Transcript Highlights:

• I also wanted to..." "...cover the fines where it says a violation for each print publication or digital
• Many times, you'll have a print publication that also offers the digital platform as one, so when..."
• "...you purchase the ad, it will go in the print, also on the website or on the digital platform.
• So many times when you place a help wanted ad there is a print publication, as well as a digital platform

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and adopted a resolution calendar with several exceptions before taking up a series of ceremonial resolutions and bills. Members welcomed student visitors from the YWCA of White Plains’ Voices Unfiltered Policy Program, then adopted resolutions honoring Senegalese independence and the Senegalese community, MWBE Advocacy Day, John Coltrane’s 100th birthday, the Sing Sing Prison Museum, I Love My Park Day, Animal Advocacy Day, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month, and Denim Day. Speakers emphasized cultural recognition, public service, environmental stewardship, animal welfare, rare disease awareness, and support for survivors of sexual violence; each resolution was adopted. The chamber then moved through the regular calendar, passing a number of bills on broad roll-call votes. Among the measures approved were bills amending the Penal Law, Executive Law, Public Housing Law, Retirement and Social Security Law, Social Services Law, Environmental Conservation Law, General Municipal Law, Railroad Law, Election Law, Labor Law, and Public Service Law. Several bills passed unanimously or nearly so, while a few drew notable opposition, including a public health measure that passed 39-19 and the labor-related bill on ghost job postings that passed 39-19 after extended debate. The most detailed floor debate centered on the Labor Law bill addressing “ghost jobs,” requiring employers with 100 or more employees to disclose whether postings are for current vacancies, expected future openings, or general resume collection, with Department of Labor enforcement and civil penalties. Supporters argued it would protect job seekers from deceptive postings; opponents said it was unnecessary, burdensome, and could invite litigation or penalties disproportionate to the problem. The Senate also debated and passed a bill expanding election-language assistance under the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act to Haitian Creole and Middle Eastern and North African communities, with supporters citing growing language-access needs and opponents raising concerns about scope and local costs. The Senate then adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then right next to it is the digital real-time simulator, which can connect the test, the connectivity
• And then right next to it is the digital real-time simulator, which can connect the test, the connectivity
• And then right next to it is the digital real-time simulator, which can connect the test, the connectivity
• are the opportunities to bring down that cost. ...and based on the tools we have today, especially digital

Summary: The meeting was an extended briefing from Idaho National Laboratory officials on the lab’s mission, its role in nuclear energy research, and the federal push to accelerate advanced reactor deployment. Speakers described INL’s size and capabilities, including test reactors, fuel and materials facilities, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure work, and partnerships with DOE, the NRC, the Department of Defense, and private companies. They emphasized that the lab is supporting both commercial nuclear development and national security work, while also training a large intern workforce. A major theme was the current federal effort to streamline nuclear regulation and speed up licensing and demonstration. The speakers said recent executive orders and DOE/NRC coordination are reducing redundant requirements, shortening environmental review timelines, and aiming for three new nuclear systems to reach criticality by July 4, 2026. They argued that regulatory uncertainty has been a major driver of nuclear cost and that the administration’s actions, along with DOE’s pilot and demonstration programs, are intended to rebuild the domestic supply chain and industrial base. The discussion also focused on advanced reactor types, including small modular reactors, microreactors, molten salt concepts, and liquid-metal designs. Officials said these technologies are being developed for data centers, military bases, remote communities, industrial heat, hydrogen production, and other nontraditional uses. They highlighted several projects and companies, including Oklo, Aalo, Radiant, X-energy, TerraPower, Kairos, and DOE’s MARVEL and Project Pele efforts, and said some reactors are expected to reach criticality or operation in the next few years. Questions from attendees covered safety, public health impacts, materials and heat management, waste or used fuel handling, costs, and whether nuclear could remain competitive against other energy sources; the speakers responded that advanced reactors are designed with passive safety features, that used fuel should be viewed as a resource, and that cost remains highly design- and supply-chain-dependent.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Senator, we have been trying to move toward a digital operation where we can have our field inspectors
• So we've leaned into that kind of digital-first operations, and as AI becomes more sophisticated, we
• don't... ...we have been trying to move toward a digital operation where we can have our field inspectors
• So we've leaned into that kind of digital-first operations, and as AI becomes more sophisticated, we

