Transcript Highlights:

• If you'd please silence all your electronic devices.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced four bills. SB 110, by Senator Simon, proposed a broad rural communities package creating a state Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program for declining-population counties, higher SHIP housing allocations, new rural road funding, additional support for rural schools, and expanded rural health care resources. The bill drew extensive support from local officials, chambers of commerce, and rural advocates, with senators praising its local control and economic-development focus. It was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 218, by Senator Arrington, which would increase the ad valorem tax exemption for disabled ex-service members or their surviving spouses from $5,000 to $10,000. An amendment was adopted clarifying that the change applies beginning with the 2026 tax roll. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably. Next, SB 384, by Senator Burton, would require written notice to each member of the local legislative delegation when a municipality annexes state-owned land, and it also clarified related annexation language. After a brief question about the amendment, the bill as amended was reported favorably. After a recess, the committee took up SB 68, presented by Senator Trumbull for Senator Martin. The bill would allow not-for-profit organizations such as hospitals to bond for debt service and related purposes, including construction and refinancing projects. With no amendments, no opposition, and no debate, SB 68 was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That means that if it's in our written policy and we have to distribute electronically or printed, we
• :03.720> have<02:07:03.960> to<02:07:04.040> distribute<02:07:04.560> electronically
• and we have to distribute electronically and we have to distribute electronically or<02:07:05.520
• I send my elect my policies<02:08:14.240> electronically.
• I meet with my policies electronically.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Bills: HB145, SB37, HB279, HB292, SB35, SB48, SB20, SJR1, SB38, SB41, SB73, SB100, SB111, SB132, SB152, SJR7, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM20, HM51, HM1, HM31, HM35, HM36, HM46, HM53, HM54, HM39, HM29, HM43, HM59, HM30, HM52, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50, HB2, HB70, HB180, SB151, SB240, SB273, HB95, HB247, HB332, HB8, HB253, HB4, HB96

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education

Transcript Highlights:

• and the entire movement to go faster with the communication that we have today, everything being electronic
• and the entire movement to go faster with the communication that we have today, everything being electronic
• and the entire movement to go faster with the communication that we have today, everything being electronic
• <02:03:54.400> being we have today, everything being we have today, everything being electronic
• . electronic. electronic.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum. Senators then adopted the prior day’s journal and excused absent members. A lengthy point of personal privilege followed, in which Senator Smith criticized the prior day’s handling of the special order calendar and argued that minority-party senators were denied the chance to speak, while Senator Coleman said Senate Bill 318 had been removed from the calendar and tied that to Child Abuse Prevention Month; she also noted Senate Bill 43, which would provide civil recourse for child sex assault survivors, had not advanced. The presiding officer also recognized guests in the gallery, including staff from the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The Senate then received multiple committee reports, largely on a unanimous or near-unanimous basis. Finance and Taxation Education reported favorably on House Bills 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 565, 517, and 98, and Senate Bill 380, with some substitutes or amendments; Finance and Taxation General Fund reported Senate Bill 378 favorably; County and Municipal Government reported House Bills 568, 499, and 433; Education Policy reported House Bills 8 and 380; Banking and Insurance reported House Bill 545; Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development reported House Bill 586 with two nays; Healthcare reported House Bills 533 and 605; Tourism and Marketing reported House Bills 513 and 626 and Senate Bill 357; and local legislation committees reported several Mobile County and Madison County bills, including Senate Bill 379 relating to Madison County and various House bills, all advancing to the next legislative day. In motions and resolutions, the Senate agreed to allow committee reports to be received at any time during the day. Several resolutions were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee, including Senate Joint Resolution 100 honoring Presley Skelton, SJR 101 commending Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, SJR 102 establishing the Alabama Forest Products Retention and Pulp and Paper Mill Stability Study Commission, SJR 103 mourning Norman Wendell Arnold, and SJR 104 designating Alabama as the river state. The chamber also suspended the rules to take up Senate Joint Resolution 105, commending Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth for his service; the resolution included a lengthy recitation of his background and accomplishments and was read for immediate consideration with all senators added as sponsors.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Oh, electronic medical records.
• >> Oh, electronic medical records. Yeah. >> Oh, electronic medical records. Yeah.
• So I'm seeking clarification on the recommendation, changing screening tools and protocols for electronic
• That being said, both of our departments have new electronic software coming on board this next, like
• software coming on board this electronic software coming on board this next<01:59:52.320> like

