Transcript Highlights:

• The other, um, and able to be utilized by every single county clerk.
• It's public utility economists that we have. It's not just accountants.
• It's public utility accountants. It's not just engineers. It's public utility engineers.
• One, because every penny that comes into a regulated utility must be accounted for.
• But also, ...to a regulated utility must be accounted for.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• How do you identify the over-utilizers, and is it a good return on investment?
• And so that's the first thing: figure out who is utilizing a lot of our resources.
• These funds are being fully utilized today.
• But as I said, the highest-utilizing individuals often have the most complex needs.
• We utilize all of these treatment modalities to help the individuals we are working with.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The concern that I've had for many, many years is when it comes to presenting a utility bill of some
• Right now, I can manufacture any utility bill in 60 seconds, especially when I just heard digital, if
• that so I can take my friend's utility that so I can take my friend's utility bill<00:39:39.599>
• bill as evidence of residency utility bill as evidence of residency for<00:42:52.440> whatever
• legitimate address even even the utility legitimate address even even the utility bill<00:46:41.559

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for next school year, approximately a $5.3 million increase statewide, 25 school districts would utilize
• Increase statewide, 25 school districts would utilize the new formula. 23 school districts would utilize
• The same year we got the 8.5% raise to the teacher base, we got utilities got dunked 11% and then they
• So there's a simple one: utility fees. So there's a simple one: utility fees.
• And utilities is something that going forward we will adjust every year.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the section where you come in and you produce your documents, you have your utility bill, you have
• In the section where you come in and you produce your documents, you have your utility bill, you have
• Vote by mail, while widely utilized and valued by voters, is particularly labor-intensive.
• Vote by mail, while widely utilized and valued by voters, is particularly labor-intensive.
• But they include changes that we're seeing voters utilize less.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a hearing on Initiative Petition 25-01, H.5-001, an act relative to election day registration. The co-chairs explained the Article 48 initiative process and noted that the committee must report on the petition to the legislature. The hearing focused on how election day registration differs from same-day registration, how it is used in other states, and what implementation would require in Massachusetts. Three expert witnesses testified in support of the concept. A Northeastern University political science professor said the research shows election day registration would likely increase turnout, especially among younger voters, renters, recent movers, and other underrepresented groups, while requiring planning, training, and funding. A National Conference of State Legislatures policy analyst described how election day and same-day registration work in other states, including proof-of-residency and ID requirements, provisional ballot options in some states, and the need for updated voter systems and staffing. An MIT election administration professor said the proposal is mainstream, likely popular with Massachusetts voters, and administratively workable if the state addresses workload, wait times, and system integration. Committee members asked about costs, residency documentation, use of Real ID, provisional ballots, rural polling places, and whether election day registration could increase lines or discourage advance registration. Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin and volunteer proponent Norma Shulman testified in favor of the petition. They argued that election day registration would help eligible voters who miss deadlines or move before an election, reduce reliance on provisional ballots, and improve participation. Galvin said the proposal includes a 10-day reconciliation period and would likely require additional staffing and possibly technology, but he viewed the reform as worth the cost and consistent with broader election reforms. Shulman said voters she encountered during the signature drive strongly supported the measure and viewed it as common sense. In questioning, Galvin said the measure would help voters who move within a community or arrive at the polls unregistered, and he said many provisional ballots are not counted because of eligibility or registration problems. Opponents from the Massachusetts Municipal Association and the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association argued that while expanding access is important, election day registration would add to already heavy workloads for local clerks, who are managing early voting, vote-by-mail processing, and election-day operations with limited staff and resources. They said any major election change should be developed through the traditional legislative process with direct input from local officials, and they urged caution until municipalities receive more administrative and financial relief. The hearing then moved into the public testimony section, beginning with a representative from Mass for Fair Elections.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will highlight the efforts being utilized at FMOLHS to address these issues.
• I will highlight the efforts being utilized at FMOLHS to address these issues.
• We also have resources online that our employees can go to and utilize as well.
• The service map is utilized a lot through the Office of Human Trafficking website.
• Well, we utilize the New Orleans Family Justice Center for advocacy.

Summary: The first meeting of the Human Trafficking and Emergency Department Task Force focused on implementing Act 267, which created the body to develop a statewide human trafficking protocol to be incorporated into Louisiana’s sexual assault response plans. Chair Rep. Kelly Hennessy Dickerson and Office of Human Trafficking Prevention Director Mary Kate Andropont emphasized that the goal is a practical, transferable, survivor-centered protocol that can be adapted across regions and health systems. The task force also noted its timeline: use today’s presentations and member feedback to draft a protocol before the next meeting, then refine it into a final version. Presenters from hospitals, SANE programs, and advocacy organizations described current practices and gaps. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport’s Operation Rahab and FMOLHS’s human trafficking policies highlighted staff education, badge buddies, anonymous admissions, hotline and law enforcement reporting, and coordination with community partners. SANE and forensic nursing presenters described red-dot privacy alerts, trauma-informed interviewing, and the need to train all hospital staff, not just ED clinicians, because trafficking victims may present repeatedly or in non-ED settings. LaFASA described statewide advocacy and legal support, while Unbound Now and BCFS/Common Thread explained Louisiana’s juvenile trafficking response under Act 662, including 24/7 crisis response, relational advocacy, and care coordination for minors. Members repeatedly raised the lack of safe housing, transportation, and placement options after identification, especially for adults, male survivors, and adults with special needs. Several presenters said that identifying victims is only the first step and that Louisiana still lacks enough resources for discharge and long-term stabilization. The task force also discussed the need for broader training across emergency departments, residency programs, nursing, housekeeping, maintenance, student health, mental health, and law enforcement, with members stressing that protocols should be clear, trauma-informed, and usable statewide. No votes were taken; the main action was to gather testimony, identify gaps, and begin drafting the statewide protocol.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you elaborate as to how they will be utilized and what the information will be used for?
• I come today on behalf of utilities, and we also have a lot of state forests.
• , said she was there on behalf of utilities, especially small utilities around the state of Florida.
• She explained that utilities in the panhandle currently take biosolids out of state to Alabama for land
• She explained that all utilities in the panhandle of Florida currently take biosolids out of state to

Bills: S0050, S0054, S0176, S0178, S0198, S0290, S0420, S0502, S0538, S0706, S0834, S0936, S0962, S1004, S1080, S7022

Keywords: veterans, treatment court, nonviolent felony, probation, mental health, cognitive function, psychotropic drugs, violent offenders, autopsy procedures, medical records, school safety, campus safety, higher education, university safety, college safety, student safety, threat assessment, violence prevention, credible threat, campus security

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills, beginning with CS for CS for SB 54, which requires district medical examiners to perform toxicology screenings for psychotropic drugs and intoxicating substances in autopsies of violent offenders and report findings to state agencies. It was reported favorably after brief discussion about how the data would be used. CS for SB 176 also passed, requiring public postsecondary institutions to make campus safety reporting and response procedures clearer and more accessible for students, faculty, and staff who receive threats. Both bills were approved without opposition in the meeting. The committee then took up the large Florida Farm Bill, CS for CS for CS for SB 290, which drew extensive testimony and multiple amendments. The bill includes changes to fair associations, a preemption on local restrictions affecting gas- and diesel-powered farm equipment, surplus of certain state-owned lands for agricultural use, a food animal veterinary loan repayment program, permanent authorization for Farmers Feeding Florida, expanded Florida Forest Service training, a ban on signal jamming devices, tougher CDL English-proficiency penalties, protections for food safety inspectors, biosolids provisions, and contractor payment enforcement. Amendments expanded veterinary loan eligibility to equine veterinarians, merged citrus research entities, made technical corrections, and revised contractor payment language; a late-filed amendment removed the bill’s disparagement clause after significant First Amendment concerns and public testimony. A separate amendment delayed biosolids compliance deadlines. The bill was reported favorably as amended. Also approved were CS for CS for SB 834, which repeals a restriction on health care sharing ministries partnering with licensed insurance agents, while adding a disclaimer requirement; SB 936, allowing temporary door locking devices at any height above the floor and directing the Building Commission to add standards to the code; and CS for SB 50, expanding veterans’ courts statewide. Later, CS for CS for SB 1004 advanced with a strike-all regulating dog and cat sales, requiring disclosure of medical records and financing terms, a three-day waiting period for financed purchases, and consumer protections against deceptive pet sales; an amendment removed an appropriation section. The committee also approved CS for CS for SB 178, which directs the FHSAA to adopt rules allowing coaches to provide limited good-faith support to student-athletes, and CS for CS for SB 198, regulating virtual currency kiosks with registration, warnings, transaction limits, receipts, and refund protections. Each of these bills was reported favorably by recorded vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a breakdown of what programs they're actually utilizing and how many families or children have
• For rate increases and increased utilization that we're seeing in TDSD.
• Which is the increased utilization. That's that $71.5 million.
• Fall off of Medicaid, why is there a utilization increase?
• On page 5, it says that utilization has been between 60 and 70%.

Transcript Highlights:

• our consultants, our engineers that are helping us prepare plans and buy right away and relocate utilities
• our consultants, our engineers that are helping us prepare plans and buy right away and relocate utilities
• and do all away and relocate utilities and do all the<00:19:02.080> things<00:19:02.320> that
• <00:22:03.919> the rightway fees move quickly or the rightway fees move quickly or the utility
• relocation<00:22:05.200> phase,<00:22:05.919> which<00:22:06.159> is Utility

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met on Transportation, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received a road fund update from Transportation Cabinet officials Mike Hancock, Sean McCernan, and Ron Rigney. McCernan reported that FY 2024-2025 road fund revenue came in $38.5 million above the enacted estimate, but was about $11 million below FY24 because of a lower motor fuels tax rate. He said motor vehicle usage tax receipts were stronger than expected, and that the road fund ended the year with a $61.6 million surplus account that, under the budget bill, must be appropriated to state construction. Members focused heavily on how declining motor fuels receipts affect the formula funds that support cities, counties, and rural/secondary roads. Hancock and McCernan explained that lower gas tax receipts reduce both the road plan and revenue sharing, while higher vehicle sales tax receipts from motor vehicle usage go directly to the road fund and do not help the formula distributions. They also said fuel efficiency, hybrid and electric vehicle trends, and the removal of a prior hybrid fee all affect revenue collections. On tolling, officials said Louisville bridge toll revenues are covering bills and commitments, but they did not have the latest collection figures in front of them and said they would provide them later. The committee also asked about project delivery delays, right-of-way acquisition, disaster recovery work, annual contract awards, cash management, and overprogramming in the highway plan. Officials said project delays often stem from right-of-way purchases, utility relocation, and the large volume of projects in the plan, and described the process as a “duck paddling” situation with substantial work happening behind the scenes. They said FY25 contract awards were already just under $998 million by the July letting and expected to exceed last year’s total, and explained that cash balances are managed so they do not fall below $100 million; the current balance was said to be about $166 million. No further votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they have, and not everyone utilizes their entire cost plan each year as well.
• They have, and not everyone utilizes their entire cost plan each year as well.
• So when those funds are not utilized, is there any type of reporting that you have?
• When you talk about the people that are on the I-Budget of 35,000, if they're not utilizing all that
• And to your knowledge, does Aetna utilize services from CVS Caremark? Yes.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee took up two bills and then continued oversight discussions with APD and AHCA. CS/HB 27, the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, was presented as a way to let Florida social workers practice in other compact states and vice versa; AARP, the Florida Chamber, and NASW Florida supported it, and the bill passed favorably. HB 1127, a child welfare bill, would create a treatment foster care pilot for children with high behavioral needs, improve DCF data collection on commercially sexually exploited children, and expand recruitment for protective investigators and case managers; the bill also passed favorably after brief supportive testimony. The committee then questioned APD at length about the iBudget waiver waitlist, enrollment pace, spending projections, and provider capacity. APD said it had sent more than 1,100 interest letters in categories 3, 4, and 5, enrolled 1,124 people so far this year, and expects to spend about 96.4% of its waiver appropriation, leaving roughly $82 million unspent. Members pressed APD on why prior discussions suggested more reserve was needed, how long the SANS process takes, whether category 6 could be expanded, and whether the agency has enough waiver support coordinators and direct support providers. APD said it has about 1,061 waiver support coordinators statewide, adequate capacity for current enrollees, but would need further analysis if the legislature directed a much larger enrollment increase. Members also asked about outreach, annual maintenance of the waitlist, portability for military families, and whether communication efforts should be privatized. Finally, AHCA walked the committee through the 2023 Achieved Savings Rebate (ASR) report for Aetna and explained how the report is used for financial monitoring, rebate calculations, and transparency. AHCA said the ASR is separate from the medical loss ratio (MLR) calculation, though both are reviewed, and that Florida uses the ASR mechanism rather than an MLR remittance requirement to recover funds from plans. Members asked about related-party disclosures, CVS/Caremark relationships, expanded benefits, encounter data, network adequacy penalties, denials and appeals reporting, interest earned on capitation payments, and whether rate increases were reaching providers. AHCA and the outside auditors said they review the plans’ reported data, reconcile it to underlying records, and can assess liquidated damages for network adequacy violations; several members requested follow-up data on rebates, interest, provider capacity, and related-party reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public Health, HP in 1897 by Patterson relating to the requirement of the approval of the Public Utility
• HB 1918 by Wally learning to cast a water sewer utility rate increases or for the Committee on Natural
• Ghan relating to information regarding certain charges for services provided by municipality-owned utility
• Access for certain health benefit plan verifications of pre-authorization requests and utilization review
• HB 29 by Gerde's relating to water losses reported in certain municipality owned utilities to the Texas

Transcript Highlights:

• We regulate coal mines, site remediation, hydrogen, and oversee gas utilities.
• We currently don't have an online filing capability for gas utility annual reports.
• Were those all utilized? So here's what we used. We got 3 years ago now, is that right?
• That would make it more, more for us to utilize it better, I guess, in a quicker way to do it.
• Why are we not utilizing the bonding associated with the well for the operator? We do.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present to hear Article VI Natural Resources agency budget recommendations, beginning with the Railroad Commission. LBB staff summarized the commission’s 2026-27 base recommendation at $458.7 million, down from the prior biennium, with an increased FTE cap. The presentation highlighted reduced federal IIJA funding, volatility in oil and gas regulation account 5155, continued support for IT modernization, and rider changes. The commission’s major exceptional items were then presented, including requests for produced water and injection data reporting, an authorized pit registration system, regulatory filing/permitting upgrades, an underground injection well investigation team, site remediation support, and especially $100 million for orphan well plugging. Members asked about biennium-to-biennium comparisons, salary biennialization, the scale of orphan well risks, federal funding delays, bonding, and whether the state should rely more on industry or general revenue for plugging costs. Commission leadership explained that orphan wells can threaten water and public safety, that plugging costs have risen sharply, and that current funding is insufficient to keep up with emergency wells and the backlog; they also said the agency is moving to cloud-based systems with cybersecurity protections and that the proposed performance measure may need adjustment if funding does not increase. The Railroad Commission testimony was followed by LBB and agency testimony for the Texas Animal Health Commission. LBB described a $42 million recommendation for 2026-27, an increase overall, but with a reduced FTE cap due to turnover and salary reallocation. The recommendation maintained funding for cattle fever tick work, chronic wasting disease, lab testing through an MOU with Texas A&M’s veterinary diagnostic lab, and a new $5 million spay-and-neuter pilot program, while deleting a capital budget rider and adjusting riders tied to entry point inspection stations and clinical trials. Agency leadership then outlined the commission’s mission to protect livestock health and the state’s $22 billion animal industry, and described major disease threats including highly pathogenic avian influenza, cattle fever ticks, New World screwworm, and chronic wasting disease. Their exceptional items focused on recruiting and retaining veterinarians, replacing fleet vehicles, creating an ectoparasite identification lab, adding field staff and IT support, improving records and epidemiology reporting, strengthening central administration, supporting secure food supply planning, expanding chronic wasting disease work, and staffing the new spay-and-neuter program. Members asked about field identification of ticks, the use of disinfectants and PPE, fleet management, the scale of cattle fever tick risk, and chronic wasting disease; the agency explained its current inspection and lab-confirmation process, its reliance on field disinfecting and biosecurity, and the need for more staff and better data systems to keep pace with growing workloads and disease threats.

