Transcript Highlights:

• The initial monitoring that was started in 2010, and now we're monitoring to see whether this works.
• :34.200> see 2010 and now we're monitoring to see 2010 and now we're monitoring to see whether
• Monitoring around the state.
• Today we have what some people call a world-class monitoring system.
• <01:12:33.199> networks uh we have ambient monitoring networks uh we have ambient monitoring

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• systems or traffic control violation monitoring systems, or photo speed monitoring systems, upon completion
• So it's basically making it easier for people to get speeding tickets with photo monitoring devices?
• Also provides that a state or local law enforcement agency may operate photo speed monitoring devices
• This limits the photo speed monitoring devices in highway work zones...
• This limits the photo speed monitoring devices in highway work zones to where workers are present, as

Keywords: House Committee Room B, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next proposed change is to remove all of the language from the bylaws regarding electronic meetings
• meeting policies go, while electronic meeting statutory allowances and requirements.
• And one of the requirements that has always been there is that boards are required to have an electronic
• So as you were speaking and going through, I had noted that we would need to draft an electronic meeting
• And then you spoke into the electronic meeting policy, which was off my radar in terms of meeting to

Keywords: Virginia Commission for the Arts Board Meeting, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These next two, uh, related to hours of service limitation and electronic logging, those are just, uh
• And actually if you have the electronic copy of our uh presentation uh down there in the lower right
• service limitation and electronic service limitation and electronic logging,<00:08:49.920> those
• And actually if you have the<00:09:56.959> electronic<00:09:57.600> copy<00:09:57.920><
• c> of<00:09:58.160> our<00:09:58.800> uh the electronic copy of our uh the electronic

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Transportation approved the minutes from its September 16 meeting and then heard a presentation from Jason Sawala, deputy state highway engineer with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, on rest areas and truck parking. He described Kentucky’s system of eight welcome centers, 14 rest areas, and four truck havens, and said the Cabinet spent just over $12 million in fiscal year 2025 to operate and maintain those facilities. He also explained that the Cabinet’s truck parking study found truck parking demand has increased 24% since 2012, driven by just-in-time delivery, stricter hours-of-service and electronic logging requirements, and fewer drivers. Sawala said the study looked not only at Cabinet-owned facilities but also private truck stops and lots, and identified unmet parking demand across the state, especially at 1:00 a.m. He noted that 11 sites, mostly existing rest areas, weigh stations, or welcome centers, were identified as promising expansion locations, with estimated project costs in the $30 million to $36 million range in 2022 dollars. He said the Cabinet is working on design and project development for those sites and is seeking federal funding opportunities where available. Members raised concerns about safety, congestion, and trucks parking on ramps or in residential areas, and several asked about funding, charging for parking, and whether autonomous vehicles might reduce future demand. Sawala said the 820 public rest-area spaces are marked spaces only, that he was not aware of any state charging for public truck parking, and that federal programs can help fund some expansions. He also said he was not aware of local-government parking programs offhand but would look into it. Members generally emphasized the importance of truck parking for safety, commerce, and avoiding burdens on local communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're intending to testify and you haven't filled out an electronic affirmation at the kiosk in the
• So what we're trying to do with this bill is allow victims to send notice through electronic methods
• The bill directs DPS to electronically identify eligible records, so they're going to go through the
• Or by use of an electronic device capable of recording sound.
• This will require a stenographic recording, it says, or electronic.

Bills: HB285, HB795, HB1795, HB1871, HB2407, HB2461, HB2695, HB3507, HB4911, HB200

Keywords: animal cruelty, nonlivestock, prosecution, veterinary defense, animal welfare, aggravated assault, penal code, public servant, deadly weapon, mass shooting, Penal Code, penalties, felony, Texas Penal Code, felony enhancement, first-degree felony, second-degree felony, violent crime, assault punishment, serious bodily injury

Transcript Highlights:

• I wanted to ask you, Superintendent, regarding the monitoring on Canvas.
• I've not used Canvas, so how do you know that, or how do you monitor the Canvas program to make sure
• You know, that's probably one of the challenges: if they're on their own cell service, to monitor that
• It's really tough to monitor, but our staff does a really good job of trying to keep track of what's
• During free time, during athletics, during sports, it's really tough to monitor, but our staff does a

