Transcript Highlights:

• registration for professional engineers registration for professional engineers and<00:47:44.560
• that request is for um the engineers that request is for um the engineers requested<00:48:01.760
• And then section 16 is $1,500,000 for income verification software.
• And then section 16 is $1,500,000 for income verification software.
• for uh income verification software. for uh income verification software.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 12 March, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee began by noting the plan to suspend the rules later that afternoon so several measures could be taken up on the floor, including bills that may be on final passage or contain reverse repealers. Members were reminded to clearly identify which bills were final passage measures so the chamber would know it might be the last opportunity to vote on them. The committee then moved through a series of appropriations bills. In the education and judicial budgets, Senator DeBar explained House Bills 1928, 1933, 1935, 1936, and 1937, covering the legislative operations budget, DFA buildings reappropriations, K-12 education, MPB, and the library commission. He described increases for teacher pay, special education supplements, testing contracts, ELC coaches, financial literacy, ESA funding, and other adjustments, along with reductions in some areas and a decline in student enrollment affecting the funding formula. The bills were adopted by title sufficient, do pass, with strike-all motions where applicable. Senator Wiggins presented House Bills 1924, 1926, 1927, 1930, and 1931, covering the Attorney General, Capital Postconviction Council, district attorneys and staff, the Office of State Public Defender, and the Supreme Court/AOC budget. He highlighted salary increases for agency attorneys, human trafficking funding, new district attorney positions from judicial redistricting, public defender support for family defenders and the rural legal services pilot, and major court-system items such as judicial salary increases, youth court intake, CCID courts, and the MyCIDS replacement system. Questions focused on the meaning of personal services, vacancy funding, and possible use of opioid settlement funds for AOC; the committee was told those issues could be handled through the reverse repealer or other vehicles. The bills were advanced, with the committee noting which ones contained reverse repealers and which were final action. Subcommittee 5 and 6 then handled human services, health, licensing, and transportation-related measures. House Bills 1906, 1909, 1912, and 1921 covered Child Protective Services, Human Services, Medicaid, and Rehabilitation Services, with explanations for new attorney positions, salary and vacancy funding, SNAP administration, Medicaid agency funding, and restoring positions in rehab services. House Bill 1908 for the Department of Health added money for Jackson water litigation and public health priorities such as obesity management, remote monitoring, cancer screenings, and maternal-infant health. House Bills 1913, 1914, 1915, 1917, and 1918 were taken up together for licensing boards, with most changes described as cloud services, PIN restoration, or vacancy funding; only the Board of Medical Licensure bill had a reverse repealer. Finally, Senator Thompson handled special fund and transportation bills, including the Port Authority, waterway and river districts, Yellow Creek, and MDOT. He noted overtime concerns at the Port Authority, special-fund increases for contractual services and capital improvements at the water districts, and MDOT increases for salaries, commodities, equipment, and the three-year highway plan. Senator Wiggins raised a question about utility relocation costs in transportation projects, saying some municipalities were being told to pay those costs themselves; Senator Thompson said he would follow up with MDOT.

Transcript Highlights:

• You back to your engineers having a hard time recruiting engineers.
• ,<01:55:57.600> you and so, to attract good engineers, you and so, to attract good engineers
• It's an exception request for software licenses and maintenance costs for software that is currently
• It's an exception request for software It's an exception request for software licenses<02:57:23.960><
• engine after it blew over. engine after it blew over.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One is now graduated from Missouri S&T, summa cum laude in nuclear engineering, and works at the Callaway
• Looks like that's coming from software changes within the OAITSD contract with DESE.
• And I can understand the first time when you try to change the software program to include the information
• And does your software package do all that? And if it doesn't, then you have to modify it.
• Because computer software, it's always— I mean, that would be my explanation.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I welcome Councilmember Megan Kerr from Long Beach's 5th District and Ryan Kelly, senior traffic engineer
• My name is Ryan Kelly, and I'm a senior traffic engineer in the Public Works Department of the City of
• , which is that it says that companies have to ensure that they don't, by any means, including a software
• So you couldn't, by virtue of a software update or other modification... ...so that you couldn't, by
• virtue of a software update or other modification, disable the ability of the human being who bought

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department has found a number of challenges, including integration of software and information technology
• McKenzie, we are much more reliant upon information technology and software-based systems today than
• Luckily, software systems have been, I would say, more adaptable than some of the hardware systems as
• So I think software is absolutely key to any mobilization effort, because that's what's controlling all
• It also goes to you know when we were growing up we wanted our kids all to be engineers right not technicians

Transcript Highlights:

• You're already seeing Wikipedia going down, TripAdvisor going down, people using search engines going
• So, as you know, we manufacture engines and components for all branches of the military, including 404
• For example, workers have described webcam biometric monitoring software that uses AI to track what is
• I basically reverse engineered the business by looking at all the transaction-level data and using data
• And I'm the Director of Engineering and Quality Consulting Services at Eloquent Life Sciences.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on several artificial intelligence bills, opening with remarks about the 9/11 anniversary and then broad statements from the co-chairs about AI’s promise and risks. Chair Farley-Bouvier and Senator Moore emphasized the need for guardrails, transparency, and worker and consumer protections, while Senator Finegold described Senate Bill 37, which would create a framework for AI model training with safety assessments, audits, incident reporting, Attorney General oversight, and workforce reporting. Members also discussed Massachusetts’ position relative to other states and the need for state action in the absence of federal regulation. A large portion of the hearing focused on the Fair Act, House 77 and Senate 35, which would limit workplace surveillance, restrict collection of biometric and location data, require notice and human review for automated employment decisions, and protect workers from retaliation. Labor leaders, including AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, SEIU, building trades, and other worker representatives, testified in support, describing harms from bossware, automated benefits denials, hiring and promotion screening, scheduling, and monitoring in workplaces ranging from health care and education to manufacturing and construction. They argued that AI systems are already affecting wages, benefits, safety, and job security, and that Massachusetts should act now to set clear rules. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 74, which would require informed consent and clear contract terms for digital replicas of voices and likenesses, with SAG-AFTRA representatives supporting the bill as a protection for performers and creators. Another major topic was Senate Bill 51 on social media algorithm accountability and transparency; child safety advocates, researchers, and a public health expert described harms from engagement-based algorithms, including exposure to harmful content, eating disorders, and youth mental health impacts, and supported independent audits and public reporting. A few industry and civil liberties witnesses supported regulation but urged balance, warning against overly burdensome rules while acknowledging the need for privacy, transparency, and accountability. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the hearing excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• It uses open-source software so that anybody that has the technical ability and the desire can look at
• It uses open-source software so that anybody that has the technical ability and the desire can look at
• It uses open-source software so that anybody that has the technical ability and the desire can look at
• It uses open-source software so that anybody that has the technical ability and the desire can look at
• You know, I am an engineer; my class grammarian from eighth grade is showing.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will operate on a transportation-as-a-service model, as opposed to the software-as-a-service model
• I always think of autonomous vehicles as a marriage between hardware and software.
• No amount of engineering is going to tell you where it goes.
• We also hired a professional engineering consultant to do an I&I study, and that's been going on now.
• So we have engineers.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just an engineer. I'm not, I'm not, you may be.
• I'm just an engineer, and so I'm not, with all the fancy words, I'm trying to find a—I’m trying to find
• It's a very simple software. It's like when you fill out forms and you have to fill out everything.
• As of September 2024, according to our local registration tracking software, there were approximately
• I was an engineer, so I kind of have an obsession for numbers, so you'll have to excuse me.

Bills: HB346, HB1360, HB1510, HB1606, HB1804, HB1805, HB2156, HB2391, HB2767, HB3022, HB3044, HB3272, HB3293, HB3493, HB3809, HB3824, HJR110, HB2463

Keywords: expedited service, business records, veteran-owned businesses, franchise tax, fee schedule, Texas Ethics Commission, election reporting, campaign finance, violation categorization, penalties, public disclosure, Texas Utilities Code, electric utility, retail electric provider, municipally owned utility, electric cooperative, vegetation management, tree trimming, line clearance, transmission line

Transcript Highlights:

• out there and with the kinds of software out there and how<00:37:40.079> we<00:37:40.240>
• Thank you. >> We have the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii in support. >> Uh, good
• Uh, I represent the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii.
• If the Council of Engineering<00:47:22.480> Companies<00:47:22.880> of<00:47:23.040>
• Engineering Companies of Hawaii gets its way,<00:47:24.160> developers<00:47:24.640> will<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several agriculture-related bills. HB 1602 HD1 drew support from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Ulupono Initiative, and others, with testimony emphasizing the value of a dedicated grant writer who had secured nearly $9 million in federal funds and was pursuing additional grants. Members discussed how much time grant applications take and how the position helps position projects for implementation. The committee then moved on without objection. HB 1832, relating to aquaculture, received support from state agencies and industry groups, with one individual opposed. HB 1707 HD1, relating to agriculture, also drew broad support. A committee question focused on the bill’s definition of “necessary supplies,” and the Hawaii Farm Bureau said the language was broad enough to cover the inputs farmers need, including transportation-related costs, and would help reduce production costs and food prices. HB 2155 HD1, relating to agricultural statistics, prompted testimony in support of better data collection to help Hawaii compete for federal agriculture funding. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity explained that its role would focus on production, import, and export data, distinct from the scientific data collected by another unit, and said it wanted an electronic system tied to existing manifest and GIS tools to avoid duplicative clipboard-based collection. HB 1831 HD1, relating to agricultural lands, was heard with support and no questions. HB 1650 HD1, relating to environmental assessments, drew opposition from several individuals who argued it would weaken environmental protections and resident input; no action was taken. The committee then heard HB 1652 HD1, relating to storm water management systems. The engineering industry supported clarifying that low-risk green stormwater infrastructure such as rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavement should not be treated like detention or retention ponds subject to fencing and other safety requirements. Opponents, including family members affected by a drowning and other residents, argued the bill would weaken Act 281’s safety protections and increase liability. The Hawaii Farm Bureau questioned whether agricultural water infrastructure should be exempted from the fencing requirements and said the costs would vary by system, but the committee did not take final action during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Engine 911 committee update. Continue to work on the engine 91RP.
• The International Public Safety Consortium is basically public safety software vendors that will be in
• vendors that are there and attend some of their various different classes to try to steer those software

