Transcript Highlights:

• We also have educational programs. ...programs where we learn and teach community health workers, neurologists
• She was so aware of everything.
• My scientific journey in dementia research began when I joined the Ph.D. program at the University of
• These experiences have all informed my own research program.
• Our research program partners not only with physicians and other clinical researchers.

Bills: SB5, SJR3, SB 5, SJR 3

Keywords: dementia, research institute, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, funding, grants, state health initiatives, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, district apportionment, legislative rules

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:22.240> staff Statute so that veterans program staff Statute so that veterans program
• programs division.
• The veterans programs division has become obvious that the veterans program staff supporting at-risk
• Jarvis the Director of Veterans programs Jarvis the Director of Veterans programs and<00:08:35.039
• Modernized public financing programs, such as an online donor refund program, empower individuals

Bills: HF1662, HF1224, HF1836, HF1367, HF1168, HF1999, HF1792, HF102, HF2127, HF104

Keywords: veterans, veterans affairs, State Soldiers Assistance Program, Veterans Stable Housing Initiative, MAXIS, human services data, data sharing, eligibility verification, informed consent, private data, benefits coordination, veteran housing, veteran assistance, Department of Human Services, Children Youth and Families, state benefits, federal benefits, privacy, public assistance, foreclosure

Transcript Highlights:

• Please be aware that personal information you give on this card is subject to public disclosure.
• informed that signing a waiver of prescription is voluntary, something that sometimes they're not aware
• Even though some of those projects had activity that maybe we weren’t aware of in these non-state entities
• look at that process again and see about changing it up where we can make it more efficient and programs
• We recommended how we spend $30 million of that, but $19 million of it went directly to that program

Bills: HB2, HB3, HB799, HB1039

Keywords: capital outlay, budget, infrastructure, appropriation, general obligation bonds, bond authorization, capital improvement, financial management, state treasury, boiler safety, inspection, licensing, state fire marshal, operating certificate, regulations, local sales tax, local use tax, sales and use tax, tax audit, local collector

Transcript Highlights:

• are to be made available to all counties who so desire to access those to put in place diversion programs
• These mediation programs are Free and available in nearly every county.
• Are you aware that by including that language, you are allowing a tenant to now use their kids as a way
• Are you aware that legally, as a defense, if my wife and our two kids and I were in a home, and I weren't
• Are you aware that by creating this defense, you would now be shifting a cost to a landlord to continue

Bills: HB2650, HB3277, HB3386, HB3419, HB3430, HB3742, HB3791, HB3835, HB3905, HB3968, HB4119, HB4153, HB4408

Keywords: probate, estate administration, summary administration, decedent, inheritance, vehicle inspection, title registration, salvage vehicles, ownership, Oklahoma Statutes, evictions, forcible entry, mediation, residency proof, children, housing law, corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• And that can be used for after school programming, before school programming, and summer programming.
• If you refer to row 129, the 18 million dollars for CTE, the pilot program—the new pilot program—that's
• , the types of those programs, the providers of those programs, and evaluate the student outcomes within
• those programs.
• That's where we are aware of a pretty robust study of the residency programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program is nearly 30 years old.
• Community colleges with CTE bachelor programs are able to offer CTE teacher preparation programs for
• I rise to present Assembly Bill 2660, which codifies the CalBridge program and the Enlace program.
• AB 1754 requires succinct tracking and reporting on bond-funded programs after the programs are completed
• May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, I authored AB 1392 to expand California's confidential voter registration program to include
• It also clarifies how participation in the program interacts with voting procedures by maintaining access
• Certainly informational and educational billboards can be helpful tools to raise public awareness about
• I know, as a former elections official, I relied on this department and this program very much, and I
• Expanding this program is a common-sense move. Thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related measures. AB 2592 would transfer lobbyist training from the legislative ethics committees to the FPPC starting in 2029 and make the training available online and on demand; it drew support from the FPPC and a request that the Legislature retain final approval over harassment-prevention content. AB 2573 would clarify and expand California’s confidential voter registration protections for elected officials and candidates, with support from the Secretary of State and county election officials; members raised questions about family-member coverage and possible misuse by candidates, and the bill was supported as amended. AB 1664 would require election officials to notify the Secretary of State and Attorney General within one business day of any warrant, subpoena, or investigation involving election records or voting systems, and would let the Attorney General intervene to protect election materials; it passed unanimously out of committee. AB 2691 would add felony sexual assault and human trafficking convictions to the list of offenses that disqualify a person from running for or holding state or local office; supporters framed it as a public-trust and prevention measure, while members discussed second chances and concerns about overbreadth, and it also passed unanimously. The committee also approved AB 2413, which would bar public funds from being used for large-format public advertisements featuring elected officials, and AB 2281, which would have the Office of Election Cybersecurity assess whether additional resources are needed to replace lost federal cybersecurity support and allow consultation with academic researchers; both passed without opposition. AB 2484 would let San Diego voters approve a local transactions and use tax for the Metropolitan Transit System through the initiative process and exclude it from the existing statutory cap; supporters said it would help address a looming transit fiscal cliff, while an opponent argued it created a special tax rule and questioned why a Prop. 218 process was not used. The bill passed 6-1. The committee also took up AB 2230, which would prohibit immigration enforcement from entering within 100 feet of voting centers and child care facilities. Supporters said it would protect voters and children from intimidation, while opponents questioned enforceability, federal jurisdiction, and whether there was evidence of the problem; the discussion became contentious, with members citing recent ICE activity and concerns about racial profiling. The transcript ends before the final disposition of AB 2230 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Physicians Health Program is a lifesaver for people like me.
• Section 1 defines several key elements of the program.
• The programs must be evidence-based.
• I am with the department, and I am the program administrator for the long-term care ombudsman program
• program to establish equivalency. ...for a graduate of a non-accredited program to establish equivalency

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first approved the December 3 minutes, then heard a request from the Board of Clinical Laboratory Practice to amend its proposed rule on exempt test methods to add certain closed-system DNA/RNA tests, including rhinovirus. After testimony explaining that the board had considered late comments from BioMérieux and wanted the rule record to reflect that review, the committee agreed to a limited amendment and passed the motion unanimously. The Department of Agriculture then outlined broad rule updates affecting dairy, eggs, poultry, pesticides, animal health, environmental mitigation, and the Egg Product Utilization Commission. The commissioner said the changes mostly clarified existing requirements, updated references, and reduced some burdens, such as easing dairy hauler training/licensing timing and clarifying out-of-state grade A milk language. Members asked about dairy industry decline, the APUC scoring system, and the rationale for the milk-hauler and out-of-state milk provisions. The State Board of Dental Examiners presented extensive rule changes tied to recent legislation and workforce issues, including a new professional health program for dentists, expanded duties for assistants and hygienists, broader local anesthetic authority for hygienists, and fee increases to fund the program and cover administrative costs. Testimony from Dr. Edward May strongly supported the professional health program based on his own recovery experience. The committee also heard from Game and Fish on rules easing some guide/outfitter experience requirements, allowing electronic exams, and modifying boating safety equipment rules, with no public comment and no fiscal impact. Later, Health and Human Services received approval for an extension to update tattoo/body art rules and a separate motion to repeal an obsolete nurse aide training chapter. HHS also described nursing facility rule updates, lodging sanitation revisions, and related clarifications on licensing, safety, pest control, and fire requirements. The Department of Environmental Quality received an extension for septic-system installer rules, and also presented rules for above-ground storage tanks and water/wastewater operator certification, including new fees and third-party testing options. The Industrial Commission’s oil and gas division described multiple rule changes, some withdrawn after comments, including drilling unit flexibility, site stability, wildfire authority, and streamlined transport/reporting procedures. Finally, DPI began presenting several rule packages, including school construction loan limits, school bus standards, cooperative agreements, special education rules for public charter schools, and new math curriculum and intervention requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• On our commitment programs, about 1,500.
• programs.
• They range from treatment programs and aftercare participation in programs that are handled by the Department
• If someone tries to rip off the state, its programs, like the Medicaid program, we have lawyers and investigators
• that program.

Summary: The Justice Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the justice budget and the major agencies within it. Chair Maney explained that the committee would hear broad presentations rather than detailed budget questions, and the first panel included the Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Corrections, Commission on Offender Review, Department of Law Enforcement, Office of the State Courts Administrator, and the Attorney General’s Office. Each agency described its mission, staffing, budget, and major responsibilities, with repeated emphasis on public safety, rehabilitation, staffing shortages, technology needs, and the importance of mental health services and education in reducing recidivism. Secretary Hall described DJJ’s prevention-to-aftercare continuum, including civil citation, detention, probation, and residential commitment programs, and highlighted reductions in juvenile arrests and commitments. Secretary Dixon said DOC’s biggest issues are staffing, overtime, and inflation, while noting progress in education, reentry, and a low recidivism rate. FDLE Commissioner Glass outlined the agency’s investigative, forensic, intelligence, and protective functions, including work on fentanyl enforcement and crime reporting systems. The State Courts Administrator emphasized the judiciary’s constitutional role, case volume, and challenges in providing interpreters, experts, and technology support. Chief Deputy Attorney General Guard described the office’s litigation, criminal appeals, consumer protection, and opioid recovery work, especially defending state laws and recovering opioid settlement funds. Members then asked questions about prison conditions, immigration enforcement, court filing fees, crime reporting, staffing ratios, and transnational gangs. Agency leaders responded that they were not aware of ICE contracts in some cases, that FDLE works with immigration authorities and detention facilities under existing authority, and that filing fees are a legislative policy decision. The committee also heard from the Justice Administrative Commission, prosecutors, public defenders, guardian ad litem, regional conflict counsel, and capital collateral regional counsel, who focused on indigent representation, dependency and death penalty cases, and persistent staffing and retention problems. No votes were taken, and the meeting concluded after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you aware of any of y'all, and we've got a lot of other people coming up to testify, are you aware
• Not that I'm aware of. You're not aware of it. No, Chairman. Okay.
• I'm not aware of the documents you have, sir.
• It would abolish the ATV and off-highway vehicle training programs.
• It would abolish the ATV and off-highway vehicle training programs. Thank you.

Bills: SB39, SB2129, SB2141, SB2246, SB2323, SB2439, SB2722

Keywords: commercial motor vehicle, truck liability, motor carrier, trucking, civil liability, respondeat superior, negligent entrustment, negligent maintenance, negligent loading, negligent repair, bifurcated trial, exemplary damages, punitive damages, personal injury, collision, employer liability, vicarious liability, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Texas tort reform, commercial truck accident

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee reconvened on SB 2722, as substituted by Senator Bettencourt, which would redirect a portion of Harris County Toll Road Authority surplus revenues to the City of Houston and impose audit and tax-rate penalty provisions. Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz and Fire Chief Thomas Munoz testified in support, arguing that Houston bears a large share of toll-road public safety burdens, citing thousands of police and fire responses on toll-road property and the need for compensation for emergency services. Bill King, testifying neutrally, said the toll authority generates large excess revenues and urged stronger oversight and clearer controls on how the money is spent. Opponents, including Harris County officials, business and neighborhood representatives, and toll-road critics, argued the bill would divert transportation dollars, create a precedent for taking toll revenues for general municipal use, and could worsen project delivery and incentives; several also questioned the accuracy and interpretation of the revenue figures and the lack of comparable audit requirements for the city. The committee took extensive testimony but left SB 2722 pending without a vote. The committee then heard SB 2129, which would increase fines for motorists who disregard railroad crossing gates or flaggers, and SB 2323, which would redact railroad crew members’ personal information from public accident reports. Both bills were presented as safety measures, with railroad labor testimony in support, and both were left pending after brief public testimony. The committee also heard SB 2141, a Zaffirini bill concerning specialty license plates for judges, with the substitute aimed at reducing security risks by changing how judges are identified on plates; it too was left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2439, another Zaffirini bill, described as a TDLR cleanup measure related to ATV and off-highway vehicle safety certification. The bill would abolish the current training and certification program, which supporters said was burdensome and underused given the small number of approved instructors statewide. With no significant opposition on the record, the committee closed testimony and left SB 2439 pending as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• . program. program.
• <00:06:37.000> like fraud in other public programs like fraud in other public programs like
• Medicaid program or escape culpability. Medicaid program or escape culpability.
• people for defrauding public programs. people for defrauding public programs.
• , is going to roll out in the programs, is going to roll out in the programs, right?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• at Minnesota housing um and programs at Minnesota housing um and federal<00:57:59.039> programs
• put some more funding in that program put some more funding in that program that<01:02:51.079>
• Statewide affordable housing aid program Statewide affordable housing aid program um<01:26:47.800
• 01:36:37.080> there likely there were new programs and there likely there were new programs and
• invest and go forth with these programs invest and go forth with these programs is<01:37:13.239>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee approved the previous meeting’s minutes and then heard testimony from Housing First Minnesota and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities on housing supply, affordability, and land-use policy. Mark Foster of Housing First Minnesota said the state is chronically undersupplied by roughly 100,000 units, that the median new single-family home price has risen above $530,000, and that only about 27% of Twin Cities households can now afford a new home. He argued that regulatory and local approval processes, especially planned unit developments and aesthetic mandates, add significant cost and reduce the number of homes built, and he urged the committee to remove exclusionary barriers and modernize residential development approvals. Members questioned Foster about zoning, aesthetic requirements, and homeowners associations. He said most new housing in growing metro communities is negotiated through PUDs, which he described as increasing costs and limiting supply, and gave examples such as stone exterior requirements adding thousands of dollars to a home. He also said HOAs can be useful in some cases but are often imposed when not needed. Several legislators responded positively to the Housing First Minnesota Foundation’s work, including transitional housing and veteran housing projects. Elizabeth Wefel of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities said cities outside the metro also face a housing shortage, but their challenges differ: market failure, inadequate sewer and water infrastructure, and gaps in starter, workforce, and senior housing. She said many Greater Minnesota cities are already updating zoning, reducing lot sizes, allowing more density and ADUs, and investing local money, land, and partnerships to spur development. She asked the legislature to speed up rollout of housing funds, support infrastructure and workforce programs, and adjust housing tax credit and TIF rules, while warning against one-size-fits-all preemption of local zoning authority. Members discussed the need for tailored solutions and the differences between metro and Greater Minnesota housing markets.

