Transcript Highlights:

• industries into the state that provide wonderful jobs and provide property taxes, pay taxes, and pay good wages
• industries into the state that provide wonderful jobs and provide property taxes, pay taxes, and pay good wages
• House Rule 12-11, having voted<02:51:28.399><c> on</c><02:51:28.560><c> the</c><02:51:28.640><c> prevailing
• </c><02:51:29.040><c> side</c><02:51:29.279><c> of</c><02:51:29.439><c> Senate</c> voted on the prevailing
• side of Senate voted on the prevailing side of Senate File<02:51:30.720><c> 110,</c><02:51:31.279><c

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a brief recognition of guests participating in the Young Announcers Program, including students and community leaders from Urban Heat 98.1 FM, 365 Dad, and Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School. The chamber then took up House No. 58, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill focused largely on emergency assistance shelter funding and related policy changes. Senator Rogers explained that the agreement appropriates $425 million for the EA shelter system through the rest of FY25 and includes measures intended to reduce caseloads and improve oversight, such as tighter eligibility verification, criminal offender information checks, disclosure of prior convictions, reporting requirements, a study of NCIC background checks, and a plan to phase out hotels and motels. Senator Tarr praised the urgency of the bill but criticized the process, saying the measure was negotiated without a formal conference committee or public report and did not go far enough on reform. The Senate adopted the concurrence and further amendment, then adopted an emergency preamble by a vote of 11-0. The Senate then took final action on House No. 58, with Senator Tarr requesting a roll call vote. After the call of the yeas and nays, the bill passed to be enacted by a vote of 32-7 and was ordered signed by the President and laid before the Governor. The chamber also adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of State Representative Carol A. Doherty, followed by a moment of silence, and then agreed to adjourn until the next day at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• No, the ayes have it, and the motion prevails.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted two congratulatory resolutions recognizing IBEW Local 103’s 125th anniversary and the Town of Tewksbury’s 375th anniversary. It then took up several local and private bills, including a revised charter bill for the City of Somerville and a sick leave bank bill for a Department of Corrections employee, both of which were advanced to engrossment. The chamber also suspended various joint rules to refer several House and Senate petitions to the appropriate committees. During the session, Senator Carr delivered a personal privilege statement reflecting on the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and urging unity, compassion, and resolve in the face of division and violence. Later, the Committee on Ways and Means reported favorably on bills updating Nikki’s Law and the MassHealth day habilitation program, allowing fentanyl test strips, and regulating affordable car rentals; the Senate suspended the rules to consider these matters forthwith and ordered the first two to third reading, while adopting a Ways and Means amendment and advancing the car rental bill as amended. The Senate also concurred in House amendments to the Cambridge and Medford charter bills, adopted emergency preambles for two sick leave bank bills, and passed several measures to be enacted, including sick leave bank bills, the Cambridge and Medford charter bills, and a charter bill for the City of Saugus. The chamber adopted an order to reconvene the following Monday at 11 a.m., approved a motion to adjourn in memory of the victims of September 11, and observed a moment of silence before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• so guide their hearts and so direct their efforts that law and order, justice and peace may always prevail

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. Senator Klein.

Bills: SB2401, SB2402, SB2403, SB2404

Keywords: SB 2401, North Dakota, Century Code, occupational therapy, occupational therapy board, criminal history record check, background check, licensee investigation, physician continuing education, medical license renewal, nutrition education, metabolic health, chronic disease prevention, health occupation boards, medical board, licensure fee, audit response, disciplinary action, Title 43, board of medicine

