Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] I call this meeting of the Legacy Finance Committee to order.
• The CIA recruited, trained, and financed about 40,000 Hmong soldiers at its peak to collect and defend
• about 40,000 Mo soldiers at and financed about 40,000 Mo soldiers at its<00:30:06.159> peak<00
• Isn't there already a pool of money that is set aside for the improvement and upgrades of the Capitol
• Isn't there already a pool of money that is set aside for the improvement and upgrades of the Capitol

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Commerce Finance and Policy Committee.
• I had talked about some of the finance.
• <00:21:00.559> I I had talked about some of the finance I I had talked about some of the finance
• You know, having 100,000 people, do you have, like, special permit parking, designated area, car pooling
• <01:12:48.280> or parking designated area car pooling or parking designated area car pooling

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Children love to play in water, and they're often attracted to our many pools, ponds, and other bodies
• We have to support Florida Swimming Pool Association. Is there debate on the bill?
• Having experienced a child falling in my pool many, many years ago and having to pull them out, I can
• In our backyard swimming pool.
• They're preventable with consistent regulation of bodies of water and swimming pools.

Bills: S0428, S0606, S0192, S0162, S0340

Keywords: drowning prevention, water safety, swimming lessons, swim vouchers, child drowning, infant safety, toddler safety, pool safety, bath safety, safe bathing practices, postpartum education, newborn care, childbirth education, birth centers, home birth providers, Department of Health, public health, water competency, swim instruction, infant supervision

Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee met with a quorum and took up several health-related bills, with a strong focus on drowning prevention and patient safety. SB 428 by Senator Yarborough would expand Florida’s swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7. Supporters, including a pediatric emergency physician and YMCA leadership, cited Florida’s high child drowning rates and argued that swim lessons reduce risk and should be available to more children. Senator Harrell noted the need to consider increasing the program’s funding as eligibility expands. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 606 by Senator Smith, which adds drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials provided by hospitals, birthing centers, and, after amendment, no longer home birth providers. A parent who lost a child to drowning testified in support, and senators emphasized the preventability of such deaths. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 340 by Senator Harrell would require nursing students to complete a two-hour human trafficking course before licensure; after a strike-all amendment shifted the requirement from nursing programs to the students themselves, the bill received support from advocates and was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also considered SB 162 by Senator Davis, which would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies for using smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. The sponsor said the equipment is relatively inexpensive and already common in many facilities, while opponents and some senators questioned the medical evidence, enforcement, and possible impacts on rural and smaller facilities. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably, with some members voting no. SB 192, presented by Senator Trumbull on behalf of Senator Martin, would remove the $1,500 cap on advances chiropractic physicians may collect for examinations or treatment; the Florida Chiropractic Society supported the change as pro-small-business, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also received an OPAGA presentation comparing Florida’s health care practitioner regulation system with other states, focusing on board autonomy, rulemaking oversight, board composition, appointments, term limits, and funding mechanisms.

Transcript Highlights:

• THEY ARE WORKING ON BUILDING THE POOL OF PROVIDERS THAT CAN DELIVER SERVICES TO OUR CLIENTS.
• THE RISK POOL APPROPRIATION IS ONLY $3 MILLION.
• WHAT HAPPENS IS THE RISK POOL PROCESS ALWAYS HAS TO DO PRIOR TO SESSION BEGINNING BECAUSE YOU NEED TO
• IT IS NOT THE RISK POOL IT IS A MODIFIED RISK POOL YOU COULD SAY IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER ALLOWING THE
• WE ARE BUILDING THE FRAMEWORK AND IT HAS SIMILARITIES TO THE OLD RISK POOL PROCESS.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, good morning, everybody, and welcome to the Workforce, Labor, Economic Development Finance Policy
• could lose access to paid leave, which would also undermine the program by severely shrinking the pool
• , increasing costs for shrinking the pool, increasing costs for everyone<00:37:34.040> else,<00
• The smaller the number of people in the pool, the higher the costs for each person. business. business
• It's made possible when we do so as a collective community. pool, the higher the costs for each pool,

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:

• If we need more capital to do things, then the finance committee and others ought to give us all more
• So if the Board of Finance sees that there is definitely a need.
• There's a separate GROW fund that is funded out of finance committee members.
• to people that are on finance that we don't get.
• I personally would hope that the finance and get every legislator a million dollars of growth funding

Bills: SB194, SB200, SB203, SB204, SJR3

Keywords: appropriation, higher education, sports facilities, community college, Luna Community College, KANW, educational radio, rural news, public education, funding, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, cultural heritage, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University

