Transcript Highlights:

• We have the 90-day transition program. We have a mental health transition program.
• This includes the Arizona ESA program.
• The Air Force sent us here to Arizona because Arizona had the ESA program, and at the time the ESA program
• This program alive. And I think I know the answer tonight.
• And all of our assistants, come on, let's give all of our assistants a hand.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in Teaching Fellowship Program.
• Now, in order to be in this program, this was a new program that we worked on throughout the agency,
• So, you know, we've been looking back at this program. This is year one of the program.
• This program, going through this, what's the most important, This program, going through this, what's
• This specific program, the teacher fellowship program, was to…” “The teacher fellowship program was to

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas has a robust voter regime, excuse me, voter regime registration list maintenance program.
• And respectfully, ma'am, I would say we haven't been without a cross check program.
• Can you tell me about any programs or anything that we're doing?
• did we start this program?
• The program is efficient, accurate, and is. audible.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the existing program. the existing program. >> Representative<02:19:58.880> Johnson.
• Thank you, um, Madame Assistant Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. Assistant Minority Leader.
• Thank you, um, Madame Assistant Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. Assistant Minority Leader.
• Thank you, um, Madame Assistant Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. Assistant Minority Leader.
• Thank you, um, Madame Assistant Majority Leader. Thank you, Mr. Assistant Minority Leader.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ever uh which is a really cool program ever uh which is a really cool program that<00:02:59.920>
• <00:10:19.360> and Technical and financial assistance and Technical and financial assistance
• businesses uh our our connects program businesses uh our our connects program is<01:13:12.840>
• of this program but also the pro program of this program but also the pro program of<01:26:17.639
• Those programs are ever evolving.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , hydrogen, additional alternative energy, or other programs that we partner with the feds on.
• just to access food assistance that already exists.
• California invests billions of dollars in food assistance programs.
• SB 1025 does not create another food program.
• SV-1025 does not create another food program.

Summary: The committee heard several measures focused on economic development, procurement, workforce equity, federal infrastructure funding, and food security. SB 1044 by Senator Reyes would raise and then index to inflation the cap for streamlined state contracts awarded to certified small businesses, microbusinesses, and disabled veteran business enterprises for services and IT work; supporters said the current cap is outdated and limits access, while opponents representing goods suppliers and some small business groups argued the bill could disadvantage goods contractors and should preserve lower thresholds for those contracts. After discussion about the ceiling versus floor effect of the cap and the impact on different types of businesses, the bill was approved as amended and sent to Appropriations. SB 247 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would create a bid preference for projects that hire workers from disadvantaged communities; supporters framed it as a way to connect public infrastructure spending to family-sustaining jobs, while union construction employers opposed it because they said they cannot control worker dispatch through hiring halls and the bill would be difficult to implement. The committee advanced the measure to Appropriations despite those concerns. The committee also approved SJR 6 by Senator Cortese, which urges the federal government to honor commitments under the bipartisan infrastructure law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act, with supporters emphasizing the importance of certainty for California infrastructure, clean energy, and semiconductor investments. SB 1025 by Senator Hurtado would establish an Office of Food Security and Affordability to coordinate food assistance efforts and develop a statewide food security strategy; supporters from a Kern County food bank and the University of California said the state’s response to hunger is fragmented and needs better coordination, while committee members asked about deliverables and timelines. The bill was sent to Appropriations. The committee also took up consent items SB 700 and SB 1340, which were moved on consent to Appropriations, and the hearing ended with the remaining votes recorded and the bills advanced. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly discussed the need for clearer implementation details, data on program impacts, and how to balance equity goals with operational realities for state agencies, contractors, and small businesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• and receive public assistance.
• Detection within their programs.
• workforce development and vocational rehabilitation service programs.
• statute does not provide specific provisions for TWC programs.
• Subsidized child care program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, in order to be in this program, this was a new program that we worked on throughout the agency,
• So, you know, we've been looking back at this program. This is year one of the program.
• One of the big programs is part of our master teacher designation program or mentoring other teachers
• One of the big programs is part of our master teacher designation program or mentoring other teachers
• This specific program, the teacher fellowship program, was to... ...the fellowship program was to find

Summary: The committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Department of Education on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, featuring three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central who are also teacher merit pay recipients. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long Zoom-based collaboration with about 23 educators statewide, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about the teachers’ experience, how they share what they learn with their districts, the range of grades represented in the fellowship, and the relationship between the fellowship and merit pay. The teachers emphasized building relationships with students, using data to drive instruction, early intervention, and collaboration across grade levels, while the secretary said the program is intended to identify and elevate high-performing teachers and spread their practices. A major portion of the discussion focused on third-grade reading, retention, and the new ATLAS testing system. Teachers and the secretary said students are screened and progress monitored throughout the year, families are notified early if students are at risk, and schools are using interventions, tutoring, and individualized reading plans. They said ATLAS results are now available much faster than in the past, often within 24 hours or a few days, allowing teachers and parents to respond quickly. Members asked about the impact of poverty, trauma, foster care, DHS involvement, IEPs, and critical shortage areas; teachers said relationship-building, small-group instruction, and coordination with counselors and special education staff are key. The secretary said the fellowship is a small subset of a broader merit pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is trying to build a coherent system with literacy coaches, high-impact tutoring, and clearer standards rather than teaching to the test. Members also discussed broader policy issues, including the need for more positive public messaging about public education, teacher input in decision-making, and support for early childhood education. Several legislators asked whether the state should expand funding for early learning and whether more literacy or academic coaches are needed in districts that improve and then lose eligibility for state support. The secretary said the state has committed literacy coaches to D and F schools and is still working through how to sustain support as schools improve. He also said the administration would look at data and return on investment before supporting additional funding, and he encouraged legislators to help recruit eligible teachers into future fellowship cohorts. After the teacher panel concluded, the committee moved on to the adequacy resource allocation study, where Bureau of Legislative Research staff began a presentation on state and local education funding sources, categorical funds, and district spending patterns.

Transcript Highlights:

• That early resolution program has disintegrated from my perspective.
• I do want to echo and reiterate what the previous speakers spoke about the early resolution program.
• This is where we're going to need a lot of ongoing assistance from the legislature.
• Knoth Peterson for her assistance.
• A request for laboratory assistance is a single piece of paper. It gets signed.

Summary: The committee held a work session on tort liability and parole, with the chair explaining that the topics were linked because criminal justice reform and state liability often intersect, especially in cases involving child welfare and corrections. Staff first outlined Washington’s tort liability framework, including the state’s broad waiver of sovereign immunity, statutes governing mandatory reporting and investigation of abuse, the childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations, and the lack of caps on non-economic damages. Staff and presenters also compared Washington to other states and noted that Washington remains among the broadest states for state liability and childhood sexual abuse claims. Presenters from the Attorney General’s office, Washington State Association for Justice, DCYF, DSHS, and DOC discussed how tort exposure has grown, especially in claims involving DCYF, historical child abuse, juvenile rehabilitation, vulnerable adults, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and negligent supervision. DCYF and AG staff said claims and payouts are rising, with many claims tied to older abuse and new theories of liability, while defense counsel emphasized the human harm behind the claims and argued that tort cases have historically driven accountability and reform. Agency witnesses said they face large volumes of old claims with limited records, rising verdicts and settlements, and staffing and systems challenges, and they highlighted efforts such as early resolution programs, electronic health records, medication-assisted treatment, and improved incident review processes. The committee then shifted to parole. Sentencing experts reviewed Washington’s move from indeterminate sentencing to the current determinate sentencing system under the Sentencing Reform Act, and explained how parole could be integrated with sentencing guidelines through different models used in other states. They also summarized Criminal Sentencing Task Force recommendations related to a determinate-plus approach for three-strikes and persistent offender laws and a second-chance review process, noting there was no consensus on those ideas. Judges from the Minority and Justice Commission and the Superior Court Judges Association said a parole system could support rehabilitation and reduce disparities if it includes data collection, fairness, transparency, due process, and meaningful judicial review; they also pointed to research suggesting parole and structured reentry can reduce recidivism and costs, while warning that access and outcomes can vary by geography and other factors.

Transcript Highlights:

• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4010, providing a statutory program for loaning financial
• assistance to local airports for airplane hangar construction in this state.
• Program from the Freedom of Information Act.
• district terminates its program.
• programs, and requiring a report to the Legislature if a school district terminates its program.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• VALENCIA PROVIDES PROGRAMS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE.
• PROGRAM BUT IT WAS STRESSFUL BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THERE WAS ONLY TWO RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN MIAMI AND
• THIS BILL SHIFTS ALLOCATION OF FEES AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO ASSIST UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS WHILE USING
• REGARDING FUNDS WHICH REWARD EXCELLENT NURSING PROGRAMS TO BE USED FOR HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY RELATED PROGRAMS
• AND TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM SUPPORTS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the management assistant for Spirit Lake Social Services.
• So all of our programs, regardless if it's a certificate or degree program, include Dakota culture, language
• And a lot of our students stay and work in those programs.
• have access to an opioid treatment program.
• I'm a program director from Protection and Advocacy.

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and first heard welcoming remarks and introductions from tribal leaders and program directors. Chairwoman Street and other tribal representatives outlined a range of concerns and requests for state action, including taxation of reservation lands, support for non-beneficiary students at the tribal school, homelessness funding, Indian-managed health care, gaming and e-tabs, Feather Alert improvements, industrial farming near waterways, tourism, and better state-tribal consultation. Committee members responded that the meeting was intended to improve understanding and communication, and several members suggested future legislation or resolutions could be used to advance some of the issues. The tribe also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to legislators and staff. A major portion of the discussion focused on Spirit Lake fish and wildlife jurisdiction and the lake boundary. Tribal representatives asked for an MOU or co-stewardship agreement with the state to clarify hunting and fishing rights, recognize tribal licenses, and reduce recurring disputes over “gray areas” on the reservation and lake. Committee members discussed whether to draft a bill or resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and asked that North Dakota Game and Fish be invited to a future meeting. Related concerns included aquatic nuisance species prevention, with both sides agreeing that more aggressive boat inspection and cleaning measures would be beneficial. The committee also discussed taxation and county relations. Tribal leaders raised concerns about county resistance to fee-to-trust transfers and about property and vehicle taxation affecting members living on or near reservation lands. Committee members and tribal counsel reviewed federal treaty principles and court cases, and one member noted that the committee had previously taken no formal action on similar issues. Later, Benson County’s tax equalization director explained how the county values taxable land, handles inundated land applications, and tracks land coming off the tax rolls when the tribe repurchases acreage. The discussion ended with a presentation from the president of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, followed by an HHS presentation on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion as the committee moved to its next topic.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so they have seen a lot of use more in that program.
• , education programs, supportive programs, treatment programs.
• These programs exist in prison.
• Statutorily, it is called a release program.
• There's discretion for assistant state attorneys or assistant city attorneys, and there 100% should be

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As an assistant Attorney's Office.
• <00:25:48.080> people already stated is to uh assist people already stated is to uh assist
• Might have a little bit more, but we don't have any assisted living.
• Might have a little bit more, but we don't have any assisted living.
• Schustster saying it's okay, I wouldn't be voting yes. assisted living.

Keywords: 00:00:06 - Call to Order/Roll Call 00:01:23 - Review of Referred Administrative Regulations 00:02:00 - Discussion of 26RS HB 485 01:00:40 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 485 01:03:25 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and took up House Bill 485, a major mental health measure addressing both KRS 202C and KRS 202A. The committee first adopted a committee substitute and then approved a committee amendment correcting misspellings in the bill. Members and witnesses described the bill as the product of years of work with judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, mental health professionals, advocates, and the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health. Testimony on the 202C portion focused on individuals charged with serious violent offenses who are found incompetent to stand trial. Witnesses, including a circuit judge and a family member whose mother was killed by her mentally ill brother, argued that current timelines require repeated evidentiary hearings and impose unnecessary trauma on victims’ families and strain on courts and KCPC. Supporters said the bill would lengthen review intervals, clarify the role and payment of guardians ad litem, and reduce repeated relitigation while preserving due process and public safety. They noted that 202C cases are few in number but consume a significant share of KCPC bed space. The committee then turned to the 202A portion, which covers civil mental health commitments for people who may not have committed a crime. Supporters said current law leaves courts with only two choices—hospitalization or release—and that the bill would create a third option by allowing court-ordered outpatient treatment and other guardrails such as medication compliance and follow-up care. Witnesses emphasized that the bill defines terms such as “benefit” and “serious mental illness,” expands the definition of danger, and aims to provide a least restrictive alternative to inpatient hospitalization. No final vote on the bill itself was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, but the substitute and amendment were adopted and testimony continued in support of the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program, by the way... The businesses are the driving force.
• Food for needy Arizonans who need Sun Bucks programs.
• We're reforming entitlement programs to get people who are ineligible off of those programs.
• We're cutting health care, we're cutting food assistance, we're cutting housing assistance.
• You have failure with the program.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is an enormous opportunity to expand the program and deploy it beyond New Hampshire Legal Assistance
• New Hampshire Legal Assistance is?
• owner managers to designate an assistant owner managers to designate an assistant manager<03:49:
• course the nonprofessional assistant course the nonprofessional assistant manager<03:49:14.159><
• There is no assistant.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met for its first meeting of the new session with opening remarks, member introductions, and a discussion of committee logistics. Members described their backgrounds and priorities, including criminal justice, right-to-know and privacy issues, domestic violence, death-with-dignity legislation, abortion, firearms, landlord-tenant policy, housing, and technology/privacy concerns. The chair noted there were already 34 bills assigned to the committee and expected more, and said the committee would likely continue to have a heavy workload this session. The chair also outlined how the committee would operate: meetings would generally be on Wednesdays, with possible Mondays as needed; hearings would not require a quorum, but executive sessions would; and members were asked to provide updated phone numbers and email addresses, especially cell numbers. He explained that the committee would continue its practice of seating members in a mixed partisan arrangement to encourage communication, and that the new clerk had joined the committee. A significant portion of the meeting focused on procedures for executive sessions and meeting times. The chair said the committee would follow the traditional rule allowing executive sessions on bills heard that day if proper notice was given, but he would avoid taking up controversial matters without full attendance. Members then discussed whether meetings should start at 9, 9:30, or 10 a.m., with concerns raised about long commutes, evening obligations, and winter driving after dark. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the chair indicated he would try to accommodate the committee’s preference while balancing the workload.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we do work very closely with them to provide services and assist with the reentry.
• And we also use that to connect them to our homeless veteran program and other sources in employment
• So it's, yeah, good program. Thank you. Thank you, Dean Lopez. Members, any other questions?
• Members, House Bill 2754 relates to a pilot program awarding grants for the provision of personalized
• And they want the assistance and they feel often abandoned. Uh, at that point.

Transcript Highlights:

• Give today to secure the longevity of balanced, unfiltered civic programming.
• Civic programming. You can do so at wisc-eye.org/donate or text Wisconsin Eye to 4-4-321.
• These lawyers were appointed as Special Assistant Attorneys General, or SAGs.
• Second, the SAGs themselves would be sworn assistant attorneys general who are accepting...
• One special assistant attorney general was not licensed to practice law in Wisconsin at the start of

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• known as the IDD pilot program, that was established in 2023.
• Participation in the pilot program is completely voluntary.
• They would return to a comparable waiver program.
• liaison provides the voice and direction of the program.
• I think it is a good program that we're setting up.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and considered a series of bills, most of them receiving favorable reports. SB 132, as amended, would require the Department of Financial Services to contract for a study on whether Florida should recognize gold and silver as legal tender; an amendment advanced the report deadline to December 1, 2025, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1050, also amended, expands the intellectual and developmental disabilities managed care pilot program statewide, emphasizes that enrollment is voluntary, adds transparency and reporting requirements for APD, creates a statewide family care council, and requires related studies and coordination; it was reported favorably after supportive testimony about reducing the APD wait list. SB 820 codifies the Office of Faith and Community in the Governor’s office, and the bill drew extended debate over church-state separation and concerns about political activity by the office; despite opposition from several senators, it was reported favorably. SB 1060 creates a joint legislative oversight committee for Medicaid financing and operations, with supporters citing the size of the program and the need for stronger legislative review; it passed favorably. SB 7032 presumes Medicaid eligibility for permanently disabled individuals receiving certain long-term services during redetermination, to prevent gaps in care, and was reported favorably with broad support. SB 12, a claim bill for a minor injured in a DCF-related case, was also reported favorably without opposition. The committee also approved several infrastructure and tax-related measures. SJR 318 proposes an ad valorem exemption for certain tangible personal property used in agriculture or agritourism, such as equipment and tractors, and was reported favorably with support from agricultural and business groups. SB 818, as amended, revises utility relocation funding for public road and rail projects, shifting the financing structure after constitutional concerns were raised and adding a $50 million grant program; it passed after discussion of the impact on local governments and utilities. SB 1348 modernizes DMV services through tax collectors, adds a distracted driving course option, bans appointment scalping, and extends certain disabled parking permit terms; it was reported favorably. SB 1664 requires voter reapproval of local taxes, including tourist development taxes and local option sales taxes, when they expire, with special rules for taxes tied to revenue bonds; it drew significant debate over impacts on tourism-dependent counties and was reported favorably despite opposition from some members and local government groups. SB 1050, SB 820, SB 1060, SB 7032, SB 12, SJR 318, SB 818, SB 1348, and SB 1664 all received favorable committee votes, and the meeting ended with final missed-vote requests and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes statutory changes to clarify the use of adoption assistance program funds for out-of-home
• Program.
• One is a future homeless housing assistance program allocation with some accountability measures outlined
• , affordable housing program, and the Wildfire County Coordinator program.
• the HOPE accounts program.

Keywords: 988, house, all