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of my constituents are reaching out to me because they have seen double-digit increases year after
• ><00:03:03.200> seen to me uh because they have seen to me uh because they have seen double-digit
• increases<00:03:05.000> year<00:03:05.480> after<00:03:05.840> year double-digit
• increases year after year double-digit increases year after year after<00:03:07.000> year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Minnesota Senate Republicans held a press conference unveiling a package of affordability and tax-relief bills aimed at property taxes, taxes on tips and overtime, and vehicle registration costs. Leader Mark Johnson said the proposals were meant to counter rising costs for wages, homeownership, and driving, and argued that Democrats’ policies had made life more expensive. Several senators echoed that theme, saying Minnesotans need immediate relief and that the state has room to act because of a reported surplus. Senator Michael Kunesh described a property-tax cap bill that would limit increases for cities and counties to inflation plus 50% of population growth, with higher increases requiring voter approval. He said constituents, including seniors, a disabled veteran, and young people, are seeing unsustainable property-tax hikes, and he argued that state and federal mandates have driven local costs. In response to a question about added county workload from federal SNAP and Medicaid changes, he said the solution is both to pause new mandates and to cap property-tax growth. Senator Karin Housley outlined a proposal to end state taxes on tips and overtime, with deductions up to $25,000 for tips and $12,500 for overtime, phased out at $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for families. She said the measure would help workers keep more of what they earn and would not cost small businesses directly. Senator John Jasinski proposed rolling back vehicle registration tab fees to pre-2023 levels, saying Minnesota’s fees are far higher than neighboring states and that the change would save drivers money over time. Senator Julia Coleman also supported the package, saying the bills would provide practical relief for families facing high housing, driving, and work-related costs. No votes were taken; the event ended with questions from reporters about fiscal impacts, offsets, and whether the proposals would worsen the state’s structural budget imbalance.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are the leader in land line replacement, digital transformation of copper land lines, the global leader
• It's costly 20-30 million copper lines throughout, and our company is assisting them in leading that digital
• So working in terms of digital literacy with the families, with the moms, and moving from fear to fluency
• So that's an area that we're working with our local commissioners on a digital literacy program for all

Transcript Highlights:

• help to close the long-standing gap in access and reflect our shared commitment to narrowing the digital
• They've been in the single-digit capacity factor: 6, 7, 8%.
• With all the anti-DEI rhetoric and policies from the federal government, what does that mean for our digital
• Digital equity. Thank you. That's going to be in my hearing today.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But we have now been able to get to a point where we're capturing information in the field digitally
• Information in the field digitally from the people doing the work, and it goes digitally from cradle
• and technology, we now grab information... ...documentation-wise from the responders in the field digitally

Summary: The Economic Development Budget Subcommittee received a lengthy presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster costs, recovery operations, sheltering, and major capital projects. He reviewed the 2024 hurricane season impacts from Debby, Helene, and Milton, explaining how FEMA public assistance and state reimbursement work, how cost shares can shift from 75/25 to 90/10 after a federal threshold is reached, and how Florida uses prior storm data and inflation to estimate recovery costs. He also described the state’s faster reimbursement timelines, crediting legislative investments in technology and digital field documentation, and said the division is working to reduce disaster closeout timelines from decades to about seven years. Members asked about debris removal, FEMA de-obligations, local preparedness, and whether regional shelters or co-located emergency operations centers could be used more efficiently. Guthrie said debris assistance is complicated and should generally remain tied to local contracts and planning, though the state will help fiscally constrained communities when needed. He explained de-obligations as FEMA clawing back previously approved funds after later review, and said Florida’s FROC program is helping local governments reduce those risks through standardized documentation, procurement review, and training. He also urged more mandatory emergency-management training for local and state officials and cautioned against weakening the FEMA 50% rule for rebuilding damaged structures. Guthrie provided updates on the new central Florida warehouse in Auburndale and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. He said the warehouse will improve logistics, include cold and ultra-cold storage, and be run by a private vendor with virtual inventory tracking, while the new EOC is designed for Category 5 conditions and expanded partner capacity. He acknowledged budget pressures that reduced the size of the EOC project and said an additional IT request was needed because those costs were not originally included. The meeting ended with praise for FDEM’s work and no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• of this legislature that have led to broadband expansion and keep achieving our goal to bridge the digital
• it's 96%, thanks to the great work of the DECA. 96% thanks to the great work of the DECA and the Digital

Bills: HB606, SB271

Keywords: HB606, Alabama, Department of Transportation, DOT, public highways, utility relocation, right-of-way, state right-of-way, road construction, bridge, tunnel, toll road, interstate highway, defense highway, utility facilities, broadband, telecommunications, cable, electricity, gas

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:00.400> and e-registration, e title, e-lean and e-registration, e title, e-lean and digital
• 00:35:02.320> it<00:35:02.560> keeps<00:35:02.800> us<00:35:02.960> up digital
• So it keeps us up digital title systems.
• Um, and the type of advertising device, such as a two-faced sign or digital advertisement, could be allowed
• two-faced uh sign or digital two-faced uh sign or digital advertisement<01:27:13.760> could

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by having a 5-digit zip code and a street address.
• This more information is needed because the boundaries of political subdivisions and 5-digit zip codes
• may instead apply the rate for the 5-digit zip code.
• by having a 5-digit zip code and a street address.
• may instead apply the rate for the 5-digit zip code.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• MPR is one of the nation's premier public radio organizations, producing programming for radio, digital
• Increasingly, we do this on multiple platforms: radio, broadcast, digital streaming, and live.
• on multiple platforms<00:21:47.919> radio<00:21:48.720> broadcast<00:21:49.880> Digital
• platforms radio broadcast Digital platforms radio broadcast Digital streaming<00:21:51.600> and
• media and AI Technologies there digital media and AI Technologies there are<01:32:58.159> a<01

Bills: HF1679, HF1019, HF2321, HF1740, HF2278

Keywords: public television, funding, grants, arts and culture, Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, arts education, cultural heritage, community engagement, public radio, community radio, educational grants, community cable, public access, programming funding, civic engagement, ethnic media, public access television, Minnesota Humanities Center, funding appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• They navigate a digital world that follows them home every single day, and many are grappling with uncertainty
• And that includes in homes, in communities, in educational settings, and in the digital environment.
• some of the culturally based approaches that I heard Assemblymember Wallis talk about, including the digital
• Although it has not been discussed today, we do want to emphasize the value of the digital approach that
• The improvements to mental health well-being as a digital format meets youth where they're at across

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have this digital divide.
• And five, work with digital platforms to identify and shut down misleading ads and unregulated service
• And five, work with digital platforms to identify and shut down misleading ads and unregulated service
• And five, work with digital platforms to identify and shut down misleading ads and unregulated service
• And five, work with digital platforms to identify and shut down misleading ads and unregulated service

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the role of County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs), CalVet’s support for them, and the growing problem of for-profit, unaccredited claims companies. Committee leaders and witnesses emphasized that CVSOs are often the first point of contact for veterans and their families, helping with disability claims, education benefits, survivor benefits, housing, health care, and other wraparound services. Testimony highlighted the return on investment from CVSO work, with witnesses citing hundreds of millions in new federal benefits secured for California veterans and arguing that current state funding is too low relative to the workload and need. County representatives from Nevada, Los Angeles, and San Luis Obispo described local models of service. Los Angeles County highlighted a “no wrong door” approach, peer navigators, suicide review work, justice-involved veteran services, and homelessness coordination, while San Luis Obispo described rural outreach, mental health partnerships, and high suicide rates in its county. Nevada County stressed that smaller counties can be disadvantaged by workload-based formulas and that additional funding would expand access, especially in rural areas. Several witnesses said veterans often need more than claims help and should be connected to mental health, employment, food, and family supports. Much of the discussion centered on predatory claims consultants, which witnesses said charge veterans for services that accredited CVSOs provide free. Members and witnesses described cases involving requests for VA and banking logins, misleading advertising, and contracts that can take a percentage of veterans’ benefits. Committee members expressed support for legislation to curb these practices and for increased funding for CVSOs, including the Legislature’s intent to fund 50% of county veterans’ services operations. A CalVet deputy secretary also testified that California’s accreditation and training system improves claim quality and appeal outcomes, and that CalVet works with CVSOs through training, district offices, and appeals representation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We felt like the law was clear that while it is in a digital format, it is still a record.
• We felt like the law was clear that while it is in a digital format, it is still a record.
• We felt like the law was clear that while it is in a digital format, it is still a record.
• We felt like the law was clear that while it is in a digital format, it is still a record.
• The law was clear that while it is in a digital format, it is still a record.

Keywords: 00:11 Call to Order/Roll Call 01:02 Discussion of 25RS SB 26 07:48 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 26 08:43 Discussion of 25RS SB 85 28:04 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 85 29:37 Discussion of 25RS HB 805 40:30 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 805 41:32 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 26, presented by Senator Brandon Storm, Family Court Judge Marcus Vanover, and Crystal Adams on behalf of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health. The bill would ensure Kentucky complies with the ADA by prohibiting disability alone from being used to terminate adoption petitions, parental rights, or child-placement petitions. Testimony cited Kentucky Supreme Court and Court of Appeals cases involving parents with intellectual or developmental disabilities and national data showing high removal rates for parents with psychiatric, intellectual, or physical disabilities. The committee approved the bill 15-0 with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 85 from Senator Steve Meredith and State Auditor Allison Ball, which continues the transition of the Office of the Ombudsman from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the Auditor’s office. Testimony focused on completing the transfer by clarifying access to the ITWIST database, ensuring complaints go directly to the Ombudsman, adding whistleblower protections, and making the office a separate office within the Auditor’s office for efficiency. Members asked about the prior conflict of interest when the Ombudsman was housed within CHFS, the database access dispute and lawsuit, and whether the office still remained independent. The bill passed with favorable expression after some members voted pass. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 805, with Representative Nick Wilson and Representative Sarah Stalker explaining a committee substitute and amendment. The bill would set timelines for the Cabinet to physically locate children reported at immediate safety risk and require annual kinship-care reporting to be automatically provided to the legislature and posted publicly. Wilson said the bill also cleans up language from last year’s House Bill 271, including changing “threats” to “risks” in the safety-plan definition and other terminology fixes. The committee adopted the substitute and amendment and advanced the bill with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet, as we've seen, Minnesota's utilities come forward with rate cases, they're proposing double-digit
• Yet, as we've seen, Minnesota's utilities come forward with rate cases, they're proposing double-digit
• Yet, as we've seen, Minnesota's utilities come forward with rate cases, they're proposing double-digit
• <00:32:18.320> So,<00:32:18.960> uh double-digit rate increases.
• So, uh double-digit rate increases.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• experienced extraordinary construction escalation during the pandemic, and there have been periods of double-digit
• I would like to have this as well if you could send it to us digitally is fine. Yes, okay.
• I would like to have this as well if you could send it to us digitally is fine. first so that $790 million
• could send it have this as well if you could send it to<00:55:59.520> us<00:56:00.039> digitally
• 01.200> fine<00:56:02.200> um<00:56:02.480> and<00:56:02.640> then To us digitally

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, digitization—how difficult is it for you guys to digitize?
• how difficult is you guys digitization how difficult is you guys for<01:21:11.880> you<01:21:
• 12.000> guys<01:21:12.120> to<01:21:12.600> digitize<01:21:13.600> and<01
• digitize and then has there<01:21:15.080> been<01:21:15.400> any there been any there
• that gotten so in terms of digitization that gotten so in terms of digitization we<01:21:38.239>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on Senate Bill 103, relating to electric vehicle batteries, and then moved to Senate Bill 995, relating to renewable fuel. On SB 103, the Department of Health and the State Energy Office supported the measure, and Redwood Materials said it supported the bill’s intent but requested an amendment to add a battery recycler to the commission. Other testimony on SB 103 included support from several individuals and organizations, with one opponent noted. A committee member also raised a possible deadline change requested by the Alliance of Automobile Innovation for future work on the measure. The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 995, which would create tax incentives for sustainable aviation fuel and related renewable fuel production. Supporters included the Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition, Pono Pacific, Hawaiian Airlines/Alaska Airlines, the Tax Foundation, PAR Hawaii, Pacific Biodiesel, and others. Supporters said the bill would help build a local SAF industry, encourage camelina and other feedstocks, and advance decarbonization goals. Several supporters also said they had proposed amendments or technical comments and stood on their written testimony. Opposition testimony argued the bill could allow toxic waste feedstocks, such as construction and demolition waste, into fuel production, and questioned whether the incentives would truly benefit Hawaii farmers or consumers. One opponent said the bill’s benefits could flow to the producer and to imported feedstocks rather than to local agriculture, and another questioned the scale of local land and water available for camelina production. Committee members pressed witnesses on acreage, water use, expected yields, the role of PAR Hawaii’s refinery investment, and whether the state would be subsidizing a business decision that might not produce significant local fuel. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:20:21.760> in<00:20:22.080> exchange<00:20:22.480> for<00:20:22.720> digital
• cash in in exchange for digital cash in in exchange for digital cryptocurrency. cryptocurrency.
• and<00:20:43.919> sent<00:20:44.159> to<00:20:44.320> a<00:20:44.480> digital
• cryptocurrency and sent to a digital cryptocurrency and sent to a digital wallet wallet wallet controlled
• for them to participate in the digital for them to participate in the digital economy.<00:39:22.320

Bills: HF3642, HF2700, HF3615

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosks, prohibition, customer payouts, cryptocurrency regulation, consumer privacy, data privacy, health data, sensitive data, Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act, personal data, data broker, targeted advertising, geofencing, location tracking, health care privacy, patient privacy, consent, minor privacy, children's privacy

