Transcript Highlights:

• Current uniforms for detention officers are considered Class B, or polo-style shirts and dress pants.
• This funding will go towards purchasing new Class A uniforms for our staff, which will meet professionalism
• Purchasing new Class A uniforms for our staff, which will meet professionalism standards, will be dress
• , beyond the standard education offered across schools throughout the state, career and technical classes
• Secretary Walsh continued that career technical classes are very important, beyond the standard education

Bills: S0054, S0156, S0296, S0298

Keywords: cognitive function, psychotropic drugs, violent offenders, autopsy procedures, medical records, school safety, public records, open government, sunshine law, victims of dating violence, domestic violence, address confidentiality program, confidential address, voter registration, voting records, elections, supervisor of elections, Department of State, Attorney General, privacy

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 public safety budget, which totals about $8.2 billion within a $117.4 billion overall state budget. Caitlin Dawkins of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget outlined funding and reductions across the public safety silo, including the Department of Corrections, Juvenile Justice, FDLE, Legal Affairs, the courts, and related entities. Agency heads then presented their requests, with FDLE seeking funding for fentanyl enforcement, career offender registry staffing, alert system upgrades, alcohol testing equipment, officer mental health, criminal alien detection, and statutory staffing needs; DJJ requesting money for the Florida Scholars Academy, uniforms, residential contract rate increases, a new Broward detention center, and facility maintenance; and DOC requesting major funding for correctional officer pay increases, 500 additional FTE, facility construction and maintenance, communications and security technology, offender information system modernization, inmate health care, pharmaceuticals, and food service. Members discussed staffing shortages, prison conditions, immigration enforcement, public records burdens, mental health and substance use treatment, and the need for continued investment in corrections. A member of the public also testified about poor conditions in some prisons, including clothing, food, medical care, and maintenance issues. The committee then considered and passed CS/SB 156, the Jason Rayner Act, which would clarify that a person may not resist a law enforcement officer with violence when the officer is performing official duties and would increase penalties in cases involving violence against officers. The bill sponsor described the case of Officer Jason Rayner and said the measure was intended to prevent defendants from using claims about unlawful detention or arrest to justify violence. An amendment conforming the bill’s language was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably after support was noted from several law enforcement and municipal groups. Next, the committee passed CS/SB 54, which addresses use of substances affecting cognitive function. An amendment narrowed the medical-records language to records relevant to investigations of violent offenders and clarified privacy protections. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also passed CS/SB 296, the Haven Act, which would direct a study of a secure web-based alert system for domestic violence victims so they can contact 911 without alerting an abuser, and would expand the Address Confidentiality Program to include dating violence victims. Testimony from survivors and advocates emphasized the danger victims face when trying to leave abusive situations. Finally, the committee passed CS/SB 298, the public-records companion bill, which extends confidentiality protections for participants in the Address Confidentiality Program to dating violence victims as well. All three bills were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• brands, the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, and NTT IndyCar Series are coming together to deliver world-class
• for the use of aircraft for counting, relocating, capturing, hunting, or taking wildlife to a simple Class
• the penalty initially contemplated for hunting or taking animals in violation of the statute as a Class
• by attracting visitors from around the world, and it enhances Texas's reputation for hosting world-class
• provides Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with the authority to make violations of existing rules a Class

Transcript Highlights:

• any real estate, building, room, tent, arena, or property for cockfighting would be elevated from a Class
• So right now, it’s a Class A misdemeanor, and it would be bumped up to a state jail felony.
• So they essentially earn in one day what they can pay their fine and get paid. get out of jail on a Class
• They get charged with a Class A misdemeanor, take probation or time served.
• Others who train and sell animals to fight face only a Class A misdemeanor, a slap on the wrist.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It turned out a lot of us had taken the same class in college.
• So this will be a little bit of a refresher if you took that geology class at the U of M, which I did
• for a constitutional amendment that provides highlighted protections for some specific protected classes
• own conscience, or their rights of conscience, it says that despite highlighting specific protected classes
• We've seen at the national level that there has been disregard, or I guess these classes need protection

