Video & Transcript : 'mergers and acquisitions' :
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US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This legislation requires regulators to ensure clarity and predictability in the merger process so that
- becoming a key player in our economy through a merger or an acquisition.
- becoming a key player in our economy through a merger or an acquisition.
- bank supervision and merger review, quote unquote.
- bank supervision and merger review, quote unquote.
Keywords:
banking reform, financial institutions, community banks, credit unions, regulatory relief, economic stability, mergers and acquisitions, supervisory practices, CACFP, Child and Adult Care Food Program, National CACFP Week, child nutrition, school meals, after-school meals, Head Start, child care, day care, adult day care, emergency shelters, military child care
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- and statutes.
- And identify the cost and where they're being utilized.
- My name is Robert Franz, and I work for and represent Team Health.
- I've cared for our residents and disasters and in crisis for over 40 years and currently a senior administrator
- And we appreciate y'all being here, tuning in and
Committee:
House Insurance
Keywords:
licensure, criminal history, public safety, occupational certification, rehabilitation, state regulations, insurance, regulations, certification, long-term care, mergers, consumer protection, property safety, vision insurance, optometry, reimbursement, healthcare policy, ophthalmic materials, provider agreements, captive insurance
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Retirement and Government Resources Feb 10th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Retirement and Government Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- have made and also create transparency and reports to both the legislative body and the governor's office
- and potentially them and their boss or people teaming up and really undermines the other outcomes we're
- that umbrella just keeps getting bigger and bigger and.
- Bigger and bigger, and you see that mission shift happening longer and longer and longer.
- And we...
Committee:
Senate Retirement and Government Resources
Keywords:
nondisclosure agreements, state employment, employee rights, transparency, government accountability, employee suggestions, cost savings, state agencies, incentives, performance awards, efficiency, Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, state procurement, state purchasing, State Purchasing Director, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, OMES, exempt entities, purchasing exemptions, state contracts
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Apr 7th, 2025
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- a clear and direct line of accountability between the provider and the clients.
- And they get billions every year.
- , and Financial Services Committee.
- I just had one and it kind of goes back to being a community banker and working with my customers and
- Chairman and members.
Keywords:
HB 3803, Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 712, perpetual care cemetery, perpetual care trust fund, cemetery regulation, financial confidentiality, confidential records, regulatory examination, Texas Department of Banking, commissioner disclosure, interagency information sharing, state agency enforcement, federal agency disclosure, trust fund oversight, burial services, cemetery trust, consumer protection, state banks, Texas Finance Code
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, May 20, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><04:30:56.800><c> and</c> grown much bigger through mergers and grown much bigger through mergers
- c> that</c> healthy mergers and prevented bank that healthy mergers and prevented bank that would<04:
- in 1998 merger with Northwest and an acquisition of Wakovia during the 2008 financial crisis.
- broke</c><04:56:41.200><c> the</c> mergers and then repeatedly broke the mergers and then repeatedly
- mergers, we will have fewer and faster mergers, we will have fewer and fewer<05:10:56.480><c> banks<
Keywords:
SJR13, S.J.Res. 13, joint resolution, Congressional Review Act, CRA, OCC, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, bank merger, bank mergers, Bank Merger Act, business combinations, merger review, financial regulation, banking regulation, bank consolidation, regulatory disapproval, federal banking rule, rule repeal, Public Law 119-19
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, June 23, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> country and uphold the Constitution and country and uphold the Constitution and the<00:12:19.040
- </c><00:14:03.040><c> and</c> and federal agents handcuffing and and federal agents handcuffing and pushing
- and development, science and research and development, science and technology,<03:22:11.840><c> and<
- Speaker. and cellular and tissue based products. and cellular and tissue based products.
- </c> And and he's right. You know, Mr. And and he's right. You know, Mr.
Bills:
HB3422 , HB3394 , HB1998 , HB2808 , HR1190 , HB3381 , HB3301 , HB2225 , HB3352 , HB1713 , HR910 , HR1082 , HB1520 , HB1664 , HB1767 , HB2269 , HB1679 , HB2481 , HB1737 , HR260
Keywords:
small business, capital formation, securities exchange act, SEC, Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation, women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, underrepresented entrepreneurs, rural businesses, natural disasters, hurricanes, small business investors, capital raising, fundraising, crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital, state securities commissions, blue sky laws, business outreach
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Feb 26th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Commerce & Economic Development Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- And so that is my intent.
- And I see an opportunity to innovate that. And I don't have the answers.
- We have worked extensively on aerospace and the economy of space and what's happening there.
- and clarifying some statutes.
- Hilli Lawson and Alonzo Sandoval are preparing to close and declare the vote.
Bills:
HB2445 , HB2123 , HB3048 , HB3176 , HB3239 , HB3263 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB4265 , HB4266 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3673
Keywords:
HB2445, Route 66, Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Forward Commission, centennial, historic highway, preservation, tourism, historical society, scenic byway, National Historic Trail, Route 66 Alliance, Route 66 Association, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public-private partnership, sunset extension, commission extension
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Taxation and Revenue Feb 14th, 2026 at 10:35 am
House Taxation & Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- And Mr.
- Build more energy and have that be reliable and affordable. Yes, sir. And Mr.
- And in most committees and yours, I imagine, Mr.
- So this funding is for the acquisition of some lands that are not part of the state fairgrounds, and
- And this is a big one. And so I sincerely hope this works. And this is a big one.
Committee:
House House Taxation & Revenue
Keywords:
general obligation bonds, GO bonds, capital projects, bond election, property tax levy, state debt, state finance, capital outlay, senior centers, senior citizen facilities, aging services, long-term services, libraries, library acquisitions, broadband for libraries, higher education, university capital projects, community colleges, tribal schools, special schools
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Taxation and Revenue Feb 13th, 2026 at 08:35 am
House Taxation & Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- And Mr. Chair. And lab partnerships are driving the additional demand. And Mr.
- and thrive.
- And just real quick, Mr.
- Chair and Committee.
- Chairman, and that's true. I mean, they need to be evaluated and what have you.
Committee:
House House Taxation & Revenue
Keywords:
general obligation bonds, GO bonds, capital projects, bond election, property tax levy, state debt, state finance, capital outlay, senior centers, senior citizen facilities, aging services, long-term services, libraries, library acquisitions, broadband for libraries, higher education, university capital projects, community colleges, tribal schools, special schools
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Business and Insurance 2ND REVISED Apr 23rd, 2026 at 09:30 am
Business and Insurance
Transcript Highlights:
- Plants and animals are gifts to us and entrusted for us to cultivate and steward.
- And it's debatable, and I understand that.
- And the good senator from Cushing is right; everybody has opinions, and that's fine and well and good
- thank you for that question senator and and and and that's a that's a very fair question it really is
- I'll make this short and I really appreciate the questions and the back and forth.
Bills:
HB4322 , HB4202 , HB4203 , HB4457 , HB3983 , HB3660 , HB3802 , HB2933 , HB2955 , HB2956 , HB3781 , HB3521 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB3800
Committee:
Senate Business and Insurance
Keywords:
funeral services licensing, funeral director, embalmer, funeral director in charge, dual licensure, mortuary science, Oklahoma Funeral Board, funeral establishment, commercial embalming establishment, crematory, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, apprenticeship, licensing requirements, professional regulation, undertaker, mortician, burial services, death care industry, workers' compensation
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session May 4th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Sees accord and send will come to order.
- Chers and clo close roll. House Bill 3673 having received 47 aye votes and zero nay votes.
- Chair is prayer and clo role. House Bill 436 having received 47 aye votes and one nay vote.
