Transcript Highlights:

• 02.880><c> and</c> related to AI skills, cloud skills, and related to AI skills, cloud skills, and cyber
• </c><01:16:04.800><c> Funding</c><01:16:05.199><c> needed</c><01:16:05.520><c> was</c> cyber skills.
• Funding needed was cyber skills.
• mean, just the past history shows that we need to be able to get something done fast when we have cyber
• security threats in the state of cyber security threats in the state of Mississippi.<02:09:56.880><c

Transcript Highlights:

• I know we don't spend a lot of time talking about cyber and physical security, but this is a big piece
• resources to monitor and share information pertaining to ongoing threats to security, physical and cyber
• 00:37:01.680><c> time</c><00:37:01.920><c> talking</c><00:37:02.160><c> about</c><00:37:02.400><c> cyber
• </c> spend a lot of time talking about cyber spend a lot of time talking about cyber and<00:37:02.880
• So I will turn it over now to and cyber.

Bills: HF3296 , HF3802

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: energy conservation, data centers, electric sales, energy optimization, utility regulations, energy regulation, certificate of need, renewable energy, power production, energy efficiency, Minnesota statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• They those nine priorities include, for example, investments in information systems or, for instance, cyber
• They those nine priorities include, for example, investments in information systems or, for instance, cyber
• They those nine priorities include, for example, investments in information systems or, for instance, cyber
• They those nine priorities include, for example, investments in information systems or, for instance, cyber
• Example investments in information systems or, for instance, cyber security in rural health settings.

Summary: The committee met and approved the minutes from its August 27 meeting. It then received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislators on the Medicaid provisions in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill, referred to as HR1. She explained that the bill is estimated by CBO to save the federal government $911 billion over 10 years, with more than 20 Medicaid-specific provisions, most of the savings concentrated in five policies and largely backloaded into 2030-2034. She emphasized that the bill’s effects will vary by state, but that expansion states and hospitals are expected to be most affected, in part because of changes to eligibility, provider taxes, and state-directed payments. Castanza highlighted several new funding and flexibility provisions, including a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund for 2026-2030 and a new home- and community-based services waiver option effective July 1, 2028, with $100 million in grants in fiscal year 2027. She also outlined major eligibility changes for Medicaid expansion adults: work or community engagement requirements effective January 1, 2027; twice-yearly redeterminations for the expansion population effective the same date; and new cost sharing for certain expansion adults effective October 1, 2028. She noted that Kentucky, as an expansion state, would be subject to these changes and that state agencies would face significant implementation demands, especially because federal guidance and timelines are tight. A substantial portion of the presentation focused on financing changes. Castanza described new limits on provider taxes, including a 0% safe harbor for new taxes and a phased reduction for existing taxes in expansion states beginning in 2028, while nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities are exempt from the reduction if already taxed. She also explained that state-directed payments will be capped and phased down over time, with existing arrangements grandfathered only briefly; she said Kentucky has 11 approved state-directed payments and could see significant fiscal effects. She added that the bill also bars Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood or similarly situated providers for one year, changes immigrant eligibility rules effective October 1, 2026, lowers the federal match for certain emergency services, and expands the scope of the federal erroneous payment recoupment provision effective October 1, 2029. Throughout, she stressed that federal savings may translate into state cost shifts and that implementation timing will be critical.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh a quote that's often cited<00:09:33.440><c> in</c><00:09:33.600><c> the</c><00:09:33.760><c> cyber
• security world is cited in the cyber security world is that<00:09:35.120><c> you</c><00:09:35.360><c
• </c><00:09:44.480><c> That</c><00:09:44.720><c> is</c> prevention and cyber security.
• That is prevention and cyber security.
• </c><01:07:43.280><c> crime,</c> vector I would just call cyber crime, vector I would just call cyber

