Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, as a regulated electric utility in the state, we do have an internal drone team that we
• So, yes, as in talking with our internal drone team and our legal counsel, there are current efforts
• in the way that this law is structured in the way that this law is structured uh<01:05:58.480>
• <02:19:35.679> We Teams Local 633 in Manchester. We Teams Local 633 in Manchester.
• So uh team says local 633 long run.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We took a look at nationwide data, and our research team also did some Texas data too.
• So there are different arrangements depending on the business structure and where they are.
• Leads our public affairs team and our government relations.
• And so that's the staging work that's Is in place to stand up these clinical teams.
• Fourth, increased scrutiny of pharmacy benefit manager practices and pricing structure, particularly

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, Laura Clements, Deputy Commissioner of the Financial Surveillance Branch, her team monitors the
• After every major wildfire, we are in constant communication with her team to ensure we have real data
• After every major wildfire, we are in constant communication with her team to ensure we have real data
• When the inevitable disaster strikes and chaos unfolds, they and their teams hunker down, crunch the
• And she can't do, and her team cannot do her job.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I like this trend compared to the first team that came up here. So thank you.
• And my question has to do with the salary structure relative to a tenured teacher that has 20-odd years
• It may be very beneficial for the district to have a football team or a basketball team or whatever it
• A football team or a basketball team or whatever it is they may believe in, and there's different areas
• So our team at A&O is working hand in hand with them. We are continuing to evaluate this program.

Summary: The committee heard a series of Arkansas Department of Human Services budget presentations and questions, beginning with the Secretary’s Office and then the Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services. Staff described the divisions’ appropriations, funding sources, and major programs, including senior centers, Meals on Wheels, mental health grants, substance abuse treatment, community alcohol safety, the Medicaid tobacco settlement program, and crisis stabilization units. Members raised concerns about flat or limited funding for senior services, the use and tracing of federal block grants, the lack of a funding source for the veterans’ mental health grant, and the mechanics of the community alcohol safety and treatment programs. The committee also discussed patient benefits funds at state facilities, transportation for senior center clients, and whether some special-language appropriations or fund balances should be revisited. Executive recommendations were adopted for the divisions considered. The committee then reviewed the Division of Children and Family Services and the Division of County Operations. Questions focused on foster care growth, adoption subsidies, professional fees tied to staff training and onboarding, vacancies, the Children’s Trust Fund, and TANF subgrants. Members asked about the reduction or elimination of TANF funding to child advocacy centers and other subgrantees, and DHS explained that prior reserves had been spent down and that the department was now trying to live within the annual TANF block grant and rebuild reserves. County operations questions also covered summer EBT, SNAP employment and training, the farmers’ market program, and the expected impact of a federal SNAP administrative match change, which DHS estimated would increase state costs by about $24 million annually, with roughly $18 million affecting the current year because the change begins October 1. Executive recommendations were again adopted. Finally, the committee heard from the Division of Developmental Disability Services and the Division of Medical Services. DDS testimony covered vacancies, staffing shortages, human development center construction and repairs, the reopening of the Boonville work training program, and funding for infant infirmary and child/family life programs. Medical Services testimony covered the Medicaid program, the current FMAP rate, the Our Kids B CHIP program, Medicaid payments to schools, nursing home distress funding, and large appropriation lines used to provide flexibility for claims and potential facility closures. Members asked for more detail on school Medicaid payments, reserve balances, and why some appropriations were much larger than actual spending. In each division, the committee moved and adopted Executive REC after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got a lot of oversight that needs to happen, and I'm excited that we've got the team that we have
• I would have to look to my team to figure out the makeup of that, but it was seven schools in total.
• We've provided the information about the procurement issues we identified to our financial audit team
• We've provided the information about our procurement issues we identified to our financial audit team
• I don't think that it's structured in a way that captures the expectations that I think we all... ...

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• technical difficulties have been fixed, and again I want to say thank you so much to the technical team
• I appreciate the numbers you gave us earlier on the ocean team, the number of people out there.
• I don't know how you differentiate your ocean or waterways enforcement team versus your land team.
• And on behalf of the task force and the administrative team, we'd like to thank the committee. Mr.
• And on behalf of the task force and the administrative team, we'd like to thank the committee. Mr.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture held its annual State of the Fishery forum, focusing on salmon, Dungeness crab, kelp, ocean conditions, and related aquaculture and committee reports. Opening remarks from committee leadership emphasized climate impacts, reduced federal NOAA support, state investments through Proposition 4, coastal resilience funding, and the importance of fisheries to rural economies and tribal communities. Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot described a decade of drought and climate stress, highlighted progress such as Klamath River dam removal, wetland restoration, and the state’s salmon strategy, and warned that federal funding uncertainty and staffing cuts could undermine restoration and fishery recovery efforts. Senator Cortese raised concerns about illegal cannabis cultivation damaging riparian habitat and water flows, and both Crowfoot and Fish and Wildlife Director Bonham said enforcement against illicit grows remains a major environmental priority but is constrained by resources. Director Bonham provided a broad update on California fisheries, reporting encouraging signs for salmon after several difficult years, including improved ocean conditions, stronger returns in some runs, and successful short recreational openings in 2025. He also noted major challenges, including reduced federal hatchery production at Nimbus, ongoing uncertainty around winter-run and spring-run recovery, and the need for continued habitat restoration, monitoring, and hatchery investment. On Dungeness crab, Bonham said the fishery remained valuable but constrained by whale entanglement risk, warming ocean conditions, and domoic acid concerns; he described new marked-line distribution, ropeless and alternative gear trials, and ongoing aerial and vessel monitoring. He also said the department’s unified cannabis enforcement task force had served numerous warrants and seized large amounts of illegal cannabis, but more funding is needed for sustained operations. In the salmon panel, Yurok Tribe fisheries director McCovey said the Klamath still faces low run sizes, climate-driven warming, wildfire impacts, and federal uncertainty, but he pointed to dam removal, restoration work, and AB 263’s river-flow protections as major advances. PCFFA president Bradshaw stressed that the three consecutive salmon closures have devastated coastal communities and argued for major reinvestment in aging Central Valley hatchery infrastructure and better broodstock management at Fall Creek. CalTrout’s Schneider said salmon remain at risk statewide, but cited Prop 4, habitat reconnection, floodplain restoration, improved water management, and monitoring as the main tools for recovery. In the crab panel, CDFW’s Schumann reported that the 2024–25 season produced record prices per pound and about $55 million in value despite delays and trap reductions, but he warned that three confirmed whale entanglements and elevated whale presence could force a conservative opener for 2025–26. PCFFA’s Domrash supported marked line, alternative gear, and a new gear-recovery network, while also criticizing the current ramp system as a response to a problem not fully grounded in science.

Transcript Highlights:

• We worked with the Department of Revenue commissioner and his team to find a reasonable solution.
• of re Vue commissioner Mar Hort<00:04:01.280> and<00:04:01.439> his<00:04:01.640> team
• to find a reasonable Hort and his team to find a reasonable solution<00:04:04.400> this<00:04
• One, we have a tiered water rate structure where people pay more as they increase their use.
• just the the whole cost structure just the the whole cost structure because<00:39:57.079> it<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and independent auditors to correct prior... ...working diligently with our team and your independent
• The team that we have built here is a phenomenal team of people that are willing to put their heads down
• On to Senator Dunn's point, can you kind of give us a sense of how you and your team have...
• We'll introduce the team. We'll go through kind of the timeline.
• Since J-LAC's December 2025 meeting, my team...

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, we have 988, um, which is a great resource that people can call, and crisis mobile outreach teams
• c> people can call, and crisis mobile people can call, and crisis mobile outreach<00:43:18.040> teams
• can be, um, sent out to outreach teams can be, um, sent out to respond.<00:43:22.040> Um, respond
• Um [clears throat] [clears throat] [clears throat] our<00:53:07.920> team<00:53:08.160> did
• did find that in Illinois, um our team did find that in Illinois, um in<00:53:11.200> 2023,<00

