Transcript Highlights:

• And since the department's attorney said there's issues with saying they should collaborate, And since
• the department's attorney said there's issues with saying they should collaborate because the department
• So I can forward you the email I received from their attorney general, but they're having the conversations
• But this is the language I got from Jonathan Olm, the attorney.
• I won't argue with the attorney. That's always a bad thing to do for me, right?

Bills: SB2399

Keywords: mental health, psychiatric treatment, reimbursement, medical assistance, legislative report, 908, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations HR Division met to work through amendments and budget items in House Bill 2012/HB 1004, focusing first on long-term care, disability services, and behavioral health. Members discussed competing approaches to a four-plex for medically complex individuals, a value-based care payment withhold for nursing facilities, accreditation requirements for providers, a study of developmental disability services, and funding for Family Voices and Ann Carlson-related services. Several amendments were accepted or set aside after discussion, including a study amendment for disability services and a Family Voices grant amendment that was adjusted to remove “one-time” language so it could continue as an ongoing grant. The committee also agreed to keep or defer some items for conference committee, including the youth crisis stabilization pilot and other long-term care proposals. A major discussion centered on the state hospital project. Members debated whether the $330 million project should remain in the DHS budget or be moved to the OMB budget for construction management. After discussion of costs, alternates, and the role of a steering committee and BND loan language, the committee agreed to remove the state hospital funding and related loan language from the DHS budget while leaving the steering committee language in place. The committee also considered a proposed Altru grant for additional beds and settled on a smaller planning-focused approach, with a $1 million grant and a line of credit concept to be refined later. The committee then turned to behavioral health items, including QRTP funding, nursing home behavioral health training, and a youth crisis stabilization pilot. Members generally supported keeping the QRTP funding level, but were divided on the nursing home behavioral health training and the crisis stabilization pilot, with some preferring to leave those issues for conference committee. The division also reviewed the HHS block grant and underfunding structure, with Donna Ackland explaining salary, vacancy, and flexibility calculations; the committee discussed adjusting the underfund and revenue assumptions but did not finalize every number before moving on. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 1577 on wastewater treatment grants. Senator Davison moved to hoghouse the bill into a study-focused version using the proposed amendment language, and the motion passed. The committee then moved HB 1577 as amended with a do pass recommendation; the roll call passed with Senators Cleary, Davison, Dever, and Mathern voting yes, and Senator Magrum not recorded as voting. The meeting adjourned with plans to return later in the day to continue budget work.

Transcript Highlights:

• NOW, I AM NO ATTORNEY. I THINK SENATOR PIZZO IS A GREAT ATTORNEY.
• BUT IF AN INDIVIDUAL BRINGS A LAWSUIT, THEY LOSE IN THE COUNTY TO SPEND IN DOLLARS FOR ATTORNEY FEES
• AND SO WE ARE SAYING THAT COUNTY WILL NOT AND BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ATTORNEY FEES IF THEY WIN IN THE
• THEY ARE NOT EVEN COMPENSATED FOR THE ATTORNEY FEES IF THEY LOSE THAT CASE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's Senator Zaffirini's bill about the selection of an attorney for appointment as an attorney ad

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, my name is Judy Nord, and I'm a staff attorney with the State Court Administrator's Office.
• I'm an Assistant County Attorney in Washington County, Minnesota.
• with the State Court attorney with the State Court Administrator's<00:02:06.680><c> Office.
• ><c> County,</c> Attorney in Washington County, Attorney in Washington County, Minnesota.<00:02:28.480
• ><c> Association</c> Minnesota County Attorneys Association Minnesota County Attorneys Association on

Bills: HF3877, HF3714, HF3750, HF3024

Keywords: public authorities, dissolution cases, court system, child protection, legal notice, foster care, child welfare, enrollment priority, education programs, child care assistance, foster youth, extended foster care, bill of rights, out-of-home placement, Minnesota Statutes chapter 260C, social services agency, caseworker, permanency team, sibling visitation, relative contact

Transcript Highlights:

• I was just a line attorney doing appeals, and she was at the legislature.
• I actually worked with Pete Orpet at the Attorney General's office.
• I actually worked with Pete Orpet at the Attorney General's office.
• </c><01:13:31.120><c> So,</c> at the Attorney General's office.
• So, at the Attorney General's office.

