Transcript Highlights:

• NOT ONLY FOR THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS BUT ALSO FOR EVAN AND US.
• THE STUDENTS WHO INTERACTED WITH THE EVAN LEARNED VALUABLE LESSONS THAT PREPARE THEM FOR THEIR FUTURE
• LEARN AN EARLY AGE HOW TO INTERACT WITH OTHER STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES BY TEACHING THEM NOT TO BE
• YES, I BELIEVE THE PARENTS WOULD BE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. >> Sen.
• WAS NOT OPEN-MINDED LISTENING TO THE PARENTS AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE STUDENTS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, these investment fees need to be reasonable and meet the nexus test, the constitutional test.
• Again, these investment fees need to be reasonable and meet the nexus test, the constitutional test.
• No, duplexes will bring in student housing.
• No, duplexes will bring in student housing.
• <03:41:44.640> going the fact that no college students going the fact that no college students

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• associations they do a lot of testing associations they do a lot of testing they'll<00:43:51.319
• associations um perform a lot of testing associations um perform a lot of testing free<00:53:23.400
• , the Candidate Physical Agility Test.
• <03:46:13.520> every department we'll have 25 student every department we'll have 25 student
• state and this year I have 25 students state and this year I have 25 students and<03:46:23.040><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 187, which would allow parents or guardians to seek restraining orders on behalf of a minor child even when the alleged perpetrator is not a family or household member. Tracy Sirles testified that the bill was prompted by her family’s experience after being told by state police to seek a restraining order, only to learn the current law did not allow it because the offender was the child’s best friend’s father. Members agreed the change was straightforward, noted the fiscal note reflected only a small indeterminate cost to the judicial branch, and moved House Bill 187 ought to pass; the motion was approved unanimously. The committee then discussed House Bill 66, a Right-to-Know bill that removes “citizen” language in favor of “person” in some provisions and allows certain New Hampshire-connected requesters to seek records electronically if the records already exist in that format. Members reviewed concerns about defining “member of the media,” the scope of electronic requests, and a sentence stating appeals would have no filing fee or search charge. After debate, the committee voted to amend the bill by removing that fee-waiver sentence, then recommended House Bill 66 ought to pass as amended. The vote was 6-3. Next, the committee heard from the Environment and Agriculture chair about several solid-waste-related bills being folded into trailer bill language, including House Bill 215 and House Bill 171, with discussion of a possible three-year landfill moratorium and the need to address DEES staffing and funding concerns. DEES later clarified that the revised approach would not require new positions or create a fiscal impact because the new solid waste commission would be self-funded through filing fees. The committee voted unanimously to retain House Bill 215. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 566, which requires landfill permit applications to include a detailed leachate management plan and more information about disposal contracts. The sponsor said the bill was developed with DEES to address leachate problems and improve safety oversight. DEES testified that the bill largely reflects current practice and would have no specific fiscal impact, with existing staff able to absorb any review workload. The committee moved House Bill 566 ought to pass, and the motion was approved unanimously. The committee also briefly discussed House Bill 624, a grant program for local river management advisory committees, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to be talking about non-traditional students.
• The students and the students and the students and the... We're here for the students.
• student?
• I was once tested for patience, and I tested negative. All right.
• And now as a student, that's fantastic.

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And along with that, can you tell us how many students have you served leading up to today?
• And along with that, can you tell us how many students have you served leading up to today?
• Chair and members, as far as the number of students that have participated, last year we had 15, and
• Senator Muhammad, who are you focused on in terms of when you're recruiting these students?
• <00:09:48.680> that<00:09:48.800> have number of students that have number of students

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to make sure that we're doing some stress testing on these different programs.
• Supports for low income students.
• Title 4A student supports of $10 million.
• receive or where the state does not receive reimbursement for those students.
• That definition at-risk students include low-income students, English learners, Native American students

Transcript Highlights:

