Transcript Highlights:

• The author and I have agreed on two changes to Amendment 3 described in the analysis that deals with
• Nicholas Tackett, for Social Compassion in Legislation, in strong support.
• Nicholas Sackett, on behalf of Social Compassion in Legislation, in support.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, for your work on this critical piece of legislation.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, for your work on this critical piece of legislation.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the only report we would see would be the annual report that was required by the legislation.
• I think it's an October annual report that CHFS is legislated to do annually, and that's October.
• I think it's an October annual report that CHFS is legislated to do annually, and that's October.
• I am the legislative liaison for the department. Thank you all for being here today.
• actually paved the way for legislation actually paved the way for both<00:09:46.800> the<00:09

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:37 KY Horse Racing and Gaming Corp. 08:32 Cabinet for Health and Family Services 35:28 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard an update from the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation on sports wagering revenue allocations and problem gaming funding. KHRGC reported that in fiscal year 2024, about $34.4 million was deposited to the pension fund and about $931,000 to the problem gaming assistance fund; fiscal year 2025 to date, the totals were about $18.5 million and $556,000, respectively, bringing all-time problem gaming funding to about $1.48 million. Members also discussed wagering volume, with KHRGC stating Kentucky had about $3.5 billion in wagers from September 2023 through December 2024 and about $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2025 to date. KHRGC explained that it tracks the funds sent to CHFS and the self-exclusion list, but does not track the number of people seeking help or the outcomes of those calls. The Division of Mental Health then described how the problem gambling assistance account is used. Patty Clark and Sarah Cooper said the fund supports education, counseling, public awareness, counselor certification, and treatment-related costs, with $50,000 reserved for administrative expenses. They said the department has spent the last 18 months establishing criteria, funding standards, performance measures, monitoring, and application procedures, and that it issued notices of funding opportunity in October. They reported about 1.49 million in the fund through the end of January, with awards including support for the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling conference, a public awareness campaign by Project Ricochet, and a youth-focused campaign by Shaunie Transformation Youth Coalition. Testimony also focused on the scope of problem gambling in Kentucky and how the helpline works. The department said fewer than 10 clinicians in Kentucky are specifically certified in problem gambling, though all addiction clinicians can provide services, and estimated about 165,000 adults show problem gambling behaviors, with 47,000 to 64,000 potentially meeting criteria for a gambling disorder. They said helpline calls rose to about 3,240 in 2024, but only about 25% were from people seeking help, with most callers seeking information about online wagering. Members asked about anonymity, follow-up, co-occurring alcohol or drug issues, and whether the fund should reimburse Medicaid or directly cover treatment costs. The presenters said calls are anonymous, outcomes are not tracked unless callers follow up, and the program is currently focused on building provider capacity and targeted outreach rather than direct reimbursement or a statewide campaign.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, is that a fair analysis? >> Yes, Mr. Chair. The idea here, Ms.
• Um, is that a fair analysis? >> Yes, Mr. Chair.
• Um, is that a fair analysis? >> Yes, Mr. Chair.
• <00:20:17.560> here<00:20:17.840> and analysis here and analysis here and uh<00:20:19.520
• this particular legislation? this particular legislation?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do believe that by us legislating from Sacramento, This does infringe on local control.
• I do believe that by us legislating from Sacramento, we're taking away the ability for local cities to
• But we also recognize that, as the committee analysis points out, But we also recognize that, as the
• committee analysis points out, and as your staff has worked with us on, that historically has been a
• Whether or not, I think the analysis points out that historically it's been about 10%.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several revenue and taxation bills, beginning with SB 1124, which would require the California Department of Public Health to create and post signage at tobacco retail locations about lung cancer screening eligibility. Senator Archuleta and Dr. Alex Zhu testified that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and that awareness is low, while retail groups raised implementation concerns about sign size, notice, and penalties. Members discussed screening access and cost, and the author indicated willingness to reduce penalties. The bill passed 4-0 to the Senate Health Committee. The committee then heard wildfire-related tax relief measures. SB 1352 would clarify that disaster victims rebuilding homes may increase the size of a reconstructed home by up to 10% without triggering reassessment, and SB 1343 would provide a $4,000 income tax credit for sales tax paid on furniture and appliances purchased to furnish a rebuilt primary residence after a disaster. Both measures were supported by local officials and taxpayer groups, with some concern about administration and whether the benefits would skew toward higher-income households. Each bill passed unanimously, with SB 1352 sent to Appropriations and SB 1343 also sent to Appropriations. SB 1172 would place limits and transparency requirements on consultant compensation in local tax-sharing agreements, prompted by concerns that revenues in places like Shafter and Dinuba were being diverted away from local communities. The bill drew support from the League of California Cities and the California Retailers Association, while some members worried about local control. It passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 1408 would authorize the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to place a countywide sales tax measure of up to 1% on the ballot to continue transportation funding; supporters said it would let voters decide on continued investment in roads, transit, and congestion relief, while taxpayer groups opposed it. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 1404, which would restore a fire prevention fee in state responsibility areas and use it to help fund Cal Fire wildfire prevention and suppression, with the author arguing the fee would help address rising wildfire costs and reduce reliance on other funding sources. Rural county and taxpayer groups opposed it, citing affordability, double-charging, and constitutional concerns; some members also questioned the fee’s administration and burden on fixed-income residents. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1102 would create a $2,000 tax credit for frontline nurses working in rural hospitals to improve retention and access to care; it drew support from a rural clinic and no opposition beyond a CTA tax-credit concern, and it passed 5-0 to Appropriations. The consent calendar, including SB 1072, SB 1165, and committee bills SB 1435-SB 1437, was also adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the Central Texas Water Alliance aligns very effectively with many pieces of legislation
• TAWC has been working with the PUC and the OPUC, as well as legislative staff, on revisions to HB2500
• The description in the bill suggests that we should have an analysis of the water loss history.
• What I discovered, and we came up with, the drafter had legislative counsel.
• We do have a legislative committee that monitors legislation and evaluates whether a bill warrants action

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Liability in the Florida Sun visor election legislative co-chair and supervisor for Charlotte County
• Wish to make about the 2024 cycle and the upcoming 2025 legislative session.
• We first met him as a legislative aide to Senator Charlie Bean afternoon isn't to Senator Dean.
• Thank you for the presentation with the legislative priorities that you all suggest.
• We have 5 bills that we brought to your attention again, this legislative session.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do not need more legislation.
• That's what this piece of legislation does.
• The structure of this piece of legislation.
• Again, this legislation doesn't place barriers.
• Specific questions that you're asking legislators...

Bills: SB 37

Keywords: fetal development, education, public health curriculum, middle school, age-appropriate instruction, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nick Sackett, co-sponsor of Social Compassion in Legislation.
• When patients struggle to find As cited in the committee analysis this bill imposes no costs on the Department
• encourages rehabilitation, ensures fairness in the parole process, and as highlighted by the Committee analysis
• Furthermore, there's no concurring analysis of how an inmate is rehabilitated.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a fiscal analyst with the Office of Senate Council Research and Fiscal Analysis.
• <00:01:15.040> Um,<00:01:15.360> I Research and Fiscal Analysis.
• Um, I Research and Fiscal Analysis.
• analysis needs. Thank you. analysis needs. Thank you.
• And next to my left, we have our new committee legislative assistant, Shaun Lynn.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just a legislative council draft. Excellent. There is no difference whatsoever.
• The legislation will be left pending, subject to the call of the chair.
• The committee substitute makes the bill a Legislative Council draft.
• Board implemented rules which went completely contrary to his legislative intent on the bill and they
• These disproportionate measures combine with the bill's narrow focus on faculty and analysis suggests

Bills: SB2972, SB1909, SB2815, SB735, SB2233, SB800, SB1069, SB2683, SB2986, SB2058, SB2310, SB2055, SB1032

Keywords: expressive activities, freedom of speech, public forum, higher education, protests, student rights, antisemitism, public institutions, disciplinary policy, student organizations, compliance, institutional policy, disciplinary sanctions, diploma designation, institution merger, academic records, student options, Holocaust education, Holocaust Remembrance Week, genocide education

Transcript Highlights:

• Creating good and godly legislation, and at the same time, produce within them an abundance of the fruit
• No, this is, this is not a legislative agency.
• So, so the Sunset Commission is a legislative agency, uh, which, as you know, provides recommendations
• No, uh, so what the sunset Commission again is a legislative body. This would be executive.
• The Sunset Commission has a job and a function that's legislative in terms of reviewing the operations

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you be willing to have any conversations about that with this piece of legislation?
• But there's also another $665,000 that comes off the top of that because the legislation that Senator
• I don't have detailed analysis. I don't know what the costs are. I don't have a plan.
• I don't have detailed analysis. I don't know what the costs are. I haven't done bids.
• So we also don't believe that DNR needs this legislation and they already have the authority to do it

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee met to hear Senate Bill 1586, sponsored by Senator Ben Brown, which would address abandoned, ownerless landfills in Missouri. Brown described a constituent’s discovery of contamination near an abandoned landfill in St. Clair and argued the state has at least 29 similar sites, creating risks to water supplies and public health. He said the bill evolved through multiple versions and now keeps the solid waste districts intact while redirecting 10% of tipping fees to fund environmental studies, investigation, remediation, and management of ownerless landfills. The bill also would clarify seller disclosure requirements by requiring written, dated notice delivered by mail. Members questioned the fiscal impact and whether the 10% diversion would effectively amount to a larger share of district revenues. Brown said he was open to further discussion but emphasized the need to fund at least initial studies and to create an interim committee for broader stakeholder input next year. Supportive testimony came from University of Missouri engineering dean Marisa Crusoe, who said the bill provides both a clearer regulatory framework and a stable funding stream, and that studies are a necessary first step to determine cleanup costs and potential reuse of the sites. Opposition testimony came from solid waste district representatives, including Chris Busson, Diana Bryant, and Lacey Miller. They argued the districts already perform important recycling and household hazardous waste functions, that the proposed cut would significantly reduce local programs and staffing, and that DNR already has authority to address abandoned landfills. They also said the districts are subject to oversight and that the system has generally worked, while warning that consolidation or funding cuts would harm local recycling, grants, and hazardous waste services. No vote was taken, and the hearing concluded without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the 89th legislative session.
• I had legislation on the Lone Star Protection Act and started it.
• It's an economic analysis.
• We use a hypothesis-testing framework for our analysis.
• This important legislation, which, as we 3704 in 2021.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce held its first interim hearing on securing critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, with a focus on Texas’s electric grid and the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act. The chair also highlighted Texas’s relatively low electricity prices and welcomed new committee members. ERCOT, the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and the Attorney General’s office were invited to explain how the state screens market participants and grid equipment for ties to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and how the agencies respond to noncompliance. ERCOT testified that it has implemented the requirements of three related Senate bills by requiring attestations on corporate affiliations and on critical grid equipment and services. ERCOT said it has processed thousands of attestations, used additional requests for information and third-party verification tools such as Dun & Bradstreet, and terminated nonresponsive market participants. ERCOT also said it has not seen a case requiring direct Attorney General involvement, but it does refer matters to the PUC when needed. The PUC said it can investigate suspected violations and impose penalties of up to $1 million per violation per day, and that most investigations into late or missing attestations have been resolved through compliance, market exit, or removal by ERCOT. The Attorney General’s office said its role is currently limited to audits and court involvement, and that it lacks broad independent investigatory authority under the act. Members pressed the panel on whether the current system is too reliant on self-reporting and whether it adequately addresses indirect foreign influence, especially through supply chains for batteries, inverters, transformers, and other equipment with routable connectivity. ERCOT acknowledged that the current attestation process has gaps and said it plans to refine definitions of critical grid equipment and grid services, improve information requests, and continue stakeholder rulemaking. The panel also discussed possible legislative changes, including tying prohibitions to the Department of Defense Section 1260H list and the Texas Prohibited Technologies list, clarifying warranty and service access, and expanding the statute to cover grid services more directly. Several senators raised concerns about cost, reliability, and the extent to which foreign-sourced components remain embedded in Texas infrastructure, while others suggested incentives for domestic manufacturing and stronger verification tools, including possible work with national labs such as Sandia.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, I rely on students' diversity of opinions to propel the analysis in my classes.
• We do not need more legislation.
• From any similar legislation seeking the same. Again, let's be very clear with this.
• This legislation doesn't place barriers or goalposts.
• I think that's one of the biggest concerns with the legislation.

