Transcript Highlights:

• included in the lease, such as term, fee included in the lease, such as term, fee or<00:37:41.960
• lightly controlled exempt. lightly controlled exempt.
• temporary exemption process. temporary exemption process.
• an exemption an exemption um<01:31:56.160> through<01:31:56.960> um<01:31:57.400><
• . exemption. exemption.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:05:47.399> her process where like she didn't file her process where like she didn't file
• Did she try and get an exemption from the state veterinarian?”
• And you have an exemption through the state veterinarian.
• And you have an exemption through the state veterinarian.
• <03:38:28.319> and not be a candidate for the exemption and not be a candidate for the exemption

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 153, which would require two or more law enforcement officers in each county to receive animal cruelty training through the police standards system. Representative Barbara Coma, the sponsor, said the bill was prompted by problems in animal cruelty cases, especially in rural areas without animal control officers, and she described it as a limited training measure. She said an amendment was forthcoming that would add an eight-hour approved course and a two-hour refresher every three years, and she emphasized that the trained officers would serve as resources rather than being required to take action themselves. Members asked about cost, due process, overlap with animal control officers, how trained officers would be identified and notified, and whether veterinarians could fill the role. Coma responded that the bill would not be a heavy financial lift, would not interfere with animal control officers, would apply to livestock as well as companion animals, and would still require law enforcement involvement because veterinarians cannot lawfully remove animals from property. She also said the training could improve due process by helping officers better understand when animal removal is appropriate and how cases should proceed. Sheriff William Wright, speaking for the New Hampshire Sheriffs Association, testified in opposition. He said training itself was acceptable, but the bill went beyond training by creating an obligation for sheriffs and state police to respond to and potentially investigate animal cruelty cases, which he argued would be ambiguous, unfunded, and burdensome for staffing and resources. He said some sheriff’s offices do not have investigative deputies and that the bill could create liability and uncertainty about who would lead investigations. In response to questions, he said the association would likely have no objection if the bill were limited to training, but it opposed the assistance/investigation mandate as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• specific budget augmentations not related to the departments before us, please refer to the daily file
• Third, we think this exemption could create some efficiencies.
• So this is a sensitive issue for the Assembly from the standpoint of asking for an exemption.
• “Interested in modifying the APA so that you don't have to ask for exemptions in the future?
• On the other hand, most of the bonds had the exemption written into it.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee heard the administration’s spending plan for Proposition 4’s climate smart agriculture and biodiversity chapters, along with related trailer bill language. CDFA outlined proposed funding for existing programs such as SWEEP, Healthy Soils, Urban Agriculture, and invasive species work, plus new or phased-in programs including year-round and mobile farmers’ markets, tribal food sovereignty, and regional farm equipment sharing. The Department of Conservation described funding for the California Farmland Conservancy Program and Working Lands and Riparian Corridors Program, while the Department of Finance and LAO discussed pending allocations and generally found the overall approach reasonable, though LAO suggested the Legislature may want more statutory guidance and reporting, especially for new programs. Members focused on implementation details, equity, and accountability. Questions covered how programs would serve vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, whether new solicitations would be reopened for previously oversubscribed grants, how outcomes are tracked, and how to structure guidance for new programs such as farm equipment sharing. The chair emphasized that the Legislature wants clearer direction on program design and noted that AB 2313 should guide implementation of the regional farm equipment sharing allocation. The committee also discussed the administration’s request to directly appropriate bond funds to departments and to exempt bond program guidelines from the Administrative Procedures Act; LAO supported the APA exemption with possible legislative guardrails for public notice and comment. The committee then heard on the farm-to-school proposal, with CDFA requesting $24.9 million General Fund for incubator grants, technical assistance, and network support. CDFA said the program has reached nearly half of California schoolchildren and has shown strong demand and positive evaluation results. LAO supported the core program but recommended rejecting the $3 million technical assistance component as too broad and suggested the Legislature consider using Proposition 98 for some of the funding. Members debated that point, with some expressing concern about using General Fund dollars for a new discretionary request during a tight budget year. The biodiversity and nature-based solutions chapter included funding for the Wildlife Conservation Board, state conservancies, and tribal nature-based solutions. WCB described major recent investments and proposed projects tied to 30 by 30, habitat restoration, tribal partnerships, and public access. Members raised concerns about long-term stewardship, the size of the WCB allocation, and whether the Legislature should receive more detail on how funds will be distributed. The committee also heard requests for Bolsa Chica wetlands maintenance and Rincon Island decommissioning funding from the State Lands Commission, with members questioning long-term liability, remediation costs, and the role of private oil operators. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with public comment from stakeholders largely supporting the APA exemption, farm-to-school funding, biodiversity investments, and related conservation programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lay-filed amendment, barcode 238-88, by Senator Pizzo.
• Is there objection to considering the lay-filed amendment?
• Laid-filed amendment barcode 879128. On the bill. Thank you. Late-filed amendment, barcode 879128.
• There is a late-filed amendment, barcode 64256.
• That is the late-filed amendment. Are there questions on the late-filed amendment?

