Transcript Highlights:

• This commission was established by Chapter 238 of the Acts of 2024.
• I feel like this commission has been very thorough.
• I feel like this commission has been very thorough.
• I encourage the Commission to take a look at those fees.
• I had that pleasure of being before the commission a couple of the commission meetings ago.

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission studying the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses held what leaders described as its last public hearing, though they said the commission would continue meeting to develop a report and recommendations. Chair Paul Feeney and other members noted the issue is complex and that they had sought testimony from a wide range of stakeholders before moving into a more deliberative phase. The commission adjourned after hearing from several in-person and virtual witnesses. Banking and card-industry witnesses, including the Massachusetts Bankers Association, the Card Coalition, the Electronic Payments Coalition, and others, argued that payment cards provide major benefits to consumers and merchants, including convenience, fraud protection, fast settlement, and broad access to electronic commerce. They warned that state-level changes to interchange rules could create a patchwork of conflicting requirements, disrupt global payment systems, and especially affect state-chartered community banks and small businesses. Several also said recent federal actions and litigation, including OCC and NCUA preemption rules and the Illinois interchange-fee litigation, have limited the practical reach of state laws. Restaurant, retail, and convenience-store witnesses pushed for relief from swipe fees, saying independent businesses operate on thin margins and pay fees on amounts that are not really their revenue, such as sales tax and gratuities. They urged transparency, the ability to surcharge, vendor compensation for tax collection, and limits on interchange or related fees. Some witnesses said merchants bear significant fraud and chargeback costs and that banks and card networks have not offered enough direct relief. Commissioners asked questions about surcharging, fee regulation, fraud, and whether industry should share more of the burden. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond adjourning the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• we come to the legislature with the legislative budget request, those are vetted through budget commissions
• The vast majority of the funds are allocated by the trial Court Budget Commission, which is one of our
• and consistency in the data that we are getting from our problem, solving courts and the budget Commission
• It also addresses domestic security issues that we face every day.
• Next, our turn to violence, prevention and domestic security.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Commission. Commission.
• </c> sympathetic with I'm on the commission. sympathetic with I'm on the commission.
• </c> Gaming Commission. Gaming Commission.
• Um, so I I Commission for a reason.
• </c> Charitable Gaming Commission. Charitable Gaming Commission.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They formed their own commission to look at the feasibility of Pappas, but I knew what that commission
• Chairman, to the other commission.
• What this commission is charged with doing, and why the Legislature adopted this commission...
• was a shutdown commission.
• back to the commission.

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The hearing focused on the future of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, with commissioners, agency officials, workers, and families describing the hospital as a unique integrated setting combining medical care, rehabilitation, education, residential services, and adaptive engineering. Opening remarks from legislators emphasized continued budget funding, the legal requirement that Pappas not close before the commission reports, and a request to extend the commission’s deadline. Several commissioners and witnesses argued that admissions have effectively been curtailed while discharges continue, creating what they described as a de facto closure. Union leaders from AFSCME, SEIU, and the Massachusetts Nurses Association said staff are experiencing uncertainty, morale problems, and loss of confidence because referrals are being discouraged and the census is shrinking. They urged immediate action to stop admission denials and unnecessary discharges, and some proposed temporary modular units or other short-term investments to restore admissions while longer-term plans are developed. Parents and former patients testified that Pappas provided life-changing opportunities and supports that they could not find elsewhere, and that alternative programs or proposed Western Massachusetts options would not meet the same needs. Department of Public Health Commissioner Robert Goldstein said the administration supports keeping Pappas open and stable during the commission’s work, but argued that admissions must comply with hospital-level-of-care rules and that the campus’s deteriorating infrastructure limits who can be safely served. He said DPH is continuing admissions where appropriate, backfilling staff, and exploring ways to expand services, including outpatient therapies and adaptive engineering, while also acknowledging that Pappas is a one-of-a-kind system with no true in-state duplicate. Commissioners requested de-identified admissions and denial data and continued to press the department on whether the current operational changes amount to a silent closure.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the CDCR peace officers are not a part of the Commission on POST.
• So the CDCR peace officers are not a part of the commission on post. they part of the commission on post
• But that’s regulated by the Commission on POST, was my understanding.
• And that’s the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
• And so the security issues will bleed into Coleman, but it will be with a collaboration with CDCR.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• IN JANUARY, THE OFFICE OF ELECTION CRIMES AND SECURITY SENT US THEIR REPORT ON THE 2024 ELECTION.
• THE OFFICE OF ELECTION CRIMES AND SECURITY CONCLUDES THEIR LONG DETAILED REPORT BY SAYING THE CURRENT
• PETITION FORMS WILL INCLUDE DRIVERS LICENSE NUMBER OR LAST FOUR DIGITS OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND
• WHICH IS WHY THE OFFICE OF ELECTION OF SECURITY WOULD BE THE ONES TO DO THE INVESTIGATION AS OPPOSED
• INSTEAD IN THAT COUNTY ALONE THE OFFICE OF ELECTION CRIMES AND SECURITY HAS A LOOK AT SEEING WHY THAT

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think it'd be a better approach to say that if there's any extra money, the Water Commission has
• with the high-level radioactive ...added requires approval of the North Dakota Industrial Commission
• Well, Madam President, Senate Bill 251 deals with our North Dakota Private Investigative and Security
• Madam President, Senate Bill 2023 is the Racing Commission budget.
• Madam President, Senate Bill 2022 is the budget for the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum present and handled a mix of conference committee appointments, appropriations bills, policy bills, and House amendments. Early in the session, the chamber appointed conference committees for SB 2399 and for House-amended SBs 2213 and 2354, and also named conference committees for HB 103, HB 1308, and HB 1169. The Senate then took up several appropriations measures, including HB 1612, which creates the North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at UND; the Senate adopted an amendment shifting the funding to a one-time $250,000 Community Health Trust Fund appropriation with a required $250,000 match from other sources, and the bill passed 39-7. HB 1193, the “Back the Blue” grant, was amended to make the funding one-time and focus on officer retention, then passed 41-5. HB 1329, a government spending database proposal for school districts, was amended into a legislative study and passed 42-4. HB 1020, the water budget, received extensive amendments reducing and reallocating funding across major water projects, adding studies and oversight changes, and passed 45-0 with the emergency clause. HB 1581, a tribal tourism grant, also passed 40-6. The Senate rejected HB 1330, which would have authorized divestment from direct investments in Chinese companies; after debate over the prudent investor rule, trade impacts, and whether the bill singled out one nation in law, it failed 20-26. HB 1534, limiting property valuation increases, and HB 1266, adjusting the disabled veterans property tax credit, both failed unanimously or nearly so after committee recommendations against them. HB 1566, which would have created a regulatory framework for a product discussed as kratom, was amended on the floor to convert it into a study and then passed 31-15. The chamber also passed HB 2241 on charter schools after a House amendment changed the funding formula to the statewide average from the prior year, and HB 2022, the indigent legal counsel budget, after House changes added funding flexibility, offset lost fee revenue, and included a study on a public defender office. The Senate concurred in several House amendments and then passed a number of Senate bills. SB 2375, allowing joint negotiations between dental providers and insurers under Attorney General oversight, passed 44-2. SB 2251, clarifying that open records requests during state audits should be referred to the audited agency, passed 46-0. SB 2159, related to nuclear energy research, passed 43-3 after House amendments required Industrial Commission approval and consultation with the radioactive waste advisory council. SB 2155, changing gratis antelope license rules, passed 30-16 after debate over landowner rights and tag distribution. SB 251, setting fees and an audit for the Private Investigative and Security Board, passed 44-2. SB 2280, the prior authorization health insurance bill, passed 43-3 with a House-added study and consumer protections. SB 2023, the Racing Commission budget, passed 41-5 after a House change made internship funding one-time. SB 2232, changing prenatal substance exposure reporting requirements and related toxicology rules, passed 44-2. SB 2241, authorizing public charter schools, passed 39-7. The session ended while the Senate was still processing SB 2022’s final passage vote, but the bill had already cleared concurrence on House amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the Gaming Control Commission is requesting four positions for illegal gaming enforcement.
• And the Gaming Control Commission is requesting four positions for illegal gaming enforcement.
• So our division of security is very forward-thinking and taking care of that as well.
• Our securities director passed away in December. So we have filled her position internally.
• , and to the Florida Gaming Control Commission.

Summary: The subcommittee met to review agency vacancy reports and agency-requested budget reductions, with Chair Lopez framing the discussion around stewardship of taxpayer dollars, agency efficiency, and whether long-vacant positions should be cut or repurposed. Members were given vacancy summaries and asked to focus on how agencies are functioning with current staffing, which positions are mission critical, and whether some vacancies reflect market pay issues, re-engineering of work, or true excess capacity. The chair also noted that agency heads had been asked to provide follow-up information on current openings, average vacancy duration, mission-critical roles, and reasons for vacancies. The Department of Revenue was the first major agency reviewed because it had the largest number of vacancies. Its leadership said vacancies had improved from pandemic-era highs due to market pay adjustments, but that some areas—especially general tax and audit—still had long-term openings. The department explained that some positions are intentionally frozen while work is restructured, that it hires above minimum salary in some cases to stay competitive, and that it is using automation and process changes to reduce backlogs. Members raised concerns about vacancies outside Leon County, out-of-state auditor positions, salary compression, and whether the department should provide a list of frozen positions and the salaries actually needed to recruit. The Department of Financial Services said its long vacancies were concentrated in risk management, law enforcement, and the general counsel’s office, where salaries and competition from private employers and other agencies make hiring difficult. DFS said it was using outside vendors in some areas, had reduced vacancies in its general counsel office significantly, and was willing to identify positions that could be cut, including some from treasury and OAT. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation reported progress in lowering vacancies through statewide recruiting, centralized legal hiring, automation in service operations, and leadership changes in alcoholic beverages and tobacco; it said one recommended cut could be achieved by combining two half-time positions. The Florida Lottery reported a low vacancy rate, said all positions were critical, and explained its longer onboarding time due to extensive background checks; members discussed sales reps, incentives, and the agency’s field-office structure. The Office of Financial Regulation said many of its vacancies were already in the hiring pipeline, with recent vacancies tied to promotions, a death, and internal moves, and noted that it often serves as a training ground for federal agencies. The Office of Insurance Regulation, which had a high vacancy rate concentrated in Leon County, said it had been reducing vacancies from a much higher level and was still working through hiring and administrative constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:26.840><c> Personnel</c> staff Troopers house security Personnel staff Troopers house security
• </c><00:24:51.080><c> our</c> Statewide we must secure ensure that our Statewide we must secure ensure
• Let us all work together to secure freedom, fairness, and equality in our constitution.
• The National Health Service of the UK commissioned Dr.
• The National Health Service of the UK commissioned Dr.

Bills: HF1837 , HF361 , HF2725 , HF2566 , HF2744 , HF1685 , HF501 , HF1889 , HF1389

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: state policy, employment, health insurance, fossil designation, public funds, community resources, Capitol Mall, grantmaking, community vitality, livability, funding, healthy aging, aging policy, older adults, seniors, elderly, gerontology, long-term care, assisted living, nursing homes

Transcript Highlights:

• We believe an equitable California begins with abundant, secure, and affordable housing.
• to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission.
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
• It's vital to keep them here, not only for data security, but for national security reasons as well.
• I know this from projects that I worked on before the Coastal Commission, where the Coastal Commission

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It happens, no disrespect to the Building Standards Commission, at times.
• At the Building Standards Commission at times.
• I think it's notable that the Little Hoover Commission has sent in a support letter for SB 886.
• I think it's notable that the Little Hoover Commission has sent in a support letter for SB 886.
• The Little Hoover report was referenced, and I spoke in front of the Little Hoover Commission.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on SB 868, the Plug and Play Solar Act, which would streamline approvals for portable plug-in solar devices while setting safety standards. The author and supporters argued the bill would help renters and homeowners with high electricity bills by allowing low-cost balcony solar systems to reduce monthly costs, and they emphasized that the devices would not feed power back to the grid. Supporters included environmental and consumer groups, solar advocates, and many members of the public. Opponents, including electrical workers, firefighters, utilities, and PG&E, raised concerns about shock, fire, overloading, and the need for California-specific building standards. After discussion, the author agreed to committee amendments and later to add compliance with the California Electrical Code in addition to the National Electrical Code; several opponents said that change would move them to neutral. The committee then voted to pass SB 868 out as amended to Senate Judiciary, with some members expressing support while reserving concerns about safety as the bill moves forward. The committee then took up SB 886, dealing with data center electricity use and ratepayer protections. The author said the bill is intended to prevent large data centers from shifting grid and infrastructure costs onto other customers, citing rapid growth in data center demand and examples from other states. Supporters, including TURN and climate groups, said the bill would require data centers to pay for their own grid impacts, pre-fund long-term clean energy resources, participate in demand response, and cover related costs. Opponents from the data center industry, tech and business groups, utilities, and some energy users argued the bill was unnecessary, could duplicate CPUC processes, and could create discriminatory rate treatment or operational problems, especially around mandatory demand response and limits on backup generation. Committee staff described amendments narrowing the bill to large data centers, clarifying tariff and cost-allocation provisions, replacing a storage requirement with a long-term zero-carbon procurement mechanism, and exempting certain public and utility facilities. Members discussed the balance between affordability, reliability, and clean energy, with the bill framed as a way to protect ratepayers while allowing data center growth.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what's a commissioned officer?
• OK, so to get this straight, a commissioned officer can carry a gun?
• Want these commissioned officers to be able to carry a gun to go vote?
• Other non-commissioned officers that Don't have a commission, I guess, but aren't certified to carry
• One of them was fatal. from the commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• meeting for the purpose of reviewing and recommending contracts for the Wyoming Water Development Commission
• So, again, you know, we as a group, Select Water Commission, met back in March, May, August, November
• </c> started as the office and the commission started as the office and the commission on<00:01:59.360
• </c><00:08:52.800><c> on</c> final approval by the commission on final approval by the commission on
• And again, commissioning commissioning commissioning that<00:15:44.639><c> we've</c><00:15:44.959><c>

