Transcript Highlights:

• their exposure to this new limiting their exposure to this new excise<00:04:48.400> tax.
• And because would that additional contribution then, on top of that, be taxed under this bill?
• more and because would that contributing more and because would that additional<00:17:24.000> contribution
• She did make one limit on that greater.
• But with the limited amount of dollars that are left, and this is not an increase in spending.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He directed us to set an age limit of 21.
• That's about my limited knowledge.
• In some states, officials have attempted to regulate potency by having serving limits or container limits
• So there's no time limit, though?
• contribute to mental health.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to come to school limited to come to school but<00:20:29.360> we've<00:20:29.640> also
• Without these proposed changes, these funds remain bound by limitations that challenge us to work in
• that challenge us to work in limitations that challenge us to work in a<01:26:44.880> meaningful<
• We have witnessed firsthand how limitations on funding flexibility can hinder our ability to provide
• have witnessed firsthand how limitations have witnessed firsthand how limitations on<01:28:44.800

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Finance Committee met on January 28, 2025, to receive updates on chronic absenteeism work funded in the 2024 education finance bill. The chair introduced presentations from districts in the student attendance pilot program—Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, Chisago, and Rochester—and noted that the committee would also hear the student attendance and truancy legislative study group report and later a bill from Senator Weber. The chair also thanked educational assistants and paraprofessionals for their work in schools. Minneapolis Public Schools described common attendance challenges across pilot districts, including inconsistent attendance coding, weak family communication, difficulty identifying interventions, and uneven responses to absences. The district said pilot districts want statewide definitions for absences, tardies, and exempt codes, as well as better internal dashboards and clearer procedures. Minneapolis also highlighted strategies such as attendance teams at each school, quarterly postcards to families after five or more absences, Promise Fellows, home visits, multilingual communication through TalkingPoints, and a morning nurse line to help parents decide whether a child should stay home. The district said its main attendance goal is to raise consistent attendance from 68 percent to 80 percent by 2026. In response to committee questions, Minneapolis said its main post-COVID absenteeism reason has been illness or medical issues, followed by transportation problems, and that it does not penalize students for transportation-related absences. The district said it counts secondary absences when students miss more than three periods in a day, with truancy beginning after seven such absences, while elementary students are counted absent for the full day. Members also asked about whether reduced truancy referrals reflected more attendance or diversionary supports; the district said its approach is to focus on understanding root causes and providing support rather than quickly referring students to truancy processes. The district reported improved communication, greater parent awareness, and fewer truancy referrals so far, and said the attendance team model should be sustainable because it uses existing staff with clearer direction.

Transcript Highlights:

• nurturing an inclusive and dynamic educational atmosphere has inspired students to push beyond their limits
• She is a passionate and committed professional, actively contributing to the American School Counseling
• <00:14:10.639> actively committed professional actively committed professional actively contributing
• > to<00:14:12.000> the<00:14:12.160> American<00:14:12.639> School contributing
• to the American School contributing to the American School Counseling<00:14:13.720> Association,<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we'll recognize a lot of the different organizations that contributed to that and to the drainage
• legal drains, not so much tile drains on the farm, but just the drains themselves and what they contribute
• And term limits are going to affect that more so here in the next four years.
• This factor is limited to the project's hydrological effects, such as erosion,... ...landowners.
• There’s got to be a limit as to how many acre-feet could go out of there in a time frame, mixing with

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So by having this in this bill, will that limit us to explore other regional sites?
• /c><00:24:58.799> bill<00:24:59.360> will<00:24:59.559> that<00:24:59.760> limit
• having this in this bill will that limit having this in this bill will that limit us<00:25:00.399
• We still have hog farmers and pig farmers here, and again, that's something that can contribute to Farm
• to the farm to schol to contribute to the farm to schol to achieving<00:33:16.880> our<00:33:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology heard testimony on several measures, with most witnesses either supporting the bills or offering technical concerns and suggested amendments. On SB 338, testimony came from the Department of Taxation, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and Surpac, and the bill later moved forward with amendments. On SB 558, testimony was largely in support from the Department of Agriculture, Ulupono Initiative, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and the Agribusiness Development Corporation, which described the measure as supporting rural jobs, food-system development, and use of off-grade agricultural products. ADC requested flexibility for neighbor-island siting and funding allocations, while the committee also discussed whether the bill’s language should be made more general and whether it could raise constitutional concerns about overly specific site designations. The bill was advanced with amendments and a noted appropriation allocation of $350,000. The committee also heard SB 186, which drew support from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Department of Agriculture, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Public Health Institute, DED, ADC, AAHU RC&D, and the Hawaii Youth Food Council. Supporters said the measure would improve coordination among agencies on food systems, help address food security and the state’s 30% by 2030 farm-to-school goal, and create a more organized statewide food systems effort. SB 328 received support from the Department of Taxation and Hawaii Farm Bureau, with Farm Bureau describing it as a way to repurpose existing dairy infrastructure to revive hog production and support livestock and farm-to-school goals; the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed the measure as a potentially narrow industry incentive that could unfairly benefit a specific taxpayer and said a direct appropriation would be more transparent. SB 89 was described by Hawaii Farm Bureau as a labeling measure intended to protect the integrity of a culturally relevant local product, though the group raised concerns about wording and implementation timing. Later, SB 742 received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaii System, Hawaii KidsCAN, the Hawaii Workforce Funders Collaborative, and the State Commission on the Status of Women. Testifiers said the bill would improve cross-agency data sharing, support workforce and education planning, and create public-facing dashboards; the Commission on the Status of Women asked to be included in the working group or as an advisory member. In decision-making, the committee adopted amendments and advanced SB 338, SB 558, and SB 1186. For SB 1186, the chair’s recommendation added three positions, specified committee-note funding amounts for those positions and operating funds, and revised working-group membership to have co-chairs appoint five members with relevant experience and expertise.

Transcript Highlights:

• Employers whose employees draw on the fund will find that their rates for contributions into the fund
• The schedule reflects that, and the schedule increases so we can collect additional contributions from
• <00:18:05.280> from<00:18:05.520> employers additional contributions from employers
• additional contributions from employers to<00:18:06.480> bring<00:18:06.840> the<00:18
• I believe the limitation currently states 30 hours for 6 weeks, and we are requesting 40 hours for 8

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• After that, private philanthropy in El Paso contributed millions of dollars.
• University Medical Center contributed 30 million dollars in their bond.
• There was a limitation on how fast you could expand. Part of it was money.
• That would be time-limited.
• I contribute a lot of it to the reclassification of Texas State.

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:

• So the limiting factor of the subventions program has always been the local cost share.
• Suitable relocation sites are extremely limited.
• Thanks to all who have contributed to the conversation.
• Those barriers limit animal access to food, water, habitat, and mates.
• Thank you to your lifelong families' multi-generational contributions.

Summary: The committee heard several wildlife and water-related bills. SB 872, by Senator McNerney, would create a Delta Levees and Canal Subsidence Fund and allow waiver of local cost-sharing for Delta levee repairs to protect the State Water Project and Delta infrastructure. Supporters from water agencies, environmental groups, counties, and agricultural interests said the bill is needed to address levee failure and canal subsidence; there was no opposition, and the bill was held open until a quorum was present, with broad support expressed. SB 1108, by Senator Caballero, would establish the Grasslands Ecological Area Conservancy in the Central Valley to coordinate conservation, habitat restoration, public access, and voluntary easements in a region described as the largest remaining wetland/grasslands complex west of the Mississippi. Support came from the Grasslands Water District, Audubon, conservation groups, and local stakeholders, who emphasized the area’s importance to migratory birds, wildlife corridors, and land-use transition under groundwater sustainability. There was no opposition, and the bill received favorable committee support. SB 1135, by Senator Blakespear, would reestablish and strengthen the statewide wildlife coexistence program to reduce human-wildlife conflict through nonlethal deterrence, education, and compensation for livestock losses. Supporters cited rising wildlife incidents, wolf depredation, and the need for proactive tools; opponents and some committee members raised concerns about rural impacts, funding, and the absence of law enforcement/public safety as a specifically named advisory role. After discussion and amendments that moved the cattlemen and Farm Bureau to neutral, the bill passed out of committee on a due-pass motion, though some members voted no or abstained. SB 1305, by Senator Richardson, would direct CDFW to study the feasibility of grizzly bear reintroduction and prepare a roadmap, with tribal consultation and stakeholder engagement, but would not itself authorize reintroduction. Tribal sponsors and conservation groups supported the bill as a planning and cultural restoration effort, while hunting, ranching, and county groups opposed it, arguing California already faces major wildlife-management and funding challenges and that the proposal would create new conflicts. Committee members debated costs, appropriations, and whether the study should include funding estimates; the bill was amended and passed on a due-pass motion. The committee also heard SB 1250, by Senator Cortese, which would require Caltrans to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation planning; supporters said it would reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity, and the bill was presented in support as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• of a development—let's say it's $10 million—you had to issue private activity bond caps, which are limited
• It seems to me that there are many factors that can contribute to the price of housing other than the
• Madam Chair, Representative Matthews, we certainly know that increasing labor costs also contribute to
• They drew on data that demonstrated how strict local zoning was contributing to unaffordable housing.
• I will just say that my history of land development is obviously limited more to Santa Fe.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also prohibits local government from creating ordinances to limit the collection, storage, processing
• It revises property tax provisions, including removing the assessment limitation on agriculture equipment
• They address the landfill issue to make sure that it was limited only to populations of 1.7 million or
• It addresses the incinerator language by reinserting the Senate's incinerator language that limits its
• It provides an exception to the preemption... ...that limits its application and removes the exception

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, then moved into a series of special-order bills and House messages. Early floor action included passage of a claim bill for Mandy Penny Lemon (HB 6503) and bills on sewer collection systems (HB 1123) and farm products (HB 211), all passing unanimously. The chamber also took up an ad valorem tax exemption resolution for agricultural tangible personal property (CS/HJR 1215), which passed 37-0. Several other measures were temporarily postponed before the Senate recessed and later returned to House messages and additional special orders. The Senate then addressed multiple House amendments and conference-style motions. It concurred in amended versions of SB 994 on driver safety, SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, and HB 1609 on waste incineration/auxiliary containers after extended debate over hurricane recovery rules, local government restrictions, and plastic container preemption. The chamber also concurred in CS/HB 1205 on citizen initiative petitions, increasing the number of petitions a volunteer may carry from 2 to 25, and in CS/HB 733 on Brownfields. Other House amendments were rejected or sent back, including SB 234 on offenses against law enforcement, SB 116 on veterans policy, SB 168 on mental health, and HB 1101 on out-of-network provider referrals. Later, the Senate approved CS/HB 1255 on education and CS/HB 875 on educator preparation, with discussion focused on school readiness, teacher training, and changes to certification and testing requirements. It also concurred in CS/HB 1427, a broad health care bill, after the House added a major nursing education amendment that tightened Board of Nursing oversight, required standardized evaluation and remediation, and imposed accountability measures tied to NCLEX pass rates and program performance. Several members raised concerns or praised negotiated compromises throughout the day, but the recorded actions were mainly concurrence motions, refusals to concur, and final passage votes on the bills considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not the limits, but just the fact that there is coverage.
• when I looked at Senator Burton's amendment, I read it and I could have been wrong, that it kind of limited
• This is not just limiting damages.
• A series limited liability company is a type of business entity that is similar to a traditional LLC,
• I think if we reduce the speed limit down to 10 miles an hour, we have fewer fatalities on I-95, but

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and heard extensive debate on SB 734, which would repeal Florida’s wrongful-death medical malpractice exception that bars certain adult children and parents from recovering noneconomic damages. Senator Yarborough presented the bill as a fairness and accountability measure, while many family members testified in support, describing deaths they believed were caused by medical negligence and arguing the current law denies equal justice. Opponents, including physician and insurer representatives, warned the bill could increase malpractice exposure, premiums, defensive medicine, and physician shortages. The committee also considered two late-filed amendments: Senator Burton’s amendment would make Department of Health investigative findings admissible in court, and Senator Martin’s amendment to that amendment would broaden admissibility/discoverability to additional disciplinary and prior-adverse-incident records and insurance coverage facts. After debate, the Martin amendment was adopted, but the Burton amendment as amended failed on a roll call vote. The committee then reported SB 734 favorably without the amendment. The committee next unanimously reported CS for SB 86 favorably. That bill, by Senator Burgess, expands peer support protections for first responders to include support personnel; there was little debate and several law-enforcement-related organizations indicated support. The committee also took up SB 316 on series limited liability companies. Senator Berman explained that the bill creates rules for series LLCs in Florida, and a late-filed amendment, requested by the Secretary of State, delayed implementation by one year. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered CS for CS for SB 384, which requires municipalities seeking to annex state-owned land to notify the relevant county legislative delegation when the first public hearing is advertised. Senator Burton presented the bill briefly, there was no opposition or debate, and the committee proceeded to vote on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 178, public unions transparency and dues withdrawal limitations. >> This sounds like a judiciary
• This sounds like a limitations.
• for or contributions to a pack. for or contributions to a pack.
• political contributions. political contributions. >> It<01:15:34.239> does.
• , from paying dues, fees, contributions, from paying dues, fees, contributions, or<01:49:39.119><

Bills: HB0083, HB0102, HB0178

Keywords: subpoena, legislative authority, penalty, compliance, law enforcement, artificial intelligence, synthetic sexual material, child protection, self-harm, criminal liability, public employment, labor organization, dues withdrawal, collective bargaining, public funding, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• very ENT situations and only for<00:39:45.280> for<00:39:45.400> a<00:39:45.599> limited
• time it's particularly for for a limited time it's particularly difficult<00:39:47.880> for<00
• These challenges are compounded by the limited access to comprehensive care and the stigma that often
• behind the scenes and also contributing behind the scenes and also contributing to<02:35:25.920>
• <04:00:47.279> the think are important just to limit the think are important just to limit

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, this is... well, let's say that we have limited time here, so okay.
• well let's sa that we we have limited well let's sa that we we have limited time<01:21:56.159>
• and years of service limits, right.
• And 40... and that's why you hear their age limits and that's why you hear their age limits and<01:44
• , how the statute of limitations works in that?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs’ budget, with testimony from division leadership on staffing, funding sources, and program changes. Early discussion focused on vacant positions in the agency, including a senior planner tied to FEMA requirements, a federally funded program assistant, a program specialist to be reclassified during a planning reorganization, and two Housing Champions positions that were authorized but not funded in the current biennium and are requested for 2026-27. The witnesses also explained that temporary welcome center positions are filled as funds allow, and that the agency’s requested general fund increase is driven largely by the Division of Travel and Tourism Development and its formula-based funding. Members then reviewed rest areas, welcome centers, outdoor recreation, economic development, procurement, and workforce opportunity lines. The department said there are 12 rest areas, with 5.8 million foot counts in FY 24, and that welcome centers are generally open year-round, though Sutton is currently closed and staffing relies on a mix of full-time and temporary employees. The outdoor recreation position is federally funded through USDA and supports business outreach, trade shows, and industry promotion. In economic development, the agency said increased dues reflect participation in the Northern Borders Regional Commission, and that a marketing line item is intended to support recruitment and promotion of growth industries such as advanced manufacturing and life sciences. The Apex Accelerator Program was described as a state-federal partnership requiring a state match and providing government contracting assistance to businesses, while the Office of Workforce Opportunity was explained as a federally funded WIOA-related effort administered through multiple agencies and subrecipients. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which members said had generated significant public concern. The department described SBDC as a highly effective technical assistance program for new and small businesses, but said the cut was one of the few places it felt it had room to reduce funding. Members asked about federal support and matching requirements for various programs, and the department said less than half of its overall budget is generally funded by the state and that some programs require state match. The committee also discussed travel and tourism marketing and the Joint Promotional Program, with the department saying those funds support broader advertising campaigns and grants to chambers and trade associations for events such as Bike Week, Restaurant Week, and the Seafood Festival. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second amendment establishes the limits on the number, location, and size of licensed premises as
• Now, which other practice are these limitations?
• Now, which other practice are these limitations?
• It also gave them a time limit that was a deadline that was impossible to reach.
• , support earnings withholding limits, support earnings withholding limits, favorable<02:04:22.480

