Transcript Highlights:

• circumstances in which a Commissioner's Court of Accounting may donate surplus property to a civic or charitable
• It allows the donation to a civic or charitable organization by removing a provision that requires the
• House Bill 3355 would provide counties with more flexibility in donating surplus property to charitable
• The ability to utilize the current statute for charitable donations.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If this issue applies to a charitable or nonprofit organization, does that mean, like, if my congregation
• If this issue applies to a charitable or nonprofit organization, does that mean, like, if my congregation
• If this issue applies to a charitable or nonprofit organization, does that mean, like, if my congregation
• an amendment to have these items purchased in the county and what's there for a restaurant or a charitable

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on March 27, 2025, with a quorum present and first took up House Bill 255, relating to physical therapy. The bill sponsor and representatives of the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy and APTA Kentucky said the measure is mainly a cleanup and modernization bill that updates outdated statutory language, changes PTAs from “certified” to “licensed,” gives the board authority to purchase liability insurance, moves fee and fine caps into regulation without changing current fees, renames temporary permits as provisional licenses, and creates a pathway to more easily recognize some internationally trained physical therapists already practicing in other states. Senators asked whether the bill changed training, scope of practice, Medicaid, or supervised practice standards; witnesses said it did not, and that supervised practice requirements remain in place with out-of-state practice accepted only when equivalent or more stringent. The committee approved HB 255 with favorable expression. The committee then considered House Bill 618, an alcoholic beverages measure with a Senate committee substitute. The bill was described as having three parts: allowing restaurants to buy limited quantities of alcohol from retail outlets to meet customer demand while keeping the three-tier system intact and requiring quarterly reporting; creating a temporary auctioneer license to auction previously retail-sold alcohol in original packaging, such as estate or bourbon collections; and giving quota bar license holders the same opportunity restaurants already have to sell barrel picks by the bottle. Testimony supported the bill as a way to help restaurants, auctioneers, and bars, while a senator raised a question about sales tax on auction sales and another noted that nonprofit or church-related alcohol auctions already require permits under existing law. One senator suggested future guardrails to encourage local purchasing, but no amendment was adopted. The committee passed HB 618 with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent the New Hampshire Charitable Gaming Operators Association.
• <01:33:14.520> gaming the same U deals with charitable gaming the same U deals with charitable
• <04:29:22.800> Gaming the commission uh charitable Gaming the commission uh charitable Gaming
• licensed charitable organizations or four<05:12:57.840> licensed<05:12:58.320> charitable
• c><05:12:58.920> organizations four licensed charitable organizations four licensed charitable

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The public hearing opened on HB 728-FN, which would authorize video lottery terminals at charity gaming facilities and repeal historic horse racing licensing. Representative Om explained that the bill would convert the current historic horse racing terminals into true video lottery terminals/slot machines and change the revenue split, reducing the operator share from 75% to 70% while increasing the state share from 25% to 30%. He also noted the bill would increase the amount going to charities and other state beneficiaries. Former State Rep. Pat Brammy, who had served on the Charitable Gaming Study Commission, testified in support of the bill’s basic structure. He said a consultant’s report found historic racing machines cost facilities 12% to 18% more to operate because of totalizer and track-related fees, and that slot machines would be cheaper because there are more manufacturers and more competition. He argued that although the operator share drops by 5%, facilities could still benefit from lower operating costs, and he said the commission concluded that moving to slot machines would increase revenues to facilities, charities, and the state. He also said the bill would create a more stable stream of funding for problem gambling, since the current HHR “breakage” funding mechanism is limited and dependent on a single vendor. Brammy also discussed the commission’s concerns about market concentration in HHR machines, saying the commission found the market was dominated by only a few manufacturers and recommended legislation to address that issue under Article 83 of the state constitution. He interpreted the bill as allowing a phase-in of slot machines upon passage, with the remaining HHR provisions phasing out by January 1, 2028, and said facilities would likely transition as leases expire. Committee members asked about HHR contracts, machine programming, testing, and whether removing HHR would reduce competition; Brammy said he believed leases were likely short-term, machines are tested by a lab, and the legislature could decide whether the change is appropriate. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We gave them all 10 days, and they made almost 200,000 in this take from the charitable gaming.
• We gave them all 10 days, and they made almost 200,000 in this take from the charitable gaming.
• We gave them all 10 days, and they made almost 200,000 in this take from the charitable gaming.
• We gave them all 10 days, and they made almost 200,000 in this take from the charitable gaming.
• :13:27.920> gaming opportunities in charitable gaming opportunities in charitable gaming rather

