Transcript Highlights:

• That brings us to a legislative update. And so I will return it over to Mr.
• Gerenhardt for our legislative update. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• So, 2026 legislative update.
• Then we also had Senate Bill 699 from Senator Eben, which was also studied.
• And I'm happy to work with any of the legislators.

Keywords: Freedom of Information Advisory Council, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They've no longer even the legislator that worked hard to get here. And the path.
• Even the legislator that worked hard to get here. And the path and the work was actually ugly.
• She will begin her master's program at New Mexico Highlands University in the fall of ...studies.
• She mentors peers, participates in study groups, and strives to build community wherever she can.
• She mentors peers, participates in study groups, and strives to build community wherever she can.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been the way legislation should be handled.
• There's independent studies. There's homeschooling.
• There's independent studies. There's homeschooling.
• What this legislation is seeking to do is very clearly denote that the intent of the legislation is to
• intent behind the original legislation.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, beginning with housekeeping items and the adoption of a four-bill consent calendar. Bills on the consent calendar included AB 476 on metal theft, AB 619 on California Conservation Corps training for formerly incarcerated people, AB 1192 on child abuse or neglect reporting, and AB 1239 on human trafficking data. Several bills were pulled by the authors before hearing, and the committee also announced that AB 379 would be heard with a file notice waiver and AB 63 would be for testimony only. The most extensive discussion was on AB 366, which would require ignition interlock devices for anyone convicted of DUI. The author, Senator Archuleta, and a MADD representative gave emotional testimony about family members killed by drunk drivers and argued the bill would save lives. Support came from law enforcement, fire, medical, auto club, and safety groups. Opposition from public defenders and criminal justice advocates focused on loss of judicial discretion, costs for low-income drivers, and concerns about vendor oversight and effectiveness. The committee voted to pass AB 366 as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1380, which would create a permanent pathway into firefighting careers for formerly incarcerated people who served on Cal Fire hand crews. The author and supporters said the bill would recognize service, improve reentry, and reduce recidivism; a fire labor group withdrew its opposition after amendments were discussed. The measure passed to Appropriations, though it remained on call pending one additional vote. AB 461, which would remove criminal penalties for parents of truant K-8 students and replace them with supportive responses, drew broad support from education and justice advocates but no opposition testimony; it was also passed to Appropriations and left on call pending one more vote. ACR 60, recognizing the Downey Police Department’s special-needs communication program for interactions with people with disabilities or sensory challenges, was adopted unanimously. The committee then heard AB 746 on creating an inmate cooperative program and a green reentry reserve for incarcerated workers. Supporters said it would build job skills, dignity, and reentry success; there was no opposition testimony. The bill passed to Appropriations and was left on call pending votes. Finally, AB 379 on human trafficking drew strong support from survivor advocates, law enforcement, and local officials for creating a survivor services fund and targeting buyers, but also strong opposition from survivors and civil liberties groups who warned it would criminalize vulnerable people and revive harmful loitering enforcement. The committee discussion continued with members weighing survivor support, public safety tools, and concerns about the bill’s amendments and scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• We urgently need this legislation backing to thrive.
• And a surprise to many. is not legislation that I can stand behind.
• This legislation establishes hours of operations for booting companies.
• And legislation is actively pending in 12 additional states.
• The very first veto of the legislative session.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Public Higher Education Study Committee, a regular meeting, and we're meeting here in Room
• Those data come in through that self-study and that review process.
• <01:07:10.000> let's than uh someone in women's studies let's than uh someone in women's studies
• Every data, every study I've negative.
• been told there'd be no legislative been told there'd be no legislative mileage<01:40:20.320>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• Research studies.
• Are you familiar with this legislation?
• And how does this help that it's a piece of legislation?
• And I do support the legislation, or I am going to support the legislation.
• Given the widespread also resistance within, by many legislators to resist... ...within by many legislators

Summary: The House met on June 30, 2026, with opening ceremonies, guest introductions, a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence for two deceased community members. Members also adopted Consent Calendar 29, which included House Concurrent Resolutions 153, 154, and 156, and passed House Concurrent Resolution 157 directing the State Lottery to report on iLottery options to support traditional lottery retailers, as amended to set a February 15, 2027 reporting deadline. The chamber then considered several bills on agriculture, telecommunications, health, fire service standards, corrections, elections, and education. Among the measures passed were Senate Bill 53 on the Delaware Farm to Community Program, Senate Bill 307 on PSC authority for Lifeline telecom carriers, Senate Bill 339 clarifying advance health care directives, Senate Bill 235 extending manufactured home rent increase rules, Senate Bill 325 updating firefighter/EMS background check and membership standards, Senate Bill 309 discharging incarceration-related balances, Senate Bill 324 on constable-related handgun purchase exemptions, Senate Bill 94 on respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication access, and Senate Bill 293 creating a licensure pathway for summer camp providers in the Purchase of Care program. The House also passed Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment to protect the right to marry regardless of race or gender while explicitly preserving religious freedom. The bill drew extended debate, with supporters framing it as a safeguard against future rollbacks of marriage equality and opponents raising concerns about constitutionalizing an issue already in statute; several members explained changed votes and personal reflections before the final roll call, which passed 28-12. House Bill 188, which would allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary, also passed after amendment, despite some opposition over party-system effects. Two measures were tabled or amended after debate: Senate Bill 233 on removing snow and ice from vehicles was initially tabled to consider a truck-driver exemption amendment, then the amendment failed and the bill later passed as amended; and Senate Joint Resolution 19 on studying health care costs was tabled briefly pending legal clarification. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404, creating a three-year pilot program for AI and extended reality in schools, passed after testimony from the Department of Education emphasizing guardrails, data privacy, and teacher oversight. The transcript ends as House Bill 478 is being read in, but no final action on that bill appears in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• > sufficient<00:39:56.640> to Uh is this legislation sufficient to Uh is this legislation
• location for for this legislation. location for for this legislation.
• <02:21:05.600> I I think moving into interim study. I I think moving into interim study.
• think that with the intimate study think that with the intimate study committee,<02:24:03.520>
• interim studying. interim studying.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I oppose the interim study approach.
• I oppose the interim study approach.
• the interim study. the interim study.
• We want to we want to we want to study We want to we want to we want to study it<02:12:14.320>
• interim study passes. interim study passes.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:01:01.359> and uh this is an example of a study and uh this is an example of a study and
• about um two particular research studies about um two particular research studies that<01:02:22.400
• The study involves screening for risk.
• a<01:02:54.720> pediatric This study also supports a pediatric This study also supports
• So those are two studies that we wanted to highlight in addition to Dr. Durban's study.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met in person, approved the October 15 minutes, and began with a moment of silence following a Louisville UPS plane explosion that was described as a local tragedy affecting many families and first responders. The main presentation was an overview of Kentucky’s Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NMT) program from the Department for Medicaid Services and the Transportation Cabinet. Witnesses explained that NMT is a federally required Medicaid benefit, administered by the Transportation Cabinet under a risk-based capitated model, with eligibility limited to Medicaid members traveling to medically necessary, Medicaid-covered services and who lack access to other transportation. They also described exclusions, including certain KCHIP, QMB, and PACE members, and outlined the brokered regional structure, call center operations, scheduling rules, vehicle and driver oversight, complaint handling, and rider surveys. The presenters reported that NMT handled more than 3.1 million trips in state fiscal year 2024, with over 1.38 million trips already recorded in October, and said customer satisfaction surveys were high. They said the FY 2025-26 contract total is about $360.6 million, with monthly per-member capitation rates set by region through an actuarial process and approved by CMS. They emphasized that payments are tied to monthly Medicaid enrollment and that the state draws down federal funds for the exact amount paid, with no leftover balance. They also said most NMT use comes from adult day centers and rehabilitative care such as dialysis. Members questioned the witnesses about how quality metrics and contract standards are set, whether the state had explored alternatives such as Uber Health or other integrated models, and how utilization was calculated. The witnesses said contract requirements are developed collaboratively by Medicaid Services, the Transportation Cabinet, and other agencies, and that studies of other models generally found higher costs and lower approval ratings, with additional research on a hybrid model expected by the end of the year. They clarified that one figure reflected the share of Medicaid members with registered vehicles, while another reflected actual NMT users, and they defended the capitated structure as shifting financial risk to brokers rather than the state. Representative Fleming also raised concerns about oversight, reporting, and the apparent gap between budgeted and contracted amounts, asking whether any unused funds would return to general funds; the discussion ended before a final answer was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• On this March 1st, we are beginning the final third of our 60-day legislative session. legislative session
• House Memorial 47, introduced by Representatives Moya and Baca, requests the Legislative Education Study
• Committee to study public school employee compensation.
• Education Study Committee to convene a task force to study the feasibility of making all educational
• Speaker and gentlelady, what I understand also from this legislation is that this legislation is also

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:19.160> have disparity more recent Studies have disparity more recent Studies have
• <00:29:58.240> to is the only or one of the few studies to is the only or one of the few studies
• <00:54:39.839> is first as we've the legislation is first as we've the legislation is relatively
• <00:54:54.160> Clarity MSA is looking for legislative Clarity MSA is looking for legislative
• The AG decided to do an expansive thing on child abuse legislation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:27:07.280> The study really tells us a lot. The study really tells us a lot.
• Assisted living facility licensure and disability waiver rate study and also requires draft legislation
• studying the funding stream of it. studying the funding stream of it.
• I believe I've already mentioned this, but it's customized living study and draft legislation.
• living study and draft legislation.<02:16:33.040> Um,<02:16:33.679> so<02:16:34.000>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I call it an active study.
• I call it an active study.
• Representative Duane Burns started that comprehensive legislation.
• That were representing that area during that legislative session.
• Much of our legislation is done in piecemeal.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 5695, which would create the Sayers Ranch Municipal Utility District in Bastrop County between Elgin and Bastrop. Representative Gurdis said Bastrop County commissioners unanimously supported the district. There was no public testimony, the bill was left pending, and later reported favorably to the full House on an 8-0 vote. The main debate centered on Senate Bill 291, which would require condemning entities to pay landowner attorney’s fees if they fail to provide 10 years of appraisal reports with an initial offer in an eminent domain case. Supporters, including Rita Beving and Charles Maley, argued the bill would add an enforcement mechanism and better protect landowners in a process they described as intimidating and lopsided. Opponents, including Tom Zabel and Lisa Kaufman, said current law already provides a remedy through abatement and attorney’s fees under Section 21.047 of the Property Code, and warned the bill could create inconsistency, delay public infrastructure projects, and increase costs. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 5699, a simple MUD boundary change in Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 405 that would allow a tract to leave one district and join another. Representative Schofield said the landowner and district agreed to the change and to pay the tract’s share of debt. The committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably on an 8-0 vote. Later, the committee considered House Bill 5489, which would impose a four-year moratorium on impact fees. Representative Dyson framed it as an “active study” to test whether impact fees raise housing costs. College Station officials and other opponents argued impact fees help fund infrastructure for growth and that local governments should retain control; supporters said the fees are regressive and add to housing prices. The bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 292, which would update the Landowner Bill of Rights to add information on surveys, require separate offers for property not sought in condemnation, and require the rights document to be delivered with the initial offer. Supporters said it would improve transparency and fill gaps in the current document, while opponents said it was unnecessary because the law already exists and warned against revisiting a 2021 compromise. The transcript ends during that discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Anita Lee Legislative Analysis Office.
• Caitlin O'Neill with the Legislative Analyst. Office.
• I'm Anita Lee with the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Including those to implement recently enacted legislation.
• Proposals for implementing the legislation.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The MTCA has identified priority issues for the 194th legislative session, and we have submitted written
• There are other questions on the legislation. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it. Sure.
• And one study I saw showed that translated ballots can actually lead to a 10% increase in local turnout
• And in 30 years, when children are studying... ...understand, even a proficient English reader.
• And in 30 years, when children are studying...

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on several election-related bills, with most testimony focused on voting access, ballot administration, and election procedures. Senator Driscoll testified for S. 509, a Randolph home rule petition to require bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole, and Randolph officials and community members strongly supported it, saying it would improve access, confidence, and participation for Haitian Creole speakers. Other speakers, including advocates and residents, described language barriers as a form of voter suppression and urged favorable action. Leader Donato testified on H. 822, which would remove the word “physical” from the absentee voting disability standard, and on a bill to raise the signature threshold for creating political designations and allow dormant designations to be dissolved. Senator Rausch testified on several bills, including one expanding the State Ballot Law Commission’s jurisdiction over presidential primary candidate placement and a broader elections infrastructure bill that would change registration deadlines, primary dates, reporting systems, ballot design, mail voting procedures, and voter outreach. Representative Cattelda also testified on a bill to rename the ballot title for governor’s councilor to “governor’s counselor.” The Massachusetts Town Clerks Association, through Tom Joyce and Ben Kaufman, said it supported a number of the bills and offered local election administration expertise. Former Representative Lenny Mera and Sandra Cato testified for S. 536, a bill on accountability for defective and spoiled ballots, citing a disputed 2022 Revere recount and arguing that spoiled ballots should be documented and publicly inspectable so improperly rejected ballots are not lost. Emma Chinman of Partners in Democracy supported multiple reforms, including the elections infrastructure bill and a bill allowing unenrolled voters to serve on boards of registrars. After testimony concluded, the committee accepted written testimony by email and then adjourned without taking any votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• State law prohibits persons in the gallery from interfering with legislative proceedings or disrupting
• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal. arrests or other appropriate legal
• Please help me in welcoming Miguel to the legislative floor. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• It was there that she met my dad, who was studying for his bachelor's degree.
• Jim began his collegiate studies at Langston University.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• programs by initiating rate studies programs by initiating rate studies along<01:15:51.800> with
• <01:16:00.440> we recommendations from those studies we recommendations from those studies
• Plymouth State University I'm studying Plymouth State University I'm studying political<02:18:29.000
• <02:55:16.600> education coordinator of social studies education coordinator of social studies
• the next generation of social studies the next generation of social studies teachers<02:55:33.520

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee opened a public hearing on House Bills 1 and 2, which concern the governor’s proposed FY 2026-2027 budget. The chair explained that the committee must fit the budget to House Ways and Means revenue, which is about $800 million below the governor’s estimate in an almost $16 billion budget. He also noted a projected current-budget overspend, the impact of recently passed legislation, possible fee updates, no new tax proposals at that time, and the importance of federal funding and Medicaid stability. Testimony was limited to three minutes, with the chair asking speakers to avoid duplication. Much of the testimony focused on Medicaid, disability services, and home- and community-based care. Speakers urged the committee to restore or protect funding for transportation, Medicaid, day programs, in-home supports, and behavioral health services. Several individuals and providers described how cuts would affect people with disabilities, medically fragile children, and families who rely on services to remain employed and avoid institutional care. A home care provider argued that a proposed 3% Medicaid cut would increase hospitalizations and costs, while a behavioral health representative asked for sustainable Medicaid rates, uncompensated care support, housing resources, and continued funding for community behavioral health clinics. Another major topic was the Group II retirement provisions in HB 2 for public safety workers. Representatives from police, fire, corrections, probation/parole, and related associations testified in support, saying prior pension changes hurt recruitment and retention, pushed experienced workers to neighboring states, and should be reversed to restore promised benefits. They argued the provisions would help keep public safety careers viable and honor commitments made to first responders. An executive counselor also warned that when the state shifts costs away from itself, local property taxpayers bear the burden, and she opposed cost shifts such as Medicaid premiums and universal vouchers. A separate speaker urged funding public schools rather than universal vouchers, arguing vouchers can leave other students behind as resources are diverted.

Transcript Highlights:

• delegating their legislative powers. delegating their legislative powers.
• lines independent of state legislators. lines independent of state legislators.
• <02:12:03.760> HP1487 legislative processes stall. HP1487 legislative processes stall.
• should be submitted to the legislators. should be submitted to the legislators.
• . legislation. legislation.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:18.800> that Um it is a piece of legislation that Um it is a piece of legislation that
• > would<00:07:23.520> allow Legislation was done that would allow Legislation was done
• Um, and we this legislation through.
• not ask for this piece of legislation. not ask for this piece of legislation.
• <00:13:51.279> this kind of keep looking and studying this kind of keep looking and studying

Keywords: Universities and Colleges - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 11:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first considered a strike-all related to the Mississippi Upskill Grant Program and a K-12 bridge bill tied to CTE and special purpose schools. Members discussed the alignment of workforce and career-technical education from pre-K through higher education. Senator Hopson moved to add a reverse repealer, which was adopted, and the strike-all was then passed as amended and forwarded to appropriations. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1488, which would authorize the University of Southern Mississippi to sell or enter into a long-term lease for university property in Hattiesburg. Senator Johnson explained that the roughly 600-acre tract, gifted in the 1920s and formerly used as a golf course, has a master plan for redevelopment; the bill would streamline the sale process while preserving requirements such as two appraisals and IHL approval. After questions about the acreage and safeguards, the bill was passed as amended and sent to appropriations. Members also approved a strike-all addressing financial literacy requirements for colleges and universities, including added content on mortgages and real estate, and then passed House Bill 1495, a companion to Senate Bill 2238, allowing Mississippi State University and the Oktibbeha County school district to co-mingle funds by mutual agreement for their partnership school/high school project. Finally, House Bill 1582 on community college energy performance contracts was discussed at length; the chair said it needed further vetting by the public property committee, so the committee added a reverse repealer and passed the bill as amended. The meeting ended with a rise and report.

Transcript Highlights:

• During the 88th legislative session, we passed.
• We urgently need this legislation. ...backing to thrive.
• Surprise to many is not legislation that I can stand behind.
• This legislation establishes hours of operation for companies.
• Legislation is actively pending in 12 additional states.

Bills: HB589, HB705, HB1842, HB1874, HB2349, HB2614, HB2827, HB3012, HB3214, HB3308, HB3385, HB3529

Keywords: cosmetology, licensure, interstate compact, state regulations, public safety, workforce mobility, charitable raffles, nonprofit, wildlife conservation, ticket sales, fundraising, master electrician, electrical work, occupational licensing, work scope, Texas law, Texas Real Estate Commission, TREC, real estate broker, sales agent