Transcript Highlights:

• In our practice in the upper left corner, we'll reduce the percent of youth in residential treatment.
• I did also highlight the collaboration with Early Childhood Services.
• I did also highlight the collaboration with Early Childhood Services.
• I did also highlight the collaboration with Early Childhood Services.
• </c><01:45:49.040><c> that</c> probably lots of motion practice that probably lots of motion practice

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with committee process reminders from the chair, including rules for questioning witnesses, time limits for testimony, and how motions and committee reports are handled. The chair also discussed the committee’s history, emphasized a cooperative approach with agencies and the Judiciary, and noted that a special committee on the Family Division of Circuit Court had previously done useful work; he said a new subcommittee could be appointed later to continue looking at judicial-system issues. He also mentioned that the Speaker’s office was expected to name members to the DHHS oversight committee by Friday at 1. The substantive presentation was from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Child Support Services. Attorney John Williams introduced the bureau team, and Bureau Chief Lisa Dekowski described the program’s mission: encouraging responsible parenting, family self-sufficiency, and child well-being by locating parents, establishing paternity, setting or modifying support orders, and enforcing court-ordered child and medical support. She said the bureau operates statewide under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, works with courts, employers, and other partners, and serves both in-state and out-of-state cases, with some international and tribal coordination. She also cited program scale, saying the bureau dispersed about $76 million to families in New Hampshire in fiscal year 2023 and that most collections go directly to families. Members asked about enforcement tools, especially passport denial. In response to a question about a case involving a very small shortfall, the bureau said the federal passport-denial threshold is $2,500 in arrears, not a few cents, and that denial remains in place until the balance is resolved or an arrangement is made with the agency, with hardship factors potentially considered. The bureau also explained that either parent can apply for services when a child support order exists and that the bureau can help initiate income withholding orders. No votes or formal actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• across the state a study of practices across the state a study of California's<00:20:05.799><c> healthy
• :20:12.360><c> the</c> The study came out just this week and identified the long-term effects of practice
• Don't want to exclude anyone, but just recognize the practicalities of needing a robust team that can
• on agricultural policy and collaboration on agricultural policy and in<00:34:18.399><c> the</c><00:34
• the practicalities of needing robust<00:36:27.319><c> um</c><00:36:27.839><c> team</c><00:36:28.160>

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Effective menopause care relies on collaboration between doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical
• The exemption would be for conflicts with a religious employer's bona fide religious beliefs or practices
• a specific and explicit religious affiliation; they would then be exempt from this provision. ...practices

Committee: House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce

Summary: The committee met with roll call attendance and took up two bills. First was Senate Bill 315 with Senate Amendment 1, which would allow the Division of Small Business to add state funding to existing federal small business programs, including the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. There was brief public support from one in-person commenter, no virtual comment, and the committee voted to release the bill, though it did not yet have enough signatures for immediate release and was left open for absent members to sign. The second item was Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 319, a women’s health insurance mandate requiring coverage for medically necessary menopause and perimenopause diagnostic and treatment services, including FDA-approved hormone replacement therapy, pelvic floor therapy, and related care. Representative Smith presented the bill as a response to gaps in menopause care and insurance coverage, and Department of Insurance witness Kennedy Cook explained the religious exemption as applying to certain religious employers and blanket health policies. Committee members asked about the scope of that exemption, and some expressed concern about religious carveouts, while others praised the bill as important women’s health legislation. During public comment, one speaker supported the bill but warned that expanding mandatory health benefits can raise insurance costs. The Department of Insurance then testified in support, saying the bill would align Delaware with other states, many insurers already comply, and the department did not expect a meaningful premium impact. The committee voted to release Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 319 from committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, I would like to thank the chair and committee staff for their hard work and collaboration on this
• AB 1982 is practical, prevention-focused policy and strengthens the coordination and support needed to
• We provide bar and nightclub staff with practical tools to recognize, respond to, and prevent risks like

Summary: The Assembly Governmental Organization Committee met as a subcommittee at first because quorum was not initially present, then later established quorum and proceeded with votes. Assembly Member Dixon presented AB 1593, which would require state agencies that impose monetary charges, including fees, to annually report on their websites the revenue generated from those charges as a transparency measure. The bill was described as having no opposition and was framed as improving public accountability and fiscal visibility. The committee also considered consent items AB 1719 (Ward) and AB 1754 (Pacheco), both of which were moved together and sent to the Committee on Appropriations on consent. Later, Assembly Member Lowenthal presented AB 1982, which would remove the sunset on existing laws requiring Type 48 licensees, such as bars and nightclubs, to provide drink-spiking test strips/devices and lids upon request and post notice of their availability. Supporters said the measure helps prevent drug-facilitated sexual assault and other crimes, improves nightlife safety, and is a practical, low-burden prevention tool; no opposition testimony was offered. All three measures received favorable committee votes. AB 1593 was passed as amended to Appropriations, AB 1719 and AB 1754 were passed to Appropriations on consent, and AB 1982 was passed to Appropriations. Several members requested to be added as coauthors, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thankfully, it was part of the DWR-water board collaboration, so Stockton East wasn't having to pay for
• Foremost was the DWR-Water Board collaboration.
• And it has been, in Sierra Valley, a great process in terms of all the collaboration with the other agencies
• Having practiced medicine in Selma, that's the raisin capital of the world, we had quite a number of
• Good morning, Kyle Jones, representing the San Joaquin Valley Water Collaborative Action Program, which

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll do that by collaborating with you, our legislative partners, with other stakeholders, helping to
• for our team over the past few years, and a great example of how we can put these principles into practice
• The operator of the National Semiconductor Technology Center would build out the design and collaboration
• And we have selected three facilities toward that, one of which is the design collaboration facility
• And we have selected three facilities towards that, one of which is the design collaboration facility

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration heard presentations from Go-Biz and the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation on the Governor’s budget proposals. Go-Biz described California Jobs First, the state’s 10-year economic development strategy, and emphasized support for small businesses, workforce development, and targeted investment in sectors such as ag tech, life sciences, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. Members raised concerns about federal policy changes, tariffs, tourism, housing, child care, and whether state incentives are truly additive; Go-Biz responded that it tracks federal actions closely, works with chambers and advocates, and uses programs like California Competes to target jobs that would not otherwise come to California. The committee then reviewed the proposal to restore the California Competes grant program with $60 million. Go-Biz said the grant would help businesses that cannot use the nonrefundable tax credit, and explained the program’s five-year contracts, milestone-based awards, and recapture provisions. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the grant could be effective but recommended stronger oversight and clearer eligibility criteria, while also noting the 30% cap in trailer bill language may be too restrictive given the smaller funding level. Public testimony supported the grant and suggested considering refundability or transferability for the tax credit to broaden access for smaller and startup businesses. Members also heard the CHIPS-related proposal for $25 million to support Natcast’s semiconductor design and collaboration facility in Sunnyvale. Go-Biz and public witnesses argued the state investment would help secure a major federal research facility, retain engineering talent, and leverage billions in broader investment, while the LAO recommended rejecting the item because of its dependence on uncertain federal funding and the state’s budget condition. The committee also considered a $17 million continuation of CA RISE, which supports employment social enterprises; Go-Biz and several grantees cited strong job placement and workforce outcomes, while the LAO recommended rejection absent a more rigorous evaluation, noting prior LA RISE evidence did not show long-term employment gains. Finally, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation presented budget requests for IT security and rent increases, and a trailer bill to raise fees across several programs. DFPI said decades-old fee schedules, inflation, and new regulatory responsibilities have created a structural deficit and warned the department could face insolvency without adjustments. The LAO recommended approving the fee increases only on a three-year limited-term basis and asked for more detailed revenue plans for programs not covered by the proposal, so the Legislature can assess actual collections and market impacts before making the changes permanent.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:08:46.399><c> way</c><00:08:46.560><c> you</c><00:08:46.760><c> all</c><00:08:47.080><c> collaborate
• </c> meetings and the way you all collaborate meetings and the way you all collaborate is<00:08:48.000
• We are here to be part of a conversation, to collaborate with our Republican and Democratic leaders alike
• with our Republican and to collaborate with our Republican and Democratic<00:14:18.279><c> leaders</
• It's a practical solution to ensure accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility in state

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's also going to codify current practices.
• cost-share assistance to this program to help pay for the installation of certain best management practices
• to provide information and encourage the voluntary adoption of regenerative or basic soil health practices
• We teach critical management practices for ag producers, and we assist Texas on feral hogs.
• This partnership has been a collaborative and productive one.

