Transcript Highlights:

• The Ombudsman acts very much as an auditor. The public contacts the Ombudsman.
• We have them; we can act on them, we can investigate, do what we need to do in the Ombudsman’s office
• We have them; we can act on them, we can investigate, do what we need to do in the Ombudsman’s office
• We have them; we can act on them, we can investigate, do what we need to do in the Ombudsman’s office
• That was a worry for us because, like, you have to act quickly.

Keywords: 00:11 Call to Order/Roll Call 01:02 Discussion of 25RS SB 26 07:48 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 26 08:43 Discussion of 25RS SB 85 28:04 Roll Call Vote on 25RS SB 85 29:37 Discussion of 25RS HB 805 40:30 Roll Call Vote on 25RS HB 805 41:32 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 26, presented by Senator Brandon Storm, Family Court Judge Marcus Vanover, and Crystal Adams on behalf of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health. The bill would ensure Kentucky complies with the ADA by prohibiting disability alone from being used to terminate adoption petitions, parental rights, or child-placement petitions. Testimony cited Kentucky Supreme Court and Court of Appeals cases involving parents with intellectual or developmental disabilities and national data showing high removal rates for parents with psychiatric, intellectual, or physical disabilities. The committee approved the bill 15-0 with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 85 from Senator Steve Meredith and State Auditor Allison Ball, which continues the transition of the Office of the Ombudsman from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the Auditor’s office. Testimony focused on completing the transfer by clarifying access to the ITWIST database, ensuring complaints go directly to the Ombudsman, adding whistleblower protections, and making the office a separate office within the Auditor’s office for efficiency. Members asked about the prior conflict of interest when the Ombudsman was housed within CHFS, the database access dispute and lawsuit, and whether the office still remained independent. The bill passed with favorable expression after some members voted pass. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 805, with Representative Nick Wilson and Representative Sarah Stalker explaining a committee substitute and amendment. The bill would set timelines for the Cabinet to physically locate children reported at immediate safety risk and require annual kinship-care reporting to be automatically provided to the legislature and posted publicly. Wilson said the bill also cleans up language from last year’s House Bill 271, including changing “threats” to “risks” in the safety-plan definition and other terminology fixes. The committee adopted the substitute and amendment and advanced the bill with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that process protective act cases.
• <00:53:23.839> case from the Child Protective Act case from the Child Protective Act case
• pendency of the child protective act pendency of the child protective act case.<01:05:33.119>
• So the child protective act case itself.
• That guardian child protective act case.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It mirrors language of the failed 2023 Federal Schools Not Shelters Act.
• currently New Hampshire is shelters act currently New Hampshire is not<00:31:05.960> dealing<
• New Hampshire zoning enabling act New Hampshire zoning enabling act considered<01:20:17.800>
• referred House Bill 526 FN an act referred House Bill 526 FN an act establishing<03:57:25.960>
• forecasts it is incumbent upon us to act forecasts it is incumbent upon us to act responsibly<04

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An act on the Labor Law and the Estates, Powers and Trusts Law in relation to establishing protections
• An act on the Labor Law and the Estates, Powers and Trusts Law in relation to establishing protections
• An act on the Board of Compensation Law and relations of payment of service. By Senator Rommel.
• An act in relation to workers' compensation and penalties for discrimination against employees.
• An act on the Labor Law in relation to enacting the Remedial Construction of New York Labor Law Act.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Labor, chaired by Senator Jessica Ramos, met for its seventh meeting of the 2026 session. Chair Ramos noted upcoming hearings on disability and employment on May 6 and workers’ compensation on May 20, and the committee considered six bills on the agenda. The committee advanced bills including S.825A, which would establish protections for minors featured in compensated video; S.8131, relating to payment of service under the Workers’ Compensation Law; S.8706B, requiring covered businesses to file annual reports on the impact of artificial intelligence on hiring; S.8967, addressing workers’ compensation penalties for discrimination against employees; S.9330, enacting the Remedial Construction of New York Labor Law Act; and S.9331, concerning access to prescription medication and coordination of Workers’ Compensation Board regulations governing network pharmacies. Members moved each bill, and votes were recorded with support and no stated opposition beyond some abstentions or absent votes. Final actions varied by bill: several were reported to the calendar, while others were reported to finance or otherwise advanced out of committee. The meeting concluded after all six bills were acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the Inspection of Public Records Act, and Government Conduct Act.
• and the Open Meetings Act.
• I can tell you... ...with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Open Meetings Act.
• That is done through the New Mexico Administrative Procedures Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• That is done through the New Mexico Administrative Procedures Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Bills: SB23, SB73, SB210, SB234, SB243, SB244, SM16

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, driver education, driver's ed, driving school, motorcycle safety, traffic safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, cyclist, bike lane, micromobility, scooter, moped, motorcycle training, DWI prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• May we act with kindness. courage, and compassion, just as Pope Francis did.
• House Bill 796, the Texas Sovereignty Act.
• This just provides a process whereby we can understand why we act the way we act. Because we...
• we acted.
• the Caitlin Hanley Act and I move adoption.

Bills: HB29, HB 125, HB145, HB171, HB255, HB50, HB796, HB363, HB 116, HB491, HB589, HB1495, HB368, HB 1285, HB1905, HB1360, HB2002, HB917, HB2723, HB2067, HB 1238, HB2337, HB745, HB 1188, HB1606, HB2003, HB2147, HB2391, HB2355, HB2546, HB2495, HB2818, HB2249, HB1749, HB3109, HB3228, HB3240, HB1507, HB658, HB1748, HB1851, HB1922, HB2001, HB2798, HB 107, HCR29, SB5, SB262, HB 11, HJR72, HB 106, HB18, HB48, HB27, HB37, HB1481, HB581, HB1696, HB2216, HB 1035, HB1633, HB742, HB754, HB1689, HB1690, HB2669, HB391, HB517, HB 1024, HB1607, HB252, HB1716, HB1562, HB4116, HB1866, HB1741, HB2103, HB2637, HB2884, HB503, HB 1089, HB2986, HB972, HB502, HB29, HB 125, HB145, HB171, HB255, HB50, HB796, HB363, HB 116, HB491, HB589, HB1495, HB368, HB 1285, HB1905, HB1360, HB2002, HB917, HB2723, HB2067, HB 1238, HB2337, HB745, HB 1188, HB1606, HB2003, HB2147, HB2391, HB2355, HB2546, HB2495, HB2818, HB2249, HB1749, HB3109, HB3228, HB3240, HB1507, HB658, HB1748, HB1851, HB1922, HB2001, HB2798, HB 107, HCR29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:16:16.920> wisely<00:16:17.319> and<00:16:17.839> work think critically act
• wisely and work think critically act wisely and work skillfully<00:16:19.079> to<00:16:19.279
• for the Minnesota private and out-of-state public postsecondary education act.
• School Act.
• act uh we are private Career School act uh we are moving<01:25:00.800> many<01:25:01.760>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment was necessary to incorporate provisions of Act 919 of 2025 and Act 157 of the 2026 fiscal
• Then to uphold the will of those voters, we acted in special language.
• So what Act 919 and Act 157 did is say to Mountain View, you need to give 90% of the foundation funding
• So what Act 919 and Act 157 did is say to Mountain View, you need to give 90% of the foundation funding
• In the two acts, it also talks about the division of property.

Summary: The Executive Subcommittee met and first approved an emergency rule change from the Department of Education to update consolidation and annexation rules to reflect Acts 919 of 2025 and 157 of the 2026 fiscal session. The rule implements the creation of new isolated school districts after local detachment votes, and officials explained the funding structure for parent districts: they retain foundation funding, declining enrollment funding, and local tax revenue, while 90% of the foundation funding generated by detaching students is forwarded to the new districts. Members discussed the financial impact in detail, and the emergency rule was approved without objection, effective upon adjournment of the Legislative Council meeting on June 19, 2026. The Department of Human Services then presented an emergency rule allowing hospitals to open separate adolescent substance use disorder units and receive payment for residential services provided to adolescents. The rule was approved without objection, and Senator Irvin requested that the topic be placed on a future public health agenda for an update. The committee also approved Whitehall’s waiver request to exceed $1 million through cooperative purchasing for construction services related to a project using a vendor with prior experience and a longer-warranty system. In addition, members voted to keep committee per diem, mileage, and expense allocations unchanged for the new fiscal year. Finally, the committee approved a motion to cancel the July 2026 Legislative Council meeting, allow only subcommittee meetings with imminent matters through July 31, and treat July subcommittee actions as final for reporting at the August 21, 2026 meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment was necessary to incorporate provisions of Act 919 of 2025 and Act 157 of the 2026 fiscal
• Then to uphold the will of those voters, we acted in special language.
• So what Act 919 and Act 157 did is say to Mountain View, you need to give 90% of the foundation funding
• So what Act 919 and Act 157 did is say to Mountain View, you need to give 90% of the foundation funding
• In the two acts, it also talks about the division of property.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, like I said, there was a small gap of time where Act 656 in 2021 was passed.
• Some more things just about what a qualified professional is defined as is in Act 656.
• Act 656.
• Some more things just about what a qualified professional is defined as is in Act 656.
• Act 656.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if they won't act right, kick them out of school.
• In their place when they were acting a fool. And we stopped that.
• If you commit an act or attempt to have an overt act that kills a baby, so the attempt is the mindset
• It was the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
• , or the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Act.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the prior day by a 123-0 roll call vote. Members then used points of personal privilege to recognize National Police Week and honor fallen law enforcement officers with a moment of silence, and several members gave farewell remarks for departing colleagues and interns. The chamber also introduced a number of special guests, including student groups, interns, a former representative, and the University of Missouri wheelchair basketball team. The House then took up Senate messages and committee reports before acting on House Committee Substitute for House Bills 1839, 2921, and 3015. The sponsor explained the Senate amendment was a technical correction to an online age-verification provision related to pornography; the House concurred 104-30 and then finally passed the package 112-25. The chamber also considered the conference committee report on House Bill 2596, which was described as a small-business health plan measure that modernizes pooled-plan language and adds a 12-month contraception coverage provision while removing a Senate-added blood pressure cuff requirement. After debate on the conference report and a severability clause, the House adopted the report 120-26 and then third-read and passed the bill 119-27. Finally, the House debated Senate Bill 905, which would create the Missouri Ranger training program allowing schools to optionally place specially trained personnel with narrow law-enforcement authority on campus. Debate focused heavily on school safety, local control, training standards, liability, funding, and whether the proposal would improve protection or instead increase the presence of guns in schools. Supporters argued it would give districts another optional safety tool, especially where school resource officers are unavailable, while opponents said schools need more mental health and educational resources rather than armed personnel and raised concerns about training, child development, and unintended harm. The House adopted an amendment clarifying the program after a 96-46 vote, but the transcript cuts off before final passage of the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• it defeats the contractor repair acts it defeats the contractor repair acts core<00:27:02.520>
• It turns the contractor repair act into a further one-way discovery process.
• It turns the contractor repair act into a further one-way discovery process.
• So we were actually implementing the repair act, but we're stopped in doing so further.
• Acting Vice Chair Martin, for the vote, thank you very much.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee met on February 12 and heard several bills. HB 97, relating to travel insurance, drew only brief testimony: the Insurance Division stood on written testimony, one industry witness supported the bill and requested a minor amendment, and no one else testified or asked questions. HB 226, relating to window tinting, received support from the Department of Transportation, while the Honolulu Police Department offered comments on the proposed amendments, asking for clearer language on what it means to roll windows down, when the requirement applies, how it handles bad weather, and what sanctions would apply for noncompliance. No further testimony was offered on that measure. The committee also heard HB 1179, relating to rural emergency hospitals. The Department of Human Services stood on written testimony, and Maui Health Systems strongly supported the bill, saying it would help critical access hospitals better serve kūpuna and provide long-term care beds. There were no questions or additional testimony. HB 420, relating to remedies and the contractor repair act, generated extensive and sharply divided testimony. Opponents, including attorneys representing homeowners and AARP Hawaii, argued the bill was anti-consumer, would weaken homeowners’ ability to recover for construction defects, and would shift costs and risk to consumers. Supporters, including builders, realtors, the Chamber of Commerce, and D.R. Horton Hawaii, said the bill would create a more balanced and efficient process, reduce unnecessary litigation, and help builders address legitimate defects more quickly. Testimony on HB 420 focused heavily on whether the contractor repair process and class actions help or hinder repairs. Opponents said the bill would delay or limit homeowner recovery, especially for life and safety defects, while supporters said current class-action litigation can prevent direct communication with homeowners and slow repairs. Committee members asked questions about when communication with homeowners stops and whether repairs could be made before a class is certified. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Transportation and the water carrier act Transportation and the water carrier act from<00:42:29.280
• carryer law from puc and water carry act carryer law from puc and water carry act to<01:00:39.440
• Acting Vice Chair, okay.
• If not, Acting West Chair, okay.
• Acting Vice Chair, for the vote, please.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of transportation-related bills. SB 21 on water carriers would create an inflationary cost index mechanism; DOT, Agriculture, DCCA, the PUC, and several harbor and logistics interests supported it, while Pacific Transfer opposed. SB 1478 would require vessel masters to follow harbor master evacuation orders during emergencies; DOT clarified it applies only to commercial ports, with support from Hima and the Harbor Users Group and opposition from the Hailongm Association. SB 108 would authorize DOT to regulate vessel noise near commercial harbors; the White Harbor Users Group opposed, while DOT said it supported the intent but warned the bill may be preempted by federal law. SB 1475 would raise the bond ceiling for harbor improvement projects from $100 million to $600 million, and SB 1473 would cap central services assessments on DOT funds at $5 million and tie them to CPI; DOT supported both, and Budget and Finance explained the central services fee is generally a 5% deduction from special funds with some statutory exceptions. The committee also heard SB 1402 on securing mooring lines in state commercial harbors, which drew support from the General Contractors Association of Hawaii and the Hawaii Longline Association. SB 1522 on vehicle title transfers was supported by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Customer Services. SB 599 would require DOT or counties to scan deceased cats and dogs for microchips before disposal; DOT said it would provide scanners, the Hawaiian Humane Society and a private witness strongly supported the bill, and the committee discussed that the measure would not charge pet owners and that Oʻahu microchip rates are about 80% for dogs and 70% for cats. SB 1025 would allow service and non-service animals on mass transit under certain conditions; DHS offered comments, Maui and Honolulu opposed, while the Hawaiian Humane Society, the Environmental Caucus, and others supported it, and an opponent raised concerns about large pets, service animals, and the need for size and off-peak restrictions. Later, the committee heard SB 1096 on license plate-flipping devices, with DOT and Honolulu police supporting it. SB 384 would expand victim restitution in DUI-related negligent homicide cases to include child support for surviving minor children; DOT, MADD, and the Kiki Injury Prevention Coalition supported it, while the Public Defender opposed, arguing the restitution amounts would be unverified and better handled through civil remedies. SB 597 would extend the deadline for the administrative driver license revocation office to issue decisions, and the Attorney General, police, and Maui prosecutors supported it because of drug-testing delays, especially on neighbor islands. Finally, SB 1285 would create a lower-level impaired driving offense and authorize administrative action; the Attorney General and Public Defender both raised concerns about charging discretion and resource impacts, while county, public health, alcohol policy, and victim advocates strongly supported the bill as a life-saving measure. The transcript ends partway through testimony on SB 1285, with no final committee votes or actions recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, was established to ensure that fiduciaries act in
• ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, was established to ensure that fiduciaries act in
• This bill is premised on the act.
• ><00:48:20.800> these<00:48:21.359> workers Act will finally make these workers Act will
• Actually, now he's talking about the Insurrection Act. The Insurrection Act.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, January 15, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:27.880> 44 considering the wonderful act 44 considering the wonderful act 44 positions
• Senate you know the funding from act Senate you know the funding from act 231<00:32:38.840> um
• the year. million of act 231 funding that the full million of act 231 funding that the full 10<00:47:
• six months in and every dollar of act six months in and every dollar of act 231<00:47:40.680>
• you're at risk of lapsing 90% of the ACT you're at risk of lapsing 90% of the ACT 231<00:50:01.440

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > protections An act establishing consumer protections An act establishing consumer protections
• First, a bad act or threat.
• , liable for violating the act, liable for violating the act, a<04:34:58.520> person<04:34
• must act knowingly. must act knowingly.
• referred Senate Bill 492 FN an act referred Senate Bill 492 FN an act authorizing<05:28:53.600><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Act with humility, but act boldly. self-abasement. self-abasement.
• this act to move forward. this act to move forward.
• the Save Minnesota Act, is trying to do. the Save Minnesota Act, is trying to do.
• Save Act gets enacted. Save Act gets enacted.
• Save America Save Minnesota Act. Save America Save Minnesota Act.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• was sort of how it worked with low-income people getting Medicaid, older The Affordable Care Act was
• policies in the Affordable Care Act, there's actually a three-to-one rate ratio.
• The same was true with the Affordable Care Act.
• So the Affordable Care Act saw, you know, it was pretty prevalent; they put that in place.
• So the rebate actually acts as a reduction of MLR, not an increase in the MLR.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
• Thank you for being here. the Minnesota Human Rights Act and we the Minnesota Human Rights Act and we
• Um, there's no exception, for Act.
• Where there are exceptions Rights Act.
• And so the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's where we are today with the Sentencing Reform Act.
• The thing with the Sentencing Reform Act is it took...
• As you know, the act was passed in 2013.
• The Wrongfully Convicted Persons Act is silent on that.
• The wrongfully convicted persons act is silent on that.

Summary: The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims. Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes. The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.