Transcript Highlights:

• The library aid is less money to our local school districts.
• The library aid is less money to our local school districts.
• <01:16:27.120> The<01:16:27.360> library<01:16:27.760> aid<01:16:28.159>
• The library aid is less is less money.
• As we face a mandate mandated libraries.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• joint Health and Human Services SMART Act hearing tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27th, in the Old State Library
• And then we will have our second SMART Act hearing Wednesday, January 28th, in the Old State Library.
• Members, the Joint Finance Committee will be meeting 15 minutes upon adjournment in the Old State Library
• Thank you. library for our smart act hearing. We'll library for our smart act hearing.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with 60 members present and five excused, establishing a quorum. The journal from Friday, January 23, 2026 was approved as corrected. The remainder of the session consisted largely of announcements and introductions rather than legislative debate or action. Members highlighted several upcoming meetings, including a joint Health and Human Services SMART Act hearing, a Joint Finance Committee SMART Act hearing, the Agriculture, Water, and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act, and a State Civic, Military, and Veterans Joint Committee hearing. There were also announcements recognizing Colorado 4-H Day and the presence of 4-H county extension offices, along with remarks about the National Western Stock Show student auction and a purchased hog benefiting students. Additional introductions included guests from CrossPurpose, a nonprofit offering free training and housing support, and a personal privilege speech focused on concerns about federal immigration enforcement and the deaths of Colorado-connected individuals, calling for justice and accountability. No bills were debated or voted on beyond approval of the journal, and the House recessed later in the morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul libraries.
• Paul libraries.
• Paul libraries.
• Um, so, you know, right now, libraries in the city of St.
• prohibition on firearms in uh a library prohibition on firearms in uh a library or<00:47:11.040>

Bills: HF3351

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun control, gun safety, local control, home rule, preemption, municipal regulation, county regulation, city ordinances, zoning, firearm dealers, gun dealers, ammunition, carry permits, permit to carry, pistols, Saturday night special, metal-penetrating bullets, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, our agenda today, and we'll start at 10 in Old State Library, includes the JBC briefing presentations
• today and we'll start at 10 in<00:32:01.519> old<00:32:01.760> state<00:32:02.000> library
• <00:32:02.480> includes<00:32:02.880> the<00:32:03.120> JBC in old state library
• includes the JBC in old state library includes the JBC briefing<00:32:04.080> presentations<00

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened on January 22 with a quorum present, approved the January 21 journal, and confirmed the Governor’s appointment of Robert Davis as Executive Director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Adjutant General by a 31-0 vote. The chamber also added several senators to the roll as they arrived and acknowledged Senator Betty Boyd as a special guest. During announcements and personal privileges, the Senate recognized FaithBridge Colorado with a tribute commending its advocacy and work to improve education and opportunity for Colorado children and families. The chamber also welcomed several Miss Rodeo titleholders visiting the Senate, including Miss Rodeo America Olivia Fero, and heard brief announcements about a Healthier Colorado legislative reception that evening and upcoming Judiciary Joint Committee SMART Act budget hearings. Additional announcements noted Senator Cutter would be excused on Monday the 26th, and Senator Ko advised that Linsky Elementary students from her district would be visiting the building. The Majority Leader then moved that the Senate recess until 11:00 a.m. to read bills across the desk, and the motion passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 290, an act relating to county law libraries. Representative Wilson.
• 18.639> law Bill 290, an act relating to county law Bill 290, an act relating to county law libraries
• <00:13:21.120> House libraries. Representative Wilson. House libraries.

Keywords: Video Starts 00:00 Convene 06:52 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 11:30 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 12:27 Adjournment 23:47, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum with 86 members present, and approved the journal from January 8, 2026. Members also agreed without objection to excuse absent members and to suspend rules allowing co-sponsorships and vote modifications to be filed with the clerk. Under announcements and introductions, a motion was granted to withdraw House Bill 177. The House then received a large slate of new bills and resolutions, including measures on foreign transactions, cultured meat products, disabled veterans’ homestead exemptions, veteran entrepreneurs, plastic waste, legislative term limits, students, county law libraries, elections, special purpose governmental entities, vehicle wheels, delinquent tax liens, tenant screening, psychotropic drugs, peace officers, KEES scholarships for students attending non-certified schools, machine gun conversion devices, contractors, teacher retirement service credit, diaper access programs, and appropriations for the Transportation Cabinet and state government generally. Resolutions were also introduced recognizing Kentucky Mentorship Month, Hindu holidays and the resilience of the Hindu people, and honoring victims of UPS Airlines Flight 2976 and first responders. No bills were debated or voted on beyond the procedural actions noted. The session concluded with no committee business or floor amendments needed, and the House adjourned without objection until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would they have visualized a library book that contains explicit drawings of a woman's private area with
• But the inclusion of pornographic material in our children's curriculum and school libraries is impacting
• I served for several years as a trustee of my local public library.
• by identifying books that are unavailable as new libraries that should be, and then formally requesting
• My book reviews are publicly available and occasionally appear in the online catalogs of the libraries

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing began with opening remarks from the House and Senate chairs outlining procedures for a large public hearing with more than 100 witnesses on 64 legislative proposals. They explained time limits, rules for in-person and virtual testimony, written testimony procedures, and the committee’s reporting deadline. Testimony then moved through a series of juvenile justice, child protection, and civil liberties bills, with witnesses generally urging favorable reports or, in one case, opposing expanded juvenile court transparency and child advocate access to records. Several witnesses supported bills aimed at juvenile justice reform. Representative Hendricks backed H. 1744 to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking, citing federal findings of child labor in seafood processing and calling for stronger penalties and a ban on minors working in such facilities. Senator Gomez supported S. 1131 and S. 1121 to reduce juvenile fees, fines, restitution burdens, and bail-related costs, arguing they worsen racial and economic disparities. Senator Crean and other advocates supported S. 1051/H. 1695 to expand juvenile diversion eligibility, while multiple witnesses from juvenile justice and immigrant advocacy groups supported H. 1657/S. 1058 to expand juvenile expungement and to limit sharing juvenile fingerprints with federal authorities, describing recent ICE detentions of Chelsea students and the resulting fear in immigrant communities. Witnesses also supported H. 1918/S. 1240 to narrow the youthful offender statute, raising the minimum age and reducing mandatory adult-style penalties for youth. The committee also heard testimony on child safety and bodily autonomy bills. Middlesex District Attorney Marion Ryan supported H. 1752 to protect children left in extreme temperatures, explaining it would create civil penalties, allow emergency responders to remove children from cars without liability, and add criminal penalties when serious injury results. Representative Thurber and Senator O’Connor testified for H. 2011/S. 1227, a bill prohibiting coercion or mandates for health-related interventions, including vaccinations, and allowing legal remedies for violations. Senator Jalen supported S. 1136/H. 1847 to prevent false confessions by requiring recording of interrogations and banning deceptive tactics, and several innocence-project and legal-services witnesses described wrongful convictions tied to false confessions and coercive interrogations. Another major topic was H. 1626, which would require age verification for pornographic content and launch an education campaign about online sexual exploitation; Representative Cruz and survivor Udoz Wallace testified in support, describing nonconsensual image sharing and deepfake harms. Not all testimony was supportive. The Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed S. 1035, which would increase transparency in juvenile court proceedings, and H. 1689, which would expand the child advocate’s access to confidential juvenile records, arguing both would undermine privacy and trauma-informed protections for children and families. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the session consisted of opening remarks and public testimony on the listed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• group from the Senate were funding for compensatory revenue hold harmless provision, an electronic library
• holdless provision an electronic library holdless provision an electronic library grant<00:05:06.560
• We listened to the Senate say that they wanted library books more than they wanted mental health
• The library aid is less money to our local school districts.
• As we face a mandate mandated libraries.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Did that happen with that specific library board in a certain county? Uh Mr.
• Chairman, Senator Larson, so in general, yes, the libraries are In general, yes, the libraries are a
• In this case, the library board was not reporting to us and should have been.
• So the county should be directing the library board to report to us. >> Mr.
• Chairman, I'd like the Big Horn County Library Board to come and report.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 290 is a simple bill relating to county law libraries.
• Currently, the local bars or the local law libraries have funds to purchase materials, and they are not
• is a simple Bill relating to county 290 is a simple Bill relating to county law<00:09:40.800> libraries
• currently the the local law libraries currently the the local bars<00:09:44.640> or<00:09:44.839
• have funds to purchase libraries have funds to purchase materials<00:09:51.760> and<00:09:52.519

