Transcript Highlights:

• So, I want to pull two threads for you, then sort of connect them and tell you the reason why.
• threads for you, then sort of connect threads for you, then sort of connect them<01:07:55.119>
• with the arts keeping um this connection with the arts and<04:08:34.560> and<04:08:34.960>
• The level of connection, the level of de-escalation, and the level of us bringing everybody to a level
• attributed uh or uh causally connected attributed uh or uh causally connected to<05:20:55.120>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It certainly is connected.
• It's certainly connected to your ability to do what you need to do for your community. Yes.
• The temporary bridge right now connects the two. The temporary bridge is the Big Sandy side.
• The temporary bridge right now connects the two. The temporary bridge is the Big Sandy side.
• So then again, you know, we're all connected. We all come out to help each other.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness and flooding hearing opened with quorum calls, prayer, testimony time limits, and remarks from legislative leaders emphasizing decorum, respect, and the goal of learning from the July 4 flood to prevent future loss of life. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows said the special session and hearings were intended to hear directly from local officials and residents, and that the state would pursue immediate and longer-term legislation and continue working beyond the current session. The committee then heard invited testimony from Kerr County, Kerrville, Kendall County, Real County, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, followed by member questions. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and emergency management coordinator William B. Thomas described the flood as a sudden, unprecedented event that overwhelmed local systems before many officials or residents understood the danger. They said the county received multiple National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts, but the rain fell in remote upstream areas with limited gauges, and the flood rose too quickly for normal response. They detailed the emergency response, including dispatchers handling heavy call volumes, deputies and volunteer firefighters conducting rescues, and state and federal partners assisting. County officials said 108 people died, including 37 children, and two remained missing. They called for better real-time flood detection, stronger rural emergency management resources, improved broadband and cell coverage, and more funding for swift-water rescue and warning systems. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and City Manager Dalton Rice said the city had floodplain rules, emergency plans, and prior preparedness efforts, but the event exposed gaps in communications and regional warning capacity. They urged the Legislature to fund a flood warning system, whether sirens, automated alerts, or a hybrid, and asked for support for predictive weather modeling, broadband expansion, a hazard mitigation fund, and disaster recovery resources. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority said it had long funded gauges and pursued flood-warning and mitigation projects, including a new software-based flood prediction system and possible retention dams, and planned to dedicate reserve funds to feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements. Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said his county’s emergency action plan and early alerts helped prevent deaths there, and he recommended easier access to alerting tools, a river-wide warning system, simpler grant applications, and regional coordination. Real County Judge Bella Rubio said rural counties face major challenges because of limited cell service, broadband, staffing, and funding, especially for camps and visitors along the Frio and Nueces rivers, and argued that reliable alert systems should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury. Members asked about the timeline of the flood, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and funding, and several witnesses said the key lessons were better communications, better warning systems, and more investment in rural flood mitigation and emergency response.

Transcript Highlights:

