Transcript Highlights:

• These appropriations support the regulation of oil and natural gas development.
• are allowed UB authority across biennia in the new recommendation from acquisition of resource technologies
• I would be happy to take any questions. categories rather than acquisition of resource technologies.
• allowed UB authority across biennia in 52 the new recommendation from acquisition of resource technologies
• environment by reviewing, assessing, and developing agency and departmental business processes.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present to hear Article VI Natural Resources agency budget recommendations, beginning with the Railroad Commission. LBB staff summarized the commission’s 2026-27 base recommendation at $458.7 million, down from the prior biennium, with an increased FTE cap. The presentation highlighted reduced federal IIJA funding, volatility in oil and gas regulation account 5155, continued support for IT modernization, and rider changes. The commission’s major exceptional items were then presented, including requests for produced water and injection data reporting, an authorized pit registration system, regulatory filing/permitting upgrades, an underground injection well investigation team, site remediation support, and especially $100 million for orphan well plugging. Members asked about biennium-to-biennium comparisons, salary biennialization, the scale of orphan well risks, federal funding delays, bonding, and whether the state should rely more on industry or general revenue for plugging costs. Commission leadership explained that orphan wells can threaten water and public safety, that plugging costs have risen sharply, and that current funding is insufficient to keep up with emergency wells and the backlog; they also said the agency is moving to cloud-based systems with cybersecurity protections and that the proposed performance measure may need adjustment if funding does not increase. The Railroad Commission testimony was followed by LBB and agency testimony for the Texas Animal Health Commission. LBB described a $42 million recommendation for 2026-27, an increase overall, but with a reduced FTE cap due to turnover and salary reallocation. The recommendation maintained funding for cattle fever tick work, chronic wasting disease, lab testing through an MOU with Texas A&M’s veterinary diagnostic lab, and a new $5 million spay-and-neuter pilot program, while deleting a capital budget rider and adjusting riders tied to entry point inspection stations and clinical trials. Agency leadership then outlined the commission’s mission to protect livestock health and the state’s $22 billion animal industry, and described major disease threats including highly pathogenic avian influenza, cattle fever ticks, New World screwworm, and chronic wasting disease. Their exceptional items focused on recruiting and retaining veterinarians, replacing fleet vehicles, creating an ectoparasite identification lab, adding field staff and IT support, improving records and epidemiology reporting, strengthening central administration, supporting secure food supply planning, expanding chronic wasting disease work, and staffing the new spay-and-neuter program. Members asked about field identification of ticks, the use of disinfectants and PPE, fleet management, the scale of cattle fever tick risk, and chronic wasting disease; the agency explained its current inspection and lab-confirmation process, its reliance on field disinfecting and biosecurity, and the need for more staff and better data systems to keep pace with growing workloads and disease threats.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's driven by a desire to help Middle Bucks Institute of Technology.
• 29th, 2026: House Resolution 582 to Children and Youth; House Bill 2676 to Consumer Protection, Technology
• Last week, we passed a bill, which was the governor's responsible infrastructure development bill that
• Last week, we passed a bill, which was the governor's responsible infrastructure development bill that
• However, technology often moves faster than policy, and we do need reasonable guardrails that encourage

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approvals, quorum call, and a series of guest recognitions, including students, interns, local officials, and advocates visiting the chamber. Members also announced caucus and committee meetings, and the House recessed before returning later in the day for floor action. After reconvening, the House adopted several committee reports and then considered a series of resolutions and bills. It adopted House Resolution 462, designating May 17, 2026, as World Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day, and House Resolution 553, designating May 19, 2026, as Pontian Greek Genocide Remembrance Day, both by 200-2 votes. The chamber also agreed to House Bill 733 on marriage ceremony law, House Bill 2529 on scheduling metatomidine as a Schedule 3 controlled substance, and Senate Bill 1294 on civil penalties for unlicensed commercial driving schools. The House then debated House Bill 2359 on data center nondisclosure agreements and related amendments. One amendment requiring hyperscale data centers to pay their own energy and infrastructure costs failed on a 101-101 tie, while another amendment to make the bill effective immediately passed 201-1 and a third amendment to protect trade secrets failed 87-115. The bill itself was agreed to after amendment. The House also approved House Bill 2455 on collective bargaining rights for Pittsburgh school administrators, House Bill 2499 on State Workers Insurance Fund investment authority, Senate Bill 604 joining the Counseling Compact, and House Bill 1006 on penalties against abusive towing practices, with one agreed-to amendment added. Several measures then passed finally by recorded vote: House Bill 2014 on opportunities for minors in emergency service organizations, House Bill 2037 on cryptocurrency-related ethics restrictions for public officials, House Bill 2512 prohibiting ride-share pricing based on certain device conditions, House Bill 2644 authorizing capital bridge projects, and House Bill 2559 on Millersville University and other conveyances. House Bill 2559 drew floor criticism from Representative Conklin over the state land conveyance process, though it still passed 154-48. Before adjournment, the House recommitted several bills to Appropriations, removed additional Senate bills from the table calendar, and adjourned until June 30, 2026, at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• New technologies for cleanup might be the same as the technologies that they use for mining.
• Good technology. Mr. Chairman, yes, my question was answered earlier.
• I want to highlight what economic development looks like in a rural community.
• We've had great partners in the New Mexico Small Business Development Centers.
• Moving under Sandra Alfonso, you are referencing some technology.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we rid ourselves of this tax, by newer trucks being on the road, keeping in mind that the same technology
• Just technological issues there. My name is Christopher Agasta.
• At the heart of our model is Rewire CBT, a non-clinical, brain science-informed intervention developed
• Most we can use the money maybe for, give to the school district to spread to develop technology, I don't
• One money maybe for a school district to develop technology like AI to better teach our kids.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a long hybrid hearing on a wide range of tax bills, with testimony covering cigarette and tobacco taxes, nicotine pouches, contractor rental equipment exemptions, aircraft sales tax exemptions, rolling stock, advanced sales tax payments, a gun and ammunition excise tax, a digital services tax, and a psilocybin cultivation/tax proposal. Committee chairs outlined the hearing process and noted that 39 House-filed sales and excise tax bills were being heard for required reporting by November 28. No votes were taken during the hearing. On tobacco-related bills, supporters including Senator Keenan, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and Tobacco Free Mass backed higher cigarette taxes and closing the synthetic nicotine loophole, arguing the measures would reduce youth initiation, encourage cessation, and offset health care costs. Retailers, wholesalers, and convenience-store groups opposed the increases, warning of smuggling, out-of-state purchasing, and harm to small businesses; premium cigar representatives argued cigars should be treated separately from cigarettes. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3067 and related bills concerning nicotine pouches, with public health advocates supporting taxation and industry witnesses urging a lower, more competitive rate. Several other bills drew sharply divided testimony. United Rentals supported H. 3065 to simplify contractor rental equipment exemption paperwork, while airport and aviation groups opposed bills to repeal the aircraft sales tax exemption, saying it would hurt airport competitiveness and jobs. The Transportation Association of Massachusetts backed rolling stock tax exemptions, saying the current tax discourages fleet investment and interstate commerce. Restaurant industry representatives supported repealing advanced sales tax payments and changing penalty rules, saying businesses were hit with retroactive penalties after unclear pandemic-era changes. On H. 3082, an excise tax on guns and ammunition, gun violence prevention advocates, Roca, and Giffords supported the bill as a dedicated funding source for prevention and survivor services, while sportsmen’s groups opposed it as unfair to lawful gun owners and harmful to conservation funding. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3208, a digital advertising services tax, with Representative Paulino supporting it as a way to capture revenue from online advertising and fund public needs, while the Chamber of Progress opposed it as costly and burdensome for small businesses and campaigns. Finally, multiple witnesses testified on H. 4050 regarding psilocybin cultivation and taxation: advocates from Mass Healing, Roca, the Reason Foundation, and individuals describing personal medical benefits urged a regulated, permit-based system, while the hearing ended after all signed-up speakers were heard and the chair adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also requires that AHCA develop and implement up plan and submit it to the speaker of the House Senate
• Respond response, expand access to care and support health worker development through evidence based
• This this is new technology. 45 other states do this? There is training out there for for this.
• The only population that that that technology probably is not being used right now is commercial lines
• While technology is so advanced as a legislature, we have to do everything in our power to make sure

Transcript Highlights:

• It's community that develops over time and relationships and deep, deep understanding of where people
• We help with grant development.
• Chief Financial Officers come together, as well as personnel directors, information technology, MIS.
• Chief Financial Officers come together, as well as personnel directors, information technology, MIS.
• Education—uh, not education, it was the technology money back when they had that.

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee met to discuss the needs of rural school districts and the role of Florida’s three regional education consortia: the Panhandle Area Education Consortium, Northeast Florida Educational Consortium, and Heartland Educational Consortium. Executive directors and several rural superintendents described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide shared services, professional learning, leadership development, grant support, cooperative purchasing, risk management, IT/cybersecurity help, and back-office assistance that small districts could not afford to provide on their own. They emphasized that rural districts are often very small, have limited staff, and must still meet the same state reporting and compliance requirements as large urban systems. Testimony focused heavily on teacher recruitment and retention, alternative certification, and the difficulty of staffing specialized roles such as CFOs, MIS directors, IT staff, and content-area teachers. Superintendents said many new hires are career changers or alternatively certified teachers who need consortium-supported training, and several argued for more flexibility in funding so districts can raise salaries and compete with neighboring districts and nearby states. Members also asked about the impact of declining enrollment, homeschooling, and voucher-related school choice; superintendents said those trends are reducing FTE and creating budget instability, while also requiring districts to right-size staff and programs. Several speakers described the financial strain on rural districts, including rising insurance costs, transportation costs, and the challenge of forecasting budgets when enrollment changes after the school year begins. One superintendent recounted major hurricane damage and said consortium risk-management support was essential to recovery. Others said the consortia help districts pool resources for property and health insurance, payroll, student data systems, and procurement, and that this shared approach saves money and improves services. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will development assistance be frozen for 90 days to Ukraine, to our development partnership in the Philippines
• I enjoyed working with you when we were on the House Space Science and Technology Committee.
• It has failed in its mission, and we're going to have to develop a strategy moving forward.
• Do you have an opinion about what might need to change or how we respond to recent developments?
• We have a seat at the table to develop shared AI standards, guardrails, and best practices.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you Will also develop the LAC roadmap, which guided a lot of our recent work and contributed to some
• So, we have now developed a shared vision for school improvement.
• We have working groups from across the state who have helped us to develop that shared definition.
• So it limits resources, which means less technology for our students who we need.
• To provide technology for low-income families.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I personally was actively involved in, um, developing the lawsuit.
• we had begun the litigation process and, um, the state very quickly, um, expressed interest in developing
• The settlement agreement was developed over several months.
• Um, it was um very intentional in The way it developed step by step, a step by step process for addressing
• Um, one is the advancement of technology and the ability to get convictions from it.

Transcript Highlights:

• We develop an expertise and that we do.
• There's just a lot of technology. We can't afford to get the technology we need.
• <01:09:47.279> We There's just a lot of technology. We There's just a lot of technology.
• Other people in the technology we need.
• So they've been with us almost exactly a month at technology, the rights of litigants and technology,

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:07 26RS BR 8 - AN ACT relating to machine gun conversion devices: 00:01:33 Department of Public Advocacy Update: 00:51:33 26RS BR 126 - AN ACT relating to boating under the influence: 01:23:46 26RS BR 60 - AN ACT relating to grooming: 01:33:23, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the August 29 minutes, and then heard testimony on a bill relating to machine gun conversion devices, often described as Glock switches or auto sears. Representative Jason Nemis presented the bill with Louisville police Chief Paul Humphrey and Lt. Drew Fox, arguing the measure would mirror existing federal law, make possession of these devices unlawful under Kentucky law, and give state and local law enforcement authority to seize and prosecute them without relying solely on federal agencies. They said the devices are small aftermarket or 3D-printed parts that convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons and emphasized that the bill would not affect lawful gun ownership. The presenters cited rising seizures and public-safety concerns, saying LMPD and Jefferson County seizures increased sharply from 2023 to 2024 and that the average age of possession had dropped. They argued the devices are used offensively, are inaccurate and dangerous, and have been linked to violent crime. Two Alabama legislators, Representatives Philip Ensler and Russell Bedsole, testified in support based on Alabama’s recent enactment of a similar law. They said local police and prosecutors there had been unable to act effectively because the devices were handled mainly by federal authorities, and they described bipartisan support, immediate enactment, and reported confiscations after passage. Members asked about the bill’s penalty level, the source and manufacture of the devices, the scope of the definition of “conversion device,” and whether the bill could create constitutional problems given ongoing federal litigation over machine gun restrictions. The sponsors said the penalty would be a Class C felony and that the bill was intended to cover only the device attached to the firearm, not tools like 3D printers. They acknowledged that if federal machine gun laws were ultimately struck down, the state law would also be unenforceable. Some members supported the bill as common-sense public safety legislation, while Representative Roberts opposed it on Second Amendment grounds, arguing Kentucky should focus on expanding gun rights rather than adding restrictions already covered by federal law.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:54:16.119> for counseling and career development for counseling and career development
• healthy habits and develop strong social and emotional skills.
• form healthy habits and develop students form healthy habits and develop strong<02:23:06.000> social
• The adoption of technology is a regulator.
• Just join this century of technology and taking care of people.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• will make a meaningful difference by enhancing access, strengthening the workforce, modernizing technology
• How’s your organization in terms of using technology and, you know, AI, you know, to deliver... ...and
• So we are excited to be able to use more of those kinds of technologies to help support the workforce
• my bills, that now are in the hands of the Appropriations Committee, bills that you've helped us develop
• As an analyst, I developed a strong foundation in the economic and financial principles that guide utility

Summary: The committee met to consider a large slate of appointments, with the main discussion centered on the confirmation of Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Harris testified about her background in state service and outlined agency priorities including Medicaid financial accountability, transparency, managed care oversight, behavioral health redesign, rural health access, workforce recruitment, and use of technology and AI. Senators questioned her extensively about the Hope Florida/Medicaid settlement controversy, opioid settlement-funded advertising campaigns tied to marijuana prevention and the 2024 Amendment 3 election, public records compliance, abortion reporting and enforcement under the Heartbeat Protection Act, managed care denials, value-based purchasing, and Medicaid funding pressures. After debate, the committee voted to recommend her confirmation, with Senator Polsky voting no. The committee then considered Anna Ortega and Robert Payne for the Florida Public Service Commission. Ortega, a current PSC commissioner and former staff advisor, discussed utility regulation, data center load issues, ratepayer protections, transparency in PSC decisions, and lessons from other states. Payne, a former legislator and longtime utility co-op employee, emphasized his technical background and the need to balance utility returns with consumer affordability. Both nominees were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes and recommended favorably to the full Senate. Next, the committee heard from Jeffrey Aaron for reappointment to the Public Employees Relations Commission. Aaron described PERC’s role in public-sector labor disputes and said his work had been upheld in appellate courts without reversal. Senators questioned him about his law firm’s state contracts, his role as chairman of Attorney General James Uthmeier’s PAC, and his connection to the Hope Florida Foundation matter; he declined to discuss the pending investigation. Public testimony included opposition from Florida Voice for the Unborn. The committee nevertheless recommended his confirmation, with several no votes. Finally, the committee approved the remaining appointees on tabs 5 through 46 in a single vote, postponing Dr. John Littell and DCF Secretary Hatch, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• What, what is sort of the What is the, what does the technology tell us about the types of balloons that
• Is there anything that, that has been developed in the marketplace that would be like, hey, we could
• Even if they're not within TCEQ's jurisdiction, we still develop responses to those.
• They can recommend, recommend issuing the draft permit as TC could develop it.
• I mean we are, we are following the requirements in law by by developing that response to comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am really getting tripped up with technology.
• It requires technology, and then it requires the people who know how to run the technology.
• Our top four majors include nursing, radiological technology, cybersecurity, and information technology
• So state funding grants to the hospital systems and schools to develop more clinical preceptors, and
• And then we had some, the AI technology from the UNF area. And so it's just line grant funding.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to focus on nursing education funding, workforce supply, and Florida’s low NCLEX pass rates. The chair emphasized that Florida ranks last nationally in nursing exam pass rates and said the committee wants to use budget decisions and a forthcoming nursing bill to improve outcomes. The Florida Center for Nursing at USF presented preliminary workforce and education data showing RN supply is moving toward equilibrium with demand through 2037, while LPN shortages are projected to worsen, especially in some regions. The center also reported on enrollment, retention, faculty vacancies, and NCLEX trends, noting Florida still underperforms the national average but has shown some recent improvement, including higher RN pass rates in 2024 despite fewer test takers. The center highlighted that students who test sooner after graduation tend to pass at higher rates. A panel of nursing education leaders from public universities, state colleges, technical colleges, and private institutions described how prior state pipeline and line-item funding helped expand enrollment, simulation labs, faculty hiring, student support services, and partnerships with hospitals. UNF, Galen College, College of Central Florida, Keiser University, and Lorenzo Walker Technical College each reported strategies such as expanded simulation, mental health and social work support, test-prep and remediation, and efforts to grow faculty pipelines. Several speakers said faculty recruitment and retention remain major barriers because of salary competition with hospitals, faculty debt, and aging faculty. Technical college representatives also stressed the need to strengthen LPN pathways, English-language support, and LPN-to-RN bridge programs. Members asked for ideas to improve NCLEX outcomes and discussed possible policy options, including student loan forgiveness, critical shortage supplements for faculty, incentives for students to test soon after graduation, and possible changes to timing or regulation around NCLEX eligibility. Several witnesses supported more flexible or recurring funding, while noting that one-time line funding has been useful for simulation, scholarships, and faculty support but is harder to sustain. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with the chair saying the ideas would be considered in future funding and policy decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:16:14.000> and infrastructure development, and infrastructure development, and increased
• The distribution system is technology neutral.
• That's not system is technology neutral.
• , community development, but in climate mitigation.
• <01:29:10.800> and and working on community development and and working on community development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows the Department of Education to assess fees of private developers of literacy professional development
• I just want to clarify that we're going to continue to look at both technologies, hydrogen and electric
• There's an entire ecosystem of businesses that have developed here in the state of California around
• And I'm grateful to have been able to work at a company that developed novel life-saving technology.
• And so I think as we develop a big freebie SQL map to so many folks out there to develop advanced manufacturing

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the September budget package, which included SB 105 and a series of trailer bills covering health, human services, education, resources, child care, transportation, labor, public safety, housing, revenue, background checks, collective bargaining, and a special election. The Department of Finance described the package as largely technical and clarifying, but also responsive to state and federal changes, especially H.R. 1. Key items included roughly $3.3 billion in Proposition 4 climate and environmental spending, $540 million in discretionary greenhouse gas reduction funds, and major responses to H.R. 1 such as CalFresh error-rate mitigation, food bank support, and Medicaid-related changes. Other notable provisions included vaccine policy flexibility, an Abortion Access Fund, a gender-affirming care program, community college basic-needs and aid changes, CEQA and coastal permit exemptions tied to the 2028 Olympics, invasive mussel prevention funding, a civic media program, labor and pension-related provisions, and special election administration changes. Members raised questions and concerns about several parts of the package. There was support for climate, water, transit, offshore wind, food security, and health investments, but also significant criticism of the lack of cleanup language for SB 131 and its advanced manufacturing exemptions, with multiple members saying promised fixes had not materialized and expressing concerns about tribal consultation, labor standards, and environmental protections. Members also questioned the scale and timing of some Proposition 4 allocations, including fairground upgrades, regional conveyance, and a UC Davis alternative protein research center. The Department of Finance said some programs would roll out over time and that certain funding levels reflected current implementation capacity. The hearing also featured discussion of Bay Area transit financing, with Finance saying SB 105 directs the department and CalSTA to examine loan or other financing options rather than immediately providing loans. Members and public commenters also discussed the state’s response to H.R. 1, with advocates supporting food bank, health care, and immunization provisions while warning of ongoing harm to immigrants, foster youth, and other vulnerable groups. Public testimony broadly supported the health, food, water, offshore wind, and golden mussel provisions, while many speakers echoed legislative concerns about SB 131 and urged cleanup action in the next session. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only, though the chair noted votes on the bills were expected later that night or the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Infill development is the most environmental friendly development of any kind.
• And infill development is the best way for us. to do this.
• And so why are we requiring a developer to do an additional CEQA?
• Helps with things like transit oriented development.
• And I believe carbon capture technology is one of those things, and we need to further develop that.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is crucial for licensing, workforce development, and public protection.
• This bill is crucial for licensing, workforce development, and public protection.
• This bill is crucial for licensing, workforce development, and public protection.
• You know, we need to focus our technology on what helps us get work done more efficiently.
• You know, we need to focus our technology on what helps us get work done more efficiently.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Public Service Law and the Public Authorities Law in relation to advancing grid enhancement technologies
• the Public Service Law and the Public Authorities Law in relation to advancing grid enhancement technologies
• Senator Comrie, an act to amend the Public Service Law and Public Authorities Law in relation to developing
• Senator Comrie, is an act to amend the Public Service Law and Public Authorities Law in relation to developing

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications met for its first March meeting, chaired by Senator Kevin Parker. Members discussed a short agenda of energy-related bills focused on grid modernization, interconnection studies, geothermal development, microgrids for extreme weather resilience, and a proposed Grid Modernization Commission. Senators Mattera and Walczyk were absent but had voting sheets submitted; Senator Kavanagh joined later in the meeting. The committee advanced several measures: S.1227A, directing the Department of Public Service to study deployment of the energy interconnection process into the electrical grid, was moved to third reading; S.2708, advancing grid enhancement technologies, was also sent to third reading. S.2486A, creating geothermal energy generation facilities, was advanced to the Finance Committee, as was S.4205 on microgrids for extreme weather and public security, and S.4590 establishing the New York State Grid Modernization Commission. During the votes, some members were recorded as voting without recommendation, including Senator Walczyk on multiple bills and Senator Hinchey on the geothermal bill. No testimony or substantive debate was presented beyond brief procedural questions, and the meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• We helped fund the development of their software for inspection.
• I think another thing that wasn't talked about is workforce development is really important for this
• And so the fence in that case actually ended up being a cost savings for the development.
• I would suggest you might consider a hearing on technology.
• There's a lot of technology out there that's being developed in the high-tech space that can really help

Keywords: 988, house, all