Transcript Highlights:

• Fourth, the bill requires AV companies to notify emergency dispatch of any fleet-wide emergency.
• notifications and burden limited emergency dispatch resources.
• notifications and burden limited emergency dispatch resources.
• notifications and burden limited emergency dispatch resources.
• notifications and burden limited emergency dispatch resources.

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee met with several bills on the agenda, beginning with SB 739 (Arreguín) on the Clean Miles Standard and Incentive Program for transportation network companies. The author and supporters from Lyft, Uber, and TechNet said the bill would update EV miles traveled and greenhouse gas targets to reflect current market conditions, add flexibility for CARB and the CPUC, and protect drivers from losing platform access while also creating a path for future electrification. Opponents including the American Lung Association, Sierra Club California, and NRDC argued the bill would weaken a program meant to accelerate EV adoption and should retain stronger targets. Members discussed affordability, charging infrastructure, and the need to balance climate goals with feasibility. The committee approved SB 739 as amended and re-referred it to Appropriations, later recording a 9-0 vote when the roll was completed. The committee then heard SB 1190 (Grove), the “Safe Passage for Youth Act,” which would regulate private youth transport services used for out-of-state residential placements. The author and sponsor testimony described abusive practices such as nighttime pickups, blindfolds, restraints, and emotional trauma, and said the bill would require CPUC permitting, TrustLine background checks, training, parental consent, and bans on certain practices. Support came from youth and disability advocates, with no opposition testimony. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended recommendation and later passed 9-0. SB 1191 (Ochoa Bogh) would extend the sunset for California High Cost Fund A and B universal service programs that help provide affordable telephone service in rural and high-cost areas. Supporters from rural telecom companies and industry groups said the funds are essential for maintaining service, 911 access, and emergency communications in remote communities. There was no opposition, and the committee advanced the bill on a due pass recommendation; it later passed 9-0. The consent item, SB 985 (Strickland) on the 911 emergency system, was also approved. Finally, the committee heard SB 1246 (Cortese) on autonomous vehicles and emergency response. The author and supporters from SEIU California and the California Professional Firefighters said the bill would require AV companies to provide incident response, notify local jurisdictions during system failures, ensure U.S.-based remote drivers, and prevent public safety workers from having to manage AV breakdowns. Industry opponents argued the bill intrudes on federal vehicle standards, gives local governments enforcement authority they should not have, and could create overly broad notification and response requirements. Members raised questions about local control, response times, and whether the bill was premature given existing DMV regulations. Despite those concerns, the committee passed SB 1246 on a due pass as amended recommendation, later recording a 7-1 vote. The committee then recessed and returned to complete roll calls before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Does this apply now generally to the whole state?
• You cannot be on the general election.
• Today, present and future generations still have challenges to overcome.
• Mark Allen, General Counsel for New Mexico County.
• First, HB 459 appropriates 1.5 million from the general fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• Generally, they're Russian or Chinese. So a lot of them get turned away.
• I think NORTHCOM has assigned a general out of Florida to coordinate that effort in Florida.
• And Sir, General Haas and his people are absolutely amazing. You couldn't ask for a better partner.
• Very generally, the Florida Highway Patrol is broken up into 13 troops across the state.
• These are our dispatchers. They work 24-7. They work very hard.

