Video & Transcript Research : 'testing materials'

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AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/11/2026 - Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • Vice Chair, could you please call up the first test of...
  • Madam Chair, if I could: window pop-outs, roof tiles, type of roofing material, type of glazing, all
  • And if so, the list of materials, can you tell me anything from the list of materials or amenities, the
  • Just putting aside the HOA question, just materials and amenities and features.
  • What that is is effectively a way... ...materials and amenities and features.
Summary: The Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee approved the February 4, 2026 minutes and first considered the reappointment of Troy L. Campbell to the Arizona State Liquor Board. Campbell described his nearly 10 years of service, his role as chair since 2019, and his focus on fairness, public safety, and applying the law consistently. He answered questions about the board’s workload and authority, noting it handles roughly 40 to 50 cases a year and does not issue fines. With no public testimony, the committee voted 6-0 with one not voting to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard and passed SB 1478, a liquor omnibus bill making technical and policy updates to liquor statutes, including changing “manufacture” to “produce,” allowing rather than requiring cities and towns to levy certain liquor-related taxes or fees, repealing a federal food-safety preemption reference, and clarifying cider’s definition to include products up to 8.5% alcohol by volume. Supporters described it as an annual stakeholder-driven cleanup bill, and the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control testified neutral. The committee adopted the Bolick amendment and then passed the bill as amended. It also passed SB 1108, which creates a Swedish-rounding framework for cash transactions when pennies are unavailable, with signage and enforcement provisions; the Leach amendment removed an individual-item exemption and clarified tax treatment. The Greater Phoenix Chamber supported the bill, and the committee passed it as amended. The committee next approved SB 1205, regulating private-property vehicle booting by prohibiting local bans, setting signage, written permission, rate limits, release rules, and misdemeanor penalties. Supporters said it would provide a more transparent, less costly alternative to towing, while members raised concerns about signage, appeals, and consumer protections. The Bolick amendment made a technical change, and the bill passed as amended. SB 1241, allowing private permitting providers to conduct plan reviews and inspections for single-trade residential projects, drew the most debate: supporters argued it would reduce delays and costs for homeowners and help cities with backlogs, while cities and counties warned about public-safety risks, loss of local control, and liability concerns. After adopting the Payne amendment on immunity, the committee passed the bill 5-2. Finally, the committee passed SB 1366, which creates a Public Property Towing and Impound Practices Study Committee to review fees, standards, insurance, background checks, and related DPS and public-property towing practices. Some members objected that the study committee lacked minority-leader appointments, but supporters said the review was needed before making permanent changes. The committee then began hearing SB 1431, a housing-design bill limiting municipal design standards and restrictions on certain shared features, but the transcript ends before any action on that measure.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • >> Now, you're going to test my memory.
  • Now,<00:27:17.360> you're<00:27:17.520> going<00:27:17.600> to<00:27:17.679> test
  • <00:27:18.720> Um, >> Now, you're going to test my memory.
  • Um, >> Now, you're going to test my memory.
  • such as large welding as materials such as large welding machines,<00:31:38.559> dental<00:31
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee met to review tax expenditures, elect a chair and clerk, and hear updates on two credits due for periodic review: the career and technical education (CTE) center tax credit and the research and development (R&D) tax credit. Members first organized the meeting, then heard from Jennifer Ramsey of DRA, who explained the purpose of the tax expenditure review process and summarized the CTE and R&D credits. She said the CTE credit allows donations to CTE centers for a credit against business profits tax, is capped at 25% of a taxpayer’s liability, has a $500,000 aggregate limit, and was extended in SB 98 to fiscal year 2031. She also noted DRA could not provide detailed financial data because of statistical disclosure limits when too few taxpayers claim the credit. Committee members pressed for more historical and aggregate information, arguing they needed numbers to judge whether the credit is effective and worth continuing. The committee then heard from Chrissy Vanderhook of the Department of Education on the CTE credit. She described New Hampshire’s CTE system as serving 26 secondary centers and seven post-secondary centers, with industry partners providing internships, work-based learning, equipment, employee time, and other in-kind support that can qualify for the credit. She said the department reports annually to legislative leaders and that fiscal year 2025 credit activity was down about 48% from FY24, partly