Transcript Highlights:

• It implicates what we used to write called checks.
• last year I talked to you about checks last year I talked to you about technology<00:04:25.919> and
• <00:20:03.760> four<00:20:04.159> are variety of backgrounds four are variety of backgrounds
• is involved in this what your background is and<00:30:54.039> and<00:30:54.120> in<00:
• The charge itself is going to show up on a background check, and you end up with a plea negotiation even

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school funding know, what I've just been talking about is basically feeding kids from low-income backgrounds
• school funding know, what I've just been talking about is basically feeding kids from low-income backgrounds
• making<00:29:53.840> sure<00:29:54.080> that<00:29:54.200> they uh backgrounds
• uh making sure that they uh backgrounds uh making sure that they can<00:29:54.440> get<00:29:
• Thank you so much for checking.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 112, which would require students in the University and Community College systems to pass the U.S. citizenship civics naturalization test. A motion was made to retain the bill, and the committee voted unanimously to retain it, resulting in no report. HB 510, dealing with due process rights for students, student organizations, and faculty in higher education disciplinary proceedings, was passed over for a later meeting so the University and Community College systems could meet with the committee. The committee then discussed HB 659, creating a college graduate retention incentive program, but retained it without further debate after noting the prime sponsor was unavailable. HB 770, concerning tuition credits for community service, was also held for later in the day because an amendment was expected. The most extensive discussion centered on HB 583, which would have the state participate in Medicaid direct certification for free and reduced-price school meals. Supporters argued it would identify more eligible students, reduce paperwork, improve accuracy in school funding formulas, and bring in additional federal child care scholarship money; opponents argued it would significantly affect school funding calculations and should be delayed. The committee rejected the amendment by a 10-8 vote and then voted 10-8 to retain the bill, with a majority report and minority report to follow. HB 646, requiring school districts to establish an online application for free and reduced-price meal participation, was also debated. One member said many districts already do this voluntarily and that the bill was unnecessary; another proposed an amendment to convert the mandate into a grant program to offset startup costs, but the committee proceeded on the underlying motion and voted 10-8 to retain the bill, with a majority report and a minority OTP report. HB 665, concerning eligibility for the free school meals program, was then retained by an 11-3 vote. Finally, the committee began work on HB 703, which would prohibit school districts from denying meals to students with unpaid balances and appropriate funds for that purpose. An amendment was explained that would remove state payment of district meal debt and instead require district policies against shaming or bullying students and allow voluntary donations to reduce debt. After discussion, a motion was made to ITL the bill, with the sponsor saying constituents opposed subsidizing the program and wanted districts to retain collection tools; further debate was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would have to check my calendar, but it says I was an excused member on February 25th.
• So I'm wondering if I wasn't here on the 25th, but I can check because if I was here for my own committee
• Okay, we're going to double-check. Thank you for your eagle eye in those minutes.
• Did we check this one? Yeah. Okay.
• So that's a bit of the background.

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT WE ARE SOLVENT AND THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO PAY OUR DEBTS AND OUR EMPLOYEES AND IF I SIGN A CHECK
• ACTUALLY THIS IS I BELIEVE THIS IS ONLY POSITION WHERE WE ARE PERSONALLY LIABLE IF WE SIGN A CHECK.
• A WARRANT IS JUST A FANCY SIGN FOR A CHECK THAT HAS INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.
• I HAVE SEEN OFFICERS INSTEAD OF CHECKING US IN TO VISIT OUR LOVED ONES PLAYING GAMES AND DRINKING COFFEE
• I THINK THAT WOULD HELP SOLVE A LOT OF THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IF WE REVISIT THAT TO CHECK AND SEE HOW

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And just a little bit about my background: I feel like, Rep.
• isolates the effect of attending a charter school from other factors such as student motivation or background
• This removes other factors such as student motivation or background that might explain different outcomes
• We check the characteristics, the prior test scores, and any demographic information we have on students
• We check that it's balanced across those who are getting in and not getting in.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a lengthy hearing on a large slate of bills focused primarily on charter school policy and vocational technical education. Committee members opened with ground rules for testimony, including a two-minute limit, written testimony acceptance, and a live-streamed format. The committee then heard testimony on bills to expand collective bargaining rights in Horace Mann and Innovation Schools, reform charter school funding and reimbursement, allow enrollment preferences for high-need students in charter lotteries, and require BESE to consider district impacts when approving new or expanded charters. Several witnesses, including union leaders, parents, educators, and legislators, argued that charter growth has strained district budgets and that funding formulas should be reworked to better protect public schools; charter advocates and alumni countered that charter schools serve high-need students well and should not be penalized for their success. A major portion of the hearing focused on vocational technical education bills, including proposals to expand access and capacity, create a large grant program, and increase MSBA reimbursement rates for vocational school construction. Supporters described long waitlists, strong labor-market demand, and the higher cost of building and maintaining vocational schools, while municipal officials emphasized the tax burden on local communities. The committee also heard testimony on charter school reimbursement bills that would extend the state’s reimbursement schedule, with witnesses from districts such as Boston, Worcester, Fall River, and New Bedford describing large net losses to charter tuition and arguing for longer reimbursement periods and structural reform. The committee took no final votes during the hearing. In one instance, the chair said a bill would be held open until a missing senator could testify. Members asked several detailed questions about charter admissions lotteries, special education placements, funding formulas, and the practical effects of proposed charter caps and reimbursement changes. The hearing remained informational, with witnesses and committee members presenting sharply different views on whether the bills would improve equity and opportunity or harm existing public school systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• If I can kind of give the background on this while you're looking at the amendment, If I can kind of
• give the background on this while you're looking at the amendment.
• You can't write a check if there's no money in the checking account.
• To give you a little background on this, our duty at unclaimed property is a fiduciary duty to ensure

Bills: SB83, SB135, SB143, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB237, SB261, SB276, SB295, SB450, SB465, SB506, HB1070

Keywords: human trafficking, trafficking prevention, school safety, public schools, elementary and secondary education, charter schools, mandatory reporting, victim identification, victim services, child trafficking, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, commercial sexual activity, DCFS, Department of Children and Family Services, Louisiana State Police, governor's office of human trafficking prevention, counselor training, mental health professional, administrator training

Transcript Highlights:

• necessary, but most of the time finding there was no concern, they just recoated the pipeline and checked
• necessary but most of the time finding there was no concern they just re you know coated the pipeline and checked
• And then myself—my background is in planning, and all the things that I serve.
• Chair and members, by way of background, statute allows an owner or operator of an aggregate mining facility
• Chair and members, by way of background, owners and operators of exploration operations, mining units

Bills: HB2014, HB2031, HB2078, HB2102, HB2103, HB2117, HB2261, HB2262, HB2264, HB2278, HB2428, HB2494, HB2756, HB2758, HB2762, HB2782, HB2932, HB2933, HB2986

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, water rights, groundwater, Willcox, active management area, certificate of grandfathered rights, Arizona legislature, aggregate mining, reclamation plans, environmental protection, public safety, land use, domestic water, improvement district, water delivery, water hauling

Summary: The committee began with an informational presentation from Gordon Shemp of Nemecu Analytics on Arizona transportation fuel supply and pricing. He explained that Arizona sits at the end of the pipeline system, relies on limited terminal inventories, and can experience only about a seven-day fuel supply if pipelines are disrupted. He attributed recent price spikes to constrained pipeline capacity, Kinder Morgan pressure reductions after PHMSA anomaly reviews, and recovering demand, and he also discussed California refinery closures, increased imports from overseas, and proposed new pipeline capacity into Phoenix from the east. Committee members asked about fuel formulations and pipeline logistics, and Shemp said the proposed project would not change fuel specifications, only transport capacity. The committee then took up House Bill 2758, which would allow eligible entities in La Paz County’s McMullen Valley groundwater basin to transport groundwater to AMAs under specified limits and conditions, with related provisions on fees, districts, and water improvement programs. Supporters, including Stan Barnes, Jim Downing, and Barry Arons, argued the bill follows the Harquahala model, provides needed augmentation for urban Arizona, and includes local benefits and guardrails. Opponents, including La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin, Devonna Sater, and Ed Curry, said the bill would worsen groundwater decline, subsidence, and well failures in Salome and Wenden and favored outside investors over rural residents. After debate, the committee approved HB 2758 on a 4-3 vote. The committee also heard and advanced several other water-related bills. HB 2031, extending the deadline to apply for grandfathered groundwater rights in the Wilcox AMA from 15 to 27 months, passed 5-2 after some members said the extension was unnecessary and would delay protections. HB 2102, allowing county improvement districts in subsequent AMAs or groundwater transportation basins to use eminent domain for a well and standpipe site and water hauling, passed 4-3 after Sierra Club testimony called it a limited “band-aid” rather than a real solution. HB 2103, which would let water improvement programs accept gifts and dedicate groundwater transportation fee revenue to local residential water hauling and delivery, also passed 4-3. HB 2117, a technical cleanup bill shifting Environmental Special Plate Fund administration to the Natural Resource Conservation Board and raising education-center distributions from $5,000 to $10,000, passed 5-2 despite concerns about the fund’s administration. The committee then considered HB 2261, which changes agricultural property tax terminology and valuation rules. County assessors and the Arizona Association of Counties opposed it, warning it would effectively exempt many agricultural improvements from taxation and shift costs to residential taxpayers; the Arizona Farm Bureau supported it as a clarification that would provide certainty for agriculture. The bill passed 4-3. Finally, HB 2262, transferring the Resource Analysis Division from the State Land Department to the Arizona Geological Survey and revising geospatial advisory responsibilities, was introduced, with State Land Department staff saying they were neutral but noting the bill would need clearer statutory duties if RAD is removed.

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, some background.
• And I think the current administration has seen that, and there's a lot happening in the background to
• our activities, in fact, all our activities, are going to be up beyond those little hills in the background
• You might want to check out Snow College in Richfield, too. Senator Owens: Yeah, thank you, Mr.
• While there should be checks and balances and appropriate tension between the trust agencies as we all

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to give just a very brief thing about my background, because I'm a fourth-generation California
• Just a very brief thing about my background, because I'm a fourth-generation California farmer on both
• of, I mentioned myself, I'm a farmer, so as some say, maybe my day job, I may sign the front of the check
• , but also sign when it comes to the back of the check to what's going on on my own farm.
• And so I think part of what we could also do is, you know, part of your knowledge and your background

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Assembly Committees on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact and Agriculture, held at Fresno State, focused on cost pressures in California’s food system, household affordability, and the Central Valley’s role in agriculture. Opening remarks emphasized Fresno State’s regional importance, the Central Valley’s outsized contribution to food production, and the connection between agricultural health, food security, and the broader economy. Members also noted the impact of the federal shutdown on CalFresh benefits and the state’s efforts to respond with food assistance funding and National Guard support for food banks. The first panel featured academic and policy experts who described agriculture’s economic importance in the San Joaquin Valley and the rising pressures on farms and households. Dr. Conduro highlighted agriculture’s large share of regional GDP, farm receipts, jobs, exports, and food manufacturing, while identifying water scarcity, SGMA-related land fallowing, labor shortages and rising labor costs, market volatility, invasive pests, and production cost inflation as major barriers. Caroline Danielson of PPIC said food prices remain about 30% above 2019 levels, food insecurity affects about 1.8 million California households, and nutrition programs such as CalFresh, WIC, and school meals are essential in reducing poverty, especially in the Central Valley. Susie Pryor of the Central California Small Business Development Center described technical assistance, capital access, and training for small food and farm businesses, while warning that reduced funding limits support for rural and immigrant entrepreneurs. The second panel brought testimony from a small produce business owner, a food entrepreneur, and the Fresno County Farm Bureau. They said input costs for fertilizer, fuel, irrigation, labor, land leases, and compliance have risen sharply while commodity prices have remained flat or fallen, squeezing small farms and food businesses. Panelists stressed the need for small-batch processing facilities, local supply chains, education on food manufacturing compliance, land access for small farmers, and more pathways into agriculture through trade programs, community colleges, and FFA. Ryan Jacobson said California agriculture is facing a prolonged downturn, with farm bankruptcies, weak commodity prices, export-market uncertainty, water reliability problems, and costly ag-burning rules all contributing to financial strain. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken; the hearing was informational and concluded with discussion of possible policy solutions and continued engagement with stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• appreciation of the agenda and write-up for today's hearing, which really provided a detailed and thorough background
• We are always checking for patterns and trends because we want to be responsive to those.
• The other thing that really stood out to me from my public education background is you talked about bilingual
• First, just to provide a little bit of background, the Witkin Law Library, which I'll just refer to as
• And, like I said, people who are not state employees can't directly check out materials from us, but

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Representatives, we do ask for legal experience and background as well as familiarity with
• We've checked with NCL.
• legislation so that legislation will be a bit more specific in terms of the commissioners, their background
• You know, having an independent agency or body that checks and balances perhaps the work that we're doing
• Some professional background related to child welfare would be a requirement for all commissioners. practitioners

Transcript Highlights:

• First, give some background on the agency's ongoing response to Operation Nightingale, which is a...
• And so that can take longer to look at their educational background. to ensure that they received clinical
• Criminal history background check riders are modified to align with the budget recommendations, and the
• That way, they can take a risk-based approach to inspections and investigations rather than spot-checking

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, um, I would like to provide a brief background information for committee members who were not
• um with regards to what I background um with regards to what I just<01:02:20.000> said.
• or knowledge in terms of background or knowledge in terms of investment<01:44:41.679> and<01:
• , my background is being an auditor.
• We can check with OS on that to ask their opinion. But let's get back to row 16.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Uh, Madam Chair, I would have to check on that for you.
• I just need to check on what the reporting looks like for that.
• During a crisis, you might be checking in with staff. Checking in with students post-crisis.
• <01:30:45.840> Um<01:30:46.320> checking<01:30:46.560> in checking in with staff
• Um checking in checking in with staff.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A little bit of background on me: I'm the smallest grower in the state. I grow 60 to 80 plants.
• So, what I would suggest is that maybe instead of just writing me a check or refunding that, maybe you
• During my time at the authority, I saw firsthand how independent ALJ oversight created meaningful checks
• I would just like to see a better job from you guys and contradicting OBN publicly to let this go checked

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• EVEN WHEN THE WORK IS DONE ON THE FARM THERE IS MORE WORK AT THE END OF THE DAY AND MY HUSBAND IS BACKGROUND
• OYSTER FARM AND UNIVERSITY AS YOU ARE USING AI IN THESE VARIOUS WAYS, HOW IS IT BEING I GUESS FACT CHECKED
• I ONLY USED AI IN SCHOOLS BUT HOW DO YOU FACT CHECK IT TO MAKE SURE WHAT YOU'RE GIVEN IS RIGHT?
• THE CHECK IS I HAVE A MASSIVE WHITEBOARD THAT LAYS OUT EVERY SINGLE LEASE AND EVERY SINGLE BAG AND AFTER

Transcript Highlights:

• No one was checking.
• We believe there would have been far more accountability to operate safely if someone had been checking
• I provided to the committee kind of a background briefing document, please.
• So those two elements combined with the DNR permitting process, where people are just checking what these

Bills: HF1355, HF78, HF1846, HF1225

Keywords: commercial diving, scuba diving safety, aquatic plant management, workplace safety, environmental regulations, HF78, Minnesota veterans, veteran retreats, Camp Bliss, Walker, Independent Lifestyles Inc., Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans affairs grant, general fund appropriation, family members, spouse, domestic partner, children, therapy, transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Because we both share a common background as heads of prosecutors' offices, as our new colleague just
• separate and independent branch of government to maintain the principle of separation of powers and checks
• whether those who served in this position as United States Senators would meet the challenge when the check
• Would meet the challenge when the check and balance was needed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Transcript Highlights:

• His Oklahoma roots, his blue-collar background, and his love for his Country influenced his songwriting
• Some of you might have to pick up a check over the weekend and bring it by to our office for the Oi legislative

Bills: SB1246, SB1510, SB1979, SB1929, SB1930, SB1976, HCR1019, SB1459, SB1673, SB1500, SB1447, SB1646, SB2007, SB1275, SB2074

Keywords: environmental permitting, Oklahoma, Department of Environmental Quality, public participation, regulatory framework, administered applications, energy, wind energy, financial assurance, property restoration, environmental regulation, mining, blasting, residential protection, buffer zone, Department of Mines, public utilities, electric transmission lines, landowner rights, payment regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• SURE THAT THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE BYLAWS AND HELP FINANCE AND HELP MAKE SURE VENDORS ARE PROPERLY BACKGROUND
• CHECKED AND LOOKED AT BEFORE THEY COME ON THE PROPERTY.