Transcript Highlights:

• important for us to do and make sure that any teachers or instructional personnel are not still in student
• if a school district is made aware of an arrest, then that a teacher is temporarily removed from student
• contact pending an investigation so that we can make sure that our students are protected.
• We don't believe that officers who are exempt from firearms licensing when performing official duties
• We don't believe that officers who are exempt from firearms licensing when performing official duties

Summary: The committee heard and voted on a long series of criminal justice, public safety, victim protection, and regulatory bills. Several measures were reported favorably, including SB 1374 on school district reporting requirements, SB 1378 on restitution for leaving the scene of a crash, SB 1072 creating an expedited DNA testing grant program, SB 1140 establishing a Hillsborough County criminal offender substance abuse pilot program, SB 1266 revising public records protections for crime victims and certain law enforcement identities, SB 1546 delaying and refining background screening requirements for athletic coaches, SB 1430 on post-judgment execution proceedings related to terrorism victims, SB 1444 making a broad set of criminal justice changes, SB 240 on domestic and dating violence protections, SB 606 clarifying public lodging and food service removal procedures for nonpaying guests, SB 1450 giving law enforcement discretion in arrests involving people with significant medical conditions, SB 44 increasing penalties for impersonating law enforcement with unauthorized red or blue lights, SB 1000 expanding court-ordered sealing options, SB 1400 requiring platforms to remove altered sexual depictions, and SB 1696 addressing rideshare impersonation and transit service rules. Many of these bills were amended before final passage, often with strike-all amendments or technical changes, and several had support from law enforcement, advocacy groups, or industry representatives. Testimony was generally supportive on the public safety and victim-protection bills, with speakers emphasizing faster DNA testing, better protections for domestic violence survivors, clearer rules for hotel and motel operators, and stronger tools against fraud, impersonation, and trafficking. Some bills drew notable concerns or opposition. SB 1266 prompted questions about whether a 72-hour cooling-off period for officer identities could be extended too broadly, while SB 606 drew concerns that the bill could affect families living in hotels or extended stays during the housing affordability crisis. SB 1444 generated discussion about false reporting language, off-duty carry for prosecutors and judges, and the scope of automatic sealing changes. SB 1000’s expanded sealing relief received broad support but was narrowed by amendments excluding certain offenses such as DUI and indecent exposure. The most contentious measure was SB 1804, which would create a capital offense for trafficking a child under 12 or a mentally incapacitated person for sexual exploitation. The sponsor argued it targets the most severe trafficking cases and includes safeguards such as excluding minors from capital punishment and preserving life imprisonment if the capital procedure is invalidated. Opponents, including the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, argued the death penalty is unconstitutional for non-homicide crimes, costly, and ineffective, and committee members raised concerns about whether the bill would incentivize traffickers to kill victims to avoid identification. Debate also touched on broader concerns about the death penalty’s constitutionality and whether life imprisonment is a more severe punishment. The transcript ends during that debate, without a final vote on SB 1804 included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• . student. student.
• It says that the graduate student would be considered an employee.
• It says that the graduate student would be considered an employee.
• <00:38:15.120> could that that that graduate students could that that that graduate students
• The amendment just simply defines what graduate students are. They're employees.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with an invocation, and welcomed guests including the doctor of the day, a Johns Hopkins student, and visiting scouts. The chamber then moved through first-reading introductions of several House bills, including measures on bullying and harassment reporting, the Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act, Baltimore County nuisance actions, parole hearing commission procedures, a blockchain technology task force, and a task force on deed fraud, all of which were referred to standing committees. The main floor action centered on layover bills. Senate Bill 932, concerning social media platforms displaying a user’s usual location, was amended to broaden the protected location reference and to protect participants in the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program; after discussion about whether minors and child-abuse victims were covered, the amended bill was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 623, creating a premium cigar lounge alcoholic beverage license, drew multiple county-specific amendments. Howard County and Baltimore County amendments sought to give priority to existing local tobacco businesses for the new licenses. Supporters said the changes would protect established local shops from out-of-state entities, while opponents argued the bill should remain statewide and not be amended county by county. A motion to special order the bill failed, and the amendments were adopted before the bill was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 84, on collective bargaining for graduate assistants, also advanced after a committee amendment was adopted. A District 2 amendment was offered to clarify that graduate assistants are employed as teaching, administrative, or research assistants, but the floor leader opposed it, saying the bill’s definition was already clear and the change would create confusion. The minority leader questioned the definition and the relationship between graduate assistants and employees, prompting discussion of collective bargaining as bargaining by employees through representatives. The transcript cuts off before final disposition of that amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you wish to follow along, the LFC volumes you'll notice the investment Smith Performance Report on
• Chair, members of the Council, just to know the Executive and LFC have reached a consensus on the performance
• And so I guess the question that I'd like to ask is, is here performing with the people that you have
• So that might be helpful to look at, but we can also send you our latest performance report information
• The authority also ensures over 49,000 employees, 2.4 billion in payroll, over 416,000 students, over

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , students, students, our<01:11:33.320> students<01:11:33.720> need<01:11:34.000> additional
• Our<01:12:48.400> students<01:12:48.880> require Our students require Our students
• student into that pool. student into that pool.
• safety of our students. safety of our students.
• The student the student center. Okay.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Hollins concluded that no school district wants this for their students and teachers,
• Representative Sexton said he appreciates all that, being a building performance guy himself.
• and so that meet building performances and so that would<00:31:16.720> probably<00:31:16.919>
• Over 400,000 students are touched by programs and field trips to Como Zoo and Conservatory. right away
• <00:59:18.039> well a concern and it uh really performs well a concern and it uh really performs

Bills: HF1013, HF1598, HF1656, HF2162

Keywords: energy, economic development, funding, renewable resources, Clean Energy Economy Minnesota, air ventilation, geothermal, school financing, Minnesota Climate Innovative Finance Authority, geothermal energy, renewable energy, construction funding, Como Zoo, energy efficiency, HF2162, Minnesota, planning grants, renewable development account, clean energy, Department of Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• ' math performance.
• <00:01:08.520> math<00:01:09.000> performance to accelerate students math performance
• to accelerate students math performance So<00:01:10.159> today<00:01:10.360> we're<00:
• I am Lar Claru, a student that attends Johnson High School and student of Miss Zar.
• I am Lar Claru, a student that attends Johnson High School and student of Miss Zar.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I didn't see any college students marching in demonstration against the violence.
• As a student and a lawmaker I feel uniquely Rep. Salzman: qualified to address this issue.
• Not just for the students but the faculty and staff. Rep.
• This pertains to a dual enrolled student. If you have a student at a high school Rep.
• It also provides crisis intervention for individuals through the student Rep.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have right at 6,000 salons across the Commonwealth, 56 schools, and currently almost 3,000 students
• enrolled in those almost 3,000 students enrolled in those schools<00:07:17.640> across<00:07:
• education and then look at performance education and then look at performance funding<01:00:39.880
• <01:00:44.960> funding when we look at performance funding when we look at performance funding
• which established Kentucky's performance which established Kentucky's performance funding<01:00:

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order 02:45 Roll Call 05:25 Cosmetologists 13:48 Barbers 01:16:06 Adjournment, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're licensing the entities that perform that work.
• We're licensing the entities that perform that work. All right, thank you.
• We can house up to 125 students at one time. 125 students in one time is a lot to... ...is up to 125.
• 125 students at one time is a lot to deal with.
• We have a stand-alone training for student resource officers.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on student outcomes.
• students, our undocumented students, our Black and Brown students, our English learner students, our
• First, in that report, we recommended modifying the student-centered funding formula to include a performance
• component for incarcerated students, as it does for most other students.
• students.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held a hearing focused on California Community College budget proposals. Chair Alvarez opened by emphasizing the system’s role in access, transfer, workforce training, and serving more than 2 million students, while also noting persistent challenges in enrollment, persistence, transfer, and graduation. Public commenters and system representatives broadly supported COLA, enrollment growth funding, deferred maintenance, student support block grants, and additional flexibility for districts facing uncertainty. The first major panel covered the student-centered funding formula, COLA, and enrollment growth. The Department of Finance said the Governor proposes a 2.43% COLA ($230.4 million) and 0.5% enrollment growth funding ($30.4 million). The LAO said the COLA was reasonable and recommended funding at least the proposed growth amount, citing uneven enrollment recovery and regional differences. The Chancellor’s Office supported both proposals and asked for additional changes, including using the greater of current-year or three-year average for apportionments and lifting the 10% local enrollment cap, arguing these would better fund growing districts. Members questioned how the formula works, whether SCFF is improving outcomes, and how much additional funding would be needed under different growth scenarios. The committee then reviewed categorical program COLAs, Rising Scholars, career education proposals, IT proposals, and student housing. The Governor proposed a 2.43% COLA for selected categorical programs ($31.9 million). For Rising Scholars, the Governor proposed $30 million ongoing and removal of the cap on participating colleges; the LAO urged waiting for outcome data before doubling funding, while the Chancellor’s Office said the program is serving more students and supports equity for justice-impacted students. On career education, the Governor proposed $50 million for credit for prior learning and $50 million for a career passport; the LAO supported more reporting on credit for prior learning but recommended rejecting the career passport as too undefined, while the Chancellor’s Office supported both. On technology, the Governor proposed $162.5 million for a common cloud data platform and $168 million for a common ERP system; the LAO said both were premature or lacked sufficient planning and recommended rejection, while the Chancellor’s Office argued they would improve real-time data, security, and systemwide efficiency. The committee also heard an update on student housing: the administration said the 2024 shift to a lease-revenue bond model remains in progress for 13 approved projects, with 11 still active, and members asked about withdrawn projects and possible use of any returned funds. No votes were taken, and several items were held open for further discussion and May Revision updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have never seen him perform, you have to see him perform.
• students for the modern workforce.
• students for the modern workforce.
• Up to 10 times higher student performance in AI-supported environments and a 30% overall improvement
• academic performance.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• measures, to perform well.
• Good use, and it has made a real difference in our performance.
• So, our first key initiative is improved performance.
• Our performance measures reflect that.
• This performance measure will stay on this sheet.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you guys do a lot of work for a lot of students.
• And that will fund over 4,000 College Corps students at 53 campuses for the 2026-27 year. Okay.
• And we do recognize that a lot of those fees that are paid for are essentially supported by students
• any financial penalties for non-performance to be refunded directly to the state.
• This position will be the dedicated program manager to oversee vendor performance.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration held a May Revise hearing focused on state administration proposals, with the chair noting no actions would be taken and all items would remain open. The committee heard presentations on a range of budget proposals, including technical adjustments for the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement and the California Workforce Development Board, security and election-related funding for the Secretary of State, modernization and loan-backfill requests for the Department of Consumer Affairs, and multiple Employment Development Department updates covering EDD Next, UI and DI/PFL benefit estimates, workforce funding, and an EMT training reappropriation. Several items drew discussion from the LAO and committee members. The LAO generally supported technical or modernization items such as PERB’s implementation requests, GoServe’s College Corps adjustment, the Secretary of State’s security and HAVA grant items, and the Board of Pharmacy modernization proposal, but raised concerns about the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education’s proposed $10 million General Fund backfill and interest-free loan language. For EDD, the LAO flagged the size of the DI/PFL benefit adjustment and the unusual structure of the document management system proposal within EDD Next, while EDD said the changes reflected higher participation and benefit levels after SB 951 and ongoing modernization needs. The Department of Industrial Relations drew the most extensive questioning. It proposed funding for legal unit reclassifications, EAMS and Cal/OSHA data modernization, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COYA reappropriation, and trailer bill changes requiring electronic payment of employer assessments and adjusting the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board timeline. Members pressed DIR on high vacancy rates, long wage theft and workers’ compensation backlogs, low collection rates for fines, and the need for clearer workload and outcome measures. DIR said the requests were intended to improve efficiency, support audits and corrective action plans, and better address emerging workplace risks, while the LAO said the workload drivers behind delays remain unclear. The hearing also included support for CalHR’s employee assistance program consolidation and CDT’s proposal to expand “Poppy,” a statewide generative AI assistant for state employees.

Transcript Highlights:

• The issue that I came up with was, well, a private school could have one EFA student and then all the
• students would fall under this.
• <00:49:27.040> in a mental health evaluation performed in a mental health evaluation performed
• This would, so in a student handbook, for basically the RSA itself, would be sufficient.
• I think the student handbook would...

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then what really startled me was the performance incentive payouts.
• Students may graduate without hands-on skills that are required to keep patients safe.
• Also, we do receive complaints from students that may be related to...
• Student complaints and so, I mean, is that something that...
• There is a process for all programs; students can follow it if it is a grade dispute.

Bills: HB2408, HB2434, HB2725, HB2728, HB2729, HB2730, HB2731, HB2732, HB2733

Keywords: nursing board, regulatory actions, disciplinary actions, expungement, healthcare professionalism, controlled substances, prescription monitoring, opioid crisis, healthcare regulations, patient safety, prescription drugs, opioids, healthcare, pain management, utilization controls, AHCCCS, Department of Economic Security, social services, welfare programs, vocational rehabilitation

Transcript Highlights:

• This is very much a performance-based process. ...incentive.
• Students graduate the program and 200 students are currently enrolled.
• My wife and I are fourth-generation stunt performers and filmmakers in this industry.
• We have six of our students over there.
• We had 18 students come through during the day, trying to get them on set experience.

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 amendment directs DOT to perform VPK curriculum review when that curriculum is developed in-house
• I have talked to nurses, students, and doctors and they have showed me their books in these things are
• Students routinely develop a dental hygiene diagnosis and plan treatment based on that diagnosis, as
• A lot of our college students and a lot of people count on Planned Parenthood to get that care, and now
• improvement metrics to assess, supports or serp support coordinator, performance, prerequisites for

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment directs DOE to perform VPK curriculum review when that curriculum is developed- Representative
• Brighter Futures Program to the Florida Child Care Fund, and it requires a published report on performance
• I have talked to nurses, students, and doctors, and they have showed me their books - these things are
• Dental hygiene students routinely develop a dental hygiene diagnosis and plan treatment based on that
• improvement, metrics to assess support coordinator performance, prerequisites for employment as support

