Transcript Highlights:

• In the event that it comes across something in the ditch, like a bumper or an obstruction, you would
• We take part in many recruitment events throughout the state of Minnesota, to include high school events
• </c><00:31:26.960><c> things</c> um to include High School events things um to include High School events
• </c> like that however some of these events like that however some of these events cost<00:31:29.600>
• Are we going to write a ticket to a 14-year-old, or how is that proposed to work?

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Or the rules at like a large-scale sporting event? The other day. Yes.
• I won the golden ticket like Willy Wonka.
• That's why I said it's the golden ticket.
• He got the golden ticket. And if you don't, if you didn't get it, why not?
• Events Reporting System.

Bills: SB227 , SB269 , SB407 , SB463 , SB527 , SB547 , SB1283 , SB1380 , SB1383 , SB1511 , SB1640 , SB1784 , SB2069

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> especially here lately in in the event especially here lately in in the event of<00:18:18.960><c
• ,</c> statewide snow, ice, and flood events, statewide snow, ice, and flood events, the<00:25:04.000>
• And to monitor a lot of that also, we have our ServiceNow ticketing system. We use Teams.
• You know, what we primarily use is our ServiceNow ticketing system.
• I can see all the tickets that are assigned, the tickets that are being worked.

Summary: The committee received testimony from Personnel Cabinet Secretary Mary Elizabeth Bailey and Deputy Secretary Robert Long on the state’s telecommuting policy. Bailey explained that telecommuting in the executive branch is governed by a statewide policy requiring eligible employees to work in the office three days a week and telecommute up to two days a week. Eligibility depends first on the position, not the person: public-facing jobs, roles requiring special equipment or insecure document handling, and other duties that cannot be performed remotely are not eligible. Employees and managers must complete training, sign agreements, comply with safety and IT requirements, and telecommuting privileges can be revoked for poor performance or discipline. She said the cabinet audits compliance and that telecommuting has helped maintain services during inclement weather, disasters, and building renovations. Bailey also said about 33% of the workforce is hybrid, 11% telecommutes full-time, and 56% does not telecommute. Members asked about cost savings, eligibility, discipline, and technology requirements. Bailey said she did not have statewide cost-savings figures and referred that question to the Finance and Administration Cabinet. She said employees must have reliable connectivity and appropriate equipment, but there is no fixed broadband speed requirement; if an employee cannot connect, they must come into the office. She also said telecommuting postings indicate whether a position is eligible, and that performance issues are handled through progressive discipline rather than being ignored. Transportation Cabinet officials then described how their agency manages remote work. Deputy Secretary Mike Hancock, along with IT and human resources leaders, said the cabinet follows the executive branch policy and actively manages telecommuting employees through Microsoft Teams, VPN access, daily standups, project tracking, and manager oversight. They said more than 2,600 of the cabinet’s 4,000 employees cannot telecommute because their jobs are public-facing or field-based, while about 35% are eligible to telecommute up to two days per week. The cabinet also has 13 state employees and 94 contract employees working full-time remotely in IT. Officials said telecommuting has improved recruitment and retention, supported emergency response and weather operations, and allowed the cabinet to continue working during storms and other disruptions. Members asked about phone equipment, monitoring, and “mouse jiggler” devices; officials said phones are often forwarded to personal or state devices, Teams shows real-time availability, and managers rely on daily accountability and project management tools to monitor work.

Transcript Highlights:

• The reality is that every year offers multiple ways for these events to fail, from poor ticket sales
• The promoter takes 100% of the risk for these events, and there's no way of knowing if ticket sales will
• So my encouragement is that I want more smaller events that can couple along with these larger events
• They didn't have another big event. They just have the wineries. They don't have a big event.
• That's their signature event.

