Transcript Highlights:

• The federal government is backing out on key programs.
• Existing building codes, energy codes, things that they feel are restrictive in terms of new development
• , energy codes, things that they feel are restrictive in terms of. existing building codes, energy codes
• Let's take a look at their building codes.
• government services in a world where the front door to state government is digital.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public FY27 budget hearing at Barnstable Town Hall, with opening remarks emphasizing the Cape and Islands’ seasonal infrastructure, housing, transportation, workforce, and digital needs. The hearing began with testimony from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, which outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s budget priorities for job training, apprenticeship, youth employment, reentry programs, and unemployment insurance modernization. The secretary highlighted proposed funding for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, Career Technical Initiative, YouthWorks, reentry workforce development, and services for young adults with disabilities, along with a proposal to streamline youth work permits. Members also discussed the unemployment trust fund, the COVID assessment on employers, rising unemployment, and the need to improve DUA customer service and claims processing. Committee members asked about job seeker barriers such as child care, housing, transportation, and out-migration of young workers, as well as how to keep Cape Cod graduates and seasonal workers in the region. The administration said its strategy is to pair training with broader affordability investments and to expose students to career pathways earlier, including through middle school, early childhood STEM, YouthWorks, pre-apprenticeships, and Building Pathways. Senators and representatives also raised concerns about regional funding disparities, especially for Hampshire Franklin MassHire, and the administration said it is reviewing MassHire funding and service equity through a policy committee and statewide workforce board. On unemployment assistance, officials reported major improvements in wait times and claims processing, but said they are still working through backlogs and staffing challenges while maintaining program integrity. The committee then heard testimony from the Executive Office of Economic Development. The secretary described House 2 as a fiscally restrained budget with no new taxes or fees, while preserving core programs and using the Mass Leads Act tools to support competitiveness. EOED’s proposal included funding for the Community One Stop for Growth, rural economic development, social enterprise operating grants, regional economic development organizations, the Workforce Investment Trust Fund, Community Workforce Partnerships, Pathmaker, advanced manufacturing training, life sciences, innovation vouchers, AI initiatives, small business assistance, and tourism and live theater support. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation also testified on its FY27 request, focusing on consumer protection, licensing, banking, insurance, and public safety regulation. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Century Code provides the authority of the governing body of a city or county to approve the location
• And under North Dakota Century Code and North Dakota administrative code, a licensed distributor may
• And under North Dakota Century Code and North Dakota administrative code, a licensed distributor may
• I'm here specifically to address Century Code 53-06 of the Century Code.
• I think it's only been in Century Code, and then last—I don't know.

Summary: The Judiciary Interim Committee met to begin its study of charitable gaming and the ownership of alcoholic beverage establishments by licensed charitable gaming organizations, a study directed by Senate Bill 2334. Legislative Council gave an overview of the constitutional and statutory framework for charitable gaming, site authorizations, rent limits, proceeds, and recent legislative changes. The Attorney General’s Gaming Division then clarified the financial flow of gaming, explaining that in fiscal year 2025 North Dakota had about $2.5 billion in gross gaming proceeds, with roughly 88-90% paid back in prizes and about $256 million available to organizations after taxes; most of that activity came from electronic pull tabs. Members asked for more detail on winnings, replays, rent, and the breakdown of manufacturer/distributor revenues, and the AG’s office agreed to provide supplemental information. The committee also heard from the League of Cities and the Association of Counties about local site authorization. Cities said they have a limited role in approving gaming sites, can adopt policies after public hearing, may charge up to $100, and can set certain conditions, including local nexus requirements, but cannot require donations or force a specific charity or site. The League said it had worked with stakeholders on a model policy to provide more consistency, though members raised concerns that local requirements could become too restrictive for charities serving broader areas. Counties said the issue is mostly a city matter, with little county involvement beyond minimal site fees and general site approval. The North Dakota Gaming Alliance testified in support of the study and provided IRS-related material suggesting charities may use asset diversification, while emphasizing it had not taken a position on whether charities should own bars. Members questioned whether bar ownership is being used for site stability or to channel charitable gaming dollars, and whether city policies might disadvantage charities with broader missions. The committee also discussed the relationship between gaming organizations, manufacturers, and distributors, including restrictions on incentives and interference, and asked for more information on those entities and their ownership. Later in the meeting, the Racing Commission gave its regular update on live racing, pari-mutuel wagering, ADW providers, purse and promotion funds, a new TRPB contract, and concerns about cease-and-desist actions from other states. Finally, the State Hospital superintendent briefly reported on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s support services, including the SORT team, training, and security assistance for the hospital campus.

Transcript Highlights:

• Code 9, 0, 0, 2, 6, 8, take up. Substitute Amendment bar code 8, 9, 4, 7, 2, 6, Senator Grall.
• We'll take up Amendment bar code 4, 7, 5, 6, 4, 2, Senator Calatayud.
• Yes, Madam Chair, this is a late filed amendment bar code 614-0080.
• We'll show bar code 1, 5, 9, 8, 1, 6, is adopt.
• It's interesting, you know, talk about big government with this.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Senior Staff Counsel for the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code.
• the Penal Code.
• There is no longer any evidence code provision whatsoever.
• That's Welfare and Institutions Code Section 709A, subdivision 7.
• Frankly, it has... ...in our government and our courts.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It just gives the governing authority two bills, Rapides Parish, for the governing authority to make
• the federal government.
• It's not foreign governments.
• The code does address high consequence areas, right, whether it's in the gas code or a liquid code.
• That's a government shenanigan.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:34.199> as Beed uh administering the tax code as Beed uh administering the tax code
• we talked about the federal government we talked about the federal<01:29:40.080> government<01
• always looking at the federal government always looking at the federal government and<01:33:28.119
• was because the to the local governments was because the local<01:35:01.800> governments<01:35
• Aid the local in the local government Aid the local government<01:35:25.880> Aid<01:35:26.040

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• My concern is about the government mandate on our local governments. That's my concern.
• As a 10-year veteran of county government, that's always a concern.
• So it's less of a municipal government or county government connotation.
• and the New York State Energy Conservation Code by counties.
• Building Code and the New York State Energy Conservation Code by counties.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee, chaired for the day by Senator John Liu, took up a long agenda of bills covering labor and benefits, corrections, health, taxation, government transparency, and public services. Early measures included increasing short-term disability benefits, adjusting a poverty-level-related earned income disregard, expanding correctional health staffing review, and authorizing the Inspector General to investigate sexual assault complaints in correctional facilities; each of these advanced to the floor. The committee also advanced bills on ovarian cancer screening access, retirement system membership changes, a trail stewardship program, live agency representative access, FOIL/open meetings fee awards, a Harriman campus development plan, court data reporting, educator conventions, park water testing, an energy storage tax abatement, a Native American Affairs office, adult changing tables in public facilities, Medicaid Inspector General audit standards, remote training certification for agency personnel, newborn Gaucher disease testing, electronic self-exclusion requests for gambling, and child daycare inspections and opioid antagonist requirements. Several bills drew discussion. The prescription drug transparency bill (Print 488A) prompted questions about possible overlap with federal Hatch-Waxman/FTC oversight and whether a New York notice requirement could slow generic-drug settlements; sponsors and staff said it was intended as a supplemental transparency measure for consumers. The court reporting bill (Print 1849A) raised concerns about mandates on local governments, but supporters said it mainly required OCA to compile data in one format. The Medicaid local-share phaseout bill (Print 5519) generated the most debate, with supporters arguing it would provide major property tax relief and should be addressed in the budget, while opponents emphasized the need to curb Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse first. Two major fiscal oversight proposals were defeated. Print 8661, which would have required the Comptroller to hire an independent private auditing firm to review state-funded programs for fraud and abuse, was opposed despite support from some members who argued outside auditing was overdue; it failed by one vote. Print 5519 was also ultimately defeated after a recount confirmed it lacked the required majority of the full 22-member committee. Most other bills were approved and sent either to the floor or, in the case of the drug transparency bill, to the Rules Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Turkish government restrictions.
• Any investigation government entities.
• For these codes would also apply.
• <01:58:45.679> programs made it clear that government programs made it clear that government
• I'll just read one quote from the code I'll just read one quote from the code of<03:57:55.120>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The 11th meeting of the Senate State and Local Government Committee is called to order.
• , information to the federal government, information to the federal government, which<00:13:18.160
• or some kind of a non-human-readable code.
• So, what we have specified is that you cannot have a non-readable code that was used by the tabulator
• In the future, that contain a non-human-readable code that is tallied by the tabulator. Good. Good.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:10 Attendance Roll Call: 00:19 HB 10 Discussion: 02:19 HB 10 Vote: 06:24 HB 139 Discussion: 08:23 HB 139 Vote: 19:50 HB 607 Discussion: 21:29 HB 607 Vote: 25:55 HB 642 Discussion: 28:15 HB 642 Vote: 32:06 Adjournment: 33:25, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Local government does the land use codes. Why do they do the land use codes?
• What I see here is we are infringing on local government. Local government is our government.
• The speaker says this is infringing on local government and that local government is their government
• We become one of the many inputs to local governments for improvements to their land use code.
• powers of the government. powers of the government.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the corrected journal, and heard several announcements about upcoming committee meetings, events at the Capitol, and recognitions, including Music Therapy Day, Black History Month activities, adoptable puppies, and a Colorado Agricultural Forum. Members also celebrated Representative Story’s birthday and recognized the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) for its long-running support of arts, culture, science access, and economic impact in Colorado. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 12, designating February 20, 2026, as Colorado FFA Day, by a vote of 64-1 with one excused. The chamber then moved to special orders for several bills. The first major bill considered was House Bill 1017, which would prohibit insurers from receiving criminal restitution unless they are direct victims. Sponsors argued the bill prioritizes human victims, prevents restitution from becoming an unpayable burden on low-income defendants, and clarifies the law in response to court concerns and stakeholder feedback. Opponents argued it would shift costs to taxpayers and policyholders and could increase civil litigation and insurance premiums. An amendment, L005, was adopted to clarify the bill’s scope, and the bill then passed as amended. The House also took up House Bill 114, concerning minimum lot size and local land-use rules. An amendment, L002, was offered to prohibit certain local lot frontage, setback, open-space, or coverage requirements that would effectively prevent construction of a single-family home on a 2,000-square-foot residential lot. Supporters framed the measure as protecting housing access, while opponents argued it would override local land-use decision-making and public hearing processes. The transcript ends during debate on a substitute motion related to the amendment, before final action on House Bill 114 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• It amends section 22.002 of the government code to allow the Texas Supreme Court to issue writs that
• Finally, members, SB 871 limits the governor's ability to suspend provisions of the Penal Code, Code
• With the governor and the federal government as well.
• that's already being addressed by the federal government.
• And as you know, for example, in our local government code, you have to disclose conflicts of interest