Summary: The Senate convened in special session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call establishing a quorum of 45 members present and two absent. The chamber received certification from the Secretary of State and the governor’s executive order calling the special session to address funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program and to act quickly to accept and appropriate federal funds. The main action was adoption of the procedural rules for the extraordinary session. Senator Klein explained the proposed rule changes, which were designed to speed up consideration of bills during the short session, including limits on bill introduction, same-day second reading and final passage, elimination of standing committees for the session, creation of a Joint Policy Committee and Joint Appropriations Committee, and authorization for remote testimony and limited remote participation. The procedural committee’s report on these rules was adopted without opposition. The Senate also adopted reports naming members to the Joint Policy Committee and Joint Appropriations Committee. Announcements noted that the Senate Employment Committee, Joint Policy Committee, and Joint Appropriations Committee would meet later that morning, that the Senate would not reconvene at 4 p.m., and that a Highway Patrol presentation on legislator safety would be held. The Senate then moved through the listed orders of business and recessed, planning to meet in joint session with the House before adjourning until Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we will prevail.

Summary: The House convened with 66 members present, approved the previous day’s journal, and received a Senate message returning HCR 20, which was referred for enrolling. The chamber also approved a long list of House attaches for the second regular session of the 68th Legislature, after which the attaches were sworn in and welcomed. Most of the meeting consisted of announcements. Members were told that respectful workplace training was mandatory that afternoon, a majority caucus presentation by Convention of States was scheduled for Thursday, and a House/Senate Bible study with breakfast would be held the next morning. Committee schedule notices were read, including several committees not meeting and House Education, Revenue and Taxation, and JFAC meeting the following day. A member used personal privilege to discuss the U.S. Supreme Court and Idaho’s role in protecting women’s sports, referencing the Hickok case and related litigation, and praising state leaders for their efforts. The House then adjourned by motion until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails. The clerk will give the bill its third reading as amended by conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• pray that the call of evil falls on deaf ears, that those who fight for freedom and justice always prevail

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with a prayer recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The Secretary then read Governor DeSantis’s proclamation calling the Legislature into special session from January 27 to January 31, 2025, limited to five subjects: combating illegal immigration, condominium regulation, agricultural relief after natural disasters, replenishing the My Safe Florida Home Program, and changes to the citizen initiative petition process. The chamber read the filed bills within the call, including several Senate bills on illegal immigration and petition process issues, all referred to Fiscal Policy. A motion was adopted to send any bills filed outside the call to the Rules Committee to determine whether introduction was warranted. The Senate President then discussed President Trump’s immigration executive orders and said Florida would align with federal efforts while preserving the Legislature’s constitutional role. He announced that Senator Gruters would sponsor legislation to implement Trump’s border and immigration plan, including funding to reimburse law enforcement costs and incentives to recruit more officers. He said the bill would be posted, referred to Appropriations later that day, and heard on the floor the next day. The session then adjourned sine die by motion without objection, with senators told the chamber would reconvene momentarily for the special session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion prevails.
• </c><00:35:55.680><c> The</c><00:35:55.920><c> motion</c><00:35:56.240><c> prevails.
• The motion prevails. &gt;&gt; I. All post say no. The motion prevails.
• The motion prevails. Senate File 3899, as amended, is referred to finance.
• The motion prevails. Senate File 4338, as amended, is referred to finance.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On the other side of the coin, it's vital that we protect our low-wage income and most...
• It's vital that we protect our low-wage income and most vulnerable residents who've been targeted by
• issues and protections, we do understand that addressing both the needs of the state and those of low-wage
• It's almost like the same language that was used for the minimum wage rate.
• them, but it was interpreted through the department that they were included, right, for the minimum wage

