Transcript Highlights:

• More importantly, the children are usually also contracted as well. Thank you.
• More importantly, the children are usually also contracted as well.
• referred to independent contracting situations or payments or royalties?
• We have contracts with the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
• So each contract is good for 10 years.

Committee: House House Commerce Committee of Reference

Summary: The Commerce Committee heard and acted on multiple bills. HB 2192, a child influencer bill, would require compensation for minors featured in monetized content to be placed in trust, create a process for minors or adults to request takedown of content, and add restrictions on sexualized depictions of minors. The sponsor and Google supported it as model legislation; members raised questions about compliance, age 13 access to earnings, and removal rights at 18. It passed 9-0 with 2 present. HB 2501, an agency bill conforming Arizona’s appraisal management company definition to federal law, also passed unanimously 11-0. HB 2693, which revises bona fide association rules to allow self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements through statewide chambers or business leagues, passed 8-1 after an amendment; one member cited possible federal preemption in opposing it. HB 2010, the digital goods disclosure bill requiring clearer “buy/purchase” language and prorated refunds when access changes, passed unanimously after amendment, with supporters calling it a consumer protection measure and retailers warning about compliance burdens and possible preemption. The committee then considered HB 2279, which would exempt commercial river outfitters in Grand Canyon National Park from liability for injuries or deaths arising from inherent risks of river trips, while preserving liability for gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Supporters said it aligns Arizona with other western states and reflects existing federal oversight; opponents argued it could violate Arizona’s anti-abrogation clause and improperly define inherent risk. The bill passed 7-4. HB 2690, which would tighten unemployment insurance eligibility by requiring more work-search actions, weekly reporting, and pre-claim data cross-checks, drew strong opposition from advocates who said it would add red tape and harm eligible claimants; supporters said it would reduce fraud and encourage work. It passed 7-4. HB 2310, clarifying that qualified marketplace contractor agreements may be terminated unilaterally by the contractor, passed 10-0. The committee also approved HB 2555, requiring retail businesses with physical locations to accept cash for purchases of $100 or less and prohibiting cash fees, after an amendment exempting rentals and mobile home vendors; supporters emphasized access for unbanked consumers and small purchases, while one member objected that businesses should self-govern. It passed 10-0. HB 2199, which requires RV park managers to complete education on landlord-tenant laws similar to mobile home park managers, passed 7-0 with 3 present after testimony from homeowner advocates and park groups in support. Finally, HB 2459 was introduced at the end of the meeting; it would allow landlords to pass through utility charges actually imposed by providers and add an administrative fee for submetering, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or a vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• VSA costs and the number of individuals that you use on that type of contracting?
• So really, two location-specific questions. If you could take those, please. Thank you.
• So really, two location-specific questions. If you could take those, please. Thank you.
• Page 374 is the contracted... Thank you. Page 374 is the contracted firefighter training.
• Those two locations are, for whatever reason, it's just difficult to continue staff.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm from Tortugas Pueblo, which is located down in Dona Ana County.
• I'm the CEO of Kickarsen Electric Cooperative, located here in Taos.
• We have contracts with helicopter patrols.
• So then you go back to our main contract with Guzman. That's fixed to 2040.
• One of their actions was the contracting. for a master plan.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, because of the complexities of the contracts.
• Because I've analyzed hospital contracts as they relate, and you've got a PPO contract, you've got an
• HMO contract, you have an Advantage contract, you have all those.
• reduce their earnings by being below the contracted amount.
• Okay, and that's—I'm assuming that's in your contract with them? It is not.

Bills: HB345 , HB721 , HB2580 , SB815 , HB3057 , HB4603 , HB3233 , SB495 , HB3863 , HB3914 , HB4570 , HB5099 , HB5173 , SB458

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: insurance, appraisal process, disputed losses, residential property, policyholder rights, insurer obligations, natural disasters, appraisal expenses, umpire selection, policyholder, insurer, umpire, claims management, health care, cost disclosure, benefit plan, administrators, traumatic brain injury, health benefit plans, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• Billion dollar contracts.
• contract.
• Contracts.
• A contract anyway.
• of the contract that we are.

