Transcript Highlights:

• . ...uphold the Constitution over any contrary direction.
• You're the first nominee who said that they've received any direction.
• We haven't had a request, a direct request from ICE for that support. Okay.
• That directive by DoD had not been declared unconstitutional.”
• “That directive by DoD had not been declared unconstitutional.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Director Nominations held a confirmation hearing for John Connolly, the current Adjutant General and Director of the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA). Connolly described his background in the Army, National Guard, and military law, and outlined DEMA’s dual mission of supporting the Arizona National Guard and emergency management. He emphasized readiness, modernization of aging aircraft and facilities, growth in capabilities such as drones and electronic warfare, partnerships to restore helicopter training at Silver Bell, and stewardship of resources. He also discussed DEMA’s border-related missions, including Task Force Safe at Nogales, counter-drug operations, and use of artificial intelligence to monitor drone activity and build a common operating picture for law enforcement. Committee members questioned Connolly about his interview and vetting process, his role in emergency management, disaster response in Gila County, support for rural counties and tribes, and services for Guard members and families through the Integrated Resilience Operations Center. Several members pressed him on military discipline, lawful orders, classified information, and the distinction between war and hostilities. Senator Rogers focused on chain of command, combat readiness, and whether Connolly’s JAG background prepared him to lead a combat-oriented force; Connolly responded that his role is to provide ready forces, follow civilian authority, and ensure troops have training, equipment, and family support. He also said he had experience advising commanders and teaching lawful versus unlawful orders. A major point of contention came when members questioned Connolly about the 2021 COVID-19 vaccination mandate for the Guard and whether he had treated it as unlawful or unconstitutional. Connolly said it was a lawful order at the time and that exemption processes existed under the regulations. The hearing also turned to immigration enforcement, emergency powers, and whether the Guard should support ICE; Connolly said the Guard is a support function and would respond to a direct request through the governor, but he could not identify a specific scenario in the abstract. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing, and the committee appeared to continue its review after testimony and questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second question: Will you provide direct answers to questions from the committee?
• You're the first nominee who said that they've received any direction.
• We haven't had a direct request from ICE for that support. Okay.
• We haven't had a request, a direct request from ICE for that support. Okay.
• That directive by DOD had not been declared unconstitutional.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chairman, and congratulations on the well-deserved trust that's been placed in both of you.
• Vice Chairman, and congratulations on the well-deserved trust that's been placed in both of you.
• the elections because the other trust the elections because the other side<00:31:27.000> wrote
• In that ballot box are provisional votes cast, which are basically sort of trust me votes.
• So there's a program called Americans for the Public Trust. They've documented this activity.

Keywords: Consideration of HB 27 00:04:20 Presentation by Secretary of State 00:10:44 Presentation by Karen Sellers and Jason Denny 00:35:56 Consideration of HB 45 00:55:36, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled House Bill 27, which would remove the prohibition on political yard signs in planned communities statewide while still allowing communities to regulate size, placement, and duration. The sponsor said the 2023 Planned Communities Act created an unintended consequence by treating similar homeowners differently based on grandfathering dates, and a legal explanation was offered that the bill would clarify the law and avoid constitutional problems. After discussion, the committee voted 15-0 to pass the bill with favorable expression. The next item was an update from the Secretary of State on the 2024 election and implementation of House Bill 53, which created prompt post-election audits. He said the audits were carried out smoothly, most found no discrepancies, and no election winners changed, though he recommended adding a specific timeline to the law. He also discussed voter-roll maintenance, saying Kentucky has removed more than 440,000 ineligible voters since 2020, and argued that federal law and limited access to federal databases remain the main obstacles to faster cleanup. Members asked about the possibility of improper removals, double voting across states, and how provisional voting works. The Secretary said anyone improperly removed can reregister, that any double-voting abuse is likely marginal but still unacceptable, and that provisional ballots are available when eligibility is in doubt and can be reviewed by the county board of elections. He also urged Congress to modernize the 1993 federal voter-registration law, improve access to death and citizenship data, and create a central interstate information-sharing system for election officials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, members, I trust that you all have the amendments that we will be working off of.
• So I'm going to direct you to Amendment 986, which is... Okay, I just want to make sure. I'm sorry.
• I've seen people lose trust in the system that was supposed to help them.
• I trust it's difficult, you know, for personal positions for it to be neutral.
• But I invite you to submit your comments in writing, and those directions are on the agenda.

