Transcript Highlights:

• Is one that doesn't meet these standards and there's not something viable at that point.
• Some of the degree programs are accredited by different folks, and that is kind of an industry standard
• Accrediting agencies that are considered the industry standard for employment.
• And are looking at doing this, and that there are accreditors who meet those standards.
• It is fill out the report and then continually looking for a creditor that does meet these standards.

Bills: HB3700, HB3315, HB3242, HB3379, HB3129, HB3132, HB2950

Keywords: education policy, grading system, student assessment, academic integrity, state funding, opinion conduct, higher education, bachelor's degree, feasibility study, Oklahoma State Regents, accreditation, credit hours, emergency declaration, gender, privacy, public schools, sleeping quarters, restrooms, criminal history, admissions process

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, a in workplace standards.
• </c> of Labor Standards um to enforce it. of Labor Standards um to enforce it.
• </c><00:42:54.400><c> under</c> to established federal standards under to established federal standards
• </c> position within the labor standards position within the labor standards division.<01:46:07.600><
• </c> benefit from labor standards laws. benefit from labor standards laws.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of Correction standards and in Institute of Correction standards and in some<00:12:22.079><c> areas<
• </c><00:15:06.240><c> of</c> upheld to scrupulous standards of upheld to scrupulous standards of conduct
• </c> is there any best practice and standards is there any best practice and standards and<00:31:16.799
• c> that</c> standards multitude of standards that standards multitude of standards that are<00:35:56.839
• </c> agreements and enforcing labor standards agreements and enforcing labor standards um<01:37:33.199

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard SB 104, which would restrict the use of restrictive housing or solitary confinement in state-operated and state-contracted correctional facilities, with specified exceptions. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation strongly opposed the bill, saying its existing policy already meets or exceeds ACA and National Institute of Corrections standards, and objecting to language they said would give the oversight commission operational decision-making authority. The Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission supported the bill, but also said it was not intended to run operations and described concerns about restrictive housing practices, including CoreCivic’s SHIP program at Saguaro. Supporters included the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Office of the Public Defender, the Disability Rights Center, ACLU Hawaii, Easter Seals Hawaii, and individual testifiers. They argued that Native Hawaiians are disproportionately impacted by incarceration, that solitary confinement is harmful and linked to depression, anxiety, suicidality, and poor reentry outcomes, and that confinement beyond 15 days is widely condemned under international standards. Several testifiers cited suicides and deaths in custody as reasons to codify limits in statute rather than rely on policy alone. The department responded that it already has 24/7 medical care, though not 24/7 mental health coverage at one facility, and explained that it uses four custody categories: disciplinary segregation, administrative segregation, protective custody, and placements for inmates seeking separation for safety reasons. Members questioned the department and commission about the SHIP program, whether the bill was based on other states’ laws, and how current policies compare with national standards. The director said the bill was too ambiguous in places and that the department was willing to work with the commission on policy changes, but still opposed the measure as written. The committee took testimony and questions; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 928 will expand law enforcement's ability to issue civil penalties with the lesser standard of proof
• For grocers operating on thin margins but high transaction volume, standardization is critical.
• For grocers operating on thin margins but high transaction volume, standardization is critical.
• The bill maintains high standards.
• National standards already exist, and more than 20 states have adopted similar pathways.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the standard of care, is there any mismatch on that with this bill?
• But for new construction after the posting, you would have to follow the new standards.
• for the ability for you to be able to convert to the new standards.
• The reason is because right now there is no standard in Louisiana.
• We have a standardized fee schedule.

