Transcript Highlights:

• Supported by legislators who are saying, "This was not our intent."
• So there is a place for additional legislation.
• And I again understand your position and your intent.
• I don't want to do too much harm to your intent.
• I see this as just flexing the legislative authority.

Transcript Highlights:

• What can legislators do to help with the shortage? I think listening is a big one.
• I think that when I was in school, that was a while ago, I'm in my 30s now, but the intention was very
• is as you go through the legislative is as you go through the legislative process<00:03:14.959><
• was very much everyone but the intention was very much everyone is<00:03:45.599> expected<00:
• We have 2011 legislators in the state: 100 are Republicans, 101 are Democrats.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's good legislation. I get it. Appreciate that.
• The intent was this was always to make sure we have comments...
• That's not the intent of the bill.
• And Mike Schofield made this point, that this is how you do legislation.
• In most circumstances, there's no criminal intent behind it.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 3709, which would change the partial manual audit process so early voting could be audited by voting location rather than by randomly selected precincts. The author and several supporters said the current precinct-based process is antiquated, labor-intensive, and especially difficult in countywide voting systems and large counties. Opponents and some neutral witnesses raised concerns about whether the change would still allow an apples-to-apples audit against official precinct results, whether random selection procedures should be more clearly defined, and how ballot secrecy and mail ballots would be handled. The Secretary of State’s office said counties already use random selection methods and that the bill would largely standardize early voting audits with election-day procedures, while also noting ballot privacy issues can arise in public records requests. After testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee then took up House Bill 766, as substituted, which would require precinct chair applicants to provide an email address, phone number, or both, while making that contact information confidential. Supporters said the change would help parties and local officials contact applicants more efficiently. Opponents argued it could expose personal contact information to public records requests and harassment, and some suggested the information should instead be handled through party rules. The bill was left pending after the committee substitute was withdrawn. House Bill 3775 followed and would set clearer timelines for when early voting ballot boards may begin opening carrier envelopes, with different start times based on county size. Supporters said the bill would address counties opening ballots too early and improve ballot security, while opponents warned it could delay defect notices and cure opportunities for mail voters and create problems in large counties that process high volumes of ballots. Testimony also focused on whether the bill referred to carrier envelopes or secrecy envelopes and on how counties like Harris County currently image and secure ballot materials. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4275, which would require countywide polling systems to have polling places in each election precinct, intended to address uneven distribution of polling locations across county commissioner precincts. Supporters said the bill would make polling place distribution fairer and more consistent, especially in Harris County, while opponents said it would undermine countywide voting, increase costs, require more equipment and staff, and reduce local flexibility. Several witnesses also raised concerns about ballot secrecy and the practical burden on large and rural counties. The bill remained under discussion as testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• > of intention, generally speaking, of intention, generally speaking, of stripping<00:45:56.880
• their intention anyway. their intention anyway.
• <00:46:40.160> is associations is like nobody's intent is associations is like nobody's intent
• <01:18:43.160> filing generally about you legislators filing generally about you legislators
• <01:23:26.040> and have it They for all intents and have it They for all intents and purposes

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductions and approval of the previous minutes, including a small amendment clarifying a note about “leakage” in a prior presentation. The committee then heard a presentation from Sarah Hall of the American Forest Foundation on the Family Forest Carbon Program, which she described as a voluntary carbon and forest management program for smaller landowners. She said the program provides annual payments and technical assistance, requires a forest management plan within two years, and is designed to support improved forest management while still allowing compatible uses such as recreation, hunting, and some harvesting. Hall emphasized that the program is intended as one tool among many and is not a fit for every property. She said most enrolled landowners did not previously have a forest management plan or work with a forester, and that the program helps bring “unengaged” landowners into active management. She also said the program is compatible with current use and other commitments on a case-by-case basis, and that landowners retain ownership of their land and timber rights while AFF holds the carbon rights for the contract term. She highlighted examples of landowners using the program to support taxes, family ownership, wildlife habitat, timber stand improvement, and continued recreational or business uses. Committee members asked about registry compliance in New Hampshire and the relationship between carbon markets and the program. Hall responded that AFF handles registry administration for landowners and would follow up on the specific registry count raised by a member. She explained that the program is funded through a mix of carbon market revenue, philanthropy, and grants, and that carbon credits are generated through landscape-level methodology and monitored using randomly selected plots compared with FIA data. She also noted that consulting foresters are key partners in the program and that AFF has paid more than $3 million to consultants nationwide.