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Unlike Don, who's an engineer, who's going to worry about energy efficiency on his home.
• Construction and engineering is what they blamed it on, but it met the code at the time.
• Construction and engineering is what they blamed it on, but it met the code at the time.
• I believe it was between when the codes and engineering... Robust community engagement.
• like $30,000 for software to do it.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, no proprietary software mandates, just best practices.
• It does not develop and will not develop or dictate bespoke software packages.
• Motorcycles, scooters, personal watercraft, motorboats, and outboard engines.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2022, we published 10 principles for safe software.
• So dark patterns are techniques that software developers deploy in designing the user interface that
• We have been in our software safety standards panel, we have been aggregating work from academia and
• My name is Olga Medina, and I represent the Business Software Alliance.
• I'm a computer science PhD at Harvard University, and I have previously worked as a software engineer

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing focused on a package of Massachusetts privacy and technology bills, especially measures to ban the sale of location data, establish a comprehensive consumer data privacy law, and regulate biometric recognition and surveillance pricing. Chairs and sponsors argued that self-regulation has failed, that data brokers and large tech companies routinely collect and monetize sensitive information, and that state action is needed because federal protections are weak or absent. Several speakers tied the bills to reproductive health, gender-affirming care, domestic violence, children’s data, and other sensitive uses of location and biometric information. Supporters included legislators and advocates who backed H. 86/S. 197 (Location Shield), H. 78/S. 45/H. 104/S. 29 (comprehensive privacy bills), H. 99/S. 47 (surveillance pricing in grocery stores), and H. 36/S. 36 (biometric recognition accountability). They emphasized data minimization, bans on selling sensitive data, consumer rights to access, delete, and opt out, and in some cases a private right of action. Several witnesses said Massachusetts should lead or align with other states, while others argued that stronger protections are needed because data can be weaponized by stalkers, anti-abortion actors, abusive partners, insurers, or law enforcement. Industry and coalition witnesses urged the committee to favor a more standardized, interoperable framework modeled on laws already adopted in other states, warning that novel definitions, data-minimization rules, and private rights of action could create compliance burdens, confusion, and costs for businesses, including small businesses. They argued that entity-level exemptions for sectors already covered by federal laws like HIPAA or GLBA promote consistency, and that Attorney General enforcement is preferable to private lawsuits. Committee members questioned witnesses on patchwork concerns, the scope of exemptions, and whether the proposed bills would harm or help consumers and small businesses. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; written testimony was noted as due later, and the committee continued taking testimony from multiple panels and virtual witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, that is the kind of the engine of our office.
• So we have several engineers running in different directions.
• We do have here the information of tabulator replacement software.
• that the legislature has purchased, like the Remy software.
• It's not just engineers. It's public utility engineers. I think you get the point.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, that’s a department software solution specially designed for the Department of Taxation,
• folks know that's a department software folks know that's a department software solution<00:04:18.880
• So we hire our software developers.
• FAST is going to help with the development, so FAST is giving us software developers, right?
• We have one software developer position that we recently promoted and that is vacant.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:10:24.960> in railroad operations engineer in railroad operations engineer in accounting
• <01:33:38.080> that specialized diagnostic software that specialized diagnostic software that
• <01:44:21.080> to signals and some of the software to signals and some of the software to
• maintenance of ongoing um software maintenance of ongoing um software systems<02:14:37.079> from
• <04:49:01.558> and mechanical and electrical engineers and mechanical and electrical engineers

