Transcript Highlights:

• Now when you say to zero to 200%, well, it's the cost 200 to 400%, CHIS is given a remarkable rate for
• This is a significant change in the way we operate using a third-party vendor.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Bills: HB426 , SB24 , SB106 , SB254 , HB505 , HB458 , HB535 , HB509 , HB320 , HB518 , HB261 , HB426 , SB24 , SB106 , SB254 , HB505 , HB458 , HB535 , HB509 , HB320 , HB518 , HB261 , SB316 , HB228 , SB318 , SB260 , HB132 , HB347 , HB405 , HB86 , HB263 , HB302 , SB336 , SB316 , HB228 , SB318 , SB260 , HB132 , HB347 , HB405 , HB86 , HB263 , HB302 , SB336

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: Alabama Ad Valorem Advisory Committee, ad valorem taxes, property tax, real property, personal property, tax assessment, tax collection, county tax officials, Department of Revenue, Commissioner of Revenue, taxpayer representation, resident taxpayers, local government, property tax administration, Association of Alabama Tax Administrators, tax policy, advisory committee, public input, governance reform, body-worn camera

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:28.480><c> has</c> Branch's employee turnover rate has Branch's employee turnover rate has
• </c><00:20:29.520><c> across</c> review of examiner paper rates across review of examiner paper rates
• So we also want to raise the mileage rate to be in line with the federal rates.
• Again, we reduced our resignation rate, not our attrition rate, but just resignation rate.
• :27.440><c> coming</c> rate but just resignation rate um coming rate but just resignation rate um coming

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• One time, 16% vacancy rate almost across the state.
• Those are taxed at a 25% tax rate.
• Those are taxed at a 25% tax rate.
• Those are taxed at a 25% tax rate.
• The only difference is we’re taxing VTs at a 30% rate instead of the 25% rate on HHR.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met to review Division One of a very large budget package, with the chair explaining that the budget was being analyzed in three divisions over multiple days. Members first discussed procedure, including when amendments and line-item votes would be taken, and agreed to proceed with the division’s presentation before questions. Representative Maguire then outlined the division’s approach as a series of tradeoffs to close a large budget gap, emphasizing cuts, some revenue changes, and a focus on overall spending levels as well as individual reductions. The presentation covered a wide range of agencies and policy areas. Major proposed changes included cuts or eliminations to several boards and commissions viewed as costly or duplicative, such as the Housing Appeals Board, Board of Tax and Land Appeals, Human Rights Commission, Commission on Aging, Office of the Child Advocate, and the Personnel Appeals Board, with some functions consolidated into other boards. The division also proposed back-of-the-budget cuts to the Information Technology Department, Judicial Branch, Justice Department, Retirement System, Corrections, and Environmental Services, along with fee increases in several areas. Other notable items included ending marketing for Paid Family Leave, reducing job advertising and tourism promotion, defunding the Arts Council, moving liquor enforcement functions out of the Liquor Commission, and shifting some funds such as the College Savings Commission money to Division Two. Several members questioned specific cuts, especially the elimination of the Council on Aging, the reduction in regional planning commission grants, and the large cut to tourism advertising. Maguire defended the choices as necessary budget tradeoffs, arguing that some programs duplicated work done elsewhere, that regional planning grants were not among the most essential items, and that tourism promotion was a form of spending he viewed skeptically. He also explained that the public defender’s budget was partially restored after a credible claim of a governor’s budget error, and that the committee would continue refining corrections-related cuts because the House was only halfway through the budget process and further changes could still occur in the Senate and conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're there, we had numerous agencies and other vendors, community partners, as Chairman Mitchell

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that applies to contracts with my office, and not contracts between the district offices and any vendors

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Louisiana Public Defender Oversight Board met on June 18, 2026, with a quorum present and adopted the agenda. Public comment was dominated by district defenders and other public defense leaders praising State Public Defender Remy Starns for improving communication, collaboration, and overall system performance. Speakers from multiple districts said the system is more unified, better supported, and more stable than in prior years, and several credited Starns with helping resolve long-standing tensions and improve coordination across capital, district, and appellate work. One speaker also paid tribute to the late Mike Ginnard, describing him as instrumental to earlier public defense reforms. In his report, Starns said the system has improved over the last seven years but still needs a sustainable funding source. He discussed legislative changes affecting public defense, including a cleanup bill, elimination of filing fees for writs and appeals, and a new procedure related to expert-fee requests in light of recent court rulings. He also described ongoing efforts to integrate capital and appellate work into district offices, expand the laws/writs program, and continue post-conviction work under new statutory rules. Starns emphasized recruitment and retention, including the need for affordable health insurance and retirement benefits, and again honored Mike Ginnard for his leadership and service. The board then adopted proposed bylaws, after some discussion about special committees and public meeting requirements. Members agreed to create a committee to review and refine the bylaws later, and they also elected a vice chairman and designated the Office of the Public Defender, with staff support, as secretary for recordkeeping. Finally, the board heard a presentation on the strategic plan, which was described as largely an update to the prior version with terminology changes, new accessibility-related goals, and added performance measures for training, compliance, and communications. The strategic plan was adopted by resolution, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So from 11:30 to 3 is booths and vendors in the park. We’re going to have a concert going on.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• spend associated with building festivals and the indirect impacts felt across hotels, restaurants, vendors

