Transcript Highlights:

• Table one models the distribution of tax reductions by income tax year 2025.
• c><00:09:42.120> tax uh models the distribution of tax uh models the distribution of tax reductions
• reductions by income tax year 2025. reductions by income tax year 2025.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• gone down, and asked what the trend has been over the last 10 years in terms of the average rate of reduction
• 00:13:12.000> of years in terms of an average rate of years in terms of an average rate of reduction
• 14.000> are<00:13:14.760> what<00:13:14.880> would<00:13:15.160> you reduction
• and what are what would you reduction and what are what would you say<00:13:15.519> are<00:13

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice, Public Safety, and Judiciary heard an update from the Department of Corrections on Kentucky Correctional Industries (KCI), sentence-credit payments for program completion, and the expansion of the Little Sandy Correctional Complex. Department officials said KCI, the department’s long-running re-entry program, operates 15 industries in 11 institutions, employs more than 400 inmates and 37 staff, and had $5.8 million in expenditures against $6.8 million in revenues through January 31. Members asked about inmate pay, the role of the Prison Industries Enhancement Certification (PIE) program, and whether KCI generates profit; the department said it aims to break even while supporting state government, with PIE participants earning prevailing wages and some programs offering certificates tied to post-release employment opportunities. The subcommittee also reviewed the budget-authorized sentence-credit program for county jails. Officials reported 37,300 program completions in fiscal year 2024 and, through January, $6.128 million paid for 90-day sentence credits and $1.6548 million for 60-day credits, with total county jail expenditures of $8.1 million and 67 jails participating. They said additional participation would require more funding and that they do not expect many more jails to join, though attendance and population levels can affect costs. Members asked how jails opt in, whether there are added costs, how inmate earnings are handled, and whether deductions are made for child support or victim compensation; the department said jails apply through an approved program matrix, inmate earnings are tracked in individual accounts, and required deductions are made when ordered. Questions from members focused on re-entry outcomes and program structure. Officials said evidence-based programming and employment opportunities are major contributors to lowering recidivism, and they cited a recent recidivism rate of 30.8 percent, down about 1 percentage point, while noting they would provide additional trend and savings data later. The department also clarified that adult education and GED programming are separate from KCI and are handled by a different education division. For the Little Sandy expansion, officials said the project remains on schedule for completion on June 25, 2025, with inmate transfers expected to begin at about 50 per week and roughly 200 additional staff eventually needed; they said hiring is being phased in as inmate population increases. The committee asked for the total construction cost of the expansion, which the witnesses said they did not have at the meeting and would report back. The meeting adjourned with the next meeting set for February 18.

Transcript Highlights:

• we also would propose considering a trigger so that when there are revenue surpluses, tax rate reductions
• we also would propose considering a trigger so that when there are revenue surpluses, tax rate reductions
• we also would propose considering a trigger so that when there are revenue surpluses, tax rate reductions
• We propose considering a trigger so that when there are revenue surpluses, tax rate reductions go into

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 4, first adopting the H004A1 amendment without objection. The author described the bill as a constitutional amendment intended to create a tax relief account funded from projected budget surpluses, defined as revenues exceeding 105% of projected expenditures based on the November forecast. Supporters framed the proposal as a way to return excess taxpayer money to families, homeowners, and seniors rather than allowing the state to retain or redirect it. Testimony in support came from Ranna Lee of Americans for Prosperity, who praised the bill’s clarity and argued that taxpayers are overburdened and should receive surplus funds back; she also suggested broader tax and budget reforms, including rate reductions and tighter spending limits. Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project testified in opposition, saying the legislature already has authority to use surpluses for rebates or tax cuts and warning that constitutionalizing tax policy would reduce flexibility, weaken accountability, and make it harder to respond to changing conditions, emergencies, or recessions. Members then briefly commented, with Republicans expressing support for returning money to taxpayers and citing cost-of-living pressures and fixed incomes. The committee did not hear a formal department position. At the end of the hearing, Representative Johnson renewed the motion that House File 4, as amended, be recommended to pass and sent to the Ways and Means Committee; the motion prevailed on a voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most school districts are facing a reduction in compensatory revenue following the change included in
• And then in 2024–2025, it looks like there were 776, so a 27% reduction.
• 42:21.920> that<01:42:22.480> um<01:42:22.880> Senator reduction.
• So, that data that um Senator reduction.
• <01:44:21.520> in So a pretty significant reduction in So a pretty significant reduction in