Keywords: legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 40, Senate Bill 871, constitutional amendment, emergency powers, governor authority, legislative oversight

Summary: The meeting focused on several crucial pieces of legislation, notably Senate Joint Resolution 40, which proposed a constitutional amendment to clarify the powers of the governor, the legislature, and the Supreme Court during emergencies. Senator Birdwell presented the resolution, emphasizing the need for legislative involvement during prolonged crises. It garnered broad support, passing with 29 votes in favor and only 1 against. Following this, Senate Bill 871, considered the enabling legislation, was also moved for discussion, with the aim of reinforcing the legislature's authority during emergencies while establishing clear guidelines for the governor's powers.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was voted and approved twice: first by the student body and then second by the Student Government
• The Claims Act is a set of state statutes that determine whether and when a city or other government
• The Education Code 38.004 mandates schools adopt... Policies addressing sexual abuse.
• Though the bill currently points to a code that's very dispersed, your language in the education code
• Can you provide the Teacher Code of...? ...ethics to the committee for us because I'm not...

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, the original bill used the word form, and so the government does what the government does
• Unfortunately, the original bill used the word form, and so the government does what the government does
• What isn't new is how good governance works.
• What isn't new is how good governance works.
• What isn't new is how good governance works.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Code.
• IN 1962, CONGRESS GRANTED THE CORPS A CONGRESSIONAL CHARTER UNDER TITLE 36 OF THE US CODE.
• Governor McMaster is correct: "The state government is in superior physical shape.
• the New Deal in the midst of the Depression, and they saw the worst of government in Jim Crow.
• IN THE MIDST OF THE DEPRESSION, AND THEY SAW THE WORST OF GOVERNMENT IN JIM CROW.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 2, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:14.799> And the approved state fire code. And the approved state fire code.
• The committee on government relations has already voted. Excuse me. Brief recess.
• Also, government operations was the lead.
• <00:31:43.200> Uh<00:31:43.600> the building code council.
• Uh the building code council.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several public safety and emergency-related measures. SB 3192, on emergency healthcare license waivers, drew support from nursing and healthcare advocates who said automatic emergency licensure during a governor-declared emergency would help avoid delays in bringing qualified clinicians to disaster areas, citing the Lahaina wildfire response. The committee reported 13 supportive testimonies, none in opposition, and one comment. It later recommended passage of SB 3192 with technical non-substantive amendments and a defective effective date, and the recommendation was adopted by vote. SB 2121, requiring ASL interpretation and visible picture-in-picture display during official emergency announcements, received supportive testimony from the Disability and Communications Access Board and the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters. DAP demonstrated why captions alone are not sufficient and why an interpreter on screen improves effective communication. Broadcasters supported the bill’s intent but raised practical concerns about implementation and staffing, suggesting amendments. SB 3239, which would appropriate funds to HMA for bilingual resources and services for residents with limited English proficiency, was supported by legal aid and immigrant-rights advocates who emphasized the need for language access during disasters and noted the large LEP population in Hawaii. After discussion, the chair proposed folding the sign-language and multilingual access concepts into SB 21109, a broader emergency preparedness communications bill, and the committee deferred SB 2121 and SB 3239. The committee also heard SB 2645 on fire prevention and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The fire marshal supported the bill’s provisions to modernize the office, create cross-certified assistant fire marshals, shift inspections to a risk-based schedule, establish the state fire code as the baseline, and create a special fund, but DLNR opposed the section changing the marshal selection process from a council-based appointment to gubernatorial appointment. The chair ultimately recommended passage of the proposed SD2 with blank appropriation amounts and committee-report concerns, and the recommendation was adopted. The committee then passed SB 21109 with amendments, incorporating the deferred sign-language and language-access ideas into the broader emergency communications framework. It also later took up measures from the prior day’s agenda, passing SB 2882, SB 3191, and SB 2339 with amendments, including changes to the state buildings, water safety/drowning prevention, and building code council measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• calculated under United States code calculated under United States code title<00:08:55.240> 10
• That's the code that is pertaining to the U.S.
• title 32 that's the United States code title 32 that's the code<00:29:40.919> that<00:29:41.080
• Code Titles 10 and 32.
• Thank you, Madam Chair. federal government that have some form federal government that have some form

