Transcript Highlights:

• I definitely thank you for your time and attention and welcome you to visit our campus here locally in
• I definitely thank you for your time and attention and welcome you to visit our campus here locally in
• I definitely thank you for your time and attention and welcome you to visit our campus here locally in
• Many of you had the opportunity to visit our...
• Many of you had the opportunity to visit our lab school, and I thank you for seeing firsthand the multifaceted

Committee: Senate Education Postsecondary

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Postsecondary met to receive an update from Florida developmental research lab schools on articulated health care programs created under the Live Healthy initiative and Senate Bill 76. Chair Calatayud opened the meeting, confirmed a quorum, and heard presentations from P.K. Young/University of Florida, Florida State University Schools, FAMU Developmental Research School, and Florida Atlantic University Laboratory School. Each school described efforts to build K-12-to-postsecondary health care pathways, expand dual enrollment and industry certifications, and share replicable curriculum models with other districts. FSU Schools highlighted its HERO program, including CNA and food manager certifications, dual enrollment growth, reserve seating at colleges, and a paid internship with the Department of Health tied to emergency shelter operations. P.K. Young described its Healthy Lives Blueprint, which combines K-8 wellness experiences, a new high school health and human performance pathway, AP and science course expansion, a planned gymnasium redesign, and partnerships with Santa Fe College and UF. FAMU DRS reported growing dual enrollment, partnerships with FAMU, Tallahassee State, and Lively, and a goal of serving at least 100 students and 40 staff through health career exposure, certifications, and AA/AS pathways. FAU Lab School described a more advanced model that integrates elementary through high school research and health science experiences, including biotechnology, bioengineering, and partnerships with health and research institutions. The school reported 87 peer-reviewed student publications, more than $350,000 in student grants, six patents, and pipelines into FAU’s medical and nursing programs, including a Med Direct pathway and a National Merit Scholar pipeline. Committee members asked about student readiness for nursing programs, dual enrollment, articulation with state colleges, and how the lab school models could be disseminated statewide. The meeting concluded with praise for the programs and a motion by Senator Fine to adjourn, which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I guess I just remember when I visited, and it's now two and a half years ago, when I visited On Point
• I just remember when I visited, and it's now two and a half years ago, when I visited On Point in New
• They'll come and visit us after they've used.
• So they'll test before, go and use, and then they come and visit.
• They'll come and visit us after they've used.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on xylazine held its first meeting, with House Chair Mindy Domb and Senate Co-Chair John Keenan outlining the commission’s charge and a proposed work plan. The commission is tasked with studying the public health and safety impacts of xylazine in the illicit drug supply, including whether it should be scheduled as a controlled substance, how to regulate its production and distribution, and how to improve outreach and treatment for people exposed to it. Members were told the report deadline had been extended to March 30, 2026, and staff proposed a series of public hearings and working groups leading to a final report. The meeting also included attendance, packet materials, and procedural planning. The first major testimony came from BSAS Director Deirdre Calvert, who described xylazine’s appearance in Massachusetts drug supply data, the state’s public health alerts, and DPH’s partnership with Brandeis, CDC, and harm reduction organizations. She emphasized four priorities: reducing stigma and discrimination in health care, expanding self-directed wound care support and coverage for supplies, expanding access to drug checking and test strips, and supporting low-barrier services such as mobile vans and drop-in centers. Commission members asked about first responder awareness, medical education, and whether harm reduction services might face federal restrictions; Calvert said misinformation remains a problem and noted ongoing training efforts, including collaboration with public safety agencies. Several other speakers reinforced the need for low-barrier care and drug checking. Dr. Raghini Jala, an infectious disease and addiction medicine physician, said xylazine has become a common component of the unregulated opioid supply and urged support for rapid-response education teams, community-based drug checking, and better hospital and detox protocols for xylazine withdrawal and wounds. Recovery coach Alan Young testified from lived experience, describing severe wounds, fear of inadequate withdrawal treatment in emergency settings, and the value of mobile care vans that can provide methadone, buprenorphine, and wound care in the community. Dr. Sarah Wakeman echoed the need for naloxone, rescue breathing, low-threshold treatment, and non-stigmatizing health care settings, while Sarah Macon of the Boston Public Health Commission described Boston’s harm reduction and drug checking work, including on-site testing, wound care, and a decline in opioid mortality. Tracy Green of the Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream explained that xylazine has declined in recent samples while metatomidine is rising, said drug checking is increasingly used but still not enough, and argued for more funding, staffing, and statewide access to real-time drug checking and harm reduction services.

Transcript Highlights:

• I visited with several people as they came in, and this is the first time some people have been here.
• My first thing was, who are you getting it from now, and have you visited with them?
• I mean, honestly, I can—I will visit with you after this and we can get that information from Kayla.
• When I visited with our admissions folks, they just said, I think you need to point that out, that there
• In my brain, or written out, I have an idea, yes, but it’s visiting with them, and I visited with the

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Summary: The committee met at Dakota College at Bottineau, approved the January 15, 2026 minutes, and heard a campus presentation from Dean Corey Gorder and President Steve Shirley. Gorder outlined DCB’s leadership changes, its affiliation with Minot State, and extensive shared services with Minot State, UND, and NDSU in areas such as business office functions, financial aid, payroll, HR, Title IX, printing, and institutional research. He said shared services help smaller campuses access expertise, and committee members asked about cost allocation and accreditation limits; Gorder said the arrangements are negotiated between institutions and that, to his understanding, academic accreditation is not affected by these service-sharing agreements. The committee also discussed DCB’s enrollment, dual credit reach, and program mix, including nursing, dental assisting and hygiene, paramedic training, drone certification, and farm management. Gorder said DCB wants to expand higher-demand, trade-oriented programs, strengthen Minot programming, and address facility needs, especially residence halls and space constraints in dental programs. Members asked detailed questions about dual credit, including how DCB develops relationships with high schools, whether it has exclusivity, who teaches the courses, and whether credits transfer. Gorder said relationships are built through outreach and existing school connections, that schools may choose other providers, and that DCB pays stipends to instructors under institution-specific formulas. NDUS staff Lisa Johnson said transfer problems are rare within North Dakota and usually arise only with highly selective out-of-state institutions. Gorder also noted that DCB’s dual credit and campus programming are heavily tied to rural schools and that the college is trying to streamline dual credit delivery as enrollment and staffing demands grow. The committee then heard from the North Dakota Student Association, whose representatives outlined student priorities from the last legislative session and the interim. Their main themes included campus safety, mental health resources, academic freedom, scholarships and affordability, teacher incentives, workforce readiness, housing, food accessibility, student research funding, internships, and campus collaboration. They said they supported or opposed various bills related to those issues during the 69th Legislative Assembly and emphasized that students want affordable, safe, and academically strong campuses. Committee members asked about housing affordability, food insecurity, research opportunities, and dual credit transfer and expansion. No votes were taken on policy matters during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sir, [laughter] >> I'm happy to come visit. >> Yeah, invite me anytime. >> Is that a motion, Senator?
• Sir, [laughter] >> I'm happy to come visit. >> Yeah, invite me anytime. >> Is that a motion, Senator?
• </c> &gt;&gt; I'm happy to come visit. &gt;&gt; I'm happy to come visit.
• Uh, I know a lot of the advocate friends are visiting you all and pleading their cases.
• </c><00:40:36.800><c> you</c> the advocate friends are visiting you the advocate friends are visiting

Bills: SB342 , HB379 , HB326 , HB233 , HB388 , SB342 , HB379 , HB326 , HB233 , HB388

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: land bank, land bank authority, local land bank authority, Alabama Land Bank Authority, tax delinquent property, tax sale, tax lien, redemption period, quiet title, blight remediation, vacant property, foreclosure, ad valorem tax, property tax exemption, intergovernmental agreement, county government, municipal government, redevelopment, brownfields, floodplain management

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:20:36.080><c> I</c><00:20:36.320><c> visited</c><00:20:36.559><c> with</c><00:20:36.799><c> the<
• I visited with the warden on a twice.
• I visited with the warden on a regular<00:20:38.240><c> basis</c><00:20:38.640><c> and</c><00:20:38.880
• And I also have visited Stillwater, and I have also spent time with the individuals who live there, our
• And I also have visited Stillwater, and I have also spent time with the individuals who live there, our

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And we want to make sure that that is not the intent, hence why we went out to go visit it.
• And so this is what I heard from my visit out there: that this is a good thing.
• Have you visited the Stony Brook facility?
• After multiple discharge and failed ER visits, I was desperate.
• And every time we went to visit him, he said, 'This place is killing my soul.'

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held its fourth public hearing of the 2025-2026 session on bills dealing with involuntary commitment and access to addiction treatment, especially proposals to move Section 35 civil commitments away from jails and prisons and into facilities licensed or approved by DPH or DMH. Chairs Velis and Domb framed the hearing as a discussion of how to support people in crisis with compassion, while also warning against using involuntary commitment as a way to remove unhoused people from public view. The hearing also touched on related concerns about discharge practices, treatment capacity, and the need for a broader continuum of care. Testimony split largely along two themes. Addiction researcher Keith Humphreys argued that many people enter treatment under pressure, that involuntary treatment can be ethically justified in the face of overdose risk, but that it should not be mandated unless high-quality services exist first; he emphasized the need for inpatient care when someone is a grave danger, followed by case management and outpatient support. MAMH’s Kate Alicante supported the bill, saying Massachusetts is the only state that commits people with substance use conditions to jails or prisons and that carceral settings add trauma and stigma; she pointed to prior legislative steps, including the Section 35 commission and the planned closure of DOC’s MESAC facility, as evidence that the Commonwealth is moving toward health-based settings. A major portion of the hearing focused on Stony Brook, a sheriff-run stabilization and treatment center in Hampden County. Boston City Councilor John Fitzgerald, several committee members, and multiple people in recovery described the facility as humane, well-run, and effective, with longer stays, medical monitoring, medication-assisted treatment, counseling, and warm handoffs to aftercare. Several witnesses said Stony Brook saved their lives or helped family members recover, and they argued that the sheriff’s office model should be expanded rather than eliminated. Others, including family members and advocates, countered that even a well-run correctional setting remains stigmatizing and that people should not be treated in facilities run by sheriffs or corrections when they have committed no crime. No vote was taken. The hearing concluded with continued testimony, including Senator Friedman’s support for Section 35 as a civil commitment tool but not in a criminal justice setting, and her separate support for a bill to speed inpatient mental health treatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> I think we're getting a doctor's visit at a clinic or his office mixed up with a hospital visit, an
• emergency situation, or a hospital visit.
• at a clinic or his office mixed up visit at a clinic or his office mixed up with<01:03:30.400><c> a<
• an</c><01:03:31.839><c> emergency</c> with a a hospital visit, an emergency with a a hospital visit,
• </c><01:03:34.960><c> So</c> situation or a hospital visit. So situation or a hospital visit.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 21 January, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just like homeowners expect to have the right to allow guests to visit them, guests of tenants such as
• Just like homeowners expect to have the right to allow guests to visit them, guests of tenants such as
• Just like homeowners expect to have the right to allow guests to visit them, guests of tenants such as
• </c> have the right to allow guests to visit have the right to allow guests to visit them<00:07:41.560
• and the landlord a license to visit and the landlord cannot<00:07:58.840><c> deny</c><00:07:59.120><

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm barely able to show up for doctor visits.
• </c><01:33:14.320><c> Um</c> able to show up for doctor visits.
• Um able to show up for doctor visits.
• His petition for grandfather parental visitation was for the one that I had guardianship over.
• So I held him from his visit like this.

Committee: House Children and Family Law

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe just maybe you should go visit one.
• Maybe just maybe you should go visit one.
• Maybe just maybe you should go visit one.
• Several of us from Ray County have visited that center.
• Several of us from Ray County have visited that center.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• To date, I've had 62 site visits across the Commonwealth.
• You and I have been at many program visits together and with community partners.
• Thank you for visiting that high school and meeting all of my former colleagues.
• Visit an after-school program. Attend an awards night.
• Visit an after-school program. Attend an awards night.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session held in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 education and local aid budget, with remarks from legislative co-chairs, local officials, and education agency leaders. Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero emphasized Lawrence’s high-need student population, the importance of Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, and the impact of state aid on schools serving many English learners and low-income families. Carrero highlighted Lawrence High School programs such as early college, dual degrees, career pathways, and early childhood classrooms embedded in the high school, while lawmakers introduced themselves and noted the importance of the hearing to their districts. Acting Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of Higher Education Noi Ortega, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw outlined the administration’s FY27 priorities. They described investments in literacy initiatives, universal school meals, student mental health, early college and career pathways, higher education affordability, community college and university student-success supports, preschool expansion, child care subsidies, and workforce supports for early educators. The commissioners also discussed federal funding threats, equity gaps, and the administration’s efforts to improve outcomes for Black and brown students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Members questioned the panel about the local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to revisit Chapter 70 funding to better address rising costs such as special education, transportation, and health care. Officials said the local contribution study report is expected by the end of June, with a draft to be shared after data analysis and public comment. Commissioner Martinez said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but more work is needed, and he pointed to a proposed Accelerating Achievement Initiative to support the highest-need schools. Senator Oliveira also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities and asked about partnerships with libraries to support literacy, prompting discussion of broader early literacy collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• we came up with this originally was whenever I was campaigning for Commissioner Vag, we actually visited
• down in Floyd County in actually visited down in Floyd County in Prestonburg.<00:08:08.000><c> No,</
• Um, we had such a great visit with your group.
• Um, we had such a great visit with your group.
• with with um we had such a great visit with with um your<01:30:09.360><c> group.

Keywords: This meeting was pulled from back ups and uploaded in it's entirety due to technical issues., 958, all

Summary: The Make America Healthy Kentucky Task Force met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then heard a presentation on the state’s “food is medicine” work from Kentucky Hospital Association and Kentucky Department of Agriculture leaders, including Jim Muser, Holly Harris, and Commissioner Jonathan Shell. The chair framed the discussion around personal wellness, injury prevention, and the broader goal of improving health through better sleep, nutrition, and activity, then asked the presenters to describe current initiatives and any policy changes needed. The witnesses described a partnership linking hospitals and Kentucky farmers to improve health outcomes while supporting rural agriculture. They said the effort has moved beyond the pilot stage and now includes more than 40 hospitals statewide, with programs such as healthier hospital cafeterias, grab-and-go options, farmers markets at hospital sites, subsidized CSA boxes for employees, and medically tailored meals or groceries for patients with chronic conditions. ARH was highlighted as a leading model, with local food procurement, employee wellness efforts, and measurable outcome pilots, including a Russell County Hospital project focused on diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. They also emphasized barriers to scaling the model, including fragmented short-term funding, lack of reimbursement for food-as-medicine programs, and burdensome procurement and testing requirements that can make it difficult for small farmers to participate. The presenters said hospitals are using their own funds or temporary grants to sustain programs and argued that policy changes are needed to simplify sourcing, expand reimbursement pathways, and support clinical measurement of outcomes. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We actually have another visiting member to the committee.
• We actually have another visiting member to the committee.
• We actually have another visiting member to the committee.
• We actually have another visiting member to the committee.
• </c> The office in New Hampshire visited The office in New Hampshire visited their<01:42:47.280><c> youth

Bills: HF2362 , HF2136 , HF1316 , HF2009 , HF1918 , HF1614

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: youth intervention, funding, mental health, education, community programs, HF1316, child support, new hire reporting, centralized work reporting system, independent contractors, payors, employers, payor of funds, withholding orders, income withholding, child support enforcement, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, gig economy, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope you’ve all had a chance to visit and see how our food hall operates.
• and see how all had a chance to visit and see how our<00:13:52.320><c> food</c><00:13:52.600><c> Hall
• Um, my question is, uh, based in my lack of familiarity with the campus, despite bonding tour visits,
• a salon um where opportunity to visit a salon um where they<00:47:49.839><c> perhaps</c><00:47:50.160
• for a glass of wine um come in and visit for a glass of wine um outside<00:49:10.960><c> of</c><00:49

Bills: HF1262 , HF1741 , HF472 , HF1668 , HF2055 , HF1786 , HF1876 , HF1089 , HF1121 , HF509 , HF1545 , HF2027 , HF642

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: food truck, liquor license, temporary license, community events, catering, municipal regulations, food hall, St. Louis Park, on-sale, intoxicating beverages, food vendors, common seating area, HF472, Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato, MSU Mankato, Taylor Center, special liquor license, on-sale wine license, malt liquor license

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of you have visited our homes in the past, and I just want to say thank you for that.
• </c><01:30:11.960><c> our</c> mdva uh some of you have uh visited our mdva uh some of you have uh visited
• It's really a wonderful opportunity to visit and to learn a little bit more about our homes.
• It's really a wonderful opportunity to visit and to learn a little bit more about our homes.
• It's really a wonderful opportunity to visit and to learn a little bit more about our homes.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's Liberty Park, our oldest park, and an area of very mature trees and a popular, visited central area
• Central trees um and popular um visited Central um<00:04:47.320><c> to</c><00:04:47.520><c> our</c><
• Here's a short list of places we've visited: Litchfield, Hutchinson, Chatfield, Iron, Moose Lake, Park
• Then, after our visit to the Montevideo Middle School, we had no time to waste.
• to the Mont school then after our visit to the Mont videoo<00:20:41.400><c> Middle</c><00:20:41.679>

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I invite you all to visit our farm up in Quamba and also treat yourself to visiting one of the 93 farm
• I invite you all to visit our much more.
• c> of</c><00:07:46.360><c> the</c><00:07:46.480><c> 93</c><00:07:47.000><c> farm</c> yourself to visiting
• one of the 93 farm yourself to visiting one of the 93 farm wineries<00:07:47.720><c> throughout</c><
• , we actually did often have to visiting, we actually did often have to increase increase increase I<

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is Assembly Bill 1646, entitled Juvenile Facilities Visitation.
• And all the time that I had spent, I guess I'd never been there during visitations, and I had no idea
• If you touch him, the visit ends. So you sit.
• One hug is worth a thousand visits.
• You don't have the right to a visit. Those get taken and given as privileges. I think you should.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mo'okini Heiau has been the telling for generations, but more importantly, when she created the visitation
• no other Heiau with the care and the history that I hope some of you would have a chance here to go visit
• no other Heiau with the care and the history that I hope some of you would have a chance here to go visit
• no other Heiau with the care and the history that I hope some of you would have a chance here to go visit
• no other Heiau with the care and the history that I hope some of you would have a chance here to go visit

Bills: HB2241 , HB1163 , HB1514 , HB1696 , HB2021 , SB2135 , SB2466 , SB2727 , SB3082 , SB3097 , SB2861 , SCR100 , SB3096 , SB99 , SB2138 , HB2289 , HB2319 , HB1711 , HB2270 , SB3138 , SB3076 , HB1642 , HB2338 , HB2171 , HB1785 , SB2881 , HB2505 , SB2552 , HB1518 , HB1815 , SB3125 , SB3234 , SCR162 , SB2614 , SB3118 , SB2053 , SB2494 , SB2851 , SB3073 , HB1678 , HB1721 , HB2475 , HB2246 , HB1667 , HB1516 , SB2532 , SB3131 , SB3154 , HB2297 , HB1737 , SB2143 , SB2398 , SB2623 , HB1740 , HB1920 , HB1682 , SB2153 , SB3140 , HB2158 , HB1718 , HB2207 , HB1801 , SB3229 , SB2338 , SB3069 , SB2600 , HB2300 , HB1800 , HB1960 , SB2999 , SB2060 , SB2866 , SB2239 , HB1741 , HB1713 , HB2023 , HB2417 , SB2877 , SB2598 , SB2921 , SB2645 , HB2547 , HB2275 , HB2452 , HB2329 , HB2339 , HB1838 , HB1509 , HB1661 , HB2271 , HB2272 , HB2344 , HB1888 , HB1707 , SB2340 , HB2474 , HB1576 , HB1853 , HB1804 , HB1854 , HB2095 , HB2050 , HB472 , SB3215 , SB2247 , SB2400 , HB1618 , HB1802 , HB1969 , HB1541 , HB2310 , HB2498 , HB2443 , HB2218 , HB649 , HB2104 , HB1710 , SB2802 , HB1973 , HB1974 , HB1894 , HB1891 , HB1890 , SB177 , SB2101 , SB3320 , SB2487 , HB2429 , HB1870 , HB1839 , HB2583 , HB1391 , HB2094 , SB2671 , SB2673 , SB2892 , SB2057 , SB3245 , HB306 , HB2592 , SB3157 , SB3204 , SB3324 , SB2580 , SB2074 , SB411 , SB3025 , SB2934 , SB2567 , SB2125 , SB3238 , SB2367 , SB2599 , SB3007 , SB2001 , SB2756 , SB3029

Keywords: renewable energy, income tax credit, solar energy, wind energy, low-income households, energy policy, commercial drivers license, non-domiciled, federal regulations, commercial learner's permit, citizenship, lawful residency, Department of Transportation, workers' compensation, vocational rehabilitation, injury recovery, employment services, return to work, commercial driving, driver's license

Transcript Highlights:

• When we stop an unlawful eviction, we also avoid the cost of shelter, emergency room visits, and school
• When we stop an unlawful eviction, we also avoid the cost of shelter, emergency room visits, and school
• I mean, Senator Richardson has visited our self-help center.
• I mean, Senator Richardson has visited our self-help center in Compton.
• My next question is, do you provide information on parental visitation and divorce proceedings and all

Summary: The committee heard budget and workload presentations from the Office of the State Public Defender, legal aid organizations, and the Judicial Branch. OSPD requested permanent funding for positions that had been temporarily funded to implement the Racial Justice Act, explaining that the work has become ongoing and now includes additional Supreme Court briefing, habeas proceedings, investigations, expert analysis, and data requests. The State Public Defender also presented the AB 625 public defense workload report, which found statewide staffing shortages, caseloads above recommended standards, and major gaps in investigators and support staff. Senators asked about racial bias claims, the volume of data requests, and the impact of Prop. 36, and OSPD said it would provide additional written information. The legal aid panel asked for a $50 million increase to the Equal Access Fund, $20 million to restart homelessness prevention services, and $10 million for health care access work, while also supporting Access to Justice Commission requests for loan repayment assistance, immigrant family preparedness services, and innovation grants. Witnesses described legal aid as homelessness prevention and cited examples involving eviction defense, domestic violence survivors, and immigration detention cases. Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Sergio Tapia discussed eviction data, low tenant representation, and court pilots in Compton and at Stanley Mosk that combine mediation, rental assistance, and legal help. Senators asked for service maps, outreach materials, and more detail on funding needs and federal funding losses. For the Judicial Branch overview, the Judicial Council and trial court representatives supported the Governor’s proposed budget, including $70 million for trial court operations, $21.7 million for employee health and retirement costs, and funding for appellate counsel, case processing, and courthouse construction. They said rising costs, staffing retention, and interpreter shortages continue to strain the courts, and described efforts to reallocate interpreter funds and recruit hard-to-find languages such as Mixteco. Senators pressed the branch and the Department of Finance on courthouse facilities, noting that the long-term need is far larger than the current budget proposal; Finance said the branch’s facility needs were estimated at about $22.5 billion over 10 years to start 68 projects and $29.4 billion to complete the remaining projects. The committee requested follow-up information on facilities, judgeships, and interpreter needs.