Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Corman, as a research scientist back in the old days, if I was interested in, say, fuel
• the old days, if I was interested<00:48:52.000><c> in</c><00:48:52.319><c> say</c><00:48:52.800><c> fuel
• ><00:48:53.119><c> cells</c><00:48:53.440><c> that</c><00:48:53.920><c> burn</c> interested in say fuel
• cells that burn interested in say fuel cells that burn methane,<00:48:55.359><c> I</c><00:48:55.520>
• </c> life andor undermine service delivery life andor undermine service delivery for<01:35:50.880><c>

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• You get your 28-cent delivery fee.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is because of nonsensical regulations, including the new fuel standard that was just recently
• imposed by the Air Resources Board, as well as a slew of other regulations related to the fuel mix and
• 03:41:24.880><c> standard</c><03:41:25.279><c> that</c><03:41:25.520><c> was</c> including the new fuel
• standard that was including the new fuel standard that was just<03:41:25.920><c> recently</c><03:41:
• </c> other regulations related to the fuel other regulations related to the fuel mix<03:41:33.279><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• We're authorizing the service, and the provider is responsible for the delivery of the service.
• And we should not be mandating the delivery of telehealth. I'll take that.
• </c> continuous care, the delivery of care. continuous care, the delivery of care.
• mandating</c> And we should not be mandating And we should not be mandating the<00:33:03.320><c> delivery
• </c> the delivery of telehealth. the delivery of telehealth.

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, approving the minutes and consent calendar, then moved to the regular calendar of administrative rules. Department of Energy rule 25-220 was postponed until June at the sponsor’s request so stakeholders would have more time to review revised language. Several Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid-related rules were then considered, including 25-240, 25-265, and 26-33, each of which drew staff comments mainly about expired rule provisions and the agencies’ reliance on federal law, the Medicaid state plan, or other manuals. The committee approved those rules after brief questions, with the agencies stating they were already operating under the relevant federal or state-plan authority and, in one case, that rulemaking was underway to update an expired citation. The most extended discussion was on HHS Bureau of Aging rule 25-304, which had an amended conditional approval request. Staff explained the amendments clarified how case management agencies accept or deny cases, how telehealth participation is evaluated, and that the department sets the timing for accepting or denying cases under its existing authority. Staff also noted a separate issue about whether reimbursement rates must be in rule, but said the agency had long interpreted the statute to allow its approach and that any change would likely require legislation rather than committee objection. A provider representative testified against parts of the rule, arguing the case management agencies should not be required to accept referrals before contacting the participant, that telehealth decisions for other providers should remain with those providers, and that the quality-management section was duplicative and burdensome. Committee members questioned whether the telehealth language merely allowed case managers to say a service fit the client’s plan or instead gave them authority over another provider’s delivery method. The agency responded that case managers may determine what services an individual needs, but should not control how another licensed provider delivers those services. The discussion continued with no final action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're seeing costs for traditional fuel sources be unstable, unpredictable, and the ... uh uh large<00
• 33:11.400><c> costs</c><00:33:12.120><c> for</c><00:33:12.800><c> traditional</c><00:33:13.360><c> fuel
• </c> seeing costs for traditional fuel seeing costs for traditional fuel sources sources sources be<00
• very interested in, and it's listed in the governor's budget book under Ag, the Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• New England markets, and the RPS is actually one of the last things that we have that's encouraging fuel
• things that we have<00:50:05.440><c> that's</c><00:50:05.680><c> encouraging</c><00:50:06.079><c> fuel
• </c><00:50:06.400><c> diversity</c> have that's encouraging fuel diversity have that's encouraging fuel
• have more what are called price takers, which renewable generators tend to be, because they have no fuel

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 219, which would revise the renewable portfolio standard. Representative Bose explained that the bill would modify class one definitions, eliminate class two, reduce the utility obligation for class one thermal renewable energy certificates from 2.2% to 1.7%, and adjust alternative compliance payments for classes one, three, and four. He said the changes were intended to save ratepayers an estimated $5.7 million annually, would not materially harm the renewable portfolio standard, and would have little effect on class two because that market is already saturated. Members questioned the impact on consumers, the state budget, and the renewable energy fund; Bose said the fund had already been redirected in the state budget, and another member noted an amended fiscal note showing a $1.2 million reduction in general fund revenue. The committee also discussed the bill’s history, including that it had been added to HB 2 and later removed by the Senate, and Bose said the Senate’s eventual action was hard to predict. The committee then heard House Bill 164 on local records retention from Secretary of State David Scanlan. He said the long-standing local records manager position had never been funded, but that the need for it had grown as towns increasingly digitize records and must ensure accessibility, including ADA compliance. He described the bill as a way to provide state support and expertise to municipalities, especially smaller towns with limited resources, and said the fiscal note for hiring the position remained accurate, though broader website and storage costs could rise over time. Members asked about retrieving lost records, the cost of a public website, and whether records should remain local or be stored at the state level; Scanlan said the state would serve as a resource rather than take control of local records. Finally, the committee began work on House Bill 365, also with Secretary Scanlan, concerning proof of U.S. citizenship for indigent voters. He said the bill would help voters who may lack required documents under the new voter registration law by allowing the state to verify qualifications through federal, private, or other state databases and by providing vouchers to cover the cost of obtaining documents such as birth certificates. He compared the proposal to earlier voter ID accommodations and said the goal was to help qualified voters meet the new requirements without weakening them. Members raised questions about defining “indigent,” how out-of-state birth records would be handled, and the practicality of the verification process; Scanlan said the term would likely need further discussion and that the state would try to assist voters before election day whenever possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• For our case, we help produce the food, fuel, and fiber.
• Our case, we help produce the food, fuel, and fiber that feeds, powers, and clothes the state of Texas
• At Visit Lubbock, we rely heavily on tourism to fuel the local economy.
• I graduated with honors from the Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet High School, fueled by a deep desire
• Act beneficiaries graduate from our high schools, pay taxes, and fill critical workforce gaps, and fuel

Bills: SB1798 , SB1835 , SB1319 , SB2942 , SB2928 , SB784 , SB1049

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Summary: The committee heard several education bills, with most of the discussion focused on Senate Bill 1835, Senate Bill 784, Senate Bill 1049, Senate Bill 2942, and Senate Bill 2928. SB 1835 would raise from 5% to 20% the cap on nonresident students who can receive resident tuition and fees through competitive scholarships at certain regional universities in slower-growing workforce development areas, provided the schools have capacity as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Supporters, including West Texas A&M University, said the bill would help fill underused capacity, attract students who may stay and work in Texas, and support regional workforce needs. SB 784 would strengthen a prior law allowing peace officers’ children to transfer between public school districts for safety reasons by requiring both districts’ approval, making clear that districts of innovation are not exempt, and prohibiting tuition charges. SB 1049 would require districts and open-enrollment charters to excuse students, at a parent’s request, for religious release-time instruction for up to one hour per day and five hours per week; witnesses said the program is constitutional, voluntary, and already operating in other states and some Texas districts. Each of these bills was left pending after testimony, with no public witnesses opposing them. SB 2942 would expand and adjust the state’s adult charter high school pilot program. Senator Creighton said the bill is intended to help the estimated 7 million Texas adults without a high school diploma by removing barriers to expansion, aligning legal protections with ISDs, changing TEA’s disapproval window for expansion amendments to a 30-day period after receipt, and updating funding to reflect part-year attendance. A committee substitute kept the upper enrollment age at 50 and removed a proposed testing change. Testimony from New Heights students and leadership described the program as life-changing, emphasizing that it combines diplomas with career credentials, childcare, transportation, and other supports to help adults stabilize their families and enter better-paying work. TEA witnesses explained the expansion process and said adult charter schools are overseen by the commissioner rather than the SBOE. The committee substitute was adopted, public testimony closed, and the bill was left pending. SB 2928 would set a uniform school start date for public school districts at the third Wednesday in August, while preserving existing district-of-innovation flexibility for current DOI districts and allowing year-round systems to continue. Senator Creighton argued the bill would reduce the patchwork created by DOI exemptions, support students and families, and preserve summer employment and tourism revenue. A committee substitute was adopted. Testimony came largely from tourism, hospitality, and recreation interests, including hotel, water park, zoo, chamber of commerce, and camp representatives, who said later start dates would extend the summer travel season, improve staffing and revenue, and give students more opportunities for summer jobs and camps. Several witnesses cited large economic impacts from tourism and said early school starts reduce August business. Some senators raised concerns about charter schools being excluded and about year-round calendars, but the bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• You handed something out, all right, so let's start with this fuel assistance because it's going — you're
• losing a significant amount of money there on fuel, yes?
• So if you're looking at the FY 2024 actuals in... uh yeah yeah let's start with this fuel uh yeah yeah
• 32:14.720><c> money</c> there<00:32:19.720><c> losing</c><00:32:20.000><c> on</c><00:32:20.159><c> fuel
• /c><00:32:21.240><c> I'll</c><00:32:21.360><c> have</c><00:32:21.480><c> Lenny</c> there losing on fuel

Summary: The committee first heard the Banking Department’s fiscal year 2026-2027 budget presentation from Commissioner Amelia Galeri. She described the department as a self-funded consumer protection regulator overseeing two main areas: the Banking Trust Division, which supervises state-chartered banks, credit unions, and trust companies, and the Consumer Credit Division, which oversees more than 7,000 licensees including mortgage and money transmitter businesses. She said the department’s budget is about 86% salaries and benefits, with 53 positions all filled, and explained that the agency funds itself through fees, fines, and end-of-year assessments on regulated entities. Galeri said the department is facing workload growth from several directions: continued growth in the trust industry, increased fintech supervision, and a new requirement to regularly examine auto dealers that take finance applications, which adds about 300 exams over two fiscal years. She said the department was directed to flat-fund its budget based on 2025 levels but was allowed to increase travel and training. To stay within that limit, she said the department reduced office space, went paperless, converted administrative and licensing positions into examiner positions, and expects to defund an embedded DOJ database administrator position once a new SharePoint system is fully implemented. Members asked about how the department’s revenue and assessments work, including whether fees were increasing and how much existing banks would pay. Galeri said fees are not being raised, most banks pay little or no fines, and assessments are based largely on asset size, with trust companies paying the bulk. She also explained that fines are set by statute, generally capped at $2,500 per violation for consumer credit entities, and said she would not recommend increasing that cap. The committee then voted to accept the Banking Department’s budget proposal as presented in HQ1, with a motion and second and no discussion. The transcript then moved to the Department of Energy budget. Commissioner Jared Chakin and Chief of Operations Lenny Radio discussed federal program funding, including LIHEAP fuel assistance and weatherization. They said the apparent drop in fuel assistance funding from FY 2024 actuals to the budgeted amount is due to the loss of ARPA and CARES Act supplemental funds, while weatherization remains a federally constrained program with a waiting list and limited flexibility. Members also asked about a proposed transfer from the renewable energy fund; staff said the transfer would still allow the department to carry out its statutory duties for the year, though the committee deferred deeper discussion until House Bill 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• And with the cost of fuel and the dangers and risks of traveling, it will prevent, in Oklahoma County

Summary: The House Finance Committee met for its only meeting in the second half of the 60th legislative session, with the chair briefly turning the gavel over to the vice chair and later thanking members as his final committee meeting. The committee considered several Senate bills, including SB 1832, which adds a checkbox on driver’s licenses and hunting permits for donations to the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs; SB 44, extending a sales tax exemption from the person hiring the contractor to the contractor purchasing materials; and SB 134, reducing the required waiting period for certain Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System retirees to be rehired from 12 months to 6 months. Members also heard SB 1378 and SB 1400, both described as recommendation bills tied to tax policy, including updates to the Quality Jobs Act and consolidation of aircraft maintenance/manufacturing sales tax exemptions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stay to be on the hook for the fuel and maintenance of the ferry? That would all be on them, yes.

Bills: HB129 , HB130 , HB854

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on March 17 and first took up House Bill 129, which would designate a portion of Louisiana Highway 173 as the Dr. Harry Blake Senior Memorial Highway. An amendment package was adopted that also added a separate designation for a portion of Louisiana Highway 3194 in Shreveport as the Virginia Green Evans Memorial Highway. Representative Walters described both honorees as important figures in civil rights and community service. HB 129 was then reported with amendments. The committee next considered House Bill 130, which redesignates the elevated portion of Interstate 220 in Caddo Parish as the American Legion Post No. 14 Memorial Bridge. Amendments were adopted to add “Memorial Bridge” to the name. Representative Walters spoke in support of honoring veterans, and HB 130 was reported with amendments. The committee then heard House Bill 854, a specialty license plate bill. Amendments added several schools, made technical changes, required OMV implementation when statutory and system requirements are met, removed a provision allowing OMV to retain $1 per annual fee, and redirected annual fees to the Louisiana chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association and the R. Tamney-Fleming Lupus Foundation. Members raised concerns about the growing number of specialty plates and OMV’s ability to produce them, but HB 854 was also reported with amendments. After the bills, the committee received an update on the proposed privatization of the Cameron Ferry Service. The Secretary said the process began with an unsolicited proposal from Laborde and a competitive solicitation that produced a qualified bid, and that negotiations would focus on service improvements rather than guaranteed cost savings. Members asked about costs, maintenance, fuel, staffing, and the impact on travel times if the ferry is out of service. The Secretary said the goal is to complete the process by the end of the fiscal year, around July 1. The committee then adopted the minutes from the listed 2025 regular session dates and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• much, and thank you to MassHealth for just being exceptional partners and innovating on health care delivery
• When we look at the reforms and... ...just being exceptional partners in innovating on health care delivery
• Even as we ensure that our health care facility and delivery systems remain resilient and ready against
• are on the front lines of many of the issues you’ve already heard about today, including vaccine delivery
• the health care system that we all collectively worked toward building, one that prioritizes the delivery

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held an introductory informational hearing for the new session, with Chairs Marjorie Decker and Senator Michael Driscoll outlining the committee’s scope and emphasizing the impact of the federal landscape on Massachusetts public health. They noted the hearing would focus on testimony from agencies and advocates, with short testimony limits due to the hybrid format. No votes were taken; the meeting was for briefing and discussion of priorities. Commissioner Robbie Goldstein of the Department of Public Health described the department’s budget and federal funding, warning that recent CDC grant terminations could cut nearly $100 million and affect lab testing, surveillance, vaccines, and community engagement. He highlighted DPH priorities including racial equity, maternal health, substance use and child welfare coordination, emergency preparedness, data transparency, and public hospital quality. MassHealth Assistant Secretary Michael Levine discussed MassHealth’s role covering about 2 million residents and its priorities in health equity, behavioral health, primary care, member independence, and customer service, while noting the agency relies heavily on federal Medicaid dollars and would face major strain from federal cuts. Several advocacy and provider groups focused on reproductive health and maternal health. Planned Parenthood warned of threats to Title X, 340B savings, and other federal funding, and supported a bill to eliminate parental consent and judicial bypass for abortion care for young people. Reproductive Equity Now urged stronger shield-law protections and changes to Massachusetts’ later-abortion framework. Dr. Indyamaka Anugaka called for full implementation of the maternal health law, better reimbursement for doulas and midwives, stronger data collection, and support for full-spectrum pregnancy care coverage. The Health Policy Commission said new maternal health and primary care task forces would begin work soon. Mental health and health system access were also major themes. The Mass Medical Society urged action on vaccine hesitancy, removal of non-medical school vaccine exemptions, and primary care reform. The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health and the Children’s Mental Health Campaign opposed proposed cuts to DMH and substance use services, called for more school-based supports, and raised concerns about inpatient capacity, including a unit serving LGBTQ youth. The Massachusetts Nurses Association and 1199 SEIU warned that staffing shortages, low wages, workplace violence, hospital closures, and possible Medicaid cuts threaten patient care and the health care workforce. The Betsy Lehman Center also urged investment in automated patient-safety monitoring to reduce harm and costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Realistically, there's 27 acute care hospitals that do deliveries at this point, and they're... ...at
• One to Miss Williams, point is in my community there was a lot of angst on hospital delivery and care
• And so, they’re going to be on call for labor and delivery as well.
• There are some inefficiencies in the delivery of health care. I believe that’s obvious.
• Another great, interesting but also tough topic on how that economic structure of health care delivery

Committee: Joint Health Insurance Affordability Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• Delivery to the Governor.
• </c> Delivery<01:41:44.920><c> to</c><01:41:45.280><c> the</c><01:41:45.440><c> Governor.
• </c><01:41:46.560><c> To</c><01:41:46.680><c> the</c> Delivery to the Governor.
• To the Delivery to the Governor.
• c> for</c><01:41:47.160><c> signature</c><01:41:47.560><c> on</c><01:41:47.680><c> Thursday,</c> Delivery

Transcript Highlights:

• improvements, $26.9 million to strengthen care through multimodal models, $25.2 million for outcome-based delivery
• premature deaths, address rising health care costs, and modernize the system that supports care delivery
• Anecdotally, I would, just for the record, like to point out that in that up to 85%, the delivery fee
• Anecdotally, I would, just for the record, like to point out that in that up to 85% the delivery fee
• data across all these items, our information is fragmented, and that directly impacts our service delivery

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• We offer pregnancy tests and ultrasounds and post-delivery care, parenting classes, parenting resources
• , we are the only pregnancy center in Arizona that does have the prenatal care all the way up to delivery
• We do transfer for delivery for some OB-GYNs, two OB-GYNs that we work with that deliver, and then we're
• , ...for delivery for some OB-GYNs, two OB-GYNs that we work with that deliver, and then we see mom post-delivery

Bills: HB2211 , HB2229 , HB2389 , HB2403 , HB2445 , HB2502 , HB2620 , HB2813 , HB2872 , HB2889 , HB2960 , HB4028 , HCR2007

Committees: House Appropriations , House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Keywords: contractors, subcontractors, resident preference, public contracts, materials supply, Arizona Revised Statutes, local businesses, pregnancy resource center, pregnancy center, crisis pregnancy center, DHS, Arizona Department of Health Services, state appropriation, general fund, nonprofit grant, women's health, maternal health, reproductive health, abortion funding, pro-life

Transcript Highlights:

• CAD providers have developed efficient and innovative care delivery models. um testifiers.
• and providers have developed efficient and innovative<00:07:37.360><c> care</c><00:07:37.680><c> delivery
• </c><00:07:38.560><c> For</c> innovative care delivery models. For innovative care delivery models.
• The loss of support for unique mobile hub-and-spoke delivery models that are really dental lifelines

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• issues that they don't really have a lot of information about, and there's a lot of issues around the delivery
• The experts promote the concept that safe delivery of care is dependent on two things: patient engagement
• forms that are prescribed, then they get a legal presumption that they were not negligent in the delivery
• While I agree that the code is essential, Outdated, such as the delivery of the notice to vacate, this
• This method of delivery emphasizes the necessity for transparency in the eviction process. notice into

Bills: HB32 , HB15 , HB171 , HB421 , HB581 , HB644 , HB745 , HB349 , HB917 , HB204 , HB923 , HB15 , HB171 , HB204

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: eviction, landlord rights, tenant rights, justice court, property law, court procedures, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, deep fake, digital impersonation, age verification, private cause of action, explicit content, consumer protection, HB 581

Transcript Highlights:

• quality and safety standards, comply with the Code of Ethics, and are part of the improved service delivery
• Thank you for the 6% Medicaid rate increase last session on pediatric labor and delivery codes.
• We also appreciate the $1,500 Medicaid add-on payment for rural labor and delivery, which was maintained
• And thank you for the 6% Medicaid rate increase last session on pediatric labor and delivery codes.
• We also appreciate the $1,500 Medicaid add-on payment for rural labor and delivery, which was maintained

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Jackie, on behalf of the California Fuels and Convenience Alliance, representing the majority of small
• pay a disproportionate share of these costs, and it is also discouraging switching away from fossil fuels

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public health, wildfire recovery, local government finance, transportation, and rural health care. SB 1124 by Senator Archuleta would require the California Department of Public Health to create and post lung cancer screening eligibility signage at tobacco retail locations. The author and a physician witness argued the bill would raise awareness of a highly underused screening that can save lives, while retailers and fuel/convenience groups raised implementation concerns about signage size, notice, and penalties. The bill passed to the Health Committee on a 4-0 vote after the committee later took up the on-call item. SB 1352 by Senator Valadao and Senator Allen would clarify that wildfire victims can rebuild homes up to 110% of the original size without triggering reassessment, so long as the property was destroyed in a governor-declared disaster. Supporters, including the L.A. County Assessor, the California Assessors Association, Realtors, and taxpayers groups, said the bill would reduce uncertainty and help families rebuild without higher property taxes. It passed to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. SB 1343, presented by Senator Allen on behalf of Senator Dodd, would provide a $4,000 income tax credit for sales tax paid on furniture and appliances purchased to furnish a primary residence after a disaster; it drew one opposition witness from the California Teachers Association but otherwise had no public opposition and passed 5-0 to Appropriations. SB 1172 by Senator Hurtado would place caps and transparency requirements on consultant compensation in local tax-sharing agreements, responding to cases in Shafter and Dinuba where revenue was allegedly diverted to consultants. Local government and business groups supported the measure as a guardrail, while some members expressed concern about Sacramento limiting local control; it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 1408 by Senator Arreguín would authorize the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to place a countywide sales tax measure of up to 1% on the ballot to continue transportation funding; transit agencies and local officials supported it, while taxpayer groups opposed it, and it passed 4-1. SB 1404 by Senator Stern would restore a fee on property owners in state responsibility areas to fund Cal Fire wildfire prevention and suppression, with supporters arguing the fee would broaden funding and opponents calling it an unfair tax on rural and wildfire-prone residents; it passed 4-1 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1102 by Senator Dodd would create a $2,000 tax credit for frontline nurses working in rural hospitals; supporters said it would help recruit and retain nurses in underserved areas, and the bill passed 5-0 as amended to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• very clear: you would open this up to manufacturing equipment that would also be used in oil and gas fueling
• You would open this up to manufacturing equipment that would also be used in oil and gas fueling.

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue