Transcript Highlights:

• So we do have a facility in W.
• So we do have a facility in W.
• So we do have a facility in W.
• So we do have a facility in W.
• So we do have a facility in W.

Committee: House Higher Education

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Bachman Hall and heard testimony on several UH-related bills. HB 542 would expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to provide unmet-need scholarships at four-year UH campuses. UH system officials, the UH Student Caucus, and a Honolulu Community College student testified in support, emphasizing college affordability, student retention, and workforce needs. Committee members asked about current program data, eligibility, transfer patterns, and cost; UH said it had data available, noted about 10% of current Hawaiʻi Promise students transfer to four-year campuses, and estimated the full expansion would cost about $12 million. UH also suggested a possible alternative of focusing on transfer opportunities from two-year to four-year campuses. The committee then heard HB 840, which concerns athletics appropriations for UH. UH Mānoa and UH Hilo supported the bill. UH officials said the funding would help cover recurring athletics operating costs, women’s sports travel and recruiting, Austin Awards, and a new nutrition fueling station, while Hilo said the money would help with travel, per diem, and conference-related costs. Members asked about the history of the athletics funding, the difference between Austin Awards and special talent waivers, NIL planning, and whether the appropriation should be restored to the base budget. UH explained that a $4 million athletics appropriation was originally made in 2018 or 2019, later removed from the base, and has been reappropriated annually since then. Finally, the committee heard HB 842, which would fund three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions at UH Mānoa’s Counseling and Student Development Center. UH supported the bill, and Academic Labor United and a high school student testified in favor, citing student stress, overwork, and the need for more counseling access. In questions, members discussed the current counselor-to-student ratio, recruitment challenges in a tight labor market, and strategies for hiring, including looking at candidates on soft-money grants who may be seeking stable employment. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But you oversee and license behavioral health facilities, and those facilities have been in the news
• , any health care facility that performs abortions.
• All I can tell you is, under state statute, we license the facilities, and if that facility has a scope
• patient was put in seclusion or restraint, and the facility is licensed as a counseling facility, they
• Licensing against facilities.

Summary: The Committee on Director Nominations met with four members present and approved the prior minutes without objection. Chair Jay Kaufman outlined the committee’s role in reviewing executive nominations and explained the hearing process for three nominees: Mary Foote for the Office of Economic Opportunity, Debbie Johnston for the Department of Health Services, and Chuck Bassett. Foote did not appear for her hearing, and members discussed her absence and alleged omissions in her disclosure materials, including prior service with Planned Parenthood-related organizations. The committee then moved to reject her nomination, and the motion passed 3-2, recommending that the full Senate reject Mary Foote. Debbie Johnston, nominee to lead the Department of Health Services, appeared and gave an opening statement describing her Arizona background, prior Senate staff work, and more than 20 years with the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association. She said her priorities at ADHS include rebuilding trust in public health licensing, improving stakeholder engagement, standardizing rulemaking communication, addressing alleged religious discrimination and retaliation concerns in licensing, and using technology and AI to improve efficiency. In questioning, senators pressed her on her management style, conflict-of-interest safeguards given her prior industry role, enforcement priorities, budget pressures, behavioral health and assisted living oversight, and the department’s response to COVID-19. Johnston said she would follow statutes, recuse herself from enforcement matters involving former contacts, and resign if directed to carry out an unlawful policy. She also said the department does not regulate therapy itself, only facilities, and that it would rely on legal counsel regarding the governor’s conversion-therapy executive order and related federal civil-rights allegations. Several senators focused on public health trust and the department’s pandemic response, with Johnston acknowledging concerns about closures, data collection, and communication during COVID-19 while saying she would review past after-action materials and be better prepared in the future. Public testimony from stakeholders in aging services and health care strongly supported her confirmation, praising her accessibility, responsiveness, and collaborative approach. After testimony, the vice chair moved to recommend Johnston’s confirmation to the full Senate. The roll call was underway when the transcript ended, with several members voting aye and one member expressing reservations about her not reviewing the pandemic after-action report before another crisis occurs.