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with New Hampshire DOT Commissioner Bill Cass and Finance Director Danielle Shandra to review the agency’s FY 2026 budget. Cass gave a high-level overview of DOT’s mission, organization, funding structure, and staffing trends, noting the agency has about 650 employees across five divisions. He said the Governor’s recommended FY 2026 budget totals $95.99 million, essentially flat from FY 2025, with funding primarily from Turnpike funds, Highway funds, federal sources, and a small General Fund share for non-highway units. Members asked about how Turnpike and Highway funds are treated in state accounting, and DOT explained that while they are enterprise funds restricted to their purposes, they are considered unrestricted from the statewide perspective and are appropriated through the budget process. A major topic was staffing and budget targets. DOT said its full-time staffing level has remained relatively flat since 2014 even as vehicle miles traveled increased and vacancies rose. To meet budget targets, the department unfunded seven permanent positions and nine temporary full-time positions, and later noted additional reductions in Finance, including the elimination of two full-time positions, reduced print shop equipment purchases, and deeper cuts to overtime, temporary help, equipment, and supplies in FY 2027. DOT also explained that it shifted funding for one unmanned aerial system position from General Funds to Highway Funds, saying the change was workable because the position supports highway-related work and federal-aid-eligible activities. Members asked for clarification on the state transit operating match, and DOT explained that the Legislature had previously provided about $1.8 million annually in General Funds to help local transit agencies meet federal match requirements, but that funding was not included in this budget. DOT said that could reduce the ability to draw down some federal transit funds, though the impact may not be immediate because those funds can be used over several years. The department also described its unmanned aerial system program, saying it has been used for about five years for mapping, survey work, construction oversight, and storm damage assessment, and that it now has about five drones and two full-time positions supporting the program. DOT said it is expanding cross-training so more employees can operate drones without adding positions. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just actually met with our core of engineers a couple nights ago.
• Paul Port Authority is an economic engine not only for the city of St.
• Paul Port Authority is an economic engine not only for the city of St.
• Paul Port Authority is an economic engine not only for the city of St.
• or or however that whatever software or or however that would<00:56:56.680> end<00:56:56.840>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We implemented a new licensing and inspection software in October 2025.
• It is our first ever inspection software.
• We are continuing to build out the new software.
• That's facilities engineering. That's not just day-to-day costs.
• So part of the issues we're doing is that with those software tools.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have eligibility requirements that a rules engine between DES and Access exist.
• We have eligibility requirements that a rules engine between DES and Access exist.
• So when this bill started, Access was using maybe a third of the software and data...
• Greber, the Unified Eligibility Rules Engine listed in paragraph 17 to 20 of page 3 of the bill.
• Greber, the Unified Eligibility Rules Engine listed in paragraph 17 to 20 of page 3 of the bill.

Bills: HB2775, HB2874, HB2940, HB4014, HB4067, HB4115, HCM2010, HCR2051

Keywords: international organizations, government resources, public institutions, Arizona Board of Regents, foreign adversaries, campaign finance, contributions, termination statements, reporting, penalties, electoral processes, healthcare, public benefits, eligibility verification, fraud prevention, Medicaid, SNAP, transparency, accountability, state land

Summary: The Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs, and Elections heard several election, health care, and sovereignty-related measures. HB 4115 and mirror resolution HCR 2051 would extend existing statewide rules for paid petition circulators and initiative/referendum disclosures to municipal and county measures, including badge/display requirements for paid circulators and disclosure of expenditures and revenue sources. Speaker Montenegro and supporters framed the bills as transparency and anti-out-of-state influence reforms; the committee recommended HB 4115 do pass by 5-2 and HCR 2051 by 4-3. The committee also considered HCM 2010, urging Congress to repeal the Seventeenth Amendment and return selection of U.S. senators to state legislatures. Sponsor Rep. Powell argued it would restore state sovereignty and accountability, while other members raised concerns about direct democracy, deadlock, and the need for broader public support. The memorial failed on a 3-3-1 vote after a present vote was recorded, despite some members expressing sympathy for the concept. HB 2940 proposed major changes to AHCCCS and DES eligibility verification and procurement, including expanded data checks, a unified eligibility rules engine, new contracting concepts, and a fixed benefit price list. The sponsor said the bill was intended to increase competition, transparency, and fiscal discipline; AHCCCS testified neutrally, noting it already uses many data matches but would need additional work and costs for some provisions, while health plan representatives opposed the bill as a major operational shift that could limit negotiated rates. The committee recommended the bill do pass 4-3. HB 2874, which would ease termination-statement requirements and penalties for committees that never raised money, passed unanimously 7-0. HB 467, requiring inactive-voter status information to appear in precinct registers, signature rosters, or e-poll books, was amended to change a mandatory “shall” to permissive “may” and then passed 5-2. Finally, HB 2775, as amended, would bar state and higher-education participation in implementing international-organization rules or agreements; after removing rulemaking authority for ABOR and adding a higher-education review process, it passed 4-3. The committee then adjourned.