Bills: HB149 , HB252 , HB643 , HB1442 , HB1500 , HB1672 , HB1851 , HB1893 , HB2028 , HB2768 , HB2818 , HB149 , HB252

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, employment compensation, state agencies, salary payments, general appropriations, government efficiency, public works, contractors, payment bonds, government contracts, construction law, transparency, open meetings, government accountability, public access

Transcript Highlights:

• What would they be sharing with us as new inhabitants of this location?
• We also have direct contracts with the Nation.
• around the state, employment locations.
• We do have contracts for language lines to make sure we're meeting that need.
• Now in law enforcement and helping us locate people in general.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Very quickly, do you have a location for that?
• It's not the most ideal location for housing individuals.
• Contracts already approved meant nothing once the funds were pulled.
• Do we know the locations yet? Moren's got 2:30. Jose. Yes. Yeah. Mr.
• </c> because some of it is this this contract because some of it is this this contract they<03:21:34.080

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, per the bill the locations.
• </c><01:00:22.760><c> delivery</c> within the locational delivery within the locational delivery deliverability
• We've located a problem. His constituents were affected by it.
• So it's not just the contracts of the school districts, but also the contracts in the policy in getting
• So it's not just the contracts of work.

Transcript Highlights:

• That IHS public health nurse may help with demographics to locate the person.
• So they do that through contracting with the managed care plans.
• So they do that through contracting with the managed care plans.
• I already mentioned in lieu of services through managed care contracts.
• There are so many applications and so many contracts we had signed.

Committee: Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee

Summary: The meeting focused on Turtle Mountain’s public health and behavioral health priorities, especially access to rural health transformation funding and a long-running data use agreement with the state. Tribal public health leaders described how, during COVID, a temporary data-sharing arrangement allowed them to do their own contact tracing and case management, and they argued that a similar agreement is now needed to respond more quickly to very high syphilis rates and other infectious disease concerns. Committee members generally expressed support and said they would follow up with state officials, while tribal representatives emphasized that they already have the staff and infrastructure to use timely data effectively. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to the Turtle Mountain Recovery Center and the broader issue of the IMD exclusion and residential treatment capacity. Tribal leaders described the center’s opening, its five levels of care, its 16-bed limit, and its efforts to become financially sustainable through billing, grants, and partnerships. They shared success stories and argued for an IMD waiver or similar flexibility so the center could expand to 32 beds and better meet local need. Committee members discussed the policy barriers to expanding residential treatment, including federal approval timelines, state funding choices, and the need to preserve a continuum of care that includes outpatient and community-based services. The committee then heard a detailed presentation from Hector Hernandez-Dogato of the National Health Law Program on the history and mechanics of the IMD exclusion and Section 1115 waivers. He explained that the exclusion limits Medicaid payment for services in facilities with more than 16 beds, but noted existing exceptions and alternatives such as state plan options, managed care arrangements, telehealth, and community-based services. He also reviewed mixed results from states that have used IMD waivers, warning that they do not automatically improve overdose deaths, emergency room use, or access to community care, and may risk reinforcing institutionalization if not paired with strong upstream services. The committee discussed a draft bill to appropriate $49,000 and one FTE for HHS to pursue an IMD waiver, with members suggesting the bill may need to explicitly include serious mental illness as well as substance use disorder and asking for department input at a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a contract.
• It's a contract.
• It's a contract.
• It's a contract.
• </c><01:15:44.080><c> could</c> about whether retail locations could about whether retail locations could

Bills: HF770 , HF857 , HF38 , HF1500 , HF43

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF770, Rural Finance Authority, RFA, capital investment, state bonds, general obligation bonds, bonding bill, agricultural loans, farm loans, beginning farmer, new farmer, seller-sponsored loans, loan restructuring, agricultural improvement loans, livestock expansion, modernization loans, rural development, Minnesota agriculture, farm credit, chapter 41B

