Transcript Highlights:

• Today, I rise to honor the centennial celebration of the incorporation of the city of La Habra, which
• The city of La Habra has flourished due to a steadfast commitment to community, service, and progress
• Vice Mayor Nazarian was elected to the Beverly Hills City Council in June 2022, slightly before I was
• is her third language, and she is the first Iranian-American female to serve on the Beverly Hills City
• For homelessness programs throughout the state.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's not a small expense.
• Nine out of ten restaurants are small businesses.
• The estimated savings for small businesses are thin.
• This is offered by 52% of small businesses.
• So you have partners with small businesses, and if small businesses are asking you for a little bit of

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing focused on interchange fees, sales tax and tip processing, chargebacks, fraud, surcharging, and the broader future of payment systems. Chair Paul Feeney and co-chair Rep. Jamie Murphy opened by explaining the commission’s charge and inviting testimony from small businesses, industry groups, banks, and policy experts. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that Massachusetts tourism depends on universal card acceptance and stable interchange, and urging the commission not to disrupt the current system ahead of major events expected to bring millions of visitors to the Commonwealth. A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates describing thin margins and the burden of paying percentage-based processing fees on sales tax and tips that are not business revenue. Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others said restaurants often operate on very small profits and that processing fees on taxes and gratuities can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, and limiting repeat abuse. Commission members pressed witnesses on whether tax and tip amounts could be separated at the point of sale, and several witnesses said current consumer card systems do not transmit that level of detail. Testimony from credit union, banking, and payments representatives largely opposed state-level changes that would carve out taxes or tips from interchange, warning of compliance burdens, higher costs, reduced rewards, and possible effects on fraud protection and access to credit. Alex Verine of America’s Credit Unions and Deb Peters and Keely McEwen of the Electronic Payments Coalition said the payment system is complex, that interchange funds fraud prevention and network infrastructure, and that new state mandates could create operational and legal uncertainty. Dan Swanson argued states have authority to act and pointed to Illinois litigation and federal court rulings, while Julian Morris and Brad Popolado emphasized the benefits of card acceptance, the decline of cash, and the need to consider other payment methods and check fraud as well. Several witnesses discussed international payment systems, instant payments, and QR standards as possible future directions. The chairs and members engaged in extended back-and-forth with witnesses about whether Massachusetts could exempt sales tax from swipe fees, whether surcharging should be revisited, and whether vendor compensation or other targeted relief might be more workable than broad changes to interchange. No votes were taken. At the close of the hearing, the chairs said the commission would hold one additional public hearing date to be determined, after which members would begin developing next steps and a report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Croix Valley, we are a city-based service, so the cities are aware of what our pay structure is.
• So, the cities are at the structure.
• Many programs that operate with state oversight, including special education programs, Medicaid waiver
• 04.320><c> state</c> programs that operate with state programs that operate with state oversight<01:48
• </c> internship programs. internship programs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then it migrated to the inner city.
• And then it migrated to the inner city.
• And funding for for the whole program.
• And, you know, in my area, I have 32, 33 small towns.
• </c> of that money to help fund those small of that money to help fund those small first<00:07:29.840

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our local communities, our counties and cities and small agencies, are victim to this, as well as private
• And our local communities, our counties and cities and small agencies, are victim to this, as well as
• license in New York City.
• The issue that exists between GRU, the city of Gainesville, and all the ratepayers in the city of Alachua
• ...for the School Guardian program.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with a quorum, opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and heard several member introductions recognizing guests, interns, public servants, and a resolution honoring Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza for winning the Heisman Trophy. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and took up a series of bills, with some measures temporarily postponed and others advanced after brief debate and, in several cases, substitution of House companions for Senate bills. The first major bill passed was CS/CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, which requires hospitals with emergency departments to have pediatric emergency care policies, training, equipment, and a designated pediatric coordinator; it passed 36-0. The Senate also passed CS/HB 1113 on public records, expanding confidentiality protections for victims and temporarily protecting the name of a law enforcement officer who becomes a victim in the line of duty; it passed 33-4. CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity was amended to place the program under the Florida Digital Service and to adjust grant timing, then passed 37-0. CS/CS/HB 925 on clerks of court passed 38-0 after amendments affecting revenue retention, legal notices, traffic citation distributions, and municipal fee sharing. CS/CS/HB 679 on trademark registration modernization and CS/CS/HB 589 on septic permit timing also passed unanimously. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/HB 991 / SB 1334, an elections bill that would use Real ID data to verify citizenship, change voter ID rules, alter candidate qualifying requirements, and revise election administration procedures. Senators offered and debated numerous amendments on documentation fees, senior exemptions, human review versus automated systems, student and retirement-center IDs, and effective dates; most were defeated, though one amendment adding stock-trading disclosure language for candidates was adopted. The bill’s sponsor cited election-crimes reports and specific prosecutions involving non-citizens as justification for the measure, while opponents argued it could disenfranchise eligible voters, especially students and seniors. The transcript ends during continued questioning and debate on that elections bill, before final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• On a BAMD program, funded in part by the New Mexico taxpayers.
• That is what we call 638 programs.
• For example, in Las Cruces, they have, frankly, the best program down in Cruces.
• and restructure the existing broadband program.
• A low-income telecommunications assistance program and restructured the existing broadband program, making

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then again, it's also on the small-scale folks like small-scale meat producers. 37-206 notes that
• Thank you, legislators, for your support for this program. I'll turn it back to Director Weaver.
• Thank you, legislators, for your support for this program.
• Thank you, legislators, for your support for this program. I'll turn it back to Director Weaver.
• , and we've already heard a lot about WQPA, or the Water Quality Program for Agriculture, today.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to our small districts and our small to our small districts and our small schools.<01:19:57.040>
• Um, we have some cities and towns. Um, we have the city of Laramie.
• We have the city of city of Laramie.
• </c> overall health of your program. overall health of your program.
• EGI program equated close to 23%. EGI program equated close to 23%.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But as long as its use is small, the benefits of an attack are also small. ...is small, the benefits
• of an attack are also small.
• These programs include the Washington World Fellows Program, Boundless Washington, and Compassion Scholars
• The Leadership Board does not simply run programs.
• Since then, the demand for our programs has grown substantially.

Bills: SB6084, SB6137, SCR8406, SB5892, SB5863

Keywords: elections, double voting, voting twice, multiple voting, same-day election, primary election, general election, special election, cross-state voting, ballot fraud, election fraud, voter misconduct, RCW 29A.84.660, State v. Padilla, civil infraction, class C felony, Secretary of State, Washington elections, election law, voter eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 300 apprenticeship programs. 300 apprenticeship programs. 4,500<00:45:29.599><c> eligible</c><00
• </c> How do they find the right program? How do they find the right program?
• </c> of these many programs of these many programs together together together in<00:46:25.359><c> one
• Small businesses suffer.
• This is a small part of the trial.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have to go through DED with the city being the applicant. So the city of St.
• Louis is the applicant or the city of Kansas City. They held a competition back then.
• Cities, this is not, the bulk of this legislation is not designed for any particular city, any city can
• But for this program, they will not be redeveloped.
• Chairman, Shannon Cooper this evening representing the City of Kansas City, the Greater Kansas City Chamber

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> their crops, especially new or small their crops, especially new or small producers<00:38:14.320
• ><c> which</c> double up food bucks program in which double up food bucks program in which many<00:38
• </c><01:03:13.040><c> and</c> of available resources in small and of available resources in small and
• ,</c> concerns of our counties, our cities, concerns of our counties, our cities, and<01:09:14.880><c
• </c> two small children, um things happen. two small children, um things happen.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It really creates a new federal program within state statute.
• And they’re really, really proud of this program.
• There's nothing more permanent than a temporary government program.
• It would sunset the program on July 1, 2030. Thank you, gentlemen.
• This also doesn't require cities to do this.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As policymakers, we must continue to support victims and assist with these programs and community-based
• Manager Amy DeVoll, Client Services Supervisor Dave Crop, program coordinators Zella Mirieta, and Odalis
• Undiagnosed FAP and AFAP can increase the risk of cancer to develop in the small intestine, liver, brain
• choosing between groceries and gas, seniors worried about health care, students drowning in debt, small
• In addition, he was executive director of the California State Sheriff's Association, assistant city

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's expanding the Guardian program to allow post-secondary institutions to opt in to the program.
• We try to make them small fortresses and make it very difficult to get in.
• The Guardian program gives them the option, not the requirement.
• The other property is currently opposed by the City of DeBerry.
• I don’t care who it is; I don’t care if it’s one little, small problem.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> a day around that city backwards. a day around that city backwards.
• Minnesota Legislature Page Program. Minnesota Legislature Page Program.
• We have programs to recognize students with essay programs and in the middle school and high school and
• We have programs to recognize students with essay programs and in the middle school and high school and
• We have programs to recognize students with essay programs and in the middle school and high school and

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee held a joint hearing recognizing the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and focusing on civic education, free speech, voting, and Minnesota’s America 250 commemorations. Opening remarks emphasized the importance of education, Indigenous land acknowledgement, and the idea that democracy depends on informed and engaged citizens. The chair then invited student debaters from the Minnesota High School League to testify about how debate, free speech, and evidence-based reasoning have shaped their education and civic participation. The students argued that debate teaches critical thinking, helps young people engage with difficult issues, and should be protected as part of a healthy democracy; one also urged lawmakers to move beyond empty promises and take action on issues such as eviction moratoriums, ICE collaboration, and protest protections. Commissioner Willie Jett of the Minnesota Department of Education testified that public education is where citizenship first becomes real, and that schools, libraries, and educators help students learn to listen, question, debate respectfully, and understand both the ideals and failures of American history. He said democracy is something each generation must learn and strengthen, and thanked the committee for convening the hearing. Former students Sarah Griffin and Charlie Crocker then offered tributes to Senator Swedzinski, describing how his teaching encouraged civic engagement, disagreement, and action, and how his classroom shaped their lives and public service. Their remarks emphasized that democracy is not a spectator sport and that ordinary people build it through small, courageous acts. Secretary of State Steve Simon followed with testimony on Minnesota’s civic culture and voter participation. He said Minnesota has long ranked near the top nationally in voter turnout, including youth turnout, and attributed that to a combination of good election laws and a strong pro-voting culture. He highlighted school-based civic education efforts such as pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds and the Students Vote mock election program, and noted that Minnesota’s congressional delegation was unanimous in supporting the Voting Rights Act in 1965 as an example of the state coming together on major moral questions. The Minnesota Historical Society then began its presentation on America 250, with Kent Whitworth describing the organization’s role, the new edition of the Northern Lights curriculum, and broader commemorative activities; Dr. Bill Convery introduced historical context about how Americans have celebrated independence and how the semiquincentennial can leave a legacy for future generations.

Transcript Highlights:

• From the Texas Clear, from this Texas Clear Lanes initiative, 18 projects from the program have been
• We do this by injecting additional funding through grant programs.
• Our city more efficiently, reduce congestion on those roads, and the expansion of our airport.
• That the airport has with uh their program and their campaign called Journey with AUS uh is going to
• help expand the airport and make sure that our big city has a reflective big airport with it.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, to qualify for this program, you must qualify as a small employer under the paid leave law.
• </c> program, you must qualify uh as a small program, you must qualify uh as a small employer<00:09:07.600
• Uh, so under the paid leave program, a small employer has to meet two requirements.
• Uh so under the paid leave<00:34:58.720><c> program,</c><00:34:59.040><c> a</c><00:34:59.280><c> small
• small employer has to leave program, a small employer has to meet<00:35:00.560><c> two</c><00:35:00.800

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Through these programs, like the High School of Biggs program, Big Brothers and Sisters of Central California
• And I found myself having to take messages back and forth between Doug and the Morgan Hill city manager
• And this went on, like, back and forth with this small talk for like five minutes.
• We need an additional 2.5 million acre-feet in the valley so that small farmers can continue to grow
• He was at the city council meetings, the school board meetings, and planning meetings, and because of

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and began with a floor introduction honoring guests from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, including President Jeffrey Armstrong, students, and student leaders. Senator Laird highlighted Cal Poly’s 125th anniversary, its statewide impact, and student achievements, including Rose Parade and design-build competition awards. The body then took up two Senate concurrent resolutions. SCR 111 by Senator Niello commemorated the 125th anniversary of the certified public accountant profession in California and recognized the California Board of Accountancy and the California Society of CPAs; it passed on a roll call and was later adopted 38-0 after the call was lifted. SCR 109 by Senator Grove proclaimed January 2026 as National Mentoring Month and recognized Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California for its long-standing youth mentorship work; it also passed on a roll call and was adopted 39-0 after the call was lifted. The Senate also concurred in Assembly amendments to SB 25 by Senator Umberg, which streamlines California’s merger process and aligns it with the federal process; the vote was 33-0. Members then approved a motion by Senator Laird to give second reading and move forward bills reported from the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee on February 4, 2026, despite objections from Senator Niello; the motion passed 29-10. The remainder of the session was devoted to adjourn-in-memory tributes for Congressman Doug LaMalfa, Barry Del Bono, Professor Alan Stewart Hammond, and journalist Jeb Bing, with multiple senators offering personal recollections and condolences to their families and communities. The Senate concluded by announcing the next floor session and recessing until later that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we pick up the I-82 corridor and come down through Yakima, Lower Valley, Tri-Cities, obviously our
• As you can see, this corridor connects Tri-Cities and Walla Walla, including port facilities on the Columbia
• I know it's kind of small to see, but there are some very big bridges that we have to address.
• We have an existing program and existing staff who do these reviews, so we hope that you will support
• Just a small... I have no clue what we're... Sure. I didn't either until I saw this bill come up.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met for work sessions, public hearings, and executive action. In the work session, WSDOT briefed the committee on the U.S. 12 corridor near Walla Walla and the North Spokane Corridor. Brian White said U.S. 12 is an eight-phase project with seven phases complete, and phase eight would finish the corridor, improve freight mobility and safety, and include a jurisdictional transfer of the old highway back to Walla Walla County. He said the project remains short of full funding, including a gap between the $350 million corridor cost and the $110 million federal Rural Surface Transportation grant, but WSDOT hopes to build smaller independent-utility pieces and begin construction in summer 2027. Charlene K. then reported that the North Spokane Corridor is seven of eight highway miles open, with major remaining work on the I-90 connection and related interchanges, bridges, and trail segments. She described the project as on track for design completion in 2027 and construction completion around 2030, while noting risks tied to federal approval, tight construction space, labor and contractor availability, utilities, and community impacts. The committee also heard from Karen Messmer of the Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Council, who summarized the council’s 2025 report and 2026 priorities. She emphasized that pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities remain unacceptably high and urged a safe-system approach focused on safer speeds, roads, road users, vehicles, land use, and post-crash care. She highlighted recommendations including safety-based performance measures, better speed management, more local safety planning support, improved driver education, attention to micromobility and large vehicles, and faster toxicology and crash-data processing. In public hearings, the committee heard Senate Bill 6131, which would expand the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s fatal crash review authority, designate it as a public health authority for limited access to health information, and create a confidential fatality review committee. The sponsor and Traffic Safety Commission said the bill would help identify common contributing factors in all fatal crashes while protecting confidential information; a media representative testified that the bill preserves public access to records already open and supports the goal of improving safety. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6155, which would extend disability parking placard renewal from every five years to every 20 years and remove the need for a health care practitioner’s signature at renewal; supporters said this would reduce burdens on permanently disabled people, while opponents warned it could increase fraud and misuse of placards. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6238, which would raise the minimum tug escort horsepower for oil tankers in restricted waters to 3,000 horsepower or 5% of tanker deadweight, whichever is greater; the sponsor and Board of Pilotage said the change would align statute with current practice and newly adopted rules. Testimony was mixed, and the hearing closed with two people signed in pro and two con. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. It passed Senate Bill 5746 on EV charging infrastructure property crime, Senate Bill 5824 on fifth wheel travel trailer length, Senate Bill 6110 on e-bikes and e-motos, Senate Bill 5839 on county ferry district passenger-only service, and Senate Bill 6148 on regional transit authority bond terms, all with due pass recommendations to the Rules Committee. An amendment to SB 6110 adding several state agency leaders to the e-moto work group was rejected. The committee adjourned after signing committee reports.