Transcript Highlights:

• . appropriations. appropriations.
• year's appropriation to basically add a change to the appropriation.
• to the appropriation.
• . appropriation. appropriation.
• And when it is appropriate, Mr.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, I move that the Committee on Appropriations be discharged from further consideration.
• The bill will be referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety.
• The bill will be referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety.
• The bill will be referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety. Mr.
• The bill will be referred to the Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety.

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, pledge, attendance, and a series of recesses and caucus calls. The chamber also recognized the retirement of Larry Horn of the Michigan Senate Police Department and later honored departing staff members Macy Maine, Maddie Cutler, and Julia Schmidt. Senator Geiss delivered a statement marking the 62nd anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, emphasizing its legacy and the need to protect and strengthen civil rights protections. The Senate received House messages on Senate Bills 870 and 878, with SB 878 sent to conference. It also introduced several new measures, including Senate Joint Resolution L and Senate Bills 1085 through 1091, plus House Bills 4833, 5152, 5153, and 5727, referring them to the appropriate committees. The chamber discharged multiple committees from further consideration of bills and suspended rules several times to move legislation onto the General Orders calendar and to allow committee meetings during session. On the floor, the Senate passed House Bill 4072 and Senate Bills 792, 793, 1013, and 947. SB 1013, dealing with the Insurance Code and price optimization, included a failed Tice amendment and passed 34-3. SB 947, concerning dam safety under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, drew supportive remarks from Senator McMorrow and a strong no-vote explanation from Senator McBroom before passing 22-15. The Senate also adopted a McMorrow substitute for SB 947 and later considered a large group of bills in Committee of the Whole, reporting many with amendments and others without amendment for third reading. The session ended with the Senate adjourning until Friday, July 3rd at 12:15 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• It still gets to the point where the civil engineer, where again we're doing appropriate registration
• From there, favorable action on the bill in Judiciary, which it received last year as well, the bill
• From there, favorable action on the bill in Judiciary, which it received last year as well, the bill
• The board will compile the appropriate information to be able to send to the Department of Revenue to
• The bill will go to Judiciary and Finance.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We think this program like this is more appropriately a subsidy.
• </c><00:03:26.319><c> Uh,</c> more appropriately a subsidy. Uh, more appropriately a subsidy.
• <c> protecting</c><00:40:27.760><c> individuals</c> appropriately protecting individuals appropriately
• We're going to blank out the appropriation, update the effective date.
• We're going to blank out the appropriation, update the effective date.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services opened its first hearing of the 2026 session and heard testimony on several bills, with the chair emphasizing one-minute testimony, written submissions, and live streaming. For SB 768, relating to an alternative water source income tax credit, the Department of Taxation said a drafting issue needed clarification on the $500 cap and estimated a revenue loss of $6.8 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2028. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Libertarian Party opposed the bill as an unnecessary subsidy and tax-code complication, while one supporter was noted. A member questioned the size of the projected loss and suggested future analysis of net fiscal impacts and methodology. The committee then heard SB 389, which expands a general excise tax exemption to additional health-related providers and purchases. The Department of Taxation said the change would be a minimal code adjustment but would require public education; the Tax Foundation said the bill should be framed in light of the original physician-shortage rationale for the exemption. The Hawaii National Guard and Aloha Care supported the measure, along with several other organizations and individuals, while the Libertarian Party opposed it as favoritism and tax-code complexity. A member asked about administrative burden and potential tax impact, and the department said it did not yet have a calculation but was working on one. The committee also heard SB 877, which would appropriate funds to increase Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are maximized, and SB 1139, which would direct DHS to expand Medicaid eligibility for children from birth to age five regardless of household income. DHS stood on written testimony for both bills, and Aloha Care, the Hawaii Medical Association, disability advocates, children’s advocates, and CARES testified in support, arguing the measures would improve access and family stability. The Libertarian Party opposed both bills, warning of higher long-term costs, entitlement growth, and reduced private-sector options. Members questioned the fiscal and programmatic differences between crisis and warm-line services during discussion of SB 787, a bill to fund a Department of Health warm line; the department said the warm line would serve noncrisis callers more cheaply than crisis staffing, and that about 34.7% of 2024 Hawaii CARES contacts were mild issues that could have been routed to a warm line. Supporters cited mental health needs after the Lahaina wildfire and the affordability crisis, while opponents argued the service duplicated existing resources and expanded government involvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's entirely appropriate that you, yeah, I think your comments are.
• And I'm happy to move the bill when it's appropriate. Thank you. Senator Menjavar.
• The motion is due pass as amended and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations.
• Moved by Senator Rubio, the motion is do pass and re-refer to the Committee on Judiciary.
• The recommendation is do pass and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations on SB 1037.

Committee: Senate Health

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1377, a bill on medical exemptions for school immunizations. The author and supporters said the measure was a narrow reform to restore physician discretion and reduce what they described as chilling effects from audits and license discipline; opponents from pediatric, medical, public health, and school groups argued the current system already works, protects against fraudulent exemptions, and should not be weakened. Committee members debated the data, the number of exemptions reviewed or revoked, and the effect of the proposed amendments. The bill was amended in committee, but because there was no quorum it was not formally voted on at that time. The committee then heard SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act, which would create a statewide inspection and compliance framework for large private detention facilities. The author and supporters described severe conditions in immigration detention, including denial of medication, unsafe food and water, and lack of oversight, and the bill was presented as a response to those abuses. The California Hospital Association raised concerns about duplicative regulation and overlapping standards, but said it was continuing to work on a solution. The committee discussed constitutional and jurisdictional issues, and the bill was moved on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Judiciary with a 5-0 vote placed on call. Next, SB 1089 was heard, proposing expanded access through CalPERS and CalRX to GLP-1 medications for chronic weight disease and diabetes prevention. The author and supporters from the American Diabetes Association and medical groups argued the drugs are effective tools to prevent type 2 diabetes, reduce long-term costs, and improve health equity, while the author also shared personal experience with weight loss and medication access barriers. There was no opposition testimony. The bill was moved on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement with a 5-0 vote placed on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 1221, dealing with Murphy conservatorships for people found not guilty by reason of insanity or otherwise under criminal-mental health conservatorship. Supporters, including prosecutors and psychiatrists, said the bill addresses a gap created by a court decision and would improve public safety and placement decisions for a small population of high-risk individuals. Opponents from county behavioral health and disability rights groups warned it would turn a civil process into a quasi-criminal one, expand district attorney involvement, and disrupt bed prioritization and least-restrictive-placement principles. The discussion centered on the scope of the bill and its amendments, but no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was an appropriation to the ATF.
• So um now that appropriation Okay.
• .<00:52:35.599><c> However,</c> appropriate.
• However, appropriate.
• And agriculture to judiciary to health.

Bills: HB0108 , HB0039 , HB0091 , HB0070

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: audit, transparency, government reporting, accountability, public access, firearm rights, restoration of rights, criminal justice, felony convictions, Wyoming law, artificial intelligence, social scoring, biometric data, privacy rights, government regulation, foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, that bill should have gone to, as far as I'm concerned, should have gone to ENR instead of Judiciary
• But</c><00:05:30.720><c> be</c><00:05:30.960><c> that</c><00:05:31.120><c> as</c> ENR instead of judiciary
• But be that as ENR instead of judiciary.
• it is really by having this in this bill, it really puts us in a position to guide it through appropriately
• it is really by having this in this bill, it really puts us in a position to guide it through appropriately

