Transcript Highlights:

• And I had one follow-up question on the attendance piece: do you use an electronic check-in system, or
• to ask for your support for the Governor's requests for a comprehensive anti-fraud package and electronic
• to ask for your support for the Governor's requests for a comprehensive anti-fraud package and electronic
• It includes $4.9 million and $2.9 million in 2028-29 for the implementation of a statewide electronic
• attendance record keeping is electronic attendance record keeping is currently<01:34:47.440> in

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 860, by Representative Brose, is an act to amend Title 38 relative to electronic bidding to
• authorize the use of fillable electronic bid forms.
• years that would basically allow the courts to develop a program with the clerk of courts to have electronic
• filing and a statewide court electronic filing integration for the appellate courts of the state.
• It also expands current reporting requirements so that fire departments must electronically report all

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have electronic online filing, and people can just file one of these now electronically, and there's
• And given the 21st century electronic must accept the file—” “Through 33:5054.
• And given the 21st century electronic must accept the filing requirements, that is an impossibility.”
• “The 21st century electronic must accept the filing requirements. That is an impossibility. Okay.

Bills: HR217, HB66, HB204, HB208, HB326, HB472, HB483, HB484, HB793, HB1051, HB1080, HB1087, HB1111, HB1215, SB78, SB148

Keywords: rent stabilization, affordable housing, cost burdened, Louisiana housing, housing policy, emergency rental protections, Alexandria, municipal ordinances, administrative adjudication, code enforcement, housing violations, building codes, zoning, nuisance ordinances, vegetation ordinances, sewerage, drainage, licensing, permits, local government

Summary: The committee met on April 29 and considered a series of local and special bills affecting municipal and parish governance, blight enforcement, development districts, and term limits. Early action included a motion to apply a three-minute rule. House Bill 483, concerning the Fulberg/Marini Security and Improvement District in Orleans Parish, was voluntarily deferred after discussion and no support cards. House Bill 484, which revised the New Orleans Regional Business Park board by reducing membership from 12 to 11 and giving the mayor four direct appointments with removal authority, was adopted as a substitute and reported favorably. Senate Bill 78, dealing with the Shreveport Downtown Development District, was amended to correct a legislative district reference and then reported favorably. The committee also heard announcements that several previously deferred bills would not be heard that day. Several Shreveport-related blight bills were advanced. House Bill 1051, authorizing demolition of certain dilapidated properties in Shreveport, was amended to allow the city to rely on findings from code enforcement, fire, police, or other public safety officials, and then reported favorably. House Bill 1080, addressing condemned commercial property in Shreveport, was also reported favorably, though the author said he would continue consulting with the city attorney before floor consideration. House Bill 66 for Alexandria expanded the city’s administrative adjudication authority to cover a broader range of ordinance violations, including building, zoning, vegetation, nuisance, sewer, drainage, licensing, and permit matters; it was supported by the city and reported favorably. House Bill 326, requiring the Tickfaw police chief candidate to reside within the village, also passed favorably. House Bill 793, a contentious bill concerning recorded subdivision plats and prescription, drew extensive testimony from the author, parish officials, a former appellate judge, and the McCormick family. Supporters said the bill closes a loophole exposed by recent court rulings that could let noncompliant plats become enforceable after five years without actual notice to local governments, while opponents argued the current substitute still creates uncertainty and could burden property owners; the author said the bill was prospective only and would also go to the Law Institute. Despite the debate, the committee moved the substitute favorably. Senate Bill 148, allowing municipalities to pay a modest per diem to planning and zoning commission members by local ordinance, was reported favorably with support from Lake Charles. The committee rejected House Bill 208, which would have let St. Helena Parish voters decide whether to impose term limits on parish governing authority members. The bill’s author argued the people should decide, but the St. Helena Police Jury opposed it and committee members emphasized local control; the final vote was 3 yeas to 10 nays. House Bill 1215, concerning the disposition of historical statues and monuments, was amended to bar the Office of State Parks from placing transferred monuments back in the parish from which they were removed, and then was reported favorably. House Bill 472, authorizing local rent stabilization ordinances during a governor-declared emergency, was amended to limit such ordinances to the emergency period, tie increases to the consumer price index, and cap them at 365 days; discussion continued on whether the measure duplicated existing price-gouging laws and whether a broader study would be preferable.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's the purpose of this: to move electrons faster and more efficiently to get rid of some of the
• AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO MOVE ELECTRONS FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENTLY TO GET RID OF SOME OF
• some of those huge expenses by directing the PSC and utilities to find cheaper ways to move those Electrons
• the latest technologies that can maybe sense where the grid is hotter and cooler and direct the electrons
• THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES THAT CAN MAYBE SENSE WHERE THE GRID IS HOTTER AND COOLER AND DIRECT THE ELECTRONS

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with routine formalities, approved the journal, welcomed a SkillsUSA student delegation, and then moved into budget and policy business. The chamber accepted a Rules Committee report and took up a supplemental budget extender, Senate Print 9963, which would extend state operations through April 22 and authorize $12.7 billion, including about $5.1 billion in new funding for Medicaid, payroll, and school aid. Senator O’Mara questioned the delay in the budget, the lack of public detail, and unresolved issues such as CLCPA changes, auto insurance, and SEQR reforms; the sponsor said negotiations were ongoing and that school aid would likely build on the executive budget. The extender passed 57-1, with Senator Weik voting no. The Senate then adopted Senate Resolution 1887, sponsored by Senator Brisport, memorializing the Governor to proclaim April 2026 as Arab American Heritage Month. Senators Brisport, Fahy, Salazar, and Gounardes spoke in support, emphasizing Arab Americans’ cultural, civic, and economic contributions in New York and condemning anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias. The resolution was adopted by voice vote and opened for co-sponsorship. The chamber next considered several bills on the calendar, including a bill by Senator Cleare to prohibit state-chartered financial institutions from investing in private correctional facilities. Supporters framed it as a moral response to private prisons and rising federal use of detention facilities, while opponents argued it would overregulate state-chartered banks and affect private investment decisions. The bill passed 36-22. The Senate also passed a bill by Senator Krueger raising the nonprofit lobbying disclosure threshold from $5,000 to $10,000, after debate over transparency and whether the change would reduce oversight; it passed 35-23. Finally, the Senate passed Senator May’s bill on advanced transmission technologies and utility planning, after extensive debate over ratepayer costs, battery storage, and data center growth; supporters said it could lower energy costs through more efficient grid use, while opponents said it would raise rates and duplicate existing studies. The bill passed after being restored to the non-controversial calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 35, line 5, section 39 permits DVS to use an electronic validation or verification system that's
• Section 39 permits DVS to use an electronic validation or verification system that's outside the state
• modify requirements related to identifying underground utilities prior to excavation, requiring electronic
• modify requirements related to identifying underground utilities prior to excavation, requiring electronic
• modify requirements related to identifying underground utilities prior to excavation, requiring electronic

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It criminalizes communication itself, including words, electronic messages, and even gestures, things
• Probation staff presently use ankle monitoring, watch monitors, and cell phone electronic monitoring,
• dispenser, possess a device designed to fraudulently manipulate it, tamper with its components, or use electronic
• So this is a component that is in every electronic gas pump, and they build devices to manipulate the
• So this is a component that is in every electronic gas pump, and they build devices to manipulate the

Bills: SB1092, SB1094, SB1139, SB1239, SB1240, SB1248, SB1326, SB1502, SB1512, SB1540, SB1616, SB1635, SB1669, SB1673

Keywords: probation, dangerous crimes, children, Arizona Revised Statutes, criminal justice, juvenile offenses, rehabilitation, gender reassignment, civil liability, minors, medical consent, detransition, family court, therapeutic intervention, expert testimony, parenting time, child development, sex offenders, statute of limitations, prosecution

Transcript Highlights:

• Attendants will now be recorded by electronic roll call. Thank you.
• HB 2857, medical records electronic storage — Judiciary and Elections.
• HB 2805, electronic signatures, nomination petition — Judiciary and Elections.
• It specifies that the electronic monitoring may only happen if there was a felony domestic violence and
• Sometimes those electronic pads don't quite capture your actual signature, so it will help make sure

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• administrative subpoenas only provide account holder information associated with the account, like electronic
• administrative subpoenas only provide account holder information associated with the account, like electronic
• administrative subpoenas only provide account holder information associated with the account, like electronic
• Representative Roberts I. like electronic mail address internet like electronic mail address internet

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:08 SB 169: 00:01:07 SB 02: 00:05:56 Discussion in Opposition to SB 02: 00:19:22, 958, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee first took up Senate Bill 169, which would expand the Attorney General’s and Kentucky State Police’s authority to use administrative subpoenas in child exploitation investigations. Senator Danny Carroll and Attorney General’s office staff said the bill updates existing law to reflect modern online platforms, adding social networking companies, mobile payment services, and cloud storage services so investigators can obtain limited account-holder information tied to online child exploitation cases. Members raised no opposition, and the committee approved SB 169 17-0 with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2, which would prohibit the use of public funds for certain cosmetic or elective procedures in correctional facilities, including gender-affirming surgeries, and would also affect some hormone-related treatment. Senator Mike Wilson and supporters said the bill was intended to stop such procedures from being authorized by memo rather than regulation and to ensure taxpayer money is not used for elective care. Several members asked whether any such surgeries had occurred in Kentucky; Wilson said none had been approved, and he emphasized the bill was about public funding, not general medical care. Supporters argued the state should not pay for elective procedures, while opponents said the bill targeted a tiny population and could create constitutional problems. Opponents included incarcerated and advocacy voices, a psychologist, and legal advocates, who said gender-affirming care is medically necessary for some patients, that withholding it can cause serious mental health harm, and that similar restrictions have faced court challenges. One speaker described personal harm from being denied hormone therapy while incarcerated. Another warned the bill could violate the Eighth Amendment and lead to costly litigation. After debate, the committee moved to vote on SB 2, with members giving explanations both for and against, but the transcript cuts off before the final roll call result is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, for anything else that would be tethered to citizenship, it’s the highest level credential
• We'll electronically send one to every member here, so we didn't want on it.
• the Trucking Research Institute for the committee.<01:44:26.560> We'll<01:44:26.880> electronically
• We'll electronically send one committee.
• We'll electronically send one to<01:44:28.159> every<01:44:28.320> member<01:44:28.639>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:13:14.560> some<00:13:14.839> agenes<00:13:15.839> use<00:13:16.240> electronic
• Grants so some agenes use electronic Grants so some agenes use electronic grants<00:13:17.160>
• So just as an example, during our review, MDE used a combination of email, online systems, electronic
• :49.000> systems combination of email online systems combination of email online systems electronic
• documents and actual physical electronic documents and actual physical documents<00:13:52.519> to

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from State Auditor Judy Randall and Deputy Legislative Auditor Jody Mason Rodriguez on the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s 2023 report, “Oversight of State-Funded Grants to Nonprofit Organizations.” Randall explained that the report takes a broad look at how Minnesota manages grants, building on earlier work that helped lead to the Office of Grants Management (OGM) in 2007. She emphasized that the new recommendation-tracking booklet in members’ packets is meant to help the legislature see which audit recommendations have been implemented, partially implemented, or not implemented, and to support oversight rather than assign blame. Rodriguez summarized the report’s findings: Minnesota’s grants management policies contain many important practices, but they often lack enough detail for agencies to implement them consistently. The office found pervasive noncompliance in recent years and identified weak statutory enforcement as a major reason. She reviewed how grants flow from the legislature to agencies and then to nonprofit grantees and subgrantees, and noted that state agencies spent an average of about $514 million annually on nonprofit grants from fiscal years 2018 through 2022, awarding grants to about 2,400 nonprofits. The report found OGM policies partially reflected 17 of 24 recommended grant-management practices, but examples of missing detail included no required risk-based monitoring, no minimum standards for progress reports, telephone-only monitoring visits allowed, and no deadline for closeout reviews. The auditors said some recommendations have been acted on since the report, including 2023 statutory changes that led OGM to revise its pre-award financial review policy and set a timeline for closeout reviews, though other recommendations remain only partially implemented. They also discussed repeat compliance problems across agencies, including conflict-of-interest documentation, and said agencies are beginning to improve by automating checklists and disclosure processes. In response to member questions, the auditors said training is important and should likely be required for grants staff, though not necessarily with highly specific statutory language; they also said grant managers vary widely across agencies, making baseline training especially useful. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the presentation, and the chair noted that OGM would be invited for a future presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• it was 1 year ago, you all adopted in your policy omnibus language that dealt with the new DNR electronic
• licensing system and at the electronic licensing system and at the time<00:05:00.000> that<00
• licensing to go into effect. ...needed to be changed for a new electronic licensing to go into effect
• So, for instance, Redwood could operate their collection facilities or electronics recycler or someone
• recycler or someone else electronics recycler or someone else outside<00:26:11.200> of<00:26:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So first is algorithmic management, then electronic monitoring and human in the loop.
• algorithmic management, then electronic algorithmic management, then electronic monitoring<01:17
• Second is electronic monitoring.
• Second<01:18:47.840> is<01:18:48.080> electronic<01:18:48.800> monitoring.
• <01:18:49.440> So, Second is electronic monitoring. So, Second is electronic monitoring.

Bills: HF1316, HF4369

Keywords: HF1316, child support, new hire reporting, centralized work reporting system, independent contractors, payors, employers, payor of funds, withholding orders, income withholding, child support enforcement, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, gig economy, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, 1099, W-9, W-4, newly hired workers, rehired employees

Transcript Highlights:

• and it can't days, but we have to have and it can't be<00:53:03.839> a<00:53:04.480> electronic
• It has to be be a electronic signature.
• So, we use an electronic health system like everyone else. We send them, you know, an update.
• So, we use an electronic<01:11:52.560> health<01:11:52.800> system<01:11:53.120> like
• <01:11:53.360> everyone electronic health system like everyone electronic health system like

Keywords: 1. Call to Order and Roll Call – 00:00:00 2. Approval of Minutes – 00:01:32 3. Getting to Know the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky – 00:02:26 4. Healthy Kids Clinic – 00:26:58 5. Pharmacy Payment Parity – 00:56:36 6. Ibogaine – 01:17:37 7. Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 01:53:05 8. Adjournment – 01:53:19, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the prior meeting minutes and recognized Eric Clark for his service, noting this may be his last meeting before he leaves state government. The main presentation was from Allison Adams, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, who described the organization’s history, nonpartisan mission, and focus on health equity, prevention, and upstream policy solutions. She said Kentucky’s poor rankings in chronic disease, preventable hospitalizations, and life expectancy show the need to shift resources toward prevention and community-driven strategies rather than relying mainly on treatment after people become sick. Adams emphasized leading health indicators, arguing that lawmakers should track actionable measures such as quit attempts and smoke-free policies instead of only lagging indicators like disease rates and mortality. In response to questions, she said accountability should be shared across communities and systems, with possible incentives and disincentives tied to outcomes, and she supported creating a public data utility or dashboard, ideally with university partners, to help legislators and communities monitor progress. She also cited examples of accountable health community models and said Kentucky could adapt similar approaches. The committee then heard from Meade County Schools Superintendent Mark Martin and district health coordinator Karen Kotche about the Healthy Kids Clinic partnership with Cumberland Health. They described a seven-year effort that led to full implementation in the district, which now has a nurse in every school and a nurse practitioner, allowing services such as sports physicals and other clinic functions to be provided on campus. They said the program has been a strong investment for students and the community and began explaining how the district built the partnership after earlier efforts and delays, including the pandemic.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, well, anecdotally, I was in a certain county yesterday, and I'd filed a document electronically back
• back on, I think it was electronically back on, I think it was April<00:31:09.919> 7th,<00:31
• the electronic uh mandated system.<00:31:17.919> So,<00:31:18.159> that's<00:31:18.480
• They can also have things like electronic monitoring.
• can also have things like electronic can also have things like electronic monitoring<00:34:42.639

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:01 Recognition of New Members: 00:01:17 Disaster Response: 00:01:41 Pretrial Discussion: 00:31:25, 958, all

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, approved the minutes from the November 7, 2024 meeting, and then heard an update on disaster response and courthouse recovery efforts after the April flooding. Representatives from the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Franklin County Circuit and District Court Clerk’s office, and the Franklin Circuit Court described damage in Perry, Hardin, and especially Franklin counties. Perry County had limited roof and water infiltration issues with no operational impact. Hardin County’s justice center basement took about 18 inches of water, affecting court records and mechanical/electrical equipment, and court operations were briefly suspended. Franklin County’s courthouse was far more severely damaged, with about four feet of water on the first floor, forcing relocation of court operations to temporary sites, including AOC space and the regional jail for custody proceedings. Witnesses said damaged files from Hardin and Franklin counties were removed, sent to an out-of-state vendor for drying and remediation, and would be returned or destroyed as appropriate. They estimated combined costs for file restoration, building repair, and remediation at about $11 million, with insurance through KCOJ/KO expected to cover only part of the losses and FEMA reimbursement still pending a federal disaster declaration. They also said the Franklin County courthouse’s first floor remains gutted, electrical panels and HVAC systems need major replacement, and the second and third floors may be used temporarily once power and data are restored. Members asked about roof damage in Hardin County, the status of FEMA applications, digitization of court records, and whether Senate Bill 25 restricted funds could be used to cover the funding gap; staff said the funds cannot be spent without General Assembly authorization. The committee also discussed broader record-retention and e-filing issues, with members noting the limits of paper filing and the need for better digitization as a backup in emergencies. AOC staff said they are working with the Supreme Court and state law librarian on what records can be digitized and how long hard copies must still be retained. After the disaster-response presentation, the committee moved on to a separate informational presentation on pre-trial services, with introductions from the executive officer of pre-trial services, the president of the Kentucky District Judges Association, a circuit judge, and the manager of pre-trial services, who began explaining how the pre-trial system works for newer committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kofalt said the bill was brought forth by a physician familiar with the challenges of working with electronic
• Kofalt said the bill was brought forth by a physician familiar with the challenges of working with electronic
• Kofalt said the bill was brought forth by a physician familiar with the challenges of working with electronic
• was brought forth by a physician who's very familiar with some of the challenges of working with electronic
• was brought forth by a physician who's very familiar with some of the challenges of working with electronic

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So study subjects receive and complete an electronic consent and disclosure form.
• <00:58:10.079> consent<00:58:10.440> and complete an electronic consent and complete
• One question I have is when we don't have mandated electronic attendance reporting for fraud purposes
• One question I have is when we don't have mandated electronic attendance reporting for fraud purposes
• When it's not electronic attendance, how do you verify that these children exist?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• All amendments shall be filed electronically in the office of the Clerk of the Senate by 5:00 p.m. on
• All amendments shall be filed electronically in the office of the Clerk of the Senate by 5:00 p.m. on

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted an order declaring the First Middlesex District seat vacant following the death of Edward J. Kennedy, with a precept issued for a special election on March 3, 2026. The chamber also adopted a resolution congratulating the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on its 50th anniversary and observed a moment of silence in memory of Mary O'Connor Blancher, with remarks honoring her service as an educator and longtime Sturbridge public servant. The Senate then advanced several local and special legislation items, generally by unanimous consent and voice vote. These included bills on residency limits for Wells police and fire personnel, a Boston police age waiver for Antonio Perez, additional liquor licenses for Palmer, cemetery-related and treasurer-payment matters in Norton, increasing the Lanesborough select board, bond-related legislation, and a Quincy telecommunications revenue bonds bill that was amended with a new draft before being engrossed. The chamber also considered Massachusetts Water Resources Authority service bills for parcels in Sharon, adopting emergency preambles and passing them to engrossment, and a bill removing Hull from regional commissions on the status of women. The Rules Committee reported several matters for immediate consideration, including suspensions of rules and Joint Rule 12 for certain Senate petitions. The Senate also adopted a special order governing future consideration of House No. 4615, the fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill, setting deadlines and procedures for amendments and requiring immediate third reading and engrossment after amendment. The session closed with remarks recognizing Diwali and wishing the clerk a happy birthday, followed by adjournment to meet again on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in formal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• technology to execute a document while it's on the screen and everybody's looking at it, and to use electronic
• And as time is going on, people have become more and more used to using electronic methods to conduct

Summary: The House Civil Law Committee met on May 11, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several bills and resolutions. It reported favorably without objection Senate Bill 466, which bars foreign adversaries from using expropriation authority in Louisiana and creates a narrow expropriation category for very large aerospace/LED projects of at least 20,000 contiguous acres with no residential structures. The committee also reported favorably House Bill 986, requiring child support payments from persons convicted of vehicular homicide for the benefit of a child who lost a parent. The committee then considered two constitutional amendments by Senator Morris. Senate Bill 123 would allow judges to be removed for cause by a majority vote of the legislature and certification by the governor; it was amended to change the ballot language to refer to removal for malfeasance, gross misconduct, or incompetence, and was reported favorably after a roll-call vote of 5 yeas and 1 nay, with Representative Carter voting no. Senate Bill 97 would require prosecutorial consent for a defendant to waive a jury trial, except in capital cases; after adopting Amendment Set 5277 to clarify the capital-case exception, the committee heard opposition from Chris Alexander of the Louisiana Citizens Advocacy Group and then reported the measure favorably by a 5-1 vote, again with Representative Carter voting no. The committee also heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 35, which urges the Louisiana State Law Institute to study remote online notarization for authentic acts. Testimony in support came from the Louisiana Bankers Association, which argued the study is needed because of declining notary availability, especially in rural areas, and noted similar practices in other civil law jurisdictions. SCR 35 was reported favorably without objection. Finally, House Bill 1098, by Chairman McFarland, was reported favorably without objection; it provides a limited liability framework for FAA-licensed aerospace flight entities operating in Louisiana. House Bill 375 was voluntarily deferred, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The way power electronics are designed is just not generally secure by design initially.
• The electrons are flowing into one particular part of the electric system.
• The electrons are flowing into one particular part of the electric system.
• That's the power electronics facility 3886 >> Oh, no.
• Do you have any comment on the discussion of differential pay for certain electrons? Mr.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce held its first interim hearing on securing critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, with a focus on Texas’s electric grid and the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act. The chair also highlighted Texas’s relatively low electricity prices and welcomed new committee members. ERCOT, the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and the Attorney General’s office were invited to explain how the state screens market participants and grid equipment for ties to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and how the agencies respond to noncompliance. ERCOT testified that it has implemented the requirements of three related Senate bills by requiring attestations on corporate affiliations and on critical grid equipment and services. ERCOT said it has processed thousands of attestations, used additional requests for information and third-party verification tools such as Dun & Bradstreet, and terminated nonresponsive market participants. ERCOT also said it has not seen a case requiring direct Attorney General involvement, but it does refer matters to the PUC when needed. The PUC said it can investigate suspected violations and impose penalties of up to $1 million per violation per day, and that most investigations into late or missing attestations have been resolved through compliance, market exit, or removal by ERCOT. The Attorney General’s office said its role is currently limited to audits and court involvement, and that it lacks broad independent investigatory authority under the act. Members pressed the panel on whether the current system is too reliant on self-reporting and whether it adequately addresses indirect foreign influence, especially through supply chains for batteries, inverters, transformers, and other equipment with routable connectivity. ERCOT acknowledged that the current attestation process has gaps and said it plans to refine definitions of critical grid equipment and grid services, improve information requests, and continue stakeholder rulemaking. The panel also discussed possible legislative changes, including tying prohibitions to the Department of Defense Section 1260H list and the Texas Prohibited Technologies list, clarifying warranty and service access, and expanding the statute to cover grid services more directly. Several senators raised concerns about cost, reliability, and the extent to which foreign-sourced components remain embedded in Texas infrastructure, while others suggested incentives for domestic manufacturing and stronger verification tools, including possible work with national labs such as Sandia.

Transcript Highlights:

• The judiciary established an electronic court hearing reminder system called e-Reer in February of 2021
• Um, and so basically, I think what this bill does is that it transmits a text message or electronic mail
• Um, and so basically, I think what this bill does is that it transmits a text message or electronic mail
• <01:29:25.360> citation we have some electronic citation we have some electronic citation
• Since the automated system issues text messages or electronic mail notification, the statutory language

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard House Bill 2095, which would provide supplemental appropriations for the Judiciary for the 2025-2027 biennium. Judiciary Administrative Director Brandon Kimura testified in strong support and outlined a request for about $6.4 million in supplemental operating funds, plus four permanent full-time position conversions. He grouped the request into security, services to court users, and staffing needs, including $3.25 million for supplemental armed private security at judiciary facilities statewide, nearly $200,000 for cybersecurity staffing and support, restoration of funding for substance use treatment purchase-of-service contracts, restoration of funding for the Office of Public Guardian on Kauaʻi, salary commission funding, a Kona court operations position, and two Court-Appointed Special Advocates positions converted from temporary to permanent. He also described five capital improvement requests totaling $55.4 million, led by $30 million for construction of a new South Kohala courthouse, $1.2 million each for air conditioning upgrades in Hilo and Kauaʻi, $15 million for elevator upgrades at Kahumanu Hale, and $8 million in lump-sum bond funds for emerging projects. Several organizations testified in support, including Parents and Children Together and the True Cost Coalition. Supporters emphasized the importance of the purchase-of-service funding for domestic violence and substance use treatment services and said the restoration would return funding to pre-COVID levels and help providers maintain capacity. Kimura explained that the Judiciary often shifts funds among contracts during the year to avoid service interruptions, but that the reduced funding has caused delays and operational problems for providers and probationers. Members asked detailed questions about the capital projects and operating requests. Representative Shimizu asked for more information on the lump-sum bond funds and the elevator project, and Kimura explained that the Kahumanu Hale request covers four remaining elevator shafts after earlier funding addressed the first five elevators. Representative Cochran asked about the absence of Maui County projects, and Kimura said the Judiciary is still planning for its older Maui facilities with DAGS. Chair Tarnas questioned the need for armed private guards and discussed whether court security should be prioritized within the Department of Law Enforcement; Kimura said the Judiciary needs additional personnel now and has not asked DLE to deprioritize other missions, though the chair suggested further coordination between the agencies. No vote or final action on the bill was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.