Summary: The committee took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 1422 on unmanned aircraft systems. The bill increases penalties for flying drones over critical infrastructure, prohibits drones equipped with weapons or explosives, creates a first-degree felony for drones carrying a weapon of mass destruction, and includes a law enforcement exception. A lay-filed amendment by Senator Pizzo warning against the use of force to shoot down drones was debated but failed, and the bill was then reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SB 846 addressing notary public fraud in immigration-related services, SB 650 on hazardous walking conditions for school transportation, SB 922 on employment agreements including non-compete and garden leave provisions, and SB 1820 on motor vehicle manufacturer and dealer relations, covering performance measures, retaliation, and franchise termination standards. Several bills focused on education, health care, and disability issues. SB 540, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, would require disability history and awareness instruction across grade levels; it drew emotional testimony from the bill sponsor, family members, and supporters, and was reported favorably. SB 998 would allow advanced practice registered nurses to certify deaths and file death certificates in hospice settings under physician protocol, and SB 1412 would modernize home health agency rules by expanding administrative flexibility and contract service use; both passed. SB 1736 would allow direct support professionals and relatives to administer insulin in group home settings for individuals with developmental disabilities, and it was also reported favorably. The committee also advanced several regulatory and court-related measures. SB 1650 expands Florida’s vexatious litigant law, including allowing designation based on conduct in a single case and extending the look-back period, while SB 1652 creates a public records exemption for certain stricken non-criminal court filings; both were approved. SB 1076 on roofing contractors was amended to require continuing education for roof-to-wall connections and then passed, and SB 1078 on fire prevention was amended with stakeholder-agreed language before being reported favorably. SB 1080 on local government land regulations, after multiple amendments and significant debate over agricultural enclaves and local control, was also approved. Other major measures included SB 818 on utility relocation, which creates a relocation fund funded by a portion of communications services tax revenue and was supported by multiple industry and local-government groups after a compromise amendment; SB 868 on social media use by minors, which would require a decryption mechanism for law enforcement access under subpoena and prohibit disappearing messages for minors, remained under discussion as the transcript ended. The committee also heard SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers against the City of Gainesville, and reported it favorably after testimony that the city would pay the settlement amount.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also allows DIFI to require modeling and data organizations to file supporting data or additional
• It also allows DIFI to require modeling and data organizations to file supporting data or additional
• It also allows DIFI to require modeling and data organizations to file supporting data or additional
• county from raising a tax, fee, or utility...
• for groundwater transportation and update the fee annually to reflect inflation.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long calendar of House bills across education, health, water, land, housing, labor, public safety, and taxation. Several measures dealt with artificial intelligence, including bills on AI disclosures for minors, AI-assisted divorce arbitration, an Arizona AI education program, AI privilege protections, and a required AI course in schools. Other topics included ESA administration funding, a prohibition on public money for certain foreign-controlled genetic sequencing devices, towing regulations, DUI and ignition interlock changes, health facility and nursing facility complaint timelines, internationally trained physicians, nurse anesthetist reimbursement, pharmacy penalties, childhood cancer research, cybersecurity encryption, school mental health instruction repeal, superintendent performance pay, adoption disclosures in student health settings, anti-Semitism in schools, and a range of water, land, and housing bills. Members frequently raised concerns about local control, unfunded mandates, constitutional issues, and the scope of state intervention. Several bills drew criticism for affecting school curriculum, public education, reproductive rights, protest activity, or tribal communities. Others were supported as technical fixes, consumer protections, or funding measures. The caucus also discussed a series of bills related to the Mexican gray wolf, state land management, solar and wind siting, groundwater transport, and rural development, with some members objecting that the proposals would undermine federal protections or tribal interests. A number of bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including HB 2020, HB 2957, HCR 2044, HB 2352, HB 2667, HB 2906, HB 2093, HB 2386, HB 2481, HB 2830, HB 2076, HB 2411, HB 2136, HB 2665, and HB 2904. The meeting ended with an announcement of the Latino Caucus guest presentation and an emotional tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson, followed by presentation of an Affordability Award to Representatives Lorena Austin and Stephanie Simacek for work on economic justice and working families. The caucus then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• > Filing materially incorrect information Filing materially incorrect information incurs<00:16:46.440
• <00:18:30.200> to<00:18:30.280> the through exemptions to the through exemptions to
• So the increase in this registration fee would result in approximately $254,700 in annual fee income.
• So the increase in this registration fee would result in approximately $254,700 in annual fee income.
• They're not a... maybe credit report fees and so on. But maybe credit report fees and so on.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. uh not allowed for uh attorney's fees uh not allowed for uh attorney's fees for<00:02:09.200
• complaint about a EA, EIS or exemption complaint about a EA, EIS or exemption notice.<00:02:26.319
• Um uh that uh then matches what filed.
• We attorney fee restriction provision.
• have a adequate amount of time to file have a adequate amount of time to file for<00:04:50.080><