Bills: SB709, SB2089, SB2090, SB2108, SB2211, SB2250, SB2325, SB2803, SB2866, SB3245

Keywords: mental health, crisis intervention, assisted community treatment, treatment orders, law enforcement training, public safety, court-ordered treatment, Medicaid, healthcare access, unlicensed professionals, supervised services, workforce development, mental health equity, child custody, evaluations, licensed counselors, family court, juvenile justice, waiver of jurisdiction, transfer to adult court

Summary: The committee heard SB 709 SD2, which would require the Department of Health to respond to reports involving persons with severe mental illness, assess eligibility for assisted community treatment, and coordinate treatment when appropriate. Testimony from the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health supported the measure, with DOH saying it generally supported the bill but had comments on one section it viewed as unnecessary. The Department of Law Enforcement later explained that the bill would shift certification and standards for crisis intervention officer training from DOH to DLE, while still involving DOH in the training process. Opposition came from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center and an individual testifier, both of whom argued the bill expands state authority over people with mental illness and could worsen forced treatment practices. The Disability Rights Center also raised procedural concerns, saying the bill was effectively moved from a prior administration measure that had not been heard this session, and questioned whether the bill’s changes to assisted community treatment, blood tests, urinalysis, and living arrangements went beyond current law. The individual testifier argued the bill would further entrench harmful psychiatric drugging and urged the committee to defer it. Committee members questioned the administration about the bill’s process, the role of the Attorney General in treatment-over-objection proceedings, and the practical effects of moving CIT certification to DLE. The Attorney General’s office said the bill was intended to fill a gap by allowing it to assist with treatment proceedings, while public defenders would continue to represent respondents and due process protections would remain in place. DLE and DOH said the change would better align certification with law enforcement training needs, improve speed in crisis response, and still keep DOH involved; members also discussed whether WAM counted as a hearing and whether the bill should more explicitly preserve DOH’s role. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our staffing team received over years.
• I had one person in our classification team and two clerical folks.
• <00:23:18.559> and person in our classification team and person in our classification team
• <00:23:27.120> is months, our classification team is months, our classification team is nearly
• Uh, so the policy team.

Bills: SB1, SB4, SB6, SB9, SB16, SB17, SB20, SB22, SB28, SB29, SB36, SB41, SB45, SB77, SB85, SB87, SB96, SB98, SB110, SB126, SB139, SB143, SB164, SB167, SB171, SB186, SB188, SB195, SB197, SB198, SB204, SB205, SB206, SB207, SB209, SB210, SB211, SB217, SB219, SB220, SB225, SB231, SB237, SB238, SB241, SB244, SB246, SB247, SB272, SB294, SB315, SB346, SB364, SB366, SB367, SB386, SB392, SB403, SB415, SB427, SB431, SB437, SB457, SB459, SB469, SB471, SB478, SB484, SB489, SB502, SB503, SB507, SB508, SB510, SB516, SB517, SB518, SB519, SB521, SB535, SB543, SB550, SB564, SB568, SB570, SB575, SB577, SB578, SB590, SB607, SB616, SB621, SB634, SB644, SB647, SB649, SB652, SB655, SB656, SB663

Keywords: agricultural lands, foreign ownership, state agriculture policy, real estate regulation, land conservation, SB4, Royal Mausoleum, Mauna Ala, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, OHA, Department of Land and Natural Resources, DLNR, stewardship, Hawaiian affairs, cemetery, burial site, ancestral remains, cultural preservation, state land management, agency transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• it in different ways this one structure it in different ways this one goes<00:22:58.520> in<00
• current, some of the amendments that are coming forward, so I think it would be great for us as the team
• So if we looked at them as existing structures under our fire code, almost all of them will comply.
• to be safe for I want these structures to be safe for kids<01:31:34.760> that<01:31:34.920>
• We would recommend adding this to that reporting structure, and we can work with the sponsor and others

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the first week, we deployed a strike team to Texas and later deployed another team in New Mexico.
• So this model, this structure, one, is not approved for use.
• And that’s a credit to the USDA team, to the U.S.
• I mean, they're a critical part of the response team as well.
• Shell has been saying from the beginning, as well as the FDA team, the CVM FDA team, has been saying,

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we at least need an amendment in the language on page six, lines 34 to 41, to include the defense team
• who have to sometimes go out, and usually when we have orders of protection it will say the defense team
• what I wanted to clarify: when it says just the attorney, it means just the attorney, but we have a team
• should be illegal, like they have done with Delta 8, that then will override any gray regulatory structure
• This really appears to need an amendment to include the defense, and the defense team was expressed.

