Transcript Highlights:

• We have a budget change proposal requesting $17.5 million for an outreach and engagement plan.
• We have a budget change proposal requesting $17.5 million for an outreach and engagement plan.
• In the governor's proposed budget, we requested $17.5 million for outreach.
• But that is part of the $238 million requests from counties in this space. Got it.
• And so we urge legislators to consider long-term success.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Ashley Lennertz, and I serve as the Legislative Director for Texas.
• You brought up points that are already in the legislation. I'm sorry, go ahead.
• I request that we keep the fee-for-service model.
• We want to thank Senator Sparks for this important work. ...piece of legislation, and we request your
• The TMA feels that SB 1318 strikes an appropriate balance.

Bills: SB397 , SB481 , SB596 , SB760 , SB855 , SB1195 , SB1196 , SB1233 , SB1257 , SB1318 , SB1368 , SB1388 , SB1398 , SB1524 , SB1558 , SB1589 , SB1677 , SB1792 , SB2034

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: SB 397, telemedicine, telehealth, teledentistry, remote care, virtual care, consent documentation, patient consent, data collection, data sharing, audio-only telehealth, in-person examination, irreversible medical procedure, health professional regulation, Occupations Code, Texas Health and Human Services, medical records, provider compliance, data privacy, consumer rights

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> with Dan kidsburg who's my legislative with Dan kidsburg who's my legislative director<00:21:42.000
• <00:26:00.919><c> for</c><00:26:01.200><c> agency</c> Appropriations for agency Appropriations for agency
• </c><00:31:52.080><c> for</c> done through competitive request for done through competitive request for
• </c><01:23:52.960><c> from</c> are you meeting with legislators from are you meeting with legislators
• intent that's built into the legislative intent that's built into the legislation<01:40:05.719><c> is

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um the legislative manager for HGEA.
• I'll request for Director Hashimoto.
• </c><00:18:47.760><c> but</c> the subject of a repricing request but the subject of a repricing request
• the form of a request for shortage.
• the form of a request for shortage.

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several measures relating to public employment, the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF), retirement benefits, and cafeteria plans. HB 2472 and HB 2276, both concerning EUTF staff and investment office staff salaries, drew support from the trust fund and labor groups, and no opposition was heard in person. HB 2272 and HB 2273, emergency appropriations for public employment cost items, were supported by the administration and labor representatives; members briefly clarified which bargaining units were covered. A longer discussion centered on HB 1664, which would address a dispute mechanism for EUTF-related negotiations. HGEA said the current process lacks a dispute resolution path and that the bill would allow interest arbitration when the state and union disagree. The Department of Human Resources Development and the Budget and Finance director raised concerns about consistency across bargaining units and the role of an arbitrator unfamiliar with the complexities of the system. Senator Moriwaki questioned whether another dispute forum might be more appropriate, but no alternative resolution was settled. The committee also heard HB 1655, which would make retirement benefits negotiable, and HB 1658, concerning collective bargaining repricing. ERS opposed HB 1655, saying it could create administrative and tax problems if retirement benefits were negotiated separately across many bargaining units, while UPW, HGEA, HSTA, and UPA supported it as a bargaining issue. On HB 1658, DHRD explained that repricing is an internal classification tool meant to preserve equal pay for equal work, not to address market pay, and said a single arbitrator or the Merit Appeals Board could handle disputes; HGEA preferred a neutral arbitrator and opposed the Merit Appeals Board as too employer-controlled. The final measure, HB 1661 on cafeteria plans, was supported by UPW and HGEA. DHRD said it planned to raise the maximum contribution through rulemaking but needed to manage plan solvency and timing because IRS limits change on a calendar-year basis while the state plan runs on a fiscal year. The committee then moved into decision-making and adopted recommendations to pass HB 2472 and HB 2276 as amended/unamended after a brief correction to the vote language.

Transcript Highlights:

• A28 is basically a technical change to the House language regarding the conditions in which the legislative
• </c> President, legislative auditor policy. President, legislative auditor policy.
• </c> conditions in which the legislative conditions in which the legislative auditor<00:01:56.560><c>
• The state demographer and the legislative task force on aging provides a clear directive.
• It's only triggered when funding is not appropriated for agencies to provide this oversight.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think that this is a piece of legislation that will address that issue.
• We are signed in as other on this legislation today. As Mr. Vick and as Mr.
• And would they all agree that this is an appropriate use of that account?
• And would they all agree that this is an appropriate use of that account?
• And would they all agree that this is an appropriate use of that account?

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several insurance and consumer protection bills. On engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5928, staff and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner described wildfire risk score and model disclosure requirements for homeowners, including notices when policies are nonrenewed, canceled, or premiums are adversely affected, plus insurer website disclosures about mitigation discounts and rate filing transparency. Supporters, including the OIC, AARP, the mayor of Medical Lake, and a fire chief, said the bill would improve transparency, help homeowners understand and reduce wildfire risk, and protect consumers facing cancellations and rising premiums. Industry witnesses said they supported the goal but warned the bill could add regulatory cost and complexity, and some urged narrower, simpler disclosure language and a delayed implementation date. On engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6031, which would expand the insurance fraud program and create a standalone Class B felony for insurance fraud, the OIC and AARP supported the bill as a tool against organized fraud and restitution for victims. A criminal defense representative raised concerns that the new felony language overlaps with existing misdemeanor insurance fraud law and could create conflicting statutes and harsher penalties for the same conduct. The committee also heard testimony that the bill had already incorporated amendments limiting criminal investigators’ role in regulatory investigations and focusing them on complex schemes. The committee then heard substitute Senate Bill 6248 on travel insurance, described as largely mirroring a House bill already passed by the committee. Testimony from the travel insurance industry said agreed-upon amendments had been incorporated, including changes addressing conflict-of-interest concerns, and urged the bill’s advancement. Finally, the committee heard substitute Senate Bill 6079, which would create the Strengthen Washington Homes grant program to fund wildfire home-hardening and prohibit insurers from using wildfire risk as a disqualifying factor for homes meeting IBHS wildfire-prepared standards. The OIC, fire commissioners, AARP, and the prime sponsor supported the bill as a way to reduce nonrenewals and improve insurability, while insurers opposed Section 7, arguing it could interfere with underwriting and should be removed if the bill is to remain a grant program. The committee also began hearing engrossed Senate Bill 5280 on virtual currency kiosks, with staff and the Department of Financial Institutions describing daily transaction caps, fee limits, disclosures, and receipts to curb fraud; consumer protection and law enforcement witnesses supported the bill, while industry witnesses raised concerns about burdens on compliant businesses and passive retail hosts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please bless our hearts that they might be expanded, that we might have the appropriate feelings toward
• Please bless our hearts that they might be expanded, that we might have the appropriate feelings toward
• And whereas, without appropriate intervention by speech, language, and hearing professionals, people
• The legislation listed below made the following recommendation: HB 2003 do pass as amended.
• Another area where it was not requested, and it kind of leaves the department in limbo.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A quorum call has been requested. Members, please activate your machines upon entering the chamber.
• We had legislation here.
• So with that, I will yield and ask for advancement at the appropriate time.
• Ropeca has been requested. If you favor the advancement, you vote aye.
• All favors roll call has been requested on the motion.

Bills: SB1778 , SB1570 , SB134 , SB1966 , SB1636 , SB1725 , SB1726 , SB259 , SB504 , SB592 , SB2030 , SB1572 , SB843 , SB1242 , SB1255 , SB1262 , SB1264 , SB1286 , SB1581 , SB1290 , SB1316 , SB1319 , SB1369 , SB1379 , SB1381 , SB1400 , SB1427 , SB1436 , SB1461 , SB1496 , SB1509 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB904 , SB1592 , SB1645 , SB1684 , SB1767 , SB1772 , SB1813 , SB1894 , SB1928 , SB1946 , SB1980 , SB2040 , SB2060 , SB2061

Keywords: reading instruction, literacy, educational equity, intervention services, third grade retention, Strong Readers Act, child welfare, child safety, administrative transition, Department of Child Safety and Well-being, Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, juvenile justice, foster care, retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, memorial highways, bridge designations

Transcript Highlights:

• I have, I believe the committee has a draft of some potential legislation or solution that was requested
• If the legislation approaches...
• Many of the agencies, because we did ask specific questions as requested by the Legislative Council,
• on some legislation, I think it was on page three. that they were working on some legislation.
• We had requested a $25,000 budget from Chairman Hogue, Chairman of Legislative Management, for the study

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee was called to order, a quorum was established, and the minutes from the prior meeting were approved. The first major presentation came from Montana Public Employees Retirement System executive director William Hollahan, who gave an overview of Montana’s Volunteer Firefighters’ Compensation Act plan. He explained that the plan covers volunteer firefighters in unincorporated areas, is funded by 5% of state fire insurance premium taxes, and currently serves 228 departments with about 2,936 active members and 1,242 retirees. He described eligibility rules, annual training and reporting requirements, benefit levels for partial and full pensions, disability, death, medical, and funeral benefits, and said the plan is actuarially sound with roughly $60 million in assets and a funded ratio slightly above 100%. Committee members asked about prior-service credit, whether EMS personnel are included, the effect on recruitment and retention, and whether expanding coverage would require a funding analysis; Hollahan said prior service is not credited, EMS is not currently included, and any expansion would need financial review. Tim Walleen of Workforce Safety and Insurance then presented a draft North Dakota workers’ compensation solution for volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS personnel. He explained that volunteer responders are already covered by workers’ comp for medical and wage-loss benefits, but the proposal would set a minimum annual wage of $30,000 for calculating wage-loss benefits for qualifying volunteers, with the benefit paid at two-thirds of that amount. Representative Porter suggested tying the volunteer definition to existing code rather than a fixed dollar amount, and Walleen agreed. Questions focused on whether search and rescue or other volunteer emergency services could be included, whether departments would face new paperwork, and whether volunteer organizations can already elect coverage; Walleen said there would be no additional paperwork and that volunteer coverage is already available. The committee also heard from volunteer fire service representatives and the state fire marshal. An Oakes-area firefighter, Mr. Olson, testified that small departments are struggling with retention, communication, and administrative burdens, especially around separate bookkeeping and funding rules for donated or fundraising money, and he said departments need clearer guidance from the state. State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark introduced himself and outlined a broader effort to improve education, support, and coordination for fire departments, including a planned 10% audit of certificates of existence beginning in 2027, more outreach through his office, and better assistance with training, reporting, and grant access. He said his office is authorized under current law to provide these services, but the role has been vague and underused. Finally, Arnagard Rural Fire District Chief Rick Schreiber testified in favor of new recruitment and retention ideas, including retirement-style benefits, health insurance, tax incentives, scholarships, grants, and more remote or regional training. He said volunteer departments are losing members, that local tax and donation funds are already stretched, and that any new retirement or incentive program should be sustainable and likely involve a mix of state and local support.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Aubrey Rodriguez, and I'm a legislative advocate with ACLU California Action.
• My name is Aubrey Rodriguez, and I'm a legislative advocate with ACLU California Action.
• These gaps are preventing other court certificate available for them to request.
• Colleagues, the chair will be recommending an aye at the appropriate time.
• That is not onerous; it is completely appropriate.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills, with testimony split between supporters who framed the measures as targeted fixes and opponents who warned about overcriminalization and unintended consequences. SB 701, by Senator Wahab, drew support from law enforcement and local government groups, who said state law lacks a tool to address the conduct at issue; the ACLU opposed it as duplicative of existing law, while public defenders said they may withdraw opposition after amendments. Because there was no quorum at that point, the bill was held open without a vote. SB 834, by Senator DeRazzo, was presented as a technical cleanup bill to improve California’s automatic record clearance system by preventing outdated “pending” charges from blocking relief, requiring local court records to match DOJ records, and creating a way for people to obtain proof of relief. It received broad support from criminal justice reform and defense organizations, with no opposition, and the chair indicated support, but no final action was taken during the hearing. SB 248, by Senator Rubio, would require DOJ to send new gun purchasers educational materials during the waiting period about safe storage, suicide prevention, domestic violence, and related resources; supporters called it common-sense education, while one opponent argued the information is already available. The committee voted the bill out on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, but it remained on call pending one additional vote. Senator Rubio’s SB 19, the Safe Schools and Places of Worship Act, would create a new offense for credible threats against schools or houses of worship even when no specific individual is named. Supporters, including law enforcement and Jewish community advocates, said current law leaves a loophole and that the bill would help prevent panic and resource-draining lockdowns; opponents from civil liberties and youth justice groups argued existing law already covers threats and that the bill would worsen the school-to-prison pipeline. After a motion and second, the committee voted due pass to Appropriations, with the measure also left on call. Later, SB 759 by Senator Archuleta, prompted by the killing of Whittier Officer Keith Boyer, would require a court hearing after a third supervision violation or new offense for people on post-release community supervision; supporters said it adds accountability, while opponents said it removes probation discretion and could increase jail and court burdens. The bill passed due pass to Appropriations and was reported as passing. The committee also heard SB 6 by Senator Ashby, which would schedule xylazine as a controlled substance while preserving veterinary use. Supporters, including veterinarians, law enforcement, and a parent who lost a son to a drug-related death, said the drug is increasingly present in fentanyl mixtures and needs to be controlled; opponents from drug policy and civil liberties groups argued scheduling would criminalize users, hinder research, and repeat failed drug-war policies. After extensive debate, the committee voted the bill out due pass to Appropriations, and it passed. Finally, SB 11, the AI Abuse Protection Act, was introduced to regulate AI-generated voice, image, and video replicas, with supporters emphasizing protection against deepfakes and nonconsensual images; the California Chamber of Commerce opposed unless amended, seeking narrower definitions and limits on consumer warnings. The hearing ended while SB 11 was still under discussion, with no final vote reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I rise as Vice Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus in support of SCR 183.
• I rise to request that file item 126, AB 1817, be pulled off the consent calendar at the request of the
• I am requesting a no vote and a roll call. Thank you.
• Senators, Senator Viadaris is requesting a no vote. Senator Richardson is requesting an aye.
• The Senate will be in recess until all legislative business has been received.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:37.400><c> to</c> and decide whether that's appropriate to and decide whether that's appropriate
• We should let legislators elected this fall take it up next year. Thank you.
• ><c> that</c><00:28:48.560><c> the</c> those requested changes that the those requested changes that
• </c> disability waiver or on an appropriate disability waiver or on an appropriate waiver<00:35:36.760
• I'm just any other legislation?

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is also triggered by an appropriation allotment.
• But that's an appropriations conversation, which I sit on appropriations.
• Motion is due passed to the Committee on Appropriations.
• Motion is due pass to the Committee on Appropriations.
• Motion is due pass to the Committee on Appropriations.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so to me, that feels like an appropriate place to put this notice.
• appropriation?
• appropriation?
• I'm afraid for the fate of your bill if it goes to Appropriations.
• Are you trying to put together model legislation?

Bills: HB471 , HB798 , HB947 , HB1140 , HB1186 , HB1195 , HB1222

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: surveillance, price discrimination, consumer protection, automated decision systems, data privacy, broadband, cable service, price increase, notification, digital assets, abandonment, custodian, escheatment, blockchain, cryptocurrency, unclaimed property, state treasurer, telecommunications, spoofing, call authentication

Transcript Highlights:

• However, I'm just wondering the detail that's being requested, the presentation of how...
• And this comes from the experience of having an education line officer come to my pueblo and request
• In the past, there have been requirements around requests for reimbursement.
• And Legislative Navajo to say, yes, you have the authority to go ahead and advocate for yourselves.
• At the legislative level, we are very much concerned.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice will now come to order.
• I think in the current year, we had $123 million in VOCA funds appropriated.
• I think in the current year, we had 123 million in VOCA funds appropriated.
• And so these funds are used to a drastic motion. and VOCA funds appropriated.
• Moderate risk, oftentimes from a policy standpoint or legislative request standpoint, you'll see that

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Summary: The committee met to hear an overview of the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice budget area and then received performance-measure presentations from the Department of Corrections, the Commission on Offender Review, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Staff reviewed the roughly $7.4 billion criminal justice and judiciary budget, noting major funding areas such as corrections, law enforcement, victim services, courts, and due process, along with recent investments in prison health care, security equipment, fentanyl enforcement, court staffing, and juvenile justice salaries and education programs. Secretary Dixon of the Department of Corrections described staffing and population pressures, including growth in inmate population, overtime-driven deficits, and the opening of additional housing units. He emphasized the department’s use of performance measures and highlighted reforms such as incentivized prisons, administrative management units, reentry planning, faith-based programs, and expanded education and vocational training. Members asked about teacher hiring, public defender pay parity, fentanyl funding, staffing capacity, and the role of the National Guard; Dixon said teacher vacancies had improved, public defenders had received comparable pay increases, fentanyl funding would be addressed further by FDLE, and the Guard had helped stabilize staffing. The Commission on Offender Review reported on parole, conditional release, addiction recovery supervision, and revocations, saying its recidivism/success rates had improved over a three-year measurement period. Senator Rouson pressed the commission on clemency and pardons, saying that work was omitted from the presentation and asking for backlog and case data; the commission said it did not have those figures on hand and would follow up. The committee also discussed a conditional medical release pilot study, and members questioned the report’s conclusion that no suitable elderly inmate population could be identified, asking what criteria were used and whether stakeholders were consulted. Secretary Hall of the Department of Juvenile Justice outlined the agency’s prevention-to-residential continuum and its emphasis on education, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based programming. He said salary increases had reduced vacancies, juvenile arrests and residential commitments had fallen sharply over time, and tools such as civil citations, risk assessments, and quality-improvement reviews were being used to guide placements and services. Hall also described the department’s use of dashboards, monthly data check-ins, and the dispositional matrix to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Transcript Highlights:

• :35:07.440><c> support</c> we're bringing legislation to support we're bringing legislation to support
• I think that's appropriate for debate.
• I think that's appropriate for debate.
• And the idea appropriate for debate.
• <01:39:40.159><c> meeting</c> Appropriations Committee will be meeting Appropriations Committee will

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are also requesting a local match reduction of 9,895,200, bringing the total request for this meeting
• The request is for approval of the requested construction funding and full local match reduction for
• The district requested.
• Our teams have reached out as part of the legislative request, adding the New Mexico Military Institute
• Some of them are requesting the vehicle; some are requesting the charging infrastructure, but this is

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• Darya Farivar, State Representative from the 46th Legislative District in Northeast Seattle.
• A fiscal note has been requested, but is not yet available.
• So this is a direct piece of legislation to deal with... ...is a direct piece of legislation to deal
• A fiscal note has been requested, but is not yet available.
• This is agency request legislation from the Office of the Secretary of State and the State Uniform Law

Bills: HB2210 , HB2123 , HB2206 , HB2281 , HB2411

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: local representation, fair elections, government accountability, voter rights, transparency, foreign nationals, elections, Washington state, voter participation, government oversight, voting rights, uniform standards, overseas voting, civilian voting, state legislation, tribal relations, government, state policy, sovereignty, federalism

Transcript Highlights:

• Many legislators.
• </c> applying the revenue appropriately applying the revenue appropriately especially<00:42:22.240><c
• </c> many years seeking appropriate many years seeking appropriate adjustments<00:42:47.040><c> to</c
• </c> were passed in the 2023 legislative were passed in the 2023 legislative session<00:43:08.839><c>
• </c><01:18:12.239><c> canif</c> increased funding appropriation canif increased funding appropriation

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all