Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:41.400> Justice back with the Vermont Language Justice back with the Vermont Language
• <00:42:51.800> is<00:42:51.960> shall the language is shall the language is shall the
• . antitrust um language in here in 1536, antitrust um language in here in 1536, which<00:57:19.040>
• <01:01:28.440> and redemption center certification and redemption center certification and
• The language that we got from the House simply called for a securely mounted device, and that language

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this language. Thanks. this language. Thanks.
• notice, but you've taken that language notice, but you've taken that language out<01:13:25.280><
• might be a solution in some language might be a solution in some language that<01:15:49.120>
• Yeah, very interested in language, in fact working on some clarifying language right now to deal with
• c> some clarifying language right now to some clarifying language right now to deal<01:38:09.360>

Bills: HF3901, HF962, HF4428, HF4478, HF1775

Keywords: foster care, ombudsperson, investigative powers, children's rights, complaint process, HF4428, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, community engagement, work requirement, work mandate, employment requirement, community service, 80 hours, half-time student, income threshold, federal minimum wage, eligibility verification, benefit suspension, benefit termination

Transcript Highlights:

• And I saw some preliminary language some weeks ago. I circulated it to our folks.
• I have a fear that the objections that I received previously are this language.
• That was BRIM's original language in the introduced version of the bill.
• From a technical perspective, it's just striking new language. So we would have..."
• "Just striking new language, so we would strike subsection C of section six.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee met with a quorum present and approved the March 4, 2026 minutes by voice vote. The committee first considered House Bill 55, which updates and modernizes workers’ compensation statutes to reflect the privatized system, remove obsolete provisions, and adjust the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review from five members to three. The Insurance Commissioner testified that the bill is part of the cleanup from privatization and would give the governor more flexibility in appointments. After adopting a strike-and-insert amendment and a title amendment, the committee reported HB 55 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. The committee then took up House Bill 5463, which would reduce BRIM’s required liability coverage for county boards of education from $1.25 million to $1 million per occurrence and eliminate the separate $5 million excess coverage requirement. BRIM’s director testified that the excess market was difficult to access and costly, but several senators raised concerns that lowering coverage could reduce protection for victims and school-related claims. After a divided vote, the motion to report the bill failed, and HB 5463 was not passed by the committee. Next, the committee considered House Bill 4869, creating guaranteed issue rights for Medicare supplement policies, including annual birthday replacement rights and a special right for certain Medicaid recipients losing eligibility. Counsel said the bill would prohibit underwriting barriers during the guaranteed issue periods and require an annual report on premium trends. With no amendments offered, the committee reported HB 4869 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 5462 on mine subsidence insurance. The bill would allow the mine subsidence fund to offset payments by amounts received from other sources and limit lawsuits over claims reported to BRIM. Members debated a proposed strike-and-insert amendment that would have softened the litigation limits and added notice and remedy provisions, but the amendment was rejected. The committee then reported HB 5462 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Importantly, and as part of the statute, the agency head then signs off on a certification form.
• Importantly, and as part of the statute, the agency head then signs off on a certification form.
• um to one remove the sunset on language um to one remove the sunset on that<00:41:02.440> language
• So, do they report that to you in their annual certification?
• to you in their annual certification? to you in their annual certification?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got a certificate for you.
• I've got a certificate here, come on up. I've got a certificate for<00:06:15.440> you.
• NetChoice where this language, or very similar language at least, was found unconstitutional.
• > least<01:08:03.680> was<01:08:03.920> found language at least was found language
• Thank you. language, or participate in conduct that language, or participate in conduct that disputes

