Transcript Highlights:

• This privilege is commonly extended to peace officers. officers who have fallen serving the people of
• Joe Morris, Game Wardens, Peace Officers. Brian Flatt, TNPA.
• Ray Hunt, Houston Peace Officers. Kai Ash, DPS officers, is here as a resource.
• I'm the presiding officer of the organization.
• As I stated, I'm the presiding officer.

Bills: SB249 , SB546 , SB744 , SB927 , SB1227 , SB1229 , SB1353 , SB1365 , SB1366 , SB1394 , SB1464 , SB1709 , SB1729 , SB1733 , SB1744 , SB1745 , SB1746 , SB1772 , SB1816 , SB1841 , SB1939

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• For the general land office and veterans land board on page 1 recommendations include $2.7 billion in
• I'm the chief information security officer for the Texas General Accounts.
• My name is Arturo Vontalo and I'm the chief information security officer for the Texas General Non-Office
• the Office of Rural Health.
• In the 10 years since I've been in office, we've grown that to a $20 billion industry.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the Energy Office in support, uh, the Judiciary, sorry, Hawaii Primary Care Association, the
• The committee then moved on to the next item, SB 935, Office of the Governor, EUTF, D, BNF, Judiciary
• That's phase one, that's $147 million, plus a $32 million infrastructure relocation.
• That's phase one, that's $147 million, plus a $32 million infrastructure relocation.
• That's phase one, that's $147 million, plus a $32 million infrastructure relocation.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Summary: The committees considered a large number of Senate bills, with many measures advanced either unamended or with technical or substantive amendments. Early action included SB 88 and SB 11 SD1, both passed unamended, and SB 562 SD1 and SB 642 SD1, which were passed with amendments reflecting agency testimony. SB 1133 SD1 was amended to remove duplicative county requirements and clarify tax credit carry-forward eligibility, while SB 1569 SD1 on sports wagering was deferred. Later, SB 933 on nonprofit/federal funding support drew strong testimony from nonprofit and health advocates emphasizing the risk of federal funding freezes and the importance of protecting services such as early learning, domestic violence support, housing, and workforce supports; the committee recommended amendments to define eligible organizations, require reporting, and include the Judiciary. SB 934 and SB 935 were also amended, with SB 934 tying mass transit funding to Honolulu project milestones and SB 935 revising retirement-system language to change “fewer than five years” to “five or more years.” The committees then took up additional measures with targeted amendments. SB 1033 was amended to clarify that the bill applies to legal entities, not individuals, though members noted concerns about closely held family corporations and asked that the issue be reflected in the committee report. SB 1166, SB 1249, and SB 1256 were advanced with amendments or committee-report notes reflecting concerns from the Attorney General, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and Hawaii Farmers Union United, respectively. SB 1432 and SB 137, both relating to electric utilities, were amended to require retention of covered employees after mergers or acquisitions and to direct the PUC to consider whether proposed transactions further state policy goals. SB 157 on antitrust was narrowed to focus on coordinator conduct in rental housing markets, SB 252 on invasive species received a defective effective date, and SB 336 on defense of state employers and employees passed unamended. SB 536 on the Hawaii Community Development Authority was deferred to a later hearing, and SB 1064 on medical cannabis was heavily amended to authorize cultivator licenses with limits on canopy size, license counts, physician fees, and a special-fund appropriation for enforcement. In the Ways and Means portion, the committee passed several bills unamended, including SB 19, SB 124, SB 264, SB 345, SB 422, and SB 741 and SB 747 later in the agenda. SB 361 was amended to remove references to the attorney general and delete an appropriation section, SB 438 was amended to redefine buffer zones and landfill-unit language, and SB 441 and SB 494 were amended to blank appropriations and, in SB 494, assign charter-school audit responsibility to the state auditor. SB 659 was substantially amended to promote local procurement, including county-level geographic preferences and higher thresholds for locally sourced purchases, and SB 732 was amended to adjust film tax credit provisions, including the streaming-platform definition and sunset-related language. SB 819 was amended to replace references to “educators” with “teachers.” Throughout, most measures were adopted without recorded opposition, though several members noted reservations on particular bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• That could be 10 officers for one hour each. That could be one officer for 10 hours.
• They had four emphasis officers on this couple-mile corridor.
• That's some of the visual effect that our enforcement officers have who are using this tool.
• That's some of the visual effect that our enforcement officers have who are using this tool.
• But again, the officers that are using this know their area.

Bills: SJM8016 , SB6230 , SB5234 , SB6081 , SB6265 , SB6170 , SB6131 , SB6155 , SB6176 , SB6238 , SB6253 , SB6311 , SB6032 , SB6262

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: bridge repair, infrastructure, emergency funding, transportation, public safety, cash transactions, pennies, currency, economic efficiency, financial regulation, snowmobile, snowmobile registration, vehicle registration fees, registration fee, Department of Licensing, DOL, recreational vehicles, winter recreation, vintage snowmobile, parks and recreation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:04.799><c> of</c> general counsel of the office of general counsel of the office of administrative
• </c><00:02:20.920><c> of</c> general counsel at the office of general counsel at the office of administrative
• </c> members Nationwide and 28 State offices members Nationwide and 28 State offices in<00:10:54.000>
• </c><00:15:33.440><c> that</c> Security concerns we relocated that Security concerns we relocated that
• </c><00:43:09.760><c> from</c> provided to the Sheriff's Office from provided to the Sheriff's Office

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, ultimately, Madam Chair, I support relocating the game farm.
• I support relocating the game farm away from the critical aquifer and away from the Chehalis River.
• I mean, ultimately, Madam Chair, I mean, I support relocating the game farm.
• I mean, ultimately, Madam Chair, I mean, I support relocating the game farm, I do, away from the critical
• I believe that the governor's office is working closely with the tribes.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2343, which would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to obtain CAFO or individual discharge permit coverage for its game farms, and to treat game farms with at least 5,000 birds as large CAFOs. The prime sponsor and local officials from Centralia said the WDFW pheasant farm has contributed to nitrate contamination in a critical aquifer, affecting drinking water and public health, and argued the state should be held to the same standards as private operators. WDFW testified that it has already voluntarily secured the permit the bill would require and is working with Ecology and local partners. Testimony from county health and residents largely supported the bill, citing elevated nitrate levels and health risks, especially for infants and pregnant people. The committee then heard House Bill 2301, which expands Washington’s paint stewardship program to cover additional paint-related products, aerosol paints, and certain non-industrial coatings. The sponsor and industry supporters said the existing paint recycling program is working well and should be broadened to keep more materials out of landfills and reduce local hazardous waste costs. Local government witnesses supported the expansion but asked for changes on convenience standards, packaging coverage, and reimbursement for local collection costs. Ecology supported the overall concept but raised implementation concerns, including the need for uniform standards, full reporting, and more time for rulemaking. A wood preservatives industry representative opposed including wood preservatives, saying they are not paint and have different handling requirements. The committee also took testimony on House Bill 2515, a proposed substitute addressing emerging large energy use facilities, defined mainly as large data centers and virtual currency mining facilities. The bill would require utilities to adopt tariffs or policies to protect other ratepayers, require long-term contracts, demand response or curtailment provisions, reporting on energy and water use, and new clean energy targets for these facilities, while also changing how no-cost allowances under the Climate Commitment Act are allocated and creating an annual fee for the facilities. Supporters, including environmental groups, community action agencies, some utilities, and labor and tribal representatives, said the bill would protect ratepayers, improve transparency, and keep Washington on track for climate goals. Opponents, including data center and business groups, some ports, and several labor organizations, argued the bill is too prescriptive, could raise costs or discourage investment, may affect existing contracts and other large industrial loads, and could reduce construction jobs. No votes or final actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> file 1867 ensures that officers file 1867 ensures that officers directors<00:16:24.079><c> and</
• OA is the only legislative office, the only office in the legislative branch, that is subject to the
• </c><00:28:47.039><c> when</c> read the thing when the officer when read the thing when the officer when
• the only legislative office so the only<00:32:37.880><c> office</c><00:32:38.159><c> in</c><00:32:38.320
• Louis, Missouri, excuse me, and Salt Lake City. relocation act um Public Law relocation act um Public

Bills: HF1867 , HF1240

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: lottery, retailer contracts, Minnesota Statutes, contract qualifications, public integrity, criminal background, legislative auditor, public funds, state government, compliance, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• these compacts because spouses or family members of individuals in the military who end up being relocated
• these compacts because spouses or family members of individuals in the military who end up being relocated
• For the record, Donna Auckland, Chief Financial Officer with the Department. Thank you, Chairman.
• For the record, Donna Ackland, Chief Financial Officer with the Department, 100% correct.

Summary: The Health Care Task Force reconvened to hear reports from its divisions. The Appropriations Division reviewed a draft bill appropriating $198 million in federal grant funds for the current year and another $198 million for the next grant year, authorizing DHS to transfer funds within its budget, allowing OMB to adjust federal fund authority for related grants, speeding procurement and bulk purchasing, requiring grant recipients to acknowledge the temporary nature of the funding, and mandating periodic reporting. After questions were answered to the division’s satisfaction, the committee voted to forward the appropriations bill draft to Legislative Management. The Policy Division then reviewed four bills. One would require the presidential physical fitness test to be included in high school physical education; another would require physicians to complete one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health each renewal cycle; a third would add physician assistants to the interstate licensure compact framework; and a fourth would authorize limited pharmacist prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution. Members generally supported the first three measures and noted that the pharmacist bill had been amended in discussion but was left in its current form so stakeholders could comment before the special session. The division also discussed that all four policy bills were tied to the federal grant funding and that failure to pass them, or changing them in a way that reduced CMS scoring, could reduce or eliminate funding. Department officials confirmed that if any of the bills failed or were altered in a way that lowered the score, the state could lose money and could not make up the points elsewhere. Members raised concerns about the physical fitness bill, including possible exemptions for students with severe illnesses or physical limitations, and noted the need for DPI input. Leadership indicated the special session hearings would likely begin Wednesday morning. The committee then approved a motion for Legislative Council to prepare a committee report for Legislative Management and adjourned, noting the task force may need to remain available during the special session.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:03:54.720><c> we</c> and the Secretary of State's office, we and the Secretary of State's office
• </c><00:10:04.160><c> to</c> Minnesota government offices to Minnesota government offices to designate
• </c> without within a government office. without within a government office.
• When a participant calls our office and presents a problem to us that involves another state office,
• When a participant calls our office and presents a problem to us that involves another state office,

Bills: HF3676 , HF2959 , HF3233

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: Safe at Home, address confidentiality, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, victim privacy, survivor protection, confidential address, protected address, secret address, identity protection, residential confidentiality, program participant, nondiscrimination, court disclosure, protective order, service of process, driver's license, state ID

Transcript Highlights:

• Second is to look at siding relocation. Second is to look at siding relocation.
• There is, and we also notified DMV, the governor's office, the lieutenant governor's office, Senate Transportation
• There is, and we also notified DMV, we notified the governor's office, lieutenant governor's office,
• First, the officer must witness the illegal action.
• First, the officer must witness the illegal action.

Summary: The committee met to hear interim charges on rail grade crossing safety, autonomous vehicle deployment, and commercial driver’s license oversight. After opening remarks from the chair and members, the committee first focused on rail grade separations under SB 1555, with TxDOT and the Texas Railroad Association testifying that the new state grant program was implemented quickly, drew far more applications than available funding, and helped Texas leverage state dollars into major federal awards. TxDOT said the first round funded five projects, with additional federal matching funds helping support a total project portfolio worth more than $1 billion, including the Sergio Ivan Rodriguez Memorial Bridge in Houston. Witnesses emphasized that grade separations improve safety and mobility, and committee members discussed alternative mitigation tools such as siding relocation, digital routing/notification systems, and better public education about emergency notification signs at crossings. Public testimony on rail grade separations largely supported continuing and expanding the program. Representatives from regional business and transportation groups in Houston-area communities said blocked crossings harm safety, freight movement, emergency access, and economic activity, and urged the Legislature to extend SB 1555 and keep state funding in place so Texas can continue competing for federal grants. One witness argued that railroads should bear more of the cost because the projects primarily benefit rail companies, while others stressed that the state should continue using public-private partnerships and federal matching opportunities. Committee members asked about project selection criteria, how success should be measured over time, and whether railroads contribute financially; TxDOT said future success would be measured by projects moving to construction and by reductions in crashes and fatalities at treated crossings. The committee then turned to autonomous vehicles and heard from Texas DMV officials on implementation of SB 2807. DMV explained that Level 4 and Level 5 automated vehicles transporting people or goods for a commercial enterprise must obtain a state authorization, in addition to normal title, registration, insurance, and other requirements. The agency described its rulemaking timeline, the online application and verification system, coordination with DPS on first-responder interaction plans, and the current status of authorized companies operating in Texas. A companion enforcement presentation showed how law enforcement and the public can search AV authorizations and file complaints through the DMV’s truck stop database. The hearing continued into questions about the regulatory framework and complaint process, with the committee emphasizing that safety remains the central concern as the technology expands.

Transcript Highlights:

• S OFFICE. FIRST UP IS A SUMMARY OF THE AUDITOR GEN.'
• SCHOOL BOARDS, WE WILL HEAR FROM JAMIE HOELSCHER AND TAYLOR, MANAGERS WITH THE AUDITOR GENERAL'S OFFICE
• ABOUT'S DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS, SOME OF THE FINDINGS RELATED TO SAFE SCHOOL OFFICERS.
• INCLUDING SCHOOL RESOURCE AUTHORITY OFFICERS AND SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS WILL REQUIRE TRAINING SO FOR
• BONUSES, RELOCATION PAYMENTS.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was in between the Attorney General's office and the federal attorney's office.
• Next panel, please: Office of Inspector General and the Legislative Analyst's Office. to communications
• Next panel, please, Office of Inspector General and the Legislative Analyst Office.
• Helen Kirstine from the Legislative Analyst's Office and R.O.G.
• You're going to have to pay for the relocation of our businesses.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 draft business plan, with testimony from the authority, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the High-Speed Rail Inspector General. Chair Cortese framed the hearing around the project’s recent changes: a new CEO, revised delivery strategy, proposed station and scope changes in the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment, the loss of major federal funds, and the authority’s push for private investment and ancillary revenue. He also raised concerns about financing risks, the proposed changes to the initial operating segment, and the Inspector General’s finding that the draft plan may be missing required statutory elements. Authority CEO Ian Chaudhry said the project is now in a more disciplined phase, citing major construction progress in the Central Valley, near-completion of right-of-way and utility work, and plans to begin track and systems procurement. He said the authority expects the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment to be completed around 2032-33, with broader Phase 1 service later, and argued that design optimization, direct procurement, and public-private partnerships could reduce costs and attract private capital. He also described plans for ancillary revenue from real estate, broadband, energy, and logistics, and said the authority is discussing station locations and value-capture tools with local governments rather than locking them in yet. Several senators questioned the legality and practicality of tax increment financing, utility relocation authority, transparency, and whether the project’s revised scope still meets high-speed rail standards and public expectations. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the draft plan assumes major statutory changes, including changes to station locations and scope, and warned that the plan’s cost and schedule estimates depend on assumptions that may not materialize. LAO said the plan lacks transparency because it does not clearly disclose the assumed station changes, and it questioned whether even the shorter segment can be delivered within existing funding once borrowing costs and other risks are included. The office also noted uncertainty around future greenhouse gas reduction fund revenues and said ancillary revenues are not yet credit-worthy for financing. The Inspector General’s office said the draft business plan does not appear to meet several statutory requirements, including requirements added in AB 377, and reiterated that the final plan must address those omissions. Chaudhry said the authority would respond to the OIG’s findings in the final business plan and committed to resolving the compliance issues before final adoption.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll continue to work with the author's office and the committee staff as we have been to try to find
• We've had extensive conversations with the author's office and with the sponsors over the last few months
• With the author's office and with the sponsors, I think we're going to find a way through this.
• Once they decided to sell we had no protection and very little time to relocate.
• It's nothing better when the farmers come into my office.

Committee: House Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• This was in between the Attorney General's office and the federal attorney's office.
• Next panel, please: Office of Inspector General and the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Helen Kirstine from the Legislative Analyst's Office, and R.O.G.
• Reiner D., also from the Office of Inspector General. Good to have you here.
• You’re going to have to pay for the relocation of our businesses.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• This was in between the Attorney General's office and the federal attorney's office.
• Next panel, please: Office of Inspector General and the Legislative Analyst's Office.
• Helen Kirstine from the Legislative Analyst's Office and R.O.G.
• Reiner D., also from the Office of Inspector General. Good to have you here.
• You’re going to have to pay for the relocation of our businesses.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 draft business plan and next steps for the project. Chair Cortese opened by noting major changes since the 2024 plan, including new leadership, a bottoms-up review, scope changes in the Central Valley, loss of federal funds, and renewed interest in private investment and value capture. The Authority’s CEO, Ian Chaudhary, presented the project as moving into a construction and track-laying phase, citing progress on Central Valley structures, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocations, and a new procurement for track and systems. He said the plan reflects a more disciplined, optimized approach, with the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment targeted for revenue service around 2033 and the broader Phase 1 corridor envisioned as commercially viable through ancillary revenues, public-private partnerships, and future private financing. Committee members questioned the Authority about station relocations, single-tracking, tax increment financing, utility relocation authority, transparency, and the feasibility of private financing. Chaudhary said the Merced and Bakersfield station locations were still under discussion with local governments and that no contracts had been finalized. He defended the reduced scope and single-track approach as a just-in-time strategy to avoid overbuilding, while maintaining high-speed standards. He also said the Authority was exploring land value capture, broadband, energy, and other corridor-based revenue sources, but acknowledged that some tools would require legislative action and that private financing options were still being evaluated. Several senators expressed support for the project but raised concerns about permitting delays, local opposition, constitutional and statutory limits, and the need for stronger accountability. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the High-Speed Rail Inspector General then gave critical assessments of the draft plan. LAO staff said the plan assumes major statutory changes, understates risk, lacks transparency about scope changes, and may not fully fund even the smaller Merced-to-Bakersfield segment once borrowing costs and other uncertainties are considered. Inspector General Ben Belknap said the draft plan does not comply with newer statutory requirements in SB 198 and AB 377, citing three main deficiencies: unauthorized scope changes to the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment, an inadequate funding plan that omits financing costs, and missing procurement milestone dates. He said the Authority’s presentation obscures the true cost and schedule impacts of the project changes, and that incomplete reporting limits legislative oversight. The Authority responded that it would address the OIG’s findings in the final business plan, and committee members indicated they expected a written response on compliance issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• We spoke to many of you in hearings and in your offices.
• </c><00:08:30.599><c> she</c> president hunting cam took office she president hunting cam took office
• Schaffner, director of MnDOT’s Office of Transportation System Management. Is that correct?”
• I’m the director of MnDOT’s Office of Transportation System Management.
• </c><00:59:58.039><c> utilities</c> not eligible uh to relocate utilities not eligible uh to relocate

Bills: HF192 , HF268 , HF1214 , HF494

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill authorizes the county commissioners to establish a relocation assistance program if they so
• Individuals who are relocated and if that is a successful way to support individuals facing homelessness
• wouldn't you agree that across Oklahoma, particularly in some of our rural counties, we already have a relocation
• specific in dealing with the county and allowing the county commissioners to be able to establish the relocation

Transcript Highlights:

• rather than battery on a law enforcement officer.
• Josephine Rios from the Broward Sheriff's Office...
• Joanne's had a bit of an introduction to our office.
• Rios from Broward Sheriff's Office.
• Joanne's had a bit of an introduction to our office.

Transcript Highlights:

• independence and oversight capabilities of this office.
• independence and oversight capabilities of this office.
• and oversight capabilities of this office.
• And then when the office was created, the Legislature did not include provisions requiring the office
• It ensures that the relocation remains a viable option where permitted, clarifies that one-for-one relocation

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Kids in other states are literally dying from measles. office.
• Thank you to the business office.
• But what about those who cannot homeschool or relocate?
• From 2018 to 2022, over 350 companies relocated out of state.
• From 2018 to 2022, over 350 companies relocated out of state.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing on several vaccination-related bills, including proposals to eliminate non-medical or religious exemptions for school immunizations (notably H. 2554 and S. 1557), a bill to require or improve reporting and administration of immunization data and exemptions (described as the Community Immunity Act, S. 1618), and H. 2431, which would prohibit COVID-19, mRNA, or gene-altering vaccine requirements. The committee also heard testimony on H. 2463, which would classify funeral directors as public health workers for vaccine-priority purposes during emergencies. The chair reviewed testimony rules and repeatedly asked speakers to keep comments orderly and brief so the committee could hear as many people as possible. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony on H. 2554 and S. 1557 was sharply divided. Pediatricians, infectious disease specialists, public health advocates, and groups such as the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Massachusetts Medical Society, March of Dimes, Massachusetts Families for Vaccines, and several parents supported eliminating religious exemptions, arguing that vaccination protects medically vulnerable children and adults, improves herd immunity, and helps prevent outbreaks of measles, pertussis, and other diseases. They cited local school data showing pockets of lower coverage and incomplete reporting, and several speakers referenced outbreaks in other states and the need for stronger, more consistent reporting and exemption management. Opponents argued the bills would infringe on religious freedom and parental rights, force families to choose between faith and education, and unfairly target a small number of families; some also said Massachusetts already has high vaccination rates and that the real issue is incomplete data or the gap population rather than religious exemptions. H. 2431 drew testimony from supporters who said COVID-era mandates caused job losses, privacy concerns, and harm, and that the bill would prevent future requirements for COVID, mRNA, or gene-altering vaccines in schools, workplaces, and public settings. Supporters described personal experiences with alleged vaccine injury or mandate-related hardship. H. 2463 was supported by the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, which argued funeral directors work in infection-facing settings and should be eligible for vaccine priority during public health emergencies. The hearing featured extensive public testimony but no committee action beyond hearing the bills and taking questions from members.