Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we've got the, the, uh, we, we have developed.
• Um, since November 2024, we've been developing and distributing.
• And we have internal and external working groups developing response plans.
• Of, of, of wildlife, uh, to coordinate plan development and enhancement.
• So those are ideas that we continue to develop.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:21.760> a Senate would direct dees to develop a Senate would direct dees to develop
• and also that the plans were developed and also that the plans were developed according<00:17:31.039
• <00:29:44.960> to line with other types of development to line with other types of development
• page two of the amendment develop page two of the amendment develop marketbased<04:05:24.319>
• Walls up through, you know, developed Walls up through, you know, developed that<04:27:00.000>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to support CSPS as it begins design, development, configuration, and implementation of the new
• My name is Blake Kaiser-Lack from the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development.
• My name is Blake Kaiser-Lock from the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development.
• I'm the head of public economic development with Lendistry.
• If you're a developer in a low resource community, could you be questions if you're a developer in a

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:41.040> lacked transformation fund development lacked transformation fund development
• Um they they do not develop uh Medicaid Um they they do not develop uh Medicaid rate<00:24:22.960>
• transparencies and how do we develop transparencies and how do we develop those<00:27:57.560>
• "Well, Myers and Stauffer develops, again, they develop rates based on cost proposals and cost reports
• <00:44:33.280> and and hold DMS accountable to develop and and hold DMS accountable to develop

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on January 12, 2026, to approve the December 10, 2025 minutes and continue finalizing its findings and recommendations. Members reviewed findings on administrative inefficiencies, Medicaid and workforce participation under HR 1, Medicaid budget growth, rural health transformation fund development, and provider tax/state-directed payment changes. The board approved a motion to change “pilot” to “partnership” in the workforce-related recommendation, and also adopted a technical amendment clarifying overlapping HCBS services by removing reference to adult daycare waiver services and revising the language to focus on reducing duplication, simplifying provider contracting, and standardizing processes across programs. A separate technical correction was noted to change “DMS” to “DPH” in the rural health transformation finding, to be handled in the final edits. Several findings drew discussion but no final substantive vote during the meeting. On the rural health transformation fund, Dr. Berg said Kentucky had done well in federal funding and noted limits on what could be shared publicly, while Commissioner Lee said a public website had been created and recommended the department reference be changed to the Department for Public Health. Finding five prompted extended discussion about provider taxes, state-directed payment reductions under HR 1, and whether the board should address the relationship between actuarial studies, MCO payments, and actual provider reimbursement more directly. Senator Meredith and others argued for a broader, more transparent baseline review of rates across provider groups, while Commissioner Lee said CMS will require certain fee schedule comparisons to Medicare beginning July 1, 2026, and that quarterly expenditure reports already go to LRC. The board did not finish resolving finding five during the meeting and agreed to return to it after staff prepared more explicit language. Members also discussed the possibility of an all-payers claims database as a better way to understand what is being paid across payers and services. No final vote on the full findings package was taken in the portion of the meeting provided, but the board did adopt the noted amendments and continued working through the remaining language.

Transcript Highlights:

• The board can develop and help work with programs to develop other ways for programs who might just not
• developing a pathway for their program. developing a pathway for their program.
• degree in business and child development degree in business and child development and<00:24:35.279
• others really benefit their development. others really benefit their development. and<00:46:05.359
• certain point of of their development certain point of of their development and<01:39:34.639>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• When we're talking about the development of this AI world that's here and has been here, but I like the
• The more permanent that the education is for students developing as they go through their educational
• And so one of the things I specialize in is real estate and real estate development in my day job.
• So we have a culture of care, and we are really developing our programs around what the needs of our
• as an attorney in policy development in Congress and the U.S.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education convened with a quorum and first took up CS for SB 1694 on technology education. The bill would require technology-integrated postsecondary general education core courses to include digital literacy and competency instruction, including use of artificial intelligence tools, and would encourage high school computer science courses that include AI to teach how AI systems use data, their benefits and limitations, and responsible use in academic and personal settings. The bill sponsor and several supporters emphasized preparing students for an AI-driven workforce while teaching critical evaluation and ethical use; one speaker raised concerns about overreliance on AI and the need to preserve real-world skills. Senator Davis supported the measure and suggested introducing similar instruction earlier, possibly in middle school. The committee voted the bill favorably, with Senator Leak later recorded in the affirmative. The committee then heard a large block of confirmations for higher education boards, including appointees to Tallahassee State College, the University of South Florida, the University of North Florida, Palm Beach State College, the College of the Florida Keys, Hillsborough College, Miami-Dade College, Florida A&M University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, and the University of Florida. The appointees generally highlighted backgrounds in education, health care, law, business, technology, and public service, and described priorities such as student success, workforce alignment, affordability, fiscal responsibility, and institutional growth. One nominee to Tallahassee State College was asked about low NCLEX pass rates and said the college had a plan approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. Another nominee discussed Florida Poly’s STEM mission, and several members praised the nominees’ community ties and professional experience. After hearing the appointees, the committee voted to report the block of confirmations favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee. The committee then received a high-level overview of the higher education budget, totaling $11.9 billion, with major emphasis on workforce training and development. Highlights included increases for school district workforce education, the Florida College System, workforce development capitalization, a rural educator recruitment program, funding for the USF Center for Nursing, preeminent research universities, UCF’s community school grant program, UF’s literacy and math initiatives, UF’s autism and neurodevelopment center, and a postsecondary guardian program for campus security. Members asked a brief question about a workforce fund transfer, and the chair explained it was a transfer of an existing program with new funds added. No public comment was offered, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• in attracting advanced energy manufacturing, high-tech investment, and supply chain development.
• Chairman, members of committee, Rob Black, Cabinet Secretary for Economic Development, the other piece
• So I'm curious, though, something that has been developed right here in New Mexico, which, frankly, at
• If those are going to be created in another state and they've been developed here, in my mind, we're
• If those are going to be created in another state and they've been developed here, in my mind, we're

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• exemptions from planning and development exemptions from planning and development laws<00:04:18.000
• <00:05:28.800> by<00:05:28.960> the housing projects developed by the housing projects
• developed by the corporation<00:05:29.840> that<00:05:30.080> satisfy<00:05:30.639>
• surplus, excluding fees, to develop surplus, excluding fees, to develop additional<00:08:00.000>
• <00:22:43.840> regarding Stanford car development regarding Stanford car development regarding

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Housing heard and then took action on a series of housing-related bills concerning HHFDC, HPHA, inclusionary zoning, nonprofit housing trusts, housing project exemptions, the rental housing revolving fund, and a new for-sale housing program. Testimony was generally supportive from HHFDC and HPHA, with additional support from groups such as Hawaii YIMBY, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed, Housing Hawaii’s Future, Holo Collaborative, the Kobayashi Group, and others. On SB 2424, the Kobayashi Group argued the bill would help open housing to a broader pool of local households, including buyers slightly above income limits who still cannot afford market-rate housing. On SB 2342, the chair asked HHFDC for final figures on rental housing revolving fund appropriations since 2016 and was told the amount was about $1.1 billion, including conveyance tax revenue. In decision-making, the committee recommended passage of SB 2189 with amendments, noting concerns about transparency and accountability in HHFDC’s loan-award process; SB 2190 with amendments; SB 2234 with amendments; SB 2177 with amendments; SB 2194 unamended; SB 2342 with amendments; SB 2060 with amendments; and SB 2070 with amendments. The committee deferred SB 2195 and SB 2196 after testimony comments, and deferred SB 2063 because the chair said SB 2060 would be used instead as the vehicle for mixed-income subaccount changes. SB 2424 was discussed in hearing but then deferred in decision-making pending legal advice on issues including owner-occupancy, county income restrictions, buyback rules, and county council approval. The committee also heard testimony on SB 2062 and its proposed SD1, but deferred that measure because the relevant changes had already been incorporated into SB 2060 SD1.

Transcript Highlights:

• The businesses in Nogales are geared toward facilitating and developing our trade with our neighboring
• So this is something that's been highly developed and highly anticipated from a lot of our partners,
• Touching on that, we have developed the Readiest program.
• And part of that challenge that we've also been seeing is the shortage of housing development.
• And yes, to that point, right there is the critical need for housing and infrastructure development,

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It included establishment of the procedure codes and diagnosis codes for all services, development of
• At the initiation of that development, we began by reviewing how similar models operate in different
• The 30-hour curriculum that has been developed blends in-person instruction with e-modules, starting
• We've developed this training.
• The department is maintaining such a heavy hand, if you will, in the development of this model.

Summary: The subcommittee heard two Department of Children and Families implementation updates on measures passed in prior sessions. First, DCF reviewed House Bill 633, which increased oversight of behavioral health managing entities through biennial independent audits, standardized claims-based reporting, and new monthly outcome dashboards. The department said it had awarded the inaugural audit to Ernst & Young, found no significant waste, fraud, or abuse, but identified process risks involving financial controls, claims validation, data access, and system access controls. DCF also described its transition to standardized behavioral health coding and said the new public dashboard of 11 measures is posted on its website, though members asked for easier access and for hard copies of the audit report. Members asked about how the department distinguishes Medicaid-covered services from department-funded services, how duplicate payment risks are being addressed, and whether the new reporting and audit requirements would improve oversight without disrupting services. DCF said it is the payer of last resort for uninsured or underinsured individuals, that some overlap with Medicaid is expected because Medicaid does not cover all behavioral health services, and that new claims edits and cross-checks are being built into the system. The department also said it had not found significant negative feedback from providers and that the new requirements are intended to improve transparency and accountability. DCF then updated the committee on Senate Bill 7012, covering human trafficking data collection, domestic violence center certification, limited background-screening exemptions, expanded recruitment for child welfare staff, subcontractor liability protections, a four-year treatment foster care pilot, case management efficiency recommendations, and a statewide study of residential bed capacity for child victims of commercial sexual exploitation. The department said several items are already complete or underway, including limited exemptions in the screening clearinghouse, while others are in procurement or rulemaking. It identified Circuits 4 and 12 as the treatment foster care pilot sites and said the pilot will launch in January 2026. Members questioned recruitment metrics, pilot timing, and report deadlines; the department said final reports are expected by January and that some dates were flexible because of procurement and implementation timelines. The meeting ended after the presentations and questions, and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• were trained in the West, built their careers in American labs, and worked with American funding. to develop
• So in conclusion, it's important to remember that China takes a holistic approach to development.
• For example, DOE developed a science and technology risk matrix.
• DOE also developed a comprehensive and rigorous approach to research technology and economic security
• It takes a very holistic approach to its S&T development.

Keywords: national security, Department of Energy, foreign espionage, security protocols, Chinese Communist Party, national laboratories, research security

Summary: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee convened to address pressing issues related to research security risks at the Department of Energy, focusing specifically on foreign nationals' access to sensitive information. The meeting highlighted the increasing threats posed by espionage from the Chinese Communist Party, which has sought to infiltrate U.S. national laboratories and exploit American research for military purposes. Discussions included the importance of tightening security protocols to safeguard national interests and maintain technological advantages. Witnesses provided insight into historical contexts and current vulnerabilities, emphasizing that without proper measures, the gaps could jeopardize national security.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have HB 450 relating to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
• We at DBEDT, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Culture, well, it's actually the
• <00:18:39.520> and of Business economic de Development and of Business economic de Development
• Department of Business Economic Department of Business Economic Development<00:31:55.240> and<
• and Tourism to assist with Development and Tourism to assist with the<00:31:56.679> transition

