Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and on the ground in our communities. and on the ground in our communities.
• </c> lifeline to their communities restored. lifeline to their communities restored.
• Uh the Indian communities.
• </c> leading and representing his community. leading and representing his community.
• </c> from communities growing in our states. from communities growing in our states.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:50.520><c> Based</c> about our 1915c home and Community Based about our 1915c home and Community
• </c><00:04:55.560><c> Based</c> administers six Home and Community Based administers six Home and Community
• </c> offered through our home and Community offered through our home and Community Based<00:13:05.120
• It seems to me that the Home and Community-Based waivers is the most, and the supports of community living
• <00:43:57.880><c> based</c> community based community based settings<00:44:00.359><c> um</c><00:44:01.280

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met with a quorum still coming together and first handled roll call and minutes. The main presentation came from the Department for Medicaid Services, with Commissioner Lisa Lee and CFO Steve Beckle giving an overview of Kentucky Medicaid, its federal-state financing structure, and the department’s 1915(c) home- and community-based waiver programs. They explained FMAP funding levels for traditional Medicaid, administration, IT, expansion adults, and CHIP, and noted the size of the program, including more than 600,000 Kentucky children eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, about 485,000 expansion adults, over 69,000 enrolled providers, and $18.5 billion in 2024 expenditures. A major focus was the waiver system, including the acquired brain injury waivers, model waiver, independence waiver, Michelle P. waiver, and Supports for Community Living waiver. The department said these waivers are intended to keep people with physical or developmental disabilities in home and community settings rather than facilities, and that many services are not covered by Medicare or commercial insurance. Officials described participant-directed services, interagency administration, and eligibility rules, including that some waiver programs use the child’s income only rather than family income. They also reported an unduplicated waiver wait list of 13,930 people and said the General Assembly had added waiver slots in the last budget, including 650 ABI slots and 1,275 more to be allocated July 1, 2025. The department also discussed a waiver rate study conducted by Guidehouse, explaining that CMS requires a defensible rate methodology because there is no Medicare or commercial benchmark for many waiver services. They said the study used cost and wage surveys, provider and stakeholder input, and aimed to improve transparency, provider stability, and rate parity. Officials reviewed prior COVID-era Appendix K rate increases and budget-driven increases, and said the budget ultimately funded rates at about 70% of the benchmark study, while preserving higher existing rates where needed so no provider would be cut. They highlighted larger differences in behavioral support and case management rates, and said a public report is available. Members asked several questions about the potential impact of federal FMAP changes, especially possible reductions in the enhanced match for expansion adults and Medicaid IT/admin activities. DMS said any FMAP reduction would require more state general fund dollars, estimating about $75 million for each 1% drop in the expansion match, while impacts on administrative IT funding would depend on the systems being built or implemented in a given year. Members also pressed for clarification on waiver wait-list procedures, funded versus filled slots, and what happens when someone on the wait list is later found ineligible. DMS said people on the wait list may not yet have been assessed, can be reevaluated if conditions change, and are still eligible for regular Medicaid state-plan services if they qualify, even if they are waiting for waiver services.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the legislative and community engagement coordinator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
• But it can also be made into antimony metal, which is used as an alloy in many energy and technology
• And this is a revitalization of an economic driver in our community. ...for this area, and this is a
• revitalization of an economic driver in our community.
• In terms of economic community benefits, there's $40 million annually in local economic value.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from January 14, 19, 20, and 21, 2026. It then heard Senate Bill 1238, which would require Idaho Fish and Game to provide a 30-day public comment period for proclamation changes related to season-setting. Senator Foreman said the bill was intended to give sportsmen more time and had support from Idaho Fish and Game management and the Idaho Wildlife Federation, but outfitter representatives testified that the proposal could delay March big-game season setting and compress the time they have to sell hunts and secure tag information. Fish and Game staff said the change was doable but would require timeline adjustments and could create pinch points. After discussion, Senator Foreman asked that the bill be held at the call of the chair, and the committee voted to hold Senate Bill 1238. The committee then took up Senate Concurrent Resolution 115, which supports consolidating the Soil and Water Conservation Commission with the Department of Water Resources while preserving the missions of both entities. Senator Harris said the resolution reflected stakeholder discussions and could improve efficiency and reduce administrative costs. Testimony from the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts and the Department of Water Resources supported the concept, emphasizing that the change would not alter the voluntary, locally led, non-regulatory mission of conservation districts. The committee voted to send SCR 115 to the floor with a do pass recommendation. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to informational presentations from Idaho mining companies and industry representatives. The Idaho Mining Association and several companies described major projects and permitting status, including Thompson Creek’s molybdenum restart near Challis, Liberty Gold’s Black Pine project in southeast Idaho, Perpetua Resources’ Stibnite Gold Project in Valley County, Integra Resources’ Delamar project in Owyhee County, and U.S. Silver Idaho’s Galena Mine in the Silver Valley. Speakers highlighted job creation, capital investment, critical and strategic minerals, environmental reclamation, and ongoing federal and state permitting processes. No votes or actions were taken on those presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving from school into work, to college, or community in life...
• skills to integrate... ...who are needing to gain technology skills to integrate Braille literacy and
• I have been a long-time advocate for our children with disabilities and within our Native communities
• and our rural communities.
• This appropriation benefits everyone: community members who want reliable data, environmental groups,

Bills: SB64, SB19, SB44, SB83

Keywords: special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP, individualized education program, students with disabilities, IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, dyslexia, dyslexia screening, structured literacy, reading intervention, multilayered system of supports, MTSS, student assistance team, free appropriate public education, FAPE, special education compliance, charter schools

Transcript Highlights:

• What I tried to communicate was that in a special session, you cannot take up any subject except that
• What communications have you had with the Department of Justice? None.
• What communications have you had with the Trump administration? None.
• Technology has, in fact, advanced since that time.
• Has that been communicated to you by any member of the Trump administration?

Bills: SR5, SB5, SB11, SB12, SB25, SB26, SB28, SB35, SB5, SB11, SB12, SB25, SB26, SB28, SB35, SB5, SB11, SB12, SB25, SB26, SB28, SB35, SR5

Keywords: redistricting, Senate procedures, public input, Texas Legislature, amendments, Texas Senate, congressional districts, legislative procedures, legislative transparency, Senate rules, public hearings, committee procedures, hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes

Transcript Highlights:

• and it's been a very productive program for enhancing leaders in agriculture, as well as across communities
• And it's where Idaho's history and tradition meets technology and innovation for the future.
• I think that as technology becomes more and more a part of agriculture, it’s bringing in a new set of
• you find yourself having to pivot after six months because of something changing in the world of technology

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee met with a quorum and approved the February 5, 2026 minutes. The meeting was devoted to presentations and introductions rather than legislation. The committee welcomed Leadership Idaho Agriculture Class 46, introduced by Rick Waitley, and members briefly identified themselves and their agricultural and related professions. The committee also recognized and thanked page Charlie Butler for his service, and Butler shared his experience working with the committee and his plans to return to school, serve a two-year LDS mission, and later pursue college and chiropractic school. The Idaho Potato Commission then presented on its mission to promote and protect the “Grown in Idaho” seal, its financial status, and current industry conditions. Speakers said the commission remains financially healthy, but the potato industry faces low prices for non-contracted product, high input costs, increased competition in processed potatoes from India and China, labor and succession challenges, disease pressures, water concerns, and urban encroachment on farmland. They also discussed marketing and policy issues, including the potato’s place in dietary guidance, an agreement with the American Diabetes Association recognizing Idaho potatoes as a healthy carbohydrate source, and the effects of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs on food consumption. Committee members asked about potato classification, farm succession, the fresh-versus-processed market split, imports, freight costs, and strategies to increase consumption, and commissioners said their outreach focuses on younger consumers and health messaging. The commission also highlighted its national advertising, including a new commercial and the launch of the 14th Big Idaho Potato Truck tour at Micron, emphasizing the connection between Idaho agriculture and technology. Finally, the Idaho Grain Producers Association briefly introduced its executive director, Amaya Yerlanda, who noted that the board was in Boise for legislative meetings. No bills were heard or voted on, and the committee adjourned after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• and it's been a very productive program for enhancing leaders in agriculture, as well as across communities
• And it's where Idaho's history and tradition meets technology and innovation for the future.
• I think that as technology becomes more and more a part of agriculture, it's bringing in a new set of
• you find yourself having to pivot after six months because of something changing in the world of technology

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are quickly approaching the possibility of humans confusing AI where interactions occur through technology
• It's that our wisdom over the last 38 years has not kept pace with the technology we have developed.
• So the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, has an AI risk management framework.
• That's what the Department of Energy, intelligence communities.

