Video & Transcript : 'communication technology' :
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses Apr 7th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We care for our community.
- our community, we were partners in all this.
- We are basically the pulse of our community.
- Independent restaurants are essential to our communities.
- Those savings go right back into our businesses, into our communities.
Summary:
The commission met to continue studying credit card payments, interchange fees, fraud, chargebacks, and the impact of card processing costs on small businesses, especially restaurants and retailers. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurant owners, payment-industry representatives, and an airline trade group. Supporters of reform argued that swipe fees are a major and rising expense, that businesses are paying fees on sales tax and tips that are merely pass-through amounts, and that merchants have little negotiating power. Several restaurant and retail witnesses described thin margins, higher costs for card-not-present transactions, and chargebacks that they said usually favor cardholders and leave merchants absorbing losses and fees.
Witnesses from the Cooperative Credit Union Association cautioned that state-level interchange regulation could reduce revenue used for fraud prevention, compliance, and member services, and could lead to higher rates or reduced access. Retail and restaurant representatives countered that fees have risen sharply, that statements are difficult to decipher, and that rewards programs and card-network pricing are subsidized by merchants and ultimately by all consumers. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association and independent operators urged legislation to bar fees on tax and tip portions of transactions and to allow businesses to pass along card fees if they choose, saying this would improve transparency and fairness and help keep small restaurants open.
Other testimony came from the National Restaurant Association, which supported interchange reform and said modern point-of-sale systems can already separate tax and tip amounts, and from a payments-industry group that emphasized the broader economic benefits of digital payments and warned against state-by-state rules. Airlines for America opposed changes that could undermine airline credit card rewards programs. Commission members asked detailed questions about fee structures, card types, chargebacks, POS systems, and whether consumers paying cash are also affected. No votes or formal actions were taken at the meeting.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Many institutions, however, are prohibited from using the funds for subscription-based technology, limiting
- solutions necessary The acquisition, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of technology solutions
- career and technical education programs, and it would clarify that such funds may also support technology
- These departments are best positioned to serve their unique school communities, and preserving their
- So many homeschooling families feared social backlash or ridicule from their communities.
Keywords:
election laws, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, voting integrity, education, property values, school districts, comptroller, funding formula
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met to hear testimony on a full agenda of education-related bills. Several measures were laid out and left pending, including HB 322 to allow JET Grant funds to be used for subscription-based and ongoing technology costs for career and technical education; HB 3062 to require fentanyl and drug-poisoning prevention instruction for entering college students; HB 121 to update school safety laws, including TEA peace officer commissions, annual renewal of certain safety exceptions, new reporting requirements, and special education behavior threat assessment changes; HB 3627 to let the State Board of Education chair employ staff; HB 5515 to curb inflated shipping and handling charges on instructional materials; HB 2674 to prohibit new state regulation of homeschool programs; HB 2310 to require a statewide strategic plan for early learning and inclusion for young children with disabilities; HB 367 to standardize documentation for excused absences due to serious illness; HB 1178 to speed certification for out-of-state educators and military spouses; and HB 1481 to expand cell phone restrictions to the full school day.
Testimony was generally supportive on most bills, with some concerns raised on HB 121 about school district police departments investigating misconduct and on HB 2674 about how it would interact with the new ESA program in SB 2. HB 5515 drew support from instructional materials coordinators who described extreme shipping invoices and argued the bill would restore transparency and fiscal responsibility. HB 2310 was supported by disability advocates and early learning groups, who said a coordinated state plan would improve access and inclusion for children with disabilities. HB 367 was presented as a simple clarification to reduce confusion for medically vulnerable students and families, and HB 1178 was described by TEA as a modest pathway that would help bring experienced out-of-state teachers into Texas schools more quickly.
HB 126, updating Texas’ NIL law to align with the pending House settlement and allow direct payments and pre-enrollment NIL agreements, received extensive testimony from university counsel and committee questioning about the settlement, recruiting, and future college athletics rules. HB 1481, expanding school cell phone restrictions from instructional time to the entire school day, drew strong support from parents, students, educators, and advocates who linked phones to distraction, cyberbullying, and mental health harms; one teacher asked for flexibility so phones could still be used for limited academic tasks. No bills were voted out; each measure heard was left pending subject to the call of the chair, and the committee then recessed to attend the floor session.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee Jun 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I wish to address the cost to California's communities.
