, as it is written, I will also note, and I had this clarified, so I wanted to share with
• Wascom, as well, for continuing to come here and share your story.
• You and I have shared a conversation about this since I brought the bill in 2023.
• I know I've shared a story before as it relates to suicide. But like Rep. Moore and Rep.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of criminal justice measures, with several bills and resolutions reported favorably and others rejected or deferred. Representative Baham’s HB 255, as substituted, would enhance penalties for certain felony or rioting offenses committed while wearing a mask to evade identification, with exceptions for religious, motorcycle, and medical coverings; it was reported favorably after opposition from the ACLU and support from law enforcement groups. His HB 378, as amended, narrowed a vehicle-obstruction offense to first responders and was also reported favorably. HB 1090, increasing penalties for arson of a religious building, was reported favorably with support from the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops. HR 272, requesting a study of parental discipline, abuse allegations, and juvenile delinquency, was reported favorably after sponsor testimony about confusion over current law. HB 479, the “Fiscal Truth and Sentencing Act,” sought quarterly reporting on incarceration costs and sentencing impacts; despite support from the ACLU and opposition from clerks of court over an unfunded mandate, it failed on a 4-7 roll call. HR 278, asking the Attorney General to review electronic monitoring laws and make recommendations, was reported favorably after testimony from advocates and supporters of tighter oversight. HR 273, creating a task force to study work-release programs, was also reported favorably, while SB 278 was voluntarily deferred. The committee also considered several high-profile social policy measures. HB 261, by Representative Boyd, would create an exception to abortion restrictions for rape and certain sex offenses; the hearing featured extensive emotional testimony from survivors, clergy, and legislators on both sides, but the bill was rejected on a 2-10 vote. HCR 100, as amended, urged the Gaming Control Board to ensure due diligence in proposed casino acquisitions with attention to economic development, job creation, and community benefit; the amendment resolved industry concerns and the resolution was reported favorably. SB 448, concerning the Office of the State Public Defender, was amended to add procedures for expert-witness funding disputes, sealed contradictory hearings, and interlocutory review, then reported favorably. SB 135, which would redirect sports wagering revenue away from a capped sports fund and toward early childhood seats, drew opposition from university-related interests but no motion was made. Finally, HB 778 on kratom was presented as a narrower approach that would ban synthetic and semi-synthetic kratom while allowing regulated natural products; testimony included concerns about harm, business impacts, and claimed benefits for pain management and PTSD, and the discussion was still underway at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I really wanted to share my... medical doctors, Dr. Marshall and Dr. Rand on the committee.
• Bobby, share the numbers. Again with me about autism.
• I serve at his pleasure, but I share President Trump's view that every abortion is a tragedy.
• I want to share with you a few statistics. According to the CDC, obesity...
• I want to share with you a discussion that I had with the main pediatric nurse practitioner.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was going to share a few of those with you.
• We share those routinely with our friends at DOT for traffic engineering studies.
• A couple key initiatives I just wanted to share is visit Florida this year spent 6.7 million dollars
• As I mentioned earlier, we lead the nation in domestic visitation, 14.8% market share.
• And we also dominate within the international market share for visitors, which is significant. >> You

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:41:22.480> commitment the aisle around our shared commitment the aisle around our shared
• the full telling of our shared history. the full telling of our shared history.
• <05:34:45.720> mission one shared mission one shared mission to<05:34:47.040> save<
• bird watching, and horseback riding. bird watching, and horseback riding.
• I want to thank the chair, the ranking member, and 50/50 cost-share agreement between the 50/50 cost-share

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 16, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He was an athlete on a full-ride scholarship and engineering major.
• He was an athlete on a full-ride scholarship and engineering major.
• We share those concerns, but banning hemp-derived products won't protect children.
• I'm here to share a perspective that's often left out of these rooms.
• Without CBD, I could no longer tolerate car rides longer than 15 minutes.

Bills: SB 3, HB28, SB3

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, hemp regulation, consumable products

Transcript Highlights:

• When you do shared services and you have institution A is When you do shared services and you have institution
• They're doing shared services.
• So I just wanted to share those with you.
• So I just wanted to kind of share those with you.
• They share. We talk about where we can combine resources, thoughts. They get together. They share.