Bills: HB2028, HB2047, HB2136, HB2244, HB2364, HB2406, HB2415, HB2557, HB2573, HB2589, HB2720, HB2749, HB2825, HB2861, HB2862, HB2870, HB2970, HB4070, HB4117, HCR2004, HCR2051

Keywords: community restitution, homelessness, indigence, court assessments, monetary obligations, forcible entry, detainer, writ of restitution, criminal trespass, judgment enforcement, civil terrorism, disorderly conduct, vandalism, political activism, public order, subversion, government security, evictions, judgment satisfaction, tenant rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Because of the way the tier system is structured, which was based on the auditor's tiered system of reporting
• Certainly right now at the Treaty Division we have an amazing team of four attorneys.
• But, you know, like I said at the initial outset, folks that are joining our team are not necessarily
• Our team currently consists of 17 members who do education outreach, technical assistance, and youth
• you'll hear someone from one university promoting another, but the work that Stacey Timmons and her team

Transcript Highlights:

• I have enjoyed working with you and your team throughout this committee's rigorous vetting process and
• Medicare Advantage's market-driven benefit structure provides seniors with more timely access to these
• gave people in their hands tools, resources that are useful, not information, but tactics and support teams
• There are many reasons they don't, but part of the reason they don't is they don't have support. teams
• I have treasured building teams my whole career.

Keywords: Michael Falkender, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, IRS, taxpayer privacy, nomination process, committee hearing

Summary: The committee convened to discuss critical issues surrounding the nomination of Michael Falkender for the position of Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. This meeting included a series of remarks from committee members who expressed divergent views on Falkender's qualifications and the implications of his appointment. Senator Wyden voiced strong opposition, arguing that Falkender represents harmful policies expected to be perpetuated under the current administration, especially concerning taxpayer privacy and IRS tactics. Meanwhile, other members defended Falkender, noting his extensive experience, including a commitment to transparency in government operations if confirmed.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a structural benefit in how shelf tags are generated and things of that nature.
• The treasurer's team has been a constructive partner in getting these details right, and the bill in
• Then Utah actually followed up in March 2026 with HB 519 with a nearly identical structure.
• March 26 with H.B. 519 with a nearly identical structure, and that one passed unanimously.
• March 26 with H.B. 519 with a nearly identical structure, and that one passed unanimously.

Bills: HCR66, HB387, HB617, HB797, HB950, HB975, HB1186, HB1222, HB1223, HB1228, HB1256

Keywords: economic development, rural communities, infrastructure, workforce training, Louisiana Economic Development, engineering, land surveying, construction, state fire marshal, plan review, hidden fees, junk fees, drip pricing, price transparency, mandatory fees, surcharges, consumer protection, unfair trade practices, advertising disclosures, total price

