Transcript Highlights:

• MCSA is grateful that members of this committee are prioritizing the reauthorization of HIDTA.
• forward to working with you to advance legislation like the HIDTA Enhancement Act, which would reauthorize
• So talk for a minute about why it is crucial that HIDTA be reauthorized for law enforcement officers
• Thank you, Senator Blackburn, and thank you for the reauthorization of HIDTA. It's very important.
• So that reauthorization is very critical to keep the glue together.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the federal guidance, as I understand it, you're reauthorized every six months.
• , you're reauthorized, you're reauthorized, >> That's<01:58:37.640> what<01:58:37.760
• begin. 6 months later, I'm reauthorized. begin. 6 months later, I'm reauthorized.
• One of the lawful functions of the department is determining eligibility and reauthorization.
• So, on the very face of reauthorization.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 11 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with an invocation by Reverend Anthony Phillips, and dispensed with the reading of the journal and committee reports. The chamber also recognized several guests in the galleries, including family members of senators, medical professionals for Early Childhood Day, and advocates and local officials. After introductions, the Senate moved into the calendar and began considering bills and motions. Among the measures taken up, the Senate passed House Bill 1393 to create the Mississippi Energy Infrastructure Fund, with the sponsor explaining it would allow MDA to support energy projects and require compliance with state procurement laws. The Senate also passed House Bill 420, which provides a full homestead ad valorem tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans age 85 or older and allows an unremarried surviving spouse to keep the exemption; senators asked about eligibility, age limits, and safeguards against improper exemptions. Another bill passed was House Bill 1941 on the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, which would allow funding through bonds or other means in addition to direct appropriation and raise the DFA processing cap from 2% to 3%; several senators raised concerns about state debt and the funding mechanism. The Senate concurred in Senate Bill 2906, which gives the Secretary of State additional time to establish minimum cybersecurity standards for county election systems. It also adopted motions to table reconsideration on several House bills, including House Bill 908 on absentee ballot receipt dates, House Bill 525 on mandatory minimum penalties for sexual battery, and House Bill 538 on sanctuary policies and immigration enforcement. The chamber voted to reconsider and then again pass House Bill 1613, described as a bill on aggravated trafficking weight and pill counts that also included a chemical abortion ban, after some senators who were absent earlier asked to go on record. For House Bill 2409, dealing with a comprehensive mitigation program for retrofitting insurable homes, the Senate voted not to concur and invited conference. The Senate also passed and retained numerous other items as it worked through the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the reauthorization of people's coverage, um, and retroactive coverage, but we are including the
• Um the reauthorization<00:04:00.400> of<00:04:00.480> people's<00:04:00.840> coverage
• <00:04:01.880> um reauthorization of people's coverage um reauthorization of people's coverage

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: Senate leaders said they were in the final weeks of session, moving long days of floor and finance work focused on priorities they described as affecting Minnesotans’ cost of living, safety, and security. They said next week would bring major packages to the floor, including public safety, health and human services, Metro Surge, and a gun violence package, while negotiations continued with House leaders and the administration. They also highlighted a human services bill from Sen. John Hoffman as the final item completed that day. A major topic was the Senate’s response to H.R. 1, which leaders said would require about $1 billion in state budget adjustments to avoid federal penalties and Medicaid losses. They said the proposal would address federal compliance issues, support hospitals such as HCMC and other distressed providers through uncompensated care funding, and include food support for SNAP-related needs, food shelves, food grants, and prepared food. They also emphasized system modernization, especially IT upgrades, as both an implementation and anti-fraud measure. Leaders said several items appeared to have bipartisan support, including HCMC relief, the Office of the Inspector General, bonding, and IT modernization. They said they were arranging a meeting with House and Senate leaders and the governor to work through bonding differences, but noted that IT modernization and HCMC were unlikely to be financed through general obligation bonds this year. They also said the Senate would take up a bill on prediction markets after Sen. Klein’s recent platform suspension, describing the issue as a violation of platform rules and saying the chamber may need updated rules or statutes. In response to a question about an elections bill provision, they said the measure reaffirmed that a president should serve only two terms and that the language had moved through the normal committee process.

