Transcript Highlights:

• That is the understanding that staff gave me. Chair: Members, any additional questions?
• Last year staff recommended I use that plan instead.
•   115 LAST YEAR STAFF RECOMMENDED  I USE THAT PLAN INSTEAD.
• Two male staff had to help her back into the house and walk her inside.
•   263 TWO MALE STAFF HAD TO HELP HER BACK  INTO THE HOUSE AND WALK HER INSIDE.

Summary: The Pre-K-12 Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered three bills. HB 157, School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program, would create a Department of Education program allowing school districts and charter schools to place current or retired high-performing teachers in D- or F-rated schools as mentors, with a proposed $3,000 stipend per mentor per mentee. Members questioned the funding source and contract-time implications; the sponsor said the program would use previously decategorized education funds and that mentoring could be done within existing planning, before-school, after-school, or weekend time. An amendment clarifying that the bill would use a contract template rather than a DOE contract was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard CS/HB 859, Exceptional Students and Video Cameras in Public Schools, which would require school boards to adopt policies for video cameras in self-contained ESE classrooms upon a parent request, with redaction of other students from footage. Public testimony strongly supported the bill, including emotional accounts from a parent of a nonverbal adult with autism who described past abuse in a classroom and from the Autism Society of Florida, which argued cameras are a necessary safety measure for vulnerable students and noted other states already allow or require them. Members emphasized student safety and the need to fund the policy, and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered HB 561, Educator Certification, which aims to reduce barriers for experienced educators returning to the classroom by expanding temporary certificate eligibility to those with expired Florida certificates, allowing prior subject-area exam results to count for reinstatement, and updating references related to educator professional learning support. The sponsor said the bill preserves standards while making reinstatement more efficient and less costly. There was broad support from members, who noted the value of retaining experienced teachers, and HB 561 was also reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So then our our staff worked the phones network phones hard.
• And I personally take these and I find whichever staff persons responsible and we work it out and we
• We want to get out information that educates them about what our staff is doing.
• So we've created newsletter and we are we are sending that out to providers in our staff and client,
• Basically the direction to the staff is if we do a report, if it's a public record, let's put it on the

Transcript Highlights:

• And before I go any further, Madam Speaker, I'd like to just say thanks to the great staff we had working
• So I had it all written up here, Paul, and was going to staff, but I want to.
• Minnesotans from what could be a pandemic disease, as the federal administration fired 25% of its staff
• And to the staff and the other committee members, thank you for your input. And send it on our way.
• That food, but as a former staff member at the Department of Agriculture, I also want to recognize the

Transcript Highlights:

• , Staff, we are considering a bill that tramples over legally binding union agreements and forces SBA
• For example, there is no analysis to justify why 30% of SBA Headquarters staff should be moved out of
• And so, I agree with the concern that we Do not want to have all of the staff in Washington.
• We want to make sure that our district offices have adequate staff. That's what this bill does.
• To have this group of unqualified and unvetted staff having access to that confidential information is