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• industry related, medical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, computer, electronics, energy conservation, cyber
• industry related, medical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, computer, electronics, energy conservation, cyber
• industry related, medical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, computer, electronics, energy conservation, cyber
• SB 370 introduce page 6. energy<04:04:15.040><c> conservation,</c><04:04:15.680><c> cyber</c><04:04:16.000
• ><c> technology</c><04:04:16.399><c> or</c> energy conservation, cyber technology or energy conservation

Summary: The meeting included a Senate recognition ceremony honoring the Winona High School boys basketball team for winning the 2026 Alabama High School Athletic Association 5A state championship. A resolution was read commending the team for its 101-40 victory over Silicag, noting the team’s record-setting performance, Brendan Davis’s MVP honor, the contributions of other players, and Coach Cedric Lane’s leadership. Senators and the lieutenant governor praised the players’ sportsmanship, the school community, and the team’s historic season, and copies of the resolution were presented to the team, coaches, and administrators. Several guests and school representatives also spoke briefly, including the coach and principal, who thanked the Senate and noted the team’s success and the principal’s retirement after 35 years. After the recognition, the Senate returned to session and adopted the Committee on Rules report setting the special order calendar. The calendar included Senate Bill 99 on the Ten Commandments, Senate Bill 298 on Class 3 municipalities, House Bill 381 on camp safety, Senate Bill 370 on tax increment districts, Senate Bill 363 on the Department of Economic and Community Affairs, House Bill 466 on firefighters, House Bill 95 on elections, House Bill 259 on stablecoin, and Senate Bill 342 on education. The chamber then took up SB 99, sponsored by Senators Kelly and Sessions. Senator Kelly described the bill as requiring local school boards to display the Ten Commandments, together with founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Alabama Constitution preamble, in certain history classrooms and common areas for grades five through 12, using donated displays and funds when available. He said the bill was intended as a historical and educational measure, not religious instruction, and emphasized the inclusion of a disclaimer stating Alabama is not establishing a religion. After extended debate and a petition to close debate from the Rules Committee, the Senate voted on the bill by long roll and passed SB 99, with the recorded vote announced as 30 yeas and 4 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• advisor for each of those organizations and oversaw military justice, operational law, fiscal law, cyber
• And you see it in the cyber domain, where threats to public systems and that critical infrastructure
• I think you kind of answered one of my questions as far as the cyber issue and things like that.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Director Nominations held a confirmation hearing for John Connolly, the current Adjutant General and Director of the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA). Connolly described his background in the Army, National Guard, and military law, and outlined DEMA’s dual mission of supporting the Arizona National Guard and emergency management. He emphasized readiness, modernization of aging aircraft and facilities, growth in capabilities such as drones and electronic warfare, partnerships to restore helicopter training at Silver Bell, and stewardship of resources. He also discussed DEMA’s border-related missions, including Task Force Safe at Nogales, counter-drug operations, and use of artificial intelligence to monitor drone activity and build a common operating picture for law enforcement. Committee members questioned Connolly about his interview and vetting process, his role in emergency management, disaster response in Gila County, support for rural counties and tribes, and services for Guard members and families through the Integrated Resilience Operations Center. Several members pressed him on military discipline, lawful orders, classified information, and the distinction between war and hostilities. Senator Rogers focused on chain of command, combat readiness, and whether Connolly’s JAG background prepared him to lead a combat-oriented force; Connolly responded that his role is to provide ready forces, follow civilian authority, and ensure troops have training, equipment, and family support. He also said he had experience advising commanders and teaching lawful versus unlawful orders. A major point of contention came when members questioned Connolly about the 2021 COVID-19 vaccination mandate for the Guard and whether he had treated it as unlawful or unconstitutional. Connolly said it was a lawful order at the time and that exemption processes existed under the regulations. The hearing also turned to immigration enforcement, emergency powers, and whether the Guard should support ICE; Connolly said the Guard is a support function and would respond to a direct request through the governor, but he could not identify a specific scenario in the abstract. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing, and the committee appeared to continue its review after testimony and questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• advisor for each of those organizations and oversaw military justice, operational law, fiscal law, cyber
• And you see it in the cyber domain, where threats to public systems and that critical infrastructure
• I think you kind of answered one of my questions as far as the cyber issue and things like that.