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, there will be some folks that have increases, some that have reductions, depending on where they're
• But, it'd be somebody's big reduction.
• [Laughter] Chair Hoffman, I did ask folks, do we have any evidence of, you know, reductions in family
• So, um, um, um, the other thing, so if you want the reduction of duplication of aligning efforts across
• of duplication of aligning the reduction of duplication of aligning efforts<01:00:56.640> across<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• based on the in when the reduction based on the in when the incremental<01:37:44.880> production<
• <01:40:49.280> doesn't then the severance tax reduction doesn't then the severance tax reduction
• Gas is never included in this uh severance tax reduction.
• Gas is never included in this severance tax reduction.
• Um and I'm I'm afraid I reduction.

Bills: HB0075, HB0128

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosk, financial institutions, regulation, Wyoming Money Transmitters Act, penalties, severance tax, oil production, tax exemption, energy sector, economic impact, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is when reductions in provider taxes and state-directed payments go into effect, an increase in
• This is when reductions in provider taxes and state-directed payments go into effect, an increase in
• <00:12:03.760> taxes<00:12:04.160> and um reductions in provider taxes and um reductions
• There are some of the reduction in the hold harmless list goes into effect in 2028.
• <00:26:27.360> harmless<00:26:27.600> list reduction in the whole harmless list reduction

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met and approved the minutes from its August 27 meeting. It then received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislators on the Medicaid provisions in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill, referred to as HR1. She explained that the bill is estimated by CBO to save the federal government $911 billion over 10 years, with more than 20 Medicaid-specific provisions, most of the savings concentrated in five policies and largely backloaded into 2030-2034. She emphasized that the bill’s effects will vary by state, but that expansion states and hospitals are expected to be most affected, in part because of changes to eligibility, provider taxes, and state-directed payments. Castanza highlighted several new funding and flexibility provisions, including a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund for 2026-2030 and a new home- and community-based services waiver option effective July 1, 2028, with $100 million in grants in fiscal year 2027. She also outlined major eligibility changes for Medicaid expansion adults: work or community engagement requirements effective January 1, 2027; twice-yearly redeterminations for the expansion population effective the same date; and new cost sharing for certain expansion adults effective October 1, 2028. She noted that Kentucky, as an expansion state, would be subject to these changes and that state agencies would face significant implementation demands, especially because federal guidance and timelines are tight. A substantial portion of the presentation focused on financing changes. Castanza described new limits on provider taxes, including a 0% safe harbor for new taxes and a phased reduction for existing taxes in expansion states beginning in 2028, while nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities are exempt from the reduction if already taxed. She also explained that state-directed payments will be capped and phased down over time, with existing arrangements grandfathered only briefly; she said Kentucky has 11 approved state-directed payments and could see significant fiscal effects. She added that the bill also bars Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood or similarly situated providers for one year, changes immigrant eligibility rules effective October 1, 2026, lowers the federal match for certain emergency services, and expands the scope of the federal erroneous payment recoupment provision effective October 1, 2029. Throughout, she stressed that federal savings may translate into state cost shifts and that implementation timing will be critical.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Agriculture Committee was tasked with $230 billion in net deficit reduction.
• The Agriculture Committee was tasked with $230 billion in net deficit reduction.
• The Agriculture Committee was tasked with $230 billion in net deficit reduction.
• The Agriculture Committee was tasked with $230 billion in net deficit reduction.
• The Inflation Reduction Act, despite their efforts to deride it, they are going to take advantage of

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , in 2023, rather than reinstate the good time incentive and maintain the longstanding one-third reduction
• , in 2023, rather than reinstate the good time incentive and maintain the longstanding one-third reduction
• , in 2023, rather than reinstate the good time incentive and maintain the longstanding one-third reduction
• , in 2023, rather than reinstate the good time incentive and maintain the longstanding one-third reduction
• early as 50% of the executed sentence, thereby saving a potential 17% sentence, realizing a 17% reduction

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In May, we were then faced with $97 million in reductions at the trial court level and the prospect of
• up to 7.95% reductions for other parts of the judicial branch.
• The trial court level and the prospect of up to 7.95% reductions for other parts of the judicial branch

Summary: The California Legislature met in joint convention for the annual State of the Judiciary address, with judges and justices from across the state in attendance along with Governor Newsom and other statewide officials. The opening included prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the formal introduction of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and the California Supreme Court justices. Speakers emphasized the importance of judicial independence, the courts’ role in protecting rights and democracy, and the value of collaboration between the legislative and judicial branches. Chief Justice Guerrero focused on the state of the judicial branch, beginning with budget pressures from prior cuts and noting partial restoration in the governor’s proposed budget, while urging continued stable funding for courts, court-appointed counsel, and judgeships in high-need counties. She highlighted the expansion and benefits of remote proceedings, ongoing judicial vacancies, workload growth, and efforts to improve data collection and case-weighting. She also discussed implementation of the CARE Act, the court interpreter workforce pilot, CASA and kin-first child welfare efforts, courthouse security and facilities projects, and the judiciary’s work on generative AI guardrails. A major portion of the address addressed the recent problems with the California bar exam and broader State Bar oversight. Guerrero said the court would pursue remedies for examinees harmed by the failures and would strengthen admissions oversight, including the role of the Committee of Bar Examiners. She also reiterated support for pro bono legal services and discussed immigration-related courthouse access, citing state laws limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in courthouses. The convention concluded after remarks thanking the judiciary and Legislature, and the joint session adjourned without any recorded votes or formal legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• their infrastructure around the financing around Medicaid, and any uncompensated care impacts, any reductions
• Uncompensated care impacts any reductions in people even having access to health care coverage will impact
• We do anticipate a reduction in terms of the fiscal impact, a reduction in Medicaid spending, and an
• We do anticipate a reduction in terms of the fiscal impact, a reduction in Medicaid spending, and an
• We do anticipate a reduction in terms of the fiscal impact, a reduction in Medicaid spending, and an

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Department of Human Services briefed the committee on how the federal HR1 law will affect Minnesota Medicaid and related programs. Budget Director Elise Bailey said the 900-page bill makes sweeping changes that will reduce coverage, increase administrative complexity for counties and tribal governments, raise uncompensated care for providers, and reduce federal funding. She reviewed current Medicaid spending and enrollment, emphasizing that the largest impacts will fall on the adult expansion group (adults ages 21-64 without children), which currently receives a 90% federal match. Bailey walked through several major provisions: work and community engagement requirements for the adult expansion group beginning January 1, 2027; six-month renewals for that same group; shorter retroactive coverage periods; new cost-sharing requirements for expansion enrollees above 100% of poverty; narrower Medicaid eligibility for certain lawful noncitizens; limits on provider taxes and state-directed payments; a reduced federal match for emergency medical assistance; and tighter federal rules on payment error penalties. She said many provisions require state law changes and additional federal guidance, and she cited research from Georgia suggesting work requirements increased administrative burden and caused coverage losses without increasing employment. The department estimated fiscal effects including reduced Medicaid spending in some areas but higher state costs in others, such as MinnesotaCare, emergency medical assistance, administrative systems, and provider uncompensated care. Bailey said the immigration-status changes would shift some people from Medical Assistance to MinnesotaCare, and that provider-tax and state-directed-payment changes could reduce future funding to hospitals and other providers. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided; the presentation was informational and the department indicated it would return with proposed state-law language as needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• 2023 um reduction was for 2023 in<01:03:38.480> your<01:03:38.720> analysis.
• <01:05:43.839> I<01:05:44.160> consider reductions in the future.
• I consider reductions in the future.
• 2016 through— Yeah, the reductions.
• :17:07.840> completely<01:17:08.880> uh reduction that is almost completely uh reduction

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have in our comments provided a willingness to consider some temporary reduction in amount in the
• 70%, but not a permanent reduction and not an elimination of weight requirements.
• <01:21:51.600> in consider some temporary reduction in consider some temporary reduction in
• not an permanent reduction and not an elimination<01:21:56.320> of<01:21:56.560> weight
• in nearly 200 million for the reduction in nearly 200 million metric<01:44:15.679> tons<01:44

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered three measures. SB 1602 would appropriate funds to DLNR for monitoring wells for the Koho aquifer system; DLNR and HHFDC supported it, and written testimony from several organizations and individuals was also in support. Members asked whether monitoring wells are a statewide function rather than a county function, and staff confirmed they are done statewide. The second bill was an administration measure clarifying that criminal water pollution enforcement remains with the Department of Health rather than DLNR. The Attorney General’s office said it was a cleanup clarification and that DOH has stronger enforcement powers and better testing capability; DOH and DLNR supported it, and there was no opposition noted. The final and most heavily debated measure was SB 1074 on environmental impact statements. The bill would let previously authorized or permitted commercial activities continue for up to one year while an agency determines whether environmental review applies after a challenge, and would allow permit renewals during that review. DLNR said it stood on written comments and suggested aligning the bill with similar House language. Supporters, including several ocean tourism and Maui business representatives, argued the bill would provide certainty and keep families and small operators working while environmental review is completed, especially in the wake of the Lahaina fires and ongoing business losses. Some supporters said the measure should be narrowed with a sunset or limited to recently renewed permits. Opponents, including the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, and other environmental advocates, argued the bill was overly broad and could weaken HEPA/NEPA-style environmental review, especially for fisheries and other commercial activities. They said the bill could be used as a “Trojan horse” to avoid review and that DLNR could resolve the underlying disputes more quickly through settlement or existing exemption processes. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• assisted living providers face unrealistic financial burden that could force closures or service reductions
• assisted living providers face unrealistic financial burden that could force closures or service reductions
• assisted living providers face unrealistic financial burden that could force closures or service reductions
• assisted living providers face unrealistic financial burden that could force closures or service reductions
• would be um and I'm just reductions would be um and I'm just wondering<01:26:23.600> if<01:26

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 2024 I see uh the disparity reduction 2024 I see uh the disparity reduction credit<00:42:24.559>
• Changes in aid reductions or rates are compounded for smaller tax bases.
• Changes in aid reductions or rates are compounded for smaller tax bases.
• Changes in aid reductions or rates are compounded for smaller tax bases.
• Shifts can result from exemptions, rate reductions, or exclusions.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan 2025 budget protects the progress made by pairing thoughtful reductions
• it provides an overview of how the governor's budget leverages federal resources, makes targeted reductions
• <00:02:25.200> and resources makes targeted reductions and resources makes targeted reductions
• The governor is recommending several reductions in two programs given the current fiscal outlook for
• Despite these reductions, there will still be ongoing funding for this program, which will allow this

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard a presentation from Department of Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner Tiki Brown on the department’s 2025 budget and transition plans. Brown said the governor’s budget pairs targeted reductions with modest investments, resulting in net general fund savings, while preserving core safety-net programs. Major proposals included funding for program integrity, modernization of the child welfare SSIS system, compliance changes for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), operating adjustments, and a transition account reallocation as the new department continues moving programs from other agencies through July 1, 2025. A large portion of the discussion focused on CCAP fraud prevention and oversight. Brown and Assistant Commissioner Diane Hy explained that the proposed statewide electronic attendance recordkeeping system would replace retroactive paper-based attendance reporting with more timely data, making it harder to falsify attendance and claim payments improperly. Brown also said the department is working with the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General and other partners on compliance and fraud controls. Senators pressed for more detail on current enforcement, whether payments can be withheld for violations, and whether recent media reports showed gaps in oversight; Brown said payments can be stopped for false attendance records, suspended or revoked licenses, or fraud allegations, but not for health and safety violations alone. The committee also reviewed other budget-neutral policy changes, including expanding permanency support services for relative foster care and tribal equivalents, strengthening tribal child welfare grants, updating TEACH scholarship rules for early childhood educators, and adjusting the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program to create a special revenue fund and extend a 10% payment increase to tribally licensed programs and programs on tribal reservation land. Brown also described a $1.5 million annual reduction to restorative practices grants, leaving a smaller ongoing base. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Legislative tax relief, of course, is it a reduction in value?
• Legislative tax relief, of course, is it a reduction in value?
• Legislative tax relief, of course, is it a reduction in value?
• Legislative tax relief, of course, is it a reduction in value?
• Legislative tax relief, of course, is it a reduction in value?

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2401, which would require physicians to complete continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health as part of the state’s rural health transformation effort. HHS supported the bill, saying it would help physicians better address chronic disease and preserve federal grant points tied to the state’s application. A member of the public also testified in favor, arguing that better nutrition education could improve diabetes outcomes and reduce costs. The committee then adopted an amendment to add the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice to the background-check statute so the occupational therapy compact could proceed, and it passed the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee next heard House Bill 1621, which would require the Presidential Fitness Physical Fitness Test in elementary, middle, and high school physical education courses. HHS said the bill was part of the rural health transformation application and could help preserve federal funding, but members raised many questions about the test’s criteria, adaptive options for students with disabilities, equipment needs, and whether the bill should apply to non-public schools. Senator Clemens offered an amendment to limit the requirement to public schools, but it failed. Senator Hogan then offered an amendment to clarify exemptions and allow DPI to align implementation with federal guidance; that amendment passed. A further amendment adding language allowing DPI to establish criteria for and exceptions to the test also passed. The committee then approved the bill as amended on a roll call vote. The committee also considered House Bill 1622, which joins North Dakota to the physician assistant licensure compact. HHS said the compact would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, support military families, and help preserve rural health transformation funding. Members noted the compact had been discussed in a prior session and that many earlier concerns had been resolved. After brief discussion about the compact process and its consistency with other interstate compacts, the committee voted to do pass the bill. Finally, the committee began Senate Bill 2402, which expands pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution powers. HHS and the Board of Pharmacy supported the bill as a way to improve access to care and maintain rural health transformation funding. Senator Roers introduced a detailed amendment negotiated with the Board of Medicine and Board of Pharmacy to narrow and clarify the bill, including notification requirements, limits on certain drug categories, and patient-protection language for therapeutic substitution. The Board of Pharmacy then testified in support of the broader bill and explained the CLIA-waived testing provisions and the repeal of the older, narrower pharmacist-testing language. The hearing and amendment discussion were still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• In both areas, the fleet opened under trap reductions.
• million in Prop. 4 funding for vessel-based whale surveys, for other technologies to inform risk reduction
• million in Prop. 4 funding for vessel-based whale surveys, for other technologies to inform risk reduction
• statute and try to unlock this industry-derived funding so that we can support entanglement risk reduction
• statute and try to unlock this industry-derived funding so that we can support entanglement risk reduction

