Transcript Highlights:

• This is Catherine Newsom, First Assistant Secretary of State, and Mr. Benino is here as well.
• This is Catherine Newsom, first assistant secretary state, and Mr. Benino is here as well.
• And yes, so currently we do have in some of our program rules that discretion.
• And just as a point of, you know, memory, FastStart is the program within LED.
• It's the only workforce program that LED has any management control or otherwise over.

Bills: HB207 , HB267 , HB300 , HB464 , HB618 , HB853

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: Louisiana Auctioneers Licensing Board, auctioneer licensing, professional licensing board, board membership, gubernatorial appointments, consumer members, public at large, Public Service Commission district, East Baton Rouge Parish, venue, domicile, licensure requirements, licensed auctioneer, occupational licensing, state board governance, Act 138, home inspectors, licensing, term limits, Louisiana State Board

Transcript Highlights:

• We're former both school board members.
• And we have so many MOUs with different school districts, 28 local school districts and tribal partners
• And those school buses pull up right under my office window.
• But those programs are. committed in scale and funding.
• State eligibility thresholds for assistance programs should reflect San Diego's true cost of living,

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sean Faisal, School Employees' Retirement System. Doug Hanley, State Police Retirement System.
• Engineering and construction contractor.
• $250,000 appropriation of BRL for special education tools for faculty and staff in the DeSoto-Piro school
• be clarified to be BRLC LLC for special education tools for faculty and staff in the DeSoto Parish School
• Jeff Harlan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Tourism.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget met on February 19, 2026, and first received an unchanged fiscal status statement and five-year baseline projection from the Office of Planning and Budget. Members approved the fiscal status statement, and the baseline budget was noted as unchanged from the prior month. The committee also approved Facility Planning and Control’s request to add five higher education deferred maintenance projects to the Act 751 eligible list, and reviewed four change orders over $50,000 for informational purposes. The committee then approved the Louisiana Lottery Corporation’s fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget. Lottery officials reported $610 million in projected gross revenue, emphasized 29 consecutive years without legislative auditor findings or management comments, and noted the corporation’s long-running transfers to the MFP and State General Fund. Members also approved the 2026-2027 operating budgets for LASERS, TRSL, the School Employees’ Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System en bloc. The retirement systems described modest budget increases or decreases, strong investment performance, and continued progress in reducing unfunded liabilities; members discussed COLA prospects, UAL paydown, and the impact of surplus dollars on retirement debt reduction. The committee approved prior-year deputy sheriff supplemental pay expenditures of $20,262.32 and then approved several legislative intent clarifications for prior appropriations, including items for Tangipahoa Parish, Harahan, Allen Parish, Morgan City, and DeSoto Parish. It also approved the Water Sector Commission’s recommendation for an additional $2.8 million for four ongoing water and sewer projects. Several contract items were reviewed without action, including DEQ’s extension with RTI International, Tourism’s marketing contract amendments, and the Office of Risk Management’s Sedgwick claims administration amendment. The meeting concluded with adjournment after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in our safety programs. in our safety programs.
• ><02:04:53.280><c> program,</c> is the federal program, is the federal program, um<02:04:55.280><c> it
• </c> fully funded for PE and construction. fully funded for PE and construction.
• </c> the construction for those projects. the construction for those projects.
• to construct the project.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their job is to assist Customs and Border Protection with drug interdiction.
• We had some aviators that were assisting and maintainers that were assisting in that mission.
• Our Lakota helicopters were on active duty for about a year assisting with that mission.
• That's part of the construct of the military.
• So we prepared the forces to go assist Customs and Border Protection.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Director Nominations held a confirmation hearing for John Connolly, the current Adjutant General and Director of the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA). Connolly described his background in the Army, National Guard, and military law, and outlined DEMA’s dual mission of supporting the Arizona National Guard and emergency management. He emphasized readiness, modernization of aging aircraft and facilities, growth in capabilities such as drones and electronic warfare, partnerships to restore helicopter training at Silver Bell, and stewardship of resources. He also discussed DEMA’s border-related missions, including Task Force Safe at Nogales, counter-drug operations, and use of artificial intelligence to monitor drone activity and build a common operating picture for law enforcement. Committee members questioned Connolly about his interview and vetting process, his role in emergency management, disaster response in Gila County, support for rural counties and tribes, and services for Guard members and families through the Integrated Resilience Operations Center. Several members pressed him on military discipline, lawful orders, classified information, and the distinction between war and hostilities. Senator Rogers focused on chain of command, combat readiness, and whether Connolly’s JAG background prepared him to lead a combat-oriented force; Connolly responded that his role is to provide ready forces, follow civilian authority, and ensure troops have training, equipment, and family support. He also said he had experience advising commanders and teaching lawful versus unlawful orders. A major point of contention came when members questioned Connolly about the 2021 COVID-19 vaccination mandate for the Guard and whether he had treated it as unlawful or unconstitutional. Connolly said it was a lawful order at the time and that exemption processes existed under the regulations. The hearing also turned to immigration enforcement, emergency powers, and whether the Guard should support ICE; Connolly said the Guard is a support function and would respond to a direct request through the governor, but he could not identify a specific scenario in the abstract. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing, and the committee appeared to continue its review after testimony and questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• , retirees, and other public schools. because Albuquerque Public Schools is so large, they are a separate
• it is a public school facility.
• I think mostly it's zero to five, but then school age, so they would come after school.
• Sometimes in between then, the school age students get out of school, and they might come.
• But there's a registered Program and there's a licensed home program.

Bills: SB20 , SB53 , SB86 , SB96 , SB129

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• Having served on a school board and having served as chair of a school board, I have seen that school
• The school does not discriminate based on sex in its education programs and activities, including employment
• The school does not discriminate based on sex in its education programs and activities, including employment
• The school does not discriminate based on sex in its education programs and activities, including employment
• The school does not discriminate based on sex in its education programs and activities, including employment

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, with the chair limiting testimony to two minutes and asking for no outbursts so the committee could get through eight bills that day. Representative Kofalt, the prime sponsor, said HB 148 was the same as last year’s HB 396, which passed both chambers but was vetoed by the governor. He explained the bill would allow, but not require, separation by biological sex in bathrooms, locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions, leaving local school boards and administrators discretion to set policies. He argued the bill was meant to address safety and privacy concerns and cited a Milford incident and concerns in several school districts as examples of why local flexibility was needed. Committee members questioned the lack of a definition of “biological sex” and how the bill would be applied. Kofalt said he did not think a definition was necessary because males and females are generally understood, and he said the bill would give local policymakers latitude to make practical rules. He also said the bill was intended to address situations where people might misuse transgender claims to access spaces inappropriately. In response to questions, he said he was aware of issues in Kearsarge, Milford, and Mascoma school districts and had heard of discomfort in the State House, though he did not know all the details. Several opponents testified that the bill would discriminate against transgender and non-binary people and create enforcement problems. Executive Councilor Karen Hill said the bill would roll back New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination protections and conflict with the state’s Live Free or Die values. Alice Wade, a trans woman, said she had used women’s restrooms without incident and argued the bill would invite invasive enforcement and harassment. Representative La Selig said the bill was discriminatory and that bathroom concerns were being confused with unrelated harassment by cisgender males. Betsy Harrington supported the bill, citing a girls’ soccer game at Kearsarge that she said was disrupted by a boy playing on a girls’ team. Rosie Emer and her child testified against the bill, saying bathroom restrictions would increase anxiety and risk for trans and non-binary children. Stephen Scaer and Wendy Stallings supported the bill, arguing sex is biologically fixed and that excluding males from female spaces should not require genital inspections. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• SHOULD BE FUNDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AGAIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH THESE PROGRAMS INSTEAD TO INCREASE THE RANGE
• WE HAVE HUGE SCHOOL CHOICE SCHOOLS THAT ARE ALL PUBLIC.
• BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AUTHORIZES PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO CONSTRUCT FACILITIES ON LAND OWNED BY A
• OF THE SCHOOL?
• PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY DISTRICT DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL ALTERED BY THE DISTRICT.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• “There are 260 traditional schools and open enrollment charter schools, and 152 of them are receiving
• It's to utilize a grant from the Walton Family Foundation for an after-school and summer program at the
• Department of Education for the College and Career Coaches Program to assist students with post-secondary
• The Medicaid program will try to function with the current— Best of our ability, the Medicaid program
• Through a process, we adjusted them to be part of the new program, or we ended programs or whatever we

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, opened with a prayer recognizing the death of Reverend Jesse Jackson, and then worked through a series of appropriation and transfer requests. In Section B, it approved a $273,000 temporary appropriation for the Department of Labor and Licensing. In Section C, it approved two Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests: $280 million for the Department of Transportation and $195 million for the State Broadband Office to support Arkansas BEAD broadband grants, including an extra help position. Members questioned the broadband awards, provider amendments, buildout timelines, accountability, and the status of unawarded locations; the broadband director said no provider had requested speed changes, awards would be monitored with milestone-based payments, and remaining locations would be addressed later as federal guidance is received. The committee also approved transfers in Section D, including $458,000 for the Department of Correction, $25 million for Department of Education programs such as declining enrollment and teacher incentive funding, and $229,000 for Shared Administrative Services project management support. In Section E, the committee considered a $4.7 million budget stabilization trust fund loan for the Office of State Technology to implement ServiceNow and related IT modernization, cybersecurity, and governance tools. Members pressed agency officials on repayment, cost savings, and whether the loan would simply roll over existing costs; officials said repayment would come through agency rates over a five-year period and that the new payment would be lower than the current loan being retired. The committee voted to give favorable advice to the Governor on the loan request. In Section F, the committee reviewed cash fund requests for wage and hour claims, unclaimed property, and a heritage grant; in Section G, it reviewed a $1.1 million federal grant to expand college and career coaching in rural districts; in Section H, it reviewed pay plan and performance fund requests totaling millions across multiple agencies; and in Section I, it reviewed budget manual formatting changes. The latter part of the meeting focused on reports, especially the Medicaid trust fund. DHS and DFA officials reported the fund balance had declined from prior years and was down to about $394 million after seven months, with further decline expected by year-end. Senators and representatives asked about the appropriate reserve level, the impact of pending Medicaid rules and legislation, FMAP changes, and whether additional funding would be needed in the upcoming budget. Officials said projections are updated regularly, more than 10 rule packages remain pending with CMS, and the governor and legislative leaders will discuss additional capital needs during budget development. Members also discussed the importance of balancing Medicaid spending with new federal funding and maintaining flexibility for critical areas such as labor and delivery. The committee then adjourned without further action on the reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• As many of you know, existing law requires fees charged for the construction of ADUs to be determined
• Could the committee assistant please call the roll? Senators Arreguin? Here. Seyarto? Here.
• If the committee assistant can please call the roll. Senators Arreguín, aye. Seyarto, aye.
• If the committee assistance can please call the roll. Senators Errigin. Aye. Sarato. Aye. Searto.
• If the committee assistant can please call the roll. Senators Cortese, aye. Gonzalez, aye.

Committee: Senate Housing

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Housing heard two substantive housing bills and two consent items. SB 1116 by Senator Caballero would update the Starter Home Revitalization Act (SB 684) by clarifying development standards for small infill housing, reinforcing ministerial approval and timelines, improving state oversight and reporting, updating subdivision rules, and addressing private restrictions such as HOA or deed provisions that can block housing. The author and supporters, including California YIMBY and a small developer, said the bill responds to implementation problems and would help produce more starter homes; there was no opposition testimony. Members generally supported the measure but noted concerns about local implementation and the broader impact-fee/infrastructure context. SB 1117 by Senator Cervantes would clarify ADU fee law so local governments assess impact fees only on the portion of an ADU above 750 square feet, rather than on the full unit, while keeping the existing 750-square-foot exemption intact. Supporters argued the current fee structure discourages larger ADUs and creates a sharp production drop above 750 square feet; a homeowner witness said fees on an 800-square-foot ADU would have exceeded construction costs. Local government and fire-related organizations opposed or opposed unless amended, arguing impact fees fund essential infrastructure and services and should remain tied to nexus studies. Several senators said the bill was narrowly tailored but emphasized the need to address broader infrastructure financing. The committee also took up consent items SB 1267 by Senator Allen and SB 1426, the committee omnibus bill. After the committee obtained a quorum and later reconvened, it approved the consent calendar 10-0, SB 1117 10-0, and SB 1116 8-0. All measures were ordered out to the Senate Local Government Committee, and the hearing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• ACCELERATE LAB SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ARTICULATE HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS TO UNIVERSITY.
• AT PK WE HAVE LAUNCHED A NEW HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM PATHWAY.
• AS WELL AS AWARDING HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS FOR CERTIFICATIONS COMPLETED DURING THE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM.
• IT IS HARD FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DO DUAL ENROLLMENT IN THOSE PROGRAMS.
• THIS PROGRAM RESERVES FOR SEATS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the program is a program 340B program would increase costs to employers and workers.
• the program is a program 340B program would increase costs to employers and workers.
• Last but so very important is the prescription assistance programs that we provide to help patients pay
• The federal program was a broad program that was set forth, and so while there are... ...program was
• BIO supports the federal 340B program. It's a good program, but even good programs can be abused.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held a hearing on several bills. SB 5904 would prohibit non-human entities from using nursing titles; the sponsor and nursing groups said it is meant to increase transparency around AI and ensure patients know when they are interacting with a real nurse. SB 5915 would change Health Technology Assessment Program review criteria and timelines, with supporters arguing it would better account for Medicare coverage and national guidelines, especially for rare and life-threatening conditions. SB 6025 would update the definition of fetal death to allow gestational age to be determined by the best clinically accurate method rather than last menstrual period, and medical professionals and the sponsor said this would reduce emotional, financial, and legal burdens on grieving families. SB 5933 would require near real-time sharing of overdose data into ODMAP; public health, local government, and recovery advocates said it would improve overdose response, while one witness asked that poison center data be included and clarified separately. SB 5990 would allow APRNs and physician assistants to serve as local health officers in counties under 100,000 population; rural county officials supported the added flexibility, while public health groups and naturopathic physicians raised concerns about qualifications and asked that naturopathic doctors be included as well. SB 5981 would restrict drug manufacturers from limiting 340B drug access through contract pharmacies or requiring data as a condition of discounts; safety-net hospitals, community health centers, pharmacies, and patients said it protects access and reinvestment in care, while manufacturers, employer groups, and industry representatives argued it increases costs, lacks transparency, and may not ensure savings reach patients. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the transcript; each bill was heard and testimony was closed. Sign-in counts were reported for several bills, including strong pro support for SB 5904, SB 5915, SB 5933, and SB 5981, and mixed or substantial opposition on SB 6025 and SB 5990.

Transcript Highlights:

• The continuation of vital technical assistance programs, preservation of agency expertise in tribal matters
• , whether it's the school lunch programs. school breakfast programs, summer food services, the child
• I think also with the school lunch program. During the summer, these kids often go without meals.
• , for the kids to come to an after-school program. or a summer school program where they actually get
• So it's a mix of things where during the school program, during the year, they're actually fed more traditional

Committee: Senate Indian Affairs Committee

Keywords: tribal sovereignty, healthcare, education, public safety, Economic Development, Tax Parity Act, PROTECT Act, trust obligations, bipartisan support, Indian Health Services

Summary: The committee meeting focused on crucial issues facing tribal nations, particularly emphasizing the federal government's trust and treaty obligations. The discussions highlighted ongoing challenges such as disparities in healthcare, education, and public safety within Native communities. Chair Murkowski underscored the importance of listening to Native leaders and aligning congressional efforts with community needs, advocating for legislative actions that support tribal sovereignty and economic development. Various initiatives, including the Tax Parity Act and the PROTECT Act, aimed at addressing jurisdictional and financial disparities, were discussed in detail. A call for bipartisan support to alleviate the funding shortages affecting Indian Health Services was made several times during the meeting. Testimonies from tribal leaders and representatives emphasized the dire need for legislative support to enhance infrastructure, healthcare access, and public safety initiatives in tribal communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• The person who went to school in Italy is not the person who came back.
• It provides pro bono legal assistance to people who cannot afford it.”
• “It provides pro bono legal assistance to people who cannot afford it.
• Márquez noted earlier that we went to school together, but I wish to know we did not go to law school
• West Virginia ran a pilot program years ago on blockchain voting.

Bills: HB2009 , HB2022 , HCM2001 , HCM2002 , HCM2004 , HCR2001 , HM2001 , HM2004

Committee: House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Keywords: campaign contributions, foreign contributions, constitutional amendments, public disclosure, Arizona Revised Statutes, elections, voter registration, provisional ballots, primary election, voter participation, Muslim Brotherhood, terrorism, foreign terrorist organization, national security, Islamist extremism, Congress, Arizona, domestic security, CAIR, terrorist organization

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, ESD superintendents are obligated by statute to assist school districts in preparation
• school director must complete a governance training program.
• A governance training program for school directors, and that every school director must complete a governance
• training program that is provided by the Washington State School Directors’ Association once per term
• program on school district funding and finance for all school board directors.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, ESD superintendents are obligated by statute to assist school districts in preparation
• I also wanted to mention that there is a governance training program for school directors and that every
• school director must complete a governance training program. ...a governance training program for school
• directors, and that every school director must complete a governance training program that is provided
• program on school district funding and finance for all school board directors.

Summary: The House Education Committee heard several bills focused on school district operations, student access, and special education. Substitute Senate Bill 6222 would allow school districts and educational service districts to sell or grant surplus technology hardware, such as laptops and tablets, directly to public school students, with priority for low-income students and documentation of the transfer. Testimony from the sponsor, district staff, and advocates emphasized helping students keep familiar devices, reducing waste, and extending the public investment in technology. The committee also heard Second Substitute Senate Bill 5969, which would better integrate IEP transition plans with the statewide online IEP system and the universal high school and beyond plan platform to reduce duplication; staff noted a fiscal note had been requested, and there were no public testifiers on the bill. The committee spent substantial time on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6247, a school district financial management bill. The bill would require additional ESD oversight and support for districts showing signs of financial distress, create mandatory school director training on funding and finance, strengthen penalties for knowing violations of budget expenditure limits, and require disclosure authorizations before hiring certain budget or accounting personnel. Senator Dozier said the bill was prompted by district financial problems, declining enrollment, failed levies, and reserve fund declines. ESD, WSSDA, WASA, WOSBO, and OSPI testified in support overall, though some witnesses raised concerns about mandatory training, funding for implementation, and whether training should extend beyond school directors. Committee members asked about the bill’s scope, the undefined term “significantly,” the $750,000 reimbursement cap, and how it compared with House Bill 2593. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 622, which would exempt school districts and ESDs from certain surplus-property notice requirements when selling or granting surplus technology hardware to students at depreciated cost or no cost to low-income students. Senator Hunt said the bill came from constituent concerns about unused laptops and tablets and would help students transition to work, college, or technical school. Zero Waste Washington and an Issaquah School District official supported the measure, citing environmental benefits and practical student access to technology. The committee closed public hearings on the bills, noted sign-in counts for pro and con positions, and announced amendment deadlines and upcoming executive sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're no different than the schools. The same thing is happening to the schools.
• And we're no different than the schools. The same thing is happening to the schools.
• And we're no different than the schools. The same thing is happening to the schools.
• </c> these programs. these programs.
• </c> Minnesota sex offender program, St. Minnesota sex offender program, St.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• programs.
• </c> make with regard to program integrity. make with regard to program integrity.
• </c> nutshell my program integrity update. nutshell my program integrity update.
• :03.679><c> programs.
• </c> dental programs, education programs. dental programs, education programs.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hunger costs this country, and food assistance programs save us money.
• There are even more cuts beyond that: cuts to nutrition assistance programs, cuts to Head Start, cuts
• All sorts of cuts to nutrition programs, food assistance, Education programs, Head Start, the list goes
• That's what eventually led to the creation of what is now the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• Program, will experience more than $300 billion in cuts, the largest cut to nutritional assistance in

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . support for public schools.
• </c> the Marrammarmac Valley School Board. the Marrammarmac Valley School Board.
• I want to remind the committee that the Vaccines for Children program is an access program.
• </c> fun basic functions of the program. fun basic functions of the program.
• This is a federal program.

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all