Transcript Highlights:

• A bill to amend the Small Business Act to require Small Business Development Centers to assist small
• GENERAL PURPOSE CHATBOTS ADVISING SMALL BUSINESSES TO BREAK THE LAW.
• We can and should look to staff the Board of Veterans' Appeals with attorneys that have demonstrated
• Writers is vital to empowering the next generation of New Jersey leaders.
• People who were denied the right to call for an attorney.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• David Cook, General Counsel for the Secretary of State's Office.
• Well, it depends on whether or not this is the primary general ballot.
• That's 60 days from the primary and 210 days from the general.
• discussion on— I think for the general discussion on the amendment.
• Of note, this legislation is modeled on the Chapter 5 provisions that allow Attorney General investigators

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 4198, which would require employers to use E-Verify to confirm new hires’ work authorization and impose escalating penalties for violations, including warnings, debarment from state contracts, loss of business licenses, and other sanctions. Counsel and senators raised extensive drafting concerns, including circular language, conflicts with existing record-retention provisions, unclear references to “seeks to employ,” possible application to babysitters, lawn care, and other casual or household arrangements, and uncertainty about how the bill would work for employers who never actually complete a hire. The bill sponsor defended the measure as a way to strengthen compliance with existing law, protect employers who use E-Verify in good faith, and deter illegal hiring. After debate, a motion to table the bill failed on a roll call vote, 6 in favor and 10 opposed, and the chair then announced the bill would be sent to a subcommittee to be cleaned up, with instructions to resolve the drafting conflicts and other ambiguities. The committee then turned to House Bill 4710, with an amendment, which would require a person to be registered with a political party or as an independent 210 days before filing a certificate of candidacy. Counsel explained that the change would lengthen the current 60-day requirement and would affect both party-switching and independent candidacies, making it harder for candidates to change affiliation shortly before an election. Senators asked about how the 210-day period would work relative to the primary and general election filing deadlines, and counsel clarified that it would be measured backward from the relevant filing dates. The discussion focused on the practical effect of the bill as a “sore loser” measure and on the timing rules for candidacy filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• I already mentioned attorney generals; there's two or three right now, you know, for attorney generals
• I already mentioned attorney generals; there's two or three right now, you know, for attorney generals
• I already mentioned attorney generals; there's two or three right now, you know, for attorney generals
• I already mentioned attorney generals; there's two or three right now, you know, for attorney generals
• I already mentioned attorney generals; there's two or three right now, you know, for attorney generals

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the Kentucky Employees Assistance the Kentucky Employees Assistance Program<00:58:59.119> and
• <01:19:58.880> uh Hedleston and the board's attorney uh Hedleston and the board's attorney
• So, this was a piece of the House Bill 529 that you all assisted us with.
• bill 529 that you all assisted us with. bill 529 that you all assisted us with.
• the board to the parole board to assist the board to the parole board to assist us.<01:37:48.719

Bills: HB60

Keywords: geoengineering, weather modification, environmental safety, atmospheric pollutants, criminal pollution, Meeting Start: 00:00:02 Roll Call: 00:00:08 26 RS HB 60 - AN ACT relating to geoengineering: 00:01:35 Department of Corrections Update: 00:32:59 Kentucky Parole Board Update: 01:19:21, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Importantly, the bill creates an e-safety advisory commission within the Office of the Attorney General
• general, the district attorneys, city attorneys.
• The enforcement would be from the Attorney General.
• Enforcement would be from the Attorney General.
• And the last important element requires that the biannual audits be submitted to the Attorney General

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard AB 1988, which would require companion chatbots to respond to credible crisis expressions with a 988 lifeline notice, human review after repeated crisis signals, and a pause in the chat. The author and supporters said AI chatbots are increasingly used for emotional support but are not equipped to handle suicidal or violent ideation safely; they cited cases of harmful chatbot responses and argued the bill is a limited safety measure, not a ban. Support came from crisis, family medicine, and child/family service organizations, and there was no formal opposition testimony. Members praised the bill’s intent and the author’s work, and the bill was held pending quorum before later discussion moved on to the next item. The committee then took up AB 1709, which would set a minimum age of 16 for accounts on social media platforms with harmful addictive features and create an e-safety advisory commission. The author argued that social media product design—such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithmic feeds—drives compulsive use and mental health harms, especially for children, and said the bill would still allow safer, non-addictive platforms and online spaces. Supporters, including a psychologist and the Organization for Social Media Safety, described cyberbullying, predation, addiction, and mental health harms; several organizations and advocates also supported the measure. Opponents, including EFF, privacy groups, civil liberties organizations, and youth and LGBTQ advocates, argued the bill is overbroad, raises privacy and First Amendment concerns, and could cut off young people from community, news, and support. They pointed to Australia’s experience as evidence that age restrictions are easy to circumvent and may shift harms elsewhere, and urged feature-level regulation instead of age-based exclusion. Committee members debated whether the bill is a “ban” or a delay, how age assurance would work, and whether the commission could meaningfully define and update harmful features; several members said they would support the bill while acknowledging it needs further work and ongoing oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• General and to reporting of human to the Office of Attorney General and by the Attorney General.
• The Attorney General can pursue injunctive relief.
• Attorney General to perform that investigation.
• That's that's that's the process that we have is kind of leaving it to the Attorney General.
• And so we put the the action on, you know, the enforcement action and the Attorney General.

Bills: HB17, HB34, HB41, HB 118, HB 119, HB 127, HB 128, HB 129, HB 130, HB132, HB133, HB17, HB41, HB118, HB119, HB127, HB128, HB129, HB130, HB132, HB133

Keywords: foreign ownership, real estate, national security, designated countries, Texas property law, lobbying, foreign adversaries, compensation prohibition, transparency, civil penalties, higher education, foreign adversary, research security, trade secrets, academic partnerships, HB 128, sister city, sister-city agreement, international exchange, municipal diplomacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Got all the general court online?
• So just so we're on the same page, the attorney general—that's the state, right?
• Uh, so I had some discussions with the attorney general and uh tried to come up with this, broke it out
• attorney general and uh tried with the attorney general and uh tried to<03:22:53.600> come<03
• you and the attorney general said no, you and the attorney general said no, you don't<03:23:25.439

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an attorney at New Hampshire Legal Assistance.
• I'm an assistant attorney general at the New Hampshire Department of Justice.
• I mean, litigation in general, you're kind of supposed to, as an attorney, use everything at your disposal
• I mean, litigation in general, you're kind of supposed to, as an attorney, use everything at your disposal
• So, so was the legal assistance assistance assistance going<02:53:34.479> to<02:53:34.560>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our principal Deputy Inspector General.
• And of course, we also have attorneys.
• I spent 24 years at the Office of Attorney General bringing civil, uh, lawsuits against people who were
• And we collaborate, we cooperate, we coordinate, communicate with the Attorney General, uh, on a regular
• There's the Code of Criminal Procedure, which the Attorney General, uh, through the Medicaid Fraud Control

Transcript Highlights:

• I need a couple extra attorneys there.
• And of course, we also have attorneys. We have attorneys.
• I spent 24 years at the Office of Attorney General. bringing civil lawsuits against people who were defrauding
• We coordinate, communicate with the Attorney General on a regular basis as these events and these patterns
• There's the Code of Criminal Procedure, which the attorney. general, through the Medicaid Fraud Control

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So how much revenue does it generate versus other gaming?
• Our attorney general has signed on to an amicus brief in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
• The Attorney General has signed on to an amicus brief in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals arguing that
• it is illegal wagering, along with 34 other attorneys general from across the country.
• To just start communicating with each other in general.

Summary: The House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee held a field hearing on the Puyallup Reservation, where members first received an overview of sports betting in Washington. Tribal casino representatives and the Washington State Gambling Commission explained that sports betting became legal in 2020 under HB 2638 and is currently limited to tribal casinos through sportsbook, kiosk, and on-premise mobile wagering. Testimony covered how odds are set, compliance with federal anti-money-laundering rules, and the role of third-party vendors. Tribal representatives said sports betting supports tribal economic development and asked to expand betting to include Washington college teams, while warning that prediction markets and other unregulated products pose a threat. Committee members asked about geo-fencing, betting limits, in-state college betting restrictions, and regulatory oversight. No votes were taken. The committee then heard from Vicki Lowe of the American Indian Health Commission on tribal data sovereignty and health data. She described tribal sovereignty and the federal trust responsibility, and said tribes should have equitable access to their own health data and control over how it is used. She explained that during COVID, tribes often lacked direct access to state health data, which complicated case tracing and other public health work. Lowe said the Department of Health stopped collecting tribal affiliation in some contexts because of Public Records Act concerns, and she argued that this is inconsistent with tribal data-sharing principles adopted through the Governor’s Indian Health Advisory Council. Members asked for clarification about what counts as tribal data and how public records concerns affected data collection. No formal action was taken. Finally, Lucy Smartlut gave an update on the Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force. She reported on the task force’s structure, its extension through 2027, and progress on recommendations including a fully funded cold case investigation unit in the Attorney General’s office, an updated missing persons resource, and forensic genetic genealogy work on unidentified remains. She said the cold case unit has active investigations, has helped locate missing Indigenous people, and made its first homicide arrest. She also presented data showing Native people are disproportionately represented among homicide and missing persons cases, and noted survey findings that many law enforcement agencies rely on officer observation for race data and have limited consultation with tribes. Committee members asked about funding, interagency coordination, and whether the task force is shifting toward prevention. The presenter said sustainability, continued awareness, and stronger collaboration remain priorities, and no vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• These were originally appropriated in the 2024-25 General Appropriations Act. ...2024-25 General Appropriations
• And that inspires future generations.
• So we would ask for an assistant general counsel. We also are requesting some funds.
• Assistant Attorney General, excuse me, an Assistant General Counsel. I was looking that way.
• So this is where they come in to assist with employment assistance programs, child care enrollment, mental

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a deputy attorney general, and I'm here for the Attorney General.
• <01:33:08.239> general cannabis an um attorney general cannabis an um attorney general providing
• Well, my name is Angela Tu, Deputy Attorney General.
• <01:36:15.280> general<01:36:15.639> and attorney general and attorney general and support
• attorney general um the department attorney general um the department supports<01:36:28.199>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate hearing focused primarily on SB 1201, a wildfire measure that would create a wildfire recovery fund and allow securitization for electric utilities. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill, saying it would help protect customers, property owners, insurers, and the broader economy from future catastrophic wildfire liability while improving the utility’s credit profile and lowering financing costs. Support also came from DCCA Consumer Advocacy, the Attorney General’s office on written comments, Ulupono Initiative, Clearway Energy Group, IBEW Local 1260, Par Hawaii, KIUC, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, Plus Power, and numerous organizations and individuals. Opponents or commenters raised concerns about the liability cap, victim compensation process, and fund structure, including the Hawaiʻi Association for Justice, the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters, and the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land supported the concept of a fund but questioned the catastrophe threshold and whether the fund would be empty without a prudency finding. Much of the discussion centered on whether the proposed fund would actually help restore Hawaiian Electric to investment grade, with senators comparing the proposal to California’s wildfire fund. Hawaiian Electric said the bill was only one part of a broader process, alongside physical risk reduction and settlement finalization, and argued that without the bill the utility would not regain investment grade. Senators also questioned the proposed $1 billion fund size, the fairness of ratepayer contributions versus shareholder contributions, and whether customers should pay for consulting and administrative costs; Hawaiian Electric said its proposed amendment would remove those consulting-related charges. The company also said the fund would accrue interest and, if unused, could be returned to customers, and that there would be replenishment and supplemental contribution mechanisms if the fund were exhausted. The Attorney General’s office said it still had further amendments to discuss, and the departments had not yet resolved where the fund should reside administratively, though Hawaiian Electric said it believed DCCA was the appropriate place but was open to alternatives. KIUC requested two amendments. No vote or final committee action was taken during the hearing, and the measure remained under discussion with questions and proposed amendments still outstanding.

Transcript Highlights:

• By individuals in the state legislature, the governor, the attorney general, and recommendations from
• Attorney Generals, should there be a need.
• On page 4, I'm just wondering if it's to be housed with the DOJ, why the Attorney General would have
• It just seems to me that depending on who the Attorney General is at that time, they want to get their
• Representative, Assistant Attorney General, that just struck me as I was re-reading the bill, but I just

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an Assistant District Attorney in Travis County with the District Attorney's Office in Travis County
• And your affirmation reflects that you're Assistant District Attorney with the Dallas Criminal District
• And the reason I pose that is I had the great unfortunate pleasure of representing the Attorney General
• Your affirmation shows that you're the Assistant District Attorney in Dallas County and the Office of
• Attorney or Attorney General to bring murder charges on me again.

Bills: HB200

Keywords: HB 200, emergency communication, backup communications, satellite phone, portable satellite equipment, radio, floodplain, 100-year floodplain, FEMA, natural disaster, disaster preparedness, emergency preparedness, vulnerable populations, children, elderly, seniors, people with disabilities, care facilities, residential care, assisted living

Transcript Highlights:

• We hire people to become certified nursing assistants.
• The Attorney General comes out if they find something to be suspicious.
• DHS attorney not here today? Am I observing it right?
• Are y'all the DHS attorneys? Oh, no, sir. No, sir.
• And so then that assistant reports up to Jennifer.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But again, as soon as I receive that certification, my complaint is closed with the attorney general.
• And so this individual has gone to the attorney general.
• Did they get a response from the attorney general? They have not yet gotten a response.
• Right. and send a letter to the attorney general.
• No, but I'm saying. general, the attorney general's office is overwhelmed. We don't know that.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:28:31.360> General<01:28:31.760> with we have the AG, Attorney General with we
• have the AG, Attorney General with comments.
• Lynon Child, Deputy Attorney General. Lynon Child, Deputy Attorney General.
• So, it's only the city and the attorney general.
• <02:15:56.719> general, continue on and the attorney general, continue on and the attorney

Bills: HB1527, HB1823, HB2490, HB2223, HB2325, HB2104, HB2593, HB2592, HB1927, HB1553, HB1964, HB1918, HB1990

Keywords: gambling prohibition, Aloha Stadium, University of Hawaii, amateur athletics, state lands, coastal resilience, Maui, Mantokuji Bay, coastal erosion, environmental protection, Native Hawaiian, spiritual sites, historic preservation, economic development, burial sites, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, cultural history, archaeology, Hawaii Revised Statutes, civil service

Summary: The committee first heard HB 1527 relating to gambling. The chair outlined hearing rules, including a two-minute limit and a warning that bills not heard would die. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from a prosecutor, Honolulu Police Department, and Stop Predatory Gambling, all arguing that casinos and sports betting increase crime, sex trafficking, harassment of athletes, and broader social harm. No opposition testimony was presented, and the committee moved on without questions or action taken on the bill. The committee then heard HB 1823 relating to coastal zone management and HB 2490 relating to coastal resilience. For HB 1823, DLNR, the Office of Planning, and Maui County testified, with Maui County supporting the measure and its proposed amendments. For HB 2490, DLNR expressed concern about exempting a proposed Mokuji Bay pilot project from permits and regulation before a long-term plan is finalized, while the County of Maui, the Mokuji Soto Zen Mission, and the Office of Planning supported the bill as a coastal resilience pilot. The mission described severe erosion, sea-level rise impacts, and years of unsuccessful efforts to stabilize the shoreline; its consultant said the study is leaning toward nature-based and hybrid solutions. In questioning, members and DLNR discussed whether the bill should say the project “shall” or “may” be exempt, and the chair indicated the language would be adjusted to preserve DLNR discretion and to change the lead agency reference to OPSD. No vote was taken in the transcript. Finally, the committee took up HB 2223 relating to historic preservation reviews. SHPD said it stood on its written comments, while OPSD and DHHL supported the bill. DHHL argued the measure would streamline reviews, improve transparency, and help address long wait times for its projects, saying it could alleviate burden on SHPD and better serve beneficiaries. Representative Shimizu questioned whether the bill would create redundancy and expand government rather than strengthen SHPD, noting a separate staffing bill already exists. SHPD responded that DHHL is uniquely subject to 6E review and that the bill would not waive federal or state historic review requirements; the discussion also touched on possible federal-style grant support and the existing memorandum of agreement between SHPD and DHHL. The transcript ends during questioning, with no final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• General could prosecute or investigate anything related to improper sales for vapes.
• In the Senate, they did reinsert vape into Title 13 so the Attorney General can go ahead and investigate
• Member: You know, like it's okay with the Attorney General and with the government, but is there a way
• In the Senate, they did re-insert vape into Title 13 so the Attorney General can go ahead and investigate
• You know, like it's okay with the Attorney General and with the government, but is there a way they can

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• detection, brain health risk reduction clinical trial access and community resources targeting the general
• No filing fee or attorney representation required in 2021, the law was improved with help of the elder
• The Florida bar on the attorney general adding terms criminalize undue influence, disinherited exploiters
• And that's where we're going to start to see banks and elder law attorneys working together.
• You don't have to have an attorney to file these cases. There is no filing fee.

Keywords: 999, senate, all