Transcript Highlights:

• images of minors and to refine the definition of a covered platform.
• That is pure money to support not only victims, but also organizations or government entities that are
• These MOUs will be agreed upon by Cal OES, the state entity which largely oversees the operations of
• But I think the fundamental point, though, is they are public entities in California.
• But I think the fundamental point though is they are public entities in California.

Summary: The committee heard several privacy, technology, and public safety bills. SB 898 would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long software support will last and to notify consumers when support is nearing its end; Consumer Reports supported the measure, while members raised concerns about private enforcement, notice mechanics, and replacement obligations for leased devices. The bill was amended and passed 5-1 to Judiciary, with the measure placed on call. SB 1279 would authorize Long Beach to install additional speed safety cameras on Pacific Coast Highway under the same privacy and equity guardrails as the existing pilot program, including limits on data use, no facial recognition, warning periods, and reduced fees for low-income recipients. Supporters cited severe crashes and fatalities on PCH, while opponents raised civil liberties and due process concerns and questioned how the system identifies the actual driver. The committee approved the bill 6-2 and placed it on call. SB 1111, the Artificial Intelligence Abuse Protection Act, would create civil remedies for non-consensual AI voice, image, and video cloning and digital replicas. Support came from SAG-AFTRA and Common Sense Media, and members discussed concerns about background images and employer liability, including a request to preserve a rebuttable presumption for good-faith employers. The bill passed 7-1 to Public Safety and was placed on call. SB 1217 would create a DOJ-run clearinghouse for survivors of non-consensual intimate imagery and deepfakes to request removal from online platforms; survivors and advocacy groups testified in strong support, and members discussed privacy, cybersecurity, funding, and the lack of a private right of action. It passed 8-0 to Public Safety and was placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1095, which would require fusion centers and participating agencies to adopt MOUs barring use of sensitive personal information for immigration enforcement or racial/identity profiling, require annual reporting, and allow audits and inspections. Supporters argued fusion centers have operated with too little oversight and have been used to circumvent state privacy and immigration laws; some members supported the transparency goals while others raised concerns about operational ambiguity and the bill’s interaction with existing law. The discussion continued, with the author and members debating the scope of permissible information sharing and enforcement consequences for violations.

Transcript Highlights:

• have some discussion about what we see as possible future ideas for mutual aid or support of local entities
• </c> of local entities. of local entities.
• ,</c> tribal and territorial entities, tribal and territorial entities, providing<00:10:44.720><c> assessment
• We encourage entities we visit to adopt those services and not try to take it all on themselves.
• </c> to continue to make Minnesota entities to continue to make Minnesota entities safer. safer. safer

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits foreign entities and foreign influence business entities from making contributions, expenditures
• We will replace the proposed subsection 11-356D, which would have required every business entity making
• was not a foreign corporation or foreign influence business entity at the time, and will replace that
• with language that will allow such an entity, if it intends to make contributions or expenditures within
• as a foreign influenced business entity are held unconstitutional by a final judgment, including all

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met in decision-making only session and took up a series of bills, mostly approving them with amendments. SB 1032 on campaign finance passed with amendments to change the certification process for business entities, add a severability-type provision if foreign-influence conditions are struck down, and note a related Minnesota federal case. SB 401 on firearms passed with amendments to exclude shotguns, grandfather legally registered devices in place as of the effective date, and add committee report findings; SB 382 on procurement confidentiality passed as is; SB 598 extending deadlines for administrative driver’s license revocation review decisions passed as is; SB 771 on HHFDC board leadership passed as is; and SB 1318 clarifying water pollution enforcement jurisdiction passed as is. The committee also approved SB 1657 with an amendment removing authority to condemn public property, SB 1102 with an amendment making the Fire Council the source of nominees for the aircraft rescue fire fighting chief, and SB 100 with amendments replacing the original substance with a prohibition on fingerprinting nonprofit liquor-license board members during background checks and limiting the bill to counties under 500,000 population. SB 170 and SB 1296, both related to special management area exemptions for affordable housing and disaster-related reconstruction, passed with amendments incorporating Office of Planning, Sustainable Development, and Attorney General changes to narrow and clarify the exemptions. Finally, SB 363, a cleanup bill related to firearm parts and ghost gun laws, was considered with amendments that deleted a proposed new penalty section, revised existing firearms statutes, removed an unnecessary definition, and expanded penalties to include indeterminate imprisonment terms. Despite the amendments, the measure was not adopted because the Vice Chair voted no. The committee then adjourned and announced a later joint hearing with Ways and Means.

Transcript Highlights:

• tax that they have liability... ...entities are not very profitable.
• Over voice over internet protocol entities.
• We also added audit and protest workloads for our pass-through entities and our business entity audit
• end of the year, our personal income tax and business entity...
• We also added audit, protest workloads for our pass-through entities and our business entity audit cases

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes the requirement for a covered company to connect the application developer with a parent or
• It requires a covered company to send only the minimum amount of information necessary to comply with
• It prohibits a covered company from sharing the age signal or parent or guardian consent signal with
• It removes the authorization for a minor or minor's parent to bring a civil action against a covered
• It states that a covered company complies with the technology protection for minors requirements in a

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, quick overview of who we cover: we cover approximately one in three Arkansans in the state, almost
• We do cover 50% of the births in the state every year, and we do cover 80% of the behavioral health services
• does show the majority of our population is covered by fee for service.
• The next couple of pages show what is covered in those different broad categories.
• It became its own entity in 2013.

Summary: The Medicaid Subcommittee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to receive a primer on the subcommittee’s history and on how Medicaid oversight works in Arkansas. Legislative audit staff reviewed the subcommittee’s origins in response to earlier Medicaid audit concerns and explained that Medicaid is audited every year in the statewide single audit because it is a high-risk, large federal program. Staff summarized recent audit findings, including issues with eligibility controls, data matching, contractor charging, incarcerated juveniles’ coverage handling, provider eligibility support, and the state’s Medicaid recovery audit contractor exception request. They also noted a DHS departmental audit finding involving employees who improperly received benefits, which was referred for possible prosecution. The Department of Human Services gave an overview of the Medicaid program, describing eligibility groups, delivery systems (fee-for-service, managed care/PASSE, and premium assistance for expansion adults), the size of the program, and the agency’s budget and provider base. DHS also outlined the difference between state plan amendments and waivers and said other committee materials would be sent to members. The Office of Medicaid Inspector General described its role in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, explaining that it investigates suspected intentional fraud, suspends providers when there is a credible allegation of fraud, recovers improper payments in mistake cases, and recommends policy changes when trends are identified. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit explained that it prosecutes provider fraud criminally and civilly, handles neglect, abuse, and exploitation cases in long-term care settings, and works with DHS, OMIG, and federal partners. Members asked about where cases are filed, how provider suspensions work, whether beneficiary fraud is investigated, and how education is provided to providers. DHS confirmed that beneficiary fraud cases are referred to local prosecutors and said the expansion population will move toward community engagement/work requirements under federal changes, with a soft launch planned before full implementation. The meeting ended with no formal votes beyond adoption of the prior minutes and no other committee actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• before now, noting that police and other agencies had been covered previously.
• But they are political entities if they get tax dollars.
• Their own public entity is a fire protection district.
• We cover 103 small to mid-sized cities all over the state of Missouri.
• A few years later, they added it to where all the police officers are covered.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But they are political entities if they get tax dollars.
• Their own public entity is a fire protection district.
• But yeah, if we carve out, you know, those two entities... Sure.
• And this bill would also cover them.
• We cover 103 small- to mid-sized cities all over the state.

