Transcript Highlights:

• There's a continual training and skill set development for the staff that are doing that.
• So you're always maintaining a skill level for the certain technologies that we're providing.
• There's a continual training and skill set. software for that particular service.
• There's a continual training and skill set development for the staff that are doing that.
• So you're always maintaining a skill level for the certain technologies that we're providing.

Summary: The Government Finance Committee met with new leadership, approved the December 11 minutes, and received a series of informational updates on the state’s finances and related policy issues. The Office of Management and Budget reported the general fund is tracking very close to forecast, with revenues about $2 million above forecast and an estimated ending balance of about $397 million, higher than previously expected. OMB also reviewed balances in major funds, including the budget stabilization fund, legacy fund, foundation aid stabilization fund, social services fund, and strategic investment and improvements fund, and answered questions about oil tax revenues and fund management. The Tax Department provided updates on taxable sales and purchases by county and industry, noting Cass County as the largest county by taxable sales and that retail trade remains the largest industry sector. Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus also discussed the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its estimated effects on North Dakota income tax collections, explaining that the projected revenue impacts are measured against a 2025 baseline and that some provisions are temporary while others are permanent. He also reported that primary residence tax credit applications were running ahead of last year, with more than 154,000 received so far and an expectation of roughly 160,000-plus applications. The committee also heard fee-study presentations from the Department of Transportation and the Information Technology Department. DOT explained that driver’s license fees cover only about half of program costs and that the shortfall is subsidized by the highway fund, while also noting recent changes such as the blackout plate and motor vehicle excise tax distribution changes. NDIT described its internal service fund model, current billing structure, and possible future changes to simplify invoices and billing frequency. Legislative staff also updated the committee on office space needs in Bismarck-Mandan and on legislative branch space planning, and subcommittees reported progress on fixed-route transit funding and regional jail capacity, including a visit to the Burleigh-Morton detention facility and discussion of future prison bed needs. No formal votes or legislative actions beyond approving the minutes were taken, and the committee adjourned with its next meeting set for June 25.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of the labor union issue, when you look at the money that corporations have versus the money
• In terms of the labor union issue, when you look at the money that corporations have versus the money
• that labor unions have, they're not even in the same universe.
• He served on the California Federation of Labor Executive Board for years.
• Through his leadership, he secured critical project labor agreements and benefits for workers in his

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Foutz and Miss Arnold from the Education and Labor Department.
• Foutz and Miss Arnold from the Education and Labor Department.
• Callie Arnold, legislative director for the Education and Labor Cabinet.
• </c><00:01:26.400><c> Um</c> the education and labor cabinet. Um the education and labor cabinet.
• . labor. labor.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development met without a quorum at first, so it did not approve minutes and instead heard agency capital requests. The Education and Labor Cabinet presented a $6.2 million reauthorization for renovation of the Charles W. McDow Center for the Blind in Louisville, which serves blind and visually impaired individuals through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. The project would update mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. Members asked about the number of students served and the facility’s location; the cabinet said it would follow up on the enrollment figure and explained that prior funding had been redirected to expanded services for people with disabilities and employment needs. The Kentucky Department of Education then presented its request to replace the SEEK system, the state’s primary school funding formula and calculation platform. Officials said the current in-house system dates to about 2008 and is increasingly difficult to maintain, especially as legislative changes require complex recalculations. They explained that a prior vendor contract was terminated after change orders and cost overruns made the project unworkable; the original contract was about $2.8 million, and the proposed change order would have more than doubled that amount. KDE said it is seeking additional funding while also trying to recover the prior vendor’s work product so it can potentially reuse parts of the code and proceed in modules if necessary. Members questioned the cost, the statewide role of SEEK, and whether state staff familiar with the system would be involved in any new procurement. KDE officials said they had already assigned internal staff and a project manager to the earlier RFP process and would do so again. They also noted that SEEK calculations, tax calculations, and attendance data all feed into the system, making it critical for accurate and timely district payments and data requests. The meeting ended with no votes taken, and the chair announced the next meeting would be held the following Tuesday, the 27th, at 10:00 a.m. in the same room.