Transcript Highlights:

• have already been sentenced and should be out at Idaho Department of Corrections or one of their facilities
• , and they sit. ...and should be out at Idaho Department of Corrections or one of their facilities, and
• at the cost, including the detention officers, the medical and mental health care coordination, facility
• talked about is, what does it cost us to house the prisoners in Arizona or some of the out-of-state facilities
• in Arizona or some of the out-of-state facilities. Does anyone have any idea what we pay there?

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Outside of King County, lodging tax can only be used for tourism promotion or tourism-related facilities
• In addition, public facilities districts within King County can impose a convention center lodging tax
• senior citizen centers, or can a nonprofit community center designate certain portions of their facility
• Under current law, counties may impose a rental car tax of 1% to fund public sports facilities.
• Mouse in our community, which supports children ages 3 to 12, most often for emotional stress or trauma

Bills: HB2559 , HB2135 , HB2133 , HB2442

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: affordable housing, local government funding, housing programs, community development, financial assistance, adaptive housing, disabled veterans, tax preferences, housing affordability, retail sales tax, property tax, senior citizens, tax exemption, permanent legislation, local government, tax authority, sales tax, use tax, real estate excise tax, REET

Transcript Highlights:

• You oversee and license behavioral health facilities, and those facilities have been in the news somewhat
• , any health care facility that performs.
• But we license the facility, not the therapy. That's the...
• All I can tell you is under state statute, we license the facilities, and if that facility has a scope
• and the facility is licensed as a counseling facility, they're not permitted to put anyone in seclusion

Committee: Senate Director Nominations

Transcript Highlights:

• We just heard somebody speak on the floor, I believe it was yesterday, about the trauma that our police
• We have children that have trauma around firearms.
• We have children that have trauma around police officers.
• We protect our cannabis facilities.
• We protect our malls, we protect our banks, we protect our cannabis facilities.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the prior day by a 123-0 roll call vote. Members then used personal privilege remarks to recognize National Police Week and honor fallen officers, and several members offered farewell tributes to departing colleagues and interns. The chamber also introduced a number of special guests, including the Hallsville FFA Barbecue Contest Team, Mizzou wheelchair basketball players, school groups, interns, and a visiting alderwoman and former representative. The House received Senate messages and committee reports on several bills, then took up House Bill 1839, along with related bills 2921 and 3015, concerning online age verification for certain adult content and related matters. After a brief explanation that the Senate amendment was a technical fix, the House concurred in Senate Amendment 1 by 104-30 and then finally passed the combined bill package by 112-25. The chamber also adopted and then finally passed the conference committee report on House Bill 2596, which was described as a small-business health insurance measure that modernizes pooled plan language and includes a contraception coverage provision expanding private insurance coverage from a six-month to a 12-month supply; the report was adopted 120-26 and the bill was finally passed 119-27. The most extended debate centered on Senate Bill 905, which would create the Missouri Ranger training program and allow school districts, if they choose, to place specially trained armed rangers on campus with narrow arrest powers. Supporters argued it would give districts a voluntary, locally controlled, and potentially low-cost option to improve school safety, especially where school resource officers are unavailable or response times are long. Opponents said schools already have other options, warned about liability, funding, training, and the lack of child-development or mental-health components, and argued that more armed personnel would make schools feel more like prisons and would not address the root causes of school violence. The transcript ends during continued questioning and debate on SB 905, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Out of our facilities means they are out of state in another facility being supervised, just so you understand
• The following page shows you the trending of bookings into our facilities.
• Southern tiered facilities, as well as partners at NHTI and Southern New Hampshire University.
• Southern tiered facilities, as well as partners at NHTI and Southern New Hampshire University.
• <c> as</c> in our Southern tiered facilities as in our Southern tiered facilities as well<00:56:50.799

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• come in to testify before our hearings told us was that you can't just look at crimes, because these traumas
• for funding school counselors and mental health program hotlines that help students deal with the trauma
• That response leaves our community, already carrying generations of trauma, feeling deeply alone.
• Similarly, CHIRLA, along with other members of Congress, have tried to enter detention facilities where

Summary: The Select Committee on Hate, Racism, and Xenophobia met to hear opening remarks, state data, and testimony from community organizations and equity commissions about rising hate and discrimination in California. The chair framed the hearing as a response to persistent targeting of protected classes, and members said the committee’s purpose was to elevate community voices and identify policy responses. Assembly Member Gonzalez and Assembly Member Lowenthal also briefly commented on the importance of listening to communities and developing legislative solutions. The California Department of Justice reported that 2024 hate crime events, offenses, and victims all increased from the prior year, with anti-Black bias remaining the most common category, followed by anti-Jewish and anti-Latino bias in different breakdowns. DOJ also noted increases in referrals for prosecution and described its hate-crimes guidance, rapid-response protocol, and outreach efforts. The California Commission on the State of Hate said hate is underreported, cited survey data suggesting millions of Californians experienced hate incidents, and recommended permanent data infrastructure, mandatory law-enforcement training, and sustained funding for victim support and prevention programs. Commissioners also emphasized that public messaging by leaders can influence hate and violence. A long panel of advocates described the impacts of racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-LGBTQ+ hate, and anti-immigrant enforcement on their communities. NAACP representatives focused on systemic racism in policing, education, health, housing, and environmental justice; LULAC and CHIRLA described ICE raids, profiling, and fear in Latino and immigrant communities; Jewish, Muslim, Asian American, and LGBTQ+ speakers highlighted rising threats, harassment, and the need for language access, school protections, security funding, and legal assistance. The Racial Equity Commission closed by describing its statewide framework work, community engagement, and a December 1 deadline for delivering recommendations to the Legislature and administration. No formal votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing, but members said they would request additional recommendations and continue the work through future hearings and briefings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Effective July 1, 2027, this requires health care facilities that perform procedures involving real-time
• striking about what has changed is that over the last 40 years, there has been recognition of the trauma
• It enables hyperbaric oxygen treatment therapy to be allowed in assisted living facilities.
• living facility with all kinds of safeguards built in, as you heard in the recitation of the bill.
• I cannot support expanding optional medical treatments in these facilities. I vote no.

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills and public testimony, beginning with introductions and then taking up several health and human services measures. A major focus was SB 1120 and SB 1121, which address radiation protection in cardiac catheterization and other ionizing-radiation procedure rooms. SB 1120 would require health care facilities to equip at least 50% of procedure rooms with radiation protection systems by July 1, 2027, while SB 1121 would prohibit requiring lead aprons in rooms with such systems and instead require real-time dosimeters for staff who opt out of lead aprons. Physicians, nurses, and a hospital executive testified that enhanced radiation protection systems can dramatically reduce occupational exposure, lower cancer and orthopedic risks, and help with workforce recruitment and retention; a hospital alliance remained neutral pending further stakeholder discussions. Both bills were amended and passed out of committee on 7-0 votes, and SB 1118, which appropriates state funds for a rural hospital grant program to install radiation protection systems, also passed 7-0. The committee also approved SB 1001, which appropriates $1 million to the Department of Economic Security for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, after testimony from blind and low-vision Arizonans and advocates describing long waitlists, the need for independent living training, and the program’s role in preventing unnecessary dependence. SB 1072, a major funding bill for home- and community-based services and room-and-board rate increases for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, drew testimony from providers about severe staffing shortages, overtime, turnover, and underfunding; it passed 6-0 with one not voting. SB 1125, requiring DCS to pursue MOUs with tribes and improve tribal communication and access to licensing and enforcement information, also passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee then considered SB 1123, which removes a board-certification requirement so trained forensic pathologists can supervise autopsy training for residents and fellows; Maricopa County supported it as a workforce and training fix, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. SB 1052, allowing mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy in assisted living facilities under physician order and DHS rules, generated mixed testimony: supporters argued it could improve health and independence for residents, while opponents raised concerns about off-label treatment in nonmedical settings. The bill passed 5-2. SB 1112, which reduces the number of acquaintance witnesses required in court-ordered treatment proceedings from two to one and allows the court to waive the witness requirement under certain conditions, drew strong testimony from families and mental health advocates on both sides; it passed 5-2. The committee also began hearing SB 1113, which would allow certain service of process in court-ordered evaluation and treatment cases by evaluation-agency employees or other court-authorized persons, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amount of trauma and tragedy that came down... ...that came down in the Hill Country last year is
• We have really not faced any significant impediments other than people's trauma and not wanting to talk
• I mean, did they have any kind of, like what you would expect for a daycare facility?
• I'm not sure that we do, because daycare facilities get held to a very high standard in this state.
• And then she informed me politely that her daughter was not going to speak with me because of trauma.