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met to review Florida’s cell phone and social media literacy law, with Representative Brad Yeager describing the 2023 policy as aimed at removing classroom distractions and teaching students how to use social media responsibly. He said the law was intended to keep phones out of classrooms unless used for instruction, require social media literacy education, and limit access to certain sites on school Wi-Fi and government devices. Yeager said feedback since passage has been mixed: many teachers support it and some have adopted inexpensive shoe-organizer or pouch systems, but implementation varies by school and administrator enforcement. He said he is not currently pursuing a broader statewide mandate. Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez and Timber Creek High School Principal Mr. Wasco described Orange County’s approach as bell-to-bell phone restrictions, while Pasco County’s Dr. Zetchy described a similar policy with some flexibility during lunch or passing periods at the high school level. Both districts said the policy was implemented with parent communication, town halls, surveys, and transition periods, and that concerns about emergencies were addressed by allowing phones to be returned at the end of the day and by establishing procedures for parent contact. They reported few theft problems and said discipline issues related to phones have generally been manageable, though some teachers still struggle with enforcement or with students trying to evade the rules. A major portion of the discussion focused on social media literacy instruction. Orange County said it uses counselor-led programs, Canvas courses, resiliency days, and curriculum materials to teach students about cyberbullying, human trafficking, privacy, and the permanence of online posts, with progress tracked through the learning platform. Pasco said it has some resiliency modules but lacks a fully built-out, pre-made social media curriculum and would welcome more guidance from DOE, especially for high school classrooms where instructional time is limited. Members also asked about student anxiety, 504/IEP accommodations, caregiver students, and parent education; the districts said exceptions are handled through school committees and that parent academies and district resources are being used to help families set boundaries and understand the risks and benefits of phones and social media. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we'll be able to pay for staffing, training, equipment, medical monitoring, and safety.
• Are you monitoring and tracking that?
• Some of that is monitoring by the entity with us checking their stuff.
• That's the actual monitoring well.
• There were some monitoring wells installed back in the 90s to determine this.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill reaffirms that protected speech cannot be monitored or tracked by the government.
• This bill reaffirms that protected speech cannot be monitored or tracked by the government.
• This bill reaffirms that protected speech cannot be monitored or tracked by the government.
• This bill reaffirms that protected speech cannot be monitored or tracked by the government.
• We have seen past attempts to establish government-run databases to monitor so-called bias incidents.

Bills: HF414, HF768, HF359

Keywords: data practices, filing fee, government transparency, complaints, public access, free speech, human rights, censorship, protected speech, Minnesota Department of Human Rights, real property, partition, eminent domain, transfer on death deeds, property rights, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Step seven is performance and monitoring close-out.
• Performance and monitoring close-out, the step seven.
• We monitor if they have a total project cost of $10 million or more.
• budget, monitor procurement... ...proper policy standards, monitor budget, monitor procurement, but
• We have to monitor that best product.

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:

• Among other adjustments, this bill allows the DIR to take payment by electronic funds transfer, makes
• Assembly Concurrent Resolution 216 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez and others relative to Electronic
• Let June be loud, let it be proud, and let us recognize and celebrate electronic dance music today and
• I'm proud to introduce an iconic duo of artists in electronic dance music, Derek Anderson and Scott Land
• Slander is a Grammy-nominated electronic music duo with deep roots here in California.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, as you know, by the way, I should say I turned in testimony electronically on Wednesday, so I assume
• Uh, as you know, by the way, I should say I turned in testimony electronically on Wednesday, so I assume
• Uh, as you know, by the way, I should say I turned in testimony electronically on Wednesday, so I assume
• Uh, as you know, by the way, I should say I turned in testimony electronically on Wednesday, so I assume
• electronically on Wednesday, so<00:37:20.800> I<00:37:20.960> I<00:37:21.200> assume

