Transcript Highlights:

• <00:43:08.960> Um United States? Um United States?
• you get almost 20% of the state economy. you get almost 20% of the state economy.
• state or federal funding. state or federal funding.
• spending is is rising across the state. spending is is rising across the state.
• into a database searchable. into a database searchable.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sir, state your name, who you're with, and your position on the bill. Good morning.
• The state has paid all of the... to come in, and they get money and everything.
• State Representative and partner in working on these issues, so I'm grateful to him.
• than the state of Rhode Island does, obviously.
• As Judge Whitmire stated, our county is growing.

Bills: HB2018, HB1633, HB1689, SB612, SB3058

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Transcript Highlights:

• TODAY WE WILL GO THROUGH WHERE WE SEE THE STATE OF THE PROPERTY INSURANCE MARKET IN FLORIDA WHICH IS
• FLORIDA IS UNIQUE AMONG THE STATES AND THAT IT'S INSURANCE REGULATORY STRUCTURE IS BIFURCATED BETWEEN
• WE SEE THE TOP TEN WRITERS AND WHAT THEY'RE WRITING AND THE VOLUME OF WRITING IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA
• SOMETIMES I'M TALK TO THE PROPERTY MANAGER IN MY BUILDING SHE SAYS YOU HAVE TO STATE LAWS STATE LAW SAYS
• WITH THE REST OF THE STATE AVERAGING ABOUT 10 PERCENT.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you state your name and who you represent? Omar Viaral, Texas Department of Public Safety.
• Uh, including states like Florida and Georgia.
• Obviously, on the big complicated projects, uh, states are, are doing design build on that.
• Most states, the sweet spot is typically that 50 million to 150 million.
• I appreciate you working at the state so long.

Bills: SB 35, SB 1113, SB 1365, SB 1394, SB 2243, SB 2245, SB 2589, SB 2199, SB 2200

Keywords: transportation, TxDOT, Texas Department of Transportation, road projects, highways, infrastructure, bridge construction, interchanges, corridor improvements, road widening, railroad grade separation, sound barrier, unified transportation program, legislative notice, project prioritization, capital projects, state highway system, Farm-to-Market Roads, San Antonio, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• THESE ARE ALL SMALL BUSINESSES WORKING ACROSS THE STATE AND ARE HAVING TO PAY ENORMOUS SUMS BECAUSE OF
• EVERY DAY ACROSS THE STATE.
• THIS BILL WILL PROVIDE A LOT OF ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY FOR SENIORS IN THE STATE AND OTHERS WHO HAVE
• GROWING AT UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS AND OUTPACING MANY OTHER STATES.
• ONE OF THE PREMIER MANUFACTURING STATES IN THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• seen in our state.
• We're talking about the state crimes that are committed on state.
• We're talking about the state crimes that are committed on state offenses.
• We're talking about the state crimes that are committed on state offenses.
• On United States soil, and they're charged with a state offense, then under the United States Constitution

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we also practice in an absolutely awesome state relative to the United States.
• It requires routine cross-checks of the SNAP rolls against state and federal databases to look for eligibility
• It requires routine cross-checks of the SNAP rolls against state and federal databases to look for eligibility
• states have adopted these waiverss. They states have adopted these waiverss.
• . the state that they're from. the state that they're from.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to illegal aliens, but in practical matters there's some states—there's a list of states, 30 states,
• > I'm states there's 30 States 31 States I'm states there's 30 States 31 States I'm sorry<00:59
• They all differ from state to state, but nine states, including Massachusetts, unfortunately, give the
• The various markings differ from state to state, but nine states, including Massachusetts, unfortunately
• She questioned how much the new database, which testimony said will only include two states, would cost

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What other states have had their states take ownership of These facilities, Mr.
• or only to the state.
• The rules are different from state to state.
• In the state.
• To the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• organizations, institutions, state organizations, institutions, state agencies.<00:04:46.320>
• . state. state.
• educational leaders across the state. educational leaders across the state.
• The lieutenant states, none here.
• have across our state serving our kids. have across our state serving our kids.

Bills: HF3650, HF2238

Keywords: student career pathways, education framework, experiential learning, employer engagement, career technical education, HF2238, Minnesota, workforce development, construction trades, youth skills training, youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, construction training, career and technical education, CTE, child labor laws, minor labor, labor exemption, workforce pipeline, skilled trades

Transcript Highlights:

• She's a state sentinel for the FFA.
• It removes the prohibition on the state or state agency maliciously delaying any approval.
• It removes the prohibition on the state or state agency maliciously delaying any approval.
• And so any time that you go into this state database, as it relates to the Arizona check, some of these
• And so any time that you go into this state database, as it relates to the Arizona check, some of these

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:30.080> In other states very successfully. In other states very successfully.
• is it constitutional legal for the state is it constitutional legal for the state of<00:59:44.960
• We also get out-of-state inquiries.
• state of Minnesota um pays the state state of Minnesota um pays the state $100<01:35:39.679>
• It goes into the state coffers.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• agreements with the Secretary of State agreements with the Secretary of State for<00:23:22.679><
• <01:01:59.960> of<01:02:00.119> New throughout the state of New throughout the state
• this legislation will benefit the state this legislation will benefit the state and<01:02:40.119
• eight in total but for up to T 10 state eight in total but for up to T 10 state representative<01
• um next up is deputy secretary of state um next up is deputy secretary of state Aon Hennessy<01:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Election Law Committee held an orientation and then opened a public hearing on House Bill 67-FN-A, which would make permanent the use of accessible voting machines in local elections and provide funding for additional systems. The chair outlined committee procedures, noting a heavy workload of roughly 70 to 80 bills, mostly Tuesday meetings, likely time limits on testimony, and a default of executive session unless a bill is specifically noticed. Members and staff were introduced, and the Secretary of State’s office described its election-related responsibilities, including voter registration, cybersecurity, ballot-counting equipment, and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) program. Secretary of State David Scanlan and Deputy Secretary Aon Hennessy explained the current pilot program created by last year’s law, which requires accessible voting systems for local elections and allows the state to share machines with municipalities during the first half of 2025. They said the office has made hardware available, but towns have raised concerns about the speed of implementation and the cost of programming each election, especially for towns with multiple ballot questions. Scanlan said the state is also vetting longer-term options, including devices that could remain in polling places year-round, and suggested the committee consider delaying the bill’s effective date to January 1, 2026 to better align with implementation needs. Hennessy said the current state devices are older and complicated to reset for each election, and estimated programming costs could be about $600 for a small single-election ballot and much higher for towns with multiple elections. Supporters of the bill emphasized the importance of accessible voting for people with disabilities. Representative Robert Wy said the measure builds on 2024 law and would move the pilot into a permanent agreement, citing ADA concerns and prior testimony about discriminatory voting experiences. Fred Forier, a legally blind voter from Exeter, testified that accessible voting systems allow him to vote privately and independently and urged support for the bill. Committee members asked about the gap if the pilot ends before a permanent system is in place and about the cost range for programming. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the committee moved on after public testimony began.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it also includes some states like Vermont, as well as larger states...
• You have almost 200,000 state employees and state and local government employees.
• It may or may not be more efficient for the state and more cost-effective for the state to.
• Been done by another state. So we know what those states have achieved in terms of savings.
• The state is not collecting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Doctors are leaving the state.
• We can do that with the state.
• They are the protection for our veterans in our state and in other states.
• The nursing compact allows you to be licensed in one state and practice in all member states.
• It's probably states that surround the primary practicing state.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the state portion of the statewide education property tax that is shown on the state books every
• The state is still...
• state CIOs every year.
• We are actually proud that we were one of the second state in the United States that had one.
• It is state-of-the-art.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner, and I get to serve as the state supervisor
• , There is a compliance issue with the state tax director or state tax director's office, tax commissioner
• have to specialize in a state.
• This is another state that we work in. This is another state that we work in.
• through the state court system.

Summary: The subcommittee of the Tax Reform and Relief Committee met to begin its study of the feasibility and desirability of revising the content of the real estate tax statement to improve property tax transparency. Legislative Council staff reviewed the study directive under House Bill 1176 and the statutory requirements for tax statements, including required line items such as true and full value, mill levy, legislative tax relief, primary residence credit, and the Legacy Fund portion of that credit. The Tax Department then explained how the current uniform statement is prescribed and approved, and noted that changes are typically driven by statute and implemented collaboratively with counties and vendors. County officials from the North Dakota Association of Counties described the full annual tax cycle, from county budgeting and valuation notices to budget hearing notices, levy certification, cap calculations, and final tax statement mailing. They emphasized that counties and auditors do extensive coordination with taxing districts and neighboring counties, and that the process is labor-intensive and often manual. Members discussed the limited public response to budget notices and tax statements, the difficulty of explaining the legislative tax relief line, the 3% cap and valuation issues, and whether more frequent assessments or different timing would improve understanding. Several members and witnesses noted that many taxpayers only engage when they receive their final bill, and that clarity may be more important than adding more detail. NDACO also presented a rough cost survey from eight counties, estimating an average tax statement cost of about 74 cents and a statewide total near $600,000 for printing and mailing tax statements alone, with outsourcing generally cheaper than in-house printing. Witnesses noted that House Bill 1176 added other mailings and notices, increasing county workload and cost beyond the statement itself. The committee then heard from software vendors, who explained how their systems handle tax billing, budget notices, valuation notices, primary residence credit processing, and tax levy calculations, and they identified the 1600/1685 primary residence credit and discount interaction as a current programming challenge. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on gathering testimony and identifying issues for possible future recommendations or bill drafts.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm State Senator Robyn Kennedy.
• states.
• This was the first state as a whole that acted voluntarily to stop this practice, as many other states
• This was the first state as a whole that acted voluntarily to stop this practice, as many other states
• with a multi-state license.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting foster youth, child welfare oversight, homelessness services, juvenile justice, social work licensure, and human services workforce supports. Committee co-chairs Senator Robyn Kennedy and Representative Jay Livingstone opened the hybrid hearing by outlining testimony procedures and accessibility measures. Several members and legislators participated throughout the day, and many witnesses were invited to submit additional written testimony after speaking. A major portion of the hearing focused on House 227/Senate 105, which would protect federal benefits owed to children in foster care. Supporters, including advocates from Hopewell, the Disability Law Center, CPCS, the Children’s Law Center, More Than Words, Friends of Children, and youth witness Onyx Rosario, said DCF had already ended the practice of taking most Social Security and SSI benefits and now conserves them in accounts for youth, but argued the policy should be codified to prevent future reversals. Witnesses described how conserved benefits help with basic needs, housing, education, transportation, and transition to adulthood, and several noted the bill also adds financial literacy and transparency requirements. Senator Joan Comerford and others said the change would protect vulnerable youth, especially children of color, LGBTQ youth, and youth with disabilities. The committee also heard testimony on House 225, which would expand the grandparents-raising-grandchildren commission by adding appointments and helping with quorum and representation. The committee also took testimony on Senate 136, which would improve emergency housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness by easing documentation requirements, allowing use of existing state data to verify eligibility, requiring notice before benefit reductions, and creating an ombudsperson. Senator Adam Gomez and other supporters said the bill would reduce barriers for families in crisis. On House 262/Senate 148, an omnibus child welfare bill, witnesses supported provisions on data reporting, education coordination, and Office of the Child Advocate reforms, while CPCS raised concerns about expanded access to sensitive records and the OCA’s role in certain proceedings. The Office of the Child Advocate supported codifying current practices and also backed child fatality review changes in House 234/Senate 133. The committee additionally heard support for Senate 108, which would require attorneys and audio/video recording during juvenile custodial interrogations, and for House 247/Senate 116, which would update the Juvenile Justice Policy and Data Board to add supported lived-experience seats. Finally, the committee heard competing testimony on Senate 135, a bill to ensure parity in social work licensure. SEIU Local 509 and supporters argued the current exam requirement disproportionately harms Black, Latino, multilingual, and multicultural applicants and worsens workforce shortages, while the Association of Social Work Boards opposed the bill, saying the exam is a necessary public-protection measure and that removing it would conflict with interstate compact efforts. The hearing also included testimony in support of a loan repayment program for human service workers, with providers and workers describing low wages, high student debt, and the need to retain staff in essential services. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please rise and be recognized by the State Senate.
• We welcome you on behalf of the State Senate.
• State, every single day.
• That action has to take place in that state.
• Well, if the State had filed charges, if he had not passed away and the State filed charges against Jeffrey

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and handled several motions to discharge and substitute identical Assembly or Senate bills, along with a number of amendments. The chamber also welcomed student visitors from the League of Women Voters’ Students of Albany program and a group of Staten Island titleholders, and later adopted previously approved resolutions honoring Dorothy E. Reid for her role in Brown v. Board of Education and recognizing Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on Delta Day, with multiple senators speaking in support of both recognitions. The bulk of the floor session was devoted to third-reading votes on a large number of bills, most of which passed with broad support. Measures addressed public health, workers’ compensation, education, environmental conservation, insurance, labor, criminal procedure, domestic relations, tax, municipal authority, and correction law. Several bills were explained by sponsors as advancing stormwater management authority, labor-law transparency, public health protections, and stronger penalties for trafficking-related offenses; one bill on immunization in summer camps drew a defense from Senator Skoufis as a child-protection measure, while another on correction law passed with some Republican opposition. The chamber also took up a controversial public health/electronic health records bill by Senator Fernandez. Senator Martin questioned the bill at length about redacting certain categories of information, emergency access, provider obligations, and the impact on doctors’ ability to see complete medical histories. Fernandez said the bill was intended to protect patients from discrimination and to limit access to a small list of sensitive services, while also noting emergency exceptions and support from more than 200 health care providers. The debate remained focused on balancing privacy protections with concerns about continuity of care and record integrity.

Transcript Highlights:

• Utah State University, University of Idaho, for example, Washington State University, and Oklahoma State
• Across the state of New Mexico to all of our county faculty and our state specialists with the goal of
• the state of New Mexico.
• In a multi-state, so they're working with other researchers across several different states on producing
• So I think it varies across the state.