- As provisions, that should not be construed to obligate the oil and gas company and different liability
- to allow for a timely and accurate calculation of the verdict costs that are related to bills 780 and
Bills:
SR28 , SB201 , SB1379 , SB1525 , SB1966 , SB2112 , SB2170 , HB2749 , HB3262 , HB3265 , HB3673 , HB3781 , HB3040 , HB3076 , HB3369 , HB3982 , HB3462 , HB3465 , HB3521 , HB3796 , HB3800 , HB4095 , HB4298 , HB4316 , HB4338 , HB4408 , HB4454
Keywords:
alpha-gal syndrome, alpha gal, tick-borne illness, tick bite allergy, red meat allergy, meat allergy, dairy allergy, anaphylaxis, Lyme disease, public health, tick prevention, vector-borne disease, allergy awareness, May awareness month, Oklahoma Department of Health, outdoor safety, health education, research funding, minimum salary, education funding
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Law & Justice Feb 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But hospital mergers and other provider and medical provider mergers are impacting affordability and
- By updating how mergers, acquisitions, and affiliations are defined and reviewed, we can help ensure
- By updating how mergers, acquisitions, and affiliations are defined and reviewed, we can help ensure
- Under this program, the Attorney General's Office reviews mergers, acquisitions, and contracting affiliations
- We are testifying pro on ESHB 2548 because it will update the AGO's merger and acquisition pre-transaction
Summary:
The committee first waived the five-day notice rule for five House bills, then held public hearings on several measures. On Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2548, the committee heard staff and sponsor testimony on expanding health care merger notice requirements to the Attorney General, adding transactions involving majority ownership/control and asset sales, requiring public posting of notices, pausing closings until information requests are substantially complied with, and adding filing fees. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Attorney General’s Office, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, nurses, and patient advocates, said the bill would improve transparency and oversight of consolidation and private equity in health care; the Washington State Medical Association and Washington State Hospital Association were neutral after compromise language, though the hospital association raised concern about the added fees. The hearing closed with many people signed in pro and con but not testifying.
The committee then heard Second Substitute House Bill 2333, which would allow candidates and elected officials to use campaign or surplus funds to reimburse personal security expenses related to threats tied to their public roles. The sponsor and several prosecutors described personal threats and argued the bill is needed to protect public servants, while public disclosure officials said current PDC processes and the state Address Confidentiality Program already provide some protections and cautioned against over-codifying agency discretion. Some testimony urged restoring earlier address-protection provisions, while county auditors said the revised bill removed operationally unworkable redaction language and was acceptable as amended. The bill had broad signed-in support and opposition, but no vote was taken.
For Engrossed House Bill 1574, staff explained the bill would expand Good Samaritan-style protections for people seeking overdose help, bar arrest or conviction for possession in those circumstances, limit related penalties and forfeiture, and allow hospitals and other health facilities to distribute public health supplies without committing paraphernalia infractions. Supporters said it would save lives and improve access to drug checking and harm reduction services, while prosecutors and law enforcement groups said the bill was too broad, especially regarding arrest limits, protection-order violations, probation/parole, warrants, and civil forfeiture. The sponsor said the bill was intended to keep people alive and encourage calls for help. The committee also heard Engrossed House Bill 2156, which would let Attorney General investigators be designated limited authority peace officers to electronically serve search warrants in economic and financial crime cases; the AGO and retailers supported it as a tool against organized retail theft and wage theft, while sheriffs and police chiefs opposed it and urged added guardrails and deconfliction with local law enforcement. Finally, on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2320, the committee heard a bill to regulate 3D-printed and digitally manufactured firearms and digital firearm manufacturing code. The sponsor and supporters, including students, pediatricians, and a gun-violence survivor’s family member, said it was needed to address untraceable ghost guns and keep pace with technology, while opponents argued the bill was overbroad, raised constitutional concerns, and targeted files and speech rather than criminal conduct. No votes were taken in the hearing excerpts provided.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- But hospital mergers and other provider mergers are impacting affordability and access to health care
- By updating how mergers, acquisitions, and affiliations are defined and reviewed, we can help ensure
- Under this program, the Attorney General's office reviews mergers, acquisitions, and contracting affiliations
- Under this program, the Attorney General's office reviews mergers, acquisitions, and contracting affiliations
- We are testifying pro on ESHB 2548 because it will update the AGO's merger and acquisition pre-transaction
Committee:
Senate Law & Justice
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Apr 23rd, 2026 at 09:30 am
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And then we will praise You with the harp, and our lips will shout.
- And that experience has shaped her nursing career and has really molded and shaped her as a caring and
- Murrah Federal building was bombed, and they ran back to the ICU and began to remove patients and see
- And Nina Moore.
- and tenacity.