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, approving the consent calendar and the minutes. It then took up a Department of Employment Security rule, 24193, where the only issue was that a form had not been incorporated by reference. The department submitted an oral conditional approval request with revised language, and the committee approved the rule conditionally. A second Employment Security rule, 195, raised concerns that the notice language was too broad and vague and could amount to oral rulemaking; because the agency had not yet finalized revised language, the committee granted a one-month waiver so the rule could return next month with a conditional approval proposal. The Department of Safety’s contact person notification program rule, 24237, drew comments about Social Security number collection, unclear drafting on one section, and ambiguity about which application needed a signature. The agency agreed to remove Social Security number references from the rules and forms and to adopt the suggested clarifying language with minor edits. After discussion about why the identifiers were needed, the committee approved the rule conditionally with the oral changes. The committee then moved a previously consent-calendar item, OPLC rule 2547, off consent after Representative Maguire objected that the renewal application form was too health-care-focused and user-unfriendly for other professions; the agency said it would revisit the form, and the committee postponed action until next month without needing a waiver. The final major item was Fish and Game’s HB 2548, which changes licensing and permit rules for taking deer, bear, moose, turkey, and furbearing animals. Staff noted extensive public testimony, including a coalition submission, and said the main dispute was over what data the agency should rely on in setting seasons and take limits. Fish and Game explained that declining trapper participation made capture-per-unit-effort data less reliable, so it also uses hunter surveys and UNH research projects funded in part by federal money; the agency said current trapping removals are very low and do not appear to threaten populations. Committee members and public witnesses questioned whether the agency’s responses to comments were sufficiently specific under the new public-comment law, but no final vote on the Fish and Game rule was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Becca Kramer-Mauder, with Kaiser Advocacy, on behalf of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, in respectful
• Becca Kramer-Mauder, with Kaiser Advocacy, on behalf of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, in respectful
• And for all these reasons, Electronic Frontier Foundation must respectfully urge the committee's no vote
• But that is what we would propose from the Electronic Frontier Foundation and some of the other privacy
• Becca Kramer-Mauder, with Kaiser Advocacy, on behalf of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Consumer

Summary: The committee heard several privacy and consumer protection bills, with most of the discussion focused on AI and social media. AB 1405 would create a state registry for AI auditors and set basic transparency, ethics, and qualification standards for those auditors; supporters said it would build trust and provide a foundation for future AI oversight, while some members questioned whether government should define auditor qualifications instead of industry groups. The bill was moved out on a 5-1 vote to Appropriations, with the roll left open. AB 2, by Assemblymember Lowenthal, would impose enhanced financial penalties on large social media companies when their negligence causes harm to children and teens. Supporters, including a grieving parent and Common Sense Media, argued the bill would create accountability for harmful algorithms and design choices, while opponents from TechNet, EFF, CCIA, and CalChamber warned it was vague, could chill speech, invite censorship, and raise Section 230 and First Amendment concerns. Committee members debated private right of action versus public enforcement, possible shakedown lawsuits, and whether the bill should be narrowed; the bill passed 6-0 to Judiciary with the roll left open. AB 410 would expand California’s bot disclosure law so bots must identify themselves up front and truthfully if asked, rather than only prohibiting deceptive bots in limited commercial or election contexts. Supporters said the measure would help users, especially youth and vulnerable people, know when they are interacting with AI and reduce deception online; one privacy group withdrew opposition after amendments, and other industry groups said they were no longer opposed or had no formal position. The bill passed 9-1 to Appropriations with the roll left open. The committee also approved AB 1327, which lets consumers cancel home improvement contracts by email instead of only by mail and requires phone assistance for cancellations; the Contractor State License Board withdrew opposition after amendments, and the bill passed 11-0 to Judiciary with the roll left open.

Transcript Highlights:

• hand recount on the request of 100 registered voters in one city, town, or municipality that uses electronic
• <00:13:26.600> uh municipality uh that uses electronic uh municipality uh that uses electronic
• RSA 652:42, the way I read that statute is that's the Ballot Law Commission's rules on approving electronic
• law commission's rules<00:29:53.360> on<00:29:53.960> approving<00:29:54.960> electronic
• <00:29:55.519> ballot rules on approving electronic ballot rules on approving electronic ballot

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• significant modernization initiative that the agency has been developing, which is the Bluegrass Books electronic
• Before diving into the specifics of Bluegrass Books, let me briefly explain what an electronic poll book
• An electronic poll book is a digital system that replaces traditional paper poll books at voting locations
• welcome to a workflow demonstration of the Bluegrass Books, the Kentucky State Board of Elections electronic

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:14 Approval of Minutes 00:00:40 State Board of Elections 00:00:56, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met to hear an update from the State Board of Elections on its Bluegrass Books electronic poll book system. Rachel Pointer and Richard House described the project as an in-house modernization effort intended to improve security, customization, integration with the voter registration system, reduce voter wait times, streamline supplemental and provisional ballot processing, and provide year-round local support to county clerks and poll workers. They emphasized that the system is already a working product, not just a concept, and showed a workflow demonstration of voter lookup, signature capture, ballot issuance, manual lookup, and handling voters who have already voted. The agency also outlined the financial rationale for the project, saying the state currently lacks dedicated funding for replacing the iPads used for election-day poll books and that counties now bear vendor maintenance and support costs. Under Bluegrass Books, the state would seek to cover hardware replacement, maintenance, and on-site support through future appropriations, potentially using bulk purchasing to lower costs. When asked about the size of the appropriation request, the presenters said it was not yet finalized but noted roughly 7,000 devices are deployed statewide and replacement would likely be phased rather than done all at once. Members asked about security and whether the e-poll book could affect vote totals. The Board explained that the e-poll book is separate from ballot casting, that voting machines themselves are not connected to the internet, and that the poll book is networked only to update check-ins and prevent double voting. They said the device is locked down to the poll book application and can operate offline until connectivity returns. A member also asked how to recruit more poll workers; the response suggested higher pay is the main incentive, along with outreach to schools, community colleges, and possible pilot programs involving professionals. The meeting concluded without any votes or formal action beyond approval of minutes, and the next meeting was announced for January 29, weather permitting.

Transcript Highlights:

• From today's posting, please register at the electronic kiosk outside the hearing room.
• Current statute states that the working papers and electronic communications, for example, emails and
• still uncertainty within the... ...issue appropriately, an exception for these working papers and electronic
• employees and communications of the Railroad Commission under the current SOA Working Papers and Electronic

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the code actually says for this manual audit, it is to ensure the accuracy of the tabulation of electronic
• If you go to the next page, it shows the electronic results of that precinct, 409, and looky there.
• The best thing is to keep it at precinct level granularity so you can catch and compare the electronic
• manufacturing process and account, you would have gone, well, they voted in Florence and it's not on the electronic

Bills: HB223

Keywords: municipal budget, county budget, local government finance, spending cap, expenditure limit, inflation plus population growth, taxpayer impact statement, budget transparency, property tax, fees, Legislative Budget Board, voter approval, disaster spending, fiscal restraint, Texas Local Government Code, city budget, county expenditures, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is because not all agencies receive them electronically.
• House Bill 2328 would modernize the expunction process by making electronic service free to the filer
• and requiring state and local agencies to accept electronic service whenever possible.
• A standardized $25 fee per entity for cases where electronic service is not available ensures a more

Bills: HB115, HB 115, HB507, HB1765, HB1847, HB2046, HB2239, HB2328, HB2309, HB2417, HB2728, HB2794, HB3206, HB3566, HB3694, HB3744, HB4254, HB4697, HB4733, HB4915, HB5465, HB2813

Keywords: public funds, lobbying, political subdivision, government spending, transparency, HB 115, taxpayer-funded lobbying, local government lobbying, county association dues, municipal lobbying, lobbyist registration, Chapter 305, Government Code Section 556.0056, Local Government Code Section 89.002, county government, city government, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, state association of counties, sheriffs association

Transcript Highlights:

• We need all electrons, and we need them at a fast rate, to meet the growing demand from AI, to meet the
• We have got to bring a lot more electrons to the grid.
• And we need them all, because we need more electrons.
• The electrons don't know how they're generated, so. Thank you, thank you very much.

Keywords: nominations, Undersecretary of Energy, Undersecretary of Science, Preston Griffith, Dario Gil, energy policy, scientific innovation

Summary: The meeting was convened to discuss several significant nominations, particularly focusing on Preston Wills Griffith III for Undersecretary of Energy and Dr. Dario Gil for Undersecretary of Science. The committee underscored the importance of these roles in shaping American energy policy and scientific innovation. The discussion highlighted the nominees' backgrounds, with Griffith having extensive experience at the Department of Energy and the White House, and Gil bringing expertise in quantum technology and energy research. Members expressed a strong desire to understand the nominees' perspectives on current challenges facing the energy sector, including regulatory mandates and national security concerns. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ensuring thorough evaluations of the candidates and their proposed approaches to pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• performance, including performance provisions in contracts and monitoring contractors.
• For practice, too, monitor progress toward plan goals and objectives and communicate results to keep
• three, ensure an agency's programs align with the agency's strategic plan goals, objectives, and monitor
• And they should monitor, manage program performance through monitoring and evaluation.
• Finally, for practice four, include performance provisions in contracts and grant agreements and monitor

