Transcript Highlights:

• And I really go to the WGA, the Writers Guild of America, that embedded some stipulations for what AI
• simply could not do, and first draft cannot be written by... ...for what AI simply could not do and
• first draft cannot be written by AI.
• But those—when you do those productions, well, A, AI can't do a documentary with real people in it.
• AI or no AI, we still need human beings. So it's all long-studied and tested. We're proven.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on how recent federal actions are affecting arts, culture, humanities, libraries, museums, and the creative economy in California. Chair Ben Allen and Vice Chair Chris Ward opened by describing the hearing as a response to proposed and ongoing federal cuts to the NEA, NEH, IMLS, and public broadcasting, as well as grant terminations and leadership changes at cultural institutions. Several members emphasized the economic and civic importance of the arts, while one Republican member argued for greater ideological diversity in the arts and noted the loss of music programs in small schools. Testimony from Aaron Harky of Americans for the Arts and Jolie Fisher of SAG-AFTRA described the impact of federal policy on grants, jobs, and production. Harky said executive orders and the FY 2026 budget proposal threaten arts agencies and arts education, and that rescinded grants are causing hiring freezes, shutdowns, and losses for small organizations, especially in rural and underserved communities. Fisher focused on runaway film and television production, outdated tax rules, and the need for federal incentives, intellectual property protections, and action on AI and digital replicas. Members also discussed bipartisan support, the role of business and tourism partners, and the need to include more diverse voices in arts advocacy. The second panel featured Rick Noguchi of California Humanities, Greg Lucas of the State Library, and Danielle Purcell of the California Arts Council. Noguchi said NEH funding was cut immediately, putting California Humanities’ grantmaking and documentary programs at risk and prompting consideration of litigation and possible state support. Lucas reported that IMLS funding for California libraries was briefly canceled but partly restored, though a budget gap remains. Purcell said the California Arts Council is still awaiting federal award language for state partnership funds, but NEA grant terminations and the proposed elimination of federal cultural agencies create major uncertainty; she also said the council is assessing the damage and tracking impacts on grantees. Members asked about measuring outcomes, AI’s threat to creative work, documentary funding losses, and possible state and national strategies to protect cultural institutions and jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fortunately, my AI research assistant managed to answer the question with superhuman speed.
• And apparently, at least according to the AI, which is always a dangerous way to go, they're not currently
• At least according to the AI, which is always a dangerous way to go, they're not currently required to

Bills: SB1006, SB1029, SB1037, SB1038, SB1040, SB1057, SB1060, SB1237

Keywords: campaign finance, contribution limits, reporting requirements, political action committees, elections, campaign contributions, candidate committees, posthumous provisions, termination process, Arizona Revised Statutes, voting systems, vote tabulation, election security, internet connectivity, offline voting, chain of custody, polling place equipment, counting center, central counting center, election management system

Summary: The Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections met and took up several election- and campaign-related bills. SB 1006 would raise the threshold for itemizing in-state individual campaign contributions in committee reports from $100 to $200 and increase the aggregate reporting threshold accordingly; staff described it as a straightforward campaign finance update, and it passed 4-3. SB 1029 would treat a candidate committee as intending to terminate upon the candidate’s death and allow certain designated individuals to serve as treasurer; testimony from the Town of Queen Creek described practical problems encountered after the deaths of officeholders, and the bill passed unanimously 7-0. SB 1038 would require county election officials to transmit the cast vote record to the Secretary of State and prohibit alteration except as otherwise allowed; members debated whether CVRs are already public records and whether the bill was needed, and it passed 4-3. SB 1237 would add county recorders and the House and Senate election committee leaders to the list of officials consulted by the Secretary of State when prescribing the Elections Procedures Manual; county officials testified this would better reflect their role in early voting and other election functions, and it passed 4-3. The committee also heard SB 1057, which would require vendors providing ballot paper fraud countermeasures to meet specified ISO certifications and include at least three of ten listed security features. Staff explained the ISO standards, and members discussed whether the bill needed additional safeguards and whether it differed from a vetoed bill from the prior session. The bill passed 4-3, with some members noting they wanted amendments or had concerns about the standards and the bill’s structure. After discussing several additional measures, the chair indicated he was not comfortable moving the remaining bills without the sponsor present. Without objection, the committee held the remaining bills and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• item presented for observation had no identifying tag number and/or serial number documented on the AIS
• Additionally, 10 of the 50 items tested had documented dates at AIS of being last inventoried two or
• items were not capitalized at the correct amount; one item that was still on hand was removed from AIS

