Transcript Highlights:

• She told the public, it's only an 8% increase.
• Public safety would encourage cities to adequately fund fire and police and prioritize public safety.
• On top of public safety...
• You know, so now they're kind of using public safety... ...to scare the public, in a sense, in order
• This would affect our public health.

Bills: SB9 , SB 9

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> public trust in government. public trust in government.
• schools, public health rely on public schools, public health facilities,<03:21:56.200><c> shelters,<
• </c> officers and the public. officers and the public.
• </c> surrounding streets. surrounding streets.
• </c> of Hawaii's public trust doctrine. of Hawaii's public trust doctrine.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, Madam Chair, public conversation.
• is predictable funding for public transit.
• > and</c> value would undermine public trust and value would undermine public trust and the<00:58:44.960
• </c> for ATVs that are operated on our public for ATVs that are operated on our public lands.<01:02:26.400
• ><c> providers,</c><01:04:00.079><c> our</c> our public transit providers, our our public transit providers

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> public emergencies. public emergencies.
• </c> Coordinator at Wilmer Public Schools. Coordinator at Wilmer Public Schools.
• Public education runs on trust.
• </c><01:29:25.840><c> public</c> education is all about. public education is all about. public education
• </c> public health and community well-being. public health and community well-being.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• But because this is a public hearing, and we're trying to get as much of the public through as possible
• The chairs reserve the right to call public officials out of turn.
• I and the other victims were told not to go public.
• This is happening every day, every month, across our public and private schools.
• I didn't do this; he did this, and he decided to run for public office.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy hearing on a wide range of bills involving domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, trafficking, victim compensation, and related criminal justice reforms. Testimony focused on measures to support survivors and close perceived legal gaps, including bills to protect domestic violence survivors in child welfare proceedings, expand victim compensation for homicide families and trafficking survivors, create a DNA exception to the rape statute of limitations, eliminate or extend statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, and strengthen laws on upskirting, sexual abuse by adults in positions of authority, and sexual assault by rideshare drivers. Several speakers also addressed bills concerning vulnerable adults, harassment and custody-related abuse, and early evidence kits. Witnesses included legislators, prosecutors, advocates, and many survivors who described personal experiences with abuse and barriers to justice. Supporters argued that current laws often leave survivors without meaningful remedies, especially where consent, reporting requirements, evidentiary rules, or statutes of limitations prevent prosecution or compensation. Prosecutors and advocates said the bills would clarify vague statutes, increase penalties in some cases, and better reflect the realities of coercion, grooming, trafficking, and delayed reporting. Some testimony also urged amendments, including changes to victim compensation reporting rules and clarifications to avoid unintended conflicts with other wage-recovery laws. No committee votes or final actions were taken in the hearing itself. The chairs emphasized strict time limits, respectful conduct, and the submission of written testimony, and several witnesses were called out of order to accommodate the large number of speakers.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're trying to pursue our first public rodeo facility.
• </c> only County that doesn't have a public only County that doesn't have a public Rodeo<00:34:31.079
• There's a group of us because we live across the street.
• Cross-sector collaboration, public safety.
• public public transportation<00:55:00.119><c> the</c><00:55:00.280><c> great</c><00:55:00.480><c> thing

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, even then, we have to add things like scaring the public and alarm.
• And we're we're the public and alarm.
• I mean, it's all public, but they put it right on their website to summarize it.
• Get me there. um Rite Aid across the street, which was um Rite Aid across the street, which was private
• What about just someone sitting across the street from a school on a park bench?

