Transcript Highlights:

• hear and determine appeals from final decisions of the state land commissioner relating to the classification
• Darren Rasmussen has been nominated to serve on the board as a member with experience in the classification
• And so, again, that will help in the understanding of the valuation and classification process, but then
• And so, again, that will help in the understanding of the valuation and classification process, but then
• How to communicate that, or, you know, what am I reading in an appraisal or some sort of a classification

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources Committee met to consider several board nominations, beginning with four nominees to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board. Michael Cravens, Jared Lyman, Nathan Reese (who submitted a written statement and did not attend), and Richard Williams each described their backgrounds in wildlife management, ranching, public lands, or conservation, and emphasized balance, pragmatism, and public service in selecting commission candidates. Members asked about their experience, perspectives on candidate evaluation, and the role of the board. Each nominee was advanced to the full Senate by separate motions, all approved on 7-0 votes with one member not voting. The committee then heard Darren Rasmussen’s nomination to the Arizona State Land Department Board of Appeals. Rasmussen discussed his long career in property appraisal at the private, county, and state levels, including work with county assessors and valuation training. Senators focused on his ability to bring transparency, statutory compliance, and consistency to state land appraisals and appeals. His nomination was also forwarded to the full Senate on a 7-0 vote with one not voting. Next, the committee considered the Arizona Livestock Loss Board nominees, Stephen Clark and Randy Dahl. Clark, who chairs the board, explained the board’s process for compensating ranchers for wolf depredation and described the distinction between confirmed losses and “probables.” Senators asked about reimbursement procedures, the range of Mexican gray wolves, and whether wolves had attacked humans in Arizona; Clark said there had been no human attacks in the state and that livestock losses had been compensated. Dahl was unable to attend but submitted a statement citing his farming background and business and engineering experience. Both nominees were confirmed by 7-0 votes with one member not voting. Finally, the committee heard from Carolyn Radajack and Stephanie Teske for the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. Radajack highlighted her prior service on the board’s investigative committee and her experience with disciplinary rules, while Teske emphasized her background as a sixth-generation rancher, veterinary assistant, and agriculture regulator, with a focus on rural livestock care and access to veterinarians. Senators discussed rural veterinary shortages, telemedicine, and the changing structure of veterinary practice. Both nominees were advanced to the full Senate on 7-0 votes with one member not voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• US, or descendant of a free black person living in the US prior to the 19th As a result, this classification
• There, the state of Hawaii claimed that it was not using a racial classification when it excluded non-Hawaiians
• case rejected it this committee should also not permit AB 742 to proceed as it is is a racial classification
• And because a racial classification is involved, strict scrutiny applies.
• essence, the legislature has to show that it has a compelling interest in you. using a racial classification

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 1968 as a high school freshman to see his Glasgow Scotties capture the Kentucky State High School Athletic
• That's our north star, the athlete."
• <00:39:46.560> in<00:39:46.720> the has made on high school athletics in the has made
• on high school athletics in the Commonwealth<00:39:47.520> will<00:39:47.760> never<00
• <00:40:12.320> in generations of high school athletes in generations of high school athletes

