Transcript Highlights:

• There were girls in her class that knew what had happened, and they were making fun of her about that
• And it took a lot of deciphering for me to go, 'Oh, okay, my daughter's getting bullied in this class
• So Virtual Arkansas allows us to have one teacher teach a class at all five of our facilities.
• so some of these kids that are older, when they go, if they're left to try to be able to get to the class
• We've talked about doing more CNA classes as well, so they could go work at a nursing home if they needed

Summary: The Senate and House Joint Committee on Children and Youth met to approve prior minutes, confirm Representative Mary Bentley to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee, and receive several presentations. The Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review team reported on unexpected child deaths in Arkansas, saying its 2023 review covered 148 of 170 non-natural deaths, with the remainder unavailable due to criminal investigations or missing records. Of the reviewed deaths, 69 were accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 undetermined, and members discussed how the report’s recommendations could be used by agencies and nonprofits for prevention work and grant applications. Committee members also asked about age breakdowns and how the data could be shared without identifying individual cases. The committee then took up HCR 1010 and a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Representative Shepard said the resolution was intended to confront data on juvenile incarceration and system outcomes. Senator Missy Irvin, judges Troy Braswell and Kathy Hess, and AOC Juvenile Division Director Burke Steen described the state’s long-running reform efforts, including the SAVRY risk assessment, diversion programs, and efforts to keep more youth in their communities. They said the reforms have reduced delinquency filings, DYS commitments, and revocations, while increasing diversions, but also emphasized ongoing gaps in mental health, substance abuse, and school-based supports. Members raised concerns about school data sharing, behavioral health access, and how to better identify youth with disabilities or trauma earlier. Judge Braswell and others stressed that many youth in the system have significant trauma, family instability, or unmet treatment needs, and that judges need individualized information to make decisions. Several members discussed the role of schools, the school safety dashboard, and the need for stronger community providers, especially in rural areas. The committee then heard from DYS Director Michael Crump, who provided data on commitments, facility use, demographics, offense levels, length of stay, education outcomes, recidivism, dual DCFS/DYS custody, and costs. He said commitments rose after the pandemic and then began to decline, while secure and detention costs increased with the need for more beds; he also noted that most youth in custody have behavioral health needs and that DYS works closely with DCFS, courts, and providers. No final action was taken on HCR 1010 during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• World-class experts. I can bring them on in a volunteer status.
• And have them teach a class through this program, right? I can do that ad hoc.
• I can call up Jim and say, 'Jim, hey, would you come out here and do this class for me?'
• It's a first-class. They didn't respond to the address confirmation mailing.
• And so, last year, the postage first-class stamp I think went up 5 cents.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sergeant First Class Chris Jackson is our military property specialist supporting Eastern Region units
• And Sergeant First Class Doug McKenna is our other military property specialist supporting Western Region
• eighth graders to enroll in Junior RTC across the Commonwealth and get ninth-grade credit for those classes
• <00:36:28.240> credit<00:36:28.480> for<00:36:28.720> those<00:36:28.880> classes
• get nth grade credit for those classes. get nth grade credit for those classes.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard an Office of Education Technology presentation on the Kentucky Education Technology System (KTS) and a request to increase its annual budget from $15.4 million to $30 million, including an additional $14.6 million. The witness described KTS as a statewide service model that provides districts with student information and financial systems, internet bandwidth, regional support, cybersecurity, online registration, learning management and email services, and collaborative instructional technology support. He argued the state’s centralized purchasing saves districts 40% to 60% compared with buying services individually, and said federal internet discounts and district matching funds create a strong return on investment. He also said KTS has faced long-term funding cuts, has not received a cost-of-living increase since 1992, and is now at a “breaking point” where some services may have to be shifted to districts at higher cost. The request was broken into six main items: restoring funding for the computer science and information technology academy; strengthening cybersecurity defenses in response to sharply rising attacks on K-12 systems; funding online registration through Infinite Campus; stabilizing ongoing support costs for Infinite Campus; providing cost-of-living increases for KTS services; and increasing the KTS financial assistance sent to districts, which requires local matching funds. Members asked about the current appropriation, and the witness said it is $15.4 million. One member praised the office’s work and support for districts, while another noted the district had been an early adopter of one-to-one technology. The committee then received an overview of the KRS 156 salary schedule and step-and-rank system for state-operated career and technical education staff at area technology centers. Officials explained that salaries are set under statute and regulation based on years of service and educational rank, with annual calculations tied to statewide teacher salary averages and retroactive adjustments to July 1. They said the current ABR request is $325,000 over the biennium to cover step and rank increases. The presentation noted that KRS 156 salaries are generally comparable to local districts but are less competitive with business and industry, making recruitment and retention difficult, especially for instructors coming from the trades. Members agreed that trade instructors are underpaid relative to the market and said the issue deserves further review, with department officials indicating they are considering possible statutory revisions and a delayed implementation in a future biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will say if they're meeting all statutory class requirements and those kinds of things, the highest
• are not passing my class.
• Continually adding classes for prospective teachers to become teachers. Mr.
• And then that's where I get juniors in my physics class that can't do simple algebraic equations.
• I acknowledge the importance of it and the child's need to be in the class to learn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Class reorganization and much of the contention that we'll be talking a little bit further.
• service officer can take about six to eight months just to get the initial training done based on class
• year were nominal at best, and that was to get people to within the midpoint of the old compensation class
• We're still pursuing some kind of a wage and salary study, comp and class study, because the SPO study
• The other appropriation is for conducting a comp and class study.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas is a world-class business destination, the eighth largest economy in the world.
• for a state that keeps proving time and time again it cares about a different 1%, a wealthy upper-class
• In doing so, they missed their class time, and their grades suffered because of that.
• I organized many activities and classes for the girls on campus, including a support group for trans
• Outside of the accepted classes that they, I think you articulated some of right now, outside of persons

