Transcript Highlights:

• With an average of five barrels of water produced for every barrel of oil, that's a lot of water New
• It is a remnant of the ancient oceans of the Permian era.
• Can I have a show of hands of all that are present here that are in support of HM 45?
• Research coming out of New Mexico State University shows the treated produced water can be safely reused
• introduce and sponsor HB 276, appropriating funds to the New Mexico State University Board of Regents

Bills: HM45 , HB276 , HB300

Committee: House House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Summary: The committee first heard House Memorial 45, which asked the Water Quality Control Commission to promptly hear a petition seeking consideration of the beneficial reuse of treated produced water. The sponsor and supporters argued that produced water could help conserve freshwater, support agriculture and rural communities, and potentially aid compact obligations with Texas and industrial users. The committee also heard extensive opposition from acequia leaders, environmental groups, and residents who said the science is not yet sufficient, the water contains unknown or proprietary contaminants, and the memorial could pressure regulators or shift pollution burdens to other communities. After questions focused on the meaning of a memorial, the status of the petition, and the role of the Produced Water Research Consortium, a motion to table HM 45 passed, with members explaining they wanted the petition in hand before acting. The committee then took up House Bill 276, which appropriates $3.3 million to NMSU for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to support celebration of the 400-year anniversary of winemaking in New Mexico. Supporters described the bill as a statewide agritourism and economic development effort tied to New Mexico’s long wine history, with marketing, signage, and tourism promotion intended to benefit wineries across the state. Members asked about the funding source, the anniversary date, and whether the effort would include wineries outside the south; the sponsor said the campaign would highlight wineries statewide. The committee voted do pass on HB 276. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 300, which would appropriate funds for the care and management of free-roaming horses and related domestic horse management, with an emphasis on tribal and local herd-control efforts using fertility control and trained community members. Supporters said the program would help address overpopulation, grazing impacts, and roadway safety, while opponents questioned relocation plans and whether the money should be spread across more counties. The sponsor and expert witness said trained personnel were already in place and the funds would support implementation. After discussion, the committee voted do pass on HB 300. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would meet again Saturday to hear House Bill 207.

Transcript Highlights:

• These six students were chosen based on their dedication to the public affairs mission of our great university
• She is a freshman at the University of Missouri, Columbia.
• We have Kristen, who's a senior at the University of Missouri.
• She attends the University of Missouri with a major in journalism and minors in American Constitutional
• She attends the University of Missouri with a major in journalism and minors in American Constitutional

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for February 3, 2026 by roll call vote, 131-1. Members then spent much of the morning introducing special guests, including a page for the day, Missouri State University Citizen Scholars, JAG program students, school counselors, elementary students observing online, interns, and a tribute honoring Josephine Baker’s life and legacy. The chamber then moved to first reading of several bills and to perfection of multiple House Committee Substitutes. The most substantial debate centered on a composite anti-trafficking bill, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2273, 1946, 1814, and 2551. Supporters said it would strengthen Missouri’s response to trafficking, grooming, sextortion, and child sexual abuse material by updating terminology, creating a permanent Attorney General’s statewide council, expanding training for professionals, extending the civil statute of limitations for trafficking claims, increasing penalties, and allowing expungement for victims. Members cited testimony from survivors and advocates and emphasized the need for coordinated enforcement and education. The House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. Members also debated House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1694 and related bills, a package aimed at curbing abusive website-accessibility lawsuits against Missouri businesses. Supporters described “sue-and-settle” tactics targeting small businesses with little notice and high settlement demands, while opponents of the abusive practice argued the bill preserves legitimate ADA claims and gives businesses a chance to cure problems. The House adopted the substitute and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House considered House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2375 on workers’ compensation, which supporters said would clarify the “prevailing factor” standard, address preexisting-condition claims, adjust treatment and appeal rules, and reduce costs; opponents warned it could make it harder for injured workers to obtain care and create disputes between insurers. The House adopted the substitute and ordered it perfected and printed. The chamber then moved to announcements and recessed until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Institute University saw $3.3 million of its $6.3 million federal budget canceled by the federal administration
• So we have, through our partners, the Village of Towski Valley, through New Mexico State University,
• Of overhead to the university from our research activities.
• For that part of the work, the university would have received about $5.4 million over four years.
• With the cooperation of the other New Mexico universities and our two national labs, we are able to do

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• of Commerce.
• of that.
• So we're at the risk of some of their schedules.
• I’m not going to list all of that off because you’re able to kind of, a lot of it’s kind of self-explanatory
• university system at the beginning of this week, talking about how we can do a better job of working

Summary: The Budget Section’s Commerce and Legal Services Division met to review the Department of Commerce base budget for the 2027-29 biennium and to receive an update on Commerce programs. Legislative Council staff first walked the committee through the “blue sheet” base budget summary, explaining the major line items, the large share of federal grant authority in Commerce’s budget, and the continuing appropriations that support several Commerce funds. Members asked how grant funding is coordinated across agencies, and staff said collaboration varies by program but is strong in areas like UAS and LIHEAP. Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken then presented on current activities, focusing heavily on grant administration, transparency, and economic development programs. Members questioned how grant applicants are selected, whether Commerce tracks applications and return on investment, and how long grant awards take to reach recipients. The commissioner said Commerce uses scoring criteria, outside reviewers, a minimum 30-day application window, and typically completes awards within two to three months. A lengthy exchange followed over whether Commerce should open some grants only to intended recipients versus running competitive application processes; Commerce said it follows best-practice grantmaking and that its attorney in the Attorney General’s office approved that approach. Commerce also highlighted the North Dakota Development Fund, citing long-term investment and job creation results, examples such as Red Trail Energy, Packet Digital, Valiance, Corvent Medical, child care loans, and the Automate ND program. Members asked about acceptable failures, lessons learned, regional economic development coordination, and the expansion of the fund into non-primary sectors. Workforce Director Katie Ralston Howell then outlined a statewide workforce ecosystem review, a new governor’s workforce sub-cabinet, and three task forces focused on simplifying entry, warm handoffs, and data integration. She discussed the in-demand occupations list, Workforce Pell, apprenticeships, and efforts to better connect students with employers and higher education. Commerce also briefly reviewed housing programs and a new housing sub-cabinet. No votes were taken; the committee simply received testimony, asked questions, and adjourned after setting up the next meeting to hear the Attorney General budget in June.

Transcript Highlights:

• 4 of subsection 4. ...of subsection 4.
• I'm a professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
• And I don't see why that has to be at the behest of a university or high school organization.
• And I would also say, like many of these organizations at both high school and university level do have
• And I would also say, like many of these organizations at both high school and university level do have

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2710, which would revise school accountability report cards. The sponsor and members described a committee substitute that clarified the report card’s purpose, added an appeal process and changed deadlines, set the top decile of schools as the highest rating, addressed the 95% participation issue with an asterisk-style disclosure, shifted the Show Me Success funding language toward growth-based criteria, clarified growth-to-proficiency language, added agricultural industry reporting, and removed an anonymous survey section and a changing-target provision. After discussion about how letter-grade cutoffs would be set and whether the bill captured enough information about school quality, the committee adopted an amendment changing “growth to proficiency” to “growth relative to grade level” and exempting special school districts or state-operated schools serving only students with disabilities. The substitute was adopted and the committee voted the bill do pass by 16 ayes and 6 noes. The committee then considered House Bill 2872, a literacy bill. The sponsor explained that the substitute kept the four approved screeners, retained the commission, and softened the three-cueing language so science of reading remains the primary approach while allowing teachers some flexibility. Members discussed retention and possible future exceptions, including parental consent and reading plans, but those changes were not yet drafted. The substitute was adopted and the bill passed the committee 20-0, with two present. Next, the committee heard House Bill 2120 and House Bill 1698 together under a combined substitute addressing bullying and related reporting requirements. The substitute removed language on second-degree harassment, added a title reference to Sawyer’s Law, modified reporting procedures to require notice by the end of the school day or the next school day if the incident occurs on a weekend, and clarified investigation and liability protections for teachers. The substitute was adopted and the combined bill passed unanimously. The committee then moved out of executive session and heard House Bill 2335, which would let districts and administrators reduce repetitive annual teacher trainings by using a rotation after a teacher’s first three years. The sponsor and several witnesses from school administrator and teacher groups supported the bill as a time-saving retention measure, while a student witness raised concerns about ensuring continued training on mental health emergencies. Testimony then began on House Bill 2918, the Cronkite New Voices Act, which would expand student journalism rights at public schools and public colleges. The sponsor, a Hazelwood plaintiff, student journalists, an advisor, a law professor, and free-speech advocates testified in support, arguing the bill would protect student speech while preserving limits for libel, obscenity, privacy, and disruption; no opposing testimony was presented before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• at the University of San Diego School of Law, as well as for my colleagues at Everytown and Moms Demand
• of California Office of the President.
• Jessica Duong, University of California. We are the sponsor of AB 1716.
• Jessica Duong, the University of California, we are the sponsor of AB 1716, sexual harassment, sexual
• the doctrine of separation of powers.

Summary: The Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety met with several bills on the agenda, beginning with AB 1741 by Assembly Member Pacheco, which would allow felony prosecution of sexual battery committed during a residential break-in. Supporters, including Riverside County prosecutors and victim services staff, said current law leaves some home-invasion sexual assaults as misdemeanors when intent to commit another felony cannot be proven; opponents from public defender and civil liberties groups argued the bill was unnecessary, vague, and overbroad. After discussion, the committee passed AB 1741 to Appropriations as amended. The committee then heard AB 1701 by Assembly Member DeMaio, which would bar recall and resentencing for juveniles convicted of school shootings. Supporters framed it as a narrow public-safety measure in response to the Santana High School shooting and the potential resentencing of the shooter; opponents argued it was overly broad, ineffective as deterrence, and inconsistent with juvenile rehabilitation principles. The committee ultimately voted the bill out to Appropriations, but it later failed on the final roll call when members added on their positions. AB 1743 by Assembly Member Wix proposed allowing local governments, state agencies, and higher education institutions to request firearm trace data from DOJ for research and policy purposes. Supporters said the data could help identify trafficking patterns and inform evidence-based gun violence prevention, while opponents said trace data only shows the first lawful retail sale and could mislead policymakers or burden DOJ. The bill was passed to Appropriations. AB 1716 by Assembly Member Stefani, supported by UC and victim advocates, would let CalVCB reimburse tuition costs for college students whose education is disrupted by sexual violence; it passed to Appropriations after a strong debate over victim compensation. AB 1667 by Assembly Member Burner, adding fentanyl to the serious felony list for furnishing to a minor, also passed after emotional testimony from a bereaved parent and law enforcement support, despite opposition from drug policy and civil liberties groups. The committee adopted a consent calendar including AB 1549, AB 1681, AB 1723, and AB 1737, while AB 1538 and AB 1727 were pulled by their authors. In the final tally, AB 1701 and AB 1723 failed on the floor add-on roll call, while AB 1716, AB 1741, AB 1743, and AB 1667 advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then they actually have a relationship with the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, with their Hawaiian
• at one of the universities there was an indigenous language resource fabrication lab where the indigenous
• But I also want to acknowledge the experts within the University of New Mexico and NMSU, right, who have
• But I also want to acknowledge the experts within the University of New Mexico and NMSU, right, who have
• The early childhood education two-plus-two program with the University of Hawaii.

Summary: The committee began with a presentation on the 520 Native American Language and Culture certificate, created to let proficient tribal language and culture speakers teach in K-12 schools without a bachelor’s degree. LESC staff, PED, and HED described the certificate’s statutory basis, the role of tribes and pueblos in setting proficiency standards, and ongoing challenges such as uneven MOAs, limited professional development, rural access barriers, data gaps, and retention concerns. PED said oversight of 520 is moving from the licensure bureau to the Indian Education Division, and HED reported that the tribal education technical assistance centers authorized in 2023 are still in procurement but are expected to be awarded in early 2026. A student, Alonzo Hughes, testified about how learning Tewa from 520-certified teachers helped him understand his culture and speak with elders, and members praised the program’s role in language revitalization and asked about funding, teacher pathways, and whether similar models exist in other states. Committee members then discussed several PED rule updates. Staff reviewed an adopted rule implementing HB 54 on AEDs and cardiac emergency response plans, including staff training requirements and staggered compliance dates, and a proposed rule for school nurse licensure under HB 195 that would create a three-tier system and align nurse pay with teacher pay. They also reviewed proposed changes to the Community Schools Act rule, including a full-time community school coordinator requirement, updated grant language, and broader coalition membership criteria; PED said the broader language would not conflict with the Martinez-Yazzie work. A proposed bilingual teacher rule would standardize coursework requirements, add trans-languaging and culturally relevant curriculum competencies, and allow Native American language certification applicants to demonstrate proficiency using tribal standards. In questions, members raised concerns about AEDs being present at athletic events, the need for the amended school nurse bill to move experienced nurses directly into higher levels, and whether the community schools rule’s broader coalition language could affect current education litigation. Members also asked about funding for 520 programs, teacher residency or cohort models, and how to support advanced language instruction and sustainability. PED said the Indian Education Fund and school budgets can support some of the work, but additional strategic funding and cross-training are needed. The committee also heard that New Mexico’s 520 system is unusually robust compared with other states, and members encouraged staff to present the model at national conferences. The meeting ended with the director’s report, which noted a flat budget request of $2,024,300, staff turnover including Natasha Davalos’s departure, and appreciation for the committee’s work before adjournment for the holidays.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think I'm going to go to pre-law at University of Utah, and I'm really excited to meet everybody here
• Austin Shannon, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences from Northern Arizona University
• of Michigan.
• of you, but also give you a flavor of what's to come.
• We have kind of a couple of groups in Division of Financial Management.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee opened the session with roll call, confirmed a quorum, and introduced new members, staff, and pages. Co-chairs and staff then reviewed JFAC’s role as the legislature’s main budget committee, the committee’s daily schedule, and the resources available through legislative staff, the impact team, and the newly released 2026 Legislative Budget Book and related budget tools. The committee received a detailed briefing from the Division of Financial Management on the JFAC calendar and then from Governor’s Budget Director Lori Wolf on the governor’s FY 2026 and FY 2027 budget recommendations. Wolf said the budget is balanced but tight, relying on a mix of ongoing reductions and one-time actions rather than reserve fund transfers. Major budget actions included a 3% ongoing reduction across most state agencies, reversions of certain one-time balances to the general fund, no recommended pay increase for state employees or teachers, and higher employee health insurance costs. The budget also proposed reductions or policy changes in Medicaid, virtual school funding, Idaho Digital Learning Academy, and some transportation and water-related funds, while preserving funding for public safety, education, water, and transportation priorities. Members questioned the assumptions behind the budget, especially the projected ending balances, the use of one-time transfers, the impact of rising health insurance costs on employees, the effect of Medicaid cuts on services and cost shifts, and the rationale for reductions to online education and IDLA. Several members also asked about the proposed federal tax conformity changes, including the timing of implementation and the treatment of Idaho’s existing R&E tax credit. Wolf said the conformity estimate was based on Tax Commission analysis and that the administration was not recommending use of the budget stabilization fund. No votes or formal actions were taken; the committee concluded by noting that the Economic Outlook Committee would meet later in the week and that JFAC would continue budget hearings the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're paying with the loss of homes, the loss of crops, and the loss of stability.
• , and the loss of loss of crops, and the loss of stability. stability. stability.
• </c> other bodies of water. other bodies of water.
• </c> the University of Minnesota. the University of Minnesota.
• If hit kind of from a number of sides.

Summary: Rep. Athena Hollins and Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart introduced Minnesota’s proposed climate superfund bill, describing it as a way to make major historical greenhouse gas polluters help pay for climate adaptation and infrastructure repair. They said the bill would target large fossil fuel corporations with significant emissions and use the revenue for projects such as stormwater upgrades, bridge and roof protection, erosion control, drinking water protection, cooling cities, and other resilience work. Both lawmakers framed the proposal as a matter of accountability and fairness, arguing that Minnesotans should not keep paying for damage caused by companies that profited from fossil fuel pollution. Several supporters testified in favor of the bill, including St. Paul City Council Vice President Nyang Kheimey, former legislator and medical student Hunter Cantrell, Unidos Minnesota volunteer Bonnie Becol, and 100% Minnesota’s Aurora Vautrin. They emphasized local climate impacts such as flooding, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, emerald ash borer damage, asthma, and infrastructure failures, and said the costs are increasingly falling on taxpayers, local governments, and vulnerable communities. Kheimey highlighted municipal needs and St. Paul’s own climate investments, while Cantrell focused on environmental racism and health harms, and Becol and Vautrin stressed species loss, community recovery costs, and the burden on residents. In the question-and-answer portion, Hollins and Johnson Stewart explained that the bill would apply to fossil fuel corporations with at least 1 billion metric tons of carbon emissions and a nexus to Minnesota, not local utilities. They said the State Auditor’s office would determine the assessments owed by companies, while the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency would hold the fund and administer grants. They also said they were looking to models in Vermont and New York and hoped the proposal could attract bipartisan support because it is tied to affordability and shifting costs away from taxpayers and onto polluters. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, and the event ended with the sponsors opening the bill to questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that one of the things that makes California's life science industry what it is is our university
• As you know, the University of California is the research arm of the state of California, and UC research
• CPH shows how the University of California takes creative leadership in emerging areas of high-value
• University of California researchers are blazing the path, of course, in sensors, making sense of data
• Other people, Katie Shilton at the University of Maryland, has built an ethics identification tool.

