Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 581, Senator Jennings, Department of Information Technology Statewide Technology Master Plan
• This bill requires the Secretary of Information Technology to post the statewide information technology
• </c> Department of Information Technology Department of Information Technology Statewide<00:11:37.360
• ><c> Technology</c><00:11:37.800><c> Master</c><00:11:38.120><c> Plan</c> Statewide Technology Master
• Plan Statewide Technology Master Plan Reporting,<00:11:38.839><c> Motion</c><00:11:39.080><c> to</c>

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, April 9, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first outlined its plan to clear pending concurrence items, focusing on Senate bills with House amendments and not taking up unamended House bills. Members then approved several motions not to concur with House amendments, including Senate Bills 514, 626, and 866, with the clerk reading the formal Senate messages in each case. The chamber also addressed an excused-vote question, with the presiding officer explaining that excused votes do not count as missed votes. The Senate then concurred in House amendments and passed a series of Senate bills, including SB 11 on campaign finance reporting and the Fair Campaign Financing Fund, SB 164 on the Pamela J. Kelly Tree Maryland program, SB 266 on local regulation of invasive trees, SB 509 on workforce Pell Grant implementation, SB 553 reestablishing the lithium-ion battery safety commission, SB 581 on statewide technology master plan reporting, SB 670 on polling-place authority, SB 848 on municipal election reporting, and SB 940 on water quality testing. Most of these House amendments were described as technical, clarifying, or conforming changes, and each bill received the required constitutional majority on final passage. The chamber also took up House Bill 862, a rail safety bill requiring certain freight trains to have crews of at least two under specified interstate conditions. After questions from the minority leader about the bill’s trigger conditions and effect on an Eastern Shore rail line, a senator explained support for the measure and the bill passed with 33 affirmative votes. Additional special-order House bills passed as well, including HB 497 on protective order durations, HB 552 establishing a commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, and HB 573 on fair housing and discriminatory effect standards. Later, the Senate continued with more concurrence items from Finance, including SB 22 on Department of Disabilities housing programs, SB 412 on forensic review boards and community forensic aftercare, SB 413 on morticians and funeral directors board operations, SB 496 on Medicaid coverage for obesity treatment, SB 555 on dementia services and brain health resources, and SB 579 on no-cost preventive cancer screening for retired volunteer firefighters. These bills were generally amended in the House with clarifying or conforming changes, and the Senate adopted the amendments and passed the bills by constitutional majority.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are numerous recommendations to go along with that technology and other recommendations that are
• </c><00:03:55.040><c> uh</c><00:03:55.200><c> and</c><00:03:55.519><c> other</c> with that technology
• uh and other with that technology uh and other recommendations<00:03:56.480><c> that</c><00:03:56.720
• I will move that the finding 5.16, technology and system integration, be included as a recommendation
• ,</c><00:23:38.799><c> improving</c> various forms of technology, improving various forms of technology

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee reconvened in open session after a closed discussion of sensitive security details and reviewed the public executive summary of the Minnesota State Capitol Complex Security Assessment by Axtel. Members discussed weapon screening and access control at length, including testimony from Capitol security and judicial center staff about screening procedures, prohibited items, and how screening is managed for visitors and authorized personnel. The chair emphasized that the committee was voting on high-level recommendations to be included in the final ACAST report and that the Department of Public Safety and Department of Administration would be encouraged to pursue the necessary work, including any legislative or budget requests. The committee then took a series of roll-call votes on the Axtel recommendations. Access control screening and visitor management (5.11) passed 4-2, while authorized access control and credential oversight (5.12), internal circulation and zoning controls (5.13), perimeter and exterior grounds (5.14), staffing models/post orders/operational readiness (5.15), technology and system integration (5.16), and protective intelligence (5.18) all passed unanimously 6-0. Each approved item was added as a recommendation in the final report. After the votes, the Department of Administration, Department of Public Safety, and House and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms offices walked through the draft final report. They highlighted staffing improvements, security infrastructure already installed, and remaining needs, including an estimated $41.008 million request for future enhancements such as kiosks, glass-resistant film, door access controls, cameras, lighting, bollards, and an updated distributed antenna system. The report also includes recommendations on trauma-informed safety drills, conduct rules for hearings, and designating the Minnesota State Patrol Capital Security Division as the primary investigative authority for potential criminal activity on Capitol grounds.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I, I just wanted to provide some insight as to technologies that didn't exist 50 years ago when
• Similar technologies are certainly capable of being developed for screwworm infestations.
• So these sorts of technologies are, are available to our scientists.
• We're not using that technology yet. Is that, was that right? That's correct.
• Well, a tick rider, but we didn't have the technology that we have today.

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Transcript Highlights:

• And this technology actually has been utilized for many decades.
• 00:20:39.200><c> utilized</c> technology actually has been utilized technology actually has been utilized
• We need new technology and to be open, and we haven't as a state.
• We need new technology and to be open, and we haven't as a state.
• right here in energy technologies right here in Minnesota.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and so we were able to purchase some infrastructure for educational technology that served both adult
• Um, and so we were able to purchase some infrastructure for educational technology that served both adult
• Um, and so we were able to purchase some infrastructure for educational technology that served both adult
• Um, and so we were able to purchase some infrastructure for educational technology that served both adult
• that served both um the basic technology that served both um the basic um<00:14:50.079><c> adult</c>

Bills: HF3006 , HF2130 , HF1290

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: Department of Corrections, DOC, corrections budget, supplemental appropriation, deficiency funding, public safety finance, incarceration, prerelease services, community supervision, postrelease services, supervised release, probation, reentry, reentry services, prison reform, body-worn cameras, corrections officer cameras, ARMER radio system, PREA, Prison Rape Elimination Act

Transcript Highlights:

• We need funding for new technology, funding for salary adjustments, funding for statewide WooE training
• My tech budget, technology budget in 2021 was a little over $5 million for the county.
• Uh, my technology budget for this fiscal year is over $8 million.
• We can't keep having double-digit percent increases in our technology cost.
• With new software and technology. We could have prevented that.

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a partner at American Peat Technology in Aitkin, Minnesota.
• I'm a partner at American Peat Technology in Aitkin, Minnesota.
• I'm a partner at American Peat Technology in Aitkin, Minnesota.
• I'm a partner at American Peat Technology in Aitkin, Minnesota.
• I'm a partner at American Peat Technology in Aitkin, Minnesota.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The technology is proven, deployed at scale in Europe since the 1980s, with several smaller projects
• The technology<00:04:03.720><c> is</c><00:04:03.880><c> proven,</c><00:04:04.480><c> deployed</c><00:
• 04:04.880><c> at</c><00:04:05.000><c> scale</c> technology is proven, deployed at scale technology is

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand that this is a new technology and it's kind of moving quick.
• I understand that this is a new technology and it's kind of moving quick.
• was written... ...shared that it, the way it was written was to, um, just because it’s such a new technology
• So I would ask the committee to please consider protecting Idaho citizens with this technology.

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee first approved the March 17, 2026 minutes and then reconsidered House Bill 750, the “programmable money” bill. Members debated whether to reopen the prior vote, with some senators objecting that the bill had already received a full hearing and others saying additional information on UCC issues and member absences justified reconsideration. The motion to reconsider passed, Representative Heather Scott explained that the bill is intended as the Consumer Payment Rights and Transparency Act and that LSO/UCC review indicated it does not conflict with the Uniform Commercial Code. After discussion, the committee voted 6-3 to send HB 750 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 721, which would allow school districts to advertise for construction bids while permitting is still pending and would create a 30-day initial permit review timeline for public works. The sponsor and an Idaho Associated General Contractors representative said the bill would reduce delays and align school construction with other public works projects; no opposition was noted. The committee unanimously sent HB 721 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Members also heard House Bill 931, a trailer bill to HB 645 that removes an unnecessary reference to the Department of Insurance in the portable benefits plan law, and HB 931 was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 929, sponsored by Representative Aaron Bingham, would let insured patients negotiate cash prices with providers before services are rendered and require insurers to count the negotiated amount toward the patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. Bingham said the bill is meant to lower health care costs, especially for people with high deductibles, and that industry had not opposed it. Some senators questioned how the bill interacts with insurance contracts and the hold-harmless clause, and Senator Lakey said he was concerned about the bill directing private-sector arrangements, but the committee still approved the motion to send HB 929 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. At the end of the meeting, Senator Zito attempted to bring House Bill 745 back before the committee, but the chair ruled the motion out of order because a bill held in committee cannot be overridden that way, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• hearing to be conducted virtually by way of telephone, video conferencing, or another audiovisual technology
• hearing to be conducted virtually by way of telephone, video conferencing, or another audiovisual technology
• In determining whether use of audiovisual technology is appropriate, the court must consider the inconvenience
• In determining whether use of audiovisual technology is appropriate, the court must consider the inconvenience

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Human Services heard and advanced four Senate bills. Senate Bill 1242 would allow courts to conduct mental health evaluation and treatment hearings, or testimony within those hearings, virtually by phone, video, or other audiovisual technology when the court finds no unfair prejudice; supporters said it reflects current practice and helps avoid dismissals due to technical issues. It passed on an 11-0 vote with one member absent. Senate Bill 1145 would transfer licensure and regulation of behavior analysts from the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners to the existing Behavior Analyst Committee, effective January 1, 2027, and make the committee’s decisions final rather than requiring board ratification. Supporters described it as an efficiency measure that reduces delay in licensing and complaint resolution. The committee recommended the bill 11-0, with one absent. Senate Bill 1247 would allow individuals who do not receive assisted-living services to live with a resident in an assisted living center or home if the facility authorizes it, and it was described as a clarification of a recent statutory interpretation affecting independent residents. Members discussed possible safety concerns and facility discretion, and one member voted present while the rest voted aye; the bill received a due pass recommendation 10-0 with one present and one absent. Senate Bill 1023 would set optometry eye-exam standards based on community standards of care, recommend a one-year exam interval, and allow optometrists to extend eyeglass prescription validity up to two years, with adjustments based on patient risk factors; supporters said it codifies best practices and does not affect contact lens prescriptions. It passed 11-0 with one absent, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 4911 as a necessary and timely update to Texas child protection laws in response to emerging technologies
• Since then, we've seen that technology has advanced rapidly, and the law needs further updates to close
• To close on this, the reason this bill is so important is, one, technology should never outpace our commitment
• recently, or in recent sessions, made some strides toward helping law enforcement, but unfortunately technology

Summary: The Subcommittee on New Offenses and Changed Penalties met with a quorum present and first handled witness-registration corrections for House Bill 2461, changing one witness from support to neutral and deleting another registration; HB 2461 was left pending. The subcommittee then heard House Bill 3507, which would create a tiered penalty structure for repeat theft offenders by increasing penalties for those with five or more prior theft convictions. Representative Wharton and Walker County District Attorney Will Durham testified in support, arguing current law treats chronic shoplifters the same regardless of how many prior convictions they have. No opposition was presented, and HB 3507 was left pending. The committee next heard House Bill 1871, which would increase penalties for attempted capital murder of a peace officer, raise the minimum sentence to 25 years, and deny parole and mandatory supervision for those convicted. Representative Dyson, Brazos County District Attorney Jarvis Parsons, Lieutenant Ed Ramirez, and Chief Deputy Constable Calder Lively testified in support, describing attacks on officers and arguing the bill would provide stronger deterrence and truth in sentencing. No questions or opposition were recorded, and HB 1871 was left pending. House Bill 4911 followed, updating child exploitation laws to address AI-generated and deepfake child sexual abuse material by expanding definitions and criminalizing knowing possession or viewing of fake or computer-generated images depicting minors. Representative Fairly and Harris County DA’s Office division chief Steven Driver supported the bill, saying technology had outpaced existing law and that the measure would help protect children. A committee member raised concerns about broad affirmative defenses in the bill, and Representative Fairly said the office would work on an amendment. HB 4911 was left pending. Finally, on HB 795, Representative Bowers moved that the subcommittee report completion of deliberations and recommend the bill for full committee consideration; the motion passed 3-2, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a student at Math, Science Technology Magnet Academy at Roosevelt High School, and I am in support
• I think it's more cognitive science that we're now dealing with, plus technology.
• He said California’s immense school system can help push technology providers to be more responsible
• He agreed that social interaction matters and that technology should be age-appropriate.
• And I think a lot of folks have built their technology platforms, and frankly, the whole educational

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 1067, which would require annual early math screening for K-2 students beginning in 2028-29 to identify learning gaps and connect students to evidence-based support. Senator Weber and supporters, including EdVoice and UC Davis researcher Dr. Charles Wilkes, argued that California’s low math performance and persistent achievement gaps justify early identification and intervention. Opponents, including the California Mathematics Council, county superintendents, and CTA, said the bill could create a new mandate, encourage narrow skill-based instruction, and divert attention from implementing the California Mathematics Framework and investing in teacher training and coaching. Committee members discussed how the screener would work, whether it would identify disabilities or simply flag students needing further evaluation, and cited examples of districts already using early screening tools. No vote was taken because quorum had not yet been established at that point. SB 1110, a child care subsidy administration bill, was presented next. Senator Becker and co-sponsors from the Child Care Resource Center and EveryChild California said the measure would stabilize the child care system as the state moves to enrollment-based funding by clarifying funding for administrative and family-service functions and helping providers maintain staffing, payment timelines, and compliance. There was support from several child care and education organizations and no opposition testimony. The bill was not voted on because the committee still lacked quorum. After recess, the committee heard SB 1374, which would allow public higher education institutions to seek temporary restraining orders on their own behalf when they face credible threats of violence. The CSU Chancellor’s Office and San Diego State police described incidents where threats were directed at campuses broadly rather than specific individuals, leaving institutions without a legal remedy under current law. UC and independent colleges supported the bill, and there was no opposition. The bill was held on call pending quorum. The committee then took up SB 1321, which would direct the State Auditor to review remedial course use and student preparedness at selected UC and CSU campuses. Senator Nila and supporters argued that recent UC San Diego data show severe gaps in incoming students’ math preparation and that the audit would help assess admissions and placement practices; there was no opposition testimony. Members raised concerns about the scope and timing of the audit request, and the bill was held on call. The committee also heard SB 1086 on microschools, which would define microschools in statute and direct model ordinances for local land use regulation. Supporters said microschools are growing but face inconsistent zoning treatment, while some members questioned whether the Legislature had enough information to define the model or direct state guidance without more study. After quorum was established, the committee voted SB 1086 out on a 4-1 vote to the Senate Appropriations Committee, with Senator Perez voting aye, Senator Ochoa Bogh aye, and Senator Cabaldon no; the remaining votes were not fully recorded in the transcript. Finally, SB 1181 was presented as a voluntary pilot program in Central Valley counties to allow schools to share credible safety concerns with regional threat assessment centers. Senator Hurtado and supporters, including the mother of a student killed in a shooting and Corcoran High School students, said the bill would improve early intervention and communication around threats. Members expressed support while also raising privacy and federal-sharing concerns about fusion centers; the bill was discussed but no vote was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Technology is there, but we still need court reporters.
• But we do want to embrace the technology, and it may be cost savings for courts in the future if they
• Technology is there, but we still need court reporters.
• I don't expect them to do that long, but technology changes are really happening fast right now.
• So I think the idea of technology where someone records it in the courtroom and then...

Bills: HB141 , HB178 , HB179 , HB187 , HB188 , HB527 , HB782 , HB911 , HB916

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: court proceedings, transcription, criminal law, recording, judicial discretion, court reporters, record retention, criminal cases, civil cases, legal proceedings, judicial administration, Louisiana Supreme Court, court reporting services, digital reporting, remote proceedings, virtual courts, court reporter fees, judicial district, statewide revision, costs

Transcript Highlights:

• For some households, this could make solar technology financially attainable for the first time.
• </c><00:12:30.560><c> for</c><00:12:30.720><c> offsetting</c> be a useful technology for offsetting be
• a useful technology for offsetting some<00:12:31.480><c> household</c><00:12:31.880><c> demand</c><00
• </c><00:12:56.920><c> financially</c> could make solar technology financially could make solar technology
• can be safely deployed in technologies can be safely deployed in Minnesota<00:13:14.600><c> households

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the regulation must impose only technologically achievable requirements.
• In programs that are technology forcing.
• </c><00:10:25.280><c> That's</c><00:10:25.600><c> makes</c> technologically achievable.
• That's makes technologically achievable.
• ><c> an</c> technologically achievable at an technologically achievable at an applicable<00:21:56.800

Committee: Senate Natural Resources & Energy

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 02:38 SB 178 Discussion 03:36 SB 178 Roll Call Vote 43:10 SCR 66 Discussion 47:55 SCR 66 Roll Call Vote 53:48, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Offering a paper option helps ensure we are measuring learning, not technology proficiency.
• So HB 2033 does not eliminate digital testing or reject technology.
• Around 2010, our schools began widespread adoption of digital technology.
• that or not, they are very comfortable with technology.
• technology skills is in the statewide curriculum.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Although the technology is vastly different, our basic mission of researching the resources of Texas
• some of the GIS technology that you may have in place, et cetera.
• The industry and the technology have evolved significantly.
• All of the technology that we have, the GIS mapping that is available.
• There, I might. and also in thinking about more technology and better ways to do things.

Bills: HB206 , HB 1285 , HB1335 , HJR107 , HB206

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: pipeline, construction, cash bond, county authority, local government, HB 1285, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, drones, unmanned aircraft, UAS, drone inspections, oil and gas, pipeline inspection, surface mining, well sites, tank batteries, disposal wells, injection sites, natural resources

Transcript Highlights:

• What’s the underlying technology? It’s that blockchain technology that we— What do we call them?
• What’s the underlying technology? It’s that blockchain technology that we— Okay.
• The Bitcoin network uses a blockchain technology.
• What’s an underlying technology? It’s that blockchain technology that we use. Okay.
• What’s an underlying technology? It’s that blockchain technology that we use. Okay.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to diversify where our loans are going geographically, what the term is on those loans, what the technology
• </c> borrowers, proprietary technology borrowers, proprietary technology information. information. information
• We have leveraged very varied financing tools, and we are agnostic to technology.
• our strength: we are diversifying our portfolio, not just across the terms of the loans, but the technology
• , Carba's technology provides a reactor<00:39:15.240><c> that</c><00:39:15.440><c> breaks</c><00:39:15.800

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, it can be transportation, tuition, tutoring, technology if students don't have access to
• So, you know, it can be transportation, tuition, tutoring, technology if students don't have access to
• So, you know, it can be transportation, tuition, tutoring, technology if students don't have access to
• And then expenses for the purchase of any computer technology or equipment or internet access and related
• And then expenses for the purchase of any computer technology or equipment or internet access and related

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:03 Bills for Consideration: 3:10 Adjournment: 56:19, 958, all