Transcript Highlights:

• Do I have a motion to consider the contract reviewed without objections? Okay.
• </c> to consider the contract reviewed to consider the contract reviewed without<00:05:13.759><c> objections
• I'll make a motion to consider the contract review without objection. Do I hear a second? Second.
• Do we have a motion to consider the contract reviewed without objection?
• Please take a moment to review uh you.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100, then heard from the Kentucky Department of Tourism on a contract with the United Kingdom and other European markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar international marketing contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the work includes marketing, public relations, familiarization trips, and media outreach. After questions about costs and effectiveness, the contract was approved by roll call. Members then reviewed Finance Cabinet facilities contracts 29 and 48 for engineering and architectural services tied to project design, including a specialized lab expansion project. The chair raised concerns that the fees seemed high for services that do not include construction, while the agency explained the work covers design for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and architectural planning, and that the lab project’s specialized pathogen-related work limits the pool of firms. The committee voted to approve the contracts. The Attorney General’s office then presented an opioid abatement agreement. Senator Meredith asked how the commission coordinates with other state behavioral health efforts, and staff explained that the commission allocates settlement funds based on applications and includes related agency representation to help avoid duplication. The contract was approved. The committee also approved a behavioral health contract for 988 chat and text services, which will expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage to 24/7 and move more of the state’s calls, chats, and texts from a national center to local specialists. A related amendment for the Voices of Hope overdose response contract was approved after staff said the increase simply extends services into the next fiscal year. Finally, the committee approved a DCBS contract for the Building Bridges Initiative, which provides training and peer mentoring for residential child care providers, and then approved three contracts for the Council on Developmental Disabilities. Those contracts were explained as necessary because the council is the designated state agency for federal DD Act funding, and one questioned item involving an advocacy and sexuality initiative was described as part of the council’s five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, systems change, and capacity building. The committee also discussed a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit, with staff saying the organization was chosen for its statewide network and ability to gather raw data, while members raised concerns about whether the study should distinguish between lack of food and poor diet. All of the reviewed contracts were approved by roll call.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would be that you would review these projects like you review any other laws.
• It would be that you would review these projects like you review any other laws.
• </c> for inadequate environmental review. for inadequate environmental review.
• own review of the science
• </c> review. But that's not the case here. review. But that's not the case here.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, December 18, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I encourage everyone to review the letter.
• I encourage everyone to review the letter.
• the materials, make a note, or hold a meeting to review it.
• the materials, make a note, or hold a meeting to review it.
• </c> short timelines someone has to review short timelines someone has to review all<02:10:03.920><c>

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently have a transmission project review process that takes place twice a year.
• But yes, it is like a bad transmission project review. Project review was used to. TPR.
• But yes, it is like a bad transmission project review. Project review was used to. TPR.
• The first is the transmission project review process.
• So we participate in reviewing the contracts for those bundled ratepayers.

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 259 ensures we look before we leap by requiring independent actuarial reviews.
• Actuarial reviews provide another optional tool for determining cost-benefit analysis.
• After reviewing and conversations with Legislative Council, they determined in their After reviewing
• So I'm looking at the practical aspect of the actuarial review.
• The actuarial review.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How long does the department usually take to review the submissions?
• We still would like some time to review it instead of being an automatic acceptance, so we're working
• </c> bill reduce the time it takes to review bill reduce the time it takes to review this<00:03:12.000
• </c> bill reduce the time it takes to review bill reduce the time it takes to review um<00:03:22.560>
• </c> &gt;&gt; we still would like some time to review &gt;&gt; we still would like some time to review

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard six bills on February 5, 2026, covering timeshare registration, Agribusiness Development Corporation authority, a North Kohala land parcel, business competitiveness, state enterprise zones, and Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Testimony was largely supportive across the agenda. For SB 2359, DCCA said the bill would streamline annual renewals and plan amendments for timeshares, though it still wanted review time rather than automatic acceptance. For SB 2169 and SB 2170, ADC and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the measures; members asked about condemnation authority and the intended agricultural use of the North Kohala parcel, with ADC stating it had no current lands it was seeking to condemn without authorization and that the parcel would be suitable for crops such as cucumber, eggplant, and tomato. SB 2263 drew broader discussion about how to measure and improve Hawaii’s business competitiveness. UHERO’s Dr. Steven Bond-Smith supported the bill’s intent but cautioned against relying on a mainland-oriented composite ranking as a benchmark for Hawaii, arguing it could mischaracterize the state’s economy. DBEDT responded that Hawaii must compete within the broader U.S. landscape and that the bill would add accountability and planning around competitiveness goals. On SB 2360, which revises the state enterprise zone program, DBEDT and other supporters said the program helps stimulate business activity and that the bill would better align the program with current business needs; a witness from Min Plastics said the current definition excluded businesses that do substantial custom manufacturing work, and another testifier urged combining enterprise zones with foreign trade zones. Committee questions focused on current zone locations, reporting, and whether technology, aerospace, and creative industries should be included. For SB 304, which concerns the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, HTDC said the bill would expand allowable uses of funds and help support local companies as federal R&D grant opportunities change; it currently awards about 20 grants from roughly 50 applicants each year. After testimony, the committee recessed and then took up decision-making. It recommended passage of SB 2359 with amendments, including extending a review period from 45 to 60 days; SB 2169 with technical amendments; SB 2170 with amendments blanking out the bond appropriation amount; SB 2263 with amendments and a new definition section; SB 2360 with amendments; and SB 3084 with amendments blanking out its appropriation amount. All recommendations were adopted without objections, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But at the end of the day, it still comes down to somebody has to review those plans.
• Somebody has to review those plans.
• But at the end of the day, it still comes down to somebody has to review those plans.
• To representers, Bud's question about whether the inspector is the same as plan review.
• They do not want to pay when there's a review...

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're subject to internal review, the governor's review, and ultimately review by other commissioners
• It has come to light during these reviews, known as an en banc review, that there is a need to provide
• based on when the review was requested.
• We will review the amendments. We'll likely still be opposed, but we will review and consider.
• We're reviewing the amendments. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing several bills on public safety, parole, criminal justice oversight, Proposition 36 implementation, behavioral health, gang database reform, cargo theft, and nonconsensual intimate images. The chair explained hearing procedures and noted that SB 906 was pulled from the agenda. Several measures were heard but not voted on because quorum was lacking. SB 1446, a committee bill, would expand discretion in en banc parole review, make en banc votes public record, and allow CDCR referrals for sexually violent predator evaluation of certain incarcerated people serving determinate or indeterminate terms. Support came from the California District Attorneys Association; opposition came from the Ella Baker Center, Uncommon Law, public defenders, and others who argued it would add confusion, litigation risk, and unnecessary duplication. The author said the bill was intended to clarify review standards and improve transparency. SB 1278 would exclude certain sex offenses and habitual/one-strike offenders from elderly parole eligibility. The San Diego District Attorney’s Office and California District Attorneys Association supported it, citing cases such as Gregory Vogelsang and David Funston; opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and others argued elderly parole is already highly restrictive, evidence-based, and cost-effective. Vice Chair Seyarto strongly supported SB 1278, emphasizing victim justice and public safety. SB 1354 would bar out-of-state military personnel not operating under Title 10 from entering California to perform military or law enforcement functions without the governor’s permission; a committee amendment removed a criminal penalty and left enforcement to the Attorney General. SB 926 would provide funding for Proposition 36 implementation, with committee amendments deleting a specific appropriation and shifting funding decisions to the budget process; supporters said counties need resources for treatment, probation, and administration, while opponents criticized the bill as fiscally reckless and duplicative. SB 874 would require background checks and clearer statewide standards for Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, especially ABA services for children; supporters said it would improve patient safety and program integrity. SB 1210 would extend CalGang-style oversight, notice, appeal, and DOJ regulation to all gang databases, not just shared ones; supporters described harms from inaccurate, unregulated local databases, while police chiefs opposed applying the CalGang framework to all local investigative files. The committee also heard SB 1019, which would create a DOJ cargo theft task force and add reporting requirements; supporters from BNSF, trucking, shipping, ports, and law enforcement said organized cargo theft is harming supply chains and worker safety, and no opposition was presented. Finally, SB 1217 would create a DOJ clearinghouse to help victims remove nonconsensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, from covered platforms; amendments narrowed the bill’s scope and clarified law enforcement’s role. The author and survivor witnesses described ongoing trauma from repeated reposting of exploitative images and argued the bill would provide a centralized removal process. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 1217, with no final votes taken on the measures heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• We see them missing from a lot of the audit reports that we review and approve.
• The first audit or review of this entity since 2018. May I continue?
• And we did recommend that they start filing those annual financial reviews.
• That's not something that we do as part of our review process.
• They have a compliance team that reviews that reporting.

Summary: The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts. The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects. Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:42:39.599><c> Um</c> and review our work periodically. Um and review our work periodically.
• Uh, we were reviewed by the U.S.
• We also have reviewed it.
• Employers can and do is reviewable.
• </c> So, very quick review.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:40.079><c> So</c> review to determine eligibility. So review to determine eligibility.
• </c> um the the court conducts this review um the the court conducts this review and<00:30:42.399><c>
• </c> They go through their process to review They go through their process to review the<00:31:35.039
• Uh so we also reviewed these actions.
• </c> things that don't require manual review things that don't require manual review or<01:10:38.159>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held an information briefing on expungement and record clearance, with Chair David Tarnis and Vice Chair Mahina Poo Poy emphasizing second chances and the legislature’s recent work on state-initiated relief. The chair reviewed prior measures, including Act 62 (2024), which created Hawaii’s first state-initiated expungement pilot for certain non-conviction cannabis-related arrests, Act 159 (2023), which required automatic sealing or removal of expunged records from the judiciary’s public database, and Act 241 (2024), which created the Clean Slate Task Force. He said the committee invited the Clean Slate Initiative and Code for America because of their national experience with state-initiated record clearance systems. Phil Hickden of the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and Attorney General’s office reported that Act 62 was implemented using existing resources and no new funding, initially covering single-charge, pre-2020 arrests in Hawaii County for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and later expanded by Act 005 (2025) to all arrests under HRS 712-1249 regardless of drug type. He said the project identified 2,268 potentially eligible records, with 1,072 processed so far, 989 granted and 83 denied, and that the work has taken about 872 staff hours and roughly 45 days per expungement. He also said the office has identified about 412,000 people who could potentially qualify for expungement under broader legislation, though that estimate does not include case-by-case research. Michelle Acasta of the judiciary explained that Act 159 changed the process so HCJDC now digitally transmits expungement certificates to the court, eliminating the applicant’s second step of filing paperwork with the court. She said the courts still manually review eligibility, but the process is easier because certificates now include a case ID and HCJDC provides additional information to help locate records. She reported that since implementation the courts received 125 certificates in July and 87 in August, with 17 court orders filed in July and August, including 81 in the First Circuit, 14 in Maui, 7 in the Third Circuit, and 15 in the Fifth Circuit. She also noted that the Hawaii Supreme Court’s State v. Rogan decision affects procedure by requiring a written request or motion, an opportunity to be heard, and written findings for sealing court records, and that new Supreme Court rules are expected for public comment. Members asked about qualitative outcomes and whether the process could be expanded statewide; staff said they do not track recidivism or personal stories, and the chair encouraged further discussion before the next session to identify barriers and capacity needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:24.240><c> every</c> external quality assurance reviews every external quality assurance reviews
• at that I have reviewed Florida's I've reviewed<00:21:03.200><c> Virginia's</c><00:21:04.120><c> and<
• </c><00:47:40.880><c> and</c> fraud need to be reviewed and fraud need to be reviewed and strengthened
• </c><00:50:26.480><c> and</c> significant um changes and reviews and significant um changes and reviews
• </c> require us going out doing a file review require us going out doing a file review um<01:30:08.639

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's basically like a sunset review.
• To go do this big review for ordinances that nobody in the city is complaining about.
• But if they don't look at what they're doing and are not... ...of sunset review.
• And so, reviews, right? And, of course, we have the State Auditor's Office.
• But reviews that could, Again, I don't think we could sunset them, but reviews that could lead to, if

Committee: House Governmental Oversight, Select

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our actuaries will review the rate.
• Yes, 15 percent are reviewed and closed within 30 days, and then 72 percent are reviewed and closed within
• In general, rates are set based on reviews, but there are some companies that do not review them.
• Our actuaries will review the...
• So how long does it take us to review? Yes, you said you review a hundred...

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next order of business is a review of our electronic meetings policy.
• The whole idea that the Finance Committee is a second review of the policy is something.
• The whole idea that the Finance Committee is a second review of the policy is something.
• All right, so that, I think, is a good review of what happened.
• All right, so that, I think that is a good review of what happened.

Keywords: Commission on Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm probably the only member of the Senate who has ever sat on a book review committee.
• It took nearly three weeks to even get the committee together to begin to review books.
• It's pretty easy to review a book that might be a picture book or an adolescent youth book.
• If a book is reviewed by a librarian, challenged, and then reviewed again by the school community, who
• Otherwise, we risk creating a system where books are perpetually under review and where no decision is

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate resumed debate on Senate No. 2696, An Act Regarding Free Expression, a bill addressing challenges to books and other library materials in school and public libraries. Senators supporting the bill argued it protects free expression and gives students, parents, guardians, and others a court path to challenge removals, while opponents raised concerns about parental rights, school control, and the scope and timing of the review process. Several speakers also emphasized the broader context of book bans and the impact on authors, librarians, and students. A number of amendments were considered. Amendment 4, offered by Senator Creem, was adopted and extended standing to authors and creators to challenge removals of their works, including in municipal libraries. Amendment 5, by Senator DiDomenico, was adopted and limited who may initiate challenges to those connected to the school community. Amendment 6, by Senator Comerford, was adopted to require that challenged materials be considered in their entirety. Amendment 8, by Senator Tarr, proposing parental notification of challenges, was rejected after a roll call. Subsequent Tarr amendments on parental opt-out, reporting, public process, and written policy were also rejected, while Amendment 19, requiring written reasons when librarians remove outdated or successor materials, was rejected as well. Amendment 7, a Ways and Means amendment, was adopted. The Senate then ordered the bill to a third reading and passed it to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 35 in favor and 3 against. The chamber also adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11:00 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee's Subcommittee on Hearing State Auditor's
• live from Western Washington University today, and I am chair of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review
• office operates independently of the legislature and independent of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review
• office operates independently of the legislature and independent of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review
• In the limited funding that we reviewed, we identified 128 inputs and 119 layers of calculation.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on the accuracy and reliability of OSPI’s school apportionment system. Auditors said the system, which calculates and distributes K-12 funding using multiple feeder systems and a core apportionment engine, is outdated, unstable, inefficient, and at high risk of failure. They reported weak controls over data input, documentation, oversight, and staffing, and said OSPI relies heavily on manual workarounds, a few knowledgeable staff, and vendor support. In limited testing of three districts, the auditors found the system calculated funding correctly for the 2023-24 school year, but they identified nine small input discrepancies tied to differences between budget materials and state law, which they said could compound into larger dollar amounts. The auditors recommended replacing or modernizing the system and noted that delays in doing so prolong risk. OSPI largely agreed that the current platform needs replacement and said it has been working toward a new system for years. Agency officials clarified that the Legislature requested a feasibility study in 2022, that the study found the system at risk of catastrophic failure, and that funding for a replacement is now in the state IT pool subject to OCIO/OFM gate reviews. OSPI disputed the audit’s characterization of the rounding and budget-law discrepancies, saying the issue was an agency rule and implementation choice, not an error that caused under- or over-allocation. Officials also said the current system is too old to easily absorb future formula changes, but that the planned replacement should be flexible enough to handle a new funding model if the Legislature adopts one. Committee members asked about the amount and timing of the $16 million project funding, whether smaller districts face greater risk, how many times data is entered, and whether the funding formula should be simplified. Auditors and OSPI both emphasized that formula simplification is a policy question for the Legislature, not the audit. Public testimony came from one online witness, who urged full implementation of the audit recommendations and modernization of the system. The subcommittee took no formal vote and adjourned after the presentations and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• been heard in Ag, and I guess before we would go forward, I'd want to make sure they'd be able to review
• Um, is there a Committee review of the bill at some point? the list. Is Mr. Rodovich here?
• </c><00:07:28.720><c> it,</c><00:07:29.480><c> um,</c> have they'd be able to review it, um, have they'd
• be able to review it, um, cuz<00:07:29.880><c> of</c><00:07:29.960><c> course</c><00:07:30.120><c> we
• of the bill at some Committee review of the bill at some point?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And as a part of our review, we found that either the clerk had... Fact.
• And our review of the bond documents requires that we are attesting that all laws have been complied
• So there's still a robust review that we will do on kind of the financial end of the bonds, but this
• As a part of that review, we noticed that there were no election notice copies in the transcript that
• There are others that we are aware of that weren't ever brought to us for review.

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They then determine the necessary number of nursing hours based on medical necessity review.
• DSHS assesses eligibility and clinical need through medical necessity review.
• DHS assesses eligibility and clinical need through medical necessity review.
• Scheduling these hours, the utilization contractor has done in their clinical review.
• Thank you. the utilization contractor has done in their clinical review.

Bills: HB2402 , HB2555 , HB2599 , HB2685

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: phthalates, medical equipment, healthcare regulation, intravenous therapy, toxic substances, Medicaid, healthcare, traditional practices, health insurance, coverage expansion, therapy, psychotherapy, mental health, regulation, professional standards, tribal data, data protection, privacy, sharing of information, Indigenous rights