Transcript Highlights:

• She did a DNA test. And so, please, come one, come all.
• learned this because I volunteered with them to do it in my district, in order to have smoke alarms tested
• You're growing up in a very complicated world, one that will test your courage, your character, and commitment
• ONE THAT WILL TEST YOUR COURAGE, YOUR CHARACTER AND COMMITMENT TO ONE ANOTHER.
• The dignity must remain the standard.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the prior journal and took up motions and resolutions. Senator Gianaris moved to reconsider and restore Senate Print 3179A, an Environmental Conservation Law bill, to the third reading calendar, and amendments were also received on Senate Print 8491. The chamber then considered and adopted Resolution 1716, designating March 2026 as Greek History Month in New York, with remarks from several senators about Greek heritage, Greek independence, immigration, and the contributions of Greek Americans. The Senate also adopted Resolution 1607, proclaiming March 2026 as American Red Cross Month, with extensive testimony praising Red Cross disaster relief, blood donation, preparedness work, and volunteers; several senators highlighted local volunteers and urged greater support for the organization, including budget resources. The Senate welcomed guests, including Red Cross representatives and students from Brooklyn, and later opened the resolutions for co-sponsorship. The chamber then moved through the calendar and passed multiple bills, including measures affecting mental hygiene, elder law, penal law, public authorities, labor, public service, correction, education, election law, alcoholic beverage control, and state administrative procedure. Most bills passed by wide margins, though some drew recorded opposition, including the public authorities bill and several election, public service, and correction measures. Senator Ramos explained her support for the labor bill as a workplace dignity and anti-bullying measure, and Senator Ryan explained his support for the small-business regulatory website bill as a way to simplify access to agency rules and guidance. Senator Skoufis’s Public Health Law bill was also recalled from the Assembly, restored to the third reading calendar, and amended. The Senate then adjourned until Thursday, March 12 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• household, and so that is just that that is that indicator uh the ELs are the students that we actually test
• of the other states have done in that read it, read at home plan that you mentioned earlier is standardizing
• Uh, when we get all those test scores, I'm just very hopeful, uh, uh, finally about what's happening,
• And that's what I was asking because the the students are tested in Spanish too, um, that the scores
• teacher can actually be informed about what errors the student is making when they are face to face and testing

Transcript Highlights:

• When the baby's born, the baby is tested, and if the baby has drugs in its system, CPS will red flag
• It was the true test about how serious they were about kicking that.
• Addiction problem is when the baby's born and the baby's tested.
• It's going to show up in the test. when the baby's born.
• The severity of termination of parental rights is a remedy that demands strict legal standards governing

Bills: HB809, HB 1193, HB1916, HB2558, HB1973, HB2350, HB2399, HB2340, HB 116, HB330, HB2496, HB116

Keywords: digitized signature, waiver of citation, marriage dissolution, electronic notarization, family law, HB 1193, informal marriage, common-law marriage, declaration of informal marriage, confidentiality, privacy, county clerk, vital statistics unit, Family Code, Health and Safety Code, marriage records, public records, personally identifying information, PII, legal representative

Transcript Highlights:

• versus a true community standard.
• Contemporary local community standards Contemporary local community standards of<00:11:08.720>
• > think<00:14:05.560> if true Community standard so um I think if true Community standard
• <00:33:33.840> of something that can stand the test of something that can stand the test of
• convoluted the best interest standard convoluted the best interest standard and<00:57:11.319>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for your we will hear your test for your testimony, testimony, testimony, Madam<00:25:07.640> Mayor
• Recovery Corps paid for her training to do that and gave her kind of that hands-on experience to test
• her kind of that hands-on<00:43:20.840> experience<00:43:21.440> to<00:43:21.560> test
• out if this hands-on experience to test out if this was<00:43:22.560> a<00:43:22.640> good
• standard notice. standard notice.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, it doesn't always meet a 60% test.
• We do support meaningful affordability standards and have already voluntarily implemented a lot of the
• So we would encourage legislation that implements affordability standards, of course, while preserving
• What means testing would you suggest? I understand making you do repairs that. ...aren't needed.
• And if you're underwriting to a standard of your market rents that are in October, and they fluctuate

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223, HB323, HB524, HB530, HB636, HB762, HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it seemed that in standard compacts a committee is formed ahead of time and all the standards for
• in in a compact that in standard in in a compact that in standard compacts<00:25:15.279> a
• and is it NR which was the standards and is it NR which was the standards which<00:36:07.119>
• standards standards which<00:36:21.520> are<00:36:21.760> being<00:36:22.079> used<
• of those um beyond the NAR standards of those um beyond the NAR standards that<01:02:28.559>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• any specific information or standards any specific information or standards for<00:09:38.360>
• A couple of other recommendations we had was to develop standards for consistently funding grants.
• for we had was to develop standards for consistently<00:15:53.199> or<00:15:53.440> to
• <00:15:55.920> for<00:15:56.279> consistently<00:15:57.000> funding standards for
• Because my understanding is that, for example, they're going to have a standard training available to

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from State Auditor Judy Randall and Deputy Legislative Auditor Jody Mason Rodriguez on the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s 2023 report, “Oversight of State-Funded Grants to Nonprofit Organizations.” Randall explained that the report takes a broad look at how Minnesota manages grants, building on earlier work that helped lead to the Office of Grants Management (OGM) in 2007. She emphasized that the new recommendation-tracking booklet in members’ packets is meant to help the legislature see which audit recommendations have been implemented, partially implemented, or not implemented, and to support oversight rather than assign blame. Rodriguez summarized the report’s findings: Minnesota’s grants management policies contain many important practices, but they often lack enough detail for agencies to implement them consistently. The office found pervasive noncompliance in recent years and identified weak statutory enforcement as a major reason. She reviewed how grants flow from the legislature to agencies and then to nonprofit grantees and subgrantees, and noted that state agencies spent an average of about $514 million annually on nonprofit grants from fiscal years 2018 through 2022, awarding grants to about 2,400 nonprofits. The report found OGM policies partially reflected 17 of 24 recommended grant-management practices, but examples of missing detail included no required risk-based monitoring, no minimum standards for progress reports, telephone-only monitoring visits allowed, and no deadline for closeout reviews. The auditors said some recommendations have been acted on since the report, including 2023 statutory changes that led OGM to revise its pre-award financial review policy and set a timeline for closeout reviews, though other recommendations remain only partially implemented. They also discussed repeat compliance problems across agencies, including conflict-of-interest documentation, and said agencies are beginning to improve by automating checklists and disclosure processes. In response to member questions, the auditors said training is important and should likely be required for grants staff, though not necessarily with highly specific statutory language; they also said grant managers vary widely across agencies, making baseline training especially useful. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the presentation, and the chair noted that OGM would be invited for a future presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• A key part of network adequacy standards is distance standards, which were expanded by HB 3359, only
• The statute includes time and distance standards for 48 provider types that align with the federal standards
• requiring standards for facility-based providers.
• They use a similar geographic standard. So... A similar geographic standard.
• We sort of just created an unachievable standard.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You design standards, there's speed, there's visibility, there's impairment—so, right, just one of many
• fuel standard um would really<00:53:04.839> help<00:53:05.040> move<00:53:05.280> us
• Destinations are standard features on our local and regional transportation projects.
• connectivity destinations are standard connectivity destinations are standard features<01:22:00.360
• of Highway purpose earlier in my test of Highway purpose earlier in my career<01:32:40.800> I

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And if Texas, as the trailblazer and trendsetter, sets the standard for this, I believe a lot. ...of
• We all know that academic tests do not truly reflect how well you're going to perform; it’s that work
• that we have that we need to sort of conform to from national standards for consistency purposes.
• Standards that would be substantive are a change of policy.
• The bill would avoid standards from being placed, even though standards are based on... ...political

Bills: SB 21, SB21, SB72, SB140, SB262, SB370, SB372, SB495, SB627, SB703, SB764, SB842

Keywords: emergency alerts, weather alerts, public safety, local government, municipality, county, website posting, online notice, emergency management, disaster preparedness, evacuation, National Weather Service, NOAA, Texas Division of Emergency Management, TDEM, localized alerts, hazard warnings, severe weather, watch warning advisory, public information

Transcript Highlights:

• So that, like you said, when it actually does hit, we'll already have kind of a test run and feedback
• But we have to test those changes. Work and we show it, and it usually does.
• But we have to test those changes too. And so all these people have to work together.
• about, like with the Utah model, which we've studied in the DOGE committee, if you don't have good standards
• Standards in your legislation, how do you evaluate? And so it's the circle of it.

Summary: The Legislative Procedures and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The committee first considered and adopted a Joint Rule 211 change clarifying the deadline and statutory references for bill drafts involving health insurance mandates, after discussion that the process is still somewhat cumbersome but improved by the clarification. The committee then reviewed a revised draft addressing confidentiality protections for certain legislators and candidates, but members expressed concerns about the breadth, enforceability, and transparency implications of the proposal, and the committee chose not to advance it at this time. The committee received an informational update on the new NCSL Legislator Security Fund. Staff explained that North Dakota is applying for the grant, which could provide about $200 per legislator for home security or related safety expenses, subject to Emergency Commission approval and reimbursement procedures. Members asked about eligible expenses, administrative burden, and whether new legislators would be covered; staff said guidance would be provided if funding is approved. The committee also approved the 2027 timing for the State of the Judiciary, tribal-state relationship message, and State of the State address on January 5, and set the Commerce Department and agricultural commodity reports for January 13 and 14, respectively, as required by statute. A major portion of the meeting focused on legislative staffing and organizational planning. The committee approved a recommendation for 36 Senate staff positions and 41 House staff positions, along with a 3% compensation increase for session staff. Discussion centered on replacing some procedural clerk duties with permanent policy analyst staff, retaining quality assurance roles for now, and adding or repurposing positions in IT, program evaluation, legal, and administration. Members also discussed expanding program evaluation capacity and the need for clearer oversight of new programs, with staff noting upcoming training and model-sharing with other states. Finally, the committee reviewed a proposed new legislator orientation day on November 30 and broader organizational session training changes, including mock committee and floor sessions, security training, and more robust budget/appropriations instruction, but took no final action on the agenda items and adjourned after completing the budget-related recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• $118.9 billion, which is $3.6 billion more than forecast at the 2024 budget act. 23-24 remains in test
• 2, while both 24, 25, and 25, 26 are in test one.
• It has to do with the fact that Test One is operative and the state is paying the maintenance factor,
• In cases where that's not happening, it's important that the state maintain those fiscal standards to
• Prepared consistent with the standards, in that they included all sorts of budget reductions ahead of

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This collaboration approach developed and tested locally not only addresses the unique educational needs
• This collaboration approach developed and tested locally not only addresses the unique educational needs
• Oh, by the way, why aren't you meeting these academic standards?
• Department of Housing and Urban Development standard for a low or very low income.
• It's designed to look at safety standards in businesses in the workplace.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard a series of bills focused on expanding access to higher education, addressing workforce shortages, student housing, and labor standards on campus projects. AB 662 would create a South County Higher Education Task Force to explore a mixed-use, intersegmental institution in Chula Vista; supporters said South San Diego County is a “college desert,” while the bill passed on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations. AB 885 would establish a College Access for All Fund to help make CSU and UC attendance more affordable; supporters cited student debt and affordability concerns, and it also passed to Appropriations. AB 730 would provide $15 million to help establish a medical school in the Central Valley to address physician shortages, and it advanced on a due pass motion. AB 1400 would let up to 15 community college districts pilot bachelor’s degrees in nursing; supporters argued it would expand affordable BSN access and keep students local, while CSU, UC, and other higher education groups opposed it as unnecessary and inconsistent with the master plan. The bill passed to Appropriations, with members raising questions about clinical placements, faculty shortages, and possible effects on associate-degree programs. The committee also considered AB 1235, which would require CSU design-build projects to use a skilled and trained workforce, aligning CSU with other public higher education construction standards. Supporters said it would improve safety, training, and local job opportunities, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1247 would restrict contracting out of classified school and community college jobs unless workers meet training and qualification standards and would address pension and training concerns; supporters said it would protect students and classified employees, while school and college groups warned it would disrupt services and add unfunded mandates. The bill passed to Appropriations with one no vote. AB 1470, presented on behalf of Assemblymember Haney, would allow a portion of student housing revolving loan funds to be used for affordable student, faculty, and staff housing in downtown and commercial districts; it was discussed as a housing and downtown revitalization measure, but the committee held off on a motion pending more members. ACA 3, also on behalf of Haney, would require UC to offer limited down payment loans to eligible long-term support staff first-time homebuyers; it drew extensive support from UC workers and unions, while UC and business groups opposed it as costly and outside UC’s mission, and the measure was still under discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is about policing women's bodies and culturally defined femininity standards.
• We can set fair standards for participation in We can set fair standards for participation in sports,
• here in Arizona for that, and Noah's testing had to be sent to Colorado.
• should also be tested to prove they are learning.
• That is what the voters want. should also be tested to prove they are learning.

Summary: The Senate met, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then handled a series of messages and floor actions. The chamber transmitted a large group of Senate bills to the governor and Senate Concurrent Memorial 1004 to the Secretary of State. It also received House requests to return Senate Bills 1175 and 1198 for reconsideration, which were granted without objection. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several House concurrent resolutions. On H.C.R. 2001, a constitutional referral on election requirements, senators debated a Judiciary Committee amendment and a Hoffman floor amendment that would require voter ID, allow election-day tabulation of early ballots at polling places, and require legislative funding for implementation. Supporters said the measure would improve election security, voter confidence, and speed up results; opponents argued it was vague, could undermine mail voting, and lacked clear implementation details. The amendment was adopted, and after further debate the Committee of the Whole gave H.C.R. 2001 a do-pass recommendation by a 15-12 vote. Later, on third reading, the full Senate passed H.C.R. 2001 by a 16-12 vote and transmitted it to the House. The chamber also considered H.C.R. 2003, a referral on student athletics and biological sex. Senator Ortiz offered a floor amendment to replace the blanket ban approach with rules based on athletic ability and inclusion; supporters said it would preserve fairness while avoiding discrimination, while opponents said it would gut the measure and weaken protections for girls’ sports. The Ortiz amendment failed 11-16, and H.C.R. 2003 then received a do-pass recommendation in Committee of the Whole and later passed third reading. H.C.R. 2044, a referral on prohibiting preferential treatment and discrimination, also received a do-pass recommendation without recorded controversy. The Senate then adjourned after completing the remaining procedural motions and votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• sweet letter in there um from a test sweet letter in there um from a test from<00:04:33.000>
• cleanliness standards at Mayo.
• And there the the cleanliness standards And there the the cleanliness standards in<00:53:06.240>
• standards at Mayo. standards at Mayo.
• County will uphold the highest standards County will uphold the highest standards of<01:03:42.640

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Board of Pharmacy, that's a standard Texas Board of Pharmacy. Rules, protocols, etc.
• Gold standard because confirmation bias can't come into play.
• Here's a journal from the American Medical Association conducting their own double-blind test.
• They're the gold standard of medical research. Would you agree with that? I believe you.
• HB149 requires the governor to adopt standards for radio interoperability review.

Bills: HB25, HB48, HB149, HB254, HB26, HB192, HCR3, HCR4, HCR5, HCR6, HCR8, HCR14, HCR16, HR1, HR2, HR3, HR4, HR6, HR7, HR8, HR9, HR12, HR11, HR13, HR14, HR15, HR16, HR20, HR22, HR23, HR24, HR25, HR26, HR27, HR28, HR29, HR30, HR31, HR32, HR33, HR45, HR48, HR49, HR51, HR52, HR55, HR56, HR57, HR59, HR60, HR61, HR62, HR63, HR64, HR65, HR66, HR70, HR71, HR72, HR74, HCR2, HCR7, HR10, HR21, HR35, HR36, HR37, HR38, HR39, HR40, HR42, HR43, HR44, HR46, HR47, HR50, HR53, HR54, HR67, HR69, HR75, HCR 5, HCR 6, HCR 8, HCR 14, HCR 16, HR 1, HR 3, HR 4, HR 6, HR 7, HR 8, HR 9, HR 12, HR 11, HR 13, HR 14, HR 15, HR 16, HR 20, HR 22, HR 23, HR 24, HR 25, HR 26, HR 27, HR 28, HR 29, HR 30, HR 31, HR 32, HR 33, HR 45, HR 48, HR 49, HR 51, HR 52, HR 55, HR 56, HR 57, HR 59, HR 60, HR 61, HR 62, HR 63, HR 64, HR 65, HR 66, HR 70, HR 71, HR 72, HR 74, HCR 7, HR 10, HR 21, HR 35, HR 36, HR 37, HR 38, HR 39, HR 40, HR 42, HR 43, HR 44, HR 46, HR 47, HR 50, HR 53, HR 54, HR 67, HR 69, HB 25, HB 48, HB 149, HB 254, HB 26, HB 192

Keywords: ivermectin, pharmacist authority, prescription-free, healthcare regulation, patient access, HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert

Transcript Highlights:

• damages or other consequences on our Medicaid managed care plans for failing to adhere to those standards
• certainly a priority of the program, and one of the mechanisms we use is through provider network standards
• And it evolved from it being based upon PPE, COVID tests, and the like to being things that could be
• Is there any funding in Medicaid that starts to target maybe genetic testing or identifying clinical
• We already have a lot of those standards and expectations.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee held a panel discussion on Florida’s mental health and substance abuse system, with representatives from DCF, AHCA, two managing entities, and two providers describing how the state’s behavioral health network is funded and operated. Members focused on the implementation of prior legislative investments, especially the $50 million in recurring funding from Representative Maney’s bill and the earlier $126 million community behavioral health appropriation. Witnesses said the newer funds were used mainly for crisis beds, discharge planning, outpatient services, regional collaboratives, and a USF Marchman Act report, while the larger behavioral health appropriation supported CAT, FACT, FIT, forensic teams, residential and outpatient services, and crisis care, with most dollars going directly to services and only a small share to administration. A major theme was access to crisis care and the role of mobile response teams, 988, and central receiving facilities in diverting people from Baker Act admissions and reducing readmissions. DCF and providers said mobile response teams have expanded, are being used to de-escalate crises and connect people to care, and have shown strong diversion results and reductions in Baker Acts in some regions. Members also asked about waitlists, children in crisis, and how to handle people without housing or support; providers said discharge planning is individualized but often constrained by homelessness, transportation, and a lack of safe placements, and several witnesses identified housing as one of the biggest barriers to recovery and stability. The committee also examined provider sustainability, reimbursement, and funding gaps. Witnesses described delays caused by contract timing, cost allocation rules, and Medicaid reimbursement rates that do not always keep pace with labor and operating costs, especially for smaller providers and rural networks. DCF and AHCA said managing entities can provide advances, retroactive rate adjustments, and technical assistance, and that Medicaid managed care plans have network standards and complaint/dispute processes. Members raised concerns about a reported $7 million loss in federal non-sustainable funds, provider closures, and whether there is a formal ombudsman process for disputes; DCF said the federal reductions were known and tied to one-time funds, and that the department generally handles provider issues informally while working with managing entities to preserve continuity of care.

Transcript Highlights:

• But if the remedy is to deny account-based access, the policy has moved beyond safety standards into
• We saw significant changes recently in the moderation standards of certain platforms that backed off
• They discussed HIV prevention and testing, knowledge, stigma, advocacy, MSM culture.
• a home-based HIV self-testing kit, and adjusted odds of 11.
• community without peers, the intervention participants were more likely to report recent HIV self-testing

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing on the impact of social media on LGBTQ+ youth, focusing on benefits, risks, and possible safeguards. Chair members framed the discussion around the tension between protecting young people from addictive design, harassment, hate speech, exploitation, and mental health harms while preserving access to affirming resources, community, and crisis support that many LGBTQ+ youth rely on online. Members emphasized that the hearing was meant to inform future policy rather than relitigate prior bills, and several members of the LGBTQ+ Caucus attended or participated. The first panel featured lived experience and advocacy testimony from Madi Roby of Alliance for Trans Youth Rights, Shea Gardner of LGBT Tech, and Casey Pick of the Trevor Project. Roby described social media as essential to exploring identity, finding trans language and safety information, and connecting to Trevor Project resources during a family crisis, while also acknowledging online hate and bullying. Gardner argued that lawmakers should regulate harms more precisely rather than impose broad age-based exclusions, warning that account bans and age-gating could cut off access to community, privacy-protective pseudonymity, and crisis resources. Pick testified that LGBTQ+ youth are more likely than peers to attempt suicide, that social media can be both a lifeline and a risk, and that Trevor Space and other moderated online spaces can improve mental health and reduce isolation; she also cautioned against policies that would push youth into less visible, less moderated spaces. Committee members questioned the witnesses about algorithmic feeds, addictive design, age verification, and whether platforms should be required to do more to protect youth. Several lawmakers distinguished between personalized feeds and addictive features such as infinite scroll and autoplay, and asked for more targeted prescriptions. Witnesses generally supported stronger privacy protections, limits on data collection and use, better reporting and moderation tools, digital literacy, and design changes that reduce harmful engagement patterns without eliminating access to community. The discussion also touched on the loss of LGBTQ-specific 988 services at the national level and the importance of maintaining alternative support pathways. The second panel presented research from Common Sense Media, UC Irvine, Hope Lab, and LGBTQ+ Health Australia. Researchers reported that LGBTQ+ youth often arrive online with higher depressive symptoms and limited in-person support, encounter homophobic and transphobic content at high rates, and may self-censor because of fear of harassment. At the same time, many said social media helps them feel less alone and find affirmation. Dr. Sean Young emphasized a harm-reduction approach, noting that online environments can be designed to support health and that policymakers should measure whether restrictions actually reduce harm or simply displace it. Dr. Amy Green echoed that social media is both harmful and supportive for LGBTQ+ youth, underscoring that the policy goal should be to make youth safer rather than less visible online.

Transcript Highlights:

• really well in the outdoors, whether it's in school or after school. ...connecting students with standards
• year and a half, so that we can make sure we have more outdoor education in Nevada without changing standards
• Okay, I think that passes the sniff test. Senator Scheible has made a motion to do pass.

Keywords: 909, all