Summary: The committee first heard and favorably reported SB 255, which expands eligibility for psychosocial rehabilitation services by adding health sciences and therapeutic recreation degrees to the list of acceptable educational backgrounds. Supporters said the change would help address workforce shortages and improve access in rural areas. SB 314 was then reported favorably; it cleans up prior law so a limited scope certified social worker license can still be used for community psychiatric support and treatment services even if the application is filed after the CSW license has expired, rather than being barred by a timing restriction. The committee next took up several bills by Chairman McMath. SB 26, which repeals facility need review requirements for opioid treatment programs, was reported favorably after members and witnesses said Louisiana has too few OTPs and that removing the review would improve access, especially in rural areas. SB 29, requiring review and reporting of a child’s immunization records in certain unexpected death autopsies, was reported favorably despite questions about whether the bill should refer more broadly to medical records; supporters said the data could help evaluate vaccine-related concerns, while opponents raised concerns about singling out immunizations. SB 30, dealing with telehealth for obesity/weight management, was amended and reported favorably; the committee adopted technical amendments and a conceptual amendment replacing “metabolic condition” with “weight management services,” while witnesses debated patient safety, board authority, and whether the bill should limit agencies’ ability to restrict telehealth in the future. The committee also reported favorably SB 219, which creates an Office of Health and Nutrition within LDH. Supporters from the department, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Pennington Biomedical said the office would strengthen coordination on nutrition, physical activity, and brain health, and cited high Alzheimer’s costs and prevalence in Louisiana. SB 222, which streamlines Medicaid behavioral health administrative requirements and expands telehealth for psychosocial rehabilitation, was reported favorably with amendments after supporters described workforce and rural access barriers. SB 195, the “Danny’s Dose EMS Treatment Act,” was reported favorably; it would allow EMS personnel to administer a patient’s own prescribed time-critical medication in emergencies, and testimony from a parent and physician described life-threatening delays under current practice. The committee also adopted SCR 2, updating hospital architectural standards to the most recent Facility Guidelines Institute edition, and SCR 22, requesting a more detailed legislative auditor report on opioid settlement expenditures; members said they wanted clearer outcome data and planned to refine the language before floor debate. Finally, HB 1093 on naturopathic medicine was introduced and heavily amended, with the bill shifted under LSBME oversight and a large set of changes discussed, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think having a high standard in terms of the amount of revenue generated from the farm or number
• </c><00:10:29.600><c> in</c> think having a high high standard in think having a high high standard in
• So, yes, I mean, again, higher standards—agriculture production should be the primary.
• </c> um adopt or consider higher standards um adopt or consider higher standards than<00:20:44.400><c
• /c><00:22:03.919><c> uh</c> mean again higher standards uh mean again higher standards uh agriculture

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 449 relating to economic development, HB 1006 relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and then began HB 1467 relating to housing resiliency. On HB 449, Director Wayne Enoy of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and several business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and Hawaii Food Industry Association, testified in strong support. They said the measure would help local manufacturers and tech-focused businesses adapt to uncertainty around tariffs and federal funding pauses, diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy, and expand workforce training and apprenticeship efforts tied to innovation and manufacturing. The bulk of the discussion focused on HB 1006 and proposed agritourism authority for ADC. ADC, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and other supporters said agritourism can be a value-added tool that helps farmers diversify income while keeping agriculture as the primary use of the land. One testifier opposed the bill’s direction without stronger guardrails, urging that a high percentage of revenue or land use remain tied to actual agricultural production. Committee members questioned ADC and Farm Bureau witnesses about how much land should remain in production, whether agritourism could expand on public lands, how enforcement would work, and whether responsibilities should be shifted from the Department of Agriculture’s marketing functions to ADC. Witnesses said ADC currently has no tenants engaged in agritourism, but would support standards, annual reporting, site visits, and the ability to reclaim land if production requirements are not met. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided. After concluding HB 1006 testimony and questions, the committee moved on to HB 1467 and called the first witness, Luke Meyers, before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:04.360><c> and</c><00:05:04.600><c> best</c> example on safety standards and best example
• on safety standards and best practices<00:05:06.360><c> utility</c><00:05:06.919><c> providers</c><00
• </c> a strong adherence to safety standards a strong adherence to safety standards Minnesota<00:36:46.599
• And so I think what we're doing here is saying what the standard should be.
• </c> to be certified in the safety standards to be certified in the safety standards of<01:01:17.480>

Bills: HF47, HF335

Keywords: telecommunications, installation, certification, safety, underground utilities, HF335, Greater Minnesota, economic development, public infrastructure, grant program, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, business development, infrastructure grants, local government aid, general fund appropriation, rural development, site development, utilities, roads

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to summarize the existing standards to summarize the existing standards related<00:09:59.760><c>
• Um, LURE sets minimum standards.
• Um, LURE sets minimum standards.
• and enhancing cultural its standards and enhancing cultural responsiveness<00:47:34.240><c> and</c><
• </c><00:55:38.839><c> isn't</c> requirements or provider standards isn't requirements or provider standards

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This wasn't a brief temporary push for standard maintenance turnaround.
• from industry, labor, the public, and other interested parties to begin drafting the standard.
• Simply put, these entities are the gold standard of labor-management collaboration.
• It specifies that contractors shall not be liable for any violations of safety standards.
• The proposed shift from gross receipts also lacks a standard for verification.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public safety, labor enforcement, pensions, and workplace safety. AB 1054 would create a voluntary DROP-style retirement option for CHP officers and Cal Fire firefighters to help retain experienced personnel; supporters said it would be cost-neutral and help staffing, while an opponent warned it could affect bond ratings and create pension risk. The bill passed the committee 4-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2129, which would improve Cal Fire compensation to aid recruitment and retention, also passed 4-0 to Appropriations with support from firefighters and no opposition. AB 1383, a broader PEPRA-related measure lowering retirement age and adjusting compensation caps for public safety workers, drew extensive support from firefighters and peace officers and strong opposition from cities, counties, and other local government groups over long-term pension costs; after debate over fiscal impacts, it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee also considered AB 605 on refinery safe staffing during shutdowns, prompted by layoffs and reduced staffing at refineries such as Phillips 66 Wilmington. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers and nearby communities during refinery wind-downs, while petroleum and business groups said closures are not inevitable and opposed the bill’s premise. The bill passed 3-0 to Environmental Quality. AB 1859 would let joint labor-management committees access public works sites to help detect wage theft and safety violations; construction labor supporters backed it as an enforcement tool, while laborers, local governments, and builders raised concerns about duplication, property access, and project disruption. It passed 2-0 to Judiciary, on call. The committee then heard AB 2321, a pilot program allowing county district attorneys in Alameda and Santa Clara to investigate workplace deaths, which supporters said would address Cal/OSHA’s backlog and weak enforcement; employers and safety practitioners opposed it, citing expertise, due process, and overlapping investigations. It passed 2-0 to Appropriations, on call. Finally, AB 2575 began testimony on healthcare AI guardrails, with the author and nurses arguing that AI should support, not replace, clinical judgment and that patient safety requires human oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now about that standard, two things.
• So you're nodding your head about the best standard when he said that's the industry standard.
• the industry standard is more precisely, that might be helpful.
• standard if they so choose.
• California, you can adopt a stricter standard.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So how do you compare, and that was because of the WTO ruling, so if we're back to a standard manufacturing
• So how do you compare, and that was because of the WTO ruling, so if we're back to a standard manufacturing
• tax preferences, or series of taxes, are grounded in measurable, clear, consistent, and objective standards
• tax preferences, or series of taxes, are grounded in measurable, clear, consistent, and objective standards
• It creates clearer standards for reviewing whether these incentives are delivering measurable value and

Bills: HB2730, HB2713

Keywords: aerospace, tax preferences, effectiveness, economic impact, state revenue, private detention facilities, business tax, occupation tax, financial impact, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, the bill directs the Health Care Authority to adopt network adequacy standards for nursing
• In establishing these standards, the Health Care Authority must consider several factors such as keeping
• as hospitals, nursing homes, and managed care organizations when developing the network adequacy standards
• The standards must be adopted by the Health Care Authority by January 1, 2028, and the MCOs must meet
• And the standards must be adopted by the health care authority by January 1st of 2028.

Summary: The Health Care and Wellness Committee met on February 10 at 8:30 a.m. and heard two bills. On Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5594, staff explained that the bill would expand state policy on biosimilars by allowing health carriers to require patients to try a biosimilar before covering the equivalent brand drug starting in 2027, directing exchange plans to increase biosimilar utilization, and changing pharmacist substitution rules so substitution is generally allowed unless the prescriber says not to substitute. The prime sponsor, Sen. Harris, said the bill would lower costs and noted many other states already allow similar substitution. Supporters from health plans and generic/biosimilar manufacturers said biosimilars are safe, effective, and can save consumers and the system money, while a patient advocate raised concerns that the bill may not guarantee lower out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy counter and suggested preferred formulary placement as a fix. AAM supported the bill with a technical amendment to place biosimilars in the same section as generics and interchangeable products, and the hearing on the bill was closed with no vote taken. The committee also heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5142 on Medicaid network adequacy for post-acute care. Staff said the bill would require the Health Care Authority to adopt network adequacy standards for nursing homes and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, considering community access, regional availability, timeliness, and federal Medicaid rules, with standards due by January 1, 2028 and implementation by July 1, 2028. Sen. Muzzall described it as a follow-up to last year’s bill that would create a pre-approved pathway for patients who are difficult to discharge because continuing care is hard to secure. Testimony from hospital and health system representatives strongly supported the bill, saying patients often remain in hospitals longer than medically necessary because of delays in finding skilled nursing or rehab placements and because single-case agreements are time-consuming and unpredictable, especially in rural areas. Public testimony on SB 5142 was then closed, and the meeting adjourned without any recorded votes or other action.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also points out that as technology and the threat landscape changes, updated policies, standards,
• leading practices such as the Center for Internet Security Controls and the National Institute of Standards
• technology and threats, as the technology and threats threat landscape changes, updated policies, standards
• practices such as the Center for Internet Security Controls, National Institute of Technology and Standards
• Controls, National Institute of Technology and Standards and Technology, Cybersecurity Framework, and

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s Office cybersecurity performance audits for fiscal year 2025, covering both state agencies and local governments. SAO staff explained that the audits are conducted independently under Initiative 900 and are kept confidential at the entity level, with detailed findings shared directly with the audited organizations. They reported that state agency audits found nearly one-third of assessed safeguards fully implemented on all systems and 227 vulnerabilities across seven agencies, including three critical and 21 high-severity issues. For seven local government cybersecurity audits, nearly a quarter of safeguards were fully implemented on all systems, and auditors identified nearly 300 vulnerabilities, including nine critical and 47 high-severity issues. SAO also summarized its ransomware resiliency audits and critical infrastructure audits for local governments. In six ransomware audits, a little over 35% of assessed safeguards were not in place, while about 60% were at least partially in place. In 39 critical infrastructure audits, focused largely on water and sewer providers, auditors found over 260 vulnerabilities and said more than 10% were critical or high. Staff highlighted that these audits have led to improvements, including one vendor making security changes after SAO testing that were later echoed in a federal advisory. They also described related services such as cybersecurity checkups, policy guidance, and other cyber-related work by the office. Washington Technology Solutions’ state chief information security officer, Ralph Johnson, praised the audits and said they help protect essential public services. He cited a sharp national rise in ransomware incidents against governments and said Washington has used more than $11 million in federal and state cybersecurity grant funds for over 200 projects. In response to questions from Representative Scott, SAO and WOTEC discussed options for addressing urgent vulnerabilities, including compensating controls, grant funding, and low-cost mitigation steps. The committee also discussed how Washington’s program compares nationally, with Johnson saying Initiative 900 is unusually comprehensive and that local governments often seek audits voluntarily. No votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony was offered but none was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> The proposed approach sets a standard The proposed approach sets a standard and<00:47:35.920><c>
• </c><00:48:23.520><c> contract</c> to requirements for standard contract to requirements for standard
• The standard is UL3700 systems.
• </c> standards development organizations. standards development organizations.
• That<01:30:04.000><c> standard</c><01:30:04.320><c> UL3700</c> That standard UL3700 That standard UL3700

Bills: HF2986, HF3555

Keywords: virtual power plant, VPP, distributed energy resources, DER, demand response, load management, grid modernization, peak demand, peak shaving, battery storage, energy storage, solar photovoltaic, solar panels, electric vehicles, smart thermostats, heat pumps, aggregator, public utilities commission, PUC, rate recovery

Transcript Highlights:

• , so they won't go down to zero; they'll just go down to the standard deduction.
• , so they won't go down to zero; they'll just go down to the standard deduction.
• , so they won't go down to zero; they'll just go down to the standard deduction.
• , so they won't go down to zero; they'll just go down to the standard deduction.
• The standard deduction was increased to offset the loss of personal exemptions.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and norms that they have gone through. ...of virtually all of the clinicians, and training standards
• That duty of care standards are bedrock in the product development cycle of everything our kids use.
• It holds social media platforms to the same legal accountability standards as any other company for harm
• It holds social media platforms to the same legal accountability standards as any other company for harm
• Our concern here is not with the goal, but largely ensuring the creation of clear, workable standards

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• moving it to more safety standards, or is your blanket standard going to be lowering those inspections
• , and I want to know if you are moving it to more safety standards, or is your blanket standard going
• We're going to develop our standard in Missouri.
• There's just a much higher standard.
• You told me when we spoke later that there was a standardized test for this.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to raise the bar and create a consistent set of standards that are best practices.
• In subsections 3 and 4, this is where the standards are set for how land should be restored.
• override anything in that standard?
• You could have a statutory standard easement and say you have to contract around that standard easement
• Don't sign it if it's a standard document.

Summary: The Special Committee on Rural Issues heard House Bill 3375, sponsored by Rep. Koslow, a broad eminent domain reform measure aimed at protecting landowners, especially farmers and ranchers. The bill would create protections for beginning farmers and ranchers, require 15 days’ notice before surveyors enter property, extend the response period in eminent domain cases from 10 days to 60 days, bar eminent domain for wind and solar facilities, require land restoration and maintenance after construction, increase compensation to 125% of fair market value in certain cases, add tax-liability compensation, change treatment of heritage and blight-related compensation, and allow attorney’s fees when a landowner wins a higher award than the condemning authority offered. Members raised concerns about the bill’s scope, its effect on energy development, and several drafting and implementation issues, including surveyor access, maintenance standards, and whether the bill could create conflicts with existing attorney-fee provisions. The sponsor said he was open to changes and noted that an HCS would address some drafting errors and feedback. Testimony in support came from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, a landowner/banker, and attorney Brent Hayden, who argued that landowners are often pressured into quick, low offers and should be treated as partners rather than obstacles. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency, due process, compensation, and restoration standards, and that it would not stop infrastructure development. Hayden described current eminent domain practice as giving landowners little leverage over route selection or restoration and said the bill would create needed discipline for condemning authorities. Several supporters also defended the wind-and-solar restriction as a response to the amount of land those projects can require and to concerns about using eminent domain for generation projects. Opposition came from the Missouri Energy Development Association, municipal utilities, and MoDOT. Opponents said they agreed some reforms may be reasonable but warned the bill, as written, could increase costs, delay projects, and create litigation risk that would ultimately be passed on to customers and taxpayers. MoDOT said the fiscal impact could be substantial, potentially doubling annual right-of-way spending. Utility representatives also cautioned that the bill could conflict with existing attorney-fee rules and should be aligned with compromise language from other legislation. The hearing ended without a vote or committee action, with the sponsor and witnesses indicating further negotiations and possible revisions were expected.

Transcript Highlights:

• To get to that amount, we also adjusted the standard deduction.
• It works like the standard deduction in personal income tax.
• So we set a new standard for Louisiana by doing that.
• So we've not just set a new standard for Louisiana; we're setting a new standard for the rest of the
• , the national standard for how to do that.

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee met on March 10, 2026, for a series of informational presentations rather than bill hearings. House Fiscal Division staff reviewed the state’s tax structure, the 2024 third special session tax reform package, and the Revenue Estimating Conference process. They explained the move to a 3% flat individual income tax, a 5.5% flat corporate income tax, the higher standard deduction and retirement-income exclusion, the repeal of several deductions and credits, the repeal of the corporate franchise tax, and the expansion of the sales tax base to certain digital goods. Staff also walked through tax exemption data, showing the size of exemptions relative to collections, and discussed forecasted revenue gaps in the out years, including the effect of the scheduled sales tax rate reduction and the return of transportation-related revenues to their prior dedication. Members asked about declining mineral revenues, digital sales tax collections, corporate collections, and the impact of tax credits and exemptions. Division of Administration and Legislative Fiscal Office staff said lower oil and gas prices, long-term production declines, and the timing of corporate payments were major factors in revenue trends, and that it will take at least another year or two of tax returns to fully understand the reform’s effects. They emphasized that corporate collections are still below the $600 million threshold that affects the state general fund and Revenue Stabilization Fund, though the forecast remains $900 million. The committee also discussed surplus and excess revenues, the distinction between discretionary and non-discretionary spending, and how current-year and prior-year balances are allocated under the constitution. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the relationship between Ways and Means and Appropriations. Chairman McFarland stressed that new fiscal-note bills can force cuts elsewhere if revenue is not available, and urged members to coordinate early with fiscal staff before advancing costly legislation. Members also asked how pending constitutional amendments on teacher pay and inventory tax might affect the budget; staff said the teacher stipend proposal is not currently funded in the executive budget and that the inventory tax proposal would mainly affect local governments and any reimbursements from the Revenue Stabilization Fund if approved. The committee then heard from Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bouchoux, who reported strong results from recent reforms, including $92 billion in capital investment, 37,000 new jobs, a record year of announcements, a top-10 corporate tax climate ranking, and a pipeline of 189 active projects representing nearly 42,000 potential jobs and $280 billion in potential investment. Members praised LED’s work and discussed the need to pair economic development with workforce training, infrastructure, and predictable tax policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• They would be put on the standard list.
• They would be put on the standard<00:09:44.040><c> list.
• And now that we've opened standard list.
• accurate, standardized It ensures accurate, standardized mapping<00:16:30.120><c> in</c><00:16:30.240
• So we that's the level of standard.

Keywords: 958, all