due to staffing changes and outreach issues. Members asked whether the program extends to community college-level programs, and she said it can, though she was not sure how broadly it is used that way. The committee also discussed a new Granite Patron of the Arts credit, which DRA said went into effect July 1 and is included in the tax expenditure report even though it is not yet listed in the statute. For the R&D credit, Ramsey explained that it offsets business profits tax and can carry forward to business enterprise tax, is based on incremental research spending, and currently has a $7 million annual aggregate cap. She said the cap has not yet been reached but could require proration as early as fiscal year 2026 if not increased. She noted there were 271 taxpayers claiming the credit in fiscal 2024 and that a proposal last session to raise the cap to $10 million and increase the per-company limit did not advance. Mark Liberty of BEA said the credit is an important recruitment and retention tool, especially for life sciences, aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing, but acknowledged BEA does not track direct revenue return. Andrea Hchvaria of New Hampshire Life Sciences argued the R&D credit is critical for startups and cited growth in applicants from 71 in 2008 to 248 in 2024, with qualified wages rising substantially over that period. Committee members repeatedly asked for more objective economic-impact data, but DRA said it only tracks who claimed the credit and the amount claimed, not broader business outcomes.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • that require the installation of firewalls, smoke detectors, and other construction techniques and material
  • construction detectors and other construction techniques<00:35:27.200> and<00:35:27.320> material
  • techniques and material techniques and material that<00:35:28.359> are<00:35:28.640> intended
  • use<01:08:25.520> 40%<01:08:26.159> Ami<01:08:26.520> means<01:08:26.799> test
  • that's also an HP use 40% Ami means test that's also an HP 1056<01:08:30.199> and<01:08:30.759
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing on a wide range of housing-related bills. HB 295 on Hawaiian homelands drew support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and individual testifiers who described long waits for DHHL housing, while the Department of Hawaiian Homelands offered comments noting that lowering the Native Hawaiian blood quantum from 50% to 25% would require multiple legal and federal review steps. The committee also heard testimony on several Hawaii Public Housing Authority measures, including HB 99, HB 1096, HB 1097, HB 1095, HB 1093, and HB 1094, which generally received agency support and little or no public opposition during the hearing. HB 1094 prompted questions about the handling and sale or donation of seized property, and the agency said it lacked capacity to manage that work directly and would need to consult the Attorney General on liability concerns. The committee then heard HB 1056 and HB 1467, both related to a proposed Hawaii Homes or housing resiliency program. DCCA, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, the Climate Advisory Team, and Hawaii Realtors supported HB 1056, while the Attorney General requested clarification on fund language. The Insurance Commissioner said DCCA was willing to run the program and that strengthening homes would help keep insurance available in Hawaii. For HB 1467, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and Climate Advisory Team also supported the measure, with the Attorney General raising concerns about delegation, the special fund, and extension authority. Testimony on both bills emphasized hurricane retrofits, with some witnesses urging harmonization of the two similar proposals and one witness warning that the bills could conflict with efforts to reduce building-code minimum standards. Other measures included HB 1013 on important agricultural lands, which received support from HHFDC, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, DBEDT, the Agri-Business Development Corporation, and Purple Maiʻa Foundation, with some agencies offering comments. HB 1294 on agricultural workforce housing drew comments from the Attorney General, who said commissions may be established by law rather than by the department itself, along with support from OHA, a council member, and the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus. HB 89 on teacher housing received support from OHA and education groups, while the Attorney General said the bill may have constitutional issues and suggested amendments to set standards for voucher applications. HB 276 on condominiums and HB 528 on residential leases also drew support, with no testimony in opposition. HB 415 on public safety and fire sprinklers generated the most clear split in testimony: the State Fire Council, a fire department representative, and an individual supported the bill, arguing sprinklers improve safety and can prevent major losses, while BIA Hawaii, Pacific Home and Appliance Distribution, NAAP Hawaii, Gentry Holmes, and DR Horton Hawaii opposed it, saying the added cost would worsen housing affordability and that existing codes already address safety. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing; the chair repeatedly closed each bill after testimony and questions, and the hearing moved through the agenda without recorded committee votes.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Agriculture & Livestock Mar 18th, 2025

