Transcript Highlights:

• So, we will be tracking<00:07:33.120> early<00:07:33.440> and<00:07:33.680> mid-range
• <00:07:34.319> indicators tracking early and mid-range indicators tracking early and mid-range
• <00:32:37.039> and systems to track activities and systems to track activities and experiences
• So it's curious because I know some states are really tracking it.
• So it's curious because I know some states are really tracking it.

Bills: HF3650, HF2238

Keywords: student career pathways, education framework, experiential learning, employer engagement, career technical education, HF2238, Minnesota, workforce development, construction trades, youth skills training, youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, construction training, career and technical education, CTE, child labor laws, minor labor, labor exemption, workforce pipeline, skilled trades

Transcript Highlights:

• under the goal of the Great Start Scholarship Program by establishing one method for attendance tracking
• tracking for providers regardless<00:04:47.479> of<00:04:47.639> the<00:04:48.199>
• County and tribal social services use SSIS to track, manage, and pay for social services.
• One area of SSIS that will be improved by modernization is our state's ability to track emergency holds
• <01:27:44.280> and tracking of tracking um maintaining and tracking of tracking um maintaining

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee heard a presentation from Department of Children, Youth, and Families Commissioner Tiki Brown on the department’s 2025 budget and transition plans. Brown said the governor’s budget pairs targeted reductions with modest investments, resulting in net general fund savings, while preserving core safety-net programs. Major proposals included funding for program integrity, modernization of the child welfare SSIS system, compliance changes for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), operating adjustments, and a transition account reallocation as the new department continues moving programs from other agencies through July 1, 2025. A large portion of the discussion focused on CCAP fraud prevention and oversight. Brown and Assistant Commissioner Diane Hy explained that the proposed statewide electronic attendance recordkeeping system would replace retroactive paper-based attendance reporting with more timely data, making it harder to falsify attendance and claim payments improperly. Brown also said the department is working with the Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General and other partners on compliance and fraud controls. Senators pressed for more detail on current enforcement, whether payments can be withheld for violations, and whether recent media reports showed gaps in oversight; Brown said payments can be stopped for false attendance records, suspended or revoked licenses, or fraud allegations, but not for health and safety violations alone. The committee also reviewed other budget-neutral policy changes, including expanding permanency support services for relative foster care and tribal equivalents, strengthening tribal child welfare grants, updating TEACH scholarship rules for early childhood educators, and adjusting the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program to create a special revenue fund and extend a 10% payment increase to tribally licensed programs and programs on tribal reservation land. Brown also described a $1.5 million annual reduction to restorative practices grants, leaving a smaller ongoing base. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• here in the room, I'm going to start with Senator Leak, Tab 8, SB 1168, on installation or use of tracking
• Section 923.425 makes installing, placing, or using a tracking device or application on another person's
• There is currently not an increased penalty for unlawful installation or use of a tracking device or
• Installation or use of a tracking device or application if a person does so in furtherance of committing
• This legislation would create the crime of aggravated installation or use of tracking devices or tracking

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several criminal justice, public records, nuisance, and firearms bills. SB 1168, by Sen. Leak, would create a second-degree felony for aggravated installation or use of a tracking device or application when done in furtherance of a dangerous crime; it passed unanimously. SB 1054, by Sen. Garcia, would increase penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring devices, require immediate revocation of pretrial release for tampering, and bar further pretrial release on the current charges; after testimony raising concerns about unintended consequences and proof issues, it was reported favorably unanimously. SB 1198, by Sen. DeSigley, addressing fraudulent use of gift cards, was substantially revised by a delete-all amendment and a technical amendment, then reported favorably with support from retail and industry groups. SB 710, by Sen. Osgood, would create a public records exemption for personal identifying and location information of current and former Crime Stoppers employees, board members, and volunteers; it was reported favorably unanimously. SB 1022, by Sen. Wright, would strengthen nuisance abatement enforcement by raising fines, allowing tax-collector collection and special assessments, and authorizing foreclosure on unpaid liens; it was reported favorably after support from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. SB 716, by Sen. Martin, would impose mandatory minimum sentences for certain sexual offenses by registered sexual offenders or predators and bar early release; after an amendment to tie the penalty to prior convictions rather than registration status, it passed favorably. SB 878, also by Sen. Martin, would extend probation supervision for certain misdemeanor controlled-substance offenses and align them with existing alcohol-related probation rules; it passed unanimously. Finally, SB 952, by Sen. Guglia, would repeal the statute allowing firearm and ammunition sales restrictions during certain declared emergencies; after extensive testimony from gun-rights advocates and debate about local emergency ordinances, it was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Someone's got to keep track of all these things that the legislator says, now you got to do this, now
• have to keep track of and report<00:53:16.800> out.
• <00:53:53.359> So, someone's got to keep track of it.
• So, someone's got to keep track of it.
• <01:12:14.800> grants, clearer tracking of categorical grants, clearer tracking of categorical

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wildlife cameras are scat or tracks.
• <04:34:41.520> throughout log having every log tracked throughout log having every log tracked
• Moreover, you could to to track it.
• private tracking private tracking >> to<04:36:35.359> so<04:36:35.840> there
• The wood that was tracked same time.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think everything is on track and we should be able to issue that.
• So I think everything is on track and we should be able to issue that.
• is on track and we should<00:04:20.560> be<00:04:20.639> able<00:04:20.799> to<
• You know, if they're a new LLC or a new entity that gets set up, some need a track record before the
• <00:12:03.040> bonding track record before the bonding track record before the bonding companies

Bills: SJ0001

Keywords: mineral leasing, federal lands, Wyoming, energy policy, local control, federalism, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is a state, if you're aware of, are they tracking, are we tracking job placements or certifications or
• Is there any way for us to track that? The library-based workforce programs?
• Is there any way for us to track that so that it can be part of the evaluation and recurring funding
• Is a state, if you're aware of, are they tracking, are we tracking job placements or certifications or
• Is there any way for us to track that? the library-based workforce programs?

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative in support of fully funding the rural library endowment with an additional $29.5 million. The presenters described rural libraries as essential community infrastructure that provide not only books and internet access, but also early childhood programs, adult education, workforce support, telehealth, disaster response, and civic meeting space. They argued that the endowment would provide stable annual support for staffing and operations, help sustain libraries in very small towns and tribal communities, and support new or developing libraries. Members asked about eligibility, county coverage, how funds are distributed, and whether the state tracks broader outcomes such as job placements or certifications; the presenters said the State Library administers the funds and that the initiative itself is a nonprofit capacity-building organization, not the fund manager. Some members raised concerns about whether an endowment is the best long-term model versus recurring annual appropriations, and about the need for better reporting and state-library involvement. The committee then heard from food bank leaders Jill Dixon and Katie Anderson about food security and its economic impact. They said New Mexico’s five food banks and more than 500 partner agencies serve all 33 counties, distribute over 45 million meals, and rely mostly on philanthropy, with some state and local support. They emphasized that SNAP is a major economic driver, supporting grocery access, jobs, and local spending, and that recent legislative growth funding helped food banks respond to a surge in demand during a SNAP disruption. They also highlighted food banks as community hubs that can connect people to health care, job training, and other services, including through clinic referrals and closed-loop systems. In response to questions, they said food access gaps remain in some rural areas, that clients can generally seek food at other distribution sites without barriers, and that longer-term solutions should include more grocery access, healthy corner stores, and stronger broadband and health care infrastructure. The final presentations came from the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce and the Artesia Chamber of Commerce. Gallup-McKinley described a shrinking workforce, youth outmigration, crime, health care shortages, malpractice costs, and gross receipts tax burdens as major barriers to rural economic growth, and urged action on workforce pipelines, housing, public safety, malpractice reform, and tax/regulatory changes. Artesia highlighted its murals, library, sports tradition, oil and gas, agriculture, federal training center, and refinery, while also noting workforce shortages, health care recruitment challenges, housing constraints, and the need for quality-of-life investments and more flexible regulation. The committee also briefly heard a bill presentation proposing a New Mexico-Ireland Trade Commission to promote bilateral trade and investment, especially in technology, agriculture, and energy sectors. No votes were taken because quorum was not reached, and the endorsement item was not acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was passed by the legislature, and so it's just about tracking the costs. >> Absolutely.
• That was passed by the legislature, and so it's just about tracking the costs. >> Absolutely.
• That was passed by the legislature, and so it's just about tracking the costs. >> Absolutely.
• That was passed by the legislature, and so it's just about tracking the costs. >> Absolutely.
• Keep track. So that's just a suggestion. >> Absolutely.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on Friday, November 21st and first approved the October 17th minutes, with one member abstaining because she was not present. The committee then adopted the remainder of the consent calendar after removing two items for separate consideration. On tab four, members discussed item 25282 with the Commissioner of Administrative Services and Public Works staff; the project had been delayed after testing revealed design errors and flaws, and the committee was told the work would restart with test piles the following week and was projected for completion in fall 2027. The item was approved. On tab five, item 25279 concerned a Health and Human Services facility project and a federally required element added late in the process. Commissioners explained that the project had originally been funded at $21 million, later required additional financing, and that the legislature had recently lifted a restriction so non-ARPA funds could be used. They also said the sale of the existing Manchester property would not be needed to complete the build, that a broker RFP was about to be issued, and that any sale would require further approvals. The committee approved the item. The committee then approved item 25280 after a brief exchange about rainy day fund estimates and prior budget assumptions, and approved item 25278 without discussion. Item 25272 drew questions about the consumer advocate’s RFP for outside utility-rate-case assistance; the office said it eliminated proposals focused only on return on equity work after the Eversource decision, selected a Michigan firm for spreadsheet and operating-cost analysis, and noted there were no in-state firms doing this specialized work. The committee approved the item, with one member recorded in opposition. On tab nine, item 25261 concerned a new judicial council budget obligation tied to legislation and public defense staffing needs. The presenter said the request reflected a late-added obligation from the judicial branch, that more requests may still be needed, and that public defense staffing was strained by vacancies and competition from Massachusetts. The committee approved the item. Under informational items, members received an update on 529 plan distributions and on interest and dividends tax refunds, with Revenue Administration saying roughly $21 million more in refunds remained and that the repeal-related refunds were nearly finished. The committee also noted an environmental services item for which questions would be submitted separately. The next meeting was set for December 19th at 11:00 a.m., and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think I was on the wrong track. I'm trying to... Okay, so we're gonna...
• I think I was on the wrong track. I'm trying to... Okay, so we're gonna...
• I think I was on the wrong track. I'm trying to... Okay, so we're gonna...
• I think I was on the wrong track. I'm trying to... Okay, so we're gonna...
• I think I was on the wrong track. I'm trying to... Okay, so we're gonna...

Bills: HB4568, HB5458, HB4543, HB2703, HB3728, HCR113, HCR126

Keywords: film industry, incentives, grants, Texas, moving image, economic development, production companies, content standards, HB 5458, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, chronic wasting disease, CWD, cervids, deer, elk, moose, wildlife management, game animals, disease management

Transcript Highlights:

• The TEC has adopted a rule review plan to stay on track with this requirement, and the adoption of the
• In practice, it ends up being sort of a big administrative headache to track them.
• other bills affecting our jurisdiction or affecting our operations in some way, we are actively tracking
• And we're just tracking. We are just tracking, of course. Yeah, of course.
• And we're just tracking. We are, we're just tracking, of course. Yeah, of course.

Summary: The Texas Ethics Commission met on March 11, 2025, first in executive session and then in open session. The chair announced that, in light of Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-484, the commission would conform its practices to the opinion and move to repeal tolling rules for sworn-complaint deadlines. The chair also said the commission would dismiss 36 pending sworn-complaint cases in which the 120-day settlement deadline had been exceeded, even though the delay had been tolled under prior TEC rules. The commission then set future meeting dates for June 12 and September 17 and approved prior meeting minutes. The commission adopted a new criminal-referral rule clarifying that, once jurisdiction over a complaint is accepted, commissioners may vote to make a criminal referral. It also adopted revised advisory-opinion rules, with a clarifying amendment from a commenter, and republished proposed changes to the definition of “principal purpose” for political committees after staff recommended a 49 percent political-activity threshold and further public input. The commission published for comment proposed changes to ethics training rules, facial-compliance review procedures, late-filing waiver and reduction rules, and sworn-complaint procedures, including tighter discovery limits, a default-order set-aside process, and removal of tolling language inconsistent with KP-484. It also republished Chapter 28 rules on Speaker-candidate reporting. The commission adopted several advisory opinions. It declined to give an affirmative defense on whether certain school-district communications were political advertising because related litigation had already addressed the issue. It reaffirmed that a House member may use donated district-office space if it is not reimbursable with public funds and was accepted before the contribution moratorium. It also concluded that a judge may use political funds for travel to a Navy-hosted event as a local dignitary, that legislators’ use of a corporate aircraft for a border-region fact-finding trip could be permissible but would likely trigger reporting obligations, that a TCEQ commissioner’s revolving-door restrictions apply only to matters actually placed before the commissioner, and that a part-time legislative staffer may not take outside employment assisting a registered lobbyist. The commission then heard and acted on numerous fine-waiver appeals, granting several full waivers or reductions and approving staff recommendations on others, and terminated a number of inactive campaign treasurer appointments. Finally, the executive director briefed the commission on the 2025 legislative session, noting that staffing requests are tied to Sunset recommendations and that the House had preliminarily recommended about half of the commission’s appropriations requests.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can track it like the specific professions that we're feeding into it, how those go.
• It would just be helpful to track as we have these 5,600.
• The first area, the tracking of the apprenticeship, I just want to mention...
• Some additional tracking mechanisms that require not only individual participation tracking but also
