Transcript Highlights:

• Front because they can see it.
• You pay at the pump. You know, I used to argue that I didn't like the invention of pay at the pump.
• Pay how you choose. It is your choice.
• No restaurant can understand what it is they're paying, or if it's even what they agreed to pay.
• And everybody pays for it, whether you pay for it with a credit card or not.

Bills: SB231, SB584, SB600, SB668, SB841, SB986, SB1003, SB1244, SB1625, SB1960, SB1963, SB1964, SB2026, SB2056, SB2368

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• the debt for the construction of to pay the debt for the construction of the<00:04:11.280> new
• I think this would do more, at least in the line of paying bonds.
• And that’s the way I understood it. pay pay the<00:09:01.160> balance<00:09:01.800> on<
• paying bonds. paying bonds.
• And this would help pay that. Yeah. Are there any other questions?

Keywords: Public Property - Room 409, 26 February, 2026; 11:00 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee took up several public property bills and reported each one out after brief discussion. HB 1041, authorizing the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission to construct and maintain a levee system along the Yazoo River, was explained as a flood-control measure and passed without questions. HB 1520, which would allow the Department of Archives and History to convey about 23 acres associated with the Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty back to the tribe, was also reported out. HB 1732, concerning sale of DPS property in the Lauderdale County/Meridian area, was amended so proceeds from any sale or lease would go to the state general fund, then passed as amended. HB 1731, the ABC warehouse bill in Gluckstadt, drew the most discussion. Members clarified that the bill concerns the old warehouse and not current ABC operations. Two amendments were adopted: one corrected a reference to the Department of Finance and Administration and directed proceeds from the sale to defray Department of Revenue costs tied to the new warehouse, and another specified the property recipient as the Madison County Economic Development Authority rather than a generic entity. After questions about whether sale proceeds should instead return to the general fund and whether the language properly covered warehouse debt, the committee voted to report the bill out as amended. The committee then discussed HB 1716, a Mississippi Main Street revitalization grant bill. Supporters said the bill expands eligible recipients to include Main Street network associate communities and business improvement districts, requires only local cash matches, bars state funds from being used for the match, shifts administration to MDA, and caps administrative costs at 2 percent. Members also reviewed how the bill was intended to address a backlog of grant applicants and the governor’s concerns about prior administration of the program. After questions about the grant list, funding process, and the 2 percent cap, the committee voted to report HB 1716 out, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do, do you have that in front of you, Mr. Secretary? Uh, sure. Let me, let me pull it up.
• OK, I have the forecast in front of me. And so, um, Mr. Chairman, Mr.
• And then every year they would pay that to the federal government.
• They would not pay special fuels tax. Thank, thank you for that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• But no, they actually said well no, we don't mind paying it.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm proud that you're standing here in front of us today telling your story.
• For minimal coverage, we're paying 45% more than the national average.
• Senator Burke, again, I don’t have the APRN practice act in front of me. This bill is...
• I don’t have the APRN practice act in front of me. This bill has no language that speaks to that.
• But a gentleman just walked up to the front door and said, 'Hey, I want to talk to Senator Simon.'

