Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:33.760><c> And</c> regulated by the federal government.
• And regulated by the federal government.
• ><c> residuals,</c> agricultural inputs, mostly residuals, agricultural inputs, mostly residuals, waist
• </c><01:25:49.600><c> on</c> makes me wonder if there's any data on makes me wonder if there's any data
• </c> what you're seeing from data. what you're seeing from data.

Bills: HF4862 , HF4598

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: apprenticeship, education, teacher training, grant program, labor and industry, workers' compensation, Minnesota workers' compensation, Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, reinsurance association, Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association, WCRA, occupational disease, presumption, first responders, firefighter cancer, PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, police officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> begin with the words, a well-regulated. begin with the words, a well-regulated.
• </c><01:54:07.240><c> by</c> benefits and designs with no input by benefits and designs with no input
• So, to understand our suspension data, just flip those numbers.
• A handy disparities in suspension data.
• <02:36:03.880><c> just</c> understand our suspension data, just understand our suspension data, just

Bills: HF3714 , HF4399 , HF4176 , HF2544 , HF60 , HF4231 , HF4232

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: foster care, child welfare, enrollment priority, education programs, child care assistance, education, school board, elections, local governance, school district, site-governed schools, education reform, local control, autonomy, interchange, bond issuance, transportation, infrastructure funding, Sherburne County, student eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• So is there any data that shows what was the, Is there any data that shows what the size of this beneficiary
• We didn't get a lot of data.
• So we are starting to get data again. But even now, the data production is behind.
• So we are starting to get data again. But even now, the data production is behind.
• Do we have that kind of data? Yeah, that data definitely exists.

Summary: House Finance met in work session on January 13, 2026, beginning with the introduction of new member Rep. Janice Zahn and a reminder about short-session amendment deadlines. The committee then heard JLARC’s 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering nine preferences. JLARC recommended continuing several preferences, including natural gas transportation fuel exemptions, reduced B&O rates for travel agents and tour operators, a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income housing developers, a property tax exemption for multipurpose senior centers, a sales and use tax remittance for disabled veteran adapted housing, a trade convention attendance nexus exemption, a B&O exemption for agricultural fertilizer and seed sales, and a hazardous substance tax exemption for certain pesticides. JLARC also recommended allowing unused silicon smelter-related preferences to expire. Members asked about legislative intent, data limitations, and how performance metrics should be tied more clearly to policy objectives; committee leaders and JLARC staff discussed a new standardized rubric for future tax preference performance statements and fiscal note review. The committee also noted that bills related to some of the reviewed preferences were already introduced. For the low-income housing exemption, JLARC said nonprofit developers were building homes as intended but that the current spending-based metric did not fully reflect the policy goal, and it recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify the preference. For multipurpose senior centers, JLARC said the exemption met its inferred objective and recommended continuation, with possible consideration of making it permanent. For the disabled veteran adapted housing remittance, JLARC said few eligible veterans were claiming the benefit and recommended continuation with changes to improve access and consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs. On the trade convention attendance exemption, JLARC said use was unknown but the preference likely helped keep Washington competitive with other states and recommended continuation, though members questioned the lack of direct evidence and the administrative-burden rationale. The committee then received an update from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. The forecast showed the U.S. economy slowing but still growing, with Washington expected to have modest growth, weak employment gains, continued personal income growth, and slow construction. ERFC said tariffs and trade policy remained the biggest risks, inflation was expected to stay elevated in the near term, and the Federal Reserve had cut rates three times in 2025 with two more cuts projected in 2026. State revenues were up $105 million in the current biennium compared with the November forecast, but down $185 million in the next biennium, with growth driven in part by recent legislative changes and improved estate tax collections. Members asked about sector-specific employment trends, the impact of high-income households on retail sales, and how state revenues compare with personal income over time. The meeting adjourned after the forecast presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> building permit data as it comes out. building permit data as it comes out.
• data point.
• that data as necessary.
• that data as necessary.
• The required data data is bureaucracy.

