Video & Transcript : 'technology transformation' :
Page 370 of 500
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a policy analyst of the James Madison Institute, focusing on technology and innovation.
- First off, thank you, Senator Avila, for taking the time to meet with us to express... ...on technology
- You know, we've certainly seen how technology more and more is playing a pivotal role in our lives.
- We want to maintain that we are at the forefront of technological advances.
- We want to be a leader in technology, just like we want to be a leader in logistics, just like we want
Committee:
Senate Community Affairs
Keywords:
data centers, large load customer, large-scale data center, electric utility, public utility tariff, Florida Public Service Commission, FPSC, water permit, consumptive use permit, reclaimed water, groundwater, surface water, water management district, DEP, OPPAGA, economic development, land use, comprehensive plan, zoning, ratepayer protection
Summary:
The committee heard several housing, local government, utility, and transparency bills. SB 1342 on transportation infrastructure and land development regulations, by Sen. Rouson, was presented as a housing-affordability measure modeled on the Live Local Act for transit corridors. After adopting an amendment that removed the bill’s compelling-governmental-interest language in enforcement provisions, the committee heard testimony from local-government and housing interests both supporting and opposing the bill’s zoning preemption approach. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably CS/SB 1614, by Sen. Leek, which was amended to remove stormwater and code-enforcement spending provisions and to tighten restrictions on local governments seeking state appropriations after audits or without required affirmations. SB 1548, the next Live Local Act iteration by Sen. Claddie Ude, was also reported favorably; it expands where Live Local projects may be located and adds fair-housing protections. SB 968 on home backup power systems, by Sen. McLean, was reported favorably after testimony from builders and energy-related stakeholders, with the sponsor noting he was still working on amendments to refine permit provisions.
The committee then approved CS/SB 698, by Sen. Martin, which allows building permits for single-family homes to be issued before septic permits are finalized if application has been made, while still requiring septic approval before occupancy. Builders testified that septic permit delays were causing lengthy project delays and contract cancellations. The committee also reported favorably SB 1320, by Sen. Martin, requiring county tax-increase referenda to include a Department of Financial Services spending analysis if available; the sponsor said the goal was to give voters more standardized fiscal information, while opponents argued existing law already provides similar transparency. SB 484, by Sen. Avila, on data centers, was reported favorably after an amendment adding a knowledge requirement to the foreign-country-of-concern service prohibition; the bill addresses local planning authority, nondisclosure agreements, utility tariff requirements, and water-use limits for large data centers. The committee also reported favorably SB 1118, by Sen. Avila, creating a one-year public-records exemption for data-center location and proprietary information, with testimony split between economic-development supporters and transparency concerns.
Finally, the committee took up SB 706, by Sen. Mayfield, preempting naming of major commercial service airports to the state and designating Palm Beach International Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport subject to federal and trademark conditions; it was reported favorably after questions about local input and airport naming. The committee then heard extensive public testimony on SB 1134, by Sen. Yarbrough, which would prohibit counties and municipalities from funding, promoting, or taking official actions related to DEI and would create penalties and a private right of action for residents. The sponsor argued the bill was aimed at preventing taxpayer-funded DEI programs and cited examples from Jacksonville and other jurisdictions; opponents said the bill was vague, overbroad, and would chill local programs, public education, and civil-rights-related activities. The transcript ends during continued public testimony on SB 1134, with no final committee action shown in the excerpt.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a policy analyst of the James Madison Institute, focusing on technology and innovation.
- On technology and innovation.
- You know, we've certainly seen how technology more and more is playing a pivotal role in our lives.
- We want to maintain that we are at the forefront of technological advances.
- We want to be a leader in technology, just like we want to be a leader in logistics, just like we want
Committee:
Senate Community Affairs
Summary:
The committee first postponed SB 1122, then took up SB 1342 on transportation infrastructure and land development regulations. Senator Rouson explained the bill as a housing-affordability measure modeled on the Live Local Act, aimed at reducing local land-use barriers near transit corridors. The committee adopted an amendment removing the compelling governmental interest standard from enforcement and litigation provisions, then approved the bill. Testimony included support from a county commissioner and concerns from the Florida League of Cities and a Republican executive committee about overriding local zoning and creating rigid standards near transit stops.
Members then heard SB 1614, which would let local governments use excess Florida Building Code enforcement funds for stormwater repairs and restrict eligibility for certain state appropriations if a government has been audited or fails to affirm it has no excess funds. An amendment removed the stormwater and code-enforcement building provisions and tightened the appropriations restrictions; the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1548, the next iteration of the Live Local Act, expanding qualifying projects on public land and near airports, limiting setback-based height restrictions, clarifying agricultural-use issues, and strengthening fair-housing protections. SB 968 on home backup power systems was also reported favorably, with the sponsor noting he was still working on amendments regarding permits for generators, windows, and doors.
The committee next approved SB 698, allowing building permits for single-family homes to be issued after septic permit application rather than waiting for septic approval, with builders and industry representatives citing long delays and lost contracts. SB 1320, requiring county tax-referendum ballot questions to include a Department of Financial Services spending analysis if available, also passed after debate over whether it duplicated existing audit transparency requirements. SB 484 on large-scale data centers was reported favorably after an amendment added a knowledge requirement to the prohibition on service to certain foreign-country-linked customers; testimony focused on electricity costs, water use, NDAs, and ratepayer protections. SB 1118, creating a one-year public-records exemption for data-center site plans and proprietary information, was also approved despite concerns about secrecy and local officials appearing to conceal development plans.
Finally, the committee took up SB 706, which preempts naming of major commercial service airports to the state and would rename Palm Beach International Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport subject to federal and trademark approval; it was reported favorably after questions from members about local input. The last major item was SB 1134 on official actions of local government related to DEI, which drew extensive questioning and public testimony. The sponsor said the bill would bar counties and municipalities from funding, promoting, or staffing DEI offices or programs, with violations treated as misfeasance or malfeasance and enforceable by resident lawsuits; supporters framed it as a merit-based, anti-bureaucracy measure, while opponents argued it was vague, overbroad, and would chill civil-rights, health, education, and cultural programming. The transcript ends during public testimony on SB 1134, before any final action on that bill is shown.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance (1-14-26) - Reupload
Transcript Highlights:
- payroll for 24 local sheriff and county clerk's offices as well as our current system also does the technology
- system<00:03:18.000><c> also</c><00:03:19.040><c> does</c><00:03:19.280><c> the</c><00:03:19.519><c> technology
- </c> system also does the technology system also does the technology administration<00:03:21.440><c>
- You made me a lot more aware of technology than I've ever been [laughter] or wanted to be, probably.
- than I've ever been technology than I've ever been [laughter] [laughter] [laughter] >> or<00:24
Keywords:
00:14 Call to Order and Roll Call
01:10 Information Items and Introduction of Personnel Cabinet
02:44 Discussion of KHRIS HR system and need for replacement
05:52 Discussion of Challenges in managing HR for employees and records
09:16 Discussion of Employee Health Plan Record Management
12:56 Software and Hardware Discussion
16:15 Security Concerns
17:00 Costs, Staffing, and Implementation
24:09 Discussion of Data Integration and Hosting
32:20 Payment Methodology
35:20 Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance held its first meeting and heard a presentation from personnel cabinet officials on a major request to replace the Kentucky Human Resources Information System, known as CHRIS, which currently handles HR, payroll, tax compliance, and health plan administration for state government and several local offices. Officials said the system supports payroll for about 48,000 employees, covers all three branches of government and 24 sheriff and county clerk offices, and stores records for nearly 475,000 current and former users. They explained that SAP has said the system will reach end of life and lose support by 2030, creating risks around security, maintenance, and tax compliance if it is not replaced.
Commissioners and staff emphasized that the replacement is needed not just as an upgrade but as a full system replacement, especially because the current platform no longer receives meaningful HR enhancements and will eventually lose security updates and tax tables. They also described the Kentucky Employees Health Plan as a major driver of the project, noting it serves nearly 300,000 covered lives, many school boards, pre-65 retirees, and more than 700 entities, with significant complexity in billing, premium collection, and regulatory compliance. Officials said the new system would help address current manual workarounds, support changing insurance rules, and better protect personally identifiable and health information.
Members asked detailed questions about the $151 million request, including why the estimate had risen by more than $50 million, what would happen if the project missed the 2030 deadline, how progress would be tracked, how vendor costs were estimated, and what the largest cost components would cover. Officials said the increase was mainly due to inflation and changing requirements, and that there was no real backup plan if the replacement was not completed before support ends. They said the project would be managed through an RFP process expected in July 2026, with kickoff in January 2027 and go-live by July 2030, and that oversight would include an enterprise steering committee, monthly updates, and existing quarterly COT reporting to LRC. They also explained that the largest share of the request is for implementation and integrator services, with additional amounts for software licensing and hosting, independent verification and validation, dependent verification, FSA administration, and limited contract support, and that payments would be tied to deliverables and acceptance testing.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Indian Affairs Aug 14th, 2025
House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, technology always seems to be moving pretty quickly.
- But other departments and agencies in the state, I don't know what process or if it's a technology issue
- I was understanding that because of the technology we try to incorporate there, they do; they all have
- ; we're looking. at all the agencies and the technology that could be affected by the HR-1.
- So that's another piece of technology that we're utilizing actively.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- solution that evolves our current transportation funding sources without singling out a specific technology
- </c><00:04:11.519><c> For</c><00:04:11.760><c> those</c><00:04:12.000><c> reasons,</c> technology type
- For those reasons, technology type.
- So, EVs are kind of a new technology. You don't see that many of them out there. you can hear me.
- . you don't see that many of technology. you don't see that many of them<00:10:07.680><c> out</c><00:
Bills:
HF2438
Committee:
House Taxes
Keywords:
transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- not have been made, for new evidence that comes to light several years after the fact, for new technology
- </c><00:21:26.400><c> being</c><00:21:26.720><c> available</c> fact. for new technology being available
- fact. for new technology being available that<00:21:27.440><c> wasn't</c><00:21:27.760><c> available
- that wasn't available at the technology that wasn't available at the time.<00:21:38.559><c> Um</c> time
- available now that wasn't at technology available now that wasn't at the<00:35:54.000><c> time.
Committee:
House Public Safety
Keywords:
students with disabilities, individualized education programs, emergency plans, evacuation procedures, support services, Hawaii education law, HB2343, Maui State Veterans Home, veterans home, veterans, long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, Alzheimer's care, respite care, assimilate, transfer deadline, Act 99, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 1997, which would require IEPs for students with disabilities to include individualized emergency accommodations and evacuation supports. The Attorney General’s office supported the intent but recommended amendments to explicitly include students with Section 504 plans and to change references from “department schools” to “public schools” so charter school students are covered. Testimony in support came from disability advocates and several individuals, including Peter Fritz, who said emergency evacuation planning should be made explicit because it is not clearly required by federal law, and Ka Swan, who emphasized student safety during emergencies. No vote or final action was taken on the bill in the transcript.
The committee then took up House Bill 2343, relating to the Maui State Veterans Home. The measure would repeal a deadline for transferring the home to a state agency with a Maui affiliation and instead require the transfer to occur as soon as practicable. The Department of Defense, the Office of Veterans Services, HHSC Oahu Region, and several individuals testified in support. Committee members asked whether a more definite deadline should be used, but the department said the open-ended language was preferable because the Maui entity is not yet ready and Oahu is currently providing oversight. No vote or final action was recorded.
House Bill 2566, authorizing special license plates for Hawaii Civil Air Patrol members, was also heard. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services testified in opposition, while Johnny Perry testified in support. The committee did not take a vote in the transcript.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2493 on wrongful imprisonment compensation procedures. The Attorney General’s office opposed the bill, arguing it would create an automatic payment mechanism without a sufficient finding of actual innocence, could trigger payments within five days of dismissal, and raised concerns about insufficient time for prosecution review and about funding and appropriation issues. Supporters, including people who said they had been wrongfully convicted and later found actually innocent, argued the bill would reduce delays and help released individuals survive while awaiting compensation. Judiciary staff requested technical amendments and said operational details still needed review. Members questioned the AG about the meaning of “actual innocence,” burden shifting, and whether the bill would better define the standard, but no vote or final action was taken.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- There's technology that went through and scanned and saw that I'm on an automatic payment that I get
- That's what this does by using technology.
- AFC is the premier trade association representing the largest financial technology, or fintech, companies
- AFC is the premier trade association representing the largest financial technology, or fintech, companies
- So the technology is there, whether you agree it's going to come here or not.
Bills:
HB2118 , HB2181 , HB2308 , HB2309 , HB2402 , HB2476 , HB2682 , HB2698 , HB2875 , HB2877 , HB2903 , HB2910
Committee:
House Commerce
Keywords:
mobile food vendors, licensure, food safety, statewide regulations, health standards, zoning, temporary vendors, HB2181, death certificate, death certificates, vital records, funeral establishment, funeral home, human remains, medical certification of death, death registration, state registrar, local registrar, county medical examiner, alternate medical examiner
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy (06/17/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- there are... ...there are also broader concerns for the use of... ...the messenger RNA method, uh, technology
- Broader concerns also exist for the use of the mRNA technology in for the use of the mRNA technology
- that sentence So, I think by adding that sentence, 'broader concerns exist for the use of the mRNA technology
Summary:
The Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy met to review its mission, approve prior minutes at a future meeting, and discuss materials related to COVID-19 vaccination guidance. Members examined a pediatric vaccination handout from a private pediatric practice and compared it with New Hampshire DHHS and AAP/AAFP immunization guidance, focusing on how COVID-19 vaccine recommendations are presented for children and adults. Committee members also discussed the scope and accuracy of the committee’s endnotes and supporting documents.
The main business was a draft letter urging the governor to direct state agencies to stop recommending COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Members revised the letter paragraph by paragraph, including changing wording about age ranges for children, clarifying references to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and adding discussion of vaccine safety concerns, alleged suppression of safety data, and federal investigations. They also debated whether to reference specific reporting systems such as VAERS and V-safe, and whether to include examples from other states, including Tennessee, Arizona, Minnesota, and Florida, as evidence of broader concern about mRNA vaccines.
After the edits were completed, Representative Villio moved to accept the letter as amended, Representative Leroy seconded, and the committee approved it by voice vote 4-0. The chair said the revised letter would be finalized and distributed later in the week. The meeting then adjourned at approximately 11:57 a.m.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Sarah Ridges, on behalf of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, in support.
- Sarah Bridges, on behalf of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, in opposition.
- Sarah Bridges, on behalf of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, in support.
- Sarah Bridges on behalf of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association in support.
Committee:
Senate Appropriations
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Appropriations heard a large suspense-file agenda and established a quorum at the start. SB 1167 was announced as not being heard and will be rescheduled. The Department of Finance did not attend because it had no comments on the bills before the committee. Most measures on the agenda were taken up briefly with public testimony, then moved to suspense without objection.
Two bills received fuller presentations. SB 872 by Senator McNerney would create a fund to support repairs to Delta levees and State Water Project canals, with testimony from Restore the Delta, State Water Contractors, and numerous water agencies and coalitions emphasizing flood protection, water reliability for 27 million Californians, protection of state assets, and long-term infrastructure costs. Committee members noted the importance of the investment and the likelihood it would be considered in the final suspense decision; SB 872 was moved to suspense. SB 962 by Senator Archuleta would authorize CDCR to use blue emergency lights on parole vehicles, with supporters from the California Correctional Peace Officers Association citing the line-of-duty death of a parole agent and the need for a low-cost, discretionary safety tool. The bill was also moved to suspense.
SB 950, dealing with coverage for FDA-approved medically necessary treatments for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, was discussed as having a minimal near-term fiscal impact, though members noted costs could rise if new treatments emerge. The committee asked the author to consider a sunset amendment, but the bill received a do pass motion and was approved on a 7-0 vote, then placed on call for additional members. The remaining bills taken up, including SB 870, SB 1120, SB 888, SB 904, SB 986, SB 1029, SB 1186, SB 895, SB 1004, SB 1123, SB 909, SB 945, SB 1037, SB 953, SB 1001, SB 1188, SB 1407, SB 967, SB 1135, SB 1136, SB 988, SB 1069, SB 1000, SB 1024, SB 1179, SB 1025, SB 1040, SB 1081, SB 1091, SB 1131, SB 1138, SB 1146, SB 1279, SB 1158, SB 1401, SB 1162, SB 1293, SB 1334, SB 1382, SB 1397, SB 1178, SB 1414, SB 1214, SB 1218, SB 1257, SB 1265, SB 1286, SB 1322, SB 1337, SB 1340, SB 1276, SB 1358, and SB 1412, were moved to the suspense file without objection, with a few witnesses registering support or opposition on selected measures.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
FULL INTERVIEW: Serving Minnesota by Modernizing Human Services Systems | Senator Melissa Wiklund Apr 24th, 2026
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The Select Committee on Federal Impacts went to Dakota County to see that technology gap, and even testifiers
- And so, while on one hand we're talking about technology, we're also really talking about people.
- And so, while on one hand we're talking about technology, we're also really talking about people.
- And so, while on one hand we're talking about technology, we're also really talking about people.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama Joint License Plate Committee Apr 8th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- different schools submit requests for different things going on in their classroom, whether it's technology
- going on in their classroom, whether going on in their classroom, whether it's<00:09:49.200><c> technology
- <c> new</c><00:09:50.320><c> series</c><00:09:50.560><c> of</c><00:09:50.720><c> books</c> it's technology
- or new series of books it's technology or new series of books or<00:09:51.279><c> whatever</c><00:09
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/23/2026 - House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee of Reference
Transcript Highlights:
- Chair, the one section is the Yuma Center for Desert Agriculture and some of the technologies and stuff
- As agriculture changes and develops into new technologies, trying to adapt those things, farmers and
- All right, Senator Frank Carroll, District 28, where everything's happening with the chip technologies
- All right, Senator Frank Carroll, District 28, where everything's happening with the chip technologies
Summary:
The Committee on Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs heard four measures and advanced each on a do pass recommendation. SB 1199 was amended to require the Arizona Department of Agriculture to post the Salt River horse herd agreement on its website. Supporters said the change would improve public transparency and access to the agreement governing the Salt River wild horse herd; the department said it was neutral and noted the agreement is already on the state procurement website. The bill passed 6-3 after members debated whether the requirement should be in statute or handled administratively.
SB 1761 appropriates General Fund money to the University of Arizona for the Yuma Center for Excellence for Desert Agriculture, Cooperative Extension, and the Arizona Experiment Station over multiple fiscal years. Senator Tim Dunn and supporters from the Arizona Farm Bureau said the funding would strengthen agricultural research, extension services, rural counties, and water and crop-related innovation. Several members said the bill was important to Arizona agriculture even though the amounts would still be subject to budget negotiations; it passed 6-1 with one present vote.
SB 1198, as amended, continued the Arizona Beef Council and the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board for eight years. Testimony from the Beef Council and veterinary board emphasized that both entities are industry-funded or self-funded and provide ongoing services without taxpayer dollars. Some members objected to combining the two continuations and to the eight-year term, but the bill passed 4-3 with one present vote.
SB 1683 expanded restrictions on land ownership and related transactions involving foreign adversary nations and agents, especially near critical infrastructure and military installations. Supporters, including representatives tied to Luke Air Force Base and the bill sponsor, argued it would address national security risks and protect training and mission security. Opponents said the bill broadened the scope of prior law too far without enough justification. It passed 5-3 and the meeting adjourned.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/19/2026 - Senate Health and Human Services
Senate Health and Human Services COR
Transcript Highlights:
- We must modernize both our technology and the connections between our divisions.
- Looking ahead, making these strong back-end guardrails a reality requires not only modernized technology
- We must modernize both our technology and the connections between our divisions.
- Looking ahead, making these strong back-end guardrails a reality requires not only modernized technology
Committee:
Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR
Summary:
The Committee on Health and Human Services held another oversight hearing on Access, focusing on fee-for-service behavioral health management, prior authorization and claims processing, the Targeted Investment Program (TIP), and network adequacy. The chair criticized Access for implementing a covered behavioral health services guide without public comment and for failing to produce records such as decision-making documentation, work group minutes, and public/tribal feedback. Members also raised concerns about ARPA compliance, the reduction of intensive outpatient reimbursement to a $157 per diem, and the impact of these actions on providers and Native American communities.
Interim Director Roberta Harrison said Access had improved fraud controls and operations after the sober living fraud crisis, including tripling prior authorization speed, reducing denial codes by 64%, cutting claims processing to under 30 days, and adding dashboards and staffing. She said the agency is modernizing outdated systems and invited fraud referrals. On questions about claims and prior authorizations, Access reported average processing times of six days overall and 17 days for behavioral health prior authorizations, and said it had hired Constellation under a direct procurement to help with claims backlog. Harrison acknowledged that a proposal language suggesting higher ROI from denying more claims was not part of the contract scope.
The committee also pressed Access on TIP delays. Staff explained that TIP payments depend on provider documentation, programmatic review, and allocation across many sites, and said year one of TIP 2.0 had been paid while years two and three had not yet been distributed. The chair requested a formal plan within 30 days to pay the delayed year two and year three TIP funds, estimated at about $122 million, along with all CMS-related TIP 2.0 documentation. On network adequacy, Access described its standards and annual MCO reporting process, but acknowledged gaps in tracking and said it would follow up on whether a fiscal year 2025 report was submitted to CMS. Members cited a federal ghost network report finding 28% of providers in Santa Cruz County inactive or unavailable, and requested unredacted network adequacy reports and further information on CMS engagement. The hearing ended with the chair noting some improvements but saying more oversight may follow, and the committee adjourned.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- communities, as we seek to train our warfighters to carry out the most demanding task with evolving technology
- We recognize that even the most cutting-edge technology is ineffective without the proper processes,
- we are equipping our airmen with the skills, structures, and processes needed to integrate new technologies
- Not having very good luck with our technology this morning.
Committee:
Senate State Affairs
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Speaker, we, your Committee on Environment, Energy and Technology, report that we've had under consideration
- Senate Bill 1265 referred to the Energy and Technology Committee. February 25th, 2026, Mr.
- Section 67-823, Idaho Code, relating to coordination of policy and programs related to science, technology
- repealing Section 67823 Idaho Code relating to coordination of policy and programs related to science, technology
Summary:
The House convened, completed roll call, prayer, and the Pledge, then approved the journal and received messages from the Senate. Senate Concurrent Resolution 115 was signed by the Speaker, House Bills 533, 502, and 555 were returned from the Senate for enrolling, and Senate Bills 1254 and 1258 were introduced and referred to committee. Standing committee reports moved a number of bills and memorials to second reading or other committees, including several education, local government, agriculture, environment/technology, transportation, and state affairs measures; Senate Bill 1265 was re-referred, and House Bill 575 was placed on general orders.
In third reading, House Bill 641, dealing with sick leave and employer discipline, drew debate over whether it improperly incorporated federal law into state law and whether it could create litigation risk for employers. The bill failed on a 24-46 vote. House Bill 728, which defines school staffing categories and adjusts K-12 funding-related terminology and flexibility, received bipartisan support and passed 70-0. House Bill 751, revising the STARS transportation revenue program limits, also passed 70-0. House Bill 591, a cleanup bill repealing the last remaining section of the county medical indigent program, passed unanimously, as did House Resolution 24 on temporary and pending Idaho State Tax Commission rules and Senate Bill 1221, which makes changes affecting irrigation districts and PERSI-related treatment.
The House also heard first reading of a large package of new bills, including measures on workforce development and computer science/STEM education, charter school admissions, foreign adversary investments, harboring aliens, taxing districts, development impact fees, contractor registration, motor vehicle insurance and appraisals, industrial hemp, corporate credit union cleanup, Fish and Game penalties, motor vehicle exemptions, newborn safety review, controlled substances, dual enrollment, and student enrollment counts. Several bills were advanced to printing or committee referral, and the chamber then moved to announcements and adjourned until the next day.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- The House Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee is now in session.
- implement large language models, and is the agency not allowed to communicate or work through these technologies
- large language models, and is the agency not allowed them to communicate or work through these technologies
- Representative Schurz, I just want you to set my heart at ease here, because technology is a big part
Committee:
House Environment, Energy and Technology
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee Feb 18th, 2026
Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- , and then it would go on to elaborate that it would include administering a distributed ledger technology
- 47.760><c> ledger</c> administering a distributed um ledger administering a distributed um ledger technology
- > network</c><00:22:49.360><c> of</c><00:22:49.520><c> smart</c><00:22:49.919><c> contracts</c> technology
- or network of smart contracts technology or network of smart contracts which<00:22:50.960><c> I</c><
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- MTCHS has a couple of different pathways related to technology, including media and web design, hardware
- These languages are used not only to build websites in the technology field, but also to build certain
- Right now, we only accept freshmen in our school because we start teaching technology day one of freshman
- So those students... ...in our school because we start teaching technology day one of freshman year.
Committee:
Senate Education
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/29/2026 - House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation
House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference
Transcript Highlights:
- I am also more curious if APS is exploring more technologies not just related to energy consumption,
- utility-specific coalitions look at how we respond most effectively to the needs of different technologies
- that can be used to help serve these customers. ...needs of different technologies that can be used
- The protection of kids in the world of new technology is important.
Summary:
The House AI and Innovation Committee first heard a presentation from APS on its data center strategy and the rapid growth of AI/data center demand in Arizona. APS said it is trying to protect reliability and affordability for existing customers while preserving capacity for other growth, and emphasized that “growth should pay for growth.” APS described its current peak load, projected growth, and the scale of potential data center demand, and explained that data centers differ from other customers because they use large amounts of power around the clock and require major new infrastructure. APS said it has proposed two ways to serve them: a revised data center tariff filed with the Corporation Commission and separate bilateral contracts with upfront customer contributions. Committee members asked about whether residential customers are subsidizing data centers, the proposed 45% increase for the data center rate class, possible impacts on development, self-generation behind the meter, seasonal load, and APS’s longer-term resource plans, including nuclear, gas, renewables, and possible SMRs. APS said residential customers are not intended to subsidize data centers and that the proposal is designed to assign costs directly to those customers.
The committee then took up House Bill 2133, which requires commercial entities that knowingly distribute or publish sexual material online to obtain reasonable consent and age verification, including for synthetic or AI-generated or altered images, and authorizes civil penalties for violations. A five-page amendment in Representative Kupper’s name narrowed the bill by excluding internet service providers, affiliates, subsidiaries, search engines, and cloud providers from responsibility for content they do not create or directly host. Representative Kupper said the bill is intended to protect people in adult content from exploitation and non-consensual use, including trafficking-related material and revenge porn, and compared it to existing age- and consent-verification practices in the physical adult-content industry. He said the penalties mirror those used in related laws, including a $10,000-per-day structure.
During debate, several members said they supported the bill’s intent but wanted to reserve the right to change their votes after further stakeholder discussions, citing First Amendment and implementation concerns. One member noted a similar federal proposal with a higher fine structure. After no public testimony was offered, the committee adopted the amendment and then voted 5-0 with two members present to give HB 2133, as amended, a due pass recommendation.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- They're able to promote active learning, use technology to enhance learning, meet different learner needs
- heard a little bit about generative AI and AI, and we know that classrooms are changing just as technology
- heard a little bit about generative AI and AI, and we know that classrooms are changing just as technology
- The technology in the classroom is different.
Committee:
Senate Education