Transcript Highlights:

• needs, document automation, being able to integrate documents across budget units, budget analysis, contract
• And then any of those rules as well shouldn't favor incumbent contracts or larger companies.
• Why is this contract review slow?
• The location and designation for land use must be sufficient for the development of data centers and
• How is the county supposed to know what amount of land is sufficient in location or extent?

Committee: House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Committee heard a presentation from Steven Garrison of the Cicero Institute on how Arizona state government could use AI to improve service delivery, reduce costs, and streamline procurement. He argued AI should be treated as software, with agencies proactively identifying use cases, tracking outcomes, and avoiding unnecessary agency-level regulation or new bureaucratic structures. Members questioned him about workforce impacts, privacy, agency involvement, and the balance between innovation and guardrails; he said AI would likely augment workers in the short term and create new jobs over time, while legislative oversight should focus on specific harms and gaps in law rather than broad agency rules. The committee then considered HB 2592, which directs the Arizona Department of Administration to require budget units to identify AI opportunities, reduce administrative duties, streamline procurement, and establish AI governance, while also sending emergency or temporary AI rules to the legislature for approval. An amendment added reporting requirements to the governor, legislative leaders, and Secretary of State on efficiency measures and barriers encountered. After limited testimony, including support from Jeannie Magdua of Conservative Ladies of America, the committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill as amended on a 4-2 vote, with one member absent. The final bill, HB 2452, would add data centers and small modular reactors to county comprehensive planning considerations and adjust county planning requirements for land use and energy-related development. Supporters, including Russell Smolden of the Arizona Municipal Power Users Association and Dave Morris of Americans for Prosperity Arizona, said the bill would improve long-term planning for data centers, energy infrastructure, and emerging technologies. The County Supervisors Association opposed it, arguing it improperly singled out specific uses, blurred comprehensive planning with zoning, and reduced local control. The committee passed HB 2452 on a 4-3 vote and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• needs, document automation, being able to integrate documents across budget units, budget analysis, contract
• And then any of those rules as well shouldn't favor incumbent contracts or larger companies.
• Why is this contract review slow?
• The location and designation for land use must be sufficient for the development of data centers and
• How is the county supposed to know what amount of land is sufficient in location or extent?

Bills: HB2452 , HB2592

Committees: House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation , House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Keywords: comprehensive plans, county governance, data centers, zoning, state regulations, land use, energy production, infrastructure, environmental impact, artificial intelligence, government regulation, innovation, procurement, administrative burdens

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know the whole circumstances of these contingency contracts.
• Yeah, I mean, so 2,700 contracts, or, you know, municipalities, it became very... 2,700 contracts or
• Private attorney contracting.
• You can make a separate contract with them to work at an hourly rate.
• Why would the contract not comply?

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and Kentucky Task Force 2 that's located and Kentucky Task Force 2 that's located Two<00:04:39.080
• > Task Force 1 is located over at Task Force 1 is located over at Bluegrass<00:04:43.080><c> Station<
• We can keep up with every single house or location that we've checked.
• My lack of knowledge about the locations of the search and rescue.
• That was the idea and that's why we picked those locations. Uh, where it's currently...

Summary: The committee received a budget and program update from Kentucky Emergency Management on the state’s urban search and rescue buildout. Eric Gibson and Doug Hargrave said the legislature’s funding was used to create FEMA-type urban search and rescue capacity, including Kentucky Task Force 1 and 2, the incident support team, and the helicopter aquatic rescue/hoist team. They emphasized that the effort is not just equipment purchases but also training, credentialing, warehouse and training-facility development, canine program expansion, and coordination with local search and rescue agencies across the Commonwealth. Gibson reported that the agency executed 99.4% of the $16.175 million appropriation by the end of the fiscal year and said the team met its readiness target ahead of schedule, with equipment already being deployed in recent flood response operations. He also said $500,000 per year was set aside for local search and rescue grants, with about $482,000 awarded to 29 teams in one year and $490,000 to 36 teams in the next, averaging about $20,000 per grant. Several members urged the committee to consider increasing support for local responders in future budgets, noting rising equipment costs and the importance of local teams as first on scene. Members asked about staffing, coverage, and benefits. Gibson explained that the task force is a mixed workforce of full-time fire personnel loaned from local departments, professional service staff such as doctors and engineers, and temporary deployment staff, with workers’ compensation coverage provided through KYEM and/or home agencies depending on the arrangement. He also said local search and rescue members are not currently included in line-of-duty death benefits. In response to questions about coverage and deployment, he described the two task force locations as designed to keep resources within roughly 100 miles of every Kentuckian. The discussion also turned to recent flood response and disaster recovery. Gibson said the state had mobilized up to 24 teams over the weekend, documented roughly 60 to 80 water rescues or assisted evacuations, and was seeing significant damage in counties such as Cumberland, Clinton, and Metcalfe, including agricultural losses. He said several counties were meeting FEMA public assistance thresholds and that the state was preparing a broader relief request that could include FEMA, SBA, and USDA assistance. He also updated members on efforts to claw back and reallocate unused “strained fiscal liquidity” funds by the statutory deadline, saying notices were sent and funds were redirected where possible to unmet local needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wca is removing vessels through contracts ourselves through through contractors.
• Not all of the 450 areas were located in the primary focus of the other counties in the study.
• agency have their own equipment to do some of the smaller ones themselves faster or is it always contract
• And there's a much faster or is it always contract it out?
• and I think the reason why you see more in Brevard and Monroe counties just basically the size and location