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do a lot of international engagement, IAEA, and we do codes and standards adoption.
• And when codes and standards are developed, the NRC understands how that answer will be done.
• One of them has a government cloud.
• But it supports the government and industry efforts to build that secure, itself.
• So we work on buildings and very sophisticated codes. We call it all together force.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• KCSO issues Code Red alert.
• “Under Chapter 418 of the Government Code, I believe it’s the county judge.”
• But no Code Red was issued, correct?” “But no Code Red was issued, correct?”
• Frank Trill, I'm almost positive it's in the Government Code as far as the succession.
• Frank Trill, I'm almost positive it's in the Government Code as far as the succession.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness and flooding hearing opened with quorum calls, prayer, testimony time limits, and remarks from legislative leaders emphasizing decorum, respect, and the goal of learning from the July 4 flood to prevent future loss of life. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows said the special session and hearings were intended to hear directly from local officials and residents, and that the state would pursue immediate and longer-term legislation and continue working beyond the current session. The committee then heard invited testimony from Kerr County, Kerrville, Kendall County, Real County, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, followed by member questions. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and emergency management coordinator William B. Thomas described the flood as a sudden, unprecedented event that overwhelmed local systems before many officials or residents understood the danger. They said the county received multiple National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts, but the rain fell in remote upstream areas with limited gauges, and the flood rose too quickly for normal response. They detailed the emergency response, including dispatchers handling heavy call volumes, deputies and volunteer firefighters conducting rescues, and state and federal partners assisting. County officials said 108 people died, including 37 children, and two remained missing. They called for better real-time flood detection, stronger rural emergency management resources, improved broadband and cell coverage, and more funding for swift-water rescue and warning systems. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and City Manager Dalton Rice said the city had floodplain rules, emergency plans, and prior preparedness efforts, but the event exposed gaps in communications and regional warning capacity. They urged the Legislature to fund a flood warning system, whether sirens, automated alerts, or a hybrid, and asked for support for predictive weather modeling, broadband expansion, a hazard mitigation fund, and disaster recovery resources. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority said it had long funded gauges and pursued flood-warning and mitigation projects, including a new software-based flood prediction system and possible retention dams, and planned to dedicate reserve funds to feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements. Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said his county’s emergency action plan and early alerts helped prevent deaths there, and he recommended easier access to alerting tools, a river-wide warning system, simpler grant applications, and regional coordination. Real County Judge Bella Rubio said rural counties face major challenges because of limited cell service, broadband, staffing, and funding, especially for camps and visitors along the Frio and Nueces rivers, and argued that reliable alert systems should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury. Members asked about the timeline of the flood, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and funding, and several witnesses said the key lessons were better communications, better warning systems, and more investment in rural flood mitigation and emergency response.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the federal codes on capital gains are really strict.
• That should fall under The um the estates code.
• kind of also in The state's code because we acquired that.
• That's under the estates code, that's not under the family code. I just want to be really careful.
• It is a crime under the penal code.

Bills: HB116

Keywords: film industry, incentives, economic development, state funding, media production

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on the Delivery of Government Efficiency will come to order. The clerk call the roll.
• Senate Bill 438 amends the government code to include both current and former administrative law judges
• This is a resolution that's asking the federal government to move NASA's headquarters from Washington
• self-funded world, but they, uh, they are not governed by either state or, um, federal law.
• It establishes a comprehensive code of ethics, as was mentioned previously.