Transcript Highlights:

• legal review, more disputes, and those costs are paid by homeowners through increased dues and assessments
• going to add all this complexity and time, suggesting that the very thing that triggers you to pay assessments
• am not going to use my video because I'm using my phone as a hotspot, so I apologize for the blank screen

Summary: The Housing Committee held public hearings on two bills. HB 2118 would limit homeowners associations’ ability to adopt or enforce new covenant restrictions on the use of a unit that are more onerous than those in place when the owner bought the property, unless the owner agrees in writing. The sponsor said the bill is meant to protect buyers from having the rug pulled out from under them on things like chickens or renting part of a home. Staff explained the bill’s grandfathering and recording provisions, and that it excludes rules required by law. Testimony was split: supporters emphasized fairness, certainty, and protecting relied-upon uses, while opponents from HOA and management groups argued it would create fragmented enforcement, higher costs, administrative complexity, and conflict within communities, and that existing law and court decisions already address these issues. The committee closed the hearing without taking a vote. HB 2236 would update Washington Housing Finance Commission statutes. The bill would allow the commission to make direct mortgage loans, extend the term of the commission attorney, remove advance notice to the state finance committee before bond issuance, repeal the housing finance program and housing finance plan requirements, and revise the commission’s purpose language. The sponsor and commission said the changes would modernize outdated statutes, improve efficiency, and give the commission more flexibility to use its revenues and financing tools for affordable housing, gap financing, preservation, and starter homes. Committee members asked about the commission’s bond structure, default risk, and the meaning of “public funds,” and the commission said the transactions remain third-party and tax-exempt, with no state credit risk. Banking industry witnesses said they generally support the commission’s mission but wanted clearer limits on direct lending and the use of public funds, and they were working with the commission on amendment language. Committee members expressed support for the collaboration and the goal of increasing housing production. No votes were taken; both hearings were closed and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• AS A DEPARTMENT WE WANT TO BE USEFUL WITH A RAPID ASSESSMENT AND AGRICULTURAL IMPACT.
• IMPACTS TO TIMBER AND FORESTRY ARE NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE THOSE ARE ASSESSED BY THE FOREST SERVICE AND
• I CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN WHEN I ATTEND THE MEETINGS THAT IT'S NOT ABLE TO BE SHARED WITH US.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With fidelity in our classrooms, progress monitoring assessments system. The PM ONE PM TWO in PM 3.
• We work with the chamber and we also go out and do the comprehensive local needs assessment to align
• But through our lands, we are also wanting to assess impact of engagement and return of investment.
• Another example of how we assess impact is our engagement.
• We assess that impact through their engagement, the more color we see, the more engagement we have.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They perform testing because they have to do a clinical assessment and diagnosis.
• A provider has responsibility to follow state and federal regulations, patient assessment, clinical care
• They perform testing because they have to do a clinical assessment of diagnosis.
• Again, it's for one minute, and there is a timer on the screen.
• Madam Chair, yes, that is an accurate assessment of the bill, of what it presents and why it's being

Summary: The House Health and Human Services Committee first heard House Bill 256, which would require school cardiac emergency response plans to address sudden cardiac arrest at school athletic activities and ensure AEDs are clearly marked and accessible at those events. The sponsor and an American Heart Association representative said the bill builds on last year’s law and is meant to improve implementation, not add new equipment costs. Members asked about funding, were told the AEDs are already in place, and the bill received a due pass with no opposition. The committee then took up House Bill 278 on Medicaid reimbursement for toxicology testing in substance use disorder treatment. The sponsor and Southwest Labs argued that current payer policies limit providers’ clinical judgment, that a new flat-rate code for unlimited analytes would improve care, keep Medicaid dollars in New Mexico, and support local laboratories. Several members raised concerns about whether the bill effectively rewrites bundled G-codes, whether it mainly benefits one company, how it affects MCO contracts, GRT/tax issues, and whether the fiscal estimates were realistic. After extensive questioning and conflicting views, a due-pass motion was made but the vote ended in a tie, so the bill did not advance. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 287 to create a permanent, full-time Health and Human Services Committee with a director and expanded membership, similar to other permanent legislative committees. Supporters from advocacy and policy groups said health care is too large and complex to be handled by a part-time interim committee and that year-round staffing would improve oversight and policymaking. Members discussed committee composition, staffing, subpoena power, and the proposed appropriation, and the sponsor said the bill is a starting point that could be refined later. The committee approved HB 287 on a do-pass motion and then adjourned until Monday morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm looking at the screen.
• Our financing is similar to TDI's. and that were financed by an assessment on insurance policies, of
• Member companies must share a portion of TWAIA's losses through assessments as prescribed by statute.
• It's not what I described for TUYES, and one element of its funding structure. are the authority to assess
• And so FairPlan has actually experienced recent deficits and gone ahead. and requested member assessments

