Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, appreciate the opportunity to present Senate File 102.
• Uh we're regards to Senate File 102.
• <00:43:35.920> 113 Um it is Senate file 113 Um it is Senate file 113 2026<00:43:39.040>
• that we've been hearing about lately. that we've been hearing about lately.
• And this was a House on general file.

Bills: SF0102, SF0113

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, hand count audit, ballots, election integrity, transparency, voting system, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then both Chair Kqam and myself, we had two bills, House File 1800 was yours, Chair Kwam, House File
• Then both Chair Kqam and myself, we had two bills: House File 1800 was yours, Chair Kwam, and House File
• , we had two bills: House File 1800 was yours, Chair Kwam, House File 2073 was mine.
• period, adjusting that late candidate filing period so for most of our cities, our school boards, our
• period, adjusting that late candidate filing period so for most of our cities, our school boards, our

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 1378, an elections administration bill, and first adopted the DE5 amendment. The author described DE5 as a negotiated package combining provisions from several bills on election administration, including notice of temporary polling locations, residence standards for people under civil commitment orders, polling place closure/change notices, absentee voting provisions, special election filing periods, and timelines for filing statements of economic interest. The committee then adopted two additional amendments, A6 and A8, both presented as technical or corrective changes; A8 restored language on off-reservation temporary polling that had been inadvertently left out. Testimony from county election officials and the Secretary of State’s office was generally supportive of the bill’s election-administration changes. Blue Earth County’s Michael Stalberger said the bill would streamline election-day work, improve absentee ballot deadlines, clarify ballot correction procedures, formalize chain-of-custody plans, and speed out-of-court remedies for ballot errors. He also raised concerns about implementation details, including the timing for first chain-of-custody plans, applying candidate filing changes to townships and school districts as well as cities, the short turnaround for college student housing lists, and whether the statewide system could handle new absentee-ballot data fields. Nicole Freeman of the Secretary of State’s office echoed support for the technical cleanup and several policy changes, including removing the permanent absentee application box from voter registration forms, clarifying ballot-board procedures, chain-of-custody planning, and the out-of-court remedy, while also flagging concerns about the absentee application cutoff, city opt-outs from absentee voting, and staffing requirements for absentee locations. Later in the hearing, members discussed a separate proposed amendment, A4/A3, dealing with prohibitions on inducements to vote or register, including lotteries or other chances to win money or goods. The author explained it was intended to clarify existing law and respond to recent examples of large-money election-related giveaways, but after discussion the chair declined to offer the amendment in committee, saying it would likely not have enough support and could be taken up later on the floor. The hearing ended with the technical amendments adopted and the bill advanced with the committee continuing broader discussions on the remaining issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:41:56.520> cabinet<00:41:56.920> draw assigned a file cabinet draw assigned a file
• When it came time for the election filings, we had two individuals file for one of the districts, District
• <04:03:28.239> for filings we had two individuals file for filings we had two individuals
• <04:22:29.479> that one representative that um filed that one representative that um filed
• <04:22:34.159> against War II the gentleman that filed against War II the gentleman that filed

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that there are costs that local educational agencies are incurring while mandate claims are being filed
• Likewise, waiting until too late in the school year, which we have heard some districts are doing, is
• that has unnecessary cost and also can be stigmatizing, and then on the back end we don't want it too late
• I think everybody has been talking a lot about the cost of AB 218 cases lately, but how we prevent those
• I think everybody has been talking a lot about the cost of AB 218 cases lately, but how we prevent those