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and approved the journal from February 17, 2026. The House communicated passage of several bills and requested concurrence, and committee reports were received, including favorable reports on Senate Bills 70, 74, 80, 127, and 154. Senate Bill 191 was also reported and then recommitted to the Appropriations and Revenue Committee. Senate Bill 104 was passed over and retained its place on the calendar. The chamber then took up and passed Senate Bill 47, which provides line-of-duty death benefits for search and rescue volunteers, with supporters emphasizing the dangerous emergency work these teams perform and the need to treat them like other first responders. Senate Bill 159, concerning missing and unidentified persons and aligning Kentucky with federal “Billy’s Law” database requirements, also passed unanimously after testimony about its value in helping families and law enforcement. Senate Bill 85, allowing state retirement beneficiaries to establish special needs trusts, passed unanimously as well, with members describing it as a way to provide long-term security for dependents with special needs. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 78 honoring the CSX Santa Train and Senate Resolution 76 honoring Frank Ryard and the Ryard’s Scoreboard for its long-standing role in Kentucky high school athletics. Members spoke about the scoreboard’s importance to athletes, families, and sports coverage statewide. Later, new bills and a concurrent resolution were introduced, including measures on state government, duty-related disability benefits, arrest-related deaths, detainee fatality review, carbon dioxide sequestration, and a mental health alternative response task force. The Senate received notice that Senate Bill 172 had been delivered to the Governor, then recessed for committee meetings and adjourned until February 19, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• a project that went into the construction of a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 school complex athletic
• through grade 12 school complex Athletic through grade 12 school complex Athletic Field<00:26:29.320
• The Des Moines River goes through the city of Windham and actually borders the athletic field for the
• field for the Windham School athletic field for the Windham School District<00:41:11.400> uh<
• Complex a locker room outdoor Athletic Complex a locker room remodeling<00:42:01.839> uh<00:42

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, is the athletic scholarships part of that athletic scholarship report special?
• <02:19:54.800> as or the individual student athletes as or the individual student athletes
• We have amazing athletes in this at.
• impact. that's generated by an athletics impact. that's generated by an athletics department.<02
• think our student athletes are amazing. think our student athletes are amazing.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for large use and energy classifications for large use electric<02:33:44.880> facilities.
• Um, HB 1722 is customer protections for, uh, and large use electric facility classification.
• As described starting on page one, line 13, the classification of service section starting on line 17
• I think I'm creating a new classification.
• I'm asking them to create a separate classification and just to be ready for the existence of that classification

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a Division II athletics program, so we also have student athletes that also join us.
• > join have student athletes um that also join have student athletes um that also join us<00:09
• our athletic programs.
• summer participating in our athletic summer participating in our athletic camps<00:24:10.400>
• the only public division 3 Athletics the only public division 3 Athletics option<00:26:40.320>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• were classifications of employees were classifications of employees were reviewed<00:26:47.360
• <00:26:51.440> Um, their current classification titles.
• Um, their current classification titles.
• You just had a classifications readded.
• classifications in a piece of statute. classifications in a piece of statute.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have athletes, students with illness, or other homebound requirements.
• We, too, have lots of athletes.
• We have a lot of student athletes. We have just parents that want a more individualized approach.
• Two years ago, we had our first D1 athletes signed at a signing day at River Home Link.
• trained for a career in athletics, or what is going on.

Summary: The committee met to hear an overview of Washington’s alternative learning experience (ALE) programs and then an update on artificial intelligence in schools. OSPI’s Anissa Sherritt explained that ALE is a course-level funding designation for instruction that occurs partly or wholly away from the traditional seat-time model, with online, site-based, and remote course types. She emphasized that ALE is still basic education, subject to the same public school requirements, and that OSPI provides technical assistance, annual reporting review, and program reviews. Representatives from several programs described different models: Washington Virtual Academy (a large online ALE operated through Omak School District and partnered with for-profit Stride), Columbia Virtual Academy in Valley School District (a district-run, nonprofit online/remote program), Pearl in Quilcene (a K-8 remote parent partnership program), and River Home Link in Battleground (a site-based hybrid program). They discussed student supports, special education, enrichment, family choice, transportation, and how they measure outcomes. Members asked for follow-up information on funding, demographics, racial and ethnic data, multilingual learners, and post-graduation outcomes, and OSPI agreed to provide additional data where available. The committee then heard from OSPI and several districts about AI guidance and implementation. OSPI’s Holly Ryan Calloway described the agency’s human-centered AI framework, three guidance documents for schools, statewide professional learning, an AI innovation summit, and new AI literacy and informatics course frameworks and CIP codes. Quincy School District described a multi-year effort to integrate AI by centering student needs, creating district policy and classroom guidance, and training teachers to use AI responsibly while building an AI readiness plan from elementary through high school. Peninsula School District described its AI action research team, teacher professional learning, and classroom uses of generative AI to support science instruction, communication, and prompt engineering, while stressing that AI should enhance rather than replace learning. Members raised questions about privacy, energy and water use, prompt engineering, workforce and university connections, and the need for clear standards and ongoing educator training. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• plan, we can research that and see if they received money, but the pay plan itself, the Uniform Classification
• Budget Management Services eliminate four additional positions and realign a number of existing classifications
• And you can see the classifications being added on pages 1 and 2 of the governor's letter.
• And you can see the classifications being added on pages 1 and 2 of the governor's letter. Okay.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The problem is the reference to case mix classification PA1. That classification no longer exists.
• classification. technical.
• case mix classification PA1. case mix classification PA1.
• That classification no longer exists. That classification no longer exists.
• > lowest<00:54:59.120> classification, Refer to the lowest classification, whatever its