Transcript Highlights:

• Faulkner first, is there anything that you are aware of in your background?
• work with you to make sure that we get the maximum benefit out of this program.
• I'm not in the Ph.D. program, so I don't believe that President Trump attended Wharton's Ph.D. program
• Yes, I thought I heard you say program. Thank you for that clarification.
• I'm aware of your leadership on this and I want to thank you for that.

Keywords: nomination, Deputy Secretary of Treasury, economic policy, inflation, tariffs, tribal nations, government relations

Summary: The meeting convened to consider the nomination of Mike Falkender for the position of Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. During the session, multiple members voiced concerns regarding current economic policies under the Trump administration, particularly around inflation, tariffs, and the impact on small businesses. Discussions frequently centered on the administration's approach to tariffs and taxation, and how these factors contribute to the rising cost of living and potential job losses. Additionally, the importance of bolstering government-to-government relationships with tribal nations was emphasized, highlighting the need for specialized offices focused on tribal affairs within the Treasury Department.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you aware of contribution in the DC. Are you aware of that?
• Can you can you explain if you're aware Can you can you explain if you're aware of<00:56:27.920>
• They're also the TPA for the Mississippi Deferred Comp program.
• And why would you retirement program.
• Would billion dollars into the program.

Keywords: Finance - Room 216, 20 January, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee heard an update from PERS Executive Director Higgins, who reported that the system has about $38 billion in assets, earned roughly 11.7% last fiscal year, and is about 57% funded. He thanked lawmakers for a newly passed $1 billion funding bill and emphasized that funding the existing system remains the top priority. Higgins also noted that the board’s actuarially recommended contribution is about 26% of payroll, while the system is currently receiving about 18.4%, and said PERS will return later in session with a few requested bills. Higgins addressed several policy topics under discussion this session, including return-to-work rules, first responders, and Tier 5. He said return-to-work changes are possible if the law is changed and funding implications are addressed. For first responders, he said any special treatment should be done within PERS rather than by creating a separate system, with the affected group and parameters clearly defined and fully funded. He also said the new Tier 5 hybrid plan is being implemented on track for March 1 and is projected to improve the system’s long-term financial position by reducing future liabilities and helping pay down the unfunded liability. Members then questioned Higgins about the system’s funding policy, the 30-year closed amortization period used in the ADC calculation, and whether that approach should be revisited in light of recent funding actions and changes in assumptions. Higgins said the board reviews the policy annually, that the closed amortization approach was chosen to better pay down the unfunded liability, and that the annual valuation and experience studies already incorporate recent funding changes, Tier 5, and the phased employer-rate increases. He acknowledged that a significant new infusion of funding could justify reviewing the amortization period, but cautioned against changing it too often because it could undermine progress toward paying down the unfunded liability.

Transcript Highlights:

• The A3 amendment addresses all of those concerns, as far as I'm aware, and with speaking with those groups
• as<00:04:33.000> far<00:04:33.160> as<00:04:33.320> I'm<00:04:33.479> aware
• <00:04:34.080> and those concerns as far as I'm aware and those concerns as far as I'm aware
• The program still hasn't delivered meaningful data to the public.
• <01:17:14.600> still the 2020 fiscal note the program still the 2020 fiscal note the program

Keywords: 1187, senate, all