Transcript Highlights:

• We legislate based on religious creed.
• through this legislation. through this legislation.
• We are being asked to legislate about.
• <02:50:36.560> that not wrong that we pass legislation that not wrong that we pass legislation
• My understanding is with legislation.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Perfuri cannot come and testify to a legislative body about what he's responsible for as a state employee
• us involves a member of the governor's staff being requested to appear before a committee of the legislative
• take a slap in the face by someone not appearing before a select committee of this body, of the legislative
• As a legislative branch, we didn't try to do those pay plans on the backs of the taxpayers of Arkansas
• Never mind, stand on legislation. Okay.

Summary: The committee first reviewed a list of bills already marked ready for due pass, including several House bills (HB 1010, 1018, 1020, 1023, 1041, 1055, 1077) and Senate bills (SB 4, 16, 24, 55, 59), along with a few items in the budget packet. The JBC Personnel Subcommittee report was then taken up, and Senator Rice offered a substitute motion to separate out the governor’s staff-related item for a separate vote and a roll-call division. After discussion about the request and the underlying personnel issue, the substitute motion failed on a roll-call division, and the committee then adopted the personnel subcommittee report as a whole. The committee next heard questions for Treasurer John Thurston on House Bill 1034 and the Treasurer’s office budget request. Members raised concerns about salary increases for executive staff, the size of raises under the approved pay plan, office hours, and whether the office was prioritizing raises appropriately. Thurston said the salaries were within the previously approved pay plan, that the request was for full funding of that plan with a negotiated 10% amount, and that office hours remained the same though vault tours had been adjusted for scheduling. Several members expressed dissatisfaction with the increases, while others noted the compromise reached with committee leadership. The committee then adopted the letter for HB 1034. The committee also considered special language items, including a proposal tied to extension office improvements through a DFA-administered program for the Division of Agriculture, which was described as unfunded. That item was adopted. The committee then moved through the remaining ready items, giving do-pass or adopt motions to SB 29, SB 51, HB 1034, HB 1010, HB 1018, HB 1020, HB 1023, HB 1041, HB 1055, HB 1077, SB 16, SB 23, SB 24, SB 55, and SB 59. SB 4 was set aside as not ready. The meeting adjourned with notice that the committee would reconvene in 15 minutes in another room to handle special language.

Transcript Highlights:

• All the legislation we've been... We're talking about excellence in education.
• All the legislation we've passed recently says we don't really care about excellence.
• Speaker, your committee on rules and legislation... Mr.
• Speaker, your committee on rules and legislative procedures recommends that House Rule 155.3 be amended
• before, you've heard the previous two speakers, totally concur, and I think this is not a piece of legislation

Keywords: 964, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the honor of having two legislators joining us right now, so we're going to kick off with them to talk
• Well, we also want to make sure in addition to hearing from the legislators who are here and living this
• It's a life-changing service and we heard that earlier today from both of our legislators that were here
• legislative body over many years, uh, many sessions.
• And it was With the help of, of advocates like Robbie Cooper in decoding dyslexia and many others that

Transcript Highlights:

• Hopefully the weather is going to cooperate. I'm going to get them to get it on playing.
• It looks like you're making a lot of the improvements here, but for legislators and the general public
• — It looks like you're making a lot of the improvements here, but for legislators and the general public
• welcome you guys here, and I’m looking forward to whatever this dialogue will spawn in terms of cooperation
• We've got a, we're in a cooperative research and development agreement with one of the high-temperature

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hopefully the weather is going to cooperate. I'm going to get them to get it on playing.
• It looks like you're making a lot of the improvements here, but for legislators and the general public
• — It looks like you're making a lot of the improvements here, but for legislators and the general public
• welcome you guys here, and I'm looking forward to whatever this dialogue will spawn in terms of cooperation
• We've got a cooperative research development agreement with one of the high-temperature gas reactor companies

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the quality of questions from the group, followed by a series of technical presentations from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent nuclear regulatory changes tied to presidential executive orders, including NRC Part 53 for advanced reactors, the forthcoming Part 57 for very small reactors, and DOE updates to reactor authorization standards. He emphasized efforts to align DOE and NRC processes, use risk-informed and performance-based licensing, support reactor deployment for AI/data centers and national security, and use AI to speed communications and crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements. In response to questions, he said there was no plan to merge agencies, but rather to improve coordination and public outreach through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and reprocessing. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), why it is needed for advanced reactors, and DOE’s HALEU Availability Program and related investments in enrichment, transportation, deconversion, and supply chain development. He also covered spent fuel management, the possibility of centralized storage or a fuel-cycle campus, the Center for Used Fuel Research, and ongoing work on high-burnup cask testing and reprocessing technologies. Tolman described aqueous, pyrochemical, and fluoride-volatility reprocessing approaches, noting the advantages and waste characteristics of each, and said several companies are working with INL on these technologies. Ashley Shields presented INL’s AI and nuclear work, focusing on the Genesis initiative and the Prometheus effort to use AI to design, license, build, and operate reactors with far less human intervention. She described INL’s broad use of generative AI tools, the need to manage large volumes of legacy technical data, and applications in reactor design, materials discovery, autonomous laboratories, and digital twins. Shields said AI is being used to reduce the enormous documentation burden in nuclear licensing and to support autonomous or remotely operated reactor demonstrations, while stressing that humans remain in supervisory roles. In discussion, she addressed data security, model access, and the continued need for software engineers. The session then recessed briefly and resumed with Mitch Kerman beginning a presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kentucky Numeracy Council legislation.
• Also, there are the cooperatives. There could be better communication with the cooperatives.
• > required voluntary or legislative required voluntary or legislative required database<01:36:
• I'm an Now you're the legislative body.
• <01:55:45.280> when some of it is is truly legislative when some of it is is truly legislative

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 00:13 Approval of Minutes - 4:07 Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing - 5:18 Math Improvement Committee Report - 21:02 ETS Praxis Exam - 41:47 KDE Performance Review Data - 1:15:04 Adjournment - 1:57:54, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from KDE on the revised Kentucky academic standards for reading and writing. KDE explained the statutory six-year review process, the public comment periods, and the main revisions, including updates tied to the science of reading, decodable text, encoding/decoding, and an updated vision statement. KDE said 308 responses were received on the initial public comment, most respondents favored keeping standards as-is, and about 12% of standards were revised. The department also said the document was streamlined by removing repeated graphics and reducing its size by about 24%, and that a later comment period drew more than 400 responses. No new standards were flagged for review. Members asked about alignment between standards, curriculum, assessments, and NAEP, and KDE said instructional resources should be aligned to standards, KSA assessments are aligned to the standards, and screeners/diagnostics help identify student needs. Representative Truett raised the idea of a textbook-to-standards crosswalk, and KDE said publishers and a future repository partner should provide such crosswalks for local districts. Representative Bojanowski asked why foundational reading skills are not directly assessed on the third-grade KSA; KDE responded that the assessment is designed to measure end-of-grade expectations, while screening and diagnostics are used earlier to identify decoding needs. Representative Gel asked about early childhood supports, and KDE said it is working with early learning and special education offices and promoting LETRS professional learning for both teachers and preschool educators. The committee then received the mathematics improvement committee report. KDE said the mathematics committee unanimously approved a new strategic plan for improving math achievement from pre-K through grade 20 and adult education. The plan centers on six priorities: student empowerment, effective mathematics teaching and learning, continuous educator development and growth, a continuum of learning, community and family partnerships, and teacher recruitment and retention. KDE said the plan is intended as a living document with goals, recommended actions, and evidence bases, and that it aligns with the Kentucky Numeracy Counts Act by supporting high-quality instructional resources, professional learning, and family resources. In response to Senator Thomas, KDE explained that the professional learning recommendation means districts should tailor teacher training to classroom needs and instructional materials so math teachers are better equipped to implement standards and support students.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I failed to say in the beginning, the commission has voted to support this legislation.
• And I failed to say in the beginning, the commission has voted to support this legislation.
• And I failed to say in the beginning, the commission has voted to support this legislation.
• And I failed to say in the beginning, the commission has voted to support this legislation.
• And I failed to say in the beginning, the commission has voted to support this legislation.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 53.920> and introducing the legislation and introducing the legislation and answering<00:08:54.640
• So now I'm trying to of legislation.
• After the Claremont legislators.
• It's not legislative defiance.
• That assumes legislative power.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• legislate. The clerk will call the role. legislate. The clerk will call the role.
• legislator to introduce the bill. legislator to introduce the bill.
• to legislate. Further comments? to legislate. Further comments?
• legislative body for adoption. legislative body for adoption.
• Um, if this is enabling enabling enabling legislation legislation legislation and<05:37:04.080> if

