Transcript Highlights:

• Members, the bill modernizes various statutes to provide for a more efficient PERC hearing process, as
• Any fiscal impact created by the bill can be absorbed within current resources. Mr.
• It does not reduce class sizes, improve student supports, address teacher shortages, or provide resources

Transcript Highlights:

• additionally, there was a partnership agreement with Albuquerque Moms to promote nicotine-free New Mexico resources
• In November this month, we were at the Head-to-Toe Conference promoting resources and trying to get the
• trying to learn from what we're doing, trying to gather data to see what we can do better, more efficiently

Committee: House Tobacco Settlement Revenue Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• coverage, they're more likely to put off health care, end up being sicker, and having to utilize resources
• If we open this up too broadly, then we could not have the resources to help everybody we need to.
• Because you're doing that to simulate the need for efficient action in the labor market, not the labor

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• working to reform our criminal justice system to maximize public safety, use taxpayer dollars more efficiently
• participants and establishes community supervision strategies and opportunities to connect defendants to resources
• However, many institutions, including those in North Dakota, have struggled with the complex and resource-intensive

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to review fiscal aspects of House Bills 1417 and 1425, both part of a broader criminal justice reentry package. HB 1417 would eliminate the $35 public defender application fee and end court-ordered reimbursement of indigent defense costs, while also removing the $55 monthly community supervision fee. Testimony from the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents and the Department of Corrections said the bill would replace lost revenue with general fund appropriations of about $310,000 for indigent defense and $1.5 million for supervision fees, and that the fees are rarely collected and can hinder reentry. Representative Clemene said the bill is intended to reduce barriers to successful community reintegration and improve data and supervision practices. HB 1425 would create and fund front-end diversion, deflection, and pretrial services programs. Supporters described it as allowing prosecutors and local jurisdictions to divert appropriate low-level offenders from prosecution, establish deflection programs for people with behavioral health needs, and expand pretrial services. The bill includes a pilot program in three counties, a $1 million appropriation to DOCR for one FTE and contracts with local providers, $750,000 to DHS for treatment services, and $55,000 for a study of pretrial services cost savings. Committee members asked several questions about how the pilot counties would be chosen, how the consultant study would be procured, and what services the DHS funds would cover. The committee also heard House Bill 1603, which would provide a $500,000 matching grant for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act compliance, with $100,000 available to each of North Dakota’s five tribes if matched. Sponsor testimony said the funds would support a Historical Society NAGPRA compliance committee and help catalog and repatriate human remains and cultural items in coordination with tribes. After questions about the federal mandate and the difficulty of identifying artifacts, the committee voted 4-0 to give HB 1603 a do-pass recommendation, with Senator Meyer assigned to carry it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• with regards to that, I'd certainly tell you it's definitely putting the taxpayer and putting their resources
• It definitely is putting the taxpayer and putting their resources first, so I appreciate your bill.
• You know, that could obviously potentially make the PSC more efficient, but also, you know, certainly

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and first considered SB 1416, which would move municipal elections to coincide with the general election and extend incumbent terms until the new schedule takes effect. Senators discussed whether the bill would affect runoff elections, with the sponsor explaining that runoff timing would shift to the August primary/general election framework. The Florida League of Cities and Florida Association of Counties were noted as opposed, while members cited potential taxpayer savings and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then took up SB 766, as amended by strike-all, which would require agents of certain “countries of concern” to register with the Division of Elections when engaging in political activity. The amendment narrowed the bill’s focus and aligned terminology with existing state law. After no opposition or debate on the amendment, the committee adopted it and then reported the bill favorably. Members next heard the reappointment of Mike LaRosa to the Public Service Commission. Questioning focused heavily on PSC transparency, the sufficiency of commission orders, Supreme Court criticism of PSC decisions, storm protection plans, utility rate cases, and how the commission evaluates evidence and consumer impacts. LaRosa said the commission had changed its procedures to produce more detailed orders and more robust discussion, and he described ongoing work on rate cases, public engagement, and emerging energy issues such as small modular reactors. Despite concerns raised, the nomination was reported favorably to the full Senate. The committee then approved a block of additional appointments in tabs 4 through 27, also reporting them favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Here is a resource witness. We are on the bill. OK, thank you. Go ahead, sir.
• I think it's just a good way to, uh, have folks efficiently on and off the ferry realize it does happen
• Lance Simmons, chief engineer for Texan, here's a resource witness. We are on the bill.