Transcript Highlights:

• The one-year expenditure period authorized by SB 29 may limit the utility of the funds.
• We support the bill and would recommend that maybe utilities are added to that committee.
• You may want to include utilities.
• Electrical overhead line utilities, and watching what we're seeing in California, probably gas utilities
• Having electrical representatives of large utilities probably makes some sense.

Transcript Highlights:

• H. 727 also requires that any data center sign a contract with the utility.
• This large load contract, which must be approved and reviewed by the Public Utility Commission, Utility
• renewable power on site, and it includes Renewable power on site, and it includes a payment that the utility
• It sets out guardrails that the Public It sets out guardrails that the Public Utility Commission will

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Worker Appreciation Day at the State Capitol and to commend the men and women who serve Arkansas as utility
• But with that said, utility line workers, they work every day. They work hard every day to me.
• Utility line workers, they work hard every day to make sure that when we flip the switch, the lights
• Whereas the men and women who serve as utility line workers build and maintain electric, telephone, cable
• State Capitol and commend on behalf of their constituents the men and women who serve Arkansas as utility

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The utilities can pull the energy off the transmission line at different points.
• agriculture, and energy are themes that resonate with our faculty, students, and community, so we utilize
• It's not a national program, but it utilizes national monies to do it.
• We utilize these kinds of programs. to build our infrastructure and to enhance our research capabilities
• But basically, he's utilizing... students in his lab to look at new ways to produce energy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, when we utilize this program, we get a federal match, which actually means that we leverage other
• So, this is a unique way for us to utilize the resources we have to support our local grocers, our local
• unique way<00:07:01.520> for<00:07:01.840> us<00:07:02.080> to<00:07:02.479> utilize
• /c><00:07:02.800> the<00:07:03.039> resources<00:07:03.440> we way for us to utilize
• the resources we way for us to utilize the resources we have<00:07:03.759> to<00:07:04.000>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 1534, authored by Representative Keeler, was heard and amended with the A1 amendment, which was adopted without objection. The bill would move the Healthy Eating Here at Home/Market Bucks program from the Department of Humanities to the Department of Health and expand the nutrition incentive program from farmers markets to grocery stores, with the goal of helping SNAP recipients afford fresh fruits and vegetables year-round and leveraging federal matching funds. Representative Keeler said the proposal would better align food insecurity work with health outcomes and support both local consumers and local grocers. The Minnesota Grocers Association testified in support, describing the bill as an expansion of a successful program that would help low-income shoppers and provide added support to retailers, especially small businesses facing rising costs. A testifier, Tamara Walter, also supported the bill as a SNAP recipient and Market Bucks user, saying the program helps her family afford healthier food and that winter access to fresh produce is especially important because of diabetes and celiac disease in her household. There was no public testimony in opposition and no member discussion. The committee then laid the bill over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• requires state oversight of supplemental projects and establishes expedited review for projects utilizing
• Only one town in New Jersey may utilize on account of plugging a massive deficit that came from years
• The bill establishes an Advanced Nuclear Energy Procurement Program in the Board of Public Utilities.
• Ryan Sharp, Utility and Transportation Contractors Association, in favor, no need to testify.
• One additional amendment that we would like to request is an exemption for public utilities.