Summary: The committee met with prayer and approved the January minutes, then heard a series of Arkansas Legislative Audit reports. Reports with findings were presented for the Department of Human Services, Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, Department of Corrections, and Department of Veterans Affairs, along with a special report on law enforcement racial profiling policy compliance. Several reports without findings were also filed without objection. For DHS, auditors reported apparent thefts involving false benefit claims in disaster nutrition assistance and Medicaid, a nearly $610,000 altered warrant cashed by a California auto body shop, and multiple asset-control issues, including missing equipment, inventory discrepancies, and improper sales tax paid on exempt vehicle purchases. Members questioned DHS about the warrant fraud and whether other agencies or California officials had been notified. For Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, auditors cited missing museum receipts and problems with change funds at Daisy State Park and War Memorial Stadium; department officials said they are considering cashless payment options and provided an update on the museum loss investigation. For Corrections, auditors reported unauthorized personal fuel-card purchases totaling about $4,500 and a delayed disaster recovery test for critical IT systems. Department officials said staffing has been increased for fuel-card oversight and that a full production disaster recovery test is scheduled soon. For Veterans Affairs, auditors found improper pay for employees who were not working, duplicate vendor payment, and numerous overtime approvals that were not properly authorized; the department said it has tightened overtime approval procedures. The special report said only 203 of 383 law enforcement agencies had responded regarding racial profiling policies, and the Attorney General had notified the remaining agencies that they were not in compliance. The committee requested a list of nonresponding agencies and adjourned, with the next meeting scheduled for March 12.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Ors, this bill has to do with AI and the AI determination from insurance companies whether they
• has<00:10:53.600> to<00:10:53.760> do<00:10:53.839> with<00:10:54.000> AI

Bills: SB63, HB156, HB289, SB80, SB84, SB63, HB156, HB289, SB80, SB84

Keywords: immigration, law enforcement, fingerprints, DNA collection, illegal aliens, Alabama state law, out-of-state warrants, criminal procedure, extradition, Alabama Code, arrest authority, interstate cooperation, Marshall County, TVA, Tennessee Valley Authority, in-lieu-of-taxes, payments distribution, local legislation, school funding, education finance

Transcript Highlights:

• daughter<00:05:27.400> um<00:05:28.400> what<00:05:28.880> well<00:05:29.360> AI
• 00:05:29.840> was<00:05:30.000> applied<00:05:30.400> to daughter um what well AI
• was applied to daughter um what well AI was applied to an<00:05:30.680> image<00:05:30.919>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:53.039> capital as we all heard, uh AI capital as we all heard, uh AI capital expenditures
• It's u information basically AI.
• So total investment without AI growth.
• <01:16:40.560> And With AI it turns positive. And With AI it turns positive.
• And so I mean uh by hope for AI.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , who here believes that data that's captured by the government and eventually potentially fed into AI
• We are already seeing AI used in federal surveillance, especially in immigration enforcement.
• > in concerning in the moment we're in concerning in the moment we're in as<00:58:07.640> AI
• becomes more integrated into every as AI becomes more integrated into every aspect<00:58:11.840>
• and eventually potentially fed into AI and eventually potentially fed into AI will<00:58:31.960>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• nature are a kind of critical and core piece as we're talking about bringing in other technologies like AI
• There's a lot of excitement about how AI might be used to enhance quantum systems.
• relation to Representative Little's question that quantum computing centers require less water than the AI
• Systems like you would see in AI and data centers.
• Ivory said, we're not going to need massive water cooling like we see with AI centers.

Transcript Highlights:

• several roles, including the co-chair of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the chair of the AI
• And in one year, AI is here and will, of course, advance the discovery of tech assistive tools.
• There's some research in regards to what AI can help with assistive technology, and there's many new
• It's wise to figure out, from DDD's perspective, from an access perspective, how to look at AI and how
• Assistive technologies can be anywhere between 3D-printed writing utensils and AI and motorized wheelchairs

Bills: HB2051, HB2114, HB2127, HB2134, HB2207, HB2574, HB2700, HB2800, HB2916

Keywords: AHCCCS, lactation care, breastfeeding, health services, healthcare access, motorcycle registration, safety fund, education, awareness programs, low-income scholarships, motorcycle training, special license plates, transportation, funding, nonprofits, charitable contributions, critical infrastructure, foreign adversaries, China, communications

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations met with all members present, approved the March 17, 2026 minutes, and announced its final hearing would be the following Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. The committee first heard HB 2134, the Arizona Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, which would bar state and critical infrastructure entities from contracting with Chinese companies for access to critical infrastructure, prohibit Chinese-produced software and equipment in certain systems, require annual certifications and reporting, and direct the Corporation Commission and DEMA to implement oversight and emergency communications measures. The sponsor and a witness argued the bill was a targeted national-security measure and a companion to federal efforts; concerns were raised about cost, overlap with federal law, and staffing, but the bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 6-4 vote. The committee then considered HB 2051, which would require AHCCCS contractors, subject to CMS approval, to provide breastfeeding and lactation care services in multiple settings. Testimony from lactation consultants, researchers, advocates, and tribal representatives emphasized maternal and infant health benefits, access gaps, and potential Medicaid savings; AHCCCS and ADHS were neutral, with AHCCCS estimating a $1.8 million general fund cost and ADHS saying it could not absorb implementation costs. The committee adopted a 15-page amendment creating a voluntary state certification for lactation care providers and a DHS advisory committee, then passed the bill as amended on a 9-0 vote. HB 2700, creating a technology-first study committee on assistive technology for people with disabilities, also passed unanimously after testimony from disability advocates and a proposed amendment to add minority-party appointments was discussed but not voted on. HB 2800, which increases the penalty for knowingly lending a vehicle to a person with a DUI-related driving restriction if that person causes serious injury or death, drew extensive debate over whether the felony penalty was appropriate when the lender may not know the eventual outcome; after testimony from the sponsor and the victim’s widow, the bill passed 9-1. HB 2114, which uses motorcycle safety fund money for scholarships for rural and low-income riders and requires ADOT to issue motorcycle registrations only when an owner has a class M license, passed 10-0 amid concerns that the license language may need clarification on the floor. The committee then began HB 2127, an omnibus special-plates bill with multiple amendments, but discussion centered on whether one amendment was hostile and whether a community-college plate should be offered later; no final action on HB 2127 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• also investigating an ongoing and increasing concern about the impact of artificial intelligence and AI
• So, let's say, for example, with AI, how are we addressing that?
• But Maybe in future iterations, and if we could talk about maybe, is there some AI solution that could
• Chair, Senator Padilla, we've already begun implementing AI.
• In fact, we purchased a commercial off-the-shelf AI software to respond to the demand in the delay in

