Transcript Highlights:

• This position will have a line of sight into the various programs and funding streams that touch dementia
• We've also seen these positions have been instrumental in leveraging federal and philanthropic dollars
• 40.080> line<00:04:40.240> of<00:04:40.400> sight<00:04:40.639> into position
• will have a line of sight into position will have a line of sight into the<00:04:40.919> various<
• You know, Minnesota put together a strategic plan to address dementia in 2022, and I see this position

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of these essential positions of these essential positions as<01:26:54.880> well<01:26:55.040
• Unfortunately, districts have not been able to use this funding for positions to maintain a position
• Unfortunately, districts have not been able to use this funding for positions to maintain a position
• Unfortunately, districts have not been able to use this funding for positions to maintain a position
• Unfortunately, districts have not been able to use this funding for positions to maintain a position

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Education Finance Committee met on January 28, 2025, to receive updates on chronic absenteeism work funded in the 2024 education finance bill. The chair introduced presentations from districts in the student attendance pilot program—Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, Chisago, and Rochester—and noted that the committee would also hear the student attendance and truancy legislative study group report and later a bill from Senator Weber. The chair also thanked educational assistants and paraprofessionals for their work in schools. Minneapolis Public Schools described common attendance challenges across pilot districts, including inconsistent attendance coding, weak family communication, difficulty identifying interventions, and uneven responses to absences. The district said pilot districts want statewide definitions for absences, tardies, and exempt codes, as well as better internal dashboards and clearer procedures. Minneapolis also highlighted strategies such as attendance teams at each school, quarterly postcards to families after five or more absences, Promise Fellows, home visits, multilingual communication through TalkingPoints, and a morning nurse line to help parents decide whether a child should stay home. The district said its main attendance goal is to raise consistent attendance from 68 percent to 80 percent by 2026. In response to committee questions, Minneapolis said its main post-COVID absenteeism reason has been illness or medical issues, followed by transportation problems, and that it does not penalize students for transportation-related absences. The district said it counts secondary absences when students miss more than three periods in a day, with truancy beginning after seven such absences, while elementary students are counted absent for the full day. Members also asked about whether reduced truancy referrals reflected more attendance or diversionary supports; the district said its approach is to focus on understanding root causes and providing support rather than quickly referring students to truancy processes. The district reported improved communication, greater parent awareness, and fewer truancy referrals so far, and said the attendance team model should be sustainable because it uses existing staff with clearer direction.

Transcript Highlights:

• You may approach the mic with name, affiliation, and position only, please. Timothy Bird Jr.
• You may approach the mic with name, affiliation, and position only, please. Timothy Bird Jr.
• Anybody who wants to come to the mic and just say name, position, and affiliation only?
• You may approach the microphone with name, affiliation, and position only, please.
• You may approach the mic with name, affiliation, and position only, please. A good after...

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I need to have the ability to staff the positions to provide the care.
• It is not cost-effective to staff those positions if I'm not full. That's why those pins float.
• You have had pins out there for months and months and months, and you just can't fill those positions
• There's still positions that I need to hire, and there's training that needs to be done.
• I will say there's about 51 positions that were a direct result of the loss of federal funding.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I would think that that would be, well, the hope is that that's a positive experience.
• Now, these positions, would they be housed in Bismarck?
• Would these be housed in Bismarck, these positions? Chairman Nelson, yes.
• Yeah, I guess I'm looking at those four positions in the county jail overflow.
• Yes, we'd have the case managers for that position there.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2399, concerning therapeutic leave days for psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs). Sarah Aker from the Department of Health and Human Services explained the current Medicaid rate-setting methodology, how occupancy affects rates, and why paying the full rate for leave days would create additional fiscal impact. Members debated whether the bill should pay the full Medicaid rate, a flat reduced rate, or a tiered rate, and discussed whether a cap or department authorization should be used to control use of leave days. The department said it was not supporting the change as it was not in the governor’s budget, though it supported family engagement in care. After discussion, the committee settled on a compromise motion to set therapeutic leave days at a $500 daily rate and require department authorization of the number of leave days. The motion passed 6-2, with Representative Anderson voting no and the rest of the recorded members voting yes. The committee then moved on to Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget materials, where Michelle Zander walked through detailed population and rate calculations for women’s and men’s facilities, county holds, deferred admissions, transitional facilities, work release, and proposed reentry, man camp, and Grand Forks-related costs. Members asked about the county jail reimbursement rates and the overall pool of funds, and Zander explained the calculations and noted the proposal was roughly break-even depending on assumptions. The committee also heard an overview of DOCR IT requests from Amy and NDIT staff, including data processing, medical modules, a new client management system, body scanners, data management tools, facility management software, medical software upgrades, college solutions, and body cameras/tasers. Staff explained that the new client management system would likely be a multi-phase project with a wide cost range based on vendor selection and scope, and that the current request was for phase one. Members emphasized the importance of better data tracking, staff safety tools, and information that could help explain programming and release outcomes to the public. The committee planned to continue with Veterans Affairs the next day and then return to Senate Bill 2015.

Transcript Highlights:

• As part of this proposal, we are requesting 16 positions to be phased in over multiple years.
• California volunteers would also... would receive 48 permanent positions to administer the program.
• So the next steps are that our Our board is going to be in a position to consider whether any changes
• This request would add 14 positions to our authorized positions at the Office of Public School Construction
• This is authority, not dollars, and 45 positions, again authority, not dollars, to staff and maintain

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because this is related to their position here for the deportation part of any immigration bills.
• associate judge position back in 2022. associate judge position back in 2022.
• authorizes the additional judge position authorizes the additional judge position but<00:31:10.560
• So I appreciate your position on it, but I think I would urge you to meet with the chief.
• um she's affected by this new position um she's affected by this new position unless<01:37:26.400

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Senate bills. On SB 2530, relating to campaign contributions, the State Procurement Office suggested clarifying that contractor disclosure information be submitted within 30 days of a fully executed contract, while the Campaign Spending Commission supported the bill but asked that the restriction on contributions by officers be expanded beyond compensated officers. Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action supported the measure and urged keeping the Senate language, arguing it better addresses contractor influence, while no other testifiers appeared. On SB 2970, relating to standards of conduct, the State Ethics Commission supported the bill and proposed amendments to consolidate the new language into existing Chapter 84 contract provisions and use “department head” instead of “director.” The State Procurement Office supported the measure but recommended closing a perceived loophole by limiting the covered contracts to those under $10,000. No opposition testimony was offered. The committee then heard SB 2919, which would fund one full-time Deputy Public Defender position focused on immigration-related advice under Padilla v. Kentucky. The Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrants’ Rights, and the ACLU of Hawaii supported the bill, explaining that the position would help public defenders advise clients about immigration consequences of criminal cases, not provide immigration representation. Members asked several questions about the scope of the position and whether it could assist with citizenship; testimony clarified that it would not handle civil immigration matters. The bill was also described as creating a statewide consistent resource for the public defender system. Finally, on SB 2446, relating to the judiciary, the Intermediate Court of Appeals supported adding a seventh associate judge position but noted the court has only recently been fully staffed at six judges and has improved output through internal changes. The chair emphasized that the bill authorizes the position without funding and encouraged the judiciary to return later if appropriations are needed. The committee also began hearing SB 2730, a criminal justice reform bill on warrantless arrests and citations. OHA supported reducing unnecessary arrests but objected to making citations visible on criminal records; the Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill, citing law enforcement flexibility, identification concerns, and possible litigation costs; and the Judiciary requested a later implementation date and suggested changes to citation-resolution language. The transcript ends while testimony on SB 2730 was still underway.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it sounds like positions in it.
• positions are full-time employee positions are full-time employee positions<01:17:59.199> that
• ><01:18:11.280> positions.
• <01:26:47.600> to and now we're bringing in a position to and now we're bringing in a position
• <01:28:41.840> after I think that's why this position after I think that's why this position