Agriculture & Livestock

Transcript Highlights:
  • It clears up licensing procedures and makes testing more consistent.
  • lays out penalties for unlicensed hemp farming and expanded rules on transportation, handling and testing
  • Protecting farmers and consumers, standardized lab testing requirements, including mandatory reporting
  • Um, this would also bring more testing and quality control.
  • Flawless blueprint on how we've been able to structure and create the type of testing and protocols that
Bills: HB147
Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock met with a quorum present and heard several bills, all of which were left pending. HB 1113, by Rep. Cain, would update Texas hemp law to keep state rules aligned with federal changes, require timely rule amendments by the Department of Agriculture, and create hemp research permits for universities and nonprofits. Supporters from the Texas Hemp Coalition said it would improve research, licensing, testing, and enforcement while helping the industry stay compliant and competitive; the author said the bill was intended to reward good actors and deter bad ones. HB 1203, by Rep. Gonzalez, would create an Office of Food System Security and Resiliency within the Department of Agriculture to address food insecurity and coordinate local food access efforts. Gonzalez said the office would build on a prior Department of Agriculture study and help connect farmers, agencies, schools, and local governments; members asked about the fiscal note, consumer costs, and whether the office would overlap with existing programs. HB 1269, HB 1276, and HB 1277 focused on plant disease and pest prevention, including a grant program and studies to identify gaps and track outbreaks. Gonzalez emphasized the need for a more intentional state response, citing crop losses from pests and a recent cotton disease outbreak in his district. HB 1437 would create a pollinator task force to address threats to Texas honeybees and related pollination industries. A Texas Beekeepers Association witness described major recent colony losses, emerging threats such as mites and hornets, and the need to bring agencies and researchers together; Gonzalez noted prior work adding a bee specialist at AgriLife Extension. Finally, HB 147, by Chairman Guillen, would modernize cattle brand registration by moving it to an electronic system at the Texas Animal Health Commission while keeping county clerks involved. Supporters said it would improve efficiency, accuracy, and access for ranchers and law enforcement, while an opponent warned about possible electronic tracking implications and costs for small producers. The committee took no final votes and adjourned after leaving HB 147 pending as well.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Appropriations - S/C on Article II Feb 25th, 2025

Appropriations - S/C on Article II

Transcript Highlights:
  • For those interested testimony, hearing materials, we posted the materials on the subcommittee web page
  • into our standard water supply testing.
  • Through testing, blood testing, or whatever? There is. It's imperfect, but you can test.
  • What are we testing for in the water?
  • So, we test for pathogens, other contaminants, we test and now we'll be testing for those per and polyfluoroalkyl
Keywords: 1184, house, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Legislative Audit Committee Jun 18th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so test scores have improved.
  • The audit focuses on restricted materials for two reasons.
  • First, restricted materials are the most toxic pesticides used in California.
  • As part of local enforcement, CACs issue restricted material pesticide permits.
  • Restricted material permits can be appealed to DPR.
Summary: The committee heard several audit requests and related testimony. The first major item was an audit of Coachella Valley Unified School District’s contract and fiscal management. The author and supporters described long-standing fiscal mismanagement, large budget shortfalls, layoffs, contracting concerns, and questions about the district’s foundation and use of public funds. District representatives and the Riverside County Office of Education said the district is already under fiscal oversight, has a stabilization plan, and is working to reduce deficits and improve student outcomes. After extensive debate and public comment, the motion to approve the audit was put on call because the committee did not have the required votes from both houses at that moment. The committee then approved an audit of East Bay transit agencies in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Senator Wahab argued the region’s many overlapping transit agencies create fragmentation, duplication, and inefficiency, especially amid a fiscal cliff and possible future tax increases. Transit agencies and labor representatives opposed the audit, saying the agencies already undergo multiple audits, serve distinct local needs, and are implementing regional coordination efforts. After testimony from agency leaders and public commenters, the committee voted to approve the audit. The next item was an audit of California Community Colleges’ unrestricted reserves. Senator Archuleta and supporting faculty representatives said reserves have grown substantially and may be diverting resources from student services, instruction, and workforce programs. They argued there is little oversight when reserves become too high. The Chancellor’s Office and Calbright College were invited to respond, and the audit objectives focused on reserve growth, reasons for high balances, oversight by the Chancellor’s Office, and effects on students and staff. The transcript cuts off during the Chancellor’s Office response, so the final committee action on this item is not shown.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 2/27/25

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • We spent nearly $50,000 in 2024 alone on client material service and to not bail our clients for any
  • of these material supports or these services.
  • Last year, our clinic performed 314 pregnancy tests and 362 ultrasounds.
  • Last year, our clinic performed 314 pregnancy tests and 362 ultrasounds.
  • <01:03:24.720> resources pregnant people with material resources pregnant people with material
Bills: HF25, HF1, HF428
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Judiciary Committee Jun 23rd, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • a free, hosted gender-affirming hormone prescription clinic and hosted electrolysis services, HIV testing
  • We even wrote an article for their trade magazine so that they would have some education materials.
  • We even wrote an article for their trade magazine so that they would have some education materials.
  • It says yes or no, we use this copyright material.
  • It says yes or no, we use this copyright material.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Session - 2026-05-21 - 10:00AM

Vermont Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The actual antonym for de minimis is actually material, but we all know what de minimis is.
  • So non-de minimis, or better said, material projects in legislative parlance.
  • Since it's unclear exactly how this will materialize, your Senate Economic Development Committee felt
  • They felt for genetic data escaping the control of the direct-to-consumer genetic testing company or
  • whether adding staff would material whether adding staff would material improve<01:40:33.199>
Keywords: 927, senate, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • /c><00:18:23.520> will<00:18:23.760> stand<00:18:24.080> the<00:18:24.240> test
  • <00:18:24.400> of<00:18:24.559> time that will will stand the test of time that will
  • will stand the test of time because<00:18:25.200> as<00:18:25.520> we<00:18:25.679>
  • They will also defund and disband any student organizations that have been found to provide material
  • country that our country materially country that our country materially supports<01:03:13.280>
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 77, which would allow comprehensive universities to pursue doctoral programs under a new approval process and, in the original bill, would also change who may serve on the EPSB board for small colleges and universities. The sponsor and Council on Postsecondary Education representative explained that the committee substitute removed the current statutory prohibition on comprehensive universities offering certain doctoral degrees, but added eligibility guardrails: a 77% first-to-second-year retention rate, a 56% six-year graduation rate, and three months of unrestricted cash reserves. They said the thresholds were based on national data placing institutions in roughly the top quartile, and that CPE would still review proposals for mission fit, workforce need, fiscal impact, and, where applicable, programmatic accreditation and legislative appropriations. EKU President David McFaden supported creating a pathway for comprehensive universities, said Kentucky is unusual in having an explicit statutory prohibition, and urged the committee to keep the standards attainable and durable. The committee approved the bill and adopted a title amendment, with the motion passing unanimously. The committee then heard Senate Joint Resolution 55, which addresses antisemitism on postsecondary campuses. Senator Tichenor said the resolution responds to a rise in antisemitic incidents after October 7, 2023, and would require campuses to notify students each semester of Title VI rights, complaint procedures, existing harassment policies, and available Jewish student resources. It would also direct campuses to disband student organizations found to provide material support to known terrorist organizations, report such matters to law enforcement, and collect and report antisemitism data to CPE for posting on its website. A guest speaker from the Kentucky Jewish Council described a sharp increase in reported incidents, including harassment, threats, vandalism, and hostile campus activity, and argued that schools have often done too little to respond. He said the resolution was amended to protect free speech while ensuring Jewish students receive the same protections as other protected groups. The transcript ends while testimony on the resolution was still underway, before any committee vote on SJR 55.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 28th, 2025