Keywords: 1146, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met on June 28, 2026 and considered a long list of budget and policy bills, reporting many of them out of committee, often with amendments. Early measures included AB 2550 on continued dependent health coverage for certain adults with disabilities, AB 4794 allowing tax data sharing with the New Jersey Innovation Authority and Secure Choice Savings Board, and AB 3381/SB 1493 updating occupational therapy licensure requirements. The committee also advanced AB 4014, creating a social media research center at a public four-year institution, though one member opposed it as unnecessary spending given existing research on social media harms. Another bill, AB 5048/SB 1281, would ban certain apparel and diaper products with intentionally added PFAS; some members opposed it over safety and cost concerns, especially for firefighter gear, but it was reported. The committee also moved AB 383, which promotes volunteerism to help FamilyCare and SNAP recipients meet eligibility requirements, and AB 4357, extending telehealth pay parity, though one member objected to parity between telehealth and in-person care. The committee then took up several energy, environmental, and housing-related bills. AB 5188, the Advanced Grid Technologies Act, was released despite opposition from some members and labor interests. AB 2524 would let dual-use solar projects participate in community solar, and AB 5236 would strengthen pediatric psychiatry and behavioral health services; both were reported. AB 5348, allowing temporary use of open-space and related funds for certain municipalities, drew sharp criticism as a diversion of preservation money to fill budget holes, but passed. AB 5280 returned unexpended county appropriations to Hudson County and authorized supplemental operating aid; it also passed despite objections about prior bidding violations. AB 5347 provided certain motor vehicle-related funding to municipalities and was reported, as was AB 5334/SB 4423, appropriating Green Acres and CBT revenues for local open space and park projects. A major portion of the meeting focused on tax and business-related bills. AB 5329 increased the child tax credit for 2026-2028, with testimony urging that the expansion be made permanent; it was reported. AB 3899, the General Contractor Licensing Act, also passed. AB 5310/SB 4406 clarified sentencing under certain circumstances and was reported. AB 5330, allowing temporary transfers in the pension system, drew testimony from NJEA warning that the State Health Benefits Program was in crisis and asking for a longer repayment period to avoid rate spikes; the bill was still reported. AB 1326 created a higher education governance and funding task force and was amended to add a Talmudic institution or theological seminary representative. Later, AB 5333/SB 4424 appropriated additional Green Acres and CBT funds for recreation and conservation projects and was reported. The committee also advanced several business and alcohol-related measures, including AB 5235 establishing the School-Based Partnership for Access and Resilience for Kids program, AB 5325 reducing business formation fees, AB 4836/SB 2368 on portable solar devices, AB 4881 establishing an advanced nuclear energy procurement program, AB 3974/SB 3183 revising renewable energy incentive and solar interconnection rules, AB 4013 creating a social media research center focused on addictive behavior, AB 5225 making temporary alcohol beverage provisions permanent, and AB 5295 revising alcoholic beverage licensing laws. The most contentious debate came on AB 4085, the Fair Price Protection Act, which would restrict “surveillance pricing” and regulate grocery pricing practices. Consumer advocates supported the bill as a protection against individualized pricing, while retailers and chambers of commerce argued the language was too broad and could undermine loyalty programs, discounts, and electronic shelf labels. Despite those objections, the committee voted to report the bill after amendments. Finally, AB 4530/SB 3739 on EV supply equipment standards was reported, and AB 5322 imposing a temporary cap on net operating loss deductions under the corporate business tax sparked strong opposition from business groups and a policy debate over whether legitimate losses and investment-related deductions should be limited; the bill was still moved out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• for every person that gets out of homelessness in my county, 15 more fall in, and primarily it's a wage
• County are low wage. And in South Central, a studio apartment costs about two grand a month.
• for every person that gets out of homelessness in my county, 15 more fall in, and primarily it's a wage
• Because 60% of the jobs that are created in LA County are low wage.
• How do you pay for housing when that's all your minimum wage can support?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for every person that gets out of homelessness in my county, 15 more fall in, and primarily it's a wage
• Because 60% of the jobs that are created in LA County are low wage.
• for every person that gets out of homelessness in my county, 15 more fall in, and primarily it's a wage
• Because 60% of the jobs that are created in LA County are low wage.
• How do you pay for housing when that's all your minimum wage can support?

