Transcript Highlights:

• We are here today to present our proposed budget structure change, or the proposed budget format change
• No structural changes at all.
• With that, those format changes are made.
• of how do you determine where the changes are?
• of how do you determine where the changes are?

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That Will there be changes? Will there be changes?
• Will there be changes? Will there be changes?
• Will there be changes? Will there be changes?
• Will there be changes?
• Will there be changes?

Bills: HB1937, HB2153, HB3674, HB2978, HB3885, HB3671, HB3261, HB3021, HB3029, HB4274, HB3701, HB3076, HB2299, HB3852, HB3244, HB3345, HB3114, HB3764, HB4144, HB3304, HB2939, HB4227, HB3262, HB2941, HB3498, HB4343, HB4425, HB3386, HB3087, HB3062, HB3431, HB4141, HB3581, HB4237, HB2960, HB3645, HB3648, HB3974, HB3045, SCR18, HCR1024, SJR39, SJR49, HB4486, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1142, HB1823, HB4476, HB3378, HB3880, HB3031, HB3369, HB3429, HB3657, HB4215, HB3624, HB1170

Keywords: HB1937, Oklahoma schools, student communications, electronic communication, digital communication, parent notification, legal guardian, school personnel, teachers, coaches, administrators, charter schools, public schools, administrative leave, corroborated report, investigation, employee file, discipline, termination, school board

Transcript Highlights:

• Essentially, it made changes for everyone.
• Recommended actuarial contribution change.
• The change in the years in the amortization period, the change in the number of years assumes that we
• We would have to change our assumptions, and something would have to change.
• as a change around our society, subject to change so frequently is really concerning.

Transcript Highlights:

• And where are some of the big changes?
• Well, there's been a change in administration and a change in policy directive now.
• Very informative, and I'm sure you'll be with us just about monthly as things change and models change
• Talk about all the potential changes.
• What I will say is that potential eligibility changes or work requirements that might change who's eligible

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, the economy changes, taxpayers change; all that stuff changes in a ten-year period.
• Then you have your Medicaid changes from baseline based on the reconciliation changes.
• You know, that seems to have changed last week, doesn't it? Never. Lots of changes. Thank you.
• We have the Medicaid changes.
• Funding changes, policy changes, policy reversals.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:02.640> to employers if there is any changes to employers if there is any changes to
• um we're certainly aware of changing um we're certainly aware of changing trends<00:26:05.440>
• changing because of low participation. changing because of low participation.
• <00:42:52.960> And changed. So it's business as usual. And changed.
• then we have to react to that change. then we have to react to that change.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, approving the consent calendar and the minutes. It then took up a Department of Employment Security rule, 24193, where the only issue was that a form had not been incorporated by reference. The department submitted an oral conditional approval request with revised language, and the committee approved the rule conditionally. A second Employment Security rule, 195, raised concerns that the notice language was too broad and vague and could amount to oral rulemaking; because the agency had not yet finalized revised language, the committee granted a one-month waiver so the rule could return next month with a conditional approval proposal. The Department of Safety’s contact person notification program rule, 24237, drew comments about Social Security number collection, unclear drafting on one section, and ambiguity about which application needed a signature. The agency agreed to remove Social Security number references from the rules and forms and to adopt the suggested clarifying language with minor edits. After discussion about why the identifiers were needed, the committee approved the rule conditionally with the oral changes. The committee then moved a previously consent-calendar item, OPLC rule 2547, off consent after Representative Maguire objected that the renewal application form was too health-care-focused and user-unfriendly for other professions; the agency said it would revisit the form, and the committee postponed action until next month without needing a waiver. The final major item was Fish and Game’s HB 2548, which changes licensing and permit rules for taking deer, bear, moose, turkey, and furbearing animals. Staff noted extensive public testimony, including a coalition submission, and said the main dispute was over what data the agency should rely on in setting seasons and take limits. Fish and Game explained that declining trapper participation made capture-per-unit-effort data less reliable, so it also uses hunter surveys and UNH research projects funded in part by federal money; the agency said current trapping removals are very low and do not appear to threaten populations. Committee members and public witnesses questioned whether the agency’s responses to comments were sufficiently specific under the new public-comment law, but no final vote on the Fish and Game rule was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And even though I did not have to publish notice of my name change, that doesn't change the fact that
• And even though I did not have to publish notice of my name change, that doesn't change the fact that
• It enables people to make their name-change records private, treating name change like other family law
• It enables people to make their name change records private, treating name change like other family law
• Right now, anyone in Massachusetts who legally changes their name is required to publish that change

