Transcript Highlights:

• investments that they make into our facility, which is a one-of-a-kind facility in the world, where we can test
• And it was a good test to see... ...and Home Plus levels, and it was a good test to see whether stronger
• was mentioned, there's already stuff that's coming to the market, and there's newer products and testing

Transcript Highlights:

• investments that they make into our facility, which is a one-of-a-kind facility in the world, where we can test
• It was a good test to see.
• We're testing different grant ranges to see where that sweet spot is.
• was mentioned, there's already stuff that's coming to the market, and there's newer products and testing

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation held an oversight hearing on home hardening and defensible space as wildfire mitigation strategies. The chair opened by stressing that California has reached a tipping point, with repeated community-scale wildfire losses, rising insurance costs, and growing utility wildfire mitigation expenses. The hearing was organized around four panels: what home hardening and defensible space are, community risk reduction and coordination, evaluation of current defensible space programs and proposed investments, and the future of home hardening and the California Wildfire Mitigation Program. The first panel featured IBHS, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and local wildfire mitigation advocates. IBHS described wildfire spread through embers, flames, and radiant heat, emphasizing that structure separation, removing combustible materials within the first five feet of a home, and combining multiple mitigation measures significantly reduce loss. It highlighted its Wildfire Prepared Home and Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood standards, including an “essential” and “enhanced” level, and said California is ahead of other states but still needs scalable, standardized, and sustainably funded mitigation. The LAO outlined key policy questions for the Legislature, including the state’s role, intergovernmental coordination, cost-effectiveness, program design, measurement of success, long-term sustainability, and barriers to implementation. The chair and panelists discussed estimated costs, including roughly $15,000 for a basic retrofit and about $50,000 for more extensive ignition-resistant construction, and whether state funding should focus on the most cost-effective initial measures. The second panel focused on scaling adoption through local coordination, education, financing, and community-based programs. Megafire Action argued that home hardening is a market adoption problem and said the state should not try to pay for every home, but instead target high-leverage interventions across the “customer journey,” including education, financing, trusted certification, and neighborhood network effects. Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council described free home assessments, small retrofit grants, Firewise community support, and the importance of neighborhood-level action, local capacity, and cultural change. Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority described its locally funded model, grant program, public education efforts, and an Ember Ready program that helps residents navigate home hardening and Zone Zero compliance. The chair repeatedly emphasized the need for a coordinated statewide marketing campaign, stronger incentives, better insurance discounts, and more use of local, utility, federal, and private funding sources. The third and fourth panels addressed Cal Fire’s defensible space inspection program, the proposed defensible space financial assistance program, and broader state investments. Cal Fire said homes lacking compliant defensible space are far more likely to be damaged or destroyed and requested ongoing funding and staffing to stabilize inspections statewide; the LAO suggested the Legislature consider alternative funding sources such as GGRF or a reinstated SRA fee. Cal Fire and the State Fire Marshal explained that Zone Zero sets a minimum standard, local governments cannot go below it, and grant prioritization will favor jurisdictions that submit inspections. Cal Fire also said the new defensible space financial assistance program would focus on ember-resistant zone-zero work and, in the Southern California counties covered by the legislation, would assist about 3,125 homes at an estimated $8,000 per home. In the final panel, the State Fire Marshal described California’s layered strategy of parcel-level home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation, along with technical support, financial assistance, and incentives such as insurance discounts and builder marketing. The overall theme was that California must move from isolated efforts to a coordinated, science-based, and scalable statewide approach to reduce wildfire losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand now that, you know, this is kind of a test for the event; these taxes would not have been
• you know, these this is kind of a butt you know, these this is kind of a butt for<00:07:47.680><c> test
• 48.640><c> butt</c><00:07:48.880><c> for</c><00:07:49.080><c> the</c><00:07:49.240><c> event</c> for test
• , you know, butt for the event for test, you know, butt for the event these<00:07:49.720><c> taxes</c

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• this appropriation part of the OEQA scholarships that they offer for teachers on their certification tests
• If you were confident of that, would we be doing this five-year test period?
• If you were confident of that, would we be doing this five-year test period?
• I am confident. test period? Thank you very much for the question.

Bills: HB3257 , HB3176 , HB3544 , HB3619 , HB3546 , HB1782 , HB2293 , HB4358 , HB3081 , HB3983 , HB3790 , HJR1023 , HB4139 , HB3297 , HB3041 , HB3673 , HB4105 , HB3338 , HB3048 , SR33 , SCR21 , SCR20 , HB4030 , HB4031 , HB4032 , HB4034 , HB4036 , HB4037 , HB4038 , HB4040 , HB4041 , HB4042 , HB4043 , HB4045 , HB4046 , HB4047 , HB4048 , HB4044 , HB4050 , HB4051 , HB4052 , HB4053 , HB4054 , HB4056 , HB4057 , HB4071 , HB4065 , HB4067 , HB4072 , HB2992 , HB4338 , HB4170

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and several gallery introductions recognizing guests and honorees, including the Medford Cardinals football team for their academic and athletic success, Guthrie Day, the Oscar J. Upham post office designation, the OKC Spark professional softball team, the Elks organization, and the YMCA’s 175th anniversary. Senators also welcomed a new intern and acknowledged Senator Carl McDowell’s return to the chamber. Most of the early floor time was devoted to ceremonial citations and concurrent resolutions, all of which were adopted without recorded opposition. The chamber then moved through a series of Joint Committee Reports and third-reading votes on appropriations and related measures. HB 4031 reauthorized $41 million for previously approved ODAA projects and passed 36-8, declared an emergency. HB 4032 redirected industry fees to the Department of Mines and passed 34-11, emergency. HB 4034 appropriated $142,137 for salary increases for certified shorthand reporters and passed 45-0, emergency. HB 4036 transferred $5 million from the Film and Oklahoma revolving fund to a new sitcom-related revolving fund and passed 30-15. HB 4037 raised the Ethics Commission Fund retention cap from $150,000 to $250,000 and passed 45-0, emergency. Several transportation, health, and public safety measures also advanced. HB 4038 moved $5 million for the eight-year road plan and additional project funding, passing 28-17 and then as an emergency measure after vote changes. HB 4040 set up cash-flow funds for the State Department of Health’s $223 million federal award and passed 45-0, emergency. HB 4041 appropriated $2.25 million to the Attorney General, including $2 million for a trafficking victim pilot program and $250,000 for a public safety technology fund, and passed as an emergency. HB 4042 appropriated $500,000 for the Commerce census revolving fund and passed 35-9. HB 4043 transferred $1 million to Emergency Management for Oklahoma Task Force 1 and passed 44-0, emergency. The most extended debate centered on HB 4045 and HB 4046, which expanded and funded the Military Readiness, Innovation, Education, and Aviation program. Supporters said the measures would help military bases, schools, infrastructure, simulation training, and defense-related economic development; critics questioned the broad language, lack of detail, and whether the projects fit a broader strategy. HB 4045 passed 37-7 and HB 4046 passed 39-7, both as emergency measures. HB 4047 funded Commerce projects including housing for aged-out foster youth, the State Fair, a university upgrade, and a COG-related economic development request; it passed 30-16 and then 40-6 as an emergency. HB 4048 appropriated $13 million for transportation infrastructure, drew criticism for bypassing the eight-year plan, and passed 36-10 before being declared an emergency. Finally, HB 4030, the Education Budget Limits Bill, was explained in detail, including $43.75 million for the Strong Readers formula, $5 million for literacy coaches, and $5 million for a charter school revolving loan fund; after questions about bonds, charter schools, and the revolving fund, it passed 39-5 and was declared an emergency measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas home-educated students score above the national institutional average on achievement tests
• average above the national institutional average on<00:20:12.480><c> achievement</c><00:20:12.960><c> tests
• ,</c><00:20:13.280><c> regardless</c><00:20:13.800><c> of</c> on achievement tests, regardless of on
• achievement tests, regardless of their<00:20:14.040><c> parents'</c><00:20:14.400><c> level</c><00:20

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, approved the journal, and then proceeded out of order to consider Senate Joint Resolution 20, recognizing April 9, 2026, as Home Education Day in Colorado. Senator Pelton spoke in strong support of home education, describing it as a parent-led choice that benefits students and families. The resolution was adopted on a 30-0 vote, and the current roll was added as co-sponsors. The chamber then took up the consent calendar and passed House Bill 1229, House Bill 1244, and Senate Bill 153. HB 1229, which concerns the human-animal bond as a social determinant of health, drew three no votes from Senators Pelton, Zamora Wilson, and Baeza; the other two measures passed unanimously. The Senate also laid over third reading of bills until Friday, April 10. In Committee of the Whole, senators considered Senate Bill 72, which increases criminal penalties for assaultive conduct involving a motor vehicle and adds causing death with a motor vehicle to criminally negligent homicide. The committee adopted the report and advanced the bill on second reading. Later, the chamber laid over Senate Bill 134 and House Bill 1084 until April 10, and then took up Senate Bill 140, which would exempt certain rare disease and plasma therapies from review by the Prescription Drug Affordability Review Board. Sponsors and supporters argued the bill protects access for patients with rare diseases and prevents harm to treatment development, while opponents said it would weaken the PDAB’s affordability work and was too broad. Senators Weisman and Gonzales spoke against the bill, with Weisman citing concerns about the federal definition used and Gonzales defending the PDAB’s role in lowering drug costs; the debate continued in the transcript without a final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will also allow MMB to deploy internal auditors to test the operating effectiveness of these corrective
• allow MMB to deploy internal<00:48:22.880><c> auditors</c><00:48:23.720><c> to</c><00:48:23.880><c> test
• </c><00:48:24.359><c> the</c><00:48:24.520><c> operating</c> internal auditors to test the operating
• internal auditors to test the operating effectiveness<00:48:25.840><c> of</c><00:48:26.160><c> these<

Bills: HF4364 , HF4821 , HF4543 , HF3945

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• getting a large set of student data that the Department of Education holds regarding enrollment and testing
• have a de-identified student record and all the classes that I'm enrolled in and my grades and my test
• FIRST came and gave one of their first reports, and it was, and they were trying to really look at test
• a child who communicates differently than the tools expect will be measured by the limits of that test

Bills: HB113 , HB342 , HB632 , HB690 , HB1003 , HB1078 , HB1132 , HB1146

Committee: House Education

Keywords: grading scale, education reform, students, public schools, academic policy, special education, due process, local education agency, burden of proof, IEP, education law, data sharing, student information, privacy, education, LA FIRST, foreign adversaries, terrorism, contracting, school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 1315 requires each school district and charter school to annually submit an affidavit to ADE testing
• Bill 1315 requires each school district and charter school to annually submit an affidavit to ADE testing
• Bill 1315 requires each school district and charter school to annually submit an affidavit to ADE testing
• . requires each school district and charter school to annually submit an affidavit to ADE testing it

