Transcript Highlights:

• Discourse by preventing state government entities from using license plate data and readers to track,
• The public entities have to observe the rules regarding immigration and protected health information.
• The private entity has to consent to the use of the information before it can be used.
• We do see it being sold to other public and private entities. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• to then get a court, use that, ...would allow that private entity to then get a court, use that data

Bills: HB294, SB40, SB43, SB35

Keywords: cannabis, cannabis packaging, cannabis labeling, cannabis regulation, Cannabis Control Division, adulterated cannabis, artificial color additive, food dye, youth appeal, minor appeal, child-resistant packaging, black-and-white packaging, edibles, product labeling, consumer protection, marijuana, hemp, dispensary, licensed cannabis business, cannabis manufacturer

Transcript Highlights:

• I just wanted to ask who, what entity, Madam Chair, is in charge of furthering the investigation and
• So every entity should become ...through them to pull a permit.
• It's not just because it's one entity; it's for all of us because we all suffer together.
• Have there been any state entities that have also been involved in forcibly sterilizing these Native
• I think it was some kind of memorial to affirm their stance at that time, and multiple other entities

Transcript Highlights:

• And at the very bottom, it clarifies the definition of recipient to include individuals, entities, and
• key personnel of entities, including board members, officers, executives, employees, or agents of entities
• Uh, when an individual or entity is participating in multiple state programs, this bill allows other
• committed fraud to that the entity committed fraud to obtain<00:20:17.120> payment.
• is participating in multiple entity is participating in multiple state<00:21:02.080> programs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first received a House message reappointing a conference committee on Senate File 2077, the environment and natural resources appropriations bill, and took no further action on that message. The chamber then moved through motions and resolutions, including a failed attempt to suspend the rules to make House File 4102 a special order for immediate consideration. Senator Howe argued the bill was urgent because it would extend a study on state law enforcement pay and help address State Patrol recruitment and retention, while Senator Friends opposed suspending the rules; the motion failed on a roll call vote, 35 ayes to 32 nays. The Senate then took House File 3629 from the table, made it a special order, and adopted the A5 amendment. The bill, relating to grants management and the Department of Administration, was described as refining agency authority over exemptions, adding reporting requirements, expanding whistleblower protections, and broadening fraud-prevention tools. The A5 amendment added stronger payment-withholding authority for agencies based on credible allegations of fraud, removed the 60-day withholding limit, allowed cross-agency withholding in some cases, replaced court appeal with agency reconsideration, made the authority permanent, and added a reporting requirement for DHS and DCYF inspector general activity. Supporters said it would improve transparency and protect taxpayers; the bill then passed final roll call 67-0. Finally, the Senate took up House File 4492, which was amended with the A4 delete-everything amendment. The new version combined three articles: READ Act provisions, a veterans diploma provision, and early literacy field-experience changes. Senators described the veterans section as requiring school districts to award diplomas to veterans who left high school to serve in the Korean or Vietnam Wars, and the READ Act and literacy provisions as aligning teacher preparation and early literacy instruction with state standards. Members also discussed school discipline and classroom safety issues in the course of debate. The bill was then read for final passage, with senators speaking in support of the combined package and its education and veterans provisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I don't know that it's worth our time and money as a public entity to support that exploration
• But would it be great to get private entities to come in here and start investing in that way?
• It’s open to all the state entities. But go ahead. So, Mr. Chair, Mr.
• It depends on the size of the entity.
• Now we're going to hear from other entities. The City of Phoenix, as opposed to this bill.

Bills: HB2056, HB2202, HB2207, HB2224, HB2303, HB2344, HB2532, HB2759, HB2798

Keywords: brackish water, groundwater, desalination, water resources, feasibility study, environmental impact, dementia care, telementoring, healthcare education, rural communities, grant funding, braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion, produce incentive, agriculture, economic support, funding

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met on January 28 and heard several bills, beginning with member and staff introductions and a reminder about amendment deadlines. HB 2056 would appropriate $100,000 to the Arizona Department of Water Resources for a feasibility study of brackish groundwater desalination sites; the sponsor said Arizona should explore potential water supplies amid Colorado River concerns. A witness opposed the bill, and members debated whether brackish groundwater should be treated as a resource or a threat to aquifers. The committee approved HB 2056 on an 11-6 vote, with one member not voting. The committee then considered HB 2798, as amended, which would provide $100,000 to the University of Arizona/Arizona Geological Survey to compile data on materials related to nuclear energy, including thorium and other non-uranium fuels. The sponsor framed the bill as an economic development and national security effort, while opponents questioned whether Arizona has enough of the material to justify public spending. The University of Arizona supported the work as within the Geological Survey’s mission. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 11-5, with one member present and one not voting. HB 2303 would codify investment rules for the State Treasurer, requiring safety and principal preservation ahead of return and prohibiting speculative investments and insider-benefit conduct. The Treasurer’s Office said the bill reflects current policy and ethics rules already in place, and members asked about how “speculative” would be defined and whether the bill would affect other investment-related statutes. The committee passed the bill 15-0, with two members present and one not voting. HB 2344 would require the Treasurer to manage the local government investment pool and allow a third-party backup only in emergencies; the Treasurer’s Office argued this preserves a low-cost, high-liquidity service for local governments, while some members questioned whether it limited future Treasurers’ discretion. The committee passed HB 2344 12-2, with three present and one not voting. Later, the committee heard HB 2759, which would appropriate $500,000 to the Department of Veterans’ Services to partner with an educational institution in Yavapai County for veteran programs. A retired Navy SEAL and campus veterans coordinator described emergency housing, equipment, and professional-development needs for student veterans at Embry-Riddle, while several members supported the effort and others objected to using state funds for a private institution or a county-specific program. The bill passed 11-6, with one not voting. The committee also passed HB 2207, appropriating $300,000 for the prison Braille transcription program, after testimony that the program trains inmates in a skilled trade and has had no recidivism among released participants; it passed 17-0, with one not voting. Finally, HB 2224, as amended to reduce the appropriation from $2 million to $1 million, would fund the Double Up Food Bucks produce incentive program through SNAP. Supporters said it helps families, farmers, and local economies and can improve health outcomes, while members discussed budget constraints; the committee approved the amended bill after testimony from program advocates and farmers.

Transcript Highlights:

• The pass-through entity forecast decreased by $35 million, but as a positive to note, the estimated amount
• Because you can deduct a hundred percent of it as a pass-through entity, but in exchange, you now owe
• We're expecting that we would lose a piece of the pass-through entity.
• This includes government-owned entities, such as government hospitals, government parking garages, and
• Many of whom are out-of-state, very large corporate entities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so I don't know that there's entities that would fall into all three of them.
• <00:13:55.160> to<00:13:55.280> be created for entities to be created for entities
• Yes, so when it comes to health care entities, a lot of the entities, the 11 out of, I think, the 18
• An entity shall limit the collection to what is reasonable and disclosed in a privacy policy.
• Sorry, I just—there was a specific entity that pushed for that, or where the language came from?

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House first returned to Senate Bill 71, a consumer data privacy and online surveillance bill. Members debated a proposed amendment that would have removed language allowing companies to rely on consumer consent to sell certain sensitive data. Supporters argued consent pop-ups and terms-of-service notices are not meaningful consent and that sensitive data should be categorically protected, citing Maryland and other states. Opponents, including the committee presenter, said the bill was a carefully negotiated compromise needed to establish Vermont’s first data privacy framework and warned that adopting the amendment could jeopardize passage in the Senate or with the governor. The committee reported the amendment unfavorable on a 9-0 straw poll, the House rejected the amendment, and then approved the committee’s recommended proposal of amendment by roll call vote, 129-3. During questioning on S. 71, members discussed the bill’s applicability thresholds, with the presenter explaining that the 35,000-consumer threshold was modeled on Connecticut, while lower 3,000 thresholds for sensitive data and data sales were based on business testimony and intended to capture smaller entities such as accountants, lawyers, nonprofits, and trade associations that share or sell lists. Members also asked about the bill’s many exemptions, which were described as covering entities already regulated by state or federal law, including health care entities under HIPAA and banking and insurance sectors. The presenter and supporters emphasized that the bill still requires clear privacy notices, limits data collection to what is reasonable and disclosed, and gives consumers rights to opt out, correct, and delete data. After the roll call vote, the House ordered third reading, suspended rules to place S. 71 in all remaining stages, passed it in concurrence with proposal of amendment, and suspended rules to message the action to the Senate forthwith. The House then moved to Senate Bill 193, relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons. The committee presenter from South Burlington previewed that the bill would create a permanent forensic facility, with a separate amendment expected to address interim arrangements while the facility is being developed. The transcript ends as the House begins second reading of S. 193 and the committee reports are introduced, with further debate not shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:50.480> which non-publicly accountable entities which non-publicly accountable entities
• <00:23:28.000> could models where different entities could models where different entities
• Let's say we invested the RDA money in and it goes to private entities.
• We have four entities, and the trend in agriculture is to bigger and bigger and bigger.
• And you know, I I have entities.

Bills: HF2103, HF4508

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, elk, cervidae, cervid importation, chronic wasting disease, CWD, animal health, livestock, wildlife disease, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, state veterinarian, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA

Transcript Highlights:

• response to some stakeholder concerns, we added Section C that says this does not preclude a licensing entity
• First, it adds the definition of "covered entity" from the Texas Medical Privacy Act and changes the
• applicability from medical. health care practitioners and governmental entities to covered entities.
• It clarifies that a covered entity shall ensure that electronic records are stored in a safe. under their

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, under existing law, there are only three entities who can go directly to a contractor to
• Under existing law, there are only three entities who can go directly to a contractor to receive a copy
• Berman recently, labor compliance entities have noted increasing instances of awarding agencies rejecting
• There is communication between the public entity and the contractor pretty regularly during the course
• judgment. ...that gets upheld other than the entity that owes an outstanding judgment for nonpayment

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee met on March 19, 2025, adopted its rules, and approved the consent calendar before hearing several bills. AB 538, by Assemblymember Berman, would require awarding bodies on public works projects to make a timely attempt to obtain certified payroll records from contractors when the public requests them, rather than simply saying they do not have the records. Supporters said it would clarify existing prevailing wage enforcement; county, city, special district, and housing groups opposed it over workload, privacy, and potential funding risks. The bill passed the committee on a do-pass recommendation to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 485, authored by Chair Ortega, which would direct state agencies to deny or renew business licenses for employers with outstanding wage theft judgments unless the judgments are satisfied or bonded. Supporters, including labor groups and a caregiver who described delayed recovery of unpaid wages, said the bill would give workers meaningful leverage to collect judgments. The California Hospital Association opposed it, warning that license action could threaten patient access to care. The bill passed on a do-pass recommendation to Appropriations. AB 596, by Assemblymember McKinnor, would codify workers’ right to wear a face covering or respirator at work unless it creates a direct safety hazard. Supporters said the measure would protect workers from illness, wildfire smoke, and employer restrictions after prior Cal/OSHA protections expired; the Chamber of Commerce opposed it narrowly, asking for an exception where masks are infeasible for certain tasks. The committee supported the bill and sent it to Appropriations. The hearing concluded with the roll kept open for absent members and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT MAINTENANCE ENTITY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A REGISTERED CONTRACTOR.
• THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A MAINTENANCE ENTITY BUT WITH THE ALLOWANCES, WHAT THAT MEANS IS, TYPICALLY
• THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR A MAINTENANCE ENTITY.
• OFTEN WE ARE DOING A SEPTIC TO SEWER CONVERSION WE ARE DEALING WITH ONE ENTITY.
• >> THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS, WHERE ALL THE OTHER SYSTEMS OFFER A MAINTENANCE ENTITY, THESE DON'T

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's multiple years for some entities.
• This is us bragging: we've brought 154 entities into compliance.
• It's important to understand that the number of audits and the entities run separately because they'll
• are not sacrificing any sort of open or transparency or compliance-based issues with any of our entities
• We also... done outreach through those entities.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has to do with the purchase by for-profit entities.
• That's the for-profit entities.
• They're the agencies that are dealing with these entities every day.
• And so, with these entities every day.
• <00:55:57.200> to avenue open for a for-profit entity to avenue open for a for-profit entity

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As of now, 19 of the 43 original entities have had their turnback released and reinstated, which leaves
• As of now, 19 of the 43 original entities have had their turnback released and reinstated, which leaves
• that did file their reports, which leaves five entities that have not filed reports.
• The staff of Legislative Audit was only able to find one previous filing from this entity, which was
• And I'd have to pull the statute, maybe to see the third entity on that. Another question to staff.