Bills: HB7, SB 8, HB7, SB 8

Keywords: abortion, healthcare, jurisdiction, civil action, qui tam, prohibition, state law, sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the maximum is set at the statutory maximum, depending on the felony class.
• For example, felony class, like it could be class C felonies are eligible after serving a third of their
• sentence, class B after serving a third of their sentence, or something like that.
• There's some mandatory classes that they might want you to take.
• The efficacy of those classes is in question.

Summary: The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims. Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes. The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.

Transcript Highlights:

• I VISITED A HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY CLASS AND DISCOVERED NOT ONE STUDENT IN THE AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS KNEW
• THIS IS AN ATTACK ON WORKER AUTONOMY AND THEY ATTACK ON OUR KIDS AND ON THE WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION OF
• Davis: REALLY QUICKLY THE AMENDMENT LIMITS THAT THE BILL TO A CLASS OF COUNTIES THAT EXIST IN MIAMI-DADE
• IF YOU WILL BE FAST YOU WILL BE MY HERO FOR THE DAY CLASS I REPRESENT THE CITY OF NORTH MIAMI BEACH AND
• HOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WAS BEING BUILT LOCATED NEXT TO A FARM AND THE HOMEOWNERS GOT TOGETHER AS A CLASS

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, which helps with, um, obviously nutrition education, obesity prevention, exercise classes, um, information
• Chair mentioned this population in particular is extremely vulnerable and the purpose of PAL, these classes
• They take these classes, but then they also get a lot of curriculum online and Um, and, uh, handouts
• they can take it with them and kind of go forward, um, but this, this is curriculum that they take in class
• Yeah, some of the, some young people start to take the classes between ages 14 and 15, but they start

Bills: HB 2510, HB 3589, HB 4611, HB 4655, HB 4665, HB 4666, HB 4670, HB 4700, HB 4730, HB 4798, HB 4838, HB 5136, HB 5243, HB 5302, HB 5539

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• No synthetic nitrogen, no pesticide class chemicals, and drip irrigation is used for water efficiency
• No synthetic nitrogen, no pesticide class chemicals, and drip irrigation is used for water efficiency
• No synthetic nitrogen, no pesticide class chemicals, and drip irrigation is used for water efficiency
• 21:01.960> nitrogen<00:21:02.679> no<00:21:02.880> pesticide<00:21:03.400> class
• no synthetic nitrogen no pesticide class no synthetic nitrogen no pesticide class chemicals<00:21