Bills: HB294

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Keywords: energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties, sustainability, real estate

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not preclude rules, policies, or practices of an interscholastic athletic association, including
• Senator Orr's presentation and comments about the budget, and then he talked about how we had collaborated
• Senator Orr's presentation and comments about the budget, and then he talked about how we had collaborated

Bills: SB342 , SB342 , SB159

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: land bank, land bank authority, local land bank authority, Alabama Land Bank Authority, tax delinquent property, tax sale, tax lien, redemption period, quiet title, blight remediation, vacant property, foreclosure, ad valorem tax, property tax exemption, intergovernmental agreement, county government, municipal government, redevelopment, brownfields, floodplain management

Transcript Highlights:

• The Administrative Office of the Courts must administer the grant program in collaboration with outlined
• stakeholders to establish best practices and standards for administering programs and data collection
• Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry must identify incarcerated veterans and collaborate

Bills: HB2620 , HB2960

Committee: Senate Military Affairs and Border Security

Keywords: homeless veterans, emergency shelters, state funding, veterans' services, grant distribution, veterans, treatment court, rehabilitation, recidivism, mental health, substance abuse, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill reflects a collaborative effort between the Oklahoma Insurance Department and the Oklahoma Captive
• The bill reflects a collaborative effort between the Oklahoma Insurance Department and the Oklahoma Captive
• I attended OU and became a practicing emergency physician.

Bills: HB3794 , HB3796 , HB3928 , HB2955 , HB4453 , HB4460

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: licensure, criminal history, public safety, occupational certification, rehabilitation, state regulations, insurance, regulations, certification, long-term care, mergers, consumer protection, property safety, vision insurance, optometry, reimbursement, healthcare policy, ophthalmic materials, provider agreements, captive insurance

Summary: The committee first took up HB 3794 and HB 3796, both Oklahoma Insurance Department request bills. Members adopted PCS drafts for each without objection, heard brief explanations that the measures cleaned up and clarified insurance licensing and other statutory provisions, and then advanced both bills on unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The committee then considered HB 3928, as amended, which would require optometrists to be reimbursed at Medicare/Medicaid levels and address payment parity for certain vision plans. Representative Tedford raised concerns about premium increases and interference with private contracts, while the author argued the bill would create a fairer level playing field and would not significantly raise consumer costs. The bill passed on a recorded vote and was recommended to the next committee. HB 2955, updating the Oklahoma Captive Insurance Company Act to make Oklahoma more competitive, also passed after OID confirmed a questioned travel reimbursement provision was current law and unchanged. HB 4453 proposed creating an all-payers claims database board to analyze health care spending, use the health information exchange, and make recommendations to OID. The author described changes to board appointments and reporting language, and members asked about consumer representation, fiscal impact, and the board’s advisory role. The bill passed and was recommended onward. HB 4460, which would shift collection of copays, deductibles, and other cost-sharing from providers to insurers, drew extensive testimony from an emergency physician supporting the measure as a way to reduce medical debt and simplify billing, but members raised concerns about ERISA preemption, premium impacts, implementation, and broader market effects. After discussion, the author laid HB 4460 over for later consideration, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• doesn't always meet individual or community needs, so the initiative directs HHSC, TDCJ, and TWC to collaborate
• that clients who are utilizing these services, um, it gives these agencies that opportunity to collaborate
• So can you kind of walk us through it again and how it would work out in practice?

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Black History and Juneteenth celebrations and a collaboration with the South Texas Mass Choir.
• provided services to its members ranging from business development and bilingual classes, and it has collaborated
• but let me tell you what I can't take it away from the freshmen because they work real hard, they practice

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Where we can help is in sharing hiring and enrollment best practices.
• No, just connect them with a contractor who already has it in practice.
• What collaboration are we having with CDI just to fix, have a permanent solution in that space?
• I mean, there's a lot more, it feels like collaboration, success, moving forward.
• The fellowship has supported regional collaboration across the state.

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy budget hearing focused on child care, child welfare, and immigration-related services, with most of the discussion centered on child care funding, slot utilization, and rate reform. Department of Social Services officials said the Governor’s budget would provide $6.8 billion for child care programs in 2026-27, including $11.5 million in Prop. 64 funds for mini-grants to licensed facilities affected by 2025 disasters. They also described federal CCDF and Prop. 64 revenue reductions that would reduce general child care funding by about 4,176 slots, while emphasizing that the cuts should not affect currently enrolled children. The LAO supported aligning spending with lower revenues and asked for more detail on the disaster grant program. Members questioned why so many awarded slots remain uncontracted or unfilled, and DSS said delays are largely due to providers building new infrastructure, licensing, staffing, and enrollment work. One senator criticized the repeated explanation, argued unspent funds revert to the General Fund instead of being redirected to child care, and urged shifting more funding from contract slots to vouchers and increasing flexibility for infrastructure and expansion costs. DSS said it is exploring more flexibility, better readiness screening, and quicker redistribution of relinquished slots. The committee also discussed the Emergency Child Care Bridge program, with DSS saying it can redistribute funds among counties to avoid disenrolling children. A second panel addressed the state’s broader commitment to expand child care and move toward a single rate structure. DSS reported that since 2021-22 nearly 125,000 new slots have been awarded across CCTR, CAPP, CMAP, and the Emergency Child Care Bridge program, bringing monthly service levels to more than 366,700 children. The department and CDE described progress on rate reform, including completion of the alternative methodology and joint recommendations from the labor-management committee on a single-rate framework. County and provider testimony emphasized persistent unmet need, especially for infant and toddler care, and argued that current reimbursement disparities between CDSS-funded programs and state preschool create inequities and discourage expansion. Stanislaus County Office of Education said rate differences can materially affect local program revenue and staffing, while Parent Voices California described the child care system as difficult to navigate and inequitable, especially for Black families and survivors of domestic violence. The California Budget and Policy Center argued that only a small share of eligible children are served, that Universal TK has concentrated investment in school-based settings, and that providers are still paid far below the cost of care. Members pressed the administration for deadlines on automation and implementation of the single-rate structure, and DSS said some work can proceed before collective bargaining concludes, though policy decisions are still needed. The committee also reviewed several trailer bill proposals. For the COLA, DSS proposed applying the 2026-27 increase through cost-of-care-plus payments, but acknowledged it had inadvertently excluded CalWORKs Child Care and the Emergency Child Care Bridge from the initial calculation; the LAO recommended making the COLA increase uniform across child care and state preschool programs. On the alternative methodology survey, DSS proposed replacing the market rate survey with the federally approved alternative methodology and aligning the timing with the federal CCDF state plan cycle. On licensed family child care homes, DSS proposed limiting temporary absences to 20% of monthly care hours and allowing more flexibility for medical appointments, jury duty, training, and union activities. On excessive unexplained absences, DSS proposed a statutory definition to align state policy with federal rules allowing disenrollment after 30 days of unexplained absences. The committee also discussed a proposal to require contractors to collect family fees directly so the full voucher value reaches providers, with DSS saying it is working with Riverside County on implementation and CDE asking that the same policy apply to state preschool. Finally, the committee reviewed an Early Childhood Policy Council reappropriation and reporting proposal, with DSS explaining that prior funds were underused because participation costs are hard to estimate and that additional staffing and contractor support would be needed for the expanded annual report requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• That raises a real question about alignment between what is being said and what is being practiced.
• During my interview, what is practiced.
• </c> what is being practiced. what is being practiced.
• </c> access, and failing to collaborate access, and failing to collaborate meaningfully<00:16:31.560>
• The Senate plan changes that in a meaningful and practical way by increasing the standard deduction and

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what we have to have is a collaboration of people working together.
• of economic development, and that's why such development has historically been accomplished in collaboration
• we believe that the necessity of additional power should lead to increased, and not decreased, collaboration
• And that is our current practice now: when there's a request for us to evaluate reformulation, we do
• And that is our current practice now is when there's a request for us to evaluate reform formulation,

Committee: House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee took up several energy, transportation, and land-use bills. HB 2428, dealing with county and ADEQ authority to issue voluntary permits certifying emission reduction credits for mobile and non-road sources, received neutral testimony from ADEQ and support from Maricopa County; the committee adopted the Griffin amendment and passed the bill 10-0 with a due pass recommendation. HB 2145, which expands who may request certain gasoline fuel reformulation actions and is contingent on EPA approval, also passed on a 5-4 vote after brief staff explanation and no amendment. The committee then considered HB 2331, a strike-everything amendment requiring electric utilities to ensure 85% of generating capacity serving retail load comes from “reliable resources” by 2030. Supporters, including the sponsor and Arizona Free Enterprise Club, argued it would protect affordability and grid reliability by favoring dispatchable power; opponents, including the Sierra Club and Rural Arizona Action, said it would effectively favor fossil fuels, raise costs, and limit cleaner resources. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 6-4. HB 2795, which would bar counties from using zoning to block small modular reactors once federal permitting conditions are met, drew strong support from the sponsor and industry advocates who framed it as pro-property-rights and pro-nuclear, and opposition from county, city, and environmental groups who raised preemption, local control, safety, waste, and siting concerns; it passed 6-4. The committee also passed HB 2340, which allows the Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee to evaluate proposed generating facilities along with transmission lines, on a 5-4 vote. HB 2400, an emergency measure to suspend the motor vehicle fuel tax in Areas A and C during part of the year and replace the lost revenue through state highway funding, drew opposition from cities and counties over transportation funding impacts but support from the sponsor and some members focused on gas affordability; the Griffin amendment was adopted and the bill passed 6-4. Finally, HB 2401 was introduced as a requirement for ADEQ to conduct a biennial review of available fuel formulations and their air-quality impacts in Areas A and C, but the transcript ends before testimony or action on that bill is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been asked to share the board subcommittee's preliminary analysis and other state and system practices
• Again, the board was looking for best practices, barriers to evaluation of low-enrollment programs and
• What are your best practices? What do you want us to know?
• And that's where a lot of work is done, saying, hey, I'd like to collaborate with you.
• And I found working in this system, we just collaborated a lot better because if we could look at two

Summary: The Higher Ed Funding Committee met to review how North Dakota might identify and address low-producing academic programs and to discuss draft funding formulas for the university system. Lisa Johnson of the NDUS explained that the State Board of Higher Education is already developing a system-wide policy, using models from other states such as Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, and Connecticut. She described how low-producing programs are typically flagged by multi-year enrollment or completion thresholds, then reviewed for workforce demand, mission fit, cost, accreditation, and regional need before any action is taken. Committee members asked about what counts as a program, how costs are analyzed, whether certificates are included, how exemptions work for mission-critical or high-demand fields, and whether the board or legislature should set the rules. Johnson said the board is the appropriate body to lead the process, but legislators could use funding leverage if they wanted to encourage action; the chair asked the board to bring a detailed proposal to the June meeting. The committee then heard a Legislative Council presentation on a draft formula for UND and NDSU. The proposal uses fall census FTE enrollment, with a placeholder undergraduate rate of $7,000 per FTE and a graduate/professional rate of $10,500, plus incentives for completions in in-demand fields and research productivity. Alex from Legislative Council walked through the projected funding effects, noting that the model would increase funding for NDSU and reduce it for UND in the current biennium, with different results in the next biennium as enrollment changes are recognized. Members questioned the use of the placeholder rates, the definition of in-demand programs, the treatment of research funding, and the exclusion of state-appropriated dollars from the external grants calculation. The chair emphasized that the numbers were illustrative and that appropriators would set the actual dollar amounts later. A second draft formula for the other nine institutions was also reviewed. That model uses fall census FTE without a weighted economic factor, applies a higher undergraduate rate, and adds completion incentives for in-demand credentials and all other completions. Members noted that the formula would benefit some institutions, such as Bismarck State College, while reducing funding for others, such as Mayville State, and discussed whether the nine institutions should be treated more uniformly or split into smaller groups because of their different missions and sizes. Committee members and staff repeatedly stressed that the formulas are still being refined and that some institutions would likely need hold-harmless adjustments or other transition measures. The meeting ended with the chair directing the committee to continue the discussion later and to expect further work on both the low-producing program policy and the funding formulas.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, because of our collaboration with the United States Army, we are requesting an exceptional
• That's innovation collaboration at its best.
• skilled professionals through customized training programs, micro credentials, and strategic collaborations
• We teach critical management practices for ag producers, and we assist Texans on feral hogs.
• This will improve communication, collaboration, and the overall quality of the response when it is needed

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Transcript Highlights:

• Because morning hearings must adjourn prior to the noon floor session, my practice will be to conduct
• c><00:05:46.639><c> my</c> prior to the noon floor session my prior to the noon floor session my practice
• will be to conduct hearings and practice will be to conduct hearings and then<00:05:49.319><c> to</c
• with the community so collaboration with the community so those<00:19:37.240><c> are</c><00:19:37.360
• best practices to learn their<01:39:55.719><c> watchouts</c><01:39:56.239><c> and</c><01:39:56.440><

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee held its first hearing of the 2025 session and began with housekeeping on testimony deadlines, hybrid participation rules, time management, and expectations for civility. The chair said testimony posted at least 24 hours in advance would be available to members and the public at the same time, late testimony would still be processed, and decision-making would generally be deferred to later in the day so morning hearings could adjourn before the noon floor session. The first bill heard was HB 673 on emergency management. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency administrator James Barros testified in opposition, saying the bill could undermine the executive’s unity of command during emergencies and objecting to provisions allowing the legislature to terminate a state of emergency by a two-thirds vote. Members asked about the difference between an emergency order and a state of emergency, whether other states use legislative checks and balances, and whether long-running emergencies such as COVID-19 or homelessness should have clearer end conditions. Barros said the agency, along with the Attorney General’s office and the governor’s office, would review the language and that the issue is setting conditions for when an emergency ends. The committee then heard HB 596, also on emergency management, which would clarify types of events that count as dangers and emergencies. Barros opposed the bill, saying the current list covers known hazards but should remain open-ended for future threats; he cited COVID-19 as an example of an unforeseen event and said the bill could limit flexibility. Members asked whether the list could be expanded, and Barros said the agency would look at that possibility. Testimony included support from the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii and concerns from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii about the bill’s special fund provisions; the committee also corrected testimony that had been submitted for the wrong bill. The final measure discussed was HB 1060 on emergency preparedness and the Community Readiness Center Program. Barros explained the proposal as part of HEMA’s effort to build local readiness centers and community hubs, with an initial target of 10 communities through a federal grant and a longer-term concept of roughly 100 statewide. The Climate Advisory Team supported the bill’s intent but urged that centers be developed with strong community and nonprofit involvement through the HARRP program. The Department of Taxation offered comments on the special fund, and members raised questions about cost, size, use of existing school facilities, public messaging, and equity across communities. Barros said the centers would provide backup communications, power, water, and food for a community group, would not function as general shelters, and would be designed to help communities hunker down and recover after a disaster.

Transcript Highlights:

• It funds legislative priorities, including many priorities identified in collaboration with our colleagues
• with our colleagues in the collaboration with our colleagues in the House<00:23:55.120><c> as</c><00
• Number one, not defending the practice, cuz it's not appropriate, and it's highly illegal already is
• we really have to think about the message that we're sending about private enterprise, also the practicality
• </c> also the practicality of the law. also the practicality of the law.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 16, 2026, 960, senate, all