Transcript Highlights:

• still is allowable in prior to 2014 we had the workforce investment actct but in2014 that got reauthorized
• as the workforce innovation andpportunity Act or WIOA and when that got reauthorized well let me just
• before they can even consider sub minimum wage employment and that is what has changed with the reauthorization
• do anything in order to be determined eligible to do that, if that makes sense, but with The reauthorization

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• these appropriations will be informed by both the BAR hearing you had this morning as well as the reauthorization
• It's in your reauthorization package, Representative. There's a lot to remember.
• Did we reauthorize that? We recommended that they utilize their funding.
• Yes, and we did reauthorize it for FY27 so that they can use it for surface water permit?

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that leaves us the 280,441 minus 9,000, 271,441 left for reauthorization in FY2027. All right.
• left for reauthorization in FY2027. left for reauthorization in FY2027.
• which is available for reauthorization. which is available for reauthorization.
• We're going to stick with a real request, reauthorizing the programs that were committed in 2024.
• We're going to stick with a real request, reauthorizing the programs that were committed in 2024.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee approved the October 15 minutes and observed a moment of silence for the victims of the UPS Worldport plane crash. The main presentation was from Transportation Cabinet Commissioner Bobby Joe Lewis on the Local Assistance Road Program/County Priority Projects Program (LAARP/CPP), which was implemented under House Bill 546 and now requires rehabilitation projects to restore roads to original condition, cap funding at $500,000 per project, use a new scoring matrix, include a local match, and submit one photograph per 300 feet of project length. He reported that the 2026-2027 cycle ran from June 1 to October 1 and drew 1,215 project applications from 107 counties and 106 cities, with total submitted project costs of about $121.1 million and about $102.3 million requested after local match. He also said 30% of submissions scored 10s and 22% scored 9s, and that the list of requests and required photos had been submitted to the General Assembly and LRC. Members asked about how scores change over time, whether roads can move from lower scores to 10s, and whether the new process gives a better picture of local needs. Lewis said scores can change based on weather and road conditions, but the new system provides more information and a more standardized evaluation than before. Several members raised concerns about the volume and size of required photographs, suggesting drone footage or video as an alternative; Lewis said the photo requirement has caused confusion and large file uploads, and he was open to considering easier ways to document conditions. Members also discussed continuity in scoring across districts, and Lewis explained that district staff appointed by chief district engineers use a handbook and scoring matrix, with the scores entered into a computer system so evaluators do not see the final score while scoring. The committee also discussed funding levels and carry-forward balances for the program. Lewis said the program began with $20 million authorized in HR92, noted underruns from completed projects, and reported a carry-forward amount that had grown to $355,432.42 available for reauthorization as of October 13. In response to questions, he said the current process concentrates applications into a short window, with 63% of applications arriving in the last few days and 417 on October 1, which created a heavy workload but was completed on time. The meeting then moved to multimodal funding priorities, with Jennifer Kersner of Kentuckians for Better Transportation introducing herself and offering condolences for the UPS aviation incident before beginning her remarks.

Transcript Highlights:

• This year, Rock Ridge Consolidated District passed a resolution to reauthorize their operating referendum
• reauthorization that we passed in 2023. reauthorization that we passed in 2023.
• <00:04:41.280> their<00:04:41.520> operating<00:04:42.160> referendum reauthorize
• their operating referendum reauthorize their operating referendum under<00:04:43.919> 126<00:
• the 23 bill as allowable to reauthorize the 23 bill as allowable to reauthorize that<00:04:55.919

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As we move forward, reauthorizing cap and trade, affordability remains a top priority.
• And restructuring the California climate credit is critical to an affordability-focused reauthorization
• Reauthorization of the cap-and-trade program, besides allowing the state to meet its climate goals cost-effectively
• So, in summary, AB 745, on the reauthorization of the cap-and-trade program more broadly, provides an