Bills: SB 37

Keywords: fetal development, education, public health curriculum, middle school, age-appropriate instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation is not necessary.
• This shouldn't be decided by legislators, but by the people.
• I think that we also, as legislators, are held accountable, too.
• I feel like you're doing the right thing through this legislation.
• I feel like you're doing the right thing through this legislation.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we don't go out and do some kind of analysis.
• This year we got about 70 requests for analysis by our CNC team.
• This year we got about 70 requests for analysis by our CNC team.
• student employment have changed rapidly in recent years, with educational student employees passing legislation
• student employment has changed rapidly in recent years with educational student employees passing legislation

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Employment Relations met on May 8, 2026, to receive updates on upcoming collective bargaining for the 2027–29 biennium. OFM’s Jenny Sheehan reviewed the state workforce, noting that most employees are represented, the workforce remains constrained by hiring limits and civil service rules, and bargaining goals include financially feasible agreements, maintaining labor relations, supporting an inclusive workplace, and addressing issues such as AI use, leave, and immigration-related workplace protections. She also outlined the bargaining calendar, the role of the June revenue forecast in determining what compensation proposals can be funded, and the need to reach tentative agreements by September 2026 for October 1 submission and legislative consideration. She described recent bargaining themes from unions, including limits on AI, expanded leave, access to union members in hybrid workplaces, and classification changes, and she summarized prior-cycle costs, including about $1.2 billion in general funds and $1.7 billion in total funds for 2025–27 awards, excluding the delayed WPEA agreements that were later funded after a return to bargaining. The committee then heard from Western Washington University and the University of Washington on higher education bargaining. Western described its locally bargained contracts, the importance of re-opener clauses tied to state budget decisions, and concerns about the instability of the state “fund split,” which shifts compensation costs between state funds and tuition revenue. Western also emphasized that student employees are increasingly central to retention and urged inclusion of student compensation in the wage base. UW similarly described its large and diverse workforce, the split between RCW 41.56 and 41.80 bargaining frameworks, and the reliance on state funding, tuition, and other revenue sources to cover compensation increases. UW highlighted the financial strain of the fund split, the lack of state funding for academic student employee compensation, and the impact of rising ASE costs on class sizes and the university’s teaching and research missions. OFM also presented on Washington Management Service bargaining, explaining that only certain WMS employees are covered, that bargaining began in 2024, and that current agreements include addenda for WMS-specific provisions. The presentation noted that WMS bargaining is still limited in scope, with only a few represented units, and that compensation bargaining generally covers band minimums and maximums rather than all salary levels. Finally, OFM reviewed interest arbitration rules for certain state employee groups, explaining that arbitration is available for some essential-service and statutorily covered employees, that arbitrators decide disputed contract language based on statutory criteria, and that awards still must be found financially feasible by OFM. Committee members asked about PFML treatment, the timing of arbitration, and the budget pressures facing bargaining, and the meeting adjourned without any votes or formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is made possible due to Efforts from legislative action that happened in the last budget cycle,
• Last year we conducted a preliminary analysis and determined that 2.1 million people currently on CalFresh
• California was the first state in the nation to do this type of analysis, and since then, other states
• We do have some technical assistance and also some cost analysis that we will provide in greater detail
• Angela Short, Legislative Analyst's Office.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> This is actually describe very well in the staff analysis, but it takes a clean marine manufacturers
• Thank you. >> Legislation was passed in the 2023 Legislative session is sponsored by Representative Antone
• And this was a meta analysis. And this is conducted by the NIH.
• This meta analysis found that the higher levels of Florida children exposed did lead to a decrease.
• The legislation is based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Model Law, which has

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A Rewiring America analysis shows that this kind of home improvement, which would then both heat a home
• , that are covered in other legislation, that are covered in other legislation, but<00:06:56.319>
• A Rewiring America analysis shows that this kind of home improvement, which would then both heat a home
• A Rewiring America analysis things.
• A Rewiring America analysis shows<00:09:14.080> that<00:09:14.320> this<00:09:14.560>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 3296, as amended, was heard in committee and laid over. The bill would extend an existing exemption in Minnesota’s energy conservation/efficiency program calculations so that certain data centers, like crypto-based data mining operations, would not be counted in a utility’s gross annual retail sales if the new load increases the utility’s base load by 40% or more. Representative Gilman and testifier David Meyer of Glenco Light and Power argued the change is needed because large data loads can make the 1.5% annual savings target effectively unattainable for smaller municipal utilities, and they said the added revenue from the facility has helped lower rates for other customers. Ken Sulum of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association supported the bill, describing it as narrowly drafted to address mid-sized data centers that do not fit other relief provisions but still create local utility problems. Sarah Wolf of Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light opposed the exemption, arguing that energy efficiency remains important amid rising demand and grid stress from data centers, and that large users should continue contributing to efficiency efforts rather than being exempted. Members raised questions about whether the facility had a long-term contract, whether the customer was helping lower rates, and how much savings were being passed on to ratepayers. Meyer said the customer had a three-year agreement extended another three years, the infrastructure costs were borne by the customer, and the facility’s revenue has allowed Glenco to reduce rates by about half a cent per kilowatt hour through a $40,000 monthly buy-down of its power cost adjustment. Some members expressed concern that data centers should continue to improve efficiency over time, while others noted the bill’s focus on smaller utilities facing disproportionate impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• medical examiners, chiropractic physicians, nurses, and certain hospital personnel to provide an analysis
• Additional analysis revealed that the initial injuries that led to the removal actually dated to in utero
• And if we get parents of young children, that helps us pass better legislation, I think.
• You know, we do not, and we try to often have the ability to legislate morality.
• And so often, we legislate to the lowest common denominator.

Summary: The committee first took up CS for Senate Bill 304, which would address child protective investigations involving children with certain pre-existing genetic or medical conditions. Senator Sharif said the bill is intended to prevent children from being wrongly removed from their families when symptoms of conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, rickets, or vitamin deficiencies are mistaken for abuse. Several parents and advocates testified in support, describing long dependency cases and removals they said were caused by misdiagnosis. The committee adopted a substitute amendment that removed language requiring certain medical personnel to provide differential-diagnosis analysis, and the bill then passed favorably with unanimous support. The committee then heard SB 1430 on post-judgment execution proceedings relating to terrorism, sponsored by Senator Collins, who described the long effort by U.S. victims of the FARC to enforce a federal judgment and recover assets. The bill would clarify procedures for terrorism-related judgments, modernize intangible asset law, and help prevent terrorists from hiding assets or blocking wire transfers. After one supportive appearance form and no debate, the bill passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 96, a local claims bill for Jacob Rogers, and SB 382, an affordable housing rent bill that was amended to define base rent and apply to certain shorter-term rental agreements entered after July 1, 2026; SB 382 drew support from housing advocates and some opposition, but passed unanimously. Several claims bills were also approved: SB 4 for Patricia Armini, SB 6 for Jose Correa, SB 28 for Darlene Engerville and J.R., SB 30 for the estate of M.N., and SB 24 for Mandy Penny Lemon, each involving injuries or damages caused by local government or hospital district negligence and each reported favorably after brief testimony and roll calls. The committee also passed SB 658 on waiver or release of liens after discussion about form language and enforceability. SB 72, which would allow campaign funds to pay certain child care expenses incurred while a candidate is actively campaigning, prompted questions about definitions and safeguards; the sponsor said the bill would require the expense to exist only because of campaign activity, and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved SB 1142 on release of conservation easements, which would create a statewide process for releasing certain small, low-value parcels from conservation easements if mitigation credits are secured elsewhere. The bill drew support from the sponsor and a property representative, but environmental advocates and President Passidomo raised concerns about flood control, wildlife corridors, and whether the bill was too property-specific; the sponsor said he would continue working on the language. The committee also heard extensive testimony on SB 1622, which would repeal the 2018 customary use law and restore local authority over public beach access. Supporters argued the current law has privatized beaches, hurt tourism, and led to harassment and conflict, while opponents defended private property rights and warned against taking away owners’ ability to exclude others. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 1622, before a final vote is shown.