Summary: The Committee on Local Government first met in executive session and voted House Bill 2096 do pass by a roll call vote of 14 ayes and 0 noes. The committee then opened a public hearing on House Bill 1733, the Missouri Firefighter Bill of Rights, sponsored by Representative Wellencamp. The sponsor said the bill was intended to create statewide due-process protections for firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and dispatchers employed by public agencies, including rules for investigations, interrogations, locker searches, discipline, and political activity. He said the bill was meant to address inconsistent procedures across departments and to protect workers from unfair treatment, while not limiting legitimate management investigations. Committee members questioned several parts of the bill, especially the scope of the immunity language, whether volunteer firefighters and fire districts were covered, and whether the bill would interfere with existing collective bargaining agreements or management’s ability to investigate misconduct. Supporters, including representatives from firefighter organizations, argued that the bill would provide needed statewide standards, clarify Garrity rights, protect political participation, and ensure fair disciplinary procedures. They said many departments lack consistent protections and that some firefighters have faced unfair investigations or terminations. Opponents, including representatives of fire protection districts, ambulance associations, and municipal risk-management groups, argued the bill was too broad, redundant, and likely to create litigation. They said many of the protections already exist through contracts, policies, or other laws, and raised concerns about the criminal immunity language, locker-search restrictions, and possible interference with EMS “hot wash” reviews and patient-care improvements. Several opponents also objected that the bill would impose a one-size-fits-all statewide mandate and could affect local control. The hearing closed without further action on House Bill 1733, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:54.840><c> for</c> HMOs are required to cover for HMOs are required to cover for enrollees
• </c> participating entities. participating entities.
• </c> uh as this provision relates to entities uh as this provision relates to entities and<00:20:21.360
• </c> and the correct term for those entities and the correct term for those entities are<00:20:23.080
• The amendment does cover chapter 147, which covers the Board of Medical Practice in this committee's

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In this panel, we'll cover one of the bills and two of the memorials.
• On the next slide, I'll also discuss how Soil and Waters are a very unique entity.
• Very few entities across the U.S. have this authority.
• to be prioritization entities, to be on the ground, prioritization entities that knew what was going
• And when I see what looks like a consolidation of power to any one entity.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hopefully I'll cover your question here. So it does.
• So part of this bill deals with eligible entities. Please.
• list on page two of eligible entities.
• I'm assuming that each entity, like your particular city, will have to enact.
• And so there's only so many things that entities can do.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of justice that covers our society.
• So who should cover that cash flow?
• The utility and electricity ratepayers cover part of these fees, but survivors cover the rest.
• And as a utility, we make, we're a highly regulated entity.
• And as a utility, we make, we're a highly regulated entity.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on the California Earthquake Authority’s SB 254 report and broader options for reforming California’s utility wildfire recovery system. The chair framed the discussion around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the scale of wildfire-related costs on utility bills, and the need to weigh trade-offs among survivors, ratepayers, utilities, insurers, and taxpayers. The first panel featured wildfire survivors William Abrams and Joy Chen, who described long delays in compensation, housing insecurity, and what they viewed as a system that protects utility shareholders more than victims. They urged greater transparency, clearer accountability for utility spending and safety performance, faster and fuller compensation for survivors, and reforms such as independent audits and better alignment of utility incentives with wildfire prevention and restitution. The second panel began with Tom Welsh of the California Earthquake Authority, who explained that the SB 254 report was intended as a broad inventory of policy pathways rather than recommendations. He described the report’s process, including stakeholder submissions, workstreams, and a convergence process, and outlined the current wildfire fund structure: utilities remain liable, the fund reimburses eligible claims after a covered wildfire, and the CPUC later determines prudency and possible reimbursement back to the fund. RAND’s Lloyd Dixon summarized compensation data, saying utilities paid about $38 billion between 2017 and 2024, with major shares going to injured parties, insurers, and public entities, while litigation costs and survivors’ own losses remain substantial. He noted that legal fees and delays reduce the amount survivors ultimately receive. Utility and public-interest witnesses offered differing views on the report’s pathways. PG&E’s Tyson Smith said the report shows inaction is the worst outcome and argued for community wildfire risk reduction, equitable allocation of catastrophe costs, and state-led resilience tools. LADWP’s Fernando Valero emphasized the vulnerability of municipal utilities and cities, and supported inverse condemnation reform, a state-sponsored liability insurance framework, damages and subrogation limits, and stronger insurance access. Consumer Attorneys of California’s John Fisk argued that IOU-caused fires are not natural disasters but the result of negligence and sometimes criminal conduct, and opposed reducing utility liability while supporting stronger oversight and audits. The Public Advocates Office’s Nathaniel Skinner focused on affordability, saying ratepayers already bear large and growing wildfire costs and warning against shifting more costs onto bills without measurable risk reduction and tighter accountability. Committee members then began questioning witnesses about what counts as measurable mitigation, how to define full and fair compensation, and how any fast-pay process should work.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're one of the few states that audits public entities every single year.
• We've helped 267 entities We've provided 828 financial certifications.
• We also have others that are smaller entities that don't have a lot of money.
• Do you have Capital already in the capital bill that covers that.
• We're covering — my apologies Chair — no, we're just covering our costs. Okay, thank you.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so those three I'll cover quickly in some slides are: we've all heard about the refinery closures
• quickly in some slides are we've all heard about the Those three, I'll cover quickly in some slides,
• Chair and members, House Bill 2758 allows an eligible entity that House Bill 2758 allows an eligible
• The bill determines the eligible entities include the state, a political subdivision of Arizona, or a
• So, okay, you covered all that stuff.

Bills: HB2014, HB2031, HB2078, HB2102, HB2103, HB2117, HB2261, HB2262, HB2264, HB2278, HB2428, HB2494, HB2756, HB2758, HB2762, HB2782, HB2932, HB2933, HB2986

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, water rights, groundwater, Willcox, active management area, certificate of grandfathered rights, Arizona legislature, aggregate mining, reclamation plans, environmental protection, public safety, land use, domestic water, improvement district, water delivery, water hauling

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, is on page 11, the TPF project funding, the 5% entity—Mr.
• So, you know, I think that's not going to cover the need at all.
• We try to give them throughout the district to every entity as much as we can.
• And that's 95% state funding with a 5% entity match. Next page, page 10, District 4.
• We try and give them throughout the district to every entity as much as we can.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee heard a District 5 New Mexico Department of Transportation presentation from Rhonda Lopez, who reviewed the district’s FY26 budget, staffing vacancies, and the status of special appropriations from 2020 through 2025. She described numerous completed and ongoing projects across the district, including roadway overlays, bridge work, intersection improvements, ADA upgrades, and maintenance projects, and also summarized STIP, TPF, LGRF, and equipment needs. Members asked about a guardrail issue near U.S. 64 in Hogback, the 5% local match for TPF projects, and the status of the New Mexico 371/U.S. 36 intersection funding agreement with the Navajo Nation; DOT said the match is secured or waived where applicable and that the Navajo agreement is nearly finalized. The committee then heard House Bill 270, which would amend the Public Works Apprentice Training Act to require contributions to apprenticeship and training programs for certain public works contracts, including highway-related work, while creating an exception where no approved apprenticeship program exists for a trade classification. The sponsor said the bill was intended to strengthen workforce development and support apprenticeship training. Contractors and asphalt industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it would raise road project costs and duplicate existing training contributions. A motion to table failed on a tie, and a later motion to pass also failed on a tie, leaving the bill in committee. Next, the committee heard House Bill 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund, dedicate additional revenue sources including a portion of electricity GRT and motor vehicle excise tax, and begin annual distributions for federal matching funds in 2029. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would help address a multi-billion-dollar road funding gap, improve maintenance, and provide a stable source for matching federal dollars. Some members raised concerns about the electricity tax component, its effect on utility bills, and overlap with recently enacted transportation financing measures; others supported the concept but questioned timing and funding priorities. A motion on the bill resulted in a tie and failed, leaving the bill in committee. The meeting concluded with a District 4 NMDOT legislative presentation. The district outlined its geography, budget, staffing vacancy rate, completed special appropriations, active construction and maintenance projects, wildfire-related recovery work, local government funding allocations, and equipment replacement needs. Members asked about school district uses of local funding and the impact of aging equipment and weather on maintenance costs. The presentation ended without any formal action on District 4 items, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it depends really on the structure of the entity.
• Every person there was covered under NICA.
• It has nothing to do with a brain-related incident, but now they will be covered, or potentially covered
• And we are telling private entities what they have to do.
• And we are telling private entities what they have to do.

Summary: The Committee on Rules heard a long agenda of growth-management, elections, education, housing, and professional-licensing bills. The first major item was SB 354 on “Blue Ribbon Projects,” a framework for very large planned developments on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area. After adopting a strike-all amendment, senators debated whether the bill adequately protected conservation land, local government authority, neighboring property, concurrency, and multi-county projects. Supporters argued it would create more orderly, master-planned growth and preserve large areas of land; opponents said the reserve areas were too weakly protected and the bill preempted local control. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably on a party-line style roll call, with Chair Pasadomo and Vice Chair Jones voting no. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates to disclose any foreign citizenship and, through amendments, adds a 2026 congressional qualifying framework tied to apportionment and redistricting, including revised petition rules and deadlines. Members discussed disclosure, redistricting, and candidate vetting, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill, was also amended and approved; the amendments addressed My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, firefighter hiring, workforce housing code accommodations, and related financial-services issues. CS/CS/SB 1620, the school board members’ bill of rights, was narrowed by substitute amendment to focus on access to records, fiscal transparency, NDAs, and related rights, and it passed after supportive testimony from school board and superintendent representatives. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” after debate over whether the terminology change could affect the seriousness of the crime or existing case law. SB 1548, a Live Local/affordable housing update, was reported favorably with little debate. Finally, the committee approved the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates, after amending it to require immediate supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Throughout the meeting, many public commenters and senators weighed in on the balance between development and conservation, local control, and the scope of state regulation, with several bills drawing both strong support and strong opposition before final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• entities. Thank you for that question.
• But, would you agree when you say it's an outside entity that would then advance the monies?
• But what we're trying to do is we have two people, two entities trying to do the same thing.
• We are seeing all different entities doing workforce.
• A lot of work today covered a lot of ground. Good job. See you next week.

Bills: SB1327, SB1372, SB1403, SB1937, SB277, SB2131, SB1749, SB1348, SB1469, SB2018, SB1931, SB1530, SB2155

Keywords: tourism, recreation, economic development, Oklahoma Commission, executive director, probation, credits, educational advancement, Oklahoma Statutes, criminal justice reform, job incentives, tax rebates, Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program, employment growth, wage requirements, labor organization, incentives, employer practices, union neutrality, worker rights

Transcript Highlights:

• You give a credit for B&O tax already paid when you have pass-through entity income and public utility
• I'm curious, does Trump's move last year give you political cover?
• Do you feel you have political cover to finally do this?
• I don't think it's about cover.
• I think it's about the mood of Washingtonians and Americans about... ...cover.

Summary: House and Senate Democratic leaders, joined by Speaker Laurie Jinkins and House Finance Chair April Berg, introduced a “Millionaire’s Tax” proposal and framed it as a way to reduce Washington’s reliance on sales tax and B&O tax while raising revenue from the state’s highest earners. They said the bill is a starting point and will continue to change through negotiations with the governor, business groups, local governments, and lawmakers. The leaders also said the proposal is intended to support education, health care, public safety, and tax relief measures such as sales tax exemptions on hygiene products, an expanded working families tax credit, a larger small business tax credit, and an early end to the B&O surcharge. The governor had already said he could not support the bill in its current form, which the sponsors said surprised them because they had spoken positively with him the day before. They said the bill will not be the same by the time it reaches his desk and that they expect continued talks to address his concerns, including more money for small business relief and the working families tax credit. They also defended the bill’s structure, saying it mirrors the state capital gains tax, uses Washington’s capital gains definition, and includes credits intended to prevent double taxation for pass-through businesses and others already paying B&O or related taxes. Much of the discussion focused on criticism from Republicans and outside groups that the proposal amounts to a marriage penalty or could drive away high earners and tech businesses. Democratic leaders rejected those concerns, saying the tax applies only to income above $1 million, that the first million is taxed at zero, and that the state would still compare favorably with other income-tax states. They said about 30,000 taxpayers would be affected and estimated the bill would raise roughly $3.5 billion, with about 5% dedicated to county public defense costs. They also said the bill is not subject to cutoff because it affects state revenue, and that the Senate public hearing is scheduled for Friday afternoon in Ways and Means, with the House expected to hear the Senate version later in the process.

Transcript Highlights:

• It just depends who the entity is.
• It just depends who the entity is.
• Most of this is still covered by ratepayers in water and wastewater.
• And so they're having to cover that cost. And that is why I'm proposing this bill.
• The entity must make a separate offer for that property.

Bills: HB5489, HB5695, HB5699, SB291, SB292

Keywords: impact fee, moratorium, local government, Texas legislation, infrastructure funding, municipal utility district, eminent domain, bonds, assessments, infrastructure, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Harris County, Municipal Utility District, territory exclusion, debt service taxes, property taxation, condemnation, property acquisition, real property, appraisal reports

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill adds other public and private entities and governmental agencies to groups.
• And then what are some of the examples of private entities that Florida virtual may want to contract
• Private entities is.
• But you are specifically saying private entities, I don't trust corporations.
• And so I would urge my colleagues. >> Treat this entity like you do.