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have Shauna Jalilillo, who is the athletic director.
• And this individual continues... to move forward, because we all know that athletics is a very strong
• So when we tie in athletics, it also means we want to provide the best academics for each and every student
• A few years ago, what we did is we went ahead and we tied together resources. so that our athletes would
• is so that as they leave the institution, what they're leaving with is not only, if you will, the athletic

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope that all of the athletes get to participate.
• I hope that all of the athletes get to participate.
• I hope that all of the athletes get to participate.
• I hope that all of the athletes get to participate.
• I hope that all of the athletes get to participate.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have strict guidelines when coaches can be in contact with recruitable athletes.
• They have strict guidelines when coaches can be in contact with recruitable athletes.
• <00:59:40.480> There contact with recruitable athletes.
• There contact with recruitable athletes.
• They come from from athletic activity.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:19 Signage Value & Tourism Growth Along the Hatfield-McCoy Feud Trail 00:03:12 Building a Stronger Community Through Sports 00:32:03, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the prior meeting and then heard a presentation from Pike County/Pikeville tourism officials about improving signage for the Hatfield-McCoy historic sites. Bob Scott, Tony Tacket, and Jay Shepard said visitors increasingly come to the area but often cannot find the sites because cell service and GPS are unreliable in the mountains. They argued that clearer signage along routes 119, 319, and 1056 would help visitors navigate the historic loop, strengthen branding, and increase dwell time and local spending. The Pike County presenters emphasized the economic importance of tourism, citing growth in tourist spending from $72.93 million in 2017 to $103.2 million in 2023 and $114.6 million in 2024. They said tourism helps offset the decline of coal, supports local mom-and-pop businesses, and benefits from partnerships with nearby West Virginia sites such as Matewan and other Hatfield-McCoy-related locations. Members asked about cross-state promotion, lodging capacity, and the possibility of a dinner show in Kentucky; the presenters said lodging is up 33% but more is needed, a new Crown Plaza hotel is planned in Pikeville, and a dinner show would require local investment and community buy-in. Committee members from the region spoke in support of the tourism effort and the need to preserve and teach local history. The chair and others said signage would help visitors and noted that a business without signs is no business. The committee then moved on to a separate presentation from the Louisville Sports Commission, introduced by Senator Jason Howell, which began with an overview of the commission’s role in sports tourism and economic development in Louisville.

Transcript Highlights:

• We uncovered more than... ...classification of workers as independent contractors versus being an employee
• usage on projects that would prompt L&I to review appropriate use of the independent contractor classification
• cut on projects that would prompt L&I to review appropriate use of the independent contractor classification
• Classification, excuse me, and considering legislation to hold direct contractors liable for unpaid wages
• So there certainly exists the potential for that classification to be exploited.

Summary: The committee first received an update from the Attorney General’s office on a new workers’ rights unit and two request bills. The office said the unit will focus on wage theft and civil rights enforcement, using existing resources for a small staff. It also described a bill to expand civil investigative demand authority for labor, wage theft, prevailing wage, and discrimination investigations, and an Immigrant Worker Protection Act that would require employer notice when federal immigration authorities request employee records, limit access to nonpublic work areas without a warrant, and restrict disclosure of employee data without proper legal process. Senators asked about costs, funding sources, and the scope of the proposed authority, and the office said it would follow up with more detail. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Washington’s workers’ compensation system from Labor and Industries, including how claims are filed, how the medical provider network works, and how treatment authorizations and utilization review are handled. L&I said the network was created to improve care quality and return workers to work, and explained that most routine care is automatically authorized while certain procedures require prior approval or review. A question from Senator Conway focused on the role of the medical director and the appeals process; L&I said decisions can be protested and reconsidered, with exceptions reviewed through a complex treatment unit and medical staff. An experience panel followed with testimony from labor representatives, physicians, and an injured-worker attorney, who argued that the medical provider network and treatment guidelines can delay or deny needed care, especially in complex cases such as PTSD, brain injuries, and serious orthopedic injuries. They described long appeals, utilization review barriers, provider shortages, and the impact on injured workers and families, while L&I’s presentation emphasized the system’s structure and review safeguards. The committee then heard a report from the Underground Economy Task Force in the construction industry. L&I summarized the task force’s findings on worker misclassification, unregistered contractors, and unpaid taxes and premiums, and outlined consensus and majority recommendations, including better interagency communication, stronger penalties for repeat offenders, more authority to address successorship, possible contractor notice requirements, and further study of cash payments. The Attorney General’s office, labor, and business representatives generally supported the report’s goals but differed on some recommendations, especially those affecting independent contractors, contractor liability, and administrative burdens. The chair and Senator Conway thanked participants and said the report would inform future legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• What the machine does is it creates, it uses data sets, and it starts to make classifications.
• And over time, with a lot of sets and it starts to make classifications.
• We have our classification systems. It's a lot harder for a machine to do that.
• Human intelligence allows us to look at each one of those images and make classifications.
• So something really simple as that classification of the Chihuahuas and the muffins were able to use

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Pre-K through 12 met to hear a panel discussion on artificial intelligence in K-12 education. Dr. Maya Israel of the University of Florida gave an overview of AI literacy, the benefits of AI for personalized learning and teacher support, and the risks involving data privacy, overreliance, hallucinations, and misuse. She described the Florida K-12 AI Task Force, which published statewide guidance in March and is now providing professional development, case studies, surveys, and resources for teachers and families. She also noted that teacher preparation programs and microcredentials are being developed, but there is not yet a statewide baseline standard for teacher AI training. Superintendents Van Ayers of Hillsborough County and Kevin Hendrick of Pinellas County described district policies and implementation efforts. Hillsborough adopted an AI governance policy, created an implementation guide, and set rules barring generative AI use for students in pre-K through 7th grade while allowing limited, teacher-approved use for older students with district-vetted tools. Pinellas emphasized digital responsibility, parent transparency, data-use agreements, and a governance process for approving tools. Both districts said AI is being used for lesson planning, tutoring, reading-level adjustments, scheduling, and other administrative tasks, but they do not yet have reliable evidence that AI is improving academic performance. They also discussed teacher training, stipends, and certification efforts, including partnerships with universities and vendors such as Microsoft, Google, Magic School, and Gemini. Drew Allen of FSU Inspire offered an industry-focused perspective, arguing that AI is not new but that education must adapt more quickly to industry needs. He described Inspire’s workforce and research mission, its AI and robotics training for teachers, and the need to build teacher comfort and confidence through incentives and applied training. Committee members raised concerns about student dependence on AI, academic integrity, mental health, moral decision-making, data privacy, and whether schools should return to more paper-based testing. The panel generally agreed that AI should be used with strong guardrails, human oversight, and a balance between technology use and traditional learning. No legislation was considered, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• You go before the zoning commission and you request what zoning classification you would like to be.
• If that land is already zoned a certain classification, it may not be compatible with the new classification
• So I was just curious: is multifamily the actual zoning classification?” “No.
• But would multifamily ever be the right classification for a cemetery?” “That I can’t speak to.
• mean, you have to look at the city zoning laws and what the criteria is for the different zoning classifications

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of land use, housing, and local government bills. House Bill 447, relating to TIA requirements for certain MUD bond issuances, drew opposition from a witness who argued it would duplicate work already done, strain agency resources, and delay development; after the author’s closing, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. The committee then voted out Senate Bill 1202 (third-party review of home backup power installations), House Bill 2494 (disannexation for failure to provide services), House Bill 1835 (removing barriers to HUD co-manufactured homes), and Senate Bill 15 (lot size and density limits in certain municipalities), with House Bill 1835 receiving one no vote and the others passing unanimously. House Bill 897, authorizing sale or lease of two state-owned Austin properties, was laid out and left pending after brief questions and no public testimony. The committee also heard and left pending several MUD creation bills for Montgomery and Fort Bend counties, including House Bills 5652, 5654, 5661, and 5656, each presented as template district bills with local support and no opposition recorded at the table. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 2673, which would restore prior restrictions on new cemeteries near growing urban areas by repealing changes made last session. Representative Lujan and supporters argued the current law created unintended consequences, including loss of developable land, tax-exempt property in urban cores, and conflicts with infrastructure planning; they said cities already have authority to establish their own cemeteries if needed. Opponents, including a funeral services industry representative, argued the 2023 change was intended to let communities decide and that the bill would take local decision-making backward. After extensive testimony from both sides, the bill was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 3680, which would create a Cameron County-specific process allowing local discretion under the model subdivision rules. Supporters said the bill would preserve colonia protections while reducing costly platting and replatting burdens on families trying to sell or pass down land; county officials and realtors testified in favor. The bill was left pending after closing. House Bill 4812, a clarification to the Texas Uniform Condominium Act to prevent counties from imposing subdivision platting requirements on condominiums, received support from builders and a condominium attorney who said current county practices create duplicative hurdles and higher costs; it too was left pending. Finally, House Bill 5148, which would allow certain single-stair apartment buildings up to six stories, generated the most detailed policy debate. Supporters, including housing advocates and architects, said the bill would lower costs, improve unit design, and expand affordable, family-friendly housing while maintaining safety through sprinklers and other safeguards. Fire officials from Corpus Christi opposed the bill, warning that a single stairwell could hinder firefighting and occupant evacuation, especially if sprinklers fail or smoke spreads. The author said the bill was aimed at new construction only and was part of a broader effort to reduce outdated housing regulations; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending at adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• You go before the zoning commission and you request what zoning classification you would like the land
• If that land is already zoned a certain classification, it may not be compatible with your new classification
• So I was just curious: is multifamily the actual zoning classification? No.
• But would multifamily ever be the right classification for a cemetery? That I can't speak to.
• mean, you have to look at the city zoning laws and what the criteria is for the different zoning classifications

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Transcript Highlights:

• Part of that's based on the classification of the facility, and part of it's based on where we deliver
• Um, part of that's based on on the<00:50:19.119> classification<00:50:19.760> of<00:50:
• 19.920> the<00:50:20.160> facility,<00:50:20.880> part the classification of the
• facility, part the classification of the facility, part of<00:50:21.200> it's<00:50:21.440>
• classification and bumping rights<00:52:04.559> that<00:52:04.800> are<00:52:05.040>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the second item is also allowed for the person to use it in athletic events.
• events, so not only at the school but during the school athletic activities.
• As used in this section, 'school athletic activity' means a sport or activity organized by a school.
• We just got to make them available at the athletic events. Thank you, Mr. President.
• But now, they'll be all the athletic trainers will be trained, and they'll have them there.

Bills: SB273, SB37, SB100

Keywords: SB273, appropriations, general fund, hold harmless, local government finance, municipal revenue, county revenue, correctional facility, jail contract, private prison, detention facility, immigration detention, revenue bonds, clawback, child welfare, juvenile justice, protective services, school improvement, New MexiCare, aging services