Transcript Highlights:

• we can make in the lives of those impact we can make in the lives of those impact we can make in the
• I that's been impacted by suicide. I that's been impacted by suicide.
• of all this on the impact of all this on the impact of all this on the consumer?
• We would impact us on those ratings. We would impact us on those ratings.
• I effects of that, the impact of that. I effects of that, the impact of that.

Bills: HJR 4 , HJR 6 , HB 195 , HB 13 , HB 143 , HB 135

Keywords: occupation tax, securities, financial regulation, tax exemption, legislative amendment, capital gains tax, realized gains, unrealized gains, investment income, asset sale, capital assets, wealth tax, estate tax, trust tax, tax limitation, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, property tax, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• November of 2024 that looked at the potential impact of this bill. assuming that it would be refiled,
• It is a significant number. number and it impacts a ton of voters. So that's one of the big flags.
• I have been getting some calls from my very rural areas.
• I'm a very small, rural county, and presently we are in the precinct.
• If you're voting by precinct now, this bill will have virtually no impact on you, none.

Bills: SB16 , SB76 , SB310 , SB311 , SB396 , SB505 , SB827 , SB964 , SB1209 , SB1210 , SB1386 , SB1470 , SB2035 , SJR37 , SB 16

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, transportation, infrastructure, funding, public safety, state regulation, election, polling places, voter access, state oversight, electronic voting, voting, polling place, elections, countywide program, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• Tribal nations are also critical economic drivers in rural New Mexico.
• Because for one time a year, rural New Mexico, and the youth of rural New Mexico specifically, have an
• And it is that possibility that scares the heck out of rural New Mexico.
• It has been home to these rural youth for over 100 years with...
• And there was a lot of semi-rural, rural areas.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on the uh on school a positive impact on the uh on school districts<00:56:19.079><c> without</c><00:
• </c><01:16:17.840><c> their</c> how those Market forces impacted their how those Market forces impacted
• But I highlight this just to show how we try to explain some of those impacts of some of the different
• Values in rural counties. Changes in aid reductions or rates are compounded for smaller tax bases.
• We rural property tax administrators thank you in advance for not adding to its complexity.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rehabilitation is a program that funds capital repairs, particularly in partnership with the USDA Rural
• c> particularly in partnership with the particularly in partnership with the USDA<00:21:43.440><c> rural
• development program and their USDA rural development program and their um<00:21:46.520><c> base</c><
• that this rental housing rehabilitation takes place primarily in rural areas, but I do need to get back
• </c> partnership with the USDA uh rural partnership with the USDA uh rural development<00:23:50.320><

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But for many nursing homes, those adjustments impact access to care or wages.
• But for many nursing homes, those adjustments impact access to care or wages.
• </c><01:11:12.480><c> nursing</c> irreparable harm to nur rural nursing irreparable harm to nur rural
• communities, including ours, face particularly severe impacts.
• We do not have the funds to support this without negatively impacting current operations.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by CYFD, for families that are impacted by CYFD, for foster families and others that are that care so
• impacts by literacy and English language learners, and I would add you can take these principles like
• Rural low income areas that can't get enough bonding capacity to build.
• It creates revenue for rural areas as well. So, Mr.
• Have you talked to them about the impact, uh, on our law enforcement and fire departments, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• But at the same token, there's other issues that play into this factor that not only impact San Diego
• , where my colleagues are from, but impact Imperial County.
• The other issue that I have a problem with is the budget impact.
• We know it doesn't just impact the students.
• Of course, it impacts their families as well as they have been planning for college for many years.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee met with a quorum and first approved a consent calendar containing AB 341, AB 1098, and AB 1316, sending those measures to the Human Services, Judiciary, and Appropriations Committees respectively. The committee then heard AB 977, which would require CSU to audit surplus land and work with California tribes to identify three regional burial sites for Native American remains that cannot yet be repatriated. Supporters, including tribal leaders and archaeology groups, said the bill is needed to honor ancestors and address the large number of remains still held by CSU; CSU said it is committed to repatriation but had no formal position. The bill passed to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. Members also heard AB 1093, creating a California-Mexico higher education exchange program, and AB 1035, expanding the California College Promise to cover tuition for students pursuing community college bachelor’s degrees. AB 1093 drew support for strengthening cross-border educational and economic ties, but some members raised concerns about border-region sewage problems and the bill’s budget implications; it was held for later consideration. AB 1035 received strong support from community college leaders and faculty who said it would help low-income and first-generation students complete workforce-focused bachelor’s degrees, but several members questioned whether it would stretch Prop. 98 funding and whether the state should prioritize broader affordability concerns. AB 1035 passed to Appropriations on a 3-2 vote. The committee next approved AB 922, which would let the University of California keep access to federal criminal-history information for hiring background checks, avoiding delays and added costs if statutory authority is required. UC said the bill is needed to maintain safety and hiring operations, and it passed to Public Safety on a 5-0 vote. AB 1346, protecting military dependents from losing in-state residency status because of family travel, also passed unanimously to Military and Veterans Affairs. AB 1212, allowing UC to use low-income housing tax credits to build affordable housing for faculty and staff on UC land, drew support from UC and labor groups but opposition from members concerned about preferential access to public resources; it was held for later action. Finally, the committee approved AB 500 and AB 684, both aimed at increasing transparency around UC admissions policy changes and UC BOARS decision-making, sending AB 500 to Education and AB 684 to Governmental Organization, each on 5-0 votes. The hearing then moved on to AB 1122 on dual enrollment, with the author and witnesses presenting the bill as a way to expand college access for high school students.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:50.360><c> uh</c><00:15:50.560><c> the</c> accusation um and it may impact uh the accusation
• um and it may impact uh the the<00:15:50.959><c> validity</c><00:15:51.639><c> or</c><00:15:52.279><
• </c><00:23:54.720><c> district</c><00:23:55.039><c> and</c> Morhead Morehead is a rural district and
• She said Moorhead is not unlike other rural and metro districts that have seen significant substitute
• and Metro who other districts both Rural and Metro who have<00:24:55.559><c> seen</c><00:24:55.799><

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a vacant building in the middle of downtown Jackson, two stories, I believe, and to impact 18 units
• That’s the public purpose behind this project: how do we expand broadband to rural areas and even, you
• areas and even you know urban to rural areas and even you know urban areas<00:25:02.200><c> like</c>
• and effect of this contract is impact and effect of this contract is when<00:26:15.120><c> we</c><00
• There are ISPs that are using it in rural areas in my district. I don’t know whose fiber it is.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first reorganized by electing Representative Hart as House co-chair and Senator Douglas as Senate co-chair by acclamation, then approved the December 10 minutes. It then took up deferred and routine contract items, beginning with a Council on Postsecondary Education item that was withdrawn after staff explained the contract had been canceled and should not have come before the committee because the granting authority, not CPE, was issuing it. The committee next reviewed a Department for Local Government contract tied to an Eastern Kentucky flood recovery housing project in Jackson. Members questioned the high per-unit cost and whether renovation was more expensive than new construction. Staff explained the cost included acquisition of an existing downtown building and needed water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, and said developable land was limited in the area. With no motion to object, the contract was allowed to move forward. The committee then considered Kentucky Transportation Cabinet professional services contracts for highway design work. Members asked about the size of the contracts and how much of the available funding is typically used; staff said the contracts are two-year agreements, that the prior cycle reached close to $2 million per contract, and that this year’s limits were reduced because less money is available in the Highway Plan. The committee also approved a PSC amendment contract for the Bridging Kentucky program after staff explained the $150 hourly loaded rate was within the normal range for consultants. Both Transportation Cabinet items were approved without objection. Finally, the committee heard a Kentucky Communications Network Authority contract for an $85,000 study of the dark fiber market. Members asked what dark fiber is, why the study was needed, whether there was coordination with the Office of Broadband Development, and whether existing service meant there was already a market. KCNA said dark fiber is unused fiber that local providers can light to deliver service, that the study was needed because the contractor said no market existed while ISPs said demand exists, and that the report would help both KCNA oversight and broadband development planning. The contract was reviewed without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> happen, what is the the negative impact happen, what is the the negative impact of<01:16:59.120>
• So my concern is that we're the impact?
• </c> decisions impacting decisions impacting our<01:38:46.000><c> future</c><01:38:46.800><c> are</c>
• look wonky in extremely rural places.
• </c> us out there in rural. us out there in rural.

Committee: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:09.360><c> this</c> the institutions is impacting this the institutions is impacting this
• </c><01:08:45.440><c> summerbridge</c> outcomes and impact summerbridge outcomes and impact summerbridge
• </c> impact and effectiveness of it. impact and effectiveness of it.
• </c> that we don't know if it's having impact that we don't know if it's having impact and<01:19:12.320
• </c><01:20:10.080><c> the</c> what's going on in DC impacting the what's going on in DC impacting the

Keywords: The livestream event for this meeting failed before the meeting was finished. This copy was pulled from backups and is reposted in it's entirety., 958, all

Summary: The committee met to review KHEAA’s student aid programs ahead of the upcoming biennial budget. KHEAA officials outlined the agency’s role administering state grants and scholarships, emphasizing that net lottery proceeds are statutorily dedicated to student financial aid after a literacy appropriation. They focused on the College Access Program (CAP), Kentucky Tuition Grant (KTG), and KEES, and explained that the FAFSA simplification changes significantly expanded eligibility for Pell and CAP recipients. KHEAA said the General Assembly’s additional funding this biennium allowed CAP to be fully funded, and that FY25 spending for CAP reached about $232 million for roughly 72,000 students, up from about 55,000 recipients the prior year. Officials said they are watching current-year application trends closely and expect a clearer funding picture by late fall as awards are actually disbursed and enrollment data comes in. Members asked about how CAP eligibility works, the difference between applicants and recipients, and whether KTG is tied to Pell eligibility. KHEAA explained that CAP is essentially aligned with Pell eligibility, while KTG uses a different need formula and is limited to private colleges in Kentucky. They also noted that schools verify final eligibility after KHEAA’s initial review of application data. Questions about the FAFSA simplification act and federal changes led KHEAA to say they do not expect major effects on state grant and scholarship programs, though federal student loan changes may affect students, especially at the graduate level. The committee also discussed KEES, which KHEAA said has been fully funded since its creation, and dual credit/work-ready scholarships. KHEAA reported that dual credit participation continues to grow and that FY25 spending for dual credit and Work Ready Kentucky totaled about $26.4 million, compared with a $13.1 million appropriation, with transfers from Work Ready used to keep dual credit fully funded. Officials said they will seek growth funding for dual credit in the next budget because the program has expanded and now includes the work-ready component under one statute. Members asked about transferability of dual credit courses and whether students actually use the credits toward degrees; KHEAA said it does not have hard data on every credit’s transfer, but it is seeing positive trends in bachelor’s completion and more high school graduates earning associate degrees. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the July 15, 2025 meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have major impacts not only in the security guard industry, but many industries beyond that, if we
• Failure to do so impacts our contractors' ability to complete the plumbing work, impacts plumber trainee
• My role as the chair is to evaluate legislation from a governance and member impact perspective.
• And it's really impacted their ability to live and work in Washington.
• And it's really impacted their ability to live and work in Washington.

Bills: HB2513 , HB2524 , HB2611

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: plumbing contractor, plumber, license suspension, credential suspension, administrative penalty, infractions, repeat violator, consumer protection, residential plumbing, construction licensing, Washington Department of Labor and Industries, advisory board of plumbers, plumbing certificate fund, code enforcement, professional licensing, trade regulation, security, regulation, employment standards, security guards

Transcript Highlights:

• [snorts] Um and that financial impact.
• </c> we wanted to look at the fiscal impact we wanted to look at the fiscal impact of<03:48:18.640><c
• This does have an economic impact.
• So, many about rural communities.
• What would be the impact?

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You've got rural kids trying to get into college.
• And they can’t go to school; therefore, that would impact the...
• Fees to the point where it impacts the student and they can’t go to school, therefore that would impact
• Shepard said: the impact, the potential impact, to litigate or review the IEP... ...the delivery of services
• This committee of the potential fiscal impact for each additional hearing.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As small businesses operate on small margins, the costs have an impact on the bottom line.
• As small businesses operate on small margins, the costs have an impact on the bottom line.
• </c> the deterrent effect often impacts the deterrent effect often impacts the<00:13:48.639><c> individual
• </c><00:43:18.000><c> of</c> um we see every day the impact of um we see every day the impact of substance
• impact that weight<00:57:15.839><c> substantially.

Bills: SF0007 , SF0008 , SF0009 , SF0010

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: theft, penalties, larceny, criminal offense, felony, Wyoming, absconding, law enforcement, criminal justice, fentanyl, controlled substances, minors, drug distribution, enhanced penalties, mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, 916

Transcript Highlights:

• And then how does that impact the ability for Help Desk to do other things?
• But I think we're doing deliberate work that has to be done with a clear line of sight as to the impact
• So that's, we're trying to do. with a clear line of sight as to the impact.
• Has there been any conversations at all around the rural health transformation dollars?
• Because we're covering everywhere and obviously rural areas as well.

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then received a quarterly update on major IT projects from NDIT. Staff reported the portfolio included 116 major projects totaling about $546 million, with the overall portfolio under budget but slightly behind schedule. They reviewed projects over the 20% variance threshold, including an Industrial Commission grants management system and DOT’s roadway pre-construction replacement, and then heard startup and closeout reports from HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT. Several previously troubled projects were closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning; some projects finished under budget and ahead of schedule, while others were significantly behind schedule or over budget but were now closed or being remediated. The committee also reviewed NDIT’s annual report, including service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how service-fund revenue and grant administrative charges are accounted for, how chargebacks work, and whether NDIT tracks customer satisfaction scores. NDIT said it does track CSAT-type measures in some service areas and has survey data, but it is not planning another customer survey this summer. Members encouraged more regular reporting of customer satisfaction, service-level metrics, and performance data to help guide future improvements. A major portion of the meeting focused on the state’s mainframe modernization effort. NDIT said the overall effort is still targeting about 2030, with multiple HHS and DOT projects underway and a $15 million tech-debt appropriation already removing some components. Staff described the main obstacles as data cleanup, complex integrations, limited staff capacity, retirements, and vendor constraints, and said they are seeking a vendor with modernization support in the next contract cycle. Members pressed for clearer accountability and faster progress, and NDIT and HHS emphasized that they are working jointly but need continued support and better tools. The committee then heard a cybersecurity update on NDIT’s statewide services and maturity assessments. NDIT explained that it provides vulnerability scanning, endpoint protection, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that these services are tied to a cybersecurity maturity assessment based on CIS controls. Members questioned the sharp drop in participation since 2020 and whether the self-assessment should be mandatory or tied more strongly to StageNet access or insurance incentives. NDIT said participation is voluntary, but Enderf is now requiring annual assessments to keep a 4% insurance discount, and members discussed whether stronger requirements or audit authority may be needed. The meeting ended as the committee began a follow-up discussion on BEAD broadband connection costs and why some locations are much more expensive to connect than others.

Transcript Highlights:

• We recognize it impacts kind of rural areas more than urban areas.
• offered amendments as such and to include the Department of Agriculture, since it would probably impact
• We recognize it impacts<00:32:47.519><c> kind</c><00:32:47.679><c> of</c><00:32:47.760><c> rural</c><
• kind of rural areas um more than impacts kind of rural areas um more than urban<00:32:51.039><c> areas
• </c><00:33:01.279><c> their</c> Agriculture since probably impact their Agriculture since probably impact

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first considered a series of Governor’s Message nominations, largely to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and one to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances. Testifiers and agencies spoke in strong support of the nominees, emphasizing their advocacy, community involvement, and lived experience. The committee heard from nominees and supporters for John Paul Moses III, Cynthia Fowler, Joshua Eay, Alicia Kim, Raymond Mamea, Maria Christina Valenzuela, Eden Watabayashi, Sierra Whiteside, and Brandy Lynn Macallani Hayen. After hearing testimony, the committee voted to advise and consent on each nomination, with the votes adopted by the members present. The committee then took up SR 53 / SCR 69, which asks the Department of Health to convene a pharmacy benefit manager working group to improve transparency, fairness, and drug affordability. Supporters included the Hawaii Pharmacist Association, the University of Hawaii system, and several individuals, while the Department of Health said the issue is complex and may require additional support or a different structure. Members discussed whether the Department of Health should lead the effort or whether another entity, such as SHIPA with an appropriation, might be more workable; the Department of Health suggested a $100,000 appropriation could be sufficient. Next, SR 56 / SCR 73 proposed a report on the developmental needs of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office of Wellness and Resilience supported the measure and asked for an extended deadline to the end of 2026, and several youth, mental health, and community organizations testified in support. The committee also heard SR 69 / STR 86 on creating an aeromedical services working group, with support from Air Methods, the Department of Health, and the Hawaii Medical Association, and SR 99 / STR 118 on studying the use of filtered catchment water for business activity, which drew support from the Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association and comments from the Department of Health that the issue is complicated and should include the Department of Agriculture. No final votes on the resolutions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as I'm sure you all are aware, our four military bases in the state, three are in rural communities
• And so, one of the key components of the Military Base Impact Fund is the opportunity to provide a local
• House Bill 29 will provide a vital $8 million appropriation to the Military Base Impact Fund, ensuring
• By supporting infrastructure, education, and community services in base impacted areas, it ensures we
• Because this shows that it's going to continue to have an upward impact.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One is that we want to be mindful of how our state budget will be impacted by these policy bills, should
• What is the impact on the budget?
• AB 2366, Avila Farias, cost-of-living impacts, holding committee.
• AB 2082, Jeff Gonzalez, rural farm worker women's health, holding committee.
• AB 1671, Tangipa, rural medical services grants, held in committee.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all