Bills: AB275, SB371, SB457

Keywords: criminal procedure, wiretap, law enforcement, child protection, sexual offenses, SB371, Nevada, trespass, criminal trespass, NRS 207.200, property rights, misdemeanor, warning period, 24 months, 36 months, no trespassing, posted signs, fencing, private property, public property

Transcript Highlights:

• This request for $10.1 million to $10.9 million and one-time spending authority from the federal trust
• And then for the other two items here where you're requesting sources out of the federal trust fund,
• Happy to work with the department to get to the bottom of those at your direction. Thanks.
• As a California state worker, I can provide you direct insight into this mandate.
• As a California state worker, I can provide you direct insight into this mandate.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 heard updates from the Secretary of State, EDD, the State Controller’s Office, CalHR, and DGS on a range of budget proposals and federal policy impacts. Secretary of State Shirley Weber opened with remarks about California’s election system, emphasizing its safety, transparency, high voter registration and vote-by-mail participation, and the office’s response to bomb threats and other election threats. Her staff then presented funding requests for the Cal-Access Replacement System (CARS) and Help America Vote Act/VoteCal activities, describing them as needed to modernize campaign finance and lobbying disclosure systems and maintain election security and voter services. A major portion of the hearing focused on federal election policy, especially the potential effects of a presidential executive order and the SAVE Act. Secretary of State staff said California would face significant, potentially unquantifiable costs if forced to comply, including new burdens on county recorders, county election offices, and the Secretary of State’s office, and warned of voter disenfranchisement, especially for students, seniors, disabled voters, military and overseas voters, rural residents, and people with limited transportation. Members and public commenters strongly opposed the federal proposals and argued California’s current system is functioning well. The committee also heard that federal HAVA funds were not expected to be at risk because the state draws them down into an interest-bearing account. EDD reported on paid family leave, explaining that recent delays were tied to a system transition and increased claim volume, and said it was simplifying applications and adding staff and automation. Public testimony supported expanding paid family leave to chosen family. EDD also said it is prepared for possible unemployment spikes, citing a recession plan, a command center, and recent hiring. The State Controller’s Office requested funding to continue the Fiscal migration project, which would move the state’s accounting book of record to the new system by July 1, 2026; Finance and LAO had no objections, and the committee expressed support for the project’s progress. CalHR presented a proposal for a statewide recruitment, outreach, and education paid media campaign under AB 1511, saying its current advertising budget is too small to reach diverse communities effectively. The final item addressed Governor Newsom’s executive order requiring a return to office on a four-day schedule. CalHR and DGS said they were working department-by-department to assess space, parking, transit, and other logistics, but had not completed a statewide cost analysis. Members and many public commenters criticized the order, arguing it was rushed, costly, harmful to telework benefits, and potentially disruptive to workers, especially those with disabilities, caregiving responsibilities, or long commutes. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• SDR is another step in the right direction.
• Trust in our institutions is low, immigrant communities are doubly fearful because of federal policy,
• When our patients vote, they gain direct influence over policies affecting their health and safety.
• It's a common-sense reform that will strengthen participation, equity, and, most importantly, trust in
• Each instance erodes trust and divides communities.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on a wide range of voting-access and election-administration bills. The largest portion of testimony focused on same-day voter registration (H. 834/S. 505), with support from Rep. Gentile, Boston and Chelsea officials, civic groups, and election administrators from Maine and Vermont. Supporters argued that same-day registration would help eligible voters who move frequently, miss deadlines, or face administrative errors, and would reduce rejected provisional ballots. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Vermont elections director Sean Sheehan testified that same-day registration has worked in their states without major administrative problems and has helped increase turnout. A Boston-based panel also described high rejection rates for provisional ballots and the burden of registration cutoffs on renters, students, immigrants, and low-income voters. A second major topic was restoration of voting rights for incarcerated people, including S. 524 and related House bills. The committee heard extensive virtual testimony from incarcerated individuals at MCI Norfolk and MCI Shirley, who said voting should be restored as part of rehabilitation, civic engagement, and reintegration. They described disenfranchisement as dehumanizing and argued that voting would help maintain family and community ties, reduce recidivism, and give incarcerated people a voice on laws affecting prisons and reentry. Rep. Erica Uyterhoeven also testified in support, saying the bill would restore municipal voting rights for incarcerated residents and align with broader efforts to expand political participation. The committee also heard testimony on bills affecting election administration and access, including a proposal to reduce or eliminate mandated early in-person voting in primaries and shorten the general-election early voting period, with supporters from the town clerks’ community arguing that low usage, staffing burdens, and costs justify the change. Opponents warned that reducing in-person early voting could hurt voters who do not use mail ballots and could disproportionately affect communities of color. Other bills discussed included decoupling the municipal census from voter registration, requiring periodic accessibility inspections of polling places, and a Somerville home-rule petition on non-citizen municipal voting and another on lowering the voting age in municipal elections. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Space Trust in support.
• Good morning, Kim Delphino on behalf of Sonoma Land Trust in Support. Thank you.
• Rachel Dan from the separate. land trust in support. Thank you.
• Tasha Newman on behalf of the California Council of Land Trust and the Peninsula Open Space Trust in
• Kim Delphino on behalf of CalTrout, Defenders of Wildlife, Mojave Desert Land Trust, Sonoma Land Trust

