Transcript Highlights:

• It can't be something that's kind of buried, you know, on the computer screen down in the corner.
• You all know, you look at something on the computer and then you go on to look at something else and
• I'm a computer guy. That's what I spent my years doing.
• I'm a computer<01:55:00.560><c> guy.
• That's what I spent my computer guy. That's what I spent my years<01:55:02.239><c> doing.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• So a lot of times, and I understand that sometimes people aren't comfortable using a computer.
• There were some concerns about the ease of moving a legacy 15-year system that is hard-coded into cloud
• So I believe the issues were technical, but we can into cloud environment.
• I can tell you that this is a monumental undertaking to lift this to cloud because it does have to be
• Madam Chair, as I understood it, the contract extension is to be moving that system to cloud as it's

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, then returned to its ongoing budget workshop with the Department of Management Services. DFS’s Division of Risk Management described its role as the state self-insurance fund, covering about 200,000 employees and 27,000 vehicles, paying roughly $150 million in claims last year, and managing a pilot ETS treatment program for veterans and first responders that had 49 patients and 804 treatments as of the latest report. The Division of State Fire Marshal outlined its fire prevention, training, emergency response, and grant programs, including hurricane deployments, the Florida State Fire College, and several capital and grant requests for roof, courtyard, memorial, and equipment needs. The Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation explained how it handles insolvent insurers under Chapter 631, currently administering 14 estates with $1.2 billion in assets and $3.7 billion in liabilities, and said no new receiverships had been opened since February 2023. Members asked about grant backlogs, fire truck procurement delays, memorial repairs, and whether affiliate transfers were occurring in insurer liquidations. Secretary Griffin then updated the committee on DBPR’s implementation of House Bill 1021 on community associations. He said the department had used the new authority to expand education, complaint handling, and ombudsman services, including 10 free standardized courses, a new condo website, and a four-hour board certification course that had already drawn more than 12,000 attendees. He reported that outreach to condominium communities had increased by more than 60%, that complaint filings were up 39% while jurisdictional dismissals dropped to 11%, and that about 81% to 82% of the 65 new positions had been filled. Members pressed him on whether the department had enough authority and funding, how condominium counts are determined, how self-reported structural integrity reserve study data is verified, and whether more public-facing complaint tracking and better reporting from local governments or developers would improve the system. The committee then resumed questioning Secretary Allende of DMS about outstanding budget and operations issues. Members focused on the delayed People First contract extension required by statute, with the secretary saying the delay involved technical and contractual complexity in moving a legacy hard-coded system to the cloud. They also revisited the state data team and data catalog project, asking why a statutory 2022 deadline had not been met, how the four-person team and broader data staff were organized, how many applicants were considered for key positions, and what each role was doing. The secretary said the catalog work was being simplified into six metadata fields and supported by a broader community of practice, but no firm completion date was given during the exchange.

Transcript Highlights:

• trauma this could put on families and young children concerns her, because once something is in the cloud
• , it is in the cloud.
• can get on a... ...filling out is what's going to be on the online portal, so they can get on a computer

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee first took up SCR 30 by Senator Connick, which memorializes Congress to compel the Department of Justice to release unclassified Epstein-related records. Senator Connick gave personal remarks about child sexual abuse and the need to hold powerful people accountable. Representative Newell supported the resolution, and the committee reported it favorably without opposition. Next, the committee considered SCR 40 by Senator Selders, urging Congress to timely pass defense appropriations that fully fund and align with the National Defense Authorization Act. The measure was briefly explained as a statement of support for military readiness and proper appropriations, and it was moved favorably with no opposition. The main substantive discussion centered on SB 259 by Senator Barrow, which would authorize an online portal for civil protective order applications. A Supreme Court protective order registry representative explained that the portal would let domestic and dating violence survivors complete petitions online, with the same judicial review, service, and hearing process that exists now; the bill would not eliminate manual filing. Members asked about fees, guidance for applicants, verification, judicial review, public access, and the risk of false filings. The witness and several members emphasized that the process remains temporary and ex parte at the outset, that final orders are issued by judges, and that the registry is not public. A domestic violence coalition representative also testified in support. Representative Newell moved favorable, Representative Edmondson objected, and the committee reported the bill favorably by a 10-1 vote. Finally, Representative Baham presented HR 245 condemning political violence in the United States. He cited recent and historical examples of political attacks and argued that violence against public figures and activists is harmful regardless of party. Members voiced support, no one objected, and the resolution was adopted before the committee adjourned, with the chair noting it was the last meeting of the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, sunny, bright, you know, not a cloud in the sky.
• And let me tell you what this bill does. sunny, bright, you know, not a cloud in sunny, bright, you know
• , not a cloud in the<00:40:45.599><c> sky.
• </c><00:49:26.240><c> technology</c><00:49:27.200><c> back</c> of resources computer technology back
• of resources computer technology back into<00:49:27.920><c> Kentucky.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard House Bill 132, which would change home and hospital instruction funding so schools can be reimbursed sooner when students miss school for short-term mental health-related stays. Representative Nick Wilson said current law requires a student to be out five days before funding begins, leaving schools unpaid when they provide instruction during 2- to 4-day absences. The committee gave HB 132 favorable expression unanimously. The committee then heard House Bill 193, a cleanup bill on dual credit scholarships. Representative J.T. Payne and KHEAA’s director explained that the bill consolidates academic and CTE dual credit scholarships into one statute to reduce administrative confusion, since the programs have been funded together in recent budgets. HB 193 passed unanimously with favorable expression. House Bill 241 drew the most discussion. The committee first adopted a substitute, which members said changed the bill to give the Commissioner of Education discretion, rather than a mandate, to grant calamity days. The bill and substitute centered on virtual instruction and Cloverport Virtual Academy: supporters said the school was a pilot project that needed more time and that a prior agency effort to cap virtual instruction would have effectively shut it down, while opponents argued the substitute would reward a low-performing virtual model and extend NTI/virtual learning too broadly. Testimony from an Oldham County parent criticized NTI quality and opposed adding more virtual days. No final vote on HB 241 was included in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> computers, software, monitors. computers, software, monitors.
• This action applied computers, and such.
• </c> it means we're buying computers. it means we're buying computers.
• </c><02:41:13.760><c> for</c> say they need uh new computers for say they need uh new computers for everything
• </c> Corrections, some of their computers Corrections, some of their computers that<02:41:24.960><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• you all had in front of you, bets and accelerate sectors that include things like AI and quantum, cloud
• and data platforms, robotics. ...that include things like AI and quantum, cloud and data platforms,
• computing.
• Cal competes is one of the most important. ...computing, zero-emissions vehicles, and semiconductors.
• Startups and pre-revenue companies in fusion, quantum computing, semiconductors, and clean tech simply

Transcript Highlights:

• One is the Common Cloud Data Platform.
• and Hartnell College, allowing students to earn an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree in computer
• science in three years. ...allowing students to earn an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree in computer
• have the AD... college, allowing students to earn an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree in computer
• Calbright Given ongoing fiscal uncertainty, we oppose additional funding for Calbright and Common Cloud

Transcript Highlights:

• It was at that time when DoD was looking for somebody to win a contract for computing, cloud computing
• Anyway, about five years later, we finally have multiple companies doing cloud computing.

Committee: Senate Subcommittee on Personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> end she's done working on these computer end she's done working on these computer Compu<01:07:25.920
• Cloud, Fergus Falls? No, not Fergus Falls or Alexandria. It was in St.
• Cloud, Fergus Falls? No, not Fergus Falls or Alexandria. It was in St.
• Cloud, Fergus Falls? No, not Fergus Falls or Alexandria. It was in St.
• Cloud, Fergus Falls? No, not Fergus Falls or Alexandria. It was in St.

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• um methodology is multiported compute um methodology is better.<00:38:28.720><c> Um</c><00:38:29.280
• It has physical hardware computers that are operating the network.
• It has physical hardware computers that are operating the network.
• It has a limited portion on cloud computers.
• It has a limited portion on cloud computers.

Summary: The commission met with a quorum, approved the agenda, and approved the November 12 minutes after a motion, second, and unanimous voice/online consent. The chair said the meeting would include two presentations—one from Noah Herman of Fortress Global and one from John Kicko and team from Hedera—followed by discussion of the commission’s next steps and public comment. The chair also noted he was still seeking a clerk for note-taking. Herman’s presentation focused on stablecoins, blockchain use cases, and operational considerations for states and other institutions. He described Fortress as an enterprise crypto-wallet and treasury platform serving corporates, governments, and nonprofits, and used examples such as Save the Children and a large global commodities firm to illustrate custody and treasury management on blockchain rails. He said stablecoins are designed to maintain a U.S. dollar peg, are increasingly backed by treasuries and subject to greater transparency, and are being adopted by major firms and payment companies because they can improve speed, reduce cost, and simplify payments. He also highlighted market growth, including claims that stablecoins now represent a significant share of on-chain activity and are a major holder of U.S. Treasuries. He identified custody as a key issue for state and institutional use, outlining qualified custody, managed custody, and self-custody models. He said the main practical challenge for the commodities client was moving funds safely and quickly across global time zones and that blockchain rails could solve problems that traditional banking rails could not. He framed the broader trend as one of accelerating institutional adoption, citing recent acquisitions and product launches by Visa, Stripe, Citi, and PayPal as evidence that stablecoin infrastructure is becoming mainstream.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, there's a dark cloud over our heads, but we have the ability, we have the brain power, we have
• We should look at the little cloud above.
• before the question and answer session: is this a revenue issue that we're facing today with the dark cloud
• , if you want to call it a dark cloud, or is this a spending issue?
• I think that's where we just need to see where that dark cloud is, see how we maneuver around it, over

Transcript Highlights:

• in a generation transformation of the operating system of the database manager and migration to the cloud
• Then we had when we stood those computer systems up both percent less 646.
• It's one of the best computers work. It's a major tool. You need an assessment to it.
• If you don't make that do gate, the computer said this.
• If it's a business rule that can be identified in the computer can do that repetitively faster, better