Summary: The hearing focused on how artificial intelligence is being used across California’s life sciences sector, from research and drug discovery to digital health, medical devices, and patient care. Chair Ward and Chair Bauer-Kahan opened by emphasizing California’s leadership in biotech, the need to preserve that ecosystem, and the importance of balancing innovation with privacy, consumer protection, and equitable access. They also highlighted the potential role of public compute and public-private partnerships, including CalCompute, in keeping California competitive. The first panel featured representatives from UCSF, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Dr. Ida Sim described AI-enabled digital health tools, including sensor-based blood pressure monitoring and efforts to connect wearable data with electronic health records through open infrastructure. Dr. Karen Knudson focused on cancer, saying AI can accelerate drug discovery, improve learning from every patient, and expand clinical trial access. Dr. Shankar Sundaram discussed AI for public health and biosecurity, including outbreak prediction, antibody redesign, and the need to unlock data, expand compute access, and support public health agencies. Panelists also discussed privacy, HIPAA/CMIA protections, open-source versus closed models, validation, and the need for faster, more modern FDA pathways. The second panel included speakers from Pangea Data, Dexcom, Eli Lilly Ventures, and Twist Bioscience. Dr. Vibhur Gupta described AI systems that identify care gaps in electronic health records and argued for reimbursement frameworks that would let such tools scale beyond large health systems into rural care. Dexcom’s Ginny Hu explained how the company uses AI in its continuous glucose monitoring products, with strong FDA-aligned verification, validation, cybersecurity, human oversight, and post-market monitoring. Eli Lilly’s Danjima Corliss emphasized AI as a scientific collaborator in drug discovery and highlighted Lilly’s high-performance computing investments in California. The discussion continued to return to data access, model transparency, regulatory modernization, and how California can support innovation while protecting patients.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that one of the things that makes California's life science industry what it is is our university
• As you know, the University of California is the research arm of the state of California, and UC research
• CPH shows how the University of California takes creative leadership in emerging areas of high-value
• University of California researchers are blazing the path, of course, in sensors, making sense of data
• Other people, Katie Shilton at the University of Maryland, has built an ethics identification tool.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as a member of the University of California system, we recognize the obligation to conduct research
• at the University of California.
• at the University of California.
• All right, so I want to zoom in now and focus on a very specific group of workers at the University of
• University of California has increased, a reflection of the vitality of this sector of the economy.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Summary: The Senate Labor and Public Employment Committee held an oversight hearing on federal policy impacts on California’s labor market. In opening remarks, the chair argued that federal actions, including immigration enforcement, tariffs, and cuts to safety-net programs, are harming workers, employers, and communities, and said the committee wanted to document impacts and identify state responses. The first panel featured economist Enrique Lopez Lira of UC Berkeley, who described slow job growth, wage pressures, high housing and care costs, and the large share of California workers in low-wage jobs. He said federal cuts to Medi-Cal and SNAP/CalFresh and increased immigration enforcement would worsen insecurity, especially in health care, retail, hospitality, agriculture, and care work. The chair asked about recession indicators, middle-wage stagnation, and which sectors rely most on safety-net programs, and Lopez Lira said worker organizing and unions were a source of hope. A second panel focused on federal immigration enforcement. UC Merced’s Edward Orozco Flores presented research finding that private-sector employment in enforcement-targeted states fell during escalated enforcement periods, with California experiencing unprecedented declines in 2025. He urged policymakers to consider wage-replacement or stimulus-style support for affected workers, including excluded workers who cannot access unemployment insurance. Shannon Sedgwick of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation said undocumented workers are deeply embedded in the county economy, generating substantial economic activity and supporting over a million jobs. She reported that intensified enforcement in Los Angeles County was associated with business disruptions, reduced sales and customer traffic, workforce instability, lower transit ridership in vulnerable areas, and losses from the downtown curfew. Committee members asked about impacts on small businesses, tax revenue, and recovery, and witnesses pointed to local resiliency funds, business toolkits, and know-your-rights efforts as partial responses. The hearing then heard from worker representatives. Flore Melendres of the Clean Car Wash Worker Center said car washes have been heavily targeted by federal agents, with hundreds of workers taken from workplaces, many businesses disrupted or closed, and workers living in fear; she urged support for AB 2271 to provide financial benefits to families who lost income because of DHS activity. California Nurses Association president Michelle Gutierrez-Vos said H.R. 1’s Medi-Cal and Covered California cuts threaten hospital finances, jobs, and patient care, and she backed CalCare (AB 1900), a hospital closure moratorium, and more support for nursing education. UAW 4811 president Rafael Jaime said federal research cuts are putting UC research funding and postdoctoral jobs at risk and endorsed SB 895, a proposed bond measure for health and scientific research. AFGE representatives Wallace Wade and Kendrick Roberson described the strain on federal workers during shutdowns, unpaid work, staffing losses, and the effects on TSA, Social Security, VA services, and worker housing stability; they supported SB 1155 to protect federal workers from eviction. Committee members thanked the witnesses and said the testimony showed both the human and economic consequences of federal policy. In the final panel, employer groups began responding to the same federal pressures. California Retailers Association president Rachel Michelin said retail is a major private-sector employer and a key entry point for young workers, and that retailers are seeing the effects of rising costs, supply-chain shifts, and consumer pressure at the checkout counter. The hearing continued with additional employer testimony beyond the provided excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's also a University of Texas Law School graduate and a policy wonk.
• We do have an incredible school of agriculture at North Dakota State University.
• Near Kansas State University is this national center created as a result of the fear of an introduction
• The University of Kansas State University has tremendous potential.
• I really look forward; my heart is with a lot of these universities, with all of our land grants across

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• of Cadets at Texas Tech University, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in government. where he
• of Cadets at<01:04:17.680><c> Texas</c><01:04:18.120><c> Tech</c><01:04:18.400><c> University,</c><01
• chairman and long-time member of the Board of Trustees for Freed-Hardeman University, where he was recognized
• Sports Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association Hall of Fame
• Whereas he was a lifetime member of the Murray State University Alumni Association, served on the Murray

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll spend 65 out of it and have a balance of 87 when it's all over.
• We'll spend 65 out of it and have a balance of 87 when it's all over.
• We'll spend 65 out of it and have a balance of 87 when it's all over.
• I can take you down to the University of Alabama.
• </c><00:44:28.160><c> of</c> I can take you down to the University of I can take you down to the University

Bills: SB344 , SB344

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, monuments, historic preservation, memorial buildings, memorial schools, memorial streets, architecturally significant buildings, public property, waiver process, Committee on Alabama Monument Protection, Attorney General, civil penalty, historic marker, renaming, relocation, removal, public memorials, heritage preservation, state historic preservation fund, governmental entity

Transcript Highlights:

• Community College, Jones College, Pearl River Community College, and the University of Mississippi Medical
• </c><00:24:45.240><c> of</c> Community College, and the University of Community College, and the University
• Commemorate the 155th anniversary of Alcorn State University. Thank you, Senator.
• </c><01:58:41.920><c> of</c> chain of command and the link of of chain of command and the link of of
• . of. of.

Transcript Highlights:

• > call a little bit of a rip tide of call a little bit of a rip tide of legislative<00:11:24.480><c>
• </c> think at the risk of opening a can of think at the risk of opening a can of worms,<00:15:04.240>
• </c> sort of thing where the department of sort of thing where the department of safety<00:26:50.320>
• But one of take unknown amounts of time.
• </c><00:43:36.000><c> this</c> hundreds of pages of of cleanup this hundreds of pages of of cleanup this

Summary: The meeting focused on the Legislative Budget Assistant audit of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification’s response to 12 findings, especially those tied to mental health workforce licensure. The executive director said 10 findings were substantially resolved, one fully resolved, and one partially resolved, with most issues tied to ongoing rulemaking. He explained that the office regulates 61 professions, has limited rules-drafting staff, and is working through a long rulemaking process while also adapting to frequent statutory changes. The committee discussed the first finding on license portability/endorsement, which the director said was the office’s highest priority and had been implemented through universal recognition rules adopted in 2023. Members asked detailed questions about how the office reviews other states’ licensing standards, whether it evaluates jurisdictions case-by-case or maintains a database, and how many jurisdictions qualify for endorsement in various professions. The director said the office initially reviewed all states and professions at once, now maintains and updates a list of substantially similar jurisdictions, and sometimes evaluates narrower jurisdictions such as counties, cities, or foreign countries. He noted that some professions, like nursing, have broad reciprocity, while others, including some mental health-related fields, vary widely and may have only a limited number of qualifying jurisdictions. He also said the office is exploring whether AI could help with research and tracking, though not with final verification. The committee then turned to expedited licensure processing. The director said the office now handles examination, review, and issuance or denial based on board-set criteria, rather than requiring every board to review every application, which has sped up processing. He said delays still occur with criminal background checks and FBI fingerprint processing because of paper forms, federal involvement, and back-and-forth with the Department of Safety when releases are incomplete or incorrect. Members raised concerns about broader state process bottlenecks and asked whether legislation could help streamline the system. A legislator said he was already working on related background-check language for another agency and believed the current draft may satisfy FBI requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Half of the Bill of Rights is Americans.
• The House of citation of appreciation.
• </c><01:06:26.400><c> of</c> Representatives of the Commonwealth of Representatives of the Commonwealth
• Louisville Municipal College, which I think is now the University of Louisville.
• Louisville Municipal College, which I think is now the University of Louisville.

Transcript Highlights:

• a universal voucher system across our state in the context of understanding that we're in a very extreme
• ><c> of</c><00:19:27.120><c> people</c><00:19:27.320><c> who</c> way of this group of of um of people
• Representative Murray asked what the other options would be, noting that a number of universities are
• ><c> using</c> a number of universities are not using a number of universities are not using SATs<01:
• Lauren Banker with the University System of New Hampshire.”

Summary: The Division 2 Finance Committee work session focused primarily on House Bill 115 and a proposed amendment, 114H, which would carry over language from HB 2 into HB 115 and place limits on Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs). Representative Murray described the amendment as a way to keep the 350% federal poverty eligibility cap, require students to have attended a charter public school in grades K-12 for the preceding year before entering the voucher system, and add guardrails against universal eligibility. She argued the state was facing a severe budget crisis, that expanding EFAs would divert money from other programs, and that public testimony and local votes showed widespread opposition to expansion. She also cited a letter from former Finance chair Neil Kirk opposing expansion. Other members responded that the committee should not revisit policy already decided by the House, though some said the amendment was fair to discuss because of its fiscal implications and supported it on that basis. The discussion then broadened into a debate over the fiscal impact of universal vouchers and the reliability of enrollment and cost estimates. Representative Luno argued that prior EFA projections had relied on assumptions that could badly underestimate state exposure, pointing to Arizona as a cautionary example and saying New Hampshire should not expand the program without better analysis. Representative Papovich similarly warned that universal eligibility could create a large, unexpected cost, estimating a potential exposure of about $285 million based on school-age children not currently in public, charter, or EFA programs. In contrast, Representative Weyler said EFAs can save money because public school spending is already high and parents using EFAs still pay taxes and take on more responsibility for their children’s education. After discussion, Representative Murray moved to accept the amendment, and Representative Bean seconded it. There was some procedural clarification about voting on the original bill and the amendment. The transcript ends before a final recorded vote on the amendment or on HB 115 itself, though the committee had also been told it would likely reconsider several retained bills later in the week, including HB 129, HB 133, HB 671, and HB 781.

Transcript Highlights:

• with respect to the University of Hawaii, include a longitudinal study of early non-alcoholic fatty
• with respect to the University of Hawaii, include a longitudinal study of early non-alcoholic fatty
• with respect to the University of Hawaii, include a longitudinal study of early non-alcoholic fatty
• The University of Hawaii disabilities.
• </c><01:13:55.199><c> to</c> the University of Hawaii and funds to the University of Hawaii and funds

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the State of Hawaii’s affirmative litigation against the federal administration, with no public testimony. Attorney General Lopez and deputies said the office’s goal is to enforce the rule of law, not make partisan points, and noted that Hawaii is involved in 27 ongoing cases. They grouped the cases into four broad areas: immigration, funding freezes and grant terminations, federal agency dismantling/reductions in force, and protecting elections, health, and safety. Several immigration-related cases were discussed in detail. These included a challenge to the federal sharing of Medicaid data with DHS for immigration enforcement, a similar challenge to USDA’s demand for SNAP applicant and recipient data, and litigation over immigration-enforcement conditions attached to federal grants. The office also described the birthright citizenship executive order, saying it conflicts with the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court precedent; lower courts granted preliminary relief, and the U.S. Supreme Court later addressed only the scope of nationwide injunctions, not the merits. In the Department of Transportation case, the court granted a preliminary injunction against the “Duffy directive,” finding the immigration conditions lacked statutory authority, were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the Spending Clause and APA. The briefing also covered multiple funding disputes. In the education funding freeze case, the Department of Education and OMB withheld about $6 billion in formula funds, including roughly $33 million for Hawaii; after suit was filed, the funds were released. Other cases included the termination of over $11 billion in public health grants, which affected Hawaii Department of Health grants, the NIH indirect cost cap case, and NIH grant terminations tied to DEI, transgender issues, and vaccine hesitancy. The speakers said some cases have already resulted in preliminary or permanent injunctions, while others remain on appeal or are still being litigated.