• homelessness strategies and ensures that local governments develop actionable, data-driven plans for connecting
• Actionable, data-driven plans for connecting people with housing, shelter, and supportive services.
• homelessness strategies and ensures that local governments develop actionable, data-driven plans for connecting
• Actionable, data-driven plans for connecting people with housing, shelter, and supportive services.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to connect at... ...on these bills, which were reported out favorably by this committee last
• I'm happy to connect at your convenience to discuss this in more detail.
• Monkey House is an award-winning nonprofit that connects communities through choreography.
• Monkey House is an award-winning nonprofit that connects communities through choreography.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities held a hearing focused on accessibility-related legislation, with the chairs emphasizing ASL and CART accessibility and asking testifiers to speak slowly and clearly. The committee heard testimony first on H.223/S.130, a bill to establish a livable wage for community-based human service workers by reducing the pay gap with state employees. Providers’ Council, Communities for People, the Key Program, and BAMSI all supported the bill, describing persistent wage disparities, high vacancy and turnover rates, and the impact on continuity of care for children, youth, and families. Witnesses said the bill would help recruitment and retention and stabilize services across the Commonwealth. The committee then heard extensive testimony on H.224/S.160, the ACE Act, which would create a dedicated funding source to improve accessibility in the creative economy. Arts organizations and advocates, including Community Access to the Arts, Abilities Dance Boston, Jacob’s Pillow, the Multicultural Arts Center, Northampton Community Music Center, Mass Creative, Open Door Arts, and Monkey House, described barriers such as inaccessible buildings, lack of ASL interpretation and captioning, inadequate lifts and backstage access, and the high cost of renovations. Testifiers said the bill would help smaller and historic institutions make physical and programmatic improvements and allow people with disabilities to participate as artists, workers, and audiences. The committee also heard testimony on H.4180, which would require DDS to consider neuropsychological evaluations when determining eligibility for intellectual disability services. Parents and advocates argued that IQ cutoffs alone can miss significant functional needs, especially for autistic adults and others with complex developmental profiles, and urged broader access to DDS supports. Additional testimony supported S.101 on closed captioning and telecommunications in public areas, and S.158 on requiring restaurants to have some chairs with arms to better accommodate physically disabled and older patrons. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after hearing from the scheduled witnesses and noting a few signups that were not present.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to pay a select group of politically connected consultants $35,000 a pop of taxpayer money
• Instead, we're using taxpayer money to fund this so that a select group of politically connected consultants
• This will give them an opportunity to have a connection to community. Thank you.
• This will give them an opportunity to have a connection to community. I move the bill.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I share something I have some connection with Patrick Murphy that no one else will ever have, because
• something<00:15:53.120> in<00:15:53.280> con-<00:15:53.680> or<00:15:54.280> connection
• <00:15:54.800> with something in con- or connection with something in con- or connection with

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Torkelson gave a long farewell-style floor speech reflecting on his legislative career, thanking colleagues, staff, family, and voters, and sharing anecdotes from his early campaigns and years in office. He emphasized the importance of listening to constituents, working across party lines, and not holding grudges after disagreements. He also praised the Minnesota Capitol, Cass Gilbert’s design, and the renovation work, and noted his service on committees including Transportation, Capital Investment, Ways and Means, and redistricting. A major theme of the speech was bipartisanship and institutional respect. Torkelson described working with members from both parties, including House leaders and committee counterparts, and said the House’s tied balance had forced more work to the committee level and produced bipartisan outcomes. He warned against using redistricting as a political weapon and urged Minnesota not to follow that path. He also thanked specific staff members and mentioned his family, including his daughter, who works as a lobbyist. The speech did not involve a bill debate or recorded vote. It concluded with a call for legislators to keep learning from one another and to find practical paths forward while staying true to their values, ending with a quotation from Ecclesiastes and applause.

Transcript Highlights:

• In that way, the community feels very connected to those making the decisions.
• That education or training requirement must not be connected to an open, fair election in a democracy
• So I want to just help folks connect the dots about how chilling it is that we have this memorial that
• right, and we certainly must not add more wrongs, more otherings, because we are all really very connected

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have the fewest board constituents in many school districts, and that way the community feels very connected
• That education or training requirement must not be connected to an open, fair election in a democracy
• So I want to just help folks connect the dots about how chilling it is that we have this memorial that
• right, and we certainly must not add more wrongs, more otherings, because we are all really very connected

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a recorded roll call showing 28 present, 0 absent, and 2 excused. The chamber approved the journal and then took up several motions to reconsider or return bills, including requests to return HB 2035 and HB 2249 to the House and to reconsider HB 2192. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole for calendar items. In Committee of the Whole, members considered HB 2248, a public health mandates bill; HB 2313, concerning school employee/teacher strike and remote instruction issues; HB 2379, relating to school district governing board training; HB 2380, relating to school district board meetings and expenditures; and HB 2720, relating to prostitution assessments and the anti-human trafficking fund. HB 2248 drew the most debate over whether it would prohibit schools, employers, and medical facilities from requiring medical interventions such as vaccines; an amendment narrowing the definition of medical intervention was adopted, and the bill advanced. HB 2379 and HB 2380 both received committee and floor amendments focused on school board training and livestreaming/meeting transparency requirements, and HB 2313 and HB 2720 also advanced. The Committee of the Whole reported all four bills as do pass, with HB 2248, HB 2379, and HB 2380 as amended. The Senate then adopted the Committee of the Whole report after defeating an amendment that would have changed the HB 2248 recommendation to fail. The chamber next considered HCM 2001 and HCM 2002, memorials urging federal terrorist designations for the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR, and HCR 2047, recognizing Judea and Samaria; all three passed despite strong opposition speeches criticizing them as targeting Muslim communities or advancing religious/political messaging. The Senate also passed HB 2118 on mobile food vendors, HCM 2009 on mineral access and federal land withdrawals, HCR 2015 on school physical activity and dietary guidelines, HCR 2020 on housing outside designated provider service areas with assured water supply, and HCR 2057 supporting next-generation geothermal energy. Finally, the Senate passed HB 2248, HB 2379, and HB 2380 on third reading, approved the House’s request to adjourn, and adjourned until April 21, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• continue if time permits, and please note that the House is not responsible for any bad internet connections
• not responsible for any bad the house is not responsible for any bad internet<00:10:11.480> connections
• <00:10:12.120> on<00:10:12.240> the<00:10:12.320> testifiers internet connections
• on the testifiers internet connections on the testifiers end. end. end.

Bills: SCR120, SCR71, SCR164, SCR41

Keywords: rangelands, pastoralists, pastoralism, ranching, ranchers, paniolo, livestock, grazing, grasslands, land management, conservation, sustainable agriculture, agriculture, Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity, University of Hawaii, ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, Hawaii counties, International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists

Transcript Highlights:

• And this will connect, so just bear with me.
• /c><00:10:46.240> And<00:10:46.480> this<00:10:46.720> will<00:10:46.959> connect
• And this will connect, so Bunan Trail.
• And this will connect, so just<00:10:47.839> bear<00:10:48.079> with<00:10:48.240> me

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a public records exemption connected to HB 325.
• fruition all of the work that we have done to help our citizens afflicted with this disease by connecting
• There's no connection, it's pure coincidence. I'm sure of. But some things do it.
• So that will enable the agency in the state to get to work sooner on the survey that's got to be connected

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have the money, connections, or influence of powerful special interests.
• These places connect generations, fathers of daughters, guys, the clients, neighbors to neighbors.
• These places connect generations, fathers of daughters, guys, the clients, neighbors to neighbors.
• If you are anything environmental, you know that every piece connects to each other and when what you

Transcript Highlights:

• also—there's an exemption for public safety, but we're going to be adding DPS on there and also any connected
• It's going to narrow it down just to any connected equipment to the internet.
• also—there's an exemption for public safety, but we're going to be adding DPS on there and also any connected
• It's going to narrow it down just to any connected equipment to the internet. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting covered a large number of bills and resolutions across education, federalism, government, health, commerce, and judiciary-related topics. In education, members heard bills on moving the statewide testing window later, allowing paper-based testing in more cases, posting school administrator compensation data, expanding who may receive student directory information, reviewing duplicative ADE reporting requirements, requiring religious excusals, creating a school fitness recognition program, and a proposed ballot measure on sex-designated school sports and private spaces. In federalism, the committee discussed banning foreign nationals from funding ballot-measure committees and a proposal to eliminate voting centers and return to precinct-based voting. Other items included memorials urging the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations and the IMF, and a government bill penalizing agencies that fail to submit financial reports on time. Health and human services bills focused on lactation care, a state certification program for lactation providers, prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors, requiring chief medical officers at state agencies to hold active licenses, clarifying air ambulance statutes, seeking a SNAP waiver to restrict non-eligible food purchases, and collecting hospital patient immigration-status data for reporting. Sponsors generally framed these as consumer protection, public health, or administrative cleanup measures, while some members raised concerns about cost, privacy, and possible legal conflicts. In commerce, the committee heard bills on digital goods disclosure, protections for child content creators, liability limits for river outfitters, landlord utility billing transparency, appraisal management company definitions, unemployment eligibility verification, and association-based health plans. Several measures were pulled from consent or flagged for amendments. The judiciary portion included bills creating a civil cause of action for violations of anti-DEI laws, expanding hate-crime-style penalties to include political affiliation and expression, adding reporting requirements for name changes by sex offenders, penalizing possession of falsified commercial driver’s licenses by unlawfully present individuals, adding penalties for mailing abortion-inducing drugs, allowing speed-limiting devices as an alternative to license suspension, extending inmate transition services, increasing penalties for sexual extortion involving older teens, requiring legislative approval to close state shooting ranges, and advancing an Article V convention resolution for congressional term limits. Several sponsors emphasized public safety, parental rights, election integrity, or government accountability, while some members raised constitutional or implementation concerns, particularly on liability, voting systems, and the term-limits resolution. Multiple bills were reported as being on consent calendars, with some pulled for amendments or further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have some connectivity challenges at some of our state parks and are actively working to move
• Looking ahead to fiscal 27, we will be working to improve connectivity at our state parks, which will
• does not include any upgrades to IT infrastructure, so there are some parks that don't have Wi-Fi connectivity
• does not include any upgrades to IT infrastructure so there are some parks that don't have Wii connectivity

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce on its FY26 priorities, recent performance, and budget requests. Commerce said it had helped announce about 8,000 direct jobs and nearly $14 billion in investment year-to-date, while noting challenges such as tariffs, workforce recruitment, staffing/FTE management, and the condition of its 100-year-old office building. The agency highlighted projects and initiatives including a new Taiwan trade office, Route 66 Centennial planning, the National Main Street conference in Tulsa, Olympic-related coordination, census outreach, and continued improvements to its grants and CRM systems. Requested funding included $8.3 million for building repairs or relocation planning, census support, $300,000 for EDGE, $135,000 for IT/cybersecurity upgrades, $250,000 for the Taiwan office, and additional support for Head Start, senior nutrition, and the Strategic Air and Space Commission. Members asked about the meaning of the investment totals, the building condition, delays in senior nutrition distributions, and staffing vacancies; Commerce said the investment figures reflected formal company capital announcements, the building had significant facade and roof damage, delays were due to multiple contracting layers, and several open positions were expected to be filled soon. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department then presented its FY26 budget and goals. New director Amy Blackburn and special advisor Sterling Zearley said the department oversees 38 state parks, six lodges, seven golf courses, and nine travel information centers, and emphasized tourism’s economic importance. They reported savings from bringing marketing and tracking functions in-house and from shared services, but said the department faces more than $271 million in deferred maintenance needs, staffing shortages, and connectivity problems at parks. Their goals include increasing park visitation to 10.2 million, raising occupancy to 36%, and growing travel to Oklahoma, with major marketing tied to the Route 66 Centennial, America 250, the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and other events. The department also discussed a request to raise its purchasing exemption cap from $25,000 to $75,000, a possible TravelOK.com redesign, and efforts to improve restaurant operations at lodges through a new RFP structure. Members questioned the apportionment cap, the size and timing of deferred maintenance requests, park revenue, and the use of parking pass funds; tourism said annual park-related revenue is about $32 million to $34 million and parking pass revenue is about $2.5 million. Finally, the OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority presented its budget request and program updates. The authority said it supports the veterinary teaching hospital and related student training, and that its FY26 budget is entirely state-appropriated. It requested continued support for hospital operations, the large animal scholarship program, and a new $12.5 million annual payment tied to the $250 million Legacy Capital Fund authorization for the veterinary teaching hospital, along with additional funding to expand in-state enrollment. Officials said in-state enrollment had increased from 58 to 69 students after prior funding, with a goal of reaching 90 of 106 total seats, and that there were 195 in-state applicants this year. Members asked whether standards would be lowered; the authority said academic standards would not change and noted strong board-pass rates and retention outcomes. It also said accreditation concerns tied to faculty shortages and off-site teaching had been addressed by bringing students back to the main campus and improving staffing. The committee ended by thanking the presenters and announcing its next meeting date.