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened on March 10, 2026, established a quorum, and began with an invocation by Reverend Damien Flowers, which was journalized without objection. The chamber then recognized several guests and honorees, including Dr. Courtney Glickman for being named 2025 Play Therapist of the Year, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Dr. Sonja B. Santelises for her leadership of Baltimore City Public Schools, students shadowing legislators, Navy Alliance representatives, the Maryland Alliance for Advocacy for Sickle Cell, and Ms. Kimberly Body for her lupus advocacy. The Senate also journalized prior remarks about the 6888 regiment. The Finance Committee report then moved several bills forward. Senate Bill 348 would allow hospitals and freestanding birthing centers to contact, rather than only call, patients after high-risk pregnancies; its amendments were adopted and the bill was ordered to third reading. Senate Bill 390 on Wicomico County liquor licenses was laid over under the rule. Senate Bill 492, addressing massage therapy advertising and prohibiting misleading sexual-service advertising, was amended and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 562, concerning pharmacist-prescriber agreements for opioid use disorder treatment, was amended and advanced. Senate Bill 773 would let pharmacists order certain vaccines, including intranasal flu vaccines, for self-administration and was advanced without amendment. Senate Bill 53, on Maryland Port Administration land acquisition notice in Anne Arundel County, was amended and advanced. Senate Bill 428 would bar cost-sharing for collaborative care model services under Medicaid and private coverage and was advanced without amendment. Senate Bill 473 would require human trafficking awareness training for for-hire and transportation network drivers; its amendments were adopted and it was sent to third reading. Senate Bill 585 would shift administration of the human relevant research fund from Health to Agriculture and was advanced. Senate Bill 606, the Easy Pass Commuter Fairness and Transparency Act, would require an MDTA report on commuter plans and unused trips; its amendment was moved as the transcript ended. During debate on Senate Bill 917, which would expand the definition of audiology practice to include certain screenings and non-radiographic imaging, a senator questioned whether the bill would make Maryland the only state restricting a health occupation from performing Medicare-required screenings. The floor leader said the committee had heard that claim in testimony but had not verified it, and the senator moved to special order the bill for amendment, which was granted without objection. Most other bills were reported favorably, with committee amendments adopted without objection and several bills ordered printed for third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• Little Rock versus Fayetteville, you've got the same level that adult ed and Voc Rehab and so on all contributes
• you get them there and get them hooked and connected with the why, they’re just not going to spend limited
• But until they do that, they're still going to have the same limitation, even though they've got an education-based
• the governor can say, you know, we've been doing this long enough to know that adult ed ought to contribute
• the governor can say, you know, we've been doing this long enough to know that adult ed ought to contribute

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Nick Moore, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Career and Technical Education, focused on integrating workforce, education, training, and human services systems. Moore argued that WIOA, Perkins, and ESSA should be aligned more closely, with fewer federal and state bureaucratic layers, more state flexibility, and a stronger emphasis on labor force participation, postsecondary attainment, and training tied to in-demand jobs. He said the federal agencies are moving toward combined plan timelines for 2026, encouraged states to pursue combined plans and waivers, and described efforts to streamline reporting, reduce administrative overhead, and expand tools such as integrated intake, cross-training, virtual and mobile service delivery, apprenticeship, and talent marketplaces. Moore also emphasized accountability and outcomes, saying states should measure training-related employment, retention, and the share of funds going to direct services rather than administration. He criticized the current workforce system as too costly and ineffective, and said states should use primary labor market information, better wage records, and employer input to align training with actual job demand. Members asked about balancing flexibility with accountability, the role of employers versus postsecondary institutions, serving rural “training deserts,” state waivers, and data-sharing systems such as Mississippi’s workforce technology efforts. Moore said states can use waivers and technology to create common intake and co-enrollment across programs, and that enhanced wage records are key to better workforce planning. The committee then received a separate update from DHS Secretary Janet Mann and Director Jay Hill on reimbursement rates for aging and adult behavioral health services. They said DHS had compiled more than 100 public comments, submitted a recommendation to the governor to hold current rates, and was awaiting executive review, which they estimated could take 30 to 60 days. Members asked about the timeline and the scope of the legislation requiring monthly reports. The meeting ended with notice of a later audit presentation scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Big Mac building.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please limit your comments to your name, affiliation and position on the bill only.
• And in order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time
• impact to California, when our children are not able to adequately learn and enter the workforce and contribute
• Exposing systemic deficiencies that contribute to educator sexual misconduct.
• Civic engagement is an invaluable contribution to our democracy and this bill will increase participation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Hagenbuch, Vice Chair, thanks for being here today and for your contribution to manufacturing
• I think the limiting resource we have is labor. And it's really very important.
• We've come a long way, and it takes people like you and so many others contributing to the bigger picture
• I'm just encouraged and excited that from my limited time there, along with my extensive conversations
• He has been widely recognized for his contributions to the space program. recognized for his leadership

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, when you look at all these numbers, all these students coming through us are contributing to
• Workforce alignment and the economic vitality that the North Dakota University System contributes to,
• Alignment and the economic vitality that the North Dakota University System contributes to the state
• In addition to that, when term limits kick in, when we don't have the experience of you all that are
• Even with shared enrollments across courses, the programs will remain limited by the field placements

Keywords: 908, all