Transcript Highlights:

• So they could go, for example, from having a contracted dental service, which is a required service,
• The officer arrived shortly after and asked to meet with just me at another location in the same parking
• That response from DHW and the officer's lack of urgency in locating the newborn that afternoon was the
• told repeatedly by DHW and Nampa PD that history doesn't matter, and this is a new case, to help locate
• A letter from the Idaho Health and Social Services Ombudsman is located in your packet, and he concluded

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• education has primarily been separate, although it’s Title II of WIOA, and a lot of times these are located
• WIOA, and primarily has been separate, although it's Title II of WIOA, and a lot of times these are located
• And then beyond that, you can do more pay-for-performance contracts.
• I think one-stop centers are best when they are co-located where training happens, whether that's on
• All we want to do is add job location, the name of the occupation, down to a six-digit ZIP code, and

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Nick Moore, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Career and Technical Education, on efforts to better align workforce, education, and human services programs. Moore argued that WIOA, Perkins, and ESSA were designed to function as an integrated talent system, but that federal and state bureaucracy has kept them siloed. He said the Department of Labor and OCTAE are working on more integrated state plan guidance, including a 2026 plan modification timeline, combined Perkins/WIOA plans, and greater use of labor market information to align training with in-demand jobs and Workforce Pell. Moore emphasized reducing overhead, cross-training staff, using common intake and integrated case management, and focusing on the “shadow labor force” of people facing benefit cliffs, child care barriers, or other obstacles to work. He repeatedly urged states to use waivers and flexibility where possible, to consolidate or streamline local workforce structures, and to hold programs accountable through measures such as labor force participation, training-related employment, retention, and cost per successful outcome. Members asked about the balance between flexibility and accountability, the role of employers versus postsecondary institutions, rural “training deserts,” state waivers, and data systems such as Mississippi Spark and Arkansas Launch. Moore said states should use technology and integrated intake to co-enroll eligible participants in multiple programs and better match people to jobs. In response to questions, Moore said some federal rules cannot be waived, but many reporting and administrative requirements can be streamlined, and he encouraged Arkansas to propose ideas for waivers or state-level integration. He also discussed the need for enhanced wage records and state longitudinal data systems to improve workforce planning and economic development. After Moore’s presentation, DHS Secretary Janet Mann and Director Jay Hill gave a brief update on reimbursement rates, saying the department had compiled more than 100 public comments, recommended holding the current rate, and was awaiting executive review; they estimated the process could take 30 to 60 days. The committee then adjourned, noting a later audit presentation scheduled for the afternoon.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, it clarifies that students in charter and tribal contract schools have access to the rigorous
• is a reviser instruction that also deals with the PSEO for students in charter schools and tribal contract
• we relocated a section of law from Article 5 into Article 2, just where it was more appropriately located
• beginning on line 23.1, adds a new sub-paragraph to make it clear that charter schools that change location
• must also update their market need and demand study for the new location.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• reminder, anyone present invited to testify before the committee will need to register at the kiosk located
• How have you selected the locations that you've chosen?
• Yes, because I'm guessing that there's more location than you, there's still a whole bunch of locations
• There was a request that they refund 10% of their contract. What is the status of that?
• That is correct. 7.3 million which is 10% of the contemplated charges over the four years of the contract

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• with farmers or contracts with the.
• with farmers or contracts with national security.
• Could you explain when you say it allows the individual homeowner to contract?
• So if the individual homeowner, that's not a contract dictated by state law.
• That would be a contract that'd be dictated by the parties involved.

