Transcript Highlights:

• It also establishes a good cause exception, which is a transparent public means to recognize there may
• very open to those discussions, but we do see the benefit of having a consistent standard for the public

Bills: SB2661

Keywords: nepotism, transparency, public officials, accountability, government ethics, 910, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Management committee met to hear Senate Bill 2661 SD1, which addresses nepotism. The bill’s sponsor said it would create a uniform state standard covering the judiciary, legislative branch, and related offices such as the Ombudsman, Auditor, and State Ethics Commission, and would include a good-cause exception to allow for unique circumstances, especially in rural areas. The sponsor emphasized the value of a consistent public standard and said the measure was intended to be transparent and broadly applicable. A member asked whether the bill would apply prospectively and how it would affect current employees. The sponsor responded that it would apply prospectively but would still affect existing supervisory relationships involving related or household members, unless a good-cause exception or grandfathering provision were added. The sponsor noted that the current bill does not contain a grandfather clause and described how, in the executive branch, similar situations were handled by changing supervision or temporarily delaying enforcement to work through transitions. The committee then moved to decision-making and recommended passing SB 2661 SD1 with amendments, including changing the effective date to July 1, 3000. The acting chair, vice chair, Representative Morikawa, and Representative Matsumoto voted in favor; Representative Quinlan was excused. The recommendation was adopted and the meeting adjourned.

Bills: SB165

Keywords: candidates, economic interests, disclosure, ethics, transparency, public officials, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This elevates the offense of harassment to a misdemeanor when committed against certain public officials
• <00:01:49.360> officials<00:01:49.759> in<00:01:49.920> connection certain public
• officials in connection certain public officials in connection with<00:01:50.399> their<00:01
• prohibition against nepotism and public prohibition against nepotism and public employment.<00:02
• easier and more cohesive for the public. easier and more cohesive for the public.

Bills: SB2418, SB2568, SB2661

Keywords: drug paraphernalia, overdose prevention, public health, substance use, harm reduction, criminal justice reform, public servants, harassment, safety, government, criminal offense, nepotism, transparency, public officials, accountability, government ethics, 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee first took up three previously heard measures in decision-making. SB 2418, which repeals the law prohibiting drug paraphernalia under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, was amended to keep prohibitions on manufacturing-related paraphernalia and then passed. SB 2568, which elevates harassment against certain public officials to a misdemeanor, was amended to place it in the harassment statute, narrow the nexus language, and extend coverage to all public employees; it passed with amendments. SB 2661, dealing with nepotism rules in the code of ethics, was amended so the ethics restrictions would apply more broadly to legislators and judges as well, and it also passed with amendments. In each case, the committee reported no no-votes or reservations and adopted the measures. The committee then heard Governor’s Message 684, the nomination of Judge Stephanie Char to the Fifth Circuit Court on Kauai. The governor’s office testified in strong support, and the Hawaii State Bar Association representative said the usual review process found her qualified. Judge Char described her Kauai roots, 17 years as a public defender, and service as a district family court judge since December 2020, saying she would bring hard work and continued commitment to access to justice. Members questioned her about recusals on a small island, her experience handling criminal and civil matters, sentencing repeat offenders, administrative appeals, and how she would approach competency and fitness issues under HRS 704. Char said she had recused only a few times, emphasized case-by-case sentencing and probation conditions tailored to underlying problems, and said she would rely on preparation and education for unfamiliar administrative matters. On 704 cases, she said defendants awaiting evaluation should generally remain in custody, with possible diversion or strict release conditions in appropriate cases, and that those found unfit would need to be sent to Hawaii State Hospital. No vote was taken on the nomination; the committee announced it would decide on Monday, February 23, at 10:45 a.m. in Room 016.

Transcript Highlights:

• For a public position, your application is a public record. That's the law of the state.
• The donor lists to C3s are public, but you can request anonymity. How are those donor lists public?
• Schedule B is not subject to public records.
• And I get that's not a public records request.
• When you talk about public records, things happen, and then all of a sudden... Public records.

Bills: HB398, HB906, HB1201, SB41, SB47, SB106, SB210, SB218, SB220, SB248, SB289, SB397

Keywords: travel expenses, reimbursement, state officials, US General Services Administration, disaster management, nominating petitions, unaffiliated voters, party primaries, political participation, elections, public meeting minutes, transparency, government accountability, publication deadlines, open meetings, boards and commissions, public records, contact information, email addresses, phone numbers

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3678 modifies the definition of public officials to include municipal and public school board
• members as used to protect Public officials from harassment or intimidating electronic communications
• facilities, facilities such as it's not limited to, but skating rinks, youth recreation centers, public
• I've been advised that throughout the state means public property anywhere in the state.
• You are in a public place, but it may be a private location, like a department store or Hobby Lobby,

