Transcript Highlights:

• I just think that's better data, like we're trying to make decisions.
• People need to have the appropriate information in order to make decisions.
• have enough information to make that informed decision?
• So this problem compounds at every level of our health care decision making.
• And so for employers, you know, the decision-making that they're making around GLP-1s is very different

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we ready for decision making?
• Okay, see none, are we ready for decision making now?
• Okay, so, um, we're rolling directly into decision making.
• <00:43:48.839> making<00:43:49.520> now decision making now decision making now okay<00
• decision making SB 297 chair's decision making SB 297 chair's recommendation<00:43:59.720> is

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a long calendar of health-related measures, beginning with SB 297, a proposed constitutional amendment to protect reproductive freedom. Supporters included medical, labor, and advocacy groups, while opponents, including Hawaii Family Forum and Hawaii Christian Coalition, argued the term “reproductive freedom” was too vague and could be misunderstood. Testimony on SB 350, a similar constitutional amendment protecting contraception, also drew strong support from medical and advocacy groups and opposition from religious organizations; one witness said the measure was especially important to protect reproductive care and contraception. Several bills focused on health system administration and public health. SB 1438 on home care agencies, SB 1439 on nuisances, SB 1441 on transferring the AAHU regional health care system to the Department of Health, SB 1442 on children’s mental health services, SB 1443 on the Department of Health, SB 1444 on general excise tax, and SB 1445 on youth mental health all received mostly supportive testimony from state agencies and community organizations. On SB 1445, the Hawaii State LGBTQ Commission asked that LGBTQI+ and Native Hawaiian youth be specifically considered in mental health services. SB 1450, creating an intensive mobile team pilot for houseless individuals with serious brain disorders, drew support from state agencies and providers; a street medicine advocate said the pilot could help address sustainability, insurance, and service delivery on the streets. The committee also heard testimony on access and workforce measures, including SB 1596 on nursing, SB 1565 on acupuncture, SB 1564 on Medicaid, SB 1418 for an emergency DHS appropriation, SB 1417 on crimes against protective services workers, SB 1411 on Medicaid third-party liability, SB 1399 on a family resilience pilot program, SB 1398 on trauma-informed care, SB 1281 on telehealth, and SB 1279 on telepharmacy. Most of these measures drew broad support from agencies, provider groups, and advocacy organizations. On SB 1281, HMSA opposed the bill as written, warning about audio-only telehealth and federal rule changes, while other health groups supported it as important for rural, kupuna, and disabled residents. On SB 1417, a Honolulu Police Department captain supported stronger protections for DHS workers but could not provide complaint data and said he would follow up later. The hearing ended with the chair noting quorum and asking whether the committee was ready for decision making; no votes or final actions were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are they submitting a plan to you all at some point before July 1st, or do they make these decisions
• But more information broadly about when they do make the decisions, how they're reporting to the legislature
• That being said, you have to weigh, when you make that decision, you have to weigh that decision against
• And as making data-informed decisions, that's what I do on a daily basis and I love my job.
• We urge this committee to not make decisions on empty promises with no real costs audits.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 47 amends how the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole will make a decision about granting,