Bills: HJR1088 , HJR1090 , HJR1091 , HB1370 , SB2154 , HJR1092 , HJR1093 , HJR1095 , HJR1099 , HJR1100 , HB3021 , SB893 , SB206 , SB248 , SB259 , SB423 , SB563 , SB604 , SB633 , HJR1077 , SB667 , SB1224 , SB1257 , SB1264 , SB1319 , SB1360 , SB1437 , SB1531 , SB1543 , SB1806 , HB3004 , SB1572 , HB4342 , SB1618 , SB2 , SB237 , SB1632 , SB1687 , SB1726 , SB1859 , SB1894 , SB1461 , HB4432 , SB1948 , SB1589 , SJR52 , SR46 , HCR1030 , SB2071 , SB2182 , SB1451 , HJR1088 , HJR1090 , HJR1091 , HJR1092 , HJR1093 , HJR1095 , HJR1096 , HJR1099 , HJR1100 , SB2185 , SB893 , HB3021 , SR46 , SB206 , SB237 , SB248 , SB259 , SB423 , SB563 , SB604 , SB625 , SB633 , SB667 , SB1224 , SB1257 , SB1264 , SB1319 , SB1360 , SB1378 , SB1437 , SB1531 , SB1543 , SB1572 , SB1618 , SB1632 , SB1687 , SB1726 , SB1806 , SB1859 , SB1894 , SB1948 , SB2071 , SJR52 , HB1370 , HJR1077 , SB2 , SB1451 , SB2182 , HCR1030

Keywords: education rules, administrative rules, joint resolution, Oklahoma State Department of Education, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, Teachers' Retirement System, charter schools, Statewide Charter School Board, career and technology education, CTE, OEQA, rule approval, legislative oversight, permanent rules, school governance, teacher retirement, education agencies, Oklahoma Register, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that how that's contracted?
• Commercial payers have private contracts with hospitals, with other providers, et cetera.
• And in those private contracts, it's not just the payer rate that becomes a problem.
• I know where it's located, I just don't know the name. Morning, Madam Chairman.
• The facility that is closing is The Pillars of the Community, located in Crossett.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• Wishing to testify before the committee, please register at the kiosk located in the hallways behind
• How do you let contracts?
• How do you do the analysis of contracts to make sure that there are good contracts, good construction
• Where are these kiosks located? They can be at convenience stores, gas stations. What do they say?
• After we sign contracts with any new client, we integrate with their payroll and time and attendance

Bills: HB1453 , HB1718 , HB2043 , HB2207 , HB2798

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: local governments, anticipation notes, certificates of obligation, public works, flood control, financial management, local government, municipal financing, private activity bonds, closing definition, real estate finance, bond issuance, government regulation, bond election, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, political subdivision, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• It permits districts to contract with a city or town to provide administrative services.
• It permits districts to contract with a city or town to provide administrative services.
• That's how much they contracted for outside private attorneys to defend against tort.
• That's how much they contracted for outside private attorneys to defend against tort.
• House Bill 1796, concerning school districts' authority to contract indebtedness.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on March 2, 2026, and worked through two large groups of bills, hearing staff briefings, caucusing, and then voting each measure out to the Rules Committee. In the first group, the committee advanced bills on state accounts (HB 2675, with an amendment creating an adult day service facilities account), immigrant worker protections (2SHB 2105, after adopting a striker and Amendment 8 while rejecting amendments that would have changed enforcement and private rights of action), voting rights compliance (E3SHB 1710, with all proposed amendments rejected), AI content provenance and notices (E2SHB 1170, with Amendment 19 adopted to exempt state/local/tribal governments and certain video-game and technical uses), public official protections (2SHB 233, with a technical amendment adopted), WOTEC civil service coverage (HB 2249), JLARC work plan changes (HB 2120), LEOFF Plan 1 termination/restatement (E2SHB 2034, with several amendments adopted including creation of a pension surplus holding account and study directives, while proposals to redirect funds to the Climate Commitment Act or provide a lump-sum payment were rejected or withdrawn), supplemental retirement bargaining (HB 1069, with a striker adopted), port employee retirement exclusions (EHB 2179, with a striker adopted), local government revenue flexibility (ESHB 2442, with Amendment 72 adopted to remove a county public utility tax and other amendments rejected), wildfire mitigation funding (SHB 2089), and timberland REET changes (HB 1983). The committee also noted that it would not take action on some items in the packet, including SHB 1833. In the second group, the committee advanced bills on local housing tax remittance programs (ESHB 1717), renewable energy tax incentives and grants (E3SHB 1960, with a striking amendment adopted that adjusted rates, timing, and related provisions), nonprofit fundraising hall property tax relief (HB 2431), food bank sales tax relief (SB 6006), local tax increment financing (E2SHB 2451), temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health entities (SB 6297), school and child care-related sales tax exemptions (SSB 6351, with a substitute adopted and the competing amendment made out of order), behavioral health work group extension and leadership council creation (2SHB 2429), Working Connections Child Care changes (SB 6353, with Amendment 43 adopted), language access guidelines for state agencies (SHB 2475), unpaid wage recovery (2SHB 2479), firearms background check fee authority (HB 2521, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided), public employee information sharing (HB 2091, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided), and Office of Independent Investigations jurisdiction changes (ESHB 2508, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided). Throughout the meeting, members and staff discussed fiscal notes, implementation costs, and whether amendments would increase or reduce state impacts, with several amendments aimed at narrowing scope, delaying implementation, or shifting enforcement and funding responsibilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1697 will extend the date from 2026 to 2027 for when employment contracts are subject and enforceable
• AB 1697 will extend the date from 2026 to 2027 for when employment contracts are subject and enforceable
• provisions, exit fees, pay to quit requirements, Perhaps stay-or-pay employment contract provisions,
• negotiate through collective bargaining, and more time to comply with California's labor law. ...contracts
• accessible through public records and online databases, creating a direct pathway for bad actors to locate