Bills: HB 408 , HB 787 , HB 1029 , HB 1126 , HB 1136 , HB 1607

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: cultural attractions, highway signs, Texas Department of Transportation, travel guidance, Museum of the Big Bend, traffic control, tourism, sunscreening devices, motor vehicle, judicial specialty license plate, vehicle safety, Texas Transportation Code, disability, parking, Governor's Committee, mobility impairment, disabled veterans, legislative recommendations, license plates, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will now come to order.
• This diverts law enforcement resources and funds from more important police action.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trust funds in order to use the agency budget more efficiently

Committee: Senate Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The committee began with a presentation from the Florida On-Site Wastewater Association on advanced onsite wastewater treatment systems. Roxanne Groover described several technologies used in Florida, including NSF-245 systems, performance-based treatment systems, in-ground nitrogen-reducing biofilters, membrane/media filters, and sequencing batch reactors. She emphasized that these systems can substantially reduce nitrogen compared with conventional septic systems, discussed permitting and maintenance requirements, and noted that some grant programs help fund upgrades in springs and other impaired-water areas. Members asked about phosphorus and PFAS treatment, funding for non-springs watersheds, incentives for new construction, and whether more data should be collected on system performance. The committee then took up CS for SB 164 on vessel ownership, derelict vessels, and anchoring/mooring rules. The bill was explained as clarifying who is responsible for derelict vessels and using vessel title as prima facie evidence of ownership. Two amendments were adopted: one requiring FWC to offer an electronic long-term anchoring permit system and clarifying that the permit does not override other anchoring limits, and a technical amendment correcting a drafting error. Public testimony included opposition from a cruiser advocacy representative who argued the bill would unfairly restrict responsible boaters and harm the marine economy, and support from another boating coalition representative who said the bill was a proactive step to address derelict vessels. The committee then passed CS/SB 164 favorably by roll call. Finally, the committee considered SB 38, which makes clarifying changes to FWC trust funds. The bill would allow investment and carryover of the administrative trust fund balance, expand use of the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund for feline disease research, monitoring, and habitat acquisition, and allow use of the Non-Game Wildlife Trust Fund for law enforcement and related coordination agreements. With no debate or opposition, the committee passed SB 38 favorably by roll call and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:33.840><c> that</c><00:04:34.160><c> their</c> financial resources that their financial resources
• It is our most efficient tool for protecting the public's investment in the university.
• </c> food, agriculture, and natural resources food, agriculture, and natural resources science<00:26:
• </c><00:26:49.279><c> Paul</c> resources of our current St. Paul resources of our current St.
• We have a major shift in how the university is prioritizing its own resources.

Bills: HF4266

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: higher education, state grants, financial aid, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium, summer 2026, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:38.399><c> to</c> department hasn't had the resources to department hasn't had the resources
• I've linked some resources for those of you who haven't had a chance to dig into some of the resources
• I've linked some resources for those of you who haven't had a chance to dig into some of the resources
• </c> presentation I've linked some resources presentation I've linked some resources um<00:52:48.319>
• </c> chance to dig into some of the resources chance to dig into some of the resources we<00:52:52.119

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , a bill for an act relating to state government appropriating money for environment and natural resources
• , a bill for an act relating to state government appropriating money for environment and natural resources
• they have uh and they have and resources they have uh and they<00:29:29.520><c> determine</c><00:29:
• Because it will have the autonomy that it needs to go forward in earnest to protect the resources of
• President, this is a great bill and a foundation to finally put some resources and effort into making

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The locus of homeless policy and resources across the country are these continuums of care, and they
• The challenges of resources and regulations—I showed you before that out of the five continuums of care
• So the CCBHC is intended to come alongside these communities and provide this very vital resource without
• Well, that's a real challenge in terms of accountability and efficiency and making sure that the state
• And then as we kind of the last go-round, DHS, I mean, I think there was just limited resources.

Summary: The committee first approved a motion, then heard a lengthy presentation on homelessness in Arkansas, with a focus on unsheltered homelessness, untreated mental illness and substance use, public safety, and the role of local law enforcement and shelters. Presenters from law enforcement, homeless service providers, mental health, and policy groups discussed federal Continuum of Care funding, the need for better data and accountability, and proposals such as statewide camping enforcement, stronger treatment access, and consolidating or reworking the continuum-of-care structure. Much of the discussion centered on the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model, with witnesses describing it as a way to expand crisis services, treatment, and coordination with housing and justice systems. They also discussed homelessness among sex offenders, family homelessness, workforce supports, and how to scale successful local programs statewide. No formal action was taken on the homelessness proposals during the discussion. The committee then reviewed several Department of Energy and Department of Health/Board of Nursing rules. The energy rule updated solid waste post-closure cleanup thresholds from $50,000 to $2 million to match Act 791 of 2025. Nursing-related rules added fees for the new dialysis patient care technician registration created by Act 198 of 2025, updated contact-information requirements, implemented APRN authority under Act 862 of 2025, clarified durable medical equipment language under Act 431 of 2025, and incorporated delegation changes from Act 959 of 2025. Additional nursing rules updated certified medication assistant training and duties under Act 265 of 2025, and corrected rules for full independent practice to include clinical nurse specialists under Act 872 of 2023. Each rule was reviewed without objection. At the close of the meeting, members received an update that UAMS had completed its NCII designation submission for the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute, which was described as a major milestone. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is quite evident that he is very passionate about ensuring that our local communities get the resources
• This dedication is necessary in order to leverage these Fair Share surtax resources for bonds to maximize
• So we already dedicate significant resources from the surtax in the K-12 system.
• Thank you. universities, UMass system, those buildings that have been under-resourced for so long.
• I am honored to serve as the chair of both the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources,

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this bill would stymie that search for efficiency and ultimately impact the opportunities that
• Seeing none, thank you. efficiencies economies of scale and most efficiencies economies of scale and
• and ultimately impact the efficiency and ultimately impact the opportunities<00:50:56.079><c> that</
• government for that Community efficient government for that Community um<01:15:30.199><c> again</c><
• </c> because we share resource because we share resource and<05:23:09.320><c> this</c><05:23:09.400><

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every student doesn't have the same access to resources, but when you do have access to those resources
• And if you have any questions, I believe we do have a resource witness, do we not?
• A resource witness. Okay, the chair calls Kelly Kishner Thank you. Thank you.
• I have no prepared statements, but I'm here. there is a resource witness.
• We've got a resource witness, the chair calls David. Mr. Trotman.

Bills: HB42 , HB 125 , HB 1233 , HB2853 , HB3148 , HB3326 , HB3701 , HB4066 , HB4361 , HB4762 , HB4909 , HB4912 , HB42 , HB125

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• mail, or through electronic request, this bill ensures that the process is provided for them in an efficient
• This can leave communities stuck, or what I would say held hostage, even after public and private resources
• hostage even after public<01:25:38.560><c> and</c><01:25:38.800><c> private</c><01:25:39.199><c> resources
• </c><01:25:39.679><c> have</c><01:25:39.920><c> been</c> public and private resources have been public
• and private resources have been invested<01:25:40.480><c> in</c><01:25:40.719><c> cleaning</c><01:25

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The program gives students the resources and support necessary that they wouldn't have otherwise without
• We have lots of research, lots of experience, and lots of resources in California that have shown us
• This takes officers off the street and reduces patrol resources in our communities.
• of realignment, or the lack of efficiencies.
• At Riverside Recovery Resources, I've been around, excuse me, for more than 40 years.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to inspect, it results in costly litigation that burdens the courts, drains municipal and state resources
• So, you know how to get a hold of them, but hopefully they can be another resource as well.
• This statute has been on the books for a while, but resources have not been allocated to it.
• have not been allocated to uh resources have not been allocated to it.<00:42:19.280><c> uh</c><00:42
• </c> individual privacy, and efficient individual privacy, and efficient government<00:58:25.599><c>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee approved the October 15, 2025 minutes and then held a broader discussion on current challenges with data retention and government transparency. Judy Randall of the Office of the Legislative Auditor said historical data is essential for post-audits, which often look back three to five years, and that retention decisions must balance audit needs with the burden of separating public and nonpublic data. She described the records-retention panel process as informal and largely based on individual judgment, noting she had objected to a proposed 60-day email retention period and generally uses a three-year guideline, though she said that standard is not grounded in a formal rule. Members discussed whether auditing standards should set retention periods, with Randall saying auditing is a good starting point but other offices, including the attorney general, also have needs, and that some agency discretion is unavoidable because of the gray area between official records and non-records. Representative Elkins raised the related principle of data minimization, arguing that government should not keep data longer than needed and citing a University of Minnesota legacy data warehouse breach as an example of the risks of retaining unnecessary sensitive information. Randall agreed that data no longer needed is a liability and said her office purges workpapers after five years. Representative Scott pressed whether three years is enough for fraud investigations and financial records; Randall responded that a reasonableness standard is needed and that longer retention can produce diminishing returns, though she said she would follow up on whether financial records should be treated differently. Tanya Tacker of the Rum River Special Education Cooperative testified in support of updating Minnesota’s data-retention laws for schools. She said districts want to protect student information and maintain transparency, but the current general retention schedule dates to 1985 and 2000 and does not reflect digital records, modern systems, or the volume of special education data. She urged modernizing the schedule, clarifying what must be kept in paper versus digitized form, aligning state rules with IDEA and other federal requirements, and providing practical guidance and tools. Members praised the specificity of her recommendations. Dr. BB Newman testified that retention failures in St. Anthony Village have made it difficult to obtain routine municipal and police data, with records delayed, missing, or inconsistently produced and no clear explanation of what systems were searched or whether records were destroyed. Newman argued these gaps undermine statutory access rights and force residents into costly litigation, and recommended stronger retention auditing, documentation of destruction, mandatory disclosure of systems searched, and consequences for noncompliance. In response to questions, Senate counsel said there is generally no direct penalty, but affected parties may seek mandamus, Data Practices Act claims, or informal mediation/opinions from the Data Practices Office. The discussion closed with calls for clearer standards and possible legislative updates to improve compliance and transparency.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:08.079><c> so</c> better use of government resources so better use of government resources
• Uh, also, I'm sure it makes it more efficient for the inspectors.
• Uh also I'm sure it makes it more<01:28:49.360><c> efficient</c><01:28:49.600><c> for</c><01:28:49.840
• </c><01:28:51.440><c> Uh</c> more efficient for the inspectors.
• Uh more efficient for the inspectors.

Bills: HF1918 , HF2305 , HF897 , HF2191 , HF2617 , HF2551 , HF2137

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF1918, Department of Children Youth and Families, DCYF, child welfare, foster care, out-of-home placement, permanency planning, relative search, noncustodial parent, kinship care, family preservation, African American Child and Family Well-Being, racial disproportionality, maltreatment reporting, educational neglect, truancy, school attendance, Great Start compensation, child care provider payments, TEACH early childhood program

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:42.399><c> we</c> creating um lots of teacher resources we creating um lots of teacher resources
• </c><00:09:53.079><c> such</c> working with with teacher resources such working with with teacher resources
• </c><00:43:09.800><c> at</c> access to these Federal resources at access to these Federal resources at
• </c><01:33:28.800><c> their</c> robbing them of the resources their robbing them of the resources their
• </c> process will be more accurate efficient process will be more accurate efficient or<01:35:22.639>

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> understanding what resources are needed. understanding what resources are needed.
• </c> takes a whole functioning well-resourced takes a whole functioning well-resourced system<00:03:50.799
• So resources matter, training months.
• </c> the general idea here that resources the general idea here that resources matter<00:18:20.559><c
• </c> And when we increase the resources And when we increase the resources available<00:18:24.480><c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs held an informational briefing on violent crime clearance rates and what resources law enforcement and prosecutors need to improve them. Chair and members noted there would be no public testimony. The briefing was led by Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center, with later participation expected from state and county law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. Clement argued that solving violent crime is a systemwide issue, not just a local police function, and said clearance rates have declined nationally over decades for homicide, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. He said Hawaii’s reported data, limited to Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, shows overall violent crime rates are lower than the national average and have been relatively flat with a pandemic-era spike followed by declines in 2023 and 2024. He reported that Hawaii’s overall violent crime solve rate fell from about 52% in 2014 to about 40% in 2024, with 2024 rates of 50% for homicides, 48% for aggravated assaults, and 26% each for rapes and robberies. He also estimated unsolved cases over the past three years at about 17 homicides, 3,300 aggravated assaults, 1,200 rapes, and 1,700 robberies. Members asked about victim and witness support, staffing shortages, the Denver example, whether clearance rates include cases not prosecuted, and whether HPD’s size or structure might affect solve rates. Clement said support can include victim-witness programs and coordinators that help maintain cooperation and trust, especially where clearance rates are low. He said resources, training, technology, and detective caseloads matter, citing Boston, Denver, and Omaha as cities that improved solve rates through relatively low-cost operational changes; he highlighted Denver’s increase in non-fatal shooting clearance from 39% to 65% in seven months after dedicating more resources. He said he had no research showing that breaking up a large department would improve solve rates, and noted that clearance data can include exceptional clearances such as victim noncooperation, prosecutorial declination, or a suspect’s death. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.