Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:27.880><c> under</c> we will take the uh input under we will take the uh input under advisement
• </c> even uh moving forward any regulations. even uh moving forward any regulations.
• </c> dollars first, send us over regulations dollars first, send us over regulations second,<00:53:43.600
• The data terminals that are in cruisers.
• :41.200><c> page</c> Operational expenditures data on page Operational expenditures data on page 177.

Summary: The Free Conference Committee on the 2026 General Assembly budget met to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of House Bill 500. Leaders opened by thanking the other chamber’s work, asking members to turn microphones on and off to avoid feedback, and stressing the need to clearly note decision points so both chambers record the same actions. Staff then walked through the bill page by page, explaining that the committee was comparing only House and Senate differences, not the governor’s proposed budget. The discussion covered a wide range of appropriations and language items, including next generation non-911 services, school safety reporting tools, restored funding for brain injury, epilepsy, veteran service, homeless veterans, and rocket docket programs, debt service changes, rural infrastructure, disaster aid caps, Attorney General and Medicaid fraud funding, agriculture and county fair grants, auditor and pension-related appropriations, school facilities and SEEK funding, and numerous education programs. Members also discussed charter-related funding such as Star Academy, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, school resource officers, school-based mental health providers, AP/IB exams, Governor’s Scholars and Entrepreneurs, and several pilot or initiative programs in economic development, energy, and labor. Several items were described as technical corrections or restorations of language and funding, while others reflected differences in amounts or how funds would be distributed. There were several questions and comments from members about wording such as “implement and carry out,” the absence of the governor’s budget from the comparison document, and whether SEEK funding should be tied to teacher raises. The chair and other members emphasized that the committee’s role was to reconcile the two chambers’ budgets, not to adopt the governor’s proposal. Members also raised concerns about opioid settlement funds and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library match rate, with one senator urging restoration of the House language. No final vote or formal action was taken in the portion provided; the meeting primarily consisted of explanation, questions, and discussion of proposed budget differences.

Bills: SB143 , SB144 , SB145 , SB152 , SB153 , SB154 , SB162 , SB226 , SB146 , SB143 , SB144 , SB145 , SB152 , SB153 , SB154 , SB162 , SB226 , SB146

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: SB143, solid waste, garbage collection, trash fees, refuse collection, municipal fees, county fees, fee exemption, veterans benefits, veteran household, disabled veteran, VA benefits, Social Security exemption, low-income households, poverty level, county commission, municipal governing body, Alabama solid waste law, certificate of exception, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• We see it as an opportunity to provide input on situations that child care is facing.
• And then it transfers key programs and some of the data from DWS over under GOEO.
• in the region. ...input in the region in that area.
• Be data informed. Everything's evidence-based; decisions... Be data-informed.
• Decisions are grounded in data and insights and have proven approaches.

Committee: Joint Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• or federally regulated, just looking at it.
• Know if a plan is state-regulated or federally regulated, just looking at the process.
• It's federally regulated and approved by FDA.
• The most recent data... Thank you, Madam Chair.
• The most recent data that I have, Senator, is ending with 2024.

Summary: The committee heard several health-related bills. SB 1082 would let providers or insurers in state-regulated commercial plans opt into the federal independent dispute resolution process for emergency out-of-network claims, with a late-filed amendment clarifying access to the state program in certain circumstances. The bill sponsor and emergency physicians said the measure would reduce litigation and improve payment resolution; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. SB 1168 would centralize background screening work for the care provider clearinghouse at the Agency for Health Care Administration and update related screening rules, including sealed and expunged records for qualified entities. The sponsor said the change would speed turnaround and reduce duplication; an amendment was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 1156 would move ambulatory surgical center regulation out of Chapter 395 into a standalone section of law, and it was reported favorably without amendment. SB 1480, as amended by a strike-all, would grandfather certain temporary certificate holders practicing in areas of critical need if federal designations change, allowing them to continue seeing current patients and potentially new patients in their existing area subject to board oversight. The committee heard support from health system representatives and reported the bill favorably. The final and most debated measure, SB 1756 on medical freedom, would require vaccine education materials and alternative schedules, expand school immunization exemptions to conscience-based objections, clarify limits on emergency vaccination orders, and allow pharmacists to dispense ivermectin behind the counter with written information. The sponsor and supporters framed it as parental choice and access, while physicians, public health advocates, cancer advocates, and parents of immunocompromised children warned it would lower vaccination rates and increase disease risk. The committee adopted a liability-related amendment, rejected a substitute amendment that would have required consultation for exemptions, and continued hearing public testimony opposing the bill; the transcript ends before final action on SB 1756.