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on dual enrollment, reading difficulty screeners, special education, school facilities, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing programs. On dual enrollment, the Department of Finance described a $100 million one-time Proposition 98 investment to expand the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Program, along with changes to make regional occupational centers eligible, add funding for justice-involved youth, prioritize higher-need LEAs, support teacher professional development, and reduce daily instructional minute requirements for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the new funding as not clearly addressing implementation barriers, while CDE supported the proposal and suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Committee members and public commenters generally supported the expansion, with some asking for technical assistance and broader access, including adult dual enrollment. The committee also reviewed a $40 million one-time Proposition 98 proposal for reading difficulty screener implementation and related trailer bill language that would require screening after 91 school days for kindergarten and 46 school days for grades 1-2. Finance said the timing was intended to reduce over-identification and align with evidence from preliminary data; the LAO recommended rejecting the funding and redirecting it to a discretionary block grant. CDE supported the funding and the general approach but acknowledged the need for local support and training. Several committee members and public witnesses raised concerns that the proposed timing restrictions were too rigid and could delay early intervention, while others supported the delay as a way to improve accuracy and avoid misidentification. For special education, Finance proposed ongoing Proposition 98 increases to adjust for COLA and enrollment changes and to raise the statewide special education base rate to $99 per ADA, equalizing rates across SELPAs. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be funded for less than the Governor’s figure. CDE and multiple local education representatives strongly supported the increase, citing rising special education enrollment, cost pressures, and large local funding gaps. The committee also heard a brief overview of the school facilities proposal, which continues $1.5 billion in Proposition 2 bond funding for the School Facility Program; OPSC reported significant remaining bond authority but also substantial pending demand, and explained that natural disaster school rebuilding draws from the broader new construction and modernization pools. Finally, the committee reviewed Commission on Teacher Credentialing proposals, including the already-funded $300 million Student Teacher Stipend Program, new state operations resources for misconduct investigations and grant administration, and a $250 million one-time continuation of the Teacher Residency Grant Program. CTC said its grants management system is ready and that it expects better data tracking; public testimony broadly supported the educator workforce investments and urged continued funding for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program and additional support for rural and leadership pipeline programs. No votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Filurn, and you filed this bill.
• Filurn, and you filed this bill.
• You have a couple of law firms that are scouring the country filing these cases.
• You have a couple of law firms that are scouring the country filing these cases.
• Being filed here in New Hampshire. So, um, thank you.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'd filed a plea to the jurisdiction of motion to dismiss.
• One of these, of course, is the bill that enabled us to file for receivership of Empower.
• So at that point, it's really too late to impact, to make changes to impact. Year 25.
• They come into the program late. We don't always have access to that previous information.
• The program late, we don't always have access to that previous information.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's say you're a week late renewing your license, right?
• Imagine an officer late at night stopping someone in a vehicle.
• Imagine an officer late at night stopping someone in a vehicle.
• Someone also called our office and said that I was a coward for filing this bill.
• I filed HB 3846 to address these concerns in the law enforcement profession.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety, criminal justice, and regulatory bills. HB 4995 would create a training and certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would let tactical medical staff protect themselves while providing immediate care; the bill was left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the failure-to-appear-or-pay/OmniBase license-hold program, with the author and advocates arguing it creates compounding debt and unnecessary barriers to driving, while judges and municipal court representatives said the program is a voluntary, cost-effective tool that improves court appearances and reduces warrants; the bill was also left pending. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/Delta-9 THC substances, and HB 5436 would let licensed auto recyclers buy certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shops; both measures were left pending after brief testimony in support. The committee also heard HB 1777, which would require a discrete designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for people required to register as sex offenders. The author and supporters argued the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and prevent harm, while opponents called it a stigmatizing “scarlet letter” that would increase harassment, family harm, and reintegration barriers. The bill was left pending. HB 4155 would create a two-year Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study family violence homicides, gather stakeholders, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, the Texas Council on Family Violence, and a survivor testified in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4514, which would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and privacy safeguards, to help businesses confirm identities and combat fraud; supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce theft and fraud, and the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 5139 would clarify that peace officers and jailers are justified in using less lethal force weapons when acting within training and official duties; law enforcement groups supported the measure as a way to encourage use of less lethal tools without fear of prosecution, and testimony was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the department was more than five months late in distributing monies to two of the five
• The department was more than five months late in distributing monies to two of the five category two
• However, a review of board meetings, investigation files, and board policies found that the board failed
• A review of board meetings, investigation files, and board policies found that the board failed to take
• in their offices or the settlement files for particular shows that... ...files in their offices or the

