Transcript Highlights:

• We also have Tom Kremppett, a longtime friend, very much involved in border security.
• This was directed by China's Ministry of Public Security and engaged in activities like identifying pro-democracy
• a vital economic and strategic asset, providing key trade routes, energy resources, and national security
• authority over our coastal zone, and recognizes the Gulf of America's critical role in both economic and security
• resolution: SCR 38, recognizing the strategic importance of the Gulf of America to the economic and security

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation, messages from the House, and several recognitions, including county day delegations from Fayette, LaSalle, Jim Hogg, Austin, and others, as well as a recognition of Rob Keppel for his career with the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. The chamber also adopted several resolutions, including SR 429 designating October 2025 as RET Syndrome Awareness Month and SR 432 honoring Rob Keppel. A doctor-of-the-day introduction and a public announcement about free skin checks were also made. The Senate then took up and passed several bills. SB 1152, creating the offense of continuous manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, passed after suspension of the rules. SB 1868, regulating kratom and related substances, was amended to prohibit smokeable kratom products and kratom pills and to clarify THC variants such as Delta-8 and Delta-10, then passed. SB 1349, creating offenses for transnational repression and unauthorized enforcement of foreign law, drew debate over a failed amendment that would have added election misinformation and foreign meddling; the bill ultimately passed unanimously. SB 2037, expediting review of LNG environmental permits, passed after amendments clarifying fees and deadlines, with opposition focused on its energy-policy implications. SB 1164, addressing emergency detention and court-ordered inpatient mental health treatment, passed after a drafting-error correction and discussion of the bill’s basis in recommendations from the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health. The Senate also advanced SB 2743 on prosecution of certain election offenses, which would allow a court process to disqualify a local prosecutor who repeatedly refuses to prosecute election cases and appoint the Attorney General; it passed to engrossment amid questions about evidence and local discretion. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit members, supporters, volunteers, and donors from disclosure by public agencies, passed unanimously. SB 2349, exempting certain short-term leases and temporary tenancies from floodplain notice requirements, passed unanimously. SB 2788, adding PSAT and pre-ACT scores for Texas Success Initiative exemptions and clarifying dual-credit eligibility, passed unanimously after amendment. SB 843, creating a TEA database of school district bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects and adding charter schools, passed after amendments on funding and scope. Finally, SB 1832, allowing parents to transfer a student who was victimized by a public school employee to another campus, passed to engrossment after extended debate over whether the bill should also cover private schools and how it would interact with school choice and ESA policy. SB 39, revising the admission rule in commercial motor vehicle collision cases, was laid out and debated over its effect on negligent entrustment and related evidence, with the author emphasizing that the bill preserves the bifurcated trial structure and does not alter other admissibility rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• support election assistance for individuals with disabilities, election auditing, and improving the secure
• the federal trust fund would support maintenance and operations vendor, data analysis consultants, security
• gold standard for trying to be able to do what a Secretary of State's office should do in terms of securing
• , in regards to the federal funds being impacted, again, we do not anticipate that our elections security
• funding, which is HAVA, would be in... ...that our elections security funding, which is HAVA, would

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 heard updates from the Secretary of State, EDD, the State Controller’s Office, CalHR, and DGS on a range of budget proposals and federal policy impacts. Secretary of State Shirley Weber opened with remarks about California’s election system, emphasizing its safety, transparency, high voter registration and vote-by-mail participation, and the office’s response to bomb threats and other election threats. Her staff then presented funding requests for the Cal-Access Replacement System (CARS) and Help America Vote Act/VoteCal activities, describing them as needed to modernize campaign finance and lobbying disclosure systems and maintain election security and voter services. A major portion of the hearing focused on federal election policy, especially the potential effects of a presidential executive order and the SAVE Act. Secretary of State staff said California would face significant, potentially unquantifiable costs if forced to comply, including new burdens on county recorders, county election offices, and the Secretary of State’s office, and warned of voter disenfranchisement, especially for students, seniors, disabled voters, military and overseas voters, rural residents, and people with limited transportation. Members and public commenters strongly opposed the federal proposals and argued California’s current system is functioning well. The committee also heard that federal HAVA funds were not expected to be at risk because the state draws them down into an interest-bearing account. EDD reported on paid family leave, explaining that recent delays were tied to a system transition and increased claim volume, and said it was simplifying applications and adding staff and automation. Public testimony supported expanding paid family leave to chosen family. EDD also said it is prepared for possible unemployment spikes, citing a recession plan, a command center, and recent hiring. The State Controller’s Office requested funding to continue the Fiscal migration project, which would move the state’s accounting book of record to the new system by July 1, 2026; Finance and LAO had no objections, and the committee expressed support for the project’s progress. CalHR presented a proposal for a statewide recruitment, outreach, and education paid media campaign under AB 1511, saying its current advertising budget is too small to reach diverse communities effectively. The final item addressed Governor Newsom’s executive order requiring a return to office on a four-day schedule. CalHR and DGS said they were working department-by-department to assess space, parking, transit, and other logistics, but had not completed a statewide cost analysis. Members and many public commenters criticized the order, arguing it was rushed, costly, harmful to telework benefits, and potentially disruptive to workers, especially those with disabilities, caregiving responsibilities, or long commutes. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about restoring stability, security, and dignity to the lives that were upended.
• It's about restoring stability, security, and dignity to the lives that were upended.
• experience, I have witnessed the most vulnerable households struggle to utilize their voucher and secure
• And it's real when individuals are finally, in many cases after a 10-year wait, able to secure a housing
• Security guards and staff sexually harassed me and other women.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of housing-related bills, beginning with AB 249, which would require youth-specific coordinated entry assessments for homeless services. The author and supporters from Larkin Street Youth Services and the California Coalition for Youth argued that current vulnerability tools are adult-focused and can disadvantage young people; the bill was described as a developmentally appropriate fix to better connect youth to housing and prevention services. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 7-0 to Human Services. Members then heard AB 239 and AB 1206. AB 239 would create a state-led disaster housing task force, a state disaster housing coordinator, and regular legislative reporting to speed recovery after disasters; it passed 7-0 to Emergency Management. AB 1206 would let local agencies pre-approve plans for single-family and small multifamily homes of up to 10 units to reduce permitting delays and costs; the League of California Cities opposed it unless amended, citing local variation and staffing concerns, but the author and supporters said it would preserve local control and help speed housing production. The bill passed 9-0 to Local Government. The committee also took up AB 57, which would reserve at least 10% of California’s home purchase assistance funds for descendants of formerly enslaved people. Supporters framed it as reparative justice and a way to address longstanding racial disparities in homeownership, while Pacific Legal Foundation argued it likely violated constitutional limits on race-based government action and urged a race-neutral approach. After discussion about reparations criteria and the bill’s intent, it passed 6-0 to Judiciary. The consent calendar, including AB 480, AB 726, and AB 1154, was approved 8-0. Later, AB 282 was heard to allow housing providers to prefer applicants who participate in rental assistance programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, despite existing source-of-income discrimination law. Supporters said it would help voucher holders find units and improve affordable housing operations; no opposition testified, and the bill passed 6-1 to Judiciary. AB 1229 followed, restructuring the adult reentry grant program to focus on permanent housing for people leaving prison by moving administration to HCD and using regional administrators; supporters emphasized the link between housing stability and reduced recidivism, and the bill passed 7-0 to Public Safety. The committee then approved AB 670, which would let local governments count preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing toward housing element goals and require better demolition reporting, and AB 750, which would strengthen oversight and reporting for homeless shelters after a prior reporting law saw very low compliance. AB 670 passed 8-0 to Local Government, and AB 750 was presented with testimony from a shelter resident describing abuse and lack of accountability in shelters.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we have access to Social Security Administration information.
• For non-maximum security hos males, non-secure, I mean non-max, they're waiting, we have some that have
• For maximum security males, they have been waiting, there are some that have been waiting as long as
• And then uh maximum security females, we have females that have been waiting an average of 562 days.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have access to Social Security Administration information. vital statistics including death or birth
• For non-maximum security males.
• Non-secure, I mean non-max, we have some that have been waiting at least three 316 days in non-mixed
• But maximum security mail.
• And in maximum security females, we have females that have been weighed. an average of 562 days.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just don't want to give a false sense of security by making people feel safe if we can't afford to
• veterans, first responders, or anyone in the community may voluntarily surrender their weapon to a secure
• So, I think we're going by that related to security.
• I went through three different secure doors within the SBI, which is separated from the other offices
• What really is frightening is when we, on the national level, have all security being just wide open

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, seeing none, let's move on to Senate Bill 716, relating to Hawaii Employment Security Law.
• Moving on to Senate Bill 716, relating to Employment Security Law.
• 00:37:14.839> to<00:37:15.560> ha<00:37:15.880> Employment<00:37:16.319> Security
• <00:37:16.720> Law relating to ha Employment Security Law relating to ha Employment Security