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• position.
• position.
• position.
• legislation that created that position. legislation that created that position.
• a corrective position. a corrective position.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate File 856, a bill to create a statewide Office of Inspector General to combat fraud. Representative Norris presented a delete-everything amendment that would keep most of the Senate bill but add more emphasis on fraud prevention, fully fund the office, avoid duplicating work already done by the BCA’s financial crimes division, and preserve subject-matter expertise by keeping some existing inspectors general in their agencies. He said the amendment would retain strong investigative powers, including subpoenas, while using the BCA for arrests, and he acknowledged his original version was likely too broad, so he planned to offer smaller amendments if needed. Chair Nash and other members challenged the DE on both process and substance. Nash said the amendment had not been shared with key stakeholders, noted that the Senate author had publicly distanced herself from it, and pointed to a governor’s office document saying the administration wanted a different approach than the Senate bill. He argued the Senate bill was a bipartisan, bicameral product and said the committee should be careful about accuracy and process. Representative Davis questioned Norris about the claim that the Senate bill was underfunded and about the governor’s role in selecting the inspector general, arguing that the governor should not have broad control over the office. Norris responded that the Senate bill’s fiscal note estimated roughly $12 million for the biennium, but the bill appropriated less than that amount, and he said the Constitution requires the governor to appoint the inspector general if the office is in the executive branch. He said the DE tried to preserve independence through a bipartisan advisory commission, Senate confirmation, a five-year term, restrictions on partisan activity, and removal only for cause with a public hearing. After debate from several members, the committee held a roll call and the DE failed on a 7-7 tie, so it was not adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:17:56.919> and legislature establishes positions and legislature establishes positions
• So not just one; we need more positions.
• 55.240> people need more positions we need more people need more positions we need more people
• Just to clarify, is that each position or for the two positions? Thank you.
• <01:49:28.679> in $200,000 $100,000 for each position in $200,000 $100,000 for each position

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a nomination from a House member for the position of House co-chair?
• Is there a nomination from a House member for the position of House co-chair?
• The position has been open.
• The position has been open.
• contract will there be any um positions contract will there be any um positions left<01:43:41.880

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first reorganized by electing Representative Hart as House co-chair and Senator Douglas as Senate co-chair by acclamation, then approved the December 10 minutes. It then took up deferred and routine contract items, beginning with a Council on Postsecondary Education item that was withdrawn after staff explained the contract had been canceled and should not have come before the committee because the granting authority, not CPE, was issuing it. The committee next reviewed a Department for Local Government contract tied to an Eastern Kentucky flood recovery housing project in Jackson. Members questioned the high per-unit cost and whether renovation was more expensive than new construction. Staff explained the cost included acquisition of an existing downtown building and needed water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, and said developable land was limited in the area. With no motion to object, the contract was allowed to move forward. The committee then considered Kentucky Transportation Cabinet professional services contracts for highway design work. Members asked about the size of the contracts and how much of the available funding is typically used; staff said the contracts are two-year agreements, that the prior cycle reached close to $2 million per contract, and that this year’s limits were reduced because less money is available in the Highway Plan. The committee also approved a PSC amendment contract for the Bridging Kentucky program after staff explained the $150 hourly loaded rate was within the normal range for consultants. Both Transportation Cabinet items were approved without objection. Finally, the committee heard a Kentucky Communications Network Authority contract for an $85,000 study of the dark fiber market. Members asked what dark fiber is, why the study was needed, whether there was coordination with the Office of Broadband Development, and whether existing service meant there was already a market. KCNA said dark fiber is unused fiber that local providers can light to deliver service, that the study was needed because the contractor said no market existed while ISPs said demand exists, and that the report would help both KCNA oversight and broadband development planning. The contract was reviewed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and personalized positive outreach to families, even over a short period of time.
• , and personalized positive outreach to families, even over a short period of time.
• , and personalized positive outreach to families, even over a short period of time.
• , and personalized positive outreach to families, even over a short period of time.
• prevention and personalized positive prevention and personalized positive Outreach<00:15:44.000>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• until the next annual or special meeting, a special election shall be held forthwith to fill the position
• until the next annual or special meeting, a special election shall be held forthwith to fill the position
• until the next annual or special meeting, a special election shall be held forthwith to fill the position
• until the next annual fill that position until the next annual or<00:26:32.400> special<00:26
• fill the position. fill the position.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Rep. Chris Keyser centered on Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” using the poem as a reflection on legislative choices, compromise, and service to the common good. After the devotional, the chamber took up a large slate of introductions, with 21 House bills read by number only after a successful motion to suspend the rules. The House also read HR12, a resolution supporting the principles behind Gov. Phil Scott’s statement regarding federal ICE and CBP activity in Minnesota, and placed it on the calendar for action the next legislative day. The House then concurred in JRS38, a joint Senate resolution setting weekend adjournment for January 30, 2026, to reconvene no later than February 3, 2026. During announcements, members recognized guests from Third Act Vermont, wished the member from Burlington a happy birthday, invited members to a Universal Health Care Caucus meeting, and promoted an evening Farmers Night performance. The House also voted to rescind journalization and expunge remarks previously entered by the member from Swanton from Friday’s House Journal. In orders of the day, the House rejected concurrence with the Senate’s further proposal of amendment to S.23, an act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections, and instead requested a committee of conference; the chair appointed Reps. Byron, Hango, and Waters Evans as conferees. The chamber then passed H532, relating to mandatory retirement of college professors. It also adopted the committee’s strike-all amendment to H270, relating to confidentiality for peer support counseling among emergency service providers, after favorable 11-0 committee action; the bill was then ordered to third reading. Finally, the House amended and ordered to third reading H516, approving amendments to the charter of the town of Essex, after discussion of charter changes including select board vacancies, moderator procedures, town appointments, accounting requirements, and related technical updates. The House then adjourned until January 29, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who you're testifying on behalf of position on the bill, please, ma'am, for the record.
• Who you represent, your position on the bill for the record, please.
• Our position is translated into points attributed to the scoring of the application.
• We created the neutrality position, but we did not fix the problem.
• , but that neutrality position.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please state your name and who you represent and your Chairman: Position on the bill.
• If you would please state your name, position on the bill, who you represent for the record, please.
• Please state your name, and who you represent, your position on the bill for the record, please.
• Please state your name, who you represent, your position on the bill for the record.
• Please state your name, who you represent, and your position on the bill for the record, please.

Bills: HB158

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivision, government spending, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of current, I know that as of last week, in terms of the number of positions for the new positions
• But in terms of the positions that we had prior to the new legislation, I would have to double-check
• But in terms of the positions that we had prior to the new legislation, I would have to double-check
• So they are really diligently working on it, again, not just for the new positions, but as there are
• I'm still contemplating how to address these positions during conference.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for budget day, heard agency follow-up questions, and then presented its recommended budget for fiscal year 2025-2026. Chair Lopez opened with remarks about reducing spending, emphasizing vacancy reductions and recurring savings across agencies. The recommendation eliminated 452.5 vacant positions and produced recurring savings of $57.2 million overall, while still funding selected priorities. Notable funded items included $500,000 for a new DBPR website for condominium complaints and document filing, $481.3 million for the MICEF Florida Home Program in DFS, funding for Florida PALM implementation, $330,000 for a Tampa office in the Office of Insurance Regulation, $835,000 for warehouse space for confiscated gambling machines, $821,000 for the Lottery gaming system contract, and major DMS capital and facilities funding. Lopez also criticized DMS leadership and said the secretary’s salary would be held in reserve pending answers on fleet management, remote workers, SUNCOM billing, and other issues. The committee then questioned DBPR Secretary Griffin about condominium records, structural integrity reserve studies, and milestone-inspection compliance. Members focused on how the division tracks condominiums, whether it can identify buildings with three habitable stories, and whether the current filing system can be improved to better capture building height and story count. Griffin said the division relies heavily on self-reporting and complaint-driven checks, but has updated forms to capture whether a condominium has buildings three stories or higher and has received additional submissions. Members also asked about staffing and the Miami-area office; Griffin said DBPR now has two Fort Lauderdale offices and a Doral office, with about 82% of new positions filled. Secretary Davis of the Florida Lottery also testified, defending travel to Paris and other conferences as part of industry engagement, technology research, and best-practice sharing. He said the travel was reimbursed through lottery-related organizations, described the Lottery as an enterprise fund that receives no general tax revenue, and said the agency has remained a top revenue generator nationally. Members questioned Orlando travel reimbursements and dues to the Multi-State Lottery Association, and asked for more information on how increased revenue translates into more Bright Futures scholarships. Davis said he would provide additional details. The subcommittee then unanimously passed two conforming bills. PCB SAB 25-01 removed statutory references to the legacy FLAIR accounting system in preparation for Florida PALM and was reported favorably. PCB SAB 25-02 addressed Capitol Center space after the planned House lease cancellation, declaring the governor, cabinet, and legislature permanent tenants, protecting existing space and parking allocations, giving the legislature first right of refusal on vacant space, and giving legislative leaders control over utilities in their space; it also passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned after the bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• FOR A BUDGET PROVISO ON BACK OF THE BILL ROWS HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW THE HOUSE OFFERS A MODIFIED POSITION
• AND MOVES TO THE SENATE POSITION.
• FOR THE REMAINING ROWS HOUSE OFFERS ITS POSITION.
• OR MOVES TO THE HOUSE POSITION.
• FOR ALL REMAINING ROWS THE SENATE OFFERS ITS OWN POSITION.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Name, organization, and your position, please.
• Come forward with your name, organization, and position, please.
• Name, organization, and position, please.
• We are removing our position of opposition and moving to a position of neutrality.
• Any other positions to register on the bill?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• S-152 would close an existing loophole that allows adults in positions of authority or trust, sometimes
• Adults in positions of authority or trust, sometimes teachers or youth-serving employees, can engage
• We do hope that the committee will give it its due consideration and positive consideration, and I'm
• For years, this gap in Massachusetts law has allowed school employees and other adults in positions of
• This pending bill would help close this loophole and make it so that adults in positions of authority

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing covered a wide range of child welfare, family support, and human services bills. Testimony strongly supported a guaranteed cash stipend for young adults aging out of foster care (S.161), with the Attorney General’s Office, youth advocates, and foster care providers describing high rates of homelessness and poverty after exit from care. Providers also urged action on a resolve to study the foster care liability insurance crisis (H.197/S.1280), saying premiums and coverage losses are forcing program cutbacks and could reduce foster care capacity statewide. Another major topic was a direct care worker medication administration program registry (H.237/S.162), which supporters said would help recruit and train workers, especially bilingual staff, to address workforce shortages in human services. Several bills focused on child protection and child welfare system practices. Supporters of H.267/S.145 called for advance notice to children’s attorneys when placements or other major events change, arguing that timely communication is essential to prevent unnecessary disruption and improve advocacy. Testimony also backed legislation to formally recognize and strengthen children’s advocacy centers and the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance (H.233/S.112), with prosecutors and CAC leaders describing the trauma-informed model as a longstanding, effective response to child abuse and trafficking. A bill to establish a Massachusetts children’s cabinet (S.115) drew support from advocates who said cross-agency coordination is needed to align policy and funding for children’s well-being. The committee also heard testimony on bills addressing safety, equity, and family support. Senator Lovely and survivors supported S.152, which would create a civil cause of action for sexual abuse by adults in positions of authority or trust, with witnesses describing grooming and power imbalances in schools and youth-serving settings. H.274, a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness, was supported by advocates who said it would add anti-discrimination protections and voting and privacy rights amid rising criminalization of homelessness. H.272/S.171 to protect maternal health received support from Rep. Montaño, MLRI, and a physician, who said the bills would make cash assistance available earlier in pregnancy and remove the medical-verification barrier. H.4216 on equitable hair care for children in state custody was supported by social workers and advocates who said hair care is tied to identity, dignity, and mental health. H.255 on empowering early educators drew testimony about barriers faced by renters and condo owners trying to open home-based child care programs. H.217, concerning resources and support for pregnant and parenting families, drew testimony from anti-abortion pregnancy resource center advocates. No votes were taken during the hearing, and several bills had no one signed up to testify or were deferred when witnesses were unavailable.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm going to ask again that when you do give public comment, it's name, organization, your position
• So again, name or organization and your position on this issue or input on this issue.
• Yes, so the budget did include AB 116 that includes funding for backfilling positions to HIV prevention
• If you could share your name or organization and position on this issue in 30 seconds or less.
• If you could share your name, position on the issue, and if you can keep it 30 seconds or less.

Keywords: 988, house, all