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to a constituent who's a CPA, who said that to finish out his credit requirements was taking golf classes
• , art classes, and other things that were nonrelated to accounting.
• to a constituent who's a CPA, who said that to finish out his credit requirements was taking golf classes
• , art classes, and other things that were nonrelated to accounting.
• , art classes, and other things that were nonrelated to accounting.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We talk about what the impacts are of the current economic order on low-income people, working-class
• and middle-class people, and we share those concerns.
• Minnesota is uniquely positioned to be a national leader in research and development, with world-class
• Minnesota is uniquely positioned to be a national leader in research and development, with world-class
• Minnesota is uniquely positioned to be a national leader in research and development, with world-class

Bills: HF4, HF173

Keywords: tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief, state surplus, fiscal forecast, wealthy taxpayers, high-income exclusion, 2026 ballot, referendum, surplus distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• It focuses on a class of our citizens and unfairly and unconstitutionally highlights them as the people
• this specific criminal statute, or excuse me, this statute, that will then unfairly impact a certain class
• of<00:27:40.399> our<00:27:40.919> citizens<00:27:41.919> and focuses on a class
• of our citizens and focuses on a class of our citizens and unfairly<00:27:43.640> and<00:27:44.240
• this specific criminal statute, or excuse me, this statute, that will then unfairly impact a certain class

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, kids know in the class. Kids probably go home and tell their parents.
• I mean, kids know in the class. Kids probably go home and tell their parents.
• I mean, kids know in the class. Kids probably go home and tell their parents.
• I mean, kids know in the class. Kids probably go home and tell their parents.
• I mean, kids know in the class. Kids probably go home and tell their parents.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So all of those revenues that you're seeing align with expenditure class lines in the agency budget.
• So if any of you are reviewing agency budgets, you'll see those class lines appear as an interagency
• So all of those revenues that you're seeing align with expenditure class lines in the agency budget.
• So if any of you are reviewing agency budgets, you'll see those class lines appear as an interagency
• lines in your in the expenditure class lines in your in the agency<00:19:50.400> budget<00:19

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting featured presentations from the Department of Administrative Services and the Treasury Department on state revenue reporting and unclaimed property. State Comptroller Dana Call explained DAS’s role in compiling statewide revenue reports, including the annual revenue plan set through the budget process and the monthly revenue focus reports that track cash receipts. She noted that unrestricted general fund revenue is about $2 billion annually, while miscellaneous other revenue is a much smaller and less predictable category, averaging roughly $30 million to $32 million a year. She also described two more material internal revenue lines: statewide indirect cost recoveries and post-retirement benefit recoveries, which are billed to agencies and often tied to federal reimbursement rules. Members asked about the interest line in the revenue charts and about how the figures were presented, and Call clarified that the totals were in millions and that the interest item would be explained by the Treasurer. She also explained that the indirect cost and post-retirement recoveries are internal cost allocations that flow back into the unrestricted revenue pool and are reflected in agency budgets as interagency costs. Treasurer Monica Meissner then outlined Treasury Department functions, including bank deposits, statewide disbursements, banking relationships, investments, debt management, compliance, the FONA College Savings Program, the ABLE Plan, scholarship programs, and the abandoned property program. In discussing unclaimed property, she said holders report property after a five-year dormancy period, the state uses automated systems and outreach to locate owners, and claim activity has increased. In fiscal year 2024, the state returned about $12.2 million to citizens through roughly 12,000 claims; over the last 10 years, about $72.6 million has been returned. She also said the state escheated $19.9 million to the general fund and $1.8 million to counties last year, and explained that securities-related proceeds are harder to estimate because they depend on market conditions. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:30:54.679> I in front of their male um class I in front of their male um class I apologize
• The same applies to locker rooms, whether using them before a gym class or a sport.
• I believe that no human being or class of people are illegal or inherently criminal.
• That's going to be an awfully long line, and there's only a few minutes between classes.
• That's going to be an awfully long line, and there's only a few minutes between classes.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, with the chair limiting testimony to two minutes and asking for no outbursts so the committee could get through eight bills that day. Representative Kofalt, the prime sponsor, said HB 148 was the same as last year’s HB 396, which passed both chambers but was vetoed by the governor. He explained the bill would allow, but not require, separation by biological sex in bathrooms, locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions, leaving local school boards and administrators discretion to set policies. He argued the bill was meant to address safety and privacy concerns and cited a Milford incident and concerns in several school districts as examples of why local flexibility was needed. Committee members questioned the lack of a definition of “biological sex” and how the bill would be applied. Kofalt said he did not think a definition was necessary because males and females are generally understood, and he said the bill would give local policymakers latitude to make practical rules. He also said the bill was intended to address situations where people might misuse transgender claims to access spaces inappropriately. In response to questions, he said he was aware of issues in Kearsarge, Milford, and Mascoma school districts and had heard of discomfort in the State House, though he did not know all the details. Several opponents testified that the bill would discriminate against transgender and non-binary people and create enforcement problems. Executive Councilor Karen Hill said the bill would roll back New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination protections and conflict with the state’s Live Free or Die values. Alice Wade, a trans woman, said she had used women’s restrooms without incident and argued the bill would invite invasive enforcement and harassment. Representative La Selig said the bill was discriminatory and that bathroom concerns were being confused with unrelated harassment by cisgender males. Betsy Harrington supported the bill, citing a girls’ soccer game at Kearsarge that she said was disrupted by a boy playing on a girls’ team. Rosie Emer and her child testified against the bill, saying bathroom restrictions would increase anxiety and risk for trans and non-binary children. Stephen Scaer and Wendy Stallings supported the bill, arguing sex is biologically fixed and that excluding males from female spaces should not require genital inspections. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill establishes contribution rates by employers for each class of employee who participates in the
• It also allows retirees in the special risk class to receive an alternative cost-of-living adjustment
• To be eligible, the retiree must have completed six years of service in the special risk class if initially

