Transcript Highlights:

• Um, have we looked at or have we done any studies that examine what effect a law such as this one would
• <01:40:29.200> any<01:40:29.400> studies<01:40:29.880> that<01:40:30.000> examine
• <01:40:30.600> what done any studies that examine what done any studies that examine what

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 7 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation from Reverend Chip Stevens of First Baptist Church in Jackson, and recited the pledge of allegiance. The body then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles, and received several guest introductions, including the president of Mississippi University for Women, the physician of the day, and the session’s pages. The main item of business was Senate Bill 2004, the Mississippi PERS Stability Act. Senator Sparks explained that the bill would provide a $500 million infusion to the PERS accumulated employers account on July 1, 2026, followed by $50 million annually for 10 years, with backup funding from unobligated general funds if needed. He said the measure was intended to help address the system’s roughly $26 billion liability and to support both state employees and local government employers, noting that the state had already taken other steps to strengthen PERS. The bill was advanced to engrossed status, read for the third time, and placed on the calendar for final passage. Senator Norwood asked whether the funding would help local governments, and Senator Sparks said it would, because the liability is shared by all employers in the system and affects local balance sheets and bond ratings. Senator Bryan then spoke at length in opposition to the broader direction of retirement policy, criticizing the committee process, the fragmentation of retirement legislation, and what he described as incentives for privatization and unfair treatment of new hires. He said he would still vote for the bill because it sends money into the system, but argued that the state should focus retirement benefits on older retirees and avoid further benefit expansions. Senator Sparks responded that the bill was a necessary cash infusion to honor commitments to employees, stabilize the system, and avoid insolvency, and said more PERS legislation would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're kind of getting ourselves anchored on, you know, our experiences from examining a handful
• , uh our uh anchored on, you know, uh our experiences<01:39:08.639> from<01:39:08.960> examining
• /c><01:39:09.840> uh<01:39:10.000> a<01:39:10.320> handful experiences from examining
• uh a handful experiences from examining uh a handful of<01:39:11.040> DHS<01:39:11.760> programs

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We are examining this very heavily in election law.
• We<02:07:44.079> are<02:07:44.239> examining<02:07:44.639> this<02:07:44.800>
• very<02:07:45.040> heavily<02:07:45.199> in We are examining this very heavily in
• We are examining this very heavily in election<02:07:45.679> law.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met on October 30 to act on a series of House bills that had been moved during the budget process and, in many cases, were already addressed in the state budget. The chair explained that bills covered by the budget would generally be reported inexpedient to legislate, while some others would be placed on the consent calendar or handled separately. Early votes were largely unanimous, including House Bill 54, which would allow alternate treatment centers to operate for profit; the committee voted 25-0 ought to pass and sent it to the consent calendar. The committee then recommended inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 97, a wastewater and infrastructure appropriation bill, because the funding had been replaced in House Bill 2 with $2.5 million in each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Representative Rum opposed the ITL motion, arguing the projects would otherwise burden local property taxpayers and that the funding was important for housing and municipal infrastructure, but the motion passed 14-11. House Bill 111, dealing with the right-to-know ombudsman, was also reported ITL 14-11 on the grounds that the budget already made significant reforms and separate action could create conflicting statutory language. House Bill 164, creating funding for a local government records manager position in the Secretary of State’s office, received a unanimous amendment appropriating $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 and then passed 25-0 ought to pass as amended, moving to the regular calendar. House Bill 197, the Property Tax Relief Act, drew extended debate over whether restoring a state contribution to retirement system costs would reduce local property taxes; supporters framed it as tax relief for municipalities and school districts, while opponents said the effect would be minimal or offset by other retirement-system changes. The committee ultimately voted 14-11 ITL, with a minority report requested. House Bill 215, requiring landfill permit applicants to submit a report on potential harms and benefits, was amended and then passed 25-0 ought to pass as amended. House Bill 216, which would remove a workers’ compensation-related service-credit limit for certain disability retirement cases, was voted ITL 25-0 after the sponsor said the fiscal impact was too uncertain. Finally, House Bill 219, which would redirect renewable portfolio standard funds and was amended to delay its effective date to July 1, 2027, advanced after debate over electricity costs and renewable energy policy; the committee adopted the amendment unanimously and then voted on the bill as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• to a crime lab, be tested with validated methods, and come back with results that survive cross-examination
• His goal in this study was to examine the association between marijuana use and PTSD. ...symptom severity
• We're trying to examine the issues at hand. This bill and see whether it's a bill we want to pass.
• Again, we only carry products that have a QR code on the back that you can look at and examine. what's

Bills: HB5

Keywords: hemp, cannabinoids, regulation, occupational licenses, consumable products, marketing, criminal offenses, labeling requirements, health and safety, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The task force will meet and examine how the state forms strategies, sets goals, and allocates funds
• Uh the task force will meet and examine<00:53:39.520> let's<00:53:39.760> see<00:53:40.559
• > the<00:53:41.359> how<00:53:41.599> the<00:53:41.839> state examine let's
• see the how the state examine let's see the how the state forms<00:53:42.480> strategies<00:53

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• -B conducts an antemortem inspection of each herd on an annual basis, and documentation of that examination
• an annual basis and documents of herd on an annual basis and documents of that<00:28:02.159> examination
• <00:28:04.399> Uh that examination are kept on file.
• Uh that examination are kept on file.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 302, which would update New Hampshire’s solid waste facility background-check law so the state can continue to access federal FBI criminal databases for checks on key owners and officers. Senator Howard Pearl and DES Waste Management Director Mike Whimsatt said the bill is the third attempt to correct prior drafting problems that prevented the FBI from accepting the language. They explained that the existing statute has long required background checks for hazardous and solid waste facility applicants because of concerns about organized crime, but the current wording is too ambiguous for federal use. The bill also includes technical corrections, clarifies which company officers must be checked, specifies which DES officials receive the results, and removes the Department of Justice as an unnecessary middleman. Committee members asked about the purpose of the bill, whether family members are covered, who pays the cost, and whether permits have ever been denied; Whimsatt said the applicant still pays, the checks focus on key officers, and at least one permit had been denied in the past due to a felony conviction. The hearing then closed, with one person listed in favor on the blue sheet and no opposition noted online. The committee then opened Senate Bill 229, which would allow retailers to sell uninspected bison, red deer, and elk meat and remove the sunset on the existing program. Senator Pearl said the bill would expand market opportunities for farmers while keeping labeling and traceability requirements in place, including identifying the meat as uninspected and maintaining records of the source farms. Representative Bixby, who had worked on earlier legislation, explained the current framework in detail: the animals are raised on closed farms, must be fenced, cannot be newly imported, and are subject to annual veterinary herd inspections and recordkeeping. He said the prior bison inspection regime was too burdensome for farmers to maintain, and the current law was intended as a workable compromise. Questions from members focused on how many farms participate, how many animals have been sold, and whether the program posed disease risks; the witness said he did not know the exact numbers, and Bixby said the existing import and fencing rules help prevent chronic wasting disease from entering the state. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the bill was left before the committee for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• board members, correct fee-related statutes, and authorizes the board to administer jurisprudence examinations
• 27.719> Prudence board to administer jurist Prudence board to administer jurist Prudence examinations
• :30.480> you<02:09:30.920> and<02:09:31.360> we<02:09:31.520> have examinations
• thank you and we have examinations thank you and we have Christina<02:09:32.679> Borland<02:09

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a report that was commissioned by us two years ago asking that the system be examined, and
• uh asking that there be the<01:14:07.880> system<01:14:08.159> be<01:14:08.320> examined
• and<01:14:09.400> one<01:14:09.520> of<01:14:09.600> the the system be examined
• and one of the the system be examined and one of the things<01:14:09.920> that<01:14:10.080><

Bills: HF1082, HF1042, HF1295, HF1686, HF1998, HF1775, HF1163

Keywords: public safety, law enforcement, mental health, domestic violence, appropriations, criminal justice, Minnesota corrections, victim services, task force, personal safety, Independent Use of Force Investigations Unit, criminal sexual conduct, sexual assault, peace officers, law enforcement oversight, Minnesota National Guard, U.S. armed forces, military installation, armory, air base

Transcript Highlights:

• It could examine the implications if there were a change to align with federal regulations.
• work group would it could um what this work group would do<01:34:31.199> is<01:34:31.760> examine
• the<01:34:32.560> implications<01:34:33.440> if<01:34:33.600> there do is examine
• the implications if there do is examine the implications if there were<01:34:33.960> a<01:34:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been teaching trial advocacy and cross-examination impeachment since 1995.
• I've been teaching trial advocacy and cross-examination impeachment since 1995.
• I've been teaching trial advocacy and cross-examination impeachment since 1995.
• I've been teaching trial advocacy and cross-examination impeachment since 1995.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sections 16 and 23 establish a family working group to examine how Minnesota can update and expand our
• Sections 16 and 23 establish a family working group to examine how Minnesota can update and expand our
• Sections 16 and 23 establish a family working group to examine how Minnesota can update and expand our
• Sections 16 and 23 establish a family working group to examine how Minnesota can update and expand our

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we wanted to be able to examine the documents that support the accountability, how would we do that
• to<01:58:44.119> be<01:58:44.280> able<01:58:44.480> to<01:58:44.719> examine
• <01:58:45.599> the wanted to be able to examine the wanted to be able to examine the documents

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Education’s Bureau of School Finance provided an adequacy-funding training for Division II, led by Mark Mello. He walked the committee through the adequacy formula using Albany, Allenstown, and Alton as examples, explaining average daily membership, base adequacy aid, and differential aid for free/reduced-price meals, special education, and English language learners. He also noted a recent change requiring home-education differential aid and emphasized that these aid streams are generally unrestricted district funding rather than money tied to specific students or programs. A major focus was the ongoing litigation over the adequacy base amount and the statewide education property tax, or SWEPT. Mello explained the historical basis of the current base amount, the 2008 legislative report that set the original methodology, and the later court ruling that the adequacy amount should be $7,356, which is now before the Supreme Court. He also described how SWEPT currently raises a fixed statewide amount of $363 million and how that revenue is used to offset the state’s adequacy obligation. For the example towns, Albany and Allenstown receive state adequacy grants because their SWEPT revenue is below their calculated adequacy cost, while Alton is an excess SWEPT community because its local SWEPT revenue exceeds the cost of adequate education. The discussion then turned to the pending “excess SWEPT” issue in the Supreme Court and what would happen if excess collections had to be remitted to the state. Mello said the Department is preparing a hypothetical walkthrough and explained that, if the court upholds the Superior Court ruling, DRA would likely be directed to collect excess SWEPT. Members raised concerns about whether SWEPT must be used for educational purposes and about the cash-flow burden on towns if money had to move from municipalities to the state and then back to districts. Mello and members discussed possible administrative workarounds, such as credits against other state aid distributions, and noted that the committee would continue reviewing the mechanics if the court decision comes down during budget work.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 69, including a germane amendment about local school boards’ acceptance or rejection of gifts and donations and a non-germane amendment creating a virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program for preschool children not yet in kindergarten. Rep. Cordelli said the early literacy proposal was a modified version of an earlier kindergarten readiness bill, would rely on gifts and donations rather than state appropriations, and would include reporting requirements. Members questioned the shift from a broader technology program to an online-only model, the lack of detailed evaluation metrics, how long children would use the program, and whether it was appropriate for very young children. Cordelli said the change was intended to avoid government dependence and still allow the program to be offered next school year. Several members raised concerns about the gift-acceptance language on the underlying bill, including whether school boards would need to vote on small donations, whether gifts could be handled in blocks or at regular meetings, and how anonymous donations would work under right-to-know laws. Rep. Han noted that some gift discussions might belong in non-public session under RSA 91-A, while Rep. Cornell said acceptance or rejection of gifts could be handled at regular meetings and suggested a dollar threshold could be added later. The New Hampshire School Boards Association said it was not taking a position but wanted clearer guardrails, policy guidance, and clarification on timing, anonymity, and public-meeting requirements. Supporters of the early childhood program, including Waterford.org, said the proposal would provide an evidence-based, adaptive online literacy program with family engagement for four- and five-year-olds, and that it could help close early learning gaps. Waterford said it could work collaboratively with school districts and IEP teams, and that it would provide devices and internet access for families who need them. Committee members pressed on how the program would interact with existing special education services and whether districts could use it as part of an IEP; the response was that it would be supplementary and not an approved special education service. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair indicated the committee would later executive the bills and try to get reports filed promptly.