Transcript Highlights:

• prohibits a school district from using public monies and public resources to support the operations of a labor
• organization or to perform labor organization activities during working hours.
• It prohibits a school district from deducting any payment from an employee's paycheck for labor organization
• Thank you. ...from deducting any payment from an employee's paycheck for labor organization membership
• conditions of employment and prohibits the state or a political subdivision from negotiating with a labor

Summary: The committee heard presentations on two Senate-passed HCRs that would refer constitutional amendments to voters. HCR 2040 would bar school districts from using public money or resources to support labor organizations, including payroll deductions for dues, use of internal communication systems for recruiting or political materials, and distribution of labor-related communications using public resources; it also would prohibit the state and political subdivisions from entering exclusive representation or collective bargaining agreements with labor organizations. The sponsor indicated an intent to concur with the Senate amendment, and the measure was left open for questions. HCR 2048 would amend the Arizona Constitution to prevent the state from confiscating money from scholarship accounts belonging to children of military families, and would void any later law or voter-approved measure after November 1, 2026, that violates that protection. Members asked how the proposal would work if a student moved out of state or no longer met scholarship eligibility requirements, and staff explained that funds could still be reclaimed if the student no longer qualified under the program. Questions also focused on the measure’s language making any conflicting future bill or initiative null and void, with staff explaining that courts would still apply severability principles in litigation. The discussion became sharply political, with one member criticizing the measure as a pretext to protect ESA voucher funds and another questioning whether the military-family framing raised DEI concerns. Another member argued the majority was using military families to shield fraudulent ESA spending and said voters wanted action on the issue. No votes were taken in the excerpt, and the chair ultimately closed the discussion after questions and comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• in 1924 to give the federal government explicit authority to regulate child labor.
• We commit ourselves to that every Labor Day.
• The very foundation of our labor laws, the Commerce Clause that supports the Fair Labor Standards Act
• I have all references to labor and the protection of workers.
• I have all references to labor and the protection of workers.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs was opened by Chair Joe McGonagle and Vice Chair Senator Mike Rush, who noted that Chair John Velis was deployed with the Massachusetts National Guard. The chairs explained the hybrid format, three-minute testimony limit, live streaming, and filing deadlines, and said the committee would hear 11 House bills and eight Senate bills dealing with federal and overseas issues. Much of the hearing centered on competing resolutions about Article 5 constitutional conventions, along with related resolutions on D.C. statehood, child labor, Citizens United, and Cambodia. Supporters of H. 4692 and S. 284, a joint resolution to rescind all prior Massachusetts Article 5 convention applications, argued that old resolutions from the 1930s and 1970s could be used to count Massachusetts toward the 34-state threshold for calling a federal constitutional convention. Testifiers from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, the ACLU, Reproductive Equity Now, labor groups, and others warned that a convention would have no clear rules, could not be reliably limited to specific topics, and could put civil rights, reproductive rights, labor protections, and other constitutional protections at risk. Several speakers also cited a recent federal lawsuit and said the safest course was to remove outdated applications from the books. A large opposing panel testified in support of H. 3888, a resolution calling for a Convention of States to propose amendments limiting federal power, imposing fiscal restraints, and establishing term limits. Supporters argued that Article 5 provides a lawful way to address federal overreach, debt, and congressional stagnation, and said the process would be limited by state applications and ratification by 38 states. Some committee members and witnesses raised concerns about a runaway convention, broad language in the resolution, and whether Congress could or should set rules for such a convention. Representative Gentile also testified in support of several related resolutions on overturning Citizens United, D.C. statehood, and the child labor amendment, while Representative Howard and Representative Tongue supported a Cambodia resolution condemning political oppression and urging free and fair elections. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• My fellowship has been instrumental in growing my leadership and networking skills, assessing the needs
• of communities through survey mapping tools, and honing my data analysis skills.
• This fellowship has been instrumental in growing my leadership and networking skills, assessing needs
• of communities through survey mapping tools and honing it on my data analysis. and networking skills
• , assessing needs of communities through survey mapping tools and honing it on my data analysis skills

