Transcript Highlights:

• And my primary witness could not be here, unfortunately, Madam Chair.
• Closing remarks? Yes. I want to thank. Any wrap-up? Closing remarks? Yes.
• I’ll adopt that as my closing. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
• Would you like to close? Just respectfully ask for your aye vote. Would you like to close?
• I'll have been closed. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to close. Yes, sir.
• And in closing, I think our vets are worth half a million dollars. Okay.
• This thing was created behind closed doors. We weren't even here when it was tasked out.
• Anything you'd like to close, or have you already closed?
• Yes, close to the original fiscal note.

Bills: HB165 , HB175 , HB198 , HB272 , HB457 , HB488 , HB566 , HB603 , HB763 , HB902 , HB909 , HB971 , HB981 , HB1066 , HB1125 , HB1154 , HB1231

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: HB165, lottery proceeds, Lottery Proceeds Fund, Veterans Service Grant Fund, constitutional amendment, veterans, military veterans, veterans' benefits, veterans services, family support, state lottery, education funding, Minimum Foundation Program, problem gambling, compulsive gaming, state treasurer, ballot proposition, constitutional referendum, lottery revenue, Louisiana resident veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• I think he just won the California primary. It was quite the news at the time.
• So in closing, as this committee continues It's important work.
• We would work very closely with you to make sure that we do that.
• So your primary response to something like that?
• Dillon close us out. Yes, sir. Um, well, my name is Dillon cider.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:43.000><c> care</c> family practice or primary care family practice or primary care physicians
• So the more practitioners in all of our professions, from vets to dentistry to primary care, we need
• You know, the primary driver of this is, would be, a dental practitioner that would be working for a
• uh the uh primary feature of that<00:29:37.480><c> Park</c><00:29:38.279><c> uh</c><00:29:38.480><c>
• comments thank you then I have closing comments thank you Mr<01:15:35.320><c> chair</c><01:15:36.000

Bills: HF1833 , HF148 , HF1127 , HF1227 , HF1681 , HF1974 , HF1106 , HF1016 , HF2197

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: sales tax, education funding, construction, Aitkin Public Schools, tax exemption, refundable credit, HF148, use of force training, deadly force, peace officer training, police training, law enforcement, POST Board, Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, scenario-based training, de-escalation, defensive tactics, force-on-force training, stress management, officer wellness

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to get this as close to right as we can, and this is no shade on the administration.
• Right now, our primary focus is to reach the... And be strategic.
• Right now, our primary focus is to reach the federal funding account grant awardees.
• It’s a different team, but very closely related to who are looking at bias and how we measure that.
• So, like pre-written software, many of these products have close analogs that already are subject to

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals from the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Government Operations Agency, the Department of Technology, and the Franchise Tax Board, with public comment to come later and all items held open. CDFA presented funding for the animal care program implementing Proposition 12, including a one-time $5.2 million General Fund transfer to the Ag Fund and $2.8 million ongoing, and the LAO recommended approval while noting the Legislature should revisit the funding once litigation and federal preemption questions are resolved. CDFA also proposed ending state oversight of industrial hemp and moving to the federal USDA program by January 1, 2028, with an $8.3 million General Fund transfer to cover startup and transition costs; the LAO supported the transition. Additional CDFA items included $204,000 ongoing and one position to preserve agricultural statistics reporting after USDA reorganization, and trailer bill changes to clarify the department’s 5% indirect cost cap; both drew no objections from Finance or LAO. The Government Operations Agency and Cradle to Career items focused on implementing the new federal Workforce Pell program. Finance described trailer bill language establishing state eligibility processes, with the California Student Aid Commission as the authorizing entity in consultation with the Workforce Development Board, and proposed $1.3 million one-time General Fund for Cradle to Career to build data linkages. The LAO urged caution because federal rules were just finalized and said more information was needed on workload, costs, and whether existing data systems could support the work. Senators raised policy concerns about limiting the program to public institutions and about aligning the proposal with broader workforce and labor goals. The committee also briefly discussed SB 53/Cal Compute, with GovOps saying no appropriation had been provided for its consortium work, and Finance saying the administration was not proposing funding at this time. The Department of Technology presented a $30 million operational backstop for the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, intended to cover any shortfall if expected revenues from the Golden State Net third-party administrator do not materialize in time. The LAO initially recommended rejection over broad spending authority, then suggested amendments with stronger reporting and legislative review; committee members questioned the revenue assumptions, oversight, and whether the request could recur. CDT also sought $1 million for Poppy, the state’s GenAI digital assistant, to expand secure statewide use; the LAO had no concerns, and members asked about data security, model bias, training restrictions, and possible local-government use. Finally, FTB proposed realigning CalFile resources after the federal Direct File program was discontinued, retaining three ongoing positions and returning the rest of the funding and positions to the General Fund; the LAO said the reduced scope was reasonable, and members discussed keeping the free filing system user-friendly and ready for future federal changes. The committee also heard the administration’s digital pre-written software tax proposal, which would extend sales tax to electronically delivered software and SaaS beginning January 1, 2027, generating an estimated $450 million General Fund in 2026-27 and $900 million ongoing, plus local revenue. The LAO supported modernizing the tax base but recommended broadening the proposal to include more digital products while considering a business-use exemption or reduced rate, and flagged a newly added video game exemption as a revenue downside. Senators generally supported the goal of raising revenue and aligning California with other states, but questioned the local revenue distribution and equity effects, and one senator said they would not support expanding the tax to books, music streaming, and similar consumer products. All items were left open without votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have many founding fathers, but America only has one primary founding father who is the only person
• As a chairman of select committee of Homeland Security, who works closely with GOSEP, Rep.
• Well, I work with them closely. I serve on local municipal.
• I'm joined today by two of my close friends, particularly. So Mr. Jacob and Mr. Jacob and Ms.
• Jacqueline Diedon are close friends, particularly. Ms.