• make a decision about and Parole will make a decision about granting,<00:22:35.679> denying,<00
• not<00:40:53.920> necessarily to make the decision and not necessarily to make the decision
• And if there's can move somebody out of here without a bed, then they make the decision based on not
• courtroom when they make this decision. courtroom when they make this decision.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• decisions about these cases.
• So I think it's best left to the governor to make that decision because he receives the tactical reports
• the tactical decision.
• Governor makes decisions based upon your recommendations.
• Ready to make those decisions.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to discern this decision I'm being asked to make might be best for the operation of the system of the
• My focus is on understanding the needs throughout all of Texas in making the best decisions that benefit
• So on the investment side, it may be in making sure, even though it’s not my job to make the investment
• decisions, is to make sure I understand what we’re investing in, and then, as importantly, try to...
• Makes sense.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Nominations met to consider several gubernatorial nominees and first approved a slate of nominees left pending from the March 31 agenda. The committee voted 5-0 to favorably report those nominees to the full Senate for confirmation. Public testimony was then opened and later closed, with some listed witnesses not appearing. The committee heard testimony on Jerry K. Weldon II for the Brazos River Authority Board of Directors. Senators focused on stewardship of the Brazos River, the authority’s relationship to the legislature and the public, Sunset review, water quality and nutrient runoff, impaired waterways, and possible uses of constructed wetlands for aggregate mine reclamation. Weldon emphasized collaboration, transparency, and keeping the citizens of Texas as the authority’s primary customer. Commissioner Robert Vaughn was considered for reappointment to the Texas Transportation Commission. Discussion centered on TxDOT’s management, rural funding, population growth, project delivery, and the commissioner’s role on the audit committee. Doug McCreakin was considered for the Texas Tech University Board of Regents, with questions about legislative priorities, compliance with DEI-related state law, workforce development, rural medical education, and university partnerships. Jody Giles was considered for reappointment to the University of Texas Board of Regents, and Bernadette Carrasco Coleman for reappointment to the Texas Woman’s University Board of Regents; both discussed higher education priorities, PUF funding, compliance with state law, and student support programs. John Rutherford was considered for reappointment to the Teachers Retirement System Board of Trustees, with questions about fiduciary oversight, investment understanding, and keeping the retirement system solvent. Brigadier General Michael Boyd was also considered for appointment to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, where discussion focused on military retention, child care, spouse licensing, base infrastructure, and grant funding for Texas installations. The committee did not take final votes on these later nominees during the hearing and left them pending subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> that<00:46:36.319> there make treatment decisions so that there make treatment decisions
• have to roll decision making um for have to roll decision making um for um<00:50:42.240> the<00
• making to Monday going to roll decision making to Monday the<00:50:47.720> 2nd<00:50:48.640><
• with decision making here in room with decision making here in room 24<00:51:49.640> uh<00
• 24 uh we will be rolling that decision 24 uh we will be rolling that decision making<00:51:51.599

