Transcript Highlights:

• Natives are a lot more resilient, a lot more drought resistant, a lot more fire resistant.
• We'll start looking at how we can plant natives in those zones just to make sure that we can be more
• at at planting natives in those areas. at at planting natives in those areas.
• <00:57:26.640> resilient,<00:57:27.359> um<00:57:27.440> a Natives are a lot
• in those zones just to make sure natives in those zones just to make sure that<00:57:52.079> we

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on hazard mitigation planning and recent tsunami and wildfire threats. Chair Dela Buladi opened by framing the meeting around the need for iterative disaster planning and lessons learned from events such as the Lahaina wildfires, the Puna Coast earthquake/tsunami, and recent wildfire activity. The committee heard first from Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Tomage Magno, who explained the federal and local hazard mitigation planning process, including the requirement for an active five-year mitigation plan to qualify for federal disaster funds. He described the plan as a living document built from prior plans, public and agency outreach, risk and capability assessments, and ongoing updates, with county departments, state agencies, and subject matter experts participating in the process. Magno outlined several FEMA-related mitigation funding programs, including flood mitigation assistance, post-fire assistance, pre-disaster mitigation, revolving loan funds, and dam safety grants. He emphasized that the Hawaii County plan was recently approved by FEMA, that the county council approves the plan, and that the county reviews it annually with a formal revision process beginning in the fourth year. Members asked about how the plan tracks project status, how priorities and funding changes are handled, and whether federal funding programs might be affected by HR1; Magno said the county is proceeding on the assumption that funding will remain available and noted some sources have been reestablished. He also said the county encourages council participation in meetings and planning. Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen then addressed the committee on DOT’s response to a recent tsunami threat, saying the agency had about four hours to prepare before the first wave arrival and was focused on its own operational response rather than the broader statewide planning process. In response to questions, he stated that FHWA funds cannot be used for evacuation routes, which is why prior legislative funding was important. Members also discussed specific mitigation projects such as fire breaks, bridge retrofits, and the Singing Bridge, with DOT noting that work is underway and that a replacement bridge upstream is being planned to carry traffic during repairs. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:46:58.680> Americans the N the portrayers of Native Americans the N the portrayers of
• Native Americans were<00:46:59.359> people<00:46:59.559> who<00:46:59.720> lived
• Wild West um kind of portrayal of Native Wild West um kind of portrayal of Native Americans<00:47
• :09.559> we<00:47:09.720> have<00:47:09.920> many<00:47:10.160> Native<00
• :47:10.440> American Americans we have many Native American Americans we have many Native American

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• State Housing Authority, Michelle Phelps to the State Labor Relations Board, Heather Furman to the Fish
• Michelle Phelps to the State Labor Relations Board, Heather Furman to the Fish and Wildlife Board, and

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And these are not the fish passage culverts.
• And you can see there's preservation, fish passage removal, our operations and maintenance group, our

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee devoted its meeting to a presentation from Troy Suing of the Department of Transportation on state highway preservation needs. Suing said DOT is a leader in asset planning, but that current funding is not enough to keep up with the condition of highways, bridges, and other assets. He distinguished operations and maintenance from preservation, and described the preservation program’s main parts: pavements, bridges, and other highway facilities such as slopes, rest areas, signal systems, retaining walls, and culverts. Suing reported that about 40% of state roads are already overdue for preservation and that, with current funding, as much as 85% could need preservation within 10 years. He said there are more than 7,900 lane miles currently due, and that delaying work past the “lowest life cycle zone” increases risk and can cost three to five times more later. For bridges, he said the state has about 3,400 bridges, an average age of 52 years, and roughly 10% are over 80 years old; the share of bridges in poor condition is about 9.9%, near the federal threshold that could trigger more federal oversight. He also highlighted culvert failures, including one on SR-510, and the closed Carbon River Bridge on SR-165 as examples of how deferred preservation can lead to closures and community disruption. Committee members questioned the comparison to national asset management leadership, liability risk as roads deteriorate, the cost and regulatory burden of bridge projects, and whether DOT is relying more on its own crews for bridge work because of cost and urgency. Suing said the department is underfunded to fully implement its asset plans and is forced to focus on risk, emergent needs, and the most critical bridge work first. He said DOT’s 2026 supplemental budget identified preservation as one of five unfunded critical priorities and estimated a 10-year preservation need of $8 billion to address the backlog and become proactive again. Members discussed whether targeted funding in the next biennium could help move the state back toward the “green zone,” and the chair closed by emphasizing the real-world impacts of bridge and road failures and the need for legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll make a note on that lowest piece, the game and fish.
• We asked for authorization for DNR to provide reduced-cost hunting and fishing license for disabled veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• school student to satisfy a world language graduation requirement by demonstrating proficiency in a Native
• The Senate amendment clarifies that a school district or charter school is not required to offer a Native
• course and permits the State Board of Education to establish criteria for evaluating proficiency in a Native

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of House bills that had returned from the Senate with amendments, with members repeatedly noting that sponsors intended to concur on most items. Topics included public health and vaccination rules (HB 2086, HB 2248), state investment in gold and silver (HB 2140), property records and voter-registration privacy (HB 2327), municipal and county regulation of business property and development fees (HB 2460, HB 2946, HB 2999), legislative subpoenas (HB 2745), cold plunge regulation (HB 2439), nursing-facility complaint timelines and licensed health aide rules (HB 2195, HB 2189), court-ordered treatment review (HB 2923), Access/Medicaid reimbursement and prior authorization for diagnostic services (HB 2932), inmate mental health study committee language (HB 2673), prenatal development instruction in schools (HB 2830), public records requests by legislators (HB 4056), parents’ rights and social transitioning in schools (HB 2249), school district financial compliance and facilities contracting (HB 2481, HB 2482), Native American language proficiency for graduation (HB 2895), advanced math auto-enrollment (HB 2423), special education and military-family procedures (HB 2621), AI rules for state agencies (HB 2592), eviction record sealing (HB 2244), tax filing penalties (HB 2016), shade structures in HOAs (HB 2342), homelessness-related community restitution (HB 2028), medical records timelines (HB 2557), PFAS firefighting foam restrictions (HB 2641), family-court expert testimony and prisoner transition services (HB 2662, HB 2440), address confidentiality protections (HB 2594), guardianship notice attestation (HB 2661), utilities for high-load customers (HB 2756), and nuclear-ready community planning (HB 2456). The committee also briefly moved to Caucus Calendar 19 for additional bills on mobile food vendors, school board training, out-of-state travel and meeting transparency, and a medical-intervention nondiscrimination bill. Several bills drew substantive discussion or criticism. Members debated HB 2932 at length, with staff explaining that Access said the bill would have a high fiscal impact because it would require reimbursement for non-contracted lab services and eliminate prior authorization for a broad range of diagnostic services, potentially increasing costs substantially. HB 2249 also prompted concern from members who argued it could force teachers to out students and create civil liability for using preferred pronouns or failing to notify parents about social transitioning. HB 2830 was criticized as requiring prenatal-development instruction while barring discussion of sexual activity or reproduction. HB 2028, which allows community restitution instead of a $20 probation assessment for people who are indigent and experiencing homelessness, was questioned as potentially punitive. HB 2481 was discussed as a way to help, rather than punish, small rural school districts struggling with financial-record compliance. The caucus also noted that several of the measures were sponsored by Democrats, which was highlighted as notable during the meeting. No formal votes were taken in the transcript. The caucus chair repeatedly asked for questions, and in most cases there were none, after which the sponsor was understood to intend concurrence with the Senate amendments. The meeting ended with adjournment after the caucus moved through the remaining calendar items.

Transcript Highlights:

• Native American communities in rural Arizona have borne the steepest cost of these failures.
• Native American communities in rural Arizona have borne the steepest cost of these failures.
• And indiscriminate reaction to the fraud that created, and has created irreparable harm towards our Native

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services held another oversight hearing on Access, focusing on fee-for-service behavioral health management, prior authorization and claims processing, the Targeted Investment Program (TIP), and network adequacy. The chair and other members criticized Access for repeated transparency failures, including missing records related to the Covered Behavioral Health Services Guide, lack of public comment, unanswered questions about ARPA compliance, and concerns about ghost networks and delayed payments to providers, especially in Native communities and rural areas. Interim Director Roberta Harrison said Access had improved fraud controls after the sober living scheme crisis and acknowledged the need for modernization. She reported faster prior authorization processing, fewer denial codes, real-time dashboards, additional staffing, and claims processing under 30 days. She also said the agency wants more fraud referrals and is working to strengthen internal systems and communication. On the TIP program, Access officials explained that payments are delayed because of complex data validation and allocation across many provider sites; they said year one of TIP 2.0 was paid, but years two and three had not yet been distributed. The committee requested a formal plan within 30 days for paying the estimated $122 million in delayed TIP funds and asked for CMS-related documentation. Committee members also questioned Access about a direct contract with Constellation for claims processing, noting language in the proposal suggesting higher ROI from denying more claims; Access said that language was not part of the contract scope and was verbally rejected. On network adequacy, officials described time-and-distance standards, annual MCO reports, and internal review processes, but could not immediately confirm whether a fiscal year 2025 report had been submitted to CMS or whether any corrective action plans had been imposed. The chair concluded that Access’s improvements appeared to be driven by legislative pressure, said the committee would review the information received, and announced that Access would be sent detailed monthly reporting directions before the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• comes from: 'A weed is swallowing the Sonoran Desert, fuels wildfires, irritates lungs, and smothers native
• It results in the loss of native wildlife. It's an irritant for both animals and humans.
• The problem is you've got a lot of native species that you're getting wrapped up into.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Committee on Rural Economic Development met to hear two presentations. Representative Volk gave a presentation on invasive plant species in southern Arizona, focusing on buffalo grass and stinknet as wildfire fuels that also harm native ecosystems and can worsen respiratory issues. He described current removal efforts, including hand-pulling and coordinated treatment by groups such as the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and discussed the potential for drones and targeted herbicide application to improve mapping and treatment of infestations. Members asked about grazing uses, costs, herbicide selectivity, and the spread of stinknet, and Volk noted that mapping and treatment efforts are being expanded with grants and local testing of drone-based spraying. The committee then heard from Dr. Vishnu Reddy of the University of Arizona on space defense as an economic enabler for Districts 7 and 17. He described Biosphere 2, the Landscape Evolution Observatory, agrovoltaics, and freight-farm systems as research and economic development assets tied to water scarcity, food production, and renewable energy. He also explained the University’s planetary defense work, including asteroid tracking, international warning exercises, and the DART-style concept of nudging hazardous objects off course, while noting the Chelyabinsk event as an example of an unexpected airburst. Dr. Reddy emphasized the role of the University of Arizona, small businesses, and student workforce development in supporting space situational awareness and related research. He also shared meteorite, moon, and Mars samples with members and staff. No formal votes or committee actions were taken beyond the presentations and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• If it had not been for our native language, we could have been speaking a different language today.
• I am thankful that we are able to converse in our native language. and the English language, speaking
• I had a company back in 2008, Southwest Native Consultants, and I was I was the one who procured the

Transcript Highlights:

• California is home to some of the most diverse ecosystems in the country, and protecting this native
• A Simi Valley native, Officer Jordan dedicated more than 29 years of service to Los Angeles.
• A Simi Valley native, Officer Jordan dedicated more than 29 years of service to the Los Angeles Police

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, heard a prayer honoring Pope Francis, and then proceeded through routine motions, guest introductions, and floor business. Members welcomed several groups, including youth art contest winners, local city officials for Cal Cities Week, emergency dispatchers and 9-1-1 youth heroes, a school group from Northridge Community School, and Sheriff Michael Johnson. The body also handled procedural actions such as re-referring bills, withdrawing AB 16 from Appropriations because it was no longer fiscal, and allowing committees to notice bills pending re-referral. On the floor, Assembly Concurrent Resolution 44, proclaiming April 20–26 as California Cities Week, was adopted by voice vote after opening the roll for co-authors. The Assembly then passed several bills, including AB 793 on dog dangerousness proceedings and AB 533 reauthorizing health care districts’ use of design-build for health facility construction, both by unanimous roll call. AB 764, which would add mute swans to the list of exotic non-game birds that can be legally managed, also passed unanimously. House Resolution 32, recognizing Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week, drew extensive remarks from multiple members about the historical tragedy and the Cambodian American community; it was adopted by voice vote after 70 co-authors were added, followed by a moment of silence. The consent calendar was then taken up and adopted 69-0, including AB 369 and a series of other bills and resolutions. The session concluded with an adjournment in memory of Officer Paul Philip Jordan, a longtime LAPD officer who served the Hollywood community, and the House adjourned until Monday, April 28 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, the new law adds new exemptions for American Indians, Alaskan natives, urban Indians, and California
• Finally, the new law adds new exemptions for American Indians, Alaskan natives, urban Indians, and California
• Finally, the new law adds new exemptions for American Indians, Alaskan natives, urban Indians, and California
• Finally, the new law adds new exemptions for American Indians, Alaskan natives, urban Indians, and California
• value of SNAP benefits over Finally, the new law adds new exemptions for American Indians, Alaskan natives

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And ironically enough, at the very same time, another Rice County native by the name of Al Quie, at the
• another enough, at the very same time, another Rice<00:11:53.600> County<00:11:53.920> native
• the<00:11:55.040> name<00:11:55.200> of<00:11:55.440> Al Rice County native
• by the name of Al Rice County native by the name of Al Quei,<00:11:56.880> at<00:11:57.040>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a thriving native restoration business in central Minnesota, and I live in Representative T's
• Our company has restored thousands of acres of short-stem native prairie under solar arrays, and we're
• A few other pieces of legislation have accomplished as much to restore native prairie in Minnesota as
• that 2016 bill, creating habitat for songbirds, game birds, monarchs, and native insects all across

Bills: HF2928, HF2912, HF2297

Keywords: water appropriation, data centers, environmental review, energy conservation, permit application, carbon-free energy, geothermal energy, renewable energy, Macalester College, appropriation, sustainability, solar energy, pollinator programs, license plates, agrivoltaics, environmental sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• grants to grassroots organizations serving African-American, Latino, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native
• I oversee the CRDP-funded Essence of Mana Program, serving Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
• This is one of the only programs that is directly focused on reducing disparities in the Native Hawaiian
• Today I'm here on behalf of Two Feathers Native American Family Services, specifically our ACORN program
• I work for Two Feathers Native American Family Services, and I am a substance abuse counselor.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's important to understand that Native Americans make up approximately 1% of Minnesota's population
• with ICWA, MIFPA, and other statutes, and looking at child welfare within Native communities.
• passage of MIFPA and to make sure that our agencies and our laws are here to support and lift up Native
• support<01:00:27.440> and<01:00:27.599> lift<01:00:27.839> up<01:00:28.000> native
• to support and lift up native families. to support and lift up native families.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• recommend that all data collected and reported be disaggregated, with specific identification of Native
• OHA has long advocated for policies that expand opportunities for Native Hawaiian farmers, ranchers,
• loans, and advocacy, OHA has supported initiatives that increase access to land, water, and funds for Native
• <00:26:27.120> birds<00:26:27.480> and<00:26:27.560> other Hawaii's native birds
• and other Hawaii's native birds and other wildlife,<00:26:28.120> we<00:26:28.280> feel

Bills: HB1736, HB1620, HB1695

Keywords: animal control, spay and neuter, pet overpopulation, sterilization, counties funding, tax designation, veterinary care, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, energy policy, rebate program, environmental impact, renewable fuels, sustainable aviation fuel, tax credit, greenhouse gas emissions, local production, energy resilience, agricultural innovation, job creation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1737, which clarifies allowable uses in agricultural districts for farm dwellings and farm employee housing, and HB 1604 HD2, which creates an agricultural workforce housing working group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Testimony on HB 1737 was overwhelmingly supportive, with county agriculture officials, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Farmers Union backing the measure; one witness asked for a definition of “affordable” to guard against misuse of farm housing. For HB 1604, the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Housing Hawaii’s Future, Hawaii Farmers Union, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, with OHA requesting disaggregated data and a seat on the working group. Committee discussion focused on housing shortages, possible misuse, affordability, and whether innovative housing models such as modular, tiny, and container homes should be considered. The committee then took action on both measures. HB 1737 HD3 was recommended to pass with amendments that would limit farm employee housing to agricultural employees and their immediate family members actively engaged in the farm operation, add a grandfathering provision for existing permitted housing, preserve county zoning authority, clarify that ag tourism must be secondary and not occur in employee housing, delete a square-footage-per-acre ratio, and defer the effective date to July 1, 2050. HB 1604 HD2 was also recommended to pass with amendments adding OHA and a housing-shortage organization to the working group, expanding its scope to include modular, tiny, and container homes and permitting/zoning streamlining, and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. Both motions were adopted unanimously by the members present. The joint hearing then moved to HB 1736, which would establish a spay and neuter special fund and require sterilization and declaration provisions for cats, with some discussion of dogs. DLNR and the Hawaiian Humane Society supported the bill, while Pacific Pet Alliance objected to the broader requirements and the inclusion of dogs; the Hawaiian Humane Society and American Bird Conservancy supported cat-focused sterilization and the special fund, while some testifiers opposed mandatory sterilization as too costly or intrusive. Members raised questions about toxoplasmosis, trap-neuter-release, enforcement, neighbor-island access, and funding needs, and DLNR indicated additional funding and third-party contracting would likely be needed. The transcript then began HB 1620 HD2 on energy, which would increase the environmental response energy and food security tax and shift funds from the hydrogen fueling subaccount to EV charging infrastructure; state agencies generally stood on written testimony in support, while the Tax Foundation objected to special fund earmarks and noted the bill raises only one part of the barrel tax structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I rise today to recognize a northeastern Wisconsin native who recently finished his collegiate
• Speaker, I rise today to recognize a northeastern<00:12:40.959> Wisconsin<00:12:41.440> native
• <00:12:41.839> who northeastern Wisconsin native who northeastern Wisconsin native who recently
• He served as police chief, was a fierce advocate for fishing rights and the environment, and was chairman
• rights and the environment, for fishing rights and the environment, and<02:13:58.880> was<02:

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, June 4, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's kind of different businesses, huh, for the same person, but, um, and then, uh, fishing game did
• It's kind of different businesses, huh, for the same person, but, um, and then, uh, fishing game did
• It's kind of different businesses, huh, for the same person, but, um, and then, uh, fishing game did
• It's kind of different businesses, huh, for the same person, but, um, and then, uh, fishing game did
• It's kind of different businesses, huh, for the same person, but, um, and then, uh, fishing game did