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• of the speeding ticket at the end of the speeding<00:25:47.039><c> ticket</c><00:25:47.360><c> at</c
• Goes back into very dubious event.
• Like if there's an event you don't like, like the drag queen event, um, I think the solution is to not
• go to that event.
• go to that event.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The reality is that every year offers multiple ways for these events to fail, from poor ticket sales
• The promoter takes 100% of the risk for these events, and there's no way of knowing if ticket sales will
• So my encouragement is that I want more smaller events that can couple along with these larger events
• They didn't have another big event. They just have the wineries. They don't have a big event.
• That's their signature event.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism heard several bills focused on California’s creative economy, sports development, and cultural preservation. SB 226 by Senator Cabaldon would clarify that infrastructure revitalization financing districts may be used for entertainment and sports facilities, with testimony from West Sacramento officials emphasizing that the tool would rely only on project-generated city tax increment and would not affect school districts, counties, or the General Fund. Members discussed the relationship between IRFDs and EIFDs and the distinction between infrastructure financing and direct subsidy of private sports teams or stadiums. SB 865 by Senator Ashby proposed support for destination music festivals, citing the economic impact of events such as Aftershock and Golden Sky in Sacramento and similar festivals elsewhere in the state. Supporters from Visit Sacramento and Danny Wimmer Presents said festivals generate substantial jobs, tax revenue, and tourism spending while promoters bear the financial risk. Several committee members and public witnesses supported the bill as a way to sustain the creative economy, local businesses, and opportunities for artists. The bill passed the committee on a unanimous vote and was sent to Appropriations. SB 1050 by Senator Ashby would require disclosures when synthetic performers are used in advertisements, including audio ads, to inform consumers and protect human performers from displacement. SAG-AFTRA and voice actor advocates argued that consumers deserve to know when an ad uses AI-generated likenesses or voices, while TechNet, the Motion Picture Association, broadcasters, and other industry groups opposed unless amended, raising concerns about overbreadth, audio-only implementation, private enforcement, and the need for clearer exemptions and definitions. Members generally supported the bill’s goal but noted technical issues to refine; it passed unanimously to Judiciary. SB 1073 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would create a voluntary tax checkoff to support the South Los Angeles Black Cultural District. Supporters described the district’s historic and cultural significance and framed the measure as a way to help preserve Black cultural assets amid limited public funding. Members discussed how the checkoff would appear on tax forms statewide, its voluntary nature, and whether it could serve as a model for other districts. The bill also passed unanimously to Appropriations, and the committee later adopted the consent calendar unanimously as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> events.
• Now, these are just our events, events. Now, these are just our events, not<00:19:11.840><c> rented.
• </c> annual um um occurrence of this event. annual um um occurrence of this event.
• Um couple different<00:21:19.520><c> events</c> different events different events and<00:21:22.240><c
• It's actually ticket sales, event sales, things like that that keep the lights on, keep Anna and I employed

Summary: The committee met for its second Interim Joint Committee on Tourism, Small Business, and Information Technology meeting, approved the June minutes, and then heard a presentation from representatives of the Ark Encounter on its 10-year anniversary. Eddie Lutz and Anna Katherine Scalf described the Ark as a major tourism anchor in Kentucky, citing nearly 9.3 million total guests, about 1 million annual visitors, 16,871 bus groups, and a largely out-of-region audience. They emphasized that the Ark and the nearby Creation Museum together draw about 1.5 million visitors a year and have helped drive hotel development, restaurant activity, and other tourism spending in Northern Kentucky and surrounding areas. They also previewed future expansion, including a large first-century Jerusalem model in the welcome center and a 40-day Christian music festival with more than 120 concerts. Members asked about the project’s financing, location choice, and business structure. The witnesses said no taxpayer dollars were used to build the Ark, but the project did receive a Kentucky tax incentive/rebate program, which they said helped bring the attraction to the state. They said Kentucky was chosen in part because of the available land off I-75 and because the Ark and Creation Museum are close enough to encourage overnight stays. In response to questions, they explained that Answers in Genesis is the nonprofit parent organization, the Creation Museum is nonprofit, and the Ark Encounter operates as a for-profit entity owned by a nonprofit; revenue comes from ticket sales and events, while development was funded through private donations. They also said staffing can reach about 1,400 employees seasonally, though they did not know the occupational tax details. Several legislators offered supportive comments and personal observations about the Ark’s draw for out-of-state and international visitors, including license plates from many states and stories of travelers extending their stays to visit. The witnesses and members also discussed broader tourism collaboration in Kentucky, including partnerships with Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky attractions, and nearby hotels and businesses that benefit from Ark-related traffic. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approval of the June minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Streamlines the event streamlining. Streamlines the event licensing<01:01:44.640><c> model.
• Um it has event recommended by OCM.
• </c> events throughout the year. events throughout the year.
• Traditionally, tickets are sold for one or two dollars, and once the ticket sales close for that round
• At our events, you'll find a table of several types of meat packages, a single paddle wheel, tickets

