Transcript Highlights:

• <00:53:06.440> by education in the handbook distributed by education in the handbook distributed
• The technology itself is expensive.
• The technology itself is expensive.
• <01:45:42.679> is vast majority of that technology is vast majority of that technology is
• replace that technology replace that technology requires<01:45:57.679> um<01:45:58.320>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first discussed scheduling and notice for upcoming executive sessions on a larger slate of bills, including plans to take up eight bills in the morning and possibly the last three bills in the afternoon, with caucus time provided if needed. The chair emphasized advance notice, publication, and flexibility if more bills are added later. The hearing then opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and proceeded to HB 568, a bill allowing local planning boards to request water supply studies for subdivisions to ensure water adequacy as housing density increases. Representative Kat McGee, the prime sponsor, said HB 568 was developed after constituent concerns about private wells being affected by nearby development. She described the bill as narrowly tailored, non-mandatory, and intended to preserve local control while clarifying that planning boards may request studies under local regulations. She noted bipartisan support, an exclusion for community water systems and larger groundwater withdrawals regulated elsewhere, and said the bill would help prevent water shortages and related problems for new and existing homes. Questions from members focused on whether the bill should specify that it applies to subdivisions of four or more lots, since that language had been in an earlier version. Testimony on HB 568 was mixed. Bob Quinn of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors opposed the bill, arguing it lacked a definition of “water supply study,” could lead to expensive hydrology studies, and might raise housing costs; he suggested more work with DES or a study committee. DES administrator Brandon Kernin said the department had worked from a 2010 groundwater commission report, that such problems arise only intermittently in certain areas, and that the bill would make explicit local authority to adopt such ordinances. He also said DES data and homeowner surveys can help identify problem areas and that more robust wells could be considered in the long term. The committee noted 10 online submissions in favor and 3 opposed, plus blue-sheet testimony of 2 in favor and 1 neutral, and then closed the hearing on HB 568. The committee immediately opened HB 582, a bill on safety requirements for operation of personal watercraft. Representative Darby, the sponsor, said the bill responds to the speed and maneuverability of modern personal watercraft, which he described as more like motorcycles on water than traditional boats, and cited a fatal accident on Lake Monomonac as an example of the risks. He said the bill is not intended to restrict ordinary recreation or wake surfing, but to update safety standards for a newer class of larger, quieter three-person PWCs. The hearing began with Darby’s presentation, and no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, the second thing on distribution.
• We need to embrace the new technology.
• the new technology. the new technology.
• But in addition to that, technologies.
• saying, "Current electric bus technology saying, "Current electric bus technology is<03:33:07.400

Keywords: House streaming session for Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a quorum call showing 116 members present, and approval of the previous day’s journal. It then took up three ceremonial resolutions. One honored Robert Buchanan for his philanthropy, community leadership, and service in the greater Washington region; another welcomed a visiting delegation from County Tipperary, Ireland, and recognized efforts to strengthen Maryland-Ireland ties; and a third congratulated Dr. Miriam Rogers on her retirement as superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools and her 2026 Woman in School Leadership Award. The chamber then moved through a series of committee reports, largely adopting favorable reports on bills without objection and ordering them to third reading. Measures included House Bills 435, 954, 1087, 1470, 936, 1110, 1554, 187, 324, 688, 776, 1152, 1320, and 1348, covering topics such as movie captioning in public accommodations, procurement and finance, health care facilities, school food procurement, tax foreclosure notice requirements, agricultural electricity tax study, expungement, child support rights, intercepted communications penalties, juvenile supervision, police orders studies, victim notification, and human trafficking reporting. Several bills were amended before being advanced, including House Bill 768 on benefits for children in custody, which added a foster youth savings program; House Bill 877 on institutional debt reporting, which changed reporting dates and required a data dictionary; House Bill 1092 on child advocacy centers, which clarified continuity-of-care standards and technical assistance grants; House Bill 310 on restrictive housing for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities, which required assessment at admission; House Bill 634 on police training, which added training on intellectual and developmental disabilities; House Bill 750 on access to religious facilities; House Bill 752 on gift card valuation and forgery; House Bill 1005 on child abuse and neglect reporting; and House Bill 1105 on consumer protection limitations, which was amended to apply only to civil suits. House Bill 1105 drew additional discussion, with the minority leader asking for a special order to review the changes, and the House agreed to postpone it until the appropriate time the next day. Later, House Bill 953, which would authorize transfers from the Revenue Stabilization Account to the State Disaster Recovery Fund, prompted extended questioning about Western Maryland flooding, FEMA denials, and the state’s response; the bill was presented as a way to provide relief after federal aid was denied. The transcript ends with the House still in session and continuing through the appropriations report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we'll conclude with a review of how these revenues are distributed at the district level.
• , or the amount distributed is 14% of prior-year sales and use tax collections.
• when compared to the distribution that happened in 2015.
• And this represents 60% growth in the annual distribution when compared to the distribution that happened
• So in 2025, $3.7 billion was distributed in foundation funds to districts and charters.

Summary: The House and Senate Education Committee first approved minutes from February 2 and 3, then took up an interim study proposal on adult education and the Excel Center model. Representatives from Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, the Excel Center network, and the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities testified that roughly 300,000 Arkansans over age 19 lack a high school diploma or GED, and argued that the Excel Center provides a supported diploma pathway for adults who struggle with GED testing. Witnesses highlighted wraparound services such as free child care, transportation assistance, tutoring, life coaching, and career services, and cited outcomes including high retention, growing enrollment, and research showing higher employment and earnings and lower criminal justice involvement for graduates. Committee members raised questions about the state’s role, existing adult education programs, and how the study would be structured; the motion to adopt the ISP passed, though there was some procedural disagreement about when questions should have been taken. The committee then heard a detailed adequacy funding overview from BLR staff Katie Walden and Adrian Beck on Arkansas K-12 education finance. They reviewed national funding principles and explained Arkansas’s system, including state and local revenue sources, the Public School Fund, the Educational Excellence Trust Fund, the Educational Adequacy Fund, and the Facilities Partnership Program. Staff said K-12 state and local revenues totaled $6.6 billion in 2025, with foundation funding making up the largest share of district and charter funding, followed by additional, categorical, and supplemental funds. They also explained the matrix-based foundation formula, the role of the uniform rate of tax, and how categorical and supplemental funds support areas such as alternative learning, English learners, special education high-cost cases, teacher salary equalization, declining enrollment, and student growth. Members asked several follow-up questions about how specific funding categories are defined and used, including student support staff, instructional aides, special education high-cost occurrences, ALE funding, teacher salary equalization, and the inclusion of Excel Center amounts in state-local funding totals. Staff said some of those details would be addressed in a later presentation and offered to provide additional records, including district lists and historical information. The meeting ended after the funding overview, with no additional votes or actions beyond the ISP adoption and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Interesting technology, great platform.
• We have the technology to detect all these drones, and there’s technology to take them down, but we don't
• Is it safe to say that old technology is more reliable and effective than the newer technology?
• problem as the way the new technology did.
• That old technology is great for that.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The distribution of that membership is approximately and a half million active members and about a half
• You also have these emerging technology. data centers and I don't even know what else you call them,
• But large projects, whether they're technologically... oriented or other high water need projects, they
• , high use technology, data centers, bitcoins. semiconductors, are you implementing that or incorporating
• Subcommittee assignments have been distributed. to your committee mailbox.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So kindly go and pick those up so you can distribute those to the recipients.
• It relates to establishing the Distributed Energy Resources Task Force and its sunset.
• House Bill 285, as enrolled, established a Distributed Energy Resources Task Force.
• Speaker, House Bill 285 as enrolled, established a distributed energy resources task force.
• You load forecasting practices by utilities, which includes distribution cooperatives.

Keywords: April 22, 2026 - Reconvened Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are not an affordable financial assistance provider, and we do not have funds to distribute to clients
• <00:05:03.280> As<00:05:03.520> a funds to distribute to clients.
• As a funds to distribute to clients.
• House File 3913 would provide $5 million to the Department of Revenue to bolster their technology and
• House File 3913 would provide $5 million to the Department of Revenue to bolster their technology and

Bills: HF4119, HF3959, HF3792, HF3913, HF3752

Keywords: property tax, renter credits, co-pay, housing affordability, tax relief, homestead, tax refund, Minnesota, tax increase, financial relief, homeowners, AmeriCorps, taxation, individual income tax, living allowances, stipends, national service, tax compliance, revenue, analytics

Transcript Highlights:

• The technologies and methods Is required by this bill already exists in work arising from the lawsuit
• We'll make sure the written materials are distributed.
• There are almost 20,000, and more are discovered every day with technology.
• A lot of these things are being distributed into biosolids to corporations that contract...
• Through wastewater treatment with municipalities, and then they turn around and distribute this sludge

Bills: HB1341, HB1674, HB4028, SB2321

Keywords: hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an unprecedented, arbitrary, and immediate pause in the distribution of critical resources that's
• So we have felt that by having that regional application, you'll also—excuse me—distribution of funding
• And while I understand we may need to fill gaps with some apps and other technological programs that
• And while I understand we may need to fill gaps with, you know, some apps and other technological school
• uh some apps and other technological programs that can be an important tool.

