Transcript Highlights:

• Everything is always new and complicated, and you had to learn it as you went.
• What I learned about Tony that I think a lot of us could learn from is that he can be in a position,
• But that was one of the very first lessons I learned from you.
• So, you know I'm new and still learning.
• Somewhat, I've learned about them.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much, Director Yaman, DHS, and the Executive Office on Early Learning providing comments
• Yuki ARA Cross, Executive Office for Early Learning, in support.
• Elain Yamashita, Early Learning Board, in support. Please proceed. Aloha from Mai.
• <00:24:54.960> and executive office for early learning and executive office for early learning
• <00:25:00.880> board um elain Yamashita Early Learning board um elain Yamashita Early Learning

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 72 on pharmacy drew only support, with testimony from the University of Hawaiʻi system, the Board of Pharmacy, pharmacists, and others; no questions were raised. HB 237 on peer support programs also received broad support from the Department of Health, DHS, early learning officials, families, and advocates, with testimony emphasizing the value of peer-to-peer mentoring and support for parents, youth, and people with disabilities; no opposition or questions were noted. HB 250, the prior authorization bill, generated the most discussion. SHPDA supported a revised version focused on reporting prior authorization practices and creating a nonbinding working group to develop automation standards, while PCMA, HMSA, Kaiser Permanente, and others raised concerns about duplicative pharmacy requirements, unintended consequences, and alignment with federal timelines and reporting. Several medical groups and individual patients supported the measure, describing delays and burdens caused by prior authorization. A committee member asked whether the bill’s working group differed from a similar group in Senate Bill 1449, and the witness said it was intended to be the same. HB 303 on health care preceptors was supported by the Department of Health, University of Hawaiʻi, nursing and health care organizations, and the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, which asked that pharmacists’ residency programs be specifically tied to national accreditation standards. HB 341, relating to issuance of SPURS to assist the Hawaii Island Community Health Association, drew support from the health center and related groups. HB 692 on Preschool Open Doors received extensive support from early learning, education, family, labor, and community organizations; testimony stressed the shortage of child care and preschool slots, especially on Kauai, and the need to expand access for families. Committee members asked about adding family child care providers and about licensing/certification barriers, and DHS said the bill was focused on current licensed child care facilities and that certification issues were a separate, broader problem. HB 700 on cognitive assessments also drew strong support, with the Department of Health, the Executive Office on Aging, disability advocates, the Alzheimer’s Association, caregivers, and others urging use of a validated cognitive assessment tool during annual wellness visits and asking that the age 65 threshold be removed; some witnesses supported keeping the data-collection portion as a pilot and emphasized early detection and reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that students not only didn't learn, but they actually backed up.
• There was learning loss.
• four day school week on student learning. It's, it's bad. It's pretty unequivocal.
• And you should expect less student learning when there's a four-day school week switch.
• These are externships for teachers so they can learn more about the occupation.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So let me share some of the things that I've learned. She was born in the U.S., I've learned.
• Serota prioritize learning from... Rep.
• I have learned so very much along the way. Truly, every day here I learn something new.
• You might get your way a couple times, but people will learn their lesson.
• And I'm learning that a lot of y'all don't know children's stories.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Or did they just encourage you to learn, read, and grow?
• Or did they just encourage you to learn, read, and grow?
• Or did they just encourage you to learn, read, and grow?
• Or did they just encourage you to learn, read, and grow?
• Or did they just encourage you to learn, read, and grow?

Bills: HJR138, HB42, HB 104, HB 129, HB677, HB426, HB668, HB1699, HB2017, HB2128, HB2038, HB3783, HB3717, HB2316, HB3686, HB2563, HB3883, HB4021, HB2788, HB2663, HB3305, HB3173, HB3474, HB 1105, HB3531, HB3490, HB3597, HB 1295, HB3512, HB3010, HB3112, HB4215, HB3223, HB3464, HB3120, HB4214, HB4511, HB3704, HB4081, HB4783, HB4063, HB2783, HB4937, HB5085, HB2510, HB3426, HB4361, HB 1169, HB2516, HB2347, HB4034, HB4700, HB3560, HB5150, HB3860, HB3146, HB3924, HCR98, HCR92, HB1520, HB1545, HB5265, HB1887, HB1914, HB2402, HB2306, HB2350, HB3000, HB3237, HB3326, HB3211, HB 1056, HB2081, HB2187, HB3092, HB3308, HB3526, HB3750, HB4219, HB4230, HB4290, HB5238, HB4804, HB4749, HB245, HB1465, HB294, HB793, HB809, HB3928, HB334, HB2037, HB1973, HB285, HB4341, HB 1043, HB 1234, HB 1193, HB1729, HB2498, HB1314, HB1353, HB3960, HB3923, HB2221, HB2517, HB2518, HB2213, HB5092, HB3748, HB5246, HB4344, HB1482, HB4044, HB2702, HB4264, HB2807, HB2898, HB3181, HB3250, HB2091, HB2115, HB2542, HB2768, HB3349, HB4406, HB1593, HB1899, HB3133, HB3133, HB4960, HB3214, HB2145, HB 1201, HB5061, SB29, SB879, SB65, SB1745, SB412, SB412, SB1746, SB1238, SB1341, SB522, SB1532, SB1378, SB1062, SB2066, SB1963, SB2204, SB1366, SB2077, SB1967, SB1151, HB1618, HB2156, HB2615, HB2615, HB2349, HB1926, HB569, HB1762, HB38, HJR138, HB42, HB 104, HB 104, HB 129, HB677, HB426, HB668, HB1699, HB2017, HB2128, HB2038, HB3783, HB3717, HB2316, HB3686, HB2563, HB3883, HB4021, HB2788, HB2663, HB2663, HB3305, HB3173, HB3474, HB 1105, HB3531, HB3531, HB3490, HB3490, HB3597, HB 1295, HB3512, HB3010, HB3112, HB4215, HB3223, HB3223, HB3464, HB3120, HB4214, HB4511, HB3704, HB4081, HB4783, HB4063, HB2783, HB4937, HB5085, HB2510, HB3426, HB4361, HB 1169, HB2516, HB2347, HB4034, HB4700, HB3560, HB5150, HB3860, HB3146, HB3924, HCR98, HCR92

Keywords: carbon tax, carbon emissions, greenhouse gas, climate policy, fuel tax, emissions tax, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, tax limitation, environmental tax, fossil fuels, energy policy, legislative taxing authority, ballot proposition, constitutional amendment, higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University

Transcript Highlights:

• And what I learned is, um, they kind of all overlap, and each one is local, and law enforcement needs
• And what I learned is, um, they kind of all overlap, and each one is local, and law enforcement needs
• what we need to learn to do the job.
• what we need to learn to do the job.
• Fellowship ship on service on learning Fellowship ship on service on learning without<00:47:59.359

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's where I learned about other cultures, other people.
• Libraries and reading are where we learn empathy. It's where we learn empathy.
• It's where we learned. Libraries and reading are where we learn empathy.
• It's where we learn to be critical thinkers. It's where we learn to be curious.
• Some of us learn how to be cooks.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House began with routine ceremonial business, including the Pledge of Allegiance, adoption of several congratulatory resolutions, and suspension of Joint Rule 12 to send two petitions to committee. It then took up a supplemental fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill (H. 5393 / H. 5493), which Ways and Means reported at about $227.3 million for items including snow and ice costs, no-cost calls, substance use services, homeless programs, and technical changes related to lottery revenue and other outside sections. The bill was advanced through second and third reading and later passed to be engrossed after a roll call vote. The chamber also passed to engrossment a land transfer bill for the Town of Marion (H. 5388) and a Bolton alcohol licensing bill (S. 2628, as amended). The House also enacted two local bills: one further regulating special meetings of the Holyoke City Council and one amending the charter of the town of Reading. A major floor debate centered on S. 2726, an act regarding free expression, which was framed by supporters as a response to book challenges and censorship in public and school libraries. Supporters, including Representatives Garballey and Moran, argued the bill would protect librarians, require reporting of book challenges, preserve age-appropriate access to materials, and keep challenged books on shelves during review; opponents raised concerns about parental rights and local control. Several amendments were offered and rejected, including one that would have removed a criminal-law protection for librarians and educators, and another that would have shifted school review authority more directly to elected school committees. Two amendments were adopted: one clarifying that challenged material is considered in its entirety, and another narrowing who may initiate certain complaints to parents or guardians of a student in the school. The bill ultimately passed to be engrossed by a large roll call vote. The House also debated and passed H. 5491 / S. 1646, implementing recommendations of the Walsh Kennedy Commission on hot work safety after the 2014 Beacon Street fire. Supporters said the bill would require certification for hot work, strengthen penalties for repeated or reckless violations, and improve public notification and enforcement to prevent future tragedies; the bill passed to be engrossed unanimously or near-unanimously after roll call. In addition, the chamber advanced a local land transfer for the Yankee Doodle Bike Path in Billerica and a bill concerning ownership and maintenance of culverts and dams in Town Line Brook and Lindenbrook. The session included several recesses, quorum checks, and recognition of guests, including Danvers High School graduates, a former state representative, and WGBH representatives for Public Media Awareness Day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Heidi State, to learn more about the legislative process. They've been here on campus all day long.
• As I think about this, we learn a lot more about each other when we start...
• Does not increase learning. Does not increase. 1098 Safety is just a meaningless bureaucratic.
• Again, when I learned about this apparent as a whole, that would never happen to me.
• When I learned about this apparent as a whole, 1117 that would never happen to me.

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard four bills, beginning with HB 423 on school elopement plans for students with autism or other elopement risks. The sponsors described the bill as a statewide framework for school elopement response plans, immediate parent notification, campus search procedures, and staff training. Public testimony from parents, disability advocates, and a teacher emphasized the dangers of elopement and the need for standardized procedures; members from both parties spoke strongly in support. The bill was reported favorably by a 15-0 vote. The committee next considered HB 1253, which allows coaches to use limited personal funds, up to $15,000 per athletic team per year, to support student-athletes with food, transportation, and physical rehabilitation services. An amendment added guardrails, including that the coach be a school employee, clarified the scope of athletic associations covered, and refined the rehabilitation language. Members discussed the bill as a way to help students in need while avoiding recruiting concerns, and the bill passed favorably 14-0 after the amendment was adopted. HB 1091 addressed dental screenings for K-12 students in districts that voluntarily offer them. The bill requires advance written notice to parents and an opt-out process, and clarifies that screenings are informational only, with any findings sent to parents rather than compelling treatment. An amendment added the language to student welfare provisions as well as school health services. Public testimony from dental and health advocates supported the measure, and the bill was reported favorably 14-0. Finally, the committee heard HB 765 on child care and early learning services. The bill expands before- and after-care options for certain school-based preschool programs without requiring a child care facility license, removes a flu brochure inspection requirement, bars insurance cancellation based on providing child care, creates a professional recognition program, and establishes a child care tuition fund. Two amendments broadened the bill to public and nonpublic elementary schools and created the Brighter Futures fund concept. After debate, the bill passed favorably 13-1, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have learned since I've been here it's not always wise to tell the Speaker and the President of the
• <00:13:46.800> I<00:13:46.959> have<00:13:47.120> learned >> Uh Jim from
• I have learned >> Uh Jim from Campbell.
• I have learned since<00:13:47.600> I've<00:13:47.839> been<00:13:48.000> here<00
• A thriving arts community attracts tourists who desire to learn, experience, and discover Kentucky's

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 06:30 Calendar/2nd Readings 07:18 Report of Committees 08:19 Orders of the Day 09:04 HB 96 09:16 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 15:21 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 21:24 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 23:35 ConC and Rules Report 31:06 Floor Amendments 32:42 Return to Rules Report 33:28 Adjournment 34:27, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum of 98 members, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The chamber approved the journal from January 21, 2026, and received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 29, 38, and 49, along with Senate Concurrent Resolution 9, requesting concurrence. The House also took second reading on several bills, including measures on agriculture programs, milk transportation, food donation, criminal trespass, concealed firearms and deadly weapons, human trafficking, sexual material involving minors, reading and writing in schools, and educators. Committee reports advanced House Resolution 7 on Kentucky election principles, House Bill 134 on sexual assault nurse examiners, and House Bill 168 on boating under the influence. The House then considered House Bill 96, which would revise the membership of the postsecondary education performance-based funding work group, adding more legislators and changing the work group timeline to calendar years; the sponsor said the bill had support from university presidents and the Council on Postsecondary Education. After a question about geographic representation, the House passed HB 96 by a vote of 79-16 and applied the clincher. During motions and announcements, the House brought House Resolution 34 to the floor and heard it reported as recognizing January 22, 2026 as Kentucky Arts Day. Rep. Burke spoke in support, citing the economic impact of Kentucky’s arts and culture sector, and the resolution was adopted without objection. Members also announced upcoming events, including a Holocaust survivor program, a breakfast, and a conservation district reception, and one member withdrew House Bill 284. The House introduced a large slate of new bills and resolutions, including measures on real property, civil rights, local boards of education, peer support specialists, Medicaid coverage for doula services, public contracts, foster care, residential safety, gender, reproductive rights, hate crimes, a child welfare and family court reform task force, memorial highway designations, and constitutional recognition days. The Committee on Committees and Rules later referred and reassigned several bills to standing committees, posted selected bills and amendments for Friday’s calendar, and the House adjourned until 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I PICKED UP FIVE BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY BECAUSE I WANTED TO LEARN MORE.
• IN THE 1970S WE BEGAN TO LEARN ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. HOW DID WE DO THAT?
• >>Chair Trabulsy: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> AND WE NEED TO LEARN AND HEAR THEIR STORIES FROM THEM,
• I REALLY WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT THOSE BOOKS, MANY BOOKS SITTING ALL OVER OUR HOUSE AND I REMEMBER SELF
• IT REMOVES FROM CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are learning as we are learning.
• in that we make sure that the students have an incredible experience, we make sure that they're learning
• So these type of whatever we want to call them serve. projects, service learning, internships really
• The gap between education and service, between classroom learning and real world impact.
• a lot. lot and we expect to test a lot and then we hope that with what we learn and what we expect that

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, we're still learning.
• Yeah, we're still learning.
• Yeah, we're still learning.
• I mean in full disclosure if I learning I mean in full disclosure if I may<00:16:13.240> we're
• website<00:16:14.759> so may we're still learning our website so may we're still learning

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, she's a true mentor for me, and I've just learned so much from you, Senator Rest.
• I had knew I had a lot to learn. >> That's good. >> [laughter] >> I had a lot to learn, a lot to catch
• And I've grown so much not only in learning about tax policy, but thinking about how do we think about
• So, navigating those ways and learning how to think about things and just I've learned and grown a lot
• and grown a lot, and I I've learned and grown a lot, and I really<00:23:58.840> appreciate<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ... ...make them think differently because learning is easy for them usually.
• They get demotivated in regular classes, waiting around to learn something new.
• They get demotivated in regular classes, waiting around to learn something new.
• They had some sort of specific learning disability, but also—” One more request.
• They had some sort of specific learning disability, but also So.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So a lot of the smaller entities have learned that if they ask for smaller amounts and just find a way
• Is there any way that you all are educating each other and learning mutually about what aspects need
• It's always an opportunity to learn more about our history and how we are all related.
• It's always interesting to learn about our history, but also about how our lands were taken.
• What's going on now, and to learn about issues of concern to the land grants.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that when that happens, learning is unleashed, that children are allowed to become the best of
• who they are, and they can learn not only vital knowledge and skills. for the workforce, but learn how
• To equity and to students' right to speak and learn freely.
• I'm a scholar studying disability studies and learning about what suppressing free speech and education
• We grew up on the same block, along with Jewish friends, but I never learned about the oppression and

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Learning Center? Oh, it's a beautiful building. We received the keys on March 23rd.
• You know, they were words that, you know, my grandkids learn in first grade.
• We learn from every incident. We take... ...across the state so we learn from each other.
• We learn from every incident.
• I feel like I could work here for 20 years and learn something new every day.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules first established quorum and then approved several routine items, including one governor’s appointment not required to appear, references of bills to committees, and floor acknowledgments. The committee then heard from two CDCR appointees required to appear, Kathleen Ratliff and Joseph Tuggle, both nominated to associate director positions in the Division of Adult Institutions. They described their long careers in corrections and emphasized the California model, explaining that it is intended to improve staff safety, rehabilitation, trauma-informed practices, and reentry outcomes. Members raised concerns about a widely reported use-of-force incident at Central California Women’s Facility, sexual abuse and retaliation concerns in women’s prisons, visitation restrictions, and the need for consistent policies and stronger communication. The nominees said the department investigated the incident, disciplined staff, provided medical and mental health support, conducted training, and is working to improve reporting, PREA compliance, and family visitation. The committee voted 4-0 to send both nominations to the Senate floor, with public testimony largely in support from former incarcerated people, nonprofit reentry advocates, and community stakeholders. The committee then heard from Jason Johnson, nominated as Undersecretary of Operations at CDCR. Johnson framed his work as centered on rehabilitation, public safety, and culture change, and he described his background in probation, parole, and CDCR leadership. Members questioned him about opposition letters and complaints alleging retaliation, hostile work environment, discrimination, and public safety concerns tied to his leadership of adult parole operations. Johnson said many complaints were tied to efforts to change a previously toxic culture, denied retaliatory intent, and pointed to his record of creating or strengthening reentry and compliance programs, including community reentry units, community compliance units, behavioral health reintegration efforts, and transitional community reentry programs. He also addressed parole supervision tools for high-risk sex offenders, contraband interdiction, and PREA-related training and reporting systems. The discussion repeatedly returned to the need to balance institutional security with rehabilitation and to ensure that staff and incarcerated people can report misconduct safely. The committee did not take a final vote on Johnson in the portion provided, but members indicated they were weighing the late-breaking opposition materials and his responses carefully.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Learning Center? Oh, it's a beautiful building. We received the keys on March 23rd.
• You know, they were words that, you know, my grandkids learn in first grade.
• We learn from every incident. We take... ...across the state so we learn from each other.
• We learn from every incident.
• I feel like I could work here for 20 years and learn something new every day.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules first established quorum and took up several routine items, including two governor’s appointments to the Court Reporters Board, references of bills to committees, and floor acknowledgments. Heather Lynn Gonzalez’s appointment was approved 3-1, Allison Salton-Sall’s appointment was approved 4-0, and the other routine items were approved 4-0. The committee then heard testimony on two Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation appointments, Kathleen Ratliff and Joseph Tuggle, both associate directors in the Division of Adult Institutions. Senators focused heavily on the California model, staff safety, prison violence, sexual abuse prevention, retaliation concerns, and visitation. Ratliff and Tuggle said the California model is meant to balance rehabilitation with safety, that CDCR has improved communication and training, and that incidents such as the pepper-spray event at Central California Women’s Facility led to discipline, investigations, retraining, and policy review. They also described PREA reporting systems, anti-retaliation protections, statewide visiting meetings, and efforts to make visiting more family-centered and consistent. Public commenters largely supported both nominees, citing their work on rehabilitation, reentry, and sexual abuse response. The committee unanimously voted 4-0 to send both Ratliff and Tuggle to the Senate floor for confirmation. It then heard from Jason Johnson, nominated as CDCR Undersecretary of Operations. Senators questioned him about parole supervision, public safety, contraband, prison rape prevention, workplace culture, whistleblower retaliation, and repeated allegations in late-filed opposition letters. Johnson said parole risk is assessed through established scoring and supervision levels, that sex offenders are subject to GPS monitoring and treatment, and that operations use investigations, training, and collaboration with law enforcement to address contraband and misconduct. He emphasized rehabilitation, culture change, accountability, and his commitment to staff and public safety, while acknowledging criticism and the difficulty of leading a large institution. No vote on Johnson was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Learning<01:13:30.800> that<01:13:30.960> a<01:13:31.199> committee<01:13:31.520
• > chair<01:13:31.920> has Learning that a committee chair has Learning that a committee
• ,<01:26:13.760> to<01:26:14.000> connect listen, to learn, to connect listen, to learn
• Mahalo to Vice Speaker Giama for working with members to organize these invaluable learning sessions.
• organize these invaluable learning organize these invaluable learning sessions.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What we learned in those meetings was frankly infuriating and terrifying.
• What we learned in those meetings was frankly infuriating and terrifying.
• What we learned in those meetings was frankly infuriating and terrifying.
• I feel like it was you learned hearing.
• I mean, we learned hasn't yet provided.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Rules and Administration Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability met on February 20, 2026, to hear from Minnesota Management and Budget State Budget Director Anna Mingi about federal funding changes affecting the state budget. Before testimony began, Senator Rasmusson objected to a draft committee report that had been prepared in advance of the hearing, arguing it was inappropriate to summarize testimony before it occurred. The chair responded that nonpartisan staff had prepared the draft from Mingi’s submitted presentation and could revise it after the hearing if needed. Director Mingi explained that federal dollars make up more than one-third of state spending and support about 650 federal awards totaling over $23 billion this year, with more than $15 billion supporting state entitlement programs. She said the federal funding environment had changed significantly since January 2025 through executive orders, pauses, terminations, new grant conditions, delayed awards, and the July 2025 passage of H.R. 1, the federal reconciliation bill. Her main focus was H.R. 1’s effects on health care and food assistance, including work requirements for some adults, changes to eligibility for legal non-citizens, limits on retroactive Medicaid coverage and directed payments, new limits on provider taxes, and SNAP changes that shift some benefit and administrative costs to the state and counties. She estimated H.R. 1 would reduce federal funds to state-administered programs by about $327 million in the current biennium and $1.6 billion in the next, with additional costs to hospitals, counties, and other partners beyond the budget horizon. Members asked follow-up questions about whether the estimates were relative to the forecast and whether federal Medicaid funding would still rise over time. Mingi said the estimates were based on the November forecast baseline and that Medicaid federal dollars would likely continue growing overall, though the law still creates significant losses relative to prior projections. Senator Rasmusson emphasized that point in remarks to the committee. The discussion then shifted to federal grant pauses and cancellations: MMB’s tracker showed about six awards on hold totaling roughly $491 million, 13 confirmed cancellations across areas including clean energy, education, food assistance, and public health, and additional threatened or litigated cuts not included in those totals. Mingi identified two canceled violence-prevention-related grants, including a FEMA public safety grant and a justice reinvestment grant, and noted that CDC had recently moved to cancel or seek cancellation of several Minnesota public health grants, including a $65 million public health infrastructure award.