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met on the Minot State University campus for presentations on campus operations, enrollment, and new academic initiatives. President Shirley reviewed recent audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings, and highlighted MSU’s broad academic offerings, specialized accreditations, athletics, and partnerships with Minot Air Force Base and the MSU Development Foundation. Members asked about declining interest in teacher education, tuition waivers for athletes, dual credit incentives, and how MSU decides when to launch new programs and avoid duplication within the university system. Shirley also discussed several workforce-focused initiatives supported by the Legislature’s Workforce Education Innovation Funds, including the purchase of the Trinity Health Center West building for a downtown health sciences hub, a new daycare/preschool partnership near campus, the Aspire program to recruit rural students into teaching, and a paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Enrollment data showed overall headcount was flat at just under 2,750, but full-time equivalent enrollment rose slightly and new student numbers increased, including the largest freshman class in 15 years. The committee also discussed Minot State’s in-state tuition rate for all students, its dual credit “Emerging Scholars” scholarship, and concerns about the share of high school graduates who do not immediately pursue postsecondary education. Faculty then presented two new programs funded in part by WEAF: an Innovation Engineering degree and a master’s program in counseling with an integrated addiction studies focus. The engineering program was described as industry-driven, designed with broad early coursework, hands-on learning, and local employer input to prepare students for western North Dakota workforce needs; officials said it had already drawn more applicants than expected and would use renovated library space and donated or grant-funded equipment. The counseling program will be mostly face-to-face with hybrid options, aims to address shortages in mental health and substance use providers, and is structured to help students meet licensure requirements. Committee members asked about startup costs, licensure supervision hours, and whether the programs would be on campus rather than online, and presenters said both programs had recently received required approvals and were moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• And these ride-alongs are 12-, 14-hour shifts.
• And the abuse, $25 million for a ride share scam.
• And the abuse, $25 million for a ride share scam.
• And the abuse, $25 million for a ride share scam.
• So, if we're going to sacrifice, it should be shared sacrifice.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, led the pledge of allegiance, and established a quorum before approving the corrected journal. The Majority Leader then moved a long list of bills—House Bills 1150 through 1179—to be made special orders for February 11, 2026 at 9:15 a.m., and the chamber agreed without objection. The committee then took up House Bill 1150, a supplemental appropriation for the Department of Agriculture. Representative Serna explained it included technical adjustments tied to other agencies, plus a pilot program to test a biocontrol strategy for the mountain pine beetle infestation in Colorado’s ponderosa pine forests. After brief opposition from a member who said he would vote no on spending measures generally, the bill passed. House Bill 1151, the supplemental appropriation for the Department of Corrections, generated extensive debate. Supporters said the bill was necessary to cover major costs such as medical case loads, outside medical and mental health contracts, local jail payments, prison case load, private prison utilization, and food services, while also addressing staffing and parole/community corrections coordination. Opponents argued the state keeps funding more beds instead of investing in services that reduce incarceration, criticized DOC management and delays, and said the legislature should demand better accountability and efficiency. Supporters countered that DOC does not control the parole board or community corrections, that the prison population is aging, and that the state must pay for required custody and care. The transcript ends amid continued debate over the corrections supplemental, with no final vote on House Bill 1151 shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Shared services sometimes ends up being a catch-all.
• They're doing shared services.
• They're doing shared services.
• So I just wanted to kind of share those with you.
• So a couple of studies I wanted to share with you.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They will provide further details about their advisory councils and share insightful perspectives about
• I would like to briefly share the direct legislative funding that the Bilingual Multicultural Education
• Based on the data I've just shared with you, we would like to continue to invest in Latinos in Action
• Two that will be advanced, we just haven't had a chance to share that with our advisory council until
• And that can be a shared question.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when those are released, I'm happy to share them, and you'll see that they hit more of the state.
• I share a lot of your passion and your vision for innovation, impactful change, modernization.
• I share a lot of your passion and your vision for innovation, impactful change, modernization.
• I've spent over 50 hours with ride-alongs visiting very closely, of course, with Dan Mornings as we move
• So if there's a study, if there's actual data that you can share with us, could you please do that, including

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We all do ride to a certain extent on the same tide.
• Attorney Reid to come and answer some questions and give some comments as well, but I just want to share
• I'm going to allow Attorney Reid to come up here and share as well and hit the light, answering any questions
• specifically to you all, and I'll also hear to share any answers to anything that you might have questions
• And I actually meant to share that earlier. This is a totally new staff. Ms.

Summary: The committee first took up a long-running audit finding involving the City of Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit fund balance, which has exceeded the statutory cap for several years and was reported at $10.8 million in the latest audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city had analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees, used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation, and is pursuing a $9.4 million City Hall expansion that they say is allowed under a November 2024 Attorney General opinion permitting construction of a building to house the building code enforcement function. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, whether the proposed uses were truly lawful, why the balance kept growing despite fee waivers, and where the interest earnings were going. The mayor and deputy city manager said the city’s growth and staffing needs justified the plan, but several members expressed frustration and skepticism. A public commenter also urged accountability and raised concerns about the city’s spending plans and the size of the remaining balance. The committee then received an Auditor General presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 operational audit findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings included election paperwork problems that left a council seat vacant, conflicts of interest, late financial disclosure filings, related-party transactions, inadequate meeting notices and minutes, quorum and voting documentation problems, council members’ involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget adoption and monitoring deficiencies, inaccurate accounting records and bank reconciliations, utility billing and rate issues, grant compliance problems tied to an unfinished grocery store project, weak personnel and contracting controls, improper severance and compensation issues, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control weaknesses, poor public records access, and IT access and fraud-policy gaps. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit largely reflected the prior administration and that the current council and staff are taking corrective action. They said the town terminated the former manager, adopted seven new policies since the audit began, and is working with the Auditor General to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics compliance. The town attorney said he had alerted federal authorities earlier about concerns, and committee members noted that FDLE has received a criminal referral and is investigating. Several members praised the new leadership’s cooperation but also suggested the town consider consolidation or dissolution if problems persist.

Transcript Highlights:

• Barrio, for joining us here today to share their experiences, and I'm happy to answer any questions.
• I'm here to share my experience both as a graduate of a post-secondary program for students with disabilities
• McDonald for sticking out with us. all day to make sure that he had the opportunity to share with you
• Futures, if you get a 96 on the CLT now, it's full ride to Florida State, the University of Florida.
• Thank you for giving me a hearing on this bill and giving me a chance to share my my Baby of my mind

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of us hitch a ride with an aide in a rent-a-car, a compact.
• I'd like to start with what we all share.
• I'm here to share our strong opposition to this resolution.
• Factual information can still be shared.
• That's all I wanted to share for information.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The ride<00:42:12.560> to<00:42:12.800> treatment<00:42:13.040> was<00:42:13.200
• <00:42:13.839> We ride to treatment was 30 minutes. We ride to treatment was 30 minutes.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Senate Bill 122, which would allow certain defendants who are caretakers of dependent children to ask a sentencing court to consider parenting classes and family counseling as part of an alternative sentence, alongside existing options like probation and treatment programs. Representative Nick Wilson, the House sponsor, said the bill was aimed at helping families affected by the opioid crisis, especially in Appalachia, and described it as a way to support parents who want to get clean and rebuild family stability. He emphasized that the bill would apply only on a defendant’s motion, would not be automatic, and would exclude violent offenders, domestic violence-related cases, child-victim cases, and cases where probation or similar relief is otherwise prohibited. Committee members raised concerns that the bill could create a two-tiered system of justice or add unnecessary procedure because judges already consider family circumstances through presentence investigations and sentencing discretion. One senator said he would support the bill but worried it privileged defendants with children over those without. Another member argued the bill was unnecessary because judges and prosecutors already have these options available and because it could add another hearing to an already overloaded court system. Supporters responded that the family unit should be given greater weight and that the bill would simply make that consideration more explicit. Judge Julie Ward, joined by Judge Jeremy Maddox, testified against the bill as written. She said judges already receive presentence reports, hear offender statements, and consider caregiving responsibilities, and that family court already addresses children’s needs when custody issues arise. Her main objections were that parenting services are not available in all communities, may cost money, and that the bill would require evidentiary hearings and potentially create equal protection problems by giving preferential treatment to caretakers. She urged the sponsors to work on revised language instead of passing the bill in its current form. Senator Wheeler said he would vote for the bill and noted that a floor amendment would be offered to address access to confidential juvenile “J cases” in presentence reports, since probation and parole do not have that access. He said the amendment was intended to make sure sentencing judges have the information they need. The discussion ended without a final committee vote in the transcript, but the bill remained under consideration with possible amendment and further revision.