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several natural resources and water-related bills. SB 224 by Senator Hurtado would require the Department of Water Resources to implement audit recommendations, improve climate-informed water supply forecasting, and provide annual updates to the Legislature; supporters emphasized the need for better transparency and more accurate water planning, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 556, also by Senator Hurtado, would fund floodplain restoration in the Tulare Basin to reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, and provide habitat and other community benefits; local officials and conservation groups supported it, some initial concerns about Proposition 4 were resolved, and the bill passed as amended. SB 630 by Senator Allen would streamline State Parks and other state real property acquisitions by raising review thresholds and reducing duplicative approvals; conservation groups and park advocates supported the measure, while some members raised oversight and fiscal concerns, and it passed as amended. SB 718 by Senator Allen would reduce hunting and fishing license costs for low-income Californians, framed as helping subsistence users and disabled veterans and seniors, and it passed as amended. The committee also approved SB 427 by Senator Blakespear, which extends the sunset of the Habitat Conservation Fund from 2030 to 2035. Supporters said the fund has protected more than 1.2 million acres, leverages other funding, and supports habitat, recreation, and climate resilience; members highlighted its importance for areas like the Salton Sea and the need to protect the funding stream from future sweeps. SB 586 by Senator Jones, an e-moto off-highway vehicle bill, was taken up with little discussion and passed as amended. SB 639 by Senator Ashby would extend the deadline for Sacramento-area flood protection projects in the Natomas Basin and Beach Lake subareas from 2025 to 2030 to allow completion of remaining work and avoid delays to infill housing; city, county, and flood agency representatives supported it, and it passed as amended. Throughout the hearing, witnesses and members repeatedly emphasized water reliability, flood protection, conservation funding, and reducing bureaucratic delays. Several bills drew broad support from local governments, water agencies, tribes, and conservation organizations, and multiple members requested to be added as coauthors. All of the measures discussed were reported out of committee, generally with amendments and with some items left open for add-on votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• recreational use of school trust lands. recreational use of school trust lands.
• whether they are direct users or not. whether they are direct users or not.
• environment and natural resources trust environment and natural resources trust fund.<00:41:47.920
• And we're going to be rescheduling the school trust land discussion.
• Oh, I had questions about school trust, Lance, but no.

Bills: HF624

Keywords: HF624, Minnesota fishing law, game and fish, walleye stamp, walleye stamp validation, angling, angler, fishing lines, two lines, four lines, open water fishing, ice fishing, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, fishing regulations, fish harvest, conservation, Minnesota Statutes 97C.315, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, during the most recent special session, you, the legislature, directed LLC staff to conduct a full
• evaluation of SNAP by July 2026, and then you also directed us to provide you with a project update
• You also directed LLC staff to conduct a full program evaluation administered by July 2026.
• But for the direct benefits, if the error rate is between 6 and 8, the state will be required to pay
• And then if the error rate is above 10 percent, that will be 15 percent direct state costs for direct

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As you came into the hearing room today, the sergeants directed your attention to the rules for public
• The statute directed the Air Resources Board to work with the CPUC to implement it.
• There is no other choice for society than to move in that direction.
• So if you can direct it towards that as well, I think that would give us a comprehensive answer.
• I'm here on behalf of our center and directed by Dr.

Summary: The hearing focused on transportation network companies in California, with the chair framing it as an informational hearing on the history, regulation, safety, climate, accessibility, and data issues surrounding Uber, Lyft, and smaller or autonomous TNC services. The CPUC described its decade-long regulatory role, including safety rules, background checks, insurance requirements, reporting obligations, and two major legislative programs from 2018: the Clean Miles Standard and the Access for All program. Members asked about complaint trends, data collection and disclosure, program implementation, and how the CPUC uses annual reports for policymaking, compliance, and program oversight. Uber and Lyft said the statewide framework has supported growth while providing safety and access benefits, but both companies emphasized that insurance is a major cost driver and argued that California’s UM/UIM requirement is unusually high compared with other vehicles. They said the Clean Miles Standard is pushing electrification but faces headwinds from EV affordability and charging infrastructure, while Access for All has expanded wheelchair-accessible service but still needs continued support. They also discussed transit partnerships, wildfire response, and the potential role of autonomous vehicles, with both companies saying human drivers will remain important and that future regulation should account for new technology. The final panel, including the San Francisco County Transportation Authority and UC Berkeley researchers, presented evidence that TNCs have increased congestion and reduced transit ridership, especially in dense urban areas. They described prior research showing TNCs contributed to congestion growth in San Francisco and noted that this work helped spur local taxes on ride-hailing trips to fund safety and transit improvements. The panel also discussed the CPUC’s evolving data-disclosure decisions, arguing that public access to TNC trip data is important for understanding transportation impacts and informing local policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• student trust. student trust.
• And I trust the school librarians. I trust the school boards.
• I trust the the school librarians. I trust the school<01:41:45.040> boards.
• But I trust democracy. I trust majorities to make good decisions.
• I trust majorities to make democracy. I trust majorities to make good<04:50:27.920> decisions.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll just direct answer to my question.
• c><02:21:34.960> directly identified 23 deaths directed directly identified 23 deaths directed
• They are trusted of our constituents.
• Can this be someone I know and trust?
• and of course that community trust and of course that community trust that's<04:41:07.360> involved

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh and that is a direct exercise.
• section two opioid abatement trust fun. section two opioid abatement trust fun.
• The opioid abatement trust fund... The opioid abatement trust fund.
• trust fund.
• Uh do you know if this trust trust fund.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 7040, a bill to be entitled an act relating to trust funds.
• This trust fund took effect February 17, 2022. Today is February 11.
• We need to prevent this emergency response trust fund from being used.
• Monday night at midnight, this trust fund expires.
• Senate Bill 7040, a bill to be entitled an act relating to trust funds.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing visiting groups and guests, including college students and leaders, health and nonprofit organizations, Catholic Days at the Capitol participants, foreign dignitaries from Morocco, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, with remarks honoring the Parkland community and the school safety law that followed. The chamber then took up a special order calendar of bills, beginning with several claims bills and local relief measures. SB 14 for Jose Correa against Miami-Dade County passed 37-1, and HB 6517 for A. Sanchez-Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg passed after substitution. HB 6515 for Lordes Latour and Edward Lator against Miami-Dade County also passed 38-1. The Senate then approved SB 52 on volunteer armed security at places of worship (39-0), SB 124 updating Florida Virtual School statutes (39-0), SB 504 on code inspector body cameras (39-0), and SB 506 on related public records (38-1). A lengthy debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Several senators argued for tighter oversight and supported an amendment by Senator Berman that would have limited fund use and required Legislative Budget Commission approval for continued spending; that amendment failed 12-27. The underlying bill then passed 29-10. Senators also adopted SB 594 on local housing assistance for mobile home owners (39-0), SB 656 strengthening Internet Crimes Against Children programs (39-0), SB 806 creating right-to-repair protections for wireless devices and agricultural equipment (39-0), SB 816 establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute (39-0), SM 1186 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure by voice vote, SB 308 creating the Florida Museum of Black History with a late-filed amendment clarifying ex officio nonvoting legislative members (39-0), and SB 572 updating ethics law to include foster children and foster parents, as amended (38-0). The Senate also withdrew SB 1360 from further consideration, certified passed bills to the House, and adjourned until February 19.

