Transcript Highlights:

• President, tomorrow at 1:30, on behalf of Senator Williams, also, we're going to have a technology computer
• meeting with several of our state agencies to discuss the state of affairs as it relates to our computer
• Brent Coleman's of Sebast who passed away unexpectedly this past week. computer system statewide and
• look at computer system statewide and look at some<00:10:13.120> appropriations<00:10:13.760><

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 23 February, 2026; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, received an invocation from Reverend Tony Chrysler, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Routine motions were adopted to dispense with reading the journal, committee reports, and bill and resolution titles. The chamber also recognized Dr. Scott Hamilton as doctor of the day and welcomed a group from the Hancock County Youth Academy to the gallery. On the calendar, several items were passed over and retained, including items one through six on the finance calendar, a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 3053, and House Bill 1076. No substantive debate on those measures was recorded in this segment. The Senate then moved into announcements. Announcements included a capital prayer gathering the next morning, the Mississippi Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus catfish dinner, an appropriations committee meeting, a joint appropriations/IT meeting to discuss statewide computer and technology issues, a finance committee meeting, and notices that Insurance and Judiciary Division B would not meet the next morning. Members also requested that the Senate adjourn in memory of several individuals, including Jimmy Scott McMon of Starkville, Mary Margaret Casease of Oxford, Brent Coleman of Sebast, and Leila Bea Keys of Clarksdale and Robera Jameson of Marks. The Senate voted to stand in recess until 5:00 p.m., with the journal to reflect adjournment until 10:00 a.m. the following morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Last Mile is a computer coding program that we partner with at MCI Shirley, and we are thinking to
• Many of the millennials love computer programming as well, so we have them programming at Persevere.
• On the last mile is a computer coding program that we partner with at MCR. computer coding program that
• Many of the millennials love computer programming as well.
• Younger workforce that is very good with computers and being able to provide services for them where

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met with a new member from Prisoners’ Legal Services and approved the July 11 minutes. The main presentation came from Department of Correction Commissioner Sean Jenkins and Deputy Commissioner Mitzie Peterson, who gave an overview of DOC facilities, population trends, and the department’s broad mission, including sentenced prisoners, pretrial detainees, civil commitments, Bridgewater State Hospital, and the Section 35 program. They noted the custody population has fallen from about 10,000 in 2016 to roughly 6,000–6,600, while the share serving first- or second-degree sentences has increased. They also reviewed the department’s facility footprint, including Souza-Baranowski, MCI Norfolk, MCI Framingham, Bridgewater, and the planned transfer of the Section 35 program to Health and Human Services by the end of 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on programming, education, health care, and reentry. DOC described tablet access for all incarcerated people, free phone calls, email, and more than 330,000 hours of educational, vocational, and reentry use. They highlighted partnerships with colleges and universities such as Tufts, Boston College, Emerson, and others, along with HiSET completion, vocational training, and programs like The Last Mile and Persevere. Health care spending was discussed in detail, including a total annual health-related contract cost of about $300 million, with separate contracts for prison health care, Bridgewater State Hospital, MassAQC, and MAT services. DOC said it has nearly eradicated Hep C and MRSA and now offers all three FDA-approved MAT medications, including long-acting injectables when clinically indicated. Commissioners also asked about specialized programming, language and disability access on tablets, and how programming is distributed across facilities. DOC explained that nothing is mandatory, but program participation is encouraged and can affect parole consideration. Staff described assessments using COMPAS, criminal thinking interventions, trauma-related treatment, and specialized units for emerging adults, mental health, and substance use. The department said programming costs were about $101 million in fiscal year 2025, or roughly 12% of the operating budget, excluding health care. Members praised the elimination of restrictive housing and the rollout of body-worn cameras, while DOC said the cameras required new policy and union negotiations but are now used for training, accountability, and de-escalation. The meeting ended with a plan for DOC to return in September with more detailed information on SAUs, programming statistics, and facility structure, and the commission voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't have a computer. Do you have one? I still have battery.
• Yes, I did bring my computer in to do it. Blurbs. Blurbs. Blurbs.
• <01:34:47.920> into<01:34:48.159> do my computer into do my computer into do blurbs
• wants to suck down that data and compute wants to suck down that data and compute it<01:39:34.480
• Do you have your computer? Yeah, right. I was going to go get my battery.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 167, a PFAS-related measure expanding the state’s restrictions to include ski wax and related fluorocarbons. The sponsor said the bill was a follow-up to last year’s PFAS law and largely targeted products already off the market, describing it as a reaffirmation of the state’s intent to keep PFAS out of water. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the bill ought to pass and then placed it on the consent calendar. Next, the committee considered House Bill 275 on health career credentialing requirements. The discussion centered on a proposal that would have required insurance companies to pay for training mandated by federal requirements. Members concluded that approach was not appropriate and voted unanimously to make the bill inexpedient to legislate, then placed it on the consent calendar. House Bill 276, dealing with on-premise beverage license requirements, was then reconsidered after an initial ITL vote. The committee adopted an amendment creating a tavern license for establishments limited to patrons over 21, with a higher fee and no food requirement, and then voted 15-0 to recommend the bill ought to pass as amended; it was also placed on the consent calendar. The committee then took up House Bill 310, which would establish a commission to study a regulatory framework for stable tokens and tokenization of real-world assets. The sponsor said the amendment added blockchain-based trusts and discussion of privacy and environmental concerns. The committee approved the amendment 16-0 and then voted 16-0 to recommend the bill ought to pass as amended, placing it on the consent calendar. House Bill 312, concerning intercollegiate student athletes’ right to earn compensation from name, image, and likeness, was retained because members said the issue was not ready and the NCAA had not resolved how to handle it. Finally, the committee began discussion of House Bill 316 on ground ambulance reimbursement, with an amendment that would replace the bill’s reimbursement provisions with a study commission; members debated how it related to another bill, HB 725, and whether the amendment would delay immediate relief for ambulance providers.

Transcript Highlights:

• They would fix your computer, whether it be hardware, software, whatever it was.
• They would fix your computer, whether it be hardware, software, whatever it was.
• Yeah, well, I'll bet it's in somebody's computer somewhere. So, and my...
• I'll bet it's in somebody's computer somewhere.
• I think that included Fortran Cobol, you know, the Latin languages of computer.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and servers which tools and computers and servers which can<00:08:39.839> be<00:08:40.000>
• And on these computers, you have a variety of different tool sets that are useful for forensic endpoint
• We issued these computers out during that event, and we maintain these here in the cyber coordination
• And on these computers, you have a variety of different tool sets that are useful for forensic endpoint
• We issued these computers out during that event, and we maintain these here in the cyber coordination

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity met remotely on January 8, 2026, approved the minutes from October 27, 2025 by voice vote, and confirmed a quorum was present. The main presentation came from the Minnesota National Guard’s cyber coordination cell, with Lieutenant Colonel Brian Morgan describing the unit’s mission to prepare Guard cyber forces for state or federal cyber support, including domestic emergencies like the St. Paul ransomware incident and broader federal activations. Morgan outlined three main lines of effort: optimizing cyber force training for likely threats, building relationships with state, federal, academic, and local partners, and equipping deployable incident-response tools. He said the coordination cell is not itself the incident response team, but serves as the planning and coordination office for military cyber response, maintaining equipment at Cedar Street Armory that can provide out-of-band connectivity and be deployed quickly. He also described partnerships with Minnesota IT Services, CISA, the FBI, Metro State University, and international/state partners such as Norway and Croatia, along with participation in major exercises and conferences. The presentation emphasized the St. Paul response as a model for coordination, noting the Guard’s role in mission coordination, operational support, public affairs support, and lessons learned. Morgan said the Guard has conducted more than 200 engagements with partner institutions in 2024-2025 and uses outreach to educate counties and other entities on how to request Guard cyber support, comparing the process to requesting assistance for a fire or flood. In response to a question from Representative Bonner, he highlighted the long-standing relationship with Metro State University and its practical role in training cyber personnel, including operational technology training and a credit-transfer pathway toward a master’s degree.

Transcript Highlights:

• sophisticated engineering approach, and we have a very good understanding of what groins would do by computer
• sophisticated engineering approach, and we have a very good understanding of what groins would do by computer
• sophisticated engineering approach, and we have a very good understanding of what groins would do by computer
• 05.159> by understanding of what groins would do by understanding of what groins would do by computer
• computer models and things like that. computer models and things like that.

Bills: SCR8, SCR40, SCR83, SCR179, SCR90, SCR94, SCR159, SCR165, SCR177

Keywords: building permits, seniors, health care, disability, safety modifications, county regulations, expedited processing, environment, pollution, tourism, disposable bodyboards, polystyrene, marine ecosystems, lithium-ion batteries, environmental safety, recycling, public safety, waste management, Honolulu, Maui County

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions related to water, coastal management, and permitting. Early measures included SCR 8 on faster county action for certain home-modification permits for older adults and people with disabilities, SCR 40 on banning disposable body boards, SCR 83 on creating a lithium-ion battery disposal facility, SCR 179 on enforcing Maui fire-code provisions for brush clearance and emergency access, and SCR 90 on kupuna-friendly permit requirements. No testifiers were present for those measures, and the chair moved through them without taking votes in the portion provided. The most extensive discussion was on SCR 94, endorsing Waikiki as a world surfing reserve, and SCR 159, urging shared guiding principles for restoring and maintaining Waikiki’s beaches and shoreline. University of Hawaii testimony said the surfing-reserve designation would bring recognition, could help attract grants, and would require a stewardship committee and management plan, but would not itself block beach nourishment or shoreline restoration. Members asked about possible effects on dredging, beach nourishment, and shoreline structures; the witness said impacts on surfing were not expected to be immediate or significant. For SCR 159, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the resolution but requested clarifying amendments to broaden references to law, stakeholder collaboration, and coastal science expertise. The Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association also supported the measure, emphasizing coordinated maintenance, public access, and the economic importance of Waikiki beaches, while noting that existing legal agreements and court decisions should be reflected in the resolution. The discussion also covered whether the state and private owners share repair and maintenance obligations for Waikiki seawalls; testimony said existing agreements remain relevant but must yield to current law. The committee also heard SCR 165 designating March as Water Month, with support from the Board of Water Supply and others, and SCR 177 requesting DAGS to convene a cooperative working group on state projects needing county permits. Mary Alice Evans said the latter would help expedite permitting, especially for housing and other state projects, and would complement efforts to standardize county permitting processes. No final votes or dispositions were announced in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• computers are deeply embedded in voter computers are deeply embedded in voter registration<01:49:17.199
• science, but actually I've been in computer science since 1974.
• I have EECS, electrical engineering and computer science degrees from Princeton and MIT.
• I say all this because I have a background in computer science.
• um as as I understand it the uh computer um as as I understand it the uh computer that<03:39:52.120

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As of July 1, it only applies to the purchase of new computer servers and power infrastructure equipment
• subset of 13 states and found that most other states used a sales and use tax exemption targeting computer
• The industry standard is to replace computer server equipment every three to five years, so it's likely
• Yeah, our understanding is the industry standard is to replace computer server equipment every three
• That's the computer servers specifically, the servers. Right.

Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so it could not adopt prior minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and new JLARC staff, and noted national recognition for recent JLARC reports. The meeting then moved into a series of preliminary audit presentations and an agency strategic management update, with committee members asking questions after each item. JLARC presented a preliminary audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Staff concluded that crowding, staffing shortages, weak risk assessments, and inconsistent programming combine to create unsafe conditions. The report found that most youth are housed in two large secure facilities operating near or above capacity, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessment tools are not valid for the population, and program access depends more on facility than individual need. JLARC made one recommendation to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF, including improving retention, training, incident response procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, and data quality. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said the agency agreed overcrowding is a serious problem, described ongoing efforts to improve staffing and safety, and said a detailed response would be provided later. Committee members raised concerns about education access, retaliation against staff or youth who participated in the audit, and whether JR-25 has helped or worsened conditions. JLARC then presented a preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. The audit found that L&I generally meets inspection timelines for health and safety complaints, but not for wage and hour or retaliation complaints, where delays are driven largely by time before assignment to an investigator. Staff said complaint volume exceeds capacity, though the agency has added staff, created screening processes, and reorganized workloads, and 2026 legislation now allows prioritization of complaints and broader investigations. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. An L&I representative said the agency is hiring additional staff and will provide a formal response later. The committee also received a JLARC overview and Department of Health strategic management plan update on hospital data reporting, inspections, complaints, and adverse event reporting. DOH reported measurable progress on inspection compliance, new staffing and licensing systems, translated complaint forms, and plans for future work on language access, adverse event reporting, and financial data dashboards. After lunch, JLARC began its 2026 tax preference performance reviews. The first review covered the Main Street tax credit, which JLARC said has helped increase the number of Main Street communities and businesses, with positive growth near designated districts; JLARC recommended continuing the preference and improving business-count data. The second review covered the equitable access to credit program, which JLARC said appears to support underserved communities by funding loans through CDFIs; JLARC recommended continuing the preference beyond its 2027 expiration. The committee began questions on the program mechanics and the role of the Community Reinvestment Act, and the presentation was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've got salaries, you have computer expenses, and you have to install a computer.
• Every time you have a computer, there's a... ...every time you have a computer, there's a charge, and

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and part of my job is using everybody using a computer. I have to go on the internet.
• I have to go everybody using a computer.
• This person may be a<00:55:58.760> computer<00:55:59.200> specialist.
• That's what they a computer specialist. That's what they do. do. do.
• <00:57:12.800> and going to let them have the computer and going to let them have the computer

Bills: SB118, SB203, HB420, HB414, HB363, HB405, HB261, HB263, HB327, HB348, HB228, HB282, SB273, HB7, SB296, SB199, SB47, SB204, HB80, HB11, HB192

Keywords: bail, offenses, constitutional amendment, criminal justice, law enforcement, public safety, dental insurance, medical loss ratio, premium regulation, insurance commissioner, rebate, consumer protection, Baldwin County, local bill, education funding, school tax, privilege license tax, county tax revenue, municipal school board, Baldwin County Board of Education

Transcript Highlights:

• , and each computer is called a node.
• We’re hearing a lot about AI requiring big computers to operate.
• <03:29:50.080> in requires you know similar computation in requires you know similar computation
• , to pull it off just like your computer at home needs a fan, yeah.
• It's a computer science problem that has been solved once, was never solved before.

Keywords: 928, house, all

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:

• Now the computer gods are smiling. We'll see if we get the presentation up; you may just have to...
• Wake up the computer? No, I've got a good signal here; I think help is coming.
• Ken Ford**, a prominent computer scientist. In the nation and in the world.
• Cadre of folks were either computer scientists or cognitive scientists that were really getting at this
• We are creating computational models that capture the beliefs, biases, attitudes, and initial courses

Transcript Highlights:

• homeowners and taxpayers with that money for the relief depending upon the day you turned on your computer
• homeowners and taxpayers with that money for the relief depending upon the day you turned on your computer
• you turned relief depending upon the day you turned on<00:03:06.080> your<00:03:06.280> computer
• you<00:03:07.519> read<00:03:07.720> the<00:03:07.879> news on your computer
• or you read the news on your computer or you read the news we're<00:03:08.920> getting<00:03:

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 4, first adopting the H004A1 amendment without objection. The author described the bill as a constitutional amendment intended to create a tax relief account funded from projected budget surpluses, defined as revenues exceeding 105% of projected expenditures based on the November forecast. Supporters framed the proposal as a way to return excess taxpayer money to families, homeowners, and seniors rather than allowing the state to retain or redirect it. Testimony in support came from Ranna Lee of Americans for Prosperity, who praised the bill’s clarity and argued that taxpayers are overburdened and should receive surplus funds back; she also suggested broader tax and budget reforms, including rate reductions and tighter spending limits. Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project testified in opposition, saying the legislature already has authority to use surpluses for rebates or tax cuts and warning that constitutionalizing tax policy would reduce flexibility, weaken accountability, and make it harder to respond to changing conditions, emergencies, or recessions. Members then briefly commented, with Republicans expressing support for returning money to taxpayers and citing cost-of-living pressures and fixed incomes. The committee did not hear a formal department position. At the end of the hearing, Representative Johnson renewed the motion that House File 4, as amended, be recommended to pass and sent to the Ways and Means Committee; the motion prevailed on a voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Personal computers and tablets under $1,500 would also be exempt.
• Personal computers and tablets under $1,500 would also be exempt.
• This bill provides that unless a computer data center received a sales and use tax exemption certificate
• The computer data center equipment...
• to locate to Pennsylvania by exempting computer data center equipment from sales and use tax when it's

Keywords: Scheduler, 972, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• general IT services, endpoint detection and response software—things that you might have at your home computer
• You know, things that you might have at your home computer that are not always available in some of the
• general IT services, endpoint detection and response software—things that you might have at your home computer
• Disproportionately, we're rural; we have a tax base and are relatively less computer dependent than some
• Disproportionately, we're rural; we have a tax base and are relatively less computer dependent than some

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I would find it irksome if I've already been authenticated on my own personal computer, then after
• two times and then return time, usually it says, is this a known computer?
• If it's my personal computer, if that's what they're working on, that's great.

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met with a quorum, took up its consent calendar, and passed SB 946 and SB 700 on a do-pass motion to the next committee. The committee then heard SB 546 by Senator Grayson, presented by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, which would clarify that third-party billing administrators are not debt collectors when they are only performing administrative billing services. Supporters from Conservis Utility Billing Management and the California Apartment Association said the bill reflects the original intent of the Debt Collection Licensing Act, would reduce compliance uncertainty, and still preserves consumer protections by barring coercive collection practices. There was no opposition, and the bill passed on a unanimous roll call to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 505 by Senator Richardson, presented by Assembly Member Maggie Krell, which would require digital wallet providers and money transmitters operating in California to use two-factor or multi-factor authentication for logins. Support came from the National Consumer Law Center, while TechNet said it was currently opposed but working with the author on amendments. Members discussed balancing security with convenience for trusted devices and users. The bill passed unanimously on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Appropriations, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I would find it irksome if I've already been authenticated on my own personal computer, then after
• two times and then return time, usually it says, is this a known computer?
• If it's my personal computer, if that's what they're working on, that's great.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first item is for our computer science and information technology academy.
• Kentucky is really a national leader in cloud-based computing for K-12 and government, and I would even
• Kentucky is really a national leader in cloud-based computing for K-12 and government, and I would even
• Kentucky is really a national leader in cloud-based computing for K-12 and government, and I would even
• <00:09:00.800> uh<00:09:00.880> for leader in cloud-based computing uh for leader in

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard an Office of Education Technology presentation on the Kentucky Education Technology System (KTS) and a request to increase its annual budget from $15.4 million to $30 million, including an additional $14.6 million. The witness described KTS as a statewide service model that provides districts with student information and financial systems, internet bandwidth, regional support, cybersecurity, online registration, learning management and email services, and collaborative instructional technology support. He argued the state’s centralized purchasing saves districts 40% to 60% compared with buying services individually, and said federal internet discounts and district matching funds create a strong return on investment. He also said KTS has faced long-term funding cuts, has not received a cost-of-living increase since 1992, and is now at a “breaking point” where some services may have to be shifted to districts at higher cost. The request was broken into six main items: restoring funding for the computer science and information technology academy; strengthening cybersecurity defenses in response to sharply rising attacks on K-12 systems; funding online registration through Infinite Campus; stabilizing ongoing support costs for Infinite Campus; providing cost-of-living increases for KTS services; and increasing the KTS financial assistance sent to districts, which requires local matching funds. Members asked about the current appropriation, and the witness said it is $15.4 million. One member praised the office’s work and support for districts, while another noted the district had been an early adopter of one-to-one technology. The committee then received an overview of the KRS 156 salary schedule and step-and-rank system for state-operated career and technical education staff at area technology centers. Officials explained that salaries are set under statute and regulation based on years of service and educational rank, with annual calculations tied to statewide teacher salary averages and retroactive adjustments to July 1. They said the current ABR request is $325,000 over the biennium to cover step and rank increases. The presentation noted that KRS 156 salaries are generally comparable to local districts but are less competitive with business and industry, making recruitment and retention difficult, especially for instructors coming from the trades. Members agreed that trade instructors are underpaid relative to the market and said the issue deserves further review, with department officials indicating they are considering possible statutory revisions and a delayed implementation in a future biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• So computers now are listed up here in what we're supposed to be doing and integrating all that digital
• So what we've done is on the Computers weren't even existing and we use slide rules.
• So he computes what he calls a conservative estimate of what the average teacher salaries.
• So he he computes what he calls a River.
• They use programs that are on technology, on computers, on your Chromebook.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was um with uh AI computed uh site.
• They barely have enough time to get your freaking viruses out of your computer.
• They barely have enough time to get your freaking viruses out of your computer.
• They barely have enough time to get your freaking viruses out of your computer.
• They don't have time to your computer.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all