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 393 improves efficiency, strengthens caregiver input, and turns policy into action.
• and</c><00:14:42.000><c> turns</c><00:14:42.320><c> policy</c><00:14:42.720><c> into</c> caregiver input
• , and turns policy into caregiver input, and turns policy into action.<00:14:43.680><c> If</c><00:14:
• House Bill 544, Representative Moore, an act relating to data centers.
• regulations, House Bills 487<00:41:34.160><c> and</c><00:41:34.560><c> 494.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you could help us get data on that, I think it'd be important.
• But I can definitely work on trying to see if there's a study or data out there, because like you said
• On this bill, are they allowed to take on debt without any public transparency or an input?
• We're providing the funds from the state without any sort of input from the public.
• I want to thank Dean's Zaffirini who passed Senate Bill 37 in the 84th where we currently review data

Bills: SB530 , SB757 , SB769 , SB1085 , SB1241 , SB1242 , SB1409 , SB1878 , SB2138 , SB2314 , SB2231 , SB2361 , SB2431 , SJR59

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• who can monitor this data and have easy access to it and use it for certain studies.
• They want to be in less acidic areas, and this data will help inform those decisions.
• They want to be in less acidic areas, and this data will help inform those decisions.
• The statute says to that regulated entity that where there is a heightened sense of having to be regulated
• However, it would give EEA the authority to regulate non-essential outdoor watering.

Summary: The Senate considered a broad environmental bond bill with amendments touching climate resilience, coastal infrastructure, housing, plastics, wildlife protection, and public health. Early in the debate, Senator Keenan withdrew an amendment to fund the Massachusetts Healthy Homes Program, explaining that the program had been enacted without funding and that he hoped to secure money through the budget process instead. The Senate then adopted his amendment banning hotels from providing plastic toiletry packaging. The chamber also debated and rejected a Republican amendment to remove the paper bag fee; supporters argued the 10-cent charge would burden working families, while opponents said it was a necessary environmental measure. The amendment failed on a standing vote, 5-10. Several environmental and coastal amendments were adopted, including measures on ocean acidification and nutrient pollution, a statewide carbon sequestration goal that includes salt marshes and seagrasses, a study of banning polystyrene, restrictions on rodenticides with local control and emergency-use exceptions, and indoor air quality improvements. Senators also approved amendments to create a Massachusetts Climate Bank, establish a trust fund and on-site housing for the Manuel F. Corrella State Forest on Martha’s Vineyard, increase the Douglas State Forest entry fee from $1 to $2, and clarify procedures and oversight for housing priority projects. Some proposals were withdrawn, including a special commission on resilient urban coasts and a conservation commission proposal, while others were rejected, including a local-priority housing confirmation amendment and a warrantless-entry amendment that raised Fourth Amendment concerns. The Senate also adopted a series of coastal resilience and permitting amendments, including streamlined permitting for urban coastal projects, a pilot for nature-based solutions, dredging and sand placement in general permits, and a Salisbury Beach trust fund clarification. A New Bedford state pier redevelopment amendment and a harbor protection amendment were adopted, as were amendments related to public and private water utility reporting and equitable representation. The session concluded with notice that only two amendments remained before a roll call, followed by an adjournment in memory of James A. Jim Sheets, former Quincy mayor and educator.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:30:12.440><c> more</c> that this needs to be regulated more that this needs to be regulated more
• </c><01:31:10.680><c> are</c> quite sure which federal regulators are quite sure which federal regulators
• </c><01:36:16.560><c> We're</c> that's already regulated. We're that's already regulated.
• </c> exempting the things that are regulated exempting the things that are regulated by<01:36:19.840>
• </c><01:50:15.160><c> so</c> Minneapolis Fed has a tool and data so Minneapolis Fed has a tool and data

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Overwhelming data suggests the two most important factors in protecting homes from wildfire...
• The overwhelming data suggests the two most important factors in protecting homes from wildfire are,
• Importantly, PACE in 2026 is highly regulated and safe for consumers.
• It's already being done by layers of regulations and regulatory agencies already in place.
• Then also community hearings, where community members will have input.

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on wildfire resilience, land use, and local government transparency. SB 911 by Senator Becker would require notification to fire enforcement agencies when a home in a high fire severity zone is sold with an agreement for the buyer to bring the property into defensible-space compliance; the California Association of Realtors said it would drop opposition if the bill is amended to use the preliminary change of ownership report, and the bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 994 by Senator Cabaldon would bar local officials from signing nondisclosure agreements that prevent them from sharing information with the elected decision-makers of their jurisdiction; supporters framed it as a transparency measure, and it also passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 1041 by Senator Riggins would expand PACE financing for wildfire home-hardening improvements and add consumer protections, but it drew strong opposition from homeowner advocates, county treasurers, bankers, and others over predatory lending and lien concerns; it passed 3-2 and remained on call. The committee also considered SB 1075 by Senator Reyes, which would require local governments in AB 617 communities to consider air-quality reduction measures in land-use approvals for industrial and commercial projects. Environmental justice groups supported the bill as a way to implement community air plans, while counties, cities, business groups, builders, trucking interests, and others opposed it as duplicative of CEQA and a barrier to investment and jobs. After debate over local control and environmental justice, the bill passed 3-2 and remained on call. SB 958 by Senator Cabaldon would advance the Midway Rising redevelopment project in San Diego, replacing a former arena and parking lots with housing, affordable units, parks, and a new entertainment venue; with no opposition voiced, it passed 3-0 to Appropriations. Another wildfire-related measure, SB 1182 by Senator Allen, would require local governments to consider insurance availability in safety planning for development in high fire hazard areas and direct state technical guidance on the issue. Supporters said insurance access is now a key indicator of risk, while some members questioned whether the bill would add useful information or burden local governments; the bill received a 1-1 vote and remained on call. The committee then began hearing SB 1116 by Senator Caballero, a starter-home/infill housing bill creating a streamlined ministerial path for small projects up to 10 units, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or a vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are more than 550,000 registered motorized boats that are are under our system of regulation, 51
• In fact, we've been the only state that has taken the time to collect this kind of data.
• That data was a year is a year old I can just tell you from from from our organization.
• Do we have data breaking down the type of acquisition of farm and ranch land.
• Those laws and regulations and so with that, Mr. Chairman, I'll stop and turn it over to Jody.

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this particular year we have found three regulations deficient, and those are the regulations that
• </c><00:01:34.079><c> that</c> makes sure that any regulation that makes sure that any regulation that
• deficient and those are the regulations deficient and those are the regulations<00:02:01.439><c> that
• c> subject</c><00:02:07.040><c> matter</c> regulations but two subject matter regulations but two subject
• </c> these regulations will be null and void. these regulations will be null and void.

Committee: Senate Licensing & Occupations

Transcript Highlights:

• HAB would prefer to participate in the proposed committees or community input to make recommendations
• I looked at Abby's testimony and I talked to her, and the data she cites is really pretty impressive.
• I looked at Abby's testimony and I talked to her, and the data she cites is really pretty impressive.
• I looked at Abby's testimony and I talked to her, and the data she cites is really pretty impressive.
• relevant data from the proposed program relevant data from the proposed program to<01:43:26.560><c> fulfill

Bills: HB2392 , HB2462 , HB2423 , HB1771 , HB2081 , HB2334 , HB2336 , HB1666 , HB2375 , HB2415 , HB2451 , HB2373 , HB1641 , HB1694 , HB1695 , HB1986 , HB1797 , HB1879 , HB2034

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several transportation-related measures. SB 2356, relating to parking, drew support from the Office of Planning, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Appleseed Center, Realtors, and the Hawaii Bicycling League. Members discussed the bill in the context of the planned stadium-area mixed-use development, with questions about whether parking would be built in structures rather than as large surface lots. Senators expressed support and noted the measure’s broader housing and parking-reduction goals, but no vote was taken during the hearing. The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 2699, which would create a fare-free youth transit program, a special fund, annual evaluations, and appropriations tied to the environmental, energy, and food security tax. The Attorney General’s office raised technical concerns about whether the special fund met statutory requirements. The Department of Education and Department of Health supported the bill, as did the City and County of Honolulu DOT, Appleseed Center, Hawaii Youth Transportation Council, Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Hawaii Bicycling League, Our Children’s Trust, and numerous youth testifiers. Supporters emphasized reduced family transportation costs, better school attendance, improved health and mobility, and environmental benefits. One senator raised emergency-planning concerns about how children using free transit would be handled during events like tsunamis; DOT and DOE responded that emergency procedures are being developed. The chair said the committee would work on language changes, including a delayed effective date to July 2027, and defer decision-making until the 12th. The final measure discussed was SB 2470, which would require leading pedestrian intervals, accessible pedestrian signals, and other safety improvements at state-controlled intersections, and create a process for community requests for accessible pedestrian signals. Appleseed Center, the Hawaii Association of the Blind, and the Disability Rights Center supported the bill, citing pedestrian safety, reduced collisions, and the need for audible cues for blind and low-vision pedestrians. Testifiers urged a phased-in approach that prioritizes high-traffic intersections. The hearing ended with the bill still under consideration and no final vote announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• We got a large amount of data from them also.
• Primacy over regulation, but this bill deals with ownership of those sites.
• My understanding is they would like more data, more empirical data to really understand the nature and
• So we work with them as the regulator.
• Are you saying it was erroneous data that led to that conclusion?

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Environment Department on PFAS contamination in private wells in La Cienega, Santa Fe County. Staff said the plume likely came from historic use of firefighting foam associated with airport and National Guard fire-training activities, with possible additional contribution from septic systems and consumer products. They described the contamination as affecting about 200 private wells, the short-term response of providing residential filters through a $2 million legislative appropriation, and ongoing work to define the plume’s full extent, identify responsible parties, and consider longer-term regional water solutions. Members asked about filter costs, replacement schedules, disposal of used cartridges, follow-up testing, health studies, and whether cleanup or containment had begun; the department said cleanup would follow once the plume is fully mapped and that DOH is soliciting interest in a blood study. The committee also discussed the need to track disposal of PFAS filters and the possibility of broader statewide capacity for similar work. The committee then took up abandoned uranium mine cleanup. NMED and EMNRD staff reviewed the new uranium mine reclamation program created by HB 164, the state dashboard tracking sites, and the FY26 appropriation of $20 million for neglected contaminated sites, of which $12 million is being used for neglected uranium mines and the remainder for other contaminated sites. They said six contractors were hired, three priority sites in Grant County are moving forward quickly, and additional sites are being prepared for possible FY27 work. Members pressed for details on how funds are spent, why the revolving fund remains unfunded, how federal, state, tribal, and landowner requirements are coordinated, where contaminated material will be moved, and whether cleanup could also address homes built with contaminated materials. Staff said the work is governed by multiple regulatory layers, that the state is seeking an additional $25 million for FY27-FY28 plus a time extension, and that partnerships with tribes would require longer-term agreements. The committee also discussed federal cleanup efforts and the new Good Samaritan law, with members urging stronger advocacy for New Mexico sites, including tribal lands, and asking whether the Attorney General should pursue legal action against federal parties responsible for legacy contamination. Staff explained that some sites are already covered by settlement funds tied to responsible parties, while neglected sites are those with no responsible party and no other cleanup program. The committee then heard from EMNRD on Class VI carbon sequestration primacy. Staff said New Mexico currently has no operating Class VI wells, about 27 Class II acid-gas injection wells are operating, and only a small number might be candidates for conversion. They explained that the state’s primacy application would require more public outreach than federal rules alone, and that cost estimates for post-injection site care are based on long planning horizons, with some costs borne by operators and some by the state after closure. No votes were taken on the substantive items discussed; the committee approved the prior meeting minutes and took a brief recess between presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have not provided direct input into the bill with the sponsor, no.
• I thought it was our regulation, honestly our federal regulation, but I was proven wrong.
• Every data point on that screen is a successful survey.
• We can calculate how much ore volume is within a... ...from our data set.
• So we can actually—it's a data science problem versus a physics one.

Bills: SB1046

Committees: House Science & Technology , House House Science & Technology Committee of Reference

Keywords: telecommunications, broadband, internet infrastructure, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, national security, foreign adversary, China, Chinese equipment, supply chain security, network equipment, microchips, Arizona Corporation Commission, telecommunications provider, communications infrastructure, Huawei, ZTE, state-owned enterprise, sanctions, infrastructure security

Transcript Highlights:

• are data-driven.
• ADHS has regulations, the department has regulations, but they're not completely aligned.
• bed data and resource data on a daily basis, and it was very time-consuming.
• I mean, we don't regulate the therapy.
• It's really amazing how many entities that we regulate and how complex the regulation is, so that's been

Committee: Senate Director Nominations

Transcript Highlights:

• Part of the reason for with crash data.
• I never read the law or regulation.
• I can imagine that in the regulation.
• I regulations that must be addressed.
• </c><01:29:43.760><c> the</c> that's new to you, they're inputting the that's new to you, they're inputting

Summary: The hearing began with SB 12, which would let certain veterans who already qualify for a disabled veteran license plate use that VA disability determination to obtain a walking disability placard without having to undergo a second physical or submit additional proof. Senator Waters, the prime sponsor, said the bill was prompted by a constituent and would reduce redundant paperwork. Melinda Sims of United Spinal and Leo Pacquin of the State Veterans Advisory Committee both supported the bill, saying veterans already go through an extensive VA certification process and should not have to repeat it for the state. A DMV representative said the department had no known objection and explained that the change would let the placard travel with the veteran in another vehicle. The hearing on SB 12 was then closed. The committee then took up SB 40, which would allow safe boater education certificates to be completed and tested online, rather than requiring an in-person final exam. Representative Coker and Senator Tim Lang described the bill as a cleanup measure to make a COVID-era online process permanent and said it would improve convenience and keep more revenue in New Hampshire. Tom Praol, representing the vendor, said the state lost significant revenue when the online option ended and argued that online proctoring can verify identity and prevent cheating. The New Hampshire Marine Trades Association supported the bill, saying it would help boaters learn New Hampshire-specific laws and keep dollars in-state. The Department of Safety Marine Patrol was neutral: Captain Tim Dunlvy said the current system includes classroom and online coursework followed by an in-person proctored final exam, and he raised concerns about safety, exam integrity, and lower scores in computer-only testing, while noting New Hampshire’s strong boating safety record. Committee members asked about reciprocity, proctoring methods, costs, and crash data, but no vote was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:57.760><c> practice</c> conflicting data practice conflicting data practice classifications
• </c> interactions and for data sharing. interactions and for data sharing.
• center, the location and size of the proposed data center, whether the data center is located within
• ><c> the</c> the proposed data center, whether the the proposed data center, whether the data<01:33:14.719
• data centers, right?

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• The data sharing work group is really just focused on making sure that we have data sharing agreements
• As I mentioned, we are also working on data sharing.
• </c><00:53:41.200><c> trying</c><00:53:41.559><c> to</c><00:53:41.760><c> do</c> data and data analytics
• is trying to do data and data analytics is trying to do a<00:53:42.079><c> better</c><00:53:42.319><
• </c><01:00:02.559><c> sharing</c> discuss we have a a data sharing discuss we have a a data sharing agreement

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• We do site visits, so we collect data.
• Will the bill be traveling to Judiciary if we're talking about data and data privacy as well?
• Will the bill be traveling to Judiciary if we're talking about data and data privacy as well?
• </c><01:26:28.960><c> and</c><01:26:29.159><c> data</c> if we're talking about data and data if we're
• talking about data and data privacy<01:26:29.960><c> as</c><01:26:30.119><c> well</c><01:26:30.400><

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• How is that data coming to you and how is that data being shared?
• The data and the information, the quality of the data, the reference material...
• I guess with my simplistic stuff, I would be worried if we started regulating inputs, I would be more
• So the question is, is data important, or data important, or the data relevance, right?
• of data, right?

Summary: The subcommittee met to hear a panel discussion on artificial intelligence and automation in Florida government. Panelists from Worldwide Technology, OpenAI, the James Madison Institute, and the Florida Digital Service described AI as a tool to improve efficiency, constituent services, fraud detection, translation, HR workflows, public safety, and regulatory review, while emphasizing that AI should supplement rather than replace workers. They also stressed the importance of data readiness, workforce training, governance, and having existing technology systems and policies in place before broader deployment. Members asked about public records concerns, vendor vetting, model integrity, and how to balance innovation with privacy and security. Chief Schoonover said agencies are already using or exploring AI in areas such as Medicaid analysis, environmental data, emergency management, tax forms, and child support, and noted that the Digital Service publishes prohibited vendor and application lists. OpenAI discussed its red teaming, safety evaluations, privacy controls, and government products such as ChatGPT Gov, and said it does not train on personal data or target users with ads. The committee also discussed concrete examples of efficiency gains, including reduced call times, faster translation turnaround, and streamlined HR classification work, as well as concerns about job disruption and constituent access. In closing, members raised data center infrastructure and energy needs, with panelists noting that AI depends on substantial compute, power, cooling, and utility capacity. The chair concluded by encouraging continued dialogue and noting that future AI legislation should be targeted to specific problems rather than overly broad.