Transcript Highlights:

• But one... ...if it was intentional, it was well done.
• of legislation has traveled, we've gone back and forth.
• I am speaking as a legislator. Excuse me. I am speaking as a legislator.
• It is time for the legislators to speak.
• Kind of treat them the same way in the same piece of legislation.

Summary: The committee began as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum and heard several privacy- and technology-related measures. The first item was H.R. 117, a resolution urging Congress to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The author and supporters argued the law is outdated and shields platforms from accountability for harms such as harassment, exploitation, scams, and other online abuse. Witnesses, including a survivor parent and a gender justice advocate, described harms to children, women, and LGBTQ people and urged a two-year sunset to force federal reform. Some members supported the resolution as a call for federal action, while one member said he could not support it because the resolution was too general and lacked specificity about the reforms being sought. No vote was taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard SB 898, which would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long they will support the software and to notify consumers when products approach end of life. The author said consumers deserve transparency about security updates and continued functionality, and supporters from Consumer Reports and PIRG emphasized cybersecurity risks, consumer confusion, and electronic waste from unsupported devices. Opponents, including business and industry groups, raised concerns about enforcement through the unfair competition law, notice burdens, labeling issues, and compliance challenges, especially for products with long support windows or third-party dependencies. One member expressed support, noting the cybersecurity risks of end-of-life devices, but again no vote was taken because there was no quorum. The committee also heard SB 435, which would narrow the CCPA definition of publicly available information to limit how businesses classify data as public. The author and supporters said the bill would close a loophole that allows data brokers and others to monetize personal information without meaningful consent and could help prevent surveillance and misuse of data, including by government agencies. Opponents argued the bill would upset the balance between privacy and the free flow of information, create compliance uncertainty, and retroactively reclassify information that businesses reasonably believed was public. Some members said they supported the goal of stronger privacy protections, while others said the bill was too broad. The committee again could not vote due to the lack of a quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 923, which would expand Californians’ right to delete personal information to cover data obtained from third parties and require online businesses to offer a web form or similar method for deletion requests. Supporters, including the California Privacy Protection Agency and consumer advocates, said the bill would make deletion rights meaningful and better address data broker practices. Opponents sought an opt-out-of-processing alternative and raised operational and legal concerns, but supporters said deletion is not the same as retention or processing limits. Members largely spoke in favor of the bill’s privacy goals, but no action was taken. The committee also heard SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would require human review for certain automated employment decisions and limit predictive analysis in workplace discipline and termination. Labor groups supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or erroneous AI-driven decisions, while business, public employer, and local government groups opposed it as overbroad and burdensome. Members voiced support for human oversight in employment decisions, but the item was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1114, the SOGI Data Privacy Act, which would restrict disclosure of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data to federal agencies absent a court order or legal requirement; the author and witness framed it as a response to federal efforts to obtain sensitive LGBTQ-related data.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, tell me if that's not the intent of this, then just say that's not the intent.
• We are ready to partner with any legislators and assist in garnering support for any legislation that
• We are ready to partner with any legislators and assist in garnering support for any legislation that
• We are ready to partner with any legislators and assist in garnering support for any legislation that
• We are ready to partner with any legislators and assist in garnering support for any legislation that

Bills: HF1918, HF2305, HF897, HF2191, HF2617, HF2551, HF2137

Keywords: HF1918, Department of Children Youth and Families, DCYF, child welfare, foster care, out-of-home placement, permanency planning, relative search, noncustodial parent, kinship care, family preservation, African American Child and Family Well-Being, racial disproportionality, maltreatment reporting, educational neglect, truancy, school attendance, Great Start compensation, child care provider payments, TEACH early childhood program

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:24:22.960> where if we have critical legislation where if we have critical legislation
• It's really helpful, especially when you're looking to determine what the intent of the legislation was
• to determine you know what the intent to determine you know what the intent was<00:43:01.640>
• Uh, we do oppose this legislation.
• Is that the intent? That's not my purview, but that is not the intention.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Well, I think that the um the intention >> Well, I think that the um the intention
• to legislate. to legislate.
• this law might differ from our intent this law might differ from our intent when<02:29:05.439>
• scoring uh during a previous legislative scoring uh during a previous legislative session<02:35:
• . legislation. legislation.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This isn't just about today's legislation.
• If that is your intent, I would like to see that.
• But no piece of legislation is perfect.
• Thank you for bringing this legislation forward.
• Using the legislation we passed on the floor that was a package of retail theft legislation, not using

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, very quickly, I know the intentions of this bill are good.
• I know that was not the intention of this bill at all.
• Why then do you need the legislation? Mr.
• Baker, I like the intent of this.
• last legislative committee hearing.

Bills: SB1003, SB1060, SB1134, SB1275, SB1327, SB1429, SB1618, SB1634, SB1654, SB1803, SCR1002, SCR1005, SCR1023, SCR1027

Keywords: election, canvass, certification, ballot tabulation, write-in candidates, registration, voting procedures, voter registration, temporary absence, absentee voting, residency, military voters, overseas voters, election law, Arizona Revised Statutes, political signs, campaign materials, public safety, municipal regulation, veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm not 100% sure this is the intent, or at least my intent, of where we were hoping to go, that,
• If the legislation approaches...
• on some legislation, I think it was on page three.
• on some legislation, I think it was on page three. that they were working on some legislation.
• Committee, I think what we'll do is we'll get it figured out with legislative council and legislative

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee was called to order, a quorum was established, and the minutes from the prior meeting were approved. The first major presentation came from Montana Public Employees Retirement System executive director William Hollahan, who gave an overview of Montana’s Volunteer Firefighters’ Compensation Act plan. He explained that the plan covers volunteer firefighters in unincorporated areas, is funded by 5% of state fire insurance premium taxes, and currently serves 228 departments with about 2,936 active members and 1,242 retirees. He described eligibility rules, annual training and reporting requirements, benefit levels for partial and full pensions, disability, death, medical, and funeral benefits, and said the plan is actuarially sound with roughly $60 million in assets and a funded ratio slightly above 100%. Committee members asked about prior-service credit, whether EMS personnel are included, the effect on recruitment and retention, and whether expanding coverage would require a funding analysis; Hollahan said prior service is not credited, EMS is not currently included, and any expansion would need financial review. Tim Walleen of Workforce Safety and Insurance then presented a draft North Dakota workers’ compensation solution for volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS personnel. He explained that volunteer responders are already covered by workers’ comp for medical and wage-loss benefits, but the proposal would set a minimum annual wage of $30,000 for calculating wage-loss benefits for qualifying volunteers, with the benefit paid at two-thirds of that amount. Representative Porter suggested tying the volunteer definition to existing code rather than a fixed dollar amount, and Walleen agreed. Questions focused on whether search and rescue or other volunteer emergency services could be included, whether departments would face new paperwork, and whether volunteer organizations can already elect coverage; Walleen said there would be no additional paperwork and that volunteer coverage is already available. The committee also heard from volunteer fire service representatives and the state fire marshal. An Oakes-area firefighter, Mr. Olson, testified that small departments are struggling with retention, communication, and administrative burdens, especially around separate bookkeeping and funding rules for donated or fundraising money, and he said departments need clearer guidance from the state. State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark introduced himself and outlined a broader effort to improve education, support, and coordination for fire departments, including a planned 10% audit of certificates of existence beginning in 2027, more outreach through his office, and better assistance with training, reporting, and grant access. He said his office is authorized under current law to provide these services, but the role has been vague and underused. Finally, Arnagard Rural Fire District Chief Rick Schreiber testified in favor of new recruitment and retention ideas, including retirement-style benefits, health insurance, tax incentives, scholarships, grants, and more remote or regional training. He said volunteer departments are losing members, that local tax and donation funds are already stretched, and that any new retirement or incentive program should be sustainable and likely involve a mix of state and local support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Passing this legislation will prevent that.
• legislation um the legislative proposal legislation um the legislative proposal before<00:21:47.600
• <00:36:38.440> because on and put it into legislation because on and put it into legislation
• I want to say thank you for allowing me... 2023 the legislation passed a band on 2023 the legislation
• <00:49:45.599> director Brandon El I am the legislative director Brandon El I am the legislative

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• intent.
• , and it's at least our intent in doing that, that this isn't necessarily changing anything.
• I know courts will do what courts are going to do, but I just wanted to make sure that that legislative
• intent is placed on the record.
• The DOC is requesting $9.1 million from the state's general fund, as well as legislative approval to

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and Committee members, Frankie Menes with the Legislative Analyst Office.
• The bill advanced through the legislative process, but the governor vetoed it, saying, "Hey, you need
• I'm Sonia Piddick with the Legislative Analyst's Office. Good morning, Mr. Rogers.
• I'm Sonia Peddick again from the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Sonya Pettigrew with the Legislative Analyst's Office.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, and is this bill coming back, or I mean your intent is to pass this out tonight?
• of the bill and with the intent of the bill and um<00:13:49.120> having<00:13:49.360> some
• This legislation is specifically written for, and if anybody needs to come to get a permit, this legislation
• This legislation is specifically written for, and if anybody needs to come to get a permit, this legislation
• to uh get a permit this legislation to uh get a permit this legislation works<00:17:59.159> for

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It was clear, I think, even back in 2018, the intent of the legislature and certainly the intent under
• <00:32:12.640> of think, even back in 2018, the intent of think, even back in 2018, the intent
• the legislature and certainly the intent the legislature and certainly the intent under<00:32:15.560
• That's the intent of the law. That's the intent of this body, and that's what we expect to happen.
• So, legislation uh that may affect them.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 KCNA Request for Proposal Process 00:00:01 Overview of KWIC Board and Funding of Kentucky Wired Network Refresh 00:18:10 Zayo Network Services 00:34:40 Discussion of Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Funding 00:57:32, 958, all

Summary: The committee first focused on a disputed KCNA procurement for a statewide network-related RFP. Members questioned why the RFP had been labeled non-technical, whether COT should have reviewed it, and whether the KCNA board could direct that it be withdrawn. Finance and Administration Cabinet counsel Barbie Dickens said the RFP was authorized by KCNA working with procurement services after termination of the prior contract and breach notices, was issued in November 2025, paused during a protest, later resumed, and remained an open procurement. She said the agency—not the board—directs the procurement process, though she acknowledged an agency and OPS could cancel or reissue an RFP if needed. Legislators pushed back, citing KRS 154 and House Bill 314 as evidence that the KCNA board controls contracts and operations, and one member said the board had requested the RFP be withdrawn. Dickens said she could not predict the outcome and was not KCNA’s counsel. The discussion also touched on whether the current director had asked to stop the RFP and whether that request had been denied, with no final action taken during the exchange. The committee then turned to Kentucky Wired Infrastructure Corporation and the Kentucky Wired refresh project. Jim Barnhart described the structure of the nonprofit corporation, the role of Quick and Quack in the financing and operations arrangement, and the board membership, noting that the refresh funding had been approved in the 2024-26 capital budget. He said the equipment upgrade is necessary because of end-of-life hardware and software support issues, and that the refresh would expand capacity, lower risk, and reduce operating costs. Barnhart said some equipment had already been received, the rest would be purchased later, and the project should begin before September and take about a year to complete. When asked about contract disputes involving Ledcor and whether the vendor had an ongoing contract, Barnhart and the authority representative said they had not been notified of any issues and were not directly involved in that contract dispute. Committee members also raised concerns about a prior market test and whether a lower-cost bidder had been blocked from a previous RFP process. Barnhart said he understood Quack could make that decision and that the Commonwealth did not have input so long as the network was maintained, but he was not involved at the time. A legislator then read from the KCNA statute and argued that the board, not agency staff, is supposed to direct KCNA contracts and operations, saying House Bill 314 did not change those duties. The chair agreed the committee’s intent was for the board to control KCNA and direct contracts, and the discussion ended with a transition away from the KCNA dispute toward future testimony, including a presentation from Zayo Networks on open access networks and broadband infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, just a follow-up question: so do you see that what do you see as the intention of this bill?
• Oh, just a follow-up question: so do you see that what do you see as the intention of this bill?
• Oh, just a follow-up question: so do you see that what do you see as the intention of this bill?
• <01:01:59.599> should departments Industries legisl should departments Industries legisl should
• <01:38:44.480> of work so clarification if the intent of work so clarification if the intent