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, you'll see some other requirements up on the screen. I'm not going to go through all of them.
• And we know that people are making those assessments of what they're going to do.
• I will tell you one other thing that we did this... ...assessments of what they're going to do.
• We deploy damage assessment teams. Our initial focus is cut and toss and clearing roads.
• Assessing any damage, we deploy bridge inspection teams.

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met to continue its review of hurricane impacts and state response. The committee first heard from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which described its four core functions—preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation—and highlighted its 24/7 State Watch Office, regional training efforts, and disaster assistance work. Deputy Executive Director Keith Pruitt detailed the state’s 2024 storm response, including Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, citing large-scale mission support, flood-control deployments, meal and water distribution, power restoration, debris removal, and billions in disaster funding and mitigation dollars. He also discussed debris management challenges and recommended that local governments update and exercise debris plans and maintain contingency contracts.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:46:36.319><c> and</c> chalkboard or on a a white screen and chalkboard or on a a white screen
• statewide assessment and test security<01:20:24.880><c> piece.
• Assessment has changed tremendously.
• Assessment has changed tremendously.
• </c><01:42:53.040><c> u</c> uh in charge in in terms of assessing u uh in charge in in terms of assessing

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 14 January, 2026; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The threat level is highest pre-border, but once they go through our screening net, we can filter out
• Um, again, the risk assessment, you'll see this kind of throughout the matrix in that, again, data assessment
• Okay, so you know, you've got to screen it. Was it during the day? Was it at night?
• Okay, so you know, you've got to screen it. Was it during the day? Was it at night?
• So, you know, you've got to screen it. Was it during the day? Was it at night?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing from the House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment focused on the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity’s update on Hawaii’s biosecurity framework, especially implementation of Act 231 (2024) and Act 236 (2025). Chairs Corey Chun and Mike Gabbard opened the meeting by framing the briefing as an update on investments to fight invasive species and improve statewide evaluation and coordination. Department leaders Sharon Her and Richard Kim described historic legislative and executive investments that have allowed the department to rebuild and modernize biosecurity infrastructure to better prevent, detect, control, and eradicate invasive species. The presentation emphasized the importance of biosecurity to Hawaii’s agriculture, economy, environment, and public well-being, citing threats such as rapid ohia death, little fire ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, brown tree snake, and red imported fire ant. Staff explained the state’s layered approach—pre-border, border, and post-border—and compared it to New Zealand’s model, stressing that Hawaii must act as a “net, not a wall” and that prevention before entry is far more cost-effective than response after establishment. They also outlined agency roles across the system, including agriculture, natural resources, health, transportation, enforcement, and university partners, and noted that Act 231 strengthened authority over high-risk imports, offshore treatment, compliance agreements, and pest management plans, while Act 236 renamed the department and clarified statewide biosecurity coordination. Jonathan Ho then walked through specific program areas and progress. He said pre-border risk analysis is being supported by Act 231 funding and a university contract, while offshore compliance and treatment efforts have improved substantially, including Christmas tree inspections from Oregon and Washington and airline declaration systems that provide advance passenger information. For border work, he highlighted inspections, surveillance, detector dogs, and port monitoring. For post-border response and readiness, he discussed the invasive pest hotline and dashboard, trace-forward/trace-back and diagnostics, preparedness for future threats, and the need to build stronger internal capacity. He also described a developing transitional facilities program authorized by Act 236, modeled on New Zealand’s certified facilities system, and said the department has already begun outreach to industry groups such as the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it says assessments. It doesn't actually mean assessment in that sense.
• And so, I've got some examples here on the screen here that you can see.
• </c> the on the screen here that you can see. the on the screen here that you can see.
• The flat screens, the available today.
• Uh there's concerns around screen time Uh there's concerns around screen time um<01:03:18.160><c> that

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Artificial Intelligence Task Force met and adopted the prior minutes before turning to AI in education. Jeff Gagne of the Southern Regional Education Board described SREB’s Commission on AI in Education, which has organized its work into committees on policy, K-12 instruction, postsecondary instruction, and skills development. He highlighted eight commission recommendations covering statewide AI networks, targeted guidance for different user groups, professional development, standards and curricula, local capacity assessments, risk management, procurement, and AI-ready workforce skills. He also emphasized that states need more specific guidance for students, teachers, faculty, administrators, and parents, and that training is essential because many educators have not been prepared to use AI in instruction. Gagne also summarized two recent SREB reports: one on AI-ready workforce skills and one on AI use in K-12 classrooms. The workforce report recommends embedding AI across standards, strengthening computer science and digital learning standards, collaborating with industry and workforce agencies, building AI competencies into training and upskilling, providing educator professional development, and monitoring readiness. He said the report identifies three skill areas: success skills, industry baseline skills, and technical skills. The classroom guidance report promotes responsible AI adoption, with four pillars focused on increasing cognitive demand, streamlining teaching and administrative work, supporting personalized learning, and developing ethical AI users. He also noted that the report includes an AI procurement tool for school districts. Members thanked Gagne for providing outside examples and resources. One member noted JCPS has an introductory AI professional development offering for educators. Gagne said Kentucky’s David Couch serves on the SREB commission and that the commission’s member list and reports are available on SREB’s website. The committee then heard from Travis Powell of the Council on Postsecondary Education, who said CPE had surveyed campuses and found that Kentucky institutions have broadly embraced AI in teaching, research, student services, and administrative operations. He said all institutions have AI-focused degrees, minors, or courses, and many are integrating AI into general education and across disciplines. Powell also said CPE is considering an AI consortium and that campuses are using AI in research partnerships and applied work, while continuing to focus on ethical and effective use.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this would create a position to do data research and analysis specifically around assessment and
• The first and primary one is the administration of the assessment.
• </c> falsifying assessment scores, right? falsifying assessment scores, right?
• Movement trumps screens. Recess is not a reward. It's not a bargaining chip.
• Movement trumps<02:33:31.280><c> screens.</c> trumps screens. trumps screens.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their peer advisor reaches out to them to connect on a personal level, assessing their needs and how
• She's the assessment person in Student Affairs.
• And so, they're working through those competing requirements as they move forward to assess what the
• As the new installation commander, with two weeks on the ground and still in the assessment phase, it
• This is where some of our supply wells are screened.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recently, a home in Back Bay valued at $20 million was assessed by the city at $12.5 million.
• Property on Beacon Hill sold for roughly the same at $20 million, assessed later by the city at $5 million
• At the same time, these unfair assessing practices by the city are hammering the middle class, taxing
• Property on Beacon Hill sold for roughly the same at $20 million assessed later by the city at $5 million
• At the same time, these unfair assessing practices by the city is hammering the middle class, taxing

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're moving away from a system called a RUG system that, you know, assessed for a QD in a certain
• for a QD system that you know assessed for a QD in<00:37:22.480><c> a</c><00:37:22.599><c> certain</
• assess a person's eligibility<01:05:03.240><c> um</c><01:05:03.559><c> at</c><01:05:04.000><c> uh</c
• Um, we are assessing that, and I would say we are worried about that, um, as are you, I'm sure.
• that and I would say we are assessing that and I would say we are worried<01:18:33.199><c> about</c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So it requires public institutions to do that. to have threat assessment teams similar to the Marjory
• It provides a safe, secure campus by requiring public institutions to annually conduct security assessments
• I'm very pleased that it included security assessments of the facility.
• Each campus is to provide their security assessment, and if that campus deems that they need the cameras
• That investment is already expanding physician education, increasing early screening to prevent life-threatening

Transcript Highlights:

• If we had gotten it wrong, or if we had had a screening that didn't pick up something and there was an
• reading scores have remained stagnant for the better part of a decade as measured on our state assessments
• The most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress scores saw Florida's grades 4 and 8 reading
• Currently, a student who meets graduation credit requirements but fails to pass a standardized assessment
• or maintain a GPA required to graduate, Fails to pass a standardized assessment or maintain a GPA required

Summary: The Education and Employment Committee met with a quorum and took up seven bills, all of which were reported favorably. First, HB 1367 on school attendance was presented as a response to rising chronic absenteeism; it would standardize attendance definitions and reporting statewide, and it passed 18-0 after supportive testimony from education and business groups. HB 949 would prohibit student use of wireless devices during the school day, while allowing district policies for designated use areas and existing medical/disability exceptions; members discussed classroom disruption, bullying, public safety, and accommodations, and the bill passed favorably. The committee also approved PCS for CS for HB 1135, requiring ECGs for student athletes in grades 9-12, with exemptions for religious objections and provisions on cost, liability, and medical clearance; the bill drew extensive emotional testimony from parents and advocates who described children lost to sudden cardiac arrest and was reported favorably after unanimous support. Members then approved CS for CS for HB 597 on diabetes management in schools, which would allow schools to keep glucagon pens and authorize trained personnel to administer them in emergencies; an amendment clarified charter schools are included as public schools. HB 1309 on reading interventions and instruction would expand reading support and training for grades 4-12 and require district reading plans to include evidence-based interventions; it also passed without opposition. CS for HB 981 on athlete representation and compensation would cap certain NIL agent fees, allow some high school athletes to earn NIL compensation, and create a framework for registered advisors; members raised concerns about predatory practices and coach involvement, but the bill passed favorably after amendment. Finally, HB 1111 would eliminate the certificate of completion option for students who do not meet graduation requirements, with the sponsor arguing it would better motivate students to earn a standard diploma and improve postsecondary and workforce opportunities. Members discussed the need for stronger supports to help students meet graduation standards, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee adjourned after completing all agenda items.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you mentioned the threat assessment from—I didn't catch the agency. Mr. Little: Sure.
• I don't have the complete assessment.
• I know that you've referenced the DNI threat assessment.
• Are these verbatim extractions from the threat assessment report? Mr.
• The fact that this was informed and shaped by the DNI assessment report.

Bills: SB17, SB1569, SB2420, HB5138, HJR161, HB1937, HB3334, HB5444, HB5137, HB361, HB321, HB5447, HB464, HB678, HB2294, HB4172, HB3225, HB1769, HB5394, HB1837, HB1787, HB2271, HB2440, HB5134, HB5149, HB2151, HB2073, HB2186, HB2025, HB1936, HB1777, HB1663, HB 1306, HB 1290, HB1527, HB4802, HB3462, HB2963, HB2462, HB2560, HB644, HB2725, HB2621, HB2588, HB1443, HB1403, HB3032, HB1557, HB1664, HB2811, HB2088, HB2598, HB3062, HB3134, HB3940, HB4027, HB4097, HB4862, HB4170, HB4157, HB4205, HB4279, HB4377, HB4838, HB5424, HB5294, HB4870, HB4763, HB5639, HB4112, HB2275, HB1677, HB5014, HB3848, HB3797, HB3727, HB3709, HB3177, HB3057, HB4176, HB4202, HB2180, HB3528, HB3658, HCR76, HCR127

Keywords: foreign ownership, real property, national security, criminal penalties, civil penalties, personal information, higher education, privacy protection, governing board, institutional security, software applications, mobile devices, age verification, parental consent, data protection, app store regulation, HJR 161, Texas constitutional amendment, voting rights, non-citizen voting

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received the invocation and pledges, and heard several announcements and recognitions before moving into floor action. Members honored the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team for winning a share of the 2025 President’s Cup, recognized educator Jessica Lopez, and paid memorial tribute to Jennifer Maddenly, along with recognitions for Jeanette Valdez Duran’s food pantry work, TAMACC’s 50th anniversary, and Bernardine Steptoe’s retirement from WFAA. The House also granted permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, set a local consent calendar, and suspended posting rules for a Public Health Committee hearing on SB 2721. The chamber then considered a long series of Senate and House bills, with many passing on record votes. Measures addressed local law enforcement authority (SB 906), veterans highway designation (SB 1229), foster care medical billing (SB 855), massage therapy trafficking safeguards (SB 703), tax ballot language (SB 1025), occupational licensing for people with convictions (SB 1080), lien deadlines (SB 929), liquor sales complaints (SB 1355), higher education application fee waivers (SB 2231), utility data access (SB 1877), pediatric preceptorships (SB 1998), and several House bills on bond forfeiture notice, health workforce coordination, indigent civil commitment representation, consumer transaction cancellations, bird dispersal rules, theft venue for digital property, military grant applications, AI cancer-detection grants, cybersecurity contract language, in-state tuition for military-related programs, utility capital recovery, energy waste advisory oversight, gas utility rate recovery, psychedelic therapy study, teacher retirement funding transparency, pension changes, tax payment plans, and voter registration security. Some measures drew notable debate or amendments, including HB 5247, where a ratepayer-credit amendment failed, and HB 2298, HB 4014, HB 510, HB 561, HB 1128, HB 1904, HB 30, HB 200, HB 3045, and HB 5111, which all passed after recorded votes with varying margins. A major point of contention was SB 2420, the app store age-verification bill, which prompted extended debate over whether the bill should also require app developers to verify users’ ages. Representative Bryant offered an amendment to preserve developer verification obligations, arguing the bill would otherwise shift responsibility away from app makers; the author opposed it, saying the bill’s approach was more workable and raised concerns about First Amendment issues. Multiple points of order were raised and withdrawn during the debate, and the amendment discussion remained unresolved in the excerpt. The House also postponed further consideration of SB 17, SB 552, and SB 2420 at different points, and recessed for lunch after completing a large block of third-reading votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I hope it’s on your radar screen, and I hope that we can figure a way out of it.
• I hope it’s on your radar screen, and I hope that we can figure a way out of it.
• So I hope it's on your radar screen and I hope that we can figure a way out of it.
• We do have an assessment that has only really risen with just cost of living over the years.
• So there’s now this program that is partially funded through assessments, but also through application

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 16.880><c> and</c><00:49:17.120><c> support</c><00:49:17.840><c> to</c><00:49:17.960><c> an</c> assessment
• and support to an assessment and support to an internationally<00:49:18.680><c> trained</c><00:49:19.000
• And some might say, “Why is the Women's Caucus hosting a screening of a film called *Gone Guys*?”
• So we hope that folks will join us for the film screening and the panel discussion to follow.
• Folks were encouraged to join the film screening and the panel discussion to follow in Room 11.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So having that screen and looking at those impacts is important. I am not wedded to those numbers.
• So<00:42:47.280><c> having</c><00:42:47.599><c> that</c><00:42:48.240><c> uh</c><00:42:48.720><c> screen
• ><00:42:49.200><c> and</c><00:42:49.520><c> looking</c><00:42:49.839><c> at</c> So having that uh screen
• and looking at So having that uh screen and looking at those<00:42:50.800><c> impacts</c><00:42:51.280
• </c> million dollars for uh risk assessment million dollars for uh risk assessment in<01:00:50.880><c

Bills: HF2784, HF2785, HF2778, HF2281, HF2576, HF2280, HF2579

Keywords: beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing

Transcript Highlights:

• That process is then used to collect up a set of projects that are potential candidates, and local screening
• That process is then used to collect up a set of projects that are potential candidates, and local screening
• modifications that reflect what I described for the current program, including adding the local screening
• </c> at in the in the screening at in the in the screening process<00:36:33.280><c> I'm</c><00:36:33.400
• Chair and Representative Kel, the focus has been on the GHG impact assessment, not directly related to

Keywords: 1183, house