Transcript Highlights:

• <00:28:13.080> another another victim of these policies another another victim of these policies
• <00:39:16.560> needs public welfare and foreign policy needs public welfare and foreign policy
• It didn't have a stay in Mexico policy. It was words; it wasn't actions. It wasn't good.
• <01:11:57.920> it didn't have a stay in Mexico policy it didn't have a stay in Mexico policy
• a public policy.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So for laws and policies that relate around an individual's right to vote... ...laws and policies that
• and I think the fiscal note when Ed comes back will demonstrate that yes, it would take money to implement
• My name is Michael and Fanzon, Epic Policy Group, representing Arizona Veterans.
• This should be, and the sponsor and I spoke about this, this should be implemented statewide.
• This is what you do because we want to try to chip away and implement those kinds of things.

Bills: HB2416, HB2663, HB2759, HB2806

Keywords: border security, drug trafficking, human smuggling, law enforcement funding, Arizona, public safety, immigration, military leave, national guard, employment rights, paid leave, disaster response, veterans services, education programs, funding, appropriation, Yavapai county, lawful presence, public programs, verification

Summary: The Military Affairs and Border Security Committee approved the February 16, 2026 minutes and then heard several bills. HB 2416 would appropriate $20 million for DPS border support, including equipment, officer positions, and grants to local governments for border-related prosecutions and detention costs. Supporters, including the Arizona Sheriffs Association, said the funds are fully used each year and are largely spent on drug interdiction; opponents argued the bill’s immigration-related language could expand enforcement and that the money should instead go to health care, education, food assistance, or prevention programs. After debate, the committee passed HB 2416 on a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered HB 2806, which would require county recorders, ADOT, and AHCCCS to use the federal SAVE system and report citizenship-verification results to JLBC and the Auditor General. The sponsor was absent, and an ACLU representative testified in opposition, arguing SAVE is not appropriate for voter eligibility checks, could disenfranchise eligible citizens, and would likely cause litigation and administrative confusion. Members raised concerns about necessity, due process, and whether the state already verifies citizenship adequately, but the bill still received a do-pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. HB 2663, a technical cleanup bill updating military leave language for state and local employees who are National Guard or Reserve members, drew no opposition and passed unanimously. HB 2759 would appropriate $500,000 to the Department of Veterans Services for grants tied to veterans programs at Yavapai County institutions; testimony described it as helping veterans with housing gaps, emergencies, and professional development while they wait for GI Bill payments. Several members questioned why it was limited to Yavapai County and whether private institutions should be included, with some viewing it as a pilot program and others wanting statewide expansion. It passed 4-3, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It expressly preempts local ordinances or policies that are duplicative or more stringent than state
• So it kind of, since I have an open-door policy...
• It kind of, since I have an open-door policy, and so anyway, this ag enclaves have to be in either an
• We all get a little smarter as we go through the process, and we see how provisions are being implemented
• Let me thank Senator McLean for all his time he spent on this issue and for his open-door policy to allow

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard a series of bills, mostly local claims and growth-management or permitting measures. SB 16, SB 14, and SB 24 were uncontested claims bills providing relief for injuries or damages involving the City of St. Petersburg and Miami-Dade County; each was described as settled or favorably reported by a special master, and each was reported favorably without debate. SB 288, a negotiated bill on rural electric cooperatives, was presented as a clarification to protect co-op authority over generation and power purchases while preserving consumer protections; it drew support from industry stakeholders and was reported favorably. SB 830 created a public-records exemption for certain local administrators and their families’ personal information, citing threats against city managers, and it also passed favorably. The committee also considered several land-use and permitting bills. SB 1138 would create a registry of qualified professionals to conduct pre-application review for plats and development, aiming to reduce delays and backlogs; local government groups raised concerns about preemption and preserving quasi-judicial authority, but the bill passed favorably with one no vote. SB 168 expanded public nuisance law to include gambling houses, increased penalties, and authorized attorney’s fees and foreclosure of unpaid fees; it was reported favorably. SB 686 revised the agricultural enclave statute to create a public-hearing process for certain residential projects in urban service areas, with a sunset date later amended to June 30, 2026; conservation and planning groups raised concerns about local planning authority and public participation, but the bill passed favorably. SB 548, a growth-management and impact-fee cleanup bill, clarified plan-based methodology, extraordinary circumstances, interlocal agreements, and refund procedures for impact fees. Local government and development stakeholders testified that it would improve predictability while preserving flexibility, though some sought further refinement on fee increases and refunds; the bill was amended and then reported favorably. SB 1234 addressed building permits and inspections, including permit validity, small-project exemptions, temporary hurricane protection, standardized permit forms, and expanded use of private providers; county officials objected to reduced oversight, while builders and private-provider advocates supported the measure. After testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senator Jones requested to be recorded on several votes, and the committee adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's where the agencies should have an open door policy. Not a scary policy.
• I really feel like a lot of policy what you all to on a daily basis.
• We we I don't really have a policy. It sounds like from what you're saying.
• And that is a presentation by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on the implementation of
• It's this newly implemented.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to make sure I have this correct: the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy.
• I direct the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy. We are right down the road.
• We really try to impact policy and advance policy and look for those opportunities to really advance
• and regulations, and work with states on implementation of policies and regulations.
• We wanted to highlight some of the research and policy work of the Community Living Policy Center, or