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1232, which would create a three-year wastewater technology testing pilot program at the University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center and coordinate testing with state and county agencies. The Department of Health, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and University of Hawaiʻi representatives supported the bill, saying it would help certify new wastewater technologies, lower costs for cesspool conversions, and provide data to the Department of Health. Testifiers said the prior testing effort ended after the departure of Dr. Roger Babcock, and that the new program would use National Sanitation Foundation standards, graduate students, and local wastewater facilities such as Wahiawa. Committee members asked about the $750,000 total cost, the scope of existing research, prior test sites, and whether the program would be tied to individuals or a permanent program. One member raised concerns about the fairness and data basis for sewer conversion decisions in local communities, and the University said it would follow national standards and share results openly. The committee then took up Senate Bill 686, relating to a short-term management initiative for coconut rhinoceros beetle response and related appropriations. The Department of Agriculture and the University of Hawaiʻi testified in support, while a county representative and other advocates urged broader statewide coverage, including Kauaʻi, and asked that appropriated funds be usable on any island. Testimony emphasized the need for immediate action, outreach, tree-trimmer training, canopy treatments, K-9 inspections, container fumigation, and biocontrol research. A member summarized the bill’s funding components, including amounts for training, residential palm treatments, response teams, inspections, fumigation, and research, and noted the importance of directing money toward on-the-ground response. Committee questions focused on how much funding remained available, how the agencies would coordinate with DOA, whether the department was prepared to manage all the bill’s functions, and how infestations were being communicated to the public. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 657, which would appropriate funds for the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology’s Center for Climate Resilient Development. The Department of Land and Natural Resources testified in strong support, and the Department of Health also supported the measure, noting that it relies on the center’s data to inform decisions and recommendations on projects. The discussion on this item was brief in the portion provided, with no vote or final action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as the committee makes decisions on the various House Bill 1 and 2 proposals and we will make sure
• So, as the committee makes decisions on the various House Bill 1 and 2 proposals and we will make sure
• <01:33:13.120> a they need a third person to make a they need a third person to make a decision
• We were looking at the various decisions that we're trying to make happen quicker.
• This would have made the statutory language there to make that a compliant decision.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Committee of Conference on HB 1 and HB 2 was called to order, and Legislative Budget Assistant Michael Kaine reviewed the working documents before the committee. He explained the compare report, the detailed change sheet, the HB 1 index, the HB 2 side-by-side, the surplus statement, and a revenue handout, noting that the committee would vote up or down on all detail-change items and that unresolved items on hold would be removed from the final bills. He also identified staff available to answer technical questions and noted that the committee would track the dollar impact of decisions as it proceeded. Members then turned to the revenue outlook, with discussion focused on the gap between the House and Senate budget positions. House members said their budget guidance was based on revenue estimates that were significantly below the governor’s proposal, and they discussed whether additional revenue could close part of the gap. Department of Revenue Administration Commissioner Lindsey Stepp presented updated revenue estimates based on May data, explaining the methodology and the ranges for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027. She said business taxes were the largest source of uncertainty, with estimates reflecting current economic conditions, recent revenue performance, and a range of possible growth rates. Committee members questioned the assumptions behind the business-tax ranges, including why the low and high scenarios were set at 2% and 8% growth. Stepp said the range was based on historical performance and current economic factors such as inflation, tariffs, and business behavior, and she noted that June is a major estimate-payment month for business taxes. Members also discussed recent revenue trends, including the effect of tariffs and the possibility of federal tax policy changes affecting repatriated profits. The commissioner and House members also discussed other revenue sources, including rooms and meals and real estate transfer taxes, with the House side arguing that lower mortgage rates and home prices could increase real estate transfer revenue. No votes were taken in the portion provided, but the committee discussed possible upward adjustments to House revenue assumptions, including increases of roughly $70 million in total based on the updated outlook and additional insurance-related revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• Something that we've learned a reality is that when these decisions that companies will make that end
• Something that we've learned a reality is that when these decisions that companies will make that end
• >> Um, something that we've learned, a reality is that when these decisions that companies will make
• A site is a piece of land that somebody owns, that has some decision-making power over the project.
• <01:01:28.160> power uh that has some decision-making power uh that has some decision-making