Transcript Highlights:

• And the second area is reviewing... ...contracts for.
• So, moving on to responding about terminating the contract or altering the contract, the administration
• In terms of terminating the contract, if the Department of Finance were to end the contract now, not
• In terms of this specific contract...
• I don't understand the intricacies of the contract.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the machines in one location, I don't want to bismerch any location, but in some are very low and
• </c> to bismerch any location, but in some to bismerch any location, but in some some<00:27:55.200><c
• Uh, 104, this is Contract Council.
• and they want to move those contracts and they want to move those contracts<00:37:16.640><c> to</c><
• ,</c> they can actually go out and contract, they can actually go out and contract, they<00:38:59.440

Summary: The Committee of Conference on HB 1 and HB 2 met to review revenue estimates and begin working through the HB 1 detail change sheet. New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre reported stronger-than-expected lottery performance, raising the current-year return estimate to $27 million and the next biennium estimate to $200 million, with the increase attributed to improved scratch ticket sales and sports betting not hurting revenue as much as expected. Members questioned the assumptions behind the higher estimates, including the impact of $50 scratch tickets and whether the figures accounted for future conversion from historical horse racing (HHR) machines to video lottery terminals (VLTs). McIntyre and committee members discussed machine counts, per-day revenue assumptions, and the likelihood that VLT conversion would increase revenues over time, though the timing and pace of conversion remained an open question. The committee also discussed several gaming-related policy items in HB 2, including changes to kino hours and local option games of chance, and noted that the Senate and House differed on how gaming revenues would be allocated between charities, education, and general funds. Members emphasized that revenue projections should remain conservative because operators, not the state, would control the pace of machine conversion. Representative Sweeney noted that operators could earn more per machine under the VLT model, and McIntyre said the new facilities and expansions were largely concentrated near the Massachusetts border. The committee then moved to the HB 1 detail change sheet. It agreed to Senate position on the Department of Safety’s road toll bureau and international registration program changes, which were described as a zero-cost realignment of positions, and held the Department of Corrections section for later discussion. On the judicial side, members approved a technical footnote fix, but held a new contract counsel item for involuntary mental health admissions and deferred discussion of the public defender program increase. The committee also noted no change for the PE development authority, moved safety rest area funding from HB 2 into HB 1 with no additional cost, and flagged the tourism development fund and other judicial items as issues that may depend on overall available revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• We contracted with a vendor to conduct a process improvement study of three major components.
• Of DOE's operations: grants, contracts, and personnel.
• One of the significant differences you see in the grants and contracts number between 2024 and 2025 is
• You can certify to if you're going to do a grant or contract for one of those agencies.
• Again, that is paid for out of your grants and contracts.

Transcript Highlights:

• at particular locations.
• vehicles under private contracts.
• Without objection, so ordered. under private contracts. under private contracts.
• ,</c><00:47:26.319><c> and</c> actions, donations, contracts, and actions, donations, contracts, and
• 45.280><c> days</c><00:47:45.440><c> before</c> no bid contracts 180 days before no bid contracts 180

Transcript Highlights:

• It defines an emerging large energy use facility as a facility that has a maximum aggregate contract
• It also does have a provision that if there's already a contract between a utility and a data center,
• But when they renegotiate or the contract expires, then they have to use the standards laid out in the
• We are concerned that some existing contracts might not provide the correct price signal.
• My name is Pat Haley, and I'm the city administrator for Quincy, located in Grant County.