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities’ Long-Term Services and Supports and Health Equity Subcommittee met to hear a presentation from the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University. Monica Mitra introduced the institute’s work on disability health equity and long-term services and supports, and staff described several research centers focused on community living policy, disability and pregnancy, and parents with disabilities. The presentation emphasized participatory research, accessible dissemination, and the connection between health equity and access to home- and community-based services. Joe Caldwell discussed the Community Living Policy Center’s work on Medicaid HCBS, the direct care workforce crisis, housing, and policy advocacy, including efforts related to the Money Follows the Person program and the Medicaid access rule’s interested parties advisory group. Sid Pickern highlighted a workforce study interviewing direct care workers, a forthcoming policy brief on the access rule, and housing research including Massachusetts’ Alternative Housing Voucher Program. Teresa Nguyen described the Community Living Equity Center’s focus on disparities in community living for people of color, especially a study on self-direction and community living outcomes, and asked for help recruiting participants. Lauren Bixby demonstrated the community living data dashboard, which compares adults who need LTSS with those receiving Medicaid LTSS using ACS and TMSIS data. She explained that the dashboard can be filtered by state and demographics, but noted major race and ethnicity data gaps for Massachusetts and other states. Commissioners praised the dashboard and the institute’s work, asked questions about data sources and the 1115 waiver, and discussed possible connections to the Health Equity Compact. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with an invitation for follow-up, including a forthcoming direct care workforce brief and the institute’s October 28 lecture.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of their recommendations are not policy recommendations.
• So again, a lot of that comes down to local implementation.
• There are substantive differences in this policy framework.
• That's a tax policy issue. Okay.
• And how do you plan to implement that?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mental health policies are housing policies. Substance abuse treatment is public safety policy.
• Before we talk about policy, I want to tell you a story.
• Implementation, of course as you know, carries administrative costs.
• I'm the senior director of policy and research at Florida Rising.
• It's very good policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Rouson: Relating to the implementing of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act.
• And we will take up Tab 13, which is SB 7028, Cancer by Health Policy.
• It adds an appropriation to the data center to implement the data repository.
• , and then Florida's policy of the money following the student to where he or she is educated.
• To implement the reservoir project for Lake Okeechobee, regarding the annual report of the implementation

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I serve as Vice President of Policy with the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
• TexProtects advocates for policies that strengthen families and protect children.
• Cliff Porter, I'm the senior fellow for health care at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
• These states overcame concerns regarding implementation costs and logistical hurdles. Thank you.
• This is all about responsible and equitable health care policy.