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Part of it is just to ensure our security.
• Even though we were funding the commission We didn't have a commission meeting for about six years.
• But Just recently, at the last game commission meeting, just prior to the game commission meeting, I
• We have one vacancy on the commission.
• Commission appointments.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I got this from the railroad commission. I knew somebody over there and I went over.
• Is the drilling also significant so that this commission that makes the decisions on where to spend the
• So we're trying to, the railroad commission is trying to plug those wells as fast as they can, but we're
• The um Grow Texas Fund commission, is it, um, will it be intended that the commission itself will prioritize
• I think if we give them that chance, uh, they're gonna secure our energy future for, for generations

Bills: HB188 , HB 265 , HJR35

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: emergency preparedness, flood-prone communities, Texas Rural Emergency Preparedness Fund, disaster relief, funding, youth camp, safety regulations, advisory committee, child welfare, health standards, summer camp, camp safety, child abuse reporting, child neglect, mandatory reporting, background check, criminal history check, sex offender registry, CPR training, first aid

Transcript Highlights:

• This fall, there were a lot of states where their tax commissions or commerce commissions, or whoever
• I had discussions with the Tax Commission and the AG's office in trying to get official guidance, and
• Members of these college sports teams secure higher-level jobs and better pay after graduation than their
• Overnight hours present the highest risk for security incidents and the accumulation of waste and other
• We have security sweeps. We have bomb threats. We have security sweeps that happen regularly.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard several RS drafts and bills, beginning with introductions that were sent to print: RS 33617 on abbreviated newspaper legal notices, RS 33591 on off-highway vehicle and snowmobile fund allocations and advisory committee changes, RS 33628 on candidate filing, and RS 33644 to codify the Idaho Child Care Program and add program integrity and oversight provisions. Senate Bill 1349 was announced as not being considered at the sponsor’s request. The committee then advanced multiple bills with due-pass recommendations, including SB 1348, which revises the prior arrangement for the Cordillera Skeet and Trap Club project and allows Idaho Fish and Game to use Pittman-Robertson funds for an alternate shooting range location near Farragut State Park; SB 1350, which provides cash-rounding guidance for cash transactions now that pennies are no longer being minted; and SB 1351, which would bar reappointment of a gubernatorial nominee rejected by the Senate for one year and require vacancies to be filled within 90 days or before the next session. SB 1359, a cryptocurrency kiosk fraud-prevention bill aimed at protecting seniors and other vulnerable Idahoans from scams and money laundering, was sent to the 14th order for possible amendment after testimony from the sponsor, AARP, law enforcement, and others. The committee also heard and passed Senate Joint Memorial 114, calling on Congress to address college athletics issues such as NIL, revenue sharing, conference realignment, and the financial instability facing Idaho universities and smaller athletic programs. Testimony came from Boise State leadership, Lewis-Clark State, and the State Board of Education, all emphasizing the economic and institutional importance of college sports and the need for federal standards. Finally, House Bill 603, which amends Idaho law to restrict overnight camping on state-owned Capitol Mall property while allowing certain canopies and rule-based exceptions, drew strong testimony both for and against; supporters framed it as a time, place, and manner regulation for safety and access, while opponents warned it would trigger more litigation. The committee approved HB 603 on a do-pass vote, with Senator Ruchti recorded as voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• Security um. What are the things called when you go through airport security?
• I served on the Austin Arts Commission, and we had grant programs and of course it's very flexible.
• In the '86 legislative session, money was appropriated to the commission for the construction of new
• HB 1480 does not increase funding to the commission.
• It does not create a new responsibility for the commission.

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• So we start on page 747 with the Charter Public School Commission.
• We also have asked the governor for more security contractors.
• It's about a 12% increase on our security software.
• So this amount is just the increase for our Microsoft security.
• On page 76 is the Appellate Judicial Commission Core.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 37:23.760><c> uh</c><01:37:24.080><c> says</c> regulatory commission finally uh says regulatory commission
• Jessica Simon with the Public Utilities Commission.
• We have been in 10 biofuel proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission.
• </c> before the public utilities commission. before the public utilities commission.
• It is just as bad or maybe worse. fuels to improve energy security and fuels to improve energy security

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered three measures. SB 1602 would appropriate funds to DLNR for monitoring wells for the Koho aquifer system; DLNR and HHFDC supported it, and written testimony from several organizations and individuals was also in support. Members asked whether monitoring wells are a statewide function rather than a county function, and staff confirmed they are done statewide. The second bill was an administration measure clarifying that criminal water pollution enforcement remains with the Department of Health rather than DLNR. The Attorney General’s office said it was a cleanup clarification and that DOH has stronger enforcement powers and better testing capability; DOH and DLNR supported it, and there was no opposition noted. The final and most heavily debated measure was SB 1074 on environmental impact statements. The bill would let previously authorized or permitted commercial activities continue for up to one year while an agency determines whether environmental review applies after a challenge, and would allow permit renewals during that review. DLNR said it stood on written comments and suggested aligning the bill with similar House language. Supporters, including several ocean tourism and Maui business representatives, argued the bill would provide certainty and keep families and small operators working while environmental review is completed, especially in the wake of the Lahaina fires and ongoing business losses. Some supporters said the measure should be narrowed with a sunset or limited to recently renewed permits. Opponents, including the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, and other environmental advocates, argued the bill was overly broad and could weaken HEPA/NEPA-style environmental review, especially for fisheries and other commercial activities. They said the bill could be used as a “Trojan horse” to avoid review and that DLNR could resolve the underlying disputes more quickly through settlement or existing exemption processes. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It decreases funding appropriated to the Criminal Justice Training Commission for the implementation
• This would eliminate funding for the Columbia River Gorge Commission.
• And also simultaneously afraid of this commission. So basically like a federal agency almost.
• And I would just say that... ...of the Charter School Commission, as you do.
• And this is one for the Charter School Commission. And I think we should be consistent.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met in executive session on a proposed substitute operating budget bill and worked through a long series of amendments before voting on the bill. Members discussed a wide range of budget items, including court funding for Thurston County civil filings, Attorney General funding for a domestic extremism task force, grants for Yakima aquatics access, North Mason mobile integrated health, mentoring programs, poverty reduction work, a proposed Department of Housing task force, federal grant inventory staffing, HEAL Act funding, assisted living rebasing, DCYF family resource centers and pediatric interim care, law enforcement training and equipment, shellfish and birthing center licensing fees, school bus depreciation, charter school accountability, transition to kindergarten priorities, and several Fish and Wildlife and OSPI grants. The committee also considered amendments related to the Columbia River Gorge Commission, shrub-steppe habitat mitigation, and a study on Lower Snake River reservoir drawdown impacts. Debate on many amendments centered on whether items were statewide priorities or local projects, and on the fiscal constraints of the budget. Supporters often argued that proposals would protect vulnerable populations, improve public safety, or leverage future savings and outside funding; opponents frequently cited budget pressure, the availability of existing funding, or the need to avoid singling out local projects. Some amendments were adopted, including Clark 343 on intent to fund up to 10,000 additional eCAP slots, Jones 419 on paint stewardship funding, and Stevens 070 limiting birthing center license fees. Many others failed, including amendments on Thurston County court funding, the domestic extremism task force, Yakima aquatics, North Mason mobile integrated health, mentoring, poverty reduction workgroup funding, the Department of Housing task force, federal grant staffing, HEAL Act funding, assisted living rebasing, the PIC Center contract, the Lacey regional training academy, and several Fish and Wildlife and OSPI-related proposals. The committee then moved to the underlying bill, Proposed Substitute House Bill 2289, and adopted a do pass motion after disposing of the amendments. The transcript indicates the committee ultimately reported the bill out of committee with a do pass recommendation.