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Culture and the Arts met on January 29 at 10:30 a.m. and heard four bills. HB 133, relating to surfing, drew testimony from the Department of Education and one individual in support. Committee discussion focused on the department’s estimated cost of about $44,000 per event, including judges, lifeguards, security, and administrative expenses. Members also asked about why surfing has been difficult to implement statewide and were told safety concerns, open-water conditions, and league-level decisions were among the barriers. The committee moved the bill forward with amendments, including blanking out the appropriation, and noted it wanted the Education Committee to review the cost breakdown further. HB 307, relating to special license plates for the island of Kahoʻolawe, received strong support from Protect K Ohana, the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission, and other supporters in person and via Zoom. Testimony clarified the name of the receiving entity and noted a recent petition showing significant public interest. The bill was advanced with technical amendments, and the chair said the fund name was already correct and that the measure would not reflect DCCA but the bank account designation. HB 450 would transfer the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission from DAGS to DBEDT and move authority over the Works of Art Special Fund to DBEDT’s director. The State Foundation and DBEDT’s Creative Industries Division supported the measure. In response to questions, the State Foundation said it had researched the transfer, believed funding would not be lost, and requested about a year for the transition to avoid payroll and payment disruptions, along with consideration of an additional DBEDT staff position. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments, including adding the requested FTE and noting a two-year transition period in the report. HB 663, authorizing a special license plate commemorating the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, had little testimony and no one signed up to speak. The chair said OHA advocacy testimony was on file but that support for the measure appeared limited, and the bill was deferred. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• assisting with districts um developing assisting with districts um developing and<00:03:52.879><
• resources and professional development. resources and professional development.
• 20:18.880> with Phase two professional development with Phase two professional development with
• <00:20:32.080> uh community of practice developing uh community of practice developing uh
• a statewide professional development a statewide professional development framework<01:26:33.040

Bills: HF3421

Keywords: early literacy, reading instruction, teacher preparation, teacher candidates, teacher licensure, educator licensing, Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, PELSB, field experience, supervised practicum, evidence-based reading, science of reading, literacy methods, teacher training, preservice teachers, school-based experience, reading intervention, Minnesota education policy, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:09:44.319> rolled center for economic development rolled center for economic development
• to develop those new products.
• Farmers the farmers trying to develop Farmers the farmers trying to develop what<01:39:16.320>
• <01:40:22.760> new developing helping to develop those new developing helping to develop those
• work. a crop that was developed at the a crop that was developed at the University<01:49:54.320>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, everybody, and welcome to the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance
• then so the legislation that developed then so the legislation that developed the<00:04:55.000><
• , and also from the general fund to the Workforce Development Fund.
• <00:58:22.680> career beyond its cost students develop career beyond its cost students develop
• with industry professionals and develop with industry professionals and develop essential<00:59:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We talk a lot about workforce development, but workforce development is life development.
• We talk a lot about workforce development, but workforce development is life development.
• We talk a lot about workforce development, but workforce development is life development.
• We talk a lot about workforce development, but workforce development is life development.
• We talk a lot about workforce development, but workforce development is life development.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• criminal history and rental decisions referred to the Committee on Trade Workforce and Economic Development
• Development Board programs for the Committee on Natural Resources, HB 4154 by Martinez relating to the
• F to the Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development, HB 4180 by Luther relating to imposing
• HB 4198 by Richardson relating to the standards for the school district library collection development
• HB 4208 by Lowe relating to including a fetal development instruction as part of the required health

Transcript Highlights:

• As long as the developer continues to give them some payment.
• As written, the bill will apply new audit provisions to existing developments.
• I'm an affordable housing developer, a real affordable housing developer.
• So some of your developments are...
• The programs are built to reimburse those developers at full market rent.

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: HB 21, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem tax, property tax, delinquent taxes, tax delinquency, penalty reduction, interest rate, split payment, installment payment, tax relief, county tax collector, taxing unit, property owner, tax collection, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax increase election, supermajority, 60 percent threshold

Transcript Highlights:

• Kizzmekia Corbett, whose scientific expertise was central to the development of the Moderna COVID-19
• Actually, the whole field and discipline of anthropology actually comes, develops out of the need for
• Actually, the whole field and discipline of anthropology actually comes, develops out of the need for
• Actually, the whole field and discipline of anthropology actually comes, develops out of the need for
• >> CALENDAR 118, SENATE PRINT 373, AN ACT TO AMEND THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ACT.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, received messages and substitutions from the Assembly, and welcomed two new members, Senators Erik Bottcher and Jeremy Zellner. The chamber then adopted the resolution calendar and took up a privileged resolution sponsored by Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins memorializing Governor Hochul to proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in New York. Senators Bailey, Baskin, Sanders, Scarcella-Spanton, Brisport, Parker, Cleare, Comrie, and others spoke in support, emphasizing Black history as American history, the importance of education and remembrance, and the contributions of Black New Yorkers and historical figures. The resolution was adopted, and the leader opened it for co-sponsorship. The Senate then moved to the bill calendar and passed several measures, including bills on civil procedure, urban development, labor, and public service law. One labor bill was substituted from the Assembly and passed. Several energy and utility-related bills drew debate, with supporters arguing they would improve affordability, utility rate-setting, and consumer protections, while opponents said they would not meaningfully lower costs and instead reflected broader policy choices. Senator Walczyk voted no on one utility bill, and Senators Tedisco and others criticized the package; Senators Mayer and Harckham defended the measures as needed reforms to utility regulation and return-on-equity standards. Most bills were approved by wide margins, including one public service bill that passed 53-9 and another that passed 61-1.

Transcript Highlights:

• These developments have potential implications for state programs and services, and this committee is
• We look forward to continuing to work with you all as you continue to develop the state approach to what's
• We look forward to continuing to work with you all as you continue to develop the state approach to what's
• And we're in the process of developing listening sessions...
• And we're in the process of developing listening sessions for individually impacted sectors.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The inaugural hearing of the newly named House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability focused on how federal policy changes could affect Massachusetts, especially in education, health care, research, infrastructure, climate, and business conditions. Chair LaNatra said the committee was created to monitor federal funding decisions and their impacts on state programs and services. Members introduced themselves, then heard testimony from Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Sarah Mills of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Quentin Palfrey, the governor’s Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure. Howgate argued that the Trump administration and new Congress pose ideological, practical, and process-related risks to Massachusetts, citing proposed cuts to Medicaid, education, research, and other domestic programs. He said federal dollars make up about a quarter of the state operating budget and capital plan, warned against using one-time reserves to backfill ongoing federal cuts, and urged the state to prioritize core services while protecting areas where Massachusetts is especially strong, such as higher education and research. In response to committee questions, he said the House Medicaid proposal would still cost Massachusetts hundreds of millions and that international student and NIH-related changes could harm the state’s labor force and innovation economy. He also advised that the state communicate clearly without overreacting to daily federal developments. Mills testified that AIM members are most concerned about uncertainty, tariffs, Medicaid cuts, and NIH reductions. She said tariffs are raising costs, disrupting supply chains, and hurting small and medium-sized businesses, housing construction, and exporters, with AIM’s business confidence index falling to its lowest level since the pandemic. She said Medicaid cuts would raise employer health costs, reduce productivity, and strain the health care system, while NIH cuts would threaten Massachusetts’ life sciences and academic research ecosystem. In questions, she said AIM has increased federal outreach, is coordinating with the U.S. Chamber and the Massachusetts delegation, and is hearing concerns from employers about immigration compliance and workforce disruptions. Palfrey described the Healey-Driscoll administration’s efforts to maximize federal funding, including a biweekly interagency council, a municipal partnership effort, and a statewide roadshow. He said Massachusetts has secured nearly $9 billion from major federal laws for projects such as the Cape Cod bridges, Allston Multimodal, grid modernization, clean-energy school buses, and broadband. He also said the administration launched a public website to track federal impacts and is working with municipalities, nonprofits, and the Attorney General on grant changes, legal issues, and litigation. In response to questions, he warned that cuts to NOAA, NSF, Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs could affect services and the state budget, and said the administration is tracking changes to federal grant applications and conditions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only.