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:

• Policies with those effects are going to make the system more expensive.
• And by expanding those, it protects them to be able to renew that policy.
• Health policy has many contradictions.
• I'm the Health Care Policy Director at Texas Public Policy Foundation, whom I represent.
• Most of that bill is self-implementing.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:42.800> by<00:09:43.360> Lake is actually implemented by Lake is actually implemented
• serve as the fiscal and economic policy serve as the fiscal and economic policy director<00:36:30.119
• Partnership we advocate for policies Partnership we advocate for policies that<00:37:53.079>
• <00:57:38.359> the to allow it and then implementing the to allow it and then implementing
• broader consequences of this policy broader consequences of this policy change<01:03:07.240>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2437, the governor’s proposed tax bill, and first adopted the A25-Z42 amendment to put the bill in the desired shape. Commissioner Paul Marquardt of the Department of Revenue then presented the bill as part of Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s budget, describing it as a response to budget pressures that would make the tax system more fair and stable while supporting economic development and jobs. Marquardt walked through the bill’s major provisions. These included sustainable aviation fuel policy, repeal of K-12 education credit assignment, elimination of the political contribution refund, expansion of the research and development credit, short-line railroad infrastructure modernization, changes to the state airport fund levy, replacement of attachments and appearances with distribution systems, a narrow personal property tax exception for low-income housing tenants, reduced aquatic invasive species aid, and a 34% reduction in PILT payments. He then focused on the sales tax article, saying it would lower the statewide rate by 0.75% while expanding the base to selected professional services such as accounting, banking, brokerage, and legal services, with business-to-business transactions exempt. He said the proposal would be effective for sales and purchases after September 30, 2025, and estimated a first-year rate-cut impact of about $99 million versus $215 million from the service expansion, while arguing that most households would see a net tax cut. He also noted other changes such as landlord penalty adjustments, a 30% reduction in sustainable aviation fuel incentive payments, repeal of local government cannabis aid, and repeal of the tax filing modernization account. Public testimony began with Kyle Playford of the Financial Planning Association of Minnesota, who strongly opposed the proposed sales tax on professional services, especially financial planning. He argued that financial planning is an essential service for retirement, investment, and long-term financial security, and said the tax would raise costs for consumers, reduce access for middle-class families, small business owners, and retirees, and put Minnesota firms at a competitive disadvantage. The chair then indicated that additional public testimony would continue before member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• . implementation. implementation.
• > Group,<00:32:38.880> Malia Food Plus Policy Group, Malia Food Plus Policy Group, Malia
• testing um necessary to implement this. testing um necessary to implement this.
• I'll briefly highlight Food Plus Policy.
• <01:15:20.920> makers they can be at the future policy makers they can be at the future policy

Bills: SB2706, SB2320

Keywords: workforce development, agriculture, biosecurity, pilot program, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, University of Hawaii, Leeward Community College, DHRD, training, apprenticeship, career pathways, credentialing, job training, internship, hands-on experience, state employment, workforce pipeline, agricultural jobs, biosecurity jobs, general fund appropriation

Summary: The committees first heard SB 2371, which would prioritize lease offers on agrivoltaics parcels for beginning farmers, require annual compliance reports to DAB, authorize penalties for noncompliance, and allow solar facilities on certain agricultural lands. DAB, the State Energy Office, PUC, and Hawaii Farm Bureau generally supported the intent, while OPPSD recommended amendments to preserve agricultural lease affordability and strengthen food-production language. Members questioned whether the bill would meaningfully encourage solar on ag lands, whether beginning farmers would have enough information to use such parcels, and how the bill would interact with Land Use Commission review. The Farm Bureau said agrivoltaics remains challenging and largely in pilot form, and noted the Mililani project as a promising example of dual use. The committees voted to pass SB 2371 with amendments, with one member expressing a preference that it be opened to all farmers rather than only beginning farmers. The next measure, SB 2800, appropriates funds to DAB, DLNR, and ADC for acquisition, repair, and maintenance of irrigation systems. All testifying agencies and the Farm Bureau supported the bill, and members pressed them for estimates of needed funding and the condition of existing systems. DAB cited major repair needs, including Waimea, Molokai, Kahuku, and Kawailoa, and said its backlog could total roughly $65 million; ADC estimated about $35 million for several systems; and DLNR said its current needs for three systems were about $35 million, with the largest cost tied to piping in Kekaha. The committees amended the bill to defer its effective date to July 1, 2050 and to blank out the appropriation amounts in the bill text, with the agencies’ requested amounts to be included in the committee report for consideration. SB 2800 then passed in AEN, Water and Land, and EIG. The final measure discussed was SB 2718, a food hub pilot program beginning in 2028 that would require state departments and UH to source 30% of certain food purchases from local agricultural products, create a nutrition- and ʻāina-based school program, and have DAT partner with a regional aggregator for Native Hawaiian staple crops. DAT, DOH, the Farm Bureau, Food Plus Policy Group, HAPA, and others supported the bill’s intent, while the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation opposed it, saying it is already struggling to meet the current local procurement percentage and faces procurement and quantity barriers, especially for staple items used daily. The testimony focused on whether agencies could realistically meet the higher local purchasing target and whether smaller farms could supply the needed volumes.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, as we all know, anytime we do a bill that involves major policy changes, there are always two
• Yes, I am mostly focused on now to implement the due process goals of the committee, making sure that
• enforcing penalties now proposed policy enforcing penalties now proposed policy in<00:20:10.640>
• serious legislation serious policy serious legislation serious policy that's<00:21:02.600> going
• <00:38:00.800> very implemented very implemented very smoothly<00:38:02.640> thank<00:38