Summary: The meeting on SB 460 focused almost entirely on where the bill should be placed in statute and how it would be enforced. One side argued the proposal should be moved out of the loitering section and into the sex offender registration framework, saying loitering is already under constitutional challenge, is vague, and does not fit the conduct at issue. They said the bill is meant to create a clear, advance-notice restriction for registered sex offenders, especially around schools, day care facilities, and similar places, and that this would be easier for police to enforce. The opposing view was that the loitering placement is the better fit and that moving the bill would create broader drafting problems by opening the door to reorganizing many other sex-offender-related restrictions. There was also discussion of whether the bill’s references to schools should use the school-property statute, whether churches should be included, and whether the existing loitering statute’s alarm-based elements are too complicated and potentially unconstitutional. The committee also discussed a pending federal challenge to the loitering law, with one member saying there was no injunction yet but the case was being challenged. No agreement was reached. After a brief break and further debate, members concluded that the Senate and House positions remained unresolved, and the meeting ended without a compromise or vote on the substantive dispute.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's public. I mean, I was asked today, can anybody do this?
• We'll now move into public. Thank you. We'll now move into witnesses for House Bill 3317.”
• “To public, yeah, we'll now move into witnesses for House Bill 3317 and do first in favor of House Bill
• Dinoff, state public advocate.
• How do you justify putting bikers in harm's way on the streets and on the highways when most of those

Committee: House Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight

Summary: The Transportation Committee met in executive session and first voted House Bill 1798 do pass by a 9-5 roll call. Members then considered a House committee substitute combining House Bills 2553, 1831, and 2328; after a brief explanation that the substitute mainly rolled the bills together and removed duplicative helmet language, the committee adopted the substitute and voted the combined bill do pass 15-0. The committee also took up Senate Bill 1408, adopted a House committee amendment cleaning up salvage title language, then adopted a new committee substitute and voted the bill do pass by an 8-6-1 vote. Several members raised concerns about omnibus drafting, fiscal notes, and process, while others defended the bills as useful or freedom-oriented measures. The committee then heard House Bill 3317 from Rep. Sherry Gallick, which would allow drivers facing license revocation for accumulated speeding-related points to regain driving privileges by using an intelligent speed limiting device for a year. The sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce repeat speeding and keep people working, while witnesses in support included a family member of a pedestrian killed in a speeding-related hit-and-run, MADD, and a transportation safety group, all arguing the bill could reduce fatalities and provide accountability. Opponents argued the current point and suspension system already provides penalties, that the bill could impose costs on taxpayers, and that it raises concerns about privacy, technology accuracy, and government overreach. The hearing ended without a vote on HB 3317, and the chair announced it was likely the committee’s final meeting of the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> with no public oversight. with no public oversight.
• > public</c><00:20:20.520><c> safety</c> county administered public safety county administered public
• </c> and our public safety responsibilities. and our public safety responsibilities.
• </c> Trust is a two-way street. Trust is a two-way street.
• </c> strategies that promote public safety." strategies that promote public safety."

Transcript Highlights:

• So yes, I think to your original question, public safety could be at risk if we do this.
• But, you know, we also do roads and streets and all the additional facilities and...
• Public administration, like I said, is not linear.
• And public administration ...that when you're dealing with people, it's not linear.
• And public administration should not be a linear equation.

Committee: House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2780, a technical cleanup measure related to Arizona’s judicial tax lien foreclosure process. The sponsor and a witness explained that it would clarify when a foreclosure should proceed as a public sale, standardize how excess proceeds are distributed, and resolve inconsistencies left from prior reforms. Members asked about the intent to protect lienholders while ensuring former property owners can receive excess funds; the bill was then returned with a due pass recommendation on a 9-0 vote. The committee then took up House Bill 4029, as amended, which would require the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to evaluate the revenue impact of federal tax conformity changes earlier in the year, and would require the Department of Revenue to issue tax forms consistent with current statute. The amendment added reporting deadlines and a trigger for the governor to assess whether a special session is needed if the revenue impact is at least $100 million. Supporters argued the bill would force earlier action on conformity and prevent tax forms from being issued based on changes not yet enacted; opponents said it added bureaucracy and could delay the long-standing practice of preparing forms based on expected conformity. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved the bill as amended on a 5-4 vote. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4030 and the related HCR 2052, which would impose a moratorium from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030 on local increases in municipal and county fees, transaction privilege tax rates, and utility rates. Supporters said the measure would protect taxpayers from higher costs of living and prevent local governments from using utility rates or fees to offset other revenue needs. Opponents from cities, counties, and advocacy groups warned it could limit funding for water, wastewater, roads, public safety, and other infrastructure, especially for fast-growing or rural communities that rely on rate studies, grants, and enterprise funds. After extensive testimony and debate over municipal revenue growth, utility financing, and local control, the committee moved the bill forward; the transcript ends during the roll call and does not clearly state the final vote on HB 4030 or HCR 2052.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think Wall Street really clearly set the tone on this thing early.
• And the operators follow Wall Street. And there's no big ramp up.
• And that includes interior and exterior public seating improvements.
• And the public fence would be open, you know, business hours and for events and things like that.
• This facility will be for personnel only and will not be open to the public.

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum and approved the March 18 minutes. The committee first heard an update from the Petroleum Council on oil and gas activity in North Dakota. Ron Ness said production is expected to remain relatively flat at just under 1.2 million barrels per day, with efficiency gains and longer laterals helping offset lower rig counts. He discussed oil and gas prices, gas taxation, flaring concerns, northward movement of drilling activity, and the importance of new infrastructure and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) pilots. Members asked about gas taxation, natural gas liquids, pipeline impacts, and the outlook for Continental and other operators. Ness said the industry is likely to remain steady rather than see a major ramp-up or decline. Matt Pearl of the State Tax Department then explained the federal “big beautiful bill” and its effect on North Dakota income tax collections. He said the law extends or makes permanent several federal provisions and creates temporary deductions for seniors, tips, overtime, and auto loan interest, with the biggest state impact coming from the standard deduction increase and business tax changes. He revised earlier estimates downward, saying the net cash impact on state collections is likely in the $30 million to $35 million range after accounting for business prepayments and one-time FY25 oilfield transaction effects. Committee members asked which provisions apply to standard versus itemized returns. OMB staff gave a detailed update on major capital projects and facility funding. Topics included Capitol grounds improvements such as 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding, seating, lighting, tree management, and restroom and lobby upgrades; security work at the governor’s residence, which has been delayed by the discovery of human remains; and space reconfiguration efforts in Bismarck-Mandan to reduce leases and create shared offices and conference rooms. They also reported on the State Facility Maintenance Fund, including roof, window, boiler, and kitchen projects at state facilities, and on the state hospital project in Jamestown, which remains on budget and on schedule for substantial completion in winter 2027 and opening in spring 2028. OMB also updated the committee on the Minot North Central State Office Building, the use of federal State Fiscal Recovery Funds, and the status of legislative intent and trust fund reports, including school aid turnback, the school construction loan program, the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund, the Legacy Fund, and the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund. The committee ended by discussing future agenda items, including government efficiency, cash management, Bank of North Dakota lines of credit, and the rural health transformation program, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Housing stability is fundamentally a matter of public policy and public responsibility.
• </c> fundamentally a p a matter of public fundamentally a p a matter of public policy<00:09:33.040><c
• </c><00:09:34.959><c> For</c> policy and public responsibility.
• For policy and public responsibility.
• </c> hundreds people on the street. hundreds people on the street.

Summary: The committee took up House File 3403, authored by Vice Chair Rep. Kazowski, and first adopted an A1 amendment. The amendment made technical and implementation changes recommended by the Department of Revenue, allowed a small portion of funds for county and tribal administrative costs, and clarified timing and reporting for spent and unspent funds. After the amendment was adopted, the bill was moved to Ways and Means. Rep. Kazowski described HF 3403 as a $50 million emergency rental assistance measure to help stabilize households facing eviction, with $44 million directed to counties and $6 million reserved for tribal nations, administered through the Department of Revenue using the existing local homeless prevention aid formula. Supporters said the bill would provide immediate, targeted help to renters and landlords, prevent evictions, and reduce downstream costs to shelters, schools, employers, and health systems. Several testifiers, including representatives from Greater Twin Cities United Way, St. Louis County, Hennepin County, Minneapolis, social workers, a resident, and tribal housing leaders, said local resources were insufficient to meet rising need and emphasized the impact of federal immigration enforcement and related economic disruption on families, workers, and communities. Testimony highlighted sharp increases in rental assistance requests, rising eviction filings, depleted county funds, and the strain on nonprofit and mutual aid efforts. County and city officials said emergency rental assistance and related legal services had already prevented thousands of evictions, but current funding was not enough. Tribal testimony stressed disproportionate homelessness among Native Americans and supported the bill’s tribal allocation. During member discussion, Rep. Amani Hiltsley said the bill was an economic stabilization tool and requested a roll call vote, noting safeguards against fraud and the broader costs of inaction.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hidalgo County has two public school districts, the Animas Public School Districts,...
• Hidalgo County has two public school districts, the Animas Public School District and the Panthers, of
• We're both on the street. We're both on West San Francisco Street in front of the cathedral.
• If he shoots me in front of the—” “Street.
• A wide variety of public safety issues involving animals.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation from Rabbi Jack Stocker for New Mexico’s first Jewish Community Day at the legislature, and then proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance, Spanish pledge, flag salute, and national anthem. Early floor business included unanimous-consent approvals for cameras on the floor and in the gallery, a relaxed dress code for guests, and an excuse for Senator Hickey. Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth noted it was the last day for bill introductions and reviewed the day’s observances and receptions, including Multiple Sclerosis Advocacy Day, Jewish Community Day, Santo Domingo Pueblo Day, Lincoln County Day, and UNM Day. A large portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring the Artesia Bulldogs football team, recognized for winning another state championship and for their long record of success. Senators and coaches praised the team’s resilience, community support, and the role of local fundraising and school support in sustaining athletic excellence. The Senate also observed a moment of silence for New Mexico State Police Officer Darien Jarrett on the fifth anniversary of his death in the line of duty, with Senator Brantley speaking about Jarrett’s service and the impact of his loss on law enforcement and the region. The chamber then celebrated UNM Day with a formal certificate recognizing the University of New Mexico’s role as the state’s flagship university, its enrollment, degrees awarded, research, patents, health sciences, and hospital services. Multiple senators spoke in support, emphasizing UNM’s impact on education, health care, public service, first-generation students, and athletics, and several introduced guests from UNM programs and leadership. The Senate also read and adopted a certificate recognizing Dr. V. Sue Cleveland for 32 years leading Rio Rancho Public Schools, with members praising her role in building the district and supporting its growth and success. Later, the Senate recognized Valencia County Day and Hidalgo County Day, with senators highlighting each county’s history, economic development, agriculture, transportation, and community identity, and introducing local officials, business leaders, and youth honorary lieutenant governors. Additional floor remarks honored nurses and health care professionals tied to Lincoln County Day and related observances, with senators introducing guests from nursing, education, and hospital settings and emphasizing the importance of the nursing workforce and rural health care.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public opinion polling commissioned by Idaho Family Policy Center shows that...
• So that's to keep this new…” “...the street either because that's specifically political.
• Public spaces should unite Idahoans, as Lynn said, not divide them through favoritism.
• Our public spaces should belong to every citizen, not just one activist movement.
• It's a picture of Main Street, downtown Bonners Ferry.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Blanch worked for two prestigious law firms, including the oldest law firm on Wall Street.
• How do we make sure that main streets can thrive?
• And by the way, I was a public defender. defended bad people.
• The Justice Department formally had recommended volume two be made public.
• Do you support volume two of the report being made public? No. Okay.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: nominations, Deputy Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, Todd Blanch, Gail Slater, confirmation hearing

Summary: The meeting focused on the nominations of Todd Blanch and Gail Slater for the positions of Deputy Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, respectively. The committee considered the qualifications of both nominees, with opening statements provided by the nominees themselves. There was an evident emphasis on the rigorous vetting process that nominees undergo before their selection, highlighting the importance of the roles within the Department of Justice. Members of the committee engaged in a structured question-and-answer session to further evaluate the nominees' capabilities and fit for the positions they were nominated for, with each member allotted seven minutes to pose questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to have a public hearing this morning.
• And so this, again, is the opportunity to make it available to all public schools throughout our state
• They're trying to catch somebody doing something on the public area adjacent.
• Watch people across the street. It faces a public road.
• "If it's placed on private property, it must face toward the public or open land.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Office of the Public Defender in support in person.
• defender in support in the public defender in support in person<00:26:09.600><c> nope</c><00:26:10.159
• </c> justice system and to fostering public justice system and to fostering public trust<00:26:42.880
• The next year or so, where major projects that have already been shot will be in the public eye: Lilo
• Thank you for your feedback, and I also want to ensure that, um, when it comes to the public and uh I

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. On SB 9, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation testified in support, and there were no questions or objections. On SB 148, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments, and a member of the public testified in support of combining boxing and MMA oversight into a single combat sports commission, with amendments to preserve safety standards and separate or distinct treatment for the two sports. Committee discussion focused on whether proposed requirements were primarily safety-related or cost-related, how to handle smaller events, and whether a one-year implementation delay was necessary; the department said many safety provisions already exist in the MMA program, that it was open to continued discussion on costs, and that it needed time to combine rules and appoint new commissioners. The chair suggested possible amendments to account for event size and to reduce burdens on smaller events. The committee then heard SB 816, which drew extensive testimony on providing legal representation for immigrants in immigration proceedings. Supporters included the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, ACU Hawaii, the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, the Legal Clinic, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Pride at Work Hawaii, and others. Supporters argued that immigration cases can be as serious as criminal cases, that counsel is essential for due process, and that representation improves outcomes; several also emphasized the economic importance of immigrants to Hawaii. One supporter noted a suggested amendment to include training for attorneys and partners doing deportation defense and asylum work. Opposition came from a Navy veteran who argued the bill would use state resources for a federal issue, create inequities, and impose fiscal burdens. The chair noted 69 testimonies in support and 44 in opposition, and later an additional supporter brought the total to 70 in support. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The committee also heard SB 125, with the Department of Economic Development, the Agreed Business Development Corporation, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii offering technical comments about complicated nested definitions in the bill. Testimony on SB 125 focused on updating the Enterprise Zone Program so local manufacturers selling directly to retail could qualify, along with value-added products and certain health-related sectors. Finally, on SB 732, the State of Hawaii Creative Industries testified with comments, raising concerns about county permit-fee waivers, implementation timing, and the bill’s lack of a carry-forward provision for the film tax credit. The witness said uncertainty in the credit was already causing productions to delay coming to Hawaii and urged stability to support the industry and local workers. The committee then moved on to additional testimony on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe in sport, but violence on the street has no place.
• We don't want, and John said it, we don't need violence on the streets.
• street while others are not.
• streets where homeowners have the right to park.
• streets where homeowners have the right to park.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Or at least that was voted on by the public and some others.
• Right now, they come up Gold Street, which is one of our main streets through the downtown area, and
• In Mexico, they're inundated; I mean, there's two feet of water in their streets.
• Quite like ours, they're getting sewer in the water that's flowing down the streets.
• I'm Jeff Gephardt, Animas Public Schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was found on Elm Street in a...
• </c> walking our streets. walking our streets.
• </c> defund essential evidence-based public defund essential evidence-based public health<01:35:26.480
• </c><01:56:53.840><c> health</c> serving greater NSHA public health serving greater NSHA public health
• </c> we put than we gave out off the streets. we put than we gave out off the streets.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services