Summary: The committee heard two presentations on domestic security. Deputy Commissioner David Binder of FDLE described the state’s domestic security structure, including FDLE’s coordination role, the fusion center system, regional task forces, and private-sector infrastructure partnerships. He emphasized the Domestic Security Oversight Council’s grant-ranking process and warned that federal homeland security funding has dropped sharply over time, with possible future cuts threatening fusion center analysts and other capabilities. Binder also focused on emerging threats, especially drones and counter-UAS issues, noting current legal limits on mitigation authority, concerns about tethered drones and drone use near correctional facilities and military sites, and the need for a turnkey solution if state or federal authority expands. He also highlighted FDLE’s cataloging of critical infrastructure sites through Florida Kicker and the growth of trusted private partners. Director Dave Kerner of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles then outlined the Florida Highway Patrol’s role in domestic security. He paid tribute to a fallen sergeant and discussed FHP’s structure, criminal interdiction work, border integrity and trafficking enforcement, dispatch and communications, aviation and drone use, and immigration enforcement under 287(g). Kerner said troopers have seized large amounts of narcotics and currency this year and have arrested thousands of unlawful immigrants. He also described FHP’s involvement in operations such as Lone Star, Vigilant Sentry, and Faithful Service, and said the agency is working toward expanded counter-UAS authority through federal discussions and Sergeant Dooley’s testimony. Members expressed support for both agencies, discussed the dangers and potential benefits of drones, and the committee adjourned without objection after no public testimony was offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:11.840> Contractors also have from uh General Contractors also have from uh General
• My name is Charles, deputy attorney general.
• My name is Charles, deputy attorney general.
• Ryan Endo, Deputy Attorney General, on behalf of the Department of the Attorney General.
• <00:38:14.800> And dispatchers. I'm not sure about DNR. And dispatchers.

Bills: SB2064, SB2312, SB2811, SB2662, SB2744, SB2809, SB2862, SB2343, SB2336, SB2075, SB2308, SB2601, SB2397, SB2219, SB2849, SB2449, SB2781

Keywords: state architect, construction projects, design approvals, building codes, state agency oversight, government contracts, transparency, record retention, public oversight, Hawaii Revised Statutes, building permits, task force, state-owned lands, construction, regulatory process, government accountability, external consultants, procurement reform, cost efficiency, in-house expertise

Summary: The committee met for decision-making on measures heard earlier in the week and took up a series of government operations, procurement, public records, public meetings, and related bills. Several measures were deferred one week to February 12, 2026, including bills on state construction projects, government accountability, gubernatorial appointments, the legislature, public procurement, and a bill on Hawaiian lei sales, largely so the committee could compare similar measures, address concerns, or integrate related reports. The committee also deferred SB 2449 on public meetings for the year, citing concerns that the proposed business-day definition was overly prescriptive and unnecessary. The committee passed several bills with amendments. These included measures clarifying UIPA applicability to records created or maintained by agencies, with amendments changing “government function” to “agency function” and committee report language noting Attorney General concerns and exempting ERS for now; SB 2811 on state building projects with technical amendments and a delayed effective date; SB 2809 on budget-related reports; SB 2336 on trees, with a Senate draft and removal of “political subdivision”; SB 2308 on small purchase vendor compliance, setting the threshold at $5,000 and adding a delayed effective date; SB 2601 on procurement, reorganizing misdemeanor language and leaving funding/FTE issues to Ways and Means; SB 2219 on a capital visitor center working group; and SB 2849 on public meetings, with technical amendments and a delayed effective date. Bills on neighborhood board concerns and public notice were also adopted, with SB 2929 drawing testimony both for and against. Testimony was generally supportive on procurement and small business measures, especially SB 2928 establishing permanent small business procurement coordinator positions, which drew strong support from the State Procurement Office, DBEDT, the Chamber of Commerce, DOT, the Ethics Commission, and others. On public notice, the County of Maui supported allowing website posting, while another witness raised concerns about accessibility, centralized notice locations, and impacts on kūpuna and people with disabilities. On search and rescue, the committee heard support for creating a statewide coordination structure, along with discussion of where such an office should reside; the Attorney General raised constitutional and placement concerns, while witnesses suggested law enforcement, DLNR, or DoD as possible homes. The committee also heard support for a bill protecting home addresses of covered public servants and candidates, though the Public First Law Center urged broader coverage and a better fit with existing law.

