Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, Minnesota has around 1,500 youth participating in the National Archery in the Schools program
• participating in the National Archery participating in the National Archery and<00:25:14.080><c> Schools
• program, 450 in 4, and a and Schools program, 450 in 4, and a couple<00:25:18.400><c> hundred</c><00
• He added that, as laid out in the report, they would also look to purchase a grants management system
• a grants management system, purchase a grants management system, which<00:45:50.480><c> will</c><00:

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But if the word information, technology, website, uh, portals, domains, even going out and purchasing
• </c> domains, even going out and purchasing domains, even going out and purchasing uh<00:18:42.320><c
• if we need anything, we need the Department of Education being sure that that's taught within our school
• </c><00:44:47.760><c> system</c><00:44:48.319><c> because</c> taught within our school system because
• taught within our school system because the<00:44:48.800><c> hate</c><00:44:49.040><c> that</c><00:44

Committee: Joint Government Structure

Keywords: Government Structure - Room 409, 12 January, 2026; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I was very fortunate her schooling.
• During my working School in Kyua Kona.
• So I went to law school at the Richardson School of Law and I became a public defender. a young woman
• It's when you're fresh out of law school and you have all this school debt, this loan debt, and you got
• It's when you're fresh out of law school and you have all this school debt, this loan debt, and you got

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Governor’s Message 767, the nomination of Kanoi AD Jackson to serve as circuit court judge for the Third Circuit. The chair announced that the committee would not vote on the governor’s message or two judge nominations until Tuesday, April 15, but planned to vote that day on two Defender Council items. Testimony on Jackson’s nomination was limited to two minutes per speaker, and the hearing was conducted partly by Zoom. Supporters emphasized Jackson’s qualifications, work ethic, judicial temperament, and community ties. Testifiers included the West Hawaii Bar Association, family members, a retired teacher, retired Judge Robert Kim, and the Hawaii State Bar Association. The West Hawaii Bar Association said Jackson received high marks from its review process and that the Third Circuit needed a permanent judge for stability. Judge Kim and others praised her preparation, intelligence, humility, and experience as a prosecutor and litigator. Jackson also spoke in her own behalf, acknowledging that her background is primarily criminal rather than civil, but saying she is committed to learning the civil docket and serving the community if confirmed. Members questioned the Hawaii State Bar Association about the basis for its support, including how many members responded and whether concerns were raised about Jackson’s lack of civil experience. HSBA said it uses a confidential review process, receives both positive and negative comments, and does not track votes or percentages, but its board voted to support her. Judge Kim responded that judges can learn new areas of law, that civil dockets can be managed with benchbooks and help from other judges, and that Jackson’s trial experience would serve her well. No vote was taken on Jackson’s nomination during this hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• How do they know who all of these individuals at a local or school board or what, where is the repository
• that this cannot be used for, are things like upgrading Capitol security or equipment, or anything purchased
• Anything purchased before this funding was actually applied for and granted.
• know, another $135 million for a new program for, not a new program, but additional spending for school
• lunches and school breakfasts.

Committee: Joint Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How do they know who all of these individuals at a local or school board or what—where is the repository
• that this cannot be used for are things like upgrading capital security or equipment, or anything purchased
• Anything purchased before this funding was actually applied for and granted.
• know, another $135 million for a new program for, not a new program, but additional spending for school
• lunches and school breakfasts.

Committee: Joint Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee

Summary: The committee met to organize upcoming legislative session arrangements and staffing, and to review several rule and security-related items. It first approved a Joint Rule 211 change, recommended by the Employee Benefits Committee, that clarifies the deadline and statutory references for introducing health insurance mandate bills so required cost-benefit materials can be completed in time. Members noted the change would streamline the process, though it would not solve all timing and mandate-determination issues. The committee then discussed a draft bill on confidentiality protections for certain public officials and candidates, but members raised concerns about the statute’s complexity, the practical difficulty of administering it, and whether it would meaningfully improve safety; no action was taken and the topic was set aside for further discussion. The committee received an update on the new NCSL Legislator Security Fund. Staff explained that North Dakota is in process to apply for grant funding that could reimburse up to about $200 per legislator for personal security-related expenses such as home cameras, locks, lighting, or monitoring services, with reimbursement handled through Legislative Council and subject to Emergency Commission approval. Members asked about eligible expenses, timing, and whether new legislators would be included, and staff said the program would likely cover current legislators only for this round. The committee also approved the 2027 joint session schedule for the State of the State, tribal-state message, and State of the Judiciary on January 5, with the tribal and judiciary addresses in the morning and the governor’s address later in the day. The committee next approved the statutory reporting schedule for the Commerce Commissioner and agricultural commodity groups, setting the Commerce report for January 13, 2027, and the agriculture reports and pesticide container disposal update for January 14, 2027. Members questioned the usefulness of some of these recurring reports, but agreed to follow the existing statutory requirements. The largest discussion centered on Legislative Council staffing for the 2027 session: the committee approved reducing session staff to 36 Senate and 41 House employees, eliminating procedural clerk positions in standing committees in favor of permanent policy analysts, while retaining quality assurance clerks and adding a House parking lot attendant. It also approved a 3% salary increase for those staff positions, matching the increase given to state employees. Finally, the committee reviewed a revised organizational session and new legislator training agenda. Staff proposed moving some orientation content into a separate pre-session training day for new legislators on November 30, including laptop setup, mock committee and floor sessions, parliamentary procedure, and HR/benefits training, while adding more security and budgeting instruction. Members strongly supported earlier and more practical training, including follow-up reinforcement during the first week of session, and suggested using experienced or term-limited former legislators as mentors. Staff also described efforts to expand training materials into podcasts, flowcharts, and other formats, and Legislative Council leadership outlined the office’s remaining vacancies and a proposed expansion of policy analysts, program evaluators, legal staff, and training support to better serve the legislature and improve oversight of state programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• when we heard the bill and today, I was contacted by both my local library district and one of my school
• I was contacted by both my local library district and one of my school districts, which is why I was
• It also bans single-served beers that are purchased at the package store as well.
• packaging of a particular alcoholic beverage, the actual number of things that adult consumer can purchase
• In 2003—this was the year I graduated law school, so I didn't do these cases, but my firm did—we were

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1142, which would clarify the Secretary of State’s authority to issue certificates of good standing to series LLCs and make each series searchable on the Secretary of State’s website. The sponsor said the bill was needed to preserve a long-standing practice and keep Missouri business-friendly, and witnesses from the Missouri Chamber and a law firm supported it as a simple clarification. No opposition was presented, and the hearing concluded without a vote in the transcript. The committee then took up House Bill 3347, sponsored by Rep. Murphy, which had two parts: one establishing requirements for political subdivisions entering contingency-fee legal contracts, and another addressing a Kansas City ordinance restricting sales of small liquor bottles in certain areas. Supporters of the legal-contract portion argued that local governments should coordinate with the Attorney General on contingency-fee cases involving statewide issues, citing opioid, PFAS, environmental, and other multi-jurisdictional litigation as examples where attorney fees and fragmented local action created delays and inefficiencies. Opponents, including the Missouri Municipal League, Missouri Association of Counties, and private attorneys, argued the bill would add bureaucracy, delay cases, undermine local control, and potentially freeze out smaller communities; they also raised concerns about vague language, a 45-day review period, and retroactive effects on existing contracts. On the alcohol portion, industry witnesses supported the amendment, saying the Kansas City proposal was discriminatory, unsupported by data, and would hurt retailers and tax revenue. After the hearing, the committee moved into executive session and unanimously voted House Committee Substitute for Senate Bills 907, 1154, and 1272 do pass and do pass with consent, after adopting a technical substitute. The transcript then returned to HB 3347, where testimony continued on both the legal-contract and alcohol provisions, but no final committee vote on HB 3347 appears in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, I would really be excited if you told me we took high school kids or junior high school kids
• supporting projects such as when you may hear about the day from Caltrain, where they are looking at purchasing
• Students get to school, but students use our service for a lot of other purposes.
• That was protected, saved by the Class 1 railroads, which is who we purchased the corridors from.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will end that disparity and allow injured workers to either purchase their own insurance based
• on the rate they had previously we ...and allow injured workers to either purchase their own insurance
• But it doesn't stop there, because there are downstream impacts: restaurants, processors, schools, grocery
• I am 12 years old, and I go to Lucille Umbarger Middle School in Skagit County. I'm here...
• I go to Lucille Umbarger Middle School in Skagit County.

Bills: HB2355 , HB2151 , HB2372 , HB2472 , HB2409

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: labor protections, domestic workers, wage standards, employment rights, worker safety, factory built housing, commercial structures, national standards, construction regulation, building safety, workers' compensation, benefits, employment, injury claims, insurance, liability, fire protection, sprinkler systems, licensed contractors, certified fitters

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, would suggest that each school district and charter school shall adopt and implement a policy
• I was a high school principal of three different high schools, moved to central office where I was an
• So middle schools will go first in this school year, high schools will go next year, and then it will
• So the start, the beginning of the school day bell to the end of the school day bell.
• So the start, the beginning of the school day bell to the end of the school day bell.

Bills: SB23 , SB221 , SB261 , SB264

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, misappropriation, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, racketeering, criminal penalties, New Mexico, public safety, health regulations, community welfare, peace promotion, legislative reforms, election integrity, voter coercion, emergency procedures, polling place security

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Law School. Law School.
• And you mentioned Champlin Park High School. It's one of the largest high schools in the state.
• School District.
• a referendum and school bonds.
• each school district each schools each school district regional<00:26:40.680><c> area</c><00:26:41.000

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pay and subjects the school district to the one-half percent increase requirements for teacher pay.
• It states the school district must use unrestricted operational spending for teacher pay requirements
• Most schools are in the 40% range.
• Our teachers and our educators and our schools, public schools where 90% of Arizona children go that
• Our teachers and our educators and our schools, public schools where 90% of Arizona children go that

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first took up a discussion-only strike-everything amendment to HB 2211, which would make it unprofessional conduct for certain health care providers to submit offers in independent dispute resolution above 300% of Medicare or the qualified payment amount. The chair said he was not ready to move the bill because more stakeholder meetings were needed. Testimony split between insurers, who said a small number of providers were abusing the No Surprises Act and driving up costs, and provider representatives, who argued the proposal would improperly cap rates, relied on opaque insurer-set QPAs, and could threaten licensure in a billing dispute. No vote was taken on HB 2211. The committee then considered HB 4028 on accessory dwelling units. The bill would remove the 1,000-square-foot cap, change setback rules, bar municipalities from requiring an administrative use permit and certain elevation criteria, and extend the deadline for cities to adopt ADU regulations. The sponsor argued it would give homeowners more flexibility and help address housing affordability, while cities, neighborhood groups, and residents warned it would allow oversized ADUs, reduce local control, create density and safety concerns, and invite investor-driven development. After extensive debate, the committee voted 8-9 with one present, and HB 4028 failed. Next, the committee heard HB 2620, as amended, which appropriates $300,000 annually for five years from the General Fund to the Department of Veterans’ Services for grants to emergency shelters. An amendment removed age and non-congregate-setting conditions for eligibility. The sponsor and a shelter provider said the funding would help shelters better serve homeless veterans and connect them to services. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed HB 2620 on a 17-0 vote with one member not voting. The committee then considered HB 2960, as amended, which creates a veterans specialty court grant program and a dedicated fund to support local veterans treatment courts. An amendment shifted administration of the fund to the Office of the Courts and allowed support for expansion of existing programs. The sponsor, a Lake Havasu judge, and a veteran graduate testified that veterans courts reduce recidivism and save lives by linking veterans to treatment and support. The bill was still being taken up when the transcript ended, with testimony continuing from supporters including a veterans shelter founder.

Transcript Highlights:

• Similarly for West Maui, it has to be a new school in Maui, not a replacement school, not a school that
• Two of the schools are standalone K-12 programs, and then the others are school-within-school, so they
• they</c> others are School within school so they others are School within school so they have<01:13:
• We have double food production, our farm-to-school and our farm-to-state institutional purchasing, preserve
• We have double food production, our farm-to-school and our farm-to-state institutional purchasing, preserve

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard three House bills related to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. HB 606 would extend the Act 279 special fund to June 30, 2028, continue deposits and appropriations to help eliminate the DHHL waitlist, and require a strategic plan and annual reporting. DHHL strongly supported the measure, saying most of the initial $600 million had been used and that the need remains large, with more than 29,000 people on the waitlist. Public testimony also supported the bill, emphasizing its importance to Native Hawaiian families and concerns about Hawaiians leaving the islands because of housing costs. A member noted the bill is a priority and that the committee will keep working on how to fund another $600 million. HB 1086 would exempt DHHL homestead lot and housing development from general excise and use taxes. DHHL supported the bill, saying any tax savings would reduce the eventual cost of housing for low-income beneficiaries. The Department of Taxation said it could administer the measure and noted it is already being implemented under the governor’s emergency proclamation, with a proposed effective date of January 1, 2026. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical comments and urged the committee to weigh existing benefits already received by DHHL beneficiaries. HB 1307 would appropriate funds for DHHL water well development and geothermal exploration on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL said the bill is a follow-up to prior study funding and would support slim-hole drilling, site evaluation, and consultant work to identify viable geothermal resources, especially on Hawaiʻi Island. Several testifiers opposed the bill, arguing there had been inadequate beneficiary consultation, raising environmental, cultural, and safety concerns, and objecting to using $20 million for geothermal rather than housing. In response to committee questions, DHHL staff explained that the goal is to gather information for a future public-private partnership to develop geothermal electricity, and that a Chapter 343 environmental review would be required later in the process. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• our neediest schools in the state.
• I mean, we're going Missouri Afterschool Network to school-age after-school program.
• grants to specific schools?
• , but also for public schools.
• So I think that's good that it's available for parental choice, public school, private school.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There were 20 schools involved.
• You know, I've got one school.
• And so every school is different.
• Yeah, and there's actually a school district in my district, the Lindberg School District, and Representative
• I'm a high school junior from Southern Boone High School in District 44.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of our constituents whose funds were skimmed, especially our seniors, And going to the store to purchase
• School, which definitely impacts the affordability of those families and the affordability of the individuals
• I am very excited about the bilingual funding for our Buffalo State and Long Island school so we can

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Human Services and Labor budget hearing opened with Senate and Assembly co-chairs introducing members and naming secretaries for the record. The agencies covered included Human Services, Labor, Temporary and Disability Assistance, Children and Family Services, Veterans Services, Human Rights, Workers’ Compensation, the Welfare Inspector General, and the Public Employment Relations Board. Members then gave brief statements on their priorities for the upcoming budget negotiations. A major theme was affordability, with repeated discussion of child care, SNAP, housing, and worker supports. Senators and Assembly members highlighted the Senate and Assembly one-house proposals for a $500 million child care worker retention grant program, additional child care slots and subsidies, cost-of-living adjustments for human services workers, and expanded support for supportive housing, youth employment, HEAP, and energy affordability. Several members also emphasized food insecurity and SNAP-related issues, including funding to address payment errors, prevent penalties, expand SNAP education, and respond to expected federal changes. Labor-related issues included workers’ compensation fraud, wage theft enforcement, workplace violence, temporary disability insurance reform, and the creation of dedicated enforcement funding for the Department of Labor. Some members supported using workers’ compensation assessments or insurance-company-related funding to pay for anti-fraud efforts, while others preferred grants to district attorneys or broader DOL enforcement. There was also discussion of occupational health clinics, labor standards in any SEQRA changes, and expanding access to doctors in the workers’ compensation system. Veterans, child care, and public assistance fraud prevention were also discussed, including funding for veterans legal defense and mental health services, microchip/secure EBT cards to reduce skimming, and restoring or protecting various programs. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with the chairs stating that the Senate, Assembly, and Executive would continue negotiations toward a final budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• So a district hospital is more like a school district when you think about... ...three types of governmental
• So a district hospital is more like a school district when you think about the areas they serve.
• were very fortunate as an organization to receive a grant from the Patterson Family Foundation to purchase

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, our after-school tutoring has seen record-breaking attendance this last semester as our
• The recipients for 2025 included Kitsap County's public school districts, Meals on Wheels Kitsap, and
• So that afforded the tribe the ability to finally purchase land that it took into trust and eventually

Summary: The joint House and Senate committee meeting heard public testimony on tentative tribal-state gaming compact amendments for the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. Staff from the Washington State Gambling Commission explained the compacting process, the role of ex officio legislative members, and that the amendments would next go to the Gambling Commission for a January 8, 2026 vote before possible governor review. The Port Gamble S'Klallam presentation emphasized how gaming revenue supports tribal government services, health care, housing, education, language revitalization, natural resources work, and community investment projects in Kitsap County. For Port Gamble S'Klallam, the proposed changes include expanded credit and wager limits, more gaming stations and player terminals, language for a second facility, and adoption of an electronic table games appendix similar to other tribes. Members asked about pre-screening for high-limit tables, including how the tribe would define problem gambling and self-exclusion; tribal counsel said internal minimum control standards were still being developed and more detail would follow. A question about green crab removal in Port Gamble Bay was deferred for follow-up because the natural resources director was not present. The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe described its history, sovereignty, gaming operations, and how gaming revenue supports member programs such as nutrition assistance, education aid, homeownership down payment help, and charitable giving in Skagit County. Its amendment would allow electronic table games after the tribe removed traditional table games due to staffing and cost pressures, with the goal of remaining competitive. Committee members also asked about air quality and smoking-related provisions in the compact; the tribe said it maintains separate smoking and non-smoking areas and supports smoking cessation efforts. Chairs from both chambers closed by thanking the tribes for their contributions to members, local communities, and natural resource protection.

Transcript Highlights:

• She is an 18-year-old who attends Deming High School as a senior.
• She's the executive president of Deming High School.
• They're arguably one of the best at the high school level. And, Mr.
• President, Jalen would like to be... ...in the high school level. And, Mr.
• I had a bill that was going to help all the school, cities, and counties.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayers and pledges, and several procedural announcements, including permission for cameras, a relaxed dress code for guests, and excusing a few senators. Members also recognized numerous guests and honorary lieutenant governors, and discussed a planned bolo tie contest tied to New Mexico tradition and state history. The chamber then moved to business, including the confirmation of Anna Silva as Secretary of the General Services Department. The confirmation drew broad support from senators on both sides, who praised Silva’s long career in state government, her management experience, and her work on major projects such as the executive office building, procurement reforms, and facilities management. After debate, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm her appointment. Silva’s family and guests were recognized from the floor after the vote. The Senate then took up House Bill 2 and 3, the state budget. Senator Muñoz presented the Senate Finance version as a balanced budget with about $11.1 billion in spending, 27% reserves, recurring investments in health care, early childhood, public safety, education, roads, housing, and economic development, and targeted nonrecurring spending for items such as water, universities, and innovation sectors. Supporters emphasized affordability, teacher health insurance parity, medical residency funding, rural and community investments, and public safety funding. Critics raised concerns about the size of the budget, the late availability and complexity of the bill, the removal of a proposed 1% pay raise for state employees, and whether spending priorities and education dollars were being allocated effectively. No final vote on the budget was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you’ve never heard of it, it’s called the Heartwood School.
• We get young people, high school-age people, to start building planes in their high school.
• High school kids building airplanes — what could go wrong?
• </c><00:22:14.360><c> districts</c> them happen in their school districts them happen in their school
• uh it's a school Manchester specifically uh it's a school district<00:22:52.600><c> that</c><00:22:52.720

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My children's school also burned down. We never received an official evacuation notice.
• My children's school also burned down. My children's school also burned down. Excuse me.
• And by the time we moved back, she'll be in elementary school.
• I have a child in med school that I'm supporting. I don't have a job. My ALE is running out.
• On my way to take my kids to school, I have two drop-offs in the morning.

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Keywords: 988, house, all