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Who has great legislation? Who has the great idea? Rep.
• That is the way legislation should be. In your willingness to work with people.
• We have great staff that helped us craft this legislation. I'm open for suggestions.
• We agree with the intent of the bill sponsor to make sure people are accountable for violating a pretrial
• So while we agree with the intent of the bill sponsor, we agree with many of you who voiced her concerns

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation places discretion where it belongs, with the sentencing courts, using clear criteria
• But I do think that this is a very good piece of legislation you've brought forward today.
• Except for one—that's what my intent is in this. So concurrently, we should raise a...
• This amendment clarifies the intent of this bill, which deals with gang-related criminal activity.
• That's my intent and understanding of the language.

Bills: S0050, S0052, S0432, S0436, S0524, S0536, S0590, S0676

Keywords: veterans, treatment court, nonviolent felony, probation, mental health, places of worship, house of worship, church, mosque, synagogue, religious security, armed security, volunteer security, private security, security guard licensing, licensure exemption, Florida Statutes chapter 493, Class G license, Class C license, security services

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered several criminal justice bills. SB 50 on Veterans Treatment Courts was amended to clarify that entry into the program requires approval of the state attorney and to make the bill prospective only. Supporters, including veterans advocates and crime survivors, argued the bill would expand access to treatment-focused diversion for veterans with nonviolent charges and service-related trauma. The committee adopted both amendments and reported the bill favorably. SB 52, which creates an exemption from security licensing requirements for unpaid armed volunteers providing security at places of worship, also drew support from law enforcement and faith leaders who said it would clarify a legal gray area for churches; the committee adopted a strike-all amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee then considered SB 436 on felony battery and prison release reoffender enhancements. An amendment was adopted to align felony battery involving injury to law enforcement with the bill’s intent to address the disparity between battery on an officer and resisting with violence. Members discussed concerns about mandatory minimums and the scope of the enhancement, including how it might apply in cases involving older prior offenses or mental health crises, but the bill was ultimately reported favorably. SB 676, which creates graduated penalties for adults who involve minors in animal cruelty offenses and increases penalties for related conduct, was supported by animal welfare advocates and reported favorably and unanimously. Later, the committee approved SB 536 on criminal gang members after adopting an amendment clarifying the definition of gang-related conduct and requiring multiple criteria for gang membership. Members raised concerns about social media, neighborhood association, juvenile application, and overbroad labeling, but the sponsor said the bill was aimed at gang-related criminal activity and recruitment, not innocent association. The committee also reported favorably SB 432 on controlled substances, which adds concentrated 7-OH to Schedule I and creates penalties for xylazine products that resemble candy or food and for trafficking in xylazine; SB 524, an FDLE bill updating duties related to medical examiners, training, and complaint service procedures; and SB 590, which tolls the statute of limitations for failure-to-report child abuse offenses until the crime is known to law enforcement. All of these bills were reported favorably, and the meeting adjourned after a final vote correction was entered for SB 524.

Transcript Highlights:

• of someone due to your intentional of someone due to your intentional reckless<00:03:10.080>
• You know, this is kind of an atypical legislative session.
• At the same time, we don't have a nearly tied legislative session.
• You know, this is kind of an atypical legislative session.
• I'm nearly tied uh legislative session.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all