Transcript Highlights:

• So the chance encounters is kind of one pool of data in the database, and the formal surveys and the
• But I just think in terms of how we all manage our own finances, if you were taking out a mortgage, &
• , if you were taking out a own finances, if you were taking out a mortgage, >> Senator Rosenwaldman:
• Once we have agreed language, we have three Finance votes right here. >> Yeah.
• Once we have agreed language, we have three Finance votes right here. >> Yeah.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I will call the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee to order.
• of applicants who are increased the pool of applicants who are applying<01:09:33.719> to<01:09
• with our finance and reimbursement department, trying to determine the right number of trainees that
• with our finance and reimbursement department, trying to determine the right number of trainees that
• Not in finance; it's medicine, but in my role I do work closely with our finance and reimbursement department

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that um comes from DHS and um<00:24:38.960> wiing<00:24:39.360> the<00:24:39.480> pool
• Chair, we could send this to Finance just to make them know that we care about this.
• Is that a motion to move this to Finance?
• Chair, I'll move that the bill be recommended to pass and sent to Finance. All right, we can do it.
• Do you want to go to Finance with this, or do you want to just lay it over? It's tempting.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from DHS on its early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention (EIDBI) study and related licensing proposal. Christy Grom explained that EIDBI is a Medical Assistance state plan service for children and young adults under 21 with autism or related conditions, and that DHS’s multi-phase evaluation included standards review, community engagement, and a comparison with other states. She said the service is important but that DHS identified gaps in oversight, including stretched clinical supervision, providers affiliated with many centers, out-of-state providers, and rapid growth in enrollment that has outpaced current monitoring capacity. DHS’s main recommendation was to create a provisional license for EIDBI in Chapter 245A as an immediate step, with later work toward full licensing standards. The proposal would let DHS identify controlling individuals, disqualify ineligible people, investigate maltreatment, suspend or revoke licenses, require background studies and qualifications before service delivery, move EIDBI providers into a higher-risk category for revalidation, and make DHS the lead investigative agency for maltreatment. DHS also recommended statutory standards for supervision, caseloads, training, and documentation, while emphasizing the need to balance oversight with continued access to services. Grom said the provisional licensure proposal is part of the governor’s budget and that DHS hopes to begin implementation in 2025, with a possible full license start date in 2028. Testifiers then spoke in support of EIDBI while urging the committee to preserve access and include more community input. Ana Hagi Muhammad, a parent of three autistic children and a Somali community advocate, said EIDBI has been beneficial for her family and that community organizations serving Somali families have not been sufficiently engaged in DHS’s process. Ana Muhammad, a Black mother of a young autistic child, said ABA has helped her son with communication, self-regulation, and independence, and asked that discussions reflect the diversity of family experiences. Committee members asked testifiers to keep remarks brief and to identify which modality they use, and the chair indicated the committee would continue hearing from additional testifiers before further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I'd like to start off this morning with a work session for Division One Finance.
• ><00:43:46.000> to<00:43:46.480> judicial<00:43:47.040> officers expands that pool
• And as far as finances, the initial cost of setting up the oversight and writing the rules would be the
• a member of finance who testified on<01:47:55.679> this<01:47:55.840> bill<01:47:56.239
• <02:32:03.920> to the full house for the full finance to the full house for the full finance

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee began a work session on House Bill 1600, concerning access to the centralized voter registration database on election days. Secretary of State David Scanlan testified that the state already has a new statewide voter registration system connected to town clerks and supervisors of the checklist, and that the bill was probably unnecessary but acceptable if the legislature wanted it. He raised concern about language that could require direct electronic access in every polling place, noting that some polling locations lack reliable internet or cell service and that municipalities can change polling locations, which could make a rigid requirement expensive and impractical. Members discussed whether the bill should be clarified to allow direct or indirect access, including use of a phone-based workaround, and the secretary said that would address his concern. The committee then voted on HB 1600. Representative Maguire moved ought to pass with an amendment adding “direct or indirect access” on page one, line seven, and the motion was seconded. The amendment was adopted 9-0 by voice vote, and the committee then voted 9-0 to OTP the bill. The chair stated that HB 1600 would be placed on consent. The committee next took up House Bill 1197F FN, a technical correction to insurance laws. Members noted it had already passed the House with amendment and that the fiscal note was effectively indeterminate but would not affect the general fund because the insurance agency is self-funded. The committee voted 9-0 to OTP the bill; the chair said consent calendar placement would be decided by the full committee. Finally, the committee opened a work session on House Bill 11:30 FN regarding judicial performance evaluations. Representative Lynn, the bill’s sponsor, argued that the fiscal note overstated the immediate cost and said the judicial branch could likely manage through the current biennium while implementing the new system. He also supported making judges’ names public and said the bill’s anonymity provisions were aimed at protecting the identities of questionnaire respondents, not the judges being evaluated. Members asked about public disclosure, internal access to evaluation materials, and the removal of language allowing the governor and executive council to receive evaluations on request; discussion continued on those points, but no final vote on HB 11:30 FN was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I want to talk about the Kentucky Innovation Pool a little bit, if we could.
• This maintenance pool has been and will always be some of our priority.
• Um, we rep prioritized our pool funds.
• Again, thinking replacing our pool.
• The first priority again will be the maintenance pool.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Energy and Environment, and Tourism met for its fourth meeting and approved the February 10 minutes. The committee then heard a presentation from the Cabinet for Economic Development, led by Secretary Jeff Noel, with staff from the cabinet and Kentucky Innovation. The presentation focused on the cabinet’s strategy, including workforce, entrepreneurship, innovation, infrastructure, and placemaking, and emphasized a goal of supporting higher-wage jobs while tailoring programs to urban, non-urban, and rural “heritage communities.” The cabinet reviewed several funding tools and programs, including economic development bond funds, EDF funds, KBI, the Kentucky Innovation Pool, KSTC-related startup and commercialization programs, veteran workforce programs, and Bluegrass State Skills Corporation training funds. Officials said many projects take years to close and that funds are often committed before they are actually disbursed because reimbursements occur after project completion. They also said Kentucky is less competitive than before because of changes in tax policy and that EDF funds are increasingly important to remain competitive with other states. Members asked about whether previously allocated money remained available, whether some funds could be clawed back, and the status of the Blue Oval project. The cabinet said it is oversubscribed, with some committed dollars likely to go unused and be reoffered to other projects. On Blue Oval, officials said progress had been made and described negotiations tied to repayment and job creation requirements. They also discussed the Ford/SK loan structure, saying the companies may assume the full $250 million obligation and that repayments would be required if job targets are not met. The presentation closed with discussion of workforce coordination and the need to connect economic development projects with training and support systems, including possible ripple effects for rural suppliers and related businesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I would suppose that for right now those recommendations... say somebody's in that pool and one
• And so I would suppose that for right now those recommendations... say somebody's in that pool and one
• And so I would suppose that for right now those recommendations... say somebody's in that pool and one
• And so I would suppose that for right now those recommendations... say somebody's in that pool and one
• And so I would suppose that for right now those recommendations... say somebody's in that pool and one

