Transcript Highlights:

• The life expectancy for LGBTQ New Mexicans is an average age of 37.7 years versus non-LGBTQ counterparts
• Amendments in House Ag and Water that we amended there to make sure that what our bill was doing was
• Special AG meeting. I have Melanie Kirby. Hi, Melanie. Can you hear us? Yes. Can you hear me?
• was formed and it started meeting In August under the facilitation of the New Mexico Department of Ag
• At minimum, there would Be three to four new hires, and one would actually work to help facilitate more

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have. who are so-called aging out um and
• I'd like to know what your age parameters are.
• I would think of youth as up until the age of 18, so it just seems sort of flipped.
• question is if you lowered the upper age question is if you lowered the upper age uh<00:34:54.040
• so what's it feel like the right age so what's it feel like the right age would<00:35:04.720>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: Finance Division 3 met for a work session on House Bill 519, which concerns funding for Waypoint. The chair noted general support for the organization but said the bill would likely need to be suspended and folded into the budget process because the committee did not yet know available revenues or what amount, if any, could be committed. Kya Fox, director of the Division for Behavioral Health, testified that the department supports the bill and the program, explaining that it had been funded with other available funds, including $100,000 for 2024 and $400,000 for 2025, under a contract running through June 30 of this year. She said the shelter serves a unique population of young adults and is part of the department’s children’s system of care and Mission Zero efforts to reduce barriers to psychiatric discharge and emergency department use. Members questioned Fox and Waypoint representatives about the budget placement of the request, the difference between the efficiency budget and prioritized needs, and whether state budget documents would show any internal Waypoint revenues. Fox said the request appears as a general fund item and that the state would not see Waypoint’s internal financial operations in the budget. A legislative member explained that prioritized needs are critical services already in place but not necessarily included in the efficiency budget, and another member said the distinction is not strictly applied. The committee also raised a separate question about how DHHS would handle any future state or federal restrictions on DEI practices; Fox said that was a question for department leadership and legal staff, but that the department follows state law and contract requirements. Waypoint CEO Bor Alvare and Director Mandy Lancaster then described the shelter and related services. They said the shelter serves ages 18 to 24, is a 14-bed open-room facility with half walls, and is staffed overnight by two full-time workers. They said admission is first come, first served, with some vulnerability factors considered, and that they do not discriminate by race, gender, or sexual orientation. They reported no known incidents of sexual violence, though some youth are turned away each night because the shelter is full. They also explained that Waypoint provides broader services beyond the shelter, including outreach, drop-in centers, housing support, rental assistance, and family mediation, and said they serve about 400 youth and young adults in Manchester alone. The discussion ended with questions about whether lowering the upper age limit would affect the program; Waypoint said most residents are already in the 18-to-23 range, but that housing shortages make the current age span important for helping young adults avoid chronic homelessness.

Transcript Highlights:

• So people who struggle with eating pasteurized dairy often are aged.
• Individuals ages 20 and 34 make up 55% of new HIV diagnoses in Texas.
• Our volunteers are aging out, and our kids are moving to urban areas.
• The report also sets minimum standards of care that must be provided to sexual assault victims during
• The minimum standards are there.

Bills: HB3000, HB2622, HB2283, HB541, HB1776, HB1803, HB1669, HB2588, HB220, HB3415, HB50, HB1314, HB 107, HB220, HB50, HB107

Keywords: ambulance service, rural healthcare, grants, financial assistance, qualified counties, mental health, patient transport, female attendants, security measures, healthcare regulation, epinephrine, anaphylaxis, health care, school safety, training, emergency response, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services

Transcript Highlights:

• to this family, they found the children with their parents and took three of these elementary school-age
• and took um three of these Elementary and took um three of these Elementary School<00:35:00.760> age
• students and their mom now we School age students and their mom now we were<00:35:04.000> not
• As it stands, at the bare minimum, one of the things that we need to support this bill is to see that
• one of the things that we bare minimum one of the things that we need<01:02:51.720> to<01:02:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Technology met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. On SB 9, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation testified in support, and there were no questions or objections. On SB 148, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments, and a member of the public testified in support of combining boxing and MMA oversight into a single combat sports commission, with amendments to preserve safety standards and separate or distinct treatment for the two sports. Committee discussion focused on whether proposed requirements were primarily safety-related or cost-related, how to handle smaller events, and whether a one-year implementation delay was necessary; the department said many safety provisions already exist in the MMA program, that it was open to continued discussion on costs, and that it needed time to combine rules and appoint new commissioners. The chair suggested possible amendments to account for event size and to reduce burdens on smaller events. The committee then heard SB 816, which drew extensive testimony on providing legal representation for immigrants in immigration proceedings. Supporters included the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, ACU Hawaii, the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, the Legal Clinic, Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights, the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Pride at Work Hawaii, and others. Supporters argued that immigration cases can be as serious as criminal cases, that counsel is essential for due process, and that representation improves outcomes; several also emphasized the economic importance of immigrants to Hawaii. One supporter noted a suggested amendment to include training for attorneys and partners doing deportation defense and asylum work. Opposition came from a Navy veteran who argued the bill would use state resources for a federal issue, create inequities, and impose fiscal burdens. The chair noted 69 testimonies in support and 44 in opposition, and later an additional supporter brought the total to 70 in support. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided. The committee also heard SB 125, with the Department of Economic Development, the Agreed Business Development Corporation, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association in support, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii offering technical comments about complicated nested definitions in the bill. Testimony on SB 125 focused on updating the Enterprise Zone Program so local manufacturers selling directly to retail could qualify, along with value-added products and certain health-related sectors. Finally, on SB 732, the State of Hawaii Creative Industries testified with comments, raising concerns about county permit-fee waivers, implementation timing, and the bill’s lack of a carry-forward provision for the film tax credit. The witness said uncertainty in the credit was already causing productions to delay coming to Hawaii and urged stability to support the industry and local workers. The committee then moved on to additional testimony on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• protects the health, safety, and rights of those receiving services by requiring that providers meet minimum
• Services by requiring that<00:26:15.279> providers<00:26:15.799> meet<00:26:16.080> minimum
• <00:26:16.559> standards<00:26:17.000> of that providers meet minimum standards of
• that providers meet minimum standards of care<00:26:18.279> for<00:26:18.480> the<00:26
• study is conducted. ...cases, then we need explicit authorizing language in our statutes to allow our AG

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the exemptions in the bill, Leader, is foster youth who have aged out up to the age of 22.
• Do you know how many of these would be age 22 to 26 who have aged out of foster care?
• Health care, minimum wage job for half a month, I'm going to lose my coverage.
• And I'd just like to welcome you all to the age of the Jetsons.
• Our committee is now part of the age of the Jetsons in hearing this bill.

Bills: S0006, S0026, S0206, S0532, S0576, S1012, S1110, S1178, S1192, S1758, S1760, S7046, S7048

Keywords: child welfare, negligence, settlement, injury compensation, Department of Children and Families, motorcycle accident, compensation, Department of Transportation, legal claim, autism, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special education, exceptional student education, ESE, teacher preparation, educator certification, micro-credential, loan forgiveness, student loan repayment