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House Commerce Committee of Reference heard sunset reviews and a performance audit presentation for the Arizona Department of Gaming, the Racing Commission, the Boxing and MMA Commission, and later the Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board. The Auditor General reported that the Department of Gaming and the commissions generally met some statutory duties, but identified several problems: the department did not consistently obtain and review independent audits for event wagering and fantasy sports operators; the department and commissions had gaps in conflict-of-interest disclosures; the department and Boxing and MMA Commission lacked comprehensive complaint-handling processes; the department was late distributing some compact trust fund payments; and there were additional issues involving IT security, horse-racing license checks, fee reviews, public records practices, and licensing compliance. The Auditor General said the department agreed to implement all 36 recommendations, the Racing Commission agreed to six recommendations, and the Boxing and MMA Commission agreed to 13 recommendations. The department director said many fixes were already underway, including updated guidance, complaint tracking improvements, and a historical look-back on operator reporting, and she also discussed efforts to combat illegal gambling and educate minors and families about gambling risks. Committee members questioned the department about third-party audits, penalties for underpayments, public records handling, conflict-of-interest screening, and the department’s position on prediction markets and suitability standards for licensees. The director said the department would review past reports, could assess fines if violations were found, and would generally wait for final adjudication or final action in other jurisdictions before taking Arizona licensing action. After discussion, the committee voted to recommend the Department of Gaming be continued for two years until July 1, 2028, the Racing Commission for six years until July 1, 2032, and the Boxing and MMA Commission for six years until July 1, 2032. The Department of Gaming motion passed 7-4, the Racing Commission motion passed 10-1, and the Boxing and MMA Commission motion passed unanimously. The committee then heard the Auditor General’s report on the Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board. The audit found the board timely processed many licenses and complaints and had adopted curriculum rules, but it inconsistently applied its disciplinary guidelines, sometimes issuing different sanctions for similar violations without documenting the reasons for deviation. The report also found problems with reciprocity education requirements, application review controls, inspections, and compliance with open meeting, public records, and conflict-of-interest requirements, and it suggested possible statutory changes on aesthetics scope of practice, cease-and-desist authority, and training standards for I-LEST technicians. The board agreed with the findings and said it had already updated disciplinary parameters and documentation policies, with more recommendations in progress; committee members asked about discretion in discipline, audit funding, and service efficiency, and the board highlighted its licensing volume, call response, inspections, and complaint handling performance.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a committee bill file that the committee heard in September.
• This is also a committee bill file, the State Weed Committee Amendments.
• All right, we are now to Lead Acid Battery Amendments, again another committee bill file.
• This bill was also opened as a committee bill file.
• We presented this at the last committee, but we had just been out early with the bill file and wanted

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators share the guardrails they'd like to put in place before it's too late, plus a bipartisan bill
• The details on Senate File 1119 and where it is now, that's coming up.
• Senators share the guardrails they'd like to put in place before it's too late, plus a bipartisan bill
• The details on Senate File 1119 and where it is now, that's coming up.
• protections with his bill Senate file protections with his bill Senate file 1242<00:15:14.880>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, Select File Legislative Bill 878.
• President, select file legislative bill 958A. There are no E&R amendments.
• President, select file legislator bill 958A. There are no E&R amendment.
• President, select file Legislative Bill 762.
• I want to talk about the process that we're on here on Select File.

Bills: LB878, LB958, LB958A, LB762, LB1187, LB966, LB929, LB962, LB1209, LB937A, LB962A, LB1050, LB1050A, LB965, LB1022, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB745, LB749, LB778, LR293, LR296, LR422, LR495, LR496, LR497, LR498, LR499, LR500, LR501, LR502, LR503, LR504

Keywords: paid parental leave, state employees, workplace benefits, family support, economic impact, Medicaid, Medical Assistance Act, home and community-based services waiver, HCBS waiver, waiver participant, assessment tool, clinical interviewing, service tier, retroactive coverage, doula, doula reimbursement, maternal health, prenatal care, pregnancy, birth outcomes

Transcript Highlights:

• Um House File 3586.
• Um House File 3586. committee. Um House File 3586.
• that, I renew my motion that House File that, I renew my motion that House File 3586<01:16:46.800
• Representative Coulter, House File 3424. Representative Coulter, House File 3424.
• So, Eric Um, apologize for running late.

Bills: HF45, HF1148, HF3624, HF3586, HF777

Keywords: HF45, Lake Benton, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Public Facilities Authority, public infrastructure, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, utility replacement, U.S. Highway 75, road reconstruction, municipal infrastructure, local government grant, Minnesota bonding, capital appropriation, food insecurity, prepared meals

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is Thursday, February 27th, and we are starting a little bit late this morning at about 12:30.
• So we were able to get that resolved and close the file with no formal findings or enforcement action
• So we were able to get that resolved and close the file with no formal findings or enforcement action
• So we were able to get that resolved and close the file with no formal findings or enforcement action
• I'm talking to the rank and file that are just trying to make a living and stuff.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• get permission, it's a file and use to use insurance terminology.
• And so the file version of the bill, uh, did a couple of things.
• The, the, uh, the, the bill as filed was some might call it a shell bill.
• So the bill is filed was more of a shell bill, S H E L L, not A L E.
• I don't want him up late every night because they have to think clearly.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 612, and I ask the author to explain the bill originally filed and substituted.
• HB 1633 was filed to strengthen the evaluation criteria used by groundwater conservation... districts
• We'll give those people standing should they file a protest against a new permit or a new application
• It was filed to enhance the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District's ability to support
• I ask the auditor to explain the difference between the bills filed and the subbed.

