Transcript Highlights:

• In Minnesota, we test for over 60 conditions that, if left untreated, can cause illness, severe disability
• Infants who test positive for congenital or heritable disorders often require urgent medical intervention
• And more recently, we've assisted in international trials testing gene therapies, as we believe these
• And we're sure that they would qualify based on the testing that we would do at newborn services.
• House File 2647 is a bill that clarifies that licensed Practical nurses can do tests consistent with

Transcript Highlights:

• I know because of the county that it's in, they would not meet the first prong of this particular test
• operations, you know, Waymo, the others, and also some people doing commercial trucking, and they've been testing
• Industry Association, which consists of the world's leading autonomous vehicle companies that are testing
• industry association, which consists of the world's leading autonomous vehicle companies that are testing
• As members of the committee know, Texas is a leader, as Captain Teeter mentioned, in AV testing and deployment

Bills: SB1493, SB1598, SB1895, SB1919, SB2039, SB2226, SB2243, SB2425

Keywords: SB 1493, Texas Transportation Code, motor vehicle lighting, vehicle lighting standards, high-mounted stoplamp, center high mount stop lamp, CHMSL, brake light, stop lamp, federal motor vehicle safety standards, 49 C.F.R. 571.108, FMVSS 108, vehicle inspection, automotive compliance, Transportation Committee, Texas vehicle equipment, motor vehicle collision report, crash report, accident report, traffic accident

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard and advanced a wide range of transportation-related bills. Early in the meeting, SB 1598 by Senator Hagenbuch was heard on allowing collision report information to be used and shared more clearly for law enforcement investigations, including through records-management partners and nonconfidential VIN data; the bill drew support from the Sheriff’s Association and Carfax for Police and was left pending before later being reported favorably. SB 1493 by Senator Parker, which would codify DPS’s position on flashing/pulsing stop lamps as compliant with federal standards, also received supportive testimony and was reported favorably. SB 1895 by Senator Perry would designate Loop 88 in Lubbock as a First Responders Memorial Loop and was reported favorably, and SB 1919 and SB 2243 by Senator West, dealing with TxDOT liability claim settlements and TxDMV authority to require VIN inspections for certain trailers, were likewise heard without opposition and later reported favorably. SB 2039, concerning right-of-way and traffic rules for sidewalk users such as bicycles, e-bikes, skateboards, and scooters, was heard and left pending before being reported favorably later in the meeting. SB 2226 by Senator Nichols, reducing the local match requirement for aviation grants in economically disadvantaged counties from 10% to 5%, was discussed with TxDOT testimony explaining how federal and state airport funding interact; it was reported favorably. SB 2499 by Senator Flores, involving memorial markers and an account for donations, and SB 1394 by Senator Hall, concerning concrete truck axle rules, were also reported favorably. The committee recessed after handling the pending items and leaving some additional matters for a later hearing. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 2425 by Senator Nichols, a comprehensive bill on commercial autonomous vehicles. The author said the bill was developed through extensive stakeholder meetings with industry, agencies, insurers, and lawyers, and it would require AV companies to provide information to TxDMV, submit first-responder interaction plans to DPS, and allow DPS and DMV to suspend or revoke operations in certain circumstances. The committee substitute also updated definitions, addressed Level 3 systems, clarified commercial use and fleet penalties, and created an expedited process for reinstating operating authority after disputes. Supporters included the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Tesla, GM Cruise, Bot Auto, and the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, who said the bill balances innovation and safety and helps Texas remain a leader in AV deployment. One witness opposed the bill, arguing that it would improperly shield manufacturers from liability, but committee members and the industry witnesses said liability would continue to be governed by state law and that the bill was intended to clarify, not eliminate, responsibility. After debate, the committee adopted the substitute and reported SB 2425 favorably on a 6-0 vote. Throughout the hearing, members asked questions about practical effects and funding. On SB 2226, TxDOT’s aviation director explained that some airports already receive federal and state support and that the bill would mainly help state-only airports in disadvantaged counties that struggle to meet local match requirements. On SB 2425, members asked about reliability metrics, commercialization, and liability; industry witnesses said the technology is still being refined but that Texas’s framework has attracted investment and could improve road safety over time. Several bills were recommended to the local and uncontested calendar after favorable votes, and the committee also agreed to keep motions in writing open briefly for members who were absent, so long as doing so would not change any bill outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Test, test. Now, there we go. That's better. Okay. I'll begin again.
• programs, the enforcement team, which was under the Department of Consumer Affairs, and the Cannabis Testing
• license and regulate marketplace from seed to sale, including cultivation, distribution, manufacturing, testing
• high potency intoxicants sold in gas stations, online, and smoke shops without age verification, testing

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• classroom management systems and techniques that have, that have withheld, that have withstood the test
• That do ban phones, test scores do increase. The second element of this is mental health.
• We have, um, benchmarks tests, and those have went up significantly at my school.
• year. 2, the, um, when the star results come in, you see the final scores, but we have our benchmark test
• And I think because I wanted to know how they did on their test, and we were also invested in this, and

Bills: HB6, HB27, HB123, HB210, HB213, HB222

Keywords: hemp, consumable hemp products, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, Texas hemp law, hemp regulation, cannabinoid products, delta-9 THC, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, retail registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, youth access, minor sales

Transcript Highlights:

• Just as you said, we don't have a blood test or a breath test, as I understand it, for being high on
• new products and then we need to ensure safety through a process of certification or a process of testing
• And that's really what we need is a framework that's reliable, repeatable for testing autonomous vehicle
• recognize that we want to preserve incentives for investment and improvements in industry, subject to testing

Keywords: transportation, air traffic control, safety regulations, Boeing 737 MAX, Department of Transportation, infrastructure funding, public safety, legislative oversight

Summary: The committee meeting addressed several pressing issues concerning transportation, particularly focusing on the need for improved safety standards and efficient management at the Department of Transportation. Specific discussions revolved around air traffic control, with members highlighting the urgency for a significant upgrade in systems and personnel. Notably, concerns were raised regarding past practices, especially the handling of safety regulations during the Boeing 737 MAX incidents. The committee expressed a clear intent to ensure rigorous safety oversight moving forward, emphasizing that the health and safety of the public must remain the top priority in all legislative and funding decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• For your purposes, the ones that I have seen being most common are medication and drug testing.
• And that drug testing hits into two different spaces.
• guardian is another sort of player in this cast of characters whose involvement is only required if this test
• If this test is met, the treatment guardian is someone who has the knowledge to make decisions about
• An interested person who meets that test and reasonably believes that the adult poses a danger to themselves

Transcript Highlights:

• It looks like we're going to allow pharmacists to do strep testing now. Is that...
• <01:15:51.400> Is pharmacists to do strep testing now.
• Is pharmacists to do strep testing now.
• So, are we going to be having pharmacy techs testing for strep?
• I mean, strep tasks and the actual test?

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 129 members present, read the prior journal, and then took up a series of third-reading bills. Early action included unanimous passage of HB 159 (mail theft), HB 412 (child support and driver’s license suspension), HB 912 (trap-neuter-return policies for community cats), HB 914 (Worcester County Board of License Commissioners membership), HB 558 (Prince George’s County wine festival licenses), HB 1400 (shellfish aquaculture penalties), and HB 1463 (Anne Arundel County Board of Education constituent services liaison). HB 582, dealing with Prince George’s County alcoholic beverages licenses and voter registration requirements, drew brief debate over whether it removed or retained a voter registration condition; it ultimately passed 119-12. HB 846, a property tax exemption for the Hagerstown multi-use sports and events facility, passed 126-7 after a system delay interrupted proceedings. Several bills prompted more substantive discussion. HB 1218, the Safe and Healthy Homes for All Act, drew opposing explanations over a proposed public registry of properties with housing violations; supporters said it would help identify serious housing problems and improve compliance, while opponents objected to publicly naming private properties based on administrative findings. It passed 99-36. HB 525, the Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act, passed 135-1 after questions about enforcement, with supporters comparing it to ordinary classroom discipline. HB 1483, allowing out-of-state clinical professional counseling and social work providers to use telehealth for continuity of care, passed 135-0 after clarification that it applies to people moving into Maryland and allows a six-month continuity period. HB 1504, the Pedestrian Safety Act, passed unanimously. Later, HB 664 (Cecil County alcoholic beverages license quota) passed 134-1, and HB 837 (cardiovascular pre-screening for student athletic activities) passed 133-2 after the sponsor explained that reporting requirements were removed for cost reasons and the bill now mainly requires screening questions. HB 925, regulating PFAS in sewage sludge applied to farmland, generated the most extended debate: one delegate argued the bill’s limits were too weak and lacked liability for industry actors, while supporters said it establishes the first limits, requires wastewater treatment plants to reduce PFAS, and leaves room for future tightening; it passed 130-7. HB 1370, authorizing a pilot stop-sign monitoring program in Rising Sun, passed 109-26. HB 649, expanding Maryland Commission on Civil Rights enforcement to higher education discrimination claims, passed 100-35 after supporters said current protections are stronger for K-12 than for colleges. The House also passed HB 512 on compensation for Anne Arundel County license commissioners and inspectors, and the session continued into HB 661 on commemorative months.

Transcript Highlights:

• > thesily test was positive. the is a test thesily test was positive. the is a test that<00:43:39.359
• I described the test, which is a test where you stand on one leg, bend your knee, and twist.
• I just didn't call it the Thessaly test.
• They don't want to hear a description of the test, right?
• And as robust to what we're testing for.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• testifying remotely in support of H. 3979, an act authorizing the city of Melrose to establish a means-tested
• This legislation would re-establish a means-tested property tax exemption for qualifying senior residents
• favorably on the passage of House 3979, an act authorizing the City of Melrose to establish a means-tested

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 10 bills covering voluntary contributions, sales tax, property tax, and economic development. Chair Adrian Madaro outlined the process, noted the July 12 reporting deadline for House-filed matters, and explained that written testimony would be accepted through July 7. Testimony was limited to three minutes per speaker, with questions from committee members after each witness. Several local and statewide measures were presented in support. Melrose Mayor Jennifer Grigoratus supported H. 3979, which would authorize Melrose to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption tied to the state Senior Circuit Breaker credit; she said the program has helped 209 senior households and provides relief of several hundred to about a thousand dollars per household. Michael Memelow of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination supported H. 3109 and S. 2014, which would create a Massachusetts Against Discrimination Fund allowing voluntary donations, including through tax returns, to help offset uncertainty in federal funding that supports about 20% of MCAD’s operations. Tom Hurley of the Massachusetts Airport Management Association supported H. 3125, which would exempt runway and taxiway infrastructure at privately owned public-use airports from property tax, arguing it would address an economic fairness issue for 10 such airports. Chris Gregory testified in support of H. 3037, a voluntary income tax checkoff for a least developed countries fund administered through Oxfam and the World Bank to support environmental work in the world’s poorest countries. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the number of Melrose households receiving the exemption, the scale and risk of MCAD’s federal funding, dual-filing procedures with the EEOC, the tax burden and local impact of privately owned airports, and the structure and administration of the least developed countries fund. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• able to fund a mine with this grant amount; it is more like something for a startup, technology, testing
• It is more like for a startup, technology, testing, or a sterile filling line for pharmaceuticals, but
• It is more like for a startup, technology, testing, or something like a sterile filling line for pharmaceuticals

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first called the roll, established a quorum, and then heard Senate Bill 1553 from Senator Curtis Gregory. The bill is aimed at national defense and reshoring critical supply chains to the United States, including pharmaceuticals and critical minerals/materials used in defense and manufacturing. Gregory said the Senate had added clarifying language tying eligible materials to federal critical-material and FDA lists. Supporters testified that the bill could help Missouri compete in sectors now dominated by foreign producers, especially China and India, and could strengthen national security by encouraging domestic production of active pharmaceutical ingredients and critical minerals. Witnesses from Jost Chemical, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, the API Innovation Center, Doe Run, and Associated Industries of Missouri emphasized the difficulty of competing with subsidized foreign supply chains, the importance of transferable tax credits, and Missouri’s existing industrial base. Several witnesses noted that grants would be harder to administer and that federal support or price stability may still be needed for large-scale projects like mines. No one testified in opposition or for informational purposes. The committee then moved into executive session and voted unanimously to pass Senate Bill 1553, with nine ayes and zero nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• As it says in 1 John 4:1, dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they
• We pray for our leaders to have this testing spirit to evaluate every policy, proposal, and partnership
• continued: SP 104, ESA students interscholastic activities requirements; SP 105, cosmetic sales, animal testing

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a roll call showing 28 members present and two excused. The journal from January 12 was approved, and several guests were introduced, including representatives from CSG West and NCSL, Tucson Electric Power/UniSource Native business resource group members, Yaqui community guests, students from Marcos de Niza High School, and the mayor of Guadalupe. Senators also offered remarks honoring former Attorney General Mark Brnovich with a moment of silence. A major ceremonial item was a proclamation and flag presentation honoring the life and service of Amaya Curley, presented by Senator Hatathlie. The proclamation recognized Curley’s Navy service, her cultural values, and her impact on family and community, and her family was introduced in the gallery. The Senate also recessed briefly for the presentation of an Arizona state flag flown over the Capitol in her memory, accompanied by a certificate from the Secretary of State. On floor business, the President Pro Tem announced extended deadlines for opening Senate folders and for bill introduction sets. The Senate received a House message consenting to adjourn the legislature from January 15 until January 20, and the chamber adopted a motion to accede to that request. The clerk then read a long list of second-reading bills and resolutions covering elections, education, health care, firearms, taxation, transportation, immigration-related reporting, public records, and other topics. No bill votes were taken during this portion beyond the adjournment-related motion, and the Senate later adjourned until January 15, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• chemicals of concern and menstrual products due pass with author amendments to among other things modify testing
• make other clarifying changes that's out on the b-roll call SB 724 Richardson public housing lead testing
• Chemical Hair Relaxers, do pass. with author's amendments to strike registration requirement, modify testing

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Testing, testing. Senate position. Yeah, we're good. Okay. Defer, test, defer. Can we move on?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I still agree with a means test. I agree that further work might be needed on that.
• I still agree with a means test.
• We certainly have the prerogative to add a means test.

Bills: HB1540

Keywords: education savings account, ESA, school choice, private school vouchers, nonpublic school, tuition assistance, education tax credit, homeschool exclusion, Bank of North Dakota, Department of Public Instruction, public funding for private education, voucher program, student scholarships, special education, parental choice, curriculum funding, tutoring, online learning, state per-pupil payment, income-based eligibility

Summary: The committee first took up amended bill 10-13, a school funding and education appropriations measure. Senator Schaible walked through the final version, which included changes to foundation aid, transportation grants, free and reduced-price meals funding, paraprofessional and teacher support programs, Native American education items, library and school facility projects, and several one-time grants. Members discussed removing the science center grant funding, and Senator Meyer objected to that removal, arguing that Grand Forks had raised matching private and local funds and that other cities had received similar state support. The committee also agreed to adjust regional education association funding to reflect six centers rather than seven, reducing that line to $600,000. The committee then adopted the amendment to 10-13 unanimously and passed the bill as further amended on a unanimous roll call, with Senator Shively designated as carrier. After a brief recess, the committee turned to bill 1540, but no formal action was taken. Bank of North Dakota and OMB representatives raised concerns that the draft included policy changes and procurement/IT exemptions that needed further discussion. Members agreed the bill would be delayed until Monday so the Bank, OMB, and NDIT could confer and work through the mechanics and policy issues before the committee moved it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• capacity. 7A is 43 FTEs to establish for a cold case, cold case team specifically to improve cold case testing
• along with, um, capital budget items for improved DNA testing.
• writer 37, Crime Laboratory Services to remove, uh, to remove language requiring DPS prioritize, uh, testing