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil actions, labor, consumer protection, and animal welfare bills. Chair Lydia Edwards and Representative Michael Day opened with strict testimony rules and time limits, then heard from legislators and advocates on measures including animal-abuser pet ownership bans (S. 1207/H. 1914), a name-change privacy bill (S. 1045/H. 1973), tort claims reform (H. 1724), law enforcement council coverage under the Tort Claims Act (S. 1199), civil rights and qualified immunity-related proposals (H. 1641), employee free speech/captive audience restrictions (S. 1078/H. 1653), consumer protection and civil rights jurisdiction expansion (S. 1041), private right of action for wage theft (H. 1916), gun-owner liability insurance (H. 1836), pseudoephedrine sales tracking (S. 1243/H. 1581), prepaid legal services plans (H. 1612), structured settlement protections (H. 1863), third-party litigation financing disclosure (H. 1861), antitrust reform for small businesses and workers (S. 1038/H. 1982), legal notices in online-only newspapers (S. 1279/H. 1632), and several animal cruelty and protection bills including H. 1938, H. 1949, S. 1277/H. 1934, and H. 1764. Testimony was largely supportive from bill sponsors and advocacy groups, with repeated themes of protecting vulnerable people and animals, improving access to justice, and updating outdated laws. Supporters of the animal bills argued for stronger possession bans, broader cruelty citations, and civil removal tools to prevent repeat abuse; opponents or conditional supporters raised due process and enforcement concerns, especially around warrantless seizures and requiring retail or shelter staff to check registries. On the labor and consumer side, supporters said the antitrust bill would curb monopoly power and help small businesses and workers, while opponents warned it could destabilize competition and burden successful firms. The employee free speech bill was backed as a response to captive audience meetings, and the wage-theft bill was presented as a way to let workers or organizations pursue claims when individual employees are afraid to come forward. Several public officials and association representatives testified on the law enforcement and civil rights bills. Chiefs of police supported adding law enforcement councils to the Tort Claims Act, saying it would close a liability gap for regional mutual-aid collaborations. But police representatives opposed changes to the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act and qualified immunity-related provisions, arguing the federal system already provides a workable forum and that expanding liability could increase costs, reduce morale, and worsen recruitment and retention. On the consumer/civil rights bill, Senator Collins and a veteran described an out-of-state assault case that they said showed the need for Massachusetts to let residents seek redress at home when rights are violated elsewhere. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing itself; the committee mainly received testimony and questions. Several witnesses indicated they had submitted written testimony or proposed amendments, and some bills drew requests for favorable reports while others were explicitly opposed unless amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I do appreciate the fact that changing the gravity of the offense changes the dynamics of how it’
• <00:28:48.560> the appreciate the fact that changing the appreciate the fact that changing
• So we're not changing it to a felony is not going to change the conduct.
• So we're not changing it to a felony is not going to change the conduct.
• So we're not changing used, right?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• First, as was mentioned, the cadence of the changes: currently changes to a provider manual or other
• the Cadence of the changes mentioned the Cadence of the changes currently<02:16:51.359> changes
• by these changes that the carriers are making; the providers are not making these changes.
• by these changes that the carriers are making; the providers are not making these changes.
• economy<03:02:55.960> or vulnerable to changes in the economy or vulnerable to changes

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Barry Chang is our new dental director." "Is it Chan or Chang?" "Chang.
• Barry Chang is our new dental director." "Is it Chan or Chang?" "Chang.
• Barry Chang is our new dental director." "Is it Chan or Chang?" "Chang." "He's doing a great job."
• Barry Chang is our new dental director." "Is it Chan or Chang?" "Chang."
• Barry Chang is our new dental director." "Is it Chan or Chang?" "Chang.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee met on January 23, 2026, to approve prior minutes and receive an update from the Department of Health and Human Services. The main presentation focused on “Project Compass,” an internal cross-department effort to prepare for changes to Medicaid and SNAP eligibility. Department staff said the goal is to maintain continuous coverage for eligible people, align policy, operations, communications, legal, finance, and eligibility work, and use the new integrated New HEIGHTS system to streamline implementation. They emphasized outreach to beneficiaries, providers, managed care organizations, and other partners, and said temporary manual workarounds had already been used to stay in compliance with fast-moving SNAP changes. Members questioned how the department would avoid repeating the costly outreach effort used in a prior Medicaid work-requirement rollout. Department officials said they are focusing on ex parte processes, sharing eligibility information across programs, and using community partners to reduce duplicate contacts and paperwork. They also said the department is monitoring the SNAP error rate closely, expects automation and a planned system contract amendment to help reduce it, and noted that current error rates are trending downward and remain below the national average. Questions were also raised about possible future SNAP restrictions on certain foods; the department said it can implement whatever the legislature directs, but that defining and administering such restrictions would be complex. The commissioner and CFO then outlined the department’s budget reduction plan. They said the department has begun implementing required “back of the budget” reductions for fiscal year 2026, using contract savings and not cutting existing services where possible. Examples included dental and home-visitation contracts, where spending was adjusted based on utilization and projected need. Officials said they had already written down a little over $15 million in prior-year encumbrances, but that this one-time source will not be available next year, making fiscal year 2027 more difficult. They also explained the difference between legally required back-of-budget cuts and lapse, and said staffing remains a major challenge because vacancies have increased and customer-facing service levels are strained. Dr. Jonathan Ballard then began an update on opioid overdose fatalities, presenting the latest medical examiner data and describing the long-term rise in deaths after fentanyl entered the illicit drug supply, with a peak in 2017 and a later increase in 2022. The transcript cuts off before his full presentation and any further committee action beyond discussion of the minutes and receipt of the department updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's been changed, Madam Chair, Secretary?
• Federal changes are likely to reverse that.
• Changes really impact directly our ISD workforce.
• So that's a huge chunk of change.
• They are the kinds of changes that take Most of the changes would take, we're looking at 18 months, not

Transcript Highlights:

• So I made some editorial the changes.
• We're good with those changes.
• The only change and ICC agencies.
• bill as a change, right?
• Uh 104 A4 municipal changes.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:28.480> um sometimes they can actually change. um sometimes they can actually change
• 10:30.240> despite when those projections change despite when those projections change despite
• So that enrollment data, excuse me, that changes can also be impacted by FAFSA formula changes, such
• We can make changes to the statute, We can make changes to the statute, which<00:11:57.839> there<
• <00:12:08.240> in body that parameter changes are made in body that parameter changes are

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• as of June 30 of 2025 did not change.
• The only change to the 2020, 2025 did not change.
• And this just shows what changed.
• Nothing changed on those lines.
• The June 30, 2025 table did not change.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Public Retirement System Actuarial Committee met on Monday, June 22, with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes. There was no public comment. The main item was an actuarial update from Ms. Johnson on LASERS, prompted by House Bill 312 of 2026, which appropriated about $145 million to LASERS and required the committee to revise the projected fiscal year 2027 employer contribution rate to reflect the funds received. Ms. Johnson explained that $87.6 million was applied to the original amortization base, paying it off, and the remaining $57.9 million was applied to the experience account amortization base. As a result, the projected aggregate employer contribution rate for fiscal year 2027 was reduced from 32.51% to 30.05%, a decrease of 2.46%, with the projected employer contribution amount revised to about $738.7 million. She also noted that the original amortization base balance would be zero by June 30, 2026, while the experience account amortization base would continue to be paid down over time. Committee members asked about the longer-term impact of the changes, including a question about projected savings in 2036. Ms. Johnson said the later-year savings would depend on future actuarial experience and investment performance, but the projected UAL payment in that year would be lower under the revised schedule. The committee then moved to adopt the revised projected fiscal year 2027 LASERS contribution rate of 30.05% by plan, the motion was seconded, and it passed without opposition. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• change there. change there.
• <00:17:22.560> that a minor change, but the uh change that a minor change, but the uh change
• change.
• changed to. changed to.
• the changes it makes. the changes it makes.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this or you should change that.
• this or you should change that.
• this or you should change that.
• this or you should change that.
• um you spoke about your last two changes um you spoke about your last two changes and<00:54:31.200

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 313, and Representative Perez moved to retain the bill, saying it needed work and was not ready as written. Representative Smith supported that approach, and the motion to retain passed 18-0. The committee then considered House Bill 391, an anti-SLAPP measure. Representative Smith and others argued the bill was too broad, could create litigation and discovery disputes, and might even be read to affect criminal cases. The committee voted 18-0 to retain HB 391 as well, and the chair agreed to place it on consent with a report to be prepared. The committee next heard House Bill 462, establishing a cause of action for unwarranted video imaging of residential properties. Representative McFarland moved to retain, saying the bill raised First Amendment and property-rights concerns. The motion passed 18-0. The committee then took up House Bill 509, a fiscal note bill requiring reporting related to forfeitures. Members on both sides discussed the bill’s cost, the burden of collecting and collating the data, possible duplication across fiscal years, and whether the information was already being collected. The OTP motion passed 11-7, and Chairman Lynn asked Representative McFarland to prepare the report; a minority report was anticipated. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 520, which would authorize Department of Education hearing officers to issue subpoenas. Representative Kuttab supported the bill, saying similar authority exists in other agencies and states. Opponents argued the DOE already can obtain information through the attorney general, that the bill would create an unbalanced internal enforcement process, and that the subpoena authority was not tied to the curriculum-related concerns raised in testimony. Representative Ter offered Amendment 0842H to shift subpoena authority from DOE hearing officers to the attorney general; the amendment failed 7-11. The committee then voted on the bill as amended, and the OTP motion passed 10-8, with a minority report also requested.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sure seems to be a change in mood here today from Friday.
• The first substantive change is in Section 1.
• And you'll see that name change throughout this amendment.
• We know that people change jobs, they change their investment strategies, or they have changes in relationships
• That change is also made on line 15 of page 2, where you have that high water levels; that is changed

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then moved through a series of conference committee appointments and reconsideration motions. Senator Axtman successfully moved to reconsider House Bill 1160, which had previously failed, and the chamber later passed it. HB 1160 creates a statewide bell-to-bell policy restricting personal electronic devices during instructional time; supporters argued it would reduce distractions, improve mental health and academic outcomes, and help teachers, while opponents raised local control concerns. The bill passed 42-4. The Senate also passed several other measures, including HB 1247 on protecting student victims of sexual offenses, HB 1489 consolidating civil protection orders into one chapter, HB 1032 making municipal courts courts of record and updating related procedures, HB 1487 authorizing a Minot facility for the Highway Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Investigation with a line of credit and emergency clause, HB 1469 requiring annual online statements of interest for public officials, HB 1199 creating the Missing and Indigenous People Task Force and related MMIP initiatives, HB 1169 regulating paid veterans benefits claim assistance with consumer protections, HB 1209 directing a foreign adversary threat assessment, and HB 3018 as amended to study water, wetlands, and taxation of inundated lands. Most of these passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 1169 drew substantial debate over veterans’ service options and HB 1209 passed on a narrower 40-7 vote. The chamber rejected or declined several other measures. HB 1455, which would have required the Indian Affairs Commission to review introduced legislation for tribal implications, failed 7-40 after concerns about an unfunded mandate and duplicative duties. HB 1259, which would have put North Dakota on year-round daylight saving time, was defeated 15-32 after debate over time zones, construction, recreation, and whether the issue should be left to future legislatures. HB 1555, dealing with statements of ownership for foreign organizations of concern, also failed 3-44. The Senate then moved to announcements and committee scheduling for later meetings and conference committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was a change that was a pretty major change into the fiscal cost of this.
• That was a change that was a pretty major change into the fiscal cost of this.
• That was a change that was a pretty major change into the fiscal cost of this.
• That was a change that was a pretty major change into the fiscal cost of this.
• years with changes in authors changes<01:15:28.800> in changes in changes in interpretations<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes they do result in a score change, and when that happens, we make the score change.
• The change rate is higher on the human-scored items than the machine-scored items, but the change rate
• If a score is changed, it's free; if a score is not changed, it's $50.
• So we have your permission to change that? Yes, sir. Okay, we're going to change that.
• This is a significant change, and big changes can feel scary, as change often does.

Bills: HB8

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's because, again, they're assuming that they're changing station locations, including changing
• Our draft plan does reflect those changes.
• Our draft plan does reflect those changes.
• to weigh in on those changes to SB 198.
• And now we're going to find out after the fact what the change order is, as opposed to should we be changing

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 draft business plan, with testimony from the authority, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the High-Speed Rail Inspector General. Chair Cortese framed the hearing around major changes since the 2024 plan, including a new CEO, revised scope for the Merced-to-Bakersfield initial operating segment, the loss of about $4 billion in federal funds, and the authority’s push for private investment, value capture, and public-private partnerships. The authority’s CEO said the project is now in a more disciplined phase, with most major structures in the Central Valley underway or complete, track procurement moving forward, and an updated target of revenue service for the initial operating segment by early 2033. He also highlighted cost-saving “optimization,” direct procurement of materials, and plans to pursue ancillary revenues from real estate, energy, broadband, and logistics. Committee members pressed the authority on several issues, including proposed station relocations in Merced and Bakersfield, reduced double-tracking, the need for tax increment or other value-capture tools, utility relocation authority, permitting delays, transparency, and whether the project can still qualify as true high-speed rail. The CEO said the station locations are still under discussion with local governments, that the project will still be built to high-speed standards, and that the authority is seeking legislative changes to reduce delays and enable financing. Senators also questioned the loss of federal funds, the use of future cap-and-invest revenues, and the feasibility of private financing; the authority said the project can proceed without the withdrawn federal money but that it will keep applying for grants and exploring ways to bring future revenue forward. LAO and the Inspector General were sharply critical of the draft plan. They said it does not fully comply with newer statutory requirements in SB 198 and AB 377, especially because it assumes a different Merced station location and a largely single-track segment without clearly identifying those as scope changes. They also said the plan omits key funding details, including borrowing costs that could total billions, and relies on assumptions about future legislative changes, financing, and project savings that may not materialize. The Inspector General said the draft plan falls short on required business-plan elements, including comparable cost estimates, a complete funding plan, and projected procurement milestones. In response, the authority committed to address the OIG’s findings in the final business plan and to provide a written response on compliance before the plan is finalized.