Transcript Highlights:

• Five million people compacted into that geography.
• , but Texas is also a member of several other compacts, including the nursing compact, SIPAC, among others
• These compacts are incredibly powerful.
• However, there are some compacts that Texas has yet to adopt, such as the counseling compact and the
• dietitian licensure compact.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it also does cost sharing across the state for the interstate compact unit that oversees the transfers
• 00:04:37.680> for<00:04:37.919> the<00:04:38.080> interstate<00:04:38.560> compact
• state. um for the interstate compact state. um for the interstate compact unit<00:04:39.360>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• introduced by Assembly Member Marzola, enacts the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact
• This Assembly bill ratifies and enters into the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact
• and sets forth the powers and duties, which include making rules concerning administration of the compact
• This Assembly bill ratifies and enters into the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact
• and sets forth the powers and duties, which include making rules concerning administration of the compact

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was an omission on the fingerprinting process required by the compact, so we cleaned that up.
• Yeah, just to remind members of the importance of the EMS Compact, along with the Physician Assistant
• Compact.
• Twenty-five states are in the compact. You know this is interstate license portability.
• And the reason I champion this is I'm a registered nurse in a compact state.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and introductions of the Doctor of the Day and guests, including a University of Arizona presentation in the members’ lounge and a proclamation honoring Mama Luisa’s Italian restaurant for 70 years of family ownership and service. The chamber then moved through a long third-reading calendar and several Committee of the Whole reports, with members frequently explaining votes and offering support or objections on policy grounds. Among the bills passed on third reading were HB 2041 (child neglect), HB 2128, HB 2251 (midwifery), HB 2342 (planned communities/HOAs), HB 2402 (emergency medical services), HB 2403 (AHCCCS appropriations), HB 2615 (parenting time), HB 2641 (firefighting foam), HB 2673 (incarcerated persons and mental illness), HB 2700 (Technology First Study Committee), HB 2951 (subscription cancellation/consumer protection), HB 2991 (minors’ access to technology content), and HB 4070 (human trafficking). HB 4018, relating to county officers, failed on a 26-24 vote. Members also voted to reconsider that failure, but the motion to overturn the chair’s ruling on division was defeated. The House then entered additional Committee of the Whole proceedings on measures including HB 2136 and HB 2923, both of which were amended and recommended do pass after extended debate about free speech/civil terrorism language and guardianship/probate issues. In a later Committee of the Whole, members advanced HB 2188, HB 2239, HB 2437, HB 2445, HB 2502, HB 2620, HB 2931, HB 4004, and HB 4064, with amendments on several bills. HB 4044, concerning public safety funding and the rainy day fund, was also amended and recommended do pass after debate over fiscal reserves and DPS/corrections support. The final consent calendar measures were adopted with committee amendments and recommended do pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• path, this is the history of our project which really began with the signing of the Canadian River Compact
• in Logan understandably want to continue to grind this ax, but the fact is that the Canadian River Compact
• It's a storage compact, so the state of New Mexico can store up to 200,000 acre feet.
• Do they have the capability of shutting off Logan and Quay and some of those counties, or in the compact
• And just to be super clear, the Canadian River Compact is an agreement between the three states and does

Transcript Highlights:

• First is the interstate compact cost-sharing proposal.
• And for the interstate compact cost-sharing, have you gotten any pushback at all from any of the counties
• <00:36:46.000> unit Um, and for the interstate compact unit Um, and for the interstate compact
• you know, the percentage<00:37:06.000> of<00:37:06.560> interstate<00:37:07.119> compact
• of interstate compact and the size<00:37:08.240> of<00:37:08.400> of<00:37:08.800>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The map is also compact, both visually and on mathematical measures of compactness for each of the districts
• It's compact. It's contiguous. It does not split parishes.
• It's clearly compact. It meets all of the redistricting principles.
• It's clearly compact, cohesive, maintains most parishes, and it keeps communities of interest.
• Obviously, it's very much compact. And I think, as... Obviously, it's very much compact.

Bills: SB116, SB121, SB130, SB407

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Louisiana, 2020 census, elections, precincts, voting, election, political representation, 2026 precincts, demographics, Louisiana congressional map, U.S. House, election districts, precinct shapefiles, Voting Districts, VTD, 2020 Census, 2026 Precinct Shapefiles, apportionment

Transcript Highlights:

• So just any comment or consideration of those compact maybe we're in the compact maybe we've signed it
• Compact, which we probably is something Compact, which we probably is something we<02:08:06.639> have
• compact.
• And so recognized under the compact.
• , commission that oversees the compact, commission that oversees the compact, which<02:12:16.320>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next item is related to the medical compact that was passed several years ago.
• The next item is related to the medical compact that was passed several years ago.
• The next item is related to the medical compact that was passed several years ago.
• Very happy to see the medical compact on here.
• Very happy to see the medical compact on here.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance held an informational briefing with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on its budget, staffing, and operations. The director reviewed department leadership and reported on recruitment and retention efforts, including a 14% vacancy rate, a 10.5% workforce increase from filling 189 positions, and the Hela Imua internship program, which has placed 516 interns since inception and led to 62 permanent hires. The department also described modernization efforts, including the UI Huakai project and the Disability Compensation Division’s electronic case management system, and said the unemployment compensation trust fund exceeded $71.5 million, triggering Schedule C for calendar year 2025. The department’s main budget requests included $2.9 million for fiscal year 2026 to support maintenance and operations of the electronic case management system, plus restoration of two enforcement specialist positions. Officials said those positions are needed to address a decline in investigators from 11 to six since 2009, improve compliance, and handle Hawaii Compliance Express certificate work. Additional requests included two human resources specialists to address recruitment backlogs, two labor enforcement specialists to reduce a backlog of Chapter 104 prevailing wage and wage cases, and two positions for the Office of Community Services to expand immigrant services and access centers. The department also discussed federal funding for unemployment insurance and workforce programs, including National Dislocated Worker Grants and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds, and said some funding is received in increments and may require extensions. Members asked about Kauai inspection coverage, federal funding uncertainty, the size of the special unemployment insurance fund, and whether the department could ramp up staffing during a future crisis. Officials said Kauai is currently served by inspectors from Honolulu and there are no plans to open a permanent island position because of staffing constraints. They said the department is meeting federal guidelines and is not in jeopardy, and that the special unemployment insurance fund has about $10 million, with current UI operations funded at a little over $15 million, meaning the fund may need to cover roughly $5 million if federal support declines. The director said the department would use the special fund to supplement shortfalls, but noted that federal funding cuts and the loss of ARPA support have already affected operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 10, final reading of Senate Bill 3118, House Draft 2, relating to the Interstate Compact on Educational
• 3118 House Draft 2 relating to the 3118 House Draft 2 relating to the Interstate<00:04:54.080> Compact
• <00:04:54.600> on<00:04:54.760> educational Interstate Compact on educational Interstate
• Compact on educational opportunity<00:04:56.080> for<00:04:56.240> military<00:04:56.800

Bills: HB2241, HB1163, HB1514, HB1696, HB2021, SB2135, SB2466, SB2727, SB3082, SB3097, SB2861, SCR100, SB3096, SB99, SB2138, HB2289, HB2319, HB1711, HB2270, SB3138, SB3076, HB1642, HB2338, HB2171, HB1785, SB2881, HB2505, SB2552, HB1518, HB1815, SB3125, SB3234, SCR162, SB2614, SB3118, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB2158, HB1718, HB2207, HB1801, SB3229, SB2338, SB3069, SB2600, HB2300, HB1800, HB1960, SB2999, SB2060, SB2866, SB2239, HB1741, HB1713, HB2023, HB2417, SB2877, SB2598, SB2921, SB2645, HB2547, HB2275, HB2452, HB2329, HB2339, HB1838, HB1509, HB1661, HB2271, HB2272, HB2344, HB1888, HB1707, SB2340, HB2474, HB1576, HB1853, HB1804, HB1854, HB2095, HB2050, HB472, SB3215, SB2247, SB2400, HB1618, HB1802, HB1969, HB1541, HB2310, HB2498, HB2443, HB2218, HB649, HB2104, HB1710, SB2802, HB1973, HB1974, HB1894, HB1891, HB1890, SB177, SB2101, SB3320, SB2487, HB2429, HB1870, HB1839, HB2583, HB1391, HB2094, SB2671, SB2673, SB2892, SB2057, SB3245, HB306, HB2592, SB3157, SB3204, SB3324, SB2580, SB2074, SB411, SB3025, SB2934, SB2567, SB2125, SB3238, SB2367, SB2599, SB3007, SB2001, SB2756, SB3029

Keywords: renewable energy, income tax credit, solar energy, wind energy, low-income households, energy policy, commercial drivers license, non-domiciled, federal regulations, commercial learner's permit, citizenship, lawful residency, Department of Transportation, workers' compensation, vocational rehabilitation, injury recovery, employment services, return to work, commercial driving, driver's license

Transcript Highlights:

• Toble to update the committee on the compacting process. Mr. Toble said compacting is ongoing.
• Toble to update the committee on the compacting process. Mr. Toble said compacting is ongoing.
• <00:58:36.640> process<00:58:37.039> you're on the uh compacting process you're on
• the uh compacting process you're in<00:58:39.319> uh<00:58:39.480> yeah<00:58:39.640>
• <00:58:45.359> is will let you know that compacting is will let you know that compacting is

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Minnesota House Commerce Committee held its inaugural meeting with Chair Tim O’Driscoll and co-chair Representative Greg Davids opening the session and inviting members to introduce themselves. Members briefly described their districts, business backgrounds, and priorities, with recurring themes including small business competitiveness, insurance and health care access, property and real estate issues, agriculture, and making Minnesota easier to do business in. Committee staff also introduced themselves and reminded members and testifiers about sign-in procedures and microphone use. The committee then heard an overview from Eric Toell, interim director of the Office of Cannabis Management, on the agency’s work and budget priorities. He said the office now oversees adult-use cannabis, medical cannabis, and hemp-derived cannabinoid products, has grown from about nine employees to 90 full-time staff plus temporary workers, and has been working with a Cannabis Advisory Council on testing, warning labels, and implementation issues. He also described outreach efforts, including webinars, newsletters, guidebooks for local governments, and office hours for applicants, along with enforcement of hemp-derived product rules through more than 3,000 inspections and an increase in compliance rates from about 35% to 75%. Toell also reported that the medical cannabis program has surpassed 51,000 patients and nearly 2,500 registered health care providers, and that a chronic pain report found more than a third of patients reported decreased pain. On the adult-use side, he said the office has posted proposed rules for public comment, plans to adopt them after review, and will open a licensing window from February 18 to March 14. He explained that the office is also managing community reinvestment grants and a technical assistance grant, with an emphasis on safeguards to ensure funds reach intended recipients. No votes were taken during this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• hearing that Transportation thought they didn't really think that other states in the compact would
• And, um, uh, the interstate compact is important to us.
• hearing that Transportation thought they didn't really think that other states in the compact would
• And, um, uh, the interstate compact is important to us.
• They've not caused any harm regarding interstate compacts.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have concerns about the medical compact and some of the other compacts because I think it gives
• I do have concerns about the medical compact and some of the other compacts because I think it gives
• You know, when Senator Trujillo talked about the medical compacts, when we talk about GRT, when we talk
• And so I look at this as a bigger picture of... ...about the medical compacts, when we talk about GRT

Bills: SB151, HB8, SB177

Keywords: corporate income tax, franchise tax, gross receipts tax, tax credit, tax deduction, controlled foreign corporation, CFC, bonus depreciation, interest expense, apportionment, unitary group, high-wage jobs tax credit, local journalism, news media, newspaper printer, physician incentive, health care workforce, affordable housing, multifamily housing, construction materials

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 909, Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, by Representative Anderson.
• Currently, there are 30 states that are participating in this compact, including all the system.
• Currently, there are 30 states that are participating in this compact, including all the southeastern
• protects certain biological information from being exposed, and it is a requirement to adopt the compact
• “You know, we know, Representative Edmonds knows just how compact our districts are.

Summary: The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee heard and advanced several health care bills. HB 909, joining the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, was presented with a strike-all amendment and reported favorably as amended by a 13-0 vote. HB 911, the related public records exemption protecting certain biological information, was also adopted and reported favorably as amended by a 14-0 vote. CS for HB 597, allowing schools to procure and administer glucagon for students with diabetes under trained personnel, passed unanimously 14-0 after a technical amendment. HB 519, aligning state law with federal language on controlled substances administered by paramedics, passed as amended 14-0. The committee then took up HB 919 on nursing education programs. Sponsor Rep. Overdorf argued the bill would create accountability for underperforming nursing schools by requiring remediation, tuition refunds in the lowest-performing programs, and public reporting of passage rates. Supporters said it would improve quality and protect students from debt without licensure success, while opponents from private nursing schools warned it could close programs and reduce nurse supply. After extensive debate, the bill was reported favorably 15-0. HB 1553, which would require health care providers to submit identified uterine fibroid data so the Department of Health can implement the research database previously authorized by law, passed unanimously 15-0. The final bill, HB 883, would allow psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to practice autonomously; supporters said it would expand access to mental health care, especially in rural and underserved areas, while opponents raised concerns about quality and physician oversight. After lengthy testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably 14-3.

Transcript Highlights:

• rights for specific purposes which primarily... are which are in unless this statute is passed is for compact
• compliance to ensure that we're making the deliveries that are required under the compact, and for endangered
• Senator, we do have water in the reserve for compact compliance. You are correct about that.
• It can change, but the basis for our priority is compact compliance, endangered species, and if this
• For compact compliance purposes, it's possible that we would end up having...

Transcript Highlights:

• The interstate licensure compacts for physician assistants and emergency medical services providers like
• We didn't talk, for example, about the interstate compact, something that I think most people support
• doing everything possible to lower the cost of care by increasing workforce availability, interstate compact
• the public record exemption for the bill that we just heard, primarily related to the interstate compact
• So the participation in some of the interstate compact requires that certain things, like meeting minutes

Transcript Highlights:

• WICHE was created through the Western Regional Education Compact and was established by the Western governors
• In 1953, Arizona's state legislature authorized the governor to enter into a compact with other Western
• We offer, through our partnership with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, savings opportunities
• But we offer through our partnership with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, which is us, but in

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee of Reference met for sunset reviews and first heard a presentation on the Credit Enhancement Eligibility Board from the Governor’s Office. The presenter explained that the board, created in 2016, has no dedicated staff or administrative budget and is supported by existing budget and policy staff and the Treasurer’s Office. The board’s purpose is to lower borrowing costs for qualifying schools by using a guarantee fund to enhance credit ratings, and it has largely been used by charter schools. Because the board has reached its statutory leverage cap and has not met since 2022, it is currently in a monitoring role, but it must remain in place to honor guarantees if any approved financing defaults. The committee asked about financing maturities, demand from schools, and whether a shorter continuation period would make sense. No public testimony was offered, and the committee voted to recommend continuing the board for 10 years, until July 1, 2036. The committee then reviewed the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). WICHE’s president described the interstate compact, its regional role in higher education access, workforce development, and data services, and its major student programs: the Western Undergraduate Exchange, the Western Regional Graduate Program, and the Professional Student Exchange Program. She highlighted tuition savings for Arizona students and the state, the return of many PSEP graduates to practice in Arizona, and additional cost savings through cooperative purchasing and technology contracts. The committee asked no substantive questions, and it voted to recommend continuing WICHE for 10 years, until July 1, 2036. The final major item was the Arizona Department of Education School Safety Program performance audit, followed by testimony from the department. The Auditor General reported that the program has grown substantially, especially after expansion to counselors and social workers and increased appropriations, but that ADE did not consistently ensure schools complied with program requirements. In a sample of 16 schools, most had issues such as missing or incomplete operational plans, inadequate safety team activity, incomplete required training, missing activity logs, or reimbursement requests lacking expenditure reports. The audit said these problems reduced the program’s effectiveness and increased the risk of improper spending, and it recommended stronger monitoring, written procedures, and better documentation review. ADE accepted the findings and said it is implementing the recommendations through more direct staff oversight, training requirements tied to funding, encrypted submission of emergency plans, site visits, and representative desk reviews. The discussion then shifted to whether emergency plans should address federal law enforcement actions; the director said the plans are designed for campus safety threats generally and do not specifically contemplate ICE enforcement. The committee took no vote on the audit presentation and adjourned after discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• That being a repeal of the sunset on the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission, often referred
• Shockingly, none had heard of the MIC3 Compact, which has been in place since 2008.
• And so I applaud Senator Collins, and I applaud your idea because there is a compact.
• How many people actually know that there's a compact?

Summary: The Military and Veterans, Space, and Domestic Security Committee met with a quorum and heard several bills focused on veterans, military families, and aerospace. SB 684 by Sen. Avila would let certain Florida Retirement System members buy military wartime service credit under updated eligibility dates and expand the definition of wartime service to include recent operations such as New Dawn, Inherent Resolve, Freedom Sentinel, and Enduring Sentinel. Veterans and first responders testified in support, and senators said the bill corrects an outdated gap. The committee voted the bill favorably. The committee then took up SB 1528 by Sen. Collins on educational opportunities for military children. The bill strengthens coordination between school districts and military installations and requires DOE training modules for school staff working with military families. An amendment removing a sunset provision was adopted, and three Hillsborough County students who helped develop the idea testified in support, describing research on military-family school transitions and the need for staff training on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. The committee reported the bill favorably as amended. SB 910 by Sen. Collins, on veterans benefit assistance, was amended and reported favorably. As amended, it allows veterans to work with professional claims advisors while adding consumer protections, including fee caps, bans on initial/nonrefundable and referral fees, required disclosures, and limits on use of veterans’ login credentials. Sen. Collins and others argued the federal VA claims process is too slow and confusing and that veterans need both help and safeguards. The committee also approved SB 1464 by Sen. Wright, which expands FDVA outreach through digital, print, social media, and in-person efforts and requires public events and annual reporting, and SB 1516 by Sen. Wright, which creates an international aerospace innovation fund administered by Space Florida to support partnerships with international aerospace companies. All measures were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned at the end of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas New Mexico may enter into an interstate medical licensing compact.
• Appropriating funds to study and prepare for the implementation of any interstate medical licensing compact
• Regulation and Licensing Department for a supplemental request and implementation of an interstate. compact

Transcript Highlights:

• The Rio Grande Compact is one of them.
• with Texas, perhaps we need to give some thought about how to prevent that either through early compacts
• The permanent loss of aquifer storage from compaction.
• We are in a position with Rio Grande compacts where we could be in violation of those compacts as early
• This has far-reaching impacts, from community wells going dry to interstate compact challenges.