Summary: The Commerce Finance and Policy Committee met on House File 3642, which would prohibit virtual currency kiosks in Minnesota. The bill was laid over, and the committee adopted a DE1 author’s amendment. Chair Kaggel and Representative Perryman described the measure as a response to widespread scams using crypto kiosks, especially against older adults and other vulnerable people, and said they would continue working with the Department of Commerce and other stakeholders. Testimony from law enforcement and advocates strongly supported the ban. A St. Cloud police sergeant and a Woodbury detective described cases in which victims lost large sums, said the current safeguards and refund rules are being bypassed, and argued that the kiosks are difficult to investigate because funds move quickly and often overseas. An AARP Minnesota volunteer also supported the bill, saying kiosks are a preferred tool for scammers and that existing protections have not kept pace with the problem. The Department of Commerce said it strongly supports the bill and reported that it has received 120 complaints over three years involving nearly $1 million in reported losses, with 2025 the worst year so far. The main opposition came from CoinFlip’s general counsel, who argued that the problem is fraud generally, not kiosks themselves, and said Minnesota already has consumer protections, including refunds for eligible victims. He urged stronger regulation rather than a ban, citing blockchain analytics, hold periods, and 24-hour customer service as alternatives. Committee members then asked questions about how long kiosks have operated in Minnesota, how many there are, who owns them, and the scale of losses; Commerce said there are hundreds statewide, operated by a variety of companies, and that reported losses are likely undercounts.

Transcript Highlights:

• need you to take a look at and reappropriate one additional fund bucket that we've had for our digitization
• We've done probably, I think, close to over 50% of our library now in digitization, but our goal is to
• that we've had for our digitization that we've had for our digitization project.<00:26:43.039>
• going forward to keep the digitization. going forward to keep the digitization.
• , but our goal is to get it digitization, but our goal is to get it on<00:27:03.200> our<00:27

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 14 January, 2026; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation from a charter-school authorizer agency. Witnesses explained that the agency no longer receives the federal CSP grant, that a one-time $499,000 equipment grant was not recurring, and that in FY25 they also had no general fund appropriation. They said their special-fund revenue has grown but is not enough to sustain operations alone, especially because the money arrives once a year and the agency needs a cash balance in advance. Their budget request sought a mix of general and special funds, but the legislative budget recommendation stayed near the FY26 appropriation level. Members asked about salary growth and contractual spending; the agency said higher salaries reflected doctorate-level staff and a planned sixth position, while contractual costs covered technical assistance, consultants, CPA reviews, and outside legal support. The agency also said a pending bill, identified as House Bill 2, could significantly affect its operations and revenue. Members asked about Republic, and the agency said a peer report had just been released, the school had made operational changes, and progress was being made though questions remained. The Library Commission then presented its budget request. The outgoing director announced retirement and introduced the incoming director, and praised the agency’s recent federal and state audits with no findings. The commission asked to restore two headcount reductions in the budget recommendation, saying the positions were hard to fill because they require specialized librarianship credentials and that losing them would cost about $130,000. It also asked to restore federal spending authority in case IMLS funding became uncertain, and requested about $173,000 for a 5% salary progression pool because turnover had reached 35% and many employees were near the start step. Senators asked about the open positions and turnover; the commission said one position had been open 10 months, another about eight months, and some turnover was due to retirements. Mississippi Public Broadcasting then presented its request for an $18.153 million appropriation. The agency said it wanted salary progressions to retain staff, four new vehicles for engineering and transmitter work, and $522,000 in reappropriated digitization funds to continue a project that has digitized more than half its library holdings for online access. The director also highlighted programming and outreach, including a new food-focused show, a music program, live coverage of the National Folk Festival, a Medgar Evers documentary now in national distribution, and expanded radio programming. He said MPB reaches nearly 1 million TV viewers annually, has strong radio and app usage, and continues to provide required weather, Silver Alert, and Amber Alert notifications. He also described a partnership with the Department of Education using e-glass technology to connect teachers to classrooms lacking instructors, saying the program is already serving multiple districts and drawing national interest.

Transcript Highlights:

• You should add language to law about digital restraints because Meta's plan for the future is to put
• kids in the metaverse and use digital restraints to overcome the teacher shortage.
• Digital restraints meta in my backyard and they want tax breaks to do it."
• <00:49:16.480> Digital overcome the teacher shortage.
• Digital overcome the teacher shortage.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all