Summary: The committee began with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then received updates on delinquent private water and sewer reports. Staff reported that 19 of 43 original entities for the 2022 reporting year had had turnback reinstated, while 24 remained in escrow; for the 2023 reporting year, 59 of 64 entities had filed, leaving five still outstanding. The committee also heard that Adona had come into substantial compliance with municipal accounting law, and it voted to file that report and discontinue withholding turnback. It then voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report for Gum Springs after hearing repeated findings involving budgeting, disbursements, payroll, and Act 833 funds, with city officials saying they had begun correcting records and were seeking help from the Municipal League and a city attorney. Fargo was deferred because the mayor was absent due to illness. The committee next considered Denning, where staff described repeated and serious accounting problems over 2022-2024, including unauthorized payments, missing documentation, weak payroll controls, and improper handling of funds. The mayor and recorder-treasurer said prior records were disorganized and that they were now working with an attorney, CPA help, and new software; the committee voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report. Green Forest’s report, involving a fixed-asset listing issue after the mayor’s death, was filed. Several private water and sewer reports were either filed or deferred depending on whether responses had been received, and the committee announced its March meeting would be held in Room 149 because of renovations. The committee then reviewed a series of referred reports involving alleged financial irregularities. In Elaine, the fire chief’s questionable purchases were referred and filed. In Strong, staff described undeposited garbage-bag receipts, improper payments for private dumpster service and other expenditures, payroll tax penalties, and deficit fund balances; the mayor said controls had been improved, but the committee deferred the report to March. The Faulkner County Fair Association report found undocumented cash withdrawals, questionable disbursements, and inadequately documented cash payments to a carnival vendor; the committee filed it. Brooklyn’s report involved a fraudulent direct-deposit change, and Mineral Springs’ report involved transfers from the cemetery fund, employee loans, overpayments, and travel reimbursement issues; both were filed. Additional reports included Rondo, where the recorder-treasurer explained missing computers and fuel purchases tied to personal vehicles, and the committee filed the report; Waldo, where the mayor had been overpaid due to extra biweekly payments, which was filed; Columbia County, where a floodplain management contract lacked an authorizing ordinance, which was filed; and several private water-system reports, some filed and others deferred for lack of responses. Carlisle’s report showed large but improving misstatements in financial records, and the committee filed it after hearing that new software and training had reduced prior problems. Caddo Valley’s report prompted a lengthy discussion about CDs and interest recognition; staff explained that principal balances should be reflected as city assets and interest should be recorded when earned or reported by the bank, and the report was filed. Prairie County’s budget overrun and road-fund issues were discussed at length, with the judge explaining equipment and weather-related costs and staff clarifying the distinction between road funds and locally approved sales-tax uses; the report was filed. Finally, the committee deferred a Cross County Rural Water Association matter after learning it had not filed with Legislative Audit since 2002-2003 despite receiving significant state funding, and members expressed concern about the long gap in filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Though facilitating the same goals, these entities are distinctly different.
• The standards for compliance are so strict that only seven... entities are accredited as of today.
• I ask that simple amendments were made for all groups, including non-transplant entities. ...donation
• But that was the other entity that you would do business with? Yes. Yes. Okay.
• So if an LMHA has a single entity as their sponsor, the statute directs them to have a maximum number

Bills: SB2024, SB227, SB268, SB1467, SB1580, HB5537, SB1313, SB1677, SB918, SB331, SB2207, SB2721

Keywords: e-cigarettes, marketing prohibition, youth protection, criminal penalties, public health, school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, death records, vital statistics, healthcare, trauma facility, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have a number of laws here that require government entities to publish a public notice in a physical
• This allows government entities to satisfy public notice requirements by publishing in a qualifying digital
• Employ staff within the jurisdiction of the government entity, report on local events and government
• The interconnection queue is heavily dependent on multiple variables. ...That allows different entities
• Third, how prepared is the entity seeking interconnection to provide the data necessary to study the

Bills: HB1951, HB2715, HB3092, HB3237, HB3278, HB3511, HB3592, HB3675, HB3778, HB3782, HB3826, HB3970, HB4016, HB4049, HB4341, HB4344, HB4406, HB4427

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Sections 22 and 23 are modeled entities.
• On page R3, Senate section 2 requires government entities to establish procedures to monitor access to
• <00:53:53.200> from public and private entities from public and private entities from disseminating
• <00:54:32.319> The county or other government entity.
• The county or other government entity.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• VOCA grants, like after the entity receives the money.
• These are entities that are dependent on government grants. So I would say.
• How do they know the grant exists, and what kind of entities, and what kind of?
• Those would not be state entities.
• And that's another entity.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have consulted with other universities and entities who have private partners for their utilities.
• We have consulted with other universities and entities who have private partners for their utilities.
• nonprofit 9%, and debt issued through a nonprofit 9%, and debt issued through a nonprofit entity
• entity, Provident. entity, Provident.
• project's going to provide the Capital City Airport with additional space for private and corporate entities

