Transcript Highlights:

• There is a lot that we know about social media and their nefarious algorithms, how they target their
• 00:03:04.680><c> nefarious</c> social media and their nefarious social media and their nefarious algorithms
• 06.440><c> how</c><00:03:06.599><c> they</c><00:03:06.760><c> target</c><00:03:07.120><c> their</c> algorithms
• how they target their algorithms how they target their audiences<00:03:08.159><c> how</c><00:03:08.319
• social media platforms that facilitate drug peddling to children, the constant pushing of harmful algorithms

Summary: Rep. Zach Stevenson and Sen. Mann presented Minnesota legislation aimed at requiring warning labels on social media platforms, modeled on the Surgeon General’s recommendation, and adding pop-up notifications every 30 minutes to show users how long they have been on a platform. They argued that social media use is linked to serious mental health harms among youth, including anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, and said the bill is part of a broader effort to add guardrails on big tech. They also referenced related Minnesota efforts on deepfakes, child influencers, platform-use disclosures, and a separate effort to remove cell phones from classrooms. The hearing featured emotional testimony from parents Bridget Noring and Tabitha Urbansky, who described losing sons to fentanyl poisoning after drugs were arranged through Snapchat. Both said social media platforms can function as drug markets and that warning labels and other restrictions could help prevent similar tragedies. Eric Mishy of SAVE and the Kids Campaign also testified in support, saying social media is contributing to anxiety, depression, suicide, sextortion, trafficking, bullying, and drug sales, and that companies have not done enough to stop these harms. In response to a question about the pop-up feature, Stevenson said the idea is new in Minnesota but similar to “are you still watching” prompts on streaming services, intended to add friction and interrupt addictive use. He and others said no state had yet enacted similar warning-label laws, though several have proposed them, and they emphasized that regulating technology companies is difficult because of their resources and lobbying power. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, though the bill was scheduled for a House Commerce Committee hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau headquarters and gained access to information technology systems
• , human resources, finance systems, procurement, and more.
• the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau headquarters and gained access to information technology systems
• , human resources, finance systems, procurement, and more.
• , human resources, finance systems, procurement, and more.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Whip, members, Senate Bill 1568 requires election systems and software to have their clocks and
• Election system software, this only for timekeeping?
• country, as well as countries outside of the U.S., from coming to Arizona, because right now this system
• The memorial also asks Congress to provide funding for a system study and for needed improvements to
• The memorial also asks Congress to provide funding for a system study and for needed improvements to

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of Senate bills and memorials, mostly on consent calendars, covering housing, elections, health care, public safety, land use, transportation, and water. Several measures focused on housing and local government regulation, including limits on municipal interference with home design standards, restrictions on alleged “malicious delays” in permitting, and rules on exactions. Election-related bills addressed internet access for voting equipment, timekeeping requirements for election systems, primary election timing, precinct committeeman vacancies, and other election administration changes. Other topics included liquor law updates, assisted living facility rules, deed and title fraud prevention, a Freedom of Speech Monument committee, renaming public spaces, and a bill restricting gender transition procedures for minors. Health and human services bills drew discussion on behavioral health technician definitions and AHCCCS/DHS coordination, Medicaid billing during facility ownership changes, breast cancer screening cost-sharing, naturopathic physicians administering IV antibiotics and similar drugs, safe-haven newborn surrender at hospitals, and reporting requirements for dialysis social workers. In public safety and judiciary, members considered bills on probation for dangerous crimes against children, sex offender registration limitations, victim restitution costs, unlawful alerting, increased penalties for unlawful flight, and a new offense for motor fuel theft. One member noted a no vote on extending the Vulnerable Adult System Study Committee, saying it would become a long-running study committee, while supporters said the committee had produced useful recommendations. The caucus also heard land, agriculture, energy, water, and transportation measures, including creation of a foreign entity land review commission, restrictions on transporting Mexican gray wolf pups with state resources, water reuse and banking provisions, solar installation disclosures and roof inspections, a larger revolving fund loan cap, and several congressional memorials. Transportation items included roadable aircraft registration, motor vehicle booting rules, military property signage, a towing and impound study committee, and photo enforcement penalties. Public safety bills included extending traumatic event counseling programs and requiring state data sharing with the federal government regarding unauthorized aliens. No formal votes were taken in the transcript; members mostly asked clarifying questions and several sponsors explained the intent and practical effects of their bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• , just looking at all the systems?
• UT System is unique in that they not only have an auditor at the system level, but at each component
• UT system is unique in that they not only have an auditor at the system level, but at each component
• The other issue is I think there's a difference between some of the systems, like UT system, A&M system
• You all have heard the Medicaid system described as a pay and chase system.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to hear interim charges on higher education transparency and on preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in state government. The chair emphasized accountability for taxpayer dollars and asked witnesses to address financial reporting, audit practices, and whether more frequent or comprehensive audits would improve oversight. Legislative Budget Board staff described how public university systems and most community colleges respond to requests about internal audit practices, noting that university systems generally follow a similar annual audit timeline and that community colleges use a more varied mix of internal and external audit arrangements. Members focused on gaps in reporting, especially Texas Southern University’s missing submissions for several years and Collin County Community College’s nonresponse to the LBB survey. The State Auditor’s Office then outlined its higher education audit work, including mandatory statewide single audits, DEI compliance audits, HUB and State Use Program audits, benefits proportional audits, and discretionary audits based on risk. The auditor said the office has released 43 higher-ed audit reports since fiscal year 2021 and has two audits in progress, and explained that internal audit reports from institutions help guide future audit selection. Senators pressed the office on the lack of enforcement authority, the value of internal auditors at each institution, and whether community colleges should have more standardized reporting and audit requirements. The auditor and general counsel said the SAO can refer suspected fraud to law enforcement but cannot itself enforce findings, while several senators suggested stronger clawback authority and more robust internal audit structures. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board explained that it collects annual financial reports, sources-and-uses data, and community college finance reports, and uses them for funding formulas and other reporting. It also trains governing board members and said it has limited regulatory authority, though community colleges must certify compliance annually and can lose eligibility for state funds if they do not. Members questioned the reliability of self-attested data, the adequacy of board training, and whether a single reporting structure would be more efficient. During public testimony, a ScholarShot representative argued for clearer, student-facing financial transparency so students can see total cost of attendance and the gap they must cover before enrolling.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not familiar with that algorithm or that dynamic. Are you?
• So the university system is not looking at, has no awareness of what inputs are being put into the system
• in your closed system talking about suicide?
• And sometimes those algorithms are around good grammar. Yeah.
• policies to ensure consistency across the system as well.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Higher Education and the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an oversight hearing on the California State University’s AI-empowered initiative, including the systemwide rollout of ChatGPT EDU and broader AI integration across CSU campuses. Opening remarks emphasized both the promise of AI for student success, workforce preparation, and access, and the need to address risks such as bias, privacy, misinformation, environmental impacts, and mental health harms. CSU representatives said the initiative grew out of Academic Senate recommendations and a systemwide generative AI committee, and that the goal was to provide equitable access, training, governance, and workforce alignment across the 23-campus system. CSU officials described systemwide contracts for AI tools, the AI Commons training hub, and faculty grant programs supporting AI-related curriculum innovation. They said more than 93,000 ChatGPT EDU accounts had been activated, over 4,300 faculty had taken voluntary training, and $3 million had been awarded to 63 faculty-led projects from more than 400 submissions. San Jose State University highlighted its own AI-focused programs, courses, orientation training, faculty fellows, student ambassadors, and interdisciplinary efforts to build AI literacy and responsible use into instruction and co-curricular programs. CSU also said it was tracking metrics on adoption, academic outcomes, workforce outcomes, and environmental impacts. Faculty, staff, and student representatives welcomed the educational potential of AI but raised concerns about the rollout, saying it had moved quickly and without enough consultation or consistent systemwide policy. They urged stronger protections for academic freedom, intellectual property, privacy, equity, and worker input, and warned about bias, surveillance, job displacement, and the environmental cost of AI. Legislators pressed CSU and OpenAI representatives on training requirements, data privacy, bias reporting, discipline for misuse, liability, sycophancy, and safeguards against harmful uses such as non-consensual imagery or self-harm-related interactions. CSU said interactions in the licensed tool are private, data are not used to train models, and campuses retain their own conduct processes; members also asked CSU to follow up on systemwide training, policy consistency, and additional safeguards.

Transcript Highlights:

• This moment has come from a system that has placed workers in high-stakes situations with inadequate
• It's about dealing with the failures of the system. And we must be honest about who this impacts.
• He was talking to an algorithm that offered a hollow decision.
• AI systems are not. Without clear guardrails, AI chatbots that mimic therapeutic relationships...
• AI systems are not. Without clear guardrails, AI chatbots that mimic therapeutic relationships.

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's a systemic problem, not just your office.
• So we improved our system that would improve everything system. But, Mr.
• Orleans court system.
• You know, we need to do this systemically.
• converted into a new case management system.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee first reviewed the Department of Justice FY 2027 budget, which was presented at $117.8 million, with most funding coming from statutory dedications and the largest program areas being criminal law/Medicaid fraud and civil law. The Attorney General described major work in Troop NOLA, Medicaid fraud, opioid and PBM litigation, and especially child exploitation and online predator investigations. She said ICAC tips are rising sharply, local law enforcement partnerships have expanded, and her office needs more analysts, more permanent positions, and more expenditure authority for the legal support fund and related programs. Members asked about case backlogs, staffing, settlement funds, and whether more resources could be directed toward outreach, mental health, and technology; the Attorney General said she wants to expand cyber capacity, training, and prevention efforts, and that some settlement recoveries are being used to support existing programs and fraud enforcement. Committee members also focused heavily on child safety, truancy, and mental health. Several representatives described local concerns about online exploitation, trafficking, self-harm, and the need for school-based training and community outreach. The Attorney General said she wants a broader prevention strategy involving parents, schools, and behavioral health resources, and she discussed using outreach models such as anti-vaping campaigns and town halls. On opioid settlement oversight, members raised concerns about the size of the funds and the need for stronger state oversight; the Attorney General agreed more structure and compliance monitoring would be useful and said drug courts and treatment programs are effective investments. The committee then moved to the judicial branch budget presentation. The judiciary requested $229.6 million in FY 2027, plus $5.6 million in one-time funding, with most of the budget coming from state general fund. The presentation highlighted increases for judge salaries, staff pay adjustments, health insurance, operating costs, and 17 unfunded positions, along with one-time requests for security and technology upgrades. Chief Justice John Weimer and other justices said the budget would help core court functions and statewide programs such as CASA, drug courts, and FINS, and they emphasized the need for better staffing and technology in the courts. A major discussion centered on truancy and the FINS program. Justice Griffin said statewide collaboration with education officials had reduced truancy and that FINS officers are trained to identify children who may be runaways or trafficking victims. The justices and members supported expanding FINS so every judicial district has coverage, and they said the program helps keep children out of deeper system involvement. Members also asked about security funding, technology improvements, and the 17 unfunded positions, which were described as mostly clerical, IT, and support roles in appellate and district courts. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not every child has a support system to withstand that kind of harm, but thankfully that child did.
• All I see is the language that says they'll use a third-party system that verifies age.
• All I see is the language that says they'll use a third-party system that verifies age.
• and continue to be accessible. scrupulous websites rise to the top of an algorithm and continue to be
• ammunition from just regular Joe blows out in the streets and making sure that there has to be some system

Summary: The Missouri House met with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for March 3, 2026 by a 122-0 roll call vote. The chamber also spent a long portion of the morning recognizing special guests, including Special Olympics athletes, occupational therapy and social work students and professionals, teachers, civic leaders, and other visitors in the gallery. On legislation, the House perfected and printed House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2974, which would codify telehealth access within Missouri’s licensed reciprocity law. Supporters said it would help seniors and rural residents access care and ensure reciprocity licensees can provide telehealth services. The House also perfected and printed House Bill 2934, a bipartisan St. Louis convention-center governance bill that would merge existing entities, create a new board with city, county, and state appointments, and clarify funding and tax authority for the convention district. An amendment narrowing governor appointments to two city, two county, and one at-large member was adopted before final approval. The House likewise perfected and printed House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2057, a technical fix allowing Osage Beach to create an entertainment district; supporters said it would promote tourism and economic development and align the city with similar districts elsewhere in Missouri. The most contentious debate was on House Committee Substitute for House Bills 1839, 2921, and 3515, which require age verification for pornographic websites. Supporters framed the measure as child protection and cited the Supreme Court’s Texas decision and the Attorney General’s enforcement rule; opponents raised privacy concerns, questioned effectiveness, and argued it could push users toward less scrupulous sites. A proposed amendment to extend the bill to firearms and ammunition websites was ruled not germane, the previous question was ordered 92-44, and the substitute was adopted. The combined bill package was then perfected and printed by a 104-16 vote with 20 present, and the House recessed until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• the system is using that during these extraordinary moments.
• These algorithms tell the sellers what to change to maximize profit.
• The redundancy, the reliability of a system.
• The California system was built for basically a one-fuel system.
• So when you start having For basically a one-fuel system.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• This resolution reinforces California's leadership and our commitment to building a health care system
• But that's precisely what happens on social media, as the algorithm sees that you have looked at... .
• SB 939 is sponsored by the California Public Employees' Retirement System, has no opposition and has
• Our health care system faces... ...districts are already working to recruit and retain teachers.
• Our health care system faces similar challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:48.480><c> administrator</c> reporting analyst systems administrator reporting analyst systems
• ><c> [clears throat]</c> system director of [clears throat] system director of [clears throat] workforce
• Um, system to a residential homeowner.
• algorithm algorithm um<01:59:42.880><c> was</c><01:59:43.199><c> deceptive</c><01:59:44.159><c> in</
• There are also algorithms resources.

Bills: HB2118 , HB2473

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to permitting and economic development. On HB 2603, relating to permits, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development said it supported the measure with comments. Committee discussion focused on the fact that the state’s facilitated permit process appears to have been rarely or never used, the need to identify specific projects that would use it, and whether DBEDT would need dedicated staffing to administer it. DBEDT said it had found no projects under the current process, had no capacity to run the program as structured, and estimated it would need about 7 to 9 FTEs, including permitting, coordination, data, systems, and possibly legal support. The chair suggested exploring a staff assignment and comparing the concept to federal FAST-41-style expedited permitting. On HB 2140, relating to essential permitting positions, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development again supported the bill with comments. Testimony and questioning centered on a pilot program to help counties pay competitively for permitting staff. A DBEDT representative said the issue of competitive pay affected both county and state permitting offices and that the bill was intended as a temporary pilot, though a more permanent solution would be preferable. When asked how counties would fund the salary support, the witness said that was not yet discussed with the counties and agreed to follow up. The committee also noted the bill applies to participating counties. On HB 2598, relating to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, the State Procurement Office and HTDC offered comments, and the Department of the Attorney General raised constitutional concerns. The AG said the bill’s residency-based certification requirements, when tied to procurement, could implicate the dormant Commerce Clause, and that the required 1% contribution tied to state contracts raised unconstitutional-conditions concerns. In questioning, the AG characterized these as legal risks rather than automatic lawsuits. The committee did not take a vote. The committee then heard HB 2141, relating to state enterprise zones. Taxation, DBEDT, HCDA, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, and HTDC testified in support, while the Tax Foundation noted the program was intended to help economically depressed areas create jobs. HTDC said the bill would help preserve the Maui Research and Technology Center’s enterprise-zone status after rezoning. Committee discussion focused on whether the enterprise zone program is being used effectively, how the bill might attract businesses to areas where the state is investing, and whether the program’s labor requirements are too burdensome for new businesses. DBEDT explained that the program requires a 10% workforce increase in the first year, which must be sustained, and said it promotes the program through county coordinators and in-person outreach. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> solutions that strengthen systems solutions that strengthen systems without<00:47:38.200><c> limiting
• One, the combination of Optum audits and prepayment review is already destabilizing the system.
• When us as legislators are trying to identify the vulnerabilities within our human services system.
• And then we're human services system.
• And then I think there is some system.

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:11:21.840><c> she</c> blood glucose monitoring system she blood glucose monitoring system she
• </c><01:16:24.920><c> system</c> going with this other system system going with this other system system
• </c> basically is running some algorithm basically is running some algorithm on<03:42:17.040><c> super
• </c> trying to you know use the algorithm trying to you know use the algorithm it's<03:42:22.120><c>
• </c> appreciate in here uh a judicial system appreciate in here uh a judicial system that<03:54:30.199

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 552, which would remove the “full-time student” requirement for children ages 19 to 25 covered under the state retiree health insurance plan. The prime sponsor said the change would align retiree coverage with state employee and ACA plans, would not cost taxpayers because retirees pay the premiums, and could even reduce administrative burden and possibly state costs. The chair noted the bill simply removes the words “if full-time student” from statute and said the proposal affects very few retirees and has no cost to the state. No opposition was presented, and the chair closed the hearing on HB 552 after no further testimony. The committee then opened a public hearing on House Bill 648, which would require commercial insurance coverage for glucose monitoring devices and supplies for people with diabetes. The prime sponsor, a retired dietitian and diabetes educator, gave extensive testimony describing diabetes as common, costly, and serious, and argued that continuous glucose monitoring is important for managing type 2 and gestational diabetes, preventing hypoglycemia, and improving safety and decision-making. She said CGMs can alert users to dangerous blood sugar changes, help people understand how food, activity, and medication affect glucose, and save lives while offering a strong return on investment. During questions, a committee member asked whether the bill should specify that the monitoring be tied to prescribed treatment, and the sponsor agreed that adding “prescribed” would be appropriate. The member also asked about the proper threshold for coverage and whether the bill should be tied to fasting-test diagnosis; the sponsor responded that A1C is only one measure of control and does not show daily fluctuations, and said she was not prepared to recommend a specific threshold but could provide clinical guidelines later. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the sponsor indicated support for the bill’s general approach to broader CGM access.

Transcript Highlights:

• on our own budget, you know, managing, you know, we just implemented a new information technology system
• We are also grateful for the Texas Space Commission's grant of $15 million to Starlab for our systems
• Employees Retirement System of Texas. Okay, cool. First off, thank you for coming.
• Investing in quantum encryption states can stay ahead of cyber threats and safeguard critical systems
• encryption, post-quantum encryption algorithms that will greatly improve that.

Bills: HB3146 , HB3719 , HB3895 , HB3923 , HB4748 , HB4751 , HB4936 , HB4952 , HB4990 , HB4991 , HB5061 , HB5196 , HB5238 , HB5246 , HB5487

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative hearings, contested case, contested case hearing, administrative law judge, ALJ, final decision, proposed decision, agency hearing, hearing continuance, rescheduling, Texas administrative law, Government Code Chapter 2001, workers' compensation, Department of Human Resources, Texas Labor Code, Transportation Code, Agriculture Code, Insurance Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Whip, members, Senate Bill 1568 requires election systems and software to have their clocks and
• Election system software, this only for timekeeping?
• country, as well as countries outside of the U.S., from coming to Arizona, because right now this system
• The memorial also asks Congress to provide funding for a system study and for needed improvements to
• The system is sketchy as to when it works and when it doesn't work, so it asks Congress to take action

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of Senate bills and memorials across several policy areas, with most items presented as consent or third-read measures and little debate. Topics included special license plates for the Arizona Space Commission, local land-use and housing restrictions, liquor regulation updates, limits on municipal delays in permitting and exactions, election equipment security and timekeeping requirements, precinct committeeman vacancy procedures, assisted living and deed-fraud measures, a Freedom of Speech Monument committee, renaming Wesley Bolin Plaza, and a ban on gender transition procedures for minors. Members also discussed health and human services bills on behavioral health technician standards, Medicaid billing during ownership changes, breast cancer screening cost-sharing, naturopathic IV administration authority, safe-haven newborn surrender at hospitals, and access claim-processing timelines. The Judiciary portion covered probation limits for dangerous crimes against children, a civil cause of action related to prohibited gender reassignment surgery on minors, elimination of the statute of limitations for failure to register as a sex offender, probation incentive calculations, victim-rights expense recovery, unlawful flight penalties, vulnerable adult theft definitions, motor fuel theft, unlawful alerting, and evidence rules in sexual-assault-related hearings. In discussion, members asked for clarifications on several bills, including the definitions of “malicious” delay, internet access on election equipment, the scope of the breast screening bill, and the meaning of unlawful alerting. Supporters repeatedly described bills as common-sense, fraud-prevention, patient-access, or public-safety measures, while one member noted a no vote on extending the Vulnerable Adult System Study Committee. Additional measures in land, agriculture, water, public safety, and transportation included foreign-entity restrictions on land transactions, limits on transporting Mexican gray wolf puppies, water reuse and groundwater fee extensions, a larger water supply revolving fund loan cap, congressional memorials on EPA authority and the San Carlos irrigation project, expanded traumatic event counseling coverage, reimbursement of legal costs for certain disciplined law enforcement officers, data sharing with the federal government on unauthorized aliens, roadable aircraft registration, motor vehicle booting rules, military-property sign placement, a towing and impound study committee, photo enforcement penalties, and highway renaming memorials. No roll-call votes were described in the transcript, and the meeting ended after the transportation items and memorials were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, the bill would require age estimation systems that raise some privacy concerns.
• Finally, restrictions on personalized or algorithmically ranked features could unintentionally weaken
• </c> would require age estimation systems would require age estimation systems that<00:19:25.520><c>
• systems that collect sensitive<00:19:37.039><c> personal</c><00:19:37.360><c> information.
• c> used</c><00:20:03.919><c> to</c> Those systems are often used to Those systems are often used to prioritize

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no single fingerprint system or comparable system that can reliably work across every content
• And even before then, the original algorithm that does this was actually published by the then CTO of
• We do want to make sure that the systems can work and that they're feasible.
• We do want to make sure that the systems can work and that they're feasible.
• All right, with that, committee system, please call the roll on AB 412.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• We're talking to our infrastructure system.
• It is systemic. It's clear at this point. It's systemic.
• It is systemic. It's clear at this point. It's systemic.
• systems are only as useful as the data they are trained on.
• , an AI system in the workplace and have it just, like, ...into a system, you can't just drop, as an

Committee: House Labor and Employment

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative, do you know whether this map was drawn by hand or using outside algorithms?
• Was this map drawn by hand or using outside algorithms? Oh, I'm sorry, Ms. Fields already answered.
• Was this map drawn by hand or using outside algorithms? Oh, I'm sorry, Ms. Fields already answered.
• We have a democratic system that is based upon voter input, that is founded on civic participation.
• We have a democratic system that is based upon voter input, that is founded on civic participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Related to algorithms that are going to go into a red flag system.
• Good officers deserve to work in a system that is trusted, and families deserve honesty.
• These are reasons why this algorithm and these early warning systems cannot be made public ahead of the
• Prior to that, this is the system working perfectly, and it was fair.
• I think it'll help with the systemic loss of personnel that we've faced.

Bills: SB 15

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs