Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, where do we show the increase in registrations for automobiles?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered an amendment to add a new “Lakes” license plate to HB 2, with proceeds directed to the cyanobacteria fund for lake cleanup. Representative McGuire said the bill had already passed on consent and asked that it be included in HB 2; members discussed that it had also gone to the Senate. The motion to adopt the amendment failed on a 7-8 vote. The committee then took up an amendment imposing a 5% administrative fee on certain dedicated funds, with several exemptions for funds that could not legally or appropriately be charged, such as those involving federal money or bequests. Supporters said it would make the treatment of dedicated funds more consistent and raise roughly $31 million over the biennium for the general fund, while opponents questioned the number of carve-outs and who currently pays the administrative costs. The amendment failed on a 4-5 vote. Next, the committee reconsidered and then adopted an amendment changing the distribution of business profits tax and business enterprise tax revenue, reducing the share going to the Education Trust Fund from 41% to 30% and increasing the General Fund share. Supporters argued the Senate had overfunded the Education Trust Fund and that the change would help balance the budget without changing education spending levels; opponents said they could not support taking money from the Education Trust Fund. The amendment passed 5-3. The committee also adopted, by the same 5-3 margin, an amendment incorporating HB 741 language on open enrollment and student attendance in public schools, with supporters calling it House policy and opponents noting it had been a close, partly partisan vote in the House. Finally, the committee considered a change to the University System of New Hampshire budget that would reduce general fund appropriations by $40 million per year, offset in part by $15 million in previously approved unique dollars for a net reduction of $25 million per year. Supporters said the cut was necessary to balance the budget and that other options had been exhausted; opponents called it harmful to the university system and argued the committee should instead look to other areas, including education freedom accounts, for savings. The discussion continued, but the transcript excerpt ends before a final vote on the UNH item.

Transcript Highlights:

• The 28 entities term back funds were reinstated, Delinquent private water and sewer audits.
• The 28 entities' term-back funds were reinstated after all required reports were submitted.
• Officials for 16 entities were present to address repeated findings.
• The ACFERS financial statements, which were prepared by DFA, include the following entities.
• The authority operates as an independent entity with its own management and employees.

Summary: The committee met to adopt prior minutes and reports from its executive and standing committees, including counties and municipalities, educational institutions, and state agencies. Those reports covered routine audit activity, delinquent private water and sewer audits, municipal accounting compliance issues, education audit findings, and several state agency audit items. The committee also reviewed and adopted the State of Arkansas annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2025 and the related single audit report, both presented by Legislative Audit staff. The state financial report showed unmodified opinions on the state’s financial statements and described total assets of about $41.9 billion and liabilities of about $11.1 billion, along with retirement system assets of $39.9 billion and a net pension liability of $9 billion. Two material weaknesses were identified: insufficient internal controls at the Office of State Technology to monitor threats and unauthorized access, and a Division of Workforce Services methodology change for unemployment-related estimates that was not properly documented or approved. The single audit covered $12.4 billion in federal awards across 469 programs, with 16 major programs reviewed; it resulted in 33 findings, 14 with questioned costs totaling $16.6 million, and qualified opinions for the Summer EBT program, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Child Care Development Fund cluster. Members questioned agency officials in detail about the Summer EBT questioned costs, DHS unresolved findings, broadband grant documentation, cyber security controls, workers’ compensation liabilities, and child care funding and reporting. DHS explained that the Summer EBT issue involved drawing federal funds in advance rather than as benefits were redeemed, and said the process has been corrected. Broadband officials said the questioned $6.6 million reflected documentation-detail disagreements across many invoices rather than missing payments. OST officials described new logging, endpoint detection, and phishing-training efforts, and DFA and Education officials addressed specific audit findings and corrective actions. The committee ultimately moved to hold the two large statewide reports over until the August meeting for further review, with discussion continuing on whether to release some agency staff in the meantime.

Transcript Highlights:

• Co-locating them in a fusion center breaks down the arm's-length relationships between these entities
• For example, SB 34 rightfully prohibited the sharing of ALPR data with out-of-state entities.
• Objective 7 deals with... ...data sets that are owned by non-governmental entities.
• Fusion centers are partnerships between federal, state, and local entities, and while our work would
• Caltrans is also Entities, with bids expected to be submitted by late April.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee because quorum was initially lacking, and the state auditor gave an update on his office’s workload, including several JALAC audits in progress, other statutory audits, staffing growth, and capacity to begin additional audits. Members also announced that one audit request on Prop. 28 was being held and that the PUC request would be moved off consent for presentation. After quorum was later established, the committee took up and approved several audit requests, including the DMV license revocation audit on consent, the CPUC utility interconnection timeliness audit, and the Caltrans SR 710 extension project audit. The fusion centers audit was approved on call, while the Orange County Board of Education audit was still being discussed when the transcript ended. Senator Cervantes presented the fusion centers audit request, arguing that California’s fusion centers operate with little public oversight and may collect, share, and retain sensitive information without adequate legal authority, privacy protections, or accountability. Supporters, including former FBI agent Mike German and an ACLU representative, said the centers function as opaque intelligence-sharing hubs and have a history of inaccurate or biased reporting. The state auditor said the audit would examine the State Threat Assessment Center and two local fusion centers, focusing on oversight, legal authority, data quality, disclosure controls, use of private vendors, funding, and performance metrics, while noting possible access and public disclosure limits because of intelligence-related information. The request drew sharp criticism from one member, who called it politicized and unnecessary, but it ultimately advanced on call. Senator Allen’s CPUC audit request focused on the commission’s enforcement of Rule 21 interconnection timelines for customer-sited solar and storage projects. Supporters said utilities routinely miss deadlines, causing delays and added costs for schools, nonprofits, businesses, and homeowners, while CPUC staff said the commission has public reporting, workshops, and an active proceeding to address the issue. The auditor said the review would examine CPUC monitoring, enforcement tools, and data on why utilities struggle to comply, estimating about 3,500 hours of work. The committee approved the request after discussion about whether an audit or legislative oversight would be the best tool. Senator Perez and Assembly Member Fong presented the Caltrans 710 corridor audit request, describing tenant complaints about mold, pests, deferred maintenance, inconsistent pricing, unclear communications, and delays in the affordable sales program created under the Roberti Act. Caltrans said it had completed many sales, was moving additional properties, and remained committed to transparency and compliance. The auditor said the review would examine whether Caltrans is complying with the Roberti Act, how it sets affordable prices, appraisal and appeal practices, communications with buyers, rent accounting, property maintenance, and follow-up on prior audit recommendations. The committee also heard Senator Umberg’s request to audit the Orange County Board of Education over transparency, contracting, litigation spending, charter oversight, and whistleblower issues; supporters argued the board’s actions warranted scrutiny, while board representatives said there was no factual basis for an audit and that complaints, enforcement actions, and legal challenges were minimal or absent.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the DMV, who's worked tirelessly on this rule set in collaboration with State Police and other entities
• Uh we would seek a other entities.
• Those are two very different entities, and therefore our legal analysis is that this statute does not
• So I believe it was K and K says this... different entities and therefore our different entities and
• </c> regulate this type of entity. regulate this type of entity. the<00:17:31.039><c> question.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and adopted the consent calendar without objection. It then took up Department of Safety Rule 25161 on administrative license suspension forms. After discussion of a staff concern that the rule text should expressly require a defendant’s signature or refusal to sign, and the officer’s witness signature, the agency agreed to revised language. The committee voted to grant conditional approval with those edits. The committee next considered Department of Agriculture rule 192, concerning importation of bovines and domestic animals. Staff identified several issues, including an overly broad federal citation, an unclear definition of infection, a possible conflict between provisions on telephone-issued permits and documents that must be carried, and missing struck-through repeal language. Because the department had not proposed written fixes, members moved to postpone the item until next month, and the motion passed. A second Agriculture item, 25207, was discussed as a long-expired set of rules that the agency said were still needed to run its programs; the committee granted conditional approval. The Public Utilities Commission’s competitive natural gas supplier and aggregator rules prompted the most extensive debate. Staff argued the cited statutes did not clearly authorize the commission to impose fines on natural gas suppliers, while the agency responded that authority could be read from related Department of Energy transition language and general rulemaking provisions. Members discussed whether the issue reflected a statutory gap created when responsibilities were split between the Department of Energy and the commission. The committee ultimately voted to waive and postpone the item to next month so the attorneys could work out the authority question. The committee also postponed Department of Energy items 219 and 220 at the agency’s request, and it noted that the Liquor Commission’s emergency rule had been revised to reduce reporting from monthly to quarterly before being reissued, with the item also postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Such transactions involve any entity or person that results in a change of majority ownership or control
• provider organization from a nonprofit corporation to a for-profit corporation or unincorporated entity
• These entities do not... Insurers when they acquire hospitals and provider organizations.
• cannot be both the watchdog over the entity that it is also a member of.
• We think that the same entity cannot be both the watchdog over the entity that it is also a member of

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the list that you're going to see puts these entities in a position to receive a grant or loan from
• When we get these dollars into the hands of the entities, they're fully ready to use those.
• Additionally, there are entities that may drop out.
• The larger entities don't typically have a difficult time with it.
• I would say these are both rural counties and rural cities, but also all these non-public entities.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to cause additional confusion about where these notices can be found by affected entities
• It allows governmental entities such as the clerk of court and the tax collector.
• can disabuse me of any misunderstanding in his close, is that now, under current law, governmental entities
• can disabuse me of any misunderstanding in his close, is that now, under current law, governmental entities
• can disabuse me of any misunderstanding in his close, is that now, under current law, governmental entities

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and considered three bills. Senate Bill 292, by Senator Ruson, created a public records exemption for the personal information of appellate court clerks and their families. Senator Gaetz opposed the measure, arguing against public records exemptions and favoring prosecution of threats instead, while the State Court System appeared in support. The bill passed 8-1 and was reported favorably. The committee then heard CS for Senate Bill 62, by Senator Arrington, presented by Leader Berman. The bill would create an enforceable requirement related to candidate party affiliation qualifications and allow a qualified candidate or political party in the same race to challenge noncompliance. There was no opposition or debate, and the committee approved the bill unanimously, 10-0. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 380, by Senator Trumbull, which would expand options for posting legal notices online by clerks, tax collectors, municipalities, and certain constitutional officers, and the committee adopted an amendment clarifying special governmental agencies and setting a two-week online posting standard. The Florida Press Association, local newspaper representatives, and others opposed the bill, warning it would fragment public notice and reduce transparency, while Senator Trumbull and Senator Gaetz emphasized cost savings and the ability of constitutional officers to use their own websites. The amended bill passed 10-0 and was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• social, educational, and genetic history of a child if DFPS targets getting these reports to the entities
• So, SB 500 amends the Family Code to establish clear deadlines to provide required to the entities placing
• Other entities to ensure that residents receive skilled nursing should they need it.
• this issue by updating what constitutes continuing care, providing much-needed clarity to ensure entities
• However, those entities not making such promises aren't subject to TDI. subject to the heightened burdens

Bills: SB500, SB1522, SB1137, SB1266

Keywords: SB 500, Texas adoption law, Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child-placing agency, prospective adoptive parents, adoption records, confidential information, nondisclosure agreement, child history report, health history, social history, educational history, genetic history, termination of parental rights, permanency plan, single source continuum contractor, privacy, redaction

Transcript Highlights:

• just occur within the IHS facilities, but anybody that provided health care to those population entities
• suited to do this work based on our status as a state commission and our partnership with nonprofit entities
• The commission would act as an organizing entity for this work, creating a scope of work and partnering
• Again, I think the commission, as a state entity with strong ties to nonprofits and advocacy organizations
• , is a perfect organizing entity for this work.

Summary: The Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee heard Senate Memorial 14, which calls on the Indian Affairs Department and the Commission on the Status of Women to conduct a comprehensive study of the history, scope, and continuing impacts of forced and coerced sterilization of Indigenous women and women of color. Sponsors and advocates said the memorial is intended to document harms that occurred not only in Indian Health Service facilities but also through other health providers, while being culturally sensitive and respectful of tribal sovereignty. Supporters described the issue as a reproductive justice, human rights, and Indigenous rights matter, and said the study could help lead to acknowledgment, healing, and possible reparative action. Several witnesses gave personal testimony. Representative Caballero shared a personal experience in which she nearly underwent a hysterectomy after a miscarriage due to forms she was asked to sign while sedated, and said that experience motivated her support. Jean Whitehorse, a Navajo Nation member and daughter of a Navajo code talker, described being sterilized in 1972 after treatment at Gallup Indian Health Service and said the practice caused lasting trauma to Native families. Other speakers, including Elena Giacchi, Keeley Badger, Jennifer Raphael Gatz, Rachel Lorenzo, Alicia Carese Lobbius, Nasserian Olamako, Deanna Warren, and Kat Sanchez, supported the memorial and emphasized the need for survivor testimony, historical records, data gathering, informed consent protections, and culturally grounded healing. Committee members asked about the difficulty of obtaining records and whether the information exists or is being blocked. Witnesses said access is limited, requests often need to come from official state or federal bodies, and many records may be sealed or difficult to retrieve. The Commission on the Status of Women said it could serve as the organizing entity for a three-phase process: gathering data, holding discussions with subject matter experts and survivors, and contracting with an Indigenous organization to prepare the report. After public comment and questions, the committee voted 4-0 to give Senate Memorial 14 a do pass recommendation, and the chair then recessed the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Hill, I miss what you said about local government entities if they have flags.
• Representative Hill, I miss what you said about local government entities if they have flags.
• It's not any other particular political, religious, or ideological entity.
• Everything has a government entity to it.
• Everything has a government entity to it. Could I have a follow-up question?

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from January 21 and 22, 2026, and briefly welcomed a young visitor introduced by Representative Skog. The main item was Representative Hill’s proposal, RS 32882, a bill to restrict which flags may be displayed on government property. Hill said the measure was intended to prevent local officials from flying political, religious, or ideological flags and to ensure the American flag remains preeminent. He described allowed flags as including the U.S. flag, state flags, military flags, recognized tribal flags, certain nation-state flags, the Basque Autonomous Community flag on special occasions, and official Idaho university or college flags, while excluding city and county flags. He also said enforcement would include a $2,000-per-day-per-flag penalty and possible injunctions by the attorney general. Members raised questions about the bill’s scope, including whether it would apply to city and county flags, banners on boulevards and rights-of-way, parade flags, and community event displays. Hill repeatedly said the bill was aimed at government-owned property and official government displays, not parades, but also confirmed that city and county flags would be prohibited because they could be used for political statements. Some members supported the bill’s goal of limiting political messaging, while others argued it would unnecessarily eliminate longstanding local flags and community displays, and that the Basque carve-out was inconsistent with the bill’s stated purpose. Several motions were offered. An initial motion to introduce RS 32882 failed 7-7. A substitute motion by Representative Skog to introduce the bill with an amendment adding “official city or county flags” on line 22 passed 12-2. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Hill, I missed what you said about local government entities if they have flags.
• Representative Hill, I miss what you said about local government entities if they have flags.
• It's not any other particular political or religious or ideological entity.
• Everything has a government entity to it. Could I have a follow-up question?
• Everything has a government entity to it. Could I have a follow-up question?

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, under existing law, there are only three entities who can go directly to a contractor to
• Under existing law, there are only three entities who can go directly to a contractor to receive a copy
• Berman recently, labor compliance entities have noted increasing instances of awarding agencies rejecting
• There is communication between the public entity and the contractor pretty regularly during the course
• judgment. ...that gets upheld other than the entity that owes an outstanding judgment for nonpayment

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee met on March 19, 2025, adopted its rules, and approved the consent calendar before hearing several bills. AB 538, by Assemblymember Berman, would require awarding bodies on public works projects to make a timely attempt to obtain certified payroll records from contractors when the public requests them, rather than simply saying they do not have the records. Supporters said it would clarify existing prevailing wage enforcement; county, city, special district, and housing groups opposed it over workload, privacy, and potential funding risks. The bill passed the committee on a do-pass recommendation to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 485, authored by Chair Ortega, which would direct state agencies to deny or renew business licenses for employers with outstanding wage theft judgments unless the judgments are satisfied or bonded. Supporters, including labor groups and a caregiver who described delayed recovery of unpaid wages, said the bill would give workers meaningful leverage to collect judgments. The California Hospital Association opposed it, warning that license action could threaten patient access to care. The bill passed on a do-pass recommendation to Appropriations. AB 596, by Assemblymember McKinnor, would codify workers’ right to wear a face covering or respirator at work unless it creates a direct safety hazard. Supporters said the measure would protect workers from illness, wildfire smoke, and employer restrictions after prior Cal/OSHA protections expired; the Chamber of Commerce opposed it narrowly, asking for an exception where masks are infeasible for certain tasks. The committee supported the bill and sent it to Appropriations. The hearing concluded with the roll kept open for absent members and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT MAINTENANCE ENTITY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A REGISTERED CONTRACTOR.
• THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A MAINTENANCE ENTITY BUT WITH THE ALLOWANCES, WHAT THAT MEANS IS, TYPICALLY
• THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR A MAINTENANCE ENTITY.
• OFTEN WE ARE DOING A SEPTIC TO SEWER CONVERSION WE ARE DEALING WITH ONE ENTITY.
• >> THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS, WHERE ALL THE OTHER SYSTEMS OFFER A MAINTENANCE ENTITY, THESE DON'T

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's multiple years for some entities.
• This is us bragging: we've brought 154 entities into compliance.
• It's important to understand that the number of audits and the entities run separately because they'll
• are not sacrificing any sort of open or transparency or compliance-based issues with any of our entities
• We also... done outreach through those entities.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we coordinate with all those entities.
• It's not a state entity. They're not on state net.
• . of a ransomware incident on a non-state critical infrastructure entity.
• It's not a state entity. They're not on stage net.
• It has been... ...with state and federal entities on potential build-out areas.

Summary: The committee received a series of informational reports from NDIT and DPI on major IT projects, cybersecurity, and the K-12 student information system transition. Justin Data reviewed the quarterly major project portfolio, noting 111 projects totaling about $542.8 million, generally under budget and slightly behind schedule overall. He highlighted three schedule-red projects: Bed Management System and Vital Records, both now complete and being closed out, and the Roadway Capital Planning Project, which is delayed due to vendor bug fixes after user testing. He also summarized new project startups, including the Attorney General’s Victim Notification System, HHS Medicaid correctional facilities data exchange, Highway Patrol’s motor carrier e-permit system, and additional RIMS work, and answered questions about project timing, funding, and whether work had begun on legislatively funded IT projects. Chris Gurgan, NDIT’s chief information security officer, reported on mandatory cybersecurity incident reporting under HB 1314. He said 77 incidents have been reported since August 2021, with 47 meeting the statutory definition of a cybersecurity incident; phishing remains the most common type, followed by email quarantine alerts, XDR detections, and malware. He emphasized that most incidents are resolved, but that timely reporting is critical for any chance of recovering funds in business email compromise or ransomware cases. He also described several notable incidents since the last report, including the PowerSchool breach, a SimpleHelp intrusion at a school district, a court intrusion, a WSUS vulnerability, a business email compromise at a K-12 district, and a recent ransomware report involving a non-state critical infrastructure entity. Members asked about smishing, MFA, conditional access, security awareness training, and recovery of lost funds; Gurgan said state systems use phishing-resistant MFA and conditional access, training is provided to state employees and offered to political subdivisions on an opt-in basis, and broader cybersecurity maturity assessments are underway. Craig Falkley gave brief reports on coordination with political subdivisions and higher education, including shared networking, cybersecurity, radio/911, PeopleSoft, and co-location services. He also explained distributed ledger technology as a tool for decentralized, secure data sharing, but said the state has limited use for it and would likely frame future reporting more broadly around emerging technologies. The committee then heard from Tony Ambrose of DPI on the statewide Infinite Campus implementation. He said district implementations are underway, but the project had to terminate its original data migration vendor for poor performance and replace it with Aurora Educational Technology, which had experience with a similar North Carolina migration. He also said DPI is moving special education data from Tynet into Infinite Campus, is still working through how to preserve e-transcripts and Choice Ready-type functionality after the PowerSchool transition, and is developing identity, authentication, and data-sharing arrangements for the summer cutover. Members raised concerns about procurement timing, summer school disruption, and whether some functions would be ready by July 1.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we coordinate with all those entities.
• Again, we try to be generic about this and not out the specific entities that were involved.
• And we are currently working with that entity to help implement some additional controls.
• It's not a state entity. They're not on StageNet.
• It's not a state entity. They're not on stage net.

Summary: The committee received several informational reports from NDIT and DPI. Justin Data reviewed the quarterly major IT project portfolio, noting the portfolio was slightly under budget and behind schedule overall, with three red schedule items: Bed Management System and Vital Records were essentially complete and being closed out, and the Roadway Capital Planning Project was delayed by vendor bug fixes after testing. He also summarized recent project startups and closeouts, including the Victim Notification System, Medicaid data exchange, Highway Patrol’s motor carrier permit system, and several completed HHS and RIMS projects. Members asked for follow-up on ADA compliance work, the public-facing RIO website, and the state’s mainframe retirement timeline, and staff agreed to provide updates later. Craig Falkley reported on coordination of services with political subdivisions and higher education, including StageNet, cybersecurity, radio/911 services, and PeopleSoft coordination. He also explained distributed ledger technology as a tool for transparency and fraud prevention, but said it is not widely used in state government and suggested the report be modernized to focus more broadly on emerging technologies such as AI and cybersecurity. The committee generally agreed that the topic should be updated. Chris Gurgan presented the mandatory cybersecurity incident reporting program created by HB 1314, explaining how agencies and political subdivisions report incidents through NDIT’s website or service desk. He said 77 incidents had been reported since 2021, 47 met the statutory definition, and most were phishing-related; most reported incidents were resolved, with one recent ransomware matter still open. He also reviewed notable incidents since the last report, including the PowerSchool compromise, a SimpleHelp intrusion at a school district, a court intrusion, a WSUS vulnerability, a business email compromise, and a recent ransomware incident involving a non-state critical infrastructure entity. Members asked about recovery of stolen funds, early warning signs, smishing, training, MFA, conditional access, and cybersecurity maturity assessments; Gurgan said the state uses MFA and conditional access, provides awareness training to state employees, and would return with more information on maturity assessments. Tony Ambrose then updated the committee on the K-12 student information system bridge project. He said district implementation of Infinite Campus had begun statewide, but the data migration vendor originally selected was terminated for poor performance and replaced by Aurora Educational Technology, which had experience with similar statewide migrations. He also said DPI is migrating special education data from Tynet into Infinite Campus, and that some SLDS-based tools such as e-transcripts and Choice Ready may not function exactly as they do now at July 1, requiring interim or alternative solutions. Members raised concerns about summer school disruptions, the timing of the cutover, and whether the new system would support existing reporting and transcript functions; DPI said it was working on identity, authentication, data-sharing agreements, and post-go-live integrations, and would continue to refine the plan beyond June 30.

Transcript Highlights:

• As such, both entities are required to submit to suitability.
• Thus, the board in its sole discretion has the authority to approve entities outside of those listed
• or permittee, the amount of said ownership or control, all relevant facts related to the applying entity
• Partners Fund and Alpha North Asset Management as institutional investors, a resolution for each entity
• These entities do not participate in the day-to-day management of Jackpot Digital or its subsidiaries

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Louisiana Gaming Control Board met on February 26, 2026, and first approved the January minutes and received revenue reports showing year-over-year gains in several sectors. Riverboat gaming, Caesars New Orleans, racetrack slots, video gaming devices, sports wagering, and daily fantasy sports all reported January activity and state fee collections, with board members asking no questions. The chairman also noted recent meetings with casino and racetrack general managers around the state to discuss operational challenges and possible regulatory efficiencies. The board then approved fourth-quarter 2025 employment and procurement compliance reports for riverboats and racetracks. Staff reported that some licensees met all goals, while others missed specific employment or procurement targets, including several riverboats and racetracks that fell short in Louisiana resident, female, or minority categories. The board also approved annual certificates of compliance for Bally’s Shreveport Casino and Hotel and Live Casino and Hotel after inspection reports showed deficiencies had been corrected or no issues were found. In other gaming matters, the board approved Jackpot Digital-related petitions allowing Alpha North Partners Fund and Alpha North Asset Management to qualify as institutional investors, approved a transfer of membership interest in Bonus Casino, LLC, and approved several settlements involving late filings, expired permits, ownership-notification failures, and an expired security ID card. Civil penalties ranged from $750 to $9,250. The board also considered two requests to reconsider prior license revocations: it granted reconsideration for Burritos Grill LLC, finding a good-faith but misdirected hearing request and technical issues warranted further review, but denied reconsideration for Toby’s Dead, Inc. doing business as The Gemini, concluding the licensee missed the hearing deadline and had not shown grounds for rehearing. The meeting adjourned after announcing the next meeting would be March 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• As such, both entities are required to submit to suitability.
• or permittee, the amount of said ownership or control, all relevant facts related to the applying entity
• Partners Fund and Alpha North Asset Management as institutional investors, a resolution for each entity
• These entities do not participate in the day-to-day management of Jackpot Digital or its subsidiaries
• Further, Alpha North Partners Fund and Alpha North Asset Management acknowledge that if either entity

Summary: The Louisiana Gaming Control Board met on February 26, 2026, and first approved the January minutes and received revenue reports showing year-over-year gains in several sectors, including riverboats, racetrack slots, video gaming devices, sports wagering, and daily fantasy sports. Staff also reported on fourth-quarter 2025 employment and procurement compliance for riverboat and racetrack licensees, noting several properties that missed employment or procurement targets, while others were fully compliant. Under casino gaming issues, the board approved annual certificates of compliance for Bally’s Shreveport Casino and Hotel and Live Casino and Hotel. It also approved two petitions finding Alpha North Partners Fund, Inc. and Alpha North Asset Management to be institutional investors in connection with Jackpot Digital’s pending manufacturer and supplier applications. Under video gaming issues, the board approved a transfer of membership interest in Bonus Casino, LLC. The board then approved a series of proposed settlements involving late filings, permit lapses, and ownership-notification violations, including matters involving American Amusements, McKinley’s Pub, Whispering Pines Plaza and Casino, Ms. Mamie’s Rain Casino, Pablo’s Truck Stop Casino, Clearly Tavern and Sports Bar, and Golden Lantern, with civil penalties ranging from $750 to $9,250. In the final agenda items, the board granted reconsideration for Burritos Grill LLC after finding a good-faith but misdirected hearing request, but denied reconsideration for Toby’s Dead, Inc., doing business as The Gemini, concluding that the licensee missed the hearing deadline and that no sufficient grounds for rehearing were shown. The board then adjourned and announced its next meeting for March 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• is the regulatory agency for hospitals and birthing centers, they are not charged with regulating entities
• information and data from state and federal entities, along with other states' information.
• In general, multiple entities collaborate to regulate and license occupations.
• Also, in contrast, in other states, the entity authorized to remove board members varies.
• And if I can clarify, especially in our health care entities and our different boards that represent

Bills: S0428, S0606, S0192, S0162, S0340

Keywords: drowning prevention, water safety, swimming lessons, swim vouchers, child drowning, infant safety, toddler safety, pool safety, bath safety, safe bathing practices, postpartum education, newborn care, childbirth education, birth centers, home birth providers, Department of Health, public health, water competency, swim instruction, infant supervision

Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee met with a quorum and took up several health-related bills, with a strong focus on drowning prevention and patient safety. SB 428 by Senator Yarborough would expand Florida’s swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7. Supporters, including a pediatric emergency physician and YMCA leadership, cited Florida’s high child drowning rates and argued that swim lessons reduce risk and should be available to more children. Senator Harrell noted the need to consider increasing the program’s funding as eligibility expands. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 606 by Senator Smith, which adds drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials provided by hospitals, birthing centers, and, after amendment, no longer home birth providers. A parent who lost a child to drowning testified in support, and senators emphasized the preventability of such deaths. The bill, as amended, was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 340 by Senator Harrell would require nursing students to complete a two-hour human trafficking course before licensure; after a strike-all amendment shifted the requirement from nursing programs to the students themselves, the bill received support from advocates and was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also considered SB 162 by Senator Davis, which would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to adopt policies for using smoke evacuation systems during procedures that generate surgical smoke. The sponsor said the equipment is relatively inexpensive and already common in many facilities, while opponents and some senators questioned the medical evidence, enforcement, and possible impacts on rural and smaller facilities. Despite those concerns, the bill was reported favorably, with some members voting no. SB 192, presented by Senator Trumbull on behalf of Senator Martin, would remove the $1,500 cap on advances chiropractic physicians may collect for examinations or treatment; the Florida Chiropractic Society supported the change as pro-small-business, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also received an OPAGA presentation comparing Florida’s health care practitioner regulation system with other states, focusing on board autonomy, rulemaking oversight, board composition, appointments, term limits, and funding mechanisms.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to have a mix of higher ed represented on that new TAA entity.
• So I think, at the end of the day, this is putting Texas in control of accrediting entities that...
• Accrediting agencies function as quasi-governmental entities with significant influence over our colleges
• Accrediting agencies function as quasi-governmental entities with significant influence over our colleges
• Accrediting agencies function as quasi-governmental entities with significant influence over our colleges

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee heard Senate Bill 1961, which would expand reporting on post-secondary outcomes and workforce data, including employment, earnings, regional labor demand, and credentials of value. Senator Bettencourt said the bill is intended to close data gaps and improve alignment between education programs and workforce needs. Witnesses from Opportunity Austin, Texas 2036, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, and the Fort Worth workforce community testified in support, saying better data would help students, parents, schools, employers, and regional economic development efforts. After questions from members about regional workforce pipelines and semiconductor talent needs, public testimony closed and SB 1961 was left pending. The committee then took up several pending bills and reported them favorably, including SB 1325, SB 604, SB 1832, SB 747, SB 2185, and SB 2395, with committee substitutes adopted where needed. SB 1325 was amended to remove the DSHS commissioner’s authority to issue standing orders for respiratory distress medication in schools. SB 1832, relating to school transfer or private-school funding options for students victimized by a public school employee, and SB 747, relating to intimate visual material policies, were both advanced on recorded votes. SB 2185, on the bilingual education allotment, was initially moved to a local calendar but was later backed up and reported to the full Senate after a fiscal note was noted. SB 2395, on school district general obligation bonds, was also reported favorably and then moved to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also heard SB 646, which would expand the Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program to additional professions, increase award amounts, and add stipends for rural and bilingual service. Senator West said the bill responds to mental health workforce shortages and inflation. The Texas Counseling Association supported the measure, and a Hogg Foundation representative said participation has grown sharply since prior changes. SB 646 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2647, which would create a Texas state accrediting agency and interim oversight system for higher education accreditors; supporters from the Texas Public Policy Foundation and a massage school owner argued it would improve accountability and reduce accreditor overreach, while Senator Menendez raised concerns about effects on law and medical school accreditation and student opportunities. SB 2647 was left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2786, which would exempt first responders from the Texas Success Initiative entrance exam, and SB 2615, which would standardize remote-work policies across public higher education institutions. The Texas State Association of Firefighters supported SB 2786, saying it would remove an extra step for career advancement; the bill was left pending because the committee substitute had not yet been adopted. SB 2615 was presented as a way to ensure more consistent in-person staffing expectations while preserving exceptions for illness, disability, and some non-teaching roles; it too was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.