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development heard several sunset and policy bills affecting state boards and professional practice. SB 1302 would extend the Board of Registered Nursing for four years and make operational changes such as streamlining renewals, updating simulation and school-approval standards, and allowing certain out-of-state nurse practitioner experience to count toward California recognition; nursing groups supported it, while the California Medical Association raised a concern about the out-of-state NP provision. SB 1303 would extend the Board of Naturopathic Medicine to 2031 and add a fictitious name permit program, term staggering, and other technical changes; it drew support from the board and naturopathic doctors, but the California Naturopathic Association opposed it unless amended to clarify the board’s jurisdiction. SB 1304 would extend the Respiratory Care Board to 2031 and revise respiratory care rules, including LVN practice in certain settings; it was supported by some providers and respiratory therapists, but hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other groups opposed it unless amended to allow LVNs to perform basic respiratory tasks in more health care settings. SB 1363 would extend the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology and update apprenticeship, licensure, and tribal exemption provisions, and SB 1368 would extend the speech-language pathology, audiology, and hearing aid dispensers board while adding a retired license category and continuing-education oversight changes; both were supported and had no opposition. All of these bills were voted out of committee, generally on a 10-0 basis after the committee later established quorum and took recorded votes. The committee also heard SB 865, which would create a California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program within the Office of Small Business Advocate to support large independent multi-day music festivals. The author and supporters argued that festivals like Aftershock and GoldenSky generate substantial tourism, hotel nights, jobs, and tax revenue, and that state support would help keep events in California rather than other states. Opposition focused on the use of public funds during a deficit year and questioned whether profitable festivals should receive a grant subsidy. The bill passed on a 9-1 vote, with Senator Choi opposed. Members also heard SB 1297, which would create regional wildfire public-private partnerships and a financing structure using local commitments, a revolving fund, and state-backed revenue bonds coordinated with iBank to fund wildfire mitigation projects. Supporters said the bill would help address the state’s large wildfire mitigation funding gap by leveraging public and private capital for home hardening, vegetation management, and other prevention work; questions centered on where bond repayment funds would come from, and the author said the bill was still a work in progress and not intended to cost the state. The bill passed unanimously. Finally, SB 993, presented on behalf of Senator Ochoa-Bogue, would restore privacy protections for mental health professionals in correctional and state hospital settings by limiting routine disclosure of identifying information while preserving a complaint process; testimony described safety concerns and staffing impacts, and the bill passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• sponsored by Representative Jones of the 12th District, having to do with licensing of mobile food vendors

Committee: House Rules - Legislative

Summary: The Missouri House Legislative Rules Committee met to consider a long hearing notice of bills and resolutions. Chair Cupps opened by explaining that the committee would proceed through all items on the notice, including a late-added House Committee Substitute for HB 3383, and announced an initial motion to recommit Senate Substitute for SB 889 back to its House committee of origin. He said the bill’s language appeared to be aimed at banning corporal punishment in public schools, and he wanted the originating committee to review it further before the Rules Committee advanced it. That recommit motion passed 9-2. The committee then took up and mostly advanced a large number of measures, including bills on tourism revenue, county health officers, library boards, soil erosion control, child maintenance after DWI fatalities, initiative petitions, foreign law, post-conviction relief, property development applications, local taxation, child care licensing, administrative rules, workforce training grants, water resources, judiciary offenses, water service line fees, hospital zones, prepaid wireless emergency charges, a commemorative day, disabled veterans’ property tax credits, unemployment administration, school district operations, military leave, health care provider networks, mobile food vendors, school emergency response devices, compensation for property owners in certain cities, young driver offenses, insurance regulations, tax credit cleanup, public water supply districts, downtown redevelopment incentives, workplace violence prevention in health care, pass-through entity taxation, county development disability resource board levies, county finances, and a civic recognition resolution. Most of these passed unanimously or with only a few dissenting votes; HB 1734 failed 5-6, and HB 2291, HB 2124, HB 2139/2175, HB 2254, HB 2693, HB 2699, HB 2767, HB 2933, HB 32110, and HB 3220 each drew some opposition or abstentions. Several bills prompted discussion. HB 2933, dealing with school district operations, was explained as banning seclusion rooms and restraints in response to a DOJ probe; it passed 10-1. HB 3174, on emergency responses in schools, would provide wearable panic buttons subject to appropriations, and members discussed funding and whether it created an unfunded mandate; it passed 11-0. HB 2877, on unemployment administration adjustments, was clarified as shifting existing unemployment tax money for administrative funding without adding cost to employers, and it passed 11-0. HB 3383, on nonprofit corporations’ hiring practices and signature gathering for initiative petitions, was described as requiring E-Verify for certain signature gatherers; after questions about burdens on employers and election process concerns, it passed 9-0 with two present. The committee also advanced HCR 52 encouraging participation in America 250 celebrations and HCR 31 creating a Seal of Civic Recognition Award. At the end, the committee took up House Committee Substitute for Senate Bills 1066 and 1088, a property taxation measure, and it was given a due pass recommendation. Chair Cupps thanked the sponsors who stayed through the lengthy hearing and said the committee might meet again later in the week, likely Thursday, before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• sponsored by Representative Jones of the 12th District, having to do with licensing of mobile food vendors

Committee: House Rules - Legislative

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• when you look at runaways and attempting a solution, I've read and I saw that they're looking at a vendor

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it coming there, being a vendor, doing outreach? But that is available too.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The task force met to review work under HCR 86 on African American suicide prevention, with members introducing themselves and approving the prior meeting minutes. Dr. Williams summarized survey-based findings from 94 university student respondents, explaining that the study focused on warning signs and triggers rather than suicide behaviors themselves. He said financial stress, stigma, and lack of institutional ownership were major themes, and argued that Louisiana needs mandatory reporting and broader suicide data collection because universities and other institutions often avoid reporting incidents, especially those occurring off campus. Dr. Thomas described current and potential prevention strategies, including gatekeeper trainings, 988 outreach, postvention policies, student-facing information on mental health resources, and adding 988 to student IDs. She also noted that the Office of Public Health already serves as a suicide data hub with real-time and death data, and should be included in any centralized reporting discussion. Members discussed how to balance new mandates with university concerns, with several agreeing that legislation is needed but should be developed with input from the Board of Regents and university leadership. The task force reviewed recommendations in the report, including a Louisiana Suicide Prevention Data Act, a centralized data hub, incentive-based reporting for colleges, modernization of the 2018 suicide prevention law, and possible tax credits or other incentives. Dr. McKee suggested that any reporting requirement should be framed to fit existing professional obligations and that training requirements for licensees could be added. The chair asked that revised recommendations and examples from other states be circulated before February 1, with the final report updated to say “confidential unless otherwise required by law.” No public comments were offered, and the meeting adjourned after the chair said he and Senator Boudreaux would consider legislation and, if needed, a resolution to extend the task force.

Transcript Highlights:

• and parents, generating tens of millions of dollars. for local businesses, hotels, restaurants, and vendors

Bills: HB1397 , HB1886 , HB3088 , HB4187 , HB4229 , HB4230 , HB5032 , HCR6 , HCR34 , HCR50 , HCR55 , HCR58 , HCR70 , HCR71 , HCR72 , HCR74 , HCR75 , HCR80 , HCR86 , HCR93 , HCR100 , HCR107 , HCR116 , HCR117 , HCR6

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: Texas Constitution, Declaration of Independence, victory or death letter, display, historic preservation, lifeguard requirements, public beaches, municipalities, county regulations, exemptions, Parks and Wildlife, procurement, goods and services, revenue generation, Texas legislature, historical preservation, Texas Historical Commission, fees, nonprofit organizations, fundraising

Transcript Highlights:

• HAVE THE VENDOR, THE SOFTWARE CLICK ANOTHER BUTTON.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> so on the backs of workers at a sub rate so on the backs of workers at a sub rate is<00:10:10.440
• Are they going to increase the base rate? Are they going to try some other clause?
• The department does not take a position on the market rate of a pelt. Exactly.
• And the rate of pay in that case, would that be the full minimum wage, or would it be the rate of pay
• Witness: It would be at the minimum, more likely than not, at the minimum wage rate.

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• little bit about the funding for the fiscal note and those are related to just the changes that the vendor
• The funding for the fiscal note and those are related to just the changes that the vendor needs to make
• I would want DPS to speak to what they would think enforcement rates would be, depending on whether or
• amendment to some point may offer an amendment to quintuple<01:35:57.840><c> the</c><01:35:57.960><c> rates
• </c><01:35:58.200><c> of</c><01:35:58.280><c> these</c> quintuple the rates of these quintuple the rates

Bills: HF3919 , HF1335 , HF3864 , HF3916 , HF3728

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, electronic license, driver's license, digital credential, transportation, data privacy, authentication, license plates, vehicle registration, validation stickers, Minnesota statutes, transportation policy, aeronautics, transponder, aircraft safety

Transcript Highlights:

• base and recover those costs, along with an authorized rate... project interconnection costs in rate
• , the retail rate, the retail rate, The wholesale rate, the retail rate of the power, nothing higher,
• rise at an alarming rate.
• Those also go into rates.
• best rate of return.

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills, with extensive testimony on cost, ratepayer impacts, and climate or reliability goals. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and support renewable natural gas development by reducing interconnection cost barriers. Supporters said RNG helps methane reduction and organic waste diversion, while opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, argued the bill could shift costs to ratepayers and subsidize combustion-based fuels, especially dairy digesters. The author said committee amendments removed the rate-basing provisions and instead urged the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision; the bill was left for a later vote. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Diablo Canyon Community Impact Mitigation Program through 2030. Supporters said San Luis Obispo County and local schools rely on the funding for emergency preparedness and public safety, while TURN argued the extension would add about $47 million in statewide ratepayer costs and should instead be paid from existing PG&E deal revenues. Members discussed the bill as a continuation of the 2022 Diablo Canyon agreement, and the author said the measure simply restores the five years omitted from that deal. The committee also heard SB 1215 by Senator Cortese, which would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing. Supporters said renters and apartment residents are largely shut out of home charging, and that prior utility programs showed the model can be cost-effective and beneficial to ratepayers. The bill was amended to address affordability, ratepayer benefits, and limits on major system upgrades. SB 1295 by Senator Stern would create a framework for using distributed batteries and other local resources to solve grid constraints more cheaply than traditional infrastructure. Supporters said it could improve reliability and reduce costs by targeting batteries where they provide the most grid value, while utilities said they were open to continued discussion. SB 1359, also by Senator Stern, would require the CPUC to more carefully evaluate major gas infrastructure investments and alternatives such as electrification before approving new spending. Environmental groups supported the bill as a guardrail against stranded assets, while gas utilities opposed it, warning it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and retroactively change the rules for approved investments. On water policy, SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Supporters said about 1.6 million households have water debt and that affordability is a statewide issue, not just a problem for disadvantaged communities. Some members raised concerns that the bill lacked a funding source and that state mandates, such as chromium-6 treatment requirements, already strain local water agencies; the author and supporters responded that the bill includes administrative caps and transparency measures and is intended to work alongside future funding. The committee then heard SB 1098 by Senator Pérez, which would restrict the use of utility memorandum and balancing accounts by requiring exceptional circumstances, adding sunset dates, and creating cost-sharing or lower-return rules for certain spending. TURN and other supporters said the accounts allow utilities to recover costs after the fact with too little discipline, while Edison and PG&E opposed the bill, arguing that some costs are unpredictable and that the CPUC already has a formal review process. SB 1125 was moved to Appropriations with a roll call, and the roll was left open for additional votes; the other measures were discussed with no final committee actions announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Commission, as I said, does its best to mitigate and minimize rate increases.
• The Commission, as I said, does its best to mitigate and minimize rate increases.
• This bill does nothing to reduce the energy rates.
• Thank you, Senator Green. the energy rates and how high they are.
• This bill does nothing to reduce the energy rates.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• base and recover those costs along with an authorized rate... ...project interconnection costs in rate
• , the retail rate, the retail rate, The wholesale rate, the retail rate of the power, nothing higher,
• rise at an alarming rate.
• Those also go into rates.
• best rate of return.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• plans</c> the multi-year rate plans the multi-year rate plans &gt;&gt; in<00:47:24.880><c> stating</
• President. rate savings. rate savings.
• </c> tied to what the current SOS rate is. tied to what the current SOS rate is.
• SOS rates when you enter into the SOS rates when you enter into the agreement.<01:35:00.080><c> Uh</c
• </c><01:36:21.760><c> can</c> lock in a rate but then that rate can lock in a rate but then that rate

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, April 13, 2026, 960, senate, all