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard two bills focused on electricity affordability and utility costs. AB 745, by Assembly Member Irwin, would restructure the California Climate Credit by shifting it from lump-sum payments to direct reductions in volumetric electricity rates and moving the credit to the summer months when bills are highest. The author and UC Santa Barbara economist Dr. Kyle Meng argued this could significantly lower summer rates and better help households during extreme heat. Supporters, including UCS, NRDC, and some labor representatives, favored the concept, with some urging that the gas climate credit also be redirected. No opposition testimony was presented, and the bill passed 18-0 to the floor. The committee then considered AB 825, also presented as an affordability package aimed at reducing electric bills by addressing wildfire mitigation costs, transmission financing, permitting delays, and a review of ratepayer-funded programs. The bill would authorize securitization for undergrounding expenses, remove the first $15 billion in undergrounding capital investments from the rate base for return purposes, create a public transmission financing program using Proposition 4 funds and IBank support, revive the California Power Authority as a public sponsor, and establish a task force to review energy efficiency and demand response programs. The author and witness Matt Friedman of The Utility Reform Network said the bill could save ratepayers billions over time through lower-cost public financing and securitization. Testimony on AB 825 was mixed. Support came from several consumer and clean-energy groups, while utilities and labor raised concerns about the bill’s impact on utility financial stability, wildfire fund participation, liability, and whether the $15 billion securitization cap could discourage undergrounding. Some witnesses also objected to the task force’s potential effect on energy efficiency and demand response programs. Committee members discussed the need to balance affordability with utility creditworthiness and wildfire safety, and several asked for more analysis of market impacts and liability issues. Despite those concerns, AB 825 passed the committee 13-0 and was sent to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know we're talking about the reauthorization for cap-and-trade, which is one of the things that I've
• also urge the legislature to consider that with the ongoing negotiations around cap-and-trade reauthorization
• Opportunity and the ongoing negotiations around cap-and-trade reauthorization present a chance for us
• best way to ensure we have long-term resources. in the **Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund** is to reauthorize
• I would like to reiterate the importance of cap-and-trade reauthorization and seeing that process move

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This morning we acted on the reauthorization instrument, and in front of you, you have an amendment that
• This is a capital outlay reauthorization bill. Registered clause, it does help, yeah.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sunset Elementary might have a student population of 190 students, but Del Norte Elementary has over
• Uh, I will say that in the past, uh, prior, prior to our reauthorization or our new plan going back to

Transcript Highlights:

• This committee substitute has a sunset date of January 1, 2027, and my hope and expectation is the task
• Members, House Bill 4044 amends Chapter 172 of the tax code to reauthorize the participation of institutions

Bills: HB249

Keywords: real property, ad valorem tax, tax appraisal, property value limitation, real estate taxation, property ownership

Transcript Highlights:

• This committee worked tirelessly to pass... an FAA reauthorization bill last Congress that prioritized
• To my colleagues, I hope that we can work together in a. bipartisan fashion, since the FAA reauthorization
• The FAA, Alaska safety initiative called FASI, and in last year's FAA reauthorization, I was able to
• So related to, again, reauthorization and the commitment to work to have better communications throughout
• It was called the reauthorization bill, and as I said in my opening statement, we basically authorized

Keywords: aviation safety, midair collision, American Airlines Flight 5342, Army Black Hawk helicopter, NTSB, FAA, ADS-B technology, safety protocols

Summary: The meeting focused on the discussions surrounding the tragic midair collision involving American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in the loss of 67 lives. Testimonies were provided by key figures including NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and FAA Acting Administrator Chris Richelieu. The committee expressed grave concerns regarding the existing safety protocols, questioning why the FAA failed to act on numerous warnings and data indicating potential collision risks. Members emphasized the need for urgent reforms in aviation safety to prevent such tragedies in the future. Specific highlights included the recognition of the importance of ADS-B out technology and concerns about the operational practices of military helicopters in controlled airspaces.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not only did you vote against reauthorizing 702, you actually introduced legislation to fully repeal
• implementation of the existing safeguards are, and come back to you and Congress as you look at reauthorization
• even talked about this when we served in the House together, and I actually voted against its reauthorization
• However, I recently voted to reauthorize Section 702 with additional safeguards to end the politicization
• And reporting back to you as you begin to consider next year's reauthorization and meeting that mark