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • The ability to continue testing aggressively is hampered as the equine test fund revenue continues to
  • less testing of horses.
  • We talk about the testing of the hair testing that you have kind of referred to.
  • We test after the race; we test for blood and urine.
  • So, is every horse tested after each race, or is it a section or a sample of horses that are tested?
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Are we doing genetic testing in any way, shape, or form when at birth in order to make certain that we're
  • going to end up with 4 million people living with something unconstitutional until we can find another test
  • And the state of California didn't Believe a made to take the test three times.
  • was that the people who committed to an education degree, who did the practicum, who studied the material
  • They still have to pass the tests. But let me throw some facts out based on stuff in other states.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill additionally requires the director of ADEQ to maintain vehicle emission testing fees in Area
  • The bill additionally requires the director of ADEQ to maintain vehicle emission testing fees in Area
  • The pilot program must include instructional modules for teachers, instruction, and educational materials
  • And I don't think we're materially changing anything that I'm aware of.
Summary: The meeting covered a series of fiscal year 2027 budget and budget-related bills, beginning with the general appropriations and tax package. Staff and the chair highlighted a budget built around about $1.4 billion in tax cuts, a one-time 2.5% agency reduction, major funding for state employee health insurance, corrections, flood and wildfire relief, and other supplemental appropriations. The chair repeatedly urged support for the package, emphasizing the size of the tax cut and noting that the committee’s joint vote had only three no votes out of 28 members. Members then reviewed several smaller budget implementation bills affecting racing and gambling, capital outlay, commerce and defense innovation, corrections, environment and water policy, higher education, human services, K-12 education, county finance, tax administration, state data governance, and state office rent rates. Key provisions included extending or modifying funds and fee structures, transferring surplus or unneeded monies, creating or revising oversight boards and pilot programs, increasing K-12 funding by 2% for inflation, adjusting university retention limits, expanding SNAP and housing-related requirements, and changing tax conformity and credits. Several members asked clarifying questions about specific items such as electric vehicle charging funds, mobile home relocation payments, university funding, and the new health insurance oversight board. The chair also explained the tax bill’s major changes, including conformity to federal tax law, a larger dependent tax credit, changes to deductions, repeal of certain tax credits, veteran property tax relief, limits on data center tax incentives, and provisions affecting manufacturing infrastructure and unemployment insurance administration. The committee discussed the Budget Stabilization Fund, debt repayment, and education rollover balances, with the chair arguing for using surpluses to pay down debt. The final item discussed was a behavioral health bill creating a home and community-based services program for adults determined to be seriously mentally ill, with a stated FY 2027 total fund appropriation of $7.8 million contingent on federal approval and matching funds. The meeting ended with a reminder that floor action would begin the next day at 10 a.m.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • House and Murdock of the Senate, an act relating to the Oklahoma Motor Carrier Safety and Hazardous Materials
  • House and Murdock of the Senate, an act relating to the Oklahoma Motor Carrier Safety and Hazardous Materials
  • But in Answer to one of those, I will say the testing mandates on the states is definitely one thing
  • administrators do. decentralization drives innovation when states compete to attract families and test
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 2/10/25

Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • that material to a market.
  • that material to a market.
  • that material to a market.
  • that material to a market.
  • that material to a market.
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee held an introductory meeting that began with housekeeping, a correction to the committee rules (the room number should be G3, not G35), and member and staff introductions. Members described their districts, agricultural ties, and priorities for the session, including consumer food costs, urban agriculture, farm economics, livestock disease preparedness, and support for Minnesota’s agricultural sectors. No votes were taken during the introductory portion. The committee then turned to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Deputy Commissioner Andrea Veble of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said the Walz administration strongly supports SAF because of its potential for agriculture, forestry, and clean energy, and reviewed Minnesota’s 2023 SAF tax credit and related sales tax exemption. She said the state has feedstocks and should continue investing so Minnesota can attract SAF production and support rural jobs. Jeff Davidman of Delta Airlines testified that aviation is difficult to decarbonize and that SAF is the airline industry’s main path to net zero by 2050; he cited current use of SAF, the need to scale production, and Minnesota’s role in supplying feedstocks and hosting future production. Peter Frost of Greater MSP described the Minnesota SAF Hub as a public-private partnership aimed at building the full SAF value chain in Minnesota. He emphasized that Greater MSP is coordinating investors and partners to grow the regional economy and said the SAF effort is intended to create jobs and economic development. Committee members did not ask questions during the portion captured, and no formal action or vote was recorded on the SAF presentations in this transcript excerpt.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Health and Human Services - Part 2 - 03/24/26

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:54:10.600> the time and actually test-drive the time and actually test-drive the application
  • We need confronted with this material.
  • Maybe there might be other materials in that same bag.
  • <02:05:35.640> in Maybe there might be other materials in Maybe there might be other materials
  • So, they're already breaking the law. plans and put other materials in there. plans and put other materials
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health Mar 27th, 2025

S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • Trials, and avoidance of unnecessary tests.
  • It would be the same test that's already done, not an additional blood test; it would be included on
  • So both are tested for all the tests.
  • So we do test everyone regardless of gender.
  • They are sent home to make decisions and handed a big stack of material.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • <01:03:09.119> would have in your in your materials would have in your in your materials would
  • negative results in in their test negative results in in their test scores.
  • And please bring the test scores when you come.
  • And please bring the test love that.
  • Their culture, their history, those things are important to see reflected in the reading material.
Summary: The committee opened with a roll call, confirmed a quorum, approved the minutes by voice vote, and recognized a guest of Senator Hickden, retired judge Dan Kelly. The chair then moved through a tight agenda and limited public presentations and questions. The first presentation was on robotics education in Kentucky, led by Representative Chris Lewis, Kentucky FIRST Robotics executive director Kelly Gowen, and students from Whitfield Academy. They argued that robotics should be expanded in high schools as a workforce pipeline for engineering, manufacturing, and advanced technology jobs. The presentation emphasized hands-on learning, industry certifications, teacher development, and a proposed framework to fund robotics education programs statewide. Committee members were not allowed to ask questions because of time constraints. The second presentation was from Canopy Kentucky, led by Adam Watson and founder Scott Collins. They described Canopy’s business and entrepreneurship education programs for fifth graders and high school students, including the NextGen Good Biz initiative and an eight-classroom high school unit. Canopy requested a one-time $750,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2026, matched by private funds, to expand into more schools and rural areas, train educators, and report outcomes. Members asked a brief question about how the programs fit into school schedules and the difference between the elementary and high school offerings. The final presentation, from KDE’s Kelly Foster and Todd Allen, reviewed the state’s school improvement classifications. Foster explained CSI, TSI, and ATSI status, the federal and state legal framework, and how House Bill 298 returned CSI identification to an annual cycle. She reported that Kentucky identified 50 CSI schools on the most recent release, with 53 CSI schools statewide, along with 39 TSI schools and 102 ATSI schools. She also outlined KDE’s support process, including education recovery staff, diagnostic reviews, turnaround plans, and required professional learning for CSI schools.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Children and Family Law (03/25/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:24:08.559> in<00:24:08.760> different forms out for testing in different forms
  • Under the heading of filed but not forgotten, I brought some materials with me to talk about how much
  • with me to talk about uh how materials with me to talk about uh how much<00:32:22.279> of<00:
  • You see that sort of material all the time.
  • <01:08:22.759> all judge you see that sort of material all judge you see that sort of material
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The subcommittee on the Children and Family Law Committee met organizationally to continue work on family court issues, building on a prior special committee’s report and taking a collaborative approach with the Judiciary. The chair said the group would focus on solutions rather than rehashing public complaints, and identified three main topics for early study: specialization and training of family court judges, the extent to which judges should be bound by the rules of evidence, and whether mediation in family cases should be mandatory or voluntary and what qualifications mediators should have. A fourth concern was also raised about overlap between superior court domestic violence cases and family court custody/support matters, and whether one judge should hear both. Members discussed whether to divide into smaller subcommittees, but the prevailing view was to work as a committee of the whole at first. Most members agreed that additional public testimony was unlikely to add much, though recent concerns could still be emailed to the committee. The committee then heard from Attorney Erin Krian, general counsel for the judicial branch, and Judge Michael Mace. Krian said the judicial branch could provide additional witnesses on mediation and judicial training, including Judge Kissinger, and noted the branch was preparing materials on how other states handle the issues. Mace described the history of the Family Division and said he had reviewed older reports going back to the 1990s. He also outlined current judicial branch efforts, including expanded shadowing for new judges, monthly family-law trainings, and a year-long focus on family law topics. He reported that court rules had been updated to clarify notice requirements for minor guardianship changes, and that the branch had received positive feedback on the family access motion, which provides a statutory timeline and listed remedies for parenting-time disputes. Members also discussed prior committee work on rules of evidence and family court procedures. One member recalled recommending quiet review of any judges who appeared to apply evidence rules inconsistently, and Krian said the administrative judge can review complaints even if they come from a single person. The committee also received a status update on prior initiatives, including a federal grant for guardian ad litem services for indigent litigants in four locations, testing of redesigned court forms, and continued training improvements. The chair scheduled the next subcommittee meeting for April 1 and the full Children and Family Law Committee for April 8, with further documents from committee research and NCSL to be circulated.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative Evaluation & Accountability Program Jun 18th, 2025