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the chair and members about recent federal cuts to public health, mental health, family planning, and Title X funding, with strong concern about the impact on California programs and providers. The committee then turned to the Department of State Hospitals, which presented its 2025-26 budget proposal of $3.4 billion, including new positions, capital improvements, and funding tied to increased patient costs and incompetent-to-stand-trial services. DSH reported major progress in reducing the IST waitlist and wait times, said it had met the court’s 28-day treatment benchmark for those without extenuating circumstances, and described workforce recruitment and retention efforts such as residency programs, fellowships, outreach, and hiring streamlining. Members asked about future IST referral trends, SB 1323’s effect on diversion and community treatment, and workforce lessons in high-cost regions; public comment urged reconsideration of county IST growth cap methodology in light of new criminal justice initiatives. The committee next received an informational overview of Proposition 1 and its changes to behavioral health funding and governance. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that Prop. 1 restructured county MHSA funding buckets, expanded the Commission for Behavioral Health, shifted prevention and early intervention responsibilities, and authorized a $6.4 billion bond, including $4.4 billion for behavioral health facilities through BHCIP. DHCS said it had released guidance for county integrated plans and was receiving extensive public comment. Members focused on BHCIP application requirements, especially letters of support and tribal projects, and raised concerns about whether DHCS’s implementation matched statutory intent. DHCS said it had authority to set application requirements and that tribal entities were treated differently because of sovereignty and funding structure. DHCS then updated the committee on BHCIP, the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing Program, and related bond implementation. The department said BHCIP had awarded about $1.7 billion across five rounds, with more than 130 projects and 223 distinct facilities funded, and that it was preparing to award the new bond funds after receiving nearly $8 billion in applications. The LAO’s assessment found that more than half of awards served at least 80% Medi-Cal enrollees, but also raised concerns that the regional allocation model could reinforce inequities, that the program had not sufficiently addressed the highest-need regions such as the southern San Joaquin Valley, and that smaller counties and less launch-ready applicants faced barriers. For bridge housing, DHCS said more than $1.1 billion had been awarded, serving over 5,000 people and supporting more than 2,000 operational beds, but the Governor’s budget proposes to eliminate Round 4 funding as the administration weighs other statewide investments and Proposition 1 implementation workload. Public commenters and members urged more accountability, better regional equity, stronger labor and community involvement, and caution about funding for for-profit psychiatric facilities. Finally, the committee heard on the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. CalHHS and DHCS described CYBHI as a broad prevention- and equity-focused effort with more than 1,300 organizations funded, over $2.1 billion awarded, and multiple work streams spanning schools, community programs, workforce, and digital supports. DHCS highlighted school-based services, the fee schedule rollout, and digital platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna, which it said are reaching users statewide and providing low-barrier access to coaching and support. Members and public commenters raised concerns about delays in school fee schedule implementation, the large share of funding going to digital tools, the need for more in-person services, and whether the initiative is sufficiently tracking outcomes and equity impacts. No formal votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Representatives, where she rose to chair the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technology
• She rose to chair the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, the Committee on Community
• This love resulted in her paying for books to be distributed by the First R Foundation, bringing Dolly

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate met for final passage on several measures, beginning with adoption of an emergency preamble for H 4587, a sick leave bank bill for David A. Russell of the Department of Correction. The chamber then took up and passed to be engrossed S 1919, providing for the retirement of Greg Heath, a former firefighter in Westfield, and H 4287, authorizing West Springfield to grant four additional off-premises alcohol licenses. The Senate also adopted an order to adjourn in memory of Representative Anne Margaret Ferrante, with Senator Tarr offering a detailed tribute to her life, public service, and advocacy for Gloucester, fishermen, economic development, and children’s literacy. After a moment of silence, the Senate passed to be enacted H 4149, revising the charter of Lynn; H 4286, allowing Somerset an additional wine and malt beverage license; and H 4439, creating a simplified procedure for accepting subdivision roads in Marlborough. Finally, the Senate passed H 4587 to be enacted and laid it before the Governor. The chamber adopted an order to meet again the following Thursday at 11 a.m. and adjourned in memory of Representative Ferrante.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:14.760> is driverless vehicle technology is driverless vehicle technology is advancing
• , manufacturing, distribution, manufacturing, distribution, maintenance,<00:25:12.360> and
• vehicles and integrate this technology vehicles and integrate this technology so<00:43:21.720>
• I think technology is phenomenal.
• allowing that technology to come here. allowing that technology to come here.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then Katie is going to go over how these revenues are collected and distributed at the state level.
• Then we'll conclude with a review of how these revenues are distributed at the district level.
• when compared to the distribution that happened in 2015.
• And this represents 60% growth in the annual distribution when compared to the distribution that happened
• So in 2025, $3.7 billion was distributed in foundation funds to districts and charters.

Summary: The House and Senate Education Committee first approved minutes from February 2 and 3, then heard an interim study proposal on Arkansas adult education and the Excel Center model, presented by Goodwill Industries of Arkansas and the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities. Witnesses argued that about 300,000 Arkansas adults lack a high school diploma or GED and described the Excel Center as a diploma-granting public charter option for adults 19 and older, with wraparound supports such as child care, transportation, tutoring, life coaching, and career services. They said the Arkansas campuses are not state-funded, highlighted growth in enrollment and graduation outcomes, and cited research showing improved employment, earnings, and reduced criminal justice involvement for graduates. Committee members discussed the role of Goodwill’s nonprofit mission, the need for multiple adult education pathways, and the relationship between adult education challenges and broader state efforts such as LEARNS and ACCESS. The committee then debated the interim study proposal procedure, including whether questions should have been taken before the vote. The motion to adopt the ISP passed, and members noted that the study would broadly examine adult education, GED testing, high school diplomas, charter schools, in-person adult education, and funding allocation. Several members asked for follow-up information on current adult education funding, the availability of Excel Centers, and the criminal justice study results. After that, staff from the Bureau of Legislative Research gave a detailed adequacy funding overview for Arkansas K-12 education. They reviewed national funding principles and then explained Arkansas’s revenue streams and distribution system, including general revenue, the Educational Excellence Trust Fund, the Educational Adequacy Fund, local property-tax revenues, and facilities partnership funding. They also walked through the state’s foundation formula, categorical aid, supplemental aid, and additional funding, including the per-student matrix amount of $7,771 for 2025 and how funds are allocated to districts and charters. Members asked about student support staff, special education high-cost occurrences, ALE funding, teacher salary equalization, and the Excel Center’s treatment in funding totals; staff said some of those questions would be addressed in a later spending presentation. The meeting ended after the committee was told the department was present mainly to answer questions and no further business remained.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this helps with buying technology and other things that can help.
• So is that $14 million just simple surveillance-type technology?
• So you're saying that this technology has the ability to, like, to be able to...
• Awesome technology if it's being used by the good guys, I guess, right?
• And incredibly scary technology if it gets in the wrong hands.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They twice in the bill changed the word distributes to delivers.
• <01:20:42.480> Um<01:20:43.280> on the word distributes to delivers.
• Um on the word distributes to delivers.
• to the Department of Health distributed to the Department of Health or<01:21:09.360> if<01:21
• Your Select Committee on Legislative Facilities, Technology, and Technology will be meeting tomorrow

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and automation to their technology and automation to their operations.<00:37:13.080> Um<00:37
• And importantly, those manufacturers have invested over $580 million in plant, equipment, technology,
• It brought an equality of, you know, of distributing or propagating information, but there's no standard
• <00:57:49.320> or,<00:57:49.960> you<00:57:50.040> know, of distributing or,
• you know, of distributing or, you know, propagating<00:57:50.800> information,<00:57:51.480><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's, you know, part of our technology today.
• This is part of the reason that in 2022, the FDA authorized the distribution of over-the-counter hearing
• Florida law prohibits the sale or distribution. I said earlier. Thank you.
• Florida law prohibits the sale or distribution. Moderate to high hearing loss.
• Florida law prohibits the sale or distribution of prescription hearing aids through the mail.

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism met with a quorum present and considered several bills. It first took up SB 232 on debt collection, where the sponsor explained a strike-all amendment and the committee adopted a Gruters amendment clarifying that email communications may be sent at any hour while other off-hours communications remain restricted. Testimony was sharply divided on a proposed change from “any person” to “debt collector,” with consumer advocates, legal aid, and the Florida Justice Association warning it would narrow Florida’s consumer protections, while supporters said the bill and amendment would address ambiguity affecting businesses. After debate, the committee rejected the broader amendment, adopted the email-only clarification, and reported CS for SB 232 favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard and unanimously reported favorably CS for SB 126, which would allow prescription hearing aids to be sold and distributed by mail after a Florida-licensed audiologist or hearing aid specialist conducts the required examination, including remotely through telehealth. Supporters said the bill would improve access and reduce barriers for seniors and others with hearing loss, and no opposition was heard. The committee also heard SB 600 and SB 602 on manufacturing, which would create and fund a statewide Office of Manufacturing, a promotional campaign, workforce grants, and related fees; multiple industry and economic development groups appeared in support, and both bills were reported favorably. Next, the committee considered CS for SB 92 on hit-and-run accountability in vehicle repair shops. The sponsor described the bill as a response to rising hit-and-run incidents and explained that repair shops would have to complete a transaction form or retain a crash report for certain repairs, with a clarifying amendment adopted without objection. Prosecutors and law enforcement supporters said the bill would help identify offenders, while auto dealer representatives argued it could impose burdens and penalties on repair shops. The committee nevertheless reported CS for SB 92 favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 412, the Motorized Wheelchair Right to Repair Act, which would require manufacturers to provide repair manuals, diagnostic tools, and parts to owners and independent repair providers under fair and reasonable terms. Disability advocates and wheelchair users testified that repair delays can leave users stranded for weeks or months, and the committee reported the bill favorably by roll call vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• For those who are familiar, that of course means science, technology, engineering, and the A in there
• He said robotics is expensive because it involves technology and advanced science, and the goal is to
• And so I believe that technology is the future.
• , computers, and computer technology staff members to assist with this.
• That's... ...and computer technology staff members to assist with this. That's the direction.

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development heard House Bill 3359, presented by Representative Wilson on behalf of Representative Riggs. The bill would create a 20% state income tax credit, capped at $10 million annually beginning in tax year 2027, for donations to registered school robotics/STEAM programs. Eligible contributions were described as cash, equipment, software, materials, supplies, and possibly employee volunteer hours, with a six-year sunset. Committee members asked for clarification on whether the credit applies to individuals or businesses, whether volunteer time by parents or other non-experts would qualify, which state agency would administer reporting, and whether the 20% rate should be higher. Wilson said the bill would need clarifying language, including on volunteer eligibility and the reporting department, and said he was open to revisiting the percentage and other details with the sponsor. The primary witness in support was Sarah Waldron, an 18-year-old Westminster Christian Academy senior and robotics team CEO who said she wrote the bill. She argued the credit would help businesses invest in robotics programs, address unequal access across Missouri, and strengthen workforce readiness in STEM and AI. She said the bill was intended to support business employee volunteer hours, not individual volunteer claims, and noted she had drafted an amendment to provide larger credits for under-resourced schools based on free-and-reduced-lunch percentages. Committee members praised her work and discussed how to target aid toward rural and under-resourced districts. One witness testified in opposition, State Public Advocate Arne C. A. C. Dinoff, who said he supported robotics and the student’s effort but opposed the tax credit because of the state’s budget deficit and the broader cost of tax credit programs. He objected particularly to subsidizing volunteerism and said robotics should be supported locally rather than through a state tax credit. The hearing concluded without a vote or other formal action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a... ...drug distribution between four separate counties. There were 15 victims.
• So to begin, Platforms and all the other platforms underneath this emerging technology.
• And we wouldn't want to risk discouraging technological innovation in New Jersey.
• labels. ...of a variety of retail technology, including electronic shelf labels.
• And as Jessica can certainly explain better, it's not technologically possible with these tags.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, municipalities collect separate fees for municipal security and technology, and these
• So House Bill 1950 allows these municipal courts to consolidate their security and technology funds.
• resources to be used more efficiently and enhance court security and modernization of the court technology
• Uh, would the Implementation of rapidly available AI technology make this a lot easier, the redactions
• Um, I know our department's looking into additional technologies right now.

Transcript Highlights:

• that I think about is really understanding the demographic from the perspective of age and age distribution
• Age distribution because it has such a profound driver of how health care is utilized.
• It's unfair that we have to not use technology.
• That we have to not use technology to its greatest extent so that if there is somebody, you know, in
• were distributed.

Bills: SB37, SB29

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach