Transcript Highlights:

• Further discussion. Seeing none, the motion is the passage of House Bill 1136.
• ><c> the</c><00:46:51.080><c> motion</c> Seeing no further discussion, the motion Seeing no further discussion
• Is there any discussion?
• Is there any<00:49:18.440><c> discussion?</c> any discussion? any discussion?
• Any discussion?

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't remember us ever discussing this lease.
• I think we need to at least have that discussion.
• But I think that is an option that we could discuss with our sister agency.
• K-6 and L-1 will be the two that I want to discuss today.
• And we discussed during the budget hearing that we will probably be using some...

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee considered a series of appropriation, transfer, and review items, approving most requests in Sections B through J. These included temporary appropriations for state technology upgrades, personnel management, court reporters and interpreters, crime victim claims, juvenile sex offender assessments, radiation lab testing, higher education workforce grants, an ARPA grant for the UAFS LPN program, an IIJA grant for geological/critical minerals work, a restricted reserve transfer for 102 State Police vehicles, a transfer to the Arkansas Heroes Program, several cash fund requests for the Real Estate Commission HVAC and AV needs, and overtime appropriations for Emergency Management and Military. One budget classification transfer request from the Commissioner of State Lands for $250,000 to cover operating expenses tied to a new building was discussed at length but failed on the vote after questions about the lease and operating costs. A major portion of the meeting focused on a $25.7 million pay plan appropriation request for 15 agencies. Members questioned why the Department of Human Services had not requested additional pay-plan dollars for human development centers, where DHS acknowledged staffing shortages, high turnover, and heavy overtime but said the issue was not lack of pay-plan funding. DHS was asked to provide a written plan to address staffing problems. The Department of Corrections testified that the pay plan had improved retention and hiring, and committee members asked for follow-up data on vacancies and staffing outcomes. Members also clarified that the pay-plan request was appropriation only, not new funding, and approved it. The committee then reviewed fund reports, including the restricted reserve, Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, Tobacco Settlement, State Central Services, Education Adequacy, Medicaid Trust Fund, IIJA, and Revenue Services transfer reports. DHS and DFA were questioned closely about the Medicaid Trust Fund, with members noting a $90 million February draw and asking about projected year-end balances; DFA and DHS said February was a high-expense, low-revenue month and projected the fund would remain solvent through the fiscal year, ending between $150 million and $200 million, while a second $100 million set-aside is planned for FY27. The committee also discussed a state hospital damage report, where DHS explained that insurance proceeds would not fully cover the repair costs because of depreciation and the age of the buildings; members expressed concern that the state would recover far less than originally expected, and DHS said any additional insurance recovery would be limited and returned to restricted reserve.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, and we'll— I was going to ask if there's any discussion.
• Do you want closing comments before discussion, or—? I would like that.
• We'll go to— it prompts further discussion. Yeah, we'll go to this. Mr.
• Are there any questions for the bill sponsor or any discussion on the SCR?
• Is there any discussion? Seeing none, members, you've heard the question.

Bills: SB1142 , SCR1028

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: scholarships, tax credit, education funding, nonprofit organizations, Arizona Revised Statutes, constitutional amendment, state revenue, tax policy, legislative approval, two-thirds vote, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any discussion on the amendment? Would you like to give a brief? Sure.
• Further discussion on the... ...adopted the amendment ending in point zero one-H.
• Further discussion on the bill. Do I need to move it into a sub? Yeah.
• Is there any further discussion? Any further amendments?
• Any further discussion on voting due pass? Seeing none, please call the roll.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The Committee on General Laws met with a quorum and first went into executive session on House Bill 2774, the Jeff Knight bill concerning gas-powered leaf blowers. An amendment was adopted to exempt the city of Clayton, Missouri, allowing it to ban gas-powered leaf blowers if it chooses. The committee then rolled the amendment into a House Committee Substitute and voted the substitute do pass by 12 yeas and 0 nays. The committee next took up House Bill 2176 by Representative Perkins and voted it do pass by 8 yeas and 4 nays. After that, the committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1730, sponsored by Representative Koslow, which would treat Missouri-made firearm suppressors that remain in-state as outside federal Commerce Clause oversight. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill would protect hearing, reduce federal burdens, and not increase crime; members raised concerns about concealment and public safety, but no opposition testimony was offered and the hearing closed. The final public hearing was on House Bill 2504 by Representative Elliott, which would expand who may be designated as school protection officers to include additional school personnel, such as classified staff, if they volunteer, complete required training, and are approved through local school board and state processes. Supporters, including a school superintendent, security trainer, law enforcement officer, and public advocate, said the bill would improve response times in rural districts that cannot afford school resource officers and emphasized the extensive training and vetting already required. Opponents or skeptical members questioned whether adding more armed personnel in schools was the right response to school violence, but no formal opposition testimony was presented before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• is kind of a, I don't want to say catch-up cleanup, because that means something else, as we've discussed
• Representative Vincent, that is the earmark that was discussed.
• This would pilot. that there's been some discussions throughout the interim for tribal wildlife.
• Representative Vincent, that is the earmark that was discussed.
• Representative Vincent, that is the earmark that was discussed.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have utmost confidence that this committee will bring very informed and impactful discussions to our
• And I do expect that we want every bill sponsor to get a fair and robust discussion.
• I will respectfully bring you back if the discussions go off the bill topic.
• I just want to continue the discussion in favor of expanding it beyond doctors.
• And again, we will do discussion.

Bills: SB12 , SB13

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Keywords: tax credit, physician, healthcare, income tax, rural health, tax deduction, gross receipts, coinsurance, managed care, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Representative, I would like for you to discuss the amendments that may address something that you
• want to discuss.
• </c><00:15:22.480><c> So</c><00:15:23.120><c> I</c> something that you want to discuss.
• So I something that you want to discuss.
• >> Uh, the next bill up for discussion is House Bill 156 by Chairman Paul Lee.

Bills: HB139 , HB172 , HB156 , HB139 , HB172 , HB156

Committee: House Health

Keywords: HB139, Alabama discrimination, civil rights, public accommodations, employment discrimination, equal access, protected classes, race discrimination, sex discrimination, religious discrimination, age discrimination, disability discrimination, national origin discrimination, school board discrimination, labor organization, employment agency, retaliation, private right of action, punitive damages, attorney fees

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Chair: RANKING MEMBER, SO, THIS SHIFTS IN THE DISCUSSION TODAY IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL
• ALL THREE TIERS CONTINUE TO BE DISCUSSED WITH THE CBC LEAD AGENCIES AND ARE SENT AS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR
• DISCUSSION IN THE ORLANDO 30th WORKSHOP THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER.
• ANYTHING CLARIFICATION. >> I WILL ADMIT GETTING TO ACTUARY DISCUSSIONS IS OUTSIDE MY REALM.
• NUMBER ONE, I KNOW THESE WERE IN THE SLIDE DISCUSSED AS POTENTIAL PERFORMANCE OF QUALITY MEASURES.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we will circle back on topics that have been previously discussed in prior hearings to hear up.
• And this panel will be discussing facilitating automatic enrollment in public benefit programs.
• We also discussed how we're working on updates to mandated reporter training currently.
• We appreciate the discussion to facilitate... Thank you for having this hearing today.
• Just want to be under option number two in the discussion on mandated reporting.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services heard an overview of efforts to streamline access to safety net programs and move toward more automatic, person-centered enrollment. CDSS, DHCS, and CalHHS described current cross-enrollment between Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and CalWORKs, including data showing high overlap among programs and a text-message outreach pilot that increased CalWORKs applications and enrollments but reached only a small share of potentially eligible people. Witnesses emphasized barriers such as differing federal eligibility rules, data-sharing limits, privacy concerns, and the need for better technology, consent management, and stakeholder engagement. Members pressed the administration on how to institutionalize these efforts across administrations and asked for concrete budgetary and regulatory steps to support “no wrong door” enrollment and automatic referrals. The committee also reviewed several chair priorities. On the proposed foster care multi-agency office, CDSS said existing coordination structures already address much of the intended work and asked to verify prior fiscal scoring. On the Employment First Office, CalHHS explained that the office’s $1 million budget was eliminated in the 2024-25 budget as part of deficit reductions, while noting that employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities remains an administration priority through existing departmental coordination. For the food insecurity proposal, CDSS said it could provide technical assistance but would need new data-sharing agreements, could not separately calculate a CFAP participation rate with current data, and would likely need until July 1, 2027, plus ongoing staffing, to complete the requested report. The mandated reporter proposal drew support for reform, with CDSS estimating low-millions in one-time training costs and ongoing costs in the hundreds of thousands. The subcommittee also discussed a guaranteed income proposal. CalHHS suggested drafting new statutory language and considering a county-administered model rather than a state-run competitive grant process to reduce administrative burden, while members and public commenters urged support for AB 661 and a study of a permanent statewide guaranteed income program. Public testimony also supported automatic enrollment, community-supporting mandated reporting reforms, and cash assistance for fire recovery. In the final items, CSD described how local nonprofit partners helped during the Los Angeles fires with food, housing vouchers, transportation, and emergency energy assistance, and explained that LIHEAP and CSBG remain important but limited tools for disaster response. CSD also said recent federal staffing cuts and possible future federal budget threats could affect LIHEAP and CSBG administration, though no immediate service disruptions had occurred and additional LIHEAP funds were expected to be released soon.

