Transcript Highlights:

• And we're also looking forward to the Hawaii Supreme Court rules to be coming out shortly for public
• public comment on those rules. >> Yeah.
• We've seen access retained by courts and judicial officials.
• retained by courts and judicial retained by courts and judicial officials.<00:57:15.040> Uh,<
• If you tailor eligibility rules in a bill, it's easier to code eligibility determination later.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held an information briefing on expungement and record clearance, with Chair David Tarnis and Vice Chair Mahina Poo Poy emphasizing second chances and the legislature’s recent work on state-initiated relief. The chair reviewed prior measures, including Act 62 (2024), which created Hawaii’s first state-initiated expungement pilot for certain non-conviction cannabis-related arrests, Act 159 (2023), which required automatic sealing or removal of expunged records from the judiciary’s public database, and Act 241 (2024), which created the Clean Slate Task Force. He said the committee invited the Clean Slate Initiative and Code for America because of their national experience with state-initiated record clearance systems. Phil Hickden of the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and Attorney General’s office reported that Act 62 was implemented using existing resources and no new funding, initially covering single-charge, pre-2020 arrests in Hawaii County for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and later expanded by Act 005 (2025) to all arrests under HRS 712-1249 regardless of drug type. He said the project identified 2,268 potentially eligible records, with 1,072 processed so far, 989 granted and 83 denied, and that the work has taken about 872 staff hours and roughly 45 days per expungement. He also said the office has identified about 412,000 people who could potentially qualify for expungement under broader legislation, though that estimate does not include case-by-case research. Michelle Acasta of the judiciary explained that Act 159 changed the process so HCJDC now digitally transmits expungement certificates to the court, eliminating the applicant’s second step of filing paperwork with the court. She said the courts still manually review eligibility, but the process is easier because certificates now include a case ID and HCJDC provides additional information to help locate records. She reported that since implementation the courts received 125 certificates in July and 87 in August, with 17 court orders filed in July and August, including 81 in the First Circuit, 14 in Maui, 7 in the Third Circuit, and 15 in the Fifth Circuit. She also noted that the Hawaii Supreme Court’s State v. Rogan decision affects procedure by requiring a written request or motion, an opportunity to be heard, and written findings for sealing court records, and that new Supreme Court rules are expected for public comment. Members asked about qualitative outcomes and whether the process could be expanded statewide; staff said they do not track recidivism or personal stories, and the chair encouraged further discussion before the next session to identify barriers and capacity needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Rules calendar, Senator Kirby. Pass and retain.
• President, um my motion would be to suspend the rules.
• Grab my rules book. Just a second. We want to do this, uh, Senator. >> Okay.
• My motion is to suspend the rules >> Okay.
• Judicial redistricting allowed for $2,366,456.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 12 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. The chamber also recognized several guests and groups, including the doctor of the day, visitors from Quebec, the Sumrall High School boys soccer team, Starkville public safety officials, and the Hattiesburg High School choral arts program. A resolution honoring the long-standing partnership between Quebec and Mississippi was read and adopted, and Ms. Nathalie Rivard of Quebec addressed the Senate about historical ties and economic cooperation between Quebec and Mississippi. The Senate then moved through a series of procedural actions on the calendar, including multiple motions to table reconsideration on medical cannabis and ARPA-related bills, and several motions to not concur and invite conference on workforce and budget measures. Among those were Senate Bill 2294, the Mississippi Future Innovators Act, Senate Bill 2288 on workforce training, Senate Bill 2401 on workforce development, Senate Bill 2189 on budget transfers, Senate Bill 2895 on ARPA funds, and Senate Bill 2917 on appropriations transfers. These motions were adopted, sending the measures to conference or otherwise advancing them as noted. A major portion of the meeting focused on appropriations bills. House Bill 1935, the Education Department appropriation, was explained in detail and adopted after a strike-all amendment; the bill includes funding for the student formula, teacher and assistant pay raises, special education supplements, school attendance officers, testing contracts, early learning coaches, and CTE instructor raises, with offsets from reduced or eliminated line items such as school safety platforms and certain vendor programs. The Senate also adopted strike-all amendments and passed House Bills 1936 and 1937 for Mississippi Public Broadcasting and the Library Commission, and then moved on to House Bill 1933 for the Bureau of Building. The Senate recessed until 2:30 p.m. and announced an appropriations meeting shortly after recess, while leadership noted that many supplemental appropriations bills would be considered later with attention to whether they contained reverse repealers and would go to conference or final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not surprising that the Biden administration's SEC ruled against the companies in favor of activist
• This is about protecting the rule of law, economic freedom, and the industries that sustain our prosperity
• Companies are held accountable by rules and regulations.
• In 2020, the SEC put forth a rule to clarify that proxy advice is a, quote, solicitation.
• This rule led to an all-out brawl in the courtroom as ISS fought tooth and nail.

Bills: SB312, SB945, SB946, SB1367, SB1861, SB2044, SB2337, SB2403, SB2819, SJR54

Keywords: public school funding, education, budget allocation, financial transparency, state law, local control, fiduciary responsibility, public retirement systems, investment management, proxy voting, financial factors, insurance, political shareholder proposals, fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, discrimination, credit extension, social credit, value-based standards

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 945, 946, 2044, 2819, 2403, 2337, and 312, with all bills left pending after testimony. SB 945 would restrict insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage based on oil and gas activity or ESG-related goals, and supporters argued it would protect Texas energy producers from politically motivated shareholder activism and insurance discrimination. SB 946 would bar creditors from using social credit, ESG, DEI, or religious/political affiliation as a basis for denying or limiting credit; witnesses said it would prevent viewpoint-based financial discrimination and protect access to capital for Texas businesses. SB 2337 would require proxy advisory firms to disclose when recommendations are based on non-financial factors or when they give conflicting advice to different clients; supporters said the measure would increase transparency and curb ESG-driven influence over shareholder voting. SB 312 would direct public retirement systems to focus on financial returns rather than social or political objectives, with the author saying the bill responds to activist pressure on pensions and would reinforce fiduciary duty. The committee also took up election and ethics measures. SB 2044 would strengthen electioneering restrictions for publicly funded education institutions and personnel, prohibiting use of official resources to promote political agendas; testimony focused on alleged school district electioneering in bond and tax elections. SB 2819 would prohibit county elections administrators from holding certain officer positions appointed by elected officials, addressing potential conflicts of interest. SB 2403, the Texas Ethics Commission sunset bill, would restructure complaint handling with a three-tier violation system, risk-based complaint prioritization, longer response times, bipartisan preliminary review panels, and expanded hearing options; members discussed amendments aimed at dismissing minor complaints, clarifying categories, and adjusting lobbying and penalty provisions, but the amendments were withdrawn during committee consideration. Across the ESG and finance bills, invited witnesses from the American Energy Institute, Heartland Impact, Consumers Research, ADF Action, Texas Civil Justice League, and related groups generally supported the measures, arguing that banks, insurers, proxy advisors, and asset managers have used ESG or reputational-risk standards to discriminate against energy, agriculture, firearms, and religious organizations. No opposition testimony was presented in the excerpt, and the committee closed public testimony on each bill and left them pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a circuit judge in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, which makes up Warren and Edmonson counties. >> I'm
• It could be any of us who are going through judge in the eighth judicial circuit judge in the eighth
• judicial circuit which<00:03:30.720> makes<00:03:30.959> up<00:03:31.200> Warren
• Um, again, my name is Chris Coron, circuit judge in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, making up a warrant
• Prior to that, I was county attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit for over 20 years.