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard the Banking Department’s fiscal year 2026-2027 budget presentation from Commissioner Amelia Galeri. She described the department as a self-funded consumer protection regulator overseeing two main areas: the Banking Trust Division, which supervises state-chartered banks, credit unions, and trust companies, and the Consumer Credit Division, which oversees more than 7,000 licensees including mortgage and money transmitter businesses. She said the department’s budget is about 86% salaries and benefits, with 53 positions all filled, and explained that the agency funds itself through fees, fines, and end-of-year assessments on regulated entities. Galeri said the department is facing workload growth from several directions: continued growth in the trust industry, increased fintech supervision, and a new requirement to regularly examine auto dealers that take finance applications, which adds about 300 exams over two fiscal years. She said the department was directed to flat-fund its budget based on 2025 levels but was allowed to increase travel and training. To stay within that limit, she said the department reduced office space, went paperless, converted administrative and licensing positions into examiner positions, and expects to defund an embedded DOJ database administrator position once a new SharePoint system is fully implemented. Members asked about how the department’s revenue and assessments work, including whether fees were increasing and how much existing banks would pay. Galeri said fees are not being raised, most banks pay little or no fines, and assessments are based largely on asset size, with trust companies paying the bulk. She also explained that fines are set by statute, generally capped at $2,500 per violation for consumer credit entities, and said she would not recommend increasing that cap. The committee then voted to accept the Banking Department’s budget proposal as presented in HQ1, with a motion and second and no discussion. The transcript then moved to the Department of Energy budget. Commissioner Jared Chakin and Chief of Operations Lenny Radio discussed federal program funding, including LIHEAP fuel assistance and weatherization. They said the apparent drop in fuel assistance funding from FY 2024 actuals to the budgeted amount is due to the loss of ARPA and CARES Act supplemental funds, while weatherization remains a federally constrained program with a waiting list and limited flexibility. Members also asked about a proposed transfer from the renewable energy fund; staff said the transfer would still allow the department to carry out its statutory duties for the year, though the committee deferred deeper discussion until House Bill 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:03:01.920> species<01:03:02.720> or<01:03:02.960> cause to juvenile fish
• I do a lot of fishing on the Ammonoosuc River up where you're from.
• up where fishing on the Ammonus River up where you're<01:06:03.599> from.
• , the critters that eat those fish, and those insects.
• 20:25.440> fish<01:20:25.840> and<01:20:26.080> those critters that eat those fish

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 1281, which would establish standards and voluntary certification for agency-owned “facility comfort dogs” used by police and other public safety agencies. Representative Morton, the prime sponsor, said the bill is intended to create a consistent statewide framework because different departments currently use different policies. He emphasized that the bill is meant to distinguish comfort dogs from service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy dogs, and noted that a small amendment may be needed to make that distinction clearer. He also said the bill is timely under the ADA because comfort dogs fall outside service-animal protections, but still need training standards for public safety and consistency. Committee members questioned whether the bill was too detailed and whether the legislature should be setting rules on matters like training methods, diet, and breeding. Laura Barker of Hero Pups, who helped train New Hampshire’s first police comfort dog, supported the idea of a minimum standard but said the bill should be less prescriptive and should not interfere with therapy dogs or private handlers. She explained that comfort dogs vary in temperament and deployment needs, that raw diets raise zoonotic disease concerns, and that the program should remain voluntary and not cost the state money. Detective Michelle Jones of Portsmouth Police opposed the bill as written, saying the term “facility comfort dog” is confusing, the bill is overly restrictive, and some provisions go beyond what should be mandated by statute; she suggested a more flexible, guideline-based approach and noted that departments already have their own SOPs and can enforce them internally. Justin Brassen of the Manchester Police Department also testified, describing the history of comfort dog programs in New Hampshire and the work of a prior subcommittee formed through the governor’s commission on PTSD among first responders. He said there are currently no statewide standards and that the earlier study involved police, fire, EMS, dispatch, corrections, and NAMI New Hampshire, with the goal of creating a thoughtful work product. He agreed the bill needs work and answered questions about how departments handle training and public access. By the end of the hearing, members and witnesses discussed possible amendments, and one committee member suggested the bill may be better handled through interim study because of the amount of work still needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• that if salt increases in our waters, it impacts obviously all of the things living in our water: fish
• as salt increases in our waters, it impacts um obviously all of the things living in our water. um fish
• <00:41:24.160> um<00:41:24.400> fish<00:41:25.359> um<00:41:25.760> uh
• c> the<00:41:26.079> the<00:41:27.040> um<00:41:27.440> the our water. um fish
• um uh the the um the our water. um fish um uh the the um the the<00:41:28.000> green<00:41:28.319

Keywords: 927, senate, all