Legislative Evaluation & Accountability Program

Transcript Highlights:
  • I know they've already done some initial testing, and they definitely were not ready for this by any
  • means to go live, but certainly we'll be doing different testing, whether it's being used in the applications
  • But yeah, it will be, I think, a long process of testing to see how it works.
  • The meeting materials have the OFM recommendation letter along with the details regarding these proposed
Summary: The LEAP committee met on June 18, 2025, with introductions from members and staff, then received a clean audit report from the State Auditor covering 2020–2024. The audit reviewed accounts payable, general disbursements, theft-sensitive assets, and data backup/recovery, and found no findings. Staff also outlined the interim work plan, including a full rewrite of the capital budget application (Build Sum), updates to the transportation bond model and operating budget tools, website improvements, and continued research into secure, responsible AI use. Members asked about AI safeguards, keyword search improvements, and making the website more user-friendly, especially on mobile devices. The committee approved the July 8, 2024 minutes after a quorum was reached. It then considered and unanimously approved several budget format changes: the Department of Corrections moved chemical dependency and sex offender treatment into its health care program and renamed Program 700 from “Offender Change” to “Reentry Services”; the Department of Revenue moved the AMP program into its tax analysis and technology support program; and the Department of Transportation changed a toll program title and added new sub-programs for State Route 509 and State Route 167 toll operations to reflect new facilities and more accurate reporting. Kevin Feltis also provided staffing updates, noting the retirements of longtime LEAP staff, the hiring of three new associate consultants in October 2024, and an upcoming December 2025 retirement for Sherry Randage after decades of state service. The new staff members briefly introduced themselves and expressed enthusiasm for their work. The meeting ended with thanks to members and staff and adjournment after the committee completed its business.