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and adopted a House Committee substitute for House Bills 2404 and 2172, then voted the substitute do pass by a roll call vote of 10-2. The bills were not discussed in detail, but the action advanced them out of committee. The committee then took up House Bill 2989, a large gaming-related bill sponsored by Representative Hardwick. Hardwick described numerous changes in the substitute, including removing references requested by the Highway Patrol, clarifying tax reporting, extending local opt-out time, changing the effective date from August 2027 to August 2028, reducing a felony penalty to a misdemeanor, increasing a casino-related fee from $2 to $4 with the extra amount going to the Missouri Veterans Commission, and adding non-severability language. Members adopted three committee amendments, including language barring previously illegal gambling machines from being licensed as video lottery terminals and requiring games to be out of line of sight from the front entrance, then adopted the revised substitute and voted HCS HB 2989 do pass by an 8-5 vote. The committee then moved to public hearing on House Bills 1746 and 1769, both related to artificial intelligence. Representatives Miller and Amato presented the bills as an effort to establish that AI has no personhood and to create a framework for responsibility and accountability. They said the legislation was informed by outside experts and other states’ efforts, and Miller emphasized using the National Institute of Standards and Technology AI risk management framework as a baseline. Members questioned how liability would work, especially for developers, deployers, and users, and raised concerns about undefined terms such as “harm” and about possible conflict with federal policy discouraging a patchwork of state AI laws. The sponsors said the bill would be cleaned up further and that liability should generally rest with the person using or deploying the AI, not the AI itself. During public testimony, one witness spoke in favor of the AI bills, arguing that states should act proactively rather than wait for problems and noting concern about prior federal efforts to limit state AI legislation. No witnesses spoke in opposition during the hearing. The committee then closed testimony and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• a recent addition to our regional manager team, is, uh, an exceptional young man with a lot of technological
• skills that I, as a technological dinosaur, do not possess.
• However, we do monitor the progress, and there is communication on a regular basis with those design
• That is not something we have ironed out completely, but we believe we have the technology to make that

Transcript Highlights:

• opportunity to encourage more carriers to adopt or utilize equipment that has the latest in safety technology
• Ex parte communication gave it to the SCJC in writing, nothing being done.
• And so this updates for today's modern technologies. Happy to answer any questions.
• out they're having to bring this stuff down to the courthouse and don't need it, uh, with modern technology

Bills: SB 53

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• opportunity to encourage more carriers to adopt or utilize equipment that has the latest in safety technology
• Ex parte communication was given to the SJC, and nothing is being done.
• And so this updates for today's modern technologies. I'm happy to answer any questions.
• hospitals out there having to bring this stuff down to the courthouse and don't need it. with modern technology

Bills: SJR27, SB53, SB311, SB1164, SB2807, SB1574, SB 53

Keywords: judicial conduct, state commission, judicial misconduct, commission membership, constitutional amendment, mental health, court proceedings, notice requirements, legal filings, electronic documents, Texas Supreme Court, writ power, mandamus, quo warranto, certiorari, procedendo, extraordinary writs, Government Code Section 22.002, separation of powers, judicial authority

Transcript Highlights:

• The categories of common supports include human resources, payroll, and technology, including hardware
• Just for clarity, I was a little distracted with my technology.
• In addition, members and staff reach out to the community extensively for input and feedback to help
• In addition, members and staff reach out to the community extensively for input and feedback to help
• , rural areas, and communities of color.

Summary: The House Education Committee held public hearings on two bills. House Bill 1662 would move several education-related boards and commissions—the State Board of Education, the Professional Educator Standards Board, the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, and the Charter School Commission—toward operational independence from OSPI by July 1, 2027, including separate administrative services, asset and employee transfers, and transition planning by OFM. The prime sponsor and supporters said the bill would improve transparency, fiscal accountability, and agency flexibility, while OSPI-related testimony emphasized that small agencies need more nimble administrative support. No one testified in opposition; the hearing record noted 2 pro, 1 con, and 5 other sign-ins, and members were told the bill was substantively the same as the version passed the prior year except for date changes. The committee then heard House Bill 1683, which would require most school districts with 2,000 or more students to elect at least some school board members from director districts rather than entirely at-large, with larger districts needing more district-based seats and districts under 2,000 students exempt. The sponsor and supporters argued the change would improve geographic and demographic representation, especially for lower-income communities and communities of color, and would help ensure school boards reflect the students and families they serve. Opponents, including a school directors association representative, said the bill would be an unfunded mandate, reduce local control, and create added election costs and recruitment challenges; one witness also suggested the bill should consider broader proportional-representation options. Staff noted that 23 districts would currently be out of compliance, and the hearing record showed 12 pro, 163 con, and 2 other sign-ins. No executive action was taken on either bill during this portion of the meeting. At the end of the hearing, the chair reminded members that several bills heard that week would be on next Thursday’s executive session agenda, urged prompt amendment requests, and announced that the committee would adjourn to caucuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public libraries serve as vibrant community hubs, connecting people with knowledge, Vibrant community
• It inspires them to grow and to share community.
• our free community college pilot program that we voted here in the State Senate.
• Condolences to her family and the entire community.
• It fosters our empathy and builds a more supportive community.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up several floor recognitions and resolutions. Senators also welcomed guests including California Conservation Corps members, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo agriculture leadership students, and College of San Mateo championship athletes. The chamber approved the journals, stricken items from the daily file, and referred SCR 112 back to the Assembly floor. The main legislative actions were on two resolutions and two gubernatorial appointments. SR 81 by Senator Pérez, designating March 2, 2026 as Read Across America Day, was supported by Senators Choi and Rubio, emphasizing literacy, libraries, and reading access; it passed 37-0. SCR 125 by Senator Wahab, recognizing Ramadan, was supported by Senator Becker and adopted unanimously, 37-0. The Senate also confirmed Dr. Chris Thayer as director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and Dr. Gina Castro Rodriguez to the Board of State and Community Corrections, both by 29-0 votes. Much of the remainder of the session consisted of adjournments in memory. Senators honored Stephen Cassidy, former San Leandro school board member and mayor; John Joseph Zoria, a San Jose farmer and community figure; Crystal Schoenfelder, a workers’ compensation attorney and advocate; and Belinda Baraghani, a prominent Latina political strategist and community leader. The session ended with remarks about Ramadan’s themes of empathy and community, and the Senate recessed with the next floor session scheduled for March 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• to delivery systems to be inclusive of current practice and what is available given the current technology
• </c><00:20:40.080><c> and</c> engaging families and communities and engaging families and communities
• They want to help students read, learn, and be successful, and be welcomed into the community of the
• Chair Johnson is an educator in her committee or in her community.
• Chair Johnson is an educator in her committee or in her community.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:23:18.360><c> suffering</c> serve those in our community suffering serve those in our community
• for Community failure what's Community<01:02:39.760><c> failure</c><01:02:40.319><c> that's</c><01:02
• :40.440><c> a</c><01:02:40.559><c> great</c> Community failure that's a great Community failure that's
• communities and things that happen because<01:12:04.239><c> each</c><01:12:04.440><c> community</c><01
• </c> just being a connection to Community just being a connection to Community Resources<01:55:47.040

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The question is, if a local community went and advocated to their mayor and...
• So the technology that's put in place by these particular pieces of equipment continues to improve.
• But I think it's important to note that these decibels of sound continue to drop with technology, and
• Your comments on, you know, the technology improving and, you know, as more people...
• The locals will get it more right than politicians in Austin who have never been to their community.

Bills: HB246, HB796, HB 1056, HB1544, HB1846, HB2001, HB2618, HB2625, HB2869, HB2898, HB3069, HB3114, HB3157, HB3228, HJR98, HB246

Keywords: federal directives, state authority, Tenth Amendment, government enforcement, local governance, gold standard, legal tender, currency, transactional currency, financial transactions, electronic payment systems, state finance, regulatory compliance, electric trucks, charging infrastructure, advisory council, transportation, sustainability, criminal penalties, official information

Transcript Highlights:

• infrastructure districts to revise a provision regarding the formation of a community infrastructure
• This is compared to a 55% rate of people in the traditional IDOC community supervision.
• Fourth row, court technology fund. You've got zero FTPs, zero general funds.
• This is compared to a 55% rate of people in the traditional IDOC community supervision.
• Fourth row, court technology fund. You've got zero FTPs, zero general funds.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the technology we're facing. That's where we're heading as far as technology is concerned.
• We're having technology improvements on our cars. Absolutely, yeah. Without a doubt.
• And we can talk about car safety and new technology and all that stuff too.
• There's a lot of great technology that has been developed and is being developed currently.
• There's a lot of great technology that has been developed and is being developed currently.

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on Senate Bill 1408, which would allow Missouri to raise the maximum speed limit on rural interstates from 70 to 75 miles per hour. Senator Berger, the bill sponsor, argued the change would better match neighboring states, improve traffic flow, and reflect modern vehicle safety technology. Several members supported the idea as a practical adjustment, while others questioned whether the time savings were worth the safety tradeoff, raised concerns about driver behavior, truck speed governors, road design, fuel use, and the possibility that higher posted limits would lead to even faster driving. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including a motorist advocate and some committee members, said 75 mph is common in surrounding states and worldwide, that most crashes are caused by inattention rather than speed alone, and that MoDOT should be able to set limits based on engineering and traffic conditions. Opponents included a Hazelwood police lieutenant, AAA, the Missouri Insurance Coalition, and MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger. They argued that higher speeds increase crash severity and fatalities, that Missouri’s roads and traffic volumes differ from flatter neighboring states, and that the bill could disproportionately affect young and older drivers as well as roadside workers. MoDOT said its data shows speed is a major factor in fatal crashes and cited fatality increases in Arkansas and Kansas after those states raised rural interstate limits. Committee members also debated whether the bill actually mandates 75 mph or merely authorizes MoDOT to set it where appropriate. MoDOT and AAA said any increase should be tied to engineering studies and roadway-specific analysis, while supporters argued the department already has that discretion and that the bill simply removes an outdated cap. No vote was taken in the excerpt. After closing the hearing on SB 1408, the committee moved on to House Bill 3447, a towing and recovery bill that would require more insurance for large commercial vehicles, improve notice and dispute procedures, and address abandoned vehicles; testimony on that bill began with the sponsor and representatives from the towing and trucking industries.

Transcript Highlights:

• discontinue the services, and then the new section on the back page says that if the Federal Communications
• I'm with Lumen Technologies. Thank you, Chairman.
• supplanted over the next five years simply because there won't... ...be copper to buy, not in communication-grade
• Lumen Technologies, formerly CenturyLink.
• So a lot of your customers here will know it as CenturyLink, but now it's Lumen Technologies. Okay.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• development initiatives for manufacturers in coordination with the National Institute of Standards and Technology
• Manufacturing Extension Partnerships of this state. ...with the National Institute of Standards and Technology
• The latest technology and the product support infrastructure that enables us to support machine uptime
• small and large employers, retirement and fiscal policy experts, financial planners, economists, community
• And Senator Yarbrough, we communicated quickly beforehand.

Bills: S0386, S0528, S0806, S0696, S0930, S0874, S0898, S0826, S0838

Keywords: farm equipment, agricultural machinery, farm machinery, tractor, combine, harvester, implements, warranty, lemon law, defective equipment, repair rights, consumer protection, manufacturer liability, authorized service agent, replacement, refund, rural agriculture, urban agriculture, Florida Statutes, chapter 604

Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee met with a quorum and considered several bills, most of them receiving favorable reports. SB 386, relating to farm equipment repair rights, was briefly explained by the sponsor as a lemon-law style measure for farm equipment; it passed without questions or debate. SB 528, aimed at strengthening Florida’s manufacturing sector by expanding Department of Commerce responsibilities, codifying the chief manufacturing officer role, creating a workforce development grant program, and requiring reporting, drew support from several appearance forms and was reported favorably. SB 806, a broader right-to-repair bill covering portable wireless devices and agricultural equipment, drew the most discussion: dealership and industry representatives opposed it, arguing existing manufacturer agreements already provide access to repair information and that the bill could force manufacturers into competition with dealers, while supporters framed it as pro-consumer and pro-repair access; it was still reported favorably. SB 696 on trademark registration modernization and SB 930 creating a Florida Retirement Savings Task Force were both explained as administrative/policy measures and passed without opposition. SB 874, which creates a professional licensure reciprocity path for out-of-state surveyors and mappers to address workforce shortages, also passed favorably. The committee then took up SB 826 on gift certificates, which the sponsor said is intended to target bank-branded “reward cards” that function like gift cards but expire, while not affecting loyalty programs. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association expressed concern about unintended consequences and asked to work on tighter definitions, but the bill was reported favorably after the sponsor said clarifying language would be added later. The committee also heard SB 838, as amended, on electronic payments for retail installment contracts; the sponsor said it would clarify that reasonable convenience fees for optional electronic payments are permissible, require disclosure, and preserve a fee-free option. Members raised concerns about what counts as a “reasonable” fee and whether the bill could authorize junk fees, but the committee substitute was reported favorably. Several votes were taken by roll call, with the bills above reported favorably and SB 898 temporarily postponed at the sponsor’s request. Members later asked to be recorded as voting affirmatively on bills they had missed. The meeting concluded after the final vote on SB 838 and a motion to adjourn.