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we have all these AI companies competing in New Mexico, and I know they are.
• I really think they need to, you know, if they have enough money to open up an AI facility, then they
• I get that we're all into AI. You know, I'm talking to people off the grid.
• , and Those, and really, I'm going to say AI because that's what we were told, and that's what we can
• For that, I just, you know, I mean AI already took my job, so I don't even have a job anymore.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The AI Abuse Protection Act establishes a legal framework for regulating artificial intelligence, voice
• Jaseema, AI developer and co-founder of Transparency Coalition. Mr. J.
• Jaseema, AI developer and co-founder of Transparency Coalition. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Please.
• The second is that AI model developers have a duty of care that they're not fulfilling.
• The second is that AI model developers have a duty of care that they're not fulfilling.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on civil rights, family law, privacy, housing, and artificial intelligence. SB 477 would clarify FEHA procedures for the Civil Rights Department, including tolling deadlines by agreement and updating complaint definitions; it drew some concern about venue and convenience but was moved forward. SB 450 would confirm California jurisdiction over adoption proceedings for children born in the state even if families have moved away, and would require all legal parents to be listed on adoption orders; it received strong support, especially from LGBTQ family advocates, and passed to Appropriations. SB 683 would clarify that people whose name, image, or likeness is misused may seek TROs or injunctions under existing publicity-rights law; opposition from media and First Amendment groups focused on the 48-hour compliance default and speech concerns, but the bill advanced as amended to Privacy and Consumer Protection. The committee also considered SB 11, the AI Abuse Protection Act, which would regulate voice, image, and video cloning technology, require warnings, and direct the Judicial Council to develop evidence standards for AI; it passed to Public Safety. SCR 66, a resolution designating May 1 as Law Day and emphasizing the rule of law, was adopted unanimously after supportive comments from members. SB 808 would create expedited judicial review for housing permit denials that violate state law; supporters said it would reduce costly delay and help housing production, while the Judicial Council opposed it as imposing unreasonable timelines and staffing burdens. The bill passed to Appropriations despite concerns about court resources and broader housing-law issues. The committee then took up two privacy bills from Senator Wiener. SB 59 would automatically keep confidential court records for adult and retroactive gender/name change petitions, expanding protections previously enacted for minors; supporters described real-world doxxing and harassment, while opponents raised First Amendment and public-records objections, and the bill passed to Appropriations. SB 497 would require warrants for out-of-state law enforcement access to California prescription monitoring data, expand transgender shield protections for gender-affirming care records, and bar certain disclosures without legal process; the author framed it as a response to out-of-state anti-trans enforcement, and the bill was presented with support from trans advocacy groups.

Transcript Highlights:

• An increase in the AI and uh things.
• Although I will say an interesting component: we mentioned AI data centers earlier.
• Although I will say an interesting component: we mentioned AI data centers earlier.
• interesting component, we mentioned AI interesting component, we mentioned AI data<00:29:49.520>
• estimate on GDP, the investment in AI estimate on GDP, the investment in AI contributed<00:32:16.000

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting focused on preliminary fiscal 2026 revenue estimates and the governor’s office request for an official revision to fiscal 2026, with members reminded that any estimate adopted now would not bind the December official estimates. Staff from S&P Global walked through three forecast scenarios—control, optimistic, and pessimistic—based on recent federal tax changes, tariffs, and other policy developments, emphasizing that the outlook remains highly uncertain. Under the control scenario, the presentation projected below-trend real GDP growth of 1.8% in fiscal 2026, slowing to 1.5% by fiscal 2028, with unemployment peaking around 4.5% and the Federal Reserve cutting rates three times to a long-run range of about 2.75% to 3%. The optimistic scenario assumed lower effective tariffs, stronger growth, and better labor and housing outcomes, while the pessimistic scenario assumed a broader trade war, higher effective tariffs, faster deportations, weaker employment and consumer spending, and unemployment rising to about 6.3%. Speakers also noted that the forecast was prepared before later BLS revisions and that recent data on inventories and AI-related investment made the recent quarters look unusually volatile. Members discussed how the current fiscal 2026 outlook compared with earlier assumptions and noted that the eventual revenue revision may be smaller than the spread between the optimistic and pessimistic economic scenarios. The governor’s office and committee members also reviewed sector-specific impacts, including manufacturing, housing, light vehicle production, exports, and consumer sentiment, with particular concern about Kentucky’s auto and housing-related industries. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Next New Jersey AI Tax Credit Act authorizes the BPU to issue tax credits for energy storage projects
• Two years ago, this committee voted unanimously to create the Next New Jersey AI tax credit, despite
• And to Jack's point about, you know, a broader AI industry, the reality is this tax credit was designed
• Worse yet, because data that goes into these AI systems often reflects society's biases, surveillance
• pricing could [Data] into these AI systems often reflects society's biases.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we can actually now even see this uses AI technology that looks at those speeders and it looks where
• My understanding is it does use AI to try to get just an overall capture of the majority of the vehicles
• My understanding is it does use AI to try to get just an overall capture of the majority of the vehicles
• I'm just a little concerned around how the AI tools can manipulate information, and we're seeing in AI
• tools can manipulate information, and we're seeing in other contexts where the AI tools are giving what

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• they've<01:03:04.160> done<01:03:04.319> to<01:03:04.559> implement<01:03:05.119> AI
• 01:03:05.440> as<01:03:05.599> part<01:03:05.760> of they've done to implement AI
• as part of they've done to implement AI as part of the<01:03:06.000> curriculum.
• We know they've implemented AI and might have some best practices to share, again because this task force
• and might have some best implemented AI and might have some best practices<01:03:57.280> to<01

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on February 13 and heard several bills, with most testimony focused on House Bill 2340, an emergency appropriation for the University of Hawaii to expand and sustain the Maui wildfire exposure study and Maui Health Registry. Supporters described the program as a critical, community-based response to the Maui fires that provides health screenings, mental health support, referrals, and workforce training. Testifiers said the study has identified serious health issues, including respiratory problems, heavy metal exposure, high blood pressure, diabetes, and anemia, and several emphasized that the program has saved lives and should be expanded to reach more children and underserved residents. Committee members also noted broad written support from medical, public health, and community organizations. The committee then heard House Bill 65, HD1, on human and community resilience, which would fund development of a Human and Community Resilience Institute. The dean testifying for the University of Hawaii said the institute would take a data-driven, community-based approach to food and nutritional security, especially given Hawaii’s high food insecurity rate and the loss of SNAP-related positions. House Bill 6005, also on the agenda, drew testimony in support from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and others, though the transcript excerpt does not include the bill’s full description. The committee also heard House Bill 1605, HD1, expanding the Hawaii National Guard state tuition assistance program to graduate degrees; the Department of Defense, Hawaii Army National Guard, and University of Hawaii supported it, and members clarified that it is a state program separate from the federal GI Bill, though it may sometimes be combined depending on eligibility. Later, the committee heard House Bill 1967, HD1, on permitting workforce development, which would implement recommendations of the speed task force by creating a permitting workforce pipeline with community colleges and coordinating with state and county permitting agencies. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and the University of Hawaii supported the measure. House Bill 2139, HD1, on invasive species, would fund research on treatment methods for the Queensland Longhorn Beetle; DLNR, the Farm Bureau, CGAPS, University of Hawaii at Hilo researchers, farmers, and others supported it, citing damage to native trees, culturally important plants, and crops such as cacao, and noting promising early results from nematode biocontrol trials. The final bill heard was House Bill 2383, HD1, establishing a statewide workforce PELL grant framework for short-term training programs; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Workforce Development Council, and the University of Hawaii testified, and a committee discussion followed about how responsibilities would be divided among DIR, WDC, and the governor’s certification role. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rise of AI chatbots and so many other apps that parents didn't even know about a year ago have caused
• The rise of AI chatbots and so many other apps that parents didn't even know about a year ago have caused
• The rise of AI chatbots and so many other apps that parents didn't even know about a year ago have caused
• The rise of AI chatbots exponentially.
• The rise of AI chatbots and<00:21:15.919> so<00:21:16.159> many<00:21:16.320> other<

Bills: HB161

Keywords: building codes, standardization, commercial construction, architectural services, energy conservation, federal compliance, local governance, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if the AI is not as good, we're going to continue to refine it until we can scale it.
• And that means doing efficiency, looking at AI, looking at other technology, not just from the benefit
• If that involves AI, then I'm not willing to take it off the payroll.
• I'm not willing, though, to have them put in a position where AI is randomly in a situation, especially
• Well, the experience thus far with AI in the insurance industry is not positive.

Transcript Highlights:

• in hybridization with more classical compute, so whether it be high-performance compute or GPUs for AI
• to Google, we're not talking about a huge, huge power drain like you're finding in the traditional AI
• On that note, let's put that into AI and quantum and see what comes up.
• Chairman, Senator, I would love to say, I do not know for AI, for GPUs and for HPCs.
• They actually have an AI chili picker that they're developing.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This unchecked use of AI have created an environment lacking transparency and accountability, putting
• Without strong regulation, insurers can't exploit AI-driven and algorithms, systemically prioritizing
• Bill 815 confronts this potential misuse by placing regulatory guardrails against insurers' use of AI
• Their amendment explicitly protects the use of algorithms and AI systems for administrative and fraud
• point of clarification that as we move forward on fraud, waste and and abuse that we still can use AI

Bills: SJR57, SCR8, SB8, SB14, SB24, SB108, SB112, SB125, SB213, SB251, SB315, SB318, SB371, SB378, SB379, SB472, SB487, SB502, SB513, SB565, SB621, SB650, SB689, SB707, SB710, SB761, SB763, SB815, SB854, SB875, SB896, SB916, SB925, SB958, SB961, SB965, SB973, SB987, SB990, SB995, SB1006, SB1018, SB1019, SB1024, SB1026, SB1146, SB1194, SB1198, SB1253, SB1330, SB1343, SB1362, SB1379, SB1497, SB1498, SB1527, SB1532, SB1547, SB1596, SJR36, SJR12, SJR57, SCR22, SCR12, SCR8, SB565, SB765, SB62, SB666, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB847, SB1248, SB14, SB1006, SB504, SB925, SB995, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB815, SB1379, SB1497, SB1499, SB1498, SB241, SB304, SB621, SB1023, SB1024, SB686, SB112, SB371, SB204, SB609, SB670, SB502, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1362, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB987, SB1539, SB447, SB875, SB406, SB985, SB965, SB1119, SB1505, SB24, SB1194, SB1253, SB1215, SB1532, SB1302, SB856, SB650, SB583, SB673, SB213, SB681, SB1172, SB1252, SB378, SB1343, SB608, SB487, SB955, SB957, SB988, SB990, SB1019, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB958, SB761, SB541, SB315, SB379, SB1018, SB1737, SB266, SB1415, SB1527, SB125, SB599, SB1330, SB53, SB916, SB896, SB1352, SB973, SB785, SB710, SB472, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB1547, SB961, SB1038, SB513, SB578, SB711, SB746, SB942, SB1404, SB1448, SB1738, SB108, SB8, SB318, SB507, SB533, SB689, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB1198, SB1146, SB763, SB667, SB1059, SB617, SB1567, SB503, SJR37, SB16, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB1209, SB1210, SB1470, SB264, SB924, SB1029, SB1185, SB1202, SB1358, SB1364, SB1569, SB1697, SB1376, SB1228, SB519, SB878, SB1350, SB462, SB1535, SB827, SB1585, SB207, SB1207, SB1619, SB1396, SB920, SB1484, SB1273, SB1741

Keywords: central bank digital currency, CBDC, Federal Reserve, digital dollar, digital currency, cashless payments, financial privacy, cybersecurity, government surveillance, financial surveillance, money laundering, terrorism financing, illicit finance, banking policy, monetary policy, payments system, commercial banks, Texas Legislature, concurrent resolution, federal reserve digital currency