Transcript Highlights:

• It updates encounter data reporting requirements.
• I think there is a limited amount of actual data because the industry is not regulated in any meaningful
• They are certainly not regulated at all. Fertility clinics aren't regulated at all by Florida.
• There’s not been any responsible, thoughtful input.
• There's not been any responsible, thoughtful input.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• , including the personal data of millions of Americans.
• , including the personal data of millions of Americans.
• , including the personal data of millions of Americans.
• Our nation's data and security is at risk.
• Our nation's data and security is at risk.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you have data? Oh, thank you. Mr. Chair, Senator, it is appropriating $20 million. Okay.
• When we sought to provide input and voice our position to the city, we did not feel...
• Real community input before irreversible commitments are made.
• from, and certainly those parties are big players and they have qualified input.
• I was working on this 14 years ago after extensive public input and particularly input from these two

Bills: SB1088 , SB1156 , SB1157 , SB1169 , SB1245 , SB1273 , SB1330 , SB1332 , SB1391 , SB1498 , SB1531 , SB1550 , SB1598 , SB1677 , SB1707 , SB1811 , SB1818

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: cybersecurity, homeland security, artificial intelligence, state appropriation, VPN security, zero trust, appropriation, public safety, detention, unauthorized aliens, local government funding, border security, fencing, appropriations, southern border, local government, medical education, physician shortage, healthcare funding, Arizona health care

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> non-public data from the legislative non-public data from the legislative auditor<00:32:22.679><
• </c><00:37:19.640><c> from</c> uh which again getting good input from uh which again getting good input
• really to restrict to the least amount of data necessary to prevent abuse, to prevent that data from
• abuse to prevent um that data prevent abuse to prevent um that data from<01:04:29.960><c> falling</c>
• <01:30:37.320><c> is</c> data is data is there<01:30:40.040><c> okay</c><01:30:40.239><c> represent</

Bills: HF1 , HF2

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have a lot of data that we work with more of our administrative... of data, and that data can
• be found on Texas health data.
• Data is clear and common sense.
• Furthermore, data from the U.S....
• You know, the data you should follow the data, sir. Yes, sir.

Bills: HB 1106 , HB3284 , HB541 , HB713 , HB1403 , HB1586 , HB1942 , HB2070 , HB2844 , HB2851 , HB3151 , HB3749 , HB3940 , HB3963 , HB4454 , HB4466 , HB4795 , HB5154 , HB5394 , SB1357 , HB 1052 , HB4099 , HB4638 , HB5147

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I wouldn't have known it was that high until I looked at the data.
• We did look at publicly available data on waste feedstock availability.
• We just had a workshop last month where we got a lot of good input.
• And then lastly, of course... ...and getting input from them as well.
• They are our traditional regulator.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, House Bill 2992 is the Data Center Customer Protection Act of 2026. Is there a PCS?
• House Bill 2992 would require data centers to pay their share of infrastructure costs associated with
• And so the first part of this bill deals with battery storage protections and regulations.
• Even some of the largest data centers employ less than 150 people, sometimes as few as 25.
• And I think... ...by this rule, by these provisions, to approve a data center.

Bills: HB2989 , HB3724 , HB2992 , HB3464 , HB4246 , HB3989

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 4246, which would expand training and technical assistance options for rural water-related programs by allowing the state to consider qualified suppliers other than the Rural Water Association. After brief questions about the type of vendors involved, the bill received a 7-0 due pass vote. House Bill 3989 followed and was described as cleanup language continuing prior negotiations among the oil and gas industry, electric co-ops, and investor-owned utilities; the committee adopted the PCS and passed the bill 7-0. Members then considered House Bill 2992, the Data Center Customer Protection Act of 2026. The committee adopted a PCS and an amendment reducing the threshold from 100 megawatts to 75 megawatts. The bill would require data centers to pay infrastructure costs tied to their electricity demand so those costs are not shifted to other ratepayers; it passed 7-0. House Bill 3464, which adds protections and regulatory requirements for battery storage and updates transparency and decommissioning provisions for wind and solar projects, also passed 7-0 after adoption of a PCS. House Bill 3724, as revised in a second PCS, drew the most debate. It would define high-demand facilities to include data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations, AI computing facilities, and large battery storage systems, and would impose restrictions on subsidies, infrastructure costs, water use, foreign ownership, agricultural land siting, noise, decommissioning, and local approval processes, including a petition mechanism to overturn local decisions. Supporters argued it was needed to protect communities, landowners, water resources, and ratepayers; opponents raised concerns about property rights, agricultural land restrictions, local control, and the petition/recall process. The bill failed on a 2-6 vote and remained in committee. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 2989, which would allow electric utilities to prepare wildfire mitigation plans, create a wildfire mitigation revolving fund, and direct the Conservation Commission to develop a wildfire mitigation test pilot and refine mitigation strategies. With a PCS adopted and no debate, the bill passed 8-0, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for the sake of collecting data, right? for the sake of collecting data, right?
• We're collecting data. We're going to do something with that data.
• We're collecting data. We're going to do something with that data.
• </c> this data this data already, but<00:24:04.240><c> Okay.
• </c> a lot of data already. That's right. a lot of data already. That's right.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 74, which would require state agencies, especially the Department of Environmental Services and other permitting agencies, to report more detailed data on permit applications, approvals, denials, pending applications, and permits taking longer than 90 days. The sponsor’s representative and a lawyer who helped draft the bill argued that the legislature needs comprehensive permitting data to evaluate whether current timelines are reasonable and whether regulatory delays are burdening property owners and economic activity. They said the information should already be tracked within existing budgets, despite a fiscal note claiming additional staff would be needed. A Business and Industry Association representative supported the bill, saying better data is needed to understand actual permitting timelines and to help streamline the process, especially in light of housing and development concerns. Members asked whether the bill was simply collecting data without a clear next step, and the response was that the data would allow lawmakers to judge whether existing deadlines, extensions, and exemptions are justified and whether changes to permit timelines are needed. Several members agreed the information would be useful and that agencies should already be tracking it. The committee then voted to pass Senate Bill 74 on a roll call, with the motion approved and the bill placed on consent for further consideration, with a note that it would go to finance for review of the fiscal note. The committee then took up Senate Bill 196, which would raise the threshold for certain in-house construction projects handled by the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services and two other departments from $500,000 to $1 million, described as an inflationary update. The sponsor said the department’s existing staff can handle these smaller renovation-type projects and that the bill should not require new positions; the deputy adjutant general later confirmed the department does not need additional staff and said the projects are typically roof, boiler, and similar repairs. Members asked about a fiscal note suggesting new positions and about revenue/expenditure impacts, and the sponsor explained that the fiscal note language appeared to reflect an earlier draft and that the budget effect is largely a shift in where the work is performed. The committee recessed briefly for the deputy adjutant general’s arrival, then continued discussion of the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> all of the input we received. all of the input we received.
• <01:18:22.120><c> division</c> regulation division regulation division uh<01:18:23.360><c> to</c><01:
• We need to see a lot more data.
• We need to see a lot more data.
• We need to see a lot more data.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• That way we make sure we don't get any data centers either.
• The first part of the bill, again, is just data centers right now.
• I think it's important to point out I'm not anti-data center.
• It eliminates EDRs for data centers of all sizes.
• Unless there's a data center in there, they wouldn't.

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• And how can you use data to evaluate your system?
• And today, our data is a little bit different than the data that you saw Dr. Sanders give.
• The data he's looking at is a little bit different.
• a subset of this data.
• How are we getting our data?

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Summary: The committee heard an update on Washington’s child welfare system from Casey Family Programs and then from DCYF. Dr. David Sanders presented national and state trends showing fewer children entering and remaining in out-of-home care, more kinship placements, and relatively low use of group homes, but he also flagged concerns about children lingering in care for years and an increase in repeat maltreatment and child fatalities. He urged stronger focus on infants and young children, better coordination among child protection, health care, and law enforcement, and more proactive review and decision-making practices. Members asked for disaggregated data on children remaining in care, fatalities, and the role of fentanyl and other factors. DCYF said Washington has increased relative placements and guardianships, citing prior legislative changes such as HB 1747, HB 1227, and SB 6109. Officials reported a rise in critical incidents in 2025, especially near-fatalities involving children age three and under, many tied to opioid exposure, and described responses including safe child consults, hotspot identification, more training on neglect and medically complex cases, updated safety tools, and expanded community supports and peer services. Members pressed DCYF on cross-agency collaboration, preventive services, and whether a broader commission on child abuse prevention should be created; DCYF said it would be open to discussing that and noted existing work with health and legal partners. The committee then received a DSHS update on the agency’s “Reimagined” reorganization. Secretary Angela Ramirez said the restructuring consolidates administrations to reduce silos, improve customer experience, and better coordinate services across behavioral health, habilitation, aging, long-term support, technology, and analytics. She said DSHS will seek statutory alignment and CMS approval and is also redesigning its website. Members asked about federal HR1 impacts, SNAP, and whether DSHS has a team tracking federal changes; Ramirez said the agency is monitoring developments and will coordinate with legislators. Finally, DSHS provided an update on residential habilitation centers and implementation of SB 5393, which phases out new long-term admissions at Rainier School and closes it by June 30, 2027. Officials reported current census and capacity figures for the state’s RHCs, described recent resident transitions from Rainier, and said emergency and permanent rulemaking are underway. They also disclosed that a recent CMS survey found Rainier out of compliance with the active treatment condition of participation, prompting corrective action plans and a 90-day window to return to compliance. Members questioned the meaning of active treatment, the lack of available capacity, the consequences of noncompliance, and whether Rainier could be repurposed for other services; DSHS said it is working to correct the deficiencies and is open to future uses if directed and funded by the legislature.

Transcript Highlights:

• So quickly and very summarily, how banks are regulated.
• Banks have the option to choose to be state-regulated or nationally regulated.
• So rather than being regulated by the Commissioner of Banks, they would be regulated by the Office of
• So rather than being regulated by the commissioner of banks, they would be regulated by the Office of
• I know, obviously, this country does not regulate interchange rates.

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission studying the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses held what leaders described as its last public hearing, though they said the commission would continue meeting to develop a report and recommendations. Chair Paul Feeney and other members noted the issue is complex and that they had sought testimony from a wide range of stakeholders before moving into a more deliberative phase. The commission adjourned after hearing from several in-person and virtual witnesses. Banking and card-industry witnesses, including the Massachusetts Bankers Association, the Card Coalition, the Electronic Payments Coalition, and others, argued that payment cards provide major benefits to consumers and merchants, including convenience, fraud protection, fast settlement, and broad access to electronic commerce. They warned that state-level changes to interchange rules could create a patchwork of conflicting requirements, disrupt global payment systems, and especially affect state-chartered community banks and small businesses. Several also said recent federal actions and litigation, including OCC and NCUA preemption rules and the Illinois interchange-fee litigation, have limited the practical reach of state laws. Restaurant, retail, and convenience-store witnesses pushed for relief from swipe fees, saying independent businesses operate on thin margins and pay fees on amounts that are not really their revenue, such as sales tax and gratuities. They urged transparency, the ability to surcharge, vendor compensation for tax collection, and limits on interchange or related fees. Some witnesses said merchants bear significant fraud and chargeback costs and that banks and card networks have not offered enough direct relief. Commissioners asked questions about surcharging, fee regulation, fraud, and whether industry should share more of the burden. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond adjourning the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any increase over that historical amount is subject to regulation by GSAs.
• This bill sets a clear, transparent path for legislative review and input.
• So now, I just hope that we'll learn from the data.
• Data, reliable data says youth are spending more time on social media and it's often linked to higher
• Just so you know, folks, some data, members.

Transcript Highlights:

• H. 5115, an act establishing statewide food truck regulations, filed by Rep. Hogan.
• And our group is pro-regulation and patient safety.
• To be clear, we support regulation, but we want the right regulation, and we would like to partner and
• Third, there is a risk of duplicating existing regulation.
• Third, there is a risk of duplicating existing regulations.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on four bills: H. 5013 and S. 2928, which would establish a three-year celiac disease screening pilot program for children during routine cholesterol/lipid screening at ages 8 to 12; H. 5087, regulating medical spas; and H. 5115, establishing statewide food truck regulations, though the transcript focused almost entirely on the celiac and medical spa bills. For the celiac proposal, Rep. Badger and Sen. Lovely described long diagnostic delays, the lack of a cure, and the potential for a simple blood test to identify children earlier and reduce long-term harm. Multiple patients, clinicians, and researchers supported the pilot, saying celiac is frequently missed because symptoms vary widely or are absent, and that early detection could prevent malnutrition, growth problems, osteoporosis, and other complications. Testifiers also emphasized that the bill would study feasibility, accuracy, cost, and acceptability, and would include family education and support resources if diagnoses are made through the program. Several experts and advocates backed the celiac screening pilot, including a pediatric gastroenterologist from Italy who described successful national screening efforts there, a Celiac Disease Foundation representative, pediatric gastroenterologists from Massachusetts and Colorado, a pediatric dietitian, and a parent whose child was diagnosed after severe malnutrition. They argued that routine screening alongside existing pediatric bloodwork could identify many undiagnosed children and improve health equity, since celiac disease is often overlooked in people of color and lower-income patients. Committee members asked about how the screening would work, and witnesses explained it could begin with a blood test, followed by confirmatory endoscopy if needed. No vote was taken in the hearing. On H. 5087, witnesses from the medical aesthetics industry largely opposed the bill as written, saying it was outdated, redundant with existing Massachusetts licensing and board oversight, and too restrictive for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other licensed providers. Testifiers, including a retired lobbyist, a nurse practitioner, a PA, a plastic surgeon, and a clinic owner, said the bill could reduce access, raise costs, and push care into less regulated settings, while not addressing the real issues of training, compliance, and patient safety. Committee members pressed for more specific feedback on what provisions were unnecessary or duplicative, and witnesses said they had submitted position papers and written testimony identifying conflicts with current law. The hearing ended with the chair noting that all oral and written testimony would be reviewed before any decisions are made.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Regulated Industries will now come to order.
• Members, we will take up tab 6, SB 484 on data centers.
• This bill revises Florida law regarding the regulation of large-scale data centers and certain other
• Domestic data centers keep sensitive data on U.S. soil, under U.S. jurisdiction, and subject to American
• Domestic data centers keep sensitive data on U.S. soil under U.S. jurisdiction and subject to American

Bills: S0408 , S0986 , S0678 , S0800 , S1050 , S0484 , S1118

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Transcript Highlights:

• We would like to make policy that's guided by data.
• We are currently catching up on a backlog of these data.
• reporting for the state we are currently catching up on a backlog of these data the first data set that
• data that is currently posted.
• Making sure that it is reliable data—data that the public and yourselves can trust—is of the highest

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard several education bills, with AB 887 by Assemblymember Berman proposing that every school district and charter school adopt a plan so all high schools offer at least one computer science course by 2029-30. Supporters, including a teacher and student, argued California is falling behind other states and that computer science is essential for student opportunity and workforce readiness. ACSA opposed the bill, citing the shortage of qualified computer science teachers and administrative burden. The bill passed the committee on a 6-0 vote and was sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1390 by Assemblymember Solache, which would allow local and county school boards to raise trustee compensation above long-standing statutory minimums that have not changed in decades. Supporters said the current stipends are too low to make board service accessible to working families and younger community members. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill passed with five votes, with the roll left open for additional members. AB 865 by Assemblymember Gonzalez would create a $5 million, three-year grant program for dual-language immersion instructional materials, split between high-demand languages and other languages. Supporters said districts often lack standards-aligned materials in languages beyond Spanish, forcing teachers to create their own. The bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. AB 857 by Assemblymember Gibson, requiring annual cultural competency training for K-12 staff, also passed 5-1 after supporters linked it to the state reparations task force report and argued it would improve trust and student outcomes. The committee additionally approved AB 677 by Assemblymember Bryan, which would make it easier for unhoused students to access school-based vision and dental screenings by allowing directory information to be used for that purpose with an opt-out process; it passed 8-0. AB 903 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, directing the Department of Education to develop best practices on education technology and digital equity, passed after amendments and with some opponents indicating they would remove opposition once the amendments were in print. Finally, AB 917 by Assemblymember Avila Farias, extending permanent-status protections to certain educators in small districts and county programs, drew significant opposition from small districts and regional occupational programs over flexibility and funding concerns; the bill still passed 5-2 with the roll held open for additional votes.