Transcript Highlights:

• I'll spend the last special session talking about the Rural Health Care Transformation Fund.
• can move to slide 11, building on this fact, the Healthcare Authority sought Mercer to conduct a benchmark
• As I understand it, that means for every dollar New Mexico spends on these services, the federal government

Transcript Highlights:

• Updating, I believe, don't just spend a bunch of money or plan and spend money to upgrade your capacity
• Are these all within the thousand feet benchmark that would be...?

Bills: SB243, SB1586, SB1891, SB1959, SB2159, SB2568

Keywords: migrant labor housing, migrant housing, farmworker housing, migrant agricultural worker, agricultural labor, farm labor contractor, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, TDHCA, civil penalty, housing code enforcement, sanitation, occupancy standards, retaliation, worker complaint, language access, Spanish-language outreach, H-2A visa, temporary agricultural workers, unlicensed housing, rural housing

Transcript Highlights:

• the clerk can educate the members as to when the conference committee report for the supplemental spending
• the clerk can educate the members as to win the Conference Committee report for the supplemental spending
• President, as was just noted, what now lies before the Senate is a supplemental spending document of
• of funding that support the bill that is before us and the amounts from those sources from which spending
• As far as general fund revenues go, we are about on benchmark, so we are very comfortable that we're

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first debated and advanced Senate Bill 2561, an act to promote student learning and mental health, centered on a statewide bell-to-bell restriction on student cell phone use in schools. Supporters argued the bill would reduce distraction, improve academic performance and mental health, and encourage social interaction, while preserving flexibility for districts and exceptions for emergencies, special education, health needs, and instructional uses. Several senators emphasized local control and the need for public input, and a number of amendments were considered: some were withdrawn, some were rejected, and others were adopted, including an amendment requiring consistent and necessary exceptions and another requiring public hearings and local public input. The bill was then ordered to a third reading and passed to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 38-2. The Senate also took up a conference committee report on a $259 million FY2025 supplemental appropriations bill. The report funded EMS costs, home care, the Healthy Incentives Program, DTA chip card technology, veterans benefits, the state police crime lab, the SSI state supplement, the Fair Housing Fund, and the National Guard, and included major indigent defense provisions: $40 million for 320 new CPCS staff attorneys, rate increases for private bar advocates, guardrails to reduce future work stoppages, and an independent review of the indigent defense system. Senators questioned the timing of the report, the inclusion of items not previously voted on by either branch, and the funding sources, including use of the transitional escrow fund and excess revenues. The report was accepted, the emergency preamble was adopted, and the supplemental budget was enacted. In addition, the Senate passed other measures, including a bill authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to supply water to the Linfield Center Water District and a municipal roads and bridges financing bill, both by roll call vote. The chamber also enacted a health care protections bill, and it concurred in referrals on a governor’s municipal empowerment legislation. The session included a brief memorial tribute and adjournment in memory of Harry C. Christensen.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said that disconnect was huge and that the committee was spending time discussing it.
• money on things other than us to spend money on things other than keeping<00:31:22.399> teachers<
• benchmark of $23 in our region. benchmark of $23 in our region.
• I get to spend with those employers.
• <01:36:02.480> $8,400 spends $8,400 spends $8,400 less<01:36:04.560> per<01:36:05.120><

Bills: HF3790, HF3654, HF3371, HF3470, HF1099

Keywords: education finance, lease levy authority, graduation ceremonies, school districts, Minnesota Statutes, local revenue, funding increase, education, state appropriation, local control, HF3371, local optional revenue, school finance, general education aid, school district funding, referendum revenue, referendum market value, equalization aid, state aid, property tax levy

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as a self-funded employer, would I be able to benchmark my plan against state or regional averages
• What are you benchmarking as what you call a large employed employer? >> Over 100 personnel?
• They get to choose where they spend their resources.
• They get to choose where they spend their resources.
• discretion to choose how they spend discretion to choose how they spend their<02:50:10.240> money

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It says that if you are going to spend billions with a B of money on direct-to-consumer advertising,
• And that fund is funded with excise taxes, and we're seeing them spend in the billions and billions in
• And that fund is funded with excise taxes, and we're seeing them spend in the billion. fund is funded
• with excise taxes, and we're seeing them spend in the billions and billions in direct-to-consumer advertising
• Our engineering targets 1.2 million gallons per day, which is well below the agricultural benchmark and

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries heard and voted on several bills. SB 986 would prohibit smoking or vaping marijuana in public places and also restrict smoking in rooms and bars; the sponsor said it is intended to protect public health and outdoor spaces, while the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supported the goal but raised concerns about impacts on designated smoking areas, and cannabis advocates warned about unintended effects on patients and property rights. The committee reported SB 986 favorably. The committee also passed SB 678, which restores statutory authority for DBPR’s long-standing rule allowing alcohol distributors to deduct unsellable alcohol from monthly excise taxes; a strike-all amendment was adopted, including retroactive application to January 1, 2025, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 800, which increases penalties for repeat unlicensed engineering practice and creates an engineering student loan assistance program for engineers working for state agencies and water management districts, was amended and reported favorably as well. Members then considered SB 408 on vaccine advertising and liability. The sponsor argued the bill would address declining public trust in vaccines by allowing claims against manufacturers that advertise in Florida, while opponents said the measure is preempted by federal law, raises First Amendment concerns, and would create unnecessary litigation. After extensive testimony and debate, the committee reported SB 408 favorably. The committee also heard SB 484 on data centers, which would set PSC tariff requirements so large load customers pay their own costs, preserve local planning authority, and limit water permits for large data centers; testimony was mixed, with supporters emphasizing ratepayer protections and economic benefits and critics warning about overregulation and confidentiality limits. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved SB 1118, which creates a time-limited public records exemption for certain data center development information held by local governments, after the sponsor said it was meant to prevent extended NDAs while still allowing local notice and input. SB 1050, requiring veterinarians to provide written prescriptions so pet owners can choose their pharmacy, was also reported favorably. The meeting ended after several members recorded votes on bills they had missed.

Transcript Highlights:

• By leveraging this review period, the federal government can establish clear benchmarks, enforceable
• timelines, and accountability measures that finally address a establish clear benchmarks, enforceable
• It calls for enforceable commitments, measurable benchmarks, and clear timelines It calls for enforceable
• commitments, measurable benchmarks, and clear timelines through the USMCA review process.
• but it simply allows state agencies to choose between certification systems that meet comparable benchmarks

Summary: The committee heard presentations on several energy, environmental, and consumer protection bills while operating at times without a quorum. Senator McNerney presented SB 925, which would direct the California Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy, and SB 1350, which would expand the use of green hydrogen in the power sector by allowing renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using hydrogen. Supporters said both bills would help California maintain leadership in emerging clean-energy industries, attract investment, and create jobs. Opponents of SB 1350 raised concerns about greenwashing, resource shuffling, and increased NOx emissions from hydrogen combustion, while supporters said committee amendments added guardrails against those outcomes. Senator Ashby presented SB 1010, a manufacturer-funded extended producer responsibility program for refrigerants in appliances; supporters said it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve recovery, while opponents argued existing laws already regulate refrigerants and that the bill could raise costs and disrupt recycling markets. Senator Grayson presented SB 1145 to streamline CEQA and federal reuse procedures for qualifying projects in the Concord Reuse Project Area, which supporters said would help deliver long-planned housing, jobs, and open space, while one housing group sought stronger affordable-housing guarantees. Senator Cabaldon presented SB 1341, which would give CalRecycle authority to reduce processing fees for wine and spirits bag-in-a-box containers when fee collections exceed program needs; supporters said the current fee increase was abrupt and excessive, while opponents warned against giving the agency too much discretion. Senator Padilla presented SGR 13, urging the U.S. to secure enforceable commitments to eliminate transboundary sewage pollution in the Tijuana and New River watersheds during the 2026 USMCA review, and SB 1033, which would require testing and disclosure of heavy metals in protein products; SGR 13 drew strong support from border and environmental justice advocates, while SB 1033 drew support from consumer and health groups and opposition from industry groups concerned about labeling burdens and scope. Senator Caballero presented SB 1183, requiring a state study of the environmental, land-use, and economic impacts of industrial solar in the Central Valley; farm and land-use advocates supported the bill, while solar industry groups opposed unless amended, saying it should better reflect solar’s benefits and existing state analysis. After testimony, the committee took roll and adopted several measures on a 4-0 or 3-0 basis, with bills including SJR 13, SB 925, SB 1350, SB 1145, SB 1341, SB 1033, and SB 1010 advanced on call to Appropriations or, in the case of SB 1010, already voted with a 3-1 result before being held on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and so after spending time with the DCCA, we submitted an HD1.
• Um and<00:41:41.520> so<00:41:41.599> after<00:41:41.920> spending<00:41:42.240>
• time with the DCCA and so after spending time with the DCCA we<00:41:43.839> submitted<00:41:
• So employers could be spending 0.35% rather than 0.5%, actually saving money, and they also don't have
• So employers could be<02:25:07.760> spending.35% be spending.35% be spending.35% rather<02:25:

Bills: HB20, HB2612, HB2404, HB2459, HB2194, HB1880, HB2284, HB1969, HB2458, HB1546, HB2161, HB1721, HB1641, HB2137, HB1782, HB2360, HB1965, HB1897, HB1513

Keywords: lava insurance, homeowners, insurance market, subsidy, Hawaii, mortgage, debt, secured transactions, real property, Hawaii Revised Statutes, cooperative associations, electric utility cooperatives, agricultural cooperatives, mutual help, food innovation, agribusiness, food safety, market access, branding, economic diversification

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 20, which would create a lava zone insurance subsidy/fund. The Insurance Division opposed the bill, arguing that lava zones 1 and 2 are the highest-risk areas, that a subsidy would not reduce the underlying risk or loss costs, that it could invite similar subsidy requests for other hazards, and that the bill may conflict with HICV by diverting funds from the CRF. Members discussed the lack of authorized homeowners insurance in those lava zones, the role of HPIA and the surplus market, and the difference between the proposed lava-zone subsidy and the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund. The chair noted 37 submitted testimonies in support and one in opposition, and the committee then moved on without taking a vote on HB 20 in the portion provided. The committee then took up HB 2612, relating to mortgages, which would clarify that a mortgage does not exist independently of the debt it secures and is not independently enforceable from that debt. The Hawaii Credit Union League and Hawaii Financial Services Association opposed the bill, while several individuals testified in support, arguing it would restore Hawaii’s long-standing lien-state rule and prevent so-called “zombie mortgages” after the Hawaii Supreme Court’s White decision. Supporters said the bill would protect borrowers from delayed foreclosures and predatory lending practices, while opponents and the Insurance Division emphasized that foreclosure actions still require proof of standing and possession of the note, and that lenders generally pursue foreclosure without seeking deficiency judgments. Committee members questioned the Insurance Division about how the current market works, whether lenders could wait out the statute of limitations and then foreclose only on the mortgage, and whether equitable tolling or later defaults could allow refiling. The division said it is still trying to attract authorized insurers back into the lava-zone market, but has seen little progress. No vote or final action on HB 2612 was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was kind of wondering if there was particular benchmarks that were built into additional funding that
• to a better position. wondering uh it there was particular wondering uh it there was particular benchmarks
• that were built into benchmarks that were built into additional<00:54:49.680> funding<00:54:50.160
• ><00:54:54.960> specific committee what are the specific committee what are the specific benchmarks
• that must be met in order to benchmarks that must be met in order to be<00:54:58.000> able<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, again, we're going to spend the vast majority of the time on budgets. It's a 30-day session.
• I'll spend a minute on that one.
• But with that, I'll pass it to Daniela's team, who's going to spend most of the time on budget today.
• If the LVSC position is a draw, should the team spending, at the very least, be at the current level
• You'll see in the LESC column that we are also recommending spending $40 million again for FY27.

Transcript Highlights:

• these events tend to have a stronger economic impact for that reason, in excess of $100 million total spend
• So they're coming, still spending money, just not buying a ticket, which is great for the economic impact
• These events attract visitors who spend money at, at hotels, restaurants, local businesses.
• lot of the, the companies and corporations and, and, and that, that come to South by Southwest and spend
• That's just where we came up with the benchmark.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, Madam Chair, Senator, my understanding is we're already spending about a billion dollars a year.
• But the key is the money we spend now, the 780 million dollars, we don't have a measure to know whether
• So, the $750 million is reduced by $50 million, which means we can spend that somewhere else.
• I will tell you that at the moment, this is probably a $2.5 to $4 million a year spend or to the budget
• And the biggest one, like I mentioned, is going to be benchmarking the success of the reduction in the

Transcript Highlights:

• Our first benchmark, if you will, is September 30. That's the end of the federal fiscal year.
• >> Our<00:26:35.120> first<00:26:35.279> benchmark,<00:26:35.840> if<00:26
• :36.000> you<00:26:36.080> will,<00:26:36.320> is >> Our first benchmark,
• if you will, is >> Our first benchmark, if you will, is September<00:26:37.600> 30<00:26
• spending untold hours assisting victims. spending untold hours assisting victims.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met to adopt the minutes of the second meeting by voice vote, then heard an update focused on disaster preparedness, resiliency, response, and coordination among state agencies and partners. The chair emphasized avoiding duplication of resources and highlighted the importance of agriculture-related response issues, including animal evacuation, feed distribution, and the role of extension services during disasters. The Department for Public Health was invited to explain its role in emergency planning and response. Public Health described its Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch as the lead coordinating agency for Emergency Support Function 8, covering health and medical services under Kentucky’s emergency operations framework. Testimony outlined its broad responsibilities, including support for hospitals, morgues, local health departments, behavioral health, crisis counseling, suspicious package testing, disease outbreaks, and coordination with emergency management, EMS, transportation, and nonprofit and private partners. Officials also described the agency’s risk-assessment process, training and exercise programs, and deployed assets such as PPE caches, deployable communications, a federal medical station, a mobile treatment center, and alternate care support used in events like the eastern Kentucky floods and COVID-19. The agency also discussed funding through federal cooperative agreements for public health emergency preparedness and hospital preparedness, noting that these programs have evolved since 9/11 and have been shaped by major disasters and emerging threats. Officials said Kentucky’s funding has declined over time and that current awards are partially funded for the first time in the program’s history. They expressed support for efficiency if federal programs are consolidated, but cautioned that combining programs could risk further funding losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• These funds will support updated benchmarking of salaries to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• And a lot of times they end up boarding in an emergency department or spending longer than we'd like
• in one of our emergency stabilization programs. ...department or spending longer than we'd like in one
• The staff are Able to go in and spend an hour or two there, do whatever they need to do at the office
• That’s what I was more interested in—making sure that we can spend more time and provide more training

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was an informational and oversight session of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, with chairs and members hearing agency updates from several commissioners. The Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition described its maternal and child health work, including home visiting, early intervention, WIC, newborn hearing screening, and cross-agency efforts on prenatal substance exposure, respite care, children’s vision, and maternal health initiatives. DPH emphasized that federal grant cuts, layoffs, and the loss of data systems such as PRAMS would weaken services and planning, and members asked about Title V funding and the impact of federal uncertainty. The Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing highlighted communication access services, interpreter and CART referrals, emergency after-hours support, family navigation, and independent living services. Commissioners and members discussed the shortage of ASL interpreters and the need to expand training pipelines, including partnerships with colleges and possible ASL programming for younger students. The Department of Developmental Services reported serving nearly 50,000 people and focused on youth and adult services, transition-age supports, autism services, self-direction, respite, and new high-acuity residential models. Members asked about respite availability, self-direction outcomes, and workforce shortages; DDS said it was expanding clinical capacity and provider rates while monitoring possible federal Medicaid, SNAP, and immigration-related impacts. The Commission for the Blind described services for about 28,000 legally blind residents, most of whom are older adults, including social rehabilitation, orientation and mobility training, children’s services, assistive technology, vocational rehabilitation, and Turning 22 supports. The commissioner discussed a UMass-based effort to build the workforce pipeline for blindness services and said the agency was watching federal restructuring but had not yet seen direct cuts. MassAbility’s leadership then warned about major federal changes affecting Social Security disability determinations, including staff restructuring, office closures, and a new overpayment repayment policy, and said the agency was preparing for possible increases in claims and uncertainty around reallotment dollars that help fund services. The Disabled Persons Protection Commission closed the hearing with an update on its abuse investigations and protective services for adults with disabilities. DPPC reported rising hotline calls and investigations, a growing caseload, its sexual assault response team, the abuser registry, and a new interagency protective services integration system funded by ARPA dollars through 2027. The agency also flagged new federal rules that could affect funding eligibility and said it may need statutory changes to comply. Members asked about funding, reporting pathways, and how complaints reach DPPC, and the commissioner said the agency uses both mandated reporting and proactive outreach to identify and respond to abuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they had to spend that information into the state documentation, for example, have to go to a person
• Or should I spend some time to explain it a little bit?
• I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this slide, but really just wanted to point out the history of
• I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this one.
• Basically, it's the benchmark that says, here's a set of tests, how well do we expect a human to do?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you use that as part of your analysis to kind of benchmark? Sure. What you might expect.
• analysis<00:52:32.800> to<00:52:32.960> kind<00:52:33.040> of<00:52:33.119> benchmark
• analysis to kind of benchmark? Sure. analysis to kind of benchmark? Sure.

Bills: SB2141, SB2593, SB2824, SB2135, SB2115

Keywords: retirement, law enforcement, pension, public safety, employee contributions, Law Enforcement Standards Board, LESB, civil service exemption, collective bargaining exemption, law enforcement certification, police standards, law enforcement training, officer certification, training and curriculum coordinator, lead investigative agent, administrative manager, administrator, Hawaii HRS 76-16, Hawaii HRS 139-3, personnel exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• And this would be informed by data that was collected with benchmarks from other states, app analysis
• a partnership for youth and young adults with disabilities employment and volunteer operations. benchmarks

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Disability Employment Subcommittee met with roll call, approved prior meeting minutes, and shared an inspirational quote from Jane Goodall about the importance of every individual. Members then introduced themselves and their roles, including state disability advocates, providers, and commission members, before hearing a presentation from Katia Alpanis and Dina Klumkina of the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED). SEED described its role as a technical assistance and policy resource for states, focused on sharing best practices and examples from other states to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The presentation outlined SEED’s seven policy areas: career readiness and work-based learning, behavioral health and work, stay-at-work/return-to-work supports, employer recruitment and retention tools, entrepreneurship and disability-owned business development, interagency coordination, and state government as a model employer. Examples from other states included scholarship and transition supports in Kentucky and Virginia, stay-at-work programs in Alaska and Washington, accommodation funds in Minnesota, procurement and small business initiatives in New Jersey and Virginia, and model employer efforts in Colorado, New York, and Tennessee. Members also asked about digital accessibility and PEAT; SEED said PEAT has been refunded and that SEED can help with policy-level questions and peer examples, but not implementation of accessibility requirements. Discussion then shifted to possible Massachusetts projects. Members raised concerns about upcoming Medicaid work or civic engagement requirements and how people with disabilities might fall through the cracks, and they asked whether SEED could help Massachusetts use existing documentation, such as IEPs, to reduce barriers. The group identified two main areas for follow-up: a Massachusetts “state as a model employer” roadmap and a youth/young adult employment and volunteer pipeline, potentially linked to transition services and apprenticeship opportunities. SEED agreed to provide Massachusetts-specific analysis and two briefs, one on career readiness policies and one on state-as-model-employer strategies, and the subcommittee planned an offline follow-up meeting to narrow priorities and develop a scope of work.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's benchmarked to competitors within the Mountain West Conference.
• That's benchmarked to competitors within the Mountain West Conference.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard SB 3263 SD2, which would create a University of Hawaii NIL (name, image, and likeness) endowment trust fund, require UH to establish an NIL program and distribution criteria, allow student athletes to be compensated through registered athlete agents, permit parents or guardians to assist in some areas by agreement, require annual reporting to the legislature, and appropriate funds. UH Athletics Director Matt Helliot testified in strong support, saying NIL funding is critical to recruit and retain athletes and keep UH competitive, especially as the program moves into the Mountain West Conference. He cited the men’s basketball team’s success and said UH had already raised private NIL money for that team. The Iron Workers Stabilization Fund also supported the bill, calling it a modest but important investment in UH athletics and a way to help keep local talent in Hawaii. One supporter said the bill would help UH compete with larger schools and retain athletes amid rising costs and large NIL deals elsewhere. Another supporter, Cliff LaBoy, said the current NIL environment makes funding essential and argued UH needs more money than the bill’s structure provides. A testifier noted the Senate version’s corpus may be insufficient and said they preferred the House version. During questioning, Helliot said UH’s private fundraising target for the current year was $3 million and that the department was already more than two-thirds of the way there. In decision-making, the chair said the committee would move the bill forward as an HD1 replacing the contents with the House version, remove the blank appropriation section because $5 million had already been inserted into the UH budget through HB 1800, and focus the bill on the framework rather than the funding amount. The committee then voted to pass SB 3263 SD2 with amendments, with all voting members present voting in favor and one member excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill establishes clear emissions benchmarks, initially set at 15% below industry averages, that may
• Materials buyers who purchase products meeting these benchmarks may receive rebates of up to $500,000

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in early childhood K12 higher benchmarks in early childhood K12 higher ed<00:15:11.800> and<00
• that um but it's um money to spend that um but it's um there's<01:38:26.520> a<01:38:26.760><
• You can do some very extensive screening, so we get into the balance of how much money do you spend.
• You can do some very extensive screening, so we get into the balance of how much money do you spend.
• the balance of how much money do you spend.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all