Committee: Senate Director Nominations

Transcript Highlights:

• We propose to double the amount in the Department of Homeland Security for their cyber readiness program
• to create Cyber Ready Arizona.
• exactly what the governor has proposed with a $10 million general fund one-time investment into the Cyber

Summary: The committee met to review the governor’s fiscal 2027 budget presentation, with the chair repeatedly asking members to keep questions brief and avoid speeches. The discussion focused first on the overall revenue and spending outlook, including concerns from members that the executive forecast was more optimistic than the JLBC baseline and that the budget appeared to front-load revenue and expenditure growth. The governor’s budget team said the forecast was close to JLBC’s, that the budget was structurally balanced, and that differences were roughly $100 million per year on ongoing revenue. Members asked for follow-up calculations in writing, including the total multi-year gap and the amount of revenue enhancements above base revenues. A major portion of the meeting centered on tax and fee proposals tied to data centers, water use, and sports betting. The governor’s team defended eliminating the existing data center tax incentive as the removal of a loophole rather than a new tax, arguing the incentive had already succeeded in attracting major investment. They also described a proposed Department of Water Resources fee-setting authority for data centers to support a new Colorado River Protection Fund, and said the proposal would apply to existing and future facilities without a grandfather clause. Members raised concerns about fairness, competitiveness, and whether the changes would require a supermajority vote. The team also discussed increased sports betting fees, saying the revenue forecast did not include dynamic behavioral effects. The committee then moved through major spending areas, including corrections, public safety, border security, cybersecurity, K-12 education, Medicaid, and developmental disabilities. The governor’s budget includes ongoing funding to prevent correctional officer pay cuts, money to comply with prison health care court orders, probation funding, body-worn cameras, law enforcement staffing, fentanyl task forces, and cyber readiness grants. Members questioned the lack of funding for a prison oversight committee and asked for corrections spending totals over the administration. On border security, the executive said it was seeking about $759.7 million in federal reimbursement for border-related costs and that the governor had met with federal officials, including Secretary Noem and Tom Homan, about the request. In education, the budget proposes renewing Prop. 123, adding K-12 base funding, and issuing $1.5 billion in school facilities bonds over three years; members debated whether the proposal was appropriate and whether Prop. 123 revenues could support the debt service. The meeting also covered AHCCCS cost growth and federal HR1 impacts, with the executive warning of major coverage losses and hospital funding reductions, and DDD funding, where the governor’s team said the budget fully funds services and includes about $120 million in supplemental needs. No votes were taken; the meeting was a presentation and question-and-answer session only.

Transcript Highlights:

• We propose to double the amount in the Department of Homeland Security for their cyber readiness program
• to create Cyber Ready Arizona.
• exactly what the governor has proposed with a $10 million general fund one-time investment into the Cyber

Summary: The joint House-Senate appropriations committee met to review the governor’s fiscal 2027 budget presentation from Ben Henderson, director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting. Early discussion focused on the state economy and revenue outlook, with Henderson describing strong GDP growth and low unemployment but also fragility for working families. Members questioned the executive’s revenue assumptions, which were said to be about $100 million per year higher than the JLBC baseline, and the committee chair asked for a written comparison of the revenue differences. Henderson also said the governor’s budget is structurally balanced and includes both ongoing spending and proposed revenue changes. A major portion of the hearing centered on data centers, AI investment, and water policy. Henderson argued Arizona’s data center tax incentive should be eliminated because it had already succeeded in attracting investment, while lawmakers questioned whether repealing the incentive and imposing a new water-related fee would discourage future growth. The executive said the water proposal would create a Colorado River Protection Fund and give the Department of Water Resources fee-setting authority, with the aim of encouraging more modern air-cooled facilities. Members also raised concerns about whether the data center changes would require a supermajority vote and whether the fee was effectively a new tax. The committee then reviewed major “critical spending” items, including correctional officer pay, prison health care compliance, probation funding, body-worn cameras, law enforcement staffing, fentanyl enforcement, cyber readiness, and border-related costs. Henderson said the budget includes $24.4 million ongoing for correctional officer pay and $118.3 million one-time for prison health care staffing, plus other public safety and homeland security items. He also defended the governor’s assumption of $759.7 million in federal reimbursement for border expenses, saying the governor had met with federal officials and that the state would seek the full amount. Members expressed skepticism about relying on that reimbursement and asked what would be cut if it does not materialize. Education and health and human services were also discussed. The governor’s budget includes K-12 funding, Prop. 123-related school facility bonding, and a proposal to shift some school facilities funding to bond financing, which several members criticized as inappropriate for short-term maintenance needs. The committee also reviewed AHCCCS/Medicaid costs, Division of Developmental Disabilities funding, and the expected impacts of federal HR1 changes on eligibility, provider funding, and rural hospitals. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly limited debate and directed members to keep questions brief while the presentation continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:03:28.800><c> for</c> eight, a one-time appropriation for eight, a one-time appropriation for cyber
• </c><00:03:30.319><c> that</c><00:03:30.560><c> was</c><00:03:30.799><c> $3.5</c> cyber security needs
• . that was $3.5 cyber security needs. that was $3.5 million.<00:03:32.799><c> A</c><00:03:33.159><c>

Bills: HF2300

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• imperative that our students students, have future focus skills and credentials in data analytics, cyber
• transition. transition of students into critical workforce areas, such as teaching, law enforcement, and. cyber
• funding to stand up an artificial intelligence center of excellence in much the same manner we did our cyber
• Impacting campus security, cyber security in very significant ways.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article III

Transcript Highlights:

• Beans, Breweris, President of Corslai College, and Toby West, Department Chair of Computer and Cyber
• Beans, Breweris, President of Korslai, College, and Toby West Department, Chair of Computer and Cyber
• Students would be well served by the new offering of a Bachelor of Science in AI for cyber operations
• Coastline has been designated by the National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber
• Coastline is the only institution on the West Coast with the program of study in cyber AI that is validated

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• delivers to state and local officials for election security expose U.S. election infrastructure to cyber
• election election security expose US election infrastructure<00:31:00.040><c> to</c><00:31:00.200><c> cyber
• </c><00:31:00.560><c> attacks</c><00:31:01.280><c> and</c> infrastructure to cyber attacks and infrastructure
• to cyber attacks and physical<00:31:01.800><c> attacks,</c> physical attacks, physical attacks, leaving
• team that works to support county and local election administrators with respect to both physical and cyber

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• If I want Wi-Fi, like in the Capitol, they're changing the passwords so often that it's so cyber-secure
• Collidan, from the Cyber Ninjas audit that was back in 2020, I don't believe that they found anybody
• Call it in, the Cyber Ninjas found that there were no non-citizens on Arizona's vote, which makes this
• You weren't asked about Cyber Ninjas. You were asked about qualified registrants to vote.
• software that we buy is evaluated by DEMA through the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, so their cyber

Committee: House House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2348, which would appropriate state funds for Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs training-center needs, including Wi-Fi for reserve units at joint facilities, a reimbursement program for service members using personal computers, lodging and kind for drill weekends, and HVAC upgrades and maintenance. Two amendments were considered: the Marquez Amendment, which filled in dollar amounts for each purpose, failed; and the Gillette Amendment, which added national-security restrictions on networking equipment, removed the reimbursement and lodging provisions from the underlying bill, and adjusted the funding language, passed. The sponsor and several military witnesses testified that reserve and Guard members at places like Buckeye lack Wi-Fi, adequate HVAC, and lodging, forcing soldiers to use public libraries, personal devices, or sleep in cars or on armory floors. After debate over whether the state should fund needs tied to federal reserve units and how the money would be sourced, the committee recommended HB 2348 as amended by a 4-3 vote. The committee then took up House Concurrent Resolution 2016, a ballot referral that would cap precinct size at 2,500 registered voters and eliminate county authority to use vote centers, emergency voting centers, and certain on-site early voting options. The sponsor said the measure was intended to restore precinct-based voting and reflect voter preference, noting the change from an earlier 1,000-voter cap to 2,500 after feedback from county officials. County and advocacy witnesses opposed the resolution, arguing that vote centers provide flexibility, are often more cost-effective, and are necessary in rural counties and large counties like Maricopa; they also said precinct voting would require many more locations, staff, and equipment, and could force some counties into central-count tabulation. Supporters argued precinct voting improves voter confidence and access. The committee approved HCR 2016 for the ballot by a 4-3 vote. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2165, which exempts veterans from Arizona State Parks admission fees, and adopted the Marquez Amendment to extend the exemption to active military, National Guard, and reserve members and to broaden acceptable identification. Arizona State Parks testified in a neutral position, saying the agency is self-funded through user fees and already offers discounts to active duty, veterans, and disabled veterans, but warned that expanding free admission could affect park revenue and rural economies. The bill discussion ended with the amendment adopted and the measure moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• look at what we can do to be prepared for what's coming in the future: artificial intelligence and cyber
• It will increase our cyber risk and the potential for people losing their ability to... identity theft
• Um it will increase our cyber<00:59:24.319><c> risk</c><00:59:24.720><c> and</c><00:59:25.200><c> potential
• 00:59:25.760><c> for</c><00:59:26.720><c> um</c><00:59:28.160><c> you</c><00:59:28.319><c> know</c> cyber
• risk and potential for um you know cyber risk and potential for um you know people<00:59:28.799><c>

Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board opened its fourth meeting, confirmed a quorum, approved the prior meeting’s minutes by unanimous voice vote, and then heard information items and agency presentations. The main substantive presentation came from the Council on Postsecondary Education, which outlined its capital planning recommendations for the 2026–28 biennium. CPE staff described the role of Kentucky’s research and education network (Kron), including connectivity to cloud services, Internet2, identity services, and new local AI/inferencing capacity, and argued that the network is now essential to higher education, health care, and extension services. They said the network’s recent upgrades were driven by privacy, security, redundancy, and the need to support modern research and AI workloads at lower cost than commercial providers. CPE also presented its broader higher-education capital request: $700 million for asset preservation and $1.73 billion for new construction, for a total recommendation of about $2.4 billion. Staff said they do not plan to recommend IT projects or equipment in this cycle, despite reviewing 48 IT submissions totaling nearly $1.4 billion and equipment requests totaling $322.6 million. For asset preservation, they said the recommended allocation method would remain based on each institution’s share of Category 1 and 2 square footage, and they noted that the state’s prior facility assessment is now 12 years old, with deferred maintenance still estimated in the $7–9 billion range. For new construction, they said the requests are heavily focused on STEM and health-related facilities that are difficult to retrofit into older buildings. Board members asked about how asset-preservation amounts were determined, including why Northern Kentucky University’s request was much larger than its prior allocation. CPE staff responded that campus size, building age, and institutional prioritization affect the requests, and that schools are asked to submit more projects than are likely to be funded. The board then moved on to an Attorney General capital plan overview, where senior counsel Will Schroeder began describing the office’s technology needs and the office’s prior reliance on a 2020 appropriation to replace legacy systems and improve security.

Transcript Highlights:

• increased social academic performance increased social anxiety<01:11:10.560><c> and</c><01:11:10.760><c> cyber
• </c><01:11:11.120><c> bullying</c><01:11:12.120><c> by</c> anxiety and cyber bullying by anxiety and
• cyber bullying by restricting<01:11:13.000><c> personal</c><01:11:13.480><c> device</c><01:11:13.880>
• /c><01:26:02.440><c> can</c><01:26:02.840><c> inflame</c><01:26:03.760><c> uh</c><01:26:03.920><c> cyber
• </c> conflict it can inflame uh cyber conflict it can inflame uh cyber bullying<01:26:05.600><c> and<

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Ninety percent of cyber exploitation victims are women.
• Ninety percent of cyber exploitation victims are women.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• for consumers, increases the likelihood of misuse, and turns businesses into attractive targets for cyber
• Large amounts of data are attractive to cyber criminals, as I mentioned before.

Summary: The House began with ceremonial resolutions, adopting several measures congratulating new Eagle Scouts and recognizing the town of Sturbridge on the 250th anniversary of the United States. It then took up and advanced several local bills, including the Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act (S. 2619/H. 5472), a Fall River land conveyance bill, a Belmont alcohol licensing bill, a Reading senior property tax exemption bill, and a Lynnfield fund appropriation bill. The House also recessed and later returned to continue floor action. The most extensive debate centered on the data privacy bill, which supporters described as a comprehensive consumer privacy framework. Members emphasized rights to access, correct, delete, and transfer personal data; limits on data collection; enhanced protections for sensitive data; a ban on selling precise location data; restrictions on targeted advertising to minors; and enforcement focused largely on large data holders rather than small businesses. Several members spoke in favor, framing the bill as a response to surveillance capitalism and a protection for vulnerable groups, civil liberties, and small businesses. The House adopted amendments and passed the bill to be enacted by roll call vote. The House also passed a fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations bill after a separate constitutional vote, and enacted a bill extending Milton’s deadline to appropriate money for a high school or conservation land. Another major item was the bill authorizing municipalities to opt into a temporary summer 2026 pilot extending liquor license hours and allowing public consumption in designated districts; after debate and an amendment, it was passed to be engrossed and the House concurred with the Senate’s referral. The House additionally enacted a bill updating laws concerning individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with members praising the removal of outdated and offensive language and stressing that the measure changed terminology without altering substantive rights. The session ended with the House adopting an order to adjourn and meet again the following Monday.

Transcript Highlights:

• financial abuse and fraud to the appropriate federal entities dedicated really to combating these cyber-related
• smaller dollar amounts will really help them get to the scams that are out there. ...to combating these cyber-related

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have a site building, which is our newest building, that’s for the cyber community, cybersecurity
• So we have a site building, which is our newest building that's for cyber community, cybersecurity.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education received a presentation from the Governor’s Office on the proposed higher education budget, which emphasized no tuition or fee increases for Florida residents, continued affordability, and increased funding across workforce, colleges, and universities. The presentation highlighted major investments in Bright Futures, other scholarships, workforce development, the Florida College System, and the State University System, including funding for performance, student success, campus safety, and faculty recruitment and retention. Committee members asked questions about the Ocoee Scholarship, the proposed Guardian program on campuses, and how university recruitment and retention funds would be used; officials said the Ocoee Scholarship remains funded at current levels, Guardian options could vary by campus, and university funds would be distributed to institutions for faculty recruitment and retention without additional directives. The committee then heard testimony from a series of appointees and reappointees to boards of trustees for state colleges and universities. Witnesses from Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, Miami Dade College, Northwest Florida State College, and St. Johns River State College described their backgrounds and stressed workforce development, affordability, dual enrollment, nursing, cybersecurity, adult learners, and local economic needs. Several highlighted strong nursing outcomes and job placement, and some discussed campus expansion, business incubators, and programs tailored to regional industries. One appointee from Miami Dade College emphasized helping adult students return and complete degrees by better using prior credits. After hearing from the appointees, the committee took up the confirmation package as a block. A motion was made and seconded, the roll was called, and the confirmations were reported favorably by the committee. The meeting then adjourned.