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Line six is a one-time grant from the general fund to the Southeast Service Cooperative for continued
• for continued development of Cooperative for continued development of a<00:10:51.320> transportation
• continue to develop this legislation continue to develop this legislation that<00:24:07.120>
• And it's my honor to represent them in many ways in front of you the legislative body here for the state
• <00:37:42.960> body<00:37:43.560> here legislative body here legislative body here for<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Help them to work together in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.
• The uh tomorrow the Mississippi Legislative Sportsman's Caucus will be having their catfish dinner starting
• The uh tomorrow the Mississippi<00:09:23.440> Legislative<00:09:24.160> Sportsman's Thank

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 23 February, 2026; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, received an invocation from Reverend Tony Chrysler, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Routine motions were adopted to dispense with reading the journal, committee reports, and bill and resolution titles. The chamber also recognized Dr. Scott Hamilton as doctor of the day and welcomed a group from the Hancock County Youth Academy to the gallery. On the calendar, several items were passed over and retained, including items one through six on the finance calendar, a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 3053, and House Bill 1076. No substantive debate on those measures was recorded in this segment. The Senate then moved into announcements. Announcements included a capital prayer gathering the next morning, the Mississippi Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus catfish dinner, an appropriations committee meeting, a joint appropriations/IT meeting to discuss statewide computer and technology issues, a finance committee meeting, and notices that Insurance and Judiciary Division B would not meet the next morning. Members also requested that the Senate adjourn in memory of several individuals, including Jimmy Scott McMon of Starkville, Mary Margaret Casease of Oxford, Brent Coleman of Sebast, and Leila Bea Keys of Clarksdale and Robera Jameson of Marks. The Senate voted to stand in recess until 5:00 p.m., with the journal to reflect adjournment until 10:00 a.m. the following morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• To date, the Impact Litigation Division has brought, in cooperation with other states, twenty-five lawsuits
• in statute, and the agencies therefore did not have authority to rewrite or ignore duly passed legislation
• Yes, we run into that as legislators, that we pass a law without any real enforcement mechanism, and

Transcript Highlights:

• targeting the text gang database within Texas DPS to clean up some stuff that was done in the prior legislative
• And once again, Texas is leading with this legislation.
• designated as foreign terrorist organizations and because there has been evidence in the past of their cooperation

Transcript Highlights:

• It didn't go through Legislative Council, so it doesn't have a lesson on that.
• It didn't go through Legislative Council, so it doesn't have a number on it.
• plan must be updated every two years instead of three years, and then the same with the rural cooperatives

