Transcript Highlights:

• And one of the hardest things I have to do in my practice is take phone calls of people in their 30s
• Your practice, Missouri, statewide. To inquire? Yes, sir, please.
• Your practice, Missouri, statewide. You're located where? Yeah, I'm in Springfield, Missouri.
• Your practice, Missouri, statewide. You're located where? Yeah, I'm in Springfield, Missouri.
• Under current practice, that doesn't happen for years until after the direct appeal is done.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our Practice Safe Checks campaign that's out there trying to help people figure out how to avoid
• And also, if they're violating any of the ADTPA, which is the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act,
• we can investigate under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
• I’m just not that—well, I don’t engage,” “I’m just not that—well, I don’t engage in the practice anymore
• Best practices on this, what I would tell consumers is: be cognizant of your coverage.

Summary: A joint House-Senate Insurance and Commerce meeting focused on the growing threat of financial fraud in Arkansas, with members hearing from bankers, regulators, law enforcement, AARP, and mortgage and insurance industry representatives. Witnesses described a wide range of scams, including spoofed bank calls and texts, fake websites and social media impersonation, romance and investment scams, business email compromise, gift card fraud, check fraud, wire fraud, reverse mortgage scams, and crypto kiosk schemes. Several speakers emphasized that fraud is increasingly organized, technology-driven, and amplified by artificial intelligence, and that seniors are disproportionately targeted and often suffer the largest losses. Testimony highlighted both prevention and recovery efforts. Bankers said institutions spend heavily on training, customer education, and fraud detection, but often cannot stop losses once customers have been convinced to authorize transfers. The Attorney General’s office described its Consumer Protection Division, a new Financial Fraud Task Force, and examples of recovering funds quickly from crypto kiosk and wire fraud cases. The State Bank Department and Securities Department said Arkansas’s 2025 crypto ATM legislation and related education requirements have helped, and they urged continued public education. The Insurance Department reported major insurance-fraud trends, including fake insurance cards, forged policies, premium-finance schemes, and staged auto accidents, and said it prosecutes these cases aggressively. Members asked about reporting scams, the security of tap payments, how fraud losses are tracked, the role of crypto kiosks, and whether Arkansas should pursue model legislation or stronger action against telecom and social media companies. Witnesses said tap payments are generally safer than chip or swipe, that crypto transfers are often unrecoverable, and that spoofed caller ID and impersonation ads remain major problems. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association urged state and federal action against telecom and social media platforms and supported national scam legislation. No new bills were voted on at the meeting, but members approved the November 3, 2025 minutes and several witnesses offered to share model legislation, consumer education materials, and state-by-state fraud data with the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our Practice Safe Checks campaign that's out there trying to help people figure out how to avoid
• there's a dispute, If there's any violation of the ADTPA, which is the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices
• Act, we can investigate under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
• I'm just not that—well, I don't engage in the practice anymore.
• Best practices on this, when I would tell consumers, is be cognizant of your coverage, confirm what the

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think what we've seen even more so maybe over the last year is practical impacts.
• They practically needed to cut domestic spending to do that. That's what they did.
• How that's actually played out in practice, far different, a little unclear what that means.
• What do you see the practical effect? Obviously, the economy has stayed relatively strong.
• So you do the smoothing, but you handle it yourself internally with accounting practice.

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Doug Howe of the Mass Taxpayers Foundation and Evan Horowitz of Tufts on the fiscal effects of federal policy changes, especially the OB3 reconciliation law, federal shutdown risks, and Massachusetts budget planning. Howe outlined a framework of direct and indirect federal impacts on the state budget, capital program, and grant funding, emphasizing uncertainty around Medicaid, SNAP, LIHEAP, immigration, NIH funding, and federal tax changes. He said OB3 is expected to reduce federal health spending in Massachusetts by about $3 billion annually when fully implemented, with an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 people losing coverage, and could shift up to $400 million in annual SNAP costs to the state if Massachusetts’ error rate remains above the federal threshold. He also discussed the governor’s proposal to delay conformity with certain federal tax changes and to expand the pass-through entity tax to offset revenue losses. Members questioned the witnesses about SNAP error rates, unemployment insurance, the use of the stabilization fund, and whether the state should adopt a Maryland-style delay in implementing federal tax changes. Howe argued the stabilization fund should not be used to backfill permanent obligations, but could be used for temporary crises, and said the state should improve data-sharing and administrative systems so eligible residents do not lose MassHealth or other benefits because of paperwork barriers. He also said unemployment insurance remains a major problem and that a broader fix should include benefit, tax, and possibly state contributions. Horowitz took a more aggressive view on using reserves for urgent needs like SNAP, argued the state should harden its budget against volatility, and warned that Massachusetts is increasingly exposed to stock-market-driven revenue swings and to a possible income tax ballot question that could significantly reduce revenues. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and the chair asked both witnesses for follow-up written recommendations, especially on system integration and accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think what we've seen even more so maybe over the last year is practical impacts.
• They practically needed to cut domestic spending to do that. That's what they did.
• How that's actually played out in practice, far different, a little unclear of what that means.
• What do you see the practical effect? Obviously, the economy has stayed relatively strong.
• So you do the smoothing, but you handle it yourself internally with accounting practice.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, you're sort of able to respond to that and, you know, just as sort of a practical example of
• You know, you're sort of able to respond to that and, you know, just as sort of a practical example of
• You know, you're sort of able to respond to that and, you know, just as sort of a practical example of
• Um, I don't particularly have a practical problem with this.
• </c> I I don't particularly have a practical I I don't particularly have a practical problem<00:50:50.880

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have some concerns about the structure of the notification in terms of their business practices,
• The app can be downloaded to the worker’s phone, and it aligns the policy with actual real-world practice
• I'm the practice leader for the Washington Work Comp practice of Brown Brown.
• you've heard the measure would cause direct contractors to create monitor and track the payroll practices
• To better understand current practice, clones are all traced in batches.

Summary: The committee heard several bills and took executive action on a number of them. Senate Bill 6282, by Senator Nobles, would require building and construction trade apprenticeship programs to provide two hours of behavioral health and wellness training starting in 2027, covering stigma reduction, distress recognition, suicide prevention, substance use awareness, peer support, and resource connection. The bill drew strong support from labor and construction groups, who described high suicide and substance use rates in the industry and said the training would help apprentices and, with a planned amendment, journey-level workers as well. No vote was taken in the hearing portion shown, but testimony was overwhelmingly pro. Senate Bill 6135, by Senator King, would require interest arbitration panels for certain uniform personnel at local governments to consider the employer’s ability to pay. Counties and cities supported the bill as a modest fiscal-relief measure and argued it would align local arbitration with existing state-law language. Teamsters representatives and other labor witnesses opposed it, saying it would weaken collective bargaining and give employers leverage to stall or deny fair contracts. The committee closed the public hearing with 5 in favor, 22 opposed, and no other testimony. In executive session, the bill was later advanced subject to signatures. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6128 on independent medical exams, which would require IME recordings to be made through an L&I-approved third-party app and prohibit independent local recording. Supporters said the change would improve security, consistency, and reliability of recordings and reduce cancellations and disputes; opponents said it would burden injured workers and undo the 2023 right to record IMEs on their own devices. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6068, which would make owners and direct contractors jointly liable for unpaid wages and related damages on construction projects, with a notice-and-cure process before suit. Workers and labor groups supported it as a tool against wage theft and labor trafficking, while contractors and industry groups opposed it as overbroad and costly. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices, with testimony split between sustainability advocates and industry supporters on one side and public health and poison center witnesses on the other, who warned that loosening individual edible packaging could increase child poisonings. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute for SB 6053 and moved it forward, and also passed SB 6134, SB 6147, SB 6106, and SB 6045 subject to signatures, with SB 6045 amended before passage to Ways and Means.

Transcript Highlights:

• OSPI is directed to establish a state menu of best practices for intensive mathematics improvement strategies
• It also directs OSPI to include research on student use of mobile devices and recommended best-practice
• It also directs OSPI to include research on student use of mobile devices and recommended best practices
• So writing a one-size-fits-all in every community, in every district is not practical.
• Cell phones in our classrooms go against best practices. We need a real change.

Bills: SB6192, SB6206, SB5346, SB6125, SB5841, SB5907, SB5951

Keywords: education, reading, mathematics, student intervention, instruction, academic standards, child care, first responders, incentives, pilot program, mobile phones, cell phones, smartphones, school phones, classroom distraction, digital citizenship, media literacy, internet safety, cyberbullying, student mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I can speak to the practical side of that, at least from the collection industry.
• Under House Bill 2332, agencies are prohibited from certain practices related to ALPR systems.
• We strongly urge the legislature to establish a more practical retention baseline of at least 30 days
• we strongly urge the legislature to establish a more practical retention baseline of at least 30 days
• In practice, many organized retail theft cases start as lower-level offenses and only become felonies

Summary: On January 20, 2026, the committee held public hearings on House Bill 2102, House Bill 2161, and House Bill 2332. HB 2102 would sharply limit legal financial obligations by prohibiting courts from imposing costs unless specifically authorized by statute, repealing many fees and interest on restitution, and making eliminated debts unenforceable and satisfied. The sponsor and supporters argued that LFOs are harmful, inconsistently applied, and create uncollectable debt that burdens indigent defendants and hinders reentry. Opponents, including local government and collections representatives, warned the bill would shift costs to cities and counties, reduce accountability tools, and could cost local jurisdictions millions. No vote was taken. HB 2161 would expand the Attorney General’s authority to issue civil investigative demands for possible violations involving civil rights, labor standards, jail standards, immigration-related restrictions, and police use-of-force laws. Supporters from the Attorney General’s office, labor groups, and civil rights advocates said the bill would make investigations faster and more effective, especially in wage theft and discrimination cases, while not changing substantive enforcement authority. Opponents from law enforcement, cities, and business groups argued the bill was overbroad, lacked sufficient standards, and could create due process, confidentiality, and separation-of-powers concerns. Members asked about safeguards, and staff and the AGO described court challenge procedures and internal review standards. No action was taken. HB 2332 would regulate automated license plate readers used by state and local agencies, generally limiting use to specified law enforcement, parking, toll, and transportation purposes, restricting sharing and retention, and prohibiting uses tied to immigration enforcement or protected health care. The sponsor and privacy, immigrant-rights, and reproductive-rights advocates said the bill was needed to prevent misuse of sensitive location data and to close loopholes that could allow out-of-state or federal access. Law enforcement, cities, vendors, and some business and campus representatives supported privacy guardrails but said the 72-hour retention limit, warrant requirements, and other restrictions were too strict and could hinder investigations, victim recovery, and parking enforcement. The hearing ended with testimony still underway and no vote or final action reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a practicing privacy attorney, law professor, and constituent of the 26th Legislative District, and
• To summarize the proposed substitute to the extent practicable...
• ballot, sponsors must collect signatures from voters, and our state's current pay-per-signature practice
• And so it is our own experience with initiatives that has led us to believe that that practice needs
• Since arriving here in July, I've personally encountered misleading practices driven by per-signature

Summary: The committee held public hearings on six bills. SB 6081 would protect sex designation information and related records from public disclosure, limit sharing of such information by the Department of Licensing and Department of Health, and allow denial of records requests when disclosure could cause harm or disenfranchisement. The sponsor and many supporters, including transgender Washingtonians, privacy advocates, and allied organizations, said the bill would close a privacy gap and reduce doxing, harassment, and targeting; one witness opposed it on grounds of record accuracy, law enforcement, and concerns about sports and public safety. No vote was taken. SB 5902 would update voter notification and address-change procedures by allowing more flexible forms of voter registration updates, reducing mailed notices in some automatic registration situations, and expanding electronic communication options. The sponsor and county auditors said it would improve efficiency, reduce confusion, and save counties money; testimony was generally supportive. The hearing then moved to SB 6034, which would codify the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs as a cabinet-level agency and require ongoing training and reporting on government-to-government relations with tribes. The sponsor and tribal representatives supported the bill as a technical fix and a commitment to tribal sovereignty, and no action was taken. SB 6035 would require regular county and state meetings with tribes on election access and authorize an electronic ballot return portal for certain voters, including military, overseas, disabled, and some tribal voters. Supporters said it would improve access and collaboration, while the Secretary of State, Verified Voting, and others raised cybersecurity and secret-ballot concerns about the electronic portal; several witnesses also opposed that portion while supporting tribal outreach and drop boxes. SB 5892 would centralize requests for voter registration database records through the Secretary of State and make unauthorized disclosure of protected voter data a felony; supporters framed it as protecting voter privacy and resisting federal overreach, while opponents argued it would hinder voter-roll maintenance and transparency. Finally, SB 5973 would ban pay-per-signature compensation for initiative and referendum signature gathering and require 1,000 supporting signatures before a ballot title is issued; supporters said it would reduce fraud, misleading tactics, and ballot-title shopping, while opponents called it an added barrier to direct democracy. The committee heard extensive testimony on all bills, but the transcript does not show any votes or executive action taken during this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is in alignment with national best practice for juvenile justice facilities, adequate programming
• So it's a practical bill to address two regulatory qualifications or mandates that just don't operate
• This approach aligns with best practices and supports both children and the workforce.
• Over the interim, we work with child care providers and advocates to identify practical changes that
• This technical fix will actually align the RCW with a long-term practice within these facilities.

Bills: HB1544, HB2219, HB2253

Keywords: child welfare, risk assessment, investigation, child abuse, neglect, HB 2219, child care licensing, early learning, DCYF, Department of Children Youth and Families, Washington child care, preschool licensing, family child care, child care centers, nature-based child care, outdoor preschool, mixed-age ratios, staff-to-child ratio, group size, zero tolerance

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we talk about inclusive practices, when we talk about the K-12 realm on how we can get children
• training network, which provides supports for districts around increasing inclusionary practices in
• So what are best practices, what is the system coming up with, what are we coming up with nationally
• or across the state that are best practices, are innovative solutions, and how can we make sure that
• People are making plans and there's practice. So it's like your brain doesn't even get a break.

Bills: HB1634

Keywords: mental health, behavioral support, education, school districts, student assistance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This committee is charged with learning about new and effective practices that enhance student outcomes
• Obviously the suggested practices for safety's the do's and don'ts.
• Best practice that we are.
• This making sure reinforcing the fact that this is the best practice.
• Them will go to have a one. >> I wanted to just give you a couple of very practical examples.

Transcript Highlights:

• And 35.5% worked in other health facilities, which included private practice or smaller clinics. 80.6%
• It's really hard when we look at reimbursements because I know my doctor has moved to a boutique practice
• He was in a private practice in a rural area.
• I would like to say that I was in Billing and Collections as a practice management person for over 30
• This is unheard of in any kind of practice management.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we're very much in favor of this, but I, I'm not in favor of throwing out the instructional practices
• We value the other pieces is that it outlawed some tried and true practices.
• So with that, um, what are some promising practices or obstacles that you're encountering in improving
• I will go down to Superintendent White on the end around what are some promising practices that you're
• Uh, I have very practical questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an evidence-based practice, a wraparound service, and it's also paid for performance, so all good
• Ending this practice has been supported by Republicans and Democrats nationwide.
• But make no mistake, eliminating this practice will not solve poverty for people with disabilities, and
• You will hear arguments saying that ending this practice will result in people with disabilities losing
• We must ensure that we do not ever continue the practice. of removing the dignity and worth from every

Transcript Highlights:

• So all I'm saying is that particular practice does not produce the result that we want, and it further
• And a good portion of them, except for the first one, are the result of this practice.
• By reinforcing responsible recycling practices and shutting down a gateway for illegal activity, House
• At the end of the day, I think that this is a practical measure. We are being responsible.
• The effectiveness of gunshot detection technology in informing law enforcement practices. to measure

Bills: HB1455, HB1777, HB2101, HB2136, HB2609, HB3142, HB3552, HB3846, HB4155, HB4514, HB4879, HB4995, HB5014, HB5139, HB5228, HB5436, HCR40

Keywords: mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation

Transcript Highlights:

• Hospitals regularly are forced to sue health plans over payment practices.
• We certainly believe that the accountability needs to go both ways, and the abusive practices of health
• Those practices are well documented, or we can keep things the way they are and let providers and health
• Second part of this is a critical need to curb abusive PBM audit practices.
• However, in practice, that coverage is out of reach.

Transcript Highlights:

• But if we're talking about NADOs, they've been practicing here.
• No training, no regulatory practices put in place to tell these people you can’t do this.
• No regulatory practices are put in place to tell these people, you can’t do this.
• I'm here today as a voice for my brother and others who were victimized by this practice.
• As you get into your practice, you need to continue training, like an athlete.

Bills: SB1406, SB1681, SB2480, SB2721

Keywords: body donation, medical science, forensic science, willed body program, informed consent, boarding home, boarding home facility, adult care home, group home, assisted living, county reporting, municipal reporting, annual report, reasonable accommodation, fair housing, disability accommodation, local ordinance, permit requirement, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 2480, which would clarify that the Texas Medical Board may collect license renewal surcharge fees from all licensees to fund the Texas Physician Health Program and related administrative costs. The bill author explained the funding fix was needed after prior language was found to allow surcharges only for physicians and physician assistants. Witnesses from the Texas Physician Health Program supported the measure and described the program’s confidential monitoring and treatment services; members asked about the fee amount, which was described as capped at $15 per two-year registration cycle. The bill was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bills 1406 and 2721, both authored by Senator Parker, addressing the handling of human remains by non-transplant anatomical donation organizations, willed body programs, and related facilities. Senator Parker and several witnesses described alleged abuses involving unclaimed bodies, consent problems, body leasing, hotel-based dissections, and mishandling of cremains, and argued for strict licensing, inspections, transparency, and criminal penalties. Supporters included families of deceased veterans and other relatives, a biomedical ethicist, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, and some public safety and hotel industry representatives who said legitimate training should continue but bad actors should be shut down. Opponents or cautious witnesses from accredited donation organizations and bioskills labs said they support stronger oversight but warned the bills could unintentionally disrupt legitimate medical education and urged clearer language and implementation of existing law. Both bills were left pending. Senate Bill 1681, by Senator Menendez, would require counties and municipalities that regulate boarding homes to report facility standards and related information to the Health and Human Services Commission. The author said the bill is intended to improve state oversight of boarding homes that serve elderly and disabled residents and to address abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The bill was left pending after brief discussion. After the testimony portion, the committee returned to voting on pending business and unanimously reported Senate Bills 527, 912, 1580, 1952, and 2032 to the Senate with recommendations that they do pass and be printed, and each was also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 407 and reported the substitute favorably, with six ayes and three nays. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 500 as pending business.

Transcript Highlights:

• stakeholder feedback and establishes a strong framework for pole standards that is comprehensive and practical
• Lastly, this bill clarifies some confusion we've seen in practice by stating that the disclosure notice
• It's been the practice of data brokers to try to get around that law.
• It's been the practice of data brokers to try to get around that law.
• But with that, I'd be happy. ...come together to make this a really practical solution.

Bills: SB438, SB512, SB647, SB648, SB1495, SB2121, SB2145, SB2154, SB2167, SB2184, SB2211, SB2268, SB2349, SB2443, SB2629, SB2702, SB2902

Keywords: SB 438, Texas, State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative law judge, ALJ, public information act, open records, confidentiality, privacy, home address, home telephone number, emergency contact information, social security number, family members, Government Code 552.117, Government Code 552.1175, Tax Code 25.025, public records, government transparency

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and first voted out several pending bills. Senate Bill 1612 was reported favorably to the full Senate with objections sent to the local and contested calendar. The committee then adopted committee substitutes and favorably reported Senate Bills 2717, 1468, 1642, and 1789, with 1642 and 1789 sent to the floor. SB 2717 would create the Texas Energy Efficiency Council and add agencies to it; SB 1468 and SB 1642 were discussed as changes affecting utility and insurance-related structures; and SB 1789 would establish pole standards, with the author saying it would clarify PUC authority and create more practical statewide standards. The committee also heard an ERCOT update from Pablo Vegas, who said Texas load growth remains strong but ERCOT is adjusting its large-load forecast downward using historical delays and realization rates for data centers and other large loads. He said the adjusted forecast is still very high, but more realistic for planning, and members discussed reliability, generation timelines, demand response, and the role of Senate Bill 6 in helping model large data centers as flexible load. The committee then took testimony on a series of bills and left most pending after public comment. SB 2629 would allow condominium and property owners associations to hold meetings and vote electronically; testimony supported it as a way to improve access, though some members expressed concern about overuse of virtual meetings. SB 2702 would let nationally certified professionals test backflow prevention assemblies instead of requiring a separate TCEQ license, and was supported as a workforce and public health measure. SB 2167 would let TDLR pause new massage-establishment license applications when an applicant is subject to a human trafficking emergency order or pending SOAH case. SB 2349 would exempt short-term residential leases and certain leasebacks from floodplain disclosure requirements while allowing the notice to be included in the lease packet. SB 2121 would tighten the data broker registry law from the prior session, and SB 2443 would allow TDLR to use electronic delivery for notices and contested-case documents. Additional bills focused on consumer protection, housing, and regulatory administration. SB 2902 would help victims of coerced debt and identity theft stop collection efforts by requiring proof such as a court order or FTC report; advocates said it would protect survivors while still preventing fraud. SB 512 would bar money transmission license holders from fining users for terms-of-service violations in a way that forfeits account funds, and supporters framed it as a protection against private financial penalties. SB 2145 would allow public improvement districts and tax increment finance districts to meet virtually with at least one member physically present, while SB 2268 would give the PUC flexibility to extend Texas Energy Fund loan deadlines in certain cases. SB 1495 would create an advisory board for electric vehicle supply equipment standards, SB 2154 would extend statewide regulation to delivery network companies, SB 2184 would lower the age for pyrotechnic operator and fireworks display licenses from 21 to 18, SB 438 would expand confidentiality protections for SOAH administrative law judges, SB 2211 would treat digital products and desalinated water as industrial products to support combined energy-water projects, and SB 647 would strengthen title-theft protections by improving notice and clerk authority to reject fraudulent filings. Most of these bills were left pending after testimony, and several drew support from industry, consumer, or advocacy witnesses along with some member concerns about electronic meetings, licensing, and data accuracy.