- AB 1383, but how much longer our communities can afford to go without it.
- There are enormous dangers and responsibilities for our community.
- We use technology every day to save lives, but when technology is used in patient care, nurses...
- I'm here as a community member, former farm worker, and now a community educator, here in support of
Summary:
The committee heard several bills focused on public safety, labor enforcement, pensions, and workplace safety. AB 1054 would create a voluntary DROP-style retirement option for CHP officers and Cal Fire firefighters to help retain experienced personnel; supporters said it would be cost-neutral and help staffing, while an opponent warned it could affect bond ratings and create pension risk. The bill passed the committee 4-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2129, which would improve Cal Fire compensation to aid recruitment and retention, also passed 4-0 to Appropriations with support from firefighters and no opposition. AB 1383, a broader PEPRA-related measure lowering retirement age and adjusting compensation caps for public safety workers, drew extensive support from firefighters and peace officers and strong opposition from cities, counties, and other local government groups over long-term pension costs; after debate over fiscal impacts, it passed 4-0 to Appropriations.
The committee also considered AB 605 on refinery safe staffing during shutdowns, prompted by layoffs and reduced staffing at refineries such as Phillips 66 Wilmington. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers and nearby communities during refinery wind-downs, while petroleum and business groups said closures are not inevitable and opposed the bill’s premise. The bill passed 3-0 to Environmental Quality. AB 1859 would let joint labor-management committees access public works sites to help detect wage theft and safety violations; construction labor supporters backed it as an enforcement tool, while laborers, local governments, and builders raised concerns about duplication, property access, and project disruption. It passed 2-0 to Judiciary, on call.
The committee then heard AB 2321, a pilot program allowing county district attorneys in Alameda and Santa Clara to investigate workplace deaths, which supporters said would address Cal/OSHA’s backlog and weak enforcement; employers and safety practitioners opposed it, citing expertise, due process, and overlapping investigations. It passed 2-0 to Appropriations, on call. Finally, AB 2575 began testimony on healthcare AI guardrails, with the author and nurses arguing that AI should support, not replace, clinical judgment and that patient safety requires human oversight.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Transportation Apr 15th, 2026
Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- That is where intelligent speed assistance technology proves its value.
- And a lot of vehicles just don't even have that technology.
- We support intelligent speed assist technology because the link between drunk driving,...
- IASA technology has proven to be a transformative tool.
- Representative Bromley: So you represent the biking community also? Yeah, I would say so. Okay.
Summary:
The Transportation Committee met in executive session and first voted House Bill 1798 do pass by a 9-5 roll call. Members then considered a House committee substitute combining House Bills 2553, 1831, and 2328; after a brief explanation that the substitute mainly rolled the bills together and removed duplicative helmet language, the committee adopted the substitute and voted the combined bill do pass 15-0. The committee also took up Senate Bill 1408, adopted a House committee amendment cleaning up salvage title language, then adopted a new committee substitute and voted the bill do pass by an 8-6-1 vote. Several members raised concerns about omnibus drafting, fiscal notes, and process, while others defended the bills as useful or freedom-oriented measures.
The committee then heard House Bill 3317 from Rep. Sherry Gallick, which would allow drivers facing license revocation for accumulated speeding-related points to regain driving privileges by using an intelligent speed limiting device for a year. The sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce repeat speeding and keep people working, while witnesses in support included a family member of a pedestrian killed in a speeding-related hit-and-run, MADD, and a transportation safety group, all arguing the bill could reduce fatalities and provide accountability. Opponents argued the current point and suspension system already provides penalties, that the bill could impose costs on taxpayers, and that it raises concerns about privacy, technology accuracy, and government overreach. The hearing ended without a vote on HB 3317, and the chair announced it was likely the committee’s final meeting of the year.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- So, I think a lot of this would come down to communication between all.
- </c><00:51:59.360><c> and</c> transitions to new technologies and transitions to new technologies and
- ,</c> evolving technology, evolving technology, you<01:20:35.200><c> have</c><01:20:36.080><c> evolving
- </c> technology is evolving. technology is evolving.