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several measures. Senate Bill 327, relating to internships, drew broad support from the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, University of Hawaiʻi, DBEDT, P20, HFIA, Hawaiʻi Electric, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and the Chamber of Commerce, with suggested amendments to clarify the internship purpose, limit some responsibilities to the state executive branch, and address staffing and reporting details. The committee later recommended passing SB 327 with amendments, including changes to the internship language, private-sector references, work-hour limits, reporting requirements, and a deferred effective date for further discussion. Senate Bill 716, relating to the Hawaii Employment Security Law, received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations as a step toward modernizing unemployment insurance, and the committee recommended passage with housekeeping and technical amendments. Senate Bill 717, relating to collective bargaining, would allow certain exempt employees to grieve suspensions or discharges. The City and County of Honolulu and the Department of Human Resources Development said the issue should remain a collective bargaining matter, while HGEA and United Public Workers supported the bill. DHRD opposed changing the statute and pointed to existing internal complaint procedures. The committee nevertheless recommended passing SB 717 with amendments and deferred the date for further discussion. Senate Bill 742, relating to data sharing, would create a data sharing and governance working group within the Office of Enterprise Technology Services and include appropriations. OETS, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaiʻi, DOE, Hawaiʻi Kids Can, Hawaiʻi P-20, and others supported the measure, with OETS estimating a total cost of about $2.64 million, including software, consulting, and six FTE. The committee recommended passage with amendments and a deferred effective date, and noted the budget request in the committee report. The final measure, Senate Bill 855, relating to the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act, would shift the program from opt-in to opt-out and appropriate startup funds; former Senator Brian Taniguchi and AARP supported it, while Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi and the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi opposed it over costs and burdens on small businesses and concerns about adding mandates before the program is implemented. The committee recessed briefly on a proposed AARP amendment, then returned and indicated support for the opt-out language before taking the bill up for decision-making.

Transcript Highlights:

• One day I walk into the lobby and Norm's there signing in at the security desk.
• Norm's there signing in at the security Norm's there signing in at the security desk.<00:22:50.960
• Department of Homeland Security Department of Homeland Security regardless<01:02:56.640> of
• <02:20:50.399> the the state will be able to secure the the state will be able to secure the
• of the whole community and not security of the whole community and not for<02:57:43.920> the<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• against unlawful searches or the right to be secure against self-incrimination.
• Additionally, revision of the Jones Act would have national security implications.
• The Jones Act hasn't secured our national defense.
• hasn't secured our national defense. hasn't secured our national defense.
• is crucial for national security is crucial for national security ensuring<05:34:56.320> that

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They need security details. They need traffic details.
• <05:07:29.520> a<05:07:29.680> conviction needed to be able to secure a conviction
• needed to be able to secure a conviction of<05:07:30.878> somebody<05:07:31.200> who<05
• officer that was in charge of security officer that was in charge of recruiting<05:15:21.600> um<
• I was contacted by the nephew of Chief Ha, the security officer who was murdered at the New Hampshire

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I worked very hard with my colleague from district two to secure the nursing home funding, and it was
• the nursing home funding and to secure the nursing home funding and it<01:11:07.840> was<01:11
• ,<01:26:35.600> the these new approvals are not secured, the these new approvals are not secured
• Um, I would like to thank our security team. Thank you.
• We needed to make a number of security upgrades, and we've done that, and it's been with his guidance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:24:47.679> We<00:24:47.840> stand Agriculture and Bio Security.
• We stand Agriculture and Bio Security.
• and Bio Security, they they mentioned<00:37:08.400> in<00:37:08.640> their<00:37:08.800
• <02:28:06.160> a<02:28:06.319> confiscated steps to secure a confiscated steps to secure
• <02:28:16.160> location device is stored in a secure location device is stored in a secure

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1531, HD1, which would require the governor or county mayors to provide American Sign Language interpreters during official emergency announcements broadcast on television or the internet, ensure the interpreter is visible, and provide a primary pool feed with picture-in-picture so rebroadcasters would not need to add the feature themselves. Testimony from the Disability and Communication Access Board and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities strongly supported the bill, emphasizing effective communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing residents and noting that interpreter placement and size can make broadcasts inaccessible. The council requested an effective date of July 1, 2027 to allow implementation time. Members raised concerns about interpreter availability and emergency logistics on Hawaiʻi Island, but the chair moved to pass the bill with amendments reflecting the picture-in-picture recommendation and the later effective date. The committee adopted the motion, with several members voting aye and others voting with reservations. The committee then heard House Bill 1880, HD2, which would prohibit, beginning January 1, 2027, the use or application of pesticides containing 1,3-dichloropropene, such as Telone. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity explained that pesticides are already regulated at both the federal and state levels, with EPA risk assessments and state enforcement of label restrictions, reporting, and school-buffer requirements. The Hawaii Public Health Institute supported the bill, citing cancer and respiratory risks and arguing that safer alternatives exist. In opposition, Dole Food and the Hawaii Farm Bureau said Telone is important for controlling nematodes in pineapple production, that it is applied underground under EPA conditions, and that no comparable registered alternative exists for pineapple; they also said the bill’s 2027 start date is too short for growers to adjust. A representative from the Y Alliance for Progressive Action and Support supported the measure, citing statewide usage data and concerns about drift and chronic health impacts. Committee members questioned both sides about drift monitoring, groundwater impacts, alternative methods, and whether a transition period or research into resistant varieties could reduce reliance on the chemical.

Transcript Highlights:

• Give today to secure the longevity of balanced, unfiltered civic programming.
• Give today to secure the longevity of balanced, unfiltered civic programming. ...the longevity of balanced

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the biggest and widest-ranging types of appropriations, everything from natural resources, water security
• General government that are important securing our elections by prepaying for the two elections that

Bills: HB2, SB48, SB64, SB100

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have security with us.
• We've got a lot of security, so don't screw up anybody. They'll take care of it.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I now recognize the Honorable Cole Hefner, Chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security and Public
• I'm honored to be a part of this ceremony today as the Chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security

Transcript Highlights:

• I now recognize the Honorable Cole Hefner, chair of the House Committee of Homeland Security, Public
• I'm honored to be a part of this ceremony today as the chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security

Transcript Highlights:

• It's more just securing our understanding. We're not very far apart on this one.
• It's more just securing our understanding.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The conference committee on HB 1248 met to review differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, which concerns the PERS pilot program and insurance mandate process. Rebecca Frickie, executive director of PERS, explained that the Senate version removed the House provisions repealing the insurance mandate process, kept the two-year PERS pilot intact, and preserved the requirement for a report at the end of the pilot while removing language that would have required PERS to submit a bill to expand coverage to the commercial market. Members discussed the bill’s cost-benefit analysis requirements. Frickie said the current law triggers a cost-benefit analysis at the start of the pilot and again when a bill is introduced to roll coverage out commercially, but the Senate draft would change that to only one analysis at the end of the pilot if a rollout bill is introduced. Legislative Council indicated that if the committee wants that simplified approach, additional conforming changes are needed elsewhere in the code. Senators also asked about the purpose of the initial analysis and whether it is used beyond being attached to the bill packet; Frickie said PERS relies primarily on its own actuary and was not aware of broader use. The committee discussed whether the revised process would still require legislative sponsorship for any future rollout, and Frickie confirmed that a legislator or other sponsor would need to introduce such a bill. Examples mentioned included insulin caps and breast exams as possible future pilot items. The committee agreed to request Legislative Council draft the needed language changes and planned to reconvene after receiving the updated draft; no final vote was taken and the meeting was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• sponsoring legislation to rigorously implement both the letter and the spirit of President Trump's plan to secure
• The sergeant will secure the chamber.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with a prayer recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The Secretary then read Governor DeSantis’s proclamation calling the Legislature into special session from January 27 to January 31, 2025, limited to five subjects: combating illegal immigration, condominium regulation, agricultural relief after natural disasters, replenishing the My Safe Florida Home Program, and changes to the citizen initiative petition process. The chamber read the filed bills within the call, including several Senate bills on illegal immigration and petition process issues, all referred to Fiscal Policy. A motion was adopted to send any bills filed outside the call to the Rules Committee to determine whether introduction was warranted. The Senate President then discussed President Trump’s immigration executive orders and said Florida would align with federal efforts while preserving the Legislature’s constitutional role. He announced that Senator Gruters would sponsor legislation to implement Trump’s border and immigration plan, including funding to reimburse law enforcement costs and incentives to recruit more officers. He said the bill would be posted, referred to Appropriations later that day, and heard on the floor the next day. The session then adjourned sine die by motion without objection, with senators told the chamber would reconvene momentarily for the special session.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:45:40.000> the critical a critical need to secure the critical a critical need to secure
• it is just that added layer of security it is just that added layer of security for<01:08:12.160
• I will call Claudia next. a landlord that they feel more secure a landlord that they feel more secure
• The other statistic about New Hampshire is that Social Security, the average Social Security retirement
• The other statistic about New Hampshire is that Social Security, the average Social Security retirement

Keywords: 1189, house, all