• Since that change has happened, we are now tracking that.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes, if we can't find people, if we can't track them down, it makes it tough.
• We track whether they were able to make a recovery, and I don't know.
• this point I don't think we track this point I don't think we track whether<00:37:56.800> or<
• <00:38:03.240> whether life savings or not we we track whether life savings or not we we track
• cut a check or if we can't even track cut a check or if we can't even track them<01:02:33.000>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This will help us to track where any delays have come in and also be as accurate as possible.
• Uh, we'll keep track of how the system is functioning and as Jason said, if there are any, any hiccups
• Tracking of their progress and then as we move into construction.
• include executive teams being responsible for the overall accountability so that it doesn't fall off track
• specific deliverables that we can expect and, and regular reporting as it helps us just keep on, uh, keep track

Transcript Highlights:

• But having the system replaced with something that can auto-populate those PACs and track across the
• The system replaced with something that can auto-populate those PACs and track across the course of the
• Right now, then there's just, there's no way to track it. In our current system? Yeah.
• Right now, then there's just, there's no way to track it.
• Some wanted to know every nickel of how you spend it everywhere, and they wanted to be able to track

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee resumed discussion of a campaign finance reporting bill and related amendments, focusing on whether the new reporting system should require beginning and ending fund balances for candidate committees and other entities. Representative Koppelman said he supported the modernization and software improvements, such as auto-populating donor information and aggregating contributions, but opposed making running balances mandatory because he viewed them as unnecessary for reporting and potentially burdensome. He also raised questions about language on contributions and expenditures, including whether certain uses of property or deposits were being classified correctly. Secretary of State Mike Lau responded that the questioned language on pages 5 and 6 was existing law, but said the beginning and ending fund balance on page 13 was important to the new system because it would allow amended reports to populate correctly across years. He said removing that requirement would effectively create two separate systems, and that the vendor could implement changes only if required by law. Members discussed whether the balance information could be hidden from the public, whether a zero-start approach would work, and whether an opt-in checkbox could avoid requiring all filers to use the same format. The committee did not take a final vote. Instead, the chair said the bill would go back to the subcommittee, with Representative Steiner and the Secretary of State’s office to continue working on the issue, and Representative Koppelman included in further discussions. The chair indicated the group would meet again later in the week to try to move the bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are now, um, looking to track that. >> You guys never thought about tracking that before. >> Well,
• are we starting to track though?
• We are now, um, looking to track that. >> You guys never thought about tracking that before. >> Well,
• are we starting to track though?
• really hard for us to track, right? really hard for us to track, right?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• historic establishment of the green fee, it's critical that we build a public dashboard to clearly track
• <00:18:15.440> how<00:18:15.600> these dashboard to clearly track how these dashboard
• to clearly track how these funds<00:18:16.080> are<00:18:16.240> used.
• >> You know, I think that BNF has definitely the fiscal tracking.
• >> You know, I think that BNF has definitely the fiscal tracking.