Summary: The committee took up a long agenda of bills, beginning with CS/SB 678, which would allow pawnbroker transaction forms to be printed or digital; it drew support from a business representative and was reported favorably. Members then heard several bills by Senator Leak, including SB 466 to designate St. Johns County as the site of the Florida Museum of Black History and create a board to work with the museum foundation and Florida Memorial University; the bill drew supportive testimony about preserving accurate Black history and the significance of the site, and it passed favorably. Leak’s CS/SB 578 would let Florida wineries use recyclable inserts and other alternative containers for larger wine sales, and it also passed favorably. SB 582 would increase penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings and structures, limiting the higher penalties to certain nationally or internationally recognized historic properties; it was supported by preservation advocates and reported favorably. CS/SB 1168 would create an aggravated offense for installing or using tracking devices or apps in furtherance of crimes such as murder, domestic violence, or robbery, and it passed favorably after a brief discussion about stalking and violent crimes. CS/SB 806 would make the Florida Attorney General the exclusive public official with standing to enforce Florida charitable trusts, limiting out-of-state attorneys general from suing over Florida-administered trusts; members debated whether this would burden out-of-state beneficiaries, but the bill was reported favorably. SB 1228 would advance spring restoration efforts for Ichetucknee Springs and Santa Fe spring flows and allow a utility compliance plan amendment to deliver reclaimed water to replenish the aquifer; it passed favorably. CS/CS/SB 304 would require a qualified medical opinion in child protective investigations involving infants and young children with possible genetic or medical conditions that can mimic abuse, and it drew emotional support from parents and advocates before passing favorably. SB 1286 would clarify that ordinary unsupervised childhood activities like biking or playing outside do not constitute neglect absent reckless endangerment, and it was reported favorably. SB 1318, the hands-free driving bill, generated the most extensive debate: it renames the texting-while-driving law, expands the prohibition to handheld device use, and adds penalties in work zones and school zones; supporters cited fatal crash statistics and personal loss, while opponents raised concerns about enforcement, civil liberties, racial disparities in traffic stops, and the need for broader distracted-driving and insurance reforms. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably after amendments. The committee also approved two claims bills, SB 14 for the estate of Penao-Hanvier against Miami Beach and SB 20 for J.N. against Hillsborough County, both settled claims recommended favorably by the special master. Finally, CS/SB 68 would modernize health facilities authority financing for private not-for-profit health systems, and CS/SB 172 would restrict misuse of health care specialty titles while preserving titles authorized under existing practice acts; both were discussed with questions about doctors, optometrists, and CRNAs, and both were reported favorably after amendment and debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, we use a model that we pay the same that the other districts would pay for a CIS class, like
• Basically, we use a model that we pay the same that the other districts would pay for a CIS class, like
• I my pants and the front of my shirt.
• as amended is in front of the committee. as amended is in front of the committee.
• lot of employees, employers are paying lot of employees, employers are paying for<01:25:20.880><

Bills: HF3650, HF1791, HF3489, HF4231, HF4232, HF4269, HF4270, HF3490

Keywords: student career pathways, education framework, experiential learning, employer engagement, career technical education, career and technical education, CTE, postsecondary scholarship, postsecondary grant, school district funding, cooperative unit, Minnesota high school, apprenticeship, certificate program, tuition assistance, workforce training, military transition, education finance, student aid, career pathways

Transcript Highlights:

• The state pays the remaining 25%.
• . the state pays about 75% of our funding. the state pays the<00:05:12.240> remaining the remaining
• And as I mentioned, they pay 75% of our cost, while the state pays 25%, so it's a pretty good deal for
• people more in the form of taxes to pay people more in the form of taxes to pay for<01:09:01.600
• is to catch it on the front end, not the is to catch it on the front end, not the back<01:23:51.040><

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If companies that start fires pay less, everyone else is forced to pay more.
• If companies that start fires pay less, everyone else is forced to pay more.
• I say, okay, I'm paying $50 a month You're going to pay $50 a month.
• Is that like a fast pay, do you mean fast pay program? What is that?
• You would pay premiums. You would have to retain a deductible and co-pay.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on the California Earthquake Authority’s SB 254 report and possible reforms to California’s utility wildfire recovery system. The chair framed the discussion around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the high and growing wildfire-related costs on utility bills, and the need to weigh tradeoffs among survivors, ratepayers, utilities, insurers, and taxpayers. The chair emphasized that the SB 254 report is an inventory of policy pathways rather than recommendations, and that the Legislature’s role is to evaluate the options publicly. The first panel featured wildfire survivors William Abrams and Joy Chen, who described severe ongoing displacement, housing insecurity, delayed compensation, and frustration with what they characterized as opaque and unfair compensation structures. They argued for greater transparency, clearer accountability for utilities, stronger oversight of wildfire mitigation spending, and incentives tied to safety performance. They also urged faster survivor payments, but only if they are full, fair, and not financed by shifting more costs to taxpayers or ratepayers. Committee members asked about gaps in the SB 254 report, the meaning of “full” compensation, and how a fast-pay facility might work. The second panel included the California Earthquake Authority, RAND, PG&E, LADWP, Consumer Attorneys of California, and the Public Advocates Office. Tom Welsh of CEA explained the report’s process and the current wildfire fund structure, including that utilities remain liable, the fund reimburses eligible claims, and prudency reviews can require reimbursement to the fund. RAND’s Lloyd Dixon outlined how roughly $38 billion has been paid to survivors, insurers, and public entities since 2017, and noted substantial litigation costs and cost-shifting among stakeholders. Utility representatives supported reforms that preserve financial stability and reduce risk, while consumer and public-interest advocates opposed shifting more costs to ratepayers and stressed accountability, audits, and safety-linked recovery. No votes or formal actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the opportunity to share in front of you today.
• We're back in front of you again today, so it's an honor to be here.
• For example, our psychologist took a $60 an hour pay cut to work with our patient population.
• Again, our veteran families pay nothing for our services.
• This came from right in front of one of our churches in town.

Bills: HF568, HF433, HF1689, HF3135, HF3137, HF3145, HF2887, HF2819, HF2802, HF2664, HF2267, HF799, HF800, HF3049, HF296, HF580, HF1438, HF1237

Keywords: special education, education funding, construction, Minnesota, regional educational programs, HF433, Cloquet Area Fire District, fire station, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, general obligation bonds, public safety, emergency services, fire protection, local infrastructure, Minnesota capital budget, DEED grant, municipal facilities, station construction

Transcript Highlights:

• pay franchise fees.
• It is like a tenant paying a landlord or the lessee paying the lessor.
• To subscribe, you can decide not to pay the subscription; you can decide not to pay any of the other
• , they pay rent.
• You don't pay on your internet service, nor do you pay on alarm monitoring or other services; it’s just

Bills: HB2838, HB2964, HB3213, SB924

Keywords: broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of people pay attention to what we do.
• But um, so what we ... this process is important: that people pay attention and bring concerns to us
• attention and and bring concerns to pay attention and and bring concerns to us<00:24:26.640> as
• page of the >> so that was on the front page of the newspapers<00:27:16.559> and<00:27:
• This is the only bill to come in front of our committee today.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Education Committee met to consider Senate Bill 181, which revises Kentucky’s new law on traceable school communications between adults in positions of authority and students. Senator Lindsey Tichenor explained that the bill was originally enacted earlier in the year to prevent private electronic communications that could facilitate grooming, but implementation revealed problems that prompted a committee substitute. She said the revised bill broadens and clarifies definitions, including family member and qualified school volunteer, narrows the law to students enrolled in the same district, and adds exemptions for virtual instruction, translation services, parent-provided phone numbers, public social media, commercial communications, secure healthcare messaging, and emergencies. It also changes parental consent rules, limits mandatory reporting to situations involving a reasonable belief of an unreported violation, and makes disciplinary action against employees or volunteers permissible rather than mandatory. The committee adopted the substitute by voice vote after a motion and second, and the bill was then opened for public testimony. Laura Wills Coppelman testified in support of the bill’s purpose but urged more attention to what happens after a concern is raised. She said her own experience and those of other survivors showed that internal school processes can fail students and that parental notification alone is not enough if investigations remain inside the institution. She suggested that when an internal investigation ends without discipline, parents should receive a written explanation so decisions affecting student safety are documented and reviewable. Senators asked about coach-athlete communications, parental notice, commercial contacts, and possible remaining issues involving school resource officers and designated school personnel. Tichenor said public social media interactions and parent consent forms would allow needed coach communications, schools would inform parents of violations and outcomes, and commercial or second-job contacts were addressed in the exemptions. Several senators spoke in support of the revised bill while acknowledging concerns and unintended consequences from the original law. Senator Reed emphasized parental empowerment and asked about recruiting-related coach communications; Senator Neal asked how parents would be informed and was told the school would notify them; Senator Higdon said the bill was a thoughtful revisit and noted possible future amendments for DPSs and SROs; and Senator Meredith and others said the changes addressed unintended consequences rather than a flawed policy goal. Senator Thomas framed the measure as a matter of boundaries, and Senator Williams said the bill may need continued monitoring as technology changes but that it had already helped identify potential abuse cases. The committee then voted on the bill, with members explaining their votes before the meeting moved toward final action on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh what this simply says have to pay."
• what you're supposed to pay.
• c> for<03:36:48.880> that If somebody doesn't pay for that If somebody doesn't pay for that
• And and is that a the hook to pay this.
• pay what you're<03:37:18.120> supposed<03:37:18.400> to<03:37:18.480> pay.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It seems to me that<00:13:26.399> paying<00:13:26.959> paying<00:13:27.360> the<
• 00:13:27.600> employee<00:13:28.240> the<00:13:28.639> the that paying paying the
• <00:25:57.919> this<00:25:58.640> uh pay this uh pay this uh 2.8%<00:26:01.600> as
• pay for the cost of providing the care. pay for the cost of providing the care.
• Um the the bill patient to pay it.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Federally licensed warehouses pay a license action fee of $90.
• They pay a service license fee of $40.
• Senator Kunesh: Again, I don't have the bill in front of me. Uh, unfortunately, let's see here.
• Senator Kunesh: Again, I don't have the bill in front of me. Uh, unfortunately, let's see here.
• <01:55:37.679> Thank across the global front as well.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You're loaning people money up front and expect to get paid back once the case settles.
• and center it's that information front and center it's going<01:02:04.400> to<01:02:04.480>
• <01:14:37.639> of everyone hopefully you have in front of everyone hopefully you have in front
• Okay, I don't have it in front of me. Nobody's here. Okay, Representative Miles wasn't here.
• for the insurance plan for their to pay for the insurance plan for their kid<01:36:01.239> okay

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 733-FN, a bill on third-party litigation financing (TPLF). Representative Cole, the prime sponsor, described TPLF as outside investors financing lawsuits in which they have no personal stake, arguing that the practice is largely unregulated, can involve foreign entities, and contributes to litigation abuse, higher insurance costs, and what he called a “tort tax.” He said the bill is modeled on an NCOIL proposal and would require disclosure of TPLF agreements, with specific references to foreign-entity restrictions, consumer-protection guardrails, and reporting requirements. He also noted a few technical fixes to the draft, including adding the word “knowingly” and restoring a section that had been omitted. Committee members questioned how the bill’s foreign-entity language would work, including whether a governor or the Department of Safety would designate countries of concern, and whether the bill would bar foreign parties from using litigation funding. Cole and others clarified that the bill was intended as a reporting measure, not a ban on litigation funding itself, and that the goal was to disclose who is funding lawsuits and to what extent. Representative Sal asked whether the bill would prevent a litigant from getting outside financing; Cole answered no, emphasizing disclosure rather than prohibition. Brandon Grat of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau testified that the bill’s enforcement provisions were too limited. He said the draft appears to give the Attorney General only a civil-penalty remedy, likely too small to deter violations, and not the broader Consumer Protection Act tools such as injunctions, restitution, or investigation authority. He also raised concerns about whether the Attorney General or Insurance Department would have proper jurisdiction, given that the product may be financial or insurance-related. Insurance Commissioner DJ Benton Court said the department sees possible benefits from transparency because disclosure of litigation funding could help insurers assess risk, improve underwriting, and potentially ease hard-market pressures, especially for nonprofits and child care providers. He also said the bill’s language likely needs further work to clarify agency authority and suggested involving the Attorney General, Insurance Department, and banking regulators. Opposition testimony came from the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association. Marissa Chase and Samantha Hering argued the bill is one-sided because it requires disclosure only on the plaintiff side and not from defendants or insurers. They said New Hampshire already has court rules and discovery procedures that cover relevant disclosures, making the bill unnecessary, and questioned whether the existence of a funding contract is even relevant in litigation. The hearing ended with the committee continuing to discuss possible revisions and enforcement options, but no vote or final action was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clearly I'm in front of this committee first on the agenda.
• <00:53:49.839> We dine, pay taxes, and vote there. We dine, pay taxes, and vote there.
• along the line, patients have to pay along the line, patients have to pay more.<01:09:44.719>
• <01:27:48.880> of this and we have to get out in front of this and we have to get out in front
• <01:42:42.320> this you know federal ability to pay this you know federal ability to pay this