• We also learned in a social media monitoring study among college students that online distress can be
• Our team unexpectedly identified a student expressing suicidal thoughts on X.
• We tried to connect the student to psychological services at the university, but encountered barriers
• They discussed HIV prevention and testing, knowledge, stigma, advocacy, MSM culture.
• a home-based HIV self-testing kit, and adjusted odds of 11.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing on the impact of social media on LGBTQ+ youth, focusing on benefits, risks, and possible safeguards. Chair members framed the discussion around the tension between protecting young people from addictive design, harassment, hate speech, exploitation, and mental health harms while preserving access to affirming resources, community, and crisis support that many LGBTQ+ youth rely on online. Members emphasized that the hearing was meant to inform future policy rather than relitigate prior bills, and several members of the LGBTQ+ Caucus attended or participated. The first panel featured lived experience and advocacy testimony from Madi Roby of Alliance for Trans Youth Rights, Shea Gardner of LGBT Tech, and Casey Pick of the Trevor Project. Roby described social media as essential to exploring identity, finding trans language and safety information, and connecting to Trevor Project resources during a family crisis, while also acknowledging online hate and bullying. Gardner argued that lawmakers should regulate harms more precisely rather than impose broad age-based exclusions, warning that account bans and age-gating could cut off access to community, privacy-protective pseudonymity, and crisis resources. Pick testified that LGBTQ+ youth are more likely than peers to attempt suicide, that social media can be both a lifeline and a risk, and that Trevor Space and other moderated online spaces can improve mental health and reduce isolation; she also cautioned against policies that would push youth into less visible, less moderated spaces. Committee members questioned the witnesses about algorithmic feeds, addictive design, age verification, and whether platforms should be required to do more to protect youth. Several lawmakers distinguished between personalized feeds and addictive features such as infinite scroll and autoplay, and asked for more targeted prescriptions. Witnesses generally supported stronger privacy protections, limits on data collection and use, better reporting and moderation tools, digital literacy, and design changes that reduce harmful engagement patterns without eliminating access to community. The discussion also touched on the loss of LGBTQ-specific 988 services at the national level and the importance of maintaining alternative support pathways. The second panel presented research from Common Sense Media, UC Irvine, Hope Lab, and LGBTQ+ Health Australia. Researchers reported that LGBTQ+ youth often arrive online with higher depressive symptoms and limited in-person support, encounter homophobic and transphobic content at high rates, and may self-censor because of fear of harassment. At the same time, many said social media helps them feel less alone and find affirmation. Dr. Sean Young emphasized a harm-reduction approach, noting that online environments can be designed to support health and that policymakers should measure whether restrictions actually reduce harm or simply displace it. Dr. Amy Green echoed that social media is both harmful and supportive for LGBTQ+ youth, underscoring that the policy goal should be to make youth safer rather than less visible online.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now what happens now in the state of Texas, we fund about $12,000 for every student.
• And I'm curious, was this program ever designed to be providing housing for college students?
• By the bedroom to students.
• Representative Cole: Well, what type of means testing would you suggest?
• You're just against them if they aren't what, means tested?

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: HB 21, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem tax, property tax, delinquent taxes, tax delinquency, penalty reduction, interest rate, split payment, installment payment, tax relief, county tax collector, taxing unit, property owner, tax collection, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax increase election, supermajority, 60 percent threshold

Transcript Highlights:

• In my background in cyber sandboxes is where you test stuff under control before you release it.
• So students who are using AI or something, Their research for them.
• We stood up some solutions to test them out.
• Glad we tested it quick before we went in deep, but we had to shut some of those things down.
• Glad we tested it quick before we went in deep, but we had to shut some of those things down.

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, establishing its purpose as a study and policy-development body rather than one aimed at producing many bills. Majority Leader Hogue urged members to move quickly, focus on federal and other states’ AI laws, consider possible federal preemption, child protections, and the siting and economic impacts of data centers. Committee leadership echoed that the goal is practical, balanced governance that protects North Dakota while allowing innovation to continue. Legislative Council staff provided a background memo and NCSL presented a detailed overview of AI concepts and the current state legislative landscape. The presentations distinguished narrow AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and theoretical AGI/ASI, and summarized major state policy themes: comprehensive AI laws in states such as Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois; targeted laws on deepfakes, chatbots, health, education, notifications, and digital likeness; and growing use of appropriations and agency inventories. Members asked about Colorado’s repeal and reenactment, Texas’s sandbox and training provisions, oversight structures, and whether AI regulation is bipartisan; presenters said most issues cut across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfakes but more division on broader regulatory approaches. The federal update focused on executive orders, preemption, and congressional activity. NCSL described a White House framework favoring a single federal standard, a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department review of state laws, and possible funding conditions tied to state AI policy, though no formal state-law challenge had yet occurred. The presentation also covered a recent executive order creating a voluntary federal vetting process for advanced frontier models after safety concerns, and congressional proposals including a failed 10-year state moratorium, Senator Blackburn’s child-safety bills, the Kids Online Safety Act, a House-passed children’s digital safety package, a Senate data center moratorium proposal, and a House ratepayer/data-center bill. The committee took no formal action beyond receiving testimony and asking questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• My contention is that the students who take the voucher program, their demonstrated test scores, as documented
• My contention is is that the students My contention is is that the students who<02:32:58.640>
• > that<02:50:25.120> accepts<02:50:25.520> an student that accepts an student that
• c> uh<03:51:08.479> education So the student centered uh education So the student centered
• remains a personal choice for students remains a personal choice for students and<06:51:45.360><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And as the student said earlier today, free speech belongs to everyone.
• And as the student said earlier today, free speech belongs to everyone.
• and students killing their teachers.
• My students read widely and mostly above grade level.
• High school students do have First Amendment rights.

Bills: SB2101, SB2334, SB2633, SB2637, SB2713, SB2781, SB2782, SB3059, HB 1130

Keywords: minors, sexually explicit materials, public libraries, age verification, civil penalties, library collection review, alcohol storage, airline permits, beverage regulations, airport, commercial flights, alcoholic beverages, local option election, zoning regulations, municipality control, land use, state law, social media, bot accounts, misinformation

Summary: The committee first reopened public testimony on Senate Bill 2713, which concerned protections for freedom of conscience in the context of Realtor association discipline. Texas Realtors representatives testified that their organization is a separate Texas legal entity but affiliated with the National Association of Realtors through a charter and code of ethics. They said Texas Realtors is neutral on SB 2713, that their ethics process is focused on fair housing and equal professional service, and that they have not suspended or terminated anyone in Texas for religious or political speech. Senators pressed them on whether national standards could override Texas law and on examples from other states; the witnesses said state and federal law control and that they would comply with Texas law if the bill passed. Public testimony then closed and SB 2713 was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1698 on e-cigarettes. Senator Parker explained a committee substitute that tightened enforcement, required distributor registration, expanded regulation to nicotine from any source, added restrictions on child-appealing packaging, authorized inspections and audits, and set compliance deadlines later in 2025 and 2026. After questions, the substitute was adopted and SB 1698, as substituted, was reported favorably to the full Senate on a 6-0 vote, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 2487 on crisis and mental health facilities. Senator Parker described a substitute that renamed the program a crisis service model, allowed multiple county facilities, added local siting limits, expanded staffing options, shortened clinical timelines, required discharge referrals, directed law enforcement and EMS to transport people there first, and created local boards and expanded reporting. The substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably on a 6-0 vote, also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2819, dealing with political activities of county elections administrators, was then reported favorably on a 6-0 vote and likewise sent to the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2043 was withdrawn. The committee spent substantial time on Senate Bill 2101, which would require municipal public libraries to move sexually explicit materials out of minors’ sections and impose age-verification and review requirements. Supporters argued the bill would protect children from explicit material in public libraries and that libraries should not be left to self-regulate. Opponents, including librarians, parents, authors, and ACLU representatives, argued the definitions were vague, the bill would be costly and burdensome for small libraries, could function as a book ban, and would restrict teens’ access to classics, research materials, and other books. Several witnesses said parents should make those decisions, not the state. The bill’s author said the committee substitute was still being worked on and asked witnesses to review it; public testimony remained open in the portion provided, with no final action on SB 2101 shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• , would include the cost of water testing, would include the cost of water testing, um<01:28:25.600
• more than the annual change in student more than the annual change in student population<01:47:42.960
• Where is the protection for our students?
• just as good um test scores as we do. just as good um test scores as we do. Right?
• Less students, more money. spending. Less students, more money.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met on October 30 to act on a series of House bills that had been moved during the budget process and, in many cases, were already addressed in the state budget. The chair explained that bills covered by the budget would generally be reported inexpedient to legislate, while some others would be placed on the consent calendar or handled separately. Early votes were largely unanimous, including House Bill 54, which would allow alternate treatment centers to operate for profit; the committee voted 25-0 ought to pass and sent it to the consent calendar. The committee then recommended inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 97, a wastewater and infrastructure appropriation bill, because the funding had been replaced in House Bill 2 with $2.5 million in each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Representative Rum opposed the ITL motion, arguing the projects would otherwise burden local property taxpayers and that the funding was important for housing and municipal infrastructure, but the motion passed 14-11. House Bill 111, dealing with the right-to-know ombudsman, was also reported ITL 14-11 on the grounds that the budget already made significant reforms and separate action could create conflicting statutory language. House Bill 164, creating funding for a local government records manager position in the Secretary of State’s office, received a unanimous amendment appropriating $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 and then passed 25-0 ought to pass as amended, moving to the regular calendar. House Bill 197, the Property Tax Relief Act, drew extended debate over whether restoring a state contribution to retirement system costs would reduce local property taxes; supporters framed it as tax relief for municipalities and school districts, while opponents said the effect would be minimal or offset by other retirement-system changes. The committee ultimately voted 14-11 ITL, with a minority report requested. House Bill 215, requiring landfill permit applicants to submit a report on potential harms and benefits, was amended and then passed 25-0 ought to pass as amended. House Bill 216, which would remove a workers’ compensation-related service-credit limit for certain disability retirement cases, was voted ITL 25-0 after the sponsor said the fiscal impact was too uncertain. Finally, House Bill 219, which would redirect renewable portfolio standard funds and was amended to delay its effective date to July 1, 2027, advanced after debate over electricity costs and renewable energy policy; the committee adopted the amendment unanimously and then voted on the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• . students. students.
