Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:54:12.160><c> of</c><00:54:12.400><c> Transportation</c><00:54:13.040><c> of</c> the commission
• of Transportation of the commission of Transportation of menot<00:54:13.839><c> um</c><00:54:13.960>
• Securing an 80% federal funding match for this project is a requirement, and it needs to be granted in
• an 80% Federal funding match securing an 80% Federal funding match for<00:57:41.160><c> this</c><00:
• He said those jobs provide attractive compensation, perks, and job security.

Bills: HF1167 , HF1242

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: Northern Lights Express, NLX, Minneapolis-Duluth rail, passenger rail, intercity passenger rail, high-speed rail, Duluth, Minneapolis, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, transportation funding, rail appropriation, general fund, trunk highway fund, rail project cancellation, infrastructure spending, commercial driver training, CDL, financial assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• Uniform laws commission.<00:09:20.640><c> The</c><00:09:20.959><c> commission</c><00:09:21.440><c> the
• </c><00:09:21.680><c> governor</c> commission.
• The commission the governor commission.
• That's it for Homeland Security. Move on to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
• Clemency Review Commission, line 267.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, an additional $20 million is provided for security initiatives for Jewish day schools and
• How are they going to take care of security? How are they going to take care of maintenance?
• Investing in what matters, things like health and security.
• Investing in what matters, things like health and security.
• I got to go and shoot a little video with the Gaming Control Commission.

Summary: The House met on the final day of session, swore in Representatives Boyles and Hodgers, and observed a moment of silence for the Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as for Representative Rosenwald’s father. The chamber then moved into final budget work, with leaders outlining the plan to take up H.J.R. 5019, HB 7031, HB 5017, HB 5015, and then the general appropriations act once the Senate transmitted it. H.J.R. 5019, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand the budget stabilization fund, was explained and amended to raise the rainy day fund cap, require annual deposits, and allow withdrawals for critical state needs by a two-thirds vote; it passed 100-1. The House then adopted the conference report on HB 7031, the tax package. The bill repeals the business rent tax and aviation fuel tax, delays the natural gas fuel tax, creates or expands several sales tax holidays and exemptions, including permanent exemptions for disaster-preparedness items, hunting/fishing/camping items, and ammunition and firearms-related purchases, and makes changes to property, corporate income, local tax, and economic development provisions. Members debated the removal of recurring housing trust fund and transit-related revenue streams, the new ammunition exemption, and the data center tax changes; supporters argued the package reduces taxes and preserves annual budget flexibility, while opponents raised concerns about housing, transportation, and gun violence. The conference report passed 93-7. HB 5017, creating a debt reduction program funded by a recurring transfer to retire state bonds early, passed unanimously. HB 5015, the state group insurance conforming bill, which directs DMS to develop a formulary management plan and codifies the administrative health insurance assessment, also passed. The House then began explanation and questions on the fiscal year 2025-26 general appropriations act, described as a $115.1 billion budget that is down $3.8 billion from the current year and includes more than $12 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs summarized major spending areas, including pre-K-12 funding increases, health care funding for Medicaid, KidCare, nursing homes, opioid treatment, and mental health, transportation and economic development funding, environmental and water projects, higher education, state administration, justice, and information technology. Questions focused on school vouchers, inflationary pressures on school districts, and the adequacy of funding for housing, transportation, and other priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Catherine Squire, on behalf of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, proud co-sponsor
• contribution of Latinas and the persistent barriers that prevent too many women from achieving financial security
• Catherine Squire, on behalf of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, in support
• procedural tools that give courts the ability to strike a meritless claim and to impose a bond as security
• procedural tools that give courts the ability to strike a meritless claim and to impose a bond as security

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that was recognized and noted by the gentleman that spoke yesterday from the Bernalillo County Commission
• help determine project readiness, make sure that there's other potential funding sources that are secured
• We have a security program with security officers, we do building maintenance, repair and services, custodial
• So in 2019, at the direction of the Capitol Building Planning Commission, the Facilities Management Division
• negotiated the land, but we can still move forward with the design even though the land hasn't been secured

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission met a number of times this summer and fall and
• I know that the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission met a number of times this summer and fall and
• There's no way to assure that it's securely stored. prohibitions against copying there's prohibitions
• It furthers the goal of the LEAK Commission, too.
• too uh the department wants commission too uh the department wants to to to offer<01:26:35.960><c> uh

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The working group, the board, or the commission to carry out the functions of the working group is made
• The working group, the board, or the commission to carry out the functions of the working group is made
• to carry out the the commission to carry out the functions<00:51:26.599><c> of</c><00:51:26.680><c>
• c><01:31:45.280><c> for</c><01:31:45.520><c> failure</c><01:31:45.960><c> to</c><01:31:46.199><c> secure
• </c> criminally liable for failure to secure criminally liable for failure to secure the<01:31:46.719

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to housing, homelessness, caregiving, and tax relief. On HB 431, which appropriates funds for the CAL initiative and HHFDC, the Department of Human Services supported the bill and noted the Governor’s request for $50 million per year for HMS, the need for more permanent supportive housing, and a technical issue with establishing a special fund in session law. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions strongly supported the measure, describing it as unprecedented funding for CAL projects and linking it to goals of reducing homelessness and expanding housing inventory. Catholic Charities Hawaii, the ACLU of Hawaii, and the Reimagining Public Safety in Hawaii Coalition also supported the bill, emphasizing permanent supportive housing, diversion from jail, and public safety benefits. The chair redirected one testifier to stay on the measure when testimony drifted to another program. Written support was also noted from several organizations and agencies. The committee then heard HB 225 on squatting. DHS said it appreciated the intent and deferred to the Attorney General and task force members, while noting that outreach on public lands differs from private land, where owner consent is required. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill and wanted a voice in finding a solution. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions also said it supported the intent, while opposition from the Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands and support from one individual were noted. For HB 280, which would make the community outreach court permanent and appropriate funds, the Judiciary strongly supported the bill, describing the court as a mobile, community-based program serving vulnerable populations and connecting participants to services. The Office of the Public Defender also supported the measure, saying the program has helped people move off the streets and into stable housing and that permanent funding would allow expansion. Written support from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition was noted. The committee then moved to HB 71, creating a refundable family caregiver tax credit, where the Department of Taxation provided comments, the Executive Office on Aging and AARP Hawaii supported the measure, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised concerns about duplication with an existing dependent care credit and the lack of incentives for cost control. The committee next heard HB 753, which would increase the applicable percentage for the household and dependent care services tax credit. Support came from the Executive Office on Aging, Catholic Charities Hawaii, AARP Hawaii, and Hawaii Children’s Action Network, while the Tax Foundation again raised technical concerns about complexity and administration but noted the bill adds guardrails against abuse. No votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our first item is the Secretary of State Building Security Improvements.
• of State's facility security, resulting in the initiation of the SOS building security improvement project
• of State's facility security, resulting in the initiation of the SOS building security improvement project
• Our next item before you is the 2026 Election Security Federal Grant Award.
• So we want to make it as secure for all of the occupants and the visitors to the building. Got it.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The memo discussed general security best practices for legislators.
• The first was a state capital security overview.
• And maybe it's just saying, you know, follow all security alerts as directed.
• Saying, you know, follow all security alerts as directed.
• There's a beef commission. You have all that right underneath that respective tab.

Summary: The Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then took up a draft bill to make legislators’ and candidates’ residential addresses confidential in public records. Legislative Council and the Secretary of State explained the proposal was prompted by security concerns and would protect residential addresses while still allowing election officials to verify residency and keep candidate names and offices public. Members raised concerns about unintended consequences, transparency, and how the change would affect rural districts and residency enforcement. The Secretary of State suggested an amendment to end the confidentiality when a candidate’s term ends, and the committee agreed to hold the bill over for further discussion at the next meeting. The committee also reviewed follow-up materials on legislator security and best practices, including advice on situational awareness, internet hygiene, varying routines, and reporting threats, along with NCSL materials comparing capitol security practices in other states. Members discussed a recent security incident and the need to keep alert contact information current, and staff said they would continue working with the Highway Patrol on legislative-specific notifications. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to Garrity Consulting’s final report on mitigating the effects of legislative term limits. The consultants summarized survey, focus group, and stakeholder input showing concerns about loss of institutional knowledge, leadership turnover, onboarding demands, and workload pressures, while also noting public support for term limits and annual sessions. Recommendations included considering annual sessions or shifting biennial sessions to even-numbered years, restructuring organizational session and interim committee work, creating office hours and more structured orientation and mentorship, expanding ongoing training and staff support, improving public communication and virtual testimony rules, and addressing barriers to service such as employer support and travel costs. Members discussed the tension between making the legislature more effective and preserving a citizen-legislature model, and the report was received as a roadmap for future implementation rather than immediate action.

Transcript Highlights:

• I promise to be succinct, and we have an excellent witness behind us from the Missouri Securities Commission
• The state of Kansas paid out. ...control of the securities department there.
• So the Securities Division Fund, I pretty much understand, I believe.
• And I do, like I said, I'm on board with the Securities Division Fund.
• And I do, like I said, I'm on board with the Securities Division Fund.

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1087 from Senator Joe Nicola, which would update limited driving privileges and create a process to suspend licenses after repeated failures to appear or pay for minor moving traffic violations. Nicola said the bill was intended to improve public safety and municipal court compliance without restoring the pre-2015 system of fines and fees. Supporters, including officials from Independence, O’Fallon, and the Missouri Municipal League, argued that municipal court reform had sharply reduced citations and increased failure-to-appear rates, leaving courts with too little leverage to ensure compliance and creating safety problems for repeat offenders. They said the bill would preserve discretion, protect work and basic travel needs, and help law enforcement and courts address chronic noncompliance. Opponents, including the State Public Advocate, argued the bill would restore a cash-cow system, burden low-income residents, and create harsh consequences for missed notices or address problems. The hearing closed without a vote on SB 1087. The committee then moved into executive session and reconsidered House Bill 2288, ultimately voting to reconsider and then voting the bill due pass by a 10-5 margin. The committee also adopted a substitute and passed House Bill 3006 due pass by 13-1, passed House Bill 2289 due pass by 10-3 with one present, and passed House Bill 2906 due pass by 13-1 after adopting an amendment and rolling it into a substitute. Members discussed procedural issues about quorum and the reconsideration motion during the HB 2288 vote. Later, the committee heard House Bill 3491 from Representative Don Mayhew, which would codify English-language proficiency requirements for commercial driver’s license holders and impose penalties on drivers and motor carriers when those requirements are violated. Mayhew and a Lincoln County prosecutor described a recent Highway 61 incident involving a Minnesota CDL holder who could not communicate in English, could not identify his location, and was taken out of service after a Highway Patrol proficiency test. Supporters said the bill would mirror federal rules in state statute, improve safety, and hold both drivers and carriers accountable. Some members questioned whether the bill was redundant with federal law, whether it would be enforceable before an accident, and whether the language was too broad, especially the phrase about conversing with the general public. The prosecutor said the current tools are mostly reactive and that the bill would help remove dangerous drivers and penalize carriers, but no final action was taken on HB 3491 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And here's a fun historical fact: Jones helped secure the bail money for Dr.
• She served for more than a decade on the city's Human Services Commission.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Alcohol and Beverage Control, the Office of Cannabis Management, and the New York State Gaming Commission
• We also look forward to discussing the inclusion of public safety and security equipment included in

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The joint Economic Development budget subcommittee meeting opened with introductions, review of subcommittee rules, and identification of the agencies to be discussed, including the Department of Economic Development, Urban Development Corporation, Alcohol and Beverage Control, Cannabis Management, and the Gaming Commission. The chairs also outlined broad budget priorities, including support for innovation hotspots, incubators, minority- and women-owned businesses, biomedical research, centers of excellence, advanced technology, workforce development, and grants tied to tourism, cultural institutions, public safety equipment, and food retail subsidies. Most member comments focused on small business conditions and economic development policy. Senators Borrello and Chan emphasized that small businesses are the backbone of the economy and argued for reducing taxes, utility costs, fines, permits, and regulations; Chan suggested a possible one-year utility tax holiday. Assembly Member Slater similarly criticized New York’s tax and regulatory climate and promoted legislation to create a Department of Regulatory Review and Economic Growth. Assembly Member Buttenschon discussed one-house proposals such as changes to small business stock ownership rules and a hardship savings account, while Assembly Member Bendett said county infrastructure funding should be increased substantially. Several members highlighted sector-specific investments. Senator Addabbo and Assembly Member Woerner stressed the importance of racing and gaming, including addiction treatment and recovery, integrity in racing, and stronger drug testing. Assembly Member Otis pointed to science and technology initiatives such as Micron, Empire AI, quantum research at Stony Brook, and broadband/digital inclusion through ConnectALL. Assembly Member Cashman supported investment in the Cornell Center for Food and Agriculture, and Senator Hinchey praised tourism matching grants, restaurant and farm food donation tax credits, and incentives for heat pumps and clean energy retrofits. No formal votes were taken. The meeting ended with staff continuing consultations with members and the chairs concluding the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• This requirement places a burden on the families of the deceased to secure funding for signs meant to
• The State Commission team safely guides commercial vessels at the Port of Brownsville and the Port of

Bills: SB35 , SB249 , SB546 , SB1353 , SB1493 , SB2246 , SB1902 , SB1029

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: transportation, TxDOT, Texas Department of Transportation, road projects, highways, infrastructure, bridge construction, interchanges, corridor improvements, road widening, railroad grade separation, sound barrier, unified transportation program, legislative notice, project prioritization, capital projects, state highway system, Farm-to-Market Roads, San Antonio, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• representing roughly 19,000 members working in public service across all state agencies, boards, and commissions
• They've been used to make roads safer, property more secure, and energy systems more efficient.

Bills: HF2439

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: environmental protection, pollution reduction, waste management, climate change, funding allocations

Transcript Highlights:

• we study some language to be able to potentially allow for that, we'll be holding some planning commission
• issued, and we start dealing internally with decommissioning plans, restoration plans, and financial securities
• Decommissioning plans, restoration plans, and financial securities, and then the project management,
• look at how this applies, this is a map from CRITFC, which is the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
• This is a map from CRITFC, which is the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission of the four lower

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm building retirement, creating financial security, and helping my family in a way that wouldn't otherwise
• California recognize and support business models that help workers build wealth, retirement, and security
• It requires mandatory privacy and data security training for every employee who accesses ALPR information
• It strengthens employee access, it requires annual compliance audits, it mandates privacy and security
• Thank you for also addressing concerns to remove language that may have inadvertently prohibited security

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee met first as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum, then later obtained a quorum and took up several bills. The committee heard SB 1064, which would reduce the frequency of Clean Truck Check testing for low-use heavy-duty vehicles; supporters said it would ease burdens on rural agricultural businesses, while clean air advocates opposed it as weakening an important emissions program. The bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1174, which would give Caltrans bid preferences to construction firms with employee stock ownership plans; supporters argued it would build worker wealth and improve project quality, while contractor groups opposed it as likely to raise costs and reduce competition. That bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The consent calendar items SB 607, SB 962, and SB 990 were also approved. The committee then heard SB 1279, which would allow Long Beach to place additional speed safety cameras on Pacific Coast Highway. Long Beach officials and several safety and advocacy groups supported the bill, citing high fatality rates and repeated pedestrian crashes on that corridor, while some members raised concerns about fines, affordability, and whether cameras would address pedestrian-related collisions. The bill passed as amended to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1213, the Clean Truck Transportation Act, would require more price transparency for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission truck incentives and direct agencies to explore alternative financing tools; supporters said it would improve affordability and competition, while one manufacturer and the trucking association raised implementation concerns. It passed to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader use by limiting retention to 30 days, requiring audits and training, and restricting access and hot list use. Privacy advocates supported the bill as overdue accountability, while law enforcement groups argued the retention limit would hinder investigations and that some technical definitions needed work. The bill passed to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1315, dealing with advanced driver assistance systems, would prevent automakers from disabling a consumer’s ability to drive their own vehicle through software updates and would encourage DMV testing questions about ADAS responsibilities; after amendments, industry opposition softened and the bill passed to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Finally, SB 1246, on autonomous vehicle emergency response, would require U.S.-based remote drivers, quicker on-scene response, and better coordination with local agencies; first responders and labor groups supported it, while AV industry groups remained opposed unless amended. The bill passed to the Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee. The transcript ended as the committee began hearing SB 1250, a planning bill to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation asset management, with the sponsor and supporters explaining it would improve safety and habitat planning without mandating specific projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• What procedures will govern the secure handling, storage, and protection of the sensitive personal and
• I lost my birth certificate, passport, Social Security card, and every important document I owned.
• Florida has become a national leader because our elections are secure.
• He came to this committee back in October, you remember, and you told us how secure the elections are
• I am tired of us dressing disenfranchisement up in the language of security.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> serve on the Knox County Commission. serve on the Knox County Commission.
• </c> against law enforcement, security against law enforcement, security personnel,<00:25:40.720><c>
• </c> hearing from some uh private security hearing from some uh private security firms<00:43:41.839><
• Maybe it's secure a help you?"
• Security. Security.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The government might revision omits the one-time costs needed to the security prospective payment for
• can contribute to delays in services of critical care for our patients while DSH tries to work to secure
• And then $335 million are for other state programs. $10 million of that is for the commission.
• That includes the Department of Health Care Services, the Commission on Behavioral Health, and other
• This is a new interpretation of the Social Security Act that represents a departure from how CMS has

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the components that we have not addressed fully that are in the court decision include nutrition, security
• the court decision<00:31:16.559><c> include</c><00:31:17.039><c> nutrition,</c><00:31:18.399><c> security
• ,</c> decision include nutrition, security, decision include nutrition, security, and<00:31:20.159><c
• </c><00:50:25.920><c> for</c> and the community college commission for and the community college commission
• I'm Laurel Ballard with the Wyoming Community College Commission, and I will promise to make it really

Bills: HB0159

Committee: House Education

Keywords: student rights, free expression, K-12 education, speech protection, religious views, political speech, 916, all