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The working group on restrictive housing met with a quorum present, approved the August 21, 2025 minutes, and adopted a procedure to take public testimony on each agenda item with a two-minute limit per testifier, with some flexibility for follow-up questions. The main presentation came from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on restrictive housing policies and a recent outside assessment of mental health care practices at HSCF and OOTC. DCR said the assessment found strengths such as consistent medication administration and staff commitment, but also identified major problems including outdated workflows, staffing shortages, inadequate physical plant conditions, overuse of suicide/safety watch for personal safety issues, and a need for more individualized treatment plans. DCR described several corrective steps already underway: filling a long-vacant high-level mental health administrator position, adjusting evening medication passes, working with DOH on transfer and referral workflows, planning a new electronic medical records system and revised screening tools, and pursuing additional training for ACOs and mental health staff. For OOTC, DCR said the facility is overcrowded and decrepit, needs a better screening tool, and requires more mental health-specific training and staffing. For HCF, DCR said the layout limits confidential assessments and provider access, and that the proposed consolidated healthcare unit would add 43 beds, private exam rooms, and a de-escalation room. DCR also said the new unit could serve acute and chronic suicide/safety watch needs and possibly some inmates with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or significant cognitive impairment. The discussion then focused on Act 292, which DCR said is difficult to implement as written. DCR said the bill aligns with DOJ, NCCHC, and ACA guidance in defining restrictive housing, limiting duration, requiring reviews, identifying vulnerable populations, and using step-down units, but raised two major concerns: a requirement to refer vulnerable people to DOH for confinement, and a requirement for clinical assessments every 12 hours by a provider. Members responded that the law should be matched with funding and staffing, and asked what resources are needed. DCR said it submitted a request for 35 positions at a cost of about $8.6 million, and also said funding may be needed for community-based beds and contracted medical services. Members also asked about the current MOA/MOU between DOH and DCR, the working group membership, and the timeline for revisions. DCR said the group includes DCR, DOH, and governor’s office medical advisors, that a first draft is complete, and that the revised agreement should be in place by the end of the year. On staffing, DCR said ACO recruitment classes increased from five to eight, vacancy rates dropped from 34% to 24%, but OOTC still faces a projected $7.1 million shortfall and heavy overtime costs, forcing post closures and program reductions. The meeting ended with continued discussion of screening tools, including DCR’s explanation that current broad questions may over-identify people with substance-use-related symptoms as having serious mental illness, and that a more discrete tool is needed to better identify those with acute needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides that presence by such electronic means shall satisfy any applicable quorum requirement
• the governing body may vote on any action properly before it and may approve meeting minutes by electronic
• This bill will not require anyone to participate electronically.
• interactive electronic communication. interactive electronic communication.
• So, if the board's not choosing the right electronic method to do it, then you have the right under the

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members will record their votes by electronic device.
• Pursuant to clause 9 electronic device.
• Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a five-minute vote. Heat. Heat. Heat.
• Using machines and explosives, High Test has tested everything from the smallest electronic components
• everything from the smallest electronic everything from the smallest electronic components<01:46

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, December 12, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members will record their vote by electronic device. This is a 15-minute vote. Heat. Heat. Heat.
• Members will record their votes by electronic device.
• Members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be a two-minute vote.
• Members will record their votes by electronic device.
• Members will record their votes by electronic device.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, September 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members will record their votes by electronic device.
• <01:22:07.880> device<01:22:08.400> this their votes by electronic device this their
• votes by electronic device this will<01:22:08.639> be<01:22:08.800> a<01:22:08.960>
• <01:22:17.360> vote the minimum time for any electronic vote the minimum time for any electronic
• Members will record their votes by electronic device.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, February 7, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members will record their votes by electronic device.
• record their votes by electronic device. record their votes by electronic device.
• Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a five-minute vote.
• Members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be a 15-minute vote.
• <04:28:56.479> adi record their votes by electronic adi record their votes by electronic adi

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Talk about the issues on altered checks, electronic payments being, you know, any type of banking information