Bills: HF1837, HF361, HF2725, HF2566, HF2744, HF1685, HF501, HF1889, HF1389

Keywords: state policy, employment, health insurance, fossil designation, public funds, community resources, Capitol Mall, grantmaking, community vitality, livability, funding, healthy aging, aging policy, older adults, seniors, elderly, gerontology, long-term care, assisted living, nursing homes

Transcript Highlights:

• How does OHE ensure that they're taking the right classes? How does the council...
• If we're going to track all these thousands of kids and see what classes they're registered for, does
• their class in their major study change?
• These are well-paying jobs, and they help to propel our graduates into the middle class or better.
• We need to drive world-class capabilities that are accepted by our industrial partners as well as the

Bills: HF2634, HF2241, HF2649, HF2520, HF2610

Keywords: North Star Promise, scholarship, higher education, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in-demand jobs, workforce development, career training, job market, high-demand occupations, high-demand industries, college aid, state financial aid, FAFSA, student eligibility, program of study, degree program, certificate program, community college, university, labor market data

Transcript Highlights:

• Now FAFSA completions nationally have increased 20.9% compared to the class of 2025 through this same
• And if you look at the class of 2023, it's up nearly 12%.
• of 2025 through compared to the class of 2025 through this<00:42:39.520> same<00:42:39.760>
• of 2023, it's up look at the class of 2023, it's up nearly<00:42:44.000> 12%.
• student has registered for classes. student has registered for classes.

Bills: HF4362, HF4252, HF4440

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun rights, gun control, campus safety, public college, university, postsecondary institution, higher education, visitor carry, concealed carry, open carry, campus policy, Minnesota Statutes 624.714, petty misdemeanor, parking lot carry, firearm possession, public safety, college campus, student carry

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I talked to some young kids in a science class a few weeks ago and I told them, I said, "You
• You know, I talked to some young kids in a science class a few weeks ago and I told them, I said, "You
• You know, I talked to some young kids in a science class a few weeks ago and I told them, I said, "You
• So um you know in to a class 4 operator.
• <00:54:42.559> of have those different classes of have those different classes of operations

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, adoption of the minutes, and brief remarks, including birthday recognition for Representative Maseroni and a moment of reflection for a soldier who died during training at Fort Knox. The committee then heard a presentation from Tony Hatton, commissioner of the Department for Environmental Protection and acting director of the Kentucky Division of Water, with Amanda Lefer, deputy commissioner, on the state’s water and wastewater programs and planning. Hatton described Kentucky’s water resources and the Division of Water’s responsibilities, including watershed and nonpoint source work, KPDES discharge permitting, PFAS response, engineering review of water infrastructure, inspections, public outreach, and sampling. He said Kentucky has 428 public water systems, 263 water treatment plants, about 1.9 million service connections, and nearly 97% of the population has access to municipally treated water. He also noted that the state has 43 systems receiving awards for EPA areawide optimization and emphasized operator training, regionalization, and use of GIS mapping and Kentucky Infrastructure Authority data to support planning and funding decisions. Members raised concerns about aging infrastructure, water loss, staffing shortages, and wastewater problems in local systems. Representative Blandon described severe failures in a city system, including major water loss and sewer backups, and asked whether the state could intervene; Hatton said the division inspects treatment facilities and provides compliance assistance but is not authorized to manage delivery systems, though third-party help and emergency funding can be used in some cases. Senator Smith and others shared similar experiences with line loss and system failures, while Hatton pointed to regionalization and funding support as the main tools available. The discussion also highlighted PFAS as an emerging issue, with Hatton saying the department is working with systems to meet anticipated federal requirements by 2029.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you mentioned, the T-Rex and the class 3 Rex have been bigger ACP drivers.
• We do think that there's a possibility that we see an increase in class 3 ACPs.
• Every year the department has to review class 3 and determine whether or not a reduction from the 8%
• So there's a chance we see higher class 3 ACPs there. so there are fluctuations, a reduction so there
• Um every year the class 3 ACPs.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was actually 8th grade, and it was 2012, December 14th, when in the middle of our first period class
• <00:02:17.640> uh<00:02:17.760> we<00:02:17.879> got of our first period class
• uh we got of our first period class uh we got interrupted<00:02:18.599> by<00:02:18.760> the
• that a lot in our first grade class that a lot in our first grade class rooms<01:25:19.760> I
• <01:34:24.679> or that outside of um theology classes or that outside of um theology classes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to thank last year's fourth grade class at Chesterfield School, you know, for bringing this
• I just want to thank last year's fourth grade class at Chesterfield School, you know, for bringing this
• I just want to thank last year's fourth grade class at Chesterfield School, you know, for bringing this
• Um, so in the committee we actually started with a much lower quantity for fentanyl-class drugs.
• <01:11:42.679> drugs lower quantity um for fentel class drugs lower quantity um for fentel