Keywords: 1146, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met on June 28, 2026 and considered a long list of budget and policy bills, reporting many of them out of committee, often with amendments. Early measures included AB 2550 on continued dependent health coverage for certain adults with disabilities, AB 4794 allowing tax data sharing with the New Jersey Innovation Authority and Secure Choice Savings Board, and AB 3381/SB 1493 updating occupational therapy licensure requirements. The committee also advanced AB 4014, creating a social media research center at a public four-year institution, though one member opposed it as unnecessary spending given existing research on social media harms. Another bill, AB 5048/SB 1281, would ban certain apparel and diaper products with intentionally added PFAS; some members opposed it over safety and cost concerns, especially for firefighter gear, but it was reported. The committee also moved AB 383, which promotes volunteerism to help FamilyCare and SNAP recipients meet eligibility requirements, and AB 4357, extending telehealth pay parity, though one member objected to parity between telehealth and in-person care. The committee then took up several energy, environmental, and housing-related bills. AB 5188, the Advanced Grid Technologies Act, was released despite opposition from some members and labor interests. AB 2524 would let dual-use solar projects participate in community solar, and AB 5236 would strengthen pediatric psychiatry and behavioral health services; both were reported. AB 5348, allowing temporary use of open-space and related funds for certain municipalities, drew sharp criticism as a diversion of preservation money to fill budget holes, but passed. AB 5280 returned unexpended county appropriations to Hudson County and authorized supplemental operating aid; it also passed despite objections about prior bidding violations. AB 5347 provided certain motor vehicle-related funding to municipalities and was reported, as was AB 5334/SB 4423, appropriating Green Acres and CBT revenues for local open space and park projects. A major portion of the meeting focused on tax and business-related bills. AB 5329 increased the child tax credit for 2026-2028, with testimony urging that the expansion be made permanent; it was reported. AB 3899, the General Contractor Licensing Act, also passed. AB 5310/SB 4406 clarified sentencing under certain circumstances and was reported. AB 5330, allowing temporary transfers in the pension system, drew testimony from NJEA warning that the State Health Benefits Program was in crisis and asking for a longer repayment period to avoid rate spikes; the bill was still reported. AB 1326 created a higher education governance and funding task force and was amended to add a Talmudic institution or theological seminary representative. Later, AB 5333/SB 4424 appropriated additional Green Acres and CBT funds for recreation and conservation projects and was reported. The committee also advanced several business and alcohol-related measures, including AB 5235 establishing the School-Based Partnership for Access and Resilience for Kids program, AB 5325 reducing business formation fees, AB 4836/SB 2368 on portable solar devices, AB 4881 establishing an advanced nuclear energy procurement program, AB 3974/SB 3183 revising renewable energy incentive and solar interconnection rules, AB 4013 creating a social media research center focused on addictive behavior, AB 5225 making temporary alcohol beverage provisions permanent, and AB 5295 revising alcoholic beverage licensing laws. The most contentious debate came on AB 4085, the Fair Price Protection Act, which would restrict “surveillance pricing” and regulate grocery pricing practices. Consumer advocates supported the bill as a protection against individualized pricing, while retailers and chambers of commerce argued the language was too broad and could undermine loyalty programs, discounts, and electronic shelf labels. Despite those objections, the committee voted to report the bill after amendments. Finally, AB 4530/SB 3739 on EV supply equipment standards was reported, and AB 5322 imposing a temporary cap on net operating loss deductions under the corporate business tax sparked strong opposition from business groups and a policy debate over whether legitimate losses and investment-related deductions should be limited; the bill was still moved out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1579 ensures counties can fully utilize available funding and move forward with viable models and
• And so the First 5 commissions were chosen to utilize the money.
• Unfortunately, California has one of the lowest utilization rates of the program.
• Fewer than one million families statewide are utilizing child support services.
• Fewer than one million families statewide are utilizing child support services.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• City utilities? Also prevent them from non-disclosure? And then also perhaps co-ops?
• utilities? utilities? City<00:43:42.840> utilities?
• Also prevent the prevent City utilities?
• But particularly city utilities, often many of our small cities have their own utility company.
• <00:44:45.560> is<00:44:45.720> a stated, if the uh, utility is a stated, if the uh

Keywords: 1183, house