Transcript Highlights:

• And through the reauthorization, which is, you know, once again, forcing people to reauthorize and make
• so I don't know if you can talk a little bit more about what we did during COVID—not requiring reauthorization—all

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally to the elimination of the Department of Education, DOR is also monitoring the reauthorization
• Act, and that reauthorization expired in 2021.
• Without this reauthorization, the Vocational Rehabilitation Program is more susceptible to reductions
• Programs without reauthorization are more vulnerable to flat funding that does not keep pace with inflation
• Without this reauthorization, the Vocational Rehabilitation Program is more susceptible to reductions

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on developmental services, rehabilitation, and related supports, with no votes taken. The first major topic was the Master Plan for Developmental Services. Administration officials described a year-long, community-driven process that included a steering committee, work groups, and statewide engagement sessions, and said the final draft would be released that Friday with about 170 recommendations. The Department of Developmental Services said the plan would inform future work, but did not offer a detailed implementation roadmap. The LAO said the plan contains significant policy and budget implications, may require statutory changes, and needs further analysis to turn recommendations into actionable proposals. Advocates and regional center representatives urged the Legislature and administration to avoid letting the plan sit on a shelf, called for prioritization and ongoing stakeholder oversight, and emphasized the need to address equity, workforce, service coordination, and cross-system collaboration. The chair said he wanted to work with the LAO on trailer bill language and future reporting to create a clearer path forward. The second topic was the Office of Employment First and competitive integrated employment. Administration witnesses said California has ended subminimum wage under SB 639, but that moving people into competitive integrated employment remains a major priority. They described existing efforts such as DDS’s coordinated career pathways pilot, paid internships, job development services, benefits counseling, and DOR’s career counseling and referral services, along with pilot projects in San Diego and Orange County. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and advocates argued that employment outcomes have remained stuck at roughly 15% and that a dedicated Employment First Office is needed to coordinate across agencies, align goals, and improve outcomes. The LAO recommended regular legislative oversight on people transitioning out of subminimum wage and asked for technical assistance on coordinated career pathways. The chair criticized the administration’s decision to effectively eliminate funding for the office, requested a detailed implementation timeline and quarterly transition reports, and said the committee would continue pressing for the office to be implemented. The final issue was respite services, utilization trends, and access. DDS reported that in-home respite use and spending have risen sharply over several years, with about 150,000 people using respite in 2023-24 and expenditures reaching about $1 billion. Officials said access depends on families knowing the service exists, service coordinators identifying need, and having enough providers, especially in rural and linguistically diverse communities. The San Diego Regional Center said utilization generally mirrors statewide trends, but access is stronger in some areas, such as Imperial County, where families often prefer family-directed or agency-supported models that allow them to hire trusted workers. Committee members emphasized the importance of respite for family health and caregiver well-being, asked whether service coordinators are asking practical questions about sleep and stress, and discussed the need for better identification of complex behavioral and medical needs. DDS said a standardized family support tool and updated IPP process are intended to improve consistency, transparency, and person-centered assessment for respite and related services.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4276, reauthorizing the town of Swansea to issue additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic
• An act reauthorizing the town of Swansea to issue additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up a slate of bills reported by the Committee on Steering, Policy, and Scheduling. The bills included measures on alcoholic beverage licenses in Holyoke and Swansea, partial payment, telemarketer disclosures, a charter for the city of Cambridge, and successor supplier laws affecting alcoholic beverage wholesalers. The House suspended Rule 7A, completed second readings, and ordered all of these bills to a third reading. The chamber also welcomed student guests from several towns participating in a Burlington High School lab collaborative. During the session, House Bill 2275, authorizing the city of Revere to pay a sum to Denise Matera, widow of Anthony Matera, was released from the Committee on Bills in Third Reading, read a third time, and passed to be engrossed. After a brief recess, the House adopted the order before it and then adjourned on motion, scheduling the next full formal session for Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we had an extra $728,959 that we could reauthorize, which is what we did.
• had an extra $728,959 that<00:48:44.720> we<00:48:44.960> could<00:48:45.359> reauthorize
• , that we could reauthorize, that we could reauthorize, which<00:48:47.359> is<00:48:47.520
• So, total funding awarded overall, not counting the reauthorization, is 49,999,424.8, and again we have
• <00:50:08.480> is not counting the reauthorization is not counting the reauthorization is

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met with a quorum, approved the June 3, 2026 minutes, and then heard a presentation from Mike Proctor of Evolve Kentucky on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Proctor described Evolve Kentucky as a nonprofit formed in 2016 to promote EV adoption and charger deployment, said the group has helped place more than 135 chargers at 65 locations, and reported that Kentucky EV registrations have grown rapidly but still represent about 1% of the state’s roughly 3 million vehicles. He also outlined the group’s view that EV drivers and charger operators already contribute to state revenue through annual vehicle fees, charger taxes, utility taxes, and related business taxes, and cited figures showing rising revenue collections as EV adoption increases. A major theme of the presentation was that EV owners are paying their “fair share” rather than being overcharged. Proctor said the current $126 annual EV fee is roughly comparable to the fuel tax a typical gasoline vehicle would pay, and noted that public charging can add additional tax burdens for drivers who cannot charge at home, such as those living in apartments or condos. He also argued that EVs provide broader benefits, including lower noise and air pollution, grid-stabilizing nighttime charging, tourism spending at destination chargers, and reduced road wear for passenger EVs compared with much heavier vehicles. Members questioned Proctor about whether EV owners are paying more than their fair share, how the fee compares with gasoline taxes, and whether apartment and condo residents are disproportionately affected because they rely on public chargers. Proctor responded that the fee was intended to bring EV owners into parity with gas vehicles, not to overcharge them, and said some public chargers are free while others are used by drivers who cannot charge at home. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond the minutes approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, of reauthorizing funds that are assigned to one legislative district?
• Has money been reauthorized in the past for Charles County? Yes.
• Was it reauthorized in the past to help build a Boys & Girls Club? Yes.
• deauthorized, but it was reauthorized deauthorized, but it was reauthorized in<00:53:58.960>
• President, to be reauthorized. All right.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with 42 members present and a quorum, opened with an invocation by Pastor Jaylen Robinson, and recognized several guests and honorees. Early floor remarks included a welcome to students from Forest Oak Middle School, a young Senate shadow from Woodlawn High School, and guests from Charles H. Flowers High School. The chamber also noted a doctor of the day and announced that panoramic photos in the Senate lounge were available for order by March 27, with eye exams available in the State House. The main legislative business was Senate Bill 283, the President’s Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2026. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee presented 291 amendments, described as funding priorities for jobs, infrastructure, and reliability while staying within debt affordability limits. The amendments covered school construction, natural resources, higher education, housing, Maryland Environmental Service, miscellaneous grants, local Senate bond initiatives, jails and detention centers, and pre-authorizations for fiscal 2028. Four amendments were separated for individual roll calls: 30, 35, 46, and 241, all of which were adopted. The remaining committee amendments were adopted without objection, and the favorable committee report as amended was then taken up. During debate on the capital budget amendments, one senator raised concerns about the bill and the difficulty of tracking the amendments on the electronic system, prompting discussion about technical issues and the availability of the documents on the website and in paper form. The chair said the committee had been working on the bill for months and urged the body to proceed. A question was raised about Amendment 264, which deauthorized a Willing Helper Society renovation project in Charles County; the chair explained the money had not been spent, was about to expire, and was repurposed to a Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maryland project to keep the funding in Charles County.

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:51:52.560> these it's important that we reauthorize these it's important that we reauthorize
• But Congress has not reauthorized NTIA since 1992.
• The NTIA Reauthorization Act ensures the NTIA has the tools it needs for today's needs.
• A lot has changed since the NTIA was last reauthorized in 1992.
• This bipartisan bill reauthorizes the NTIA and elevates its leadership by making its administrator an

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 28, 2025, 1012, house, all