Transcript Highlights:

• <00:24:50.320> and backlog in terms of screening and backlog in terms of screening and getting
• So, we are no longer a screening.
• <00:25:24.080> They<00:25:24.320> post their own screening, they can.
• They post their own screening, they can.
• day and they can do their own screening. day and they can do their own screening.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several personnel and employment bills. SB 2119 would require the state or counties to reimburse public officers and employees for approved work-related travel costs within 30 days; testifiers from the State Procurement Office, UPW, HGA, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and others supported the measure, citing delayed reimbursements. SB 3131 would update state position titles by changing “private secretary” to “executive assistant” and “secretary” to “administrative assistant” where applicable, and it drew support from DEED and comments from the State Librarian. SB 3069 would permanently exempt a limited number of specialized positions in DAGS Public Works and the Comptroller’s office from civil service; DAGS, HCDA, and DEED supported it, while UPW opposed it. Committee members questioned whether the exemption should be narrower and whether the positions should be consultants or actual employees, and DAGS said the roles were narrowly tailored, highly specialized, and intended to help manage complex projects such as Aloha Stadium, the convention center, and other major redevelopment work. The committee then heard SB 3180, which would repeal the limit on temporary employment in a single position for two 89-day terms. Testimony included support from the Procurement Office, DOE, DHRD, the State Librarian in opposition, UPW written comments, HGA, the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, and others. Discussion focused on whether the bill was needed to address abuse of repeated 89-day hires and whether it would affect recruitment and career pathways. Finally, SB 2137 would allow departments, divisions, and agencies to assume hiring and recruitment functions from DHRD under certain conditions. DHRD opposed the bill, saying existing law already allows delegation and that agency-level recruitment often lacks the expertise and staffing to do the work; UHPA supported it, and UPW submitted written support. In questioning, DHRD said it had reduced backlog and was now current on screening, while also offering programs like Operation Hire Hawaii for faster agency-led recruitment.

Transcript Highlights:

• A disruption is a NECHE financial screening process, and you've heard some about this.
• <00:50:55.599> tool extending that financial screening tool extending that financial screening
• > tool That's financial screening uh tool That's financial screening uh tool extension<00:51:06.800
• We are all fully in compliance and on the financial screening tool. We are not on a watch.
• We are not on financial screening tool. We are not on a<00:56:15.839> watch.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2673 outlines requirements and modifications relating to mental disorder and illness screenings
• only keep the study committee and removes all revisions relating to mental disorder and illness screenings
• Houseball 2673 outlines requirements and modifications relating to mental disorder and illness, screenings
• treatment for persons confined in county jails and facilities. to mental disorder and illness, screenings
• only keep the study committee and removes all revisions relating to mental disorder and illness, screenings

Summary: The Republican caucus reviewed a long list of House bills with Senate amendments, mostly hearing brief staff summaries and sponsor comments on whether they concurred. Topics included tax filing penalties, water and court procedures, vaccination and mask rules, bullion investment, nursing care complaint timelines, privacy protections for property and voter records, medical-record access, professional licensing procedures, school and family law changes, public records access for legislators, AI procurement, fingerprint clearance for traffic survival school instructors, development fees, infrastructure districts, distracted driving penalties, health aide scope of practice, eviction record sealing, backyard structure rules in planned communities, inmate transition services, nuclear-ready community designation, DCS parent-rights notices, domestic-violence evidence standards, inmate mental health study committee, legislative subpoena enforcement, trade office oversight, public power reporting, Native American language proficiency, mental health judicial review timelines, mobile food vendor licensing, medical-intervention requirements in schools, and school board training and meeting transparency. In most cases, the sponsor or a representative indicated concurrence with the Senate amendments, and the caucus generally moved through the bills without extended debate. A few bills drew brief explanation from sponsors about the policy purpose, such as aligning nursing-facility oversight with federal requirements, improving access to medical records, clarifying rules for licensed health aides, and adjusting school-related provisions. Some bills were noted as being sent back to the Senate or otherwise set aside, including HB 2035 and HB 2249. No formal votes were taken in the transcript; the meeting functioned as a caucus review of Senate amendments and sponsor concurrence before floor action. The caucus concluded after HB 2380, with members thanked for attending.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it is what is on number one on the screen is the benefit for that group that I defined.
• And you can see the math done on the screen with example two.
• And you can see the math done on the screen with example two.
• And you can see the math done on the screen with example two.
• They've given us the two big blue boxes that you can see on the screen, which is basically they're talking

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:07 Attendance Roll Call: 00:13 Approval of Minutes: 02:28 2025 RS SB 9: TRS Leave Audit Requirements & Process: 03:05 2025 RS SB 10: Overview of Enacted Legislation & Discussion: 28:38 Adjournment: 42:13, 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call, a quorum was confirmed, and the minutes were approved. The committee then heard testimony on Senate Bill 9, which concerns TRS sick leave audit requirements and process. Auditor Allison Ball’s staff said the audit is an information-gathering review of how teacher sick leave is accumulated, current balances, how many employers use the sick leave function, and the policies and procedures governing sick leave. Members discussed how unused sick leave affects retirement calculations, the distinction between the state’s financial responsibility and school districts’ responsibility, and whether the audit would also examine related leave categories such as personal leave, annual leave, and leave of absence. Committee members emphasized that Senate Bill 9 was intended to add accountability and standardize reporting, including preventing annual leave from being rolled into sick leave. Several members asked for clarification on how sick leave is factored into retirement benefits. Witnesses and members explained that, under the system described, accumulated sick leave can be converted into retirement credit based on a teacher’s daily rate and then multiplied by a percentage, with the school district often bearing the cost. Members also noted nuances in the law, including different accumulation limits by hire date and tier, and that the audit may help the public better understand why some educators retire relatively young. The auditor’s office said it is still early in the process, has met with TRS leadership, and will report back once the audit progresses. The committee also asked whether maternity leave would be included; the auditor’s office said it was not specifically mandated but could be examined if the body requests it. The committee then received an overview of Senate Bill 10 from KPA representatives Ryan Barrow and Rebecca Atkins. They explained that the bill enhances retiree health insurance benefits for certain CRS members who are non-Medicare participants and meet specified career thresholds, with different rules for hazardous and non-hazardous service. They described the benefit as $40 per month per year of service for non-hazardous service and $50 per month per year for hazardous service, both inflated annually, and clarified that these amounts are not cumulative with prior benefit formulas. Members asked about the interaction between the new amounts and existing benefits, and the presenters explained that the bill also changes current employee health insurance contribution rates effective July 1, 2026, with different impacts by tier and hazardous status. The committee discussed the need for clear communication to affected employees and reviewed example calculations showing how the new contribution structure would work.

Transcript Highlights:

• for safety right unnecessary screen for safety right unnecessary screen for safety right thank thank
• time been having because of the screen time been having because of the screen time the excessive screen
• time where there's not the screen time where there's not the screen time where students are not then
• time at is why I reduced their screen time at is why I reduced their screen time at home uh and and
• time and playing games or uh or screen time and playing games or uh or screen time and playing games