Transcript Highlights:

• And one test I don't think is necessarily sufficient.
• And one test I don't think is necessarily sufficient.
• And one test I don't working there.
• And they did a mold test and found outrageously high levels.
• And they they did a um mold test and And they they did a um mold test and found<05:13:17.200> outrageously

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They do an awful lot of inspections and, of course, registrations, and they also do all the testing for
• I don't have that number off the top of my head, but that's almost a year-round operation and testing
• I don't have that number off the top of my head, but that's almost a year-round operation and testing
• a yearr round uh operation and testing a yearr round uh operation and testing because<00:06:08.720
• <00:41:50.960> and um the feed and fertilizer testing and um the feed and fertilizer testing

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a means-tested program, meaning that individuals need to meet certain income criteria, and for
• some programs there is an asset test, and for others there's no asset test.
• Um it is a means tested different names.
• > no<01:14:35.040> asset<01:14:35.360> test.
• So in our in there's no no asset test.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Human Services held an informational briefing on the impacts of federal funding cuts, inflation, labor shortages, and chronic underfunding on Hawaii’s nonprofit social safety net. Hawaii Community Foundation opened with a story about a federal worker family relying on food pantry support, then described a “perfect storm” facing human services nonprofits: historically high demand, rising costs, staffing challenges, federal cuts, and state and county contracts that do not cover true service costs. The foundation said it has reactivated its Hawaii Resilience Fund, launched strengthened service grants, and is tracking policy changes and data to help nonprofits respond. Trey Gordner of UHERO presented research on the vulnerability of Hawaii’s nonprofit sector, explaining a framework that assessed political, financial, and structural risk. He said about 8,200 501(c)(3) nonprofits are active in Hawaii, but only about 200 receive direct federal funds; 74 grants to 59 organizations were flagged as politically at risk, totaling about $126 million in unpaid obligations. He said about 68 of the direct-funding recipients rely on federal funds for more than 20% of annual revenue, and that human services nonprofits are among the most exposed subsectors because they serve vulnerable populations and depend heavily on federal support. Catholic Charities Hawaii and the Hawaii True Cost Coalition said community-based organizations were already under strain before the current crisis, with most contracts not covering full costs and many groups depending on private philanthropy to fill gaps. They reported that half of surveyed organizations expect to reduce programs, more than a third may decline future contracts, and some are waiting months for reimbursements. Examples included reduced shelter admissions, fewer case management hours, and cutbacks in kūpuna services. The coalition urged higher contract rates, regular inflation and cost-of-living reviews, and timely reimbursement; no votes or formal actions were taken. Partners in Development Foundation described the loss of Native Hawaiian education funding as especially damaging, saying the federal Department of Education has zeroed out support that creates a roughly $46 million gap, including about $20 million for early childhood programs. The speaker shared a family story from the Nā Pono program to illustrate how early learning services support both children and parents, and warned that the organization’s federal funds make up 72% of its budget. The briefing ended with a call for continued emergency funding and longer-term structural changes to sustain nonprofits statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• We now expect that the ASRS to be received by the end of this calendar year and be tested and fully operational
• by the end of this calendar year<00:04:38.560> and<00:04:38.880> be<00:04:39.040> tested
• <00:04:39.360> and<00:04:39.600> fully<00:04:39.919> operational year and be tested
• It's, uh, um, that has to be tested, apparently. Forensic science doesn't do that.
• The first one is Southeast Medical Group, and the contractor provides physicals and medical testing for

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How would we test it? Are there weak places, weak spots?
• And again, I can guarantee you in the testing phase, it wasn't perfect out of the shoot.
• And again, I can guarantee you in the testing phase, it wasn't perfect out of the shoot.
• So that was something we found along the way, and we tested, to be honest, we tested another half a dozen
• scenarios, just to say, okay, And we tested, to be honest, we tested another half a dozen scenarios,

Keywords: 908, all