Transcript Highlights:

• for Minnesotans and just we've got a lot for Minnesotans and just we've got a lot of<00:15:17.440
• And, you know, you have a lot of mentors in your life, and a lot of them just naturally kind of pave
• Well, Madam Chair, I could say a lot. A lot has already been said.
• I had knew I had a lot to learn. >> That's good. >> [laughter] >> I had a lot to learn, a lot to catch
• <00:25:32.960> of Chair, you and I have a lot of Chair, you and I have a lot of similarities

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And there was a lot of ambiguity, a lot of need for follow-up legislation to be sure.
• So that just raises a lot of questions for me.
• That was, you know, Caltrans is doing a lot of it.
• That was, you know, Caltrans is doing a lot of it. Kaltrans did a lot of the time.
• Caltrans is doing a lot of it. Caltrans did a lot of the design.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations on several GovOps-related budget proposals, beginning with ongoing funding for the California Education Learning Lab. The Learning Lab described its intersegmental grants to UC, CSU, and community college faculty, including AI-related work and a math alignment project, and said the Governor’s proposal would move the program’s home agency to GovOps and restore $4 million annually. The Department of Finance supported the proposal as a way to improve coordination, while the LAO recommended rejecting it, arguing the projects are hard to scale, similar professional development already exists in the segments, and the state should consider saving General Fund dollars. Senators split on the value of the program, with some emphasizing innovation and intersegmental collaboration and others questioning its measurable long-term impact; the item was held open. The committee then reviewed the Office of Civil Rights proposal to implement AB 715 and SB 48 with $3.5 million in 2026-27 and $2.8 million ongoing. GovOps said the office had been set up administratively, positions were being recruited, and it would provide training, technical assistance, and complaint review related to anti-Semitism and other discrimination in TK-12 schools. The LAO had no concerns, but senators raised substantial questions about the office’s placement in GovOps, the lack of guidance while the laws are being implemented, the use of gubernatorial appointees, and whether the staffing structure matches the likely workload across different discrimination categories. GovOps said it would develop guidance, coordinate with CDE, and shift resources as needed once staff are hired, but several members said they were not prepared to support the item as presented; it was also held open. After public comment supporting the California Education Interagency Council, the subcommittee approved vote-only items 11 through 17 and 6 through 10. It then heard from the Office of Data and Innovation on a request for five positions and $1.25 million in reimbursement authority to expand digital service delivery work. ODI described projects such as reducing unauthorized EBT theft and forecasting community water system outages, and said it uses guardrails and contracts to protect sensitive data when working with vendor AI services. The LAO had no concerns, and members generally praised ODI’s small, high-impact role; the item was held open. Finally, the Department of Technology presented on the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, reporting that 423 miles are complete, more than 70% of the network has been permitted, and about 5,300 miles are expected to be completed by December 2026, with some work potentially slipping into 2027. CDT said Skyline Technology Solutions had been selected to operate the network and that the third-party administrator, Golden State Net, would continue to support development and later help oversee operations and sales. The LAO noted the project’s progress but raised concerns about the novel three-party structure, accountability, and long-term financial sustainability. Senators questioned the legal basis for the operator arrangement, the revenue outlook, reporting to the Legislature, and whether the network will be self-sustaining; CDT said it expects revenues to cover operations over time and will continue annual and quarterly reporting. The item was left open.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is lots of housing in the area, so we need to make sure that we work with HHFDC.
• There is lots of housing in the area, so we need to make sure that we work with HHFDC.
• There is lots of housing in the area, so we need to make sure that we work with HHFDC.
• There is lots of housing in the area, so we need to make sure that we work with HHFDC.
• There is lots of housing in the area, so we need to make sure that we work with HHFDC.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Housing, Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, and later Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Housing, heard several resolutions related to affordable housing and the East Kapolei transit-oriented development area. SCR 48 and SR 47 proposed declaring that affordable housing credits are perpetual until redeemed, and testimony from DHHL, OPSD, and NAIOP Hawaii supported clarifying that intent. The committees voted to pass SCR 48 and SR 47 unamended. The committees then considered SCR 107 and SR 101, which were amended to make clear the resolution applies only to the City and County of Honolulu and will be carried out in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Land Management and the Department of Planning and Permitting. Those measures were recommended for passage with amendments and adopted by the committees. In the later joint hearing, SCR 68 and SR 63 addressed the East Kapolei TOD project, urging DLNR to transfer certain parcels to HHFDC and urging HHFDC to work with HCDA on the non-housing portions of the project. Testimony from DLNR, HHFDC, HCDA, and DHHL focused on the balance between housing and revenue-generating or light industrial uses, the need for an EIS and market study, and the possibility of MOAs to memorialize agreements. After discussion, the committees amended the resolutions to prioritize rental housing as well as for-sale housing and to require MOAs before the board, then passed SCR 68 and SR 63 with amendments by unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, 4.8 million is a lot.
• I see how this would save a lot of time, a lot of money, and...
• It just seems like a lot of money.
• Money's getting reverted a lot less this year than the prior year.
• So, this is in the budget and that's a lot of children, 2,100.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's where we keep a lot of our data.
• On page three, you'll just see a lot of data.
• But there's a lot more detail to talk through.
• So we're duplicating a lot of that, right?
• I do have a lot of questions.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So they did a lot of work.
• New Mexico fares a lot better.
• Increased her wages up also to help a lot for right now.
• So we and our partners are working a lot with local groups.
• Again, a lot of startup companies fail.