Bills: HB9 , HB10 , HB16 , HB44 , HB46 , HB61 , HB101 , HB126 , HB153 , HB164 , HB233 , HB242 , HB436 , HB455 , HB571 , HB594

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: HB 9, HB9, Act 527, Shreveport, Stuffed Shrimp Capital, state symbol, Louisiana symbols, municipal designation, honorary title, cultural designation, tourism, local pride, seafood, shrimp, stuffed shrimp, cuisine, city branding, Louisiana Revised Statutes 49:170.26, legal holiday, Acadia Parish

Transcript Highlights:

• Passing this bill will ensure that our schools remain dedicated to their primary purpose: providing a
• Passing this bill will ensure that our schools remain dedicated to their primary purpose: providing a
• Passing this bill will ensure that our schools remain dedicated to their primary purpose: providing a
• Passing this bill will ensure that our schools remain dedicated to their primary purpose: providing a
• This is a division vote. nation for our presidential primary but nation for our presidential primary

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We work very closely with our Office of Inspector General.
• We work closely with our CMS partners, with our HHS OIG partners.
• We work closely with our CMS partners, with our HHS OIG partners.
• We work closely with our CMS partners, with our HHS OIG partners.
• </c><00:37:43.800><c> Care</c> anywhere from Physicians to Primary Care anywhere from Physicians to Primary

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to review the Department for Medicaid Services’ program integrity work. Commissioner Lisa Lee and Program Integrity Director Jennifer Dudinsky outlined Kentucky Medicaid’s structure, funding, enrollment, and spending, including FMAP rates, the size of the Medicaid and KCHIP populations, the number of providers, and 2024 expenditures. They also described the managed care and fee-for-service populations, noting that managed care serves most members while fee-for-service is concentrated in long-term care and waiver populations. Most of the discussion focused on fraud, waste, abuse prevention, and provider oversight. The department described its provider enrollment and certification checks, revalidation requirements, site reviews, fingerprinting for some high-risk providers, and termination grounds such as false application information, Medicare actions, unreported ownership changes, and abandonment of a provider number. Members asked about nonprofit ownership reporting, MCO fraud oversight, and how the department tracks unusual CPT code utilization, especially in behavioral health. The department said it uses data analytics, audits, policy review, and collaboration with behavioral health staff to monitor those trends. Dudinsky explained the division’s four branches: provider licensing and certification, audits and compliance, recovery, and third-party liability/estate recovery. She described prepayment and postpayment audits, referrals of credible fraud allegations to the Attorney General, monthly meetings with the AG’s office, and coordination with the Office of Inspector General, CMS, HHS OIG, MCOs, and other partners. She also explained payment suspensions, stand-downs during law enforcement investigations, and recovery efforts for overpayments, provider/member fraud, and third-party liability. The department said its recovery and avoidance efforts produced more than $251 million in savings so far in 2025. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• We closed 10 or 12 during that period of time.
• It was a good debate back and forth with all of the primary stakeholders.
• </c><00:46:23.119><c> uh</c> uh all of the uh the primary uh uh all of the uh the primary uh stakeholders
• So, uh, with that, I'm going to close the public hearing on House Bill 696.
• </c> and I know that one of our primary and I know that one of our primary investment<01:19:37.920><c

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I also, in closing here, Mr.
• We would have more primary care, at least trying to stay in practice, specifically in our... ...primary
• It's because nobody will accept new patients who works in primary care because we don't have enough primary
• I've been working really closely with them.
• I've been working really closely with them.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2681 , SB5467 , SB5820 , SB5863 , SB5892 , SCR8406 , HB2487 , HB2711 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB6278

