Transcript Highlights:

• Students may not come in, but you're still taxing at that rate.
• Your taxpayers are going to be at that rate.
• That's not fair to them to have to be taxed at that rate, or they're going to underbudget.
• <06:42:42.600> your you're still taxing at that rate your you're still taxing at that rate
• or they're going to under that rate or they're going to under budget<06:42:48.878> the<06:42:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 662, which would require discussion of abortion procedures and the viewing of certain videos in public school health education. Members argued the bill went too far by naming specific videos and involving the Attorney General in enforcement, and they said curriculum decisions should be left to educators. The committee voted ITL on HB 662 by a unanimous 18-0. The committee then considered HCR 6, a resolution calling for the removal of the superintendent of District 67. Members said the resolution targeted an individual and that the underlying dispute was already in court, so the matter should be left to the legal process. The motion to ITL passed 18-0. Next, HR 9, urging the Department of Education to emphasize STEM education, received broad support as a nonpartisan statement of priorities, and it also passed 18-0. HB 440, concerning educator licensing and shortages in Career and Technical Education, was amended to clarify that the bill applies to initial licensure only. After discussion about whether the amendment was necessary, the committee adopted Amendment 0188 unanimously and then voted OTPA on the bill as amended, 18-0. HB 222, which repealed the requirement for an MOU between charter schools and districts on services for students with disabilities, drew testimony that districts already provide substantial oversight through IEP processes and that the MOU requirement was burdensome and largely unenforced; the committee voted OTP 18-0. The committee then took up HB 719, which would repeal the right of first refusal for charter schools to purchase or lease unused district facilities. Supporters said the existing law had not generated complaints and could impede charter expansion, while opponents said the issue had not proven to be a problem and local control should be preserved. The committee voted ITL 17-1, with one member opposed and no minority report. The chair then postponed HB 184, a study committee bill on school start times, because it was scheduled for the next day, and the committee moved into a work session on bullying-related bills, discussing HB 108, HB 384, and HB 673 without taking final action in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• community college are a bright spot at a time when Vermont's high school graduation and college-going rates
• Vermont's high school graduation and Vermont's high school graduation and collegegoing<00:03:39.360> rates
• <00:03:39.920> declining<00:03:40.799> and<00:03:41.040> now collegegoing rates
• are declining and now collegegoing rates are declining and now the<00:03:41.599> lowest<00:03

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a moment of silence and referred House Bill 542, relating to terminating PCB testing of schools in Vermont and carrying an appropriation, to the Committee on Appropriations under House Rule 35A. The body then heard a series of announcements recognizing guests in the gallery, including directors and staff from court diversion and pre-trial services, Community College of Vermont early college and free degree promise students, and a former House member returning to the chamber. Members also offered personal remarks, including a birthday recognition for a colleague and a story about reconnecting with the Okamoto family. On the action calendar, House Bill 907, relating to legislative review of reporting requirements, was taken up and a motion was made to postpone action on the bill for one legislative day. The House agreed, and action on H. 907 was postponed. No other substantive floor debate or amendments were recorded. Before adjournment, a member announced a legislative ski night at Bolton Valley Ski Resort on February 25 and said a signup email would be recirculated. The House then adjourned by motion until Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1745, local exercise access rate limit. SB 1746, elections, voting centers, polling places.
• SB 1745, local exercise access rate limit. SB 1746, elections, voting centers, polling places.
• SB 1800, income tax additional rate schools.
• SB 1800, income tax additional rate schools. SB 1801, event wagering data.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen literacy rates that are improving at over 70% of the schools in New Mexico, and we've seen
• And so with stability, we may be slow to enter, but our recovery speed can be at a higher rate because
• we'll have the money to invest to bring us back out at a higher rate and a quicker return.
• In this last year, we passed a bill for the State Land Commission to raise royalty rates.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• would allow local counties and municipalities to charge up to three times the daily towing and storage rate
• college student at FSU involved in an accident and forced to leave the scene could face the triple rate
• counties can already set fees, so the bill is effectively mandating a fee structure up to three times the rate
• What it does is caps inmate health care compensation at 110% of the Medicare reimbursement rate.