Committee: House House Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee began with brief announcements, including an invitation from Chad Heinrich of the University of Phoenix to an upcoming lunch-and-learn on artificial intelligence and education, and then members and staff exchanged end-of-session धन्यवाद and appreciation. The committee then took up several education-related bills, hearing sponsor presentations, public testimony, and member questions before voting on each measure. SB 1497 would require larger school districts that operate self-insurance programs to obtain quotes for coverage and services at least every four years and to receive certain information from providers in advance. Supporters said the bill would increase competition, transparency, and cost savings for school employee health benefits; it passed 10-0. SB 1711 would direct the State Board of Education and ADE to compile and post age-appropriate resources on preventing and recognizing inappropriate contact, and to make those resources available to schools and families. Supporters framed it as a voluntary, parent-facing safety tool, while opponents argued it should include stronger evidence-based and trauma-informed requirements; it passed 7-3. SB 1798 would create a FAFSA awareness program recognizing schools that designate a FAFSA point person and promote financial aid completion. Supporters said it would help students access postsecondary funding, especially given Arizona’s low FAFSA completion rate and unclaimed federal aid; it passed 8-2. SB 1143 would require schools and districts to submit federal civil rights data to ADE and would require ADE to publish an annual school safety report. Supporters said it would improve transparency for parents, while opponents called it duplicative and raised privacy and scope concerns; it passed 7-3. SB 1684, as amended, would create a private cause of action against public schools for serious physical injury caused by bullying after a prior report and school negligence, with an amendment limiting the claim to bullying on school property or at school events and requiring written reports. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill 6-3, after debate over litigation risk, school discipline, and whether the bill should also cover private schools. The committee also passed SB 1754, which would require ADE’s special education division to help complete incomplete complaints, post redacted complaint reports, and adopt related procedures; members emphasized transparency and privacy protections, and the bill passed 9-0 after an amendment extending the posting timeline and clarifying report contents. SB 1423, continuing the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education until 2036, passed 8-1, with one member objecting to the long sunset extension. Finally, SB 1763, dealing with school district “additional monies” funds and financial reporting, was discussed with an amendment to remove unemployment-compensation transfers and require board approval for expenditures, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And my letter, just to refresh, was asking for some additional testing in the surrounding area, particularly
• on tribal land that was not eligible for some of the grants and funding for testing.
• I think you're familiar with our history working with the Laytonville Rancheria on some of the testing
• was reported that these temperatures are excessive at least in multiple of the well heads where they test

Transcript Highlights:

• The Governor's provided an answer, but it wasn't the question on the test.
• c><00:13:38.960><c> question</c><00:13:39.480><c> on</c><00:13:39.560><c> the</c><00:13:39.680><c> test
• </c> but it wasn't the question on the test. but it wasn't the question on the test.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call establishing a quorum. The chamber approved the prior journal, excused absent senators, and received a House message noting passage of several House bills, including House Bill 1 despite the governor’s veto. The clerk also reported committee recommendations on a number of House bills, which were placed on the calendar, and new resolutions were introduced recognizing Chloe Yates, student wellness and physical activity in schools, and the Kentucky State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. The main floor action centered on House Bill 1, which implements the Federal Education Opportunity Program in Kentucky. Supporters argued the measure would bring federal tax-credit dollars into Kentucky to expand educational opportunities for students and families at no cost to the state budget, while opponents urged sustaining the governor’s veto and raised concerns about accountability and the bill’s structure. After debate, the Senate voted 31-5 to override the veto, and House Bill 1 was finally passed notwithstanding the governor’s veto. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 183 on proxy advisory services. The House committee substitute exempted certain nonprofits with less than $500,000 in annual gross revenue from proxy advisor services from the bill’s cause-of-action provisions while preserving attorney general enforcement authority. The chamber concurred with the House substitute and then passed the bill as amended. Senators also passed Senate Bill 263, the School of Innovation cleanup bill, which makes technical changes, requires KDE support for waiver applications, and creates a pilot project for three schools of innovation with proposed matching grants. Senate Bill 281 on grandparent visitation was also adopted with committee substitute and passed unanimously after discussion focused on balancing grandparents’ access with parental rights and existing case law. Later, the Senate began consideration of Senate Bill 324 on the film industry credit, with the sponsor describing technical changes and expanded provisions to support film, video, gaming, and related production activity in Kentucky.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we could test drive it in a shorter time frame and have material feedback and response from people
• I think we could<00:48:10.920><c> test</c><00:48:11.160><c> drive</c><00:48:11.400><c> it</c><00:48:11.480
• 11.560><c> a</c><00:48:11.760><c> in</c><00:48:11.840><c> a</c><00:48:11.920><c> shorter</c> could test
• drive it in a in a shorter could test drive it in a in a shorter time<00:48:12.480><c> frame</c><00:

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, we noted that student performance on state test scores was an improvement in every category
• There's also some discussion that California's standardized tests are different than other states, and
• our test places emphasis, in addition to writing, on some critical thinking and writing certain components
• All three years in the budget window are in Test 1.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it’s all a balancing test.
• And it's all there's a balancing<00:29:58.240><c> test.
• c> we're</c><00:29:59.279><c> trying</c><00:29:59.360><c> to</c><00:29:59.520><c> do</c> balancing test
• What we're trying to do balancing test.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we run an intoxicology test, it tests for over 400 substances.
• So when we run an intoxicology test, it tests for over 400 substances.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• energy home building program, Minnesota's Green Path, which has seen to date roughly 50,000 homes tested
• date roughly Path, which has seen to date roughly 50,000<00:14:56.800><c> homes</c><00:14:57.199><c> tested
• /c><00:14:57.440><c> and</c><00:14:57.680><c> rated</c><00:14:57.920><c> through</c> 50,000 homes tested
• and rated through 50,000 homes tested and rated through our<00:14:58.320><c> program</c><00:14:58.639

Transcript Highlights:

• We’ll get a little bit of test. >> Please, please have a seat.
• </c><00:24:39.440><c> little</c><00:24:39.600><c> bit</c><00:24:39.840><c> of</c><00:24:40.159><c> test
• We'll get a little bit of test. ready. We'll get a little bit of test.

Summary: The committee met to consider amendments to House Bill 111. It first adopted amendment number one without objection. Members then discussed a Senate amendment related to a $750,000 state match for the Central Wyoming College Jackson project, with Senator Laursen explaining the request as a way to leverage local fundraising for the final phase of the project. He said the project had been underway since 2018, that the building was nearing completion, and that the amendment was intended to encourage a local fundraising campaign rather than wait for a later appropriation. Representative Lien questioned whether the funding had gone through the usual approval process, and other members raised concerns about bypassing standard procedures, while Laursen argued the request was consistent with prior late-stage project adjustments and reflected local skin in the game. The discussion also covered a Senate amendment concerning University of Wyoming land use, specifically whether language should remain requiring open space or allow trustees more flexibility to decide between open space and parking. One member moved to delete the Senate amendment and reinsert the stricken language, but after discussion the motion was withdrawn so the committee could consider all amendments together. Members noted that the university had already been discussing the plan and that the language change would not necessarily alter the trustees’ authority, though it might protect the university. The committee then turned to a Gillette College/Enzi building amendment. Senator Driscoll said the proposal was his own and not requested by the college, and Janelle Overberlander, founding president of Gillette Community College District, testified about the history of the project, including the 2021 separation from the Northern Wyoming Community College District, prior planning for a STEM building, and the later decision to revive the project as an academic building honoring Senator Enzi. She said the building is intended to address lab space needs and support industry partners, including companies expected to bring jobs to Campbell County. Driscoll explained that the amendment would provide a dollar-for-dollar match for non-state money and require Gillette College to move to a four-mill levy, which he said would eventually make the college a net contributor to the system. The committee continued discussing the amendment and its long-term fiscal effects, but no final vote on the later amendments is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• this guy, I said, I doubt that there certainly haven't seen any in Minnesota that would meet this test
• this guy, I said, I doubt that there certainly haven't seen any in Minnesota that would meet this test
• this guy, I said, I doubt that there certainly haven't seen any in Minnesota that would meet this test
• this guy, I said, I doubt that there certainly haven't seen any in Minnesota that would meet this test

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Or test- I think there's some testifiers. Do we have testifiers in the room? I believe we had Ms.
• </c><00:03:06.320><c> Or</c><00:03:06.440><c> test-</c> anxious for questions, I guess.
• Or test- anxious for questions, I guess.
• Or test- I<00:03:06.760><c> think</c><00:03:06.920><c> there's</c><00:03:07.080><c> some</c><00:03:07.200

Transcript Highlights:

• these positions can take months, leaving laboratories short-staffed and resulting in significant testing
• bachelor's degrees in relevant sciences who possess the skills to perform moderate or highly complex testing
• , who possess the skills to perform moderate or highly complex testing under federal Clinical Laboratory
• training of individuals with four-year bachelor's degrees in relevant sciences for performance of testing

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• That wouldn't stand the test of time.
• That wouldn't<00:45:44.320><c> stand</c><00:45:44.600><c> the</c><00:45:44.680><c> test</c><00:45:44.920
• </c> wouldn't stand the test of time. wouldn't stand the test of time.

Bills: SJ0001

Committee: House Minerals, Business & Economic Development