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• “Yes, they would be the primary responding officer.”
• With that, I'm going to close the hearing on HB 153.
• <01:26:20.560><c> the</c> close the close the hearing<01:26:22.920><c> seeing</c><01:26:23.360><c> none
• I'm going to close the hearing on uh I'm going to close the hearing on uh hb13<01:26:50.080><c> and</
• We license about close to 7,000 dogs every year.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 153, which would require two or more law enforcement officers in each county to receive animal cruelty training through the police standards system. Representative Barbara Coma, the sponsor, said the bill was prompted by problems in animal cruelty cases, especially in rural areas without animal control officers, and she described it as a limited training measure. She said an amendment was forthcoming that would add an eight-hour approved course and a two-hour refresher every three years, and she emphasized that the trained officers would serve as resources rather than being required to take action themselves. Members asked about cost, due process, overlap with animal control officers, how trained officers would be identified and notified, and whether veterinarians could fill the role. Coma responded that the bill would not be a heavy financial lift, would not interfere with animal control officers, would apply to livestock as well as companion animals, and would still require law enforcement involvement because veterinarians cannot lawfully remove animals from property. She also said the training could improve due process by helping officers better understand when animal removal is appropriate and how cases should proceed. Sheriff William Wright, speaking for the New Hampshire Sheriffs Association, testified in opposition. He said training itself was acceptable, but the bill went beyond training by creating an obligation for sheriffs and state police to respond to and potentially investigate animal cruelty cases, which he argued would be ambiguous, unfunded, and burdensome for staffing and resources. He said some sheriff’s offices do not have investigative deputies and that the bill could create liability and uncertainty about who would lead investigations. In response to questions, he said the association would likely have no objection if the bill were limited to training, but it opposed the assistance/investigation mandate as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since the passage of AB 988, California call centers have closed, in part because they did not have the
• At the same time, the Lifeline’s primary revenue stream was reduced drastically without consulting us
• San Joaquin County has worked closely with our 988 representatives to establish referral pathways into
• San Joaquin County has worked closely with our 988 representatives to establish referral pathways into
• In closing, San Joaquin County believes the combination of 988, the mobile crisis Medi-Cal benefit, and

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chamber foundation's primary focus is conducting research on the performance of Minnesota's economy
• The chamber foundation's primary focus is conducting research on the performance of Minnesota's economy
• The chamber foundation's primary focus is conducting research on the performance of Minnesota's economy
• </c><00:09:11.519><c> to</c><00:09:11.800><c> Economic</c> relate most closely to Economic relate most
• </c><00:10:50.760><c> to</c> days with the average being close to days with the average being close to

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The changes are the result of three primary drivers.
• One notable exception was that pharmacy, the cost of the drugs, was the primary growth.
• One notable exception was that pharmacy, the cost of the drugs, was the primary growth.
• What HR1 did is codify, I guess, closing that loophole, you would say, for that statistical test.
• </c> and what HR1 did is codify um closing and what HR1 did is codify um closing that<01:16:41.199><c

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm going to go ahead and close the hearing on HB 2559.
• I'm looking at the definition a little more closely.
• So we're going to go ahead and close the hearing on HB 2133.
• This is my primary income now.
• It's my primary income.

Bills: HB2559 , HB2135 , HB2133 , HB2442

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: affordable housing, local government funding, housing programs, community development, financial assistance, adaptive housing, disabled veterans, tax preferences, housing affordability, retail sales tax, property tax, senior citizens, tax exemption, permanent legislation, local government, tax authority, sales tax, use tax, real estate excise tax, REET

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, the primary purpose of the NRC is to ensure that there's no harm to the public.
• And I will say in closing, we still haven't solved some of the nuclear waste issues.
• If not, we'll close public testimony and leave the bill pending.
• If not, we'll close post. The testimony leaves the bill pending. Thank you, Senator.
• Public testimony is closed. We will leave Senate Bill 2717 pending. Senator Milton.

Bills: SB1468 , SB1612 , SB1789 , SB2530 , SB2571 , SB2717 , SB2967

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: utility systems, Texas A&M, regents authority, construction, improvement, construction contracts, trust funds, property rights, mechanics lien, contractors, trustee liability, mechanic's lien, liability, attorney's fees, windstorm insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, insurance regulation, administrative penalties, coastal counties, catastrophe year

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> insurance and some help with primary insurance and some help with primary care.<00:44:41.760><c>
• So those would be, I believe, we just did that in our closing section.
• So those would be, I believe, we just did that in our closing section. Yeah.
• enough or not have been maybe close enough or not close<02:08:03.040><c> enough.
• And that's what happened close enough. And that's what happened last<02:08:04.719><c> week.