Bills: HF4862, HF4598

Keywords: apprenticeship, education, teacher training, grant program, labor and industry, workers' compensation, Minnesota workers' compensation, Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, reinsurance association, Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association, WCRA, occupational disease, presumption, first responders, firefighter cancer, PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, police officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician

Transcript Highlights:

• We realize the decisions y'all make in these halls can make you either a hero or a zero with your constituents
• Understand that you've got to choose to come make those decisions anyway, and for... ...choose to come
• make those decisions anyway, and for that, we do thank you.
• Did you make the decision, or did the board make it?
• I can make one response: the board is well aware in favor of the decision.

Bills: HB471, HB473

Keywords: water authority, sewer management, fire protection, local governance, board of directors, local officers, water recreation, public access, water bodies, recreational use, water commissions, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think it's really important when we get into new jurisdictions or places where you're making decisions
• So, we're not really sure the kinds of budgetary decisions that we can make because we have no idea what
• And one of those hard decisions was to give me a negative target in agriculture, which didn't make me
• And one of those some hard decisions.
• target in agriculture, which didn't make target in agriculture, which didn't make me<00:11:57.760

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For supported decision-making programs.
• Section 46 in Article 2 delays the supported decision-making grants report to the legislature by two
• We need to make the challenging decisions ahead and find workable solutions to an untenable situation
• or happy with every decision that we need to make while we're here today.
• Supported decision-making is needed as an available and viable alternative to guardianship.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Please make her feel welcome. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• with me from Lafayette High School here with me today.<00:01:01.520> Please<00:01:01.840> make
• doubts who is the one to make the best decisions when it comes to caring for and raising livestock and
• c> when the one to make the best decisions when the one to make the best decisions when it<00:04:
• And I was going to make a important.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Agriculture met for its third meeting with Chairman Fister presiding in place of Chairman Dossett. The committee recognized visiting Kentucky Farm Bureau collegiate chapters from UK, Morehead State, and Murray State, along with a student guest from Lafayette High School. After a roll call established a quorum, the committee took up House Bill 111, sponsored by Representative Ryan Bivens, with testimony from Nikki Ellis of the Kentucky Pork Producers Association. HB 111 was described as a measure requested by pork producers to protect farmers’ authority over livestock care and health decisions, and to prevent outside interference or pressure from activists or out-of-state regulations. Supporters said the bill helps preserve family farms, supports Kentucky’s pork industry, and protects science-based farming practices. Committee members asked about the bill’s language regarding veterinary consultation and public health outbreaks; the sponsor said the bill was not intended to block state or federal officials in a disease emergency, but to leave day-to-day decisions with the farmer or livestock owner. Representative Dossett also noted the bill would help ensure farmers can continue purchasing animal health supplies. The committee adopted a committee substitute and then approved HB 111 by roll call vote, with members voting overwhelmingly in favor and no recorded opposition. Several members explained their yes votes, citing the committee substitute’s improved language and agreement that livestock health decisions should remain with the farm owner and veterinarian. After the bill passed, the chair announced a lunch invitation from the Kentucky Association of County Agriculture Agents and the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That in and of itself is problematic, because I'm not sure who gets to make that decision.
• That in and of itself is problematic, because I'm not sure who gets to make that decision.
• It's the court that is going to make the decision. Always the court, not the probation department.
• It's an extra layer of review to make sure all parole decisions are legally and factually sound.
• is that folks can't make their own decisions based on when they want to sell their home.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• support of House File 4621 and placing the well-being of children and families at the center of your decision-making
• And we're going to have to disagree because I believe that we should be making public policy decisions
• I do not believe that we should be making public policy decisions based on whether or not rich people
• That's not the basis on which we make decisions.
• that's not the basis on which we make that's not the basis on which we make decisions. decisions

Bills: HF4621, HF4123, HF4616, HF1183

Keywords: child tax credit, financial assistance, low-income families, state revenue, tax policy, net investment income, taxation, business income, self-employment, tax increase, wealth tax, fairness, public services, high-income earners, economic equity, Internal Revenue Code, employee classification, federal law, Minnesota statutes, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• But this this state will allow me the dignity to make decisions to protect myself.
• I was here when y'all decided that parents do not have the authority to make these sorts of decisions
• And now you're saying that they do have the authority to make these decisions when it comes to reproductive
• Nobody's making that individual decision on that child. There's the therapist.
• We're talking about making health care decisions, access review of medical records, DNA storage review

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• make? make?
• And, um, uh, and that they could carry out the referendum and then make a decision.
• decision of the appeals court. decision of the appeals court.
• referendum and then make a decision. referendum and then make a decision.
• And I make this a regressive tax.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you make a decision like this and the contract was going to end that soon, so you had to make a decision
• And when did you make the decision to extend the contract?
• Um I was making decisions prior to that.
• Um, you start making all the decisions.
• to be able to make a decision.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• measure to the bill and defer decision measure to the bill and defer decision making<00:26:39.039
• So we'll be deferring decision making on February 12th.
• So we'll be deferring decision making on February 12th. >> And okay.
• <01:35:42.639> making<01:35:43.120> into will then go into decision making into will
• into decision making on its Thursday into decision making on its Thursday agenda,<01:36:41.360><

Bills: HB2392, HB2462, HB2423, HB1771, HB2081, HB2334, HB2336, HB1666, HB2375, HB2415, HB2451, HB2373, HB1641, HB1694, HB1695, HB1986, HB1797, HB1879, HB2034

Keywords: transportation, tax credit, employer incentives, commuting, environmental impact, flexible work arrangements, carpooling, bicycling, public transportation, consumer protection, subscription services, motor vehicles, ownership expectations, transparency, biodiesel, renewable diesel, diesel blend, B5, blending mandate, clean energy