Keywords: Call to Order 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:35 SB 22 Discussion 00:01:20 SB 22 Vote 00:11:45 SB 100 Discussion 00:15:07 SB 100 Vote 00:38:53 SB 88 Discussion Only 00:42:11 Adjournment 01:03:52, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on February 18, 2025, and first took up Senate Bill 22 by Senator Reginald Thomas, which was presented as a cleanup measure following prior cosmetology reforms and a Legislative Oversight and Investigations report. The bill would allow cosmetologists to retake exams multiple times with a one-month wait, authorize the Board of Cosmetology to immediately close facilities that intentionally use unlicensed workers while preserving due process, give the board flexibility to hire an executive director based on qualifications rather than licensure, and recognize certain out-of-state or territorial cosmetology licenses. Board officials said the changes were intended to improve fairness, equality, and administrative due process. Senators asked about retesting fees and whether partial retests could dilute standards; Thomas clarified that the exam is cumulative and must be retaken in full. The committee approved SB 22 with all favorable votes, and Senator Meredith explained his support as a workforce and fairness issue. The committee then heard Senate Bill 100 by Senator Jimmy Higdon, as substituted, concerning tobacco, nicotine, and vapor product retail licensing and enforcement. Youth advocates from the University of Kentucky testified in support, describing youth nicotine use as a public health crisis and urging stronger enforcement, annual compliance checks, retailer licensing, and tougher penalties for illegal sales to minors. Higdon said the bill would create a Division of Tobacco, Nicotine, and Vapor Products Licensing within ABC, require licenses for retailers, authorize inspections and confiscation of contraband, impose escalating criminal and civil penalties for unlicensed sales and sales to minors, publish a list of licensed retailers, and dedicate fine revenue to enforcement and youth education. He said the measure targeted bad actors rather than responsible retailers. A retailer witness also supported licensing but raised concerns about contradictory product definitions that could sweep in hemp and medical marijuana vapor products, and asked that the bill be delayed until after an expected Supreme Court decision affecting federal vapor-product rules. The transcript ends during discussion of SB 100, before any committee vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• um, to allow for some kind of policy um, to allow for some kind of policy that<00:07:37.919>
• We deal with the policy through the lens of whether this is good policy for education, not the legal
• Thank you. policy and funding ends. This bill will policy and funding ends.
• Code, it is designed to federal policy to remove barriers to enrollment, policies to remove barriers
• Code, it is designed to federal policy to remove barriers to enrollment, policies to remove barriers

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2185, which would add protections for sports officials. The Department of Education, the State Public Charter School Commission, the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, HSTA, HGA, school administrators, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the Hawaii State Basketball Officials Association, and several individuals testified in support. The Department of the Attorney General offered comments and recommended amendments, especially on the bill’s civil-action provisions and criminal language, saying the measure should be made more consistent and narrowed to clarify who is covered. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the increased criminal penalties but said its concerns were limited to that portion of the bill. The chair repeatedly noted the committee’s education-policy focus and limited discussion of legal issues. The committee then took up HB 2621 on student misconduct. The Department of Education testified and answered questions about its student discipline data, explaining that much of the information is kept in the department’s internal Infinite Campus system and is not public, but that some additional information could be added to the annual report while still protecting student privacy. Members discussed whether the department tracks incidents consistently across schools and whether more public reporting would help identify where violence or discipline issues are occurring. The department said it was not seeing an increase in suspensions in the data it had, though it acknowledged internal data showed more detail than the annual report. HB 2179, concerning DOE and e-pipes, drew comments from the Department of Education, support from the Department of Health, the Hawaii Bicycling League, and other individuals. The committee then heard HB 2534, which would recognize robotics in schools as an interscholastic sport. The Department of Education offered comments, the State Public Charter School Commission supported the bill, and multiple students and robotics participants testified in strong support, arguing that robotics provides STEM opportunities, competition, and career pathways, and that formal recognition and funding would help sustain teams and compensate mentors. No votes or final actions were taken on the bills in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• No onerous or confusing zoning or planning board process is implemented to necessarily prevent or hinder
• The elected officials are the ones who set the policy.
• that policy in the public space.
• I can speak specifically for my county as a result of the implementation of several COVID procedures
• This is now part of the policy of the North Springs Improvement District. We are now codifying it.

Summary: The Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee heard and voted on several local and statewide bills. HB 69, by Rep. Andrade, preempted local zoning and land-use authority to the state for presidential libraries; after an amendment clarifying the scope of preemption, it passed 13-2. HB 63, by Reps. Gerwig and Cassel, created a public-records exemption for city and county administrators and their deputies, citing threats and harassment against local administrators; it included a 10-year sunset and passed 15-0. HB 4045, by Rep. Alvarez, updated the City of Tampa firefighters’ and police officers’ pension plan, including extending the DROP period by three years; it passed 14-0 with a committee substitute. HB 4023, by Rep. Hunschofsky, tightened conflict-of-interest rules for officers and employees of the North Springs Improvement District after prior audit concerns; it passed 16-0. HB 4017, by Rep. Oliver, codified the Bermont Drainage District’s charter and corrected a statutory cross-reference via amendment; it passed 16-0 with committee substitute. HB 4009, by Rep. Kendall, renamed the St. Johns County regional airport to the St. Augustine Airport and passed 16-0. The committee also considered PCB IAS 25-01, by Vice Chair Griffiths, which would standardize county constitutional officers’ budget procedures and create an appeal process for clerks of court and supervisors of elections similar to that used by sheriffs; after testimony from the clerks and supervisors’ associations, it passed 16-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• and then we will see as the year goes on whether we have the money to implement that policy.
• SB 611 directs the department to implement this requirement, aligning New Hampshire Medicaid policies
• SB 611 directs the department to implement this requirement, aligning New Hampshire Medicaid policies
• SB 611 directs the department to implement this requirement, aligning New Hampshire Medicaid policies
• SB 611 directs the department to implement this requirement, aligning New Hampshire Medicaid policies

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides reasonable implementation timelines.
• If we implement these strategies, it might be 20% lower and slower.
• House Bill 1 aims to implement some of these recommendations.
• Training course that we can rely on as a state, I think that's just good policy.
• It ought to be mandatory policy, and so I applaud the chairman for that.

Bills: HB2, HB1, HB18, HB19, HB20, HB1, HB 2, HB18, HB19, HB20

Keywords: emergency communication, interoperability, grant program, first responders, state council, disaster response, emergency management, mass fatality, justices of the peace, training programs, emergency manager license, volunteer management, justice of the peace training, criminal history checks, state health services, broadband, public safety, disaster preparedness, funding, flood disaster plan

Transcript Highlights:

• CSU shared that campuses plan to continue implementing these types of reductions in 2025-26.
• Additionally, we have implemented an enrollment target and budget reallocation plan.
• One of the considerations is it may not be a policy. Is the right one.
• Meanwhile, implementation of the vacancy saving.
• Right now, the state does not have a clear policy for how to fund the law library. Library.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 88: structured literacy implementation.
• Required to implement some support structures for those students.
• You did not specify which groups or how the department should implement that appropriation.
• Is on page 100 of Volume 1 of the policy and performance.
• Of costs for the four-day school weeks to go to five-day if the 180-day is implemented? Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to know which agencies are actually implementing those recommendations.
• To employment, delaying implementation of the Minnesota paid leave law by one year.
• They don't know how they're going to implement this.
• Finance and Policy, and be re-referred to the Committee on Elections, Finance, and Government.
• Madam Speaker, and GOP Education policy and finance members will be caucusing in the caucus room right