Transcript Highlights:

• One is for the safe storage of reactive mine waste and the other is going to be for a site-specific standard
• One is for the safe storage of reactive mine waste and the other is going to be for a site-specific standard
• 03:51.040><c> mine</c> for the safe storage of reactive mine for the safe storage of reactive mine waste
• :03:53.440><c> is</c><00:03:53.959><c> for</c><00:03:54.959><c> excuse</c><00:03:55.360><c> me</c> waste
• and the other is is for excuse me waste and the other is is for excuse me uh<00:03:56.000><c> the</c

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Jail time should not be wasted time.
• Jail time should not be wasted time. them with the opportunity to better them with the opportunity to
• time should in those very settings jail time should not<01:26:00.800><c> be</c><01:26:01.040><c> wasted
• </c> not be wasted not be wasted time<01:26:03.440><c> here's</c><01:26:03.719><c> the</c><01:26:04.360
• </c> not be wasted not be wasted time<01:28:23.880><c> okay</c><01:28:24.199><c> close</c><01:28:24.480

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the administrative function — that's the agencies — and it's within those two layers that waste
• We have the administrative function — that's the agencies — and it's within those two layers that waste
• we have the administrative function — that's the agencies — and it's within those two layers that waste
• be really competent and have expertise to be able to function the best way possible to prevent that waste
• be really competent and have expertise to be able to function the best way possible to prevent that waste

Bills: HF2335 , HF2400 , HF2401 , HF2522

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: Medicare, health insurance, supplement policies, preexisting conditions, medical assistance, premium classification, real estate, appraisers, disciplinary actions, sanction matrix, Minnesota Statutes, continuing education, out-of-state, licensing, commerce, fraud prevention, automobile theft, law enforcement, insurance crimes, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• of Inspector General can conduct in-depth investigations and use advanced software to combat fraud, waste
• oig to increase the capacity of the oig to investigate<00:30:41.120><c> fraud</c><00:30:41.399><c> waste
• </c><00:30:41.760><c> abuse</c><00:30:42.080><c> and</c><00:30:42.200><c> to</c> investigate fraud waste
• and abuse and to investigate fraud waste and abuse and to address<00:30:43.240><c> complaints</c><00
• to combat fraud waste and abuse um<00:31:41.399><c> and</c><00:31:42.039><c> also</c><00:31:42.519><

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's not just going to waste, um, or just taking the fur.
• So it's not just going to waste, um, or just taking the fur.
• This would leave those skins wasted and would affect wildlife habitats and populations all across North
• And so when fur bans like this come up, we are looking at the fact that the responsible wasteful death
• the responsible wasteful death will happen<02:18:12.319><c> from</c><02:18:12.599><c> passing</c><02

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Agriculture and Food Systems and Tourism hearing focused on HB 189 and HB 966, both dealing with agricultural tourism. HB 189 would require counties to adopt ordinances governing review and permitting of agricultural tourism as secondary uses on working farms, require the principal agricultural use to pre-exist any tourism-related permit, and limit ag tourism to land where productive agriculture is occurring. HB 966 would create statewide uniform standards for agricultural tourism, require county registration of activities, require ag tourism to coexist with agricultural activity on a farming operation, and end the tourism use when agricultural activity ceases. Testimony on HB 189 was mixed. The Department of Agriculture and Kualoa Ranch opposed the bill, arguing that the proposed restrictions and income-based limits could burden bona fide farms and ranches, reduce flexibility for counties, and harm food production, jobs, and diversification efforts. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism supports its food sales and community market and warned the bill could cost more than 350 jobs. The Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council also opposed the measure for similar reasons. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported the bill with suggested amendments, including clearer language around agricultural dedication. The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau supported the intent of the bill but urged caution, saying ag tourism should remain tied to actual agricultural production and that counties need flexibility to address abuses without imposing overly rigid standards. Members discussed how to define a bona fide agricultural operation and whether property tax agricultural dedication could serve as a clearer qualifier. They also raised concerns about how counties would enforce revenue thresholds or separate accounting for tourism and farm income, and whether state law should better target clearly non-agricultural uses such as gondolas or other abusive developments. The Department of Agriculture and Farm Bureau said counties already have authority to regulate ag tourism through ordinances, but that any new standards should avoid unintended burdens on true farmers and ranchers. HB 966 was then introduced, and initial testimony again reflected support for the bill’s intent from some agricultural groups and opposition or caution from others. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism can help educate visitors and support agriculture, the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported county flexibility, and the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau reiterated concerns about the bill’s income comparison provisions and the need to distinguish legitimate agricultural tourism from misuse. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don’t think I’ve wasted the committee’s time so far. Thank you.
• 01:13:36.360><c> I've</c> don't think I've I don't think I've don't think I've I don't think I've wasted
• 13:37.360><c> time</c><01:13:37.560><c> so</c><01:13:37.800><c> far</c><01:13:38.080><c> thank</c> wasted
• two</c><02:28:37.439><c> minutes</c><02:28:37.840><c> while</c> The chair apologized profusely for wasting
• past session, sitting around for three or four hours waiting for the audit to finish was kind of a waste

Committee: House Election Law

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Election Law Committee held an orientation and then opened a public hearing on House Bill 67-FN-A, which would make permanent the use of accessible voting machines in local elections and provide funding for additional systems. The chair outlined committee procedures, noting a heavy workload of roughly 70 to 80 bills, mostly Tuesday meetings, likely time limits on testimony, and a default of executive session unless a bill is specifically noticed. Members and staff were introduced, and the Secretary of State’s office described its election-related responsibilities, including voter registration, cybersecurity, ballot-counting equipment, and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) program. Secretary of State David Scanlan and Deputy Secretary Aon Hennessy explained the current pilot program created by last year’s law, which requires accessible voting systems for local elections and allows the state to share machines with municipalities during the first half of 2025. They said the office has made hardware available, but towns have raised concerns about the speed of implementation and the cost of programming each election, especially for towns with multiple ballot questions. Scanlan said the state is also vetting longer-term options, including devices that could remain in polling places year-round, and suggested the committee consider delaying the bill’s effective date to January 1, 2026 to better align with implementation needs. Hennessy said the current state devices are older and complicated to reset for each election, and estimated programming costs could be about $600 for a small single-election ballot and much higher for towns with multiple elections. Supporters of the bill emphasized the importance of accessible voting for people with disabilities. Representative Robert Wy said the measure builds on 2024 law and would move the pilot into a permanent agreement, citing ADA concerns and prior testimony about discriminatory voting experiences. Fred Forier, a legally blind voter from Exeter, testified that accessible voting systems allow him to vote privately and independently and urged support for the bill. Committee members asked about the gap if the pilot ends before a permanent system is in place and about the cost range for programming. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the committee moved on after public testimony began.

Transcript Highlights:

• drugs or treatments get those drugs and treatments, but we're often quoted that there's about 30% waste
• it like us is Maryland, and I think the District of Columbia, and they have exceptions for fraud, waste
• Last thing I'll mention is fraud, waste, and abuse.
• There's a lot of talk about fraud, waste, and abuse. When you look at the law, it's crazy.
• Over in Medicaid, we have this whole process of looking at fraud, waste, and abuse in health care.

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These UM controls are intended to mitigate the risk of waste and abuse.
• These UM controls are intended to mitigate the risk of waste and abuse by ensuring that services meet
• So when we suspect potential fraud, waste, or abuse and we're actively investigating, this would allow
• So when we are concerned about a provider due to suspected fraud, waste, or abuse, we are able to put
• "You know, as we're, you know, I'm hearing investments in the waste and fraud area.

Summary: The committee first heard May Revision child care and human services items. The Department of Child Support Services described two technical adjustments, which the analyst supported. The Department of Social Services then walked through child care proposals, including a reduction in federal and Proposition 64 funding absorbed through a shift from General Child Care to the Alternative Payment program, a 2.01% child care COLA, disaster-related infrastructure grants, a new administrative support cost structure for Alternative Payment agencies, the removal of prospective pay funding after a federal rule change, a reappropriation for existing infrastructure grants, and estimates of unspent child care funds. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended asking for more justification for shifting reductions to CAP, supported the COLA reduction but wanted consistency across programs, recommended removing prospective pay funding, opposed the administrative cost shift, and suggested further review of disaster grant alignment. Members pressed the administration on why more slots would be cut for the same savings, why the COLA was reduced, and whether the administrative percentage would grow over time. The administration said the changes were intended to avoid disrupting currently enrolled families, reflect point-in-time relinquishments and unspent funds, and stabilize contractor operations. Public commenters, including providers, advocates, and county representatives, urged full COLA funding, rejection of child care slot reductions, preservation of prospective pay, and continued investment in child care infrastructure and access. The subcommittee then recessed before moving to health items. In Part B, the Department of State Hospitals presented its May Revision proposals, including a central utility plant replacement project at Metropolitan State Hospital, funding for a continuum electronic health record system, reduced county bed billing authority to reflect phase-in of additional LPS beds, limited contract exemption authority for online clinical subscription services, reversion of prior-year unspent operating funds, and a workforce development proposal to use Behavioral Health Services Act funds instead of General Fund for training programs. The department said the EHR would modernize records and improve continuity of care, and that the contract exemption would prevent delays in essential clinical information services. No votes were taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are defunding the waste management.
• We heard a lot about waste, but the people who deal with that millage and those budgets are all appointed
• by the governor, and I doubt that this chamber is going to accuse them of wasting money.
• Yes, you are going to have to stop the waste, maybe DOGE yourself, but you will survive.
• Water quality improvement grant program and local water projects at $175.4 million. $166 million for waste