- And who knows, a myriad of other issues as technology changes.
Summary:
The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard and considered a long list of Governor’s messages for appointments to state boards and commissions, including the Board of Dentistry, Barbering and Cosmetology, Speech Pathology and Audiology, Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board, Elevator Mechanics Licensing Board, Real Estate Commission, Board of Naturopathic Medicine, State Boxing Commission, Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects, Hawaii Medical Board, Board of Physical Therapy, Board of Pharmacy, and the Public Utilities Commission. Most nominees and supporting agencies testified in support, and many nominees simply stood on their written testimony. Several nominees also answered questions about their experience and the issues facing their boards, including dental insurance and Medicaid concerns, condo and real estate disputes, pharmacy regulation and telepharmacy, boxing and MMA rule updates, and medical board service in rural areas.
The committee discussed some contested or notable nominations in more detail. Richard Emery’s nomination to the Real Estate Commission drew opposition testimony tied to a condo management dispute, and he responded by emphasizing the need for factual evidence, mediation and complaint data, and better consumer education. Trinette Kahui and Andrea Ushijima were also nominated to the Real Estate Commission, with broad support. For the Boxing Commission, Robin Jumawan described ongoing statutory updates, MMA-related work, and delegation of amateur boxing rules. For the Hawaii Medical Board, Elizabeth Ignacio was strongly endorsed by state and industry witnesses as highly qualified and familiar with rural health issues, while Rebecca Sawai also received support from the board and Kaiser Permanente.
In the decision-making portion, the committee moved to advise and consent to nearly all nominees on the agenda. Senator McKelvey stated reservations about Richard Emery due to opposition and possible conflicts, and also about nominees who were not present at the hearing, specifically Corrine Muldrow Soto and Stacie Kealoha Inouye; Senator Lamasao also noted reservations on those absent nominees. The chair disclosed personal acquaintance with Dr. Sawai and Andrea Ushijima. The committee then voted to adopt the recommendations, with the noted reservations and one no vote on GM 697 reflected in the record, and later reconvened to take up Governor’s Message 514/515 for John Etemura as chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, where additional support testimony was heard from the Governor’s office, DCCA, and former consumer advocacy staff.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/10/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- They do not use this technology.
- That technology is about 80 years old.
- They do not use this technology.
- It's the technology.
- It's the technology.
Keywords:
driver education, instruction permit, underage drivers, motorcycle licenses, traffic regulations, corrections oversight, appropriation, independent office, public safety, funding, driver license, examinations, motorcycle awareness, traffic laws, HB2116, Colorado River, litigation fund, water rights, Arizona water law, general fund appropriation
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development & Workforce Investment (11-20-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- And this is high schools, area technology centers, and there's 50 area technology centers around the
- And this is high schools, area technology centers, and there's 50 area technology centers around the
- </c> they need to communicate that message. they need to communicate that message.
- ,</c> automation and efficiency technologies, automation and efficiency technologies, world-class<00:
- So that's and Technology uh program.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:58
Putting Young Kentuckians to Work: First Year Update 00:04:06
Kentucky Talent Attraction Initiative 00:21:59
Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership 00:57:15, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum, approved the October minutes, and heard first a progress report on the state-funded “Putting Young Kentuckians to Work” initiative. Workforce leaders from Cumberland Workforce Development Board and Kentucky Works said the HB 1 funding has allowed them to contract with all 10 workforce boards and build new pipelines with high schools, area technology centers, school districts, and community and technical colleges. They reported an end-of-year goal of 3,600 job placements, with 218 placements reported as of October 2025 and enrollment numbers continuing to rise. Testimony emphasized that the program is aimed at disconnected youth and high school seniors, that federal WIOA funds are too limited to support this work alone, and that the flexible state funding has enabled short-term training and placements in fields such as welding, CDL, and CNA. Members asked about barriers to implementation, wage levels, and services for students with disabilities; presenters said the main challenge was building school relationships and that wage growth should improve as students gain more skills and credentials.
