Transcript Highlights:

• We have a very intimate and efficient meeting today, and so let's get through it.

Committee: Senate Energy And Telecommunications

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications met for its first March meeting, chaired by Senator Kevin Parker. Members discussed a short agenda of energy-related bills focused on grid modernization, interconnection studies, geothermal development, microgrids for extreme weather resilience, and a proposed Grid Modernization Commission. Senators Mattera and Walczyk were absent but had voting sheets submitted; Senator Kavanagh joined later in the meeting. The committee advanced several measures: S.1227A, directing the Department of Public Service to study deployment of the energy interconnection process into the electrical grid, was moved to third reading; S.2708, advancing grid enhancement technologies, was also sent to third reading. S.2486A, creating geothermal energy generation facilities, was advanced to the Finance Committee, as was S.4205 on microgrids for extreme weather and public security, and S.4590 establishing the New York State Grid Modernization Commission. During the votes, some members were recorded as voting without recommendation, including Senator Walczyk on multiple bills and Senator Hinchey on the geothermal bill. No testimony or substantive debate was presented beyond brief procedural questions, and the meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an awesome, intimate moment. I lift up everything that she shared beautifully.

Summary: The House convened to welcome Cody Reim as the new representative for Legislative District 3. Members of leadership from both parties offered brief remarks congratulating him, emphasizing the responsibilities of office, the importance of decorum, and the duty to represent constituents with integrity. Several speakers also noted the significance of being sworn in with family present and offered support to Reim and his family as he begins service. The speaker then administered the oath of office, after which Reim was officially sworn in as a state representative. Following the oath, leadership presented him with his official member pin and honorary pins for his children. The meeting concluded with additional welcoming remarks and an opportunity for family photos; no legislation was considered and no votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• pre-trial system is a case type that we see in the domestic violence world, which is referred to as intimate
• violence world, which is referred<00:15:50.840><c> to</c><00:15:50.960><c> as</c><00:15:51.120><c> intimate
• </c><00:15:51.520><c> partner</c><00:15:51.920><c> homicide</c> referred to as intimate partner homicide
• referred to as intimate partner homicide suicide,<00:15:53.160><c> otherwise</c><00:15:53.560><c> known

Transcript Highlights:

• talked about the high levels of veteran suicides, but they also talked about domestic violence and intimate
• :18:00.919><c> and</c> about about um domestic violence and about about um domestic violence and intimate
• 03.080><c> um</c><00:18:04.360><c> violence</c><00:18:05.360><c> as</c><00:18:05.919><c> being</c> intimate
• partner um violence as being intimate partner um violence as being one<00:18:07.039><c> of</c><00:18

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• individuals, young people, have access to be protected should they make that personal decision to be intimate
• We decided to take some of the opposition amendments and increase the beverage sugar content requiring
• own mother, who has had to learn English on her own, didn't have the easiest time asking for sugar content
• I know that I agree with you on the need to address the high sugar content in our beverages.

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• work group and also in the drafting of the final report, CDSS served as a neutral facilitator and content
• expert for the work group and ensured the work group covered the statutorily mandated content and discussions
• This relationship is very intimate and dependent on the same.
• review the report and be able to provide technical assistance as we work through understanding the contents

Summary: The joint Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused first on long-term services and supports for older adults, especially the “forgotten/overlooked middle” who earn too much for Medi-Cal but cannot afford private long-term care. Administration witnesses from DHCS, the Department of Aging, and Social Services described Medicare’s limited long-term care coverage, Medi-Cal’s role, the elimination of the Medi-Cal asset test, and ongoing state studies and listening sessions on financing options. Testimony from advocates and researchers emphasized rising homelessness among older adults, the need for better navigation and coordination across health, aging, housing, and social service systems, and short-term policy steps such as share-of-cost reform, housing stability supports, and protecting home- and community-based services. Members highlighted the need for a coordinated, no-wrong-door approach and asked for the most impactful budget investments to address affordability and homelessness risk. The second major topic was the Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program. CDA reported that CBAS helps participants remain in the community, that 304 centers operate statewide serving about 42,000 people, and that demand is stable but access gaps remain in some regions. DHCS explained that a 2024 rate increase authorized by SB 159 became inoperative after Proposition 35, and that a separate 10% rate change on the fee schedule was the result of a DHCS system error; the department said it would not require recoupment, though managed care plans may act under their contracts. CBAS providers and advocates warned that reimbursement rates have not kept pace with costs, that several centers have closed, and that clawbacks could trigger more closures. They requested $74.8 million ongoing General Fund to close part of the rate gap and preserve the program, while members expressed concern about closures and the cost savings of keeping people out of more expensive institutional care. The hearing then moved to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and statewide collective bargaining. CDSS reviewed provider recruitment and retention efforts, including electronic timesheets, direct deposit, and the now-completed IHSS Career Pathways program, which trained more than 59,000 providers. CDSS also summarized its AB 102 workgroup report on statewide versus regional bargaining, saying the final report would be sent to the Legislature soon and that statewide bargaining appeared more viable than regional bargaining, though it would require clear statutory scope and major fiscal changes. The department estimated that each $1 per hour statewide wage increase would cost at least $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion annually. Labor advocates argued that IHSS wages, benefits, and training are too inconsistent across counties and called for statewide bargaining, consumer participation, and ongoing state funding. County representatives supported stronger wages but cautioned that counties need protection from new costs and administrative burdens, and consumer advocates warned that moving bargaining to the state could weaken local consumer control and the program’s consumer-driven structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a very intimate relationship that you build with lawyers in a case, especially the Delaware lawyers
• It's a very intimate relationship that you build with lawyers in a case, especially the Delaware lawyers

Committee: Senate Executive

Transcript Highlights:

• have 400, 500 students on their roster, it is very, very difficult for them to know each of them intimately
• have 400, 500 students on their roster, it is very, very difficult for them to know each of them intimately

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee heard and advanced six bills. The first, PCS/HB 1073 by Rep. Koster, would give individual school board members timely, free access to district documents and budget information, require agendas and supporting materials to be kept as public records, and prohibit school districts from requiring or incentivizing nondisclosure agreements. Testimony from a Volusia County school board member and a former educator described difficulty obtaining records and concerns about NDAs; some members raised chain-of-command concerns, while others argued the bill was needed for transparency. The bill passed 15-3. The committee then approved HB 4049, a local bill for Jacksonville/Duval County that changes how the Duval County School Board’s attorney is selected, and OGSR/HB 7021, which extends and clarifies the public-records exemption for education examination and assessment instruments through 2031. HB 4049 passed 17-1 after debate over whether the board should use the city’s general counsel process; HB 7021 passed unanimously with no debate. Members also approved CS/HB 753 on school counselors, which removes certain certification barriers while keeping degree and counseling requirements in place and allows districts to choose whether to require the removed certificates. Supporters said the bill could help address counselor shortages and free counselors to focus on students; it passed 18-0. Finally, HB 157 created a School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program for D- and F-rated schools, using high-performing current or retired teachers as mentors with stipends funded from an existing allocation. Members discussed mentor limits, funding, and oversight, but the bill passed unanimously, 18-0. The meeting adjourned after committee members recognized visiting officials and students.

Transcript Highlights:

• As folks have intimated, we are already in a housing crisis, but unfortunately new housing supply at
• As folks have intimated, we are already in a housing crisis, but unfortunately new housing supply at

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several housing, building code, and permitting bills. HB 2228 would direct the State Building Code Council to convene a technical advisory group to recommend code amendments allowing scissor stairs in buildings with more than two dwelling units. Supporters, including architects, builders, and housing advocates, said scissor stairs could improve safety, reduce corridor and stair footprint, lower costs, and allow more efficient and denser housing layouts. The bill was then closed to public hearing. HB 2381 would create a performance-based code pathway for low-rise residential buildings and allow recognition of third-party certifications. The chair described it as a move from prescriptive to performance-based standards, with flexibility for builders and potential alignment with clean building goals. The Building Industry Association of Washington opposed the bill as written, saying the main need is a performance pathway in the energy code rather than the IBC, while FutureWise supported the concept but urged caution about the complexity and timeline of converting code to performance-based standards. The public hearing on HB 2381 was closed after testimony. HB 2418 would change permit review processes, including vesting rules for residential project permits in urban growth areas, pausing review clocks in certain circumstances, extending timelines to other fee-charging reviewing entities, and requiring a single permit responsible official and point of contact by 2027. Builders, developers, and housing advocates generally supported the bill’s coordination and timeline provisions, saying they would reduce delays and costs, though several groups raised concerns about the vesting section and completeness definitions. FutureWise and county representatives warned the vesting changes could create litigation or records issues, while the sponsor said the vesting portion might be reconsidered. The committee also heard HB 2273, which would require embodied carbon reduction standards for larger building projects through reuse, product-based reductions, or whole-building life-cycle assessment. Support came from architects, Commerce, and environmental justice advocates, who said the bill would reduce climate impacts and encourage innovation; opponents from the concrete and aggregate industry and a taxpayer group raised concerns about costs, supply-chain issues, conflicts with other legislation, and exemptions such as for schools. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after closing the public hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• I haven't got the number exactly, but there is a risk of arthritis creating an intimate relationship
• There is some content that most people ascribe meaning to, and that meaning relates to how traumas have
• Even though we knew intimately of these struggles ourselves, we could not fully understand the depth

Bills: HB44 , HB2200 , HB1612 , HB2747 , HB2038 , HB3717 , HB1431 , HB3800 , HB3801 , HB3560 , HB3246 , HB44

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Summary: The meeting of the public health committee focused on the pressing issue of opioid addiction in Texas, with a particular emphasis on House Bill 3717. Chairman Harris detailed the bill's intent to fund a grant program for Ibogaine clinical trials, framing it as a critical response to the ongoing opioid crisis. He shared poignant testimonies highlighting the struggles of families and veterans battling addiction and mental health issues. The conversation underscored the necessity of innovative treatments, like Ibogaine, which showed promising results in studies for reducing symptoms of withdrawal and PTSD.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, ultimately, uh, the policy is going to be mandatory, but the contents of that policy are really going
• </c><02:30:15.439><c> moments</c> worst moments or their intimate moments worst moments or their intimate
• I don't know how much they will, you know, get access to the contents of the document or not.
• </c><03:47:52.319><c> of</c><03:47:52.479><c> the</c> get access to the contents of the get access to
• the contents of the document<03:47:53.359><c> or</c><03:47:53.680><c> not.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• So<00:17:21.360><c> an</c><00:17:21.600><c> intim</c><00:17:22.000><c> study</c><00:17:22.240><c> was
• study was formed and what we So an intim study was formed and what we discovered<00:17:24.559><c> was
• Lisa Massio said the issue of restraints and seclusion is one the Office of Child Advocate is intimately
• </c><00:19:46.240><c> It's</c><00:19:46.400><c> part</c><00:19:46.559><c> of</c> is intimately involved
• It's part of is intimately involved in.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Hausman, dealing with creating the offense and civil penalties for disclosures of intimate

Committee: House Legislative Review

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Hausman, dealing with creating the offense and civil penalties for disclosures of intimate

Committee: House Legislative Review

Summary: The Legislative Review Committee met with six members present and a quorum. The chair announced that Senator Nuremberg’s Senate Bill 1544 would not be taken up that day and would instead be heard the next day at 9:00 a.m. The committee then moved into executive session and considered a House Committee substitute for House Bills 3068 and 3049. Representative Jeff Myers explained that the substitute was intended as a vehicle for several public safety-related provisions, including removing a sunset from the line-of-duty death benefit, correcting sex offender registry issues from recently signed legislation, allowing the Department of Mental Health to contract with the Department of Corrections for housing sexually violent predators when secure beds are unavailable, preventing registry information from being changed by offenders until they are eligible for removal, and adding notification rules for temporary workers such as carnival employees. He also described additional inserted provisions involving dangerous dogs, wire theft and critical infrastructure, driver’s education, intimate digital depictions, and civil detention procedures. The committee adopted the House Committee substitute without objection, then voted on the House substitute for House Committee substitute for House Bills 3068 and 3049. The motion passed by a vote of 8 ayes and 1 no, with Representative Fuchs voting no. The chair then reminded members that Senator Nuremberg’s bill would be heard the next day and that road and bridge naming provisions from Representative Black’s bill would be added for consideration. The committee adjourned with no further business.

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB2125 , HB2134 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2245 , HB2283 , HB2406 , HB2501 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2188 , HB2206 , HB2478 , HJM4012 , HB1104 , HB1152 , HB1254 , HB1443 , HB1982 , HB2006 , HB2297 , HB2322 , HB2329 , HB2379 , HB2388 , HB2399 , HB2462 , HB2544 , HB2551 , HB2262 , HB2298 , HB2351 , HB2401 , HB2593 , HB2661 , HB1496 , HB1898 , HB2157 , HB2311 , HB2325 , HB2552 , HB1343 , HB1707 , HB2361 , HB2389 , HB2468 , HB2521 , HB2720 , HB1591 , HB2092 , HB2176 , HB2255 , HB2281 , HB2438 , HB2685 , HB1960 , HB2236 , HB2364

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB2125 , HB2134 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2245 , HB2283 , HB2406 , HB2501 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2188 , HB2206 , HB2478 , HJM4012 , HB1104 , HB1152 , HB1254 , HB1443 , HB1982 , HB2006 , HB2297 , HB2322 , HB2329 , HB2379 , HB2388 , HB2399 , HB2462 , HB2544 , HB2551 , HB2262 , HB2298 , HB2351 , HB2401 , HB2593 , HB2661 , HB1496 , HB1898 , HB2157 , HB2311 , HB2325 , HB2552 , HB1343 , HB1707 , HB2361 , HB2389 , HB2468 , HB2521 , HB2720 , HB1591 , HB2092 , HB2176 , HB2255 , HB2281 , HB2438 , HB2685 , HB1960 , HB2236 , HB2364

Keywords: design review, local government, land use, zoning, project permits, housing density, middle housing, affordable housing, parking minimums, single-family zoning, infill development, growth management, comprehensive plan, permit streamlining, objective development regulations, architectural review, administrative review, transit-oriented development, accessory dwelling units, ADU

Transcript Highlights:

• easy for one person to use their phone or computer and one of these sites or apps to make synthetic intimate
• easy for one person to use their phone or computer and one of these sites or apps to make synthetic intimate
• easy for one person to use their phone or computer and one of these sites or apps to make synthetic intimate

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• It has been a pleasure for me to live intimately with my Italian friends and neighbors, who I consider
• IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE FOR ME TO LIVE INTIMATELY WITH MY ITALIAN FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO I CONSIDER

Summary: The Senate opened with routine proceedings, approved the prior day’s journal, and then took up a budget extender. Senator Serrano’s appropriation bill was recalled from the Assembly, reconsidered, amended, and sent through Rules to the floor. During debate, senators discussed the ongoing delay in finalizing the state budget, the 13th extender, school aid payments, the Yonkers school district payment, and unresolved issues such as Tier 6 retirement changes and other budget policy items. The extender was passed 57-2 after debate, with senators pressing for more transparency about the budget negotiations and the majority responding that those issues were not germane to the extender. The chamber then recognized several resolutions and guests. Senators spoke in support of Resolution 1948 honoring New York State 4-H and its Capital Days participants, Resolution 2054 commemorating Italian American Day, and Resolution 1620 mourning Denis Michael Troy of Rockland County. The Italian American Day resolution drew extensive remarks from many senators about family histories, immigration, cultural contributions, scholarships, and community traditions, and the Senate welcomed honored guests from the Italian American community. The Rosalyn Yalow Charter School fencing team was also introduced, along with the family of Denis Troy. The Senate then moved through a long calendar of bills, passing measures on public service, city administrative code, municipal law, correction law, criminal procedure, real property tax, education, social services, public health, executive law, parks, judiciary, and alcoholic beverage control, among others. Several members explained votes on bills related to ratepayer protection, hip-hop lyrics in criminal cases, sovereign nations and gaming compacts, and the Traveling with Dignity Act requiring adult changing stations in public facilities. Most bills passed with broad support, though some drew notable negative votes. The Senate completed the calendar and adjourned until Tuesday, May 19, at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just last year, over 200 primarily women were murdered by their intimate partners, over half of them
• It is a high predictor that an intimate partner homicide will happen next.

Bills: HB809 , HB 1193 , HB1916 , HB2558 , HB1973 , HB2350 , HB2399 , HB2340 , HB 116 , HB330 , HB2496 , HB116

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Keywords: digitized signature, waiver of citation, marriage dissolution, electronic notarization, family law, HB 1193, informal marriage, common-law marriage, declaration of informal marriage, confidentiality, privacy, county clerk, vital statistics unit, Family Code, Health and Safety Code, marriage records, public records, personally identifying information, PII, legal representative

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you intimated that you were considering this to be a local bill. What was the...

Bills: HB258 , HB308 , HB258 , HB308

Committee: House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections

Keywords: primary election, election calendar, off-presidential year, May primary, second Tuesday in May, fourth Tuesday in May, runoff primary, special primary, presidential primary, election administration, candidate filing, ballot access, political parties, county election officials, state election law, Alabama elections, elections, voter registration, publishing requirements, cost-saving