Transcript Highlights:

• The governor's office convened a very large group of stakeholders, including the department during the
• The at-large members in the old bill were grouped into five groups of counties.
• sort of those groups.
• The problem is we had groups where those funds were being designated by the donor, and yet the group
• These are groups that are getting lots of different money; it may not be specified.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important that we're group on this.
• group home, a fraction. group home, a fraction.
• <00:51:33.520> homes, or group homes, or group homes, he<00:51:34.960> would<00:51:
• for him and if he was moved to a group for him and if he was moved to a group home<00:52:05.640>
• There's a group that's acronymed BELTS. There's a group that's acronymed BELTS.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What was, in your research, what was a sample group, or how did you determine the groups, the schools
• , the districts that you would examine or use as your sample group?
• It’s one little group of kids.
• So we fund different groups like our children's service councils, our YMCA, all these wonderful groups
• So we fund different groups like our children's service councils, our YMCA, all these wonderful groups

Summary: The committee on Pre-K through 12 Education met to discuss chronic absenteeism, district attendance interventions, and related truancy procedures. Chair Simon reviewed Florida’s attendance laws and escalation process, including school-based interventions, child study team meetings, referrals to the Department of Juvenile Justice, truancy petitions, and possible sanctions for parents and driving privileges. The committee heard first from University of Florida professor Dr. Chris Curran, who presented state and national absenteeism data showing chronic absenteeism has risen sharply since the pandemic, with Florida at about 31.4% in 2023-24. He emphasized that absenteeism has multiple causes, including transportation, mental health, housing instability, safety concerns, and family barriers, and said effective responses include early warning systems, multi-tiered supports, mentoring, and community partnerships rather than relying only on punitive measures. Members questioned Dr. Curran about whether absenteeism is a behavior or barrier issue, whether exclusionary discipline is counted, the need for a uniform definition across districts, and whether more punitive truancy enforcement is effective. He said the issue is usually a mix of barriers and choices, that excused and unexcused absences both matter for chronic absenteeism data, and that root-cause analysis and supportive interventions are generally more productive than punishment alone, though consequences can still play a role. The committee then heard from Collier County Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli and district staff, who described a highly structured attendance system built around attendance specialists, social workers, mental health staff, home visits, attendance contracts, multilingual outreach, and frequent parent notifications. They said Collier’s chronic absenteeism rate was about 9% in 2023-24 and credited their success to early contact, community partnerships, and a strong district culture around attendance. Volusia County Schools Executive Director Mike McAuliffe described a newer districtwide attendance initiative that uses automated letters, same-day notifications, data dashboards, MTSS tiers, incentives, and community supports such as bikes, washers and dryers, and faith-based partnerships. He reported Volusia reduced chronic absenteeism from 34% in 2023-24 to a projected 29% and said the district is now seeing about 20% in the first quarter of the current year. No formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• So far, we have been able to convene these groups, and we just started meeting recently in August.
• And I just mentioned because I want to see an audiologist or a hearing specialist on that group.
• Going to bring in all of the information; support groups are one of them.
• These plans are contracting with public employee groups, which may explain their lower denial rate.
• And I think it would be great to convene, I think, a group.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I stand respect the desire to send the message that this body, we support this group of workers.
• It is absolutely out of line to propose to take things away, and it is out of line to pit one group of
• Message to one group, but not every other Minnesota that the work that they do is valued, that they as
• But somehow this group of workers has been able to capture the attention of all of us because you see
• a specific group of workers and it<00:34:16.159> will<00:34:16.399> feel<00:34:16.639>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have the Council of Native Hawaiian advancement group.
• We also have the Council of Native Hawaiian advancement group.
• We also have the Council of Native Hawaiian advancement group.
• advancement group advancement group group<00:11:00.800> will<00:11:01.000> you<00:
• Kane is still here; he is here as well, and of course the active Airlines committee group.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, we also have a group from Mokai that is here.
• President, we also have a group from Mr.
• President, I do have two groups us. Mr.
• Our first group are eighth names.
• President, I have a group of Next Mr.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:32.360> within and governance working group within and governance working group within
• We feel that this working group would help to advance this effort.
• We feel that this working group would help to advance this effort.
• We are willing to participate in the working group.
• <00:18:38.440> okay participate in the working group okay participate in the working group

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several measures. Senate Bill 327, relating to internships, drew broad support from the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, University of Hawaiʻi, DBEDT, P20, HFIA, Hawaiʻi Electric, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and the Chamber of Commerce, with suggested amendments to clarify the internship purpose, limit some responsibilities to the state executive branch, and address staffing and reporting details. The committee later recommended passing SB 327 with amendments, including changes to the internship language, private-sector references, work-hour limits, reporting requirements, and a deferred effective date for further discussion. Senate Bill 716, relating to the Hawaii Employment Security Law, received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations as a step toward modernizing unemployment insurance, and the committee recommended passage with housekeeping and technical amendments. Senate Bill 717, relating to collective bargaining, would allow certain exempt employees to grieve suspensions or discharges. The City and County of Honolulu and the Department of Human Resources Development said the issue should remain a collective bargaining matter, while HGEA and United Public Workers supported the bill. DHRD opposed changing the statute and pointed to existing internal complaint procedures. The committee nevertheless recommended passing SB 717 with amendments and deferred the date for further discussion. Senate Bill 742, relating to data sharing, would create a data sharing and governance working group within the Office of Enterprise Technology Services and include appropriations. OETS, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaiʻi, DOE, Hawaiʻi Kids Can, Hawaiʻi P-20, and others supported the measure, with OETS estimating a total cost of about $2.64 million, including software, consulting, and six FTE. The committee recommended passage with amendments and a deferred effective date, and noted the budget request in the committee report. The final measure, Senate Bill 855, relating to the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act, would shift the program from opt-in to opt-out and appropriate startup funds; former Senator Brian Taniguchi and AARP supported it, while Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi and the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi opposed it over costs and burdens on small businesses and concerns about adding mandates before the program is implemented. The committee recessed briefly on a proposed AARP amendment, then returned and indicated support for the opt-out language before taking the bill up for decision-making.

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] There are a few groups near and dear to my heart.
• You've heard about law enforcement, but there's another group that's even nearer and dearer to my heart
• [Music] There are a few groups near and dear to my heart.
• near and dear to there are a few groups near and dear to my<01:26:16.639> heart<01:26:17.400>
• enforcement but there's another group enforcement but there's another group that's<01:26:19.960>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a group that is on Lānaʻi.
• I think there's three or— been hearing from Community groups from been hearing from Community groups
• We did this strategic working group between HTDA, L?U, and HHFDC.
• <05:40:06.478> was meet because the healing group was meet because the healing group was making
• They are part of our Ocean Resource Management Planning Group.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Education on its budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. The Superintendent and staff described the department’s mission, enrollment and staffing scale, recent gains in NAEP reading and math, persistent attendance problems since the pandemic, and the need for resources to support student recovery, middle school math, and other strategic priorities. The department said its proposal is intended to be aligned with its 2023–2029 strategic plan, fiscally balanced, and reliable for schools, while also addressing inflation, workforce needs, and uncertainty in federal funding. Assistant Superintendent and CFO Brian Hallet reviewed federal grants, non-general funds, and the budget development process. He said federal funds make up about 11% of the department’s FY25 appropriation and warned that House budget proposals could threaten predictable funding for core programs. He also explained that the department began its biennial budget work in April 2024 and used an internal review group to identify possible reallocations. The department characterized its request as a “flat” budget proposal overall, with a large share devoted to continued funding for existing recurring needs, and noted challenges including a projected state funding decline, inflation, lingering pandemic impacts, recruitment and retention, and uncertainty about future federal support. A major topic was the department’s capital improvement program. DOE officials argued for a risk-based, proactive approach using lump-sum “buckets” to manage facilities and deferred maintenance across more than 21.5 million square feet at 268 sites. They said this would allow more efficient prioritization of projects and better coordination with complex area superintendents, principals, and legislators. Members asked about how legislative priorities would fit into the bucket system, county-versus-state property jurisdiction issues affecting school facilities, enrollment decline and staffing ratios, and how the department plans to adjust facilities and human resources to shifting enrollment patterns. DOE said it is studying enrollment trends, will brief the Board of Education next month, and is willing to provide further briefings to legislators. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I figured this would be somewhat of a more intimate group, so I thought we could, I gave you a little
• But I was just talking with another hospital group this week about sterile processing technicians and
• So if there was, you know, a place for Triangle or other groups to help provide that kind of talent,
• One of the models that's been useful is group employment.
• So there are some situations that really lend to a group employment situation.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened with roll call and approved the January minutes. Members then heard from Undersecretary of Labor and Workforce Development Josh Cutler, who gave an update on the Healey-Driscoll administration’s apprenticeship efforts and emphasized apprenticeship as an earn-while-you-learn model that can help address workforce shortages while including people with disabilities. He described growth in apprenticeships across sectors such as banking, bio, early education, health care, and human services, and noted recent milestones including the state’s 10,000th registered apprenticeship, expanded tax credits, reduced program fees, added apprenticeship liaisons, and Grow grants to support program development. Committee members focused on how apprenticeship could be adapted for human services and disability-related jobs, including early education, direct care, PCA work, sterile processing, and related health occupations. They asked about funding structures, employer participation, community college involvement, and how to make programs accessible to people with disabilities. Cutler explained that apprenticeship programs are employer-designed but must meet core requirements such as paid employment, at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning, related technical instruction, mentorship, and progressive wages. He said the state can support programs through the registered apprenticeship tax credit, which he said is $4,800 per apprentice and can be stacked with the disability employment tax credit, and through Grow grants, which were most recently awarded at about $2.1 million statewide. Members and Cutler discussed using intermediaries such as trade associations, nonprofits, and disability organizations to help employers set up programs and navigate incentives. He said the commission could be useful as a convener and suggested a targeted panel or information session with apprenticeship liaisons, employers, and existing sponsors to identify a few specific occupations and build a proof of concept. The meeting ended with agreement to follow up offline on potential partner employers, including Eastern Bank, and on possible next steps for a focused panel or pilot opportunities.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a group here from Black River, their faculty and staff leadership group.
• Number two, Department of Veterans Affairs with the Ecological Design Group.
• Number six, Department of Health with the Gel Group Incorporated.
• Number 11, DHS with Healthcare Services Group.
• Number 29, University of Arkansas with the Siegel Group.

Summary: The ALC-Review Subcommittee reviewed seven methods of finance, including university projects at ASU Jonesboro and Mountain Home, Black River Technical College deferred maintenance, UA Batesville’s Farm Project Gateway Center, UAMS PET cyclotron equipment, a new allied health building at UAPB funded by a federal grant, and UCA’s multi-purpose arena design work. The committee also approved an alternative delivery construction project for UAPB’s Allied Health and Sciences Building, with East Harding Construction selected and AMR Architects as designer. Members then approved discretionary grants from the Department of Health and DHS, including support for a heart attack center designation, community health worker training, homeless services funding corrections, behavioral health transition support, and an enabling technology pilot. In the contracts section, the committee reviewed RFQs, construction-related contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and a large slate of out-of-state and in-state contracts covering topics such as seatbelt survey data collection, Medicaid and DHS systems, state hospital staffing and services, veterans’ services, education assessments, and state IT and procurement projects. Several contracts drew extended questioning. Senators and representatives pressed DHS and the Department of Veterans Affairs about heavy reliance on contract nursing and staffing costs, and officials said they were using pay incentives and recruitment efforts to increase state employee staffing. Members also questioned AEDC’s lithium supply chain study and the Department of Education’s security contract, with concerns about projected costs and repeated amendments. The committee held three in-state contracts—Department of Education security services and two DHS staffing contracts—until Friday, then adopted the remaining contracts and received informational reports on contract amendments, executed contracts, and emergency procurements before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some groups, you know, namely, I was just say, and I'm going to start pulling punches immediately.
• These groups have played off by old rules arguing against reforms while the market is crumbling beneath
• For decades, any payment of compensation to these groups is made by insurance companies and ultimately
• We've been working with the top three modeling groups to get that done.
• And like I said, we have a group of states now working on the underinsurance issue, working with the

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held its fifth oversight hearing on the California Department of Insurance’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy (SIS), with Commissioner Ricardo Lara providing an update on implementation. Lara said the department has finalized major reforms, including new catastrophe modeling tools, faster rate review procedures, use of forward-looking data tied to mitigation, and modernization of the FAIR Plan. He argued the strategy is intended to improve insurance availability in wildfire-prone areas, increase transparency, and stabilize the market, while also criticizing consumer intervenor groups and saying the department will tighten rules on intervener compensation and relevance. Members questioned Lara about when the SIS would begin producing visible market changes, how long rate filings would take to approve, and what the FAIR Plan modernization would mean for consumers’ costs. Lara said catastrophe model approvals should be completed by the end of the month, insurers are expected to begin submitting SIS filings in the coming weeks, and rate reviews have already been reduced from 281 days to 71 days. He also discussed a new market conduct investigation into State Farm’s handling of wildfire claims, ongoing complaints about smoke-damage claims, and a newly created smoke claims and remediation task force to develop standards. Lara said the department has helped more than 12,000 wildfire survivors, with over 38,000 claims filed and more than $17 billion paid, and that it is also working with other western states on underinsurance issues. Public commenters from the insurance industry, homebuilding, and insurance brokerage sectors largely supported the SIS and the department’s efforts, saying the reforms are needed to restore availability and stability. They emphasized the importance of timely rate approvals, FAIR Plan solvency, and greater transparency, and several noted that member companies are preparing to use the new filing process. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, though members and the commissioner discussed ongoing legislative needs, including AB 226 and possible future FAIR Plan transparency measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, there are some private sector groups out there, and they've been in my office, and I'm learning
• So, we've got to get real. 14 of the 16 regional planning groups, to what?
• answer on how they're going to meet their shortfalls of water supply. 14 out of 16 of the planning groups
• When 14 of your groups say, "I don't know how we're going to finish this up," in 70.
• We'll call the next group: Sarah Kirkle, Marie Camino, Cyrus Reed, and... Carl Ingham.

Bills: HB3077, HJR2, HJR7, HJR7

Keywords: alcohol, taxation, reporting requirements, sales, distribution, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer, constitutional amendment, water fund, Texas water supply, state revenue, infrastructure, HJR 7, Texas Legislature, quorum, majority quorum, two-thirds quorum, legislative procedure

Transcript Highlights:

• We had some very large groups. And when I say staff, I'm not talking to you.
• Let me tell you that we had a work group a week, 10 days ago.
• We sat down two weeks ago with the different groups in the work group to go over what needed to be adjusted
• That was sent out to the industries that were represented in the work group.
• Because we've had these conversations, you were right across from me in the work group.

Bills: SB 1493, SB 1598, SB 1895, SB 1919, SB 2039, SB 2226, SB 2243, SB 2425

Keywords: SB 1493, Texas Transportation Code, motor vehicle lighting, vehicle lighting standards, high-mounted stoplamp, center high mount stop lamp, CHMSL, brake light, stop lamp, federal motor vehicle safety standards, 49 C.F.R. 571.108, FMVSS 108, vehicle inspection, automotive compliance, Transportation Committee, Texas vehicle equipment, motor vehicle collision report, crash report, accident report, traffic accident

Summary: The committee meeting focused on two primary bills, SB1598 and SB1493. SB1598, introduced by Senator Hagen Booth, addresses the clarity of collision report information access for law enforcement, aiming to enhance the tools available to police agencies across Texas for solving crimes. The meeting featured strong support from police representatives, including Sheriff Brian Hawthorne of Chambers County, who emphasized the significance of the CARFAX program for police in facilitating access to vital vehicle information, free of charge. Public testimony reflected a consensus on the necessity of the bill for improved investigatory processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• My mom currently is a member of your group and a retired teacher, and my sister's a current teacher.
• We have a group here today in the gallery I'd like to recognize. We have Bowie Mayor Gayle Burris.
• Members, today I have the honor of recognizing a group that represents the very heart and future of my
• This group represents the best of San Antonio.
• Members, today we are honored to have a very special group of young Texans in our Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• This group met monthly.
• Yeah, Casey's going to do a great job walking you through all the work that the work group has done.
• We had about a group meeting...
• meeting We had about eight group meetings and over 70 individual meetings with the CBCs to run through
• In order to get this, there were 10 different groups of care.

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met with a quorum present and took up a presentation from the Department of Children and Families on HB 7089, which revises how Florida’s community-based care (CBC) lead agencies for child welfare are funded. Representative McFarland described the bill’s background, arguing that the prior formula relied too heavily on outdated, static factors and produced inequities among CBCs. She emphasized that the new approach is intended to provide a more stable, transparent, and statute-based funding method that better supports prevention, case management, and family services while reducing year-to-year political uncertainty. DCF Chief of Staff Casey Penn explained that HB 7089 required an actuarially sound, reimbursement-based formula developed with CBC and provider input. The new model uses a cost-based structure with three tiers: Tier 1 for operational and administrative costs, Tier 2 for per-child/per-month service costs, and a possible Tier 3 incentive component for performance measures if the Legislature chooses to fund it. The model includes regional growth factors, inflation adjustments, a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, a hold-harmless provision for agencies that would otherwise receive less than prior funding, and the ability for CBCs to retain some state general revenue savings. DCF said the model produced a total budget need of about $1.392 billion, roughly $28.6 million above the prior year after offsets, and that the department is also updating its child welfare case management system to improve data quality and future modeling. Members asked about whether prevention spending is captured, how Tier 3 incentives would work and how much they might cost, how the formula accounts for insurance, hurricanes, child acuity, and staffing costs, and whether CBC executives’ compensation is capped. DCF said prevention is included in the model but is not yet separately broken out due to data limitations, Tier 3 is optional and not yet costed, and the formula can incorporate additional growth factors if needed. On executive pay, DCF explained that compensation is limited by statute for CBC contracts, but multiple contracts and non-state funding sources can affect total compensation; staff later clarified that CBC CEOs with multiple contracts had been reviewed for compliance. The meeting ended after questions, and Representative Miller moved to adjourn; the subcommittee adjourned without any vote on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The EGIP pool would create increased stability by spreading risk over a larger group.
• to have that set group.
• to have that set group.
• Looking at a more stable or more predictable group to have that set group.
• So I don't of those groups today.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2312 allows youth groups that are designated under federal law, 36 U.S.C.
• It prohibits the denial of equal access or fair opportunity for a youth group that wishes to conduct
• A youth group includes Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• , then they have to admit all the groups.
• So I don't think that our schools should be using instruction hours to allow for groups to talk with

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several education-related bills. HB 2318 would impose term limits on school district governing board members in districts with at least 250 students, with a four-year break before a former member could run again; the sponsor said it was meant to bring in new ideas after problems in a district, while opponents argued voters should decide and raised concerns about the timing of the change. It passed on a 6-5 vote. HB 2312 would allow certain federally recognized patriotic youth groups to address students during school hours and require equal access for such groups; supporters framed it as a way to expand youth opportunities, while opponents objected to use of instructional time. It also received a due pass recommendation on a 6-5 vote. HB 2320 would require school districts to hire an independent municipal advisor before calling a bond election and, if successful, for each bond issue. The sponsor argued this would lower underwriting fees and save taxpayers money, citing data showing lower average fees when advisors were used; testimony from the Arizona Tax Research Association and a school accountability group supported the bill, while members raised questions about costs if a bond fails and about how public information is presented. The bill passed 7-3 with two present votes. HB 2376 would prohibit districts from buying or leasing school property when an operating charter or private school is on the site, aimed at preventing a district from using a purchase to manipulate enrollment counts and trigger state construction funding; members debated whether the underlying allegation was hearsay, but the bill passed 7-5. HB 2378 would tighten conflict-of-interest rules for the School Facilities Oversight Board by barring the architect and engineer members from having school-construction business. The sponsor said it was prompted by a reported conflict involving Tolleson Union and a board chair’s firm; some members supported the ethics rationale while others said the bill did not address broader issues, and it passed 8-4. HB 2379 would require school district governing board members to complete biennial training on duties and responsibilities, with county superintendents required to offer the training and ADE as a backstop; the committee adopted an amendment making county training mandatory and allowing intergovernmental agreements, and the bill passed 7-5 after debate over unfunded mandates, whether ASBA should be included, and whether charter boards should also be covered. Finally, HB 2380 would require board and subcommittee meetings to be held in-district, keep meeting materials online for five years, and require prior approval for out-of-state travel or later ratification with possible reimbursement; rural school representatives warned it could hinder regional collaboration and create administrative burdens, and discussion continued on how to preserve executive-session confidentiality and public access.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not looking at any particular group or agency.
• So when I came up for justice, it was a group, and they would ask me questions.
• This group would determine whether I'm qualified, and you'd send the name to the governor.
• So when I came up for justice, it was a group, and they would ask me questions.
• I got the same group of criminals—typically young people, younger people.

Keywords: 996, all