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met on April 20, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard a series of bills and resolutions. It first advanced H. CR 66, which directs Louisiana Economic Development, working with the Governor’s Office of Rural Development, to study rural parish economic assets, infrastructure, workforce, and development opportunities. The committee also moved HB 387, a clarification allowing the fire marshal to review architectural and engineering plans equally, and HB 1223, which seeks to promote clinical trials in Louisiana by having LED market the state’s research capacity and by adjusting internal review board procedures. HB 1228, a cleanup bill for hearing aid dealers that updates definitions, contracts, testing periods, licensing, and related requirements, was also reported favorably, as was HB 950, which would create an elderly consumer perception program through the Office of Elderly Affairs to help seniors recognize scams and fraud. The committee spent the most time on HB 617, a broad “hidden fees” consumer transparency bill. The author and supporters said it would require mandatory fees to be included in upfront pricing so consumers can make informed choices, while opponents from grocery, restaurant, hotel, housing, retail, and business groups argued the bill was vague, overly broad, and likely to create compliance burdens and litigation risk. Housing advocates objected to the bill’s housing exemption, warning it could weaken renters’ ability to bring claims over undisclosed fees. After extensive debate over variable pricing, sales taxes, enforcement, and the scope of the bill, Senator Morris moved to defer HB 617, and the committee agreed without objection. The committee also heard HB 797, which would create a “Bayou Gold” certification program for certain gold vendors and transactional gold products. The sponsor said the program would encourage vendors to keep gold insured, segregated, and closer to Louisiana consumers, with the Treasury administering the certification through participant fees. Several senators and an outside witness raised concerns that the state seal could be mistaken for an endorsement, could create liability or consumer confusion, and would favor a narrow set of vendors. Despite opposition, the committee reported HB 797 favorably, with members noting it still had to go to Finance. Later, the committee advanced HB 1186, which would create a more uniform statewide building code and licensing system for inspectors, add disciplinary authority, and impose a small permit fee to support the program, and HB 1222, which would let LED develop a grocery initiative to address food deserts and food insecurity. The meeting concluded with the committee hearing HB 1256 on abandoned digital assets, which would require dormant digital assets to be held in original form for three years so owners can reclaim them.

Transcript Highlights:

• The grant will be structured similarly to the recent 2025 round and will be awarded on a competitive
• also understand that even within the school period right now, the school day, as it's currently structured
• ongoing funding to support the existing statewide and regional transformation assistance center structure
• The community schools approach is a proven structure.
• Annual planning and reporting by shared decision-making teams at the school level has been crucial to

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, the bill provides new penalty structures for human trafficking offenses, as the bill applies
• And our fine structure is still pretty punitive even for the infraction, and I think it's adequate for
• So I potentially could have still received a misdemeanor under that structure.
• There are other principles of direct supervision that are still employed there, but the structure and
• Direct supervision is really based on a facility design, and then the inmate supervision is structured

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Importantly, the allotment is structured to incentivize those partnerships between districts and preparation
• Well, so the way the bill is structured, as I understand it, there would be funds through this allotment
• The Road to College and Career team leads monthly meetings with our advisors for professional development
• In Section 48.1022B of the bill, as it would be structured, it talks about this additional $615 million
• Could we make it effective with the right staffing structure? ...and the right caseloads, yes.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• I kind of explain it as structural quality, where it measures class size.
• So, just to give you some examples of what we mean in respect to structural quality, those that earn
• And so where we play a space in this role is you've heard the structures, you've heard a Rep triple C
• We need a more efficient regulatory structure to help. By DCF.
• We need a more efficient regulatory structure to help kind of bring some costs down.

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee held an introductory meeting focused largely on member introductions and “homework” reports about education issues in each district. Members raised a wide range of concerns and priorities, including early childhood care and VPK access, school choice and school closures, teacher recruitment and retention, conflict resolution and school safety, early literacy and preparedness, technology and AI/STEM instruction, attendance and mental health, ESE services, dual enrollment and career/technical education, caregiving youth, and real-time student enrollment/funding tracking. Several members also emphasized local challenges such as housing-driven teacher turnover, disaster-related attendance problems, and funding inequities across counties. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Florida’s early learning system from Chancellor Carrie Miller of the Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning. She outlined the structure and funding of School Readiness, VPK, and the Gold Seal Quality Care program, the role of early learning coalitions and DCF, and the state’s quality and accountability measures. She highlighted the importance of kindergarten readiness, teacher quality, and the new School Readiness Plus program, which helps families transition off subsidy more gradually. Additional panelists from the Children’s Forum, the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, and a Tallahassee child care provider discussed workforce shortages, low wages, provider turnover, the TEACH scholarship program, Help Me Grow, local coalition operations, and the need for more providers and more consistent regulation. During questions, members asked about wait lists, special needs services, teacher retention, provider onboarding, and DCF regulation. The panel said Miami-Dade’s wait list was about 4,000 children and described priority categories for service; they also said children with disabilities are screened and referred for support, though not given a separate priority category. Panelists reported that TEACH has helped reduce turnover through education support and service commitments, but said wages and career pathways remain major issues. Members also pressed for clearer, more consistent licensing standards and more support for new providers entering the field. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the meeting.