Transcript Highlights:

• So, there's a lot of room for improvement there.
• So, there's room for improvement.
• We want to improve those that need improvement, and we want to reduce malpractice itself, not... just
• dealt with to help improve that.
• I think this gives us some room for improvement in some of the areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• But improve, and I heard the word trust just one more time.
• It is an improvement on what we have.
• Well, you know, when I got to Wiley 15 years ago, we were in school improvement, so we weren't always
• For employers, these improvements matter.
• either not improving fast enough or...

Bills: HB8

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• So as communities like mine do ADA improvements, they have a larger chunk of money that falls on small
• AB 998 will improve safety in our schools and responsibly manage the vape waste stream in California.
• And consumers can see the improvement to their cost of gasoline as soon as possible.
• These projects are intended to rapidly respond to safety needs with urgent and meaningful improvements
• This bill will help alleviate the workforce shortage to improve testing capacity by licensed personnel

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would encourage projects that turn flood water or storm water into a valuable water supply, improving
• In addition to securing the powers of a water improvement district under Chapter 56, the district has
• The one area of the bill that we think maybe could be improved is the administrative aspects.
• A tiered system, and the administrative penalties might be a way to improve the bill.
• We appreciate the committee's attention to... the issue and fully support the improvements that this

Bills: SB863, SB1190, SB1261, SB1413, SB1624, SB1662, SB1663, SB1855, SB1967, SB2124, SB2204, SB1623

Keywords: Edwards Aquifer, water conservation, reclaimed water, aquifer storage, environmental protection, water loss, municipally owned utilities, Texas Water Development Board, administrative penalties, water audit, water infrastructure, water supply, state water plan, water management strategies, water financing, municipal bonds, revenue bonds, public debt, obligations, TWDB

Transcript Highlights:

• the question you may ask is, are the reductions in irrigation demand projections over time due to improved
• It's essentially the agency working through contractors to control cane stands along the border to improve
• When a utility is in desperate need of infrastructure improvement, customers can often get relief through
• Removing obstacles and streamlining proceedings is an effective way to improve the quality. of water
• I guess where I'm at, everybody... is improved.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fourth, we've continued to try to improve efficiency in handling cases to reduce both overall average
• Much of our work at improving efficiency, however, is threatened by significant increases in incoming
• Much of our work at improving efficiency, however, is threatened by significant increases in incoming
• So some general improvements were made to address those root causes.
• General improvements were made to address those root causes.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules first took up several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Rick Simpson to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Trinidad Solis, M.D., and Gerald Talbert, M.D., to the Medical Board of California. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments, with roll calls on each item showing unanimous support from members present and the items left open for additional votes before final tallying. The main public business was the confirmation hearing for George Cardona, J.D., for a second term as Chief Trial Counsel of the State Bar of California. Cardona described reforms made since taking office, including new conflict-of-interest and gift rules, stronger investigative requirements, efforts to reduce backlog and improve efficiency, and monitoring of discipline disparities identified in prior studies. Senators questioned him about safeguards after the Girardi matter, the John Eastman discipline case, racial and ethnic disparities in attorney discipline, unauthorized practice of law by notarios, staffing shortages, and the use of AI in filings. Public witnesses from the State Bar, SEIU Local 1000, and others spoke in support. The committee voted 3-0 to advance Cardona’s appointment to the full Senate. The committee then heard Laura Enderton Speed, J.D., for Executive Director of the State Bar. She said her priorities would be restoring public trust, improving the discipline system, addressing the February 2025 bar exam problems, and strengthening fiscal stability and internal controls. Members asked about the State Bar’s structural budget deficit, the remote administration failures in the February exam, safeguards against undisclosed gifts and conflicts, and the status of audits and investigations. Supporters from the State Bar, the civil defense bar, SEIU Local 1000, and a longtime colleague testified in favor. The committee approved her appointment 5-0 to move to the full Senate. At the end of the meeting, members also approved the remaining governor’s appointments and procedural items, and the chair thanked Senator Jones for his service on the committee before adjourning the public portion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Importantly, this bill is structured to be budget neutral while improving access and quality of care.
• Importantly, this bill is structured to be budget neutral while improving access and quality of care.
• Importantly, this bill is structured to be budget neutral while improving access and quality of care.
• It improves access and reduces stigma.
• So it improves their skill set over time too. it improves outcomes compared to um, a it improves outcomes

Keywords: 00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call 02:05 - Discussion of 26RS HB 178 14:05 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 178 15:05 - Discussion of 26RS HB 280 20:00 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 280 22:00 - Discussion of 26RS HJR 24 24:30 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HJR 24 26:00 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Health Services Committee met for the first time in the 2026 session and established a quorum before taking up three measures. House Bill 178, sponsored by Rep. Kim Moser with support from the Kentucky Psychiatric Medical Association, was presented as a budget-neutral collaborative care model to improve access to mental health treatment in primary care settings. Testimony emphasized workforce shortages, long wait times, stigma, and the potential for the model to reduce costs and improve outcomes by having primary care providers work with behavioral health care managers and psychiatric consultants. The bill received a favorable recommendation by roll call vote. The committee then considered House Bill 280, also sponsored by Rep. Moser. The bill and committee amendment were described as cleanup and policy updates affecting Kentucky Board of Nursing licensure standards, including restoring language related to abuse, neglect, and exploitation in the central registry, preserving the board’s ability to investigate out-of-state applicants, and adding an emergency provision. The bill also updated school medication provisions to allow certain prescribed rescue medications, including bronchodilator inhalers, nebulizers, glucagon, Solu-Cortef, and updated epinephrine delivery. The committee adopted the amendment, approved the bill with favorable expression, and then approved a motion to roll the committee amendment into the House committee substitute. Finally, the committee took up House Joint Resolution 24, sponsored by Rep. Ken Fleming, with a committee substitute adopted first. The resolution was explained as a request for the cabinet to withdraw a previously submitted Medicaid-related waiver application so it could be resubmitted under new requirements tied to House Resolution 1. The committee approved the resolution with favorable expression and also adopted a title amendment. The meeting concluded with notice that the next committee meeting would be Thursday, January 22nd at noon.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will be discussing our state agencies use of AI and hopefully understand some improvements we might
• It's improve the quality and clarity for professional communications, including emails, newsletters and
• One like improving resident access.
• So that drift is is fail fast facts fast that way and improves constantly over time comes depreciating
• your language models or whatever that is to improve your product.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've, like I said, been improving the quality of life.
• Right now, I mean, the wildlife has, I think, improved.
• Like I said, you know, we continue to improve the quality of life.
• So, you know, we continue to improve the quality of life.
• Right now, the quality of life all around has improved.

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 1011 is about improving access to eye care for Minnesotans.
• House File 1011 is about improving access to eye care for Minnesotans.
• It will also diversify the workforce, improving patient outcomes, especially in diverse communities.
• So I believe that this bill will improve access. and increase access to health care.
• I believe that this bill will help improve health access for them. Thank you for your testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• that includes the forest policy challenges investments that are needed to reduce wildfire risk and improve
• The Fix Our Forest Act addresses this by creating a fireshed center to improve wildfire decision making
• Are there targeted improvements to the permitting process this committee should consider?
• How are you going to get permitting improved so it really works and is timely?
• And I appreciate all of your efforts to try to improve our force management so that we can reduce the

Bills: HB471

Keywords: forest management, wildfire prevention, public lands, Tribal jurisdiction, Fix Our Forests Act, wildfire, forest health, hazardous fuels reduction, fuels treatment, prescribed burning, mechanical thinning, mastication, fuel breaks, fire breaks, wildland-urban interface, WUI, fireshed, fireshed management area, fireshed registry, Fireshed Center

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on H.R. 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, which aims to address the ongoing crisis of wildfires exacerbated by climate change and the need for updated forest management practices. Various committee members voiced concerns about past federal management failures and emphasized the necessity for collaborative approaches involving local communities and stakeholders in forest management. As discussions unfolded, there were varying perspectives on the implications of certain provisions in the bill, particularly around regulatory changes and their likely impacts on public participation and environmental reviews.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of this money went to improve the lives of the... money went to improve the lives of the citizens
• Thank you very much for those words, and we are committed to improving the lives of people in Alabama
• . improving the lives of people in Alabama; that is our job.
• When complete, the network will provide improved access to unserved areas of the last mile projects..
• people ask us questions about what we are doing, you know, this is the kind of infrastructure and improvements