Summary: The Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee heard four bills. HB 37 by Rep. Nix addressed the removal, storage, and cleanup of damaged electric vehicles, allowing towing and storage operators to charge an administrative fee when EVs are stored under enhanced safety standards such as a 50-foot separation or protective barrier. The sponsor and towing industry witnesses described post-crash battery fire risks, while Tesla and Enterprise Mobility raised concerns that the bill was too broad and could lead to triple storage charges even when battery damage is not present. Members largely supported the concept, though some urged further narrowing; the bill was reported favorably after debate. HB 401 by Rep. Tant would cap inmate health care compensation at 110% of the Medicare reimbursement rate for Jefferson County, with the sponsor and Sheriff Matt McNeil saying the measure would help a fiscally constrained county control rising outside medical costs and encourage providers to contract in advance. With no opposition or debate, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also considered HB 4003 by Rep. Benaroch, a local bill for Marco Island that creates a special-election process for council vacancies when the council fails to act; an amendment extended the election window to 130 days and required the governor to call the election if the council does not do so within 30 days. The amendment was adopted and the bill was then reported favorably. Finally, HB 407 by Rep. Snyder would modernize the Martin County Health Care Fund and define indigency criteria for county-funded indigent care, including residency, income, asset, and Medicaid eligibility limits. County and hospital representatives supported the measure, and one member suggested comparing the bill’s indigency definition with existing criminal indigency standards for consistency. The bill also was reported favorably, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• payments to providers that, up until the enactment of the bill, could be up to the average commercial rate
• enactment of the bill could be up to the average<00:09:29.760> commercial<00:09:30.240> rate
• <00:09:31.519> and<00:09:31.760> then average commercial rate. and then average commercial
• rate. and then increasing<00:09:32.399> the<00:09:32.640> frequency<00:09:32.959> of

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: At its second meeting on July 30, 2025, the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board approved the minutes from its June 25 meeting and received housekeeping materials, including follow-up information on provider taxes, mandatory and optional Medicaid services, and the 1115 community engagement waiver. The chair noted that members should hold general questions until the end of the meeting. The main presentation came from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislators, who gave a nonpartisan overview of Medicaid provisions in HR1. She explained that the bill contains more than 20 Medicaid-related provisions, with major changes affecting provider taxes, state-directed payments, eligibility and enrollment rules, work or community engagement requirements, and the frequency of eligibility redeterminations for expansion populations. She emphasized that five provisions account for most of the federal savings, that the fiscal effects are backloaded into the final years of the 10-year window, and that expansion states and provider payment changes make up a large share of the impact. Castanza also highlighted that the Medicaid provisions would take effect either upon enactment or before October 1, 2029, creating roughly a five-year implementation period. She noted that some states may not realize the same savings as the federal government because of financing changes and implementation responsibilities, and she cited estimates that the enacted Senate provisions could reduce hospital payments by 18.2%, or more than $660 billion over 10 years. The transcript provided does not show any votes or final actions beyond adoption of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• In actually integrating a business and occupation tax deduction and increasing a rate for persons conducting
• And what it does here is establish a B&O tax rate of 3.1% for payment...
• This here is establish a B&O tax rate of 3.1% for credit card processing activities, and then allows
• President, and that's why we have the higher rate. We want those to get spent.

Summary: The Senate opened with a moment of silence for Senator Chris Gildon and his family after the death of his wife, Autumn. It then took up several bills on final passage, beginning with Substitute House Bill 2020, which establishes a 3.1% B&O tax rate for payment card processing activities and allows a deduction for certain related fees. Supporters said it resolves a long-running dispute with the Department of Revenue; it passed 47-0. The chamber also passed House Bill 2039, delaying the child support pass-through expansion from 2026 to 2029, and House Bill 2040, delaying the elimination of recoveries from the Aged, Blind, and Disabled Assistance Program from October 2025 to October 2028. Supporters framed both as timing changes, while opponents argued they would postpone benefits for families and vulnerable people. Both bills passed 25-22. Substitute House Bill 2051, dealing with payment to acute care hospitals for difficult-to-discharge patients, passed 27-20 after several proposed amendments were withdrawn. Supporters said the bill helps hospitals care for patients who have nowhere else to go, while opponents argued the state should not delay payment support for these patients. The Senate also passed In Gross Substitute House Bill 2061, imposing a 10% concession fee on duty-free sales to fund tourism promotion and sustainable aviation fuel, over objections that it was a tax increase passed on to consumers. Finally, Substitute House Bill 2077, which taxes certain business activities related to zero-emission vehicle credits, passed 28-19 after an amendment to remove or narrow parts of the tax was rejected. Supporters said the measure would encourage spending of credits and support clean transportation goals, while opponents called it a targeted tax on Tesla and warned it could raise EV prices. The Senate then concurred in amended Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1293, a litter and plastic bag measure that increases litter penalties and keeps the planned bag-thickness increase from taking effect, and passed it 27-20. The Senate adjourned until April 27, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's actually one of the factors that Forbes rated us as the worst drivers in America.
• And for the state of New Mexico, one of the major reasons for that was our high fatality rate.
• I'm sure most of you are well aware that we have the highest rate of pedestrian fatalities pretty much
• Led to, um, somebody's life being taken, such as, uh, driving at a high rate of speed in a busy residential

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 319 by Ghan relating to the interest rate for student loans issued at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
• Intergovernmental Affairs HB 326 by Lopez E Bexar relating to authorizing the increase or decrease to the rates
• HB 390 by plus are relating to the components of the school district's enrichment tax rate in the calculation
• Women and Children's Health, HV 476 by BC relating to the maximum permitted rate of interest.

Transcript Highlights:

• We cited highly rated airfield infrastructure, pavement conditions, and expansion project under review
• It's only 1.2% of bridges listed in poor condition, which is the third lowest rate in our nation.
• And these bridge structures maintain a strong condition rating for the traveling public and private.
• We also adopt appropriate rate fees to support maintenance and investing in research and advancement

Keywords: Texas, Infrastructure Report Card, ASCE, population growth, climate change, investment, public safety, engineering standards

Summary: The meeting focused on the release of the 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card, highlighting key findings and recommendations for improving infrastructure across various sectors in the state. Julie Jones, Vice President of ASCE Texas, opened the session by introducing key speakers, including Dr. Art Wood and committee co-chairs Griselda Gonzalez and Austin Mazzarelli. Throughout the discussion, the report's grades were revealed, showing the state's infrastructure received an overall grade of 'C'—adequate but requiring significant attention and investment. Emphasis was placed on the rising challenges posed by climate change and increased population growth, underscoring the need for strategic investments in infrastructure to support Texas' economic growth and public safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• County, by way of Huntsville, our country has made some really great strides regarding teen pregnancy rates
• We're seeing, besides teen pregnancy rates, we're...
• Besides teen pregnancy rates, we're seeing an increase in suicide rates among our youth.

Bills: SB58, SB101, SB102

Keywords: parental rights, minor consent, medical consent, mental health services, school counseling, student counseling, parental notification, opt-in, health records, HIPAA, vaccine consent, adolescent health, youth privacy, confidential counseling, school mental health, reproductive health, pregnancy services, sexually transmitted infections, STI treatment, substance abuse treatment

Transcript Highlights:

• That said, high rates of harm do not make these spaces feel disposable for those on them.
• Notably, for today's conversation, LGBTQ+ youth found supportive spaces online at a much higher rate—
• Notably, for today's conversation, LGBTQ+ youth found supportive spaces online at a much higher rate—
• Right now, much of what we need to know, things like exposure to harassment, reporting rates, response
• LGBTQ+ young people continue to experience high rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In state procurement, water rate pricing, maybe even assisting in the assessment of agricultural tax
• market rates or higher. Exempts lessees, market rates or higher.
• to pass out of House Draft 1 to address concerns that were brought up in testimony with the market rate
• ...up in testimony with the market rate language.
• We're going to change that from market rate to fair market value.

Bills: SB2319, SB2407, SB2489, SB2153, SB2321, SB2805, SB3010, SB2892, SB2595, SB2781

Keywords: agriculture, biosecurity, grant funding, food security, climate resiliency, agricultural development, Hawaii Island, property manager, agribusiness, state employment, invasive species, lease provisions, environment, food safety, farmers, local food systems, rural development, livestock, forage grasses, pest management

Transcript Highlights:

• You've done well to protect the rates of electricity.
• It protects our residents, it protects our rate payers, first and foremost.
• We've seen in other states, particularly in Virginia, where a lot of their rate payers have seen a job
• It protects our residents, it protects our rate payers, first and foremost.
• We've seen in other states, particularly in Virginia, where a lot of their rate payers have seen a job

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including guests from the press, Florida State women’s soccer, and former Senator Janet Cruz. Members also announced there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and proceeding quickly to third reading and final passage. Among the measures approved were bills modernizing trust settlement and trustee discharge procedures; revising military affairs laws, including leave protections, retirement eligibility, and assistance programs; creating uniform cash-rounding rules as Florida prepares for the end of the penny; refining podiatric medicine rules on cellular/tissue-based products and informed consent; expanding veterans’ court access statewide; clarifying RV park special assessments; establishing concurrent state-federal jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations; reauthorizing alcoholic beverage loss deductions; and revising bail bond and pretrial release laws, including training, electronic notices, forfeiture timing, and related procedures. Members also passed bills on eyewear insurance licensing, expanding the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund into health science education, streamlining recovery residence regulation, enhancing felony battery penalties, and updating child welfare rules to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success program permanent, and create a best-practices program. Several bills drew brief supportive remarks, especially those affecting veterans, the National Guard, foster youth, and military families. One bail bond bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor stating the current statute would remain unchanged. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously; the bail bond measure passed 36-1, while the others noted here passed with no or minimal opposition. The Senate also adopted an amendment to the military affairs bill and a delete-all amendment to the military-installation jurisdiction bill before final passage. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman on her farewell. Members from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, preparation, collegiality, advocacy on issues such as voting rights, women’s rights, Israel, anti-Semitism, breast cancer, school safety, and family law, and her effectiveness in committee and on the floor. Berman delivered an extended farewell speech reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, her district, and her legislative priorities, and the Senate ordered her remarks spread upon the journal before recessing and later returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• our Black and American Indian subpopulations in the state that have even a higher infant mortality rate
• Breastfeeding reduces rates of NICU admissions, infections, emergency department visits, and chronic
• of suicide. ...is to limit their rate of suicide.
• So the data currently on suicide rates is incredibly skewed and currently focuses on adults, not the
• in adults who have been on these treatments over decades of their life shows that the suicide rates

Bills: HB2049, HB2050, HB2051, HB2072, HB2082, HB2085, HB2177, HB2178, HB2179, HB2183, HB2195

Keywords: radiation therapy, particle accelerator, critical access hospitals, patient care, rural healthcare, radiologic technologist, radiologist assistant, radiology, imaging, x-ray, diagnostic x-ray, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography, CT technologist, nuclear medicine technologist, bone densitometry, radiation safety, radiation licensing, scope of practice

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're just at a very low prevalence rate.
• And we began to find it at a fairly high rate in these scrapes.
• We had a good response rate.
• We had a good response rate.
• Because we know that bucks typically have it at a higher rate than does.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, adoption of the agenda, and approval of the prior minutes. The main presentation was from Julie Grenwald of Louisiana Hunters for the Hungry, who described the nonprofit’s protein donation programs, including freezer clean-out days, deer and fish processing partnerships, and a paused feral hog donation program that had collected about 3,500 hogs and 137,000 pounds of pork before funding ran short. She said the group has donated roughly 300,000 pounds of protein over two years, works with food banks and local agencies, and is protected under Louisiana’s Good Samaritan Law. Members asked about processor locations, exotic species, signage, sponsorships, and whether the program could expand to other invasive species or mobile drop-off options; Grenwald said expansion is possible if processors and funding are available. The task force then received a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries update from Jonathan Bordelon on chronic wasting disease testing. He reported more than 2,800 samples collected and over 2,300 results returned, with nine positives total: eight in Tensas Parish and one confirmed in Concordia Parish on Richard K. Yancey WMA, which triggered preparation of an emergency declaration and future rulemaking to adjust the control area. He said harvest and sampling remain near record levels, most samples are voluntary, and the agency continues to monitor symptomatic deer reports and public submissions. The final major presentation was from William McKinley of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, who gave a detailed overview of Mississippi’s CWD response. He said Mississippi has 529 detections across 18 counties, with prevalence rising from about one in 500 samples to about one in 80 statewide, and much higher in some counties. He described Mississippi’s surveillance system, targeted tags within three miles of positives, environmental sampling, feeder bans in CWD zones, and research showing contamination at feeders and in scrapes. He also discussed possible multiple strains, including one linked to the Wisconsin whitetail strain and another around Vicksburg/Issaquena, and said the disease appears to be expanding about 3.5 miles per year. Members asked about high-fence enclosures, live deer movement restrictions, baiting and feeding rules, hunter participation, and whether Louisiana should develop similar environmental testing capacity; no votes were taken on these issues, but members discussed possible future legislative or budget action.

Transcript Highlights:

• and without a rate of return on equity that adds to utility profits.
• It also protects electric customers from higher electric rates.
• Additionally, without doing this, it threatens utility credit ratings and raises borrowing rates for
• So you double utility rates with cap-and-trade.
• It’s going to cost them more in electricity rates, period.

Summary: The chamber reconvened after a late-night session and first adopted the consent calendar, including ACR 107 on the Diablo Range, by a 48-0 vote. Members then took up several Senate bills and Assembly measures, with repeated remarks about the long hours and the need to respect staff and keep proceedings moving. A vote change was also announced for Assembly Member Patel on SB 414, changing from aye to not voting. The main policy debate centered on energy, climate, and affordability. SB 237, dealing with oil and gas policy, refinery closures, pipeline safety, Kern County permitting, gasoline blend flexibility, and regional fuel coordination, drew strong support from members who framed it as a managed transition to stabilize fuel supply and protect jobs, and strong opposition from members who called it a giveaway to oil interests and a setback for climate goals. The bill passed 59-0. SB 254, an energy affordability and wildfire package, included wildfire mitigation financing, a successor wildfire fund, transmission cost reductions, clean energy permitting changes, and energization timelines; members raised some concerns about local control, but the bill passed 58-0. SB 840 and AB 1207 advanced the cap-and-invest reauthorization package, with supporters emphasizing emissions reductions, housing, transit, wildfire prevention, and community air programs, while opponents argued it would raise costs and function as a tax-and-spend scheme. SB 840 passed 54-15 and AB 1207 passed 55-10, both with urgency and immediate transmittal. Members also approved SB 352, which makes the Bureau of Environmental Justice permanent and requires air quality monitoring and reporting on AB 617 implementation, by 43-19. AB 825, authorizing California to help establish a Westwide electricity market, was presented as a way to lower bills, improve reliability, and reduce emissions; it passed 67-2 and was sent to the Governor. Additional actions included concurrence in Senate amendments to AB 8 on cannabinoids and AB 383 on firearms cleanup, and the chamber began consideration of AB 764 on wildlife as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going up at an extraordinary rate.
• The rates are going up on and on. Um, I've raised three daughters.
• Month, her rates went up, you know, the, uh, they get good grades, they get good rates, right?
• They're not boys, they get good rates. They drive a red car, they get bad rates.
• We filed so far in 2025, 784 pretrial detention motions, of which our rate is up by a couple of clicks

Transcript Highlights:

• If you then also were to pass the bill keeping the tax rate at 15% that combination of actions would
• If you were to allow the tax rate to increase to 19 percent on July 1st, that likely would more than
• This amendment prohibits the state from rating local property taxes.
• Whereas the new fee structure applies. a $60 per ton rate, including fractions of a ton.
• Whereas before Or larger businesses would simply cap out at the higher rate.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a 17.2% unemployment rate, and we just don't have the capacity out there.
• And at a 17.2% unemployment rate, I can't have that. It just can't have that.
• These include adjustable rate mortgages, second mortgages, and down payment assistance.
• Because it doesn't look like they have a 42.5% vacancy rate in a lot of businesses.
• Because it doesn't look like they have a 42.5% vacancy rate in a lot of businesses.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard a series of bills focused on expanding access to higher education, addressing workforce shortages, student housing, and labor standards on campus projects. AB 662 would create a South County Higher Education Task Force to explore a mixed-use, intersegmental institution in Chula Vista; supporters said South San Diego County is a “college desert,” while the bill passed on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations. AB 885 would establish a College Access for All Fund to help make CSU and UC attendance more affordable; supporters cited student debt and affordability concerns, and it also passed to Appropriations. AB 730 would provide $15 million to help establish a medical school in the Central Valley to address physician shortages, and it advanced on a due pass motion. AB 1400 would let up to 15 community college districts pilot bachelor’s degrees in nursing; supporters argued it would expand affordable BSN access and keep students local, while CSU, UC, and other higher education groups opposed it as unnecessary and inconsistent with the master plan. The bill passed to Appropriations, with members raising questions about clinical placements, faculty shortages, and possible effects on associate-degree programs. The committee also considered AB 1235, which would require CSU design-build projects to use a skilled and trained workforce, aligning CSU with other public higher education construction standards. Supporters said it would improve safety, training, and local job opportunities, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1247 would restrict contracting out of classified school and community college jobs unless workers meet training and qualification standards and would address pension and training concerns; supporters said it would protect students and classified employees, while school and college groups warned it would disrupt services and add unfunded mandates. The bill passed to Appropriations with one no vote. AB 1470, presented on behalf of Assemblymember Haney, would allow a portion of student housing revolving loan funds to be used for affordable student, faculty, and staff housing in downtown and commercial districts; it was discussed as a housing and downtown revitalization measure, but the committee held off on a motion pending more members. ACA 3, also on behalf of Haney, would require UC to offer limited down payment loans to eligible long-term support staff first-time homebuyers; it drew extensive support from UC workers and unions, while UC and business groups opposed it as costly and outside UC’s mission, and the measure was still under discussion at the end of the transcript.