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum and took up several bills, beginning with Senate Bill 2267 on on-site wastewater systems. DEQ testified that the bill would make DEQ the sole agency responsible for developing statewide wastewater code and licensing installers, replace local public health unit codes, create enforcement authority and civil penalties, and provide a $99,500 general fund appropriation for implementation. Members discussed whether the bill and proposed amendments adequately protected existing functioning or nonconforming septic systems, and DEQ said it would compare the Senate amendment with the committee’s draft and return the next day with feedback. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2339, a wildfire mitigation plan bill, and adopted amendment 02001 with a change from “Shell” to “May” on one line. After amendment, the bill passed 9-3 on a do pass as amended vote, despite opposition from members who argued it created a utility carve-out, reduced liability exposure for utilities, and incentivized safety without requiring compliance. The companion study bill, Senate Bill 2340, on fire service operational response needs also received a do pass recommendation, and the committee later agreed it should be handled on the floor before the mitigation bill so the two measures could be explained together. The committee also approved Senate Bill 2210, a study bill on watershed boundaries, with members noting it would help inform ongoing work on related water legislation. Finally, Senate Bill 2325, dealing with ordinary high watermark determination, received a unanimous do not pass recommendation after members expressed concern that high-water-mark language is difficult to define and may be better addressed in a separate study or resolution. The committee adjourned after noting that DEQ would return the next day with proposed amendments and that work on Senate Bill 2276 would continue with interested parties.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a first-time legislator, it has truly been an honor to sit in this committee because I've seen bipartisan
• It's been done for many years in Vienna, New York, and here in the states with cooperative and land trust
• had in this committee, and I think other folks will share it too, is this is why I enjoy being a legislator

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a lot of cooperation going on.
• So there's a lot of cooperation going on.
• The four legislators on the committee will be back.
• Management legislation.
• Legislative Council. Move into the next session.