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• when there's only one event?
• When there's only one event. Senator, thank you for the question.
• My goal is to have better scratcher tickets so that people actually enjoy playing them.
• So it allows us to just average the two to come up with a better payout for our scratcher tickets.
• So we can raise that amount you're talking about, and because of our sales with our online tickets.

Bills: SB246 , SB146 , SB300 , SB301 , SB309 , SM17

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: massage therapy, licensure, health and safety standards, continuing education, establishment licensing, civil rights, sovereign immunity, damages, public body, lawsuit limitations, legal notice, child welfare, computing infrastructure, data management, Department of Health, appropriation, foster care, Indian children, cultural competency, training services

Transcript Highlights:

• The source of the revenue comes from private donations, network deals, ticket sales, merchandise, and
• It's just to allow the event to take place and protect the people. Thank you. Yes, sir.
• and who were going to use it to go hunting, and also tried to pay money to get them to buy their tickets
• It's just to allow the event to take place and protect the people. Thank you. Yes, sir.
• To go hunting, harass them, and also try to pay money to get them to buy their tickets so they wouldn't

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on April 14 with a quorum and heard several recommitted public-records and government-transparency bills, along with one local audit bill and one campaign-solicitation bill. HB 55 by Rep. Villio would prohibit intentional public disclosure of juror identifying information and create a public records exception; after adopting technical amendments, the committee reported it favorably as amended. HB 608 by Rep. Chassion would make documents tied to intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing programs confidential; supporters said it protects student-athletes and institutional competitiveness, while the Louisiana Press Association argued it would shield public money and reduce transparency. The bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote of 9-3. HB 1045 by Rep. LaCombe would raise the audit threshold for certain local auditees in a limited parish-specific application, with an amendment tying annual audits to entities in Pointe Coupee Parish above a revised revenue level and indexing the threshold to CPI. Committee members and local-government groups said the change would reduce unnecessary audit costs for small water and special districts while preserving oversight; it was reported favorably as amended. HB 1035 by Rep. Beham would add penalties for exploitative campaign fundraising aimed at elderly people; supporters described scam-like tactics and recurring withdrawals, while some members questioned how it would be enforced and whether existing fraud laws already covered the conduct. The committee ultimately reported the bill favorably by a 7-5 vote. HB 1049 by Rep. Owen would tighten open-meetings requirements by improving notice posting, minutes, and training expectations for those presiding over public bodies. Supporters said it would help volunteers and small boards comply with the law, while the Police Jury Association raised cost and staffing concerns for thousands of local entities; the bill was reported favorably. HB 1177 by Rep. Zerang would create a public-records exemption for personal information related to hunting and fishing lottery licenses, prompted by concerns that lottery winners could be harassed by animal-rights activists; it was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, two other bills were deferred at the sponsors’ request, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the things you may hear from some of the testifiers today are that when these events occur and
• Event is part of the Cooper-Jones Act or invokes the vulnerable road user statute.
• Vulnerable road users are often wrongly ticketed in crashes, especially when people are taken away by
• Now, traffic tickets are not admissible at trial, but insurers rely heavily on them.
• Too often, my ticketed clients must file suit to disprove conclusions in police reports based only on

Bills: HB2095

Committee: House Civil Rights & Judiciary

Keywords: public safety, vulnerable users, pedestrians, protected classes, transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Tickets are great.
• Tickets are great.
• Tickets are great.
• Tickets are great.
• Tickets are great.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are no longer creating a scratch-off ticket game.
• Texas and other states did so by creating a lottery scratch-off ticket to fund their veterans fund.
• did so by creating a lottery scratch-off ticket to fund their veterans fund.
• What law enforcement is seeing on school campuses and during large public events like college football
• where we have many students and many children and families coming to these events.