Keywords: This video was pulled from back ups and loaded into YouTube after the fact., 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with a procedural motion to have the record reflect that the Government Contracts Review Committee had met earlier that morning, that the chairman had attended in person, and that the committee approved a retroactive contract for enforcement counsel in the case under consideration. The motion was seconded, clarified to include any future ratification or approval if needed, and then approved unanimously. The commission then took up a motion to deny a motion to dismiss in matters 24 LEC3 and 24 LEC6; after clarifying that it was denying the motion made on August 18 and not considering a new filing, the motion passed unanimously. Staff then reported that the commission office was busy with required forms and that the budget remained in good standing and within parameters. The commission approved the financial report by motion. It was also noted that informal advisory opinions issued since the last meeting were included in the materials for review, with any questions to be handled in closed session if needed. The chairman updated members on the search for a new executive director, saying Denita would serve as acting executive director in the interim. He reported that several strong applications had been received, that a committee was reviewing and ranking candidates, and that the formal application period had closed on August 15. Members were told they could forward recommendations to the personnel committee, but that the full commission would make the final hiring decision. In new business, a member offered a remembrance of Representative Jeff Greer, and the commission observed a moment of silence in his honor before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Aloha members of the House Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
• High costs for equipment, training, and pool space make it out of reach for most families here.
• <04:39:28.680> in water polo program at Salt Lake pool in water polo program at Salt Lake
• pool in AA<04:39:29.719> Oahu<04:39:30.719> uh<04:39:30.879> this<04:39:31.199><
• My name is Jennifer Holly, and I'm the finance manager of Big Island Mediation.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we'll start with finance committee report number eight.
• Uh, we'll start with finance committee report number eight. air force and after retiring they called
• Uh, we'll start<00:07:19.280> with<00:07:19.520> finance<00:07:20.560> count.
• Uh, chair of finance. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Finance will meet at 1:00 today for 12 bills, 114 witnesses. All right. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation by Reverend Jod Gun, whose prayer was journalized by unanimous consent. The chamber then recognized several guests, including representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, who were present for a resolution honoring Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, as well as former Delegate and physician Dan Moheim, Towson University students, a veteran guest, and parents and young children visiting for Maryland Family Network’s Day in Annapolis. The Senate adopted a resolution recognizing the National Alliance on Mental Illness for its advocacy on tardive dyskinesia screening, early detection, and treatment, and designated May 5–9 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. The resolution was read and adopted without objection. The chamber also unanimously welcomed the guest groups and thanked them for their service and advocacy. In second-reader action, the Senate advanced several bills with committee amendments adopted without objection. Senate Bill 113, the Longevity Ready Maryland Act, was amended to refine aging-related planning, website reporting, and Commission on Aging membership, then ordered to third reading. Senate Bill 123 updated the membership of the Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and was also sent to third reading. Senate Bill 336 extended the Task Force on the Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances for one year and added an HBCU representative. Senate Bill 394 expanded expedited partner therapy to bacterial vaginosis and added licensed certified midwives as authorized practitioners. Senate Bill 444 changed certificate-of-need requirements for certain intermediate care facilities, and Senate Bill 461 conformed the SNAP Heat and Eat Program to federal eligibility rules; both were advanced to third reading. The Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee then took up Senate Bill 108, which would authorize the Maryland Department of the Environment to impose administrative penalties for certain water, wetlands, dam, and riparian-rights violations and expand administrative enforcement tools. Several senators raised concerns about the scope of the bill, its effect on shoreline restoration, dams, stormwater and wetlands enforcement, and whether it could allow penalties without adequate process or encourage payment instead of correction. The floor leader responded that the amendment requires notice, an informal meeting, and consideration of good-faith efforts before penalties are imposed in certain cases, and said the bill does not change permit requirements. The debate continued as members sought clarification on how the bill would apply to private dams, HOAs, farmers, and shoreline projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• investment dollars that the state gives them to... do any fee income will be required to remain in that pool
• I think it's being paid for in an appropriate pool of money, so I encourage a green vote on this amendment
• To present to you House File 2431, the Higher Education Finance and Policy Bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• They choose the platform that's best suited to their need based on the talent pool within the agency.
• The other piece is we've got these old, outdated systems that require a shrinking resource pool and their
• I just heard something that kind of sparked finance in my head, and it was that they have a chief financial

Summary: The subcommittee first heard a panel on state cloud modernization efforts after canceling an LBR on the Department of Corrections’ OBIS project because the presentation materials were not submitted on time. Florida Digital Service, the Northwest Regional Data Center, and several agencies described how the state is assessing and migrating applications to cloud environments under the cloud-first policy. Northwest explained its 2023 cloud readiness assessment of 890 applications from 24 agencies, the criteria used to rate readiness and risk, and its recommendation to tackle lower-risk applications first. Agency updates covered the Department of Corrections’ modernization of 98 legacy applications tied to OBIS and cloud-native infrastructure, the Department of Elder Affairs’ Microsoft Power Platform modernization, the Department of Health’s health management and child protection systems, and FDOT’s large cloud program for transportation systems. Members repeatedly asked about costs, data ownership, disaster recovery, single sign-on, security tools, and whether cloud migration actually saves money; presenters generally said the focus is more on modernization, resilience, and efficiency than immediate savings, and that cost analyses are often application-specific rather than enterprise-wide. The discussion also covered governance and architecture questions. Florida Digital Service said agencies remain responsible for their own databases and cloud tenants, while FLDS provides advice and an enterprise architecture framework; it does not have statutory oversight over most projects, except for OBIS project oversight due to its size. Northwest said it is acting as a cloud broker for some agencies and is consolidating Azure and AWS payer tenants to seek better pricing, but agencies still make system-by-system decisions based on business needs, risk, latency, and total cost of ownership. Members raised concerns about fragmented data structures, the lack of a complete statewide application inventory, and the need for better interoperability and enterprise standards. Several agencies said disaster recovery is built into their cloud plans, and FDOT and Corrections described ongoing efforts to keep systems current through core platforms, training, and ongoing support. In the second half of the meeting, the Department of State presented two new technology requests. Secretary Byrd described the SunBiz corporate registry system as a 34-year-old platform supporting more than 3.5 million business entities and generating over $575 million in annual general revenue. He said the department had already virtualized the legacy hardware after earlier modernization efforts failed and is now seeking $800,000 recurring for password protection and $5 million nonrecurring to continue procurement for a replacement system. The department also presented the Florida Voter Registration System modernization request, noting that the current system is outdated and requires manual workarounds for some statutory changes. The department requested $2.4948 million nonrecurring and $44,000 recurring to procure a modernized FVRS solution, and staff said the feasibility study recommended a hybrid approach. Members asked about the study’s findings and about creating a database for voter eligibility information for returning citizens; the department said that would require data sharing with all 67 clerks of court and other entities such as DOC.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Finance Committee substitute for Senate Bill 241 has been written as my title is referred to the
• House Appropriations and Finance Committee.
• Speaker and gentlelady, I know you serve on the Finance Committee.
• I think it changes the whole pool altogether. So I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing.
• Your House Appropriations and Finance Committee will meet 15 minutes after the floor session. and Finance

Bills: HB145, HB164, HJR6, HR1, HB20, HB65, HB66, HB80, HB166, HB295, HB306, SB29, SB37, HB99, HB206, HB213, HB270, HJR5, SB104, SB193, HJM2, HJM3, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM20, HM51, HM1, HM31, HM35, HM36, HM46, HM53, HM54, HM39, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, lobbying, transparency, public records, government oversight, accountability, constitutional amendment, legislative sessions, veto override, New Mexico legislature, session length, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation

Transcript Highlights:

• Sheriff Robert Ogden, who came in from the Vineyard this morning on the early boat, as well as his finance
• It's time for Berkeley to really take control of its finances and to be more responsible with taxpayer
• I served on the Finance Committee of my town of Winchester for four years, and I'm presently a member
• at-large seats to five elected at-large seats is problematic because it will restrict the candidate pool

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held its first hearing of the year and took testimony on a large slate of home rule petitions and related local bills. Early testimony focused on H. 2314 for the Dukes County Regional Lockup Fund, with supporters from Martha’s Vineyard saying the island’s lockup is essential to local policing and that the fund would be supported by town assessments rather than state money. The committee also heard support for S. 21, a Nantucket bill to amend the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission, and for several local governance measures including Akushnet’s charter change to remove a two-year waiting period for former officials taking appointed paid positions, Rochester’s governance reform bill defining the town administrator’s role, Berkeley’s proposal to convert the treasurer-collector position to an appointed office, Hanson’s permitting enforcement bill, and a Wellfleet bill authorizing a lease for the food pantry. A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 21 for Nantucket, with witnesses sharply divided. Supporters argued the commission needs broader representation, more transparency, and a structure that better reflects town meeting votes, citing repeated town meeting approvals and frustration with delays in bringing reforms forward. Opponents, including current commission members and staff, said the existing commission is already working on its own reform proposal, that the bill was advanced without sufficient collaboration, and that elected seats and term limits would narrow participation and complicate the commission’s advisory role. Committee members questioned both sides about the town meeting process, the commission’s responsibilities, and the timing of competing proposals. The committee also heard testimony in favor of a bill allowing the Cotuit Fire District to pursue source-water protection projects on private property with owner consent, citing concerns about aquifer contamination and rising treatment needs, and in support of legislation requiring AEDs, with a Norfolk County register of deeds describing the low cost and life-saving value of the devices. Another witness spoke in favor of a regional commission proposal for Middlesex County, arguing that local communities need stronger regional planning tools to address development and environmental pressures. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing; the chair later read many additional bills into the record and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• think of lifeguards, the first thing that comes to mind is a skinny, aloof teenager who lounges by the pool
• I'm going to be off island today, but Aaron Conner Jerome from the Department of Budget and Finance will
• have offering comments from the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and the Hawaii Housing Finance
• have offering comments from the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and the Hawaii Housing Finance

Bills: HCR112

Keywords: HCR112, House Concurrent Resolution, DHRD, Department of Human Resources Development, civil service, classification system, compensation system, salary study, pay scale, job classification, position classification, state workforce, vacancy rate, hard-to-fill positions, labor shortage, recruitment, retention, public employees, state agencies, labor organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• And what we are trying to assess are opportunities to strengthen policies and financing strategies.
• some of the challenges that we're going to be facing in the coming months and years: strategies, financing
• Today, the Legislative Finance Committee presented to us on health and human services, money that is
• So, there are separate risk pools in the individual and the small group markets.