Summary: The subcommittee heard several May Revision proposals related to the state’s housing and homelessness reorganization. On the first item, administration and Finance staff described technical adjustments to move administrative positions and resources between the California Housing and Homelessness Agency, HCD, and Cal ICH, plus authority for a chief deputy director at the new Housing Development Finance Committee. The LAO recommended approval but asked for clarification on funding for the chief deputy position. Several senators questioned whether the staffing shifts would reduce Cal ICH’s capacity and whether adding communications support and a new executive position was appropriate absent new housing funding; the item was held open. The second item proposed a new $100 million CalHFA Disaster Rebuilding Fund, with $56 million General Fund and $44 million in existing National Mortgage Settlement funds, to help disaster-impacted homeowners access construction financing through tools such as a loan loss guarantee and interest rate buy-downs. CalHFA said the fund would help close the gap between insurance proceeds and rebuilding costs and would work through approved lenders. The LAO raised concerns about the lack of alternatives analysis, the broad delegation in the trailer bill, and the General Fund cost. Senators pressed for more detail on the estimated number of homeowners served, lender and homeowner eligibility, equity safeguards, and the role of the Legislature in program design; the item was held open. The third item was trailer bill language for HAP Round 7, including accountability metrics, pro-housing designation requirements for certain large cities and counties, local match requirements, and a mechanism to recapture unspent funds. HCD said the proposal would streamline reporting by using one consistent set of system performance measures and would phase in the new requirements. The LAO questioned the timing, the burden of pro-housing designation, the size and source of the local match, and whether the proposal conflicted with the Legislature’s prior goal of getting funds out quickly. Several senators criticized the added requirements and the lack of new funding, while others said the proposal could improve accountability and reduce administrative burden by reusing existing plans. The item was also held open. The fourth item began a proposal to reduce local development impact fees on state-funded affordable housing projects, framed as a condition on competitive multifamily funding rather than a statewide mandate. The presentation started but the transcript cuts off before questions or action on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• industry, which in California supports over 300,000 direct jobs, powers the economy with $22 billion in wages
• And without any... so solar comes in and it's low-wage jobs. Low-wage jobs.
• Without any... so solar comes in and it's low-wage jobs, low-wage temporary jobs, so it's great for someone

Summary: The committee heard several energy, environmental, recycling, and land-use bills, beginning with SB 925 by Senator McNerney, which would direct the California Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy. Supporters said the bill would help California retain leadership in fusion research and commercialization, attract investment, and create jobs, while some members emphasized the need to avoid overregulation and keep the state competitive. No opposition testified, and the bill was later approved on a 4-0 vote and held on call. The committee also heard SB 1350, another McNerney bill, to expand the use of green hydrogen in the power sector by allowing renewable portfolio standard credit for turbines using renewable hydrogen. Supporters framed it as a way to support clean energy reliability, preserve tax credits, and create jobs, while opponents including TURN and Earthjustice warned about greenwashing, resource shuffling, and increased NOx emissions. The author and chair described committee amendments as adding guardrails, and the bill passed 4-0 and was held on call. Senator Grayson presented SB 1145, which would streamline CEQA and related review for qualifying projects in the Concord Reuse Project Area, part of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station. The bill is intended to speed a long-planned transit-oriented development with housing, commercial space, parks, and open space; supporters included local officials, labor groups, and business organizations, while a housing group raised concerns about affordable housing guarantees but still supported the CEQA exemption. The committee described the bill as balancing streamlining with retained environmental review and approved it 4-0, held on call. Senator Cabaldon’s SB 1341, dealing with CalRecycle processing fees for bag-in-a-box wine and spirits containers, also drew support from the wine industry and some environmental groups that wanted a workable recycling market, while glass packaging and other opponents objected to giving CalRecycle too much discretion; it too passed 4-0 and was held on call. The committee then heard SJR 13 by Senator Padilla, urging the U.S. to seek enforceable commitments to eliminate transboundary sewage pollution at the 2026 USMCA review. Supporters described severe public health and environmental harms from sewage and runoff in the Tijuana River and New River watersheds, especially for border and farmworker communities, and the resolution passed 4-0. Padilla’s SB 1033, requiring protein product manufacturers to test for and disclose heavy metals, drew support from consumer and public health groups citing Consumer Reports findings, while industry groups argued for narrower scope, QR-code options, and thresholds tied to health standards; the bill passed 3-0 and was held on call. Senator Ashby’s SB 1010, creating a manufacturer-funded system for refrigerant recovery from discarded appliances, was supported as a climate and enforcement measure but opposed by appliance manufacturers and recyclers who said existing law already regulates refrigerants and that the bill could raise costs and reduce recycling; it passed 4-0 and was held on call. Finally, Senator Caballero presented SB 1183, requiring a state study of the environmental, land-use, and economic impacts of industrial solar in the Central Valley. Supporters said the bill would help ensure solar development benefits local communities and farmland, while solar industry groups argued it duplicated existing work and should better reflect solar’s benefits; the bill was heard but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• know many of you are proud of, but your general contractor liability, your misclassification, your wage
• Misclassification Misclassification Misclassification your<00:40:39.160><c> wage</c><00:40:39.440><c>
• 39.920><c> that</c><00:40:40.040><c> you</c><00:40:40.120><c> passed</c><00:40:40.440><c> back</c> your wage
• theft law that you passed back your wage theft law that you passed back in<00:40:40.760><c> what</c>
• We have some of the most massive wealth inequalities, and low wages is a big driver of our homelessness