Bills: HB59 , HB74 , HB159 , HB167 , HB175 , HB255 , HB330 , HB364 , HB458 , HB525 , HB568 , HB656 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1070

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Keywords: public defender, funding, district court, East Baton Rouge, judicial expenses, Autism Spectrum Disorder, missing children, law enforcement, public safety, Spectrum Alert, inmate documentation, post-release employment, special identification card, Louisiana Department of Public Safety, reentry services, veterans, veterans services, lottery proceeds, special fund, grant board

Transcript Highlights:

• If you receive an interest ticket, please retain it as it may be required for re-entry if you leave the
• If you receive an interest ticket, please retain it as it may be required for re-entry if you leave the
• ,</c> If you receive an interest ticket, If you receive an interest ticket, please<00:01:14.320><c> retain
• And while we all know the events of June 14th, um, I'm not really going to speak about those events tonight
• I wish I was a ticket. Come on. >> Mr.

Bills: HF3475 , SF3832 , HF3508 , HF3917 , HF3404 , HF3593

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• I can let you know that our ticket sales are pretty darn close to what they were pre-pandemic, which
• And so, with you providing operational funding, we take the ticket sales and donations and what’s left
• With you providing operational funding, we take the ticket sales and donations and what’s left, and we
• With you providing operational funding, we take the ticket sales and donations and what’s left, and we
• Well, thank you so much for your time. um events like science and um events like science and sustainability

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts held an informational briefing with representatives from ʻIolani Palace and Bishop Museum to discuss how the Legislature can better support state-funded cultural institutions during the interim and into the next session. Chair Capella said the goal was to understand current needs, preserve Hawaiian culture and history, and expand educational access. No votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing. ʻIolani Palace’s representative described the Friends of ʻIolani Palace’s role as the nonprofit supporting repair, restoration, maintenance, and public education for the state monument. She said state operational funding and ARPA funds were critical to keeping the palace open, maintaining HVAC and other systems, and funding repairs that would otherwise fall to DLNR. She highlighted ongoing and planned projects including a fire suppression system, HVAC improvements, basement exhibit work, plumbing repairs, elevator replacement, etched glass restoration, and school-tour access. She also noted that a prior $150,000 CIP for windows and doors had not yet been released, and said the organization is exploring ways to bring more neighbor island students to the palace through transportation support, airline partnerships, and digital outreach. Bishop Museum’s representatives outlined the museum’s history, its role as the state museum of natural and cultural history, and its extensive collections in archives, archaeology, botany, entomology, zoology, and cryopreservation. They emphasized the museum’s work in preservation, research, environmental stewardship, and public education, including free access through Museums for All, daily programming, and cultural festivals and community events. They said state funding has been essential for staffing, IT security, fire suppression, and infrastructure needs, and that digitization of the museum’s 25 million objects is a major ongoing initiative to preserve and share Hawaiʻi’s history and knowledge.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is the largest sporting event ever held in the world. Washington State in 144 days.
• It is the largest sporting event ever held in the world.
• But as April just mentioned right before this, this is a statewide event.
• We typically flex their staffing hours depending on the events.
• What does that ticket result in economically?