Bills: SB298, SB300, SB371

Keywords: employee relocation, headquarters, Small Business Administration, Washington metropolitan area, telework, cost reduction, rural markets, geographic diversity, disaster loans, accountability, reporting, loan forgiveness, federal funding, SBA reforms, small business, disaster assistance, transparency, report publication, government accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• But, our uh staff uh Laura and her staff have put together But, it primarily starts with the number of
• But, our staff, Laura and her staff, have put together be. There is be.
• But, our uh staff uh Laura right now.
• But, our uh staff uh Laura and<00:37:40.120><c> her</c><00:37:40.280><c> staff</c><00:37:40.920><c> have
• Sat down with director and his staff.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The Select Committee on School Facilities met to satisfy its quarterly statutory requirement and to discuss interim priorities. Staff from LSO reviewed the committee’s duties: monitoring K-12 school facilities statewide, prioritizing needs for the interim, and preparing a budget request due by November 1. They also noted the ongoing litigation related to the Chapter 3, Section 8 exception process and said the committee would move forward with securing a consultant to study that issue, as previously authorized by Management Council. A major topic was school funding formulas, especially how average daily membership (ADM) affects routine and major maintenance funding and how excess square footage is treated. Members revisited an earlier proposal to fund 135% of allowable square footage, which did not advance this session, and discussed whether some schools should instead be funded at a minimum percentage of their actual square footage. Staff explained that some districts have buildings larger than their formula allowance, and that the issue is complicated by older buildings, pools, and other unique facilities. They also noted that recent changes to the major maintenance multiplier increased funding and that some districts are still not fully covered by the formulas. Safety and security funding was another focus. The State Construction Department reported that $10 million was appropriated this year for safety and security upgrades, with some funds expected to go toward vestibules, bollards, and design work, and the rest through a district application process. Officials said the last comprehensive safety assessment was done more than 10 years ago and suggested a new consultant-led study to update priorities, since technology and building conditions have changed. Members also discussed the role of school resource officers and whether the committee should continue leading this work rather than handing it off to the recalibration committee. The committee also examined declining enrollment and excess capacity across the state, citing examples such as Newcastle, Shoshoni, Casper, Campbell County, and Fremont County. Officials said some districts are right-sizing by taking schools offline, while others cannot easily reduce capacity because the buildings are essential to the community. Charter school leasing was raised as a related concern, including the Mills charter school and the fact that the state pays lease costs based on ADM and allowable square footage. No formal votes were taken, but the committee agreed to continue studying these issues, likely including site visits and further data requests during the interim.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:26.880><c> administrator</c> was the uh committee staff administrator was the uh committee
• staff administrator for<00:04:28.000><c> the</c><00:04:28.479><c> uh</c><00:04:28.880><c> appropriations
• We'll need for everyone, save staff and counsel and Representative Gber, to vacate the premises so we
• We'll need for uh everyone<00:05:54.240><c> uh</c><00:05:54.560><c> save</c><00:05:54.960><c> staff</
• and uh uh council everyone uh save staff and uh uh council and<00:05:59.360><c> representative</c><00

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Legislative Ethics Commission met on July 8, 2025, with a quorum present. The meeting began with the swearing-in of new commission member Chris Lily, who was welcomed as a former LRC leadership staffer. The chair also introduced John Scott, a longtime LRC budget staff member and former committee staff administrator for Appropriations and Revenue, noting he would be helping with upcoming budget work. The commission approved the minutes from its June 17 meeting without amendment. After that, members voted to enter executive session for a preliminary inquiry hearing under KRS 61.810(1)(c), (j), and (k). The motion passed unanimously by voice vote. Following the vote, the chair directed everyone except staff, counsel, and Representative Gber to leave the room so the executive session could proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:02:31.760><c> have</c><00:02:32.400><c> uh</c><00:02:32.560><c> nonpartisan</c><00:02:33.200><c> staff
• </c><00:02:33.519><c> go</c><00:02:33.680><c> over</c> would have uh nonpartisan staff go over would
• have uh nonpartisan staff go over the<00:02:34.080><c> spreadsheet,</c><00:02:34.480><c> but</c><00:02
• </c><00:04:18.160><c> Um</c><00:04:18.880><c> but</c><00:04:19.440><c> uh</c> staff just yet at this
• Um but uh staff just yet at this point.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's get some staff folks in here around the table.
• Let's get some staff folks in here around the table.
• </c><00:21:02.679><c> policies</c> are looking at different staff policies are looking at different staff
• </c><01:35:47.560><c> could</c> chair and maybe nonpartisan staff could chair and maybe nonpartisan staff
• </c> probably I mean if nonpartisan staff probably I mean if nonpartisan staff could<01:38:10.639><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the crew, senators, and staff. Good afternoon.
• </c> and benefits for uh many of our staff and benefits for uh many of our staff and<00:36:27.599><c>
• </c> would cover an additional uh staff would cover an additional uh staff member<00:58:18.480><c> to
• </c><01:38:51.239><c> to</c> that you know requires our our staff to that you know requires our our staff
• too</c><01:42:40.320><c> and</c><01:42:40.440><c> we</c> staff their staff burnout too and we staff their

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Senior Staff Counsel for the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code.
• Koverubius told jail mental health staff that she wanted to hang herself.
• Thank you, Chair, committee members, and staff.
• Thank you, Chair, committee members, and staff.
• This places a significant burden on the staff and everyone else.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety bills, with most of the discussion focused on AB 1650, AB 2014, AB 1886, AB 2126, AB 2624, and AB 2257. AB 1650 would require clearer identification on privately owned vehicles rented or leased to government agencies for enforcement operations; supporters framed it as a transparency and safety measure in response to ICE activity, while no opposition testified. AB 2014 would allow post-conviction habeas relief where gender bias or stereotypes were used at trial and may have affected the outcome; supporters described cases involving sexist and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes, while the California District Attorneys Association opposed the bill as overbroad and likely to restrict relevant evidence, though the author said recent amendments removed the evidence-code provisions and left only the habeas remedy. AB 1886 would extend a 12-month probation presumption to youth in out-of-home placements and those discharged from secure youth treatment facilities; youth advocates supported it as a fairness and rehabilitation measure, while judges, probation officials, and district attorneys opposed it as undoing a recent compromise and limiting individualized decisions. AB 2126 would speed hiring of peer partners in child welfare by creating a narrow exemption process for certain foster-youth-related offenses; it drew broad support and no opposition. AB 2624 would expand the Safe at Home address-confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers; supporters cited threats, doxing, and harassment, while one journalist opposed it over possible effects on reporting, and the author and committee members said the bill preserves press protections and is narrowly aimed at threats and harassment. AB 2257 would restore county authority to create a separate corrections department to run jails instead of the sheriff; supporters argued it would improve accountability and address jail deaths and fiscal problems, while sheriffs opposed it as unnecessary and said sheriffs are already subject to oversight. The committee also noted several bills pulled by their authors and adopted a consent calendar of unrelated measures. Votes were not always taken immediately because the committee was waiting for a quorum, but AB 2624 was moved on a do-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations and left on call, and the chair indicated support or favorable recommendations on several of the other measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff, as well as implementing agencies, have more assurance that they have the right numbers and the
• Uh, and so this amendment, A2, uh, is just removing staff. Chair Freiberg.
• Uh, and so this amendment, A2, uh, is just removing staff. Chair Freiberg.
• </c><01:14:46.800><c> as</c> written is referencing staff as written is referencing staff as government
• </c> A2 uh is just removing staff. A2 uh is just removing staff.

Bills: HF3884, HF3881, HF3882, HF3883, HF3363, HF3362

Keywords: tribal governments, Metropolitan Council, grant programs, funding, local government, small business, contracting, veteran-owned businesses, compliance, government contracts, housing finance, reporting requirements, regional development, city programs, elected officials, campaign access, multiple unit dwellings, residential access, voter registration, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• Throughout the committees, the OIG should have embedded staff within the agencies, because there are
• Those staff need to know what's happening within the individual agencies.
• </c><00:08:01.800><c> need</c><00:08:02.000><c> to</c> at the agencies uh those staff need to at the
• Throughout the weekend we again met with some staff, including the legislative auditor.
• </c><01:07:18.720><c> into</c> puts the entirety of the IG staff into puts the entirety of the IG staff

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members, and staff.
• With the increased staff in the registration-related branches, With the increased staff in the registration-related
• We appreciate all the work of your staff in putting this together.
• Of course, our amazing staff. Thank you, you guys.
• Of course, our amazing staff. Thank you, you guys.

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate hearing examined whether California’s pesticide program is meeting its public-protection goals, with opening remarks from committee chairs emphasizing the state’s large pesticide use, the need to transition toward sustainable pest management, and ongoing oversight including a state audit of DPR and county agricultural commissioner enforcement. The hearing also referenced recent concerns in Ladera Ranch about childhood cancer cases and the need for transparent investigation and community access to information. Panel one focused on human health and the regulatory framework. Dr. Anna Maria Mora described long-running CHAMACOS research showing widespread pesticide exposure in farmworker families, links to neurodevelopmental, respiratory, liver, and cardiometabolic harms, and greater impacts on children facing social adversity. She urged biomonitoring, better linkage of exposure data to health outcomes, regulation of chemical classes and mixtures, stronger buffers around homes and schools, and more community-based research. Professor Tim Malloy explained California’s two-tier system of DPR registration and county permitting, said the state’s program is strong but falls short on cumulative exposure analysis and alternatives assessment, and argued that DPR and counties need better tools, training, and funding to implement legally required protections. Committee members asked about biomonitoring, class-based regulation, and how to make pesticide data more usable for the public. Panel two brought testimony from environmental justice and farmworker advocates, who argued that California remains behind other jurisdictions by allowing highly hazardous pesticides, including 1,3-dichloropropene and paraquat, and by relying on a funding structure tied to pesticide sales. Witnesses said DPR often moves too slowly on reevaluations, rarely assesses combined exposures, and does not adequately account for health, environmental, and social costs or conflicts of interest involving pest control advisors. They also described inconsistent county-level implementation, weak outreach, and confusion over whether DPR or county agricultural commissioners are responsible for enforcement, and urged faster phaseouts, tiered fees, stronger local protections, and clearer accountability. Panel three represented regulated entities and agricultural stakeholders, who supported the goals of safer pest management but stressed that California’s registration process must be more predictable, transparent, and timely. They said AB 2113’s staffing and timeline reforms were important, but backlog and delays still hinder access to newer, lower-risk products and can hurt both consumer and agricultural uses. Agricultural witnesses also emphasized the need to invest more in pest prevention, invasive species detection, extension support, farmer training, and practical incentives for sustainable pest management. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members pressing witnesses on timelines, implementation, funding, and the division of responsibility between DPR and county agencies.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to our staff, Justy and Tammy, thank you for putting up with our antics.
• And to the staff that keeps this train running, most of us have no idea how many hours you're... ...staff
• I also want to thank the staff of this building, the clerks, the sergeants, assistants, maintenance staff
• We have to do better by our staff.
• We have to keep good staff.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll just get our staffs to work together. Okay, very good. Thank you.
• I spoke to staff from Haven for Hope.
• I want to commend the Senator's staff. Thank you so much to Tara and Walker.
• The testimony I’m repeating today is to thank your office and your staff.
• You and your staff, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Bills: SB604, SB843, SB1636, SB2395, SB571, SB1224, SB1832, SB2392, SB747, SB2623, SB2624, SB2185

Keywords: bonds, education funding, Texas Permanent School Fund, financial transparency, speculative rating, school funding, deferred maintenance, tax revenue, education budget, school districts, education, finance, Texas Education Code, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• The second factor when responding to open records requests is staff capacity.
• The second factor when responding to open records requests is staff capacity.
• That's not just a hundred hours of staff time, a hundred legal hours into it.
• We have four lawyers on our staff, two of whom started in the past few months.
• DPI staff projected those proficiency... ...poverty and disability lines.

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank this great staff for the incredible job that they do.
• President, and I want to thank you and this committee and clearly the staff.
• President, and I want to thank you and this committee and clearly the staff.
• First, I want to recognize our staff, our joint staff, Tim Elwell.
• Senator Osgood, there's a question that my staff director and I had.

Summary: The Senate began with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into floor consideration of the 2026-2027 budget. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented Senate Bill 2500, describing a $115 billion budget that reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental and agricultural programs. Highlights included increased funding for school scholarships and safety, workforce and university programs, Medicaid and child welfare, corrections operations, affordable housing, rural communities, Everglades and water quality projects, and infrastructure. Members then asked detailed questions about several budget items. Senators sought clarification on the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries, charter school capital outlay funding, EASE grants, New College funding, DOC inmate counts and reimbursement, lottery staffing, concealed weapons licensing positions, election security funding, iBudget waiver support, ADAP funding, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, and scholarship and enrollment supplements in K-12 education. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected technical shifts or right-sizing, that some funds were being moved below the line for better tracking, and that several items—such as ADAP and corrections operations—would likely remain conference issues with the House. After questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the budget and implementing measures and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles to prepare for conference. The chamber passed the budget-related bills and several conforming measures, including bills on retirement, fuel taxes, the state agency law enforcement radio system, court trust funds, judgeships, and K-12 and higher education conforming changes. Votes on the major bills were overwhelmingly unanimous or near-unanimous, and the Senate repeatedly voted to accede to the House’s request for conference on the substituted bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm proud of the staff in the outdoor rec.
• You know, the staff in the outdoor rec.
• And and I just wanted to thank them and thank our staff.
• We did this without adding any staff.
• Uh, so additional staff to our agency.

Bills: HB0015, HB0017, HB0019

Keywords: right to repair, digital electronics, consumer protection, embedded software, manufacturers, repair providers, tools and documentation, anti-theft measures, blockchain, financial technology, digital innovation, economic development, select committee, trespass, hunting, land use, public access, wildlife, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any questions of staff on this bill?
• For the record, Julie Tran, staff to the committee.
• Are there any questions of staff on this bill?
• Are there any questions of staff on this bill?
• Again, Greg Atanasio, committee staff.

Bills: SB5985, SB6019, SB6161, SB6183, SB6210, SB6194, SB6102, SB6103

Keywords: endometriosis, healthcare, reproductive health, patient education, awareness campaign, home care, home care services, home care agency, home care worker, caregiver, direct care, consumer directed employer, consumer-directed care, Medicaid, long-term care, aging services, disability services, personal care, respite care, vendor rate

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm committee staff.
• states and legislative staff at the other states.
• I think this was a great piece of work by staff.
• For the record, Sandra Meyer, staff to the committee.
• For the record, Jennifer Harris, staff to the committee.

Summary: The committee first received a presentation from NCSL staff on national transportation funding trends and alternative user-fee options as gas tax revenue declines. The presentation covered declining fuel-tax purchasing power, the effects of more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles, and a range of state responses including indexed gas taxes, EV and hybrid registration fees, voluntary and mandatory road usage charges, transportation network company fees, retail delivery fees, and per-kilowatt-hour EV charging fees. Members asked about Virginia’s mileage-fee program, enrollment rates, and whether states had reduced gas taxes alongside new fees; the presenters said they would follow up with additional information. Committee staff then presented a comparison of Washington’s transportation budget with Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah, focusing on population, lane miles, road condition, fuel taxes, preservation spending, mega-projects, and governance structures. The discussion highlighted Washington’s unique transportation pressures, including ferries, fish-passage obligations, high debt service, and major capital projects. Members asked follow-up questions about debt service, interest costs, CCA impacts on fuel prices, and whether project costs differed by state. The committee held public hearings on three bills. House Bill 2109 would allow vehicles being towed on trailers to use coverings to contain mud, rocks, or debris instead of requiring prior cleaning; the bill’s sponsor and construction witnesses supported it as a practical solution, and the fiscal note showed modest costs to WSP and WSDOT. House Bill 2139 would raise snowmobile registration fees to support snow park and trail grooming; State Parks, DNR, and several snowmobile advocates supported it, while some snowmobile users opposed it, arguing that enforcement of unregistered sleds should be addressed first. House Bill 2192 would expand the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s fatal crash review authority and allow it to collect certain health data; the sponsor and agency supported the bill as a public-health tool, while one attorney raised concerns about limiting civil discovery and evidentiary access in fatal crash litigation.