The committee then received an update on the Kentucky Talent Attraction Initiative. Representatives from Greater Louisville Inc. and Commerce Lexington explained that the General Assembly previously provided $250,000 for a consultant to develop a statewide talent attraction and retention strategy, and that more than 13 organizations across the state support the effort. Development Counsellors International described its research process, including statewide stakeholder engagement, and said the goal is to create a Kentucky talent value proposition that combines job opportunities with quality-of-place messaging. They reported that Kentucky faces a shrinking labor force and a projected national worker shortfall, while internal research found 47% of working-age respondents could consider leaving the state within two years because they are not confident in career opportunities. At the same time, they said 96% of surveyed higher education students would stay if offered a full-time job, and 72% of employers expect to expand staffing in the next two years. The presenters said they are moving from research into messaging and an action plan, and that the strategy should be customized and measurable rather than one-size-fits-all.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/04/2026 - House Transportation & Infrastructure
Transportation & Infrastructure
Transcript Highlights:
- So the technology phase is not up to speed yet.
- Our systems are placed using data and community input.
- We respect that different communities may reach different... ...from our community is for more traffic
- Our systems are placed using data and community input.
- I appreciate what you do to protect our communities.
Keywords:
lighting laws, construction equipment, farm equipment, vehicle safety, Arizona Revised Statutes, salvage vehicles, insurance claims, abandoned vehicles, salvage auction dealers, vehicle title, towing regulation, private towing carriers, vehicle impound, towing rates, preemption, law enforcement, neighborhood electric vehicles, alternative fuel, vehicle license tax, tax exemption
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- They're embedded in the community, they live in the community, and they are working in your communities
- They're out in the community.
- There was a particular focus on low-income communities and communities in gateway cities, communities
- and energy-burdened communities.
- and energy-burdened communities.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing at UMass Amherst on Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget, focusing on energy/environment-related transportation issues and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The chairs and members opened with thanks to UMass, university leadership, court officers, and legislative staff, and Chancellor Javier Reyes highlighted UMass Amherst’s research, workforce, sustainability, and transportation contributions, including energy research, transit operations, and partnerships with MassDOT. The hearing then moved to MassDOT and MBTA testimony on the administration’s transportation funding package, including House 2, the FY26 Fair Share supplemental, and a proposed four-year Chapter 90 authorization.
MassDOT officials described the budget as part of a broader multi-year transportation investment strategy, citing funding for operations, snow and ice removal, regional transit authorities, the MBTA, the Merit Rating Board, sustainable aviation fuel credits, micro-transit and last-mile grants, unpaved road improvements, bridge and pavement work, and housing-related transportation infrastructure. They emphasized workforce expansion, capital delivery capacity, safety improvements, and local aid, including the new lane-mile-based Chapter 90 formula intended to benefit rural communities. Officials also discussed major projects and programs such as Grant Central, culvert and unpaved road grants, work zone speed cameras, congestion hotspot fixes, the Sagamore and Bourne Bridge projects, and MBTA operating support and safety upgrades.
Testimony from the MBTA and rail/transit staff focused on improved ridership, service frequency, accessibility, and safety, including progress on the Green Line Train Protection System, reduced delays, expanded bus and commuter rail service, and the South Coast rail extension. Regional transit authorities reported increased ridership and described new fare-free, connectivity, and community transit grants. Aeronautics testimony covered airport capital work, drone and data programs, sustainable aviation fuel efforts, and workforce development in aviation maintenance. Committee members then asked questions, especially about Western Massachusetts priorities, Chapter 90 funding, bridge repairs, snow and ice costs, Cape Cod bridges, Buzzard’s Bay rail, and Compass Rail/West-East Rail. Officials said several federal rail grants were moving forward, that Sagamore Bridge procurement would begin soon, and that the administration remained committed to pursuing federal funding and multi-year transportation investments.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- Could be economic disruptions or, say, technological disruptions.
- And I hear every day about new energy-efficiency technologies.
- Because communication doesn't always equal understanding. We're communicating. We understand it.
- thing I think you could consider is requiring these large entities to enter into agreements with the community—community
- or empower local communities to be able to do that.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Business and Commerce (Part II) Apr 3rd, 2025
Business & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- is ensuring that tech policy allows for technology to serve humanity.
- Technology has gained widespread utilization.
- We represent about 300 community banks and only community banks here in the state.
- The payment system, including our own technological costs.
- On our loans, but those loans are also redistributed back into the community.
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
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Dec 11th, 2025 at 01:30 pm
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Nov 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Technology upgrade. Everything has been working for the last three years.
- We have developed technology that. ...into crypto exchange. You probably have seen those.
- We have technology now through body cameras and through the review of all of their reports.
- Do they communicate with each other? They do. They do.
- communication is up to them.
Summary:
The committee heard budget presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the clerks of court. FDLE outlined 28 legislative budget requests for fiscal year 2026-27, including funding for a new Fort Myers regional operations center lease, technology and data system upgrades, moving several programs off uncertain federal grants, expanding the wellness office, cryptocurrency seizure efforts, cybersecurity, forensic equipment, digital forensics, criminal history modernization, training, and the SAFE fentanyl enforcement program. Members asked about the reported 79% increase in officer misconduct cases, the role of body cameras and masking, public records request burdens on local agencies, and the status of Fibers and the Uniform Arrest Affidavit systems. FDLE said the misconduct data covers all sworn officers and corrections personnel, that many cases would not be affected by body cameras because they involve off-duty conduct or internal matters, and that it is working with agencies and vendors to improve participation in reporting systems.
DJJ Secretary Matt Walsh updated the committee on the Florida Scholars Academy, describing the new unified education system across 39 residential facilities. He reported first-year enrollment, course completions, graduations, and compliance results, and said the program now provides in-person and blended instruction, individualized support, mental health services, and career and technical education. He also discussed staffing shortages in some detention facilities, the need for more residential beds, and the importance of recognizing and supporting staff. In response to questions, he explained how the program addresses students with disabilities and behavioral needs through one-on-one instruction, paraprofessionals, and immediate mental health support.
The clerks of court presented a budget request centered on funding shortfalls and rising costs. Clerk and Comptroller Stacey Butterfield said clerks are operating with outdated funding levels despite increased statutory duties, higher postage and staffing costs, and growing workloads in priority case types such as injunctions for protection and other high-risk matters. The clerks requested $22 million in direct appropriations, including support for due process costs, jury management, and staffing for 37 new judges approved last session. Members also asked about Senate Bill 532, which Butterfield described as a CPI-based measure to update court fines and fees that have remained unchanged since 2008. The committee took no votes on the presentations and adjourned after discussion.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- What we have is the power to establish in law what we as a community believe is owed to the people who
- believe is owed to the a community believe is owed to the people<00:08:18.080><c> who</c><00:08:18.240
- The local hardware store, the small nonprofit, and the community organization running a mailing list
- The local hardware store, the small nonprofit, and the community organization running a mailing list
- The local hardware store, the small nonprofit, and the community organization running a mailing list
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- You have helped with the communication problem where you can fly.
- You mentioned sensor technology a couple times. In your dialogue with Mr.
- it as technology changes.
- We're all concerned about communication, to give as much warning as we can.
- The only communication available in that part of Kirk County is satellite.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture Aug 4th, 2026
Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture
Transcript Highlights:
- And the last piece is technology and innovation.
- I want to see us use more technology. I'd love to see funding for that technology.
- and fishing communities.
- The more communication, I think, the better, right?
- So I think when we start talking about technologies, I think there's a place for technologies in a couple
Summary:
The hearing opened with the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture’s annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum, where members and witnesses discussed the state of California’s commercial and recreational fisheries, the economic importance of the sector, and the pressures from drought, climate change, wildfire, warming oceans, and federal policy uncertainty. Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot and CDFW Marine Region Manager Craig Schumann described the state’s salmon strategy, including barrier removal, habitat restoration, flow protection, hatchery modernization, and new technology. They highlighted progress such as the Klamath River dam removals, floodplain restoration projects, and the reopening of a limited commercial salmon season after several years of closures, while warning that Sacramento River conditions, federal endangered species policy, and delayed disaster funding remain major concerns.
A major panel focused on the Klamath River restoration. CDFW’s Crystal Robinson reviewed the dam-removal timeline and post-removal restoration, noting that fish returned to historic habitat within days of barrier removal and that revegetation, habitat work, and monitoring are underway. Yurok Chairman Joseph James, Karuk Chairman Russell “Buster” Attebery, Dr. Craig Tucker, and Golden State Salmon Association’s John McManus emphasized the cultural, ecological, and economic significance of salmon recovery. They praised the dam removal as a historic achievement but said continued work is needed on cold-water tributaries, hatchery operations, minimum instream flows, tribal consultation, and defense against federal efforts to weaken ESA protections and rewrite the Klamath biological opinion. Committee members asked about spring-run salmon recovery, the role of Fall Creek Hatchery, and how the state can support tribal and legal efforts going forward.
The final panel addressed the outlook for the 2026–27 Dungeness crab season. CDFW’s Joanna Grable explained that the season is managed under the RAMP program, which weighs whale entanglement risk, domoic acid, meat quality, and fleet dynamics. She said whale migration patterns and warm ocean conditions suggest a conservative opening, and that domoic acid is a major concern given forecasts of a strong El Niño and the possibility of a prolonged bloom similar to 2015–16. She also noted that evisceration rules can help if domoic acid is confined to crab viscera, and that meat-quality testing will depend on whether domoic acid levels allow the fishery to open. The hearing did not include formal votes or committee actions in the portion provided.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Higher Education Institutions Committee Jun 18th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Higher Education Institutions Committee
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Feb 5th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- So we work with local community agencies, Thank you for that question.
- We know that it hits communities, marginalized communities, harder than it hits certain other communities
- Another emerging technology is the ability to use rapid DNA technology, and that can give limited DNA
- Another emerging technology is the ability to use rapid DNA technology and that can give limited DNA
- Every identification helps remove drugs and their dealers from the community.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to continue its review of performance measurement in the criminal justice system. The first presentation, from State Courts Administrator Eric McClure, described how the court system uses multiple data sources to track filings, dispositions, clearance rates, workload, and support services, and how those data inform judge need, budget requests, resource allocation, and court administration. He also discussed ongoing efforts to improve case-level reporting, the use of case management systems in trial and appellate courts, and performance efforts in problem-solving courts and civil case management. McClure noted that the legislature provides dedicated funding for problem-solving courts and for medication-assisted treatment, and that the courts are required to report outcomes and monitor compliance with contract requirements.
Melanie Brown-Whor of the Florida Behavioral Health Association then reviewed the medication-assisted treatment program funded through the courts budget. She said the program combines medication with counseling and behavioral supports, serves people involved in or at risk of criminal justice involvement, and has expanded over time to include additional medications and more counties. She reported improved engagement and retention, with more than 10,000 people screened over five years, about 9,200 receiving medication, and over 6,600 successfully discharged. Senators asked about racial and ethnic demographics, hospital referrals, and how services are delivered; Brown-Whor explained that local community providers deliver treatment under contract and that the program is working to improve data reporting and consistency.
The Department of Law Enforcement then presented on investigations, forensics, and criminal justice information services. Deputy Commissioner Vaden Pollard outlined FDLE’s strategic plan and major investigative priorities, including cybercrime, targeted violence, crimes against children, mutual aid, and the SAFE fentanyl eradication program. He said SAFE has led to major seizures, arrests, and a reported decline in fentanyl deaths. Director Jason Bundy described FDLE’s forensic laboratory operations, DNA and rapid DNA capabilities, cold case and missing persons work, and the staffing and turnaround-time challenges tied to complex evidence testing. Director Lucy Saunders reviewed FDLE’s criminal history, biometric, incident-based crime reporting, and criminal justice transparency systems, noting that Florida is still transitioning agencies from summary reporting to incident-based reporting. The committee raised questions about Rapid DNA deployment, cold case coordination, and the slow pace of NIBRS/FIBRS adoption. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- But overall, my concern is about housing quality, creating healthy communities—communities that have
- We have seen them snatch up members of our community, business owners in my district. ...of our community
- Appropriations, transportation, technology.
- Appropriations, transportation, technology.
- Appropriations, transportation, technology.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 1/22/25
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:02:12.599><c> feel</c> enforcement make our communities feel enforcement make our communities
- </c><00:20:22.840><c> Corrections</c> individual Community Corrections individual Community Corrections
- We have to trust our leaders in the community to keep our community safe and provide the tools.
- We have to trust our leaders in the community to keep our community safe and provide the tools.
- to keep our leaders in the community to keep our community<01:06:55.680><c> safe</c><01:06:56.039><c