Bills: SB5839 , SB5824 , SB5864 , SB6032

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: county authority, transportation, ferry district, infrastructure, government powers, fifth-wheel, travel trailers, vehicle regulation, state law, motor vehicle, insurance verification, automobile regulation, state compliance, traffic safety, highway safety, load limits

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the non-fair events that are making our fairgrounds economic engines.
• It's the non-fair events that are making our fairgrounds economic engines.
• Our grounds are used on a regular basis for 4-H shows, 4-H events, FFA events, police training, blood
• But our ability to run off-season events is critical.
• The ability to host events outside of the fair is not a luxury. It's a necessity.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on bills related to land use, zoning, permitting, municipal governance, and homelessness. Early testimony focused on a home rule petition for Ipswich to remove a residency requirement for a town manager, with supporters saying it would broaden the applicant pool and help fill a vacant permanent manager position. Another panel backed legislation to change the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission’s governance so ratepayers in surrounding communities would have representation, arguing the current board structure leaves many users without a voice in rate-setting and capital decisions. Several housing and zoning bills drew testimony. Senator Keenan and the Home Builders and Remodelers Association supported a bill to toll the one-year period for acting on a variance while an appeal is pending, saying appeals should not consume the time needed to implement approved projects. Representative Murray and the Real Estate Bar Association also testified on broader zoning reforms, including changes to undersized lots, merger rules, hearing deadlines, appeals, and variance standards; they argued the proposals would reduce delay and uncertainty and help housing production. Committee members questioned whether shifting zoning appeals from de novo to closed-record review would limit new evidence, and the witnesses said the change would speed cases while preserving limited opportunities to supplement the record. The committee also heard testimony on bills to end the criminalization of homelessness. Representatives, advocates, and shelter organizations said local camping bans and fines are counterproductive, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision, and urged a statewide response centered on housing and public health rather than punishment. Other municipal bills included remote participation in open town meetings for Wayland and a statewide local option, Fairhaven and Mattapoisett charter changes, and Cambridge’s request to use automated parking enforcement and mail parking tickets. The hearing also included testimony supporting fairground zoning flexibility, a Shrewsbury solar siting bill, and an Inspector General bill clarifying county land disposition procedures by requiring written notice to DCAM and a defined response period. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, I had the other day a similar sales tax exemption on tickets to events sponsored by Minnesota's
• Also, I had the other day a similar sales tax exemption on tickets to events sponsored by Minnesota's
• </c><01:26:28.000><c> by</c> tickets to um events sponsored by tickets to um events sponsored by Minnesota's
• come in, you'll only get tickets for a day or two even though it's a week-long event.
• A typical PGA event is not a one-day event. It's a seven-day event.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• But there's a lot of events that bars and charities, affiliated or not, work together on to promote,
• But there's a lot of events that bars and charities, affiliated or not, work together on to promote,
• Is there anybody anything, are about drunk driving campaigns or click-it-or-ticket campaigns.
• knowledge, that has only been studied that I've seen in the traffic context, so like the click-of-ticket-ticket
• , or it's the fine itself. ...the traffic tickets issued by cameras are having an effect.