Summary: The committee first heard an update on North Dakota’s Interagency Council on Homelessness and Continuum of Care funding. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported that homelessness remains driven by tight housing markets, low incomes, rising rents, and barriers to rental assistance, public benefits, and disability determinations. She said the state’s one-time North Dakota Homeless Grant is serving all regions but reaches far fewer households than the former Rent Help program, and that aging homelessness, shelter staffing shortages, and limited affordable units are growing concerns. Members discussed the need for more housing supply, better coordination with Health and Human Services, landlord engagement, reentry housing, and possible continued one-time funding for the $10 million Homeless Grant and $25 million Housing Incentive Fund. Henderson also warned that federal Continuum of Care funding is uncertain, with HUD expected to issue a new notice June 1 and possible shifts away from permanent supportive housing toward transitional housing and other models. The committee then took testimony on accessibility of government services for people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing. Paul Olson of North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind described the school’s services for infants, children, and adults, including screenings, mobility training, assistive technology, and outreach across the state. He said the agency works closely with Vocational Rehabilitation and is also involved in improving website and document accessibility, especially for PDF materials. Public testimony highlighted barriers such as inaccessible CAPTCHA systems, online forms, driver’s license requirements on job applications, and limited transportation in rural areas. A deaf resident urged broader use of video remote interpreting and video relay services, along with training so people know how to use them effectively. Finally, Kay Larson presented the final report on the child care provider licensing study. The report recommended streamlining North Dakota’s child care licensing structure into three provider types plus a preschool designation, while preserving health and safety standards and maintaining eligibility for child care assistance. The committee discussed simplifying training and qualification rules, revising ratio and group-size requirements, and adjusting age bands for infants and toddlers. The report also noted that some changes would require statutory amendments and later administrative rule changes, with a transition period likely extending through 2029. No formal votes were taken in the transcript, but the committee accepted the updates and scheduled follow-up presentations for a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• else as this legislation moves forward. else as this legislation moves forward.
• The other thing you can't legislate is we can't really legislate charity. Okay?
• you can't legislate faith. you can't legislate faith.
• we can't really legislate charity. we can't really legislate charity. Okay?
• but they do want to legislate charity. but they do want to legislate charity.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, roll call, and approval of the February 5, 2026 journal. The House clerk then delivered messages that the House had passed House Bills 103, 188, 189, 258, 276, and 419 and requested concurrence. The chamber also received second-reading reports for Senate Bills 2, 4, 71, 136, and 183, which were sent to the Rules Committee, and later committee reports that posted SB 2, SB 4, and SB 71 for Monday, February 9, and SB 136 and SB 183 for Tuesday, February 10. The Committee on Committees also referred several bills to standing committees, including SB 155, 118, 153, 158, 160, 72, 98, and 145. The main floor action was passage of Senate Bill 132, relating to massage therapy. The sponsor said the bill was intended to help local governments investigate businesses posing as massage parlors and to strengthen enforcement against unlicensed practice, including raising the penalty for certain violations from a class B to a class A misdemeanor and treating each unlicensed session as a separate offense. Supporters said it would aid efforts to combat human trafficking and preserve local zoning and licensing authority. Several senators voiced concerns that the bill could be too broad and might unintentionally affect trafficking victims or impose harsh penalties for unlicensed massage without injury or fraud, but they still voted yes. SB 132 passed 32-0. The Senate also adopted Senate Committee Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 18 and then passed the bill 32-0. SB 18 updates Kentucky’s podiatry laws, formally recognizes podiatric assistants and residents, gives the Board of Podiatry authority to license and regulate them, allows podiatrists to supervise physician assistants with board approval, limits supervision to four assistants, and requires new podiatrists starting in 2027 to complete at least two years of residency training. The sponsor said the measure modernizes oversight and improves access to foot and ankle care, especially for patients with diabetes. After the floor work, the Senate recessed for meetings of the Rules Committee and Committee on Committees, and later received the committee reports noted above.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you to all the legislators for the work you do. Well, thank you.
• This legislation codifies those portions.
• Denise Cooper? Denise Cooper? Denise Cooper? David Detmold. Is Mr. Detmold there? Okay.
• Thank you for your time and for considering this important legislation.
• I know that it's difficult to enact this kind of legislation.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on 41 bills related to school climate and safety, with chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlining procedures and noting more than 125 witnesses. The first major topic was the “Study Act” on cell phones in schools and related social media restrictions (House 666/Senate 335). Secretary of Education Pat Tutwiler and Attorney General Andrea Campbell testified in strong support, arguing that bell-to-bell phone-free policies would improve student focus, reduce anxiety and distraction, and support mental health. Several legislators also supported the approach, though Representative Jeff Turco and Senator John Keenan emphasized narrower bills focused only on school-day phone restrictions rather than broader social media regulation. Senator John Velis likewise backed a comprehensive school-hours restriction, citing student distraction and mental health concerns. Representative Tarsky described successful implementation of a Yondr pouch system in a school where he served as principal, saying it improved engagement and reduced bullying and discipline issues. The committee then heard testimony on a bill to prohibit Native American mascots in public schools (Senate 312/House 575). Senator Joe Comerford, Brittany Wally, and Rhonda Anderson all urged passage, saying Native mascots are dehumanizing, harmful to Native youth, and inconsistent with civil rights and educational values. They described support from tribal nations and noted that many Massachusetts schools have already changed mascots, but some still resist. The hearing also included testimony on school start times (House 647/Senate 360), where middle school students Caroline Duffy and Emery Jarvis described exhaustion and survey data showing widespread sleep deprivation. Former educator Telia Jacobs, former principal Rep. Tarsky, and others argued that later start times would improve health, learning, and student well-being, while acknowledging transportation and scheduling challenges. Zoriana Petrosian, who helped write one of the bills as a student, said the state already has enough research to act now. Additional bills drew testimony on related school issues. Dr. Raul Fernandez supported a bill promoting racially integrated schools (Senate 324), citing a recent advisory council report showing large disparities in segregated schools and urging DESE to develop a statewide integration strategy. On safe firearm storage education (House 548/Senate 397), multiple witnesses from Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention and school communities supported annual school-based education about secure storage, saying it would help prevent child access to unsecured firearms and build on local resolutions already adopted in some districts. The committee also heard testimony on bills to expand career and academic plans (House 533/Senate 438), with speakers saying more structured planning would help students make informed college and career choices. Later, testimony on child sexual abuse prevention and survivor support bills described the prevalence of abuse, the need for training in schools and youth-serving organizations, and the importance of extending compensation and prevention measures. Throughout the hearing, chairs repeatedly closed bills with no witnesses and moved the agenda forward, but no votes were taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have several legislators here that we're going to start with introductions.
• I'm a fiscal analyst for the Legislative Finance Committee. Finance Committee.
• And Child Care Cooperative for PED and the Early Child Care Department over a three-year period.
• And I wanted to urge you to pass and support comprehensive climate legislation.
• Legislation to help adapt and ensure that we can be resilient in our community.