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, Florida pays $130, while North Carolina pays about $135.
• The average business with a workers' compensation policy will pay $1.02, and a consumer will pay $1.00
• TMB pays 450 experts nearly $1.5 million a year.
• She's had a 30% pay raise over the last four years.
• They need better pay for their employees.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• district reports that they they pay out. district reports that they they pay out.
• >> And you pay for travel, too. >> And you pay for travel, too.
• we pay 80% after three and a half times. we pay 80% after three and a half times.
• they um pay for everything from July 1. they um pay for everything from July 1.
• the bill in front of you. the bill in front of you.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The commission met to continue its study of the cost of special education, with the chair emphasizing that the group needs to narrow its focus over the coming year toward specific cost drivers, including the IEP process, Medicaid, charter schools, and EFAs. Members reviewed a draft first report due November 1 and agreed it would be a brief synopsis of prior meetings, with minutes attached. The September 30, 2025 minutes were amended to correct the number of federally funded department staff from 234 to 23, and to revise language about Senator Sullivan’s comments so they reflected concerns about IEP advocates and fees charged to families rather than support for the concept. The amended minutes were then approved unanimously, with abstentions noted for members who were absent. The main presentation focused on how special education costs are handled for students attending charter schools. The DOE representative said there are 804 students with disabilities in charter schools across 88 of the state’s 176 districts, and that the district of residence remains responsible for all services and costs. She explained that students must meet IDEA criteria through district evaluation and parent consent, and that services are determined through individual IEP meetings rather than by a blanket charter-school decision. Members asked how those costs are tracked, whether any students are merely “monitored,” and whether districts separately identify charter-school special education expenses; the answer was that most districts fold those costs into their overall special education budget, though some may break them out as a line item. The discussion then turned to transportation and mileage costs for staff providing services at charter schools. Testimony indicated that districts may use their own staff, contract staff, or contract with a charter school for certified services, and that travel costs are often either built into contracts or absorbed as part of staff time rather than separately reimbursed. Members questioned whether mileage is reimbursed when staff travel to distant charter schools and whether those costs can be isolated in district budgets; the response was that practices vary by district and are not usually broken out by special education function. Several members argued this makes it difficult to determine the true cost of delivering special education, especially given New Hampshire’s model in which the district of residence pays regardless of where the charter school is located. The chair noted the complexity of the system and compared it to the state’s separate tuition and transportation approach for career and technical education centers.

Transcript Highlights:

• This may actually be my last budget hearing in front of you all.
• I have been, to manage the workload that we have in front of us.
• If you're paying $30,000 at 400% of poverty.
• to pay, you know, $30,000 a year.
• I guess I'm trying to figure out we're paying for Peter and stealing over here and paying over here.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I would hope that we would have individuals who would pay their bill, but if they're not aware
• who may not be paying as close attention to what was going on on their accounts.
• Very rough, because I'm not that familiar with what the universities pay.
• So any large-ticket item I put in front of the board.
• Why would a school choose to pay a private firm rather than have it free by the state?

Summary: The committee opened with prayer, approved the January 8 minutes, and then reviewed education audit reports. The first report concerned Northwest Arkansas Community College, which had two findings: repeat internal control deficiencies that caused material misstatements in the financial statements, and a tuition revenue loss tied to a Workday system issue that failed to charge some students after drop-add changes. College officials said the problems were misclassification and process issues rather than missing funds, described corrective steps including checklists, monthly closing procedures, and approval controls, and attributed some issues to staffing turnover and the Workday implementation. Members asked about accountability, staffing, and whether students should have been billed; the report was filed as reviewed. The next report was Cedarville School District, where auditors found improper personal credit card charges of $794 by a former elementary teacher. The employee reimbursed the district, and the matter was referred to law enforcement, the prosecuting attorney, the attorney general, and the Professional Licensure Standards Board. Members asked whether any licensing action would follow, but staff said they were only aware that no further action had been taken by the board. The final finding was for West Memphis School District, which had a repeat capital assets issue involving failure to capitalize $851,000 in construction expenditures for a baseball-softball complex, along with other asset-recording and inspection discrepancies. The superintendent said the district had recently begun using Arkansas Legislative Audit for the first time after previously using a private CPA firm, and described new controls such as multi-level purchase approval, tagging, separation of duties, and inventory cleanup. Members questioned why the district had not been audited publicly before and how private audits are handled; staff explained that private audits are still reviewed and findings come before the committee. The report was filed as reviewed. The meeting ended with notice that 28 school districts had no findings and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The city wants to make sure you're paying attention. Paying attention. Uh, I believe that...
• They innovate and pay the taxes.
• The revised bill in front of us would take that to 1%.
• Along the Front Range, there are taxes.
• I'm going to pay this guy back.

Keywords: 981, all