Transcript Highlights:

• It's a public records request, and if you look at page two, you'll see the information I requested.
• and you can see the request there.
• Someone requested her ballot here in Arizona.
• We updated requests over the years.
• these requests.

Bills: SB1037, SB1040, SB1259, SB1281

Keywords: elections, voting systems, vote tabulation, election security, internet connectivity, offline voting, chain of custody, polling place equipment, counting center, central counting center, election management system, EMS gateway, tabulation equipment, secretary of state, certification, decertification, HAVA, Help America Vote Act, ballot images, audit logs

Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of the board, I want to thank you for including most of the language that we had requested
• And so we had requested expungements.
• It is not the answer to the state's budget concerns.
• </c><02:04:26.800><c> uh</c> answer to the state's budget uh answer to the state's budget uh concerns
• It's just not um there budget concerns.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> ...constitutes roughly 60% of our budget.
• And with that, we would request your support of House File 1477. Thank you.
• With that, we would request your support of House File 1477. Thank you.
• With that, we would request your support of House File 1477. Thank you.
• </c> to accomplish a difficult budget to accomplish a difficult budget together<01:48:35.119><c> I</c

Bills: HF1937, HF2407, HF1678, HF1477, HF2040, HF1840, HF257

Keywords: PACE, elderly, Medicaid, health services, long-term care, community-based services, support person, healthcare, patient rights, assisted living, community support, caregiver respite, financial eligibility, Minnesota Statutes, HF1477, residential program licensing, community residential setting, small group home, licensed capacity six or fewer, rental licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:27.040><c> of</c><00:16:27.199><c> the</c> Last year at the request of the Last year at the
• request of the committee<00:16:27.680><c> on</c><00:16:27.920><c> commerce</c><00:16:28.240><c> and<
• The FY27 House proposed budget<00:47:23.920><c> includes</c><00:47:24.240><c> a</c><00:47:24.400><c>
• direct</c><00:47:24.640><c> app</c><00:47:24.800><c> of</c><00:47:25.040><c> $2</c> budget includes a
• </c> struck all that in favor of requesting struck all that in favor of requesting both<00:54:44.160>

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's just my opinion from a budgeting standpoint.
• whole budget because everything is on autopilot.
• When you look at Congress, what they pass within their budgets.
• budget because everything is on autopilot.
• separated and isolated from the budgeting versus the policy decisions.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, request roll call. Thank you, Mr. President, request roll call.
• Request a roll call. President. Request a roll call.
• </c> we request a roll call. we request a roll call.
• I request a roll call.
• I request a roll call.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I was able to do this because I think, at the end, as long as we get this budget approved and we
• Medicaid controls the budget. The budget is controlled by Medicaid.'
• The budget is controlled by Medicaid.
• And that's controlling and becoming metastatic to our budget.
• I can't imagine requesting information that I need to make a decision and not being able to get it.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, then devoted most of the first part of the meeting to a farewell-style recognition of Senator Joe Gruters. Senators from both parties offered extended remarks praising his loyalty, political instincts, family involvement, and work as a legislator and as incoming Republican National Committee chair. Gruters responded with remarks about his background, including overcoming a childhood speech impediment, his service in the Legislature, and major policy efforts he highlighted such as alimony reform and the undergrounding of utilities. A ceremonial gift was presented to him recognizing his work on a 2019 public-safety/immigration bill, and the Senate adopted a motion to spread his remarks upon the journal before recessing briefly. After the recess, the Senate returned to regular business. No committee reports, governor’s messages, House messages, or reconsideration matters were reported. The chamber then moved to third reading and temporarily postponed CS/CS/CS/SB 354, relating to blue ribbon projects. The next bill, CS/CS/SB 1758, relating to public assistance, was taken up, and Senator Gaetz explained that it contained five reforms to the public assistance system previously discussed by the Senate. Debate was about to continue when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• of our entire budget.
• And we do anticipate some legislative requests, as I mentioned.
• And we do anticipate some legislative requests, as I mentioned.
• And we do anticipate some legislative requests, as I mentioned.
• We don't even get it sometimes in our budget subcommittee meetings.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture held its annual State of the Fishery forum, focusing on salmon, Dungeness crab, kelp, ocean conditions, and related aquaculture and committee reports. Opening remarks from committee leadership emphasized climate impacts, reduced federal NOAA support, state investments through Proposition 4, coastal resilience funding, and the importance of fisheries to rural economies and tribal communities. Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot described a decade of drought and climate stress, highlighted progress such as Klamath River dam removal, wetland restoration, and the state’s salmon strategy, and warned that federal funding uncertainty and staffing cuts could undermine restoration and fishery recovery efforts. Senator Cortese raised concerns about illegal cannabis cultivation damaging riparian habitat and water flows, and both Crowfoot and Fish and Wildlife Director Bonham said enforcement against illicit grows remains a major environmental priority but is constrained by resources. Director Bonham provided a broad update on California fisheries, reporting encouraging signs for salmon after several difficult years, including improved ocean conditions, stronger returns in some runs, and successful short recreational openings in 2025. He also noted major challenges, including reduced federal hatchery production at Nimbus, ongoing uncertainty around winter-run and spring-run recovery, and the need for continued habitat restoration, monitoring, and hatchery investment. On Dungeness crab, Bonham said the fishery remained valuable but constrained by whale entanglement risk, warming ocean conditions, and domoic acid concerns; he described new marked-line distribution, ropeless and alternative gear trials, and ongoing aerial and vessel monitoring. He also said the department’s unified cannabis enforcement task force had served numerous warrants and seized large amounts of illegal cannabis, but more funding is needed for sustained operations. In the salmon panel, Yurok Tribe fisheries director McCovey said the Klamath still faces low run sizes, climate-driven warming, wildfire impacts, and federal uncertainty, but he pointed to dam removal, restoration work, and AB 263’s river-flow protections as major advances. PCFFA president Bradshaw stressed that the three consecutive salmon closures have devastated coastal communities and argued for major reinvestment in aging Central Valley hatchery infrastructure and better broodstock management at Fall Creek. CalTrout’s Schneider said salmon remain at risk statewide, but cited Prop 4, habitat reconnection, floodplain restoration, improved water management, and monitoring as the main tools for recovery. In the crab panel, CDFW’s Schumann reported that the 2024–25 season produced record prices per pound and about $55 million in value despite delays and trap reductions, but he warned that three confirmed whale entanglements and elevated whale presence could force a conservative opener for 2025–26. PCFFA’s Domrash supported marked line, alternative gear, and a new gear-recovery network, while also criticizing the current ramp system as a response to a problem not fully grounded in science.

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:13:05.240><c> drafted</c><00:13:06.120><c> and</c><00:13:06.320><c> would</c><00:13:06.639><c> request
• for just a wee bit of time to give us time to work with the Employees' Retirement System, Budget and
• And what was your annual budget? Uh, our annual budget for the Hel Imua was about $4 million.
• budget budget uh<00:48:58.079><c> our</c><00:48:58.440><c> annual</c><00:48:58.880><c> budget</c><00
• for the um for the uh our annual budget for the um for the hel<00:49:02.240><c> imua</c><00:49:02.880

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered Senate Bills 470, 828, 730, and 1383. SB 470 would create a deferred retirement option program for police officers. The Employees Retirement System warned it could worsen the system’s $14.1 billion unfunded liability by stopping employer and employee contributions during the DROP period, and the Attorney General raised possible tax-qualified status, Internal Revenue Code, and age-discrimination concerns. Police and other supporters testified in favor, but the committees ultimately recommended deferring the bill indefinitely. SB 828 would expand workers’ compensation medical benefits for firefighters to cover an additional respiratory condition. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Hawaii Firefighters Association supported the measure, citing occupational exposure and health risks. The committees recommended passage with amendments, and the motion was adopted by both committees. SB 730, which concerns allowance on service retirements, drew support from the Department of Human Resources Development and the Department of Law Enforcement, but also comments from the Attorney General and ERS. DHRD said the bill could help recruitment and retention but requested more time to work on language with ERS, Budget and Finance, and the AG’s office. The committees postponed decision-making until Friday, February 7, at 3:15 p.m. in Conference Room 225. SB 1383, relating to fire protection, received broad support from the Governor’s office, Department of Defense, DLNR, Hawaiian Electric, and others. The committees agreed to pass it with amendments, including language suggested by the Hawaii Insurance Council on wildfire-related insurance issues and a committee report link to the Lina fire forward-looking report, phase three. The amended recommendation was adopted by both committees. Later in the meeting, the committees also heard SB 1360 and SB 1361 on ERS administrative and reporting matters, SB 340 on HLRB enforcement authority, and SB 997 on energy; SB 1360 and SB 1361 were presented as housekeeping measures, SB 340 drew disagreement between the Attorney General and HLRB over enforcement authority, and SB 997 was amended to incorporate prevailing-wage renewable energy rate language from SB 743 and then passed with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• requested please take the<00:11:58.000><c> roll.
• He then requested adoption of the A3 amendment.
• He then requested that the A3 amendment be adopted. A roll call was requested on the A3 amendment.
• He then requested that the A3 amendment be adopted, and a roll call was requested.
• A roll call was requested on the A3 amendment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> record requests. record requests.
• </c> request. Okay. request. Okay. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Yeah. &gt;&gt; Yeah.
• </c> scenario or the next the next budget scenario or the next the next budget cycle.<01:44:30.800><c
• </c> correctly, it would be not next budget correctly, it would be not next budget cycle<01:44:36.800
• </c> an agency's response to a request. an agency's response to a request.

Bills: HB1769

Keywords: criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, private prisons, racial equity, Native Hawaiians, community well-being, mass incarceration, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1769, which would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally reduce the number of people incarcerated in private out-of-state correctional institutions. The DCR director opposed the bill, saying the department does not control overall prison population levels because courts determine admissions, and arguing that Hawaiʻi’s in-state facilities are already over capacity, especially Halawa, which he said is 165% over design capacity. He said only a small portion of the population is under departmental control through furlough programs and argued that bringing people home would require building a new medium-security prison. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Public Defender’s office, and several individuals, argued the bill creates a phased, accountable path to reduce reliance on mainland prisons and bring people home. Supporters emphasized the harms of separating incarcerated people from ʻohana and culture, the disproportionate impact on Native Hawaiians, and the need for diversion, treatment, re-entry support, and fair sentencing. Several testifiers also said the department has more control than it claimed, pointing to underused furlough options, reclassification, and empty beds at some in-state facilities, while others urged clearer statutory language and guardrails. Members questioned the director about whether people could be reclassified or moved to available beds at facilities such as Kulani and Waiawa, and about whether the department could do more through staffing and contract changes. The director said some proposals had been sent to the Department of Human Resource Development, but that major facility changes would be costly and that minimum-security facilities would need substantial upgrades to house medium-security inmates. After discussion, the chair said the committee would defer HB 1769 to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for decision-making and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, no, there hasn't ever been a request for it that I'm aware of.
• So, no, there hasn't ever been a request for it that I'm aware of.
• Thank you, and you did get the roll call request? A roll call requested and roll call granted.
• request? request?
• call requested and roll call granted.<00:52:02.040><c> Perfect.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Include the language requesting the N...
• And I think that's for the budget side.
• </c> and I think that's for the the budget and I think that's for the the budget side.<00:32:09.200><
• I into great detail about their budgets.
• </c> that maybe there might be tight budgets that maybe there might be tight budgets uh<00:43:16.240>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As our duty as members of the House of Representatives, we have to have a balanced budget.
• </c> challenges as well as state budget challenges as well as state budget challenges<02:34:17.840><c
• We only complete fiscal notes when the Legislative Budget Assistance Office sends us the request, so
• </c><04:15:01.800><c> Assistance</c> when the legislative budget Assistance when the legislative budget
• </c><04:30:29.920><c> for</c> High Schools I assume your request for High Schools I assume your request

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on HB 366, which would increase school building aid for eligible projects. Representative Cahill, the prime sponsor, said the bill would raise the annual minimum from $50 million to $60 million and help address a long backlog of school construction and renovation needs after years of a moratorium on applications. He argued that districts forced to build during the moratorium were left to shoulder costs through local property taxes, and he cited examples such as Londonderry, Claremont, and other communities with aging or inadequate facilities. He also said the current aid structure, including paying 80% upfront and 20% at completion, concentrates too much spending at once and limits how many projects can be funded. Several committee members asked about the fairness and structure of the program. Representative Maguire questioned whether aid should be distributed more broadly to all districts rather than only a few selected projects, and Representative Luneau noted that the committee would also be considering related bills on catastrophic aid, special education aid, and the school foundation formula. Cahill responded that building aid has historically been targeted to property-poor communities and that the state should be a reliable partner in school construction. He also said the bill includes a small retroactive component for communities that built during the moratorium, which he described as a compromise. Testimony in support came from Representative Cluder, who described Claremont’s Stevens High School project as a case where a bond issue narrowly failed and the city later had to fund renovations without state aid, contributing to high property taxes. He said the bill would help property-poor communities and urged passage. Tony Weinstein of New Market also supported the bill, saying his community had serious facility and safety needs, had moved forward with scaled-back renovations during the moratorium, and still faced debt-service burdens without state participation. Robert Thompson, superintendent in Hampstead, testified that his district needs an addition for overcrowding, safety, and special education space, and said building aid would help reduce out-of-district placements and transportation costs. No vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The program was originally passed by us in 2023, created in the budget, and is being moved from the budget
• <c> to</c> moved uh from the budget language to moved uh from the budget language to title<00:48:21.520
• This was requested by the Vermont Retailer and Grocerers Association.
• >> There has been a roll call requested. >> Okay. Thank you.
• &gt;&gt; There has been a roll call requested. &gt;&gt; There has been a roll call requested.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sorry, request that you find out?
• Transparency, increasing it, especially with the opacity of budget and budget-related documents, which
• All right, respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you. Others in support.
• Can they still request an additional deposit if there's going to be a pet?
• So if Redfin is then sending you an automated request, that's...

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard several bills focused on health care planning, mental health, housing, homeowners associations, groundwater enforcement, pet-friendly rental disclosures, and post-disaster property protections. SB 1088 would modernize POLST and DNR forms by renaming POLST to “portable orders for life-sustaining treatment,” allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to sign, clarifying that the forms are voluntary, recognizing out-of-state forms, and permitting electronic signatures. It drew support from the Coalition for Compassionate Care and related groups and no opposition was presented. SB 1242 would allow family members who originally petitioned in CARE Court to continue participating for care coordination and information-sharing, subject to judicial discretion; supporters said it would improve treatment coordination, while Disability Rights California opposed it as coercive and a threat to confidentiality. The committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 1242, and it was placed on call. The committee also considered SB 1007, which would require more HOA transparency, including clearer budget comparisons and disclosure of evidence for violations, and would lower the threshold for regular assessment increases without a homeowner vote. Supporters argued it would curb steep fee hikes and improve accountability, while HOA industry groups warned it could undermine funding for insurance, maintenance, and other operating costs. Members raised concerns about the cap on assessments, but the bill advanced on a 6-1 vote and was placed on call. SB 1364, as amended, would bar custody or visitation rights for a person who impregnated a survivor through sexual assault, using a clear-and-convincing evidence standard rather than requiring a criminal conviction; supporters said it protects survivors and may increase federal funding, while opponents argued it could deny children a relationship with a parent. The bill passed 8-0 and was placed on call. Additional measures included SB 997, which would give the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency lien authority to enforce fees and sustainability rules; it had support from local water, farm, and county representatives and passed 9-0. SB 1296 would require landlords to disclose pet policies up front in applications, ads, and websites and allow application-fee refunds if disclosure was not made before payment; supporters said it would reduce wasted fees and pet relinquishment, while rental housing groups raised concerns about signage, ADA language, and vaccination disclosures. The bill passed 8-0 and was placed on call. Finally, SB 1090 would prohibit large property owners from making unsolicited purchase offers for five years in wildfire disaster areas, aiming to curb post-disaster speculation; supporters described aggressive investor pressure after the Eaton and Palisades fires, while real estate and title groups raised implementation and enforcement concerns. The committee was still discussing the bill when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• If I can get five members standing, I'd like to request a roll call vote on the motion.
• So I just wanted to speak a little bit to the $86 million that is added in the supplemental budget.
• Of course, I support the $86 million budget line, and I would ask the body to do the same.
• But as it was, we did get 100% federal funding, and we more or less reflected that in our budget.
• . ...the changing landscape of our budget.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by a 134-0 roll call vote. Members then moved through a series of personal privileges and introductions of guests, including Turning Point USA chapters, CASA volunteers and staff, JAG students, university students, nursing students, interns, and other visitors recognized from across the state. On third reading, House Bill 1766, dealing with personal property tax treatment and new construction, was debated as a taxpayer relief measure. Supporters said it would treat personal property more like real estate under Hancock-style limits, while opponents warned it could reduce revenue for taxing districts. The bill passed 94-50. The House then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2989, a major gaming bill aimed at cracking down on illegal “gray market” machines while creating a regulated local-option video lottery terminal system. Debate focused on enforcement, local control, consumer protection, revenue for education, veterans, and disability programs, and whether the bill effectively legalized gambling in a new form. A motion to send it to Fiscal Review failed 69-44, and the bill ultimately passed 83-66 with one present. The chamber next considered House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2014, the supplemental appropriations bill. The sponsor said it provides a little over $3 billion in additional authority for the rest of FY2026, including tax refunds, disaster response, St. Louis tornado relief, Medicaid-related spending, and Missouri Department of Transportation operations. Members discussed the size of supplemental spending, the use of federal and general revenue funds, and the first-time use of general revenue for the adult expansion Medicaid population. The House adopted an amendment reducing some unused Medicaid authority, then adopted the bill as amended and perfected it for printing. The session ended with announcements, including a notice that the Super Committee on Tourism would meet immediately in Hearing Room 6.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a budget committee, so I didn't want to add too many non-budget amendments that will address
• And so I really request that you remove lines 123 to 139. Thank you.
• And so I really request that you remove lines 123 to 139. Thank you.
• We're in a pre-K through 12 budget subcommittee.
• I don't know that we talked about budget at all today.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee took up CS for House Bill 1071, a broad education package described by the sponsor as updating transparency, parental rights, student safety, early learning accountability, scholarship oversight, and instructional program rules. The committee adopted two amendments without objection: one clarifying that Title I funds may be used for STEM programs, and another removing a prior provision related to canine dogs on school grounds. Members then questioned the bill’s provisions on student records transfers, instructional materials adoption and removal, educational emergency authority for low-performing schools, health education and a fetal development video, student-led organizations, FHSAA board language, lab schools, and rulemaking authority. The sponsor repeatedly said the bill was intended to improve accountability, keep education dollars focused on students, and give districts flexibility, while also noting that some issues would be addressed through future rulemaking or later amendments. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed. Many speakers argued the bill was an omnibus measure that bundled unrelated policies together, making it hard for families and educators to understand or meaningfully comment on it. Opponents also said it would increase school-law enforcement coordination, chill immigrant and mixed-status families’ participation, restrict DEI-related and student-led organizations, and impose controversial health and embryology content on students. Supporters, including the Christian Family Coalition and Florida Citizens Alliance, backed the fetal development video and the bill’s parental rights and funding restrictions, saying the content should be medically accurate and that schools should not fund political advocacy. Several speakers urged the committee to break the bill into separate measures. In debate, some members praised the sponsor’s responsiveness but said they would vote no because of constituent concerns, especially around DEI, the fetal development video, and local control. Others supported the bill, emphasizing rulemaking, educational emergency flexibility, EpiPen access, early learning changes, and evidence-based math instruction. The sponsor closed by reiterating support for the bill as amended, saying the law enforcement provision had been removed, the embryology content would be opt-out with posted materials, state funds should not support political advocacy, and the bill would help with safety, accountability, and student outcomes. The committee then voted on the bill after debate, with the sponsor indicating support and members stating their positions during closing discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• This study was initiated at... your request after the passage of House Memorial 43, which directed LESC
• Okay, because of lack of funding, right now we're going through a huge budget crunch.
• Caps for, and waivers, of course, may be requested when those can't be filled.
• Some of them, like the operating Budget addresses the school level expenditures 3.4.
• The person responsible for the ed plan, the person responsible for the budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it's our second-largest general fund dollar item, and it's our largest budget unit as a whole when
• Um, it's our second-largest general fund dollar item, and it's our largest budget unit as a whole when
• </c> dollar item and it's our it's our dollar item and it's our it's our largest<00:02:29.360><c> budget
• unit as a whole when you largest budget unit as a whole when you consider<00:02:31.319><c> federal</
• </c><00:03:31.319><c> was</c> here in 20 2017 the Medicaid budget was here in 20 2017 the Medicaid budget

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 9, which would create a Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board modeled after the Public Pension Oversight Board. The sponsors said the board is intended to bring together the executive branch, legislative branch, and stakeholders to study Medicaid policy and its fiscal impacts before changes are made. Members generally supported the concept, with questions focused on board size and representation from providers and community-based service organizations. The bill was reported favorably by unanimous vote, including a title amendment. The committee then heard House Bill 152, which would create a Medicaid supplemental directed payment program for public EMS agencies, including fire departments and city, county, or taxing-district EMS providers. The sponsor said the measure is designed to draw down a higher federal match without any general fund impact, and noted support from local government groups. After brief discussion, the bill passed with favorable expression by unanimous vote. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 688, a two-part measure. One part would give the Board of Nursing more discretion to review out-of-state nursing credentials by changing mandatory acceptance of certification to permissive language, in response to concerns about fraudulent or substandard nursing programs and the effects of multistate licensure. The other part would allow certain diabetes medications to be stored and administered in schools, with training for school personnel and civil immunity for those acting in good faith. Some members supported the bill as a way to protect patients and maintain standards, while one senator voted no because of concerns about slowing licensure during a nursing shortage. The bill passed 10-1 with favorable expression. The committee announced it would meet again Wednesday at 8:30 a.m., then adjourned.