Committee: Joint Judiciary Committee

Summary: The Judiciary Interim Committee met to continue its study of charitable gaming, especially the ownership of alcoholic beverage establishments by licensed charitable gaming organizations and the relationship between charities, site owners, and gaming manufacturers/distributors. Legislative Council reviewed the background memo and Attorney General’s Gaming Division explained the legal framework, including site authorizations, rent limits, allowable expenses, and restrictions on distributors and manufacturers. Members focused heavily on electronic pull tabs, asking about the large gap between gross proceeds and adjusted proceeds, how much is paid out in winnings, how much is retained for expenses, and whether the 60% allowable-expense cap is being used as intended. The AG’s office said e-tabs account for most gaming volume, that winnings make up much of the difference, and that some organizations do not use the full 60% while others may exceed it, though only the capped amount counts as gaming expense. The committee also discussed the number of gaming organizations that appear to own or be affiliated with bars, the ways those ownership structures are formed, and whether some arrangements may create conflicts or site-selection pressure. The League of Cities and the Association of Counties described the local site-authorization process and recent model policies adopted after the 2025 session. Cities said they can require signed agreements, limit games and machines, set qualifications, and charge up to $100 for site authorization, but cannot require charities to donate net proceeds or force a specific charity or site. They said the new policies are meant to add transparency and local control, though the more controversial parts involve requiring a local nexus or community connection. County representatives said the issue is mostly a city matter and that counties generally take a lighter-touch approach. Committee members raised concerns about whether local rules could unfairly exclude larger regional charities or create inconsistent standards across cities. The North Dakota Gaming Alliance said it supports the study and provided information on charities that own or are affiliated with bars, emphasizing that most gaming organizations do not own alcoholic beverage establishments. Its representative said some charities may pursue bar ownership for site stability and diversification, while others decide against it because operating a bar is difficult. He also said a ban on charity-owned bars could raise federal tax-law issues depending on how it is written, and agreed to provide more detail. The committee asked Legislative Council and the Gaming Alliance for additional information on ownership structures and federal-law questions before the next meeting. Later, the Racing Commission gave a separate update on live racing, pari-mutuel wagering, and related charitable partnerships, and the State Hospital superintendent reported on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s support services, staffing, and wait lists; no votes were taken on these presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do a lot of outreach, and we have four, sometimes 500 attendees at these hiring events, and we at
• FDOT have even innovated and figured out a way to hire new employees on the spot at those events.
• They'll respond to disaster recovery events, military bases, homeless shelters.
• So the tickets, well over 90% of those, are transmitted electronically to the clerks.
• The clerks will then turn around, and when those tickets are adjudicated, they transmit all those to

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The committee met to receive a base budget overview for agencies under its jurisdiction, which include the Division of Emergency Management, Department of Commerce, Department of State, Department of Transportation, Department of Military Affairs, and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Staff explained the budget format and noted that the Legislature appropriated more than $20.2 billion to these agencies in the current fiscal year, a 66.7% increase over 10 years. The Department of Transportation then presented on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, describing it as a $7 billion effort to advance 20 major congestion-relief projects statewide. Secretary Jared Perdue said the department is ahead of schedule, with 14 of 20 projects expected to be underway by the end of the calendar year. He highlighted major projects including I-4 in Polk and Osceola counties, I-75 improvements, Southwest 10th Street in Broward County, Fruitville Road, Capital Circle in Tallahassee, and I-275, and discussed innovations such as aggregate supply grants, modified phase design-build, workforce hiring events, and voluntary acceleration. Senators asked about business impacts from construction, tourism-related transit funding, aggregate sourcing, and labor shortages; the secretary said FDOT works with local businesses and that additional revenue sources for transit would require legislative action. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reviewed motorist services, revenue collection, licensing, vehicle titling, specialty plates, insurance compliance, driver safety, and commercial driver licensing. Officials said the department collected about $2.9 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2023-24 and described modernization efforts, including electronic verification systems, Real ID compliance, mobile licensing units, and a planned digital driver license. Members asked about the driver license backlog in Miami-Dade and Broward, and the department said service delays were driven by growth and staffing constraints but should improve with $7.5 million in recent funding and the eventual transition of services to county tax collectors. Questions also addressed temporary paper licenses and birth certificate fraud prevention. The Department of Commerce presented on the Job Growth Grant Fund and Visit Florida. Commerce said the grant fund, created in 2017, has awarded $257 million to 70 projects in 37 counties since 2019, with demand exceeding supply about four to one. Officials emphasized that the program supports targeted industries and workforce and infrastructure projects, and they highlighted examples in CDL training, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and health care. Senators raised concerns about small businesses affected by transportation construction, and Commerce said it has an Office of Small Business Innovation and other tools, though the grant fund is limited by statute to targeted industries. Visit Florida then described its public-private tourism marketing role, saying the state’s $80 million appropriation is matched by private investment and that the latest EDR review found a $3.30 return in tax revenue for every state dollar spent. Visit Florida reported record visitation and tourism spending, along with hurricane recovery marketing and rural promotion efforts.