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• federally regulated toys, more toy containers, and I'm going to quote here, ASTM F 5963 is regulated waste
• federally regulated toys, more toy containers, and I'm going to quote here, ASTM F 5963 is regulated waste
• this is one of the problems I had last session as well, where it's like, hey, we've got bloat and waste
• And I don't believe we should be harming vulnerable people while we are failing to find waste, fraud,
• And I don't believe we should be harming vulnerable people while we are failing to find waste, fraud,

Summary: The committee began with a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 1592, which would change how state public defense funds are distributed and, in the substitute version, keep current law on state funding responsibility while revising the allocation formula. Staff explained the bill would shift county and city distributions to a pro rata, caseload-based model, allow very low-density counties to request OPD to provide some or all public defense services, require additional data collection and reporting, and direct OPD to study caseload reductions and retention. Representative Peterson said the bill is meant to create a better structure for future state support of indigent defense without the very large cost of the original proposal. Testimony from counties, cities, OPD, defenders, and local officials was strongly supportive, emphasizing a statewide public defense crisis, rising local costs, staffing shortages, and the need for a fairer funding model. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 1742 on environmentally sustainable urban design and Substitute House Bill 1906 on water system regulation and water rates. HB 1742 would create a center in Ecology to promote sustainable urban design, fund design competitions and grants, and establish an advisory council; the sponsor said the bill reflects a desire to support a pilot project through alternative funding, and there was no public testimony. HB 1906 would require more planning and notice for Group A water systems, add customer notice and right-of-first-refusal provisions for some ownership changes, and direct the UTC to consider external funding sources, capital planning, and rate smoothing when setting water rates. Water utility and PUD witnesses supported the goal of improving transparency and consolidation of failing small systems, while noting the substitute reduced some fiscal concerns. The committee also heard HB 2248 on Secretary of State corporate and charity filings, HB 2438 creating the SEED scholarship for early childhood education students, and HB 2515 addressing emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers. HB 2248 would redirect part of annual filing fees to the Secretary of State revolving fund, require initial reports from nonprofits and LLPs, and change trademark certificate procedures; the fiscal note showed modest revenue losses, and the division supported restoring the fee split for operational funding. HB 2438 would transfer $10 million annually from the GET account to fund scholarships and wraparound services for early childhood education degree seekers, with testimony from early learning advocates and a student describing workforce shortages and personal financial barriers. HB 2515 drew extensive testimony both for and against: supporters said it would protect ratepayers, water resources, and grid reliability by requiring tariffs, reporting, clean-energy requirements, and a fee on large energy users; opponents argued it singled out data centers, could hurt investment and jobs, and included unrelated labor and procurement provisions. After public testimony, the committee moved into executive-session briefing on several bills and amendments, including HB 1903 on statewide low-income energy assistance, HB 1909 on a court unification task force, HB 1982 on vacating certain convictions tied to treaty Indian rights, HB 2034 on LEOFF Plan 1 retirement changes, HB 2105 on employer notice of federal I-9 audits, HB 2210 on ranked-choice voting, HB 2215 on Climate Commitment Act fuel supplier obligations, and HB 2271 on post-consumer recycled content requirements. Staff summarized proposed substitutes and amendments, with several changes aimed at reducing or shifting fiscal impacts, narrowing agency duties, or striking provisions entirely.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next unit appears on page 67, Unit 601, Solid and Hazardous Waste. >> Are there any amendments?
• Uh, page 64, Solid and Hazardous Waste Division. Mr.
• Uh, on page 116, unit 503, radioactive waste. >> All right. Are there any amendments to unit 503?
• 58:28.960><c> radioactive</c> on page 116, unit 503, radioactive on page 116, unit 503, radioactive waste
• . waste. waste.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• speaker says you can have everybody in the world ready to go, but if the child is not in school, you've wasted
• attendance, we recovered the value, or we saved, a total of $64.4 million that otherwise would have been wasted
• wasted. and uh it only cost us about wasted. and uh it only cost us about $1.32<00:19:36.960><c> million
• 34.640><c> are</c><00:28:35.840><c> student</c><00:28:36.480><c> absenteeism</c> Student absenteeism wastes
• I don't think in Alabama we can afford to waste any.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:08 Agency Updates: 00:01:27 Truancy: 00:01:43, 958, all

Summary: The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council met on October 8, 2025, approved the minutes from the August 29 meeting, and then focused its agenda on truancy and chronic absenteeism. Chad Butler, director of pupil personnel for Meade County and president of the Kentucky Department of Pupil Personnel directors, said chronic absenteeism remains a major problem statewide, citing recent Kentucky rates around 28% to 30% and noting that schools are trying to identify best practices to get students back in class. He said causes appear to include post-COVID social-emotional distress and confusion about when students should stay home, and he described a local effort to use a Healthy Kids Clinic model to keep some students in school when possible. In response to questions, he said chronic absenteeism has only been tracked seriously in the last two to three years and that House Bill 611 appears to have increased the number of youth entering the court system for habitual truancy; AOC said it would provide county-by-county data and outcomes later in the meeting. The council then heard from John Tyson of Alabama, a former Mobile district attorney, who described the Helping Families Initiative as a school-community partnership designed to address truancy and related behavior issues without arrest. Tyson said Alabama defines chronic absence as missing 10% of the school year and emphasized that the program is preventive rather than punitive, using warning letters, family engagement, assessments, individualized intervention plans, and referrals to community services. He said the program has operated since 2003, now includes 20 district attorneys and 44 school systems, and served more than 95,000 students, 73,000 families, and 162,000 parents in the most recent year. Tyson reported that in Mobile County the program was associated with a 3.15% attendance improvement in 2023-24 and a 4% reduction in the issue in 2024-25, along with a 50% reduction in truancy and 58% reduction in chronic absenteeism, and he said the program produced a large return on investment. Tyson also stressed that student absenteeism wastes tax dollars and that better attendance improves educational outcomes and community safety. He described the program’s use of a case-management database, real-time data tracking, and more than 1,000 referral agencies, and said the model is intended to be replicated statewide. He closed with examples of students whose attendance and family circumstances required coordinated support rather than punishment, including a teen mother and a disruptive child, to illustrate his view that schools, courts, and social services should work together to address underlying needs and keep children in school.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm upset with them for wasting government time. Wasting government time.
• I'm upset with them for wasting government time.
• Wasting government time. nor a violation of RSA 2011D11. nor a violation of RSA 2011D11.
• /c><01:26:04.639><c> with</c><01:26:05.159><c> them</c><01:26:06.159><c> for</c><01:26:06.480><c> wasting
• </c><01:26:07.120><c> in</c> Wasting government time.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• improving our school me program uh and improving our school me program uh and also uh reducing food waste
• you know cuz also uh reducing food waste you know cuz also uh reducing food waste you know cuz we do
• have a lot of food waste that's we do have a lot of food waste that's we do have a lot of food waste

Keywords: sessions, 2025-R, 1, 219

Transcript Highlights:

• There's never a wasted dollar of P1 or cash. Of P1 or cash.

Bills: HB2 , HB3

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: capital outlay, budget, infrastructure, appropriation, general obligation bonds, bond authorization, capital improvement, financial management, state treasury, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a total waste of all of our time in this building, and it exempts that.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , remembering that in your sight, no loving and faithful act, no matter how big or small, is ever wasted

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the pledge of allegiance, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chaplain’s remarks focused on “Liberty Friday” and the story of Betsy Ross as a symbol of faithful, humble service. The chamber also welcomed visiting fourth-grade students from Coal Valley Christian and recognized guests and birthdays during miscellaneous business. Several committee reports and gubernatorial appointments were received and referred to the appropriate committees or held for one legislative day. These included appointments to the Commission of Pardons and Parole, the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange Board, the State Board of Education, the State Insurance Fund Board, and the Parks and Recreation Board. The Senate also received House Concurrent Resolution 22, which had been enrolled and signed, and the President signed it for return to the House. Three new bills were introduced and sent to the Judiciary and Rules Committee for printing: Senate Bill 1228, which would make freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity a civil right; Senate Bill 1229, revising election provisions for single-county-wide highway district commissioners; and Senate Bill 1230, revising alcoholic beverage application and license fee provisions. The Senate then adjourned by motion until 11 a.m. Monday, January 26, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't want to waste any time.

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• People are just living on a boat out there and dumping their trash and their waste.

Bills: HB4538 , HCR89 , HCR142 , SCR1 , SB2139

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: vessel registration, derelict vessels, waterways, removal fee, Parks and Wildlife Department, General Land Office, HCR 89, official state gun, cannon, Texas state symbol, Texas Revolution, Battle of Gonzales, Come and Take It, Alamo, San Jacinto, Twin Sisters, Angelina Eberly, Texas history, historical preservation, heritage tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• Use it or lose it because both sides abuse the appraisal process right now and waste litigation time.

Bills: HB345 , HB721 , HB2580 , SB815 , HB3057 , HB4603 , HB3233 , SB495 , HB3863 , HB3914 , HB4570 , HB5099 , HB5173 , SB458

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: insurance, appraisal process, disputed losses, residential property, policyholder rights, insurer obligations, natural disasters, appraisal expenses, umpire selection, policyholder, insurer, umpire, claims management, health care, cost disclosure, benefit plan, administrators, traumatic brain injury, health benefit plans, insurance coverage