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several transportation-related measures. SB 2356, relating to parking, drew support from the Office of Planning, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Appleseed Center, Realtors, and the Hawaii Bicycling League. Members discussed the bill in the context of the planned stadium-area mixed-use development, with questions about whether parking would be built in structures rather than as large surface lots. Senators expressed support and noted the measure’s broader housing and parking-reduction goals, but no vote was taken during the hearing. The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 2699, which would create a fare-free youth transit program, a special fund, annual evaluations, and appropriations tied to the environmental, energy, and food security tax. The Attorney General’s office raised technical concerns about whether the special fund met statutory requirements. The Department of Education and Department of Health supported the bill, as did the City and County of Honolulu DOT, Appleseed Center, Hawaii Youth Transportation Council, Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Hawaii Bicycling League, Our Children’s Trust, and numerous youth testifiers. Supporters emphasized reduced family transportation costs, better school attendance, improved health and mobility, and environmental benefits. One senator raised emergency-planning concerns about how children using free transit would be handled during events like tsunamis; DOT and DOE responded that emergency procedures are being developed. The chair said the committee would work on language changes, including a delayed effective date to July 2027, and defer decision-making until the 12th. The final measure discussed was SB 2470, which would require leading pedestrian intervals, accessible pedestrian signals, and other safety improvements at state-controlled intersections, and create a process for community requests for accessible pedestrian signals. Appleseed Center, the Hawaii Association of the Blind, and the Disability Rights Center supported the bill, citing pedestrian safety, reduced collisions, and the need for audible cues for blind and low-vision pedestrians. Testifiers urged a phased-in approach that prioritizes high-traffic intersections. The hearing ended with the bill still under consideration and no final vote announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's even more interesting to me that we would have the Bureau of Trails making a decision about a
• a road, which is making a decision about a road, which is what<00:21:05.440> the<00:21:05.600
• of Trails would making be making a<00:21:12.320> decision<00:21:12.640> about<00:21:12.799
• > only<01:23:56.880> a<01:23:57.120> public to make the decision with only a public
• to make those decisions.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with introductions and a description of the day’s process: a full committee work session on four bills, with no public testimony, followed by caucus and then executive action. The first bill discussed was HB 113, concerning OHRV operation on certain highways in Windsor. Representative Nab presented an amendment that would require a public hearing and Department of Transportation approval, modeled on procedures used in Coös and Grafton counties. Members discussed whether Windsor had already held a local vote or hearing, whether minutes from a town meeting existed, and whether the amendment truly preserved local control. A Windsor resident testified informally that the town had not taken a final vote and that the matter had been left to the state. Committee members also raised concerns about noise, dust, public safety, and the fact that the road in question would connect OHRVs on a state road rather than a trail system. The chair closed the work session on HB 113 and said the committee would return after caucus to vote on the bill and amendment. The committee then took up HB 595FN, relative to coastal resilience zones. Representative Nat said the bill addressed flooding concerns in both coastal and inland New Hampshire, but that the sponsor viewed it as too complex and had recommended breaking the issue into separate parts in future legislation. On that basis, Nat said it was appropriate to ITL the bill, and noted that the sponsor supported that course. No further discussion followed, and the work session was closed. Next was HB 629FN, funding the operation, maintenance, and repair of state dams. Representative Darby explained that the original bill had proposed both a waterfront frontage tax and a $5 charge tied to boat registration, but that the amendment would replace the bill by removing the frontage tax, moving the $5 dam-maintenance fee to the boat decal section of statute, and changing the effective date to January 1, 2027. Darby said the larger fee had raised concerns about impacts on current-use property and enforcement, while the revised $5 fee would raise roughly $500,000 to $600,000 annually. Representative Dunn thanked Darby and said the Marine Trades Association supported the revised approach. A question was raised about whether the original prime sponsors supported the amendment; the chair said they were on board, and Darby added that the proposal reflected recommendations from a prior study committee. The committee then closed HB 629FN and opened SB 27FN, relative to dwellings over water. On SB 27FN, Representative Derby said he opposed the bill because it would take away public access rights and amounted to a one-off legislative solution for a private concern. Representative Donnelly asked how many similar structures might be affected and whether the Department of Environmental Services knew of other cases; DES responded that there was one other related case under settlement compliance and no other active cases with the same issue. In follow-up discussion, DES clarified that the proposal was not a shoreland 50-foot setback issue, but rather involved structures extending over public water. The discussion remained focused on the scope of the bill and its potential precedent-setting effect, with no vote taken in the portion of the transcript provided.