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met and considered a large agenda of bills, reporting several measures favorably. Early action included SB 6, a settled claim bill involving the Department of Children and Families and the estate of Leila Estrada and Sapphire Williams, which was approved for $3.8 million. The committee also passed a cybersecurity internships bill creating a Department of Commerce program with Cyber Florida, and SB 532, which lets clerks of court retain the full amount of certain excess revenue and clarifies foreclosure-sale procedures. Veterans housing measures, CS for CS for SB 1602 and SB 1604, were approved to create a pilot program and a related trust fund for vacancy relief and risk mitigation for veteran housing. The committee also favorably reported SB 1110 on Medicaid and insurance coverage for orthotics and prosthetics, with emotional testimony from a student and family describing the high cost and importance of activity-specific prosthetics. Members also approved CS for CS for SB 1012 after adopting an amendment that removed inmate emergency and specialty medical service compensation provisions while retaining changes to the contractor-operated institutions inmate welfare trust fund. Another bill, CS for CS for SB 1614, was narrowed by a delete-all amendment to focus on limiting the use of excess fees for new building construction by local governments. All of these measures were reported favorably after brief debate, with some support testimony submitted in writing or waived. The most extensive discussion centered on CS for CS for SB 17, a major Medicaid and public assistance overhaul. The bill would create a Joint Legislative Committee on Medicaid Oversight, allow the Legislature to retain its own actuary, tighten Medicaid program oversight, update encounter-data reporting, set performance standards for managed care plans, revise pharmacy benefit manager rules, and require DCF to implement SNAP fraud-reduction and payment-accuracy reforms, including photo IDs on EBT cards and updated work requirements. It also would direct agencies to seek federal waivers for Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults and expanded behavioral health services. After lengthy questioning and testimony, the committee adopted amendments adding a transitional medical benefits glide path for people who gain employment and later lose Medicaid eligibility, and exempting hospice patients with six months or less to live. Supporters argued the bill would improve accountability, reduce fraud, and save money, while opponents warned it would create administrative burdens, increase paperwork, and cause eligible people to lose coverage or food assistance. The committee ultimately reported the bill favorably as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• There, he was finally able to start school at the age of 10. Mr.
• Speaker, reaching the age of 100 in itself is remarkable. It's worthy of great honor.
• Excuse me, House Bill 888 relates to off-street minimum off-street parking requirements in certain areas
• lowest wages, so basically they're exempt if they earn equal to or less than 40 times the Virginia minimum

Keywords: March 10, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In our rapidly evolving digital age, it is crucial for us to adopt the ways that we share vital information
• The age of deca gigawatts is coming, and so the only way to really manage that.
• Both ACEAE analysis and that by Texas A&M for ERCOT found that if every home used a minimum efficiency
• With a minimum efficiency heat pump, no fancy overhaul, just smart, clean installations.

Bills: HB 1951, HB 2715, HB 3092, HB 3237, HB 3278, HB 3511, HB 3592, HB 3675, HB 3778, HB 3782, HB 3826, HB 3970, HB 4016, HB 4049, HB 4341, HB 4344, HB 4406, HB 4427

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• He was assaulted starting at age 12, repeatedly by paraprofessionals employed by school districts.
• It increases the minimum capital investment made by a manufacturing facility for a municipality or county
• They have to pay the debt first and operating expenses, and then a minimum of 80% has to go for projects
• So it has to be a minimum of 80, but it could be higher.
• So it has to be a minimum of 80, but it could be higher. Hans, I see you're shaking your head.

Bills: HB4154, HB4155, HB4156, HB4157, HB4158, HB4159, HB4160, HB4161, HB4162, HB4163, HB4164, HB4165, HB4166, HB4167, HB4168, HB4169, SB1847, SB1848, SB1849, SB1850, SB1851, SB1852, SB1853, SB1854, SB1855, SB1856, SB1857, SB1858, SB1859, SB1860, SB1861, SB1862

Keywords: general appropriations act, state budget, biennial budget, appropriations, fiscal year 2026, fiscal year 2027, budget bill, spending authority, state spending, agency funding, public funds, executive budget, education funding, health and human services, public safety, transportation funding, legislative appropriations, budget resolution, state finance, government operations

Transcript Highlights:

• We look for debt service coverage of 1.35, a minimum loan-to-value of 85.
• At the time, the AG had an opinion that said this charter school cannot be managed by a for-profit entity
• At minimum, we kept it flat to what it is for this fiscal year, if not provided a Smaller increase.
• When you raise teacher minimum salaries, teachers get paid at least The minimum: when you enact a policy

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The last stat on here is home rehab and accessibility modifications for those who age in place.
• That includes, Accessibility modifications for those who age in place.
• And as far as ag and 4-H and FFA, they're very dear to me.
• I'm not going to tell you how many years because I'd give my age away.
• It's going to be a great fair, and it's going to represent ag.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 90% of the brain is developed by age 90% of the brain is developed by age five,<00:19:46.320>
• Um, a couple of questions that I have, but the first one is: is there a particular age, a minimum or
• They're already past that three years of age.
• Um, and now three three years age.
• <00:57:50.400> kids the the preschool and school age kids the the preschool and school age

