Transcript Highlights:

• Bush administration, and states all the time back then, and even now, say, 'We need more flexibility,
• we need more flexibility.'
• And so I don't think states will be able to ask for more flexibility if they don't react now to the flexibility
• But on, I think, the third slide, you talked about the federal government providing more flexibility
• to the state, and I know they're trying to do that... ...providing more flexibility to the state, and

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, some flexibility in this space is greatly appreciated by families. So, thank you.
• Yeah, I think again this just allows teams to have flexibility to add in positions that they need based
• on who they're serving, and again that would be flexible based on that as well.
• again this just allows teams<00:09:27.600> to<00:09:27.760> have<00:09:27.920> flexibility
• when again other allows the flexibility when again other individuals<00:10:09.760> are<00:10:

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 3520, as amended by an A1 technical amendment from DHS, was heard in committee. The bill was described as a policy-only measure aimed at modernizing mental health statutes to reduce confusion, ease staffing burdens, and improve recruitment and retention in a workforce facing shortages. The author said the bill was developed with mental health stakeholders over several years, shared with DHS, and intended to have no cost unless provisions are later flagged for fiscal impact. Chris Westgard of Touchstone Mental Health testified in support and walked through the bill’s main provisions. Section 1 would exclude weekends and holidays from the 10-day deadline for completing diagnostic assessments after admission to intensive residential treatment services, which he said would reduce weekend and holiday work for limited staff. Section 2 would clarify statutory language governing the behavioral health fund’s coverage of intensive residential treatment and residential crisis stabilization services. Section 3 would update Youth ACT rules by allowing board-certified psychiatrists with relevant clinical experience to serve as prescribers, making registered nurses optional team members, and allowing teams with demonstrated experience to serve children and youth ages 8 to 20. Members raised questions about statutory wording, including the use of “notwithstanding” and the term “qualified provider.” Nonpartisan staff said the bill could be tightened with a cross-reference if it advances. There was no public testimony against the bill. The committee laid House File 3520, as amended, over for possible inclusion.

Transcript Highlights:

• coherent standard, and I think Pertaining to what my colleague from Tulsa said, they need some flexibility
• We wanted to give school districts the flexibility to allow at the local level approved courses... that
• That was really the point of it to... allow maximum flexibility for myself.
• And the whole point was to have school districts build... in flexibility for how they wanted to count
• And so if you are if you need a little bit more flexibility or if you want to go a different way, do

Bills: HB1937, HB2153, HB3674, HB2978, HB3885, HB3671, HB3261, HB3021, HB3029, HB4274, HB3701, HB3076

Keywords: HB1937, Oklahoma schools, student communications, electronic communication, digital communication, parent notification, legal guardian, school personnel, teachers, coaches, administrators, charter schools, public schools, administrative leave, corroborated report, investigation, employee file, discipline, termination, school board

Transcript Highlights:

• So being able to provide for this flexibility would be really good. Thank you. Questions? Yes, sir.
• I guess what's the difference between, you know, the flexibility versus the wild card?
• So they have to have flexibility; they only have one office in the county.
• So there is no flexibility. There is no opportunity for them. The wild card would come into play.
• So that's why I'm asking, as an association, for the flexibility. Okay.