Summary: The Senate convened in special session for budget conference work, opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and moments of silence honoring Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateer and former Senator Bill Posey. The Secretary read the joint proclamation calling the special session, which was limited to the budget, implementing bill, collective bargaining/state employee issues, retirement, DMS, law enforcement radio system, health, higher education, K-12 education, government administration, correctional facilities financing, judges, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup programs, fuel taxes, and taxation. Chair Hooper outlined the process for moving Senate and House budget conforming bills into conference posture, noting that conference meetings would be on one-hour notice. The Senate then took up and passed a series of Senate conforming bills and House companion bills, generally by unanimous 32-0 votes, with delete-all amendments used to place Senate language onto House bills or to clear bills for conference. Measures addressed fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, judges, pre-K through 12 education, retirement, higher education, health care, government administration, correctional facilities financing and capital improvements, documentary stamp tax distributions, petroleum cleanup programs, state employees/collective bargaining, and the implementing bill for the 2026-27 budget. Senators repeatedly moved that, when the House version was not passed as received, the Senate request conference or accede to the House’s request for conference. The General Appropriations Bill was handled by substituting House Bill 5001E for Senate Bill 2500E, amending it with Senate substance, and passing it 32-0 before requesting conference. House Bill 7031E on taxation was also amended and debated; Senator Berman used the debate to urge consideration of suspending the motor fuel tax for summer relief, but the bill ultimately passed and the Senate requested conference after failing to pass the House version as received. The session ended with a motion to waive rules for publishing the Special Order Calendar for the remainder of the special session, followed by adjournment upon the call of the President for committee meetings and other Senate business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill establishes contribution rates by employers for each class of employee who participates in the
• It also allows retirees in the special risk class to receive an alternative cost-of-living adjustment
• To be eligible, the retiree must have completed six years of service in the special risk class if enrolled

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In April, OFM C&C makes their final class and comp proposal recommendations, making targeted adjustments
• In April, OFM, C&C makes their final class and comp proposal recommendations making targeted adjustments
• That means fewer individualized course sections, effectively larger class sizes, and really weakening

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Employment Relations met on May 8, 2026, to receive updates on upcoming collective bargaining for the 2027–29 biennium. OFM’s Jenny Sheehan reviewed the state workforce, noting that most employees are represented, the workforce remains constrained by hiring limits and civil service rules, and bargaining goals include financially feasible agreements, maintaining labor relations, supporting an inclusive workplace, and addressing issues such as AI use, leave, and immigration-related workplace protections. She also outlined the bargaining calendar, the role of the June revenue forecast in determining what compensation proposals can be funded, and the need to reach tentative agreements by September 2026 for October 1 submission and legislative consideration. She described recent bargaining themes from unions, including limits on AI, expanded leave, access to union members in hybrid workplaces, and classification changes, and she summarized prior-cycle costs, including about $1.2 billion in general funds and $1.7 billion in total funds for 2025–27 awards, excluding the delayed WPEA agreements that were later funded after a return to bargaining. The committee then heard from Western Washington University and the University of Washington on higher education bargaining. Western described its locally bargained contracts, the importance of re-opener clauses tied to state budget decisions, and concerns about the instability of the state “fund split,” which shifts compensation costs between state funds and tuition revenue. Western also emphasized that student employees are increasingly central to retention and urged inclusion of student compensation in the wage base. UW similarly described its large and diverse workforce, the split between RCW 41.56 and 41.80 bargaining frameworks, and the reliance on state funding, tuition, and other revenue sources to cover compensation increases. UW highlighted the financial strain of the fund split, the lack of state funding for academic student employee compensation, and the impact of rising ASE costs on class sizes and the university’s teaching and research missions. OFM also presented on Washington Management Service bargaining, explaining that only certain WMS employees are covered, that bargaining began in 2024, and that current agreements include addenda for WMS-specific provisions. The presentation noted that WMS bargaining is still limited in scope, with only a few represented units, and that compensation bargaining generally covers band minimums and maximums rather than all salary levels. Finally, OFM reviewed interest arbitration rules for certain state employee groups, explaining that arbitration is available for some essential-service and statutorily covered employees, that arbitrators decide disputed contract language based on statutory criteria, and that awards still must be found financially feasible by OFM. Committee members asked about PFML treatment, the timing of arbitration, and the budget pressures facing bargaining, and the meeting adjourned without any votes or formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• All but one cite salary adjustments that came from implementation of the pay plan within the Class and
• the Class and Comp Act.
• This is a new contract for professional development for faculty teaching concurrent enrollment classes

Summary: The committee heard a series of appropriation requests and contract reviews across multiple sections. In Section B, members approved temporary appropriations for the Court of Appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics, and Insurance-related payments and refunds. Section C ARPA requests from DHS were approved to return unused federal funds. Section D infrastructure-related appropriations, including wildfire preparedness, broadband BEAD funding, forestry support, recycling, and oil and gas sample preservation, were approved after questions about broadband audit controls and performance safeguards. Section E DHS reallocations were approved, including large transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical to private and public nursing home lines, along with smaller transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services; members asked about the source and purpose of the medical services transfer. Sections F and G were reviewed, covering cash fund requests, federal grants, and miscellaneous grants, including community college storm repairs, corrections commissary and maintenance, 911 enhancements, maternal health, disability determinations, state police equipment, digital newspaper archiving, and CDL data improvements. In Section H, the committee reviewed pay plan appropriations and performance fund transfers tied to the new Class and Comp pay plan. Section I reviewed three methods of finance for UA Little Rock, UAMS, and the University of Arkansas system. In Section J, the committee reviewed discretionary grants, including a $1.4 million HIV services grant and nine tobacco prevention subgrants through UAPB. Members questioned the effectiveness, metrics, and addresses of some tobacco-cessation arts-based grantees, especially Arts Absolutely Inc.; after discussion, Representative Kavanaugh moved to expunge the vote on J2 and refer it back for review at a later ALC meeting, and that motion passed. J3, a Department of Energy and Environment grant for propane safety training and e-waste recycling services, was then reviewed. The committee also reviewed contracts in Section K. K-1 ratified emergency management nuclear planning work performed during a transition between agencies. K-2 construction contracts included architectural and engineering services for corrections, National Park College signage, a Razorback Road parking facility, and UAMS cyclotron installation. K-3 intergovernmental contracts covered health, education, autism waiver, stroke, newborn screening, Medicaid evidence review, and radiation testing services. K-4 out-of-state contracts included staffing, IT, tobacco prevention, audit, marketing, planetarium, recruitment, and janitorial services; Senator Irvin noted one contract appeared to belong in the out-of-state list rather than intergovernmental. K-5 in-state contracts covered staffing, cleaning, re-entry and treatment services, foster care and disability services, hearing officers, asbestos abatement, campus IT support, and janitorial work. The meeting ended after a brief personal update from Senator Irvin about tornado damage in Stone County and thanks to members for their concern, followed by adjournment.