Bills: HB1979

Keywords: environmental review, affordable housing, clean energy, judicial proceedings, public participation, Hawaii Revised Statutes, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1979 HD3, which would shorten the time to file certain judicial challenges to environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for affordable housing and clean energy projects, and would also affect transfer of some environmental court appeals to the Supreme Court. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the amended bill, saying the changes were improved from earlier versions and that the shorter filing period was reasonable for these priority projects. Hawaii Gas asked that the bill’s clean energy definition be broadened to align with existing renewable energy law so emerging technologies like renewable hydrogen and renewable gas would be included. Kauai Island Utility Co-op and Greenpeace Hawaii testified in support and opposition, respectively, with supporters arguing the bill would reduce litigation uncertainty and opponents saying the shorter deadline would limit public participation and not solve the real causes of project delays. Opposition testimony came from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Earthjustice, Sierra Club, 350 Hawaii, and others, who argued the bill could chill legitimate public-interest claims, especially where there is limited public notice, and that environmental review was being unfairly blamed for delays caused by permitting, financing, or infrastructure problems. Several speakers said the measure would reduce transparency and make it harder for communities to respond in time. One testifier from Earthjustice said the environmental review process itself is not the problem and should not be weakened for projects that still need public disclosure and community engagement. The committee then moved to decision-making and, citing the volume of opposition and concerns about public participation, transparency, and whether the bill would actually improve timelines, the chair deferred HB 1979 HD3 indefinitely. The hearing was adjourned after the vote decision was announced. The transcript then shifted to HB 2585, relating to tourism and statewide standards for agritourism. Testimony was mixed: farmers and agricultural groups described agritourism as essential to keeping small farms and ranches viable, while also urging safeguards so it would not be abused or displace real agricultural production. Some speakers warned the bill’s revenue-based limits could unintentionally shut down existing farm stays and related operations, especially in Maui County. The Hawaii Farm Bureau said it supported the intent but wanted clearer protections for bona fide agriculture and more flexibility around revenue requirements and force majeure situations. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• They won a protest board hearing to be exempt from taxes in Sandoval County.
• We also have no origination fees. NMFA does all the underwriting.
• And so the act itself exempts certain entities.
• So for example, municipalities are exempted from the subdivision act.
• The only way that you get out of that mass evaluation is you file a protest.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some broadband providers report application fees up to $250 per pole.
• Fee that serve more as a barrier to entry than a meaningful administrative cost.
• Their, their any study fees need to be, uh, recovered. All of that must take place.
• To HB 3448 as filed.
• I file a complaint and they say you can't file a complaint.

Transcript Highlights:

• and TexQuest membership fees.
• So it's an exempted benefit.
• It's an exemption. The universities, you know, have room in their classes.
• So it's an exempted benefit.
• It's an exemption. The universities, you know, have room in their classes.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill authorizes DTSC to collect fees in order to cover administrative and enforcement costs.
• So therein lies the question, is what they would prefer is just to be exempt, totally.
• Okay, we're moving on to file item two, Senate Bill 601.
• It's all waters of the state except, and then there's a list of enumerated exemptions.
• While we have you, we're going to move to file item number four, also Senator Allen.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When I'm reviewing a case, I am looking at what has been filed by our local police agency.
• To me, this bill addresses what's a criminal case. filed, once a law enforcement agency has filed a case
• I only get to that if law enforcement has filed a case with me or made an arrest.
• And unfortunately, it's too late to file a bill. Or I would do.
• So House Bill 2402... would clarify that monthly fee-based subscription programs are exempt from the

Bills: HB741, HB 1199, HB2070, HB2402, HB2542, HB2665, HB2789, HB3096, HB3396, HB3595, HB3747, HB4116, HB4127

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• File 2434 is before us and members. File 2434 is before us and members.
• On line 558, House<00:10:43.120> File House File House File 2406,<00:10:45.120> one-time
• and House File 1678.
• Um section four is from house file 702. Um section four is from house file 702.
• These sections increase DHS licensing fees and add fees for satellite facilities.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• States can impose these fees, and that's exactly...
• This bill imposes an 8% fee on detention.
• There's corporate branding exemptions.
• Them are exempt from this bill.
• Why is Jersey City exempt? I believe everyone here... Why is Jersey City exempt?

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It directs the Bureau of Insurance to file Virginia's application with CMS to update our EHB benchmark
• Speaker, BOI discovered a timing issue since the federal regulations require applications to be filed
• House Bill 379 enhances transparency requirements related to application fees, eligibility criteria,
• It relates to affordable housing, religious organizations, and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties.
• It relates to affordable housing, religious organizations, and other nonprofit tax-exempt properties.

Keywords: April 22, 2026 - Reconvened Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, Senate File 5004 would provide an exemption to Minnesota's Fair Labor Standards Act, the FLSA, for
• Senate File 5004 would provide an exemption to Minnesota's Fair Labor Standards Act, the FLSA, for minor
• The intent of Senate File 5004 is to exempt minor league baseball players from minimum wage requirements
• The intent of Senate File 5004 is to exempt minor league baseball players from minimum wage requirements
• The intent of Senate File 5004 is to exempt minor league baseball players from minimum wage requirements

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the number of students who actually are given an exemption, and the reason why those were denied
• So what this basically their dorm fees.
• Under section one, 2A, establish a process through which a student may request an exemption.
• The bill is very simple, maybe one of the shortest bills she's ever filed, Mr.
• shortest bills I've ever filed, Mr. shortest bills I've ever filed, Mr.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• filing fee on a criminal defendant, and the courts may not adopt any new fee, fine, surcharge, or assessment
• In Arizona, we charge a fee to access your constitutional right.
• We charge a fee for a jury trial in criminal cases, and we also charge a fee for assistance of counsel
• , and we charge a fee for the right to appeal your trial as well.
• And Maricopa collects zero of these fees. Maricopa collects zero of these fees.