Bills: HF1567, HF2809, HF3380

Keywords: public safety officer, peace officer, correctional officer, law enforcement, police privacy, officer safety, doxxing, personal information, data privacy, government data practices, private data, internet posting, online disclosure, residential address, phone number, email address, family member protection, child safety, school information, public records

Transcript Highlights:

• Line page 28, which takes us onto the next page, has to do with attorney general's role.
• </c><01:11:30.800><c> general's,</c> uh, has to do with attorney general's, uh, has to do with attorney
• Moving on to attorney fees and costs.
• With me here today is attorney Kim Low. governance. Uh the bill was carefully governance.
• With me here today is attorney<01:33:26.800><c> Kim</c><01:33:27.199><c> Low.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I already mentioned attorney generals; there's two or three right now, you know, for attorney generals
• I already mentioned attorney generals; there's two or three right now, you know, for attorney generals
• I already mentioned attorney generals; there's two or three right now, you know, for attorney generals
• I already mentioned attorney generals; there's two or three right now, you know, for attorney generals
• I already mentioned attorney generals; there's two or three right now, you know, for attorney generals

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'll repeat, we are working with the Attorney General's office to say this is unacceptable.
• And I'll repeat, we are working with the Attorney General's office to say this is unacceptable.
• And I'll repeat, we are working with the Attorney General's office to say this is unacceptable.
• And I'll repeat, we are working with the Attorney General's office to say this is unacceptable.
• And I'll repeat, we are working with the Attorney General's office to say this is unacceptable.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The idea was that when you have a court-appointed attorney, the state pays for your attorney through
• And constitutional right to an attorney.
• </c> to an attorney? to an attorney?
• </c> any policy about who gets an attorney any policy about who gets an attorney and<06:04:12.080><c>
• </c><06:06:26.718><c> you're</c> and you pay your attorney and you're and you pay your attorney and you're

Keywords: 10am HB 1 & HB 2, 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference for HB 1 and HB 2 reviewed the side-by-side budget comparison and began working through agreed and disputed items. Members first confirmed that grayed-out items were already settled and discussed a process for making later technical and intent changes, especially to true up abolished positions after additional decisions were made. They then moved through several budget sections, including judicial branch reductions, retirement systems, the Department of Justice, the Human Rights Commission, liquor enforcement, corrections, and the Department of Information Technology. Several items were agreed to or treated as settled package items, including the judicial branch position, the Department of Justice reduction, the Human Rights Commission item being held until related HB 2 language is finalized, the Housing Appeals Board being moved into the Board of Tax and Land Appeals, and the Office of Child Advocate. The committee also agreed to update the House bill language as needed based on HB 2 decisions, and to keep certain IT support rows in place unless related boards and commissions are eliminated. The effective date remained July 1, 2025, with no change. The main unresolved discussion centered on the retirement systems budget, where the Senate defended a large increase for deferred IT security and investment-function improvements, while the House argued the increase was too large and favored a back-of-the-budget cut. The Senate said the funds would support strategic IT and investment changes and would remain in the trust if cut, while the House emphasized the size of the increase and suggested a compromise. The committee ultimately retained the Senate position on retirement systems for the moment and said it would return to the issue later. On corrections and liquor enforcement, the committee described a negotiated back-of-the-budget cut structure, including a $10 million cut for corrections with some restoration of POS offices and administrative aides, and a liquor enforcement cut that was treated as part of a broader package. The Department of Safety item related to commercial enforcement and motor vehicle inspections was held for later discussion. The meeting ended with several items agreed, several held for coordination with HB 2, and some major budget questions still open.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, do we have an attorney? We can find an attorney. I just question the use of that. Thank you.
• All right, we're going to wait for the attorney. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• As we await the attorney who drafted the bill, who is currently on the Senate floor, I would love to
• Few minutes when the Senate attorney is available.
• Anthony Panicola, Senate attorney. Thank you. All right.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, for example, I know a surrogacy attorney.
• Because somehow the Attorney General has decided to get involved in a same-sex surrogacy adoption?
• I took an interest in this long before whatever the Attorney General has done or been involved in.
• Chris Carmody, Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys speaking against.
• Attorneys speaking against, you are recognized, sir. Thank you for accommodating me.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee considered a large agenda of bills and reported several measures favorably. Early action included SB 6, a settled claim bill involving the Department of Children and Families and a trust for Leila Estrada and Sapphire Williams, and CS/CS/SB 1266, which creates a cybersecurity experiential learning and clearance-readiness program through the Department of Commerce and Cyber Florida. The committee also approved SB 532 on clerks of court funding, allowing clerks to retain all excess Article V revenue rather than returning half to the state and clarifying foreclosure sale procedures. In addition, the committee passed CS/CS/SB 1602 and CS/CS/SB 1604 to create and fund a pilot housing program for veterans through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, and CS/SB 1110 to expand Medicaid and private insurance coverage for medically necessary orthotics and prosthetics, including testimony from affected families and advocates. The committee also adopted an amendment and then favorably reported CS/CS/SB 1012 on inmate services, removing the bill’s medical-services compensation provisions while retaining changes to the inmate welfare trust fund and related facility uses. It also adopted a delete-all amendment and then favorably reported CS/CS/CS/SB 1614, which was narrowed to remove a provision allowing local governments to use excess fees to construct new buildings. The committee spent substantial time on CS/SB 17, a Medicaid oversight and transparency bill. The sponsor said the measure would create a joint legislative Medicaid oversight committee, authorize the Legislature to retain its own actuary, modernize Medicaid statutes, strengthen managed-care performance standards, and increase accountability for pharmacy benefit managers and related entities. After amendment, the committee adopted changes removing several PBM-related provisions while retaining the broader oversight framework. Testimony from supporters emphasized transparency, fraud prevention, and cost control, while a PBM trade association asked to continue working on affiliate-manufacturer, network, and payment issues. The bill was reported favorably. The most extensive discussion centered on CS/SB 1758, which proposes major changes to Medicaid and SNAP. The sponsor described five reforms: stronger fraud and overpayment recovery authority, a Medicaid work requirement for certain able-bodied adults, expanded behavioral-health services through Medicaid waivers, pharmacy-program changes to obtain rebates and reduce institutional costs, and SNAP/EBT reforms including photo IDs and work requirements. The committee adopted two amendments: one adding a transitional “glide path” for people who gain employment but risk losing Medicaid, and another exempting hospice patients with six months or less to live. Supporters argued the bill would reduce fraud, improve accountability, and encourage work, while opponents warned it would increase administrative burdens, push eligible people off coverage, and conflict with federal law or guidance. The bill remained under debate with extensive public testimony from advocates, providers, and affected families, and the transcript ends before final disposition on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because somehow the Attorney General has decided to get involved in a same-sex surrogacy adoption?
• I took an interest in this long before whatever the Attorney General has done or been involved in.
• Chris Carmody, Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, speaking against.
• Chris Carmody, Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys speaking against.
• Chris Carmody, Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, speaking against, said that he

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 331 is a bill sponsored by our Attorney General to clarify the elections code. 331 is a bill sponsored
• by our Attorney General to clarify the elections code.
• It is sponsored by the offices of the Los Angeles County District Attorney and also the City Attorney
• In addition, nearly all California counties rely on contracted attorneys when the public defender cannot
• Because many California counties pay contracted public defense attorneys a flat fee, attorneys are often

Summary: The Assembly met on May 23, 2025, established a quorum after a roll call, and proceeded through a long House of Origin floor session with prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine parliamentary actions. Early in the day, a motion by Assembly Member Gallagher to suspend the rules and take up AB 12 immediately failed on a 18-39 vote. The chamber then moved through the daily file, with many measures passing by wide margins, often with bipartisan support and little or no opposition. Among the notable bills discussed were measures on law enforcement oversight and records access (AB 847), CalFresh data-sharing exemptions (AB 593), campus-area housing for students and staff (AB 893), insurance and wildfire hardening updates (AB 1), missing middle housing code changes (AB 6), tribal peace officer status in a pilot program (AB 31), utility bill analysis before new mandates (AB 61), fairgrounds funding (AB 258), Diwali as a state holiday (AB 268), labor and worker organizing rights (AB 288), algorithmic price-fixing and antitrust enforcement (AB 325), elections and jail voter information (AB 331), protections for judges and court personnel (AB 343 and AB 352), school construction procurement (AB 361), school-zone speed limits (AB 382), transit worker protections (AB 394), blue carbon coastal mitigation (AB 399), K-9 standards for law enforcement (AB 400), livestock carcass composting (AB 411), translation of housing materials (AB 413), immigrant educational rights notices (AB 419), gun violence restraining order implementation (AB 451), special education and child care measures (AB 560 and AB 563), cannabis tax relief (AB 564), and disability access protections for businesses (AB 649). Several bills addressed housing, energy, public health, and public safety, and many authors emphasized affordability, transparency, and administrative efficiency. The session also included several ceremonial or recognition items, including ACR 73 declaring Italian American Heritage Month, which was adopted by voice vote after 65 coauthors were added. Most measures were approved overwhelmingly, though a few drew some dissent, including AB 421? no—AB 399 passed 42-30, AB 450 passed 49-6, AB 461 passed 49-8, and AB 621 passed 58-0. The transcript ends partway through AB 772, which was introduced as an educational equity bill addressing cyberbullying after school hours, but the remainder of that item is not included in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 331 is a bill sponsored by our Attorney General to clarify the elections code.
• It is sponsored by the offices of the LA County District Attorney and also the City Attorney.
• Many counties in California do not have a public defender office and instead rely on contracted attorneys
• In addition, nearly all California counties rely on contracted attorneys when the public defender cannot
• Because many California counties pay contracted public defense attorneys a flat fee, attorneys are often

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the Attorney General’s office has given him some other words that address that point and that
• I will say there will need to be an amendment because, after talking to the Attorney General, there's
• I will say there will need to be an amendment because, after talking to the Attorney General, there's
• And certainly the Secretary of State and the Attorney General are the ones that interpret that, yes.
• And certainly the Secretary of State and the Attorney General are the ones that interpret that, yes.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I would say, anecdotally, as an attorney representing relatives, often times there is a need for
• , there is nowhere for them to go to get an attorney, which is also a significant issue.
• </c> I would say anecdotally as an attorney I would say anecdotally as an attorney representing representing
• there is nowhere for them to go attorney there is nowhere for them to go to<01:04:45.440><c> get</c>
• </c><01:04:46.680><c> also</c><01:04:46.960><c> a</c> to get an attorney which is also a to get an attorney

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an assistant attorney general in the insurance and financial services in the Mass Attorney General's
• I'm an assistant attorney general in the insurance and financial services in the Mass Attorney General's
• We're joined by Glenn Kaplan from the Attorney General's office. Welcome, Glenn.
• I'm an attorney.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met for its second hearing to study the future of credit card payments and sales transactions and their impacts on small businesses. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurants, and payment-industry representatives on interchange fees, processing fees, fraud, chargebacks, rewards programs, and the ability of businesses to pass fees on to customers. Several witnesses argued that swipe fees have risen sharply, are especially burdensome for restaurants and other small businesses, and are charged on taxes and tips that are merely pass-through amounts. They urged state action to prohibit fees on tax and tip portions, improve transparency, and allow surcharging or convenience fees, while opponents warned that state regulation could reduce fraud protections, increase compliance costs, and threaten consumer rewards programs. Business owners and trade groups described thin margins, rising costs, and the difficulty of understanding merchant statements or negotiating with processors. Restaurant witnesses said card-not-present and online transactions create the greatest fraud and chargeback risk, with money often removed immediately from merchants’ accounts and disputes rarely resolved in their favor. Retail witnesses gave examples of rising effective rates, higher fees on rewards cards, and the burden of processing fees on low-value transactions. A representative from the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and others said restaurants are effectively paying fees on meals tax and gratuities, which they argued should not be subject to interchange charges. On the other side, the Cooperative Credit Union Association said interchange revenue helps credit unions fund fraud prevention, rapid card replacement, and member protections, and warned that state limits on interchange could weaken those safeguards and lead to higher consumer costs or reduced services. Airlines for America testified that airline credit card rewards are popular, support travel and jobs in Massachusetts, and could be harmed by interchange reform. The National Restaurant Association and a payments-policy attorney countered that interchange fees are set by card networks rather than competitive markets, that banks remain highly profitable even with rewards, and that states can act after recent court decisions. No votes were taken; the hearing consisted of testimony and questions from commissioners.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I know when projects are being considered and land use attorneys and others are trying to figure
• It's really common from our conversations with practitioners and attorneys that AB 2011, to the extent
• But as an attorney, I advise my clients: here are the costs, here are the benefits, here's the delta,
• So sometimes it’s, you know, I won’t disclose any particular attorney-client privileged communications
• I won’t disclose any particular attorney-client privileged communications that I have, but we always

Summary: The hearing was an outcome review of AB 2011, the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022, focused on whether the law is being used as intended to speed housing production on commercially zoned land while maintaining labor and affordability standards. Chair Haney and Assembly Member Wicks emphasized that the point of the review was not to relitigate the bill, but to assess implementation and results. The first panel of researchers and policy experts said AB 2011 has had real but still limited uptake so far, with roughly 5,800 homes proposed, entitled, or permitted under the law through 2024, concentrated mainly in San Francisco and Los Angeles counties. They also noted that the broader housing market remains constrained by high construction costs, interest rates, and flat rents, making it hard to isolate the bill’s effects from overall market conditions. Witnesses generally agreed that AB 2011 has been most effective for 100% affordable projects and for projects already using public subsidies or prevailing wage, where the ministerial process and CEQA streamlining help move developments forward. Several speakers described the law as a useful bargaining tool that can push jurisdictions to rezone or approve projects more quickly even when AB 2011 is not formally invoked. At the same time, developers and advocates said the mixed-income pathway is much less usable in most of the state because prevailing wage and the 15% affordability requirement add significant cost, especially in lower-rent markets. They also pointed to implementation issues such as narrow site eligibility rules, the “substantially surrounded by urban uses” test, industrial-use exclusions, and confusion about whether the law applies to homeownership projects. The second panel, made up of practitioners using the law, described specific projects that moved forward under AB 2011, including affordable housing developments in the San Joaquin Valley and large mixed-use projects in San Francisco. They said the law’s biggest benefit is certainty: projects that once took years to entitle can now move in months. However, they repeated calls for changes such as clarifying homeownership eligibility, loosening density and site restrictions, narrowing the industrial-use exclusion, and making the law easier to understand for developers and local staff. Members also raised concerns about uneven use across regions, especially the relative lack of AB 2011 activity in Los Angeles and Santa Clara County, and about the accuracy and lag in annual progress report data. The final panel, including the original sponsors, said they remain supportive of the law but are open to adjustments to reduce costs and improve usability while preserving labor protections and affordability goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's an attorney, and he has helped introduce this type of a bill in several other states.
• I'm an attorney in private practice.
• You've got commissioners from Idaho, usually respected attorneys.
• You've got commissioners from Idaho, usually respected attorneys.
• Chairman, Representative, this was drafted by a handful of special-interest attorneys, right?

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and that attorney determines whether to file a petition in court. and proceed with adjudicating the
• The children's court attorney has the option to refer the youth for informal services rather than proceeding
• The court attorney takes it into kind of the formal process.
• youth are referred to... ...both in the informal process and perhaps because the children's court attorney
• I know there is the district attorney from Farmington that's stepping in and doing some things.