Transcript Highlights:

• I also believe very strongly in local control over our elections.
• I also believe very strongly in local control over our elections, but the thing that's even more important
• to me than local control is voter control.
• Endangered Species Act, the wolf is included, but in Arizona we're saying that Game and Fish can control
• like many bills that we are hearing tonight, once again robs our school districts of their local control

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But essentially, we have employees that are members of the Association of American Feed Control Officials
• Association of Animal Feed Control Association of Animal Feed Control Officials,<00:42:00.560>
• Uh, Senate File 50 is specifically looking at assessing the controls... Go<00:54:11.359> ahead.
• Looking at, uh, assessing the controls that have been put into place under groundwater control areas
• and the effectiveness of those controls over time.

Bills: SF0050, SF0068, SF0084, HB0087, HB0029, HB0061, HB0090

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, irrigation, water management, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, water development

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:57:40.079> We<00:57:40.240> know<00:57:40.319> that to get those under control
• We know that to get those under control.
• , we discussed with Elbow what we think would be the best approach to get our payment error under control
• <01:26:50.719> where<01:26:50.960> we called snap quality control where we called snap
• quality control where we basically<01:26:51.520> pull<01:26:51.760> a<01:26:52.159>

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 28 January, 2026; 8:15 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation from the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), including its consolidated tourism and agency request. MDA said it has had strong recent results, citing about $65 billion in capital investment since 2020, roughly 25,000 jobs, record tourism, clean audits, and oversubscribed incentive programs. For FY27, the agency requested $26.4 million in general funds, level special-fund operating support, restoration of eight pins reduced in the LBR process, and several general-fund increases for a career ladder, a new HR system, training, and operating costs. MDA also discussed a $1.25 million request for America 250 activities, including a Mississippi event and participation in the National Mall “Great America State Fair,” plus an energy accelerator program tied to the governor’s energy initiative and a broader three-tier energy preparedness strategy. MDA also explained its incentive refill requests, saying it was not seeking additional funding for the ACE grant program this year and had shifted that support toward the governor’s port/rail/road investment fund and energy-ready sites. The agency highlighted a renewed request to restart funding for the small municipal and limited population counties grant program, which it said had previously helped smaller communities with water, sewer, downtown, and other projects. On tourism, MDA presented a breakout showing what the budget would look like if tourism were separated into its own department; officials said the current tourism budget within MDA is about $5.7 million in general funds and $7.9 million total, and estimated about $1.3 million in additional cost would be needed to stand up a separate tourism agency. A significant portion of the discussion focused on criticism from Senator Wiggins that MDA has not delivered enough economic development for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He argued that constituents believe MDA does little for the coast and objected to the agency’s role in the GCRF and coastal projects, saying the coast has not seen meaningful results in years. MDA officials responded that complaints about uneven distribution are common across the state, that MDA works with local economic development partners rather than dictating project locations, and that it has helped support major coastal projects such as Relativity Space, Lockheed Martin expansions, PCC Gulf Chem, BWC Terminals, and AWS. The exchange also touched on the Port of Pascagoula and local leadership disputes, with both sides disagreeing over whether the port and the coast have been adequately supported. No votes or formal actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• drugs, and makes the actor liable if there's a death resulting from the sale of those controlled drugs
• The first element is that a sale or manufacturing of a controlled drug occurred.
• RSA 318-B:26, subsection IX, makes it a crime to manufacture or sell certain controlled drugs and makes
• the actor liable if there's a death resulting from the sale of those controlled drugs.
• The first element is that a sale or manufacturing of a controlled drug occurred.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of the California State Controller Malia M.
• eight years, to be exact, of delays exceeding a year, calling it an incredible improvement by the controller
• The controller welcomes the opportunity to explore how our office is properly invested in to fulfill
• with the Legislative Analyst's Office, we have no concerns to raise on the items that the State Controller
• what we call the integrated solution since 2017, where we started to slowly increment pieces of SCO control

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When a blood vessel bursts in your brain without warning, you have no control over the events that chart
• ,<00:02:14.560> you<00:02:14.800> have<00:02:14.959> no<00:02:15.200> control
• without warning, you have no control without warning, you have no control over<00:02:15.760>
• And his lead sponsorship in 2015 of S.31, a broad gun control measure that, among other provisions, would
• measure that among other gun control measure that among other provisions<00:09:32.880> would<

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional for Mental Health Awareness Month, focused on the fragility and renewability of mental health and the importance of human connection, kindness, and reaching out to people who are struggling. The chamber then handled several referral items, including first reading and referral of Senate Bill 329, an act relating to criminal procedures involving firearms, to the Judiciary Committee. It also referred Senate Bills 323 and 326 to the Committee on Appropriations because they carry appropriations, and noted that Senate Bill 278, relating to cannabis and state revenue, had been reported favorably with amendment and was referred to Ways and Means under House Rule 35A. The House took up Joint Senate Resolution 53 on weekend adjournment for May 15, 2026, and adopted it in concurrence by voice vote. The chamber also read House Concurrent Resolution 284 honoring former Senate Majority Leader and Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs’ Executive Director John F. Campbell for his public service, including his work on marriage equality and gun control, and members gave remarks recognizing his leadership, humor, and impact on the institution. Several guests were welcomed and recognized during announcements, including a representative involved in a diaper drive, local officials, and Norma Malone, who was honored for decades of public service in Barry Town and related local boards. The main floor action was on Proposal 4, a proposed constitutional amendment on equality of rights. The Judiciary Committee recommended concurrence, and the member from Burlington explained the amendment’s purpose and process, emphasizing that it would add an equal protection guarantee to the Vermont Constitution covering race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and national origin, while preserving other constitutional protections. The member also reviewed the proposal’s prior passage in both chambers in the previous biennium and its current path toward appearing on the November 2026 ballot if approved again by the House and Senate. The transcript ends while the House is still hearing extended remarks on Proposal 4, with no final vote on the amendment shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's going to come up, and it's like, you know, who controls the system regarding the... telling the
• On the assisted living facility, nobody has control of it. There's no... Okay. Let's invite Ms.
• On the assisted living facility, nobody has control of it. There's no... Okay. Let's invite Ms.
• assisted living facility, assisted living facility, nobody<00:26:44.720> has<00:26:44.880> control
• nobody has control of There's no Okay. nobody has control of There's no Okay.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to talk about the policy issues and the policy problems that have been created by all Democrat-controlled
• 01:14:21.320> by<01:14:21.480> all<01:14:21.680> Democrat<01:14:22.440> controlled
• been created by all Democrat controlled been created by all Democrat controlled government<01:14
• c><01:14:29.520> what<01:14:29.640> we<01:14:29.800> can look at what we can control
• , what we can look at what we can control, what we can do<01:14:30.040> to<01:14:30.160> hold

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Education was and is the control point for special education statewide.
• The Department of Education was and is The Department of Education was and is the<00:55:59.200> control
• earlier than the end of 2027 at this point, depending upon scope and other factors outside of our control
• The Department and the state's control framework findings would likely be a separate report as well.
• The Department and the state's control framework findings would likely be a separate report as well.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the March 6, 2026 meeting and then received updates from the Legislative Budget Assistant audit staff on several ongoing audits. Christine Young reported that the special education audit was in report-writing stage with 39 of 80 observations completed and a draft expected in the second quarter, the education freedom accounts audit had 27 of 42 observations completed with a draft also expected in the second quarter, and the Doorway program audit had a draft report with 15 observations sent to DHHS on March 30, with responses due April 24 and presentation expected at the May fiscal committee meeting. Members asked about the size of the special education report, and staff estimated it would be over 800 pages and roughly three pounds. The committee then reviewed prior audit responsiveness from the Human Rights Commission. The commission reported that 22 observations had been completed, with remaining issues focused on timely case processing, a formal risk assessment, and a performance measurement system. Officials said staffing shortages were improving, a risk assessment manual had been drafted, a scorecard system was nearly complete, and the commission’s rules were moving through the public hearing process. Members asked about the timeline, and the commission said case processing was averaging 20 to 22 months and that the remaining items were expected to be resolved over time. Police Standards and Training also reported progress on prior audit items. The director corrected one status designation and said the job task analysis for curriculum development was substantially resolved, with findings and recommendations being prepared for the council. He said work on fitness testing was on hold pending legislative action, the performance measurement and strategic planning item remained a priority, and the council was focusing first on updating administrative rules. He also said the corrections advisory committee likely needed a statutory amendment to better reflect members with practical corrections experience. In response to questions, he said the council does not certify county correctional officers but reviews county curriculum annually, and he said the agency would be open to discussing consolidation or a pathway for county officers to become state-certified. The Department of Corrections then updated the committee on parole board-related audit items, saying 11 of 13 DOC-related findings were resolved. The remaining issues involved implementing a structured decision-making process for the parole board and improving data collection for recidivism tracking; the board had applied to the National Institute of Corrections for training, and manual data collection was underway. DOC also said it had created a HIPAA-compliant release form to share substance use disorder treatment information with the parole board. Finally, OPLC reported on the mental health workforce audit, saying six findings were fully resolved and six substantially resolved, with most remaining items tied to rulemaking and application processing. The office expects to complete its backend system migration and improve timeliness metrics by the end of the year, and it recently launched a jurisprudence exam for the mental health board. Under potential audit topics, staff said two items remained suspended because of litigation, and the committee discussed whether to keep DHHS contract management on the list. Representative [name unclear] proposed adding two new education freedom account audit topics: verification of residency and eligibility, and a record of educational attainment while preserving student privacy. Members supported adding them, but staff warned the expanded scope could delay the report and would require coordination with the Department of Education and approval by the Fiscal Committee. The chair said staff would work with the commissioner and LBA to draft the revised scope for further committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• error<00:46:25.119> rate<00:46:25.440> was<00:46:26.319> uh<00:46:26.640> control
• in a controllable bucket.
• But nonetheless, it is manageable and controllable.
• But nonetheless, it is manageable and controllable.
• In response to my colleague across the table, I want to point out that the error rates are controllable

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's some criteria that were outside of our control.
• There's some criteria that were outside of our control.
• some criteria that were outside<00:03:24.879> of<00:03:25.040> our<00:03:25.280> control
• <00:03:25.760> The<00:03:26.080> how<00:03:26.400> rural outside of our control
• The how rural outside of our control.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Health Services Committee heard a presentation from Dr. Steven Stack, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, on Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Program. He said Kentucky received about $213 million in federal funding, among the highest awards nationally, after a fast application and negotiation process. He emphasized that the grant is time-limited, must be used for the specific goals in the state’s application, and cannot be treated as a general bailout or replacement for existing funding. He also noted the state will use a website, ruralhealthplan.ky.gov, to share the full application, award terms, and future opportunities. Dr. Stack outlined five focus areas: maternal health and prenatal/early childhood supports; EMS and trauma response workforce and transfer capacity; behavioral health crisis care through the EMPATH model and mobile crisis services; oral health access through more hygienists, telehealth, and hub-and-spoke models; and rural community hubs for chronic disease prevention and innovation, including food-as-medicine and healthier lifestyle interventions. He stressed that the program is meant to be transformative, not duplicative, and that it cannot pay clinician salaries, fund new construction, replace EMR systems broadly, or duplicate billable services. He said the state will work with community partners, hospitals, universities, and others, including the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, to begin implementation. Members responded positively overall. Senator Berg praised the award and the goal of integrating care across the state, but raised concerns about access to prenatal care and about possible future changes to water fluoridation, warning both could harm children and rural families. The chair and other members thanked Dr. Stack for the update and congratulated him on the award. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and then the other thing is allowing us to control some of the timing around when we notify those
• thing is allowing Um and then the other thing is allowing us<00:06:59.280> to<00:07:00.400> control
• of<00:07:01.120> the<00:07:01.280> timing<00:07:02.160> around us to control
• some of the timing around us to control some of the timing around when<00:07:02.720> we<00:07
• board that sets the protocols control board that sets the protocols for<00:54:43.040> care<00

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As legislators, we're vested with the responsibility of trying to control health care costs, if not reduce
• As legislators, we're vested with the responsibility of trying to control health care costs, if not reduce
• As legislators, we're vested with the responsibility of trying to control health care costs, if not reduce
• As legislators, we're vested with the responsibility of trying to control health care costs, if not reduce
• trial uh performed in randomized control trial uh performed in the<00:57:58.000> country<00:57

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call, approval of the September 17 minutes, and an introduction of Sarah Rome to the committee. The chair also noted that the committee would stay on schedule and then moved to presentations. Representative Amy Neighbors and Taylor Williams of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association presented a refiled “pharmacy parity” proposal, formerly House Bill 3, to require Medicaid reimbursement for pharmacist clinical services already authorized under current scope of practice. They said the bill would not expand Medicaid or pharmacist scope, but would align Medicaid with commercial insurance, improve access and outcomes, and likely save money; they cited a Cabinet report under Senate Joint Resolution 26, which found similar laws in other states were producing savings or trending toward savings and would require only modest administrative updates. No member questions were raised after that presentation. The committee then heard an update on the Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Program from Senator Stephen Meredith, Dr. Whitney Jones, Melissa Carrier, and Representative Neighbors. They described the program’s goals of increasing screening, reducing deaths through earlier detection, and preventing cancers by finding polyps, saying it has produced substantial savings and improved outcomes. Speakers emphasized Kentucky’s high colorectal cancer burden, especially in younger adults, and said the program helps uninsured and underinsured Kentuckians access stool-based screening and follow-up colonoscopies through a network of partners including the Department for Public Health, Kentucky Cancer Link, and university cancer programs. They requested an increase in funding from $500,000 to $1.25 million annually, or $2.5 million over the biennium, to expand services, fill geographic gaps, and support education and navigation. Members asked whether the colon cancer screening was already covered by Medicaid, and the presenters replied that Medicaid does cover it, but the program serves people who are not on Medicaid or who fall into a separate eligibility category based on income and insurance status. A member also clarified the requested funding increase. The committee then moved on to the next agenda item, an update from the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, where board member Sal Santoro and CHNK Behavioral Health leaders began a presentation describing the organization’s broader behavioral health work and its request, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concludes or any action is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm short staffed in my operations and my finance side, and in internal controls as well.
• I'm short staffed in my operations and my finance side, and in internal controls as well.
• I'm short staffed in my operations and my finance side, and in internal controls as well.
• I'm short staffed in my operations and my finance side, and in internal controls as well.
• <00:54:49.040> as side. um and in internal controls as side. um and in internal controls as

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting focused on the Legislative Budget Assistant audit of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification’s response to 12 findings, especially those tied to mental health workforce licensure. The executive director said 10 findings were substantially resolved, one fully resolved, and one partially resolved, with most issues tied to ongoing rulemaking. He explained that the office regulates 61 professions, has limited rules-drafting staff, and is working through a long rulemaking process while also adapting to frequent statutory changes. The committee discussed the first finding on license portability/endorsement, which the director said was the office’s highest priority and had been implemented through universal recognition rules adopted in 2023. Members asked detailed questions about how the office reviews other states’ licensing standards, whether it evaluates jurisdictions case-by-case or maintains a database, and how many jurisdictions qualify for endorsement in various professions. The director said the office initially reviewed all states and professions at once, now maintains and updates a list of substantially similar jurisdictions, and sometimes evaluates narrower jurisdictions such as counties, cities, or foreign countries. He noted that some professions, like nursing, have broad reciprocity, while others, including some mental health-related fields, vary widely and may have only a limited number of qualifying jurisdictions. He also said the office is exploring whether AI could help with research and tracking, though not with final verification. The committee then turned to expedited licensure processing. The director said the office now handles examination, review, and issuance or denial based on board-set criteria, rather than requiring every board to review every application, which has sped up processing. He said delays still occur with criminal background checks and FBI fingerprint processing because of paper forms, federal involvement, and back-and-forth with the Department of Safety when releases are incomplete or incorrect. Members raised concerns about broader state process bottlenecks and asked whether legislation could help streamline the system. A legislator said he was already working on related background-check language for another agency and believed the current draft may satisfy FBI requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas costs one-third what it would cost here in the state of California because we have an out-of-control
• To the United States Constitution and the California State Constitution to control the labor that they
• public employee relations board in the state of California because it is a fundamentally out of. control
• Assembly Bill 1505 by the Committee on Agriculture. through an act relating to pest control and making
• Great Pest Control Research Program until 2035.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This could decrease local control and professional teacher agency over instructional design for our youngest
• saw the local control related aspects of that district making decisions. it's best for the district.
• And it's local control that's made it possible.
• Local control allows us to ensure these policies are effective.
• We appreciate that this legislation upholds local control. school boards and charter school leaders to

Bills: SB451, SB762, SB1490, SB1262, SB1459, SB1750, SB1962, SB2252, SB2253, SB2365

Keywords: instructional materials, public schools, Education Code, adoption, rejected materials, local funds, open educational resources, Texas Education Code, school districts, open enrollment charter schools, funding restrictions, environmental regulation, business compliance, local authority, economic development, state preemption, local control, open education resources, SB 762, Texas public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• We check some really good internal controls, and they have to report every year as well, to send us their
• <00:09:34.560> and<00:09:34.720> they really good internal controls and they really
• good internal controls and they have<00:09:34.959> to<00:09:35.120> report<00:09:35.560
• I know she's been really focused on internal controls in our state government and making sure that we're
• in our state government and and controls in our state government and and making<00:15:57.519> sure

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to have insight and actual some control over that. **Mr.
• I mean, it's controlled by the state. It's not an agency, and we know this.
• replacement cost calculators being out of control for the premium payer.
• You know, we have to have insight and actual control over that. situation where we don't put the grid
• being out of control for the premium payer.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• division, discussing financial control.
• c><01:04:09.160> division<01:04:10.160> um<01:04:10.520> And MMB on internal control
• division um And MMB on internal control division um And discussing<01:04:11.319> Financial<01
• :04:11.839> control<01:04:12.279> so<01:04:12.480> the<01:04:12.599> 28th
• discussing Financial control so the 28th discussing Financial control so the 28th I<01:04:13.400>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met for its first 2025 meeting, with co-chairs Senator Marty and Senator Pratt opening the session and members and staff introducing themselves. No bills were heard; the meeting was focused on orientation and on reviewing the committee’s budget rules for the new biennium. Committee members and staff from both caucuses, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), and legislative fiscal offices were introduced before the presentation began. MMB fiscal staff Brian D. and committee fiscal staff explained that budget rules are a nonbinding agreement between MMB and House and Senate fiscal staff that guides how fiscal proposals are tracked and understood. They reviewed the history of the rules, noting that the current document reflects the most substantial update since the rules were first adopted in the early 2000s, and that the 2025 version was reorganized into eight sections after extensive interim work by House, Senate, and MMB staff. The presenters emphasized that the rules are updated annually, are intended to promote consistent fiscal tracking and transparent communication, and are used as guidance for budget bills rather than as law. The presentation highlighted several substantive rule areas: general tracking rules and comparison points for budget documents; appropriation drafting guidance; treatment of transfers, revenues, and inflation; planning estimates and “budget tails”; and rules for extending, canceling, or reappropriating existing appropriations. Staff also described new or revised provisions, including guidance on understanding current-law changes, using Department of Revenue estimates for tax revenue, and treating inflation in the forecast as a general pressure estimate rather than appropriated dollars. The committee was asked to review the updated rules, but no vote or formal action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can control our destiny here. There’s a lot of stuff we can’t control right now.
• You know, there are just certain things we can’t control.” “We can’t control right now.
• You know, there are just certain things we can’t control right now in this moment.
• And in fact, they brought a lot of quality control skills with improved installation of pipe for the
• And in fact, they brought a lot of quality control skills with improved installation of pipe for the

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its second public hearing of the 194th General Court on capital investments in higher education, focusing primarily on H.54, the Bright Act, along with H.1426/S.949 on green and healthy public colleges and universities and deferred maintenance, and H.1424 on capital investment in Gateway Cities. Chairs and administration officials framed the hearing as a response to aging campus infrastructure, climate goals, workforce needs, and federal pressures on higher education, and explained that testimony would be taken from pre-registered speakers in person and virtually. University of Massachusetts leaders strongly supported the Bright Act, describing large deferred maintenance backlogs, aging buildings, and the need to decarbonize campuses while modernizing research and teaching facilities. UMass officials said the bill would help keep tuition and fees lower by reducing the need for campuses to finance capital work themselves, and argued that the investments would improve competitiveness, support research, and create construction jobs. Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Secretary of Education Tuttweiler, and Secretary of Administration and Finance Gorzkowicz also backed the bill, saying it would leverage Fair Share surtax revenues for a proposed $2.5 billion in campus investments plus additional targeted grants, and that it would support affordability, economic growth, and climate resilience. Committee members asked about the balance between deferred maintenance and decarbonization, the role of grant programs versus direct spending, the impact on tuition and fees, and how the plan would help campuses respond to federal cuts such as NIH and NSF funding. Administration officials said the proposal was designed to be phased in quickly, with some projects ready to start immediately and others taking longer, and that the grant programs would be structured to include all campuses equitably. They also said the plan would build on an existing financing model similar to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and could help campuses avoid future tuition increases tied to capital costs. Additional testimony came from MassBay Community College, where President David Podell and recent nursing graduate Deanna Cavazos described the benefits of a new Framingham campus building and said community colleges need modern labs, better planning capacity, and deferred maintenance support to serve the enrollment growth from MassReconnect and MassEducate. State university leaders, including President Mary Grant, President Linda Thompson, and President John Keenan, said their campuses face outdated classrooms, insufficient electrical capacity, and aging facilities, and urged passage of the Bright Act as a long-overdue investment in student success and workforce preparation.