Bills: HB1617

Keywords: carbon emissions, tax credit, fossil fuel, agriculture, food security, environmental tax, greenhouse gas, 910, house, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on HB 1949, which would create a public dashboard for the green fee to improve transparency and accountability. Testimony from the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and many community and conservation groups was generally supportive, with several speakers urging that the governor’s project recommendations remain largely intact and that community-driven projects continue to guide spending. One amendment was suggested to place the dashboard at the Department of Budget and Finance for fiscal expertise, while other testimony favored keeping it with the commission. Members asked about procurement, ETS involvement, recurring hosting costs, and whether the dashboard could be funded from green fee revenues; the commission said it could work with ETS and that green fee funds could reasonably be used. The committees then voted to pass HB 1949 with amendments. The committees also heard HB 2618, which would require the governor to submit a separate bill for amounts tied to any increase in the transient accommodations tax and, in later discussion, was expanded into a broader restructuring of future green fee allocations. Testimony from the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, and others supported the bill and emphasized the value of more predictable, dedicated funding for conservation and climate-related work. During decision-making, the chair described amendments creating several special funds under DLNR, including a watershed biodiversity and wildfire risk reduction fund, an aquatic resources conservation fund, a coastal restoration fund, a cesspool conversion revolving loan fund, and a green fee special fund for remaining revenues, with recommended amounts discussed for some of the funds. The committees voted to pass HB 2618 with amendments. The hearing then moved to HB 1644, a consumer protection measure for residential solar sales that would require compliance with consumer protection laws, licensing or contractor affiliation for sellers, and a standardized disclosure form. Testimony in support came from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, the Hawaii Solar Energy Association, and several solar companies and individuals. Supporters said the bill would address complaints about third-party sales practices and improve disclosure, especially around financing. The committee then began hearing HB 2243, which would require electric utilities to provide public, electronic customer bill impact analyses and annual reports to the Public Utilities Commission; the Division of Consumer Advocacy and the PUC offered comments supporting the measure’s intent.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:24:26.399> the ability as policy makers to track the ability as policy makers to track
• legislator's ability to accurately track legislator's ability to accurately track the<00:32:52.600
• We're just going to lose track of it. Mr.
• We're just going to lose track of it. Mr.
• We're just going to lose track of it. Mr.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of all the sure that we're keeping track of all the ch<00:59:26.280> es<00:59:26.520> so
• And so we'll track those throughout the process.
• And so we'll track those throughout the process.
• of all of that just so we can keep track of all of that to<01:05:40.160> ensure<01:05:40.440>
• We keep track of that through fiscal.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met for an organizational opening session in which the chair, Ken Weyler, called the committee to order and members introduced themselves. The introductions established the committee’s leadership and membership, including Vice Chair Dan McGuire, ranking member Mary Jane Wallner, deputy ranking member Karen Eil, clerk Jerry Griffin, and other members from both parties. Many members briefly described prior legislative service and professional backgrounds, with several noting prior experience on Finance or related budget committees. Chair Weyler then outlined committee procedures and expectations. He emphasized that Finance handles spending bills and fiscal notes, that bills will generally be heard by the full committee and then referred to the appropriate division, and that executive sessions may be used to save time when positions are clear. He reviewed rules on attendance, dress, phones, paperwork handling, committee replacements, conflict of interest and recusal, and the process for testimony, including that members should listen without debating witnesses and that sponsors of bills must recuse themselves from questioning witnesses on their own bills. He also described the committee’s structure and workload, noting three divisions and the role of legislative budget staff. Weyler said the committee would likely see bills from many policy committees that have fiscal impacts, and he encouraged policy committees to find offsets within their own areas rather than assume new spending will be added. No bills were heard and no votes were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• But are these on two separate tracks?
• Are we just going to be funding two separate tracks?
• There will be no tracking. There will be no surveillance.
• It was Utah that also drove the effort to, you know,... ...tracking, there will be no surveillance.
• Well, we are now on track.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tribal and rural outreach innovations and 100% paper ballots post-election audits and ballot tracking
• Um, we have been working with UNM and the political science department to track trust in in our election
• You know, um, increases or decreases the cost of their, their package, uh, that fast track legislation
• Um, there is, however, 56 of the 67 that we, uh, measures we track quarterly are either yellow or green
• is important given the independence of the school districts that we keep that the department keep track