Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much, my co-chair in this effort.
• We are working actively to increase harm reduction drop-in centers.
• Efforts for health care providers for three years.
• Because they actively modified or ceased their use of opioids.
• We've had some questions come up earlier around public safety and our efforts.

Keywords: 995, all

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite these efforts, Boforo was later declared deceased.
• Despite these efforts, Boforo was later declared deceased.
• Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedicated effort Mr.
• NASA has continued these activities as the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program.
• BUDGETARY BURDENS AND OPERATIONAL SECURITY RISKS AFFECTING NATIONAL DEFENSE ACTIVITIES.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• activities. ities they need to process. activities. ities they need to process.
• of the quality activities that they do. of the quality activities that they do.
• <00:49:40.400> So be spent on quality activities. So be spent on quality activities.
• child protection activity which is 4210. child protection activity which is 4210.
• . ...support the effort.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been a team effort.
• And so we'd like to see more effort in that area.
• We will accelerate efforts to repatriate all other cultural items and...
• partners in their repatriation activities... ...and effort to assist our state and federal partners
• I came to UCSD as an effort to repatriate my ancestors.

Summary: The joint hearing of the Select Committee on Native American Affairs and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee focused on the University of California’s compliance with NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA and the return of Native American human remains and cultural items. Senators and Assembly Members opened by emphasizing the sacredness of repatriation, the ongoing trauma caused by delayed returns, and the need for stronger systemwide accountability. The State Auditor presented the third audit of UC’s repatriation efforts, concluding that UC still lacks the urgency, oversight, and clear timelines needed to promptly return remains and belongings. The audit found thousands of remains and hundreds of thousands of cultural items still in UC custody, new undisclosed collections at several campuses, weak budgeting and underspending, and repatriation plans that often lacked concrete deadlines. The auditor recommended stronger UCOP oversight, performance metrics, proactive searches for undiscovered items, and possible legislative action to tie funding to measurable progress. UC officials responded that the system is committed to full compliance and has accelerated its work since adopting a new policy in 2022. UC Provost Catherine Newman said the system repatriated more than 2,800 ancestors and nearly 80,000 funerary belongings in the past year, and that UC now says 80.3% of Native American remains are either repatriated or available for repatriation. UC announced a new systemwide plan to complete repatriation of human remains by the end of 2028, to finish high-risk campus reviews by June 2026, to recall all loans by January 2026, and to require quarterly reporting to UCOP. UC also said it will spend an additional $8.8 million over three years, expand staffing, improve databases, support tribal consultation costs, and identify potential reburial sites on UC land. Berkeley and San Diego described increased staffing, consultations, and repatriation activity, while Santa Barbara said it had corrected earlier omissions, notified tribes about previously unreported ancestors, and was working toward completing repatriations and updated inventories. Committee members pressed UC on why progress has been so slow, why the audit’s timelines differed from UC’s public reporting, and whether the 2028 goal applies only to human remains rather than all cultural items. UC said the 2028 target is for human remains, while cultural items will take longer, and acknowledged that more work remains. Members also asked about the technical expertise needed for repatriation, the role of tribal experts, and whether repatriation should be embedded more permanently in UC governance or statute. Tribal leaders and representatives then testified that remains and belongings were taken without consent and must be returned with tribal consent and leadership. They criticized the repeated delays, stressed that tribes are the experts on their ancestors and cultural heritage, and urged UC to treat repatriation as a top priority and to return all associated items, not just human remains, so ancestors can truly rest.

Transcript Highlights:

• And our efforts gave us something critical, which is time.
• to organize active... ...wildlife surveillance efforts, including working with landowners to organize
• We need to put our efforts fully behind this.
• And I will say that. ...our efforts fully behind this.
• Active planning efforts for a state response, including partnering with the Texas Parks and Wildlife

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:03.839> to the college with its ongoing efforts to the college with its ongoing efforts
• <00:16:10.399> and investigation activities and investigation activities and implementing<
• c><00:16:14.720> for activities need short-term funding for activities need short-term funding
• The money this bill puts toward this effort is needed, and we are very appreciative of all your efforts
• The money this bill puts toward this effort is needed, and we are very appreciative of all your efforts

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not impact any sort of programmatic functions or activities.
• So paramount in this effort really is consumer protection.
• They're not activities. They're not money spent.
• And as was said, this has to be a team effort.
• I do appreciate all of your effort and what you're doing.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard May Revision proposals focused on housing, homelessness, and related administrative changes, and took no votes, holding items open for later action. Item 1 would realign staff positions and resources as part of the Governor’s housing and homelessness reorganization, including shifting two Cal ICH positions to HCD, moving one Cal ICH position for communications/external affairs, and authorizing a chief deputy director at the new Housing Development Finance Committee. Administration witnesses said the changes were technical and net zero-cost, while the LAO recommended approval but asked for clarification on funding for the chief deputy. Several senators questioned whether the staffing shifts would weaken Cal ICH’s homelessness work and whether adding communications capacity was appropriate without new housing funding. Item 2 proposed creating a $100 million Disaster Rebuilding Fund at CalHFA, with $56 million General Fund and $44 million in existing National Mortgage Settlement funds, to support disaster-impacted homeowners through tools such as loan loss guarantees and interest rate buy-downs. CalHFA said the fund would help homeowners bridge the gap between insurance proceeds and rebuilding costs and would work through approved lenders. The LAO raised concerns about the lack of alternatives in the proposal, the broad discretion left to CalHFA in program design, and the General Fund cost. Senators pressed for more detail on eligibility, equity safeguards, lender oversight, and how many homeowners would actually benefit, with some warning the proposal was too open-ended and could miss the most vulnerable households. Item 3 addressed trailer bill language for HAP Round 7, including a proposed $500 million General Fund allocation tied to new accountability measures, pro-housing designation requirements for 14 large cities and 11 counties, local match requirements, streamlined system performance metrics, and recapture/reallocation of unspent funds. HCD said the proposal would avoid a new application process by treating Round 7 as additional disbursements of Round 6 and would provide technical assistance to jurisdictions. The LAO and several senators questioned the timing, the burden of pro-housing designation and local match requirements, the vagueness of some standards, and whether the proposal would delay rather than speed up funding. Members also debated whether the trailer bill preserved or weakened existing homelessness accountability metrics and whether the approach was too complicated given local budget pressures and ongoing homelessness needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and, and you know what kind of shows you that they know that they're involved in criminal activity
• It's kind of been like peaks and valleys, uh, depending on our, uh, directed enforcement efforts.
• Uh, we certainly support the activity at the border and it's going to continue. We know that.
• And, uh, and you and your members report, um, transporters engaging in translating activities.
• What we're seeing here is a real effort, uh, and, and thank you, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, every time there's a fraudulent activity or wasteful activity or an abuse activity, somebody pays
• every time there's a fraudulent activity every time there's a fraudulent activity or<00:53:01.000
• :02.280> abuse or wasteful activity or an abuse or wasteful activity or an abuse activity<00:53
• fraud and for some of these activities fraud and for some of these activities DHS<01:11:48.560><
• <01:12:03.560> to DHS oig also engages in efforts to DHS oig also engages in efforts to reduce

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an introductory overview of its jurisdiction and staff roles. Nonpartisan House Research and House Fiscal staff explained that they draft bills and amendments, prepare bill summaries and background research, answer legal and fiscal questions, and help track revenue and budget effects. They also distributed a Budget Overview Brief intended to condense the larger budget materials into a more usable format for members. Staff then walked through the Human Services budget and the committee’s areas of responsibility. They described the department structure, noting that DHS oversees administration, compliance, rulemaking, and county support, and that the overall Human Services budget is large, with medical assistance as the dominant program. They also explained recent and upcoming reorganizations: many children and family-related functions are moving to the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Direct Care and Treatment is becoming its own agency, and some homelessness-related functions remain at DHS. Staff reviewed how the budget is organized by program and budget activity, the difference between direct appropriations and standing appropriations, and how forecasted programs and “tails” work in the budget process. The presentation also covered Medicaid financing and long-term care. Staff explained the federal-state FMAP match, including Minnesota’s current 51.16% federal match for most Medicaid spending, the CHIP match, and the 90% federal share for the expansion population. For long-term care, they outlined Medical Assistance services for elderly and disabled people, state-funded long-term care supports, and Board on Aging programs. They highlighted the personal care assistance program’s phaseout and replacement by Community First Services and Supports, and reviewed the five home- and community-based waivers. Members asked one question about refugee resettlement funding, specifically whether it covers flights; staff said they would need to follow up on the exact use of the federal funds. No bills were heard, and no formal votes or other committee actions were taken during this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh that particular uh effort<00:17:33.600> uh effort uh effort uh identified<00:17:36.799>
• at this point is that we're actively at this point is that we're actively working<00:38:53.200><
• We are actively working on that.
• So the drugs and related activities.
• financial activity is scattered financial activity is scattered throughout<01:04:04.640> multiple

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened by approving the September 5, 2025 minutes, with one member asking that future minutes use honorifics such as Mr. or Ms. The agenda was then adjusted so Police Standards and Training could present first. Director John Skipa reported on the 2019 performance audit, saying 12 of 16 findings were fully resolved and the remaining items were substantially or partially resolved. He highlighted work on a job task analysis to update curriculum and develop a more realistic physical aptitude test, including possible replacement of the long-used Cooper test and a shift away from mandatory baton training toward electronic weapons training. He said stakeholder work groups would meet in October and November, with a goal of completing the work by the first quarter of 2026. On the strategic planning and performance measurement finding, Skipa said the agency had relied on the 2019 audit and the LEAC report as guides while also implementing a digital records system. He acknowledged that a formal forward-looking strategic plan with the council had not yet been completed, but said he and the council chair wanted to do so, possibly through a retreat-style planning session. Members asked how many LEAC recommendations had been fully implemented; Skipa said he did not know the exact number but believed nearly all of the 22 items assigned to his agency were complete. On the administrative rules finding, he said a part-time former director had been brought back to help revise outdated rules, the council subcommittee had finished its work, and proposed changes would be sent to the full council, then to stakeholders and the public, with a public hearing expected and implementation targeted for 2026. For the Corrections Advisory Committee finding, Skipa said the committee had been reconvened in 2020 and 2021 but had limited usefulness because the statutorily named members were mostly high-level administrators rather than line supervisors or newer corrections staff. He said some positions later went unfilled because of budget and staffing issues, and the committee had not been called back, but he was open to either informal adjustments or possible legislative changes to make the committee more useful. Committee members suggested that the statute may need to be amended to allow more appropriate designees or supervisors to participate. After Police Standards and Training concluded, the committee moved on to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, where the executive director said he would focus on the partially resolved items in the dental examiner audit and the National Path audit, noting that many changes were tied to recent statutory revisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas remains an active participant.
• security efforts.
• And so you are greatly appreciated for the efforts that you make.
• I'm not saying we're duplicating efforts, but that we might be...
• That is actively being disputed. It's been to the Supreme Court.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee first heard the Legislative Budget Board and Secretary of State Jane Nelson on the Secretary of State budget. LBB said the recommendation would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million overall, with major changes including removing federal HAVA funding and one-time business system replacement money, adjusting the agency’s base request, deleting an outdated Interstate Crosscheck rider, and directing HAVA funds to be drawn down first. Secretary Nelson and staff defended the agency’s needs, emphasizing election security, business filings, international protocol, and the Texas Register, and requested additional staff, a new website, digitization of records, IT and cybersecurity upgrades, and renovation of the Rudder Building. Senators discussed voter-roll maintenance, cross-checking data, call-center response times, and the need for online voter registration and more efficient election administration. No votes were taken. The committee then took up the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB outlined a $2.4 million decrease for the office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs, driven by unexpended balances and the removal of one-time federal and border-security items, while noting continued funding for disaster response, victim assistance, and $2.9 billion for border security at roughly the prior level. Governor’s staff said Texas remains focused on border security, economic development, and public safety, and discussed efforts to seek federal reimbursement for prior border spending. Members asked about the National Guard’s status, possible federal assumption of border costs, the music incubator program, the Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, defense economic adjustment grants, and a new $5 million nonprofit security grant proposal. Staff said the semiconductor program has 12 approved projects totaling about 948 jobs and $17 billion in capital investment, and that the nonprofit security request was added late to address threats to houses of worship and other nonprofits. No formal action was taken. Finally, the committee heard the Texas Facilities Commission and lease-payment recommendations. LBB said the Facilities Commission recommendation would reduce appropriations by about $2.0 billion, mainly by removing border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, while adding money for higher utility costs, Rudder Building refurbishment, and additional staff. The lease-payment recommendation would decrease general revenue by $9.3 million. LBB also noted new riders related to completing the State Library and Archives building, tenant communication during disruptions, and a space-utilization report. In agency testimony, members asked about border wall maintenance responsibility, total facilities-related debt, and the status of capital complex construction. The Rudder Building renovation and related security needs were repeatedly discussed as important one-time infrastructure investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Examples of activities are listed on the slide and provided in Appendices C and D of the report.
• And there was, I would say, while the program was active—that is, when cohorts of students were being
• This is one that said that it didn't rise to the level of criminal activity.
• Okay, so would it be worth the effort?
• Some say no specific intent; some say couldn't rise to the level of criminal activity.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our goal at the SEC should be to facilitate those efforts.
• Since 2017, I've led industry efforts to develop best practices for the digital asset industry.
• So I applaud the committee's efforts to shine a spotlight on what has been going on for a while.
• Are you supportive of this effort to foster innovation in the U.S.
• And will you commit also to resisting any effort?

Keywords: financial regulations, SEC, Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Transit Administration, nominees, Empowering Main Street in America Act, capital formation, economic growth

Summary: The committee meeting focused on several nominees within key financial institutions, including discussions surrounding the SEC, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Comptroller of the Currency. Notable dialogue included concerns over regulatory balance, with various members emphasizing a need to streamline regulations to foster innovation while ensuring accountability and safety for investors. The importance of the proposed 'Empowering Main Street in America Act' was highlighted as a means to facilitate access to capital for small businesses, underlining the current administration's approach towards financial regulations.

Transcript Highlights:

• My amendment would expressly limit the activities of a stable coin issuer to only the activities that
• This amendment would expressly limit the activities of a stablecoin issuer to only the activities that
• So Efforts to further limit the activities of permitted payment stablecoin issuers will discourage potential
• The bill has nothing to do with any form of bank activities or revenue streams.
• It would be inappropriate to include a study on any form of bank activity in this bill.

Bills: SB875

Keywords: banking regulation, federal agencies, reputational risk, financial services, supervision, FIRM Act, bank supervision, depository institutions, federal banking agencies, FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve, NCUA, CFPB, credit unions, Operation Choke Point, financial discrimination, safety and soundness, supervisory guidance, examination manual

Summary: This meeting focused on the markup of the Genius Act and the FIRM Act, two significant pieces of legislation addressing stablecoin regulation and the financial industry's regulatory framework. The Chairman noted the importance of providing clarity to the digital asset community and protecting American consumers, while also promoting innovation and competition within the financial sector. Members of both parties expressed varying viewpoints, with some highlighting concerns related to national security and the potential risks associated with stablecoins.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that makes you active again.
• There were 34 active ones last time.
• He went from active to inactive.
• Active moved and activists from lack of activity, but even removed an active.
• them back on the active voter rolls.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Barracks renovations and modernization efforts are correcting outdated housing.
• I thank you for your support within CR25 that helps Navy's recruiting and retention efforts. as well
• So thank you for your efforts. I once was a recruiter in my former job. I know how hard that is.
• So we're actively doing that across our recruiting commands. Thank you, Admiral.
• So nascent efforts still, but trending in the right direction.

Keywords: NDAA, military recruitment, personnel readiness, testimony, military leaders

Summary: The committee meeting focused on pressing issues related to the U.S. military's recruitment and personnel strategies, especially in light of the upcoming NDAA for fiscal year 2026. Chairperson expressed appreciation for the service of witnesses including senior military leaders from different branches, emphasizing the importance of personnel as the backbone of national defense. Discussions revealed concerns regarding the recent lowering of recruitment standards across military branches, which could potentially affect the quality of service members and long-term military readiness. Witnesses were asked to address the implications of these changes on military health and efficiency.

Transcript Highlights:

• The most recent effort is to add specificity The most recent effort is to add specificity to what constitutes
• Thank you for those efforts.
• That is where the foundation has focused its efforts.
• more than $60 billion in active construction statewide.
• Activity is permissible under Texas Transportation Code 546.001.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• approve a budget that our activities approve a budget that our activities program<00:53:00.400><
• in our activities.
• add 9th grade activities to the league. add 9th grade activities to the league.
• and I'm the activities director for St. and I'm the activities director for St.
• safety of students in our activities. safety of students in our activities.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What is the effort nationally in our country to try to ban this?
• Is that an active element of the trade?
• And this is a coastwide effort.
• Bills S. 551 and H. 990 are efforts to Bills S. 551 and H. 990 are efforts to stigmatize my culture and
• as areas as preserved, would that prevent sportsmen's activity?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing covered a wide range of animal, wildlife, hunting, and environmental bills. Early testimony focused on deer management, with Rep. Markey urging creation of a deer commission to address crop damage, vehicle collisions, and Lyme disease, and Sen. Durant supporting bills to allow Sunday bow hunting, expand crossbow use, and reduce the 500-foot dwelling restriction for archery hunting. Supporters framed these measures as practical wildlife-management tools, while questions centered on how they would differ from existing Fish and Wildlife authority and whether they would allow hunting closer to residences. Later, Rep. Sena also spoke in support of a bill to increase protected wildlife management areas and another to require non-lead ammunition, arguing both would benefit biodiversity and reduce environmental harm. A substantial portion of the hearing addressed animal welfare and commerce. Multiple witnesses supported bills to ban or phase out the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops, arguing that pet stores rely on puppy mills and obscure the source of animals, while opponents said the bills would hurt responsible breeders, small businesses, and consumer choice. The committee also heard strong testimony for bills to ban the sale of cats and dogs in pet shops, with supporters citing sick animals, consumer deception, and the need to cut off the puppy mill supply chain. In a separate animal-testing segment, witnesses backed bills requiring non-animal testing methods for cosmetics and household products, saying alternatives are more accurate and humane; biomedical research representatives opposed those bills and a related research-animal measure, warning of unintended restrictions on research institutions and arguing animal models remain necessary for many studies. The committee also heard testimony on horseshoe crab conservation, with supporters of H. 898 urging an end to taking horseshoe crabs for bait because of population declines, shorebird impacts, and the species’ importance to biomedical science. On wildlife trafficking, witnesses backed bills to ban intrastate sales of ivory and rhino horn, saying Massachusetts should close loopholes that aid poaching and align with federal law and other states; one antique dealer testified in support, saying he avoids such items and still sees them in the marketplace. Additional testimony supported bans on fur products from factory farms and on force-feeding birds for foie gras, with advocates emphasizing cruelty, public health, and environmental concerns. The hearing was lengthy and heavily attended, with the chairs repeatedly limiting testimony to three minutes and inviting written submissions; no committee votes or final actions were taken during the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesotans should not be forced to unknowingly fund people who are actively working against their own
• Minnesotans should not be forced to unknowingly fund people who are actively working against their own
• Minnesotans should not be forced to unknowingly fund people who are actively working against their own
• Minnesotans should not be forced to unknowingly fund people who are actively working against their own
• Minnesotans should not be forced to unknowingly fund people who are actively working against their own

Keywords: 1183, house