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We see what they do across all of these industries in rent hikes that they cut workers' wages, you know
• We see what they do across all of these industries in rent hikes that they cut workers' wages, you know
• that<00:40:50.520><c> they</c> that they that they cut<00:40:52.800><c> workers'</c><00:40:53.240><c> wages
• you</c><00:40:54.040><c> know,</c><00:40:54.160><c> just</c><00:40:54.400><c> on</c> cut workers' wages
• , you know, just on cut workers' wages, you know, just on and<00:40:54.720><c> on</c><00:40:54.880><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And anytime businesses have to pay for inefficient regulations, that money can't be spent on wages, expansion
• And anytime businesses have to pay for inefficient regulations, that money can't be spent on wages, expansion
• can't</c><00:14:05.360><c> be</c><00:14:05.480><c> spent</c><00:14:05.880><c> on</c><00:14:06.040><c> wages
• ,</c> that money can't be spent on wages, that money can't be spent on wages, expansion,<00:14:07.560

Keywords: Meeting Start - 00:00 Roll Call – 00:34 KY Chamber of Commerce KY Business Perspectives – 01:50 COT Update on SB4 – 27:16 Adjournment – 48:18, 958, all

Summary: The 2025 Artificial Intelligence Task Force met for its first meeting of the year and heard updates on federal AI policy, state implementation of Senate Bill 4, and the business community’s perspective on AI regulation. Co-chairs noted that federal legislation could affect the task force’s work later in the year, but said Kentucky still has significant issues to study, including energy, land use, education, social media, and children’s engagement with AI. The task force had quorum and no votes were taken. Kate Shanks of the Kentucky Chamber said the business community supports continued discussion but favors a federal approach over a patchwork of state laws. She described the Trump administration’s new AI executive order as emphasizing innovation over regulation, noted the pending federal AI action plan, and discussed congressional action including the Take It Down Act and industry-specific changes to existing laws. She warned that state-by-state AI rules could increase costs and burden businesses, and said the Chamber would prefer incremental, flexible policy that avoids conflict with existing law and limits private rights of action. Members asked about uniform model legislation, education uses of AI, and civil liability; Shanks said a model approach could help avoid fragmentation and that liability should generally be handled through consumer-protection-style enforcement rather than broad litigation. The Commonwealth Office of Technology then reported on implementation of SB 4, saying it has worked with industry, agencies, other states, and vendors to build an AI policy framework now in final review. Officials said an AI Governance Committee has been established and will meet in July, and a draft RFP is being prepared to meet the bill’s tracking and documentation requirements. They said no major implementation challenges have been identified so far, but the impact of pending federal rules remains uncertain. Members also discussed the need to educate students and teachers about AI, with one member emphasizing that schools should teach both how to use AI and how to think critically about information online.