Bills: HB3765, HB4324, HB3678, HB4170, HB3495, HB3040, HB3062, HB4140, HB4106, HB4109, HB4104, HB3581

Keywords: property rights, forfeiture, noncitizen, land ownership, felony, public safety, criminal procedure, sentence modification, resentencing, judicial review, postconviction relief, district attorney, prosecutor, victim rights, victim notification, Department of Corrections, inmate rehabilitation, sentencing reform, life without parole, nonviolent offense

Transcript Highlights:

• Public safety will now come to order.
• House Bill 1250 creates a public safety.
• House Bill 3678 modifies the definition of public officials to include municipal officials and public
• school board members as used to protect public officials from harassing or intimidating electronic communications
• So, I think there's a risk to the public and to public safety, as well as the risk of expending tax dollars

Bills: HB1002, HB1250, HB2710, HB3008, HB3045, HB3086, HB3595, HB3678, HB3695, HB3831, HB4107, HB4408

Keywords: stalking, victim notification, law enforcement, harassment, penalties, criminal justice, protection orders, local law enforcement, Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund, grants, state funding, law enforcement technology, Oklahoma Emergency Communications Act, emergency communications, public safety radio, statewide radio systems, land mobile radio, interoperability, Project 25, P25

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3678 modifies the definition of public officials to include municipal officials and public
• school board members as used to protect public officials from harassing or intimidating electronic communications
• House Bill 3678 modifies the definition of public officials to include municipal officials and school
• board members, as used to protect public officials from harassing or intimidating electronic communications
• So I think there's risk to the public and to public safety, as well as risk of expending tax dollars

Bills: HB1002, HB1250, HB2710, HB3008, HB3045, HB3086, HB3595, HB3678, HB3695, HB3831, HB4107, HB4408

Keywords: stalking, victim notification, law enforcement, harassment, penalties, criminal justice, protection orders, local law enforcement, Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund, grants, state funding, law enforcement technology, Oklahoma Emergency Communications Act, emergency communications, public safety radio, statewide radio systems, land mobile radio, interoperability, Project 25, P25

Summary: The Public Safety Committee met and first held House Bill 3045. It then heard and passed several bills, beginning with HB 1250, which creates a public safety technology revolving fund for Attorney General grants to support the Blue Jay pilot program, a voluntary traffic-stop safety app. Members questioned whether the fund would actually be financed this year and how municipalities would be selected; the author said no funding source was yet identified and the bill was only creating the fund. HB 1250 passed 8-0. The committee also passed HB 2710, creating the Oklahoma Emergency Communications Act and a 15-member board to develop a strategic plan for improving emergency radio communications among state, local, and tribal agencies. The author explained the bill was meant to address communication gaps and interoperability problems, with no fiscal impact. HB 3831, dealing with Oklahoma Task Force One, drew extensive discussion over its funding structure and blank appropriations language. The bill would place the urban search and rescue team in state law and seek a reliable funding source; members discussed the team’s statewide disaster response role, its Tulsa and Oklahoma City bases, and a carve-out excluding wildland firefighting. It passed 8-0. Other measures approved included HB 4408, which sets a protocol for calculating and directing savings from State Questions 780 and 781 into the proper drug diversion account; HB 1002, requiring law enforcement to inform stalking victims about certified domestic violence program advocates; HB 3008, extending the sunset date for the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence to 2031; HB 3086, requiring the Department of Corrections director to keep the Board of Corrections informed about budgets and inmate deaths; HB 3595, creating a DPS revolving fund for counties and municipalities to buy vehicle-barrier equipment to prevent crowd-vehicle attacks; HB 3678, expanding electronic-harassment protections for public officials to include municipal officials and school board members; HB 4107, establishing penalties for unauthorized activation or misuse of emergency warning sirens; and HB 3695, revising the definition of great bodily injury in a DUI-related context. HB 3595 passed 6-1 and HB 4107 passed 6-2; the other bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously after brief questioning and debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• doing this, we can ensure that the project is not just saving money or cutting corners, but it's a public
• Uh, it allows exterior displays of those names and exempts related concessions from public procurement
• This public-private partnership is brand spanking new for us.
• <00:54:43.520> private contracts with the public private contracts with the public private
• <00:55:01.119> private This the nature of this public private This the nature of this public

Bills: SB2141, SB2593, SB2824, SB2135, SB2115

Keywords: retirement, law enforcement, pension, public safety, employee contributions, Law Enforcement Standards Board, LESB, civil service exemption, collective bargaining exemption, law enforcement certification, police standards, law enforcement training, officer certification, training and curriculum coordinator, lead investigative agent, administrative manager, administrator, Hawaii HRS 76-16, Hawaii HRS 139-3, personnel exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a director of government and public affairs with the Associated Builders and Contractors, a construction
• We are the state labor federation representing most public sector, private sector, and building trades

Bills: HF4110, HF2113, HF4569, HF4414

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, paid leave, small employers, employment law, Minnesota Statutes, workforce development, HF4569, Minnesota Paid Leave Law, protected leave, seasonal employee, seasonal worker, hospitality, hospitality industry, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer certification

Transcript Highlights:

• Those cards are retained in our official records. Those cards are retained in our official records.
• House Bill 858 by Representative Riser establishes a public records exception for global positioning
• And I do see respect for all public offices dwindling every day.
• When the bill says that all When the bill says that all state public officials and employees shall comply
• I don't think it's too much to ask of the public. We talk about responsibility.

Bills: HB177, HB210, HB238, HB258, HB307, HB359, HB398, HB661, HB705, HB752, HB858

Keywords: court reporter, official court reporter, courts, judicial system, ethics, post-employment restrictions, cooling-off period, two-year waiting period, rehiring, reemployment, contractual services, former public employee, public employer, Louisiana ethics law, R.S. 42:1121, Act 532, lobbying, public service, statewide officials, compensation

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to ethics, public records, school hiring, judicial expenses, legislative contempt, court reporter shortages, and legislative session timing. HB 858 by Rep. Riser, creating a public records exception for GPS data on wildlife and aquatic life, was reported favorably without objection. HB 661 by Rep. Fontaine, expanding school hiring nepotism exceptions to allow immediate family members of school board members or superintendents to be hired as paraprofessionals and janitors, also passed favorably after testimony from the Ethics Administrator about concerns over expanding nepotism exceptions. HB 359, a cleanup bill on the death of a nonaffiliated primary candidate, and HB 258, clarifying dual office holding exceptions for volunteer firefighters and retired judges, were both reported favorably; HB 258 drew discussion about judicial conflicts but the Ethics Administrator said dual office holding was outside his jurisdiction and conflicts would still require recusal. HB 705 by Rep. Newell, which would strengthen contempt of the legislature penalties from $1,000 to $50,000 and add provisions addressing disorderly conduct and attempts to influence members, generated extensive debate. Members generally agreed the legislature needs more respect and better compliance with requests and subpoenas, but many objected to the size of the fine and the breadth of the language, especially the disorderly conduct and influence provisions. Concerns were raised about due process, potential abuse, and chilling public testimony. The author agreed to reduce the proposed penalties and narrow the language, and the bill was voluntarily deferred to allow further work. HB 177 by Rep. Muscarello, allowing retired court reporters to return on a contractual basis to address shortages, was amended and reported favorably after discussion of shortages, retirement issues, and the possible future use of technology in court reporting. The committee also considered HB 238 by Rep. Zerang, which would remove a waiting period and population-based restriction so former school board members who are certified teachers or psychologists can return to work in their districts. After discussion of teacher shortages and ethics concerns, the bill was voluntarily deferred for further work. HB 398, also by Rep. Zerang, would cap lodging, meals, and incidental expenses for state officials and employees at the federal GSA rates; it drew strong opposition from some members and a retired judge who argued the judiciary’s current per diem is reasonable, that judges face safety concerns when traveling, and that the bill would intrude on judicial authority. The author said the goal was fairness and consistency with other branches, but after debate he asked to voluntarily defer the bill and continue working on amendments. Finally, HB 752 by Rep. Green, which would move the regular legislative session start date to the second Monday in January, end it by May 1, and shift session timing rules into joint rule with a two-thirds vote, had its amendment adopted and remained under discussion as members asked procedural questions about how the new joint-rule authority would work.

Transcript Highlights:

• , members of the Public Service Commission, etc.
• or non-publication.
• What we're doing is opening up more information to be made public by the clerk.
• We're opening more information up to the public view, not less.
• means to circumvent the public vote.

Bills: HB65, HB67, HB73, HB205, HB225, HB339, HB550

Keywords: sexual harassment, public employees, training requirements, mandatory education, elected officials, public records, personal information, protected individuals, ethics, transparency, public meetings, voting, electronic voting machine, government accountability, term limits, governor, Louisiana constitution, elections, gubernatorial, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• Nobody called a public hearing, but I'm indulging that.
• Nobody called a public hearing, but I'm indulging that.
• Nobody called a public to speak.
• Uh, and I understand the public.
• anyway, uh uh I think the general public anyway, uh uh I think the general public expects<00:22:

Bills: SB63, SB80, SB63, SB80

Keywords: immigration, law enforcement, fingerprints, DNA collection, illegal aliens, Alabama state law, SB80, Buddy Sharpless Education Institute, Alabama Local Government Training Institute, county commissioner training, local government training, ethics training, State Ethics Commission, county commissioners, Association of County Commissions of Alabama, local emergency management director, public officials, municipal officials, Alabama Code Title 11, Alabama Code Title 31

Transcript Highlights:

• So when you go into that clerk's office and say, "Here's my official declaration to candidacy," it starts

Bills: HB250

Keywords: HB250, Alabama Ethics Commission, statement of economic interests, financial disclosure, candidate ethics, campaign finance, candidate filing deadline, qualifying papers, declaration of candidacy, independent candidate, ballot access, election law, ethics reform, public officials, public employees, asset disclosure, income disclosure, real estate holdings, indebtedness disclosure, late filing penalty

Bills: SB2043, SB2044, SB2004, SB2143, SB2411, SB2455, SB2519, SB2661, SB2665, SB2731, SB2737, SB2767, SB2794, SB2830, SB3334

Keywords: insurance, captives, examination, regulations, policyholders, dormant captive, tax exemption, Hawaii revised statutes, financial reporting, outdoor advertising, billboards, public safety, penalties, community pollution, elections, chief election officer, vacancy, order of succession, election commission, campaign finance

Transcript Highlights:

• From an operational standpoint, publication in our official journals introduces friction, scheduling.
• Publication in our official journals introduces friction, scheduling delays, increased costs with each
• Okay, the amendment narrows which public entities can use their website as an alternative to the official
• Official journal. Official website. There's no, I don't want to confuse it too. Official journal.
• and public notices that is required to publish in its official journal.

Bills: HB248, HB249, HB997, HB1052, HB1193, SB1, SB161, SB218, SB220, SB289, SB435

Keywords: Compensation Commission, elected officials, salary evaluation, government accountability, Louisiana legislature, compensation, independent commission, salary adjustment, consumer price index, official journal, public notices, government transparency, local government, municipal website, school board notices, parish council, police jury, special districts, levee district, drainage district

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, I get that, but it just doesn't seem like it's good public policy.
• And I'd like the ACLU to tell me why that is good public policy. Mr.
• And I'd like the ACLU to tell me why that is good public policy. Mr.
• They did an inspection of public records request and look what showed up.
• They did an inspection of public records request and look what showed up.

Bills: SB40, SB104, SB136, SB164

Keywords: SB40, Driver Privacy and Safety Act, automated license plate reader, ALPR, license plate reader, vehicle surveillance, privacy, data sharing, law enforcement data, immigration enforcement, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, civil liberties, surveillance, public records, Inspection of Public Records Act, New Mexico State Police, Department of Public Safety, data sovereignty, vehicle tracking

Transcript Highlights:

• These comments are left by the public on each agenda item in our hearings.
• That message to the public, why isn't it in your admin rules?
• Yeah, because we have something like defamation in our law that allows for public officials.
• But it's the public that's losing.
• That's what I'll do, but that doesn't help the public. ...So this is really about the public.

Bills: HB304, HB401, HB556, HB1475, HB1489, HB2259, HB2424, HB2773, HB2811, HB3323, HB304

Keywords: voter ID, citizenship proof, provisional ballot, election security, Texas, voting rights, deep fakes, misleading videos, election integrity, criminal offense, digital misinformation, deep fake, political manipulation, misinformation, artificial media, political influence, artificially generated media, election influence, Texas Election Code, healthcare reform

Transcript Highlights:

• have<00:51:48.240> to<00:51:48.319> file public officials who still have to file public
• It's where the message isn't to you as a public official.
• So the communication again is to the public rather than to the public official.
• isn't to you as a public official. isn't to you as a public official.
• Um, rather than to the public official.

Bills: HF3698, HF4243, HF4239, HF4241, HF4242, HF4240

Keywords: libraries, electronic books, digital audiobooks, licensing agreements, public access, campaign finance, elections, political contributions, disclosure, reporting thresholds, economic interest statements, financial disclosure, ethics, public officials, local officials, metropolitan governmental unit, metropolitan area, candidate filings, principal campaign committee, political committee

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not a public safety bill. This is a public status bill.
• This is not a public safety bill. This is a public status bill.
• This is not a public safety bill. This is a public status bill.
• This is not a public safety bill. This is a public status bill.
• repeated contact might be in the public repeated contact might be in the public official<00:47:29.920

Bills: SB2567, SB2448, SB3046, SB2231, SB2526

Keywords: harassment, restraining order, temporary restraining order, injunction, protective order, public employer, public servant, public employee, government employee, state employee, legislator, judge, judicial branch, executive branch, local government, political subdivision, workplace violence, threats, stalking, employee safety

Bills: HB 34, HB 128, HB 621, HB 748, HB 2259, HB 2960, HB 3113, HB 4749, SB 835

Keywords: property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, sexual abuse, nondisclosure, confidentiality, public policy, Trey's Law, elections, scannable ballots, voting technology, paper ballots, electoral process, jury service, juror qualifications, grand jury, petit jury, legal implications