Transcript Highlights:

• What it all looks like up here without seeing on the ground what its implementation looks like, what
• <00:49:33.920> So<00:49:35.200> uh<00:49:35.359> it's implementing the whole
• So uh it's implementing the whole thing.
• So movers of the bill building who put in the budget. You guys did.
• who put in the budget who put in the budget >> you<00:59:16.960> guys<00:59:17.200>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Performance Audit and Oversight Committee met to accept prior minutes and receive updates on ongoing audits. Audit staff reported progress on three education-related reviews: special education (34 of 71 observations completed, draft expected in the second quarter and final in the summer), education freedom accounts (22 of 41 observations completed, draft expected in the second quarter and final in the summer), and the doorway program (5 of 13 observations completed, draft expected by the end of February and final by April or May). No committee questions were raised on the audit status update. The committee then discussed possible future oversight topics, beginning with SNAP and concerns about fraud and work requirements. Members suggested inviting DHS officials and contract administrators to explain program operations and compliance, and also discussed whether the Department of Justice Medicaid fraud unit or other experienced officials could provide useful context. Members noted New Hampshire’s existing oversight layers, including the Executive Council and the joint HHS oversight committee, while also expressing interest in hearing more directly from department staff about staffing and contract management capacity. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on whether to pursue an audit of special education at the local school level. Members debated whether to wait for the ongoing statewide special education review and a legislative study commission report, or to begin scoping a local audit now so work could start sooner. Supporters argued that local-level spending, identification rates, and effectiveness vary widely by district and that an audit should examine both costs and outcomes; others cautioned that the scope would need to be manageable given limited audit staff and that the statewide report may help narrow the focus. The committee also briefly discussed a potential audit of the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, but no decision was made on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• The work of this unit is of great value for Minnesota in terms of the state budget.
• Each Medicaid fraud unit's size is based on the size of its Medicaid budget.
• Based on our state Medicaid budget, our size is supposed to be 41, but it's not.
• It's still at 32, and it hasn't grown like our state Medicaid budget has over the last five years.
• As you can see from our slides, when our state Medicaid budget has expanded, our Medicaid fraud unit

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• after the policy was implemented.
• This includes implementing default settings for minor users.
• We need to implement those in Massachusetts.
• We need to implement those in Massachusetts.
• We've heard the common objections to why we shouldn't implement it.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on 41 bills related to school climate and safety, with chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlining procedures and noting more than 125 witnesses. The first major topic was the “Study Act” on cell phones in schools and related social media restrictions (House 666/Senate 335). Secretary of Education Pat Tutwiler and Attorney General Andrea Campbell testified in strong support, arguing that bell-to-bell phone-free policies would improve student focus, reduce anxiety and distraction, and support mental health. Several legislators also supported the approach, though Representative Jeff Turco and Senator John Keenan emphasized narrower bills focused only on school-day phone restrictions rather than broader social media regulation. Senator John Velis likewise backed a comprehensive school-hours restriction, citing student distraction and mental health concerns. Representative Tarsky described successful implementation of a Yondr pouch system in a school where he served as principal, saying it improved engagement and reduced bullying and discipline issues. The committee then heard testimony on a bill to prohibit Native American mascots in public schools (Senate 312/House 575). Senator Joe Comerford, Brittany Wally, and Rhonda Anderson all urged passage, saying Native mascots are dehumanizing, harmful to Native youth, and inconsistent with civil rights and educational values. They described support from tribal nations and noted that many Massachusetts schools have already changed mascots, but some still resist. The hearing also included testimony on school start times (House 647/Senate 360), where middle school students Caroline Duffy and Emery Jarvis described exhaustion and survey data showing widespread sleep deprivation. Former educator Telia Jacobs, former principal Rep. Tarsky, and others argued that later start times would improve health, learning, and student well-being, while acknowledging transportation and scheduling challenges. Zoriana Petrosian, who helped write one of the bills as a student, said the state already has enough research to act now. Additional bills drew testimony on related school issues. Dr. Raul Fernandez supported a bill promoting racially integrated schools (Senate 324), citing a recent advisory council report showing large disparities in segregated schools and urging DESE to develop a statewide integration strategy. On safe firearm storage education (House 548/Senate 397), multiple witnesses from Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention and school communities supported annual school-based education about secure storage, saying it would help prevent child access to unsecured firearms and build on local resolutions already adopted in some districts. The committee also heard testimony on bills to expand career and academic plans (House 533/Senate 438), with speakers saying more structured planning would help students make informed college and career choices. Later, testimony on child sexual abuse prevention and survivor support bills described the prevalence of abuse, the need for training in schools and youth-serving organizations, and the importance of extending compensation and prevention measures. Throughout the hearing, chairs repeatedly closed bills with no witnesses and moved the agenda forward, but no votes were taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> WELCOME TO THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMISSION, WE WILL NOW COME TO ORDER, PLEASE CALL ROLL. >> Chair
• SO A NET REDUCTION IN THAT BASE BUDGET OF 1.8 BILLION. SO VERY LARGE CHANGE.
• ACT AMENDING BILL DIRECTED THE AGENCY TO REQUEST BUDGET AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE
• LIDA STANFORD, BUDGET DIRECTOR WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, EOG 820260145. MR.
• NO PROJECT CHANGES OR BUDGET CHANGES. >> Chair McClure: QUESTIONS?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Court of Criminal Appeals, their entire Budget is 4.69 million.
• To implement it, it's a big effort.
• The original date in that bill, which should have been implemented by this fall of November 2025, but
• to run on crime to CAC large group, and essentially what we've done in this is we've moved the implementation

Bills: SB372, SB1224, SB1232, SB1264, SB1330, SB1381, SB1441, SB1450, SB1589, SB1618, SB1936, SB1980, SB2011, SB2030

Keywords: SB372, firearms, gun rights, lawful carry, concealed carry, open carry, handgun license, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, weapons policy, gun law, school safety, private school, public school, college campus, university campus, technology center, courthouse, government buildings, municipal buildings, county courthouse

Transcript Highlights:

• I will say the executive budget does include... ...feel free to amend it as you see fit.
• I will say the executive budget does include money for attorney retention and recruitment.
• "I'm glad to see there's more movement to increase these budgets, but I am in agreement that I think
• It was, let's meet in the middle, try to make sure that we set the recurring budget up, talk through
• And again, an $11 billion budget for government functions here.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You said that we included the cost in our budget. What was that meaning?
• to pay for what would have been in the Judiciary Committee's budget?
• Did we just spend $4.2 million from our committee budget with no discussion at all?
• Uh, over 90% of our budgets are salary, benefits, and overtime.
• consequences for many of us our budgets consequences for many of us our budgets uh<01:37:27.600>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• closely match the governor's budget closely match the governor's budget proposal.<00:04:21.199><
• forward and to implement it in law. forward and to implement it in law.
• I made the pain of going through uh ... budgeting to me, if you do zero-based budgeting, and I wasn't
• to me, if you do zerobased budgeting to me, if you do zerobased budgeting,<01:41:48.480> and<
• , I realized how much of my budgeting, I realized how much of my budget<01:41:57.679> I<01:41:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• TODAY WE WILL HEAR FROM THE FINANCE CORPORATION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PIECE OF, THEIR PIECE OF
• HERE ARE THE THREE PROGRAMS WITH HIGH POTENTIAL FOR FLORIDA IMPLEMENTATION.
• THE PROGRAM AT THE TIME WAS RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED AND PROGRAM DATA WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
• OTHER IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS ARE GRANT FUNDING AND STAFFING COSTS.
• WE ASKED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ABOUT THE MOST COMMON AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY IMPLEMENTED.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AI should be an opportunity for every American business, not just those with the biggest budgets.
• H.R. 3006 will eliminate roadblocks to and increase implementation of AI.
• I believe this will achieve the broadest implementation and the greatest safety benefits in the most
• The Rotor Act is an urgent piece of legislation that implements proven technology to help pilots see
• THE ROTOR ACT IS AN URGENT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT IMPLEMENTS PROVEN TECHNOLOGY TO HELP PILOTS SEE

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And when the state auditor, when they ran it by the FBI, when they went to go implement it, the FBI came
• Those of you that were upstairs for the bill budget signing, the supplement signing, and then the two
• While I fully support the goals of implementing a safe, equitable, and accessible adult-use cannabis
• As I was saying before, the fiscal year 27 capital budget highlights that it provides $1.25 billion in
• until July 1, 2028. ...child care and delays implementation until July 1, 2028.

Summary: The House convened with quorum, offered prayers and moments of silence for community members who had recently died, and recognized several guests and family members in the chamber. After routine communications and passage of consent calendar 29, the chamber took up a series of measures on the main and colored agendas, with several bills and resolutions passing by voice vote or roll call. Among the measures approved were House Concurrent Resolution 157, which as amended requested a State Lottery report on options to support traditional lottery retailers; Senate Bill 53 on the Delaware Farm to Community Program; Senate Bill 307 on PSC authority for Lifeline telecommunications carriers; Senate Bill 339 clarifying health directive forms in mental health facilities; Senate Bill 235 on manufactured home community rent increases; Senate Bill 325, as amended, updating fire prevention and volunteer fire/EMS background check rules; Senate Bill 309 on inmate work and discharge of incarceration-related balances; Senate Bill 324 on deadly weapons and constable agency representatives; Senate Bill 293 on youth camp child care licensing; Senate Bill 94 on respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication delivery; and Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment protecting the right to marry regardless of race or gender while preserving religious freedom. House Bill 188, changing Delaware primary elections to allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary, also passed after debate. Two measures drew extended discussion and amendments. Senate Bill 233, requiring snow and ice to be removed from vehicles, was tabled once, then later amended and passed after debate over whether the law was workable for truck drivers and other vehicle operators; a proposed truck-related exemption amendment failed. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404, creating a pilot program for artificial intelligence and extended reality in schools, passed after testimony from the Department of Education emphasizing guardrails, privacy, and educator oversight, alongside concerns from members about data, bias, and long-term effects. Several items were tabled or reconsidered during the session, and the House adjourned after completing the day’s business.

Transcript Highlights:

• When the budget was over on the House side, did any of the direct budget House Bill 1 or any of the supplemental
• The commissioner of the Office of Motor Vehicles is authorized to implement a reinstatement relief program
• The commissioner of the Office of Motor Vehicles is authorized to implement a reinstatement relief program

Bills: HCR32, HCR53, HCR60, HCR68, HB582, HB730, HB762

Keywords: Saint Claude Avenue Bridge, Port of New Orleans, backup motors, infrastructure, traffic management, oversized vehicles, permitting, economic impact, transportation, local regulations, Louisiana economy, Interstate 12, I-12, Interstate 55, I-55 interchange, DOTD, Department of Transportation and Development, D.R.I.V.E. Initiative, highway infrastructure, transportation planning

Transcript Highlights:

• When the budget was over on the House side, did any of the direct budget, House Bill 1, or any of the
• Yeah, the commissioner of the Office of Motor Vehicles is authorized to implement a reinstatement relief
• The commissioner of the Office of Motor Vehicles is authorized to implement a reinstatement relief program

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works met with five members present and approved the May 14, 2026 minutes. The committee first considered HCR 32, which urges the Port of New Orleans to secure backup motors for the aging St. Claude Avenue Bridge; members discussed the bridge’s importance, the relatively low cost of the motor, and the traffic and emergency-response impacts of repeated breakdowns. HCR 32 was reported favorably. HCR 68, a request to Congress for funding to remove unusable bridges along Highway 90 as part of reconnecting the corridor toward New Orleans East, was also reported favorably after brief discussion about federal representatives and coordination with DOTD. House Bill 582 was deferred without objection. The committee then took up HB 762, which clarifies that the Office of Motor Vehicles may, rather than must, refer certain delinquent reinstatement-fee debts to the Office of Debt Recovery or other collection channels. Testimony from OMV and the bill author emphasized that the measure was intended to clean up prior language and preserve OMV discretion, while senators raised concerns about political influence, collection practices, and the impact of fees and debt on drivers. HB 762 was reported favorably. HB 730, concerning automatic dependent surveillance broadcast devices on aircraft, was amended to limit its application to aircraft over 2,500 pounds and to prohibit the use of the imposed fees on smaller aircraft. Supporters said the bill restores the original safety purpose of the devices and prevents their use for fee collection; the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also reported favorably on HCR 53, which creates a study committee on oversized vehicle permits and their parish-level impacts, and HCR 60, which urges DOTD to pursue the DRIVE initiative to study and improve safety on the I-12 corridor. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to know, budget-wise, is this to help us when we talk about scattered services versus just
• Because for us, you know, just with our budget growing, and again just wanting to protect and ensure
• The dollar amount is—we talked about this in the budget year.
• is we talked about this in the budget year.<01:00:51.280> The<01:00:51.640> The<01:00:
• It also extends the the implemented.

Bills: HF1767, HF2068, HF4725, HF4637, HF4638

Keywords: human services, community support, integrated care, disability services, stakeholder consultation, homeless youth, grants, funding, Minnesota, mental health, substance use disorder, education, workforce development, licensure, direct care services, healthcare, long-term care, personal care assistants, employment support, medical assistance

Summary: The Human Services Finance and Policy Committee approved the April 8, 2026 minutes and then heard House File 1767, as amended by the DE4 amendment. Representative Garande explained that the bill, originally intended to codify Integrated Community Supports (ICS), was being redirected because of concerns about fraud vulnerability and program integrity. The DE4 would create a smaller legislative study group to redesign ICS, pause DHS changes for about six months while the group develops a transition plan, continue DHS fraud investigations and enforcement, and ultimately terminate ICS as currently structured. Testimony in support came from Mr. Buck and Zania Harut of the Residential Providers Association of Minnesota, both of whom argued that ICS is unstable, inconsistently implemented, and in need of a new statutory foundation. They said the current system mixes different service models under one rate framework, lacks clear codification, and has shifting policy guidance that creates compliance problems for providers and risks to people receiving services. They emphasized that the bill would preserve oversight and enforcement while allowing time to build a replacement service with clearer rules, documentation standards, and guardrails. Members asked about effects on counties, providers, data, audits, and fraud enforcement. Representative Curran and Mr. Berg said the bill would not change funding structures or DHS’s existing authority to audit, request documentation, investigate fraud, or sanction bad actors, and that the study group would use existing data to identify where problems are concentrated. Vice Chair Gillman supported the study-group approach as a bipartisan, public process and raised concerns about whether the bill would prevent DHS from acting on known fraud; Curran responded that the language was intended to preserve those enforcement actions. The discussion ended without a final vote on the bill in the portion provided, beyond adoption of the DE4 amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a life and death situation and it begins here at home by protecting not only in our budget process
• We are not debating the budget right now. There is room for... It is not zero-sum.
• We are not debating the budget right now. There is room for everyone.
• We know that the Secretary of State has offered inadequate guidance, and inconsistent implementation
• Happy to see this included in the budget this year.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long daily file with numerous guest introductions and recognitions, including tributes to outgoing University of California President Michael Drake, student and community advocates, and visitors connected to foster care, military appreciation, and college savings. The chamber also took up several procedural items, including concurrence in Senate amendments to ACR 75 on California Farm Week, which passed 59-0. Members then adopted AJR 7 on protecting federal special education funding and services for students with disabilities, with broad bipartisan support and a 65-0 vote after 63 co-authors were added. The Assembly also adopted ACR 82 recognizing Foster Care Month and ACR 85 recognizing 529 College Savings Day by voice vote after adding co-authors, and ACR 89 recognizing Military Appreciation Month, also adopted by voice vote after co-authors were added. These resolutions featured testimony and remarks emphasizing support for vulnerable children, foster youth, military families, and access to higher education. On policy bills, the Assembly passed AB 929 on groundwater and managed wetlands (41-14), AB 1026 on utility connection timelines for housing projects (52-0), AB 1332 on direct shipment of medicinal cannabis under specified conditions (55-0), AB 1356 on follow-up reporting in DHCS death investigations at treatment facilities (54-0), and AB 671 on streamlining restaurant openings through self-certification of certain plans (62-0). The chamber also approved AB 715 on anti-Semitism and school climate after extensive debate and cross-caucus support, 64-0, and AB 33 on autonomous vehicle deliveries requiring a human safety operator, 52-6. Later, AB 5 on election ballot-counting timelines passed 66-0, AB 27 and AB 28 addressing the Chiquita Canyon landfill disaster passed 61-0 and 44-6 respectively, and the Assembly began consideration of AB 43 to extend state authority over wild and scenic rivers.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will have a budget conversation as well, and that is sort of running concurrently, and I want to thank
• Assemblymember McKinnor for her leadership on the Budget Committee to be able to work on that as well
• Assemblymember McKinnor for her leadership on the Budget Committee to be able to work on that as well
• But that’s a conversation that we’re going to have through our budget process for the purposes of the
• And show a good-faith effort to implement a diversity plan. Thank you.

Summary: The committee heard AB 749, which would create a blue ribbon commission to study equitable access to youth sports and recommend a statewide framework, including coaching standards, PE modernization, and funding models to reduce barriers for families. The author and supporters, including youth sports advocates, educators, coaches, and former athletes, argued that sports improve health, school engagement, and long-term opportunity, while noting racial and income disparities in participation. One member raised concerns that a new commission could add cost and regulatory burdens, but the bill was framed as a study measure rather than immediate regulation. The committee also took up AB 549, aimed at coordinating state and local security planning for major upcoming sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl, and Olympic and Paralympic Games. Supporters said the bill would improve interagency coordination, protect visitors and communities, and help prevent human trafficking and discrimination during mega-events. Members discussed the need to avoid over-policing and to center community values, but the bill advanced on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations. AB 1291 addressed ticket purchasing for concerts, sports, and other live events by requiring electronic proof of purchase and allowing it to be used for entry if a ticket cannot be accessed through no fault of the buyer. Supporters said the measure would give consumers more certainty and help address problems in a monopolized ticketing market, while opponents from venues, sports teams, and entertainment groups warned it could undermine anti-scalping tools, create security problems, and burden venues with duplicate or fraudulent proofs of purchase. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended basis to Privacy and Consumer Protection, with the roll held open for absent members. The consent calendar item, AB 644, was also approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Origin and budget bill third reading. of Origin and budget bill third reading. possibly.
• <01:11:04.640> and appropriate for us to not implement and appropriate for us to not implement
• Uh, discuss third reading here on the budget at 2:00 in room W10.
• Shouldn't take very long, but just like to gather up the Senate on the budget. Um, and then Mr.
• to gather up the Senate on the budget. to gather up the Senate on the budget.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• not only saving lives and reducing the impact on health, but it is saving the state within the same budget
• cycle to use healing methods same budget cycle to use healing methods to<00:04:08.159> prevent
• We've been, you know, we'll talk about our budget here sometime.
• you know, we'll talk about our budget you know, we'll talk about our budget here<00:14:47.440>
• So um Senate File 831 um is laid budget.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The primary goal of HB9 is to strengthen the implementation of the Literacy Act by addressing a common
• So the LEA would not be financially responsible for this course, and the guidelines for implementation
• would be done with the... ...implementation would be done with the State Department of Education, with
• They'll prepare and distribute to local education agencies guidelines for the implementation.
• Well, we appreciate how well y'all watch that budget so that we don't let little things slip that allows

Bills: HB9, HB102, HB9

Keywords: three-cueing system, reading instruction, K-12 education, structured literacy, scientific strategies, dual enrollment, high school, community college, university, educational access, high school credit, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, the bill directs the Board of Podiatric Medicine to adopt implementing rules.
• This was suggested by the clerks of the courts to better align with their budgeting procedures.
• It also ensures align with their budgeting procedures.
• thank you for meeting on Zoom right before session with one of my nonprofits to hear about their budget
• This bill gives our children a real chance to succeed while having no fiscal impact on the state budget

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, several introductions, and an announcement that there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then took up a long special order calendar and passed a series of bills, often by substituting House companions. Early measures included trust law modernization to create a nonjudicial trustee discharge process, military affairs changes expanding leave and retirement-related provisions, a bill to prepare for the end of penny use by standardizing cash rounding, and a podiatric medicine bill regulating cellular or tissue-based products and informed consent. The Senate also approved veterans court expansion, RV park assessment clarification, alcohol-loss tax deduction authority, bail bond and pretrial release revisions, and a military-installation jurisdiction bill to allow juvenile cases on bases to be handled in state juvenile court under certain conditions. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, with the bail bond bill passing 36-1 after questions about charitable bail bonds and confirmation that existing law on return of charitable bail funds would remain unchanged. The chamber then paused for a lengthy farewell presentation honoring Senator Lori Berman, featuring a video, remarks from many senators, and Berman’s own closing speech reflecting on her 16 years of service, her legislative priorities, and her call for civility, bipartisanship, and continued support for issues such as school safety, Israel, anti-Semitism, and affordability. After the tribute, the Senate resumed and passed additional bills, including one expanding insurance coverage definitions for portable electronics and eyewear, a workforce and nursing education funding bill broadening support for health science programs, a recovery residences regulatory streamlining bill, a felony battery enhancement bill adding resisting an officer with violence as a qualifying prior offense, and a child welfare bill extending visitor thresholds in out-of-home placements, making the Step Into Success program permanent, and creating a best-practices program. The chamber also advanced a candidate qualification bill tightening party-affiliation requirements and adding a House provision on recent legal name changes; debate began on that measure as the transcript ended.