Transcript Highlights:

• And those are institutions that have computers and have access to computers, so we're putting staff there
• And those are institutions that have computers and have access to computers, so we're putting staff there
• And those are institutions that have computers and have access to computers, so we're putting staff there
• And those are institutions that have computers and have access to computers, so we're putting staff there
• </c><01:24:25.159><c> beiji</c> Lakes Morehead duth St Cloud beiji Lakes Morehead duth St Cloud beiji

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It's pretty much all in the cloud now that we utilize as a state, like Microsoft 365, Salesforce, ServiceNow
• you can work in a secure space and lease it through UNM and put your stuff in a secure space in the cloud
• Quantum computing—and Senator Soule said this on the floor—you do math across with zeros.
• But when Quantum came and INQ came—the largest quantum computing company in the world—and came and told

Bills: HB2 , SB152

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• It's admin services when they were going through their system in preparation to go to Cloud Suite.
• It's admin services when they were going through their system in preparation to go to Cloud Suite.
• And there's another reference if my computer will cooperate.
• And there's another reference if my computer will cooperate.
• that you say exists in the medical cloud that you say exists in the medical field?

Summary: The committee first adopted amendment 2026-2021S to correct a drafting issue in the budget language so that the $2.5 million appropriation for Medicaid per diem rate stabilization at county nursing homes can be spent during the biennium rather than lapsing at the end of the fiscal year. Senator Lang explained that the funds are matched with federal dollars for a total of $5 million and are intended to prevent rate reductions that could shift costs to county property taxpayers. The amendment was adopted unanimously by both chambers, and the committee proceeded on the bill as amended by the Senate. The main discussion then focused on HB 155 and a proposed amendment to the business enterprise tax. The House proposal would lower the BET rate in stages when combined business tax revenues exceed certain thresholds, while the Senate opposed an immediate rate reduction and argued that tax changes should be handled in a budget year. Senators emphasized that raising the filing threshold to $375,000 had already removed about 3,500 small businesses from filing requirements, and they preferred further relief through threshold changes rather than rate cuts. House members argued that the trigger-based reduction was a reasonable, tested mechanism and would provide future tax relief without taking effect unless revenues rose enough. Members debated whether the trigger could be distorted by one-time revenue spikes, such as the recent tax amnesty receipts and prior federal repatriation-related revenue, and Representative Sweeney said he was willing to adjust the effective date or carve out amnesty revenue. The committee did not reach agreement on the BET reduction, and the chair called a break and then continued the meeting later with a new proposal to delay the trigger’s effective date to January 1, 2028. Senator Lang rejected that version but offered a counterproposal to raise the filing threshold to $400,000, and the parties ultimately agreed to continue discussions and reconvene later. The meeting also took up HB 1102, concerning the research and development tax credit and state park fees. The House position was to support the R&D tax credit but remove the park-fee provisions, citing testimony from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that it did not need the increase and concerns about discouraging tourism, especially at border parks. Supporters of the park-fee language argued that the department had not raised rates in years, could set its own rates, and should be able to charge nonresidents more while keeping New Hampshire residents’ fees lower. The discussion remained unresolved, with members debating the likely effect on tourism and fairness to residents versus the need for additional revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cloud Area Public Schools, and good morning, I'm Molly Kenzie with St.
• </c> laori Pam superintendent with St Cloud laori Pam superintendent with St Cloud area<00:14:31.320>
• Cloud also matches their needs.
• Cloud. It is not unique to Minnesota, as we heard.
• Cloud Area School District? District? About 9,500. If I may, Mr.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• This will be a cloud-based system that gives HPIA the same functionality as all of the admitted carriers
• </c><00:38:13.280><c> system</c> system this will be a cloud-based system system this will be a cloud-based
• Let's say my computer is ready to write that, but there's also other hurdles and difficulties, as Terry
• Just to recap: $500,000 to a million dollars for the computer system, about a year from when you start
• </c> million dollars to for the computer million dollars to for the computer system<00:58:18.440><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Computer algorithms.
• And our computer system... Catch that. That's a claims dispute.
• Our old, old computer systems that are not AI detect those.
• What they don't constitute is what a computer does.
• A computer, if-then basic programming kind of an algorithm.

Bills: SB 6 , SB6 , SB504 , SB765 , SB815 , SB929

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS PROVISION CLOUDS THAT ABILITY AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO SEE THAT AND WHEN THEY CAN'T SEE
• ON THERE TO SEE IF THERE WERE UPDATES OR ADDITIONS AND THE LINK IS NOT WORKING ON MY OR MY AIDS COMPUTER
• Pizzo: SO MY COMPUTER IS NOT WORKING. >> Vice Chair Sharief: YOU ARE RECOGNIZE TO GO BACK AND FORTH.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, is the computer only looking for a certain license?
• the question you're kind of asking is there's a subsequent check saying, does this plate, as the computer
• It resides in a tenant... ...out in the cloud that we purchase and pay for.

Committee: House House Judiciary