Bills: HB2488 , HB2456

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Keywords: disability, communication access, deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, healthcare, sign language interpreters, auxiliary aids, weight loss, GLP-1 drugs, obesity, Medicaid, healthcare costs, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HP 1972, which would create a nonrefundable family caregiver tax credit, and on a related tax measure to increase the existing dependent care tax credit. Supporters of HP 1972, including AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and others, said unpaid caregivers are essential to keeping kūpuna and other loved ones at home and described significant out-of-pocket costs. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation raised technical concerns, including the need to avoid overlap with existing credits and to prevent double-dipping. The department said taxpayers can claim credits to the extent allowed, but recommended explicit language barring the same costs from being claimed under more than one credit. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair moved the bill along after questions. The committee then heard HP 1975, which would repeal the sunset on the state rent supplement program for kūpuna. AARP, Catholic Charities Hawaii, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the program permanent, saying it helps low-income older adults avoid eviction and homelessness and allows them to remain in affordable housing. Catholic Charities described clients who were paying unsustainable shares of income for rent before receiving the supplement. Members also shared a constituent example of an elderly retiree who needed the subsidy to stay housed. Written support was noted from additional organizations and individuals. Next, the committee took up HB 1706, which would expand Medicaid prospective payment reimbursement to include mental health services furnished in federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics by mental health professionals under supervision. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, and DHS said it appreciated the intent to address workforce shortages and expand training, but cautioned that unlicensed professionals cannot currently bill Medicaid and that a state plan amendment would be needed, with limited precedent for approval. Members asked about the likelihood and timing of federal approval and whether the bill could help rural areas; DHS said approval is uncertain and the process can take time, though it saw possible alignment with the state’s rural health transformation efforts. The committee also discussed HB 546, a three-year health coverage continuity pilot program for people losing Medicaid coverage. DHS, the Attorney General’s office, DCCA, Catholic Charities, the University of Hawaii, and others testified, with DHS warning that federal changes could increase uninsured rates and that the state may need to act quickly. Catholic Charities and others emphasized the risk to Medicaid recipients, including homeless and near-elderly residents, while DHS explained the state’s existing premium assistance program for certain immigrants and compared it to the proposed pilot. The excerpt ends during discussion of that comparison, with no vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• been approved by the State Board of Education moving forward, but we're going to be looking at two primary
• are also some of our post-secondary technical colleges that are awarded, because there's really two primary
• I want to talk about the Pathways to Career Opportunity Grant, or PECOG, which is the primary mechanism
• which means they would have to submit to the Department of Education the process by which they will close
• But in closing, I have sat in your seats, and I know with state budget cuts we're all looking for efficiencies

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Higher Education Appropriations Committee met for its first session of the year, took roll, welcomed new member Senator Bracey Davis, and had members briefly describe their backgrounds and interest in higher education. Chair Harrell framed the committee’s focus on maintaining Florida’s top national ranking in higher education and workforce development, with an emphasis on funding decisions tied to student success, workforce needs, and the state college system. Senior Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell presented the Department of Education’s workforce and Florida College System budget requests and data. He described requested increases for adult education, Florida College System program funding, workforce development, and several grant programs, including workforce capitalization, apprenticeship/teacher apprenticeship, Open Door, and CAPE industry certifications. He highlighted record enrollment and completion growth across Florida’s colleges and technical centers, major gains in career dual enrollment, and expansion in programs such as nursing, AI, cybersecurity, welding, HVAC, and manufacturing. Members asked about labor-market demand, the impact of artificial intelligence on future job training, teacher apprenticeship details, mission creep and duplication in CTE programs, student placement and wages after graduation, and articulation between technical college clock hours and college credit. South Florida State College President Fred Hawkins testified about challenges facing a rural college, including low local college-going rates, long travel distances, limited faculty recruitment due to salaries, and the need for more operational funding to expand capacity. He cited strong job placement and licensure outcomes in nursing, dental hygiene, EMT/paramedic, and radiography, and said the college is exploring AI tools to improve student services and reduce staffing pressure. Pinellas Technical College Executive Director Mark Hunter described strong dual enrollment, high job placement, employer partnerships, and a reported 400% return on investment, while also warning that many programs have waiting lists because of staffing and equipment constraints. He explained how technical college coursework is aligned with state college credit through content-based articulation agreements. The committee then opened the floor for public comment, but no additional business was taken up, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Eight states are moving to close the loophole.
• Public testimony is closed.
• It's not their primary care physician.
• I'll close with this.
• What corporation said they would have to close all this?

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll just um close by saying uh thank you to the department.
• So those are our three primary changes, and happy to take questions.
• ><c> happy</c><00:57:44.960><c> to</c><00:57:45.200><c> take</c> primary changes and happy to take primary
• Article three, which is child welfare, has three primary components.
• </c> child welfare, has three primary child welfare, has three primary components.<01:11:13.120><c> The

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all