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're going to be best in class on both of those. So we've learned from that.
• Census says the median middle-class salary in Texas is just over $72,000.
• I consider myself to be upper middle class.
• That increases our class size.
• We need to get our class sizes down.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Members from both parties emphasized education as a major issue, while several Republicans framed the committee’s work around school choice and parent empowerment. Senator West and other Democrats stressed protecting public schools, listening to Texans, and considering the effects of vouchers or education savings accounts on school districts and communities. Chairman Creighton laid out Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, describing it as a universal education savings account program modeled on similar programs in other states. He said the bill would provide about $200 million for a universal eligibility pool and additional funding for students with disabilities and lower-income families, with priority weighting for former public school students. He also highlighted anti-fraud measures, vendor pre-approval, criminal background checks, cybersecurity protections, annual testing requirements for participating students, and the use of the Comptroller rather than TEA to administer the program. Creighton repeatedly said the bill is not a voucher and argued it would not take money from public schools, which he said would receive separate historic funding increases. Members questioned Creighton about the 500% of federal poverty line definition, the adequacy of the $10,000 ESA amount, whether the program would favor students already in private school, how microschools and homeschool pods would fit, and whether the bill protects religious liberty and private-school autonomy. Democrats raised concerns about disability protections, 504 students, foster children, public-school funding, open records, and the historical context of vouchers. Republicans generally supported the bill as a way to expand options for parents and students, while also asking about administration, fraud prevention, and data security. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, with EdChoice President Robert Inlow presenting in support of SB 2 and citing the growth and reported success of school choice programs nationwide.

Transcript Highlights:

• rents by up to 100% or evict tenants and create luxury apartments or condos unavailable to middle-class
• or working-class people.
• That value from the transfer fee, and it would be, and the shift would occur within the residential class
• And when it rests on race, religion, national origin, or other protected classes, it is prohibited by
• because of their identities, particularly when those identities fall within established, protected classes