Transcript Highlights:

• We pointing him in different directions.
• HB 1793 moves my community in the wrong direction.
• It makes students, especially direction.
• should trust them to be able to vote. should trust them to be able to vote.
• You've been sitting there long enough. trust that we can enforce that in a way trust that we can enforce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Employee ownership trusts.
• Whereas here, I trust everybody that I work with, like, explicitly.
• It's a direct appropriation for, blank.
• <01:21:57.920> for, general fund direct appropriation for, general fund direct appropriation
• It's a direct appropriation for, blank.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> it can't possibly be trusted. >> it can't possibly be trusted.
• Uh, we're mitigation trust program.
• And I don't trust them. I don't trust the government.
• And I don't trust them. I don't trust the government.
• And I don't trust them. I don't trust the government.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply directs dollars to schools based on the students that attend them.
• <01:07:46.840> fund, a little bit on the school trust fund, a little bit on the school trust
• <01:15:19.000> the order to do that, we should direct the order to do that, we should direct
• This is moving us in the wrong direction. And we absolutely needed to oppose this.
• . direction.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:02.160> Iran Hezbollah terrorists directed by Iran Hezbollah terrorists directed by
• against our utility services, direct against our utility services, direct espionage<02:31:38.080
• and potentially inspire or direct and potentially inspire or direct violence<02:31:41.840> within
• approach works and can be trusted approach works and can be trusted abroad.<02:33:12.240> Under
• United States is now engaged in direct United States is now engaged in direct military<04:47:44.878

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the word of the federal if I can trust the word of the federal government<00:33:26.679> anymore
• the forms or through direct the forms or through direct certification<01:31:43.880> where
• I'm wondering, this committee, we've talked a lot about the permanent school trust and the fact that
• tribal schools don't get funds from the permanent school trust.
• Madam Chair, yes, they don't get money from the permanent school trust.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to hear a Minnesota Department of Education presentation on federal education funding and the potential effects of federal actions on those dollars. Chair Kunesh framed the discussion around concerns about threats to the U.S. Department of Education and noted that federal funds make up about 10% of Minnesota’s education budget, or roughly $1.4 billion. Senator Lang pushed back, emphasizing that 90% of school funding comes from state and local sources and urging the committee to focus on state mandates and how to pay for them. New member Senator Clark introduced himself and said he would teach ethics or running if he were a teacher. Department staff explained that federal education dollars are divided between entitlement/formula funds and competitive/discretionary grants. They said Minnesota receives federal money through established systems and that the department is seeking clarity about how federal changes might affect the flow of funds, oversight, and program administration. They also outlined Minnesota’s legislative review process for federal funds, which includes several pathways such as the governor’s biennial budget, supplemental budget submissions, legislative advisory committee review, and expedited review processes when needed. The presentation then focused on ESEA Title funding, especially Title I. Staff said Title I is one of the largest federal education programs in Minnesota, with about $200 million in current funding, and supports 476 local education agencies. They described how funds are allocated through Minnesota’s North Star accountability system and Compass support structure, based on measures such as poverty, graduation rates, and state assessment performance. Examples of allowable supports included professional development, attendance initiatives, reading curriculum, training, and peer coaching. Senators asked whether executive action could affect these funds and whether the money flows directly to districts or through the state; staff responded that they would avoid speculation and would continue explaining the different funding streams and oversight structure.