Transcript Highlights:

• So with the capitation rates for the member benefits, it's standard FMAP, which is, I believe, around
• So that's the standard to which I think that kind of promise is held because that's, it's a, you know
• So that's the standard to which I think that kind of promise is held because that's, it's a, you know
• So you say it's gone from a four-step to a two-step process as the standard, and this codifies it.
• The bill provides a standardized incident command and management platform based on federal emergency

Bills: SB1041 , SB1050 , SB1131 , SB1138 , SB1249 , SB1267 , SB1272 , SB1317 , SB1461 , SB1488 , SB1504 , SB1517 , SB1523 , SB1580 , SB1582 , SB1584 , SB1585 , SB1602 , SB1630 , SB1654 , SB1672 , SB1673 , SB1718 , SB1761 , SB1819 , SB1826 , SB1827

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, veterans, lifetime pass, state parks, Arizona, access, disabled veterans, cardiac arrest, defibrillators, school safety, emergency response, CPR training, Arizona education funding, automated license plate readers

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:41:57.839><c> Under</c><00:41:58.240><c> standard</c> local communities need.
• Under standard local communities need.
• Under standard PARA<00:41:59.440><c> rules,</c><00:42:00.240><c> most</c><00:42:00.560><c> retirees</
• This bill is restoring those standards in Colorado. &gt;&gt; Those in fa opposed say no.
• I'm worried about regulatory creep and vague standards that actually invite some litigation.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But shock the conscience is not the legal standard that is used by the U.S.
• But shock the conscience is not the legal standard that is used by the U.S.
• The legal standard that is used by the U.S. Supreme Court for all of us.
• The evolving standards of decency mark the progress of a maturing society.
• <00:50:37.359><c> the</c><00:50:37.680><c> progress</c> standards of decency mark the progress standards

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division B

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 3 February, 2026; 5:15 P.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And for punitive damages, you have to prove malice, fraud, or oppression, which is a higher standard.
• And yes, there is a higher standard for punitive damages, but the fact that they are available, those
• There's no real standards and no real way to see behind the curtain, which is the problem with these
• No requirements, no standards, no reporting. Nothing.
• And so we respect that they are setting up their own standards and trying to do good work.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with most drawing support after amendments or ongoing stakeholder negotiations. SB 29, by Senator Laird, would extend a sunset on the law allowing pain-and-suffering claims to survive a plaintiff’s death; supporters, including a family member describing a medical negligence case, labor groups, consumer advocates, and disability and elder organizations, argued it prevents defendants from running out the clock, while hospitals, medical groups, and business organizations warned of higher costs and added liability. After extensive debate about data collection, settlement reporting, and the impact on health care access, the bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. SB 294, by Senator Reyes and presented by Senator Laird, would require employers to notify a worker’s emergency contact if the worker is arrested or detained and would create a template to inform employees of state and federal labor rights. Labor and worker advocates said the bill would help workers understand and enforce their rights amid weakened federal enforcement; there was no opposition on file, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 697 would modernize water-rights adjudication by allowing the State Water Board to use technology instead of requiring in-person field investigations; with no opposition, it also passed unanimously. The committee also advanced SB 37 on attorney advertising, SB 645 on peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 303 on bias-mitigation trainings in public workplaces, and SB 464 on expanding pay-data reporting for specified state workers. SB 37 drew support from consumer and legal groups but concerns from Walker Advertising about joint advertising; members said negotiations were ongoing, and the bill passed. SB 645 would extend anti-bias jury-selection rules to certain civil rights cases; criminal-defense and defense groups said they were close to agreement, and the bill passed. SB 303 and SB 464 were both amended to narrow scope and moved forward after several opponents shifted to neutral or removed opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all sent to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• code, updates a lot of things in the language that we need to have to bring it up to modern day standards
• of the code language as far as the basic operations to align with modern boards for contemporary standards

Bills: HB159

Committee: Senate State Governmental Affairs

Keywords: U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission, public facilities, space exploration, education programs, bond issuance, Governor involvement, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It makes it acceptable to target anyone deemed not man or woman enough against an arbitrary standard
• After David will be Drew Carson. their standard in concentration camps their standard in concentration
• What I'm trying to get at is that it's not uncommon to see, by these standards, a biological woman with
• a biological woman with these standards a biological woman with facial<03:07:28.200><c> hair</c><03:
• You're inviting a societal standard of violence against us all.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, which Rep. Jim Kofalt said is the same language as last year’s HB 396, vetoed by the governor. He described the bill as allowing, but not requiring, separation by biological sex in three areas: bathrooms and locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions. Kofalt argued the bill would give local school boards and other policymakers discretion to set practical rules, citing concerns about safety, privacy, and a Milford incident involving a biological male in girls’ locker rooms. Committee members pressed him on the lack of a definition of “biological sex,” and he said he did not think one was necessary because males and females are commonly understood. He also said the bill was meant to address situations where outside groups threaten lawsuits and leave local boards with no latitude. Testimony then split sharply. Supporters, including Executive Counselor Karen Hill and several others, said HB 148 would roll back anti-discrimination protections, contradict New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” values, and harm transgender and non-binary people. Opponents described the bill as discriminatory and unnecessary, arguing that existing bathroom and sports policies already work and that the bill would invite harassment, invasive enforcement, and legal conflict. Several speakers, including trans residents and parents of trans children, said they had used public restrooms without incident and warned that enforcement would be impractical or abusive. One supporter argued the bill was needed to protect girls’ privacy and safety and cited school sports disputes and a concern about a sex offender at a game as examples of why sex-segregated rules should be restored. Committee members asked questions about how biological sex would be defined, whether the bill was responding to real incidents in New Hampshire, and how any restrictions would be enforced. Kofalt said he was aware of issues in several school districts and at the State House, but did not have detailed documentation for every case. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided; the chair instead moved through public testimony under a strict two-minute limit and noted that follow-up questions would be limited so the committee could hear multiple bills that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Maintaining the existing legal standards Maintaining the existing legal standards would<01:16:49.120
• standards that we do not required by standards that we do not required by statute<02:09:02.239><c> at
• </c><02:14:19.040><c> outlined</c> codifying the federal standards outlined codifying the federal standards
• This bill would also set a nearly impossible legal standard.
• ><c> protections</c> And the standard consumer protections And the standard consumer protections that

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:39:42.080><c> regardless</c><01:39:42.679><c> of</c> Statewide parking standard regardless of
• Statewide parking standard regardless of whether<01:39:43.119><c> it</c><01:39:43.599><c> aligns</c>
• The primary concern raised regarding the language within Senate Bill 72 is the standard of proof being
• of proof the preponderance of standard of proof the preponderance of the<01:51:33.719><c> evidence</
• of proof while I have other standard of proof while I have other concern<01:51:52.560><c> concerns</

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What we're trying to do with that is our state standards set out and codified in law.
• Here are the national standards that most states adopt.

Bills: HB493

Committee: House Children and Senior Advocacy

Keywords: child advocacy centers, certification, funding allocation, Alabama Network, forensic evaluation, children's welfare, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we've had some discussions on the public sector safety standards, but there's um four or five standards
• And then OSHA standards do still apply to remote work as well.
• for your internet connection or a security standard for your internet connection.
• They think the reasonable standard is the appropriate standard in this case.
• We do appropriate standard in this case.

Committee: House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These would not meet that standard, so they were concerned that we were possibly losing income.
• These would not meet that standard, so they were concerned that we were possibly losing income.
• These would not meet that standard, so they were concerned that we were possibly losing income.
• These would not meet that standard, so they were concerned that we were possibly losing income.
• These would not meet that standard, so they were concerned that we were possibly losing income.

Committee: House Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Freeman's question about health education standards: yes, the health education standards
• standards yes the health<00:34:20.560><c> education</c><00:34:21.040><c> standards</c><00:34:21.440>
• </c> addressed in the curriculum standards addressed in the curriculum standards that<00:34:50.000><c
• </c><00:41:58.880><c> speak</c> what the current standards speak what the current standards speak to<
• </c> Providers are are meeting the standards Providers are are meeting the standards of<01:38:50.400>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 662, which would require public schools to include discussion of abortion procedures and show specified videos in health education classes. The prime sponsor argued the bill would ensure students receive medically accurate, age-appropriate, and nonpolitical information about abortion, saying the topic is important for informed decision-making and should be taught consistently statewide. He said the videos were intended for grades 9-12, that parents could opt out, and that the requirement was meant to supplement, not sway, students’ views. He also acknowledged the bill could be seen as limiting local control over curriculum and said the intent was to prevent the topic from being missed due to scheduling disruptions. Committee members questioned the sponsor about local control, the need for a video mandate, the source of his statistics, whether the bill could be biased or inflammatory, and whether the requirement should apply every year in high school. The sponsor said the videos were only a starting point, could be replaced by others, and were meant to be informational. He also said the bill was not intended to influence students’ decisions about abortion. Several supporters testified in favor, including representatives of New Hampshire Right to Life and others who said students should be told the “truth” about abortion and its consequences. They emphasized graphic or emotionally difficult aspects of abortion and argued that young people need this information to make informed choices. Opponents and skeptical witnesses raised concerns about prescribing curriculum, eroding local control, and the appropriateness of the material for younger high school students. The New Hampshire School Administrators Association said the bill was overly prescriptive, that health education standards are already set by the State Board of Education, and that the topics in the bill are not part of the current standards. That witness recommended the committee consider retaining the bill for further work or making it less prescriptive. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, lowers the liability standard from gross negligence to simple negligence.
• And finally, lowers<00:24:42.840><c> the</c><00:24:42.960><c> liability</c><00:24:43.720><c> standard
• </c> lowers the liability standard lowers the liability standard from<00:24:45.480><c> gross</c><00:24
• So, those fall under a different standard than the bullying.
• </c> different standard than the bullying. different standard than the bullying.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• help ensure vehicles are these standards help ensure vehicles are repaired<00:14:55.920><c> safely,<
• The federal standards allow dogs to be kept in cages only 6 inches larger than their bodies, on wire
• The federal standards allow dogs to be kept in cages only 6 inches larger than their bodies, on wire
• for ethical and hard to set the standard for ethical and responsible<00:43:25.760><c> pet</c><00:43:
• to ensure that we are getting standards to ensure that we are getting the<01:56:02.960><c> full</c><

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But yeah, in general, they're based upon, uh, industry standards, if you will. >> So is the national
• We don't currently have a standardized chart of accounts. Now, New Hampshire Ed is working on that.
• Over the next couple of years, we'll probably come up with a standardized one.
• So, you’re not sending people to Police Standards and Training? >> No, we have our own.
• </c> police standards and training, right? police standards and training, right?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved corrected minutes from October 6 after members noted and fixed several transcription and spelling errors, including a clarification that a comment about SAU numbers came from former Senator Jim Rubin. The vote to approve the corrected minutes was moved, seconded, and adopted with one abstention. The main presentation came from Chuck Bates of the New Hampshire Association of School Business Officials (ASBO), who described the organization, its certification program, and the role of school business administrators. He explained that ASBO members handle accounting and financial management, facilities, food service, HR, information systems, transportation, and risk management. He also outlined the certification program, which includes 21 courses, most online, plus four in-person workshops unique to New Hampshire, and noted that many members are not certified because the state licensure requirement was removed. Bates then addressed the committee’s interest in SAU consolidation and county-wide restructuring. He said business administrators often manage multiple budgets, attend school board meetings, and serve as a visible point of contact for the community. He argued that consolidation would create operational and financial challenges, including staff and facility relocation, differing accounting systems, lack of a standardized chart of accounts, and uncertain return on investment. He said the biggest obstacle would be local control, especially in small towns that do not want outside decisions affecting school closures, class sizes, or student transportation. Committee members questioned him about the distinction between administrative and academic control, the size of district offices in larger cities, and what might reduce administrative costs; Bates responded that many administrative costs stem from legislation and that consolidation would be difficult to implement without local support.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen a lowering of those standards.
• But I have not heard about some of these things in terms of like academic standards or kind of rigor.
• or kind of rigor and so um and standards or kind of rigor and so um and I<01:27:23.400><c> was</c><01
• at the high school us that our standard at the high school is<01:37:50.880><c> higher</c><01:37:51.199
• make it um make let's lower the standard make it um make it<01:43:17.400><c> the</c><01:43:17.560><c

Bills: HF984 , HF921 , HF922

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education funding, nonpublic schools, counseling services, guidance services, transportation for students, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• responsibilities, this is summarized from Century Code, but we are asked to develop statewide IT standards
• enforcement mechanism if there are entities that are trying to cut corners or not complying with standards
• Moving on to recommended changes to the operating standards for Okay.
• Moving on to recommended changes to the operating standards for emergency services communications.
• While certain specific operating standards were discussed during the ESC3's meeting this past June, it

Committee: Joint Information Technology Committee

Summary: The Information Technology Committee approved the March 26 minutes and received a series of reports from NDIT on major IT projects, the annual report, mainframe modernization, and cybersecurity services. The project portfolio was reported at 116 major projects with a baseline cost of $546 million, overall under budget but modestly behind schedule. Several projects that had been in variance status last quarter were said to have closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning. New startup reports were mostly HHS efforts tied to refugee data management, technical debt cleanup, and legacy application decommissioning, while closeouts included HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT projects with mixed budget and schedule results. In the annual report discussion, NDIT described its service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management reporting, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how revenues and grants flow through the service fund, how NDIT charges agencies for services, and whether customer satisfaction or CSAT scores are tracked and could be reported more regularly. NDIT said it does track service-team CSAT and survey data, and committee members encouraged more regular reporting of those metrics. The committee also discussed application portfolio management, statewide IT planning, and whether agencies should slow new system replacements while the state pursues an ERP system. The mainframe update focused on the state’s ongoing effort to retire legacy systems by about 2030. NDIT and HHS said the work is being managed as a tech-debt program, but progress is slowed by data cleanup, integration complexity, staff retirements, vendor capacity, and federal requirements. Members asked whether there is a coordinated commitment and whether additional vendor support or consultants are needed; NDIT said it is working jointly with HHS and is seeking an RFP to help accelerate modernization. The cybersecurity presentation then shifted to statewide maturity assessments and services. NDIT said it provides endpoint protection, vulnerability scanning, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that assessments are based on CIS controls. Members raised concerns about low participation in the self-assessment process, the lack of mandatory reporting or audit authority, and whether insurance incentives through Enderf or possible State Auditor involvement could improve compliance. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• But that's not a standard thing that would automatically happen.
• Okay, so that answers my question: there's not one set standard nationwide.
• But there's no requirement for schools to adopt those same standards. So it was the hope.
• We didn't carry the legislation. ...those same standards. So it was the hope.
• This will get them up to current standards so they can avail themselves of grant opportunities.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster. Laura Sori of the Department of Conservation and Energy said the agency has inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the earthquakes, found no permit violations, and is requiring monthly reporting of daily injection data. LSU and Tulane researchers explained that the swarm includes about 50 earthquakes detected by USGS since December 2025, including a 4.9 magnitude event on March 5, and that better monitoring is needed because Louisiana has very limited seismic station coverage. Dr. Cynthia Ebinger said her temporary array has detected more small quakes than USGS, that the pattern looks more like a swarm than normal aftershocks, and that the data suggest pressure changes in the subsurface, though no definitive cause was identified. Keith Hall of LSU described how other states responded to suspected induced seismicity with more monitoring, more frequent reporting, injection limits or moratoria, and “traffic light” systems that escalate regulatory responses as seismicity increases. Members asked about depths, fault locations, possible links to injection or fracking, and whether more monitoring and data-sharing should be pursued; several speakers said Louisiana likely needs a denser monitoring network and more structured data collection. A Texas geoscientist, William Berger, also testified that Texas uses large-scale data analysis and AI to study injection-related seismicity and argued for secure sharing of operator data to improve forecasting and risk management. The committee then took testimony on UAV and drone incursions over Barksdale Air Force Base. GOSEP said the incident was logged in WebEOC and the common operating picture, but that Barksdale did not request direct GOSEP resources and that the matter was handled through law enforcement channels. Louisiana State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose, but confirmed multiple drone sightings on the morning and evening of March 9 and continued monitoring for several days. State Police said they have created a task force with the Police Chiefs Association, Sheriffs Association, GOSEP, and LSP, and that officers are receiving FBI-related training to help detect and, where authorized, mitigate drones. Members discussed whether the activity was nefarious, what counts as an incursion, and the need for better public education about drone restrictions near military and critical infrastructure sites. No formal action was taken, but members said the issue will continue to be tracked alongside pending legislation. Finally, the committee received a one-year update on the merger of GOSEP with the Louisiana National Guard and Military Department. Major General Thomas Freelieu and Brigadier General Jason Maffus said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, shifted administrative functions to the Military Department, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance. They said the agency has modernized its common operating picture, returned staff to in-person work, and continued statewide preparedness exercises. Freelieu highlighted Guard missions including cyber expansion, the new Air National Guard cyber squadron at Jackson Barracks, modernization of the 159th Fighter Wing, and ongoing support for homeland security missions in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. Maffus said GOSEP’s core mission remains emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, and that the merger is intended to make state support to parishes faster and more efficient.

Transcript Highlights:

• We talked about the federal aspect in adopting those types of standards here in the state, but we also
• We talked about adopting federal standards.
• We talked about adopting federal standards.
• All of these, again, have to meet the federal and state standards and requirements for their Medi-Cal
• I think of it as establishing certain standards and protocols to be able to ensure that the organizations

Summary: The joint Assembly Health and Select Committee on Native American Affairs held an oversight hearing on AB 988, California’s 988 crisis line and mobile crisis response system, followed by a discussion of suicide prevention and intervention in California Indian communities. Members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized that AB 988 was intended to create a true alternative to 911 for behavioral health crises, with “someone to call, someone to come, and somewhere to go,” and that Native communities continue to face disproportionately high suicide rates and barriers to culturally responsive care. The first panel of call center and stakeholder witnesses largely argued that implementation is falling short of the law’s intent. They said 988 call centers are underfunded, text/chat answer rates remain far below call answer rates, staffing is strained, and the system still lacks meaningful statewide interoperability between 988 and 911. Several witnesses said mobile crisis teams are not being dispatched through 988 as envisioned, and that funding formulas and governance are too opaque. San Joaquin County was presented as a local success story, with integrated 988, access lines, and mobile crisis handoffs that have reduced reliance on emergency departments and involuntary holds. Witnesses also discussed the need for better tribal outreach, the role of CCBHCs, and the importance of culturally competent services. State officials from CalHHS and DHCS described the five-year 988 implementation plan, the current governance structure across multiple agencies, and efforts to support training, public awareness, and referral tools. They reported growth in 988 contacts, ongoing training with the Trevor Project, a statewide resource directory, and a tribal awareness campaign. DHCS also outlined proposed trailer bill language that would create a formal designation process for 988 centers, set statewide standards, and require existing centers to obtain designation by 2029. Officials said current funding includes SAMHSA grants, block grant dollars, and an expected $67.3 million from the 988 fund in the next budget year, with a large share earmarked for Medi-Cal mobile crisis services. No formal vote or committee action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• 2023 Birmingham City Schools, um, 50% of the third graders are reading at the reading grade level standard
• 2023 Birmingham City Schools, um, 50% of the third graders are reading at the reading grade level standard
• 2023 Birmingham City Schools, um, 50% of the third graders are reading at the reading grade level standard
• 2023 Birmingham City Schools, um, 50% of the third graders are reading at the reading grade level standard
• 2023 Birmingham City Schools, um, 50% of the third graders are reading at the reading grade level standard

Bills: HB517 , HB98 , HB235 , HB236 , HB237 , HB238 , HB239 , HB240 , HB241 , HB242 , HB565 , HB517 , HB98 , HB235 , HB236 , HB237 , HB238 , HB239 , HB240 , HB241 , HB242 , HB565 , SB380

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: underground damage prevention, one-call notification system, utility locating, excavation safety, dig safe, call before you dig, 811, utility lines, underground utilities, pipeline safety, gas pipeline, electric utility, telecommunications, water utility, wastewater, cable television, locate request, premark, tolerance zone, positive response