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in executive session on SB 302, a bill requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners. Members discussed and adopted amendment 2025-2219H, which incorporated language from prior Senate and House amendments, including provisions related to the siting evaluation committee and changes affecting landfill expansions and additional cells. The amendment also folded in language from HB 616, the animal cruelty/due process bill, which members said clarifies probable cause, imminent danger, temporary protective custody, and the role of the state veterinarian or designee in animal seizure decisions. Several members emphasized that the bill does not bar seizure of animals in emergencies or prevent nonprofits from fundraising, and that the changes are intended to strengthen due process and reduce conflicts of interest. The committee voted 12-0 to adopt the amendment. It then voted 12-0 to give SB 302 an OTPA recommendation with the amendment included. After the vote, the director raised a concern that the amendment appeared to eliminate the waste management council and related appeal provisions in the governing statutes; members acknowledged the issue and said it was intentional or at least acceptable to address later in committee of conference, where they expected further changes. The committee then agreed to place the bill on the consent calendar. After concluding the executive session, the committee discussed an afternoon field trip to research farms in Lee and Durham. They also accepted an invitation to visit a farm in Fremont on May 30 at 10:00 a.m., with the address provided as 63 South Road, Fremont, New Hampshire.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1039, attorney judiciary. SB 1052, assisted living services. SB 1068, disruptions.
• House Bill 2053, an act appropriating monies to the Department.
• House Bill 2053, an act appropriating monies to the Department of Water Resources.
• House Bill 2416, an act appropriating monies to the Department of Public Safety.
• Representative Gutierrez said that going around curriculum protocols is not appropriate.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Norris, we have House File 2627 before the committee with the intent to move it to the Judiciary
• It does have another stop in Judiciary, so we'll be moving it to Judiciary.
• And I think we surface some additional ideas that as we continue on hopefully to Judiciary, um, we can
• ,</c> referred to the committee on judiciary, referred to the committee on judiciary, finance,<00:23:
• You're on your way to Judiciary. Thank you very much.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Conservation Committee, thanks to Judiciary.
• , apply for federal benefits and either act as the child's representative payee or determine an appropriate
• read twice by title, printed, and then referred to the Senate Rules Committee, thence to Senate Judiciary
• printed, and referred to the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee, thence to Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll now call the Committee on Judiciary to come to order. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.
• We need to have an appropriate remedy to challenge unreliable expert testimony instead of the status
• I admittedly opposed it before the Judiciary Committee. This will increase costs to litigants.
• I believe that our judges can call strikes and balls and keep people in their appropriate lanes.
• Seeing no further business, I will now conclude the Judiciary Committee hearing today.

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Morgan does add this to the work he already does as the Republican consultant for the Senate Judiciary
• I look forward to seeing you all in my new role in Appropriations.
• The motion is due pass to the Committee on Appropriations. Excuse me, one moment.
• The motion is due pass to the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
• Secretary, please call the roll. to the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

Committee: Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chairman of the House Judiciary is here with us at the appropriate time.
• Seeing none, would the chairman of the House Judiciary please approach? Thank you, Chairman Acres.
• As far as the funding mechanism goes, there's no new appropriation in the budget.
• if we had— is there anything in here that's requiring the court to come back and present to Joint Judiciary
• Not necessarily—I'm kind of like the chairman from House Judiciary.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 4893, which would increase penalties for contempt of magistrate court and raise the maximum fine a court may impose without a jury trial. Counsel explained that the bill would raise fines for first, second, and third offenses, add community service, and allow weekend jail or work release for a third offense. The committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment, reported the bill to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and adopted a title amendment. The committee then took up House Bill 5684, a pilot program creating child protection commissioners to help handle abuse and neglect cases. Counsel and the sponsor described the proposal as a way to reduce circuit court backlog, improve the frequency and consistency of hearings, and provide more focused attention to children and families while leaving final decision-making authority with circuit judges. Supporters cited the heavy caseloads, shortages of guardians ad litem, and a Texas model that reportedly improved efficiency; one senator criticized the bill as adding bureaucracy, while others said the system needs a new approach. Members discussed funding through a companion bill tied to the medical cannabis fund, with an initial startup amount and ongoing annual support. Several senators raised concerns about the lack of a sunset date and the need for measurable outcomes. The committee adopted an amendment requiring the Supreme Court’s Administrative Director to identify measurable outcomes, establish a pre-implementation baseline, and provide annual reporting to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, including costs and projected costs. House Bill 5684, as amended, was then reported to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, we, your Committee on Judiciary, Rules and Administration, report that we have read and approved
• Speaker, we, your Committee on Judiciary, Rules and Administration, report that we have printed House
• House Bill 579, 580, and 5801 will refer to Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee.
• I didn't think that was appropriate. I was asked to follow up, and I have.
• House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee will meet Thursday, February 5, at 1:30 p.m. in Room

Summary: The House convened with 64 members present, approved the previous journal, and received Senate Concurrent Resolutions 117, 118, and 119 for first reading and committee referral. Standing committee reports moved several measures forward, including House Bills 500, 533, 555, 551, and 526, House Joint Resolution 7, and House Joint Memorial 11, while a number of newly introduced bills were read and referred, including bills on environmental cleanup and hazardous waste provisions, property tax administration, emergency response programs in schools, city annexation, IT services, campaign finance, and digital content funding. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 557, which would preempt local ordinances imposing anti-discrimination requirements beyond state law. Supporters argued it would create statewide uniformity, protect religious freedom, and prevent local ordinances from creating litigation or conflicts over business and private-space access. Opponents argued it was an overreach that would weaken local control, ignore the ability of cities to address local concerns, and send a hostile message to LGBTQ residents and businesses. The debate included references to the Sandpoint YMCA situation, the Hitching Post case, and broader arguments about state versus local authority. House Bill 557 passed the House on a roll call vote of 53 ayes, 16 nays, and one absent excused, with the title approved and the bill transmitted to the Senate. The House also unanimously held House Joint Memorial 12 and House Concurrent Resolution 5 on the third reading calendar for one legislative day, then moved to announcements and adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, the bill has been read the first time and is referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
• Judiciary. Judiciary.
• Carrying an appropriation, the bill is referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
• Carrying an appropriation, the bill is referred to the Committee on Appropriations pursuant to House
• But today, I think our delegation found it most appropriate to recognize their contributions and their