Bills: HB2043, HB2046, HB2126, HB2131, HB2132, HB2133, HB2223, HB2265, HB2411, HB2666

Keywords: felony murder, unborn child, homicide, Arizona Revised Statutes, life imprisonment, death penalty, education, funding, school districts, state aid, education reform, venue, employee conflict, superior court, legal proceedings, workplace disputes, weapons, explosives, trafficking, firearm regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• I like to think of it a little bit like filing tax returns.
• per-page fee from 67 cents to 70 cents.
• There was an objection filed by Senator Hicks.
• The House took the fees, raising the fees from 1 to 2 cents. Hicksory, recognized for a follow-up.
• that without the fee...

Bills: HJR1088, HJR1090, HJR1091, HB1370, SB2154, HJR1092, HJR1093, HJR1095, HJR1099, HJR1100, HB3021, SB893, SB206, SB248, SB259, SB423, SB563, SB604, SB633, HJR1077, SB667, SB1224, SB1257, SB1264, SB1319, SB1360, SB1437, SB1531, SB1543, SB1806, HB3004, SB1572, HB4342, SB1618, SB2, SB237, SB1632, SB1687, SB1726, SB1859, SB1894, SB1461, HB4432, SB1948, SB1589, SJR52, SR46, HCR1030, SB2071, SB2182, SB1451, HJR1088, HJR1090, HJR1091, HJR1092, HJR1093, HJR1095, HJR1096, HJR1099, HJR1100, SB2185, SB893, HB3021, SR46, SB206, SB237, SB248, SB259, SB423, SB563, SB604, SB625, SB633, SB667, SB1224, SB1257, SB1264, SB1319, SB1360, SB1378, SB1437, SB1531, SB1543, SB1572, SB1618, SB1632, SB1687, SB1726, SB1806, SB1859, SB1894, SB1948, SB2071, SJR52, HB1370, HJR1077, SB2, SB1451, SB2182, HCR1030

Keywords: education rules, administrative rules, joint resolution, Oklahoma State Department of Education, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, Teachers' Retirement System, charter schools, Statewide Charter School Board, career and technology education, CTE, OEQA, rule approval, legislative oversight, permanent rules, school governance, teacher retirement, education agencies, Oklahoma Register, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry

Transcript Highlights:

• Criminal investigations, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, all of that stuff is exempt.
• And the result is that the trust asset gets unnecessarily consumed by legal and accounting fees.
• And to Senator Trunow, you, sir, file a great number of bills. Some of them are sporty.
• You, sir, file a great number of bills. Some of them are sporty. Some of them are complicated.
• provisions to apply the exemptions to records relating to custodians of gold and silver.

Summary: The Banking and Insurance Committee took up several bills, beginning with CS/SB 326, which modernizes Florida’s curator statute in probate law by clarifying when curators may be appointed, what they may do, and the oversight required. The bill was reported favorably without opposition. The committee then heard SB 1256 on pharmacy audits, which would require PBM audits of pharmacies to follow uniform standards and provide due process protections; pharmacists testified in support, describing current audits as burdensome and conflicted. That bill was also reported favorably. Members next considered CS/SB 598 on funeral, cemetery, and consumer services. An amendment was adopted removing provisions on civil damage caps and phasing out direct disposers, and the bill was then reported favorably. SB 632, dealing with transportation network company insurance, would set coverage requirements for the period after a ride is accepted but before pickup; an opponent argued the existing insurance framework should not be reduced, but the bill passed on a divided vote and was reported favorably. CS/SB 786 on trusts, creating a nonjudicial process to close uncontested trusts and discharge trustees, was supported by banking and legal groups and reported favorably. The committee then took up CS/SB 1110 on Medicaid, health insurance, and HMO coverage for orthotics and prosthetics. A delete-all amendment clarified eligible recipients, and the bill drew extensive emotional testimony from amputees, parents, and advocates describing the high cost of activity limbs and the benefits for children’s health and participation. Several senators praised the testimony and the policy, and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1588 on legal tender refined last session’s gold-and-silver law, and SPB 7044 created related public-records exemptions for custodians of gold and silver; both were reported favorably, with SPB 7044 adopted as a committee bill. The meeting ended with senators recording additional affirmative votes on selected bills and adjournment.