Transcript Highlights:

• We, of course, have already decided to pay for that care anyway when performed by a different person,
• The reality is that our students are getting care in schools in a quality fashion.
• also build systems of support, including universal mental health screening, whereby we find students
• And for many of our students, they're above and beyond far what the schools are already receiving for
• Thank you for the benefit of our students, especially those with disabilities who depend on medically

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing focused on two broad sets of issues: home- and community-based care, and school-based Medicaid reimbursement. In the morning session, legislators and advocates testified on bills affecting children and disabled enrollees, including proposals to clarify rate-setting for home health and home care services (H. 767/S. 870), allow family members and spouses to be paid caregivers under MassHealth (H. 1394/S. 886 and related bills), extend MassHealth coverage for applied behavior analysis and other therapies beyond age 21 for adults with autism and developmental disabilities (H. 1351/S. 871), and protect medically fragile children by improving access to continuous skilled nursing. In the later portion of the hearing, testimony shifted to a bill to improve MassHealth reimbursement for schools (S. 862), with speakers describing the school mental health crisis and the need to reinvest Medicaid funds directly into school health services. Witnesses on the home care rate-setting bill said current reimbursement methods are opaque and outdated, contributing to workforce shortages, unfilled shifts, long waitlists, and patients remaining in hospitals longer than necessary. Home care providers and trade groups argued the bill would not set rates directly but would require more transparent methodology and fuller consideration of real costs such as wages, benefits, taxes, training, and technology. On caregiver bills, many family members and provider organizations described the financial and emotional strain of caring for disabled or medically fragile relatives, especially when parents, spouses, or guardians are barred from being paid caregivers. They argued the bills would recognize existing unpaid care, help families remain at home, and reduce reliance on more expensive institutional care. Advocates for adult ABA coverage said services remain medically necessary after age 21 and that ending coverage at that age creates an inequitable “cliff” for MassHealth members compared with those with private insurance. For the PACE/community care bill, elder law attorneys and PACE advocates said current MassHealth income rules force some older adults with modestly higher incomes to spend down to $542 per month, making community living unrealistic and pushing people toward nursing homes. They supported changing the eligibility structure to a premium-based approach that would allow more people to remain in the community. On the school Medicaid bill, advocates said schools are providing effective, preventive mental health care, but reimbursement currently flows to municipalities rather than directly back to school health budgets, limiting districts’ ability to hire and retain staff. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and several witnesses requested favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most first-year law students are, I'm sorry, third-year law students are graduating with job offers that
• measures or standards of clearance rates deadlines, performance measures or standards of clearance rate
• requirements set by statute, administrative rules or Performance measures or standards of clearance-rate
• members, there are some judges across the state, some courtrooms across the state, that are not performing
• Judge Collier, there are judges that don't perform as well as others, I got that.

Bills: HB40

Keywords: law enforcement, sheriffs, constables, contracts, county authority

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met to hear House Bill 1761, a broad judicial package focused on increasing judicial compensation and adding accountability and efficiency measures. The chair explained that HB 1707 and HB 2100 were withdrawn from the agenda, and that HB 1761 would be taken up first because many judges and stakeholders were present. The committee substitute for HB 1761 proposed a 30% increase in base judicial pay to $182,000, changes to judicial retirement linkage, stronger judicial conduct provisions, and efficiency measures such as targeted reporting for judges not meeting benchmarks, appellate in-person meeting encouragement, and time limits on certain motions. The chair and several supporters said judicial pay had reached “emergency status,” citing Texas’s low national ranking and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified judges. Witnesses in support included presiding and district judges, the State Bar’s judicial section, business and trial lawyer groups, and prosecutors. They emphasized that many judges work long hours off the bench, handle warrants at night and on weekends, manage heavy dockets, and face recruitment problems in both urban and rural counties. Supporters also said higher pay would help attract experienced lawyers, retain judges, and improve court efficiency. Several witnesses and members discussed judicial accountability, including public reporting of court performance and the role of the Texas Supreme Court and presiding judges in setting benchmarks. Some members raised concerns that raw statistics can be misleading because judges also do substantial off-the-bench work and often help cover other courts’ dockets. There was also testimony and discussion about the bill’s conduct and discipline provisions. A representative of the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed parts of the bill that would tie pay raises to changes affecting judicial independence, warning about subjective bail-related discipline standards and possible chilling effects. The executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct cautioned against civil penalties for complainants, saying it could discourage good-faith complaints and create litigation risks. Other witnesses supported accountability reforms but urged caution about unintended consequences, especially for family and emergency cases and for judges handling warrants and other time-sensitive matters. After testimony, the committee withdrew the committee substitute and left HB 1761 pending, then recessed the committee.