Bills:
HB3327 , HB3711 , HB4104 , HJR1077 , HB3329 , HB4322 , HB4202 , HB4203 , HB4457 , HB3983 , HB3660 , HB3802 , HB2933 , HB2955 , HB2956 , HB3781 , HB3521 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB3800 , HB3183 , HB4316 , HB4484 , HB3469 , HB3464 , HB3173 , HB3989 , HB3016 , HB2979 , HB2988 , HB2288 , HB3062 , HB3315 , HB3372 , HB3530 , HB3622 , HB3755 , HB4266
Keywords:
State Board of Education, Oklahoma education board, board appointments, school governance, education reform, governor appointments, legislative appointments, speaker of the house, president pro tempore, senate confirmation, board vacancies, removal for cause, public education, state superintendent, school board training, board member qualifications, emergency clause, Oklahoma statutes 70 O.S. 3-101, school funding, transparency
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Civil Rights & Judiciary Jan 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- By updating how mergers and acquisitions and affiliations are defined and reviewed, we can help ensure
- We feel it will appropriately update the AGO's merger and acquisition authority for the pre-transaction
- We feel it will appropriately update the AGO's merger and acquisition authority for the pre-transaction
- When I talk with members of Washington Can about mergers and acquisitions in our health care system,
- And based on the accounts of our members, as these mergers and acquisitions increase, we're seeing accountability
Summary:
The committee held public hearings on House Bill 2255, House Bill 2548, and House Bill 2320. HB 2255 would regulate third-party litigation funding by requiring disclosure of funders and agreements, prohibiting funder control over litigation, capping funder recovery at 25%, and creating enforcement remedies. Supporters, including the sponsor, insurance groups, and liability reform advocates, described it as a transparency and consumer-protection measure that could improve court efficiency and reduce costs. Opponents, including the Washington State Association for Justice and the commercial litigation funding industry, argued it would burden plaintiffs, reveal protected work product, chill access to justice, and create satellite litigation. No vote was taken; the chair closed the hearing and asked testifiers to submit written comments.
HB 2548 would expand state oversight of health care market transactions by broadening the types of mergers, acquisitions, asset sales, and ownership/control changes that trigger notice to the Attorney General, pausing transactions until information requests are substantially complied with, expanding interagency data sharing, and revoking nonprofit status in certain transactions. Supporters, including patient advocates, nurses, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General’s office, physicians, and individual health care workers, said private equity and consolidation are driving higher costs, reduced access, and lower quality. Opponents from the Washington State Hospital Association and MultiCare said the bill is unclear, may contain drafting errors, does not adequately target private equity structures, and could create problems around nonprofit status and charitable assets. The hearing ended with the committee moving on to the next bill.
HB 2320 would update Washington’s ghost gun laws to address 3D-printed firearms, CNC manufacturing, digital firearm manufacturing code, and the sale of machines marketed for firearm production, and would make certain violations per se Consumer Protection Act violations. The sponsor and supporters, including school officials, gun violence prevention advocates, a trauma survivor, a 3D-printing industry representative, and others, said the bill closes a public safety loophole and responds to the growing availability of untraceable weapons. Opponents, including the NRA, makerspace representatives, and some industry witnesses, argued the bill is overbroad, may sweep in lawful 3D-printing and CNC activity, raises First, Second, and Fifth Amendment concerns, and could create uncertainty through rebuttable presumptions and the CPA provisions. The transcript ends during the HB 2320 hearing, with additional testimony panels still to come and no final committee action recorded.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Emergency Management Committee Jun 22nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- relief requiring the unwinding of unlawful mergers and acquisitions, helping restore a competitive marketplace
- One thing to consider is that mergers and acquisitions of emergency vehicle manufacturers may need to
- And you mentioned the higher standard for mergers and acquisitions.
- the guideline suggestions for mergers and acquisitions, especially as it relates to emergency safety
- and solutions and I appreciate the guideline suggestions for mergers and acquisitions, especially as
Summary:
The committee held an informational hearing on the rising cost and long delivery times for fire apparatus and related equipment, with opening remarks stressing that aging fleets, supply chain problems, and delayed replacements are affecting emergency readiness across California. Cal OES and Cal Fire described statewide procurement challenges, including higher prices, multi-year delivery timelines, two-year encumbrance limits, and the strain on mutual aid when engines remain in service beyond their intended replacement cycles. Cal Fire said it operates 537 engines, with 300 meeting replacement criteria and 243 at least 16 years old, and explained the difference between mandatory contracts and one-time acquisitions. The Department of General Services said vendors have cited labor costs, chassis pricing, and the need for longer production timelines, while also noting that statewide contracts can include nominal price increases but not open-ended price hikes.
Local fire chiefs from Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles County, Napa, and Fullerton testified that apparatus prices have risen sharply while delivery times have stretched from under a year to three to five years or more. They described specific examples of engines and ladder trucks costing far more than prior purchases and arriving years later, forcing departments to keep older reserve apparatus in service, spend more on maintenance, and defer other budget priorities. Several witnesses said industry consolidation has reduced competition and contributed to delays and price increases, with Los Angeles County and Fullerton noting they have pursued antitrust complaints and litigation against major manufacturers. Napa also described proprietary parts and software limiting in-house repairs, and Santa Barbara County said a vendor’s unfulfilled delivery promise caused the department to lose its place in line.
Members asked about possible solutions, including whether the state should consider manufacturing apparatus itself, whether procurement rules or prototype requirements could be streamlined, whether DGS staffing or contract processes could be accelerated, and whether more stable long-term purchasing commitments would help manufacturers plan production. Witnesses said safety-driven specification changes are necessary but can add time, and that the main bottlenecks are industry capacity, consolidation, and vendor performance. The vice chair raised concerns about how grant funding windows and local matching requirements are affected by multi-year delays, especially for small and rural departments that rely on grants and on used apparatus passed down from larger agencies. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded with committee members indicating interest in possible legislative, regulatory, and antitrust follow-up.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Emergency Management Committee Jun 22nd, 2026
Emergency Management
Transcript Highlights:
- relief requiring the invalidation of unlawful mergers and acquisitions, helping restore a competitive
- One thing to consider is that mergers and acquisitions of emergency vehicle manufacturers may need to
- And did that happen when these different mergers happened?
- And you mentioned the higher standard for mergers and acquisitions.
- and ...solutions, and I appreciate the guideline suggestions for mergers and acquisitions, especially
Committee:
House Emergency Management
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Civil Rights & Judiciary Jan 21st, 2026 at 08:00 am
Civil Rights & Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- By updating how mergers and acquisitions and affiliations are defined and reviewed, we can help ensure
- We feel it will appropriately update the AGO's merger and acquisition authority for the pre-transaction
- We feel it will appropriately update the AGO's merger and acquisition authority for the pre-transaction
- When I talk with members of Washington CAN about mergers and acquisitions in our health care system,
- And based on the accounts of our members, as these mergers and acquisitions increase, we're seeing accountability
Committee:
House Civil Rights & Judiciary
Keywords:
litigation finance, legal funding, lawsuit, financial services, access to justice, firearm regulation, manufacturing, safety standards, background checks, license requirements, health care market standards, hospital consolidation, merger review, health care transaction notice, attorney general review, antitrust, provider organizations, hospital systems, contracting affiliation, material change
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology Aug 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- and acquisitions. ...into the bill next legislative session, is aimed at limiting mergers and acquisitions
- So you mentioned something about antitrust laws that limit mergers and acquisitions.
- And if you have all these new threats to what can be done through that process with mergers and acquisitions
- It is all through acquisition and merger. ...percentage of R&D that's homegrown.
- It is all through acquisition and mergers and partnerships and licensing.
Summary:
The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology met to examine how federal funding cuts, tariff uncertainty, and proposed state policy changes are affecting California’s biotech and life sciences ecosystem. The chair and panelists emphasized California’s outsized role in the industry, describing major clusters in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Diego, and warning that disruptions to NIH, NSF, and FDA-related funding are already chilling venture capital, slowing startup formation, and threatening the state’s competitiveness against places like China and Massachusetts.
Industry witnesses from Biomedical Manufacturing Network, Biocom California, California Life Sciences, and Farma said federal research dollars are the catalyst for the pipeline from university research to startup formation, clinical trials, commercialization, and manufacturing jobs. They argued that cuts or uncertainty in NIH and NSF funding reduce grant applications, delay or cancel projects, weaken doctoral and postdoctoral training, and could drive scientists and physician-scientists out of the field. They also raised concerns about proposed antitrust limits on mergers and acquisitions, saying M&A is a key exit path for investors and a common route by which therapies reach market.