Transcript Highlights:

• continuing to have a lot of discussion.
• It's the job, it's our job as educators, to discuss these things.
• It's the job, it's our job as educators, to discuss these things.
• We've had a lot of discussions.
• We spent a lot of time discussing this bill.

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills, with the most extensive discussion focused on AB 2189, AB 2615, AB 2496, AB 1750, and AB 1644. AB 2189 would create an $800,000 grant program through the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to support a statewide parent network for special education advocacy and training. Supporters said families need stronger coordination and information to navigate special education, while an opponent argued the bill could duplicate existing family-led organizations. The bill passed 6-0 and was sent to Appropriations, held on call for add-on votes. AB 2615, a cleanup bill to AB 715 on antisemitism and instructional materials, drew the most controversy. The authors said it was intended to clarify prior commitments by removing references to professional responsibility standards, refining the “factually accurate” language, and clarifying how discriminatory materials are handled. Supporters said it would help protect students from discrimination, while many educators, civil rights groups, and other organizations opposed it unless amended, warning that the factual-accuracy language could chill teaching and be applied too broadly. The committee chair and members raised concerns about implementation but ultimately supported moving the bill forward; it passed 5-0 and was held on call. AB 2496 would streamline school accountability reporting by making the California School Dashboard the primary transparency tool, phasing out the School Accountability Report Card over time, and making mid-year LCAP reporting optional. Supporters said this would reduce duplication and administrative burden while preserving access to key data; opponents worried families could lose the simplicity and accessibility of the current SARC and that the mid-year update still serves an important purpose. The bill was approved 3-0 and held on call. AB 1750, which would extend full salary for an additional five months for school employees who exhaust sick leave due to illness or injury, was supported as a dignity and retention measure but opposed by administrators over staffing and cost concerns; it passed 4-0 and was held on call. AB 1644 would require a bell-to-bell smartphone ban in TK-8 and recommend it for high school, with exceptions for instructional and safety needs; supporters said phones are harming attention and learning, while opponents argued districts had just adopted local policies and needed more flexibility. The transcript ends during discussion of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll discuss recidivism and what we can do to reduce it.
• Given your prior discussion earlier, ...and frequently closer to 12 months, given your prior discussion
• So I appreciate this discussion a lot.
• It's been a real, very, very interesting discussion. Thank you very much.
• It's been a real, very, very interesting discussion. Thank you very much.

Summary: The joint Senate Public Safety and Transportation hearing focused on DUI, impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving, road design, and the broader traffic safety system in California. Chairs Jesse Arreguín and Dave Cortese said the purpose was to inform upcoming legislation and noted that no bills would be acted on at the hearing. They emphasized the scale of the problem, including thousands of fatal and serious injury crashes each year, and framed the discussion around a Safe System approach that combines infrastructure, enforcement, education, and technology. The first panel covered current DUI law and traffic safety research. Thomas Nozowitz of the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code outlined California’s DUI penalty structure, including escalating misdemeanor and felony penalties, license suspensions, ignition interlock devices, Watson advisories, and homicide-related offenses such as vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and Watson murder. Stephanie Doherty of the Office of Traffic Safety described statewide crash trends, the role of alcohol, drugs, and speeding in fatalities, and state efforts such as the Safe System approach, safety corridors, and grant funding for impaired-driving countermeasures. Dr. Julia Griswold of UC Berkeley SafeTREC presented research favoring systemic interventions like self-explaining roads, safer speed limits, speed safety cameras, intelligent speed assistance, ignition interlocks, sobriety checkpoints, and treatment for chronic offenders, while noting that first-time DUI offenders account for a large share of fatal crashes. Members pressed the panelists on first-offense DUI treatment, ignition interlocks, speed governors, diversion, and whether tougher sanctions or vehicle technology would better reduce recidivism. Several senators raised concerns about repeat offenders, alcohol-use disorder, and the need for earlier intervention, while others questioned the effectiveness and cost of in-car devices. The panel also discussed data gaps and the need for better reporting and coordination between courts and DMV. The second panel, with DMV Director Steve Gordon and Judge Lisa Rodriguez, explained how administrative and court processes work in parallel: DMV receives court abstracts and can impose administrative per se suspensions quickly, while courts handle criminal cases, probation, and sentencing on a slower timeline. Both witnesses said the system is complex and paper-heavy but improving, and they acknowledged the need for better integration, clearer statutes, faster reporting, and more timely license actions to keep impaired drivers off the road.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, any discussion?
• So we'll discuss that.
• And then we will have a discussion after that.
• So we'll discuss that.
• So for setting D, and I know Chairman Richter and I have had some discussions, we're going to be discussing

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any further discussion to the amendment?
• We've added clarity uh to discussions.
• Any further discussion to the amendment. Any further discussion to the amendment?
• Any further discussion?
• I um let them continue the discussion.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I look forward to the discussion today.
• We'll forward to the discussion today.
• So nevertheless, I for discussion.
• Discussion to the bill. House File 2431. Third reading. Discussion to the bill.
• </c><01:26:42.080><c> today</c> members for the robust discussion today members for the robust discussion

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Any discussion?
• Any discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Chairman Brumley, aye.
• Any discussion?
• Any other discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Chairman Brumley, aye.
• Any other discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Chairman Brumley. Aye.

Committee: House Utilities

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any discussion? I now move House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3210 be voted do pass.
• Any discussion? Please call the roll. Madam Chair Burns, aye. Vice Chair Oler King?
• Any discussion? Back to where we were. I move that House Bill 3510 be voted do pass.
• Any discussion? Seeing none, please call the roll. Madam Chair Burns, aye. Vice Chair Oler King?
• Any further discussion? Representative Walsh Moore? Sorry, to inquire, just real quick.

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Summary: The committee first took up executive-session action on House Committee Amendment ending in point 02H and adopted it, then rolled the amendment into a new substitute and adopted the substitute for House Bill 3210. The committee then voted House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3210 do pass by a roll call of 9 ayes and 5 noes. Next, the committee corrected a script issue and voted House Bill 3510 do pass by a roll call of 14 ayes and 1 no, after brief confusion over the bill number. The meeting then moved to a public hearing on Senate Bill 1351, sponsored by Senator Joe Nicola. The bill would reduce Independence’s school board term from six years to three years to match most other districts. An amendment added on the Senate floor would allow a student to be excused from school once per scheduled election to accompany a parent who is voting. The sponsor said the bill was intended to improve accountability and make school board service more accessible, and he said the amendment promoted civic engagement. Committee members asked about why Independence had a six-year term, whether three years is the norm, and whether the voting-related amendment was unrelated to the bill’s original subject. The sponsor said he did not know why the six-year term existed and said the amendment had been reviewed for title compatibility. A representative from Missouri NEA testified in support, explaining the unusual structure of Missouri school-district statutes and saying the organization supported both the shorter term and the student voting absence provision. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing concluded without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Discussion to the motion. I recognize the member from Hennepin, Representative Long.
• &gt;&gt; Discussion<00:07:32.000><c> to</c><00:07:32.400><c> the</c><00:07:33.599><c> motion.
• </c><00:07:34.080><c> I</c><00:07:34.319><c> recognize</c> &gt;&gt; Discussion to the motion.
• I recognize &gt;&gt; Discussion to the motion.
• Discussion to the motion. Seeing no discussion, all those in favor say I. Those opposed, nay.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Discussion? I don't see any. Those in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?
• I know it's extremely important to him and others, and if there's no other discussion, Mr.
• If there's no other discussion, Mr. Chairman, I have a motion, if it's in order. Yes, motion.
• Don't see any discussion. Those in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?
• Discussion? Not seeing any. Those in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed?

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The committee heard several print hearings and one bill hearing. Senator Nichols presented RS 33432, which would update Idaho’s contract requirements for state-supported veterinary school slots beginning with the 2027 class, requiring graduates to practice in Idaho with a focus on mixed agricultural animal medicine and at least 600 hours per year serving agricultural animals. She said it aligns veterinary obligations with existing WHAMI requirements, strengthens Idaho’s return on investment, and has no additional cost. The committee asked about current hour requirements and learned there is no existing veterinary hour requirement; the motion to introduce RS 33432 passed unanimously. Senator Adams presented RS 33440, a resolution urging Congress to exercise its war powers before deploying the Idaho National Guard into conflict, citing prior deployments and the 2001 AUMF. Members praised his effort, and the committee voted to introduce the RS. Senator Ruchti then presented RS 33426, which would create a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency kiosks or Bitcoin ATMs to reduce fraud, money laundering, and scams, especially against seniors and vulnerable Idahoans. He cited rising losses from crypto scams and said the proposal was developed with stakeholder input; the committee voted to introduce that RS as well. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1297, the Conversational AI Safety Act, from Senator Taves. The bill would require AI chat services to disclose when users are interacting with AI, adopt protocols for suicidal ideation, restrict sexually explicit content and gamification for minors, provide parental tools, and create civil penalties and injunction enforcement without a private right of action. Google testified in support, saying it already uses similar safety-by-design measures and that the bill would set a consistent industry floor. After discussion, the committee voted to send SB 1297 to the floor with a do pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there discussion on the title? The gentleman from St.
• Is there discussion on the title? Seeing none, all those in favor vote aye; those opposed, no.
• Discussion on House Amendment 1 to House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1788.
• Discussion on House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1788 as amended.
• Further discussion on House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1788 as amended.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House began by noting the absence of a quorum and then established one by vote. The chamber then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1788, which was described as a campaign finance measure responding to a reported case of deceptive recurring political donations. The sponsor said the bill requires affirmative opt-in consent for recurring contributions, clear receipt and cancellation information, and that recurring donations tied to elections end at the election unless they are ongoing party contributions. Members discussed a House Amendment 1 that was characterized as cleanup language from the Missouri Ethics Commission and not a substantive change. Several members asked about how the bill would affect recurring donations to political parties versus issue-based campaigns, and the sponsor said party donations would not be affected by election timing, while election-related solicitations would end at the election. The amendment was adopted, and members then spoke in support of the bill as a consumer-protection and transparency measure. The House adopted the committee substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. After the bill action, the House moved to announcements, including a Bible study invitation, a reminder to wear red for Heart Month, a Future Caucus AI meeting, and a Special Committee on Rural Issues meeting. The House then adjourned until 10 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026, and members were told to be prepared to consider House Committee Substitute for House Bills 1667 and 2294 upon return.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a good discussion about this about a week ago, and we would ask for its adoption and answer any
• Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor? Oh, Representative Burgoyne?
• Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying aye. Any opposed?
• I don't see any other discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Motion passes.
• Committee, House Bill 497—there's some discussion on the Senate side about the list of, I don't know,

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all