Bills: SB6171 , SB5965 , SB5982 , SB6004 , SB6010 , SB5941 , SB6050

Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology

Keywords: energy facilities, large energy consumers, regulation, environment, sustainability, retail bags, pollution, customer impact, consumer-owned utilities, clean energy, port districts, market customers, energy transformation, renewable energy, public entities, electric generation, contracting, SB 6010, Washington energy siting, EFSEC

Transcript Highlights:

• These contracts continue to preserve quality workmanship, strong safety records, and responsible contracting
• By extending LLB contracts for school construction, this bill is instrumental to students and school
• Specifically, they allow school districts to incorporate pre-construction service into the contract,
• using them and will promote fairness and equity across all public agencies when contracting.
• It depends on where charter schools are located.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:10.200><c> that's</c> flowed into grants and contracts that's flowed into grants and contracts
• </c> programming in extension she is located programming in extension she is located at<00:42:06.079>
• </c><00:56:33.200><c> served</c> million residential locations served million residential locations served
• </c><00:56:48.839><c> throughout</c> 189,000 residential locations throughout 189,000 residential locations
• </c> certified but the person that's locating certified but the person that's locating the<01:08:47.920

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The alternate locations must not pose a material risk of contaminating municipal or residential water
• But at some point we really need to move that game farm to another location.
• Find a location that doesn't jeopardize anybody's drinking water.
• The main problem is the location of the farm.
• What it does is encourage educated and useful locations that will not harm an aquifer.

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee heard briefings and testimony on several bills. Substitute House Bill 2281 would require state agencies to avoid imposing an undue burden on Indian tribes’ traditional cultural practices at tribal traditional cultural places, and would create a Superior Court cause of action for tribes. The prime sponsor and tribal witnesses said the bill is needed to protect sacred sites and cultural resources, while an industry witness asked for narrower, more predictable language. Some testimony criticized the bill as too expansive and likely to increase litigation. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2514, which would create a Global War on Terror memorial work group to plan and recommend details for a memorial on the Capitol campus; the sponsor emphasized honoring Washington service members and said private fundraising would be central to the project. House Bill 2551 would let school districts with very low ending fund balances seek OSPI approval to sell district real property and use the proceeds to restore financial stability, rather than depositing the money into capital or debt service funds. The sponsor and Tacoma School District testified that the bill is a safeguard for districts nearing binding conditions, while members raised concerns about possible impacts on local land use and whether the bill could be misused in urban or rural areas. Substitute House Bill 2668 would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify alternate locations for the Bob O’K Game Farm and request future capital funding to relocate and remediate the site because of nitrate contamination affecting the Centralia area aquifer. Local officials, public health staff, and tribal representatives supported relocation, citing public health risks and the potential cost of inaction, while the sponsor stressed that the bill is about moving, not closing, the game farm. In executive action, the committee took up House Bill 2470, as amended by a proposed substitute, which would increase state school construction assistance for schools on military bases by adding 15% to the calculated state match percentage. Members discussed the role of federal funding and the need for safe, equitable facilities for military-connected students. The committee approved the substitute bill and reported it out with a due pass recommendation by a vote of 15-1, with three excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• So our Tripler staff at OVS is there, which is where I'm located.
• </c><00:46:27.760><c> at</c> positions uh that we pay for located at positions uh that we pay for located
• So our Tripler staff at OVS is there, which is where I'm located.
• And we also have staff on Aahu located.
• </c> the plan contract the plan contract &gt;&gt; [snorts] &gt;&gt; [snorts] &gt;&gt; [snorts] &gt;&gt

Bills: SB2421 , SB2690 , SB3103 , SB3137 , SB3164 , SB3206 , SB2933 , SB3133 , SB3315

Committee: House Health

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 1864, which would require health insurance coverage for standard fertility preservation services for people undergoing medically necessary treatment, drew broad support from SHIPA, the Department of Health, HMSA, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and others. Testifiers emphasized that fertility preservation is routine coverage on the mainland and important for patients facing infertility from cancer or other treatment; one patient described incurring more than $20,000 in costs. The Insurance Division flagged possible Affordable Care Act issues, a potential conflict in the bill’s language about using patient history to determine limits, and a mismatch with state medical-necessity standards. Committee discussion also focused on whether the bill should apply to all women of childbearing age rather than a narrower age-based category. HB 2305 would require nutrition and metabolic education as part of physicians’ continuing medical education. The Hawaii Medical Board opposed the measure, arguing that CME should remain flexible and tailored to each physician’s specialty and warning that topic-specific mandates can expand over time. The Office of the Governor supported the bill, saying it would help the state’s rural health transformation application and could improve federal funding prospects, though the exact impact was unclear. Members questioned whether nutrition is already covered in medical training and whether the requirement should be limited to primary care physicians; the board said Hawaii currently has no topic-specific CME mandates and that physicians can already choose relevant courses. The committee also heard strong support for HB 1597, which would establish an Alzheimer’s disease research center at the University of Hawaii. Supporters from the university, the Alzheimer’s Association, AARP, and others said the center could attract federal research dollars, expand clinical trials, and help address the state’s high Alzheimer’s-related health costs. HB 2159, which appropriates funds for health care workforce development, also received broad support from the University of Hawaii, health systems, and advocacy groups, with no opposition noted. Finally, HB 2121, which would prohibit the sale and distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices, drew support from the Department of Health, youth advocates, and public health groups citing youth addiction, environmental waste, and fire hazards; the department said a separate bill, HB 1573, would be more comprehensive and better defined for enforcement and penalties. The committee ended with HB 1913, creating a veteran services mental health coordinator position at Tripler Army Medical Center, which was supported by veteran services officials and others who said veterans need better navigation and coordination for behavioral health care.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Bureau of Contracts, Grants, and Procurement is responsible for managing contracts and grants awarded
• The section staff also coordinates the biennial invitation to bid and has multi-vendor contracts for
• They don't hold the contract with these charter schools once approved.
• The contract would turn over to the school district sponsors, or in this case could be the college or
• Currently, the Office of Safe Schools is working diligently with the contracted vendor.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee held its first interim meeting, took roll, and established a quorum. Members introduced themselves, many noting backgrounds in education, school boards, local government, or parenting, and Chair Jenna Persons-Mulicka outlined the committee’s goal of building the fiscal year 2025-26 Pre-K-12 budget. She also reviewed the fiscal year 2024-25 education budget, noting that the Pre-K-12 portion totals about $21 billion, with the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) as the largest driver, along with major funding for VPK, school readiness, and school recognition. She explained that federal COVID relief funds have ended and that recent school choice legislation has affected budget structure. Commissioner Manny Diaz and department leaders then gave overviews of their divisions. Diaz highlighted Florida’s education rankings, record graduation rate, progress monitoring, expanded school choice participation, charter school growth, and teacher salary investments, while emphasizing a focus on literacy, math, and early learning. Carrie Miller described the Division of Early Learning’s school readiness and VPK programs, their funding, eligibility, accountability systems, and the importance of kindergarten readiness. Paul Burns outlined the Division of Public Schools’ work on educator quality, literacy, standards, certification, family outreach, federal programs, and school improvement. Suzanne Pridgen reviewed finance and operations functions, including budget management, FEFP calculations, grants, procurement, transportation, and emergency management. Adam Emerson described parental choice programs, including scholarships, charter schools, schools of hope, virtual education, and home education. Darren Norris detailed the Office of Safe Schools’ responsibilities for risk assessments, compliance inspections, threat management, grants, and training created after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy. Members asked questions about several issues, including whether the Safe Schools office recommends changes to the school safety grant distribution formula, whether early learning eligibility should shift from federal poverty level to state median income, how scholarship payments are verified to avoid funding students who return to public school, and whether daily attendance systems could improve funding accuracy. Other questions addressed hurricane-related survey disruptions, VPK provider reimbursement rates and instructional hours, teacher salary increases, school start time costs, and how voucher schools handle IEP accommodations. Department officials generally said some issues remain under review, supported moving school readiness eligibility to SMI, noted that scholarship and enrollment data are cross-checked and adjusted when needed, and said progress monitoring now helps schools support mobile students. On school safety, officials said exemptions are allowed in statute for some items but not for classroom doors, and that district-specific conditions matter. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported beyond receiving presentations and discussion.