Transcript Highlights:

• Judicial oversight functions as an essential check on government power.
• Judicial oversight functions as an essential check on government power.
• Judicial oversight functions as an essential check on government power.
• Judicial oversight functions as an essential check on government power.
• bus or into a school. >> Could you, Mr.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, it needed to be fair to all schools so that all schools would be able to function as they are
• functioning today.
• So that all schools would be able to function as they are functioning today.
• Everybody will be able to function, including the new isolated school districts.
• out of the three schools that make up the school district.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee first handled agenda management for items referred over from Joint Budget, suspending the rules to add Senate Bill 77 and later correcting an error so Senate Bill 4 could be considered instead of the initially misidentified House Bill. Members were given time to review the referred bills before votes were taken. Several other items were passed over or delayed to allow review, and the chair repeatedly noted that some measures would be taken up later in the agenda. The committee then heard a series of special language amendments and agency-related items. Representative Dalby explained a clarification to Senate Bill 31 to ensure district court installment payment plans are capped at $7.50 rather than being combined with prior $10 fees. Representative Bentley presented an amendment to Senate Bill 36 requiring the Department of Agriculture to notify local officials before certain land-purchase grants, but the amendment failed after concerns that it created a new process and could affect transactions. Bentley also proposed an amendment to Senate Bill 20 to remove Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s exemption from a hospital fee settlement; members questioned the fiscal effects on other hospitals, and the motion failed for lack of a second. Representative Pilkington’s amendments on pharmacy refills using artificial intelligence and on quarry permit notice to mayors were both not adopted, the first for lack of a second and the second for lack of a motion. The committee adopted several other amendments and heard agency testimony on fiscal effects. Senator Tucker’s amendment to Senate Bill 575, which moved certain justice-system fee revenues from special revenue to general revenue while holding agency funding harmless, was adopted after questions about revenue stability. Representative Beatty’s amendment to House Bill 1022, clarifying ADFA positions and reporting, was also adopted. Senator Johnson’s amendment to protect SNAP eligibility for participants in faith-based treatment and recovery programs was adopted, while his proposal to withhold pay from city directors absent more than 90 days was rejected. His cleanup amendment to apply majority-vote requirements to all municipal forms of government was adopted. Later, Representative Wardlaw’s amendment to allow municipalities to participate in cooperative purchasing agreements was adopted after discussion about local vendor access. The final major item discussed was Representative Mayberry and Senator Crowell’s amendment to House Bill 1007, which would increase funding for Arkansas’s ABC early childhood programs, open additional slots, and raise reimbursement rates. Supporters said the measure would help reduce waiting lists and improve kindergarten readiness; opponents argued it would divert dollars from public education funding. After debate, the amendment failed. The committee then began hearing Senator Irvin’s amendment to House Bill 107 concerning funding and operational rules for newly formed isolated school districts, with Department of Education staff explaining the proposed 90% foundation funding approach and discussing whether existing districts had sufficient funds to absorb the changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• 518 school districts, if you want to... $560 schools or the, you know, in the 518 school districts if
• 518 school districts, if you want to $560 schools or the, you know, in the 518 school districts if you
• Brentwood School District, the MRH School District, and the Ladue School District.
• school, a private school or homeschool.
• But no, not a public school. A private school.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by a 107-1 roll call vote. Members then spent a substantial portion of the morning introducing guests, including family members, students, interns, nonprofit representatives, a park ranger recognized for life-saving work, and legislative staff being honored for service or graduation. Committee reports and Senate messages followed, including Senate refusals to concur on several amendments to Senate Bill 1421 and the appointment of a conference committee on House Bill 2818. The main floor debate centered on the conference committee report for House Bill 2002, the K-12 education budget. The budget chair explained that the report maintained record-level overall funding for the foundation formula but changed the mix of funding sources, including a reduction in capital commission dollars and use of blind pension funds, with possible later ARPA dollars to offset shortfalls. Several members argued the bill still underfunded schools by about $190 million and raised concerns about relying on projected or one-time funds; others defended the budget as meeting or exceeding constitutional requirements and noted record spending per pupil and recent increases in education funding. A substitute motion to send the bill back to conference failed 62-89, and the conference report was then adopted 83-68; the bill was subsequently third read and passed 83-68. The House then adopted and passed House Bill 2003, the higher education budget, by 119-28 on adoption and 109-32 on third reading. Debate there focused on restoring the governor’s recommended funding while directing higher education institutions to develop a new performance-based funding formula by the end of the year. Members generally described the compromise as a step toward a more sustainable model while preserving current funding levels. Next, House Bill 2004, covering the Departments of Revenue and Transportation, was adopted 128-21 and passed 127-27; discussion highlighted transportation funding, rural roads, and a small local safety appropriation that had already been addressed by MoDOT. The House then began debate on House Bill 2005, the Office of Administration budget, with members emphasizing IT accountability, state employee functions, and ongoing technology consolidation/deconsolidation issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Early childhood learning programs prepare children for schools.
• Right to fully resourced community schools with staffing.
• I look at my district going back to school board.
• We offer school-based health clinics in Senator Brantley: schools as we should.
• So Senator, being on the school board, we have audits for our county.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a party function; it's an election function that's done at our local precincts, just like it
• It's not a party function; it's an election function that's done at our local precincts, just like it
• It's it's uh an party function fun.
• <00:07:51.039> at<00:07:51.280> our election function that's done at our election function
• support local government and school support local government and school districts<00:49:33.839><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not only that, they will crowd out the smaller entities, but that they ultimately will function in a
• And every week we encounter obstacles to function effectively.
• And every week we encounter obstacles to function effectively.
• And every week we encounter obstacles to function effectively.
• It's something that allows them to participate and function more effectively.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The work session focused on HB 54, which would allow New Hampshire’s alternative treatment centers to operate for profit. Chair David Nagel opened by identifying the main concerns: whether members agreed with the bill conceptually, whether the proposal could be shaped to avoid a gubernatorial veto, and whether it could lead to “big cannabis” taking over. He also emphasized that the bill would not change the existing oversight structure, which remained under RSA 126-X. Representative Wendy Thomas said the governor’s objections in past sessions appeared to center on the state’s preference for a state-run model and broader policy concerns, but no one present knew the current governor’s position. Several speakers argued the bill was primarily about financing and access, not expanding the number of dispensaries. Matt Simon of Granite Leaf Cannabis said the current nonprofit structure makes it difficult to raise capital, pay down debt, and open additional access points, and that the bill would be a corporate restructuring rather than a change in day-to-day regulation. Brandon Pollock of TASCAL Wellness said medical cannabis programs in most other states are for-profit, and that New Hampshire’s nonprofit requirement has left ATCs burdened with high-interest debt and higher prices that push patients to Maine, Vermont, or the street market. He said converting to for-profit status could allow conventional financing, lower prices, and help keep patients in the regulated program. Members also discussed whether for-profit ownership would invite outside corporate control. Witnesses said the bill would not open the market to new operators, would not change advertising rules, and would include restrictions on ownership transfers for a period of time; “foreign corporation” was explained as an out-of-state entity. One speaker noted that the bill is similar to earlier versions that passed both chambers with strong support but never became law. No vote was taken during the work session; the discussion was informational and aimed at addressing concerns before the bill moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, we still do the function. The function still needs to be filled.
• This is statewide, all schools, public schools.
• :51.320> schools Schools public schools Schools public schools I<01:54:53.520> mean<01:
• So how do we know which schools?
• schools so how do we know which schools schools so how do we know which schools uh<01:56:01.079>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Health and Human Services committees heard Hawaii Health Systems Corporation’s biennium budget request, with testimony from HHSC leadership on the Hilo/Big Island region (HTH 212) and the Oahu region (HTH 215), plus discussion of capital improvement projects and systemwide partnerships. HHSC described its role as the rural healthcare safety net, serving a high share of Medicare, Medicaid/Quest, and uninsured patients, and said its costs are elevated by state employee fringe benefits, which it said are about 64% compared with roughly 30% in the private sector. HHSC also said pandemic-era federal aid, including relief funds and PPP loans totaling about $100 million, reduced the need for general fund support in prior years. For HTH 212, HHSC said its general fund request for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 was higher than the governor’s recommendation because of rising insurance, pharmaceutical, and contractor labor costs, and because it includes $13.2 million in FY 2026 and $2.3 million in FY 2027 for Epic electronic medical record implementation in East Hawaii. For HTH 215, HHSC said the requested general funds were aligned with the governor’s recommendation, in part because of increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for long-term care facilities under prior legislation. HHSC also said it was restoring a special fund ceiling so the region could spend its cash collections on operations. Members asked about the 64% fringe rate, and HHSC explained the difference was mainly due to defined-benefit pension and retiree health insurance costs, which private hospitals generally do not bear at the same level. Members also asked about the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home, and HHSC said operations would be funded through the general fund corporation for the home when it opens, with management by Ohana Pacific, but no additional legislative operating funds were being requested at that time. Other questions focused on staffing and vacancies, including an abolished procurement position and an ongoing IT help desk recruitment need. HHSC highlighted several capital and partnership projects, including a $25 million state CIP request matched by $25 million from the Benioff family for the Benioff Health Center, an ER expansion and reconfiguration at Corner Community Hospital, and $7.5 million in each fiscal year for Kauai EMR capital funds to join the Epic platform. Testimony also described collaborations with Queen’s, the University of California San Francisco, Hawaii Pacific Health, the Hawaii Cancer Consortium, the Department of Health, and the state hospital to improve specialty access, clinical trials, behavioral health, and patient placement across the system.

Transcript Highlights:

• established product management functions established product management functions and<00:09:06.240
• <00:09:53.120> well out our customer contact function well out our customer contact function
• <00:15:19.519> which product management fork function which product management fork function
• I'm 16 years old and a sophomore at Harding Senior High School.
• With the help of support of SIAK, I'm able to maintain a 3.7 GPA in high school.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Zoom chat function will allow you to chat with the technical staff only.
• First up, we have the School of Travel Industry Management with comments.
• First up, we have the School of Travel Industry Management with comments.
• <00:17:52.679> be<00:17:53.360> open school be open school be open to<00:17:55.240>
• their students than the actual School their students than the actual School teach<00:25:41.840><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And acupuncture schools and naturopathic schools are not one of the worst.
• Our schools are the worst.
• And acupuncture schools and naturopathic schools are not one of the worst.
• Our schools are the worst.
• out<02:38:08.800> in stuff to schools, but schools are out in stuff to schools, but schools

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And everybody that sits in this school today, even if they're hard of hearing, they're taught to read
• Right, it happens in schools, it happens with psychiatric hospitals.
• I am a middle school math teacher and a parent of a child who battled a rare medical condition, and I
• Entities, schools, and even medical professionals are making critical health and education decisions.
• how it's supposed to function.

Bills: HB451, HB645, HB 1041, HB 1151, HB 1155, HB1536, HCR12, HCR12

Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit

Transcript Highlights:

• Public school non-public schools.
• schools.
• ,<00:55:25.760> Good schools uh same public school, Good schools uh same public school, Good
• School.
• non-public schools. non-public schools.

Bills: HF3490, HF4040

Keywords: education finance, scholarship-granting organizations, charitable purposes, student scholarships, nonpublic schools, K-12 education, tax credit, advance payment, Minnesota tax law, child education expenses, taxpayer assistance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We buy a lot of school bonds, water system loans.
• Um, and school districts, we're buying down a lot of interest rates on school district loans.
• And then lastly, prior to the growth, we reorganized our organization, the agency, by function.
• But we've, we've spent a lot of time making sure that we are, we are working by function, that we've
• for all of those functions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor vetoed the funds used for government accountability functions...
• have the opportunity today to override the governor's veto and restore the funding for these key functions
• That's after-school programs, that's exposure to the arts.
• That's after-school programs, that's exposure to the arts.
• That's after-school programs, that's exposure to the arts.

Summary: The Senate convened in special session with an opening prayer focused on Holocaust remembrance and a warning against antisemitism, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the reading of the joint proclamation calling the session. The proclamation said the special session was convened to consider immigration-related legislation and appropriations to support coordination with federal immigration enforcement, including a chief immigration officer, restrictions on benefits for undocumented immigrants, voting-related offenses, penalties for removed aliens who re-enter, bail and detention considerations, ID requirements, and support for local law enforcement. Senate Bill 2B on immigration was filed and placed on the special order calendar for the next day, with an amendment deadline set after the Appropriations Committee meeting. The Senate then took up veto overrides on House Bill 5001 from the 2024 regular session, which is the General Appropriations Act. Members discussed the governor’s vetoes of legislative support and transparency-related funding, including IT systems, research, oversight, and Florida Channel services. Senator Pizzo objected to waiving Rules on one item and argued the chamber should also address broader cuts, including arts funding, while the Rules Chair said the items under consideration were limited to support services and that broader funding concerns could be addressed separately. The Senate voted to override line item 2802, funding legislative support services, by 35 yeas and 1 name, and line item 2803, also for legislative support services, by 36 yeas and 1 nay, both passing by the required two-thirds vote. The Senate then adjourned until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the functional yesterday.
• It keeps high school students from getting paid for playing in high school sports.
• It keeps high school students from getting paid for playing in high school sports.
• High school rodeo is not a part of the high school activities association.
• High school rodeo is not a school rodeo.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we' we've always had a banking function we' we've always had a banking function but<00:20:34.039
• Both my beautiful daughters were tirelessly in school and after school to support our community.
• to tirelessly in school in after school to tirelessly in school in after school to support<00:47:
• Paul Public Schools, particularly during my last 10 years at Humboldt High School on the west side.
• We have a successful joint city and public school program called Stable Homes, Stable Schools.

Bills: HF10

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• for Command Schools.
• Command Schools would be happy to participate here to answer any questions. Thank you, Chair.
• It may have been by mistake; we're not sure, or a mistaken understanding of DNR's functions.
• It may have been by mistake; we're not sure, or a mistaken understanding of DLNR's functions.
• It may have been by mistake; we're not sure, or a mistaken understanding of DLNR's functions.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The hearing opened with committee procedures and then took up SB 1, relating to vegetation management near utility lines. DLNR opposed the bill, saying it would shift rights, responsibilities, and liability onto the state and private landowners. Hawaiian Electric supported the measure with amendments, describing it as a first step to address wildfire risk and improve public safety and system reliability. The Hawaii Farm Bureau and Command Schools both raised concerns that the bill could impose significant costs, liability, and access burdens on farmers, ranchers, and other landowners, especially where easements are old or unclear. Life of the Land argued the issue belongs before the Public Utilities Commission, and PUC staff explained that the commission is already reviewing Hawaiian Electric’s wildfire mitigation plan and vegetation management in a docket, with a decision expected by September and public meetings scheduled for April 23 and 24. Committee members questioned the need for legislation versus negotiated solutions, and witnesses said private parties could potentially renegotiate easements without statute. The committee then heard HB 1296, relating to disaster recovery. DLNR and OPSD supported the bill, saying it would ease regulatory burdens in post-disaster rebuilding and help speed permit review. Testimony and member questions focused on the bill’s five-year rebuilding timeline, the role of the coastal zone/SMA process, and how long permit reviews typically take; OPSD said SMA major/use permits generally take about six months, while minor permits are faster. Members also discussed whether the bill would apply to existing structures damaged in disasters and whether the amendments from the Attorney General’s office and OPSD were acceptable; no objections were raised. Finally, the committee heard SB 1170, relating to the expeditious redevelopment and development of affordable rental housing. HHFDC supported the bill, and testimony from a Maui affordable housing project said the measure is needed to rebuild the Weinberg Court Apartments, a 63-unit affordable project in Lahaina, using insurance funds rather than government money. Members asked whether the bill would help existing affordable rental projects damaged before the enactment of related coastal rules, and the response was that the bill is aimed at existing structures damaged during events and intended to speed rebuilding of affordable housing.

Transcript Highlights:

• have had behaviorists in the schools have had behaviorists in the schools providing<01:28:31.520
• <01:56:16.560> Support<01:56:16.960> Services<01:56:17.840> functional functional
• Support Services functional functional Support Services functional support<01:56:18.679> services
• Pilgrim where um in a quote functional Pilgrim where um in a quote functional services<02:24:09.520
• <02:24:15.720> we're<02:24:16.000> an functioning we're an functioning we're an emergency

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• agencies um because there are functions agencies um because there are functions at<00:08:47.440>
• It's more of an administrative function.
• sense to leave a lot of that function sense to leave a lot of that function within<00:36:38.599>
• <00:48:17.960> for attempts to consolidate uh functions for attempts to consolidate uh functions
• <01:01:45.680> uh uh families that attend that school uh uh families that attend that school

Bills: HF1, HF2

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• A new school. They're not growing.
• So an example to show comparison here, Pasco School District, Mount Baker School District.
• So an example to show comparison here, Pasco School District, Mount Baker School District.
• So the dark line represents Pasco School District, Mount Baker School District.
• new or modernized school facility.

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee heard presentations from the Department of Commerce, the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), and a consultant on the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) study. Commerce officials described their agency’s role in housing, energy, local government, broadband, and other capital programs, and reported on a $5 million pilot under Senate Bill 5200 that used trusted community messengers and technical assistance to help historically excluded organizations prepare for capital funding. They said 18 organizations received direct support and 79 smaller projects were also funded, but emphasized that statutory match rules, reimbursement-based payments, site-control requirements, insurance and audit costs, and extensive contracting rules remain major barriers. Commerce outlined efforts to expand outreach, digital modernization, internal contracting improvements, tribal MOUs, and innovation centers, and members asked about small business support, housing program placement, and outreach to Eastern Washington and communities of color. RCO described its grant programs for recreation, conservation, education, and salmon/orca recovery, and reviewed equity work done before and after a 2021-23 proviso. The agency had already created a small-communities carve-out in youth athletic facilities, piloted stipends for advisory committee members, and reduced match requirements where allowed. Under the proviso, RCO completed an equity review and a planning program that funded 54 projects across 34 counties, with many applicants being new or long-absent grantees. Staff said the review led to changes in scoring criteria, clearer application guidance, more objective data measures, expanded technical assistance, and targeted community engagement. Members asked about application burden, project sizes, outreach, and how the agency is broadening participation and representation on advisory committees. The final presentation summarized a planning study on SCAP, which examined rising construction costs, fragmented grant programs, local funding barriers, and uneven district capacity. The report recommended nine major changes, including stronger planning support, a new minor-modernization category, a mechanism to use unused funds more quickly, an education-specification prototype, a SCAP enhancement program for low-capacity districts, acceptance of non-SCAP funds, phased modernization, streamlined D-form and reimbursement processes, and revisions to the SCAP formula to better account for grade-band differences, enrollment projections, and regional cost factors. Additional recommendations included ongoing monitoring and evaluation, facilities-impact reviews, matching SCAP increases to construction-cost inflation, earlier locking of funding estimates, flexible program spaces, and updated statewide building-condition assessments. No votes were taken during the meeting.