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including a quorum call, approval of the April 27 minutes, and a report of informational items. Those informational items included University of Kentucky medical equipment purchases, UK’s planned use of restricted funds for a public-private partnership, school district debt notices, UK’s use of construction management at risk for five projects, Kentucky Communications Network Authority capital project reporting, and UK lease improvements. The main action item was University of Kentucky’s request for approval of a $600 million central plants and utility infrastructure P3 tied to the Chandler expansion and other campus facilities. UK said the project would modernize and expand utility capacity, improve redundancy and efficiency, and support 24/7 hospital operations. UK explained that the financing would combine private equity and nonprofit debt, with no UK or Commonwealth debt or upfront payment, and that future availability payments would come from UK Healthcare funds. Members asked about the financing stack, the source of the restricted funds, and whether existing units would be replaced or modernized. The committee then approved the P3 agreement by roll call vote. The committee also considered and approved a lease renewal for a 20,000-square-foot College of Medicine facility near the Bowling Green Medical Center. UK said the lease would cost $38 per square foot, or $912,000 annually, and supports its long-running partnership with Bowling Green Hospital and planned medical student growth in the region. Members spoke favorably about the local impact of the program, and the lease renewal passed by roll call vote. Finally, the Finance and Administrative Cabinet reported three items requiring no action, including a $2.103 million Transportation Cabinet Department of Aviation project for two medium box hangars at Capital City Airport. Cabinet staff said the project would be funded by federal aviation money and restricted aviation funds, and later explained that the restricted funds come from a jet fuel tax deposited into the Aviation Economic Development Fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to distribute grants to airports and entities that develop, promote, and educate aeronautics and
• So for this particular entity, they...
• So for this particular entity, they will continue to perform the duties that they have been doing as
• They're an entity, so there were other entities in the state that performed this, and so they were eligible
• I think that these entities continue to do it, with or without the grant award.

Summary: The committee considered and approved several temporary appropriation requests in Section B, including spending authority for the Court of Appeals to pay appointed counsel in criminal appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics airport and aviation grants, and Insurance Department items for workers’ compensation benefits and premium tax refunds. It also approved ARPA-related requests in Section C to return unused federal funds from DHS aging, mental health, substance abuse, and Older Americans Act grants. In Section D, the committee reviewed and approved Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests, including Agriculture grants for wildfire preparedness and forestry capacity, a large Commerce broadband BEAD request, environmental recycling-related reallocations, and Oil and Gas Commission grants for facility repairs and sample preservation. Members questioned the broadband program’s audit process and performance safeguards; the State Broadband Director said the funds are federal, subject to audits, and payments are released only after engineering certification of completed work. The committee also approved DHS reallocations in Section E, including major transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical appropriations to private and public nursing home lines, as well as transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services. The committee then reviewed cash fund requests, miscellaneous federal grants, pay plan and performance fund transfers, methods of finance, and a large set of contracts. A Northwest Arkansas Community College official explained storm-damage repairs and insurance settlement issues, and DHS explained its hospital medical transfer was moving excess appropriation rather than cash. Members also questioned several UAPB tobacco prevention subgrants, especially arts-based outreach, and asked for more data on effectiveness; the committee later voted to expunge and re-refer the J-2 item for further review at a later ALC meeting. Additional discussion covered a DEQ grant to Free Geek of Arkansas for e-waste recycling, a UAPB tobacco program, and various contracts for universities, DHS services, corrections, and public safety. The meeting ended with reports filed for information and a brief member comment thanking others for concern after a tornado in Stone County; no one was injured.

Transcript Highlights:

• want you to run backwards now from this nomination, but I am very serious about whether or not this entity
• want you to run backwards now from this nomination, but I am very serious about whether or not this entity
• We'll get over there and try to, you know, work as hard as we can to make it, you know, an entity that
• We'll get over there and try to, you know, work as hard as we can to make it, you know, an entity that
• We'll get over there and try to, you know, work as hard as we can to make it, you know, an entity that

Keywords: Economic and Workforce Development - Room 409, 31 March, 2026; 9:30 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee considered the Lieutenant Governor’s appointment of Charles Tyler Norman to the board of MAG Core, formerly the Mississippi Prison Industries Corporation, to fill a vacancy for a term ending June 30, 2028. Members described the board’s role in prison-based workforce training and noted that most of its membership is made up of state officials, with only a few outside appointees. Norman said he has a long business background, has served on other state boards, and supports public service and workforce development, including prison work programs. Several senators used the nomination to raise broader concerns about the effectiveness of prison workforce training and whether MAG Core should continue as a separate entity or be folded under Accelerate Mississippi. The chair said he was frustrated with workforce outcomes for incarcerated people, including the implementation of presumptive parole and the value of some training credentials, and stressed that any program should be profitable and not burden taxpayers. Norman agreed that workforce training should be practical and tied to real trades, said he has hired felons and believes in second chances, and said he would bring committee suggestions back to the board. A senator asked about a 2008 derogatory incident in Norman’s background report; Norman acknowledged it as a college misdemeanor and said it was the only such issue. Another senator asked about the board’s composition and diversity, and staff said one remaining outside member is a governor’s appointee, later identified as Ronnie McNeil from the faith-based community. The committee then adopted a motion to report the nomination out with a do advise and consent recommendation, and Norman was reminded to keep his statement of economic interest current.