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call – 0:00:04 Approval of Minutes – 0:03:57 United Way of Southern Kentucky –0:04:30 Preschool Education – 0:36:46 School Safety Updates – 1:01:41 Kentucky Association of School Superintendents – 1:41:47 Educational Cooperatives – 1:55:18 Adjournment – 2:07:37, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened its sixth meeting of the 2025 Interim Joint Committee on Education, confirmed a quorum, recorded attendance votes, and approved the minutes. Chair Lewis reminded presenters to keep remarks brief because of the full agenda and limited time. The first presentation was from United Way of Southern Kentucky, with Anne Puckett, Craig Browning, and Warren County Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton introducing a regional early childhood initiative. The presenters argued that kindergarten readiness and early childhood support are critical to later academic and life outcomes. They cited research and statistics about brain development in the first five years, the effects of unprepared kindergarten entry, and links between low literacy, school discipline, dropout rates, and incarceration. They said their region’s readiness scores fell during COVID and after a tornado, and that the most effective response was in-home parent education to help families support children from birth to age five. They described the model as voluntary, community-based, and not requiring new buildings, and said similar programs have been successful in Missouri. The group said it had already raised more than $1 million in private donations and committed three years of funding for four additional staff, expanding service in Allen, Logan, and Warren counties. They requested $600,000 per year for the next two-year budget cycle to add 12 more educators, serve about 360 families and 660 additional children, and build evidence for a possible statewide model. Members generally expressed support for the concept, with Representative Tipton and Representative Jackson discussing a prior home-based preschool pilot and the importance of starting early. Representative Calloway questioned whether increased family chaos and government involvement justified the approach; presenters responded that the program uses community educators, not a government-run organization, and is aimed at helping overwhelmed families. Representative Stalker asked about eligibility and early intervention, and presenters said the program serves children from birth to age five and can help identify needs early enough to connect families with services such as First Steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since legalization, we've seen very high compliance rates with age gating at the stores, which are in
• does have a nuisance enforcement the AGS does have a nuisance abatement<00:56:36.319> unit<00
• <01:13:13.199> age three for hemp covering minimum age three for hemp covering minimum age
• was about 55 and up about median age was about 55 and up were<01:18:05.560> the<01:18:05.880>
• Vapes are administratively illegal under 320-AG; that's in the statute. Edibles were not legal.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• While the guidelines exist, they focus narrowly on a 14-day minimum posting period for solicitations.
• One is you've got to be 25 years of age; got to be a...
• To serve in the legislature, one is you've got to be 25 years of age, got to be a citizen.
• For example, libraries may need to verify the age... ...challenges.
• For example, libraries may need to verify the age of everyone checking out certain materials or pull

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I believe it's important to note that it really starts at home in the very early ages.
• period of 25 days to resolve the allegation before the findings go further and are submitted to the AG
• to come out of K-12 in Texas better prepared than ever because they've been identified at younger ages
• And so I think it is important that we keep those supports available, at a minimum.
• Many undergraduates have insurance from their parents... which ends at age 26.

Bills: SB530, SB757, SB769, SB1085, SB1241, SB1242, SB1409, SB1878, SB2138, SB2314, SB2231, SB2361, SB2431, SJR59

Keywords: accreditation, postsecondary education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, program delivery, faculty recruitment, higher education, performance standards, student loan debt, degree programs, funding, students with disabilities, accessibility, enrollment, report, SB 1085, Sul Ross State University, Rio Grande College, Del Rio