Transcript Highlights:

• :08:55.798> study<05:08:56.080> commission<05:08:56.480> to<05:08:56.680> examine
• <05:08:57.040> the<05:08:57.200> causes a study commission to examine the causes a
• study commission to examine the causes and<05:08:57.718> ways<05:08:57.958> to<05:08:58.120
• There's a lot of different ideas that can be, but I think we need to examine them.
• You are allowed to cross-examine witnesses.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to identify challenges and implement targeted solutions to protect jobs and economic activity by examining
• The study also examines how collected fees might be returned to residents, businesses, and municipalities
• The study also examines how collected fees might be returned to residents, businesses, and municipalities
• whether carbon pricing is good for ratepayers or not, and that it is really more of an economic examination
• well why could started an examination well why could this<02:49:23.880> be<02:49:24.800> well

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would also examine the state's role in addressing this problem and any legislation that could be brought
• different parts of the state.<00:01:32.479> Would<00:01:32.720> also<00:01:32.960> examine
• Would also examine the state's state.
• Would also examine the state's role<00:01:34.000> in<00:01:34.240> addressing<00:01:34.560
• <05:12:15.840> programs have found um when examining programs have found um when examining

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Heidi Olen, a sexual assault nurse examiner at a large children's hospital, explains that children ages
• ><02:02:37.320> at<02:02:37.440> a<02:02:37.560> large sexual assault nurse examiner
• at a large sexual assault nurse examiner at a large Children's<02:02:38.440> Hospital<02:02:38.960
• Although the proponents of this bill asserted its substantive merits, a close examination shows that,
• substantive merits a closed examination substantive merits a closed examination shows<03:46:34.800