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 62 by Senator Errington, which would create an enforceable requirement that partisan candidates meet the 365-day party affiliation or no-party registration requirement before qualifying. The committee adopted an amendment changing the effective date to upon becoming law, heard no opposition, and then approved the bill. The committee also approved a slate of 15 gubernatorial nominees en bloc and recommended them to the floor. The Florida Supervisors of Elections presented their 2026 legislative priorities. Their requests included automatically updating voter records when DHSMV changes driver license numbers, treating verified petition signing by inactive voters as voter activity that restores active status, adding election equipment and ballots to the state’s critical infrastructure protections, clarifying public-records treatment of election worker names and addresses, allowing more flexibility for early voting sites when a supervisor’s office is not suitable, eliminating the need for provisional-ballot envelopes when polling hours are extended by emergency order, and allowing vote-by-mail voters to remain on the list for the next general election unless they opt out. Senators asked questions about inactive voter status, security implications, early voting site requirements, and vote-by-mail renewal, and several members expressed support or interest in the supervisors’ proposals. During public testimony, several speakers urged stronger election-integrity measures, including proof of citizenship, tighter chain-of-custody controls, more hand-counting or manual audits, quarterly list maintenance, and reduced reliance on vote-by-mail and voting machines. They also criticized current audit systems and cited outside reports and research they said showed vulnerabilities in Florida’s election process. No additional committee action was taken after public testimony, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• when a minor older than 12 or younger than 21 possesses or consumes alcohol, uses a false ID to purchase
• The bill provides flexibility for case managers. It provides flexibility for people who are served.
• And it provides for state and local organizations to have flexibility to offer services.
• And again, to offer flexibility to the household, the household may ask for a change of case manager.
• Again, to offer flexibility to the household, the household may ask for a change of case manager.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We implement administrative and statutory flexibilities and coordinate with our federal partners, the
• We offer temporary waivers and flexibilities for licensing and certification requirements, flexibilities
• I just want to speak a little bit about some of the flexibilities that we requested and received with
• So hospital facility flexibilities are not within our purview.
• We heard about flexibilities.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee held an informational hearing on the health impacts of wildfires and the effects on health care systems and access to care. The first panel focused on public health consequences, with testimony from UCLA and UCSF physicians, a community organizer, and an Altadena recovery leader. Witnesses described acute and long-term physical harms from wildfire smoke and ash, including asthma and COPD exacerbations, cardiovascular and stroke risks, pregnancy impacts, infection risk, and possible added hazards from lithium-ion battery fires. They also emphasized mental health effects such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, “firebrain,” and the need for psychological first aid, trauma-informed community networks, and youth-focused resilience programs. Community advocates stressed that Latine, Indigenous, undocumented, and Black communities face disproportionate harm because of language barriers, unsafe work conditions, lack of insurance, and exclusion from disaster aid, and they called for stronger language access, worker protections, permanent disaster relief, and better outreach. Committee members asked about air monitoring, masks, wind events, lithium-ion batteries, and how to reach communities with translation and emergency information. Panelists said AQI is useful but incomplete, that N95s help for smoke but P100 masks are needed for ash/asbestos exposure, and that communities should be warned to stay indoors and avoid windy dust-ups after fires. They also discussed the importance of building relationships during non-emergency periods, using text alerts and trusted community organizations, and providing culturally and linguistically appropriate information. Several members and witnesses highlighted the need for more research on long-term health effects, especially for people with chronic lung disease, workers who cannot stay indoors, and residents exposed to repeated disasters. The second panel addressed health care system response and access to care. DHCS and DMHC described emergency flexibilities used during the Southern California fires, including federal waivers, extended Medi-Cal renewal deadlines, reinstated coverage for some disenrolled members, suspension of prior authorization and prescription refill barriers, out-of-network access at in-network cost-sharing, and communication through websites, toll-free numbers, and social media. Hospital and community health center leaders described major operational strain: emergency room surges, canceled surgeries, dialysis disruptions, staff displacement, temporary housing needs, and financial losses. Huntington Health and AltaMed reported using incident command systems, temporary care spaces, bilingual and culturally tailored services, mobile clinics, infection control measures, and community health workers to keep care going. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for better disaster staffing pools, more flexible facility rules, stronger mental health coverage, child care planning, and statewide coordination for future emergencies; no formal votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, for your flexibility for a second question. I'm sorry about that.
• Chair, for being flexible.
• Chair, for being flexible.
• Chair, for being flexible.
• Chair, for being flexible. Thank you, Chair Yim. We have Representative Robbins to wrap it up.

Bills: HF4, HF173

Keywords: tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief, state surplus, fiscal forecast, wealthy taxpayers, high-income exclusion, 2026 ballot, referendum, surplus distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got flexibility to do that. the after lunch and we'll determine what the after lunch and we'll
• So, Senate Bill 655 allows flexibility by permitting either the PEO or the client business to secure
• In states where this flexibility exists, PEOs are still the primary source of coverage.
• Team these teams<02:31:44.560> are<02:31:44.720> flexible.
• You know, I've got a teams are flexible.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that just gives us again a little more flexibility based on the applications that we receive in the
• <00:08:28.919> based<00:08:29.240> on flexibility based on flexibility based on the<00:
• maintaining the flexibility, while maintaining the appropriate<00:13:28.280> oversight<00:13:
• Senate Bill 149 provides the counties<00:13:33.680> the<00:13:33.760> flexibility<00:13
• during a counties the flexibility needed during a temporary<00:13:36.000> vacancy<00:13:36.600

