Transcript Highlights:

• However, Technology is evolving. The investment landscape is shifting.
• As a prudent investor, we are always paying attention to these developments.
• We have led the way in technologies like fracking in the oil and gas sector.
• the defense industry, aerospace and space exploration, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology
• Autonomous platforms are strengthening security through development of new technologies, leading space

Bills: SB 21, SB 72, SB 140, SB 262, SB 370, SB 372, SB 495, SB 627, SB 703, SB 764, SB 842

Keywords: cryptocurrency, bitcoin, investment reserve, economic resilience, financial security, vehicle rental, damage waiver, consumer rights, business regulations, refund policy, telephone solicitation, telemarketing, text message marketing, SMS marketing, robotext, spam text, consumer protection, deceptive trade practices, DTPA, Business & Commerce Code

Transcript Highlights:

• And technology projects at the community colleges.
• First we have the literacy instruction professional development investment.
• Along with the English Language Arts, English Language Development, or ELE, ELD framework.
• The trailer bill language is modeled after the professional development included in AB 1454.
• And then providers around ELA and English language development and then stand up?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:10:34.319> feasible<04:10:34.720> and technologically feasible and technologically
• efficiency technologies. efficiency technologies.
• New standards must be technologically feasible and economically justified.
• And over time, technology has improved time and time again.
• time<04:41:40.718> and<04:41:40.878> time technology has improved time and time technology

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and Emerging Technologies until March 6, 2026, within which time to make its final report on current
• Senate documents relative to economic development and emerging technology matters, reports recommend
• and emergency technology matters.
• Of many conversations about what's happening in the Economic Development Committee, and specifically
• about this extension order, which involves a very large piece of economic development legislation with

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a campaign finance and ballot question transparency bill, taking up a series of amendments. Several amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on safety-based redactions, standardized valuation/liability reporting, higher contribution limits, municipal ballot question reporting, tax-exempt entities in ballot campaigns, and post-election audits for all statewide elections. Amendments by Senators Rausch and DiDomenico were adopted, including late contribution reporting and retroactive reporting with an emergency preamble. Senator Feingold’s amendment to prohibit pay-per-signature arrangements for petition gathering was also adopted after a roll call vote. The bill, Senate No. 2898, An Act improving campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees, was then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The Senate next took up Senate No. 2903, An Act honoring Blue Star families, which would provide specialty license plates at no charge to the parent, child, or spouse of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Senators spoke in support, emphasizing the sacrifice of officers and their families, including the recent funeral of Officer Stephen LaPorteur. The bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed by a 38-0 vote. The chamber also approved several committee extension orders. These extended deadlines for the Committees on Aging and Independence, Education, Public Service, and Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, with members noting the limited number of bills and the need for additional time to complete review, cost analysis, or respond to commission reports. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., dispensed with printing a calendar, and adjourned in memory of Stuart H. Altman.

Transcript Highlights:

• AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WITH STRONG BACKGROUNDS IN CAREER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
• WE HAVE DEVELOPED A FIREARM CURRICULUM AND WE HAVE BEEN PILOTING THAT AND DOING SAMPLES WITH GROUPS OF
• IT IS COOL BECAUSE OF THE TECHNOLOGY OF IT.
• IT'S IN A PILOT PHASE NOW BUT THE CURRICULUM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.
• THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR IT WENT THROUGH RULE DEVELOPMENT.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:12:01.520> and and economic development and and economic development and transmission<
• if if there's a new housing development if if there's a new housing development in<01:23:34.400>
• <01:39:41.040> and construction folks and developers and construction folks and developers
• <02:01:43.199> technology<02:01:44.480> it's right or an alternative technology it's
• The developer will include a well.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're focusing this interim on the economic development tax expenditures. on the economic development
• and Development Credit, the Laboratory Partnership with Small Business Credit and the Technology Readiness
• We've got our three tech credits. the Technology Jobs and Research and Development Credit, which supports
• technology-based businesses doing research and development by providing a credit of up to five percent
• Economic development or not.

Transcript Highlights:

• Commerce and Consumer Protection in a joint committee hearing with the Hawaii State Senate Labor and Technology
• Okay, for the committee on labor and technology, same recommendation as CPN to pass with amendments.
• Okay. for the committee on labor<00:04:56.720> and<00:04:56.960> technology.
• <00:04:57.680> Same labor and technology. Same labor and technology.
• been with evolution of technology been with evolution of technology changing<00:43:53.359> technology

Bills: SB3326, SB2911

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, intoxicating liquor, direct shipment, breweries, distilleries, Hawaii, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard SB 3001 on artificial intelligence in a joint Commerce and Consumer Protection/Labor and Technology hearing. Testimony included support from the Department of Education and Google, comments from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office, and late opposition from Agentic LLC. The Attorney General raised constitutional and vagueness concerns and suggested clarifying amendments, while Google said the bill’s risk-based approach and proposed amendments could help establish industry-wide safety standards for minors. The committees recessed and then voted to pass SB 3001 with amendments, adopting DCCA/OCP recommendations on data minimization for minors and UDAP clarity, the Attorney General’s proposed clarifications and deletions, and Google’s nonconflicting amendments; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. The vote passed unanimously among members present, with some members excused. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then took up several previously heard measures in decision-making. SB 2045 on combat sports passed with amendments reflecting DCCA and boxing commission recommendations, including clarifying the on-site medical professional requirement, reporting duties, promoter payment, removal of the combat sports registry and ambulance requirement, and other technical changes; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. SP 2347 on the residential landlord-tenant code passed with amendments striking landlord requirements so OCP could work on a multilingual tenant-rights notice, and SP 2495 on consumer protection passed with amendments requiring OCP to publish an annual report on potential code violations. SB 2777 on insurance was deferred to February 17, 2026 for further decision-making. At a later CPN decision-making agenda, SB 2471 and SB 2829, both relating to the powers of artificial persons, passed with amendments clarifying the preamble, removing language about foreign artificial persons, and making other consistency and non-substantive changes; both effective dates were moved to January 1, 2027. SP 2033 on renewable energy also passed with amendments clarifying the definition of grid-ready homes, cost-sharing provisions, applicability to interconnecting customers, and safety/certification compliance, with the effective date deferred to July 1, 2050. In each case, the committee voted to adopt the recommendations without objections from members present. The committees also heard SB 3000 on insurance, which would authorize the Attorney General to bring civil actions to recover costs and losses tied to climate-attributable harm and future climate risk, including costs incurred by state insurance-related entities. The Insurance Division and Attorney General’s office offered comments seeking clarification and warning about redundancy, implementation issues, possible representation of private insurers, and concurrent litigation concerns. Supporters, including the Center for Climate Integrity, a resident testifier, Sierra Club, and Green America, argued the bill would help shift insurance costs to fossil fuel companies responsible for climate harms and address rising premiums and nonrenewals in Hawaii. Opponents, including the American Petroleum Institute, argued the bill singled out one industry, raised constitutional concerns, and should be deferred because related climate litigation is already pending. The transcript ends with the committee continuing testimony and discussion on SB 3000 and then moving into SB 3326 on energy, where the consumer advocate and Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill’s proposed separation of generation from transmission and distribution, while the PUC stood on written testimony, Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported it, and Life of the Land raised concerns about assumptions and the need for more substance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jim Wood here on behalf of Fireicide, a technology-based wildfire risk management company, in support
• The development of auditing standards by the Attorney Thank you. mechanism, third-party audits, the development
• Today, we are, I would argue, living and witnessing the most substantial advent of technology on the
• And that is the rapid evolution of some of the most powerful technology ever...
• What happened to the country that put people on the moon with 1960s technology?

Summary: The committee heard several bills. SB 911, by Senator Becker, would require notification and verification of defensible-space compliance when homes in high wildfire severity zones are transferred, using the preliminary change of ownership report; supporters said it would improve wildfire resilience and insurance availability, while county assessors opposed the use of the PCOR and urged a different recorded document. Members generally supported the bill but raised concerns about the 12-month compliance window and the need to keep working with assessors; the bill was held pending a quorum and later placed on call. SB 1016, by Senator Blakespear, would create a pathway for a higher-level mental health evaluation when a Care Court petition is dismissed because the person is too ill to participate or otherwise needs more intensive care. Supporters, including psychiatrists, family members, and local officials, said Care Court is leaving many severely ill people untreated and that the bill would connect them to existing LPS processes. Opponents, including Disability Rights California, county behavioral health directors, counties, and other advocacy groups, argued it would expand involuntary detention, bypass existing pre-petition screening safeguards, and undermine Care Court’s voluntary nature. The bill passed the committee on a roll call vote and was placed on call. SB 1112, by Senator Archuleta, would create a faster court process for victims of illegal or excessive “bandit towing” to recover their vehicles by posting a bond and obtaining a release certificate. Support came from Enterprise Mobility and the author, who said the bill targets bad actors and helps equalize leverage for vehicle owners; the California Auto Body Association sought an amendment to exclude auto repair shops. The committee passed the bill as amended to Appropriations and placed it on call. SB 1119, by Senator Padilla, would impose child-safety requirements on AI chatbots, including risk assessments, crisis-response protocols, parental controls, limits on time and data use, reporting, audits, and a private right of action. The bill was driven by testimony from the mother of a teenager who died by suicide after prolonged chatbot interactions; industry and business groups opposed or sought amendments, citing overlap with recent law, vague standards, and prescriptive design mandates. Members expressed strong support for the bill’s goals while urging tighter definitions, and the bill was moved on a roll call vote and placed on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• To power the development of a technology that has absolutely zero clear benefit for the working class
• power this technology. power this technology.
• > technology<02:12:30.719> that<02:12:31.040> has the development of a technology
• that has the development of a technology that has absolutely<02:12:32.000> zero<02:12:32.400>
• And if we develop want to develop wind.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We put $79.3 million in workforce development capitalization incentive grant funds to our public schools
• needs, along with an additional $48.5 million in the back of the bill to continue development of the
• The budget also addresses a range of operational technology and workload needs for entities under the
• The Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Budget includes a lot of important issues to help
• And our staff, the chairs, and Chair Hooper, it's just fantastic to watch the development process over

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we've heard about the incoherence, LCAP versus planning purposes, timing, technological solutions
• At the same time, the Legislature at that time entrusted the State Board of Education with developing
• And then we begin to develop action plans and present those at the board level.
• And I think if we have better technology and use it, we could do that.
• We should invest in our data systems to bring our technology into the 21st century.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on coherence in California’s education planning and reporting systems, especially the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and related grant plans. Committee chairs and members described widespread frustration with duplicative, lengthy, and sometimes conflicting reporting requirements, while emphasizing that the goal was not to reduce accountability but to make planning more useful, stable, and student-centered. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond also previewed the Governor’s education budget priorities, including expanded learning, community schools, universal transitional kindergarten, literacy supports, and concerns about the proposed Prop. 98 deferral. Panelists from the State Board of Education, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office said the LCAP was intended to balance local flexibility with statewide transparency, but has become overloaded by repeated revisions and additional requirements. They argued for fewer core reporting elements, more stability over time, better alignment of planning cycles, and integrated systems that reduce duplication. Fresno County staff described a multi-year calendar and support tools that help districts manage timelines, but said these tools only ease the burden rather than solve the underlying problem. The LAO noted that some newer plans, such as expanded learning and transportation plans, are narrative-heavy and often less informative than separate reporting requirements. Local district leaders and county officials described the practical effects of the current system: staff time diverted from instruction, multiple portals and forms, audit risk aversion, and planning documents that can exceed 100 pages. Several superintendents said coherent systems work best when districts have clear priorities, stable governance, and aligned budgets, and when state requirements are predictable and tied to outcomes like literacy, attendance, and student achievement. The California Federation of Teachers added that coherence also depends on meaningful collaboration with educators, classified staff, parents, and communities. Committee members repeatedly asked whether the state should streamline reporting, create a uniform portal, or develop a more unified grant-reporting structure, and Thurmond said the department was piloting a simplified common form and was willing to work with the Legislature and districts on broader solutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's some other smaller technology updates and things that we're also in the process of doing.
• Technology will be a part of that. But again, technology is not going to solve the problem.
• And we have a similar document on the, that we developed from the governor's child welfare task force
• I think in the coming months, we have a lot of things around foster care. early childhood development
• I'm not aware of any specific apps or sort of technology that we've deployed or are in the process of

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That can be used for professional development.
• development.
• On the professional development side, I want to acknowledge I don't know.
• Workforce development is always hard. We can never develop it... Long-range view.
• Workforce development is always hard.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance met for its annual Proposition 98 overview, with Chair Alvarez outlining the committee’s focus on K-12 funding, student outcomes, and use of one-time funds. Superintendent Tony Thurmond gave an update on education issues, including wildfire recovery support for affected school communities, ongoing concerns about federal threats to education funding and immigration enforcement, progress on literacy and math, dual-language immersion, educator housing, and support for dual enrollment. Members broadly expressed support for these priorities, while also raising concerns about implementation, funding stability, and the need for schools to remain safe places for students. The committee then reviewed the Governor’s Proposition 98 proposal. The Department of Finance said the 2025-26 Proposition 98 guarantee is projected at $118.9 billion, with higher revenues and TK-related rebenching driving the increase. The LAO said the budget adds about $7.5 billion over two years and discussed the volatility of the guarantee, especially in 2024-25, when changes in revenue could have an outsized effect on school funding. Members questioned the proposed $1.6 billion delayed settle-up payment, the legal basis for delaying it, and the impact of possible federal funding freezes. The LAO presented alternatives such as a reserve deposit or delayed disbursement, while Finance said the proposal is intended to manage uncertainty. Members also raised concerns that ethnic studies implementation was not funded in the January budget, and Finance said the administration was not proposing funding for it. The committee next heard on the Proposition 98 rainy day fund and education deferrals. Finance said the reserve would receive a mandatory deposit of about $1.2 billion in 2024-25 and a discretionary deposit of $376 million in 2025-26, leaving a balance of about $1.5 billion. The LAO supported rebuilding the reserve as a way to manage volatility. On deferrals, Finance described the Governor’s plan to eliminate remaining deferrals by 2025-26, and the LAO said paying them off improves cash flow and budget resilience. Members generally supported eliminating deferrals and rebuilding reserves, though some asked about acting earlier if revenues allow. The committee also reviewed the proposed $1.8 billion student support and professional development block grant; Finance said it would fund professional development, recruitment and retention, and dual enrollment, while the LAO recommended clearer language on local discretion and use for one-time costs. Members were divided, with some supporting flexibility and others warning that one-time block grants can create instability and confusion for districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll send help up if you need help with the technology. Yeah, none of these adapters work.
• yeah none of these with the technology yeah none of these um<00:04:02.519> the<00:04:02.720><
• It takes a little more effort and time for the school social worker to develop those connections, but
• <00:26:33.559> you ways to really have that developed you ways to really have that developed
• <01:40:51.840> of support the literacy development of support the literacy development of

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The loan to the Office of State Technology will be used to make major improvements to information technology
• They will also fund a program to develop a credentialing pathway for high school faculty.
• "I have some of the same concerns that Chairman Wardlaw has about the human development centers.
• I have one in my district, Booneville Human Development Center.
• "That are at these human development centers?" "Yes, sir.

Summary: The committee considered a series of appropriation, fund transfer, and reserve requests across multiple agencies. Section B temporary appropriations included funding for state technology upgrades, personnel management staffing and IT skills assessment, court reporters and interpreters, crime victim claims, juvenile sex offender assessments, radiation lab testing, and higher education workforce grants and credentialing pathways. Additional items covered an ARPA grant for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith LPN program, an IIJA grant for the Oil and Gas Commission’s critical minerals work, a restricted reserve transfer for State Police vehicle purchases, a transfer to the Arkansas Heroes Program, and cash fund requests for the Real Estate Commission’s AV system and HVAC work. Most of these items were approved by voice vote. One budget classification transfer request from the Commissioner of State Lands drew extended questioning and was ultimately not approved. Members questioned the $250,000 transfer to operating expenses tied to the purchase of a West Little Rock office building, the ongoing lease costs at the prior location, and whether the agency had adequately planned for building-related expenses. After discussion, the motion failed, and members told the agency to tighten spending and return if needed. The committee then took up 15 pay plan appropriation requests totaling $25.7 million and approved them after discussion with DFA, DHS, Corrections, and the State Board of Election Commissioners. Members focused heavily on DHS staffing shortages at human development centers, where officials said vacancies and turnover were driven by overtime and burnout rather than pay alone; one member asked DHS to submit a written plan to address the issue. Corrections reported the pay plan had improved hiring and retention. The committee also approved overtime appropriations for Emergency Management and Military. Reports on reserve funds, the Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, tobacco settlement, State Central Services, Education Adequacy, Medicaid Trust, IIJA, and revenue transfer activity were received. The Medicaid Trust Fund report prompted significant concern about February’s $90 million draw; DHS said the month was unusually high because of cash-flow timing and that the fund should end the year with a balance between $150 million and $200 million, while lawmakers noted a second $100 million set-aside is planned for FY27. The final discussion centered on DHS’s state hospital damage claim and reconstruction funding, where members expressed disappointment that insurance reimbursement would likely return only about $1.8 million now and possibly about $97,000 more later, far less than the roughly $5 million initially expected. DHS explained the policy was based on actual cash value and depreciation for old buildings, and said the work would proceed on Unit 3 for secured restoration because it was the most cost-effective option.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:24:47.960> and protected by robust technological and protected by robust technological
• <01:37:03.159> vov<01:37:03.679> Tech lead to technology vov Tech lead to technology
• technological innovation and ultimately technological innovation and ultimately bigger<01:37:07.040
• could be independently developed could be independently developed schedule<04:20:56.279> um
• um using the cost information developed um using the cost information developed an an an overall

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Commerce Committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 310, sponsored by Representative Keith Ammon, which would create a study commission to develop a legal framework for stable tokens and tokenized real-world assets. Ammon described stable tokens as blockchain-based digital tokens backed by U.S. dollars or treasuries, and tokenized real-world assets as representations of ownership in items such as gold, real estate, or artwork. He said the bill is intended to help New Hampshire get ahead of emerging financial markets while waiting to see how federal legislation develops. Committee members asked about the purpose of the bill, the difference between this proposal and Bitcoin, whether state regulation could be preempted by federal law, and whether the commission could be balanced and avoid becoming a vehicle for fraud or money laundering. Ammon said the proposal is blockchain-agnostic, could apply to multiple networks, and is meant to regulate asset-backed tokens rather than create a state-issued coin. He emphasized that the state would not be guaranteeing the underlying assets, but would set rules requiring audits, proof of reserves, and honest representation of backing, with the Secretary of State’s securities office involved in oversight. Several members raised concerns about the risks of stablecoins, including money laundering, tax evasion, and possible harm to the dollar or confusion about whether the state was endorsing a new currency. Ammon responded that the bill would not undermine the dollar and argued that tokenization could actually expand demand for U.S. currency by making it easier to use globally. He also said the state would not be in the business of weighing assets or directly valuing them, only ensuring a valid audit trail and one-to-one backing. The discussion ended with general agreement that the subject is complex and that a commission could help develop future legislation, but no vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• ULTIMATELY THESE TECHNOLOGIES WILL BE DESIGNED BY HUMAN BEINGS.
• THE TECHNOLOGY MAY CHANGE, THE WINDOW DRESSING MAY BE DIFFERENT, BUT HUMAN NATURE IS WHAT IT IS.
• SOME HAVE EVEN SUGGESTED THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL DISPLACE HUMAN BEINGS.
• WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY THAT NEW TECHNOLOGY DEVELOP MORALLY AND ETHICALLY BUT WE WANT TO ENFORCE AMERICAN
• WE WELCOME TECHNOLOGIES THAT ENHANCE THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE BUT NOT THOSE PURPORTING TO SUPPLANT IT.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• buildings, approximately $29 million from the State Aviation Fund to aid in planning, constructing, developing
• And, you know, under the provisions number two it says that it continues to declare science, technology
• , engineering, mathematics, and workforce... ...It continues to declare science, technology, engineering
• party from attempting to enter into a contract with a state agency for electronic or information technology
• party from attempting to enter into a contract with a state agency for electronic or information technology

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With the advancement of faxing technology, e-filing, and e-mail, these provisions are no longer necessary
• We now... electronic... technology is so good that that's just not needed and nobody's doing it anyway
• And this bill is one that we've had in here before and it has to do with outdated technology business
• I teach genetics in the law, disabilities in the law. and a seminar on new health technologies.
• This vaccine was developed using mRNA technology.

Bills: SB 53, SB53, SB125, SB315, SB379, SB457, SB541, SB599, SB896, SB921, SB963, SB1038, SB1084, SB1330, SB1461

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements, mental health, court proceedings, notice requirements, legal filings, electronic documents, autologous blood donation, direct blood donation, blood bank, hospital, Health and Safety Code, physician order, preoperative blood donation, patient blood reserve, transfusion, surgery