Bills: HB 9, HB 22, HB 908, HB 1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what those colorful boxes represent that you'll see on the screen.
• Those attributes I just went over all feed into the different control areas that you see on the screen
• We expect the agency to have strong controls to ensure... ...areas that you see on the screen.
• Sorry, you're so small on my Zoom screen that all I could see is there was someone else out there.
• You're so small on my Zoom screen that all I could see is there was someone else out there.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on the accuracy and reliability of OSPI’s school apportionment system. Auditors said the system, which calculates and distributes K-12 funding using multiple feeder systems and a core apportionment engine, is outdated, unstable, inefficient, and at high risk of failure. They reported weak controls over data input, documentation, oversight, and staffing, and said OSPI relies heavily on manual workarounds, a few knowledgeable staff, and vendor support. In limited testing of three districts, the auditors found the system calculated funding correctly for the 2023-24 school year, but they identified nine small input discrepancies tied to differences between budget materials and state law, which they said could compound into larger dollar amounts. The auditors recommended replacing or modernizing the system and noted that delays in doing so prolong risk. OSPI largely agreed that the current platform needs replacement and said it has been working toward a new system for years. Agency officials clarified that the Legislature requested a feasibility study in 2022, that the study found the system at risk of catastrophic failure, and that funding for a replacement is now in the state IT pool subject to OCIO/OFM gate reviews. OSPI disputed the audit’s characterization of the rounding and budget-law discrepancies, saying the issue was an agency rule and implementation choice, not an error that caused under- or over-allocation. Officials also said the current system is too old to easily absorb future formula changes, but that the planned replacement should be flexible enough to handle a new funding model if the Legislature adopts one. Committee members asked about the amount and timing of the $16 million project funding, whether smaller districts face greater risk, how many times data is entered, and whether the funding formula should be simplified. Auditors and OSPI both emphasized that formula simplification is a policy question for the Legislature, not the audit. Public testimony came from one online witness, who urged full implementation of the audit recommendations and modernization of the system. The subcommittee took no formal vote and adjourned after the presentations and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the various CTE that when technical education pathways for those subjects that you see on the screen
• These data show classroom teachers over a three-year period that you see there on the screen who were
• So each of these routes that you see listed on the screen, they really offer are individuals who want
• And of course, they have to complete the appropriate background screenings.
• But what you see on the screen is you'll see a list of the rules that we will have to either newly adopt

Transcript Highlights:

• The statewide totals for budgeting are on the screen.
• In essence, the circuits listed on your screen are currently funded at less than 55%.
• The circuits listed on your screen They are the ones that are requesting this.
• The detention screening operations are under probation and community supervision.
• Detention screening is where you first come in to be screened.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So let me share screen.
• Can everyone see my screen? Around pregnancy and oral health. Can everyone see my screen? Yes.
• So for children under the early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment schedule, Produce the
• So for children under the early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment, EPSDT schedule, it's
• Screening guide, display materials, waiting room activities, flyers, conversational guides, and referral

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The MAPOC Women and Children’s Health Subcommittee heard a presentation from Kate Parker Riley, executive director of the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership, on the Husky Dental Program and efforts to improve oral health during pregnancy. She reviewed the structure of Connecticut’s Medicaid dental benefit, the ASO model, provider network, utilization trends, and member barriers to care. She noted that children’s dental measures remain above the national median, but adult utilization is lower and the dental provider network has been shrinking, with longer wait times in rural areas. A major focus was the state’s goal to raise the rate of oral evaluation during pregnancy from about 17.5% to 25% by 2030. Riley described planned outreach to OB/GYN practices using a draft “snapshot” report showing each practice’s pregnancy oral-health rate compared with the state average, along with education materials based on ACOG and AAP guidance. Committee members and guests discussed barriers such as lack of provider training, workflow burden, access to dentists who will see pregnant patients, and the need for stronger referral bridges. Suggestions included adding simple oral-health screening questions in OB settings, using human support to make appointments, and exploring co-located dental hygienists or other embedded models. Riley also highlighted partnerships with DSS, DCF, Head Start, WIC, Read to Grow, YMCA programs, refugee resettlement agencies, and school-based and hospital partners, as well as data-sharing and navigation efforts. She said pregnant members newly identified through HUSKY will now receive outreach and navigation support. DSS dental director Carolyn MacArthur introduced herself and said she supports the initiative, noting the literature linking untreated maternal dental disease to poor child oral-health outcomes. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with thanks and a preview of upcoming July presentations on integrated behavioral health and home visitation programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• the child Protection teams, the CMS, the early steps, the medical foster care program, the newborn screening
• have not received certain vaccinations reporting medical marijuana thefts in conducting background screenings
• You're deleting the requirement for officers and board members of MMTC is to pass a background screening
• or are we requiring them to pass a background screenings?
• requirement that officers and board members medical marijuana treatment centers pass a background screening