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met with a large agenda and repeatedly recessed for floor activity and other committee conflicts. The committee heard and left pending several higher education bills, including SB 2361 to transfer University of Houston-Victoria from the University of Houston System to the Texas A&M System and rename it Texas A&M University Victoria; testimony from university officials, local leaders, and industry representatives strongly supported the move as a way to better align degree programs with regional workforce needs in engineering, agriculture, and STEM. SB 530, which would align Texas accreditation statutes with federal rules allowing institutions to choose among nationally recognized accreditors, also received supportive testimony and was left pending. SB 1085, allowing Sul Ross satellite campuses to offer lower-division coursework toward bachelor’s degrees, was laid out and left pending as well. The committee also took up a series of education policy bills. SB 1241 would expand the standardized tests Texas public universities may accept for admission beyond the SAT and ACT, with supporters from the Classic Learning Test, homeschool advocates, and student-choice groups arguing it would increase access and competition; it was left pending. SB 769 would require a TEA/Higher Education Coordinating Board report on barriers faced by students with disabilities in higher education, and testimony from The Arc of Texas and others emphasized the need for better data and accessibility; the bill was left pending. SB 2231 would designate the second week of October as Free College Application Week, and SB 1878 would modernize terminology and support workforce-oriented programs at the Josie School; both were laid out and left pending. The committee reported several bills favorably after adopting committee substitutes. SB 605, concerning charter school expansion applications while under conservatorship or a management team, passed on a 9-0 vote. SB 1871, SB 1873, and SB 1874, all related to school discipline and teacher immunity/placement review provisions, were adopted and reported favorably, with members noting the need for further discussion on some language. SB 762, dealing with flag displays in public schools, passed on a 7-1 vote. SB 1962, relating to public school accountability and challenges to school system operations, passed 7-1 after a corrected vote. SB 1750, replacing a $60 million statewide charter facilities cap with an attendance-growth-based allotment, passed 7-1 with one member voting present not voting. SB 2252, supporting kindergarten readiness and early literacy/numeracy, SB 2253, concerning educator preparation and certification, SB 2365, on student use of wireless devices during instructional time, and SB 1924, restoring local peace officer citation authority for school offenses and adding reporting and parent-notification requirements, were also reported favorably. The committee additionally heard SB 37 on higher education governance and compliance oversight, which passed 7-1 after a substitute that refined curriculum review, governing board authority, faculty senate rules, and a new compliance office within the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Transcript Highlights:

• at a minimum and probably terminated<01:05:24.000> um<01:05:24.640> there<01:05:24.880
• Five foot two middle-aged<01:36:09.360> women<01:36:09.520> are<01:36:09.679> being<
• /c><01:36:09.840> thrown<01:36:10.080> to middle-aged women are being thrown to middle-aged
• I'm of that age. I'm not moving.” People won't leave in an evacuation.
• I'm<01:53:14.400> of<01:53:14.639> that<01:53:14.800> age.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:36:16.960> in homeowners the opportunity to age in homeowners the opportunity to age in
• And if somebody wants to offer more than that minimum bid, then that's fine.
• Uh, seniors right now are aging in place not necessarily because they want to.
• How do we identify what we need in various towns with aging communities?
• And so then you end up with that age-old And so then you end up with that age-old question<04:50

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a very old aging demographic. Most of these, the average 85 years old each.
• Minimum contribution rate from 4.5 to 5% and the employer match from 6 to 7%.

Bills: HB1739, HB1784, HB1889, HB2116, HB2206, HB3625, HB2939, HB3028, HB3265, HB3313, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3420, HB3588, HB3748, HB3721, HB3852, HB4132, HB4263, HB4303, HB4311, HB4428, HB4429, HB4434

Keywords: retirement, law enforcement, disability benefits, pension system, Oklahoma, education reform, local control, student outcomes, curriculum changes, school funding, public retirement systems, pension, retirement benefits, cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, inflation adjustment, CPI-U, Consumer Price Index, firefighters pension, police pension

Transcript Highlights:

• I was a career changer at the age of 30 when I decided to pursue a master's degree in elementary and
• ensuring that at least in Albuquerque, all of our support and related personnel are entitled to the same minimum

Bills: SB83, SB106, SB107, SB123, SJR1

Keywords: ecological monitoring, sustainability, tribal engagement, education, research funding, graduate scholarship, higher education funding, New Mexico, appropriation, financial aid, out-of-school programming, education funding, youth programs, affordability, nonprofit organizations, defibrillators, public schools, health and safety, emergency response, school elections

Transcript Highlights:

• The problem is with renters and this is the age-old problem, they don't have any ownership of the property
• with all of this is if you have 10 jurisdictions, it's one thing, but if you only have 2 or 3, the minimum

Bills: HB17, HB23

Keywords: property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice, property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support, youth programs, community education, county population threshold, large county, local government revenue, leasehold interest, possessory interest