Keywords: 00:00:06 - Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:23 - Review of Referred Administrative Regulations 00:02:00 - Discussion of 26RS HB 485 01:00:40 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 485 01:03:25 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and took up House Bill 485, a major mental health measure addressing both KRS 202C and KRS 202A. The committee first adopted a committee substitute and then approved a committee amendment correcting misspellings in the bill. Members and witnesses described the bill as the product of years of work with judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, mental health professionals, advocates, and the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health. Testimony on the 202C portion focused on individuals charged with serious violent offenses who are found incompetent to stand trial. Witnesses, including a circuit judge and a family member whose mother was killed by her mentally ill brother, argued that current timelines require repeated evidentiary hearings and impose unnecessary trauma on victims’ families and strain on courts and KCPC. Supporters said the bill would lengthen review intervals, clarify the role and payment of guardians ad litem, and reduce repeated relitigation while preserving due process and public safety. They noted that 202C cases are few in number but consume a significant share of KCPC bed space. The committee then turned to the 202A portion, which covers civil mental health commitments for people who may not have committed a crime. Supporters said current law leaves courts with only two choices—hospitalization or release—and that the bill would create a third option by allowing court-ordered outpatient treatment and other guardrails such as medication compliance and follow-up care. Witnesses emphasized that the bill defines terms such as “benefit” and “serious mental illness,” expands the definition of danger, and aims to provide a least restrictive alternative to inpatient hospitalization. No final vote on the bill itself was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, but the substitute and amendment were adopted and testimony continued in support of the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• I sent to you a judicial order regarding the concern of continuity of care not being followed.
• I I sent to you a a a judicial<00:01:45.200> order<00:01:46.320> uh<00:01:46.560> regarding
• <00:01:47.600> the<00:01:47.920> concern judicial order uh regarding the concern judicial
• service delivery and billing requirements, and to determine compliance with other applicable laws and rules
• laws and rules. laws and rules.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• using previous rule. Any objection? using previous rule. Any objection?
• using previous rule. using previous rule. Any<00:35:43.480> objection? Any objection?
• With our rules. With our rules. Okay? And I'm not talking about rules in a favorable way.
• purposes again for judicial education. purposes again for judicial education.
• Any objection to using previous rule? Any objection to using previous rule?

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened, heard a prayer and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the prior journal. The chamber received House messages, including referral of Senate Confirmation 89 for Rex Jones to the Underground and Aboveground Storage Tank Trust Funds Management Board, and concurred in Senate Bill 231 after a 30-0 vote. Several local House bills were referred to the Committee on Local Legislation. During personal remarks, Senator Coleman-Madison recognized Women’s History Month and highlighted Alabama native Mary Ellen Jolly and her book, "Accidental Activist," praising women who support the legislature. The Senate then processed committee reports, including favorable reports on multiple Finance and Taxation General Fund bills (SB 143, 144, 145 with substitute, 152, 153, 154, 162, 226 with substitute, and 146 with substitute and one abstention), as well as confirmations for Nancy Sandford, Marty Abrams, and Jim Page to the University of North Alabama Board of Trustees, all of which were confirmed. Committee reports also advanced several county and municipal and local legislation measures, including SB 292, HB 351, HB 141, HB 273, HB 504, HB 488, SB 343, and SB 346. On the floor, SB 333 on class two municipalities passed after adoption of its BIR and committee amendment, and HB 308, a proposed constitutional amendment for Mobile County, passed after the Senate tabled the committee amendment, adopted a substitute amendment by Senator Figures, and approved the certification resolution. SB 334 for Shelby County, SB 339 for Crenshaw County, and HB 507 for Covington County also passed, with certification resolutions adopted where required. The governor returned SB 228 with an executive amendment, and the Senate concurred 33-0. The Rules Committee report set the special order calendar for the next legislative day, listing bills including SB 91, SB 280, SB 181, SB 237, SB 326, SB 255, HB 77, HB 104, HB 110, HB 271, HB 362, HB 332, HB 429, SB 211, HB 125, HB 122, HB 124, SB 140, SB 199, and SB 332. Senator Singleton spoke at length criticizing the handling of minority-sponsored bills and questioning several measures, and after debate the Senate adopted the special order calendar 34-0. SB 91 was then carried over at the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yesterday, the Rules Committee met and produced a rule, H.
• Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule.
• The bill shall be fiveinut rule.
• normal judicial ethics and procedures. normal judicial ethics and procedures.
• Trump would comply with judicial orders. Trump would comply with judicial orders.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But this rule really pertains to that.
• And finally, talking about customer costs, the last rule I talked about would be the last rule in that
• So I think it would probably behoove 5052 rules.
• I don't have 30,000, but are we being 5359 judicial judicious, I guess is a better word. 5360 judicial
• "It's in rule; it's actually in process in rulemaking.

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:

• through the political committee set up under Minnesota law, where contributions are disclosed and rules
• Then on February 7, 2025, Judge Tastude ruled in favor of our motion on summary judgment, permanently
• <00:20:37.840> scrutiny recommend it undergo judicial scrutiny recommend it undergo judicial
• in favor of our motion on Tastude ruled in favor of our motion on summary<00:21:34.720> judgement
• It forces all the money back into the regulated system, which has rules—or, excuse me, it doesn't force

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And in my mind, that's a better place to house the rules and regulations than us.
• and regulations than house the rules and regulations than than<00:17:55.840> us.
• and run things, they end up ruling and running things.
• rule and run things, they end up ruling rule and run things, they end up ruling and<00:26:33.919
• pass Senate Bill 7 out of the Judicial pass Senate Bill 7 out of the Judicial Committee<01:16:04.640

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard testimony on the use of artificial intelligence in therapy and mental health settings. Representative Lisa Willner and Brenda Rosen of NASW Kentucky argued for “guard rails” on AI chatbots so they cannot present themselves as licensed therapists or replace school counselors, psychologists, or social workers. They said AI can support licensed professionals, but warned that chatbots cannot reliably recognize nonverbal cues, escalate crises, or provide accountable care, and they cited examples of harmful chatbot interactions, including a suicide case and a chatbot telling a user to “Please die.” The witnesses also raised concerns about data privacy, commercialization of sensitive mental health conversations, and the use of personal clinical content to train AI models. They said minors should require parental consent and suggested transparency about how a chatbot is trained and who created it. They distinguished between unvetted consumer chatbots and AI tools that have been scientifically validated or approved as digital therapeutics, noting that some evidence-based tools may be useful for specific conditions such as depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. Committee members asked whether regulation should be handled by the legislature or by professional boards, and whether a multi-state model would be preferable to 50 different state approaches. The witnesses generally favored expert-led standards and said a board or panel of experts could review and approve mental health chatbots, but members cautioned that boards can become too restrictive and that legislation should preserve flexibility and avoid discouraging children from seeking help. The discussion ended with a request for the witnesses to restate their proposed policy ideas, including privacy protections, bans on commercialization, limits on training AI with clinical content, transparency requirements, and informed consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is Senate bill 302, on public records for the Judicial Qualifications Commission.
• Chairman public records, Judicial Qualifications, Commission Senate Bill 302 creates a public records
• exemption for the personal information of current and former employees of the Judicial Qualifications

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's governed by rules that govern the work product and confidentiality owed by an attorney.
• <00:58:43.200> around federally or state mandated rules around federally or state mandated
• rules around what<00:58:43.840> information<00:58:44.560> can<00:58:44.800> and
• Judicial Branch reception is going on as we speak.
• I don't see any. 3958, Chair Latz, 3958. note to the judicial branch that Senator note to the judicial

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our house rules our state constitution.
• This establishes also the safe riding rules for all these vehicles.
• This establishes also the safe riding rules for all these vehicles.
• This establishes also the safe riding rules for all these vehicles.
• The judicial really disturbs me.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• adding termination of a minor pregnancy back into the statute when we already have in chapter 132 um judicial
• notification and judicial bypass.
• 00:41:32.160> in<00:41:32.480> chapter<00:41:33.200> 132 um<00:41:36.800> judicial
• <00:41:37.280> notification<00:41:38.560> and<00:41:39.119> judicial um judicial
• notification and judicial um judicial notification and judicial bypass.<00:41:40.960> So<00:41

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the same way with DOT, the same thing with... but your, I guess, more of what your policy or your rule
• That's a non-reverting fund, but the EDB is still working on ruling for that fund.
• The agency is still working on rules for that as well. Excellent. And we'll pause there.
• A lot of it is from Senate Bill 3, waiting for those rules to be established.
• I'm under the impression that the rules and the application process for the SEED program are somewhat