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is a great first step at improving democratic solutions.
• <00:31:16.080> Improving<00:31:16.640> financial Senate Bill 3.
• Improving financial Senate Bill 3.
• I urge improving democratic solutions.
• important bill to maybe possibly improve important bill to maybe possibly improve it.<01:16:23.440

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:00:08 26RS SB 3: 0:02:50 26RS SB 1: 0:21:12, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 3, which would expand financial transparency requirements for Kentucky school districts. Sponsor Senator Lindsey Tichenor said the bill would require public access to budgeting and spending information, including final working budgets, monthly credit card statements, superintendent contracts and compensation, audits, and related financial reports posted on district websites. A committee amendment correcting citations was adopted by voice vote. Supporters, including Laura O’Brien, described examples of district spending they viewed as excessive and argued that more detailed public disclosure would help taxpayers and school boards identify misuse of funds. Senator Higdon and others voiced support for transparency, while Senator Meredith said he supported the intent but wanted the bill to go further. The committee passed SB 3 with 11 aye votes and one no vote, with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senator David Givens, which would restore and clarify governance changes for Jefferson County Public Schools by defining the roles of the school board and superintendent. Givens said the bill responds to a state Supreme Court ruling and includes 42 stated reasons for the governance changes. Opponents, including Jefferson County Teachers Association president Maddie Shepard, JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood, and board member James Craig, argued the bill would weaken local democratic control, concentrate authority in one administrator, and reduce community voice. Yearwood said he works collaboratively with the board and that the bill is about adults and governance rather than students, while Craig said the district needs stronger oversight, not less. Supporters of the bill argued that the current structure has not produced adequate results and that the changes are needed to improve outcomes and accountability. The transcript ends during the SB 1 testimony and discussion, before a final vote is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, as for some of the increases, there's the CSPP Quality Rating and Improvement System Block Grant
• These changes will improve program alignment, reduce administrative burden to families and providers,
• Because economic conditions have not improved, these recent decreases are likely driven by other factors
• They would be huge improvements to our system and to our efforts to increase equity.
• This program will help families reduce hunger, improve health, and increase revenue for California and

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on the Governor’s May Revision, with no votes taken. The first major discussion focused on child care and early education, including proposed reductions tied to federal Child Care and Development Fund and Proposition 64 revenue changes, the shift of reductions from general child care to the California Alternative Payment Program, the end of funding for prospective pay implementation, a 2.01% cost-of-living adjustment, child care infrastructure grants, and a proposal to increase administrative funding for alternative payment agencies. The Legislative Analyst’s Office generally supported removing prospective pay funding and urged caution on the administrative-rate shift, while also recommending more justification for the slot reduction approach and more detail on infrastructure grant alignment. Committee members strongly objected to eliminating about 6,000 child care slots, arguing the Legislature should preserve and expand child care access. The Department of Education supported the preschool QRIS block grant increase and the COLA but raised concerns about rate alignment for three- and four-year-olds and the lack of funding to maintain enrollment growth. The committee then reviewed trailer bill language affecting child care, including codifying age-based reimbursement categories, expanding documentation for enhanced inclusion rates, clarifying CalWORKs child care eligibility, aligning health and safety standards with federal requirements, coordinating disaster-related infrastructure funding, and updating oversight language. Administration officials said the proposals were intended to support the single reimbursement rate structure, improve safety compliance, and coordinate disaster recovery funding. LAO said it had no major initial concerns with the trailer bill language but would continue reviewing it. The hearing then turned to CalFresh and nutrition programs. CDSS described projected caseload declines, a one-time augmentation for county administration to implement federal H.R. 1 changes, a proposed reassessment schedule for county administrative funding, and updated estimates that H.R. 1 could cut CalFresh funding by $2.3 billion to $3.7 billion annually and affect about 500,000 people. Members pressed the administration on the impact of H.R. 1, the “chilling effect” on immigrant households, county workload, and whether the state should backfill federal cuts, especially for families with children subject to new work requirements. The committee also discussed a one-time CalFood augmentation, state administrative expense funding, staffing for H.R. 1 implementation, and a small increase to the CACFP meal reimbursement rate. Finally, the committee began IHSS items, including the impact of reinstating the Medi-Cal asset limit, automatic IHSS termination tied to Medi-Cal loss, and related savings and caseload estimates, with the administration explaining that these proposals would reduce eligibility and that there is no broad substitute for IHSS for many recipients.

Transcript Highlights:

• > customer<00:11:16.240> service<00:11:16.560> times<00:11:16.880> that Improved
• final product that will come at the end of the session, which will reflect our common values of improving
• final product that will come at the end of the session, which will reflect our common values of improving
• Which will reflect our common values of improving safety, economic prosperity, and quality of life for
• these days and uh a project improvements these days and uh a project that<00:42:12.480> you're

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee met to review the Transportation Cabinet’s budget request and the recommended highway plan; no votes were taken. Secretary Jim Gray opened with praise for KYTC snow and ice crews, describing their response to recent winter storms and noting the scale of the effort, including about 2,300 workers, 1,438 pieces of equipment, and more than 948,000 miles driven in the first week. He then outlined the cabinet’s overall highway plan, saying it includes more than 1,300 projects and about $9.5 billion in anticipated state and federal funding over six years, with roughly 40% directed to existing pavements, bridges, and guardrails. He highlighted major priority projects such as the Mountain Parkway four-laning, the Brent Spence Companion Bridge, and the I-69 Ohio River crossing. Budget director Sean McCarron explained that the cabinet adjusted its request after the Consensus Forecast Group lowered road fund revenue estimates, and said the cabinet only included additional requests it viewed as essential. He described requests to support driver licensing regional offices, including funding to maintain temporary and contract staff used to reduce wait times, expand offices from 35 to 41 locations, and support improved customer service; he warned that without the current-year increase, wait times would rise again. He also discussed maintenance funding, saying the proposed increases would help cover rising costs for salt, snow and ice drivers, and mowing, while allowing continued litter pickup, vegetation management, pothole repair, and more in-house snow and ice work. Deputy Secretary Mike Hancock addressed specific capital questions, especially the Brent Spence Bridge and Cairo Bridge. For Brent Spence, he said the requested $125 million in general funds is needed because construction costs have risen sharply, citing a 61% increase in highway construction costs from 2020 to 2025, and said Kentucky and Ohio are both contributing to keep the project moving. He added that if the legislature does not provide the $125 million, KYTC would have to shift $100 million in federal highway funds and $25 million in state match from other projects. Hancock also reviewed several project reauthorizations for maintenance facilities and aviation projects, and noted a $5 million federally funded truck parking project aimed at addressing statewide truck parking shortages, especially along interstates and in areas such as Louisville, northern Kentucky, Frankfort, Somerset, and western Kentucky.

Transcript Highlights:

• Included in those eligible projects are also special districts, public improvement districts, and tax
• On their infrastructure capital improvement plans, we see that those go mostly unfunded.
• So on the budget side of things, Those improvements.
• And without that, there's kind of no good reason to improve all that front-end work that is going to
• Which infrastructure capital improvement plan? Does that exist now? What is that? Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, embedding cultural practices across health care professions has been shown to improve health
• me in supporting American Indian and Alaskan Native students in our health professions who want to improve
• has<00:01:17.560> been<00:01:17.759> shown<00:01:18.400> to<00:01:18.799> improve
• <00:01:19.520> health has been shown to improve health has been shown to improve health outcomes
• the health outcomes of their improve the health outcomes of their communities<00:01:56.600> uh

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• California test scores in mathematics have improved year over year since 2022, and in many districts
• These investments build educator capacity and improve mathematics instruction for all students.
• The council shares your commitment to improving early mathematics outcomes.
• And California has not made much improvement over the last 10 years.
• financial literacy. ...choice, improves implementation, and strengthens financial literacy.

Summary: The committee heard SB 1067, which would require annual math screening for kindergarten through second grade students beginning in 2028-29 to identify early numeracy difficulties and connect students to evidence-based supports. Senator Weber and supporters, including EdVoice, UC Davis researcher Charles Wilkes, and several education and community advocates, argued that California’s math performance is too low and that early screening would help close gaps before they widen. Opponents, including the California Mathematics Council, county superintendents, and the CTA, said the bill could narrow instruction, overemphasize deficit-based measures, and should instead be paired with stronger investments in teacher training and implementation of the California Mathematics Framework. Committee members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals while discussing how the screener would work and what kinds of follow-up supports would be needed. The committee also heard SB 1110 on child care subsidy administration, which would restructure funding for alternative payment programs and core contracts as the state moves to enrollment-based funding. Supporters said the bill would stabilize child care providers, improve payment timelines, and better reflect the administrative work of enrolling families and managing services; there was no opposition testimony. SB 1374, supported by the CSU and UC systems, would allow public higher education institutions to seek temporary restraining orders when credible threats are directed at a campus rather than a specific person. Supporters described recent campus threats that created safety concerns but did not fit current restraining-order law; there was no opposition. Senator Nilo presented SB 1321, which would direct the State Auditor to review remedial course use and student preparedness at selected UC and CSU campuses after a UC San Diego report showed a sharp decline in incoming students’ math readiness. Supporters argued the audit would help identify gaps in college readiness and the effects of K-12 changes, while some members raised concerns about bypassing the usual legislative audit process; the bill was held on call. The committee then took up SB 1086 on microschools, which would define microschools and direct model ordinances for local land-use regulation. Supporters said it would create a clearer path for small, individualized learning communities, but several members questioned whether the concept was sufficiently defined and whether the state had enough information to draft model ordinances; the bill was also placed on call after a quorum was established. Finally, SB 1181 was presented as a limited pilot program in Central Valley counties to connect schools with regional threat assessment centers when credible safety concerns arise. The author and supporters, including the mother of a student killed in a shooting and several students, said it would improve early intervention and communication; committee members raised privacy and federal-sharing concerns but indicated support, and the bill was moved forward on a vote once quorum was present.

Transcript Highlights:

• in attendance ...that have Lifewise Academy programs, most significantly being the marked improvement
• She said this is a significant system-wide improvement without adding any cost.
• It improves reading comprehension and reasoning.
• Yes, physical activity only helps improve students' grades. They need recess. They need PE.
• So any chance I can get that would improve physical education in public schools, I appreciate.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2266, which would change school district and charter governing board policy from permissive to mandatory for excusing students for religious instruction during the school day. The sponsor and supporters framed it as a parental-choice and religious-liberty measure that preserves release-time programs, while opponents argued it would reduce local control, take students out of core instruction, create peer pressure and bullying, and raise constitutional concerns. After testimony from Secular AZ, a LifeWise Academy board member, and a school board president, the committee voted 7-5 to give HB 2266 a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 2193, a cleanup measure related to student directory information and parent organizations such as PTOs/PTAs/APTs. Supporters said the bill would restore parent-to-parent communication that had been unintentionally limited by prior privacy legislation, while some members raised concerns about how the information could be used and suggested narrowing the language to prevent political or lobbying uses. The bill advanced on a 10-1 vote, with members generally supporting school-community communication but asking for possible amendments. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2075, which requires public school districts to submit superintendent and other top administrator contracts or attestations to ADE and have the information posted in a searchable database. The sponsor and Goldwater Institute supporters said the bill is a transparency measure because base salary reports do not show total compensation, benefits, or allowances; opponents from school administrator groups and rural districts argued the bill singles out districts while ignoring charters and other publicly funded education providers, and they said superintendent pay is already publicly available in other forms. Discussion also touched on whether the bill should be expanded to charters and private schools. The sponsor closed by emphasizing transparency and the committee continued discussion of the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:26.599> transparency,<00:03:27.599> prevent will help improve transparency,
• prevent will help improve transparency, prevent corruption<00:03:29.120> and<00:03:29.720>
• We also are in this category of election administration improvements.
• I think um the improvements.
• They are technical, administrative, and improvements.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all