Summary: The Legislative Audit Education Institution Subcommittee met to review 57 education audit reports, including 52 with no findings and five with findings. The committee adopted the previous meeting’s minutes and then heard staff summaries of the findings, which focused largely on school district spending and internal control issues. Two reports, Camden-Fairview and Forest City, involved district use of operating funds for staff end-of-year celebrations that staff said conflicted with the Arkansas Constitution and AG opinions. Camden-Fairview’s questioned costs totaled $10,668, including meals, door prizes, and facility rental, and Forest City’s totaled $33,436, including decorations, catering, entertainment, and rental fees. Members discussed whether district officials should attend to answer questions, and both reports were deferred to the June meeting with requests for district attendance. The committee also reviewed a referred finding at Nettleton School District involving a $1.9 million fraud scheme tied to emailed bank-account change requests; the district recovered $1.5 million from the bank and arranged for the vendor to reimburse the remaining $204,890 loss. Members questioned why the vendor would repay money it did not receive, and the report was also held over to the June meeting for further explanation. A separate referred case at Camden-Fairview noted unauthorized credit card charges of $2,140, with $262 remaining as a loss after bank reversals. Staff also presented non-referred findings at Cedar Ridge, including improper Title I payroll charges, salary overpayment and underpayment errors, and an unreconciled bank account variance, and at Green County Technical School District, where a $1,400 vendor check was fraudulently diverted but later recovered. Those reports were filed after no objections. During discussion, staff explained that Legislative Audit is trying to reduce recurring fraud and control problems by advising schools on verifying banking changes in person or through other direct contact, using bank controls such as positive pay, and monitoring accounts more frequently. Members encouraged schools to take audit training seriously and noted that clean reports should be recognized as a positive result. The remaining 52 reports with no findings were filed as reviewed, and the meeting adjourned with no new business.

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance; HB 2399, UTV revision; HB 2412, threatening and emitting harassment; HB 2413, sex offenders electronic

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• would like to provide public testimony or register a position on the bill, please register at the electronic

Bills: SB15, SB 15

Keywords: real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• then we'll, if anyone else wishes to testify for or against SJR54, make sure you've registered electronically

Bills: SB 312, SB 945, SB 946, SB 1367, SB 1861, SB 2044, SB 2337, SB 2403, SB 2819, SJR 54

Keywords: public school funding, education, budget allocation, financial transparency, state law, local control, fiduciary responsibility, public retirement systems, investment management, proxy voting, financial factors, insurance, political shareholder proposals, fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, discrimination, credit extension, social credit, value-based standards

Transcript Highlights:

• we'll, if anyone else wishes to testify on for or against SJR 54, make sure you've registered electronically

Bills: SB312, SB945, SB946, SB1367, SB1861, SB2044, SB2337, SB2403, SB2819, SJR54

Keywords: public school funding, education, budget allocation, financial transparency, state law, local control, fiduciary responsibility, public retirement systems, investment management, proxy voting, financial factors, insurance, political shareholder proposals, fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, discrimination, credit extension, social credit, value-based standards

Transcript Highlights:

• SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND ANYONE WANTING TO SPEAK BEFORE THE COMMITTEE SHOULD COMPLETE AN APPEARANCE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair: PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WE ASK YOU SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES IF YOU HAVE ANY. I WILL SILENCE OF MINE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• PLEASE SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please silence all electronic devices.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 932, which would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging under state-regulated insurance policies. The sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce delays in follow-up testing after abnormal mammograms and noted support from medical and cancer advocacy groups. Senators Arrington and Sharief spoke in favor, and the bill was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered CS for SB 160 on CPA licensure. The sponsor said the bill adds additional pathways to licensure in Florida without lowering standards and is similar to measures being considered in other states. The Florida Institute of CPAs supported the bill, and it was also reported favorably. The committee then took up a water management district bill, described as a comprehensive measure to increase transparency in planning, funding, budgeting, reporting, and business practices while making historic investments in Everglades restoration. Senators asked about the role of the Legislative Budget Commission and whether the bill would affect the Lake Okeechobee system operating manual; the sponsor said those issues were still being worked through and that the bill was focused on accountability and transparency. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 50 on coastal resiliency and mangroves. The bill promotes nature-based solutions such as mangroves, living seawalls, and oyster reefs, and requires DEP to establish related rules and study effects on flood risk and insurance premiums. An amendment providing $250,000 from the Resilient Florida Trust Fund for a feasibility study was adopted without objection. The bill drew broad support from environmental and coastal groups and was reported favorably. SB 56 on geoengineering and weather modification was temporarily postponed and not heard, and the committee then adjourned.