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• case, and you see all of the logos up there, every single branch of state government—executive, judicial
• So the payroll obviously affects state employees, to include legislative employees and judicial branch
• for the state, and I know they've been before this committee in previous meetings, they set up the rules
• It's required by federal rule. It's required of all states and all Medicaid programs.
• implemented and changes, you know, you hear a lot about needing federal authority, going through the rule

Summary: The subcommittee heard updates on several major technology modernization efforts, beginning with the Department of Financial Services’ Florida PALM project, which is replacing the state’s decades-old FLAIR accounting system. DFS described PALM as a statewide effort affecting all three branches of government, with cash management already live and the remaining financial management, payroll, and data warehouse components still in development. Officials said the project began in 2014, was restructured after a 2022 legislative pause, and is now being recommended for a go-live delay from January 2026 to July 2026. Members asked about governance, staffing, contract structure, cost growth, and maintenance costs; DFS said the contract is deliverable-based, the current amendment would add a net $2.2 million, and post-go-live maintenance is expected to be about $13 million annually under the current contract through July 2027. The Agency for Health Care Administration then updated the committee on the FX Medicaid enterprise modernization program. AHCA explained that federal CMS directed states to move from monolithic Medicaid systems to a modular approach, leading Florida to procure separate vendors for integration services, data warehouse, unified operations, provider services, and claims processing, with pharmacy benefits still to be procured. Officials said the project has spent about $334 million to date, with most costs federally matched, and requested $189.95 million for the upcoming year. They also highlighted a 2024 special assessment that produced 81 recommendations, most tied to staffing shortages, and said the Legislature added 47 FTEs, with 17 currently filled or being filled. Members asked about governance changes, production status, data access, and future technology maintenance; AHCA said some components are operational, the data warehouse is nearing certification, and the agency is working to keep the system adaptable and nonproprietary. The Department of Children and Families presented its Access modernization project, which is replacing a mainframe-based eligibility system used for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid assistance, and related programs. DCF said the six-year, $205 million project is in its third year and has already delivered a new customer portal with mobile access, multi-factor authentication, and fraud protections, while also building a worker portal, document management, community partner tools, and workload management functions. The agency said it is requesting $36.625 million for the next fiscal year, the same as last year, and emphasized that the project has remained on schedule and on budget by breaking work into smaller modules and using strong vendor and staff support. Members praised the project’s progress and asked about cybersecurity testing and the long delay before modernization began; DCF said security requirements were built in from the outset and that the remaining work will focus on moving staff off the legacy mainframe and modernizing notices and back-end processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• begs leave to report committee on rules begs leave to report committee on rules begs leave to report
• committee the special order rules committee the special order rules committee the special order calendar
• all judges that we did for the judicial all judges that we did for the judicial all this was already
• want to announce that the rules want to announce that the rules committee will meet at 3:45 in room
• all in favor body suspension of the rule all in favor body suspension of the rule all in favor say I

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This allows the judicial branch to use its appropriation into the next biennium.
• This<00:01:59.680> allows<00:02:00.079> the<00:02:00.399> judicial<00:02:00.880>
• branch<00:02:01.200> to<00:02:01.439> use This allows the judicial branch to use
• This allows the judicial branch to use its<00:02:01.920> appropriation<00:02:02.719> into<

Bills: HF2300

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I know there are regulations because we authorize them to promulgate rules as well.
• But maybe DPS, by rule, could—I mean, I really don't like the rulemaking.
• Scratch out the statute in that or rule.
• Scratch out the statute again, or rule are severable.
• To this end, the provisions of the act or rule are severable. The act or rule are severable.

Transcript Highlights:

• The US Constitution, the rule of law, and the people of the state of California.
• This funding is about upholding the rule of law.
• Council, and our judicial branch of government which helped to oversee them.
• I move to print the letter in the journal pursuant to Assembly Rule 42C.
• This is against the rules and traditions of this body.

Keywords: 988, house, all