Transcript Highlights:

• In 2022, we tested a dual 600-foot, 50-foot gate design through 111 test runs at our own simulation center

Bills: HB16 , HB1618 , HB2692 , HB2712 , HB2970 , HB3609 , HB3628 , HB16

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: water infrastructure, Texas Water Development Board, financial assistance, water supply projects, rural municipalities, water access assessment, aquifer storage, Edwards Aquifer, water injection, environmental regulations, groundwater management, San Antonio River, pollution control, flood management, water quality, conservation district, bonds, utility rates, ratemaking, water services

Transcript Highlights:

• You passed the test on all of your questions.
• this passes, will you be available to maybe volunteer as an investigator or babysit for a weekend and test

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee considered three bills and reported all of them favorably by unanimous votes. HB 355, by Rep. Jay Alvarez, would allow public K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions to purchase, use, and maintain FDA-approved emergency opioid antagonists rather than being limited to naloxone. The bill was described as giving schools more flexibility and a lower-cost option for overdose response; it received supportive public testimony and passed 18-0. HB 531, by Rep. Hanchowski, expands background screening requirements for child care facilities and programs to include certain recreational enrichment programs, and creates a statewide public awareness campaign about screening requirements. An amendment narrowed the definition of recreational enrichment programs to in-person dance, gymnastics, and martial arts lessons and conformed a statutory cross-reference; the amendment was adopted without objection. The bill then passed 18-0, with support from Florida Smart Justice Alliance and some discussion about strengthening enforcement against bad actors. HB 1127, by Rep. Weinberger, addresses child welfare by creating a treatment foster care pilot program for high-acuity children, directing DCF to study residential treatment capacity, and improving data collection on commercially sexually exploited children. The bill also includes recruitment and funding proposals for foster parents and workforce strategies for DCF. Members praised the bill’s focus on difficult cases and system gaps, public testimony was supportive, and the bill passed 18-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have been thoroughly tested.
• They have been thoroughly tested.
• They have been thoroughly tested.
• They have been thoroughly tested.
• The last card I have is Rosemary Malfy. but left written test. but left written test.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All three years in the budget window remain in Test 1.
• For schools, you heard that Test 1 is operative for Proposition 98.
• For schools, you heard that test one is operative for Proposition 98.
• It says revenues from this fee increase will backfill the loss in testing revenues from the subject matter
• funding will help build capacity and improve practices, and we believe the investment in subject matter testing

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state of Louisiana required PCR testing, although the test could provide a positive response as many
• If they feel like, well, I’m going to be regulated, inspected, tested, whatever, all I want to do is
• Chasson’s house somewhere, he’s not going to have inspections, tests, nothing if he’s not receiving any
• Chasson's house somewhere, he's not going to have inspections, tests, nothing if he's not receiving any

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The committee first heard HB 1076, which would repeal the sunset date for the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board. The bill was presented as a simple continuation measure, and Rep. Stagney moved to report it favorably; the motion passed without objection. The committee then took up HB 475 on artificial intelligence in health care. The author explained that the bill was intended to require disclosure when AI or recording software is used to transcribe patient encounters, and an amendment changed the proposal from patient consent/opt-out to disclosure only. The amendment was adopted, and HB 475 was reported favorably with amendments. HB 740, dealing with Medicaid managed care, was amended with technical changes and then presented as a way to let providers in the coordinated system of care appeal claim denials through the same independent review process used by Medicaid managed care plans. The Louisiana Hospital Association supported the bill, and it was reported favorably with amendments. HB 926, which would have barred public facilities from restricting access based on vaccination status and related medical decisions, drew testimony from supporters who framed it as a medical autonomy and informed-consent measure. After questions about public versus private facilities and whether the bill could affect hospitals or disease-based restrictions, Rep. Cruz moved to voluntarily defer the bill, and it was deferred without objection. The committee then considered HB 457 on housing standards for organizations serving people experiencing homelessness. The author said the bill was prompted by concerns about unsafe and unsanitary group homes and would direct LDH and the Fire Marshal to establish minimum standards for safety, sanitation, privacy, and habitability. Supporters said the bill would protect vulnerable residents, while opponents, including Oxford House and the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, warned it could conflict with federal fair housing protections and impose burdens that could reduce recovery housing and other services. After extensive debate, the bill was reported favorably with amendments by a recorded vote. Finally, HB 616, which would give the legislative auditor oversight of publicly funded homeless service providers, was heard with testimony from homeless service organizations that argued the bill was duplicative, costly, and could expose sensitive HMIS data; the bill remained under discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• personal information, my shopping habits, the name of my first dog, all of those elements, perhaps my DNA tests
• personal information, my shopping habits, the name of my first dog, all of those elements, perhaps my DNA tests
• Researchers testing these products have found some alarming outcomes.
• Researchers testing these products have found some alarming outcomes.
• manufacturing of AI chatbot-powered toys to allow us the proper time to craft appropriate regulations and a testing

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee convened for its first hearing, took roll, and heard several privacy- and AI-related bills. SB 1106 by Senator Cabaldon would shorten the Delete Act data broker deletion deadline from 45 days to 30 days; it drew support from a technology and democracy group, no opposition testimony, and was moved out on a due pass to Appropriations vote. SB 923 by Senator Becker would expand the CCPA deletion right to cover all personal information held by a business and require online-only businesses to offer a web form or similar method for privacy requests; supporters included the California Privacy Protection Agency and privacy advocates, while business groups raised concerns about scope, compliance, and the email/web-form requirement. The bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations, with some members noting they were laying off or wanted further amendments. The committee also heard SB 1142, the Digital Dignity Act, which would regulate digital replicas and deepfakes on large online platforms, including takedown and revocation procedures and penalties. Supporters said it would protect Californians from fraud, harassment, and nonconsensual synthetic likeness use; opponents, including the Motion Picture Association, CCIA, TechNet, and others, raised First Amendment, due process, Section 230, and overbreadth concerns, especially around deceased persons and the 48-hour takedown process. Members said they supported the bill but wanted further work before Judiciary, and it passed 6-0 as amended to Judiciary. The committee also adopted its rules without objection. Later, SB 867 by Senator Padilla would impose a four-year moratorium on the sale and manufacture of AI chatbot-powered toys for children, citing research showing unsafe, sexually explicit, or privacy-invasive behavior; child advocacy and consumer groups supported it, while retailers and civil justice groups sought narrower definitions and liability protections. It passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 1247 would give child influencers, once adults, a right to request deletion or modification of images and likenesses used in monetized social media content; it drew no support testimony but was opposed by a civil justice group over the creation of a new private right of action, and it passed 7-0 to Judiciary. SB 930, the consent-calendar item, was approved 7-0. The committee then heard SB 1114, which would restrict sharing of state-collected data related to LGBTQ Californians absent an enforceable order, with supporters arguing it would protect sensitive data from misuse by federal agencies and preserve trust in state programs. It passed 6-0 to Appropriations. SB 1159 would let local governments treat AI bots and agents differently from people for Brown Act, public records, and related civic participation laws, in response to AI-generated comment floods; supporters from environmental, local government, and nonprofit groups said it was needed to preserve human participation, while opponents argued the bill should focus on fraud rather than AI and warned about overreach. The bill passed 9-0 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1050 would require disclosures when synthetic performers are used in advertisements; labor and consumer advocates supported it as a truth-in-advertising measure, while media and industry groups objected that it was overbroad and should be narrowed to misleading ads and aligned with existing law. Members signaled support for the bill’s goal but also raised concerns about scope and consistency with current false-advertising rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• investments in recruitment, including removing the financial barriers to entry into the profession, such as test
• investments in recruitment, including removing the financial barriers to entry into the profession, such as test
• From combo classes to many students in general ed classes on IEPs and 504s and high-stakes state testing
• The governor's budget proposes various statutory amendments to reduce testing barriers that can often
• expand allowable majors for subject matter competency, and move away from a reliance on standardized testing

Summary: The committee heard an informational discussion on California’s educator pipeline and shortages, with testimony from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Learning Policy Institute, CSU educator preparation leaders, and CTA. Witnesses said state investments of more than $2.1 billion have helped rebuild teacher supply, with credential issuance and preparation enrollment rebounding after COVID, but demand remains high because of turnover, early-career attrition, and persistent vacancies. Panelists emphasized that shortages are especially acute in special education, bilingual education, STEM, and in high-need schools and regions, and that underprepared teachers, substitutes, and emergency permits remain heavily used. Several speakers stressed that retention, working conditions, compensation, and stable funding are as important as recruitment. Members focused on whether current data systems are sufficient to measure need and track where teachers end up working. The Commission said it can monitor assignments for credential alignment, but does not have full employment data to determine whether grant recipients or credentialed teachers are actually deployed in the shortage areas for which they were trained. The chair asked for better regional and subject-area data, and the committee discussed the risk that layoffs and budget instability could undermine teacher pipeline investments. CSU representatives urged stronger support for student-teacher stipends, better coordination with districts, more capacity for special education preparation, and more stable CSU funding to expand educator preparation. CTA testified that school climate, class size, health benefits, and administrative support are essential to retaining teachers. The committee then moved to budget proposals. For the Golden State Teacher Grant Program, Finance proposed a $14.4 million reappropriation for 2026-27, and the Student Aid Commission supported continued funding, saying the program has influenced candidates’ decisions to enter teaching and work in priority schools. For educator residencies, Finance proposed $250 million one-time Proposition 98 funding through 2029-30; the LAO said it could be adopted if aligned with legislative priorities, and CTC said the program has strong uptake and supports retention. For the computer science supplementary authorization grant, Finance proposed increasing awards from $2,500 to $6,000 and reducing the match requirement, but the LAO recommended rejecting the change because only about one-fifth of the original funding has been used. The committee also discussed registered apprenticeship pathways, rural access, and whether federal Title II, Title III, or IDEA funds could support bilingual and special education teacher preparation. Several items were held open for further information and follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• done to improve that, and one of the factors, I was told, is the ability for students to take the test
• And one of the factors, I was told, is the ability for students to take the test immediately after graduation
• done to improve that, and one of the factors, I was told, is the ability for students to take the test
• And one of the factors, I was told, is the ability for students to take the test immediately after graduation
• NCLEX much sooner to your point, that the distance, the time from finishing your program to taking the test

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• $11, almost $12,000 for sale of garbage bags, I mean, I'm sorry, that just doesn't pass the smell test
• That doesn't pass the smell test. Very good point, sir.
• Adequate supporting documentation was not provided for tested disbursements of $2,169, in noncompliance
• receipts were not prepared for six customer payments, but the cash was included in the 10 deposits tested
• The total of cash payments not included in the cash receipts was over $619, and the total deposits tested

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas Arizona continues to lead the nation in the development, testing, and integration of advanced
• And whereas Arizona continues to lead the nation in the development, testing, and integration of advanced
• basket, should be able to be celebrated by their parents with a soda after school if they do well on a test
• basket, should be able to be celebrated by their parents with a soda after school if they do well on a test
• — G-I-L-T-I, Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, also known as net-controlled foreign corporation-tested

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• medical histories, perform physical exams, diagnose illness and injury, order and interpret diagnostic tests
• medical histories, perform physical exams, diagnose illness and injury, order and interpret diagnostic tests
• injury, we order and<00:14:09.839><c> interpret</c><00:14:10.240><c> diagnostic</c><00:14:10.880><c> tests
• ,</c><00:14:11.440><c> develop</c> and interpret diagnostic tests, develop and interpret diagnostic tests

Bills: HB31 , HB31

Committee: House Health

Keywords: absentee voting, disabled, blind, voter assistance, voting rights, SNAP, public assistance, nutritional standards, waiver, food regulation, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, $120 million will go to PFAS remediation, which will include the testing and cleanup of
• from PFAS contamination, that would establish indemnity for farmers and set up a fund for farmers to test
• According to lead testing data from the DEP, more than 80% of the 62,000 taps tested from 1,700 schools
• and child care centers across Massachusetts have tested positive for lead since 2016.

Bills: S2542

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: climate resilience, resilience bond bill, environmental bond, infrastructure spending, flood control, coastal resilience, PFAS, clean water, wetlands, nature-based solutions, housing permitting, flood disclosure, land conservation, biodiversity, forest reserves, municipal vulnerability preparedness, MVP grant program, food security, agricultural resilience, solid waste

Transcript Highlights:

• There has been an enormous amount of innovation and testing, and now the challenges with fewer resources
• value of a car, Re-certifications for eligibility, excluding the value of a car, say, from the asset test
• So from that initial conversation, we built a program to test what is now a model that we're using for
• So we started out with three different counties in Washington State where we are testing this pilot idea
• So we started out with three different counties in Washington state where we are testing this pilot idea

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session on food systems and food security, with no public testimony. The first panel focused on household food security and data. Marie Spiker of the University of Washington explained what food insecurity means, its health impacts, and the importance of reliable measurement, warning that the federal Census food security data is being terminated and that there is no true replacement. She described Washington’s WaFOOD surveys as a useful complement, not a substitute, and noted that they show food insecurity affects households at a range of income levels. Katie Raines of WSDA described the state’s food systems work, the need for shared data and dashboards, and the role of agriculture in both food production and the hunger safety net. Committee members asked about the $2.2 million state food assistance allocation, the scale of the SNAP gap, and how household size, housing costs, and other factors intersect with food insecurity. The committee then heard from Tracy Roof of the University of Richmond on the history of SNAP and its relationship to agriculture. She traced the program from Depression-era commodity distribution through the modern farm bill, emphasizing that food assistance has long functioned both as anti-hunger policy and as an agricultural and economic stabilizer. She highlighted how SNAP expands during recessions, supports retailers and farmers, and has become more important since the Great Recession because participation stayed high even as the economy recovered. Roof also noted that Washington has relatively high SNAP participation and low payment error rates, but that recent federal changes could reduce eligibility and shift more costs to states. Members asked how Washington compares to other states and why the program is structured as it is. A later panel featured the Washington State Food Policy Forum and a joint systems presentation from the Washington Farm Bureau, Washington Retail Association, and Washington Food Industry Association. The Food Policy Forum described its consensus-based recommendations on food insecurity, climate and water, regional food infrastructure, farmland protection, and farm viability, including more support for producer purchasing, water planning, and farmland conservation. The industry groups presented a systems map showing how agriculture, processing, retail, and transportation are interconnected, and argued that rising costs, regulations, labor and fuel expenses, retail theft, and thin margins make it harder to keep farms and stores viable. They said food security depends on store viability and local agricultural profitability, and promised to provide a more detailed list of policy recommendations. The final panel included state agency staff from DSHS, DOH, and WSDA. Bryce Montgomery said the Basic Food program serves about 920,000 Washingtonians monthly and warned that H.R. 1 could require Washington to pay up to 15% of SNAP benefits, broaden work requirements, and restrict immigrant eligibility. Karen Mullen described DOH nutrition programs, including WIC, farmers market nutrition benefits, fruit and vegetable incentives, and a fruit-and-vegetable prescription program, while noting funding instability and the end of SNAP-Ed. WSDA’s Katie Raines began describing ongoing food assistance and farmer support challenges, including farmer mental health and the need to address food insecurity across both producers and consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they're testing all these things in order to sell them under the cottage foods exemption.
• And they have hydrometers.<00:07:35.440><c> So,</c><00:07:35.599><c> they're</c><00:07:35.840><c> testing
• So, they're testing all hydrometers.
• So, they're testing all these<00:07:36.560><c> things</c><00:07:37.120><c> in</c><00:07:37.440><c> order
• biggest challenges we have budgetarily in agriculture, at least, is that the USDA used to pay for testing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In standards, we oversee firefighting testing and certification requirements, ensure that other statewide
• firefighter training, education, certification, and firefighter health and safety programs, as well as testing
• We have contracted with the lab to provide us pressure testing on cyber tools, to provide us state-level
• This question, this Idaho facility, what kind of stress testing goes on there?
• tools that have been funded by government to set a stage for later commercialization, and we want to test

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, then returned to its ongoing budget workshop with the Department of Management Services. DFS’s Division of Risk Management described its role as the state self-insurance fund, covering about 200,000 employees and 27,000 vehicles, paying roughly $150 million in claims last year, and managing a pilot ETS treatment program for veterans and first responders that had 49 patients and 804 treatments as of the latest report. The Division of State Fire Marshal outlined its fire prevention, training, emergency response, and grant programs, including hurricane deployments, the Florida State Fire College, and several capital and grant requests for roof, courtyard, memorial, and equipment needs. The Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation explained how it handles insolvent insurers under Chapter 631, currently administering 14 estates with $1.2 billion in assets and $3.7 billion in liabilities, and said no new receiverships had been opened since February 2023. Members asked about grant backlogs, fire truck procurement delays, memorial repairs, and whether affiliate transfers were occurring in insurer liquidations. Secretary Griffin then updated the committee on DBPR’s implementation of House Bill 1021 on community associations. He said the department had used the new authority to expand education, complaint handling, and ombudsman services, including 10 free standardized courses, a new condo website, and a four-hour board certification course that had already drawn more than 12,000 attendees. He reported that outreach to condominium communities had increased by more than 60%, that complaint filings were up 39% while jurisdictional dismissals dropped to 11%, and that about 81% to 82% of the 65 new positions had been filled. Members pressed him on whether the department had enough authority and funding, how condominium counts are determined, how self-reported structural integrity reserve study data is verified, and whether more public-facing complaint tracking and better reporting from local governments or developers would improve the system. The committee then resumed questioning Secretary Allende of DMS about outstanding budget and operations issues. Members focused on the delayed People First contract extension required by statute, with the secretary saying the delay involved technical and contractual complexity in moving a legacy hard-coded system to the cloud. They also revisited the state data team and data catalog project, asking why a statutory 2022 deadline had not been met, how the four-person team and broader data staff were organized, how many applicants were considered for key positions, and what each role was doing. The secretary said the catalog work was being simplified into six metadata fields and supported by a broader community of practice, but no firm completion date was given during the exchange.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I like to call it the test drive. So I moved to a different kind of service.
• And I get to test that out and I can.
• I think the idea of the test drive, and Kentucky did this, is a good one.
• COLA reform has been beta-tested, as I mentioned, in more than 20 states.
• rely on market competition and for actors to be able to do that. paradigms and thinking through, and test-driving

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It has to really boil down to assets, so it does not meet that test.
• It has to really boil down to assets, so it does not meet that test.
• does<00:25:23.200><c> not</c><00:25:23.360><c> meet</c><00:25:23.640><c> that</c><00:25:24.000><c> test
• </c><00:25:26.159><c> um</c><00:25:27.159><c> you</c><00:25:27.279><c> know</c> does not meet that test
• also um you know does not meet that test also um you know and<00:25:27.600><c> I'm</c><00:25:27.720>

Committee: Senate Rules and Administration - Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are learning, because there are opportunities where teachers will use the cell phone as a tool for a test
• becoming a rep in this committee and hopefully being successful, which is what I hope, is that the testing—local
• , state, federal requirements for testing—more testing than, I think, education, teacher-led education
• , too much. ...testing than, I think, education, teacher-led education, too much computer education.

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met to review Florida’s cell phone and social media literacy law, with Representative Brad Yeager describing the 2023 policy as aimed at removing classroom distractions and teaching students how to use social media responsibly. He said the law was intended to keep phones out of classrooms unless used for instruction, require social media literacy education, and limit access to certain sites on school Wi-Fi and government devices. Yeager said feedback since passage has been mixed: many teachers support it and some have adopted inexpensive shoe-organizer or pouch systems, but implementation varies by school and administrator enforcement. He said he is not currently pursuing a broader statewide mandate. Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez and Timber Creek High School Principal Mr. Wasco described Orange County’s approach as bell-to-bell phone restrictions, while Pasco County’s Dr. Zetchy described a similar policy with some flexibility during lunch or passing periods at the high school level. Both districts said the policy was implemented with parent communication, town halls, surveys, and transition periods, and that concerns about emergencies were addressed by allowing phones to be returned at the end of the day and by establishing procedures for parent contact. They reported few theft problems and said discipline issues related to phones have generally been manageable, though some teachers still struggle with enforcement or with students trying to evade the rules. A major portion of the discussion focused on social media literacy instruction. Orange County said it uses counselor-led programs, Canvas courses, resiliency days, and curriculum materials to teach students about cyberbullying, human trafficking, privacy, and the permanence of online posts, with progress tracked through the learning platform. Pasco said it has some resiliency modules but lacks a fully built-out, pre-made social media curriculum and would welcome more guidance from DOE, especially for high school classrooms where instructional time is limited. Members also asked about student anxiety, 504/IEP accommodations, caregiver students, and parent education; the districts said exceptions are handled through school committees and that parent academies and district resources are being used to help families set boundaries and understand the risks and benefits of phones and social media. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was telling you I didn't know. test, which if this happened to them test, which if this happened to
• changing the seasonal employee definition from 150 days to 180 days, matching the six-month receipts test
• Under current law, a seasonal employee is capped at 150 days even though the employer-side receipts test
• </c><01:40:13.120><c> Thank</c><01:40:13.320><c> you</c><01:40:13.400><c> so</c> unique test.
• Thank you so unique test. Thank you. Thank you so much,<01:40:13.760><c> Mr.

Bills: HF4110 , HF2113 , HF4569 , HF4414

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, paid leave, small employers, employment law, Minnesota Statutes, workforce development, HF4569, Minnesota Paid Leave Law, protected leave, seasonal employee, seasonal worker, hospitality, hospitality industry, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer certification

Transcript Highlights:

• It's taking the ability for, say, a whole committee to read the work as a whole, which is a time-tested
• It's taking all of these checks and balances that have been built into time-tested policies out of the
• ><c> of</c><00:29:12.320><c> meeting</c><00:29:12.640><c> the</c><00:29:12.880><c> First</c> time-tested
• way of meeting the First time-tested way of meeting the First Amendment<00:29:14.399><c> concerns</c
• <00:29:26.000><c> policies</c><00:29:26.480><c> out</c><00:29:26.640><c> of</c> built into time-t tested

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all