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing on a series of bills focused largely on local-option real estate transfer fees and housing funding tools for communities facing severe affordability pressures. Testimony strongly favored bills for Somerville, Concord, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Chatham, and a statewide local-option transfer fee, with speakers arguing that high-end real estate transactions should help fund affordable housing, anti-displacement efforts, workforce housing, and related capital improvements. Elected officials and local housing leaders described rising rents and home prices, investor activity, shrinking year-round housing stock, and difficulty recruiting or retaining teachers, police, health care workers, and other essential employees. Several witnesses emphasized that the proposals would be optional for municipalities, could include exemptions for first-time homebuyers or seniors, and would direct revenue into local affordable housing trust funds or housing banks. Committee members asked questions about who would pay the fee and whether it could make housing less affordable, and supporters responded that the fees would be targeted at higher-value transactions and designed with local flexibility. For Somerville, the delegation and Mayor Katjana Ballantyne backed both a local home rule petition and statewide enabling legislation, saying the city has already used zoning reform, inclusionary zoning, and local housing funds but still needs a new revenue source to address displacement and investor-driven purchases. For Concord, Representative Carmine Gentile and Concord housing advocates supported a home rule petition and the statewide bill, arguing that a modest fee on sales above $1 million could generate predictable revenue for affordable housing production and preservation. One committee exchange focused on whether the fee would affect most Concord sales and whether it would be passed on to buyers; supporters said the policy was intended to shift costs toward higher-value properties and help leverage other funding sources. The committee also heard testimony on House 4105, which would redirect a casino-related revenue stream to the Healthy Incentives Program. Farmers, advocates, and residents said the current funding was originally intended to support horse racing but has not met that goal, and that the money would be better used to support Massachusetts farmers and food-insecure residents through HIP. In a separate bill, Senator Becca Rausch testified in support of Senate 268, which would create a state-level hostile learning environment complaint process for higher education institutions and potentially strip tax exemptions from colleges or universities found to have such environments; she cited anti-Semitic and transphobic incidents on campuses and argued that existing federal protections should be mirrored in state law. The hearing also included testimony on college tuition debt reduction legislation from Senator Michael Moore, who said the bill would allow a deduction for tuition and fees paid to Massachusetts public colleges and universities to ease student debt and support the state’s workforce. A major portion of the hearing focused on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket housing bank proposals. Hospital, school, housing, planning, and municipal officials from Martha’s Vineyard said the island’s year-round housing shortage is harming health care, schools, and the local workforce, and urged approval of a housing bank funded by a local-option transfer fee. Nantucket witnesses made similar arguments, pointing to a very high median home price, a large seasonal housing stock, and the need for a dedicated revenue stream to preserve and create year-round housing. Supporters repeatedly cited the long-running success of the islands’ land banks as evidence that transfer fees can work without harming real estate markets. Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Thomas Moakley Luddy also backed the Cape and Islands transfer-fee bills, saying the region needs bold action and a sustainable local funding source to address its housing crisis.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:38:55.320> winning<00:38:55.600> the<00:38:55.720> 2026<00:38:56.680> Class
• <00:38:57.080> 7A Wilbanks for winning the 2026 Class 7A State Championship.
• The 2026 Class 7A State Championship and extend to the team, coaches, parents, and sponsors our best
• School Yellow Jackets 2026 boys basketball team and first-year coach Anthony Carlisle for winning the Class
• School Yellow Jackets 2026 boys basketball team and first-year coach Anthony Carlisle for winning the Class

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 24 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then dispensed with the reading of the journal and committee report titles. The main business was a lengthy exchange over Senate Bill 2632, the local governments disaster recovery emergency loan program bill. The governor’s veto message argued that the enrolled bill had been materially altered after conference adoption, specifically over the interest-rate language, and called for an investigation. Senate leaders responded that the veto message was inaccurate, saying the word “monthly” had been removed earlier by unanimous consent to avoid an unintended 12% rate and that the bill was intended to provide disaster relief financing for local governments affected by Winter Storm Erin. Senators McCaughn and others defended the process, criticized the governor’s accusations as false and offensive, and emphasized that the legislation was meant to help struggling cities and counties with no interest until FEMA reimbursement, followed by a 1% rate. After the veto discussion, Senator McCaughn moved to refer the bill back to the committee from which it began, and the motion carried. The Senate then moved through routine business, including introductions and recognition of guests. Visitors included the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Peanut Committee, the Mississippi School for the Deaf and Blind, the doctor of the day, and an NCSL representative, along with a National Ag Day milking champions presentation and a large group of junior pages. The chamber also honored the Starkville Oktibbeha County School District’s varsity boys and girls basketball teams. Senate Resolutions 64 and 65 were called up to commend the Starkville High School girls and boys teams for winning the 2026 Class 7A state championships, and both coaches addressed the Senate briefly to thank members for the recognition.

Transcript Highlights:

• He noted that they currently have approximately 60 recruits on the ground in two different classes.
• victim of one of these protected groups automatically results in an aggravated assault, which is a class
• So taking the class felony from a five to a four at the lower level makes it harder to get down to a
• But the fact is, as of right now, it's a class five felony in all circumstances.
• What this will do is make it a class five in some.