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s Initiative 900 subcommittee held a hybrid public hearing on two State Auditor performance audits. The first audit examined efforts to reduce non-emergency use of emergency systems through CARES programs. Auditors reported that Washington has 52 fire-agency-led CARES programs in 26 counties, but many communities without programs said they need one. Major barriers included unstable funding, difficulty hiring qualified staff, volunteer-based rural departments, and lack of statewide guidance. The audit also found that only about half of programs tracked both required performance measures, and it recommended that the legislature consider private insurance reimbursement options and convene a statewide work group to develop guidance, standards, and possible changes to the role of the Department of Health. Agency representatives and fire officials largely supported the findings and emphasized that short-term grants and one-year contracts make programs hard to sustain. Committee discussion focused heavily on financing, especially Medicaid reimbursement and accountable communities of health (ACHs). Auditors clarified that the 10% figure cited in the report referred to direct Medicaid reimbursement for treat-and-refer services, which some agencies do not pursue because the $115 rate is too low relative to the administrative effort. Several fire officials testified that their programs rely on grants and ACH support, but that funding is often year-to-year and uncertain. They also described the value of CARES programs in reducing emergency room use, jail detentions, and long ambulance wait times, while noting barriers to sharing patient records across systems. Members asked whether the new public safety sales tax authority could help, but fire district representatives said it is not a direct funding option for them. The second audit reviewed performance management in the Department of Commerce’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness. Auditors found that the division does not yet have a statewide economic development strategic plan and that performance management is inconsistent across its 16 programs. In a limited review, all six sampled programs had goals, but only half clearly identified performance measures and targets, and only three tracked outcomes and published results. The audit highlighted leading practices from other states, including strategic planning, regular progress reporting, aligning program goals with agency goals, and using performance-based contracts and grant monitoring. Recommendations urged Commerce to seek stakeholder input, assess internal and external conditions, set goals and measures, align programs with the strategy, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation. Commerce officials agreed with the audit and said the division is already working toward a strategic plan, with a new assistant director to be hired and a target of completing the work by mid-next year. Members pressed the department on how the plan would connect to workforce, higher education, housing, and other economic development systems, and asked Commerce to return to JLARC next year with progress updates. The meeting ended with instructions for submitting written public comments and notice of the next JLARC meeting schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• persons self-excluded from gambling include procedures that allow a person to submit requests electronically
• Requires such procedures to ensure parity between electronic and non-electronic requests with respect

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee, chaired for the day by Senator John Liu, took up a long agenda of bills covering labor and benefits, corrections, health, taxation, government transparency, and public services. Early measures included increasing short-term disability benefits, adjusting a poverty-level-related earned income disregard, expanding correctional health staffing review, and authorizing the Inspector General to investigate sexual assault complaints in correctional facilities; each of these advanced to the floor. The committee also advanced bills on ovarian cancer screening access, retirement system membership changes, a trail stewardship program, live agency representative access, FOIL/open meetings fee awards, a Harriman campus development plan, court data reporting, educator conventions, park water testing, an energy storage tax abatement, a Native American Affairs office, adult changing tables in public facilities, Medicaid Inspector General audit standards, remote training certification for agency personnel, newborn Gaucher disease testing, electronic self-exclusion requests for gambling, and child daycare inspections and opioid antagonist requirements. Several bills drew discussion. The prescription drug transparency bill (Print 488A) prompted questions about possible overlap with federal Hatch-Waxman/FTC oversight and whether a New York notice requirement could slow generic-drug settlements; sponsors and staff said it was intended as a supplemental transparency measure for consumers. The court reporting bill (Print 1849A) raised concerns about mandates on local governments, but supporters said it mainly required OCA to compile data in one format. The Medicaid local-share phaseout bill (Print 5519) generated the most debate, with supporters arguing it would provide major property tax relief and should be addressed in the budget, while opponents emphasized the need to curb Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse first. Two major fiscal oversight proposals were defeated. Print 8661, which would have required the Comptroller to hire an independent private auditing firm to review state-funded programs for fraud and abuse, was opposed despite support from some members who argued outside auditing was overdue; it failed by one vote. Print 5519 was also ultimately defeated after a recount confirmed it lacked the required majority of the full 22-member committee. Most other bills were approved and sent either to the floor or, in the case of the drug transparency bill, to the Rules Committee.