Transcript Highlights:

• Warren is a native of Boxford, and he joined the town in 1986 as a dispatcher.
• That often comes through the dispatch department and through very qualified folks who have made their
• , and after they're dispatched, that communication continues in an efficient and effective way until
• Warren and Ronald, I want to thank you both for your service in dispatch and in communications.
• You both provide shining examples of the very best in what dispatchers bring to the table each and every

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up several routine matters, beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance and then considering a bill directing the Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for Antonio Pierce (Senate No. 27). The Senate suspended the rules, ordered the bill to a third reading, and then passed it to be engrossed. The chamber also approved final passage of House No. 4565, an act establishing a special recognition for Marie Lantra, an employee of the Department of Transitional Assistance, and the bill was laid before the Governor for approval. The Senate then received House No. 4814, a bill authorizing the town of Westwood to reissue certain alcohol licenses and grant additional off-premises alcohol licenses. On motion of Senator Tarr, the rules were suspended to consider the matter forthwith, and the bill was ordered to a third reading. No objections were raised to any of these procedural actions. The session also included recognition of two retiring Boxford public safety communications employees, Warren Edward Gould and Ronald, with remarks praising the importance of dispatchers and communications staff in public safety. The Senate adopted an order to adjourn to meet again on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• like to welcome everybody to the fifth hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Service in the 194th General
• General Law Chapter 41, Section 11F, many injured personnel are forced to use their accrued time.
• We represent a number of telecommunicators and dispatchers throughout the Commonwealth.
• The Farr River alone, we have 45 dispatches at Fall River.
• As we've heard, with cancer in general and any disease or any health injury, making sure that we have

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its fifth hearing of the 194th General Court on disability, line-of-duty, and health presumption bills. Committee members noted the hearing was livestreamed and accepted written testimony through June 16, 2025. The first panel, including the Massachusetts Coalition of Police, strongly supported H.2845, which would require restoration of sick, vacation, or personal time used while an injured officer or firefighter awaits a Chapter 41, Section 11F determination if the injury is later found work-related. Testimony said the current process often forces injured personnel to litigate to recover accrued time, and members described the bill as a fairness measure with no fiscal cost. Committee members asked about prior consideration and municipal positions, and one member shared a personal experience with a similar loss of accrued time. A second major panel from the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and sponsoring legislators supported several firefighter-related bills: H.2918/S.1792 on mandatory insurance coverage for firefighter cancer screenings; H.2962/S.1818 on Commonwealth fire department parity for military-base and Massport firefighters, including injury coverage and presumptions; and H.2860/S.1851 on maintaining physical examination records. Testimony emphasized the high cancer risk in the fire service, the importance of early detection, and the need to extend municipal-level protections to state and Massport firefighters. Committee members expressed strong support, discussed PFAS-related gear replacement and funding, and noted that similar bills have been before the committee for multiple sessions. The committee also heard H.4147, a retirement-related bill for a MassDOT employee seeking to transfer approximately five years of MBTA retirement contributions into the state system as a service buyback. The bill was described as having been filed in 2017 and reported favorably last session, but it stalled in Senate Ways and Means. Finally, Howard Levine testified remotely in support of a correctional officer disability pension bill, describing severe injuries from a 1990 inmate assault, multiple surgeries, early retirement, and a request to increase his pension to reflect a current lieutenant’s salary. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the meeting adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you bless every member of the General Assembly as we move forward doing the best that we know how
• Really what it does in particular is makes some updates to our 911 dispatching laws.
• particular is makes some updates to our particular is makes some updates to our 911<00:08:20.400> dispatching
• > um<00:08:21.919> I<00:08:22.039> originally<00:08:22.360> had 911 dispatching
• laws um I originally had 911 dispatching laws um I originally had introduced<00:08:23.039> this