Summary: The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture held its annual State of the Fishery forum, focusing on salmon, Dungeness crab, kelp, ocean conditions, and related aquaculture and committee reports. Opening remarks from committee leadership emphasized climate impacts, reduced federal NOAA support, state investments through Proposition 4, coastal resilience funding, and the importance of fisheries to rural economies and tribal communities. Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot described a decade of drought and climate stress, highlighted progress such as Klamath River dam removal, wetland restoration, and the state’s salmon strategy, and warned that federal funding uncertainty and staffing cuts could undermine restoration and fishery recovery efforts. Senator Cortese raised concerns about illegal cannabis cultivation damaging riparian habitat and water flows, and both Crowfoot and Fish and Wildlife Director Bonham said enforcement against illicit grows remains a major environmental priority but is constrained by resources. Director Bonham provided a broad update on California fisheries, reporting encouraging signs for salmon after several difficult years, including improved ocean conditions, stronger returns in some runs, and successful short recreational openings in 2025. He also noted major challenges, including reduced federal hatchery production at Nimbus, ongoing uncertainty around winter-run and spring-run recovery, and the need for continued habitat restoration, monitoring, and hatchery investment. On Dungeness crab, Bonham said the fishery remained valuable but constrained by whale entanglement risk, warming ocean conditions, and domoic acid concerns; he described new marked-line distribution, ropeless and alternative gear trials, and ongoing aerial and vessel monitoring. He also said the department’s unified cannabis enforcement task force had served numerous warrants and seized large amounts of illegal cannabis, but more funding is needed for sustained operations. In the salmon panel, Yurok Tribe fisheries director McCovey said the Klamath still faces low run sizes, climate-driven warming, wildfire impacts, and federal uncertainty, but he pointed to dam removal, restoration work, and AB 263’s river-flow protections as major advances. PCFFA president Bradshaw stressed that the three consecutive salmon closures have devastated coastal communities and argued for major reinvestment in aging Central Valley hatchery infrastructure and better broodstock management at Fall Creek. CalTrout’s Schneider said salmon remain at risk statewide, but cited Prop 4, habitat reconnection, floodplain restoration, improved water management, and monitoring as the main tools for recovery. In the crab panel, CDFW’s Schumann reported that the 2024–25 season produced record prices per pound and about $55 million in value despite delays and trap reductions, but he warned that three confirmed whale entanglements and elevated whale presence could force a conservative opener for 2025–26. PCFFA’s Domrash supported marked line, alternative gear, and a new gear-recovery network, while also criticizing the current ramp system as a response to a problem not fully grounded in science.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're certainly concerned about the proposed reductions to the CAN Renew Community Reinvestment Grant
• concerned about the proposed reductions concerned about the proposed reductions to<00:41:55.520>
• <00:47:39.200> of<00:47:39.839> uh 642,000 and then a reduction of uh 642,000 and then
• a reduction of uh 13.886<00:47:41.839> million<00:47:42.560> in<00:47:42.800> fiscal
• <00:51:23.599> This<00:51:23.839> is Line 116 shows the CanRenew grant reductions.

Bills: HF1646, HF2443

Keywords: medical debt, debt relief, healthcare financing, consumer protection, financial hardship, commerce, cannabis, insurance, housing, ombudsperson, affordability, property, task force, financial institutions, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Heather Lusk, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, in support.
• Nikos Leance for Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center. Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, members.
• Nikos Leance with Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center.
• Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center. Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center.
• I apologize for Harm Reduction Center.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 126, which would change civil asset forfeiture law. The Attorney General’s Office, Honolulu Police Department, and county prosecutors opposed the bill’s proposed SD1, arguing that requiring a criminal conviction and changing how forfeiture proceeds are distributed would weaken or effectively end the tool, create fiscal and law enforcement problems, and make it harder to address organized crime or cases where an owner cannot be identified. The Public Defender’s Office, Community Alliance on Prisons, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and other supporters argued the measure would improve transparency and accountability, protect property rights, and reduce abuses that disproportionately affect low-income people. The chair questioned law enforcement about fairness, storage of seized property, and access to counsel, and the discussion focused heavily on whether forfeiture should depend on a conviction. No vote was taken. The committee then heard HB 280, which would make the Community Outreach Court permanent and appropriate funds for it as a division of the First Circuit district court. The Department of the Attorney General and Judiciary supported the concept and described the court’s success in helping people resolve cases, clear license stoppers, recall bench warrants, and access services, but suggested amendments to remove the Attorney General from the bill’s definition and funding mechanism. The Public Defender, Department of Human Services, mental health and substance use advocates, neighborhood and community groups, and others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing its benefits for people facing housing instability, behavioral health issues, and transportation barriers. No opposition was voiced, and no vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 370, which would increase partial public campaign financing for elective offices. The Campaign Spending Commission supported the original bill and asked the committee to restore the original percentage amounts, keep the proposed funding increases, and reinstate funding for two additional full-time staff positions. Supporters said the public financing system has not kept pace with inflation and needs modernization to be viable; a few testifiers opposed the measure. The committee reported 30 in support, two opposed, and one comment, and then moved on without a vote. Finally, HB 371 was heard, a campaign contribution bill that would bar state and county contractors, grantees, and certain related persons from contributing during the contract period. The Campaign Spending Commission said the bill is intended to address pay-to-play concerns and false-name contributions, while the State Procurement Office raised concerns about the burden of requiring agencies to provide contract information for all contracts regardless of dollar value. The testimony ended with the commission saying it was working with procurement and the Attorney General on implementation details; no vote was taken.