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met as a subcommittee and announced a large agenda, including a consent calendar and several bills pulled for separate hearing. Early in the hearing, the committee heard AB 1876, which would codify federal nondiscrimination protections in state health care law. The author and supporters said it would protect access to coverage and services for all protected classes, including transgender people, while opponents argued it would force coverage of disputed gender-affirming treatments and impose penalties on providers and insurers. No vote was taken during the informational-style presentation, and the author requested an aye vote when a quorum was present. The committee then heard AB 1650 on requiring rental vehicles used by government agencies for enforcement to be clearly marked, with supporters describing it as a transparency and public-trust measure in response to immigration enforcement activity and opponents later withdrawing opposition after discussions with the author. AB 635, dealing with the Mobile Home Residency Law Protection Program, would extend and revise a resident-funded legal assistance program for mobile home owners; supporters said it improves access to justice and enforcement, and there was no opposition. AB 1697 would extend the date for enforceability of certain employment contract provisions under AB 692 and add an urgency clause; the NFL supported it, SIFMA was support-if-amended, and the chair noted sympathy for some workers while expressing concern about high-paid executives. The committee also heard AB 2784, the annual State Bar fee bill, which held fees flat while making governance and reporting changes; it drew support from the State Bar and no opposition. AB 2782, the Assembly Judiciary Committee civil omnibus bill, made minor clarifying code changes and also drew no opposition. Other measures heard included AB 2662 on monitoring and reporting federal immigration enforcement impacts, AB 2235 on allowing judges to use alternate mailing addresses for safety, AB 1544 on courthouse access and transparency, AB 2624 expanding Safe at Home protections to immigrant service providers, AB 1857 to block grocery restrictive covenants that prevent new grocery stores in underserved areas, AB 1892 clarifying HOA duties and election notice rules, AB 634 banning products containing tianeptine, AB 1684 limiting HOA restrictions on home cooling systems, AB 1752 increasing appraisal reimbursement in eminent domain cases, AB 1660 improving compliance by financial institutions with public guardian requests, AB 782 narrowing a prior housing redevelopment law for certain charter cities, and AB 2195 limiting occupational license suspensions for low-income parents owing child support. Across these bills, testimony was largely supportive, with several measures drawing “support if amended” or no opposition after negotiations; the transcript does not reflect final votes on the bills discussed here.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this might be the central location for where they can go get telehealth services or a hub.
• And then again, here's the list of them for the locations in North Dakota, just because sometimes those
• So how quickly can we contract, liquidate, and spend the funding as well.
• So how quickly can we contract, liquidate, and spend the funding as well as our compliance initiatives
• We do anticipate a number of different mechanisms to award these funds: direct contracts...