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:01 Attendance Roll Call: 00:04 HB 684 (Rep. Decker): 00:49 HB 71 (Rep. Duvall): 06:55 HB 290 (Rep. Wilson): 09:20 HB 555 (Rep. Freeland): 15:21 HB 160 (Rep. Witten): 16:30 HB 455 (Rep. Flannery): 22:04 Adjournment: 27:21, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government considered several bills. House Bill 684, an elections “continuous improvement” measure, drew the most discussion. Rep. Jennifer Decker said it was based on issues identified during the 2024 election cycle and included changes to absentee voting for primary caregivers and other election administration updates. Senators focused on a committee substitute removing credit and debit cards as a second form of ID for provisional ballots; Decker said local election workers had reported people trying to use cards with no photo ID, and she did not want financial institutions determining voter eligibility. The bill also clarified that certain ballots could be issued by hand or by mail. It passed 9-1, with some members voting no or passing because they wanted more time to consider the ID change. House Bill 71, requested by the Kentucky Public Pension Authority, would reorganize KPPA by creating an Office of Financial Management and moving the CFO into an executive director-level role. Testimony said the change was structural only, with no impact on system funding and minimal short-term costs. It passed unanimously, 11-0. House Bill 290, by Rep. Nick Wilson, would allow county law libraries to use funds for online legal research resources, computers, and internet-related equipment. Supporters said libraries had money but were limited to buying books; the bill passed unanimously, with the chair noting it would let libraries use existing funds more effectively. House Bill 555, as amended by committee substitute, addressed audit and reporting requirements for small cities. Supporters from the Kentucky League of Cities and the Auditor’s Office said many small cities struggle to find certified CPAs, and the bill would raise the threshold for less frequent audits, expand the exemption threshold, allow the Auditor’s Office to contract to perform audits, and clarify that state-fund withholding for noncompliance would not apply to contractual or utility payments. It passed 10-1, and the title amendment was adopted. House Bill 160, with a committee substitute, would regulate manufactured housing and local zoning by establishing standards that supporters said were needed to prevent discrimination against modern manufactured homes. Several senators expressed concern about state interference in local zoning, while others supported the bill as a housing access measure; it passed 10-1. Finally, House Bill 455 would create a Unit of Election Investigations and Security in the Attorney General’s Office to handle election-crime allegation review, the voter fraud hotline, prosecutorial referrals, and legislative oversight. Supporters said it codified existing practices and would not require new funding, but opponents objected to placing the hotline in a partisan office. The bill passed 9-1 with one pass, and the committee adjourned after reporting favorable action on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll be presenting the state law library, some of your recommendations.
• All right, the chair calls Amy Small, executive director for the Texas State Law Library.
• My name is Amy Small, and I am the executive director of the state law library.
• We're competing with private law firms, academic law libraries who can just pay more, and the staff that
• UB authority recommendations continue UB authority for Article 4 agencies and adds the state law library

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it libraries? Public health services? Meal programs?
• I pay property taxes to live in a community that has resources, safety resources, schools, libraries,
• And the 10 percent for savings go for services like free tutoring for kids after school and the library
• lot of our working families, and some folks Representative Eskamani: already spoke to this, public libraries
• might not see it as essential when it comes to a tight budget Representative Eskamani: including our libraries

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that society has now created a library.
• It's called the James Blanchard Oral History Library, where they've taken a number of people who've now
• And so that society has now created a library. It's called a Jane. together.
• And so that society has now created a library.
• It's called a James Blanchard Oral History Library, where they've taken a number of people who've now

Keywords: 983, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that society has now created a library.
• It's called the James Blanchard Oral History Library, where they've taken a number of people who've now
• And so that society has now created a library. It's called a Jane. together.
• And so that society has now created a library.
• It's called a James Blanchard Oral History Library, where they've taken a number of people who've now

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, excused several members, and heard a memorial statement from Majority Floor Leader Singh honoring Thomas James Cleary, a longtime Michigan public servant, lobbyist, and civic volunteer. The chamber also recognized a departing staff member from Senator Geis’s office and later welcomed guests from Cleary’s family. No substantive debate occurred during these tributes, and remarks were ordered printed in the journal. The Senate then handled a large number of introductions and referrals, including Senate Joint Resolution K to prohibit autopen use by certain executive officials, Senate bills on Treasury revenue collection and liquor control, and numerous House bills covering housing, health, insurance, natural resources, education, consumer finance, child care licensing, public employment contracts, and other topics. Several housing and finance-related House bills were sent directly to the Committee of the Whole by unanimous consent. In Committee of the Whole, bills including House Bill 4072, House Bill 5630, Senate Bills 792, 793, 947, 1013, and 885 were considered; substitutes were adopted for House Bill 5630, Senate Bills 1013, 947, and 885, and the committee recommended all of those bills, plus House Bill 4072, Senate Bills 792 and 793, for third reading. On final passage, House Bill 4042 and House Bill 5630 each passed 34-0, with four members excused. The Senate also concurred in the House substitute to Senate Concurrent Resolution 14, approving an extension of the state energy emergency, by a 33-1 vote. By contrast, concurrence in the House substitute to Senate Bill 878 failed 2-32, sending that appropriations bill to conference committee. The House then named conferees on Senate Bill 878, and the Senate named conferees for both SB 878 and HB 5630 after the chambers disagreed on those measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Student visits to her library nearly doubled in the first three weeks alone.
• The answer from our libraries is the opposite.
• We're going to get, every library is going to have a certified librarian.
• I'm here to talk about the state of education and school libraries.
• That's a school library advisory council on the book.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But first, I want to just give a shout-out to our library. You may take your seats. Go ahead.
• Um, shout-outs to our library media specialists. Last Friday was Library Media Specialist Day.
• And as you know, they are very near and dear to my heart, as I was a library media specialist for 20
• Just want to remind folks of the value of having these library media specialists in your school.
• and thank you for all your good hard work. school, library media specialist for 20 school, library media

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the last thing that we would do: additional access to paid library resources that are free to
• So that’s where we’ve used our library resourcing to say we can fill in some gaps to really make this
• so we've been working with our libraries so we've been working with our libraries to<00:14:34.600
• <00:15:13.600> has and that partnership with libraries has and that partnership with libraries
• Pals which is our Consortium of Library Pals which is our Consortium of Library facilities<01:26

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes our legal writing faculty, our clinical faculty, and our law library faculty.
• teaching, which is extremely rare for a law school dean My leadership team is comprised of two law library
• of teaching and legal research and helping to run our library as the Assistant faculty member in the
• library, so has a lot of responsibilities in terms of teaching and legal research and helping to run
• our library as the Assistant Director, we have had this wonderful change in leadership, and I'm very

Bills: SB1, SB3

Keywords: interstate medical licensure compact, physician licensure, medical license reciprocity, expedited licensure, medical practice act, New Mexico medical board, compact commission, physician mobility, telemedicine, license portability, background check, disciplinary action, joint investigation, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, scope of practice, medical board transparency, multistate compact, licensure renewal, health care workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• Ada Gennis, Chair of the Board of Library Trustees and the Wayland Free Public Library, formerly part
• So, Iida Janus, Chair of the Board of Library Trustees, thank you very much for hearing me, and I'm here
• It was sponsored by our select board, with the Board of Library Trustees.
• initiatives beyond the town's budget for the library.
• And without that writing, increases may go to the town's general fund, which is not what library donors

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a lengthy hybrid hearing of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, with testimony spanning local board training, animal welfare and enforcement, municipal charters, water district dissolution, and other home rule matters. Chairs Rausch and Lewis set strict time limits because of the large number of speakers and explained that written testimony would also be accepted. Members heard from local officials, advocates, municipal employees, and residents, with many bills receiving broad support from municipal and advocacy witnesses. Several speakers supported bills requiring or expanding training for local boards and commissions, including pre-service training for planning, zoning, and other land use boards. Supporters said training would help volunteers understand complex laws, improve consistency, reduce legal challenges, and speed up housing and development decisions. Related testimony also backed a bill to modernize historic district commissions and another to allow associate planning board members to serve more broadly when needed to maintain quorums. A major portion of the hearing focused on animal legislation. Witnesses supported bills to expand citations for cruel conditions beyond dogs, update dangerous dog procedures, improve animal health inspections and breeder oversight, strengthen tethering rules, and protect pet consumers. Animal control officers, humane organizations, and some victims of dog attacks described enforcement gaps and the need for clearer standards, while several dog trainers and the American Kennel Club opposed parts of the dangerous dog bill and tethering restrictions, arguing they would limit humane training tools and professional discretion. The committee also heard strong support for a bill to create a statewide pet shop and consumer protection framework. The committee also heard testimony on several local home rule petitions. Medford officials and residents strongly supported a new city charter that would replace the current at-large council with ward-based representation and periodic charter review. Wayland representatives supported a bill to preserve the library’s Millennium Fund as intended, Cambridge officials backed creation of an employment and job training trust, and Carver officials supported dissolving the North Carver Water District due to compliance and financial problems. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of them have done it at library time, so there's many different ways, and that's up to the schools
• If there's a time in school when it's Library time, some parents may value Library time, but they may
• prefer that during Library time their child goes to this religious class.
• law, so it would have to be during something we would designate as downtime—maybe study hall, maybe Library

Bills: HB298, HB342, HB332, HB344

Keywords: athletic classification, public high schools, English language learners, state education policy, athletic associations, religious instruction, elective credit, released time, public education, school policy, educational intervention, State Superintendent, local boards of education, subpoena, accountability, state control, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would also like to take a moment to recognize our longtime community partner, Friends of the Library
• And the Friends of the Library volunteers, are any of our volunteers here?
• partner<00:15:19.680> friends<00:15:20.120> of<00:15:20.320> the<00:15:20.480> library
• <00:15:21.040> for<00:15:21.279> their partner friends of the library for their partner
• friends of the library for their commitment<00:15:22.600> support<00:15:23.399> of<00:

Keywords: 912, senate, all