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 232 from prime sponsor Representative Mark Pearson, who said the bill is intended to protect conscience rights for health care professionals and students, especially in relation to abortion and sterilization-related procedures. He argued that protecting ethical objections would help retain and recruit medical workers in New Hampshire, reduce moral injury, and preserve patient access to care. Pearson said the bill is not meant to allow discrimination based on protected characteristics and emphasized that it is limited to objections to specific procedures, with an amendment added to address concerns raised by Chairman Lynn. Members questioned Pearson closely about the scope of the bill and amendment, including whether it could apply to non-physician staff such as schedulers or receptionists, whether a provider could refuse emergency care, and who would determine when an emergency exists. Pearson said the bill does not apply to emergency situations or to treatment after an abortion has already occurred, and he stated that emergency triage would control in obvious emergencies. He also said the intent was not to allow a person to take a job and then unexpectedly refuse duties, and he suggested the amendment could be tweaked to clarify its application to facilities and staff. Additional questions focused on whether the bill should be broader than the procedures listed, how it would interact with federal conscience protections, and whether it could affect contraception-related services, including pharmacies. Pearson responded that the bill addresses the specific issues raised by people he and his wife had spoken with, and he was open to revising the amendment to reduce ambiguity. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the most notable studies is a 2021 study by researchers at Harvard, which examined the long-range
• 40:56.920> at<00:40:57.480> University<00:40:58.400> which<00:40:58.599> examined
• researchers at University which examined researchers at University which examined the<00:40:59.119
• I would implore you to examine that argument a little more closely.
• that argument a little more examine that argument a little more closely<00:57:29.200> the<00:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Bills: HJR1, HB9, HB21, HB26, HB30, HB37, HB116, HB630, HB879, HB913, HB1151, HB1318, HB1593, HB1899, HB2703, HB2809, HB2890, HB2970, HB3307, HB3526, HB5092, SB128, SB203, SB317, SB393, SB397, SB644, SB731, SB801, SB913, SB1071, SB1073, SB1086, SB1087, SB1232, SB1250, SB1262, SB1285, SB1310, SB1359, SB1444, SB1483, SB1705, SB1782, SB1861, SB1897, SB1944, SB2023, SB2043, SB2082, SB2133, SB2215, SB2297, SB2298, SB2309, SB2532, SB2549, SB2566, SB2617, SB2619, SB2639, SB2688, SB2696, SB2717, SB2790, SB2841, SB2847, SB2850, SB2857, SB2891, SB2919, SB2928, SB2972, SB3052, SB3053, SB1, SB260, SB1506, SB1637, HB37, HB109, HB334, HB1130, HB1238, HB1327, HB1610, HB1615, HB1620, HB1689, HB2081, HB2809, HB2884, HB2890, HB4215, HB5092, HCR7, HCR75, HCR86, HCR92, HCR93, HCR126, SB644, SB1086, SB1230, SB1310, SB1361, SB1553, SB1778, SB1790, SB2344, SB2460, SB2515, SB2600, SB2747, SB2751, SB2785, SB2790, SB3047, SB3048, SB3050, SB3051, SB3052, SB3053, SB3056, SB3058, SB3061, HJR1, HB1130, HB1689, HB2884, HB1393, HB2559, HB26, HB3012, HB1327, HB109, HB1238, HB2890, HB9, HB4215, HB2970, HB37, HB1899, HB1593, HB2607, HB3526, HB3810, HB5092, HB388, HB2809, HB1151, HB913, HB3307, HB879, HB116, HB12, HB2703, HB1610, HB1615, HB1620, HB30, HB21, HB2712, HB2692, HB1633, HB1318, HB685, HB630, HB4753, HB2742, HB303, HB198, HB1535, HB762, HB148, HB1520, HB5061, HB2286, HB1606, HB1041, HB132, HB11, HCR7, HCR75, HCR86, HCR92, HCR93, HCR126, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB1310, SB2972, SB1073, SB2847, SB2532, SB2619, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB511, SB2309, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1359, SB1234, SB2926, SB2841, SB1528, SB2891, SB1854, SB317, SB1250, SB2082, SB1285, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB2009, SB2460, SB867, SB640, SB1698, SB2680, SB2994, SB2747, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB2334, SB1861, SB2043, SB1367, SB2857, SB128, SB3058, SB2044, SB2363, SB2565, SB1888, SB3048, SB3052, SB3053, SB3036, SB3057, SB3056, SB3043, SB3050, SB3063, SB3035, SB1790, SB1778, SB203, SB3061, SB2799, SB2790, SB2688, SB2515, SB1230, SB2522, SB2639, SB2459, SB3051, SB2655, SB2251, SB1884, SB2617, SB2751, SB2928, SB2566, SB1897, SB1749, SB1361, SB2549, SB2553, SB2919, SB1782, SB1705, SB2696, SB1944, SB2215, SB644, SB1232, SB2850, HB45, HB48, HB1261, HB1465, HB1778, HB2596, HB5238, HB33, HB1188, HB210, HB1022, HB1458, HB5560, HB1240, HB1950, HB2027, HB2768, HB2788, HB2791, HB3146, HB3698, HB3699, HB1893, HB3700, HB4850, HB4187, HB1397, HB4885, HB4804, HB3751, HB3611, HB2775, HB2061, HB2003, HB1729, HB1242, HB791, HB2029, HB647, HB2522, HB4738, HB3033, HB3594, HB3474, HB2563, HB2802, HCR90, SJR87, SB2969, SB3073, SB2497, SB1798, SB2603, SB2607, SB781

Keywords: constitutional amendment, property tax, ad valorem tax, tax exemption, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, equipment exemption, machinery, local government finance, school district revenue, county taxes, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, tax relief, commercial property, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not the convention one must fear; rather, one must examine the motives of why the rights of the
• convention one must fear rather<00:10:23.959> one<00:10:24.160> must<00:10:24.480> examine
• /c><00:10:24.920> the<00:10:25.040> motives<00:10:25.399> of rather one must examine
• the motives of rather one must examine the motives of why<00:10:26.200> the<00:10:26.399>
• uh Article 5 as as its uh tool examine uh Article 5 as as its uh tool function<02:37:49.760> and<

Keywords: 1189, house, all