Bills: SB1046, SB1317, SB1376, SB1416, SB1448, SB1471, SB1493, SB1498, SB1502, SB1504, SB1538, SB1544, SB1550, SB1579, SB1581, SB1584, SB1624, SB1673

Keywords: telecommunications, broadband, internet infrastructure, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, national security, foreign adversary, China, Chinese equipment, supply chain security, network equipment, microchips, Arizona Corporation Commission, telecommunications provider, communications infrastructure, Huawei, ZTE, state-owned enterprise, sanctions, infrastructure security

Transcript Highlights:

• He founded Retina Consultants of New Mexico to bring world-class retina care home, where patients could
• He founded retina consultants of New Mexico to bring world-class retina care home, where patients could
• Home of a graduating class of five, and go Pirates. Dr.
• range science at New Mexico State University, where he was honored as the outstanding senior of his class
• final comment is, I also agree that whenever we have these types of bills that affect a particular class

Bills: HM3, HM11, HM14, HM15, HM18, HM21, HB10, HB11, HB12, HB13, HB14, HB31, HB50

Keywords: nurses, health care workers, healthcare workers, frontline workers, hospital staff, clinicians, allied health professionals, support staff, public health, workforce shortage, nursing shortage, safe staffing, patient safety, rural health care, frontier communities, behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder, substance abuse, health care memorial

Transcript Highlights:

• sizes, ratios, screenings, and our class sizes, ratios, screenings, and our continuous<00:41:48.800>
• Can we look at, like, reinserting, like, the class certification or, um, like the QIS, that particular
• Can we look at, like, reinserting, like, the class certification or, um, like the QIS, that particular
• Can we look at, like, reinserting, like, the class certification or, um, like the QIS, that particular
• Can we look at, like, reinserting, like, the class certification or, um, like the QIS, that particular

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They could be guilty of a class six felony or a class one misdemeanor.
• The language... ...guilty of a class six felony or a class one misdemeanor.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And by the way, I was gonna ask the class of 2014, could I get you all to stand?
• Class of 2014 So it's me and this is it. So I'm we were sworn.
• So yeah, it's down To me, so class 14, en their speeches won't take long. It's just me.
• I'm sure all of us in that class had the same experience.

Bills: HB1168

Keywords: abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, medication abortion, mifepristone, misoprostol, methotrexate, pro-life, pro-choice, reproductive health, unborn child, trafficking, felony, contraception, pharmacist, pharmacy, Title 63, Oklahoma statutes, abortion pill, drug distribution, criminal penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Through this caucus, we hope to serve as the bridge between Maryland's world-class research institutions
• serve as the bridge between hope to serve as the bridge between Maryland's<00:15:05.440> world-class
• <00:15:06.040> research Maryland's world-class research Maryland's world-class research institutions

Keywords: House streaming session for Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, confirmed a quorum, and then spent much of the session on recognitions and ceremonial resolutions. Members honored the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute girls basketball team for winning the Maryland State Girls 3A championship, and the Crofton High School boys indoor track and field team for a historic season that included county and region titles and the school’s first boys state championship. The chamber also recognized Sacred Heart Home in Hyattsville for 100 years of service to seniors in the community. The House received Senate Bills 10 and 84 from the Senate, waived separate readings, and referred them to the appropriate committees. Committee announcements noted upcoming bill hearings and vote sessions, including Appropriations, Economic Matters, Environment and Transportation, GLEE, Health, and Ways and Means, along with a reminder that amendments for the next day were due under House rules. Members also announced the formation of the Maryland Legislative STEM and Emerging Technology Caucus, focused on STEM education and policy issues such as AI, quantum technology, autonomous systems, robotics, and data infrastructure. Additional announcements included a Veterans Caucus breakfast, a Women in Government lunch, Eye Week screenings, a Savage Race team invitation, a birthday recognition for Delegate Bonnie Cullison, and a joint press conference by several caucuses. After a final quorum call confirmed 126 members present, the House adjourned until Wednesday, March 25 at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are they teaching the appropriate classes for numeracy and literacy act?
• 26.560> teaching<00:11:26.800> the<00:11:26.959> appropriate<00:11:27.360> classes
• they teaching the appropriate classes they teaching the appropriate classes for<00:11:27.920>

Keywords: 1136, house, all