Transcript Highlights:

• Once fully implemented, the system will allow the state to monitor the impact of investments like wage
• So not supplanting but supplementing so that they can pay those higher wages.
• We have also provided mentors, we provide the coaches, I think that wage scale and career lattice work
• And so we do partner with CYFD to provide wage supplement as well as the pay parity.
• So as they are achieving and earning those credits, there are steps that are assisting in their wage

Transcript Highlights:

• High school graduates with a bachelor's degree are nearly four times more likely to earn higher wages
• This is a critical improvement as it ensures that Texas students are prepared for high-wage, high-demand
• and right now only 20% of our graduates from area high schools earn a living wage six years after leaving
• that categorically speaks to we're not sufficiently preparing students to be ready for those high-waged
• chance for adults to earn their high school diploma. and a credential that opens the door to meaningful wage-earning

Bills: SB451, SB762, SB1490, SB1262, SB1459, SB1750, SB1962, SB2252, SB2253, SB2365

Keywords: instructional materials, public schools, Education Code, adoption, rejected materials, local funds, open educational resources, Texas Education Code, school districts, open enrollment charter schools, funding restrictions, environmental regulation, business compliance, local authority, economic development, state preemption, local control, open education resources, SB 762, Texas public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• manageable debt as that which a student could reasonably pay off within 10 years given the typical wages
• Lead to meaningful employment and self-sustaining wages.
• what matters most to students and to employers, credentials that lead to jobs with self-sustaining wages
• Lastly, users can also estimate wages needed for full-time worker to cover the cost of basic household
• This adds critical context to the reported earnings for our graduates, and we thank MIT's living wage

Transcript Highlights:

• In other words, a value one that somebody could go out and get a job, make a living wage, and so that's
• need a postsecondary credential either to get a job or to move up in that job to have a sustainable wage
• <c> a</c> move up in that job to have a move up in that job to have a sustainable<00:26:20.720><c> wage
• we've</c><00:26:21.520><c> got</c><00:26:21.640><c> to</c><00:26:21.799><c> change</c> sustainable wage
• so we've got to change sustainable wage so we've got to change the<00:26:22.320><c> rhetoric</c><00:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: Aaron Thompson, president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, and Travis Pal briefed the committee on Kentucky higher education performance, affordability, workforce alignment, and budget needs. Thompson said the state has made progress toward its 60x30 attainment goal, reporting 56.2% of adults with a credential of value and a 6.4% one-year increase in credentials. He highlighted gains in completion, enrollment recovery after COVID, lower student borrowing and debt, and faster degree completion, saying Kentucky is now back to an average of 4.1 years for four-year degrees. He also emphasized that postsecondary education has a strong return on investment for both students and the state. A major theme was student success and access. Thompson described efforts to reduce barriers through test-optional admissions, the elimination of zero-credit developmental education, expanded wraparound supports, and Bridge programming for students not fully prepared for college. He also promoted Futurity, a student-facing information website, and said CPE wants modest ongoing funding to maintain it. He argued that higher education must work in a P-20 system with K-12, and that the state should better communicate the value of certificates, trade programs, and other credentials, especially for adult learners and men, who he said are underrepresented in college-going. The presentation also focused on performance funding, capital needs, and workforce initiatives. Thompson and Pal said performance funding has pushed institutions toward more need-based aid and lower costs for low-income students, but they want more base funding, more performance funding dollars, and relief from about $38 million in mandated tuition waivers. They also said asset preservation and deferred maintenance remain major needs, estimating roughly $7 billion in campus need overall. On workforce, they cited healthcare pipeline work supported by state funding and private partners, and said HB 200 continues that effort into aviation, aerospace, and defense. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the presentation, which ended with members indicating interest in further discussion.