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And basically what project certification is is plan spec approval, environmental review requirements,
• <00:05:02.400> And<00:05:02.520> basically project certification.
• And basically project certification.
• And basically what<00:05:03.000> project<00:05:03.400> certification<00:05:04.120> is
• In 2017, we got the language changed to create it as the water infrastructure fund.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State regulation is subject to the Stablecoin Certification Review Committee.
• <01:13:38.239> B certification review committee. B certification review committee.
• <01:15:21.360> review stable coin certification review stable coin certification review committee
• Um, and you can see that in the actual language, right? The fact that there is no FDIC insurance.
• The fact that it's language, right?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Hawaii State Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held an informational briefing on digital assets, blockchain, and related regulatory developments. Chair Jarrett Keohoko said the committee was focusing on national and state policy issues around digital assets, while leaving the separate issue of Bitcoin kiosks and fraud to the House Consumer Protection Committee, which had already noticed a similar briefing. No public testimony was taken; the session was for informational updates and member questions. Representatives from the Aptos Foundation, including JC Yun and Michael Cheng, gave a detailed presentation on blockchain basics and Aptos’s technology. They described blockchain as a tamper-resistant digital ledger, explained proof-of-work and proof-of-stake systems, and argued that proof-of-stake networks are faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly. They also emphasized smart contracts and potential uses beyond speculation, such as car titles, college transcripts, collectibles, digital IDs, real estate, and other tokenized assets. The presenters highlighted Aptos’s Hawaii connections and said the technology could help local residents and businesses participate in the digital economy. They cited adoption statistics, including billions of transactions on Aptos, tokenized money market funds from major financial firms, micro-lending applications, decentralized cloud infrastructure, and the rapid growth of stablecoins. They acknowledged concerns about scams and consumer protection, but argued that the answer is stronger regulation and education rather than avoiding the technology altogether.

Transcript Highlights:

• of<00:35:02.960> participation<00:35:03.760> which<00:35:03.880> was certificates
• of participation which was certificates of participation which was the<00:35:04.520> uh<00:35
• , you know, you're looking at appropriation bonds, but to some of the other points we don't have language
• to know that you're looking at appropriation bonds, but to some of the other points we don't have language
• You're looking at appropriation bonds, but to some of the other points we don't have language, and so

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:43.440> to human body so this this language to human body so this this language to
• <00:16:22.399> to and guidance and also certification to and guidance and also certification
• <01:18:51.000> for where it strikes a lot of language for where it strikes a lot of language
• The language that Mr.
• two things about this this is a language two things about this this is a language we<01:19:22.679

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We get budgets and levy certifications from all the taxing districts and political subdivisions.
• Then there was also the tax director certification, which I believe at that point was 190 hours, and
• So then that's when a lot of the— they couldn't; their assessors lost their certification because they
• That would have to, all that language can be updated.
• And then we have a second certification.

Summary: The subcommittee of the Tax Reform and Relief Committee met to begin its study of the feasibility and desirability of revising the content of the real estate tax statement to improve property tax transparency. Legislative Council staff reviewed the study directive under House Bill 1176 and the statutory requirements for tax statements, including required line items such as true and full value, mill levy, legislative tax relief, primary residence credit, and the Legacy Fund portion of that credit. The Tax Department then explained how the current uniform statement is prescribed and approved, and noted that changes are typically driven by statute and implemented collaboratively with counties and vendors. County officials from the North Dakota Association of Counties described the full annual tax cycle, from county budgeting and valuation notices to budget hearing notices, levy certification, cap calculations, and final tax statement mailing. They emphasized that counties and auditors do extensive coordination with taxing districts and neighboring counties, and that the process is labor-intensive and often manual. Members discussed the limited public response to budget notices and tax statements, the difficulty of explaining the legislative tax relief line, the 3% cap and valuation issues, and whether more frequent assessments or different timing would improve understanding. Several members and witnesses noted that many taxpayers only engage when they receive their final bill, and that clarity may be more important than adding more detail. NDACO also presented a rough cost survey from eight counties, estimating an average tax statement cost of about 74 cents and a statewide total near $600,000 for printing and mailing tax statements alone, with outsourcing generally cheaper than in-house printing. Witnesses noted that House Bill 1176 added other mailings and notices, increasing county workload and cost beyond the statement itself. The committee then heard from software vendors, who explained how their systems handle tax billing, budget notices, valuation notices, primary residence credit processing, and tax levy calculations, and they identified the 1600/1685 primary residence credit and discount interaction as a current programming challenge. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on gathering testimony and identifying issues for possible future recommendations or bill drafts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, the Health and Human Services Commission will create a certification form for the pregnant woman
• So my recommendation... ...would be that the language be changed to reflect current law.
• Forth, the legislative language that's set forth, ensuring the residents are getting the standardized
• Similar language has been in the Texas Administrative Code since 2003.
• I have recommended that that particular piece of this language be removed.

Bills: SB397, SB481, SB596, SB760, SB855, SB1195, SB1196, SB1233, SB1257, SB1318, SB1368, SB1388, SB1398, SB1524, SB1558, SB1589, SB1677, SB1792, SB2034

Keywords: SB 397, telemedicine, telehealth, teledentistry, remote care, virtual care, consent documentation, patient consent, data collection, data sharing, audio-only telehealth, in-person examination, irreversible medical procedure, health professional regulation, Occupations Code, Texas Health and Human Services, medical records, provider compliance, data privacy, consumer rights

Transcript Highlights:

• We added that language so that this bill would not proceed against existing statute.
• The problem is the way the language is written in Senate Bill 14.
• I suggest, and I'm going to offer an amendment, just to try to tighten the language.
• That's covered, but I think that the language that's written needs to be tightened somewhat.
• Here is not adequately reflected by the language.

Bills: SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3, SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3

Keywords: education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, Texas congressional redistricting, U.S. House districts, congressional map, redistricting, gerrymandering, 2020 Census, census tracts, block groups, voting districts, election law, Texas House of Representatives districts, federal congressional districts, 2026 elections

Transcript Highlights:

• We're actually planning additional training and certification to probably move in the direction of growing
• We're actually planning additional training and certification to probably move in the direction of growing
• Now I will point out here, because our language matters a lot, that “or” in the second paragraph should
• This is new language.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The joint Senate and House Behavioral Health committees held an informational meeting focused first on the Oregon State Hospital (OSH). OHA Director Sajal Hathi introduced the hospital’s incoming permanent superintendent, Sean Murphy, and praised interim superintendent Jim Deagle for stabilizing operations, restoring CMS compliance, and helping drive a culture change centered on safety, accountability, and transparency. Deagle and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Amit Bavon described OSH’s role as the state’s highest-level forensic psychiatric hospital, the patient populations it serves, its partnerships with courts, counties, jails, hospitals, and advocates, and recent leadership changes across the hospital. They also reported improved accreditation and regulatory status, including Joint Commission accreditation and CMS compliance, and said the hospital is now using daily safety huddles, incident review meetings, stronger escalation procedures, and revised seclusion/restraint practices to reduce risk and improve oversight. Members pressed hospital leaders on past seclusion practices, asking how prolonged seclusions could have occurred under federal standards. Leaders said they could not explain past decisions but emphasized that current leadership has changed processes, training, reporting, and oversight so that seclusion and restraint are reviewed in real time and cannot be normalized. Questions also covered staffing, falls, and future planning. OSH said it is generally staffed to budget, though it still has RN and mental health technician vacancies and is working on recruitment, training, and better staffing distribution. Hathi said the hospital is building a public dashboard with key performance and safety metrics, including workforce data, and described the long-term goal as a consistently safe, disciplined, high-functioning institution that responds quickly to mistakes and remains accountable to the public. The committee then shifted to an informational overview of civil commitment. Oregon Judicial Department representative Chanah Newell explained the civil commitment process, including who can initiate it, the role of community mental health providers and courts, the five-day timeline to hearing, and the standards for danger to self, danger to others, and inability to meet basic needs. She summarized changes made in House Bill 2005, including revised statutory language and new provisions allowing a second diversion period, but cautioned that the data are too early to show clear trends. Testimony from NAMI Oregon’s Chris Bonif and psychiatrist Dr. Stephanie Lopez argued that Oregon still relies too heavily on jails and state hospital commitments because the broader community system lacks enough treatment, housing, and less restrictive alternatives. They urged the legislature to focus on upstream services, supported housing, and possible outpatient commitment tools so people can receive treatment before reaching crisis. The meeting ended with acknowledgment that additional reports and follow-up discussions are expected, including on residential treatment capacity and related behavioral health system reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• Colorado has some language similar to what Senate Bill 22 is proposing.
• They employ people who understand the culture, who speak the language, and who know the unique needs.
• wastewater treatment facilities, it's not only costly, but then the type of people with the level of certification
• treatment facilities it's not only costly but then the type of people uh with the the level of uh certification

Bills: SB22, SB310

Keywords: motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• very complicated code to learn; there are very few people actually even in our country who have certifications
• there has to be some sort of transaction of some kind, whether it be a document, funding, or certifications
• There's a foundational model, there is a small language model, and there are custom models, which can
• I mean, like you say, English is my second language.

Transcript Highlights:

• From providing a suite of online e-procurement tools to assist with purchasing to professional certifications
• So there was language added to clarify confidential public records and so forth.
• So there was language added to clarify confidential public records and so forth.
• Our office certifies those contract managers in cooperation with the CFO's office, and that certification

Summary: The subcommittee heard a panel on Florida’s IT procurement process from the Florida Digital Service, the Department of Management Services, and the Department of Financial Services. Witnesses walked through the procurement lifecycle, including planning, market research, solicitation, evaluation, award, implementation, and closeout, and emphasized the role of budget timing, contract managers, and subject matter experts. DMS described the state’s enterprise contracting system, noting more than 1,100 active vendor agreements, over 800 involving IT services, and the statutory requirement to request 25 quotes for certain IT purchases. DFS demonstrated the Florida Accountability Contract Tracking System (FACS), explaining how agencies upload contract and payment data and how the public can search contracts and related documents online. Members focused on accountability, transparency, and whether the state is getting the best products and vendors. Questions addressed how contracts are vetted, how technical evaluations are performed, how financial consequences are used for missed deliverables, how public records and confidential information are handled, and how the state screens vendors for foreign-concern or bad-actor issues. Witnesses said agencies rely on technical experts for evaluations, that contract terms should include measurable deliverables and meaningful financial consequences, and that agencies—not procurement staff—generally manage performance, though Florida Digital Service oversees large IT projects of $10 million or more. The committee then shifted to broader policy discussion, including Senate Bill 7026 and proposals to reorganize state IT governance. Several members argued for stronger centralization under a state CIO or similar enterprise authority, while others cautioned against abrupt restructuring and stressed the need for a transition plan. Members also raised concerns about workforce retention, consulting services, recurring project overruns, and the need for better planning and periodic monitoring. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair thanking members and staff and adjourning the subcommittee.

Transcript Highlights:

• , so I misspoke there, but um I don't know whether or not they, you know, can add any additional language
• When the legislative language was added to House Bill 2 in 2023 and became law, the department had a
• Tina Kelly, I'm a rules coordinator for the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, and we've
• Tina Kelly, I'm a rules coordinator for the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, and we've

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the prior meeting minutes and adopted the consent calendar without changes. It then took up several administrative rules, beginning with the Missing Adult Program and Missing Vulnerable Adult Alert Program rules (Item 144), which were adopted after the department explained the delay in implementation was due to staffing problems and COVID-related disruptions. The committee then reviewed the Pesticide Control Board’s aquatic pesticide application rules (Item 146), where staff raised a substantive concern that the rule did not clearly explain how the division would reconsider a special permit if treatment were postponed and adverse effects were likely. The agency agreed to consider revisions, and the item was postponed to the March meeting. The Board of Mental Health Practice item was also postponed to April with a waiver of the committee deadline, after OPLC requested more time for a conditional approval request; one member noted concern that the board was not meeting frequently enough. The Department of Revenue Administration’s business profits tax rule (Item 164) was postponed to March as well, after staff said the agency needed to incorporate supporting schedules into the rule text to address a legislative intent issue. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control rule was postponed at a member’s request so concerns about dates, requirements, and impacts on businesses could be reviewed against the statute, though the department noted it had already sought stakeholder input multiple times with no response. The committee then approved the Farmers Market Nutrition Program for Women and Children rule (Item 236), which implements a program created in 2023. Staff noted the rulemaking was delayed for nearly two years and pointed out that dried herbs, herb plants, and pickled vegetables are excluded under the state plan; department staff said the delay stemmed from staffing changes and a lengthy contracting process. Members briefly discussed the program’s benefits and the exclusion of herb plants, but the rule was adopted. Finally, the Board of Natural Scientists item was postponed to March with a waiver so OPLC and the board could work on a conditional approval request, and the Board of Psychologists temporary license rule received a preliminary objection because a newly added emergency-practice provision had not been properly noticed for public comment. The committee adjourned after noting the Dental Board matter remained unresolved and was still expected back in April.

Transcript Highlights:

• licensed practical nursing program from the state of Florida, these need additional support in English language
• And while the pipeline funds have been helpful and amplifying that English language, acquisitions, skill
• You know, we pay for their certifications. We pay for all that in.
• And so but again, we talked about nurses love their certification.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I saw some preliminary language some weeks ago. I circulated it to our folks.
• I have a fear that the objections that I received previously are this language.
• Yes, yes, that was BRIM's original language in the introduced version of the bill. Okay, so I...
• That was BRIM's original language in the introduced version of the bill.
• Counsel: From a technical perspective, it's just striking new language. So we would have...

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our heritage division is dedicated to preserving our culture, our history, and our language to restore
• We also now have street signs in our native language. The signs reflect our creation stories.
• We have some video from our language. The signs reflect our creation stories.
• Some of them had to be put in boarding schools, where they were punished to learn the language, sing
• Some of them had to be put in boarding schools, where they were punished to learn the language, they'd

Summary: A joint hearing of the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee and the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee was held on an amendment to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Gaming Compact. The Washington State Gambling Commission and Puyallup Tribal representatives described the compact as a restatement of the tribe’s 1996 agreement, updated to reflect prior amendments and current gaming operations. Commission staff outlined several changes, including authorization for electronic table games, extension of credit with customer-protection safeguards, removal of per-facility limits, changes to wager limits, a stepped increase in the tribe’s player-terminal allocation, and new licensing/eligibility/registration and definitions appendices. They also noted added provisions on responsible gaming, non-smoking areas if smoking is offered, emergency-services access, and community commitments. Puyallup Tribal leaders gave extensive testimony on how gaming revenue has supported tribal self-governance, cultural preservation, education, housing, health care, elder services, youth programs, environmental protection, and charitable giving. They said gaming revenue has funded tribal facilities, a school, a longhouse, housing projects, a funeral home, health and behavioral health services, substance-use treatment, and donations to nonprofits and local public health efforts. Tribal economic development staff also described diversification efforts funded by gaming, including businesses in hospitality, fuel, construction, manufacturing, logistics, and a planned terminal partnership with the Northwest Seaport Alliance. The casino CEO emphasized responsible gaming, compliance, self-exclusion tools, staff training, and a problem-gambling campaign. Committee members asked about the compact negotiation process and the state’s interests. Gambling Commission staff explained that compact changes are negotiated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, with the governor’s office, commissioners, and ex officio members providing policy input, and that the current hearing was required within 30 days of completion of the state process. Staff said the commission would hold a public meeting on Thursday to take comment and then vote whether to forward the restated compact to the governor or return it for further negotiation. No public testimony was signed up at the hearing, and no vote was taken by the legislative committees.