Transcript Highlights:

• Next to me is Legislative Auditor Eric Thomas, who has the Zoom open, so Eric will let me know if anyone
• Next to me is Legislative Auditor Eric Thomas, who has the Zoom open, so Eric will let me know if anyone
• So I just want to make sure that legislators know that this process is open.
• So we started with that as our primary focus.
• say I'm a motto agnostic, definitely big on how can we enrich the public school system and free and open

Summary: The committee meeting began with a brief explanation of the renamed Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee subcommittee, now called the Committee to Hear SAO Performance Audits, and a presentation from the State Auditor’s Office on its current biennium performance audit work plan. The auditor described how topics are selected from a large pool of potential audits and highlighted several ongoing or planned audits, including the Liquor and Cannabis Board, oversight of authorized entities serving students with disabilities, the Quality Home Care Initiative, Medicaid managed care versus fee-for-service costs, the Housing Commission tenant ownership follow-up, DSHS vendor payment patterns, implementation of the Since Time Memorial curriculum, and the Washington State ferry system. Members asked about coordination with JLARC to avoid duplication, and the auditor said the offices exchange work plans, monthly updates, and quarterly coordination meetings. The committee then heard the State Auditor’s performance audit on how charter schools identify and support at-risk students. Auditors reviewed four charter schools—Catalyst Public Schools, Innovation High School, Pinnacles Prep, and Rainier Prep—and focused on English language learners, homeless students, and special education students. The audit found the schools met nearly all legal requirements reviewed, with only one area where two schools partially met a language-access requirement. The schools also used several promising practices, including small-group instruction, culturally responsive environments, and multi-tiered systems of support, though the auditors recommended better documentation of procedures to improve consistency. Families interviewed generally reported positive experiences, while noting resource constraints. Committee members asked about how the four schools were selected, whether the audit compared charter populations to home districts, and how MTSS requirements applied to the schools reviewed. The State Auditor’s Office said the sample was chosen for geographic diversity, student population characteristics, and representation from both authorizers, and that K-2 MTSS requirements were not evaluated because they applied to only one school. Representatives from the Charter School Commission and charter school advocates responded positively, emphasizing technical assistance, collaboration, and sharing best practices across schools. Two public testifiers also supported the report and said it highlighted effective practices that could be expanded across charter and traditional public schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank you for your generosity in opening up this hearing to the Legislative Women's Caucus
• I have been honored to lead the California Institute for Women since March 1st The primary mission of
• Thank you for listening to my story and I'm open to any questions. Thank you for your testimony.
• Thus far in the month of March alone, CDCR opened 203 investigations. into allegations of staff sexual
• And when I say movement, not big movement, but the discussions were happening and we're more open to

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our primary concern is wanting to improve fishing in Minnesota through proper management and quality
• that thirty percent of Minnesota's population that is an angler, and we see this as a small step to open
• this, all that would change would be allowing angling from the close in February until the current opener
• conference committee or if you change your hearts and we want to move this separately, I'm always open
• so then that is the highest priority use in the state, and so we don't actually see that this would open

Bills: HF647 , HF2824 , HF1249 , HF623 , HF820

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: water appropriation, aquifer management, potable water, water conservation, environmental policy, fishing regulation, angling, sustainability, biodiversity, game fish, Carley State Park, Minnesota state parks, state lands, park boundary expansion, Wabasha County, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, public lands, land acquisition, park addition

Transcript Highlights:

• Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry you may open on the measure. Thank you Madam Speaker.
• So colleagues, I respectfully ask for the first roll call to be open for co-authors.
• Would you like the first roll to be open for co-authors?
• All debate having ceased, the clerk will open the roll.
• The clerk will open the roll for the consent calendar. All members vote.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have community centers, which allow us to open those to people.
• It allows us to open those to people within the community for funeral receptions, parties, meetings,
• Actually, the primary priority... of that first interim committee was the enhancement and empowerment
• probably going to be going away, and so eliminating that requirement that it be non-state would really open
• here was to have them working on issues that help with things like complying with their audits, the Open

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance regardless of the source of the insurance, allows physician assistants, in addition to primary
• care physicians and autonomous APRNs, to apply for funding through the rural access to primary and preventive
• insurance regardless of the source of the insurance, allows physician assistants, in addition to primary
• care physicians and autonomous APRNs, to apply for funding through the rural access to primary and preventive

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and first considered CS/SB 7012 on child welfare, presented by Senator Graal. The bill addressed three areas: child welfare workforce shortages, higher-acuity children in out-of-home care, and services/data for commercially sexually exploited children. It would create a CPI and case manager recruitment program aimed at former public safety and service workers, convene a workforce work group, establish a four-year treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits identified by DCF based on removal and placement data, and require more detailed, extractable child-level data on commercially sexually exploited children along with a bed capacity study and service gap analysis. Two amendments were adopted: one clarified record retention for redacted assessments, and another attached the appropriation. The committee then heard CS/SB 110 on rural communities from Senator Simon. The bill proposed a broad rural development package, including a state office of rural prosperity, a Renaissance grant program for counties with declining populations, increased housing support, major rural road funding, school consortium funding, and additional health care resources for rural facilities and training. A delete-all amendment was adopted that expanded and refined several provisions, including local sales tax trust fund distributions, county connectivity projects, agritourism marketing support, disaster-impacted rural infrastructure eligibility, insurance and provider eligibility changes, and increased funding for critical access hospitals and rural medical education reimbursement. Both bills drew broad support from local government, education, health care, housing, and rural advocacy representatives. Supporters said the rural bill was especially comprehensive and would help small counties, schools, roads, housing, and health care, while one witness cautioned that road expansion should be balanced with protection of agricultural and natural lands. Senator Bradley and Senator Simon emphasized local control and the importance of strengthening rural Florida without imposing mandates. CS/SB 7012 and CS/SB 110 were both reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are only open seasonally, a lot of us, right?
• Opening was really beautiful, and it almost got me a little emotional. Well, I'm on TV, aren't I?
• In the last 10 years, 86% of new charter schools that have opened remain open, and this is not a problem
• We opened in 2015 and serve students from grades 6 to 12 who live in the metro area.
• We opened in 2015 and serve students from grades 6 to 12 who live in the metro area.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I will open the hearing on HB 1258, relative to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, and public
• Before I open the session, exec session on HR44, I want to thank the entire committee.
• Uh, I'll open the do. So, I'll move on.
• </c><00:21:08.640><c> But</c> our open spaces in New Hampshire.
• But our open spaces in New Hampshire.

Committee: House Resources, Recreation and Development

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Two primary focal points of my presentation will be services and workforce.
• </c><01:27:44.560><c> We</c> filled or are they open positions?
• We filled or are they open positions?
• We are always open to wanting to do a better job, and so we're always open to that type of feedback.
• We are always open it won't affect me.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, we're open to that. Okay. I appreciate the answer.
• Yes, we're open to that. Okay. I appreciate the answer.
• Open to that. Okay. I appreciate the answer.
• Open down by individuals.
• Department of Justice to open a civil rights case in 2024.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> classrooms that will be opening in 2026. classrooms that will be opening in 2026.
• </c> projected opening in June 2029. projected opening in June 2029.
• Other schools, they have a pre-opening. So it's once they get approved, one to two years to open.
• >> And is DHS open to that?
• </c> &gt;&gt; And is DHS open to that? &gt;&gt; And is DHS open to that?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In a bit of the mistrust, I need to be open about that.
• It's an open-ended, unofficial records exception.
• I think we're very open to those parts.
• I would even love to get to primary food.
• And we will I guess hold the roll open. And we'll lift the calls. All right. Okay.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The speaker's about to open the roll call machine. The speaker has opened the roll call machine.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB5831 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002 , HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Transcript Highlights:

• Prasad talked about, you know, if we open the medical school, that medical school will open this fall
• Seeing none, we will open it up to member discussion. First on my list is Co-Chair Ric.
• We want to address the needs of access to primary care for our rural residents across the entirety of
• </c> address the needs of access to primary address the needs of access to primary care<01:13:28.960>
• Representative Clardy said he would be open to the conversation.

Bills: HF2090 , HF982 , HF2229

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: higher education, scholarship, financial aid, state grant, tuition assistance, Pell grants, student retention, education equity, disabled veterans, veterans' dependents, dependent children, college affordability, books and fees, University of Minnesota, public colleges, Office of Higher Education, veterans benefits, military families, permanent disability, 100 percent disability

Transcript Highlights:

• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The Speaker is about to open the roll call machine. The Speaker has opened the roll call machine.
• The speaker's about to open the roll call machine. The speaker has opened the roll call machine.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House took up Second Substitute Senate Bill 5974, a bill modernizing and strengthening laws concerning sheriffs, police chiefs, volunteers, youth cadets, and related law enforcement roles. Members first considered a striking amendment and then a series of floor amendments, with debate repeatedly focusing on sheriffs as elected constitutional officers, the scope of state authority over local law enforcement, and whether the bill would create unfunded mandates or practical problems for counties. Supporters of the bill and many amendments argued for clarifying language, local flexibility, and state payment for new requirements; opponents generally warned the bill would weaken elected sheriffs, impose costs on counties, or overreach into local control. Amendment 2343, which would have added intent language emphasizing that sheriffs are directly accountable to the electorate, was debated at length and defeated on a roll call vote, 41 yeas to 56 nays. Amendment 2373, shifting background-check costs to the state through the Washington State Patrol, was also defeated, 44 yeas to 53 nays. Amendment 2374, narrowing provisions affecting private security and specially commissioned officers, failed 41 to 56. Amendment 2369, clarifying rules for volunteers and youth cadets, failed 41 to 56. Amendment 2371, limiting surveillance-related provisions to situations requiring a warrant, failed 42 to 55. Amendment 2372, clarifying that only non-public information would be restricted from disclosure, also failed 41 to 56. Later, Amendment 2370, which would have aligned the bill’s definition of volunteer law enforcement officers with existing statute, was defeated 42 to 55. Finally, Amendment 2352, which would have exempted current sheriffs from the bill’s new decertification rules, was debated as a protection against changing the rules midstream but was opposed on the grounds that the bill already grandfathered in the one sheriff who did not meet the new experience requirement; the amendment’s vote was not completed in the excerpt provided. The transcript also begins with the Speaker signing several bills, including Substitute House Bill 1570 and Substitute Senate Bill 6248.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Menjivar, did you want to make any opening comments? Okay. Great.
• Thank you, Chair and Vice Chair, for your opening remarks, too. My name is Matthew Boutill.
• Thank you, Chair, and Vice Chair for your opening remarks too. My name is Matthew Boutill.
• So I believe last year alone, China opened 52 new coal plants.
• I have a question: right now the refineries aren't currently open at full capacity.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Summary: The Senate Environmental Quality Committee held an informational hearing on the environmental impacts and planning considerations associated with refinery closures. In opening remarks, the chair framed refinery shutdowns as a complex part of California’s decarbonization transition and said the committee would focus on environmental and land-use issues, while Vice Chair Gunda argued closures reflect years of policy-driven disinvestment and warned that supply disruptions and higher prices could harm working families. State agency witnesses from the Energy Commission, CARB, and the Water Boards described the state as being in a “mid-transition,” with declining gasoline demand, growing zero-emission vehicle adoption, and increasing conversion of some refinery assets to renewable fuels, but also with abrupt capacity losses that can force greater reliance on imports and storage. They emphasized the need for proactive planning, transparency, and coordination across agencies, and noted that refinery closures can stress pipelines, terminals, and other linked infrastructure, with potential liabilities falling to the state if those assets are not financially supported. The Water Boards explained their cleanup authorities and tools for refinery decommissioning, including investigation, monitoring, remediation, and enforcement under the Water Code, and said site-specific cleanup plans depend on contamination, groundwater conditions, and future land use. They noted that decommissioning can reveal previously inaccessible areas and require additional sampling or wells, and that cleanup costs can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. Committee members pressed the witnesses on whether the state has enough information to plan for land transitions, whether current tools are adequate, and whether more standardized procedures or financial assurances are needed. The witnesses generally said existing tools are useful but that more transparency and better data sharing would help communities and policymakers understand liabilities and long-term redevelopment opportunities. Members also questioned the relationship between California policy, refinery closures, imports, and global emissions. CARB said its programs apply to transportation fuel suppliers whether fuel is refined in-state or imported, and that its climate and air-quality rules are designed to reduce emissions and avoid leakage. Some senators argued that California’s policies have accelerated closures and that demand has not fallen fast enough to offset lost refining capacity, while agency witnesses responded that closures are also driven by global market forces, aging infrastructure, crude quality, and changing fuel demand. The committee then heard from outside experts, including a Notre Dame professor who said closure costs are often underestimated and that stronger financial assurance requirements can shift company behavior, a Stanford/SLAC researcher who outlined five drivers of refinery closures, and an environmental attorney who discussed community impacts and lessons from the Phillips 66 Los Angeles refinery closure. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational and focused on testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• What if it is a robbery that's a purse taken out of someone's open car reported as a robbery?
• And it ends up... that's a purse taken out of someone's open car reported as a robbery.
• And if you want to convince me that I'm wrong, I'm open to that.
• And so then you want somebody to go bust the cake open and say, oh, by the way, never mind.
• Common Cause has been working to create open accountable government in Florida since 1973.

Summary: The subcommittee took up a long agenda of civil justice measures and claims bills. HB 1407, on commencement of civil actions under the Florida Civil Rights Act, was presented as a fix to conflicting appellate decisions about whether an EEOC no-probable-cause notice can start the clock for filing suit; the bill would allow an EEOC determination to suffice and permit filing within 18 months of the complaint. It passed 16-0. HB 1337, an estates bill reducing court involvement in decedent asset distribution by expanding personal representative authority over safe deposit boxes and increasing small-estate thresholds, also passed unanimously, 17-0. The committee then considered PCS for HB 1553, which would change what medical expense evidence juries may see in personal injury and wrongful death cases, with supporters saying it would clarify the law and let both sides present evidence, and opponents arguing it would roll back 2023 tort reforms and reintroduce inflated medical bills. After extensive testimony from business, insurance, trucking, and plaintiff-side interests, the PCS passed 13-4. HB 1423, dealing with negligent security in multifamily residential properties, would remove a presumption against liability when two or more specified crimes were reported in the prior 24 months; an amendment clarified that the crimes must have been reported to the owner or principal operator. Supporters said it would help crime victims and restore balance, while opponents warned it would undermine incentives for property owners to maintain security. The amended bill passed 14-4. Several claims bills also advanced unanimously: HB 6527 for Patricia Armini and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, HB 6531 for the estate of McKenzie Navarra and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, HB 6507 for L.E. and the Department of Children and Families, and HB 6521 for Jose Carrera and Miami-Dade County. Each was described as providing compensation for serious injuries or death after prior government negligence, and each was reported favorably without opposition votes. Finally, the committee heard HB 1471, a controversial bill on systems of law and terrorist organizations. The sponsor said it would bar enforcement of foreign or religious law over the U.S. and Florida Constitutions, create a state process for designating domestic terrorist organizations, and prevent state funds from supporting terrorism. Members raised extensive concerns about vague definitions, First Amendment and due process issues, and the lack of a predesignation hearing; public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with supporters arguing the bill was needed for public safety. The transcript ends during public testimony on HB 1471, before any vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of those early admissions were focused on primary medical reasons to be in the hospital, but then
• health and health care, including disparities in access to diagnostic and early intervention services, primary
• At Center of Hope, we've opened two residential group homes.
• Universal changing tables open the door to fuller participation by people with disabilities, and that
• He was removed from his mother and siblings when a care and protection case opened in juvenile court.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities held a hybrid hearing focused largely on DDS-related bills, with chairs Kennedy and Livingstone outlining strict time limits, accessibility procedures, and a 5 p.m. stop to preserve ASL and CART services. The committee heard testimony on several measures, including a bill from Sen. Mike Moore to create a centralized electronic education records system for students in out-of-home placements, which supporters said would improve communication, preserve IEP continuity, and reduce missed services. Paul DePaulo also testified in support, describing the educational and justice-system harms that can follow when foster youth do not receive coordinated records and supports. A major portion of the hearing centered on H. 242/S. 149, a bill to enhance standards of care for people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Rep. Garballey and many advocates, parents, clinicians, and disability leaders supported the bill, saying it would require provider training, statewide standards, and better emergency department practices to reduce misdiagnosis, trauma, and unnecessary ER boarding. Testimony described sensory and communication barriers in medical settings, lack of provider training, and the need for continuing education and license-related requirements. Related testimony also supported H. 213/S. 111, which would improve access to behavioral health services for children involved with state agencies by requiring better discharge planning, coordination with hospitals and agencies, and more appropriate post-hospital placements. The committee also heard strong support for H. 256/S. 102, requiring universal changing stations in public buildings, from parents, advocates, and the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council. Witnesses said current restroom accommodations often force unsafe or undignified changes on floors, in cars, or in inaccessible spaces, and argued the cost of adding changing stations to new or renovated buildings would be modest compared with the benefits to dignity, safety, and community access. Another major topic was H. 261/S. 155 on supported decision-making agreements for certain adults, which supporters described as a less restrictive alternative to guardianship that preserves autonomy while providing trusted support. Finally, testimony on Tommy’s bill (S. 168/H. 282) described a preventable death after a hospital discharge and urged clearer communication and training requirements for residential staff handling life-sustaining equipment; the bill was presented as a safeguard for people with disabilities relying on such equipment.

Transcript Highlights:

• care dollars and reforms them into a temporary, accountable, work-focused safety net instead of an open-ended
• And it is that substance that is the new opioid receptor agonist conveying the primary risk for addiction
• But the evidence does show this: kratom alone is not a respiratory depressant, the primary cause of fatal
• for the legislative session, I spoke with Idaho physicians and providers in many fields, including primary
• used, and obviously it wouldn't be a great scenario for no action to be taken this year, but it could open

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think we're very open.
• </c><01:51:21.960><c> I</c> so I I think we're very open I so I I think we're very open I appreciate<
• I think we've issued the order in opening the docket, right?
• The bill language is extremely open-ended.
• </c> bill language is extremely open-ended bill language is extremely open-ended climate<02:05:23.400

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1077, a governor’s administration bill to increase transient accommodations tax revenue and split it between two new special funds: a climate mitigation and resiliency special fund and an economic development and revitalization special fund for tourism/resort areas. Supporters, including the Governor’s Office, recovery and resilience staff, climate and conservation groups, and several state agencies, said the bill would create a dedicated, more reliable funding stream for wildfire mitigation, coastal resilience, land clearing, infrastructure, and community-led projects. Some supporters also urged changes to the bill, including moving the fund to DLNR, adding DHHL and OHA representation, clarifying community grants, and ensuring the fund can support both state-led and community-led resilience work. The Attorney General’s office flagged a drafting issue, noting that the bill references fees deposited into the new fund even though the new chapter does not authorize fee collection, and recommended deleting that language or adding fee authority. The Climate Advisory Team representative also suggested adding DHHL to the decision-making body and requiring at-large members to have climate, resilience, conservation, or infrastructure expertise. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Kohala Coast Resort Association opposed the measure, arguing that the special fund structure does not meet statutory criteria, that the bill functions as a tax increase, and that the transient accommodations tax is not being collected equitably across all lodging types before any increase is imposed. Other opponents, including tourism and lodging interests, warned that hotels and timeshares already bear most of the tax burden and that raising the TAT could hurt an already struggling visitor industry and drive tourists away. Supporters countered that current funding is far short of what is needed and that a dedicated revenue stream is necessary to address climate impacts now. Committee members questioned why the Legislature should cede spending decisions to a separate executive-branch process, and the administration responded that the bill is intended to create a transparent, recurring mechanism for funding priorities that can be adjusted over time. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.