Bills: HB2018, HB1633, HB1689, SB612, SB3058

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Transcript Highlights:

• PROHIBITS CERTAIN FELONS AND NONCITIZENS FROM ACTING AS PETITION CIRCULATORS AND INCREASES THE FINES FOR LATE
• IF NOT, LET'S GO TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT WHICH IS BARCODE 939772 TIMELY FILE.
• BUT THERE WERE 34 FILE. WE DON'T JUST GET THAT TO.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No matter what and we are so grateful to these lawmakers for filing a bill that will help to assure our
• I am honored to file the care no matter what. We need this legislature to act.
• Thanks to late 90s public school sex ed curriculum, I learned the basics about human sexuality. my body

Keywords: Texas, healthcare, reproductive health, Care No Matter What Act, Planned Parenthood, maternal mortality, teen pregnancy, funding cuts, community health

Summary: The meeting addressed critical health care concerns in Texas, highlighting the consequences of funding cuts on access to reproductive health services. Key speakers emphasized the urgent need for the Care No Matter What Act, which aims to restore funding to healthcare providers like Planned Parenthood. They underscored the alarming statistics of maternal mortality and the rising rates of teen pregnancies, particularly in Black and Latina communities. Testimonies shared during the meeting illustrated the real-life impacts of healthcare access issues on individuals and families across the state, illustrating the necessity for legislative action to ensure comprehensive reproductive health services.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are so grateful to these lawmakers for filing a bill that will help to assure our continued viability
• I am honored to file the CARE No Matter What Act. We need This legislature to act now.
• Um, thanks to late 90s public school sex ed curriculum, I learned the basics about human sexuality, my

Transcript Highlights:

• I co-filed that with Rep. Tyler and Senator Comerford as well.
• I co-filed that with Rep. Tyler and Senator Comerford as well.
• know the work of the Stockbridge School, and I actually think it was an oversight, which is why I filed
• I have a few friends who have graduated from that great program, and I thank Chair Comerford for filing
• At that time, my late wife was in the late stages of battling ALS, which is always a fatal disease, and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its first hearing and heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including hunger-free campuses, FAFSA completion, early college/college-in-high-school programs, banning legacy preferences, AP credit consistency, and tuition equity for the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Committee leaders opened by outlining the hearing process and noting the three-minute testimony limit. Legislators and advocates generally framed the bills as equity and access measures aimed at improving college affordability, student success, and workforce development. Representative Vargas testified for H. 1466 and H. 1467, arguing that hunger-free campus should be codified because many public college and community college students face food insecurity, and that FAFSA completion should be improved through individualized outreach and an opt-out or completion requirement. Senator Lovely, the Greater Boston Food Bank, and other advocates supported the hunger-free campus bill, citing data that 44% of public university and community college students experienced food insecurity in 2023 and that food insecurity harms graduation rates. Femi Stoltz and Shanti Lopez Toro backed the FAFSA bill, saying many students miss out on Pell grants and need direct support; they pointed to state examples such as Louisiana and to recent state action requiring FAFSA awareness. Committee members asked about the federal FAFSA rollout, regional equity in food access, and the need for long-term funding and data collection. A large panel supported H. 1455 on college and high school/early college, including former Chair Roy, the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, a student graduate, MBAE, and Tripp Jones. They described early college as a proven model that helps low-income and first-generation students, improves degree attainment, and supports workforce needs; witnesses said the goal is to scale from about 9,000 students and 55 partnerships toward 22,000 to 25,000 students by 2030, with possible future growth beyond that. Members raised questions about funding, public-private partnerships, parental involvement, faculty development, and whether the bill should include data review and more standardized policies across institutions. Representative Garcia also testified for H. 1432 on AP credit, saying students should receive consistent credit for AP scores of 3, 4, or 5. Senator Edwards and James Murphy testified for the legacy preference ban, arguing it is unfair and rooted in exclusionary history; they said some states have already banned legacy preferences in public and private institutions. Finally, UMass Dean Michael Fox, alumnus Dan Mayer, and student Jake Rasmussen supported S. 920 to include Stockbridge associate degree programs in MassEducate, saying tuition equity would help enrollment and support Massachusetts agriculture and green-industry jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• File item 29 has been dispensed with, file item 30, AB 310 by Assemblymember Alanis.
• File item 32, AB 437 by Assemblymember Lackey. The clerk will read.
• File item 43, ACR 55 by Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez.
• File item 45, HR 28 by Coloza. The clerk will read.
• The last day to file your FPPC form 700 is this.

Keywords: 988, house, all