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection met with a quorum, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer, and recognized guests Mary Beth Brer and Ashley Clemens. The committee then took up Senate Bill 61, described by the sponsor as a private property rights measure involving the rental of private swimming pools through services such as VRBO, Airbnb, and swim.com. The sponsor said current law can cause a privately rented pool to be treated as a public swimming pool by the Department of Public Health. The committee moved and seconded the bill, and it passed on a roll call vote with all members voting in favor. The committee next considered Senate Bill 237, which was presented as a measure to waive the physical agility requirement for certain out-of-state police officers in good standing who have at least 10 years of certification and recent employment. Representative Blandon explained that a friendly floor amendment would require proof that the officer passed a physical agility test in the state of origin, addressing concerns raised by Kelly C. The sponsor agreed to that approach. During discussion, the sponsor also noted the committee substitute updated 911 dispatching laws and that the bill had originally been introduced as House Bill 525 before being brought into Senate Bill 237. A motion and second were made on the committee substitute, and the committee approved it by voice vote. The transcript then shifted into discussion of the bill and amendment, but no final roll call vote on Senate Bill 237 is shown in the provided excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dispatchable generation is retiring, and we have an increased reliance on wind and solar generation.
• increased levels of dispatchable increased levels of dispatchable generation<00:52:34.559> that
• So generation perspective generation.
• Second, our generation fleet is transforming at a very similar fast pace, and dispatchable resources
• They maintain dispatchable generation in the grid, which, if you look at some of the recommendations,

Bills: HF3296, HF3802

Keywords: energy conservation, data centers, electric sales, energy optimization, utility regulations, energy regulation, certificate of need, renewable energy, power production, energy efficiency, Minnesota statutes, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Dynamic dispatching is something that really is changing the way they deliver the service.
• The dynamic dispatching really does help with that process.
• Dynamic dispatching is something that really is changing the way they deliver the service.
• The dynamic dispatching really does help with that process.
• Generally You know, take to make sure that their data is protected.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met, took roll, and heard introductory remarks from members about their districts and transportation priorities, with several senators noting congestion and mobility challenges in their regions. The committee then received a presentation from the Florida Transportation Commission on its oversight role for FDOT, including annual and quarterly performance reviews, review of the five-year work program, and monitoring of tolling and transit authorities. Members asked whether the commission gets involved in project prioritization; the answer was no, because it is statutorily limited to high-level oversight rather than day-to-day project decisions. The committee next heard two reports related to transportation disadvantaged and paratransit services. FDOT’s Melissa Smith described the statewide Transportation Disadvantaged program, its governance structure, service models, and challenges such as fragmented administration, cost, inconsistent reporting, and rural service limitations. She outlined recommendations including better use of technology, regional partnerships, improved training, and alternative delivery models like microtransit and TNC partnerships. A University of South Florida researcher, Martin Katala, discussed best practices for paratransit and demand-response service, emphasizing route optimization software, dynamic dispatching, service standards, vendor accountability, and the use of TNCs and mobility management to improve efficiency and reduce travel times. A later presentation from UF’s I-Street program focused on emerging technologies for transit, including in-cabin monitoring, automatic restraints, accessible booking and tracking tools, and the need for statewide safety standards and better driver interfaces. Finally, FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue and District 5 Secretary John Tyler provided an update on the transition of SunRail local entities. They explained the differences among commuter rail, intercity rail, and light rail, and said SunRail’s financial transition to local partners was completed on January 1, with operational transition to follow over up to three years. They contrasted that with Tri-Rail, where FDOT still funds operations and discussions about a future transition are ongoing. Members asked about the differences between SunRail, Tri-Rail, Amtrak, and Brightline, and the presenters explained that commuter rail serves regional daily commuters while intercity rail connects regions. The committee concluded without taking any formal votes or other legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is the generation.
• Demand is accelerating, dispatchable generation is retiring, and then reliance on wind and solar is increasing
• generation accelerating. uh dispatchable generation accelerating. uh dispatchable generation is<
• what we call nonvariable or dispatchable what we call nonvariable or dispatchable generation<01:
• Uh, and that generally has improved generation performance within the last year or two.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was already in the dispatchable definition.
• One for one with other dispatchables because they don't run 24-7.
• So they are for now removed from the definition of. dispatchable.
• And finally, the Office of Attorney General may bring action of injunctive relief if a city, county,
• Burkhalter, Deputy General Counsel for TDLR. Thank you and good morning Senators. Ms.

