Transcript Highlights:

• </c> viable federal entity. viable federal entity.
• ,</c> know that if I'm working with an entity, know that if I'm working with an entity, I<00:42:59.480
• </c> being assigned to outside entities. being assigned to outside entities.
• :06:48.520><c> entities</c><01:06:49.040><c> have</c> its subsidiary or related entities have its subsidiary
• That same authorization did not entity.

Bills: HF3643, HF4470, HF4462, HF4366, HF4172, HF3629, HF4356, HF3093

Keywords: Melissa Hortman, Mark Hortman, memorial park, state park, working group, Minnesota Historical Society, Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, Saint Paul, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Administration, Legislative Coordinating Commission, general fund appropriation, park planning, interpretive services, public engagement, state memorial, land use, natural resources, commemorative legislation, HF4470

Transcript Highlights:

• the cost of the annual physicals for the new officers that would be covered by this.
• All peace officers deserve to be covered by this bill, so we support this 100% and ask that you vote
• But this actually kind of covers some of those costs for those examinations that weren't included in
• That would be the clarification there to billing entity.
• It authorizes the Board of County Commissioners of a county to enact ordinances to authorize covered

Bills: AB49, AB93, AB108, AB169, AB188, AB212, AB221, AB224, AB251, AB282, AB284, AB296, AB304, AB331, AB356, AB366, AB375, AB409, AB467, AB475, AB476, AB479, AB494, AB514, AB515, AB533, AB542, AB550, AB558, AB567, AB568, AB571, AB581, AB583, AB584, AB585, AB595, AB596, AB597, SB170, SB427, SB460, SB508

Keywords: educational personnel, teacher licensing, reciprocal licensure, provisional teaching, school counselors, school nurses, school social workers, state education standards, public employees, police officers, benefits, appropriation, law enforcement, outdoor education, recreation, grant program, environment, funding, health insurance, speech-language pathology

Transcript Highlights:

• There is not a target on any entity, simply an effort to make sure that we maintain the focus on local
• While the state has made many strides in preventing local entities from enacting bans on appliances and
• How we spend our money demands the full attention of all state and local entities.
• We talk a lot about how much money state and local entities spend here in Texas and their influence as
• Does that take pressure off y'all assuming the residential meters are going to cover that?

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:27:59.600><c> and</c> the local other local entities and the local other local entities and whatnot
• </c> these other entities. these other entities. Followup. Followup. Followup.
• I I other entities lower by about half.
• Thank you. entities entities have have have do<03:10:41.359><c> we</c><03:10:41.520><c> do</c><03:10:
• Do the local entities have boundaries?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> um distributes money to various entities um distributes money to various entities um<00:06:40.800
• Partnerships between the two entities Partnerships between the two entities and<00:41:16.599><c> then
• It might be a state entity, a nonprofit, or a local government.
• It might be a state entity, a nonprofit, or a local government.
• It might be a state entity, a nonprofit, or a local government.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And then when you go to line 37, there will not be increased employee compensation to cover union dues
• So no additional unions are covered by this.
• Representative, it's all of the above, everything that's covered in the bill. Okay, follow up.
• If the unions are paying for my time, then the union's covering the bill and not the taxpayer.
• As has been stated previously, unions are private entities. They operate as private entities.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 17 and introduced a new page. It then took up Senate Bill 1261, which would add the word “appointed” to code so that an appointed officeholder is treated the same as an elected one after a resignation and appointment. There was no opposition, and the committee voted to send SB 1261 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. The main item was House Bill 745, a proposal by Rep. Judy Boyle to bar school districts from using public funds or payroll systems for certain union-related activities. Boyle said the bill would stop districts from paying union dues, increasing compensation to cover dues, providing paid leave for union work, sharing extra personal information with unions, or distributing union communications, while exempting police and firefighter unions and preserving collective bargaining. Committee members pressed her on why teachers were singled out, how the bill fit with existing law, and whether the claimed $1.2 million fiscal impact was consistent with the fiscal note. Boyle said the bill was aimed at keeping taxpayer money in classrooms and that some districts already use public funds for union-related costs. Public testimony on HB 745 was split. Supporters, including representatives of the Freedom Foundation, Americans for Prosperity, the National Right to Work Committee, parents, taxpayers, and several teachers or school employees, argued that payroll deductions, paid release time, and district support for union activities improperly subsidize private political organizations and should be paid for by unions themselves. Opponents, including the Idaho Education Association, the AFL-CIO, a superintendent, and an educator, argued the bill is aimed at teachers’ unions, is not neutral because it excludes police and fire, could interfere with local community events and school partnerships, and may create legal and administrative problems. No final vote on HB 745 was taken in the portion provided; testimony continued with the bill still under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's an ongoing conversation that's always going on with all the entities involved.
• In total, the $120 covers the three months.
• If there is a crop loss, it will raise the amount that is covered.
• Why weren't we covering the entire handout?
• state funding and covering it in that way.

Transcript Highlights:

• Officer Colos covered a lot. Officer Colos covered a lot of the similar stuff that I had to cover.
• I think Officer Colos covered about everything else that I had in his presentation, but I am open to
• They have several entities that they have founded.
• They have several entities that they have founded that support sales of dairy products.
• So we produce milk for a foreign entity. Canada, so we produce milk for a foreign entity.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 771, which would create a licensing and inspection framework for retail hemp products and give the Idaho State Department of Agriculture authority to test products for THC. Representative Shirts said the bill was still being worked on and asked that it be held at the call of the chair. Testimony from the Idaho Farm Bureau, Boise Police Department, and the Idaho Retailers Association generally supported the goal of closing loopholes and ensuring products sold as CBD are actually THC-free, while also raising concerns about the bill’s scope and the need to narrow it so it would not unintentionally cover non-consumable hemp items such as shampoos, clothing, rope, and other retail goods. Committee members also asked about THC thresholds and enforcement, and ISDA Director Chanel T. Walt explained existing hemp and controlled-substances definitions and said the proposal would shift routine oversight from law enforcement to an administrative licensing process. The committee then voted to hold HB 771 in committee at the call of the chair. The committee next took up House Bill 772, which would clarify when hemp producers do not commit a negligent violation if their crop exceeds the THC limit under certain conditions. Representative Shirts said the bill would align Idaho’s rules with federal standards and would not change the 0.3% THC limit, but would define a negligent violation for grain or fiber hemp when the producer made a reasonable effort to comply and the crop did not exceed 1% THC. Braden Jensen of the Idaho Farm Bureau supported the bill, explaining that it would protect growers from losing licenses over THC spikes caused by heat stress or other factors outside their control. The committee voted unanimously to send HB 772 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. After the hemp bills, the committee received an informational presentation from Dairy West and the Idaho Dairy Products Commission. Dairy West CEO Steve Seppi described the organization’s regional structure, funding through producer assessments, board governance, and programs focused on marketing, research, nutrition, exports, and industry relations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah. He highlighted Idaho’s large dairy sector, continued growth in production and processing investment, and efforts to promote dairy consumption and innovation. Chairman Don Galswick added comments about the value of Dairy West’s work in countering plant-based protein competition and supporting the industry’s sustainability message. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved the minutes from February 26, 2026, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Officer Colos covered a lot. Officer Colos covered a lot of the same material I had to cover.
• I think Officer Colos covered about everything else that I had in his presentation, but I am open to
• They have several entities that they have founded.
• They have several entities that they have founded that support sales of dairy products.
• So we produced milk for a foreign entity. Canada, so we produce milk for a foreign entity.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 771, which would create licensing and inspection requirements for retail sellers of hemp/CBD products and give the Idaho State Department of Agriculture authority to test products for THC. Representative Shirts said the bill was still being worked on and asked that it be held at the call of the chair. Testimony from the Idaho Farm Bureau, Boise Police Department, and the Idaho Retailers Association generally supported the goal of closing loopholes and improving oversight, but several witnesses and members raised concerns about clarity in the bill’s language, especially the lack of an explicit THC threshold and the potential impact on mainstream retailers selling non-consumable hemp items. The ISDA director explained existing hemp and controlled-substances definitions and said the department already handles similar product regulation in other areas. A motion was made to hold HB 771 in committee at the call of the chair, and the committee agreed to do so. The committee then heard House Bill 772, which would clarify when hemp producers growing for grain or fiber do not commit a negligent violation if their crop exceeds THC limits, so long as they made a reasonable effort to comply and the crop does not exceed 1% THC. Representative Shirts said the measure aligns state law with federal rules and does not change the 0.3% THC standard, but instead addresses how negligent violations are treated. The Idaho Farm Bureau supported the bill, and members discussed how heat stress can cause THC levels to rise late in the season. A motion to send HB 772 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation passed without opposition. After the hemp bills, the committee received an informational presentation from Dairy West and the Idaho Dairy Products Commission on the regional dairy checkoff program. Dairy West leaders described the organization’s expansion to include Washington and Oregon, its funding structure, board governance, and major program areas such as marketing, export promotion, nutrition, research, and producer outreach. They highlighted Idaho’s large dairy sector, recent growth in milk production and processing investment, and efforts to support exports and consumer demand. Committee members asked a few questions about the state’s dairy processing mix, and the presenters said Idaho remains primarily a cheese-producing state, with yogurt production also growing. The committee then approved the minutes from February 26, 2026, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program has a sunset of six years, and no tax credit may be claimed if the contributee entity receives
• Entities can provide child care in-house, contract for services, offer scholarships to cover child care
• So if you have this $5,000 that's taken... ...one somewhere and then they cover the cost.
• I do know this also usually covers after-school care programs as well.
• It's a nonprofit that's actually running it: Child Care Aware..." "...with this one entity.

Summary: The Committee on Economic Development met with a quorum and first heard House Bill 2409 from Rep. Brenda Shields, which would create three child care-related tax credit programs to help address Missouri’s workforce and child care shortages. Shields said the bill is aimed at expanding affordable, reliable child care through community partnerships involving businesses, nonprofits, and providers, with credits for contributions to child care facilities, employer-provided child care assistance, and provider facility improvements. She and supporters cited child care deserts, high costs, and lost economic output, arguing the bill would help parents work and businesses recruit and retain employees. Witnesses in support included the Missouri Chamber, Kids Win Missouri, Associated Industries of Missouri, local chambers, economic development groups, and child care-related organizations; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then moved into executive session and approved House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2508 and House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2517, both by unanimous 12-0 roll call votes and both sent do pass on consent. The 2508 substitute dealt with series LLC language, including searchable records and stand-alone certificates of good standing. The 2517 substitute addressed wholesaling, adding a 14-day disclosure period and changing Attorney General enforcement language from “shall” to “may.” Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2654 from Rep. Knight, which would create a Missouri Works capital investment track for projects with at least $50 million in investment, offering a 2.5% tax credit without requiring new job creation. The sponsor and Department of Economic Development said the proposal is modeled on programs in other states and is intended to help Missouri compete for large investments, especially in manufacturing and automation. Many business and economic development groups testified in support, emphasizing retention, expansion, and regional competition; several members asked whether the $50 million threshold could be lowered, and the sponsor said he was open to discussion. No opposition testimony was offered, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 322 would authorize using JET grant funds to cover the acquisition, implementation, and ongoing
• It also would permit the instruction to be delivered online and by qualified external entities, including
• The legislature passed HB 396 to add interstate shipping that may be covered by the Instructional Materials
• Before this change in law, only out-of-state shipping costs were covered by the Instructional Materials
• and in doing so, they would be subject to the jurisdiction of the rules imposed by the NCAA or an entity

Bills: HB322, HB126, HB3062, HB1481, HB2310, HB2674, HB121, HB2243, HB3627, HB1178, HB367, HB5515, HB126, HB121

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, fentanyl prevention, drug poisoning awareness, higher education, mental health resources, substance abuse education, student policy, communication devices, school regulations, disciplinary measures

Transcript Highlights:

• I it it's already covered under OSHA.
• </c> PPE covered PPE covered um<00:36:39.760><c> up</c><00:36:40.000><c> to</c><00:36:40.160><c> $1,000
• OSHA covers that. You get done deal. OSHA covers that.
• All that will be covered will still be covered by workers' comp.
• still be covered by of that will still be covered by workman's<01:41:36.480><c> comp.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• all the areas of the world. but in the area you cover, you're it.
• My attorney at the time, Gittner Drummond, who is now the AG of Oklahoma, asked for $50,000 to cover
• Let's be really clear, we are talking about covering up. Secrets about the rape of children.
• We allow our bodies of leaders like you here to allow... allow them to be covered up, then the children
• We watched in horror as NDAs were used to insulate organizational leadership to cover themselves.

Bills: HB170, HB865, HB748, HJR112, HB 1110, HB1495, HB786, HB 1130, HB170

Keywords: civil liability, self-defense, force, deadly force, legal immunity, attorney's fees, criminal justice, firearms, liability, veterans, gun ownership, immunity, firearm hold agreement, sexual abuse, nondisclosure, confidentiality, public policy, Trey's Law, parental rights, child upbringing

Transcript Highlights:

• They cover Canada, the United States, and a small part of northern Mexico.
• They cover Canada, the United States, and a small part of northern Mexico.
• So it covers a bunch of kinds of payment issues. Okay.
• It covers a bunch of kinds of payment issues. Okay.
• I know you mentioned some of the entities, because I think that was going to be my question.

Bills: HB241, HB267, HB467, HB673, HB744, HB798, HB1026, HB1027, HB1091, HB1096, HB1103, HB1212, HB1230

Keywords: financial records, consumer protection, banking law, disclosure, service of process, home inspectors, board membership, licensing, term limits, Louisiana State Board, residential roof, coastal zone, fortified roof, building standards, construction code, insurance, hurricane resilience, safety, security cameras, abandoned property

Transcript Highlights:

• I know because we picked, you said we picked some cases to go after court costs and cover you guys, and
• any of those kind of employment termination, or would UAMS be responsible for covering any of those
• Later, there is another corporate entity of Blue Oak that returned some money to investors, including
• How is that even an entity that can bring a claim? Your Honor, what are... That's okay.
• These were separate entities altogether.

Summary: The committee first reviewed litigation reports from the Department of Labor and Licensing involving wage claims brought under the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act. Members questioned the department’s authority, jurisdiction, use of attorney fees and costs, and whether defendants had to be licensed. The department explained it has long enforced wage and overtime laws, that the claims were small-dollar cases handled by investigators and counsel, and that one case had been paid and dismissed while others were unresolved or had service issues. The committee voted to review or batch-file the labor cases after discussion. The University of Arkansas System then reported three pending lawsuits: an age- and race-discrimination claim by a tenured professor that was resolved early; an ADA/FMLA retaliation claim by a former employee that survived in part on a motion to dismiss and was moving into discovery; and a Section 1983 claim against a UAMS sergeant arising from a parking-ticket dispute, with the university explaining that only punitive damages could create personal exposure for the officer. The committee reviewed each report and voted to accept them. The Department of Finance and Administration presented a proposed tax settlement reducing a sales-and-use tax assessment from about $48,000 to $20,000 and waiving interest and penalties, which the committee approved for review. The Claims Commission then presented several claims: an unpaid salary differential for a Department of Health employee, reissued warrants, unpaid DHS bills, and multiple negotiated settlements involving ATRS, UAMS, Arkansas State Police, and ARDOT. Members approved or affirmed most of these items, including a $65,000 settlement in the Tetronics/ATRS matter, a $150,000 medical-negligence settlement, and several vehicle-accident settlements. The most extended debate involved a tax-delinquent property sale claim by Sharon Greer and relatives. The claimant argued they were not properly notified and sought the $4,200 excess from the 2009 sale. Land Commissioner counsel explained the excess had escheated to the county after the statutory claim period expired, while members debated sovereign immunity, standing, heirs, and whether the committee could or should award money anyway. The committee ultimately chose to hold the matter over for further review in a future joint session rather than decide it immediately. The committee also heard appeals from dismissed claims, including a UAMS medical-negligence claim, a land-sale notice claim, a pothole claim against ARDOT, and a judicial-immunity claim against the Court of Appeals; most dismissals were affirmed, and the Simpson matter was held over for additional review after the claimant testified.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know because we picked, you said we picked some cases to go after court costs and cover you guys, and
• any of those kind of employment termination, or would UAMS be responsible for covering any of those
• Later, there is another corporate entity of Blue Oak that returned some money to investors, including
• How is that even an entity that can bring a claim? Your Honor, what are... That's okay.
• These were separate entities altogether.

Summary: The committee first reviewed several wage-claim and labor-related litigation reports from the Department of Labor and Licensing. Members questioned the department’s authority and jurisdiction, whether it was acting like a court, and why it sought attorney’s fees and costs. Department staff explained that the claims arose under the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act and related labor statutes, that the department investigates small wage claims and can file suit when informal resolution fails, and that filing fees are waived by statute though service costs may be incurred. The committee reviewed individual cases, including one where the employer had not proven cash payments, another that had already been paid and dismissed, and a third where service could not yet be completed. The committee then voted to review or batch-file the labor items. The University of Arkansas System then reported on three pending lawsuits under the litigation-notification statute. One case involving a tenured professor alleging age and race discrimination had already been resolved and dismissed after the university re-engaged in discussions about a position. A second case involving a former employee alleging ADA and FMLA retaliation was moving forward after partial dismissal and an answer denying liability. A third case involved a former vendor employee alleging retaliation tied to a parking ticket; members asked about individual-capacity exposure for a university police sergeant, and counsel explained that punitive damages could potentially create personal exposure. The committee reviewed each report. The Department of Finance and Administration presented a proposed tax settlement reducing a sales-and-use tax assessment from about $48,000 to $20,000, with interest and penalties waived, and the committee approved it. The Claims Commission then presented several claims and settlements, including an unpaid salary differential for the Department of Health, reissued warrants, unpaid bills for DHS, and multiple negotiated settlements involving UAMS, Arkansas State Police, and ARDOT; these were generally approved or batched for approval. The most extensive discussion involved a settlement between the Teacher Retirement System and Tetronics International Limited in liquidation, arising from losses tied to the failed Blue Oak project; members questioned the company’s liquidation status, the prior investment loss, and why the matter was settling for $65,000, and the committee ultimately affirmed the settlement. The committee also heard a disputed tax-sale claim involving the Commissioner of State Lands, where a claimant argued that excess proceeds from a 2009 tax sale should have gone to her family rather than escheating to the county. After testimony from the claimant and counsel, members debated sovereign immunity, heirship, and whether the committee could or should award the $4,200 overage. The motion was amended and then replaced with a motion to hold the matter over for further review in a future joint session, which passed. Finally, the committee considered an appeal by Andrew Simpson challenging dismissal of his claim against the Arkansas Court of Appeals; after Simpson and court staff explained the underlying dispute, the committee reviewed the dismissal and the matter was held over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first page here covers the largest funds: the Land Grant Permanent Fund, Severance Tax.
• If you go to page five, this slide covers the same sort of information regarding some of our older, but
• Finally, just because it's a different type of investment, I want to cover Harvest SIC fund.
• How are you working with these entities to ensure that you're at the table?
• It's really the work of both entities that resulted in that $1.2 billion project being announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• She added that Representative Cedrick Frazier, District 43A, which covers Crystal and New Hope, is a
• new to these policy areas, has an MBA in addition to his law degree, and has worked on behalf of entities
• new to these policy areas, has an MBA in addition to his law degree, and has worked on behalf of entities
• uh for very long we cannot uh cover uh for very long certainly<01:08:27.279><c> and</c><01:08:27.679
• Proctors assigned to cover the northern Proctors assigned to cover the northern and<01:23:52.320><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• created for a special purpose, the department is aware of several entities.
• created for a special purpose, the department is aware of several entities.
• I'm not going to get into detail here today; my testimony covers why that is.
• I'm not going to get into detail here today; my testimony covers why that is.
• Exactly how would they affect those entities?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• alum of Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or Commonwealth Corps, and you work in a nonprofit or government entity
• the residents of Greater Roxbury, and establishes the RCC's Board of Trustees as the penultimate entity
• However, without a higher base appropriation, we cannot fully cover staff salaries, operating costs,
• But because we did not get that increase and the Reggie had additional bills, there’s no other entity
• I think that covers all the legislators who had planned to testify today.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on a wide range of bills touching student access, campus safety, and institutional support. Early testimony focused on H. 4544, which would create a state Hispanic-serving institution designation to replace a lost federal designation and potentially allow future funding. Representative Kushmerek and Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge described Fitchburg’s growing Latino student population, the university’s local commitments such as the Fitchburg Promise, and argued the bill would help the institution better serve its community. Committee members asked about how the tuition-free local program is financed, and the bill was described as having no immediate funding request but allowing for future appropriations. The committee also heard support for H. 1421, a proposed John F. Kennedy Service Scholarship Program for Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Commonwealth Corps alumni, with Representative Arena DeRosa arguing that student debt discourages service and that the program would help make citizen service more accessible to lower- and moderate-income students. Members raised questions about cost, take-up, and whether the program should be capped. H. 1449, dealing with transcript withholding, drew support from Representative LeBoeuf and USPyre’s Demi Stoltz, who said withholding transcripts over small balances or non-academic fees traps students and harms workforce participation; members discussed how schools could still collect debts without blocking transcripts. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to improve study-abroad safety reporting, with Carrie Pascarello urging a centralized data system after multiple student deaths and serious incidents abroad, and members asking about how other states handle similar transparency measures. Another major topic was H. 4113 on higher education sexual misconduct. Laura G. and Ashley Freeman supported a proposal aimed at preventing “passing the harasser” by requiring disclosure of substantiated findings or departures during open investigations in hiring processes. They said the bill would improve transparency and campus safety while preserving due process, and noted Washington State has a similar law. Members discussed whether the bill should be expanded to K-12 settings and asked about the Washington model’s effectiveness. The committee also heard from Mike Canavan of AFT Massachusetts in support of a bill to create a grant program for librarians to earn a master’s in library science, noting the credential is required for the profession but is not offered by any public institution in Massachusetts. No votes were taken, and the hearing concluded after all scheduled witnesses testified.