University representatives from UC, Stanford, CSU Biotech, and UCLA described direct impacts on research programs, graduate training, and lab operations. They reported suspended or terminated grants, reduced training opportunities, canceled retreats and internships, and anxiety among students and early-career researchers. UC said hundreds of millions in funding have been suspended or terminated and that reduced facilities-and-administration rates could harm patenting and tech transfer; Stanford said more than 1,000 training and career-development grants are frozen or terminated nationwide; CSU Biotech said 133 grants had been cut or scaled back, totaling about $140 million, with about $30 million from NIH and NSF. The committee discussed possible state responses, including restoring or strengthening the R&D tax credit, supporting STEM education and apprenticeships, encouraging manufacturing expansion, and preserving the research workforce pipeline.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- merger or consolid proposed acquisition merger or consolid of<00:08:00.000><c> an</c><00:08:00.639><
- We all know the NextEra merger that could potentially come again, and so this measure is very important
- mergers Acquisitions or consolidations mergers Acquisitions or consolidations where<00:12:56.680><c>
- </c><00:13:45.920><c> acquisition</c><00:13:46.519><c> proceeding</c> part of a merger acquisition proceeding
- part of a merger acquisition proceeding to<00:13:47.360><c> direct</c><00:13:47.639><c> a</c><00:13:
Committee:
Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection
Summary:
The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee held its first hearing of the 2025 session and reviewed several measures. SB 102 would restrict third-party restaurant reservation services from listing or selling reservations without a written agreement from the restaurant; the Attorney General recommended amendments to strengthen the bill against First Amendment and Contracts Clause challenges, and the Hawaii Restaurant Association strongly supported it, saying restaurants should control who represents them. The committee also heard SB 137 on electric utility mergers and acquisitions, with support from Ulupono Initiative and IBW Local 1260. Supporters said the bill would preserve state policy protections, including renewable energy and rate-making goals, and protect workers; IBW also suggested amendments, including a severability clause. The committee discussed a possible alternative approach from the PUC involving solicitation of bids from non-investor-owned utilities, and Ulupono said it would consider that idea but was concerned about preserving time for co-op formation.
Members then heard SB 142, which would require insurers paying claims by check to send them by certified mail with restricted delivery and return receipt. The Insurance Division stood on its written testimony, while the Hawaiian Insurers Council, State Farm, NAMIC, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association opposed the bill. A senator questioned whether the measure was too prescriptive and could create problems for claimants displaced by disasters; the response was that insurers and claimants usually remain in contact and that other payment methods may already be available depending on the carrier. SB 157 would ban algorithmic price setting in Hawaii’s rental market and require a public education program; the committee noted written testimony in support and comment, but no oral testimony was taken before moving on. SB 158 would create a state-owned bank implementation board within DCCA; DCCA’s financial institutions division, the Budget and Finance Department, and the Legislative Reference Bureau submitted comments, while the Hawaii Bankers Association opposed and the Hawaii Credit Union League commented.
The committee also heard SB 318, which would require DCCA to adopt privacy rules for direct-to-consumer genetic testing and specify whether genetic information may be used for investigative genetic genealogy. The Office of Consumer Protection and Andrew Crossland opposed the bill, saying federal law and existing state protections already cover much of the area and that rulemaking would be a better way to address it; members raised concerns about federal changes and the need for state protections, but OCP said the bill was not the best approach. SB 332 would prohibit bundling foreclosed homes at public sale and delay finality of sales; L. Strong and written testimony supported it, citing Lahaina’s post-fire foreclosure risks and warning of investors profiting from the disaster. The final measure, SB 525, would require written notice and consent before mortuaries, cemeteries, or pre-need funeral authorities sell or recycle precious metals recovered after cremation. DCCA’s consumer protection and licensing divisions offered comments, while the Hawaii Funeral and Cemetery Association opposed the bill, saying it was surprised by the measure and was unaware of current consumer problems in the industry.