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of charitable gaming in their community. of charitable gaming in their community.
• That's a foreseeable impact of the charitable gaming.
• <02:20:34.399> gaming oversight of the charitable gaming oversight of the charitable gaming
• where there are not yet charitable where there are not yet charitable gaming<02:29:52.720> facilities
• in New Hampshire, most of our charitable in New Hampshire, most of our charitable gaming<02:31:21.840

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or Salvation Army, that everything is on the up and up and that they know their donations, their charitable
• or Salvation Army, that everything is on the up and up and that they know their donations, their charitable
• or Salvation Army, that everything is on the up and up and that they know their donations, their charitable
• Is on the up and up, and that they know their donations, their charitable contributions, are going to
• work uh to you know help sick charitable work uh to you know help sick people<00:48:55.680> to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• reinvested, now having invested billions of the state and providing close to a million dollars in annual charitable
• reinvested, now having invested billions of the state and providing close to a million dollars in annual charitable
• reinvested, now having invested billions of the state and providing close to a million dollars in annual charitable
• reinvested, now having invested billions of the state and providing close to a million dollars in annual charitable
• reinvested, now having invested billions of the state and providing close to a million dollars in annual charitable

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it clarifies that donor-funded scholarships, grants, and tuition-free educational programs are charitable
• tuitionfree educational<00:07:06.080> programs<00:07:06.560> are<00:07:06.800> charitable
• educational programs are charitable educational programs are charitable educational<00:07:07.919
• So, this impacts all scholarships or charitable donations that would come in the form of potentially
• So, this impacts all scholarships or charitable donations that would come in the form of potentially

Bills: SB3123

Keywords: conditional gifts, private education, scholarships, donor conditions, Hawaii education law, 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee took up three measures in decision-making. SB 2678, which would create a Judiciary working group to improve family court processes and youth access to legal representation in the child welfare system, was recommended for passage with amendments. The amendments would clarify that members with lived experience are those who have navigated the state child welfare system, replace an actively serving guardian ad litem with a former GAL, allow co-chairs to invite additional experts, and provide compensation for lived-experience members. The committee report would also recommend a $20,000 appropriation, and the motion passed without objection. SB 2528, a Campaign Spending Commission proposal to expand the partial public financing program and raise expenditure limits, was also recommended for passage with amendments and adopted without objection. The committee’s changes would increase the public-funds match to 4:1, raise the maximum public funding available to 20% for statewide executive offices and 25% for legislative and certain county offices, blank out the appropriation in the bill, and instead recommend $7.2 million in the committee report. Technical amendments would also rename the program for consistency and set the bill’s effective date to March 22, 2075. In a joint Judiciary/Education hearing, SB 3123 drew extensive testimony in support from the Governor’s office, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Hawaiian Council, Kamehameha Schools, and many private-school and community representatives. Supporters said the bill would clarify that donor-funded scholarships, grants, and tuition-free educational programs are charitable gifts rather than contractual obligations, giving donors and schools greater certainty and preserving educational access. Some members questioned whether the bill could affect Kamehameha Schools’ admissions practices or allow schools to avoid donor conditions; witnesses responded that the measure is intended to clarify donor intent, not change admissions, and that an opt-out clause would preserve the ability to create contractual agreements if the parties choose. The discussion ended with the bill still under consideration, with no final vote reflected in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor's office is open to a conversation to learn more about how charitable organizations wish
• Whether you wish to expand gaming for charitable purposes, reporting requirements and assurances for
• > purposes,<00:07:34.080> but gaming for charitable purposes, but gaming for charitable
• Chair, Madam Chair, so charitable >> Mr.
• Those are the only currently the only three types of charitable gaming that are legal.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1338 seeks to further promote an environment in Florida that encourages charitable giving.
• The Charity Protection Act ensures that any filing or reporting requirements imposed on charitable organizations
• are committed to advancing liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility through effective charitable

Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism considered several bills. SB 1338, by Senator Burton, would strengthen protections for charitable endowment gifts by creating a legal pathway to enforce written donor agreements and by requiring legislative approval for certain charity reporting requirements. The sponsor and Philanthropy Roundtable supported the measure as a way to honor donor intent while protecting nonprofits, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1080, by Senator DeSigley, would require FDOT to adopt rules allowing direct payments to first-tier subcontractors in certain circumstances; transportation industry testimony supported it as a rare but needed statutory remedy, and it also passed favorably. The committee also adopted a strike-all amendment to SB 1582, by Senator Yarbrough, which would require secondhand dealers, secondary metal recyclers, and pawnbrokers to submit transaction data to FDLE for statewide sharing through systems such as LInX. The sponsor said the bill was developed with law enforcement to improve theft and fraud investigations, while a recycler representative spoke against it. The amended bill was reported favorably. SB 1672, by Senator McLean, creating a home buyer workforce tax credit for employer contributions to help employees make a first-time Florida home purchase, drew support from the Florida Chamber of Commerce and was also reported favorably. A large portion of the meeting focused on SB 1112, by Senator Garcia, which would amend the Florida Labor Pool Act by prohibiting placement fees when a temporary worker is hired permanently by a client employer and by requiring annual registration of labor pools with the Department of Commerce. The sponsor and many speakers from Beyond the Bars, labor advocacy, and reentry communities argued the bill would improve worker protections, transparency, and pathways to stable employment, especially for formerly incarcerated workers. A few cards were filed against, but the bill received broad supportive testimony and was reported favorably. SB 1324 was temporarily postponed, and the committee adjourned after recording members who wished to be noted as voting in the affirmative on the day’s bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• committees where this was heard before, as you know, I had some questions around the impacts on charitable
• the House that you will protect that Senate amendment and that language that removed some of the charitable
• Yes, I think there's still a conversation to be had about charitable bail and how that works, but at
• So the statute today says that when a charitable organization makes a bail for someone, the money goes
• back to the charitable organization.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including guests from the press, Florida State women’s soccer, and former Senator Janet Cruz. Members also announced there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and proceeding quickly to third reading and final passage. Among the measures approved were bills modernizing trust settlement and trustee discharge procedures; revising military affairs laws, including leave protections, retirement eligibility, and assistance programs; creating uniform cash-rounding rules as Florida prepares for the end of the penny; refining podiatric medicine rules on cellular/tissue-based products and informed consent; expanding veterans’ court access statewide; clarifying RV park special assessments; establishing concurrent state-federal jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations; reauthorizing alcoholic beverage loss deductions; and revising bail bond and pretrial release laws, including training, electronic notices, forfeiture timing, and related procedures. Members also passed bills on eyewear insurance licensing, expanding the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund into health science education, streamlining recovery residence regulation, enhancing felony battery penalties, and updating child welfare rules to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success program permanent, and create a best-practices program. Several bills drew brief supportive remarks, especially those affecting veterans, the National Guard, foster youth, and military families. One bail bond bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor stating the current statute would remain unchanged. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously; the bail bond measure passed 36-1, while the others noted here passed with no or minimal opposition. The Senate also adopted an amendment to the military affairs bill and a delete-all amendment to the military-installation jurisdiction bill before final passage. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman on her farewell. Members from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, preparation, collegiality, advocacy on issues such as voting rights, women’s rights, Israel, anti-Semitism, breast cancer, school safety, and family law, and her effectiveness in committee and on the floor. Berman delivered an extended farewell speech reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, her district, and her legislative priorities, and the Senate ordered her remarks spread upon the journal before recessing and later returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our charitable mission is built around advancing nonprofit research and creating affordable access under
• Our whole charitable mission is built around making medicines available under right to try.
• As soon as Arizona passed right to try in 2014, that was when our charitable mission was created, and
• we've always had..." "2014, that was when our charitable mission was created.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Access to Breakthrough Mental Health Therapies met to discuss psychedelic-assisted treatments for serious mental health conditions, with a focus on psilocybin, ibogaine, MDMA, and related compounds. The chair framed the issue as a clinical and access problem for veterans, first responders, and others with PTSD, depression, TBI, addiction, and suicidal ideation, emphasizing that these therapies are intended for supervised medical settings rather than take-home use. Members reviewed research claims and policy trends, including FDA breakthrough therapy designations, state-level psychedelic legislation, and the role of Arizona’s right-to-try law in expanding access once federal approval is in place. Testimony came from Alan Mullen, a retired Army Special Forces veteran, who described his PTSD/TBI history and said ibogaine treatment helped him confront trauma and showed promise in reducing symptoms under strict medical monitoring. Dr. Sue Cisley of Scottsdale Research Institute described ongoing FDA-controlled trials in Arizona, said current medications often fail high-need patients, and urged removal of research barriers and preparation for right-to-try and expanded access. Dan Freiberg of the Professional Firefighters of Arizona said firefighters face chronic exposure to trauma, often rely on alcohol or other coping mechanisms, and need effective alternatives beyond traditional therapy. Dr. Chung Trin discussed late-stage psychedelic trials, the FDA breakthrough pathway, safety oversight, and the need for state readiness when approvals occur. Committee members asked about how the treatments work, whether they require psychotherapy support, safety concerns including suicidality and black-market abuse, patenting and synthetic versus natural versions, and costs compared with ketamine and other treatments. Witnesses said the therapies are administered with extensive screening, monitoring, and integration support, and argued that addiction potential appears low under medical supervision. The discussion ended with interest in sending correspondence to federal officials to support right-to-try cooperation and in continuing the research and policy work; no formal vote or action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• circumstances in which a commissioner's court of a county may donate surplus property to a civic or charitable
• in regards to the disposal of a county surplus or salvage property by donating it to a civic or charitable
• HB 3335 would provide counties with more flexibility in donating surplus property to charitable organizations
• them by palletfuls, which then put us out of, um, The ability to utilize the current statute for charitable

Bills: HB302, HB371, HB597, HB1097, HB1190, SB34, SB164, SB208, SB232, SB317, SB357, SB421, SB510

Keywords: legal representation, attorney general, elected officials, defense, legislative acts, judicial review, judiciary, election, judges, 19th Judicial District Court, East Baton Rouge, precincts, coroner, retention, body, mortuary, investigation, missing persons, Amber Alert, Endangered Missing Child Advisory

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of Senate and House bills, mostly dealing with courts, veterans, public safety, and licensing. Early actions included favorable reports on SB 317, which adds the House and Senate Military and Veterans Affairs committee chairs to the Louisiana Military Advisory Council, and SB 357, which updates court administration and appellate e-case management provisions, cleans up outdated language, and revises reimbursement and security rules. SB 232, funding the judges’ supplemental compensation fund, was amended and reported favorably, and SB 421, modernizing electronic records terminology and safeguards, was also reported favorably. Several House bills were voluntarily deferred, including HB 1190, HB 1097, and later HB 374-1. The committee then took up SB 208 on veterans’ services, which was presented as a response to the earlier court ruling striking down Act 479. The bill seeks to regulate unaccredited “claim shark” businesses that charge veterans for disability-claim assistance, while exempting federally regulated accredited agents. Testimony from the Department of Veterans Affairs supported the bill as a way to protect veterans from predatory practices, while an opposing witness argued the issue is preempted by federal law and should be left to Congress or the pending Fifth Circuit appeal. Despite the objection, the bill was reported favorably. Members also advanced SB 510, which would restrict access to certain licensed establishments that sell hemp-based intoxicating products, especially bar-like venues where minors can currently enter; Alcohol and Tobacco Control explained the bill’s purpose and scope. HB 302, by Representative Chasson, was discussed as a measure to prohibit vape sales near schools, with testimony from public health and ATC witnesses noting the need to align the bill with existing licensing and local-ordinance authority; the committee moved it favorably after discussion. Finally, SB 34, creating “Brian’s Call” emergency alerts for missing children and adults with developmental disabilities, drew extensive emotional testimony from families and disability advocates and was reported favorably, as was SB 164, which adds public works employees to the definition of first responders. The committee adjourned after reporting HB 597, which restructures judicial compensation rules and eliminates the commission after a delayed effective date, and after deferring HB 374-1.

Bills: SB 2, SB 5, SB 10, HB17, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, HB17, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB2, SB5, SB10

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice, school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings

Bills: SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 1, HB4, HB4, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB1, SB2, SB5

Keywords: school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments, through-year assessment, diagnostic reports, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plans

Bills: SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 1, HB4, HB4, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB1, SB2, SB5

Keywords: school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments, through-year assessment, diagnostic reports, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plans

Bills: HB 1039, HB2289, HB2370, HB2404, HB3066, HB3076, HB3117, HB3118, HB3169, HB3178, HB3179, HB3182, HB3196, HB3241, HB3377, HB3500, HB3567, HB3715, HB3954, HB4098, HB4109, HB4222, HB4226, HB4412, HB4659, HB4682, HB4683, HB4755, HB4926, HB5165, HB5562, HB5596

Keywords: hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax authority, border counties, tax legislation, municipalities, hotel tax revenue, convention centers, economic development, local government authority, HB 2370, HOT tax, venue projects, convention center, municipal finance, local government code, Section 334.0082, tourism tax, debt financing, bond repayment

Transcript Highlights:

• As to reporting already required, that's already required by charitable bail organizations.
• We also, in House Bill 75, changed the reporting requirements for charitable bail organizations.
• any bond that was posted by a charitable bail fund.
• The rhetoric around this bill is that charitable bail Organizations are taking taxpayer dollars to pay
• Charitable bail organizations provide a vital service to Texans.

Bills: HB36, HB75, HB76, HB166, HB799, HB 1135, HJR15, HJR16, HB36, HB75, HB76, HB166, HJR15, HJR16

Keywords: family violence, global positioning monitoring system, victim resources, electronic monitoring, protective orders, magistrate, criminal procedure, probable cause, written findings, law enforcement, bail bonds, bail fund, charitable bail fund, nonprofit bail organization, public funds, local government spending, political subdivision, county, city, taxpayer lawsuit

Transcript Highlights:

• No one's supporting this from a charitable perspective.
• compounded by this requirement that we meet nonprofit requirements in New Hampshire, report to the charitable
• compounded by this requirement that we meet nonprofit requirements in New Hampshire, report to the charitable
• compounded by this requirement that we meet nonprofit requirements in New Hampshire, report to the charitable
• <00:39:51.440> trust Hampshire report to the charitable trust Hampshire report to the charitable

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The work session focused on HB 54, which would allow New Hampshire’s alternative treatment centers to operate for profit. Chair David Nagel opened by identifying the main concerns: whether members agreed with the bill conceptually, whether the proposal could be shaped to avoid a gubernatorial veto, and whether it could lead to “big cannabis” taking over. He also emphasized that the bill would not change the existing oversight structure, which remained under RSA 126-X. Representative Wendy Thomas said the governor’s objections in past sessions appeared to center on the state’s preference for a state-run model and broader policy concerns, but no one present knew the current governor’s position. Several speakers argued the bill was primarily about financing and access, not expanding the number of dispensaries. Matt Simon of Granite Leaf Cannabis said the current nonprofit structure makes it difficult to raise capital, pay down debt, and open additional access points, and that the bill would be a corporate restructuring rather than a change in day-to-day regulation. Brandon Pollock of TASCAL Wellness said medical cannabis programs in most other states are for-profit, and that New Hampshire’s nonprofit requirement has left ATCs burdened with high-interest debt and higher prices that push patients to Maine, Vermont, or the street market. He said converting to for-profit status could allow conventional financing, lower prices, and help keep patients in the regulated program. Members also discussed whether for-profit ownership would invite outside corporate control. Witnesses said the bill would not open the market to new operators, would not change advertising rules, and would include restrictions on ownership transfers for a period of time; “foreign corporation” was explained as an out-of-state entity. One speaker noted that the bill is similar to earlier versions that passed both chambers with strong support but never became law. No vote was taken during the work session; the discussion was informational and aimed at addressing concerns before the bill moved forward.