Transcript Highlights:

• would encourage a more balanced approach that supports transparency for prospective residents while preserving
• prospective supports transparency for prospective residents<02:38:24.479><c> while</c><02:38:25.520><c> preserving
• </c><02:38:26.080><c> flexibility</c> residents while preserving flexibility residents while preserving

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• And this amendment preserves that, Madam Speaker.
• Speaker, we will preserve Washington’s reputation of being a strong state for military families.
• And so I think this amendment is good because it helps preserve our veterans' interests. ...amendment
• is good because it helps preserve our veterans' interest in staying in Washington State or coming to

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Transcript Highlights:

• other technologies designed, marketed, or configured to generate illegal sexualized imagery, while preserving
• c><03:04:56.640><c> while</c> illegal sexualized imagery while illegal sexualized imagery while preserving
• ><c> the</c><03:04:57.400><c> core</c><03:04:57.680><c> protection</c><03:04:58.320><c> for</c> preserving
• the core protection for preserving the core protection for neutral<03:04:59.200><c> general</c><03:04

Transcript Highlights:

• And preserving the life of children and encouraging families to grow and enjoy all the blessings of having
• And preserving the life of children and encouraging families to grow and enjoy all the blessings of having
• Powers and duties are identified in statute; A.R.S. 11-441 mandates that sheriffs preserve the peace,
• This was not just historic preservation. It was historic reclamation.

Transcript Highlights:

• This also preserves clearly due process.
• Um this also preserves<03:41:52.640><c> clearly</c><03:41:53.200><c> due</c><03:41:53.600><c> process
• </c><03:41:54.800><c> Um</c><03:41:55.200><c> at</c><03:41:55.439><c> its</c> preserves clearly due process
• Um at its preserves clearly due process.

Transcript Highlights:

• a small 5% downturn or if we had a 20% to 25% downturn, they would have a plan of how they would preserve
• ><c> would</c> they would have a plan of how they would they would have a plan of how they would preserve
• 11.359><c> mission</c><02:19:11.679><c> as</c><02:19:12.000><c> best</c><02:19:12.160><c> they</c> preserve
• uh the mission as best they preserve uh the mission as best they could.<02:19:13.120><c> And</c><02:

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum. The chamber approved routine motions to excuse absent senators, dispense with the previous day’s journal, and allow introduction of bills and committee reports throughout the day. The Senate also received several House messages referring bills to committee, including local constitutional amendments for Limestone, Blount, and Mobile counties, a human cloning bill, a Fair Campaign Practices Act bill, a public education bill, a court fees bill, and a physician assistance bill. Committee reports were then taken up. The Finance and Taxation General Fund, Confirmations, State Governmental Affairs, County and Municipal Government, Education Policy, Banking and Insurance, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, Transportation and Energy, and Local Legislation committees all reported a number of bills favorably, many with amendments or substitutes. Several measures were advanced to the calendar for the next legislative day, and the Senate confirmed multiple appointments, including Eileen Meyer and Tiffany Martin to the Alabama Board of Midwifery, Jennifer Ag, Jerry Gross, and Edgar Hower II to the University of West Alabama Board of Trustees, Patricia Sims, Tony Cochran, and Sandy Stimson to the Alabama State Port Authority Board of Directors. The Senate then adopted a special order calendar under Senate Resolution 34, setting the order of business for the 10th legislative day. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 161, the App Store Accountability Act, which was described as a child-protection measure requiring parental permission, age verification by app stores, accurate app age ratings, and limits on minors entering contracts through app downloads. Senators speaking in support said the bill was needed to protect children from harmful online content and preserve parental control, and they discussed an amendment clarifying the meaning of “act” and preserving compliance with other state age-verification laws. The debate was ongoing in the portion provided, and no final vote on HB 161 appears in this excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill preserves all of the fraud prevention safeguards at the point where they matter, when a vehicle
• The bill preserves<00:08:30.560><c> all</c><00:08:30.800><c> of</c><00:08:30.879><c> the</c><00:08:31.039
• ><c> fraud</c><00:08:31.440><c> prevention</c> preserves all of the fraud prevention preserves all of

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• taxidermists that, you know, are taken out and go—we pay $10 a sample for a taxidermist to take that and preserve
• for a taxiderermis to to take<00:19:24.720><c> that</c><00:19:24.960><c> and</c><00:19:25.120><c> preserve
• </c><00:19:25.440><c> that</c><00:19:25.919><c> uh</c><00:19:26.559><c> gland</c> take that and preserve
• that uh gland take that and preserve that uh gland that<00:19:27.120><c> they</c><00:19:27.280><c> take

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I chose to cut the commission in half to preserve it.
• commission<00:10:46.640><c> in</c><00:10:46.880><c> half</c><00:10:47.040><c> to</c><00:10:47.279><c> preserve
• </c><00:10:47.839><c> And</c> commission in half to preserve it.
• And commission in half to preserve it.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• He asked that, if the Criminal Justice Committee intends to move the legislation forward, that be preserved
• that</c><01:12:48.800><c> is</c> legislation forward that that is legislation forward that that is preserved
• <c> in</c><01:12:50.239><c> whatever</c><01:12:50.560><c> version</c><01:12:50.880><c> comes</c> preserved
• um in whatever version comes preserved um in whatever version comes out.<01:12:52.000><c> Um</c><01:

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• New Hampshire is a state that values tradition, preservation, and local pride.
• Hampshire is a state that values Hampshire is a state that values tradition,<02:08:10.719><c> preservation
• ,</c><02:08:11.360><c> and</c><02:08:11.599><c> local</c> tradition, preservation, and local tradition
• , preservation, and local pride.<02:08:13.119><c> The</c><02:08:13.360><c> work</c><02:08:13.520><c>

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We're preserving some of them, for sure, but in statute it says that in order for us to change the definition
• are doing good work in the<04:22:04.080><c> state</c><04:22:05.080><c> we're</c><04:22:05.279><c> preserving
• /c><04:22:05.760><c> some</c><04:22:05.920><c> of</c><04:22:06.080><c> them</c> the state we're preserving
• some of them the state we're preserving some of them for<04:22:06.560><c> sure</c><04:22:07.399><c>

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 552, which would remove the “full-time student” requirement for children ages 19 to 25 covered under the state retiree health insurance plan. The prime sponsor said the change would align retiree coverage with state employee and ACA plans, would not cost taxpayers because retirees pay the premiums, and could even reduce administrative burden and possibly state costs. The chair noted the bill simply removes the words “if full-time student” from statute and said the proposal affects very few retirees and has no cost to the state. No opposition was presented, and the chair closed the hearing on HB 552 after no further testimony. The committee then opened a public hearing on House Bill 648, which would require commercial insurance coverage for glucose monitoring devices and supplies for people with diabetes. The prime sponsor, a retired dietitian and diabetes educator, gave extensive testimony describing diabetes as common, costly, and serious, and argued that continuous glucose monitoring is important for managing type 2 and gestational diabetes, preventing hypoglycemia, and improving safety and decision-making. She said CGMs can alert users to dangerous blood sugar changes, help people understand how food, activity, and medication affect glucose, and save lives while offering a strong return on investment. During questions, a committee member asked whether the bill should specify that the monitoring be tied to prescribed treatment, and the sponsor agreed that adding “prescribed” would be appropriate. The member also asked about the proper threshold for coverage and whether the bill should be tied to fasting-test diagnosis; the sponsor responded that A1C is only one measure of control and does not show daily fluctuations, and said she was not prepared to recommend a specific threshold but could provide clinical guidelines later. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the sponsor indicated support for the bill’s general approach to broader CGM access.

Transcript Highlights:

• The A14 still preserves<00:57:45.839><c> flexibility</c><00:57:46.559><c> for</c><00:57:46.799><c> students
• </c> preserves flexibility for students preserves flexibility for students because<00:57:47.599><c> it

Summary: The committee took up House File 4252 and first heard a walkthrough of a DE2 amendment that largely incorporated Office of Higher Education technical and statutory cleanup items, including reporting consolidations, updates to postsecondary registration and licensing statutes, and an anti-fraud provision. New provisions in the DE2 would require public postsecondary institutions to explain developmental courses before enrollment and obtain a written acknowledgement, revise the state grant tuition cap, add a $1.5 million ongoing appropriation in FY 2027 for an identity verification system to combat enrollment fraud, and provide $5,000 one-time funding for reforestation at Bemidji State University. Fiscal staff also noted additional special revenue fund revenue and expenditures tied to licensing and registration litigation response. The main debate centered on the A8 amendment offered by Representative Rarick, which would require the governor to appoint University of Minnesota regents only from candidates recommended by the joint legislative committee if the legislature fails to elect regents. Rarick argued the amendment was needed to address what he described as conflicts of interest and pay-to-play concerns in recent gubernatorial appointments. Several members questioned whether the language was constitutional, whether it actually addressed conflicts of interest, and whether it should instead refer to ARCAC-screened or ARCAC-recommended candidates. Nonpartisan staff said the governor’s appointment power is addressed in the university charter, not directly in the constitution, but could not definitively assess constitutionality if challenged. Members were divided: some supported the goal of cleaner governance but said the amendment was not ready or did not match the problem being described; others argued the legislature had failed to complete its own regent appointments and that the amendment was a response to that failure. No vote on the A8 amendment or the bill was reached in the portion provided, though a roll call was requested on the amendment and the chair indicated the bill would continue through amendment consideration before final discussion and vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• distribution to develop a distribu a distribution model<00:36:54.560><c> that</c><00:36:54.880><c> preserves
• </c><00:36:55.359><c> county</c><00:36:55.760><c> lines</c><00:36:56.560><c> in</c> model that preserves
• county lines in model that preserves county lines in order<00:36:56.960><c> to</c><00:36:57.200><c>

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• We are breed preservationists passionate about preserving the healthy lines of breed-specific cats.
• to point out that this bill does not prevent anyone from bringing an animal into the state and preserving
• the breeds that they want to preserve.

Bills: SB2709 , SB3154

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The hearing began with SB 2709, which would require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules to enforce the Okami arrival program and strengthen quarantine enforcement for plants, non-domestic animals, and microorganisms. The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council supported the bill, as did DAB, saying it would improve biosecurity and make some provisions mandatory rather than optional. Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines supported the goal but raised concerns about language changing inspections from “may” to “shall” for aircraft, warning of possible federal preemption and operational conflicts unless the bill is clarified to align with federal aviation safety, security, and operational requirements. Committee members questioned DAB about inspection timing, scope, and compliance; DAB said the measure is intended to increase enforcement, improve form completion rates toward a 90% goal, and expand beyond airlines to other entry modes, while also noting plans to restore detector dog use and improve software/AI tools for processing forms. Decision-making on SB 2709 was deferred to February 17 at 3:02 p.m. in Room CR229. The committees then took up SB 3154, an administration measure authorizing the Department of Transportation to assume certain National Environmental Policy Act responsibilities for highway, rail, public transportation, and multimodal projects, with the aim of streamlining environmental review. DOT supported the bill and explained that it would allow the department to work directly with federal resource agencies such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife and SHPO rather than routing everything through federal highways. After brief discussion, the Committee on Transportation voted to pass SB 3154 with technical amendments, and the AEN committee followed with the same recommendation; the measure was adopted with five votes in favor. A later portion of the transcript shifted to SB 2374 on the blue economy. DBED said it supported the concept but noted that it already sits on many working groups and would need resources if a new working group is created. DBED suggested the committee could instead request research through a letter or memo, and said agencies including ADC, HTDC, and Agriculture had already begun internal discussions. Testimony in support came from IMUA Alliance, Hawaii Food Policy, and others, emphasizing the potential for blue economy ventures to support survivors, align with climate and cultural goals, and create economic opportunity. No final vote on SB 2374 appears in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• this and I thought, oh, maybe this could kind of fit with what's happening with Hakalao and the preservation
• I'm an attorney representing the Shoreline Preservation Coalition.
• As some of you know, SPC is a coalition of individuals and community groups concerned with preserving

Bills: SB2606 , SB3253 , SB237 , SB3252 , SB1178 , SB2322 , SB2019 , SB3043 , SB3014 , SB2972 , SB1190 , SB2488

Committee: Senate Water, Land, Culture and the Arts

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several measures related to wildlife, conservation, shoreline adaptation, and climate governance. On SB 2606, which would establish the Freshwater State Recreational Area Wildlife Sanctuary Corporation, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said it had concerns about employee eligibility and was not yet prepared to comment further on the bill’s ramifications. After testimony ended, a senator asked DLNR to follow up with more detail, and the department said it would relay the questions to leadership and respond later. No vote was taken on the measure during the excerpt. On SB 3253, which would create the Hawaii Conservation Sanctuary as a nonprofit entity to work with DLNR, the department said it supported the bill. In discussion, DLNR said Hawaii has not done anything like this before, described a similar model in New Zealand, and estimated that developing such a sanctuary could cost millions of dollars. Members also discussed whether the concept would fit with existing efforts such as Hakalau, and DLNR said the bill could apply to private or state lands depending on the site. No action was taken. The most extensive discussion was on SB 237, which would expand state and county authority to develop adaptation pathways for relocating infrastructure away from sea level rise and coastal flooding areas. DLNR supported the bill, saying it prioritizes public trust resources over economic development or private property. The Kahana Bay Steering Committee and the Shoreline Preservation Coalition opposed the measure, arguing it was too focused on managed retreat and should include a broader range of shoreline responses, such as erosion mitigation, groins, sand nourishment, and other interim protections. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development said it appreciated the bill’s intent but wanted broader language that would allow more tools in the toolbox. Members debated whether retreat is inevitable, whether different shorelines require different approaches, and whether the bill should be more flexible. No vote was taken. The final measure discussed was SB 3252, which would amend the powers and duties of the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, create a coordinator position, and appropriate funds. The commission’s coordinator testified in support, while OPSD opposed the bill, saying it would remove the two cabinet-level co-chair positions, raise accountability concerns, and duplicate some of OPSD’s functions. In questioning, members debated whether the current commission structure has been effective, who would appoint or confirm the coordinator, and whether the bill would improve transparency and implementation. OPSD said it supported more statewide interdepartmental funding for climate planning and staffing, but had concerns about the proposed governance changes. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• have lost them if you're talking about careers or eating healthy or starting to do canning or preservation
• have lost them if you're talking about careers or eating healthy or starting to do canning or preservation
• have lost them if you're talking about careers or eating healthy or starting to do canning or preservation

Summary: The task force met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the August 20 meeting, and then heard testimony from Representative Steven Doan on House Bill 439, a school nutrition bill aimed at restricting certain ultra-processed foods in schools. Doan said the bill was inspired by his own health journey and his work in agriculture, and he described the measure as targeting specific chemical additives in foods served during the school day, not concession sales or after-hours activities. He said the bill would phase in later to give schools time to adjust and noted that the list of restricted additives was drawn from efforts in other states and advocacy groups. Members asked about the chemical abstract numbers, fiscal impact, summer meal programs, fundraisers, and whether the bill would affect parent-provided items; Doan said he had not done a fiscal note and explained that the bill was intended to apply only during instructional time on school property. Committee members generally reacted favorably, with some raising practical concerns about cost and implementation. One member asked about high fructose corn syrup, which Doan said was not included because it is too pervasive in the food system. Another member noted that schools already limit some homemade items and asked about the line between school-provided and parent-provided food. Doan also said the list was based in part on Turning Point USA materials and similar laws in other states, and he referenced federal efforts to define ultra-processed foods. The committee then heard from Kentucky Department of Education officials Matt Ross, Lauren Moore, and Katie Embry on school meals and nutrition programs. They outlined Kentucky’s school lunch, breakfast, summer meals, and other USDA child nutrition programs, including participation and reimbursement figures, and explained how community eligibility provision schools, meal patterns, offer-versus-serve, smart snacks, and local wellness policies work. They said USDA and FDA are currently seeking public input on a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods, that there are no current USDA requirements specifically on ultra-processed foods, and that schools already operate under federal and state rules governing competitive foods, including a state time restriction on smart snacks. They also discussed local purchasing, noting its benefits but also the procurement and staffing challenges schools face. No votes or final actions on the bill were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your support to preserve these jobs and add to them is important.
• Your support to preserve these jobs and add to them is important.
• Your support to preserve these jobs and add to them is important.

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• assets of the fund shall be appropriated by law for public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation
• assets of the fund shall be appropriated by law for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation
• assets of the fund shall be appropriated by law for the public purpose of protection, conservation, preservation

Bills: HF1587 , HF2293 , HF2218 , HF1208 , HF1482

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think, you know, how do we balance the preservation of our system as home and community based, as
• So I think, you know, how do we balance the preservation of our system as home and community based, as
• What's makes sense, so I think, you know, how do we balance the preservation of our system as home and

Summary: The Division of Long-Term Supports and Services presented its budget and program overview as part of the Department of Health and Human Services operating budget review. Leadership described the division’s three bureaus—Aging and Adult Services, Developmental Services, and Family-Centered Services—and explained that the division provides guidance, technical assistance, quality monitoring, and contracted provider oversight across the lifespan. Members also discussed staffing, with reported vacancy rates of 4% in Aging and Adult Services, 15% in Developmental Services, and 6% in Family-Centered Services; the division said the higher BDS vacancy rate is partly due to the small number of authorized positions. The governor’s budget had left eight positions unfunded in the division, including three in Aging and Adult Services and five in BDS. A major topic was the division’s roadmap initiatives, especially building a system of care for healthy aging and strengthening developmental disabilities systems through a new reimbursement rate structure. The division said it contracted with an actuary to study DD service costs and found rates had not been reviewed since 2017 and were significantly below actual costs and other states’ rates, contributing to provider shortages even when services are authorized. Members asked about the impact on service delivery and whether rates would need to rise overall; the division said its strategy is to focus on lower-cost services that help people remain in the community. The division also reported waiver enrollment figures, including about 4,161 people on the Choices for Independence waiver, 3,688 average nursing facility residents, 5,061 people on the DD waiver, 228 on the acquired brain disorder waiver, and 488 children on the in-home support waiver, while noting there is no funding waitlist but provider availability remains a constraint. The division highlighted IT modernization as a major accomplishment, especially moving Adult Protective Services and Developmental Services into the New Heights system. Officials said these changes improve case-note access, data retrieval, service authorization tracking, and transparency for providers, and they asked for future oversight discussion focused on IT leverage. Members noted that New Heights maintenance is budgeted in the Office of the Commissioner under class 27 and suggested better transparency on system costs and benefits. The division also reported that it closed out a long-running CMS corrective action plan for BDS on July 1, 2023, and said it is now focused on strengthening the system rather than compliance alone. Other discussion covered the Aging and Adult Services bureau’s name change from Elderly and Adult Services to Adult and Aging Services, intended to avoid negative connotations and better reflect preventative services. The bureau described Adult Protective Services trends involving scams, financial exploitation, self-neglect, and isolation, and explained that it administers the CFI waiver, determines medical eligibility for nursing facility level of care, and braids funding from Medicaid, state funds, Older Americans Act money, Social Service Block Grants, and other grants. Members asked about waiver growth targets and federal consequences if enrollment remains below projections; the division said it would explain the shortfall in a future waiver amendment and did not anticipate a federal penalty. The meeting ended without any votes or formal actions taken.