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Gaetz is we talk about the background screening.
• So was the Florida Department of Law Enforcement get that background screening?
• And I feel that by grant screening.
• that background screening is done, pass it or I feel it follow-up who monitors from that point?
• But what I'm not connecting with this is what happens at that background screening.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've listed some of those on the screen. We also manage the state's public art program.
• On this screen, you have our fiscal 24-25 revenue.
• time—and I think I do—I wanted to tell you a few stories about the pictures on the left side of the screen
• But we put on the screen some of the kinds of grant programs that they're offering.
• If an application passes the initial screening, it is moved over to the review panel or step two.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 295, an act relating to the screening of residential tenants. Representative Stalker.
• <00:13:43.839> relating<00:13:44.079> to<00:13:44.160> the<00:13:44.240> screening
• <00:13:44.560> of an act relating to the screening of an act relating to the screening of

Keywords: Video Starts 00:00 Convene 06:52 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 11:30 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 12:27 Adjournment 23:47, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum with 86 members present, and approved the journal from January 8, 2026. Members also agreed without objection to excuse absent members and to suspend rules allowing co-sponsorships and vote modifications to be filed with the clerk. Under announcements and introductions, a motion was granted to withdraw House Bill 177. The House then received a large slate of new bills and resolutions, including measures on foreign transactions, cultured meat products, disabled veterans’ homestead exemptions, veteran entrepreneurs, plastic waste, legislative term limits, students, county law libraries, elections, special purpose governmental entities, vehicle wheels, delinquent tax liens, tenant screening, psychotropic drugs, peace officers, KEES scholarships for students attending non-certified schools, machine gun conversion devices, contractors, teacher retirement service credit, diaper access programs, and appropriations for the Transportation Cabinet and state government generally. Resolutions were also introduced recognizing Kentucky Mentorship Month, Hindu holidays and the resilience of the Hindu people, and honoring victims of UPS Airlines Flight 2976 and first responders. No bills were debated or voted on beyond the procedural actions noted. The session concluded with no committee business or floor amendments needed, and the House adjourned without objection until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 439 by Senator Gerald Boudreaux provides for cancer screenings for firefighters and fire
• We bring you Senate Bill 439, which provides for classified firefighters to do some pre-screening for
• Several years ago, we passed a cancer screening bill for the fire service.
• The cancer screening that was passed will catch it subsequent to it becoming cancer, which again, you
• The screenings weren't free. They're having to pay for them. If you contract, it's $1,200.

Summary: The House Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs Committee met and advanced a series of local bills, mostly by unanimous voice vote after brief questions. SB 430 by Sen. Jenkins renewed the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau’s 1.5% hotel occupancy tax for 12-year periods by voter approval, with discussion about continued planning and coordination among tourism entities. SB 286 by Sen. Duplessis updated the New Orleans Downtown Development District statute by clarifying its status as a political subdivision, streamlining tax collection, removing staggered board terms, and clarifying bond renewal voting boundaries. The committee also favorably reported SB 198 by Sen. Mizell, requiring government projects in historic districts to follow local historic district rules for new construction; SB 172 by Sen. Luneau, expanding a planning-commission waiver process for certain property divisions to municipalities below 150,000 population; and SB 439 by Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, adding pre-screening for esophageal/Barrett’s cancer for firefighters and fire service employees. Testimony on the firefighter bill emphasized the health risks from carcinogen exposure and the value of early detection, and members expressed strong support. Additional bills advanced included SB 458 by Sen. McMath, creating a mechanism for local ethics-entity tax revenues in St. Tammany Parish to be transferred to the district attorney’s office if an inspector general office is created; SB 447 by Sen. Bass, changing Bossier City Police Department promotions from competitive to promotional seniority; SB 281 by Sen. Barrow, expanding the Baker Economic Development District boundaries to include additional commercial areas; SB 385 by Sen. Harris, changing appointments to the City Park Improvement Association board and allowing City Park to opt out of certain ORM insurance coverage; HR 84 by Rep. Walters, urging Shreveport to create an interest-free loan program for TSA workers during federal shutdowns; and SB 417 by Sen. Allain, adding two members to the St. Mary Parish drainage district board. All of these measures were reported favorably, with one member recusing himself from the City Park bill due to board membership. The committee then recessed briefly, noting several remaining bills would be deferred if sponsors did not arrive soon.

Transcript Highlights:

• staffed with experienced medical providers and equipment to test heart health with blood pressure screenings
• , lipoprotein genetic screenings, kidney screenings, glucose screenings, and lipid panels, which, uh,
• which is cholesterol panel screening.

Transcript Highlights:

• staffed with experienced medical providers and equipment to test heart health with blood pressure screening
• . lipoprotein genetic screenings, kidney screenings, glucose screenings, and lipid panels. which is cholesterol
• panel screening.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was more accurate on the exploitation of immigrant workers.
• And the irony is, as of now, we still have exploitation of immigration workers in our meat processing
• it was more accurate on the exploitation it was more accurate on the exploitation of<02:35:03.440
• <02:35:09.840> we<02:35:10.040> still<02:35:10.440> have<02:35:11.400> exploitation
• <02:35:12.720> of as of now we still have exploitation of as of now we still have exploitation

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:43:54.720> Fraudsters<03:43:55.439> can<03:43:55.600> exploit isolated cases
• Fraudsters can exploit isolated cases.
• Fraudsters can exploit SNAP,<03:43:56.640> Social<03:43:56.960> Security,<03:43:57.600>
• > benefits, including asylum, so they benefits, including asylum, so they cannot<03:44:42.399> exploit
• cannot exploit our generosity twice. cannot exploit our generosity twice.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• consideration engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5582, extending the program for drug screening
• consideration engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5582, extending the program for drug screening
• under consideration engrossed Committee substitute for House Bill 5582 extending program for drug screening
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5582, extending the program for drug screening of applicants

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first took up Senate Bill 155 on adjunct teaching permits. After adopting a Senate amendment to the House amendment, the chamber concurred in the House amendment as amended and passed the bill 33-0, with one member absent and not voting. The amendment was described as creating an exception so a criminal history check would not be required every year, and the bill was presented as a tool to help county boards fill vacancies, especially in shortage areas. The chamber then received a large number of committee reports and advanced several House bills on first reading. These included measures on creating the Team West Virginia Corporation, establishing the West Virginia Collaboratory, the Foster Youth Post-Secondary Transition Awareness Act, business-ready site programs, volunteer fire company allowances, extending qualified opportunity zones, natural resource police retirement, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS, ALS care services, abuse prevention, the respiratory care interstate compact, peer support services, tax lien sales, the Neighborhood Investment Program, bonds for the Science and Culture Center, and a comprehensive energy development policy and plan. Several bills were reported as amended by committees, and one energy bill was referred to the Rules Committee. Additional committee action included reports on a bill to repeal the school-transfer eligibility protection, a load forecast accountability bill, oil and gas well plugging provisions, a TANF drug-screening extension, and a bill authorizing the Supreme Court of Appeals to create child protection commissioners. Most of these were advanced on first reading after unanimous consent. The Senate then moved to adjourn until the next day, with announcements of upcoming committee meetings before the chamber adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It authorized the Department of Mental Health to certify providers to go in and do an initial screening
• So this updates that language so we could screen for any charge, felony or misdemeanor, so we can also
• We certify them to administer the screening tools.
• Also, this screening goes to our court partners, prosecution, defense, judge, and they use it in consideration

Bills: HB2993, HB3850, HB3595, HB3763, HB3760

Keywords: rural law enforcement, grant fund, public safety, financial assistance, coordination districts, grant funding, law enforcement coordinators, municipal assistance, education, inmates, literacy, high school equivalency, Department of Corrections, parole, rehabilitation, law enforcement, mandatory training, mental health, domestic violence, peace officer certification