Transcript Highlights:

• mitigating food insecurity amongst older adults, family caregivers, residents of long-term care facilities
• We have been dealing with a lot of trauma that can be alleviated by allocating funds in the budget.
• I can share the numbers or any of their facilities.
• We were tracking that around 650 facilities in total were impacted at the highest point.
• As of now, we're aware Of 27 adult and senior care facility programs, five children's residential, and

Transcript Highlights:

• Father Jeff, by the founder of Metanoia Manor, which is a juvenile facility for juvenile females who’
• Father Jeff By the founder of Metanoia Manor, which is a juvenile facility for juvenile females who've
• But one of the most important dynamics to understand is the trauma bonding, and so...”
• But one of the most important dynamics to understand is the trauma bonding, and so But one of the most
• important dynamics to understand is the trauma bonding.

Committee: Senate Judiciary C

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> first responders is the impact of first responders is the impact of repeated<01:16:31.040><c> trauma
• <c> So,</c><01:16:32.159><c> it's</c><01:16:32.400><c> not</c><01:16:32.560><c> that</c> repeated trauma
• So, it's not that repeated trauma.
• So these are people who are putting their lives at risk, experiencing this repeated trauma and, in many
• Just a small snippet to illustrate the trauma of experiences like this.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> appropriate facilities appropriate facilities um um um leveraging<01:07:41.119><c> um</c><01:07:
• </c> throughout our DAGs managed facilities. throughout our DAGs managed facilities.
• </c> just a lot of projects at that facility. just a lot of projects at that facility.
• </c><03:27:20.880><c> The</c> that data for new facilities. The that data for new facilities.
• </c> facilities in Eva Beach specifically. facilities in Eva Beach specifically.

Transcript Highlights:

• The city of Elk Grove is not a full-service city, so they don't operate their own police facilities,
• They don't have their own police facilities.
• This project also included trauma-informed creative workshops, paid artist opportunities, and a community
• Adult shelters did not support my unique needs as a foster youth and caused additional trauma.
• Adult shelters did not support my unique needs as a foster youth and caused additional trauma.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, yes, yes, but of course the 287(g) program at the detention facility currently—the 287(g) contemplates
• As a mother, I can't imagine the trauma of my child being ripped from their classroom in school and carted
• As a teacher, I can't imagine the trauma my other students would experience, seeing this happening to
• Immigrants fleeing trauma will find themselves trapped in a system that reinforces that which they fled
• Immigrants fleeing trauma will find themselves trapped in a system that reinforces that which they fled

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for the Parkland shooting victims, the Pledge of Allegiance, and adoption of the special order report for the day. The chamber then moved into a special-order agenda focused almost entirely on immigration-related measures, beginning with Senate Memorial 6C urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements. The memorial was adopted 85-27 after brief debate, with supporters arguing Florida should help maximize federal immigration enforcement and opponents saying Congress, not the state, should fix immigration policy. The House next took up Senate Bill 4C, an immigration bill creating new state offenses for illegal entry and reentry by adult unauthorized aliens and requiring a mandatory death sentence for an unauthorized alien convicted of a capital felony. Members debated constitutional concerns, due process, racial profiling, fiscal impacts, and whether the bill intruded on federal immigration authority. Several amendments were offered and defeated, including proposals to extend protections to Venezuelans with TPS, to remove the mandatory death penalty, to protect certain long-term immigrant workers and teachers, to expand exemptions for Haitians and humanitarian parole recipients, and to create a task force on best practices for immigration enforcement in schools and other sensitive locations. A final amendment to strip the bill as unconstitutional was also rejected. The bill then passed 85-29. The final measure discussed was Senate Bill 2C, which creates a State Board of Immigration Enforcement led by the Governor and Cabinet, establishes grants and incentive bonuses for local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities, repeals the fee waiver for undocumented students beginning July 1, 2025, and appropriates more than $300 million for immigration enforcement. The sponsor described it as a broad enforcement package, while questions from members focused on the impact on current students who receive in-state tuition and whether the bill would remove incentives for those already enrolled. The transcript ends during that exchange, before final action on SB 2C is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• contemplates detention facilities, and there's kind of different verticals on that 287(g), but that's
• As a mother, I can't imagine the trauma of my child being ripped from their classroom in school and carted
• As a teacher, I can't imagine the trauma my other students would experience, seeing this happening to
• Immigrants fleeing trauma will find themselves trapped in a system that reinforces that which they fled
• Immigrants fleeing trauma will find themselves trapped in a system that reinforces that which they fled

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for the Parkland shooting victims, quorum call, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Rules and Ethics Committee special order report for February 13, 2025 was adopted, setting the day’s special order calendar and debate times. The chamber then took up immigration-related special order items, beginning with Senate Memorial 6C, which urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements. Members debated federal immigration policy and state cooperation with DHS, and the memorial passed 85-27. The House next considered Senate Bill 4C, an immigration bill creating new state offenses related to unlawful entry and reentry into Florida and requiring a mandatory death sentence for an unauthorized alien convicted of a capital felony. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, including Supremacy Clause, due process, and Eighth Amendment concerns, and several speakers argued it would create separate classes of people and invite litigation. Multiple amendments were offered to narrow or expand exemptions, including protections for Venezuelans on TPS, certain Haitian TPS and humanitarian parole recipients, undocumented people brought to Florida as children working in critical professions, and a proposal to delay action pending court rulings; all of those amendments were rejected. The bill passed 85-29. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 2C, which would create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement led by the Governor and Cabinet, establish a local law enforcement immigration grant program and advisory council, repeal the undocumented-student fee waiver, and appropriate more than $300 million for immigration enforcement. The sponsor described it as supporting cooperation with federal immigration agencies and ending the in-state tuition incentive for undocumented students. Early questioning focused on the impact on “dreamers” and whether the bill would effectively raise their tuition costs; the sponsor said it removed the incentive of in-state tuition but did not bar attendance. The transcript cuts off during that exchange, before final action on SB 2C is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• law enforcement when threats. supporting female patients to mental health and residential care facilities
• That is the law. are not licensed abortion facilities. We are hospitals. We treat emergencies.
• The provisions in here about an unlicensed facility really is dealing with rural Texas.
• The trauma is real. It is real. It's intense. I have PTSD from it. It's not going to go away.
• At the same time, we're a level four maternal care designated facility that's.

Bills: HB44 , HB2200 , HB1612 , HB2747 , HB2038 , HB3717 , HB1431 , HB3800 , HB3801 , HB3560 , HB3246 , HB44

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:09.440><c> that</c> like to share with you the trauma that like to share with you the trauma
• </c> There is heightened anxiety and trauma There is heightened anxiety and trauma and<00:31:53.679><
• </c> trauma faced by our students this year. trauma faced by our students this year.
• This is generational trauma.
• </c> a school and a trauma response. a school and a trauma response.

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, they really strongly define and share about the prevalence of trauma, how trauma and the brain interact
• together, and then different trauma-informed approaches. just give you a little bit more.
• Um, it's a proactive approach to supporting students because we have so much learning around trauma in
• </c><01:16:51.360><c> Um</c><01:16:52.480><c> really</c> significant physical trauma.
• Um really significant physical trauma.