Transcript Highlights:

• There'll be a lot more work to do.
• And I've gotten a lot of bipartisan bills passed last year.
• In addition to a lot more hurdles and a lot more opportunities for people to be denied benefits for a
• So New Mexico has a lot to do there.
• Madam Chair, I agree that there's a lot that's going to change.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot more impervious cover now.
• So I think this would solve... a lot of those fears.
• I think it gets missed a lot as these are called outdoor sirens.
• The design bill has a lot of good incentives to build safer.
• You represent a lot of little boys and a lot of little girls that need us to do some good work.

Bills: HB48, HB 66, HB 68, HB71, HB75, HB164, HB171, HB254, SB 3, SB 18, HB123, HB149, HB117

Keywords: HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert, Silver Alert, Blue Alert, missing persons alerts, accessible alerts, hearing impaired

Transcript Highlights:

• that we see on a lot of different races for public office here in Florida come from... ...on a lot of
• I think I can add a lot of value there. I... Florida.
• I think I can add a lot of value there.
• I think I can add a lot of value there.
• He has spoken a lot on the fact that universities...

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education heard and approved two bills before moving into confirmation hearings for several university and college board nominees. CS/SB 1458 on apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships was presented as a measure to improve consistency and transparency in local education agency partnerships, cap LEA administrative funding at 10% when applicable, and require public meetings and work papers for workforce funding model decisions. Support was noted from Associated Builders and Contractors, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Foundations for Florida Futures, and Independent Electrical Contractors. The bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee then considered CS/CS/SB 1726 on higher education governance and presidential searches after adopting a delete-all amendment and a late-filed amendment defining the final group of presidential applicants as no fewer than three. The amended bill added provisions on trustee citizenship and residency/alumni eligibility, interim president succession planning, longer presidential contract renewals, limits on candidate polling by universities, syllabus posting, textbook/open-access material lists, and other governance and academic policy changes. Senators raised concerns about the minimum-three finalist requirement, interim president selection, trustee eligibility, and polling restrictions, while supporters said the bill would depoliticize leadership selection and improve transparency. The bill was reported favorably after the amendments were adopted. The committee then heard confirmation testimony from multiple appointees and reappointees, including nominees for FAMU, UNF, Pensacola State College, UWF, and UF. Most nominees emphasized ties to their institutions, student success, workforce development, military connections, and institutional growth. Several UWF nominees were questioned extensively about their votes for former chair Scott Yenner and his controversial comments about women and other groups; some said they were unaware of those remarks at the time of the vote and would not have supported him with that knowledge. Public testimony on UWF expressed concern about the nominees’ lack of higher education experience, their ties to the region, and the impact of Yenner’s views. The committee later voted to recommend a block of non-UWF nominees favorably, and it agreed to vote on the UWF nominees individually, with some remaining nominees deferred to a later hearing due to time.

Transcript Highlights:

• I talked to a lot of people, a lot of young people who try school. They give it a shot.
• I talked to a lot of people, a for them.
• I talked to a lot of people, a lot<00:03:39.280> of<00:03:39.440> young<00:03:39.599>
• They lot of young people who try school.
• I had getting a lot of state support.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of projects, particularly in the smaller communities, ended up stalling.
• He and I, of course, have had lots of fires in our districts.
• So the 16-member task force makes a lot of sense to us.
• Amateur astronomy: there's lots of interest here, with multiple amateurs.
• A lot of bad lighting, and I know this because I have sold lighting.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's been a lot of suggestions today. There's been a lot of suggestions today.
• Have a lot of room for um at capacity? Have a lot of room for more<01:04:31.760> students?
• <01:25:57.760> of be a lot of be a lot of students.<01:25:59.520> I<01:25:59.679>
• collection looking in a lot of a lot of collection looking in a lot of a lot of these<01:46:55.840>
• representation you first you have lot representation you first you have lot lot<01:54:18.239>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 292, which would authorize a governor’s warrant to cover special education aid shortfalls from the education trust fund, and from the general fund if needed, so local school districts would not have to absorb prorated costs or raise local property taxes. Senator Lang said the bill was prompted by a prior $15 million special education funding shortfall caused by higher-than-expected catastrophic aid claims, including more qualifying students and the recent increase in the special education age limit to 22. He emphasized that the bill is intended to ensure the state meets its funding commitment and avoid shifting costs to towns. Members asked about how the bill interacts with House Bill 742 and House Bill 773, including whether the language should be merged or whether the state should fund 100% versus an 80% floor. Lang said he was open to improving the bill and to adding a study committee or performance audit on special education costs, but maintained that the state should not push costs to local taxpayers when it has available funds. The hearing on SB 292 was then closed, with no vote taken. The committee then opened Senate Bill 98, which would extend for five more years a tax credit program for donations to regional career and technical education centers. Senator Waters said the program has been successful in building partnerships between CTE centers and employers, especially through equipment donations that support training and apprenticeships. He cited examples including automotive, marine trades, and advanced manufacturing programs, and said the five-year extension would let lawmakers continue to review whether the incentive is working as intended. Several members questioned whether the credit is effectively a 100% subsidy and how the cap works. Waters and another member explained that the underlying program has an aggregate cap of $500,000 and that credits are prorated if requests exceed that amount; they also said the donations are primarily equipment, not cash. Some members raised concerns about whether businesses could also claim other tax deductions or credits, but the sponsor said the existing structure has been in place for years and has been revisited periodically. No vote was taken during the hearing excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:32.000> of collaborative effort between a lot of collaborative effort between a lot
• You would see a lot of those invitations, and you wouldn't necessarily see a lot of calendar invites
• I don't know a lot about cannabis.
• I don't know a lot about cannabis.
• We wanted our local lot of money.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They had um a lot of of this position.
• <00:16:10.480> of has allowed us to do through a lot of has allowed us to do through a lot
• So, we we have a lot more combined.
• So, that's a lot of investigations.
• I'm a part of a lot of different meetings across the enterprise discussing a lot of these issues from

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'm a I just a lot of money.
• <01:23:45.280> all the discussion is made that lot all the discussion is made that lot all
• your me you know megaillions type of lot your me you know megaillions type of lot typical<01:24:
• <01:26:46.080> of education trust fund and not a lot of education trust fund and not a lot
• So we don't have a lot of fines.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a lot to cover today.
• We have a lot to right to business. We have a lot to cover<00:01:13.880> today.
• This was discussed a lot in and climate.
• K-12 does a wonderful job in lots of ways.
• in lots of ways. in lots of ways.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a lot of governor's term.
• And we have put lots and lots of provisions in our bills. We did it this year.
• Well, a lot of damage and a lot of harm can be done under the banner of let's all fight fraud.
• Well, a lot of fraud, fraud, fraud.
• Well, a lot of damage<01:22:08.239> and<01:22:08.480> a<01:22:08.639> lot<01:22:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• there's a lot of work to be done. there's a lot of work to be done. >> Okay.
• <01:57:44.480> of<01:57:44.639> crap there's a lot of crap there's a lot of crap uh
• don't put a lot of work into it. Fine. don't put a lot of work into it. Fine.
• <02:15:34.239> We us a lot of us are going to lose. We us a lot of us are going to lose.
• Seeing again a lot of withdrawals, a lot of disruption. >> Right.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began by discussing 15 retained bills and the chair’s preference to keep them alive through interim study rather than kill them, using them as vehicles for further discussion and possible later amendments. The chair said the bills would be executed out by November and then move to the House floor in January, and members generally agreed that interim study was the prevailing motion for the retained bills. Several health-related bills were then discussed. On Senate Bill 247, concerning pharmacy network exclusion when PBM reimbursement is below acquisition cost, members said the issue had been presented differently in prior discussions and noted unfamiliar intermediaries such as PSAOs; the bill was viewed as too complex to resolve immediately, so interim study was favored. A bill on treatment alternatives to opiates was said to need an amendment from the Insurance Department, and a bill on self-funded employer access to claims data was described as having changed substantially through amendment; the sponsor explained it was intended to incentivize self-funded plans to opt into the state’s all-payer claims database (CHIS) so their data could be used for cost analysis, and members indicated a separate bill would be brought later. The committee spent the most time on a glucose monitoring bill, with testimony from a sponsor and a parent of a type 1 diabetic describing the medical benefits of continuous glucose monitors, especially for preventing dangerous lows and managing fluctuations. Opponents and committee members raised concerns about the cost of a mandate, the effect on premiums in the individual and small-group markets, and whether the bill should require coverage without a prescription; one member cited medical literature suggesting limited evidence for non-insulin users. The chair concluded the bill was headed to interim study and said the committee would do further homework on the economic impact, especially for type 1 coverage. The meeting then moved on to a bill about insurer audits and clawbacks, where the Insurance Department commissioner explained that the issue involved several separate provider-payment problems that had recently come to the department’s attention and that the department would provide a report and work with the sponsor on next steps.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot of stakeholder meetings in this.
• A lot of different bills are doing a lot of different things.
• I want to thank the AG's office; they helped me a lot.
• This is a bill that took a lot of work, and I...
• a lot of effort into this.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are having a lot of conversations. This is a fun session.
• You know, there's a lot of different auction companies that do a lot of different things, whether it's
• And look, I'm not opposed to it so much except I'm going to get lots of calls.
• I could sell that a lot easier if I can say we're saving money.
• And $2 is a lot of money to those people. But the concept is great. I love it.

Bills: HB316, HB549, HB646, HB752, HB824, HB873, HB1129, HB1157, HB1170

Keywords: literacy, adolescent, teacher education, high-dosage tutoring, reading intervention, workforce development, training programs, Bayou Growth Opportunity, funding, employment, skills gap, qualified employer, credential recognition, government growth limit, recurring revenue, state finance, Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund, fiscal responsibility, legislative sessions, regular sessions

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 22 and took up several bills, beginning with House Bill 646 and its companion House Bill 824 by Chairman Beaulieu. HB 646 proposed a constitutional amendment limiting the amount of State General Fund recurring money that may be appropriated in a fiscal year, and HB 824 set the growth limit formula based on CPI, medical CPI, and population change. Amendments were adopted on both bills, including creation of a Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund, and both bills were reported favorably as amended. The committee also advanced House Bill 1157, which creates the Louisiana State Infrastructure Fund to support infrastructure-related projects through a bank-like financing structure. After a technical amendment, the bill was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 316 on student literacy was presented as a continuation of prior literacy reforms, with the Department of Education stating it would not require new funding; it was reported favorably. House Bill 549 created the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program to help employers train and upskill workers, with supporters from business groups saying it would be industry-supported and modeled on a successful Michigan program; it was also reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1129, dealing with the sale of state-owned surplus movable property, drew support from Louisiana auctioneers who argued local firms should be allowed to bid on the state’s auction contract instead of relying on an out-of-state vendor. Members questioned whether the state could receive more revenue and expressed support for giving Louisiana companies a chance to compete. The bill was reported favorably. House Bill 873, which would add a $2 fee on driver’s license renewals to fund pursuit intervention technology and training for law enforcement, generated substantial concern about adding fees and whether the money should instead come from existing budgets. After discussion of the bill’s purpose, the technology involved, and the need for a sunset, the committee deferred the bill to work on revisions. Finally, House Bill 752, which would allow the timing and duration of regular legislative sessions to be set by joint rule, was reported without action after members noted the revised fiscal note showed a decrease in state general fund expenditures.