Keywords: Upon adjournment of the concurrent meeting, the Senate State and Local Government committee will continue meeting, 958, all

Summary: The concurrent meeting began with roll calls for both the Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government and the House Standing Committee on Local Government, establishing quorums. The committees then heard a Department for Local Government presentation on the Community Development Block Grant program, which serves smaller and more rural areas. Commissioner Matt Sawyers and Executive Director Mark Williams explained the 2026 HUD application as a public hearing, noting an estimated total of a little over $25 million, with proposed allocations for public facilities, community projects, economic development, public services/Recovery Kentucky, and housing. They also described proposed changes, including shifting some funding from economic development to housing, raising non-traditional application ceilings, extending the economic development application window, and giving the commissioner flexibility to reallocate funds if requests exceed the allotment. No legislators or members of the public asked questions, and both chambers approved the presentation and then adjourned the House portion. The Senate committee then took up Senate Bill 149 by Senator Elkins, which updates county treasurer statutes. The bill shortens the waiting period for appointing an acting treasurer from 30 days to 5 days and allows fiscal courts to appoint a temporary treasurer for up to 60 days during vacancies, illness, incapacity, or termination. Members discussed the need for continuity in county finances, and the bill received favorable expression 9-0. Next, the committee considered several housing-related bills from the housing task force. Senate Bill 224, by Senator Mills, creates vested property rights for development applications and narrows who may appeal certain local land-use decisions; the committee adopted a substitute, then approved the bill 8-1 after members raised concerns about standing language and possible impacts on local participation. Senate Bill 225 requires the housing and construction department to analyze the cost and housing-supply effects of proposed housing regulations; it passed 9-0 after a committee substitute. Senate Bill 233, by Senator Neal, removes annual financial reporting requirements for homeowners associations with 14 lots or fewer to reduce burdens on small developments; it passed 9-0. Finally, Senate Joint Resolution 75, as amended, directs the Public Service Commission to study affordability and water/wastewater utility regionalization, including possible consolidation of small districts; the amendment and the resolution both passed 9-0, with one member noting concerns about whether the matter should proceed as an administrative case rather than a study.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this would basically give the mayors greater flexibility when deciding who to represent them.
• Who has, from what county or which mayor, um, asked to have that flexibility?
• Who has, from what county or which mayor, um, asked to have that flexibility?
• So which county asked you to make that flexibility?
• Oh no, we're making that flexibility?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions, beginning with STR 51, which asks the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to convene a working group to evaluate creating and placing an Office of Resilience and Recovery. Testimony from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and the Governor’s Recovery and Resiliency Unit supported the measure but suggested changing the working group membership so each county mayor, or designee, could appoint the representative instead of naming county civil defense administrators. Members questioned whether any county had requested that change, and the testifier said it was a recommendation based on their experience, not county consultation. The committee also heard STR 40, urging the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to focus more on advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, but there was no one present to testify. STR 65, on finalizing a contract for the new Aloha Stadium and advancing the stadium entertainment district, received support from the Stadium Authority, DAGS, and Aloha Stadium District Partners, all saying they were already working hard on the project. STR 78 SD1, encouraging the East-West Center to expand international engagement, was supported by the East-West Center. STR 30, asking the commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to allow use of restricted vacant land on the Pearl City Peninsula for youth ball programs, drew strong support from the Pearl City Neighborhood Board, which described a shortage of ball fields and said the site would be well suited for recreation. The committee then heard STR 24 SD1, urging the U.S. Department of Defense to keep references to the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team on its websites; multiple veterans and advocacy groups testified in support. STR 195 and STR 196, supporting broader relationships with Sweden and Norway, respectively, had limited or no testimony. After recessing briefly for decision-making, the committee voted to adopt all of the measures as introduced, without amendments, with members voting in favor and some members excused on certain votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, if in the interest of compromise we wanted to consider some kind of inflationary flexibility
• Adding to the testimony before, I think we do actually want flexibility here, both for communities and
• You know, even like data center operators, flexibility as it relates to water fees and infrastructure
• So I really think at the core here is that we want to keep this flexibility for our business community
• And so it's flexibility, and it's an opportunity to have your tax dollars go somewhere where you think

Bills: SB1142, SCR1028

Keywords: scholarships, tax credit, education funding, nonprofit organizations, Arizona Revised Statutes, constitutional amendment, state revenue, tax policy, legislative approval, two-thirds vote, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• school districts with some flexibility. school districts with some flexibility.
• <00:13:44.480> And flexibility to the school district.
• And flexibility to the school district.
• um modest um expansion of flexibility um modest um expansion of flexibility for<00:48:53.359>
• <01:26:51.360> to us it will allow more flexibility to us it will allow more flexibility to

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It fixes the voucher program so there's greater flexibility to use both FFN care and traditional child
• It fixes the voucher program, so there's greater flexibility. FFN providers get the minimum wage.
• It fixes the voucher program, so there's greater flexibility to use both FFN care and traditional child
• Sometimes it's for folks who need either more care or just need greater flexibility in care.
• Sometimes it's for folks who need either more care or just need greater flexibility in care.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held its sixth public hearing and took testimony on a large slate of bills, with the chair moving H. 542/S. 341 on family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) child care to the top of the agenda so young constituents would not have to wait. Witnesses from labor, community organizations, and FFN providers strongly supported the bill, saying FFN care fills critical gaps for families working nonstandard hours, especially in low-income, immigrant, and BIPOC communities. Testimony emphasized that FFN providers are currently underpaid, often receive only about $24 per child per day, and should be guaranteed at least the state minimum wage. Witnesses also backed changes to the voucher system to allow families to combine formal and FFN care more flexibly, and they supported creating an FFN advisory council. Committee members asked about the difference between FFN and center-based care, registration requirements, fingerprinting/background checks, EEC’s ongoing study group, and the fiscal impact; witnesses said the current annual cost is about $1.8 million and could rise to about $6 million if all current FFN providers were paid minimum wage, still under 1% of the EEC budget. The committee then closed testimony on that bill. The committee next heard testimony on several preschool and universal pre-K bills, including H. 707 on public preschool facilities, H. 687/S. 339 on universal pre-K and mixed delivery, and related bills such as H. 606, H. 523, H. 618, H. 522, H. 510, and H. 615, many of which were later closed without additional witnesses. A Lowell school official testified that space and facilities funding are major barriers to expanding preschool and that the city has hundreds of children on voucher waitlists. Other witnesses and organizations, including the Early Care and Education Consortium and AFT Massachusetts, supported mixed-delivery universal pre-K and warned that public-school expansion should not undermine community-based providers, whose preschool tuition helps subsidize infant and toddler care. Several witnesses also urged stronger standards for preschool teachers, better staffing ratios, and more integrated special education and support services. The committee accepted written testimony on some bills and closed testimony on the others when no one else came forward. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 541/S. 373, which would ban school exclusion in pre-K through third grade. Advocates from Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Mass Appleseed, Citizens for Juvenile Justice, AFT Massachusetts, and the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee argued that suspensions and expulsions at young ages harm learning, worsen inequities, and contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. They cited data showing disproportionate impacts on Black and Latinx students, students with disabilities, and low-income children, and described personal stories of children whose behavior improved when schools kept them in class and addressed underlying needs. Committee members asked for updated data on the number of students and districts affected, and witnesses said they would provide more detailed written information. After testimony on this and a few other bills, including S. 372, S. 357, and H. 275/S. 133, the committee closed testimony and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's very important to have that... ...uniformity and to give our employers the ability to set flexible
• We look at free market solutions that lower those costs. ...mainly giving employers the flexibility to
• , flexibility to provide any sort of competitive benefit.
• I think this will eliminate flexibility in our eyes.
• There is a reason that they've gone to ERISA, and that is the flexibility in plan design.

Bills: SB502, SB513, SB622, SB670, SB731, SB732, SB916, SB961, SB1122

Keywords: SB 502, Texas peace officers, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC Office of Inspector General, OIG investigators, law enforcement classification, Schedule C, state employee benefits, injury benefits, peace officer status, commissioned officers, state auditor classification, Government Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, human services, health and human services, law enforcement compensation, public employee benefits, Texas state law enforcement, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• I do agree, probably some expectation with the flexibility, because some kids may not reconcile in three
• I just— I think that I appreciate the use of the word flexibility for the classroom. ...because the most
• He currently uses the DOI process to address certain areas such as flexibility with teacher certification
• It's very different, and so that flexibility helps us.
• It's going to drastically improve safety and security, but we need some flexibility.

Bills: SB27, SB226, SB326, SB570, SB605, SB870, SB991, SB1871, SB1872, SB1873, SB1874, SB1924, SB1925

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, antisemitism, student conduct, education, disciplinary actions, Texas Education Code, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district

Transcript Highlights:

• We had the $10 million associated with equipment purchase to revitalize our equipment fleet, and we've
• already got stacks of purchase orders that are lined up ready to go to start spending down that balance
• I have a purchase order for $1.5 million to support Haw wall farm management organization.
• So that's why we've got a bill in that permits us the flexibility to have both exempt as well as civil
• Yes, so we believe that with this legislation it will give us the flexibility to retain the positions

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THE BILL PRESERVES FLEXIBILITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND FDOT.
• WOULD THIS ALLOW ENGINEERING FLEXIBILITY?
• OR WILL THE CITY OR COUNTY ENGINEER BE ABLE TO USE FLEXIBILITY AND CREATIVITY? >> Rep.
• I'M CONCERNED ABOUT FLEXIBILITY AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT ENGINEERING FLEXIBILITY.
• I WILL TAKE WHAT YOU HEARD HERE TODAY AND START LOOKING AT HOW TO MAKE THIS MORE FLEXIBLE AND MAY BE

Transcript Highlights:

• And that would be a local decision if it’s flexible. They might be able to do that.
• But at the end of the day, certainly we’re supportive of flexible resources.
• And that would be a local decision if it's flexible. They might be able to do that.
• But at the end of the day, you know, certainly we're supportive of flexible resources.
• We appreciate the flexible dollars that were in the May Revise.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1673 gives my communities more resources, tools, and flexibility to be...
• AB 1673 gives my communities more resources, tools, and flexibility to manage these threats.
• A rigid cap removes the little flexibility that they do have to access these services in entirety.
• Behavioral treatment requires flexibility to meet the child where they're at.
• With the amendment, this bill gives courts the flexibility to consider the facts of each case, ensuring

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 8, 2026, with a quorum established and 59 bills listed for consideration. The committee first approved two consent calendars: several bills were sent to the Assembly floor on a due-pass basis, and a smaller set was approved due-pass but not eligible for the floor consent calendar. The proposed suspense calendar was then deemed approved without individual debate on those measures. The committee heard several bills in regular order. AB 1977, sponsored by the Secretary of State, would clean up and clarify the Online Notarization Act to support implementation by 2030; it drew no opposition and was approved. AB 2011 would codify existing federal mental health parity standards into state law; supporters said it would preserve enforcement authority, while health plans opposed it as premature given federal uncertainty and possible premium impacts; the bill was placed on the B roll call. AB 1673 would give county fish and game commissions more flexibility to use certain revenues for wildlife conflict prevention, and it advanced on an A roll call. AB 2233 would allow unused authorized ABA therapy hours for children with autism to be made up within the authorization period; supporters emphasized access and continuity of care, while insurers warned of higher costs and reduced utilization safeguards; it advanced on an A roll call. AB 1660, as amended, would give courts more flexibility in cases involving financial institutions and public guardians/conservators, with supporters saying it could save counties time and money; it was approved due-pass as amended. During general public comment, speakers voiced support for AB 2081 and AB 1667, and opposition to AB 1777. After public comment and final vote recording for absent members, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would give us the flexibility we need to support our schools. Thank you very much.
• And now, with those guardrails released, they can have complete flexibility depending on the situation
• Most troubling, so much of HB2's funding is earmarked, leaving districts with very little flexibility
• Really, what we need is the flexibility. money to provide pay raises to all of our staff.
• I just want to know where it doesn't work, where it does work, where you need flexibility and why.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, 1185, senate, all