• To improve the test scores of the students? Nope. To increase class size? Nope.
• To improve the test scores<02:37:09.520> of<02:37:09.680> the<02:37:09.920> students
• opportunities enrich students learning. opportunities enrich students learning.
• educational interest of their students. educational interest of their students.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• waterways here in the state were tested waterways here in the state were tested in<00:53:38.960>
• Thank you to all the students and faculty that came out to testify.
• Students that were part-time, students that were full-time, students of different ages.
• You had your traditional students and then students that had come back after serving in the military
• We're adding two members, one for the faculty, one from the students. So I encourage a yes vote.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the February 11, 2026 journal, and received committee reports. Judiciary reported Senate Bills 84, 11, 15, and 37 favorably with amendments or referrals, while SB 73 was postponed indefinitely; Transportation and Energy reported Senate Resolution 001 for final action. The chamber also took up a personal privilege recognizing the PBLO leadership program and its 2026 class, and later honored former state senator John Kafalas. The Senate adopted Senate Joint Resolution 11, designating a portion of US Highway 34 as the Sergeant John Jack Thurman Memorial Highway. The resolution, read at length, detailed Thurman’s World War II service at Iwo Jima and his later civic contributions. The resolution passed 34-0 with one excused, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. On third reading, Senate Bill 19, concerning local early childhood infrastructure and expanding the role of early childhood councils, passed 31-3 with one excused. On second reading, Senate Bill 74, addressing the penalty for excessive claims in public construction performance bond disputes, was explained as aligning public and private project treatment and passed the Committee of the Whole, then the Senate, and was ordered engrossed for third reading. Senate Bill 16, prohibiting discharge of pre-production plastic materials, drew debate over environmental harms, existing law, enforcement, penalties, and impacts on industry; several amendments were adopted, including clarifying definitions and a legislative declaration, and the bill ultimately passed second reading 23-11 with one excused. Senate Bill 34, expanding participation by members of the Auraria Board of Directors advisory committees, also passed second reading after an amendment correcting the committee report; supporters cited broader representation for faculty and students, while opponents warned of politicizing the board.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our clients are primarily students of color and students with disabilities.
• Students with disabilities.
• Immigrant students, students with disabilities, and English learner students do still, at least right
• students.
• So students have no idea.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a very full public hearing on the first Education Committee hearing of the session, with testimony taken on a large slate of bills, especially H. 650/S. 436 and related measures. The chairs explained the hearing rules, including two-minute testimony limits, live streaming, written testimony, and accommodations for interpreters and disabilities. The committee first heard extensive testimony on H. 460/S. 436 and later H. 650/S. 436, bills to affirm and maintain equal access to public education for all children, including immigrant students, English learners, and students with disabilities. Witnesses included parents, advocates, educators, attorneys, and state officials, many of whom described fears caused by federal policy changes and argued that Massachusetts should codify protections for school enrollment, special education, interpreter services, and due process in discipline cases. The Attorney General’s office, Mass Advocates for Children, Lawyers for Civil Rights, MIRA, the Children’s Law Center, the Disability Law/advocacy community, and others all urged favorable action, while committee members asked questions about Plyler v. Doe, manifestation determinations, interpreter qualifications, and how the bill would mirror or preserve existing federal protections at the state level. The committee also heard testimony on H. 702/S. 460, establishing an elementary and secondary school robotics grant program, which was supported as a way to expand STEM opportunities and help schools fund robotics programs. Representative Sweeney also testified on H. 713, a bill to support student participation in 4-H programming by allowing excused absences similar to those for athletics and other sanctioned activities; members noted bipartisan support and the bill’s long history. The hearing then moved to H. 543/S. 417, a recess bill requiring at least 30 minutes of free-play recess for K-8 students. Supporters included the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the League of Women Voters, educators, and parents, who emphasized recess as important for physical health, social-emotional development, attention, and academic performance, and noted that unequal local policies create disparities across districts. Several witnesses also tied recess to broader concerns about student well-being and screen time. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee simply received testimony and closed testimony on the bills as it moved through the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:43.600> So refunds are mostly income tested. So refunds are mostly income tested.
• , but it does move this students sendex, but it does move this policy<00:29:34.720> from<00:29
• prop tax refund is income tested. prop tax refund is income tested. there's<00:30:25.840> a
• <01:06:58.000> as sales tax on families and students as sales tax on families and students
• <01:09:18.159> K12 supplies with the income tested K12 supplies with the income tested K12

Bills: HF331, HF916

Keywords: school supplies, sales tax exemption, use tax, sales and use tax, back-to-school, classroom supplies, education tax relief, tax holiday, retail exemption, Minnesota sales tax, school materials, binders, calculators, notebooks, pencils, backpacks, book bags, local tax revenue, taxable sales base, income tax

Transcript Highlights:

• primary duties will be to award grants to attract, create, or expand research capabilities of eligible students
• approaches being developed by our Center for Alzheimer's, which I mentioned, are poised for initial testing
• Our approach is to advance early diagnosis through blood tests for dementia-causing diseases.
• "Wonder Woman," as her husband, Oak de Burgh, calls her, still teaches our medical students for an hour
• In particular, we develop and test innovative models of health care delivery using randomized clinical

Bills: SB5, SJR3, SB 5, SJR 3

Keywords: dementia, research institute, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, funding, grants, state health initiatives, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, district apportionment, legislative rules

Transcript Highlights:

• The thing that they wouldn't have to do is pay the testing fee, so the state still would get the money
• or heard at that meeting was that if you're an athletic trainer and let's say to college and your students
• or heard at that meeting was that if you're an athletic trainer and let's say to college and your students
• not change the scope of practice of athletic training and that we must still whether it while our student
• So on behalf of athletic trainers, my students, our patients, and the health care teams here in the state

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• certain medical professionals are authorized to withdraw blood in the performance of a chemical blood test
• Formerly a fourth grade teacher, Kirtland Elementary is dedicated to her students. students in her community
• The school, which serves a majority Navajo student population, is on the outskirts of the Navajo Nation
• Where Billy actively seeks innovative ways to captivate her students.
• Manipulative learning provides a strong foundation for students while allowing them to build and expand

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1704, ESA student disabilities requirements.
• SB 1706, full-day kindergarten students ADM.
• Student elections. SB 1786, artificial talent content verification. Student elections.
• Student elections. SB 1797, central drugs price and lease limits.
• Student elections. SB 1803, veterans benefits claims prohibition.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and approval of the prior journal. Members then recognized several guest groups in the gallery, including the Arizona Dental Hygienists Association, deaf and hard-of-hearing advocacy organizations, the Arizona Society of Anesthesiologists, the Doctor of the Day, and Native vote advocates. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for two DPS officers killed earlier that morning. A long list of bills was introduced and read for first reading, with many measures covering education, elections, health, public safety, tribal affairs, housing, taxation, and government administration. The Senate also received committee referrals and standing committee reports. In Committee of the Whole, SB 1425, relating to elections and July primary cure provisions, was considered, amended, and recommended do pass. The Senate adopted the committee report and then substituted HB 2022 for SB 1425 because the bills were identical. HB 2022 was then read on third reading and passed with the emergency clause by a vote of 27 ayes, 1 no, and 2 not voting. Supporters said the bill was a bipartisan effort to move the primary earlier, improve ballot return timing, and require observers in every county; one senator cited tribal voting challenges and provisional ballot rejection rates as reasons for supporting the measure, while another voted no over concerns about the emergency clause. The Senate also adopted proclamations recognizing Taekwondo Day in Arizona and American Heart Month 2026, then recessed and later reconvened to introduce additional bills, announce upcoming committee meetings, and adjourn until February 9, 2026.