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Cooper, welcome to Judiciary. reported out of our committee.
• Co-parenting is something we fully support when it's appropriate.
• Co-parenting is something we fully support when it's appropriate.
• We fully support when it's appropriate.
• The judiciary is active litigation.

Bills: SF0099 , SF0116 , SJ0006

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: easement, electricity delivery, public utility, prescriptive easement, landowner rights, surface water, drainage utilities, municipality, elections, environmental management, shared parenting, family law, joint custody, child well-being, parental rights, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, the Senate Judiciary Committee will come to order.
• There are none at the appropriate time. I expect there’ll be a motion and a vote.
• At the appropriate time, I will move the bill. All right, it's the appropriate time.
• And I'll make the motion when it's appropriate. All righty. Thank you very much.
• All right, Senate Judiciary is adjourned until college chair. Thank you.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard several bills focused on health care planning, mental health, housing, homeowners associations, groundwater enforcement, pet-friendly rental disclosures, and post-disaster property protections. SB 1088 would modernize POLST and DNR forms by renaming POLST to “portable orders for life-sustaining treatment,” allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to sign, clarifying that the forms are voluntary, recognizing out-of-state forms, and permitting electronic signatures. It drew support from the Coalition for Compassionate Care and related groups and no opposition was presented. SB 1242 would allow family members who originally petitioned in CARE Court to continue participating for care coordination and information-sharing, subject to judicial discretion; supporters said it would improve treatment coordination, while Disability Rights California opposed it as coercive and a threat to confidentiality. The committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 1242, and it was placed on call. The committee also considered SB 1007, which would require more HOA transparency, including clearer budget comparisons and disclosure of evidence for violations, and would lower the threshold for regular assessment increases without a homeowner vote. Supporters argued it would curb steep fee hikes and improve accountability, while HOA industry groups warned it could undermine funding for insurance, maintenance, and other operating costs. Members raised concerns about the cap on assessments, but the bill advanced on a 6-1 vote and was placed on call. SB 1364, as amended, would bar custody or visitation rights for a person who impregnated a survivor through sexual assault, using a clear-and-convincing evidence standard rather than requiring a criminal conviction; supporters said it protects survivors and may increase federal funding, while opponents argued it could deny children a relationship with a parent. The bill passed 8-0 and was placed on call. Additional measures included SB 997, which would give the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency lien authority to enforce fees and sustainability rules; it had support from local water, farm, and county representatives and passed 9-0. SB 1296 would require landlords to disclose pet policies up front in applications, ads, and websites and allow application-fee refunds if disclosure was not made before payment; supporters said it would reduce wasted fees and pet relinquishment, while rental housing groups raised concerns about signage, ADA language, and vaccination disclosures. The bill passed 8-0 and was placed on call. Finally, SB 1090 would prohibit large property owners from making unsolicited purchase offers for five years in wildfire disaster areas, aiming to curb post-disaster speculation; supporters described aggressive investor pressure after the Eaton and Palisades fires, while real estate and title groups raised implementation and enforcement concerns. The committee was still discussing the bill when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The State of the Judiciary was at 11 a.m., and the State of the State address was delivered at 1 p.m.
• They're not getting their voice heard through the voice to the judiciary.
• I think the flow has worked well, having the tribal and the judiciary in the morning and having somewhat
• As you know, the fiscal staff generally sit down in Appropriations, and you have that full-time staffer
• committee because those will have procedural clerks that are staffing the Appropriations Committee,

Committee: Joint Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee for Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
• Good morning, Chair Taylor, Ranking Member Walsh, and members of the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee
• Good morning, Chair Taylor, Ranking Member Walsh, and members of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary
• This clear and convincing standard is a commonly used civil standard that would be appropriate for a
• I think this would be an appropriate narrowing of this bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Summary: The committee heard Substitute Senate Bill 5520, which revises Washington’s wrongful conviction compensation law. Staff said the bill changes the proof standard for filing claims, expands treatment of Alford pleas, requires the Attorney General to concede qualifying claims in most cases, includes civil detention in compensation calculations, changes attorney fee provisions, and extends filing deadlines. The prime sponsor and supporters from the Washington Innocence Project and exonerees said the bill would reduce unnecessary relitigation and improve access to compensation, while one witness argued it would broaden eligibility and state costs. The bill was not acted on in the excerpt, but testimony was taken and questions focused on the term “actually innocent.” The committee then heard Senate Bill 5536 on property division in dissolution and legal separation cases, which would direct courts to consider real-estate sale costs, homelessness risk, and housing needs when dividing property and liabilities, and would clarify enforcement of real property orders. The sponsor said the bill is meant to make property divisions more equitable when one spouse must keep and later sell the family home. No public testimony was taken on the bill in the excerpt. In executive session, the committee considered Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5925 on Attorney General civil investigative demands. Members debated and voted on many amendments; most Republican-sponsored amendments were rejected, but Amendment 279, limiting use by the Criminal Justice Division, and Amendment 273, requiring consultation with local law enforcement in matters that may involve criminal violations, were adopted. The committee then passed the bill out with a do pass as amended recommendation by a 7-5 vote. The committee also heard and advanced Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6002 on automated license plate readers, adopting a striker and then passing the bill out 7-5 as amended, with members emphasizing privacy protections, retention limits, and limited law-enforcement uses while some members urged broader operational flexibility. Later, the committee took brief public testimony on Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6086, which would let Administrative Office of the Courts security staff conduct threat assessments and expand Supreme Court bailiff authority; witnesses described rising threats to judges and court personnel. It also heard Senate Bill 5868 to add one superior court judge each in Skagit and Yakima counties, with local officials citing caseload growth and budget strain. Senate Joint Memorial 8006, urging restoration and expansion of the limited license legal technician program, drew support from a paralegal and victim advocate who said it would improve access to justice for domestic violence survivors. Finally, the committee considered Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5993 on medical debt interest rates, which would lower the interest cap on new medical debt and prohibit interest in certain circumstances; the bill was moved out of committee with a do pass recommendation in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome, everyone, to the House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee wisely took that out when it went to the House.
• </c><00:13:21.800><c> and</c> uh Senate committee on the Judiciary and uh Senate committee on the Judiciary
• </c> the original Bill the Senate Judiciary the original Bill the Senate Judiciary Committee<00:15:06.079
• We've received written testimony with comments from the Judiciary.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard Senate Bill 1322, SD2, HD1, a comprehensive measure revising Hawaii’s mental health code. The bill would clarify emergency transportation, examination, and hospitalization procedures for people who may be mentally ill or suffering from substance abuse and deemed imminently dangerous, expand notice requirements, allow certain information-sharing for assisted community treatment petitions, and add liability protections for emergency responders and providers. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill as a collaborative update to the law, while the Department of Health asked for a copy of provider-generated emergency transport documentation within five days for data and planning purposes. Testimony was sharply divided. Queen’s Health System, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, HHSC, and the Institute for Human Services supported the measure or parts of it but requested amendments, including clarifying whether a second psychiatric exam is required, restoring a 72-hour rather than 48-hour stabilization window, and adjusting where patients are taken when an MEO cannot be reached. The ACLU of Hawaiʻi strongly opposed the bill, arguing it weakens due process and civil liberties, especially around involuntary commitment, assisted community treatment, emergency transport by police, and reduced procedural safeguards; it urged the committee to hold the bill and consider an interim working group. Louie E.K. of the Hawaiʻi Disability Rights Center also opposed the bill, focusing on immunity from negligence, the use of police for transport, and the reduction of a three-provider review to one in state-hospital treatment orders. Other testimony included support from an individual who said the bill could improve mental health care delivery amid provider shortages, and a comment from Hawaiʻi Health and Harm Reduction Center warning that the substance use portion of the bill lacks evidence of effectiveness and could be misused. In response to committee questions, the Attorney General’s office said the measure was developed with input from multiple stakeholders, including state agencies, hospitals, the ACLU, HHSC, and IHS, and that it aims to make assisted community treatment more accessible and effective by streamlining the legal process and improving consequences for noncompliance. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.