Transcript Highlights:

• Following completion of pilot training in June 1966, Bill Van Dyke progressed through the ranks as an
• F-102 squadron pilot until April 1968.
• As an F-102 squadron pilot until April 1968.
• A master of the skies, Major General Van Dyke was a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours,
• having piloted many of the most iconic aircraft in American history, including the F-100, F-102, A-7,

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call, then approved the journal and spent much of the early session on personal privilege remarks, guest introductions, and proclamations. Recognitions included Arcadia High School’s 2026 state championship boys basketball team, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, Diné College and Navajo sovereignty/Indigenous higher education, Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month, and Route 66’s centennial. The chamber also honored Senator Lela Alston for her long legislative career and retirement, with remarks from colleagues and a musical tribute after recess. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole and considered three House bills. HB 2048, dealing with orders of protection and process service, was amended and recommended do pass. HB 2398, concerning watercraft insurance requirements and penalties, was amended after debate over a floor amendment exempting some infrequent boat rentals; the amendment was adopted over opposition from Senator Epstein, and the bill was recommended do pass as amended. HB 2611, relating to child welfare and group home safety, was amended with changes requiring DCS reporting and standards for group foster homes, and was also recommended do pass as amended. On third reading, the Senate passed HB 2198, HB 2434, HB 2764, HB 2772, HB 2837, HB 2868, HB 2906, and HB 2996, with HB 2772 drawing a 17-9 vote after Senator Gonzales objected that it could affect emergency responders seeking driver’s licenses from patients. HB 2868 passed 25-1, HB 1668 passed 25-1, and the rest passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The Senate also concurred in House amendments to SB 1168, SB 1254, and SB 1668, then passed SB 1168 and SB 1254 on final reading and sent them to the Governor; SB 1668 also passed final reading and was sent to the Governor. The chamber then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, we provide pilot teaching programs.
• It also provides a good overview of the pilot teacher housing program.
• Looking at the details in the pilot program and in the standards-based program, we've seen that we've
• Looking at the details in the pilot program and in the standards-based program, we've seen that we've
• Overall, in the teacher housing pilot program, we have since built 16 units.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item A and B in your books this morning is an update to the teacher housing pilot program.
• This program has been challenging, and I think we have seen success with the pilot program.
• So, I think, you know, personally for our next steps, AMS needs to revisit this pilot program.
• That's only the teacher housing pilot program; it does not include the standards-based teacher housing
• The investment for this particular teacher housing pilot program has been roughly $5.1 million, and the

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee substitute makes these changes a pilot and also makes it permissible.
• So I think the committee sub talks about a pilot.
• Well, my biggest concern is what I've heard about the pilot program.
• I'm curious what do you think about making this a study versus the pilot?
• I'm curious what do you think about making this a study versus the pilot?

Bills: HB311, SB447, SB505, SB2217, SB2753

Keywords: voter registration, electronic, Texas election law, Signature verification, DPS, internet application, Texas Election Code, signature verification, online application, data security, electronic application, Department of Public Safety, information security, electronic voter registration, voting technology, voter access, state election laws, digital signature, election irregularities, audit

Summary: The House Committee on Elections met with a quorum present and heard several election-related bills, with public testimony limited to two minutes per witness. The first measure, SB 447, would allow the City of Mission to move its municipal elections from May to November on a one-time, permanent basis. Supporters, including Mission’s mayor, said voters had already approved the change by a wide margin and argued it would improve turnout and reduce costs. The bill was left pending after no objection. The committee then heard SB 2217, which was described as a transparency measure to standardize election data reporting and reconciliation across counties. Testimony focused on a technical issue involving discrepancy thresholds for electronic voting system reconciliation, with one witness urging the bill be aligned with existing law’s “more than 3” standard rather than a 1% threshold, and another suggesting a definition fix. The bill was left pending. Members also heard SB 2753, a major proposal to create a continuous in-person voting period by combining early voting and election day into one uninterrupted period, with a committee substitute making it a pilot and permissive. Supporters said it could simplify administration and improve security, while opponents warned it would increase costs, require more staffing and equipment, delay results, and create logistical problems for counties. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 505 would let certain election stakeholders request explanations of irregularities from election officials and, if unresolved, escalate the matter to the Secretary of State for audit or possible conservatorship. Supporters framed it as a tool for accountability and transparency, while opponents called it overly broad and vulnerable to abuse. The bill was left pending. The committee also took up HB 311, which would expand online voter registration to first-time registrants and direct state agencies to develop a pathway for Texans without a driver’s license to register online. Supporters argued it would modernize the process, reduce errors, and save money, while opponents said first-time applicants still need a wet signature and raised concerns about signature verification and implementation. Due to the late hour and floor deadline, testimony was cut off, the names of remaining witnesses were read into the record, and the bill was left pending before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is our librarian pilot program.
• This is a librarian pilot program.
• <00:13:15.080> On<00:13:15.200> behalf is a librarian pilot program.
• On behalf is a librarian pilot program.
• This is the librarian pilot program.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The conference committees met repeatedly on Friday, April 25, 2025, mostly to wait for finance releases and to roll bills to later times. Several measures were deferred or continued, including HB 1007 on HCDA, HB 987 on procurement, HB 620, HB 961, HB 1293, HB 1320, SB 1252, HB 1168, and others, with members often agreeing to reconvene later in the day when releases might be available. One higher education bill, HB 549 on an early learning apprenticeship grant program, was deferred because the requested expenditure of about $12.5 million could not be approved, and HB 563 on the UH Space Science and Engineering Initiative was also deferred after conferees could not reach agreement in time. Several bills were successfully amended and passed. HB 329 appropriated $2 million for the Mililani work-for-housing project and $2 million for Maui Central Middle School. HB 736 established a wastewater system technology testing pilot program at the UH Water Resources Research Center and included a $745,325 FY26 appropriation. SB 865 created a full-time permanent CTAHR extension position, funded at $76,570 in each of FY26 and FY27 through the Agribusiness Development Corporation. HB 442 funded two pre-nursing pathway positions at UH with $215,552 each year for two fiscal years, and HB 1146 funded UH graduate assistant positions and planning work for Ala Wai Canal debris management and water quality control, with the conferees correcting the FY26 amount during discussion before approving it. Later, HB 1168 on UH revenue bonds was approved with amendments, setting the bond amount at $30,750,000 and a July 1, 2025 effective date. HB 961, the librarian pilot program, was ultimately approved with a CD1 restoring the original $132,308 appropriation and two FTE librarian positions for a two-year pilot serving one Oahu complex area and one neighbor island complex area. HB 1293 on Department of Education procurement was also approved with amendments to support the DOE’s farm-to-school goals by exempting certain local food purchases under $250,000 from the electronic procurement system and requiring at least three written quotes instead, effective July 1, 2025, with repeal on June 30, 2028. SB 1252 on dementia was later approved with a CD1 funding two full-time positions in UH Mānoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine Department of Geriatric Medicine at $525,000 each in FY26 and FY27.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 11. 0, 3, also expanded the intellectual and developmental disabilities pilot program.
• This next one is the the managed care pilot and expansion of the managed care pilot.
• I believe as far as a pilot program with this population.
• I have a done a video for the managed care pilot program and probably more importantly, family members
• APD we're committed to to working with our sister agencies, working with the Legislature to make the pilot

Transcript Highlights:

• The bills also establish the child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention pilot program.
• Chair, I do have a question or two on this pilot program. It looks like there's two separate ones.
• Maybe there's a child abuse pilot program we're having questions on.
• Where, how much, and where is the money coming to fund that pilot program? Mr.
• is a separate pilot program.

Bills: HB4154, HB4155, HB4156, HB4157, HB4158, HB4159, HB4160, HB4161, HB4162, HB4163, HB4164, HB4165, HB4166, HB4167, HB4168, HB4169, SB1847, SB1848, SB1849, SB1850, SB1851, SB1852, SB1853, SB1854, SB1855, SB1856, SB1857, SB1858, SB1859, SB1860, SB1861, SB1862

Keywords: general appropriations act, budget, biennial budget, state spending, fiscal year 2026-2027, appropriations, state agencies, public funding, education funding, health and human services, public safety, transportation, government operations, budget bill, fiscal policy, state finance, spending plan, legislative budget, capital appropriations, operating budget

Transcript Highlights:

• I volunteered for my court and Conway Clinton and Marshall to participate as a pilot court program.
• There were some that started during that pilot phase. Some didn't start until later.
• So we have been working with some districts on some pilots around the state.
• In Northwest Arkansas, we've launched a pilot up there as well.
• So we are doing some pilots there.

Summary: The Senate and House Joint Committee on Children and Youth approved the December 10 minutes and confirmed Representative Mary Bentley to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee. The committee then heard the annual Arkansas Infant and Child Death Review report, which said the state reviewed 148 of 170 non-natural child deaths in 2023; the reviewed deaths included 69 accidents, 14 suicides, 18 homicides, and 47 undetermined causes. Members asked about how the report’s recommendations could be used, grant opportunities tied to prevention work, and whether the data could be broken down by age; presenters said the report is intended as a prevention tool for agencies and nonprofits and that some age detail is available in later pages of the report. The committee next took up HCR 1010 and then a broader discussion of juvenile justice reform. Senator Missy Irvin, judges, and Administrative Office of the Courts staff described Arkansas’s use of validated risk assessments, including SAVRY, the Ohio Youth Assessment Tool, MAYSI, and substance-abuse screening, as part of a long-running effort to reduce juvenile incarceration and tailor services to individual youth and families. They said the reforms have contributed to fewer delinquency filings, fewer DYS commitments, and more diversions, while also emphasizing that mental health, substance abuse, school issues, and trauma often drive juvenile court involvement. Several members raised concerns about data gaps, school collaboration, and whether community-based services are sufficient, and presenters said more shared data and stronger school use of safety dashboards could help intervene earlier. Division of Youth Services Director Michael Crump then presented custody, education, recidivism, and cost data. He said DYS commitments rose after the pandemic, secure residential populations remain high, and detention-center use increased when intake beds filled; he also noted that DYS pays about $320 per day for secure custody and that detention beds cost roughly $90 to $100 per day. Crump said most youth in custody are older teens, about 80 percent are male, and many have behavioral-health needs or educational deficits; he reported 222 GEDs and 102 high school diplomas over six years. He also said about 15 to 19 percent of youth return to DYS within three years and that a larger share later enter the Department of Corrections, while members pressed him on how assessments relate to commitments, how low-risk cases are handled, and how to improve mental health and substance-abuse services statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• A CTE pilot program created a seven-year CTE pilot program.
• That pilot has ended, but only about 14 million of the 40 was for that pilot.
• One of them is if it's a pilot.
• And so, because the state had a seven-year statutory pilot and because the pilot has ended, I think part
• Because we said, let us pilot this.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next is the mental health unit pilot program extension, which will extend that pilot and allow individuals
• And then for the mental health unit pilot extension, at what point are you anticipating converting it
• from a pilot program to a more permanent one?
• That would actually put some bodies in this pilot.
• And uh to date, you know, we've pilot.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, preliminary data from the pilot has been promising.
• We are honored to be running the pilot program on...
• In our third year of the pilot, the preliminary data is yielding excellent results.
• Assembly Bill 2594 extends the sunset date of the pilot to allow the DMHC to evaluate the pilot program's
• and urge your support for this continued pilot.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It just changes it from the pilot to a permanent agreement.
• Thank you, Deputy Secretary. permanent status from the pilot permanent status from the pilot program.
• It just changes it from the pilot, bill.
• So, it gets rid of the pilot agreement with the state in the local elections.
• We moved back the date of the pilot program to end in December of '25.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section four, Parole Board legal counsel and pilot project.
• This section establishes a pilot project for fiscal year 2027.
• Parole Board Legal Counsel and Pilot Parole Board Legal Counsel and Pilot Project.
• year 2027 for the pilot project. year 2027 for the pilot project.
• <00:20:49.360> project, budget to support the pilot project, budget to support the pilot project

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge this committee to build upon the pilot success and ensure that every high school in Minnesota
• And as we listen to this testimony, we have a pilot program that has been successful.
• That's the path we should be on: let the pilot program work. that has been successful there is a plan
• how this model works so this was a pilot how this model works so this was a pilot project<01:46:
• companions this pilot Clinic validated what<01:47:13.760> we<01:47:13.920> already<01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does allow the community colleges, it would be a one-year pilot, this would be only and it would be
• a one-year pilot that would let the community colleges work with this.
• ><00:10:14.240> this<00:10:14.480> would<00:10:14.640> be would be a one-year pilot
• , this would be would be a one-year pilot, this would be only<00:10:15.200> and<00:10:15.440><
• only and it would be a one-year pilot only and it would be a one-year pilot that<00:10:17.200>

Keywords: Universities and Colleges - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 11:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first considered a strike-all related to the Mississippi Upskill Grant Program and a K-12 bridge bill tied to CTE and special purpose schools. Members discussed the alignment of workforce and career-technical education from pre-K through higher education. Senator Hopson moved to add a reverse repealer, which was adopted, and the strike-all was then passed as amended and forwarded to appropriations. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1488, which would authorize the University of Southern Mississippi to sell or enter into a long-term lease for university property in Hattiesburg. Senator Johnson explained that the roughly 600-acre tract, gifted in the 1920s and formerly used as a golf course, has a master plan for redevelopment; the bill would streamline the sale process while preserving requirements such as two appraisals and IHL approval. After questions about the acreage and safeguards, the bill was passed as amended and sent to appropriations. Members also approved a strike-all addressing financial literacy requirements for colleges and universities, including added content on mortgages and real estate, and then passed House Bill 1495, a companion to Senate Bill 2238, allowing Mississippi State University and the Oktibbeha County school district to co-mingle funds by mutual agreement for their partnership school/high school project. Finally, House Bill 1582 on community college energy performance contracts was discussed at length; the chair said it needed further vetting by the public property committee, so the committee added a reverse repealer and passed the bill as amended. The meeting ended with a rise and report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Financial Services will be covering the My Safe Florida Home program, the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot
• Seeing none, let's move to my favorite, my Safe Florida Condo Pilot Program.
• For the condo pilot program, the applications for inspection and grants is coming from the association
• And yes, like any bill, that's a pilot. You learn as you go along the way.
• I'm going to open it up for questions on the My Safe Florida Condo Pilot, if there are any questions

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services on the My Safe Florida Home program, the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot, and the Florida PALM financial system replacement project. For My Safe Florida Home, Stephen Fielder explained the wind-mitigation grant program, including its inspection-first process, two-to-one matching grants for most homeowners, low-income exemptions from the match, and eligible improvements such as roofs, clips/straps, water barriers, and opening protection. He reported roughly 109,000 initial inspections, nearly 59,000 grants approved, 31,000 final inspections, 25,000 reimbursements, and about $240 million paid out through the end of 2024. Members asked about premium savings, contractor pricing, fraud, owner-builder eligibility, reimbursement timing, and whether the program should have a dedicated funding source; Fielder said the program is currently closed, more than 40,000 people have signed up for updates, and the office has seen some price-gouging and impersonation issues but no major fraud trend. The committee also discussed the new prioritization rules that took effect July 1, 2024, which direct grant awards by age and income. Fielder said the program used a survey of existing applicants to implement the new priority groups and that the first group was over age 60 and low-income. Members raised questions about how premium reductions are measured, whether insurance company changes or rising insured values affect the data, and whether the program can track long-term outcomes after reimbursement. Fielder said the office reports raw premium changes based on declarations pages, knows the insurer for participants, and has validated results with multiple insurers, but does not track homeowners after they leave the program or enforce continued insurance coverage. For the My Safe Florida Condo Pilot, Fielder said the program is modeled on the home program but uses association-level applications, a maximum grant of $175,000 per association, and a similar two-to-one match. He said the application window opened briefly in November and was closed quickly because available funding could be exhausted and the department is prohibited from creating a waiting list. He identified several needed statutory changes, including better distinguishing condos from single-family homes, adjusting roof requirements for flat concrete roofs, and revisiting the unanimous unit-owner vote requirement, which he said has been a major obstacle. Chair Lopez noted the pilot is intended to be a learning process and thanked DFS staff for identifying implementation issues. The final presentation covered Florida PALM, the state’s effort to replace the 40-year-old FLAIR accounting system with a PeopleSoft-based financial management system. Fielder and PALM Director Jimmy Cox said the project began in 2014, the state contracted with Accenture in 2018, cash management went live in 2021, and the project was paused in 2022 for legislative review and remediation. They said the system is expected to go live in 2026, possibly in July rather than January, and that the project has spent about $225 million to date, with a current-year budget of about $60.9 million and a projected next-year request of about $64 million. Members asked about cybersecurity, cloud hosting, project scope, and whether the system is unique to Florida; staff said the system is not Florida-specific, access is credentialed through agency identity management, and the cloud host location is confidential. After the presentations, Chair Lopez assigned members to work with specific agencies on budget review meetings, asked them to discuss agency structure, priorities, staffing, waste reduction, and other budget issues, and set a deadline to report findings in the first week of regular session. The meeting then adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• General's office to provide grants to a limited number of local law enforcement agencies for the Bluejay pilot
• It's a pilot program for about 10 local municipalities, and it was only said to be about $250,000.
• It's a pilot program. Follow up: Thank you.
• Is this going to be anticipated to be a pilot program where there'd be particular cities that would be
• And so, the last thing Is this going to be anticipated to be a pilot program where there'd be particular

Bills: HB1002, HB1250, HB2710, HB3008, HB3045, HB3086, HB3595, HB3678, HB3695, HB3831, HB4107, HB4408

Keywords: stalking, victim notification, law enforcement, harassment, penalties, criminal justice, protection orders, local law enforcement, Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund, grants, state funding, law enforcement technology, alcohol testing, drug influence, public safety, Board of Tests, accident response, motor vehicle, fire department, fee prohibition

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 429 is a conference report that relates to electric utilities, pilot program for energy assistance
• House Bill 196 is a conference report relating to the Virginia residential development infrastructure pilot
• House Bill 196 is a conference report relating to the Virginia residential development infrastructure pilot
• Senate Bill 827 relates to a pilot program for underground transmission lines, qualifying projects, and
• It provides for a pilot program for undergrounding 500-kilovolt transmission lines, and I move that we

Keywords: March 14, 2026 - Regular Session Part 3, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To start off our agenda today, the first item is SB 693 SD1, relating to the food hub pilot. complete
• of the food hub pilot program.
• and strong support of the food hub pilot program<00:14:26.320> and<00:14:26.480> an<00
• program um would be a really good pilot program um would be a really good idea<00:15:54.199> so
• <00:19:35.480> program program or the cover crop pilot program program or the cover crop pilot

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we first piloted this is exciting.
• In fact, the pilot has pilot agreement.
• <00:43:37.200> um initiatives, whether it be piloting um initiatives, whether it be piloting
• you could probably extend that pilot you could probably extend that pilot program,<00:46:38.480>
• >> They have graciously extended our pilot >> They have graciously extended our pilot

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Labor held an informational briefing on August 22, 2025, to receive an update from DEH on statewide recruitment efforts aimed at reducing vacancies across state departments. Director Hashimoto, joined by DEH staff, presented on two hiring initiatives: Wikiwiki Hire and Operation Hire Hawaii. The committee focused on how each program works, how quickly applications are screened and referred, and how the programs differ from standard recruitment procedures. For Wikiwiki Hire, DEH described it as an accelerated recruitment pathway used mainly for classes with multiple vacancies. DEH screens applications every two weeks, then sends qualified applicants a list of participating departments and recruiter contact information so applicants and departments can connect directly. Committee members asked about effectiveness data, timelines, and whether the process aligns with the merit principle. DEH said the program is intended to speed hiring, that departments are not required to interview every person on a list, and that applicants can be hired as vacancies are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so long as all qualified applicants have the same opportunity. DEH also said it could provide data later and that it is working through a backlog of screenings. The committee then discussed Operation Hire Hawaii, an executive-order-based hiring effort launched in February to expedite hiring, including for displaced federal workers but open to all applicants. DEH reported more than 6,000 applications, 127 recruitments, 81 closed recruitments, and 142 hires, with a goal of conditional offers within two weeks. DEH said it turns applications around daily, while departments do the initial screening, interviews, and hiring decisions, with DEH completing final qualification screening and suitability checks at the end. Members asked about the program’s duration, its low conversion rate, and what happens to applicants who are not hired; DEH said it can refer qualified applicants to other vacancies and that the pilot was originally intended to run about a year, with possible extension if departments want it to continue.