Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate bill relative to fentanyl test strips

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted two congratulatory resolutions recognizing IBEW Local 103’s 125th anniversary and the Town of Tewksbury’s 375th anniversary. It then took up several local and private bills, including a revised charter bill for the City of Somerville and a sick leave bank bill for a Department of Corrections employee, both of which were advanced to engrossment. The chamber also suspended various joint rules to refer several House and Senate petitions to the appropriate committees. During the session, Senator Carr delivered a personal privilege statement reflecting on the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and urging unity, compassion, and resolve in the face of division and violence. Later, the Committee on Ways and Means reported favorably on bills updating Nikki’s Law and the MassHealth day habilitation program, allowing fentanyl test strips, and regulating affordable car rentals; the Senate suspended the rules to consider these matters forthwith and ordered the first two to third reading, while adopting a Ways and Means amendment and advancing the car rental bill as amended. The Senate also concurred in House amendments to the Cambridge and Medford charter bills, adopted emergency preambles for two sick leave bank bills, and passed several measures to be enacted, including sick leave bank bills, the Cambridge and Medford charter bills, and a charter bill for the City of Saugus. The chamber adopted an order to reconvene the following Monday at 11 a.m., approved a motion to adjourn in memory of the victims of September 11, and observed a moment of silence before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• In late 2022 and early 2023, Carrollton Police, which you will hear from today, uncovered a fentanyl
• To put it into perspective, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal.
• But fentanyl is not the only part of the picture.
• Since 2020, we have arrested 385 adults and 26 juveniles for fentanyl-related offenses.
• So we're focusing on fentanyl here, which sits in a certain penalty group.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, where you can utilize this and the testing for the testing and training of, of laboratory technicians
• , and also we need, I think we need additional people that are gonna be doing those testing, that testing
• and so they have to prioritize testing as well.
• Um, all the testing that is done is, is paid for through.
• They, um, the, the, the testing, they are not, um, it's predominantly we use Body lab for that testing

Transcript Highlights:

• > It is often described as synthetic heroin, and its effects in high doses have been compared to fentanyl
• to fentanyl. to fentanyl. It<01:20:43.120> is<01:20:43.360> dangerous.
• c> elections voting machine and voting elections voting machine and voting system<01:43:00.159> tests
• Senate<01:43:01.199> file<01:43:01.520> 30,<01:43:02.080> elections system tests
• , Senate file 30, elections system tests, Senate file 30, elections voter<01:43:03.440> registration

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . 100,000 people a year, 70,000 from death from fentanyl are dying.
• We've lost more than 3,000 fentanyl deaths in the U.S. each year.
• Fatal fentanyl-caused poisoning deaths are on the rise.
• So, colleagues, we all came to be serious about addressing the fentanyl problem in America.
• We all said we have that fentanyl is a big problem in America.

Transcript Highlights:

• And fentanyl smuggling. I strongly support securing our borders and fighting fentanyl trafficking.
• Postal Service or some other carrier that contain fentanyl or pre-drug precursors.
• single fentanyl death.
• A kilogram of fentanyl can kill 50,000 people by some counts.
• You do not have to talk to me about lives lost to fentanyl.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fentanyl does not discriminate and it can take from anybody.
• poisoning, not a fentanyl overdose.
• poisoning, not a fentanyl overdose.
• poisoning, not a fentanyl overdose.
• , not a fentanyl overdose.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida is seeing an increase of accidental overdose deaths caused by dangerous adulterants such as fentanyl
• removing the detailed legislative findings from the filed version while narrowing the scope of exempted testing
• equipment to focus Senator Gaetz: specifically on tools that detect fentanyl, its analogs, and xylocaine

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill addresses opioid antagonists in response to the opioid and fentanyl crisis by establishing a
• But we didn't touch on the higher education opportunities for awareness to save lives in fentanyl?
• If there are no test scores, there's no grades, everything is all the same.
• Are born looking female, but have testes inside their bodies.
• So, if a person is born with testes... Inside their body, but functionally appear female.

Bills: HJR144, HJR218, HB40, HB 101, HB 112, HB146, HB168, HB214, HB413, HB1523, HB493, HB521, HB594, HB557, HB305, HB549, HB854, HB 1057, HB 1052, HB842, HB3174, HB3311, HB2486, HB3196, HB824, HB 1039, HB2529, HB2713, HB4936, HB4995, HB4830, HB4864, HB5219, HB5263, HB5154, HB2674, HB5525, HB5623, HB2545, HB2587, HB2625, HB5520, HB5436, HB4926, HB1573, HB5165, HB4811, HB5081, HB4755, HB3179, HB4310, HB4611, HB2159, HB4626, HB3637, HB3153, HB3066, HB2786, HB2966, HB638, HB640, HB876, HB497, HB5539, HB4809, HB5308, HB4687, HB4070, HB4421, HB4412, HB3284, HB3369, HB3420, HB3449, HB4098, HB4281, HB4120, HB4504, HB4370, HB 1106, HB2370, HB2404, HB3863, HB2407, HB2253, HB2273, HB2040, HB1586, HB3788, HB3993, HB4690, HB4309, HB4696, HB2308, HB 1142, HB1533, HB1621, HB2242, HB2012, HB2193, HB2442, HB2464, HB2348, HB2313, HB2289, HB1942, HB2011, HB1629, HB2993, HB3592, HB3824, HB4076, HB4535, HB4623, HB4773, HB 1091, HB5115, HB5515, HB3372, HB5659, HCR118, HB 1233, HB2239, HB2379, HB2863, HB3368, HB3787, HB3815, HB3898, HB4023, HB4285, HB4329, HB4331, HB4429, HB4646, HB4904, HB5200, HB5320, HB5651, HB5662, HB5668, HB5670, HB5672, HB5674, HB5676, HB5679, HB5688, HCR108

Keywords: regional mobility, transportation authority, local law, constitutional amendment, public projects, Texas energy fund, energy efficiency, retail electric customers, electric generating facilities, business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, Texas State Guard, task force, professionalization, state missions, critical infrastructure, science park district

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we have thousands of people dying from fentanyl, we have illegal immigrants coming across that are
• pushed into sex slavery and fentanyl?
• Fentanyl deaths are at an all-time high. These things are happening.
• Many of y'all know that my district saw several losses of young people to fentanyl. poisoning and so
• ECQ already perform air monitor quality tests in Fort Bend County.

Bills: SB1, HB500, SB1, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HB500

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I I to me with fentanyl, right?
• <00:25:52.280> on about like people have used fentanyl on about like people have used fentanyl
• So that was a a more fentanyl, right?
• > most<00:35:25.040> lethal fentanyl is the most lethal fentanyl is the most lethal than<00
• And so if that teenager brings fentanyl And so if that teenager brings fentanyl in<00:37:51.160>

Bills: HF4407, HF4382

Keywords: child welfare, African American children, racial disproportionality, family preservation, reunification, foster care, kinship care, relative placement, noncustodial parent, guardian ad litem, ombudsperson, Department of Human Services, county social services, active efforts, reasonable efforts, child protection, placement, out-of-home placement, Northstar kinship assistance, data disaggregation

Summary: The Children and Families Committee adopted the April 8 minutes and then took up House File 4407, as amended by the A1 amendment. The amendment, explained by nonpartisan staff, incorporated much of the Senate version of related legislation and made a series of changes: it revised the definition of “disproportionately represented child,” shifted that determination to the Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families, made technical cross-reference and terminology updates, adjusted training requirements, set the working group to expire December 31, 2027, and added an appropriation for statewide implementation. The committee adopted the A1 amendment and then referred the bill to Ways and Means. Representative Gilman said the bill is intended to preserve the goals of the Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act while addressing operational, legal, and fiscal problems before statewide implementation. He argued for delaying the effective date by one year, shifting case review responsibilities to the state, and providing funding so counties are not left with an unfunded mandate. He also said the bill adds safety measures related to synthetic opioids and other imminent-harm concerns, and that the delay would allow the working group to finish its recommendations and give counties time to prepare. County officials Steve Schmidt of Meeker County/Minnesota Rural Counties and Jenny Mojo of Clay County testified in support of the bill as amended, emphasizing that counties need clearer responsibilities, staffing, training, technology, and dependable funding to implement the law successfully. Rebecca St. George of DCYF said “active efforts” is not absolutely defined and is determined case by case, often with court involvement. Members raised questions about the meaning of active efforts, the bill’s synthetic opioid language, and whether the proposal should apply more broadly rather than within this specific act. A citizen also cautioned that the opioid language should not unintentionally affect families in treatment programs. Representative Hicks warned that the fentanyl provisions could lead to broad removals and create placement problems for teens with substance use disorder, while Representative Gilman responded that the bill includes a rebuttable presumption and is meant to protect children from imminent harm.

Transcript Highlights:

• Evaluate our own testing clinical samples.
• The first two tests...
• Before the test, there's no instruction.
• We have to test to it because that eighth grade test is the fundamental basis for government, for public
• Okay, we're gonna take out the STAAR test. We're eliminating… The STAAR test.

Bills: SB 3, SB 16, SB 2, SB 5, SB 10, HB17, SB 54, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, HB8, HB25, HB26, HB192, HB8, HB25, HB26, HB48, HB149, HB192, HB254, HB17, SB54, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB3, SB16, SB2, SB5, SB10

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, real property theft, real property fraud

Bills: SB 3, SB 16, SB 2, SB 5, SB 10, HB17, SB 54, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, HB8, HB25, HB26, HB192, HB8, HB25, HB26, HB48, HB149, HB192, HB254, HB17, SB54, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB3, SB16, SB2, SB5, SB10

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, real property theft, real property fraud

Bills: SB 3, SB 16, SB 2, SB 5, SB 10, HB17, SB 54, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, HB8, HB25, HB26, HB192, HB8, HB25, HB26, HB48, HB149, HB192, HB254, HB17, SB54, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB3, SB16, SB2, SB5, SB10

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, real property theft, real property fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• As population growth growth increases, demand for driver's license applications and testing, DPS is requesting
• which is offset by a decrease of 9 million for one-time costs associated with the forensic toxicology testing
• Figure 4 shows the three most common types of forensic testing and the number of cases completed for
• But also in Texas, the market is flooded with methamphetamines, fentanyl, drugs are like never before
• And The delays in getting licenses and getting driving tests and getting all those things that, um.

Transcript Highlights:

• , which we know we've seen an increase in, consistent with an increase in fentanyl problems nationally
• mean, what we've seen nationally, and not just in our data and other reports nationally, is that fentanyl
• So you would see fentanyl as the pronounced substance nationally? Okay. It kind of helps me.
• mean, what we've seen nationally, and not just in our data and other reports nationally is that fentanyl
• So you would see fentanyl is the pronounced substance nationally. Okay. It kind of helps me.

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You can be licensed in one state and drive in another state with the need for additional tests or fees
• The contractor is already regulated. do the regular inspection tests. The chair recognizes Mr.
• Focus on penalty group one drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and meth.
• Taking the test twice, haven't been able to pass it.
• Obviously you need to be able to pass a test to go build one of these skyscrapers down here.

Bills: HB679, HB1764, HB1788, HB2186, HB2204, HB2418, HB2885, HB2983, HB2996, HB3250, HB3352, HB3756, HB3816, HB3913, HB3928, HB4077

Keywords: environment, regulation, land use, public health, community development, alcohol, Sunday sales, local option election, Texas, business hours, alcohol sales, liquor, off-premise consumption, alcoholic beverages, CPA, Certified Public Accountant, licensing, accountancy, state regulation, continuing education

Transcript Highlights:

• should be more upfront with LEAs and schools about what will be tested so they can focus on it.
• He said that should be something considered, but that all they have is the ACT test.
• Representative Hamilton said she is not saying to get rid of the test.
• She added that the ACT does not test what they teach in Arizona.
• We do not have nearly as much money in the rainy day fund as we need, according to stress tests.

Bills: HB2063, HB2271, HB2416, HB2478, HB2593, HB2692, HB2813, HB2992, HB2993, HB4044

Keywords: corrections oversight, appropriation, independent office, public safety, funding, firefighters, insurance rates, workers' compensation, firefighter cancer reimbursement, rate deviations, cost analysis, premiums, border security, drug trafficking, human smuggling, law enforcement funding, Arizona, immigration, education reform, K-12

Summary: The committee heard several appropriations and policy bills, with testimony often focused on public safety, education, and procurement. HB 263 would appropriate $1.5 million in FY2027 to the Independent Correctional Oversight Office; the sponsor and supportive testimony argued the office is needed to address serious problems in the corrections system, and the bill received a due pass recommendation, 17-1. HB 2993, as amended, would allow DPS to spend on legal services independent of the Attorney General and redirect $5 million from the Consumer Protection/Consumer Fraud Revolving Fund to the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission Fund; the Speaker framed it as supporting law enforcement and public safety, and it passed 17-0. HB 2271 dealt with firefighter cancer coverage and insurance rates. The bill would allow an insurer covering firefighters and fire investigators to file a uniform rate deviation only if it is not reimbursed by the municipal firefighter cancer reimbursement fund. Testimony described the measure as a temporary shell pending a broader consensus agreement to bring fire districts into the reimbursement system; members stressed that firefighters should not see changes in claim handling, but several said the bill still needed work. It received a due pass recommendation on a 16-1-1 vote. HB 2416 would appropriate $20 million to DPS for local border support, including law enforcement positions, prosecution and detention costs, and equipment; sheriffs and the Arizona Sheriffs Association supported it as a continuation of existing funding for drug interdiction and border-related crime, and it passed 11-6-1. The committee also advanced HB 2692, which revises public construction procurement rules and authorizes progressive design-build and one-step competition for certain federally funded projects. Construction and procurement stakeholders said the bill was the product of a long consensus process, while some members worried about taxpayer impacts and the move away from standard procurement; it passed 10-7-1. HB 2478, as amended, creates the Arizona Commission on Student Outcomes to study K-12 accountability, standards, graduation requirements, early childhood education, and a trade pathways diploma, funded by Classroom Site Fund dollars; members debated whether the work should instead be done by ADE or the State Board, and the bill passed 11-7. The committee also heard HB 4044, which would create a Public Safety Parity Fund to support DPS and corrections salaries using investment earnings from the Budget Stabilization Fund and proceeds from forfeited digital assets; the sponsor and a troopers association witness argued it would provide a stable long-term funding source to address chronic vacancies and pay gaps.

Transcript Highlights:

• IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE TESTED.
• HOW WOULD YOU POSSIBLY TEST FOR THAT AND MAKE SURE QUITE WHAT IS THE TESTING PROCEDURE TO TEST FOR THAT
• FOR CANADA'S TESTING.
• TESTS, COGNITIVE TESTS.
• GUILTY OF SOMETHING AND SAYING TAKE MY BLOOD, TEST IT FOR NYQUIL, TESTED FOR THAT MEDICATION AND I'LL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The policy recommendation is just Adding test strips to the original bill, test strips for fentanyl,
• Is there a test strip for salazine?
• There's no specific blood test that is diagnostic.
• There are blood tests that are indicators But they can also be indicators of other diseases.
• I'm not aware of anybody that does tests on that accurately. My wife had a an energy problem.

Bills: SB1983, SB444, SB1503, SB1561, SB592, SB1501, SB1946, SB1567, SB1833, SB2026, SB904, SB2178, SB1651, SB1558, SB1565, SB1553, SB1257, SB65, SB1749, SB1242, SB1642, SB640, SB667, SB1436, SB1484, SB1562, SB1794, SB1644, SB1533, SB933, SB1555

Keywords: SB1983, foster care, resource family partner, resource family partners, Department of Human Services, DHS, child welfare, foster homes, foster children, placement data, data sharing, de-identified data, aggregated data, sibling groups, placement disruptions, foster parent recruitment, foster parent retention, private child-placing agency, Title 10A, Oklahoma