Bills: SB213, SB378, SB610, SB681, SB918, SB1172, SB1252, SB1343, SCR8

Keywords: SB 213, Texas insurance, Insurance Code, Chapter 551, Chapter 541, bundling, tying arrangement, cross-selling, homeowners insurance, residential property insurance, auto insurance, personal automobile insurance, consumer protection, unfair trade practice, deceptive insurance practice, property and casualty insurer, Lloyd's plan, county mutual, reciprocal exchange, farm mutual

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of it goes into general revenue.
• General Land Office has been helpful in some of these projects too.
• Because it's dispatchable, right?
• Power grid, wholesale generation, utility scale generation, but we have a long history in working on
• the distributed energy generation side.

Transcript Highlights:

• Generating these results certainly was not easy.
• Ben Sebring, General Counsel. Energy Alliance, Ms.
• I'm appearing as General Counsel for the Texas...
• It's of affordable, clean power generation.
• A lot of discussions around kind of the bulk power grid, wholesale generation, utility scale generation

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• will dispatch to them.
• Mexico in general.
• Thank you for that answer, General.
• Thank you, General.
• Thank you, General.

Transcript Highlights:

• Major investments are being made in new generation, including renewable, natural gas, and other dispatchable
• generation.
• One of the reasons the current paradigm doesn't work very well is a lack of dispatchable generation.
• Criteria: more dispatchable generation, long duration dispatchable generation, thermal generation would
• Again, this legislature passed a significant program to help incentivize new dispatchable generation.

Bills: HB246, HB796, HB 1056, HB1544, HB1846, HB2001, HB2618, HB2625, HB2869, HB2898, HB3069, HB3114, HB3157, HB3228, HJR98, HB246

Keywords: federal directives, state authority, Tenth Amendment, government enforcement, local governance, gold standard, legal tender, currency, transactional currency, financial transactions, electronic payment systems, state finance, regulatory compliance, electric trucks, charging infrastructure, advisory council, transportation, sustainability, criminal penalties, official information

Transcript Highlights:

• That's been the general broad categories of where these have stood up.
• Each new business then hires, trains, and develops the next generation.
• We're a 45-year-old, second-generation weatherization business located in Framingham.
• In the energy world, peak is generally defined as the periods where consumer demand for electricity is
• This is how investments under Mass Save generate even greater savings than they cost.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on the value of Mass Save, with opening remarks emphasizing that despite past criticisms the program has delivered major energy, cost, climate, and equity benefits. The chair cited large avoided system costs, strong benefit-cost ratios, and recent legislative changes that set emissions goals, restricted fossil-fuel equipment incentives, and increased focus on low- and moderate-income households. Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney testified that Mass Save has weatherized hundreds of thousands of homes, reduced bills, avoided emissions, and that the current plan includes budget controls after the DPU ordered $500 million removed from the approved budget. She said the governor’s proposal to have only electric utilities administer the program was intended to reduce administrative costs and align with current implementation trends. Members questioned Mahoney about what counts as marketing and administration, and she said the category includes traditional advertising as well as community-based outreach, customer resource centers, and other customer engagement work, much of it in low- and moderate-income communities. She said administrative and marketing costs are under 5% of the budget, while more than 80% goes to incentives and direct program delivery. Several witnesses then focused on workforce and contractor impacts. Dave Betcher of Abode Energy Management and Rick Taglienti of Rogers Insulation said Mass Save sustains small businesses, creates careers, and supports thousands of jobs; both warned that budget cuts would reduce hiring, training, and work in homes and businesses. They also described a broad ecosystem of suppliers, trainers, and service providers that depends on stable program funding. Other witnesses addressed cost-effectiveness, affordability, and emissions. Anna Johnson of ACEEE said Massachusetts remains a national leader, with Mass Save returning about $2.80 per dollar invested, reducing peak demand, and lowering bills for participants, especially through weatherization and heat pumps. Kyle Murray of Acadia Center said the program is statutorily required to be cost-effective and has avoided billions in supply and infrastructure costs for all ratepayers, including nonparticipants, by lowering overall demand and peak prices. Amy Boyd-Rabin of the Environmental League of Massachusetts argued that efficiency is the cheapest way to meet climate targets and that cutting the budget would force more expensive power generation. The hearing also featured testimony on equity and housing: Mary Wampo described historic under-service to renter-heavy and lower-income communities and said recent reforms, including designated equity communities and performance incentives tied to equity, are helping correct that imbalance; Brian Biot and James Collins of LEAN/ABCD described low-income delivery systems and wraparound services; Barney Heath and John Nannari said Mass Save incentives are essential to affordable housing, passive house construction, and keeping projects on time and on budget. The final witnesses highlighted Connected Solutions and electrification: Sunrun’s Bronte Payne said the virtual power plant program saved more than it cost and helps avoid peaker plants and grid upgrades, and Highland Electric Fleets’ Ben Sondaga said electric school buses can provide similar grid benefits while lowering transportation costs for districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• By dispatching during peak hours, any kind of storage can help smooth out those peaks, but... ...by dispatching
• It is the height of immorality to leave such deadly toxins for future generations to deal with.
• is unique as a future contributor to clean generation and the displacement of fossil fuels.
• Nuclear power offers 24/7 carbon-free baseload generation that complements renewables.
• Generated by the Vineyard Wind, 18 operational out of an eventual 62 turbines.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of energy bills, with much of the discussion focused on offshore wind, battery storage, solar, nuclear study proposals, and a bill to redefine clean energy. Several Barnstable-area legislators and witnesses raised concerns about offshore wind transmission infrastructure near neighborhoods, beaches, and drinking water supplies, and supported bills to create a special commission and increase local input and oversight. In contrast, environmental, consumer, labor, and clean energy groups strongly backed offshore wind expansion bills, arguing that offshore wind lowers long-term costs, improves winter reliability, reduces fossil fuel dependence, supports jobs and local supply chains, and should include wildlife protections, labor standards, and community benefits. Some witnesses and committee members noted that parts of the offshore wind legislation overlap with the Governor’s energy affordability bill, and asked for clarification on which provisions were new versus duplicative. The committee also heard testimony on battery storage and solar legislation. Two student witnesses and several industry representatives supported a bill to study grid battery storage, saying storage can reduce outages, lower peak prices, and improve grid resilience during extreme weather. Witnesses from solar and storage companies supported a broader clean energy transition bill that would expand storage procurement, create a retail-style storage program for distributed batteries, set a 10-gigawatt solar target by 2035, and streamline siting and interconnection. Committee members pressed witnesses on whether these provisions were already included in the Governor’s affordability bill and asked for a section-by-section breakdown of what was new. One witness also urged allowing developers to bond interconnection payments to reduce financing costs. Another major topic was a bill defining clean energy, especially whether existing pumped-storage hydropower should qualify for subsidies or be excluded. Supporters of the bill argued that existing pumped storage should not receive additional ratepayer subsidies because it is already built, can have environmental impacts on rivers and ecosystems, and could cost ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Opponents said pumped storage is an important reliability resource and should remain eligible. The committee also heard testimony on nuclear-energy study bills: some witnesses supported creating a commission to examine nuclear power as a reliable, carbon-free option, while others opposed nuclear study bills and argued that nuclear is costly, unsafe, and inconsistent with the state’s clean energy goals. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We really need an integrated system with EMS infrastructure so that both the dispatchers and EMS field
• And so, the dispatcher would be able to see it immediately and say, "Hey, is this Deidre?
• Um, to have the integration of the system with EMS infrastructure. >> So, both the dispatcher and the
• Um, to have the integration of the system with EMS infrastructure. >> So, both the dispatcher and the
• I just, if you can stay there, Attorney General. I think... Sure.

Bills: SCR180

Keywords: wildfire, fire hazard, Lahaina, West Maui, Maui wildfire, vegetation management, fuel reduction, defensible space, fuel breaks, invasive grasses, emergency access, evacuation route, fire lane, state lands, public safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal, community risk reduction, hazard mitigation, brush clearance, wildland-urban interface

Summary: The committee opened by noting it was likely its last hearing of the 2026 session, then took up several resolutions. SCR 54, on appointing a hydrogen fire safety expert and training on hydrogen-related protocols, and SCR 59, on allowing certain health care professionals to practice without a license during a state of emergency, drew no testimony. Members discussed SCR 59 as a response to past emergencies and the need for pre-approved, updated registries of professionals who could be deployed quickly in emergencies. SCR 62 SD1, which asks the 911 Board to form a working group with the disability community to address access issues in emergency and 911 responses, received testimony from disability advocates and the 911 Board. Testifiers said the measure should ensure an integrated system with EMS infrastructure, real-time access for dispatchers and field personnel, and public education about the system; they also noted that Smart911 is no longer being used on Oahu and Maui and that a statewide, integrated approach is needed. Members agreed to work the suggested language into the resolution. SCR 179, urging Maui County to enforce fire code provisions on brush clearance, fuel breaks, roadside vegetation clearing, and emergency access, was noted as having no testimony but continuing to raise important issues. SCR 74, calling for an audit of no-bid contracts issued under emergency proclamations from 2020 through 2025, drew strong support from a late testifier who tied the measure to emergency procurement concerns after the Lahaina wildfire and COVID-era contracting. The witness argued that procurement rules should not be waived in ways that compromise safety, and described concerns about unlicensed contractors and construction problems in a state housing project. Members asked about the scope of the audit and whether it would interfere with criminal investigations; the witness said the audit should cover a broad range of contracts, including nonprofit contracts, and should not be limited to the wildfire period. The committee also heard SCR 28 SD1 on creating a Hawaii Vietnam Veterans Medal, with support from the Department of Defense and veterans advocates, who said the resolution is intended to do the groundwork for a future appropriation and to determine eligibility and distribution procedures. Finally, SCR 60 SD1, requesting updates on the “Breaking Cycles” rehabilitation and restorative justice study, received support from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Correctional System Oversight Commission, and reform advocates. The department asked that reporting be annual rather than quarterly because of the complexity of the OCCC project, and supporters said the measure would promote transparency and help ensure the study’s recommendations are implemented. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it is a generational poverty from parents that never learned to read, never got the help in school
• Um, and so it's that generational poverty that if you don't get your leg up in the world and learn how
• <00:29:35.919> I<00:29:36.159> think<00:29:36.240> the<00:29:36.480> general<
• I think the general feeling is decision?
• locations have to have of these dispatch locations have to have to<00:35:00.079> service.

Bills: HB0111, HB0112, HB0122

Keywords: capital construction, state funding, Wyoming, major maintenance, community colleges, task force, legislative services, budget appropriation, unexpended funds, sunset clause, healthcare, rural health, transformation program, funding, incentives, training, access, perpetuity fund, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And her family, first generation Americans like me have a chance to serve in this historic chamber.
• During my time at the Modoc County Sheriff's Office, I had the honor of supervising dispatch.
• Dispatchers are truly remarkable.
• With me today in the rear of the chamber are representatives from the dispatcher community.
• And of importance is that without this $2.8 billion in general fund appropriation.

Keywords: 988, house, all