Summary: The Joint Policy Committee met to hear an overview of North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program before taking up the related policy bills. Department of Health and Human Services staff explained that the state received a $198.9 million CMS award, with funding focused on four pillars: strengthening rural workforce, bringing care closer to home, connecting technology and data, and improving population health through prevention. They emphasized that the program is intended to benefit rural and frontier residents statewide, including areas near urban centers when the project serves rural patients, and that CMS approval, provider readiness, and sustainability will drive what can be funded. Committee members asked about how the program would treat border communities, frontier counties, urban providers serving rural patients, multilingual outreach, tribal consultation, and whether there would be information sessions for applicants. HHS said the website will include sign-up and translation features, more listening sessions and training will be offered, and a rural health tribal liaison will work alongside the existing Medicaid tribal liaison. Members also raised concerns about reimbursement timing, cash flow for providers, and whether projects in urban areas could qualify; HHS responded that urban projects may be eligible if they clearly benefit rural residents. The department then outlined the four policy bills tied to the grant scoring: nutrition continuing medical education for physicians, the presidential fitness test, the physician assistant compact, and pharmacist scope of practice. HHS said these policy actions were incentivized in the federal funding opportunity and that failure to pass them could reduce future funding. The committee did not take final action on the bills in this portion of the transcript and recessed for lunch before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a contract lobbyist with the firm Westerberg Aston Associates.
• I'm a contract lobbyist with the firm Westerberg Aston Associates.
• Securing Election Day polling locations are a constant challenge.
• Securing Election Day polling locations are a constant challenge.
• located in residential areas.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• If you don't have one already, you can contract with another entity.
• And it is located next to the Salton Sea, the Colorado River, so on and so forth.
• It might not be quite as hot, you know, in other locations.
• But in California, most of the data centers today are co-location data centers.
• In California, most of the data centers today are co-location data centers.

Summary: The informational hearing focused on California’s future water supply and, in particular, how the state tracks and manages commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) water use, including data centers. The chair and members framed the issue as a “trifecta” of climate-driven supply uncertainty, limited monitoring of CII uses, and rapidly changing industries with significant water demands. Committee members emphasized the need for better data before imposing broad regulations, while also expressing concern about protecting ratepayers and ensuring new large users pay their fair share. Representatives from the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board reviewed the state’s existing framework: urban water management plans, water supply assessments for large projects, SBX7-7’s 20% by 2020 conservation goals, and the 2018 Making Conservation a California Way of Life law. They explained that process water, including data center cooling water, is statutorily excluded from some conservation targets, and that current CII reporting is aggregated rather than facility-specific. They also noted that local water suppliers and land use agencies retain major responsibility for approving development, while state rules and groundwater sustainability requirements provide additional checks. Committee members pressed the agencies on whether data centers should be treated differently, how recycled water is categorized, whether process water should remain exempt, and whether the state has enough information to understand the water impacts of new facilities. The agencies said they could not recommend specific water sources for individual facilities, but could support community-by-community planning and best management practices. They also said the Legislature could direct additional data collection if needed. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only. The second panel, from CalWEP and California Water Service, described how suppliers are implementing CII programs in practice. They said CII use varies widely by sector and location, making one-size-fits-all benchmarks difficult. They highlighted tools such as AI-assisted customer classification, mapping of disclosure buildings, outreach guides, and customized rebate programs for high-use customers. Examples included water-saving projects at a hydrogen plant, a commercial laundry, and fire department training systems. Speakers stressed that CII conservation work is resource-intensive, often takes years, and works best when paired with local planning, customer outreach, and targeted incentives.

Transcript Highlights:

• with landowners to provide hunting, fishing, trapping access, and those are under a contract that we
• one remote retail location or tap house-type location.
• and then one remote retail location or tap house-type location.
• We have two locations. We are two vibrant locations. We have over 70 employees.
• We have two locations. We are two vibrant locations.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• mapping Grant program, which is remapping things much within 2 years ago for schools of critical locations
• event that there is an absolute emergency and through that telephone number, they would get geo locating
• There is a provision under this bill that says if you are in a transit location, hotel, motel, vacation
• That there is not one particular form so you could go to one location.
• They have you check certain boxes and they have you signed for there's other locations where it may not

Transcript Highlights:

• With Newport, we have completed the lease with the City of Newport to be located on their City Hall,
• Some of the funds have been awarded, and a grant contract signed, so the funds are encumbered.
• Contract signed yet.
• In addition to air monitoring at stationary locations, one of the things that the agency asked for and
• 24-7 monitor that is across the street so people can see what is going on. from the Smith Foundry location

Bills: HF1587 , HF2293 , HF2218 , HF1208 , HF1482

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy