Video & Transcript : 'surplus hardware' :

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WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations Feb 2nd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 2073 before you relates to nonprofit health carrier surplus.
  • Excess reserves, surplus, plus...
  • Today, the top two carriers combined carry nearly $3.4 billion in excess surplus.
  • It's surplus over and above anything that is required in reserves.
  • It's surplus over and above anything that is required in reserves.
Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2073, which would require nonprofit health carriers with surplus above 600% of risk-based capital to pay 3% of the excess to support the Cascade Care Savings premium assistance program. Committee staff said the bill could generate about $80 million in FY 2027 based on 2024 surplus data, while carriers and business groups argued their reserves are needed to pay claims, manage risk, and avoid premium increases. Supporters said the bill would redirect consumer-funded surplus to help Washingtonians afford coverage, especially as federal subsidies expire. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2132, which limits disclosure and retention of personally identifying and financial information in WASFA applications. Staff explained the bill would exempt WASFA records from public disclosure, restrict sharing to narrow purposes, and shorten retention periods, with significant fiscal impacts tied to purging records and updating data-sharing practices. Student and advocacy testimony strongly supported the bill as a privacy and safety measure for immigrant and mixed-status students. The committee also heard House Bill 2403, which lowers the penalty for failure to register as a sex offender and adds community custody and DOC supervision; public defense supported it as a cost-saving, consensus reform, and staff projected DOC savings. House Bill 2587 was also heard, creating a Commerce pilot to provide limited advance grant funding to eligible nonprofits; supporters said it would help smaller nonprofits manage reimbursement-based contracts, while staff estimated indeterminate but potentially significant administrative costs. The committee heard House Bill 2607, which would require DCYF to periodically rebase child care subsidy rate regions to better reflect local cost differences. Supporters from Benton and Franklin counties said current regional rates are outdated and unfairly low in fast-growing areas; staff said the fiscal impact was indeterminate. The committee then moved into possible executive session on several bills. Second Substitute House Bill 1170, dealing with generative AI disclosures and provenance tools, was amended and ultimately passed out of committee on an 18-9 vote after all proposed amendments were rejected. Substitute House Bill 1570 was amended to narrow its scope to Western Washington University and then passed out of committee on a 17-9 vote. The committee also began action on proposed Third Substitute House Bill 1710, which would create a state pre-clearance requirement under the Washington Voting Rights Act, but the transcript cuts off during consideration of amendments to that bill.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Session Daily Update: Review of November 2025 Budget and Economic Forecast Dec 11th, 2025

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The latest figures reflect an expected budget surplus of $2.47 billion for the current biennium, a roughly
  • Uh, we have recognized challenges remain over the next four years, but we've grown the surplus.
  • Uh, we have recognized challenges remain over the next four years, but we've grown the surplus.
  • </c><00:02:28.480><c> a</c><00:02:28.640><c> deficit</c><00:02:29.440><c> and</c> there will be a surplus
  • or a deficit and there will be a surplus or a deficit and then<00:02:29.840><c> the</c><00:02:30.080
Keywords: 1183, house
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

CPC Public Hearing - Wed Mar 12, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST

Consumer Protection & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> sort of the same Dynamic uh Surplus sort of the same Dynamic uh Surplus lines<00:40:22.680><c> premiums
  • are Surplus lines lines premiums are Surplus lines coverages<00:40:24.599><c> are</c><00:40:24.800><c
  • </c> markets everyone knows that Surplus markets everyone knows that Surplus lines<00:41:30.079><c> companies
  • This method already exists for surplus lines too, right? We're not making this out of whole cloth.
  • This method already exists for surplus lines too, right? We're not making this out of whole cloth.
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on March 12, 2025, and heard testimony on several bills, with most measures drawing support from state boards, agencies, and industry groups. SB 102 (restaurants) had one supportive testifier and no questions. SB 1367 SD1 (installment loans) drew support from DCCA and other boards, but the chair raised concerns about a proposed $5 debit-card convenience fee, saying it seemed high and suggesting it might be amended downward; DCCA said it would check with industry on the likely impact. SB 1373 SD2 (administrative licensure action against sex offenders) received broad support from DCCA and multiple professional licensing boards, including psychology, physical therapy, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, massage therapy, nursing, optometry, barbering and cosmetology, the Hawaii Medical Board, and HPD. The committee then heard SB 1142 SD1 (insurance proceeds), which was supported by DCCA, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, while State Farm offered comments and the Hawaii Bankers Association opposed. Testimony focused on insurance access after the Lahaina wildfires and the need to address underinsured homeowners. The committee also discussed SB 144 SD2 (stabilization of property insurance), with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, AARP, Hawaiʻi Realtors, and the Hawaiʻi Insurers Council, and comments from the Attorney General and DCCA Insurance Division about revising the financing structure and correcting bill language. Opponents and reservationed supporters argued the bill may not help if applicants can still obtain coverage at very high prices, while supporters said it would expand market capacity and provide a safety net as climate-related losses continue. Finally, SB 253 SD2 (condominium reserves) received support from Hawaiʻi Realtors, CI, and several individual testifiers. Supporters said it would enforce existing disclosure requirements under Act 199 and improve reserve funding transparency, while one individual argued stronger enforcement and an ombudsman-style office would be more effective. The chair reminded testifiers to stay on the bill at hand. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Balancing the Budget – Senator Eric Pratt Mar 24th, 2025

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • See, we have a $3 billion surplus."
  • And what I've been telling Minnesotans is that surplus is spent. It's already encumbered.
  • </c><00:08:21.360><c> And</c><00:08:21.520><c> what</c> have a $3 billion surplus."
  • And what have a $3 billion surplus."
  • </c> I've been telling motans is that surplus I've been telling motans is that surplus is<00:08:23.960
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • This budget amendment places an overall surplus of $32.1 million into reserve and multiple appropriation
  • The main driver of the surplus is declining caseloads. Follow-up, Representative Tant. Thank you.
  • Meyer was curious, what is driving or what is predominantly responsible for that $32 million in surplus
  • I think that's mainly good news, but just want to make sure. 32 million in surplus.
  • there waiting for... ...be served when we say we don't know what the backlog is, and then we have a surplus
Keywords: 999, senate, all
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • We heard last week in the budget forecast that the surplus is now $3.7 billion dollars.
  • We heard last week in the budget forecast that the surplus is now $3.7 billion dollars.
  • We just talked about the $9 billion in fraud and the $3.9 billion that we have in a surplus.
  • We still have a short-term surplus. We still have a structural<00:21:08.000><c> imbalance.
  • It's been spending our $18 billion budget surplus. It's been increased taxes.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
Summary: Minnesota Senate Republicans held a press conference unveiling a package of affordability and tax-relief bills aimed at property taxes, taxes on tips and overtime, and vehicle registration costs. Leader Mark Johnson said the proposals were meant to counter rising costs for wages, homeownership, and driving, and argued that Democrats’ policies had made life more expensive. Several senators echoed that theme, saying Minnesotans need immediate relief and that the state has room to act because of a reported surplus. Senator Michael Kunesh described a property-tax cap bill that would limit increases for cities and counties to inflation plus 50% of population growth, with higher increases requiring voter approval. He said constituents, including seniors, a disabled veteran, and young people, are seeing unsustainable property-tax hikes, and he argued that state and federal mandates have driven local costs. In response to a question about added county workload from federal SNAP and Medicaid changes, he said the solution is both to pause new mandates and to cap property-tax growth. Senator Karin Housley outlined a proposal to end state taxes on tips and overtime, with deductions up to $25,000 for tips and $12,500 for overtime, phased out at $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for families. She said the measure would help workers keep more of what they earn and would not cost small businesses directly. Senator John Jasinski proposed rolling back vehicle registration tab fees to pre-2023 levels, saying Minnesota’s fees are far higher than neighboring states and that the change would save drivers money over time. Senator Julia Coleman also supported the package, saying the bills would provide practical relief for families facing high housing, driving, and work-related costs. No votes were taken; the event ended with questions from reporters about fiscal impacts, offsets, and whether the proposals would worsen the state’s structural budget imbalance.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • You see... ...to the reserve and surplus accounts to be excluded from the limit until those funds are
  • But the $98 billion surplus, we didn't pay off $20 billion. And... Same question again.
  • But the $98 billion surplus, we didn't pay off $20 billion.
  • And 2022, when we had that big $97.5 billion surplus, was an example of that.
  • You know, where you use that surplus for every day.
Keywords: 988, house, all
CT
Transcript Highlights:
  • We have a little bit of a surplus that we can use. And what is the surplus on that deficiency bill?
  • So the overall surplus on the active appropriation account for the employee health...
  • So the overall surplus on the active appropriation account for the employee health services is about
  • The reason for the $2 million surplus, us being able to move that... ...investment activity.
  • So it's not just $2 million, it's $2 million. ...causing the $2 million surplus there.
Keywords: 962, all
Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes from its May 14, 2026 meeting and then considered four fiscal transfers. FAC 2026-9 for the Office of the State Controller transferred $4.345 million among fringe benefit accounts in the General Fund and Special Transportation Fund. Members questioned several employee benefit accounts, including active and retiree health care, Social Security, higher education alternative retirement, and OPEB; agency staff explained the transfers were based on updated year-end projections, with some accounts showing surpluses and others needing additional funds. The item was approved, with two no votes noted. FAC 2026-10 for the Military Department transferred $150,000 from the Honor Guards account to personal services and Governor’s Guard accounts to cover operational needs, and it was approved without opposition. FAC 2026-11 for the Department of Social Services transferred $3.3 million among accounts. Most of the discussion focused on a surplus in the substance use disorder waiver/reinvestment account, lower-than-expected TANF/TFA caseloads, federal family planning backfill requirements, and staffing challenges in eligibility operations. DSS said some funds remained unused because a residential care vendor did not enter into a contract, some reserves were intended for future multi-year investments, and eligibility staff require 12 to 18 months of training; the item was approved. FAC 2026-12 for the Department of Children and Families transferred $3.05 million among accounts for year-end operational needs. Members asked about closures of day treatment and community-based prevention programs, and DCF said children were transitioned to other providers without service interruption, with closures driven by provider decisions and financial viability. DCF also explained that some prior funding had been used as gap funding and that ongoing support had been built into the budget. The committee approved the transfer and then adjourned.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Formal House Session 56 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Massachusetts House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • As worthy as those education programs were, the House's goal with the surplus funds was to balance the
  • With the surtax again expected to run a large surplus in FY25, it will be our continued goal to achieve
  • you has a total expenditure of $1.38 billion, a vast majority of which comes from the fair share surplus
  • you has a total expenditure of $1.38 billion, a vast majority of which comes from the fair share surplus
  • In conclusion, Madam Speaker, the uses of these one-time surplus funds are a unique opportunity for us
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The House first adopted several noncontroversial resolutions, including congratulations to the Rotary Club of Watertown for its 100 years of service and to Mystic Valley Elder Services on its 50th anniversary. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 to advance a petition establishing a sick leave bank for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee, James Caruso, sending that matter to the Committee on Public Service. The chamber then recessed and later confirmed a quorum after a roll call was called and withdrawn. The main substantive item was House Bill 4227, the final conference committee report on supplemental FY2025 appropriations using FY2024 fair share surtax surplus funds. Members heard that the bill would spend about $1.38 billion, with roughly $716 million for transportation and $593 million for education. Transportation funding included support for the MBTA, regional transit authorities, Chapter 98, and municipal bridges and culverts; education funding included special education circuit breaker reimbursements, higher education deferred maintenance, vocational school capital, early education supports, endowment matches, and Green School Works. The House accepted the conference report by a roll call vote of 146-3, then passed the bill to be engrossed and later enacted it by a roll call vote of 148-4. The House also advanced House No. 422, establishing a sick leave bank for Esther Adafwa of the Department of Mental Health. The bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed. Throughout the session, the House observed moments of recognition and silence for guests and for the deaths of Richard Serino Sr. and Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, and it adopted an order to adjourn in Hortman’s memory, with the House set to meet again Monday at 11 a.m.
MA
Transcript Highlights:
  • commission, the representative from Capital One talked about how if you have cash and you go into a hardware
Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the future of credit card payments and their impacts on small businesses held what was described as its last public hearing. Chair Paul Feeney opened by noting the commission’s mandate under Chapter 238 of the Acts of 2024 and explained that members would continue working on a final report after the hearing. The meeting featured testimony from banks, payment industry groups, restaurant advocates, convenience store representatives, and others, with repeated discussion of interchange fees, surcharging, fraud, and federal preemption issues. Banking and card-industry witnesses, including the Massachusetts Bankers Association, the Card Coalition, and the Electronic Payments Coalition, argued that state-level interchange restrictions would disrupt a global payment system, create compliance problems, and likely apply only to a small share of transactions because of federal preemption. They emphasized consumer and merchant benefits of cards, the role of banks in absorbing fraud losses, and recent federal and state developments, including Illinois litigation, OCC and NCUA actions, and a settlement that they said would give merchants more flexibility. Several witnesses also suggested alternatives such as vendor compensation for tax collection and modernizing Massachusetts’ surcharge ban. Restaurant and convenience-store advocates took the opposite view, saying swipe fees are a major burden on thin-margin businesses and that merchants should not pay interchange on sales tax or gratuities that are not their revenue. Mass Restaurants United and individual restaurant owners described severe financial strain, rising costs, and the need for transparency and relief. NACS supported swipe fee reform and argued that current fees are excessive and inflationary. A few members questioned witnesses about whether industry should share more of the burden and about the feasibility of changing the current system. No votes or formal policy actions were taken. The chair said the commission would meet again to discuss a draft framework and final report, and members of the public were invited to submit additional written testimony before the commission concludes its work.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
  • They do not have any hardware to support direct internet connectivity. 2.
Keywords: 1182, all
Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of Senate bills covering elections, transportation, health care, land use, water, criminal justice, and local government. Several election-related measures were described, including SB 1037 on voting equipment custody and internet/port restrictions, SB 1568 on election system software timekeeping, and SB 1687 moving the primary date to May starting in 2028. Members also discussed bills on photo enforcement fines, roadable aircraft registration, motor vehicle booting, assisted living occupancy limits, and municipal permit and exaction rules. A number of measures were noted as third-read consent items, while others were flagged for further discussion or amendments. Health and public safety bills drew substantial discussion. The committee heard bills on insurance coverage for breast cancer screening, safe-haven hospital surrender of newborns, dialysis documentation, behavioral health licensing compliance, naturopathic IV drug administration, traumatic event counseling for public safety employees, sex offender registration limitations, and probation rules for dangerous crimes against children. Members raised concerns or requested removal from consent on several items, including SB 1095 and SB 1094 related to gender-affirming care for minors, SB 1346 on AHCCCS claims processing, and SB 1178 on naturopathic drug administration. There was also debate over SB 1520 on immigration data sharing and SB 1635 on warning someone about an imminent arrest, with objections citing civil liberties and First Amendment concerns. The committee also considered multiple property, water, and development bills. These included measures on effluent water use for landscaping, groundwater fee diversion in Pinal County, increasing the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund loan cap, creating a foreign entity review commission for real property transfers, and restricting transport of Mexican gray wolf pups into Arizona. Members discussed SB 1419 on solar roof inspections and financing disclosures, and SB 1787 on municipal exactions and appeals, with an amendment proposed to limit it to commercial property. Several members explained their votes or asked to pull bills from consent, and some items were noted as having split votes or anticipated floor amendments. The caucus ended with Rhonda’s election-related bills and a note that the group would move immediately into a closed caucus afterward.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Ethics and Elections Nov 19th, 2025

Ethics and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Republicans that there was foreign influence in every single voting machine, that China was making the hardware
Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 62 by Senator Errington, which would create an enforceable requirement that partisan candidates meet the 365-day party affiliation or no-party registration requirement before qualifying. The committee adopted an amendment changing the effective date to upon becoming law, heard no opposition, and then approved the bill. The committee also approved a slate of 15 gubernatorial nominees en bloc and recommended them to the floor. The Florida Supervisors of Elections presented their 2026 legislative priorities. Their requests included automatically updating voter records when DHSMV changes driver license numbers, treating verified petition signing by inactive voters as voter activity that restores active status, adding election equipment and ballots to the state’s critical infrastructure protections, clarifying public-records treatment of election worker names and addresses, allowing more flexibility for early voting sites when a supervisor’s office is not suitable, eliminating the need for provisional-ballot envelopes when polling hours are extended by emergency order, and allowing vote-by-mail voters to remain on the list for the next general election unless they opt out. Senators asked questions about inactive voter status, security implications, early voting site requirements, and vote-by-mail renewal, and several members expressed support or interest in the supervisors’ proposals. During public testimony, several speakers urged stronger election-integrity measures, including proof of citizenship, tighter chain-of-custody controls, more hand-counting or manual audits, quarterly list maintenance, and reduced reliance on vote-by-mail and voting machines. They also criticized current audit systems and cited outside reports and research they said showed vulnerabilities in Florida’s election process. No additional committee action was taken after public testimony, and the meeting adjourned.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • The second component of JC's LBR this year is for hardware to the tune of $294,000.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Elections May 8th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Officials then admitted Hardware Diagnostics had introduced 3 unauthorized files, including an unexplained
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Apr 10th, 2025 at 09:30 am

Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Transcript Highlights:
  • One of the things that we looked at was in G, where it talks about computer hardware, software, or other
Bills: HB1329
Summary: The Education Division met with all members present and first took up House Bill 1329, which would create a transparency database and website for school spending information. Senator Schaible offered Amendment 0204 to turn the bill into a study, citing concerns that the proposal would impose major data-collection burdens on 168 school districts, require new data standards and privacy protections, and likely cost far more than the $500,000 in the bill. Several members supported transparency but agreed the implementation costs and technical feasibility were unclear. The committee adopted the amendment 4-1, then passed HB 1329 as amended on a 5-0 vote, with Senator Shively to carry the bill. The committee then discussed House Bill 1540, the education savings account/voucher bill. Representatives from the Bank of North Dakota and the Department of Public Instruction explained that they had not been consulted on the original drafting and outlined needed administrative changes, including clarifying the Bank as administrator, using a third-party program manager, involving DPI in rulemaking, adding audit and appeal procedures, and adjusting language on eligible purchases and school disqualification. They also said the current timeline was likely too aggressive to launch by the 2026-27 school year and estimated the program would require about 15 months to implement, with a fiscal note now around $5.1 million. Members also discussed policy-related amendments on means testing and application timing. Senator Shively proposed a 300% of poverty-level means test and a sign-up period to reduce costs and limit open-ended enrollment, while Senator Axman proposed a tiered approach that would keep all students technically eligible but phase in funding levels by income, preserving access for students who qualify for other federal supports. DPI said it could not currently disaggregate some data by family income and that the appeal process and procurement timeline still needed work. The committee did not move HB 1540 out that morning and instead recessed to continue discussion later after members had time to review the administrative and fiscal issues separately from the means-testing proposals.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Preview of the Senate’s 2026 Session – Majority Leader Erin Murphy Feb 16th, 2026

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have a surplus, a modest surplus, and I hope that we are very, very frugal in the session.
  • We have a surplus, a modest surplus, and I hope that we are very, very frugal in the session. beholder
  • We have a surplus, a modest surplus, and I hope that we are very, very frugal in the session. in eight
  • We have a surplus, a modest dollars.
  • We have a surplus, a modest surplus,<00:10:40.079><c> and</c><00:10:40.320><c> I</c><00:10:40.560><c>
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House/Senate DFL Media Availability 3/6/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have a surplus.
  • His recklessness has shrunk our state surplus by $160 million.
  • has shrunk Minnesota his recklessness has shrunk our<00:01:50.439><c> State</c><00:01:50.759><c> Surplus
  • </c><00:01:51.320><c> by</c><00:01:51.680><c> $160</c> our State Surplus by $160 our State Surplus by
  • We have a $3.7 billion cash on hand surplus in the biennium to come.
Keywords: 1183, house
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • December of 2022, five months after the Legislature had passed a budget with a $100 billion historic surplus
  • As an example, just a few years ago, we went from a $97.5 billion surplus to a $45 billion shortfall.
  • But the $98 billion surplus, we didn't pay off $20 billion. And Same question again.
  • But the $98 billion surplus, we didn't pay off $20 billion.
  • And 2022, when we had that big $97.5 billion surplus, was an example of that.
Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight heard ACA 20, the Safe for California Futures Act, a constitutional amendment to strengthen the state’s Budget Stabilization Account (rainy day fund). The authors, Assembly Members Gabriel and Valencia, said the measure would raise the reserve cap from 10% to 20% of General Fund revenues, change how reserve deposits are treated under the Gann limit so deposits would not count against the spending cap until withdrawn, and update eligible debt repayments to include items such as budget loans, Proposition 98 settle-up obligations, and unemployment insurance debt. They emphasized that the proposal was intended to protect schools and core public services and to help California better withstand revenue volatility and future downturns. Committee discussion focused heavily on the technical effects of the measure, especially its interaction with Proposition 98 and the Gann limit. LAO and Department of Finance staff explained that Prop. 98 funding would not be changed directly, that the reserve deposits would be treated as exclusions from the appropriations limit, and that withdrawals would count when spent. Members asked about current reserve levels, mandatory deposits, and whether the measure would create more room for discretionary spending; supporters argued it would simply allow the state to save more in good years, while one member expressed concern that it could function as a slush fund and expand spending opportunities. Several members cited recent budget volatility, record revenues, and the need for stronger reserves, while others stressed that the measure should be understood as a future-oriented savings reform rather than a response to this year’s budget choices. Public testimony was uniformly supportive. California Forward, Elevate California, and the California Chamber of Commerce all backed the proposal, with the Chamber noting support for the policy and highlighting the importance of addressing unemployment insurance debt for small businesses. The chair concluded by thanking the authors, staff, and witnesses, and said ACA 20 was expected to move to the Assembly floor the next day.
WV

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

WV Senate Mar 13th, 2026 at 04:04 pm

Transcript Highlights:
  • This supplemental appropriates $11,645,266 from the unappropriated balance of general revenue surplus
  • appropriation, and $5,002,392 to a new special services surplus appropriation.
  • , $5,2,392 to a new special services surplus appropriation.
  • This supplemental appropriates $425,000 from the unappropriated balance of general revenue surplus to
  • The bill then appropriates this amount to a new capital outlay and maintenance surplus appropriation
Keywords: 994, senate, all
Summary: The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills and one constitutional resolution, with several measures receiving title amendments and some taking effect immediately or on a specified date. Early action included moving House Bill 5438, concerning the foundation allowance for instructional programs, to the foot of third-reading bills. House Bill 5441, reforming the state personnel system, was amended with a Judiciary strike-and-insert technical fix, then passed 28-6 and was set to take effect July 1, 2026. House Bill 5462 on mine subsidence insurance passed unanimously, with a title amendment adopted. House Bill 5484, creating felony offenses related to denying medical treatment to sexual offense victims, also passed unanimously with a title amendment. House Bill 5515 modernizing workers’ compensation statutes passed unanimously with a title amendment, and House Bill 5527 establishing licensure and regulation for wellness reimbursement programs passed unanimously. House Bill 5528, protecting personal residential information of certain public officials, passed unanimously with a title amendment. The most extended debate centered on House Bill 5537, an education-related bill that was amended to add a child-protection provision later referred to as “Rayleigh’s law.” The amendment would bar approval of home instruction requests in certain child abuse or neglect cases until the Department of Human Services confirms the investigation is unfounded, closed, or not substantiated, or until 10 days pass without a response. Senators argued the measure was intended to protect children and not target homeschooling. After a point of order, the chair initially ruled the amended language not germane; that ruling was challenged and ultimately overruled by a 24-7 vote, allowing the amendment to remain. The bill then passed 24-7, and a title amendment was adopted. Other measures passed with little or no opposition. House Bill 5582 removed the sunset on the TANF applicant drug-screening program and passed 28-3 after a technical committee amendment. House Bill 5687 reduced the metallurgical coal severance tax over time and adjusted oil and gas tax allocations, passing 31-3. Several supplemental appropriations also passed and were made effective from passage, including funds for Homeland Security/corrections, the Adjutant General, Health, the State Road Fund, and Tourism/Culture and History. The Senate also adopted House Joint Resolution 42, which would place on the ballot a constitutional amendment increasing the homestead exemption from $20,000 to $40,000 and allowing future changes by general law. In second reading, the Senate advanced bills on workforce training reimbursements, aerospace and advanced manufacturing incentives, portable benefit accounts, literacy and science-of-reading training, school aid formula changes, and wedding venue regulation, with amendments adopted on several of them before advancement to third reading.