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Governor’s May Revision TK-12 education proposals, beginning with Proposition 98. The Department of Finance explained that the minimum guarantee rises by about $6.4 billion relative to the January budget across the three-year window, with a total of $124.9 billion in 2024-25, $125.1 billion in 2025-26, and $127.1 billion in 2026-27. Finance also described revised settle-up and reserve actions, including maintaining a $3.9 billion settle-up balance, increasing discretionary deposits into the Prop. 98 reserve, and ending with a projected reserve balance of about $10.3 billion. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the overall estimates were reasonable but urged the state to fully fund the guarantee and use other budget actions or reserves to manage volatility rather than delay settle-up payments. Members questioned the rationale for leaving the $3.9 billion unsettled, and Finance said the amount reflects revenue uncertainty and the risk of overappropriating Prop. 98 if revenues later fall. The committee then reviewed the Department of Education portion of the May Revision. Finance said the budget adds positions and state operations funding for CDE and includes trailer bill changes affecting community schools, preschool, literacy, special education, charter accountability, and other programs. The LAO highlighted concerns and recommendations on several proposals, including the size and structure of the LCFF increase, the special education base-rate increase, additional one-time community schools funding, literacy coach and math professional development augmentations, the multilingual screener, inclusive college grants, homelessness grants, and the proposed paid pregnancy disability leave mandate. CDE supported the special education increase, paid pregnancy leave, community schools, homelessness funding, literacy and math investments, and preschool parity, while urging more support for county offices of education and clearer definitions and implementation details for some programs. Finance said the paid pregnancy leave proposal would cost an estimated $218 million annually and is intended as a recruitment and retention measure. In the Commission on Teacher Credentialing item, Finance proposed funding for legal staffing tied to SB 848 and educator misconduct cases, plus funding and fee changes to support a statewide transcript review platform for subject matter competency and additional support for the residency technical assistance center. The LAO said it had no concerns with the staffing for misconduct and SB 848, recommended the transcript review platform and related fee increase if the platform moves forward, and recommended rejecting the residency technical assistance center expansion because current funding lasts through 2029. CTC said the misconduct workload has grown over the last five to six years and that AI would be used only as a backstop to human review in the transcript system. Public commenters were split, with unions and education groups supporting special education, paid pregnancy leave, community schools, homelessness funding, and literacy investments, while opposing the $3.9 billion settle-up delay and the reduction to preschool COLA.

Transcript Highlights:

• really important that we stick to an assessment that assesses the 115 Texas essential knowledge and skills
• teachers the information that they need to not only gauge what they are doing as teachers and their skills
• That means 50% of 3rd graders do not possess sufficient academic skill to read a prompt and write two
• That means 50% of 3rd graders do not, uh, possess sufficient 372 academic skill to read a prompt.
• These are testing the true skills that teachers and educators expect their students to know and be able

Bills: HB8

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Summary: The House Committee on Public Education met to hear House Bill 8, which would replace STAAR with a new assessment and accountability system beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The chair described the bill as reducing testing time, limiting benchmark tests, adding beginning-, middle-, and end-of-year assessments, requiring faster score turnaround, involving Texas teachers in test development, and tightening accountability timelines and transparency rules. Members also discussed provisions on A-F ratings, cut scores, CCMR, local accountability plans, and TEA reporting requirements. Committee members and invited witnesses split sharply on the bill’s approach. Supporters, including the chair, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, and Ed Trust’s Nicholas Munyon Penny, argued the bill would reduce high-stakes pressure, provide quicker and more actionable data, limit over-testing, and better align assessments to Texas standards while preserving criterion-referenced accountability. They said the new system would help teachers and parents intervene sooner and would improve transparency, including parent access to student responses and automatic rescoring in some writing cases. Opponents, including Rep. Hinojosa and student witness Ella Moran, argued the bill still increases testing and replaces one high-stakes test with multiple TEA-created tests. Moran testified that STAAR creates anxiety, disrupts instruction, and does not reflect real learning, while Hinojosa said the House had previously passed a better bill based on a nationally norm-referenced model and criticized the new proposal as a concession to the Senate. Questions also focused on AI scoring of writing, rescoring rates, and whether the bill’s new accountability rules would be reliable and fair. The committee did not take a final vote during the portion provided, but the chair said a vote on HB 8 would be called after public testimony later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• training programs, how are you going to maintain and... guide these companies in making sure that the skills
• that the career paths begin with are sustained by upscaling their skills as they move up in their positions
• Something like 90% of the skill set and the drilling rigs in oil and gas...
• we have come to understand is that people in the oil and gas industry can easily transition their skills
• Solomon said, there's a massive percentage of those skills that directly transfer to geothermal.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hawaiʻi Community College system to equip interested students with the necessary entry-level knowledge, skill
• with the necessary entry<00:10:55.639><c> level</c><00:10:55.880><c> knowledge</c><00:10:56.320><c> skill
• </c><00:10:56.680><c> set</c> entry level knowledge skill set entry level knowledge skill set expertise
• We need skilled butchers.
• track to help at the community college level to educate them so they come out with a certain level of skill

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 345, which would establish ʻōpae ʻula as the state shrimp. The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Kua Ulu Aumo testified in strong support, saying the designation could help protect endemic shrimp in anchialine pools and increase public education and awareness. In response to questions, DLNR said it would use existing education programs, press releases, and partnerships for statewide outreach and was not seeking a separate appropriation for that purpose. Members then took up SCR 132 and SR 111, which encourage adoption of recommendations from the UN Global Plastics Treaty and the Rapa Nui Summit Declaration on climate justice and sustainable development. Greenpeace Hawaii supported the measures, arguing that plastic production is tied to fossil fuel interests and that microplastics pose serious health and environmental risks. The committee later adopted the measures with amendments, including a change from “waste hierarchy” to “zero waste hierarchy” and technical edits. The final measures, SCR 157 and SR 127, urged the state to adopt and implement the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. DLNR testified that it had only just reviewed the resolution but stood on its written testimony. The committee passed SCR 157 and SR 127 as is. The meeting also included a separate hearing on SCR 89 and SR 72, which would create a University of Hawaiʻi Community College pathway for meat processing. The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council supported the idea, citing workforce needs and local protein supply, while several members raised concerns about whether a formal educational pathway or degree requirement might unnecessarily limit entry into the field; discussion focused on whether the proposal should be more vocational and whether there is enough data on workforce demand. No final vote on those measures was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The boys and girls were at relative parity in math skills.
• can say is that the money that was specifically directed towards helping kids learn math or reading skills
• better, that that actually helped them learn math and reading skills better, which on its face makes
• academic spending leading to bigger effects, because it's very targeted on learning math and literacy skills
• But obviously, we want our schools... in lots of ways, not just math and reading skills.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I commend those that have the academic skills.
• I’m not texting you. and I commend those that have the academic skills, but I can tell you, like Speaker
• Preparing our youth for vocational skills College isn't for everybody.
• it's interesting: they will come in and they'll answer phones, and there's a real lack of social skills
• sister primarily does a very good job at redirecting because she's a social worker, so she's very skilled

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met to review Florida’s cell phone and social media literacy law, with Representative Brad Yeager describing the 2023 policy as aimed at removing classroom distractions and teaching students how to use social media responsibly. He said the law was intended to keep phones out of classrooms unless used for instruction, require social media literacy education, and limit access to certain sites on school Wi-Fi and government devices. Yeager said feedback since passage has been mixed: many teachers support it and some have adopted inexpensive shoe-organizer or pouch systems, but implementation varies by school and administrator enforcement. He said he is not currently pursuing a broader statewide mandate. Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez and Timber Creek High School Principal Mr. Wasco described Orange County’s approach as bell-to-bell phone restrictions, while Pasco County’s Dr. Zetchy described a similar policy with some flexibility during lunch or passing periods at the high school level. Both districts said the policy was implemented with parent communication, town halls, surveys, and transition periods, and that concerns about emergencies were addressed by allowing phones to be returned at the end of the day and by establishing procedures for parent contact. They reported few theft problems and said discipline issues related to phones have generally been manageable, though some teachers still struggle with enforcement or with students trying to evade the rules. A major portion of the discussion focused on social media literacy instruction. Orange County said it uses counselor-led programs, Canvas courses, resiliency days, and curriculum materials to teach students about cyberbullying, human trafficking, privacy, and the permanence of online posts, with progress tracked through the learning platform. Pasco said it has some resiliency modules but lacks a fully built-out, pre-made social media curriculum and would welcome more guidance from DOE, especially for high school classrooms where instructional time is limited. Members also asked about student anxiety, 504/IEP accommodations, caregiver students, and parent education; the districts said exceptions are handled through school committees and that parent academies and district resources are being used to help families set boundaries and understand the risks and benefits of phones and social media. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, thanks to many stakeholders, including labor, MREA, and others.
• Since they collaborated, including Prairie Island and labor, that's enough for me.
• ,</c> many stakeholders, including labor, many stakeholders, including labor, MREA,<00:02:42.480><c>
• ,</c> including Prairie Island and labor, including Prairie Island and labor, that's<00:05:29.440><c>
• </c> labor. We want to put them to work. labor. We want to put them to work.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It defines the term labor broker.
• So in essence, they are trafficking for labor.
• And we're saying that if you're a labor broker, you've got to register with the state and you have to
• And immigrant labor into the state. And that's already federal law.
• And you also can't give a kickback to labor brokers if you're a staffing agency.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: DUI, driving under the influence, ignition interlock, interlock device, driver license suspension, restricted license, motor vehicle, alcohol offense, first offense, repeat offender, blood alcohol concentration, BAC, license revocation, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, ALEA, public safety, traffic safety, chemical dependency, substance abuse, court referral program

Transcript Highlights:

• get our federal dollars for career technical education, have been transferred to the Department of Labor
• In particular, the Department of Labor, my concerns are just tracking children as corporate workers,
• In particular, the Department of Labor, my concerns are just tracking children as corporate workers,
• And I don't know if I've overused the example of the Department of Labor with Career Tech.
• Transferring to the Department of Labor, anything, I don't trust the Department of Labor any more than

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1326, as amended, a private-property rights bill sponsored by Representatives Alfieri and Boyle. The sponsors said the measure would require government agents to obtain permission or a warrant before entering private property, with limited exceptions for exigent circumstances, welfare checks, service of papers, and similar situations, and would impose a $1,000 civil penalty for knowing violations. Supporters, including landowners and the Idaho Farm Bureau, described repeated instances of uninvited government entry and said the bill would better protect landowners. Opponents, including Idaho Fish and Game, Trout Unlimited, and the Idaho Wildlife Federation, argued the bill would hinder routine compliance checks, poaching investigations, and interagency cooperation, and that the penalty was unfair to conservation officers. After debate, the committee passed the bill 12-2 and sent it to the floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1301, a brewery licensing bill that would allow breweries to operate up to two remote retail locations instead of one. Representative Pesky described it as a small-business measure to give breweries more flexibility to grow. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, Lost Grove Brewing, and the Snake River Sugar Beeters Association, which said the change would help local businesses, jobs, and community giving. The committee approved the bill without opposition and sent it to the floor with a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee took up House Joint Memorial 19, which expresses support for eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and returning education authority to the states. Representative Monks and supporters argued that education should be controlled locally and that federal bureaucracy and regulations are burdensome. Superintendent Critchfield testified that Idaho already handles much of the work, that some federal functions have been shifted to other agencies without disrupting funding, and that the state would likely need to develop systems if more responsibilities were transferred. Supporters from Idaho Family Policy Center and Mountain States Policy Center said the federal department has expanded bureaucracy without improving outcomes. The memorial was passed and sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I appreciate your bringing some focus on child labor.
• I mean, you could look at chocolate, cocoa; there's a significant area where there's child labor.
• As I said, I share your concern on child labor.
• for there to actually be child labor to make it legal.
• Protects labor laws, and Minnesota can be the leader, but it's not just Minnesota.

Transcript Highlights:

• of being a military spouse in Fort Drum, New York, and teaching the BSEP program, which is a basic skills
• program for military folks who do not have basic skills.
• of being a military spouse in Fort Drum, New York, and teaching the BSEP program, which is a basic skills
• program for military folks who do not have basic skills.
• program for military folks who do not have basic skills.

Bills: HB2063, HB2271, HB2416, HB2478, HB2593, HB2692, HB2813, HB2992, HB2993, HB4044

Keywords: corrections oversight, appropriation, independent office, public safety, funding, firefighters, insurance rates, workers' compensation, firefighter cancer reimbursement, rate deviations, cost analysis, premiums, border security, drug trafficking, human smuggling, law enforcement funding, Arizona, immigration, education reform, K-12

Transcript Highlights:

• having a program to support them is a really good idea because social emotional learning—these are the skills
• The social emotional learning skills that he has described are exactly what our police officers need.
• The facility would allow officers to receive continuing education and ongoing skills-based training in
• a lot of kids learn about science and math and community and working together, so there are soft skills
• and hard skills that they’re learning in doing the gardening.

Summary: The committee met to hear and vote on a series of appropriations and transportation-related bills, beginning with SB 1550, which would fund a Queen Creek police pilot program focused on runaway youth prevention, at-risk youth protection, and anti-trafficking work. Supporters said the town and local facilities already contribute personnel and administrative support, while some members urged Queen Creek to add local matching funds. The bill received a due pass recommendation on a 7-2 vote. The committee then considered SB 1156 and SB 1157, both $20 million border-related reimbursement bills sponsored by Senator Rogers. SB 1156 would reimburse cities, towns, and counties for short-term detention hold costs for unauthorized non-citizens, and SB 1157 would reimburse local governments for supplemental fencing or bollard walls in high-crossing border areas. Both bills drew strong opposition from public commenters who described them as funding detention and border enforcement at the expense of other needs, while supporters framed them as backfilling local costs already incurred. SB 1156 passed 5-3, and SB 1157 passed 5-3. The committee also approved SB 1245, which would fund pavement replacement on Rodeo Road in Williams, and SB 1707, which would provide $5 million for AI-related border security at DPS. SB 1245 passed 6-3, with some members objecting that the state highway user revenue fund is underfunded and local contributions should be required. SB 1707 passed 6-4 after testimony split between supporters who favored using AI and surveillance tools for border security and opponents who said the bill was too vague, too expensive, or inappropriate given other state priorities. Later, the committee advanced SB 1273, funding pavement rehabilitation on Ogle Frontage Road between Bowie and San Simon, and SB 1811, which would clarify that school districts and charter schools may allow wireless device use in the case of an emergency rather than during an emergency. SB 1273 passed 6-4 amid debate over state versus local funding responsibility, and SB 1811 passed 8-1 after testimony that the change would give schools more flexibility and avoid practical problems during emergencies. The committee also heard SB 1088, a cybersecurity appropriation for DHS, and SB 1332, which would require ADOT to study light rail expansion in Maricopa County versus autonomous or semi-autonomous transit options. SB 1088 passed 6-4 despite concerns that the appropriation was vendor-driven and not requested by the department. SB 1332 drew extensive testimony from small business owners along Indian School Road who said light rail construction had harmed access and sales, while Phoenix/Valley Metro opposed the bill and questioned ADOT’s role; the discussion continued as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• and emotional well-being of our students helping them navigate challenges and develop critical life skills
• She completed a one-year internship with us and learned valuable employment skills that continue to help
• It helps children build social-emotional skills like cooperation, communication, and problem-solving.
• Well, Goodwill has been, if you're familiar with Goodwill, and you riffed on the weekend skills so yeah
• by Dutton relating to measures to support kindergarten readiness and early literacy and numeracy skills

Bills: HB367, HB497, HB549, HB983, HB 1188, HB 1290, HB1368, HB2243, HB2310, HB2849, HB3099, HB3546, HB3629, HB3627

Keywords: education, absences, severe illness, life-threatening, school policy, verification, healthcare, insurance, affordability, coverage, patient rights, school health, respiratory distress, airway clearance devices, medication training, public health, HB 983, Texas Education Agency, TEA, educator privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Hard labor is not free.
• And 5 days a week, 8 hours a day, they will do hard labor.
• That is hard labor and it's very cheap.
• </c> hours a day, they will do hard labor. hours a day, they will do hard labor.
• That is hard labor and it's very them.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• IV administration is a clinical skill, not a professional monopoly, and I think that's what we're talking
• The administration is a clinical skill, not a professional monopoly, and I think that's what we're talking
• Amendment dated March 11, 2026, at 10:44 a.m. instead provides that when ownership of a licensed skilled
• I work for Ensign-affiliated skilled nursing facilities, better known as Bandera Healthcare here in Arizona
• When a skilled nursing facility changes ownership, approvals are required at both federal and state levels

Summary: The committee heard several bills related largely to Arizona’s behavioral health and Access system, plus a fertility coverage mandate, a state hospital admissions bill, and a naturopathic scope-of-practice bill. SB 1114 would appropriate $1 million to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for investigations into behavioral health patient brokering; the sponsor described ongoing fraud involving vulnerable Native American patients, while some members questioned why the Attorney General was not handling the work. The bill passed 10-1 with one present. SB 1116 would require claim denials and appeal determinations for American Indian Health Program behavioral health services to be reviewed by someone with at least two years of relevant clinical experience; Access said it was neutral but raised concerns about vague language and added staffing needs, and the bill passed 7-4 with one present. SB 1346 would require Access to notify providers of claim deficiencies within 72 hours and approve or deny corrected claims within 10 business days; supporters said it would reduce long delays and unpaid claims, while Access said it would need more staff and system changes. The bill passed 7-5. The committee also approved SB 1347, which requires insurance coverage for fertility preservation services for cancer patients of reproductive age whose treatment is likely to cause infertility, with a religious-employer exemption. Supporters, including cancer survivors and an advocacy representative, said the bill protects patients who must make rapid decisions before treatment begins; insurers were neutral. The bill passed unanimously 12-0. SB 1813 would require the Arizona State Hospital to admit patients based on clinical need rather than county of residence, effectively ending the Maricopa County cap tied to the Arnold v. Sarn settlement. Supporters argued the cap leaves seriously ill patients waiting in other facilities for long periods, while ADHS warned of possible litigation and rural access concerns; the bill passed 9-2 with one present. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1178, which would allow naturopathic physicians to administer certain antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals intravenously. The sponsor argued naturopaths should be able to practice to the full scope of their training amid physician shortages, while the Arizona Medical Association and osteopathic representatives opposed the bill, saying IV antimicrobials are high-risk therapies that require hospital-level training, monitoring, and stewardship. Testimony focused on patient safety, appropriate setting, and whether the bill should be narrowed or amended; no vote on SB 1178 was taken in the portion provided.