Transcript Highlights:

• OF THE COMMITTEE THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE AGENCIES HEALTHCARE CONNECTIONS
• THE FIRST IS INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION WHICH ENABLES US TO HAVE BETTER CONNECTIONS TO OTHER DATA PROGRAMS
• 80% REDUCTION IN TIME TO COMPLETE QUERIES AND WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THE BENEFITS OF MODERNIZED CONNECTIONS
• AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE PROVIDER SERVICES MODULE, ONCE PSN GOES LIVE TO YOU

Transcript Highlights:

• they follow best practice, and that they support the residents they offer and make strong efforts to connect
• residents and that they make strong<00:16:44.399> efforts<00:16:44.720> to<00:16:44.880> connect
• <00:16:45.120> and strong efforts to connect and strong efforts to connect and collaborate

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So how do you all connect?
• We also have very well connected job coaches and they will go knock on doors, but they normally know
• Thanks, don't know who to connect with.
• I'd love to know how to connect.

Transcript Highlights:

• Its rhythms echo the pulse of life, connecting individuals to their ancestors and the natural world.
• Its rhythms echo the pulse of life, connecting individuals to their ancestors and the natural world.
• It illustrated to me that we are all connected.
• And whether you're a misfit, your counterculture, or now more mainstream, It shows that we are all connected

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call and opened with a prayer, a Father’s Day reflection, and a moment of silence for the victims of the Minnesota lawmaker shooting. Members then moved through guest introductions recognizing student legislative programs, Black conservation leaders, interns, and first responders, including an off-duty firefighter who saved a driver’s life. The chamber also heard multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes, most notably for former Senator and Los Angeles Councilman Nate Holden, whose civil rights and housing discrimination work was highlighted, along with tributes to Stephen Golden Kranz, Emily Carpenter, and Doug Kranwinkel. On the Daily File, the Assembly adopted ACR 90, Assembly Member Gibson’s resolution recognizing Juneteenth. The measure drew strong support from multiple caucuses, including the Latino, Jewish, LGBTQ, Women’s, and AAPI caucuses, with members emphasizing Juneteenth’s historical significance, the legacy of slavery, and the continuing need to combat racism and inequality. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 66 co-authors were added. The Assembly also adopted ACR 92, Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez’s resolution declaring June 2025 as Electronic Dance Music Month in California. Supporters described EDM as a cultural and economic force rooted in diverse communities and praised its values of inclusion and unity; the resolution received 65 co-authors and passed by voice vote. Finally, HR 45, Assembly Member Castillo’s resolution for Animal Rights Awareness Week, was adopted by voice vote after 55 co-authors were added, with the author and a guest from Sierra Pacific Fur Babies speaking about animal rescue and welfare work. The session ended with announcements and adjournment until June 19.

Transcript Highlights:

• political committee if it has as a principal purpose spending money or accepting money to spend. and in connection
• Powers, then we'll get everybody connected, okay? Okay, perfect. Thank you so much for your time.
• There is another that places a statutory cap on the... ...penalty in connection with certain violations
• codifies some changes that the commission has already made with respect to the tolling of deadlines in connection

Transcript Highlights:

• parts of the state as well as tribal nations that are in the surrounding areas in order to better connect
• With H.R. 33 today, we celebrate the enduring legacy of Star Wars and the powerful connections it has
• reporters finding stories that matter, to the community shifting to cheaper syndicated stories with no connection
• family continued its reputation of incredible customer service, amazing sandwiches, and just genuine connections

Keywords: 988, house, all