Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:03.919><c> that</c> libraries that libraries that um<00:07:06.960><c> that</c><00:07:07.199><c
• </c><00:08:17.840><c> and</c> that they can come to the library and that they can come to the library
• </c><00:10:08.959><c> you</c><00:10:09.120><c> have</c> libraries across the state. you have libraries
• I think we I libraries have access.
• </c> provide broadband including libraries provide broadband including libraries came<00:12:37.920><c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Government Operations Committee heard Governor’s Message 663, reappointing Corey Schaefer to the 911 Board for a term ending June 30, 2026. Schaefer described his telecommunications background and five years of service on the board, including recent election as chair. There was no opposition, and the committee recommended advise and consent; the recommendation was adopted with one member excused. The committee then took up a resolution asking the Comptroller and DAGS to work with the Hawaii State Public Library System to identify rural and underserved communities needing better telecommunications access for participation in the legislative process. Testimony from library and disability advocates supported the goal, but members raised concerns that the measure was too broad and unclear about the actual problem, whether libraries already had sufficient broadband and equipment, and whether the focus should be on public access and education rather than DAGS. The committee deferred the measure to Thursday for a revised draft. Members also heard a resolution urging all state departments to partner with the Office of Wellness and Resilience on data-sharing agreements. The office and several advocacy groups supported the measure as part of trauma-informed state efforts, but members expressed strong privacy and HIPAA concerns and questioned what data would be shared, for what purpose, and how it would be protected. The committee deferred that measure as well so the office could work with the chair on narrower language. Finally, the committee considered a resolution urging boards and commissions to conduct annual performance reviews of executive directors or equivalent exempt positions. With only one individual testifying in support, the committee recommended a Senate draft to clarify that the measure applies to civil service exempt positions, and the recommendation was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• the every library the every library and the every library has<03:05:42.000><c> board</c><03:05:42.319
• The American Library Association.
• The American Library Association.
• </c> Library Association. Library Association.
• </c> attend graduate library programs. attend graduate library programs.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, imagine, Mr.
• I mean, imagine, Mr.
• I mean, imagine, Mr.
• I mean, imagine, Mr.
• Imagine the issues. Imagine that.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Suite uh in a library as well what<00:40:10.760><c> that</c><00:40:10.920><c> does</c><00:40:11.160>
• yet along with the fact we would imagine yet along with the fact we have<00:50:06.079><c> no</c><00:
• Well, one of the reasons we need this, and I think, you know, this is hard frankly for me to imagine,
• Can you just imagine that?
• </c> imagine that imagine the government imagine that imagine the government saying<02:08:57.480><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on HB 366, which would increase school building aid for eligible projects. Representative Cahill, the prime sponsor, said the bill would raise the annual minimum from $50 million to $60 million and help address a long backlog of school construction and renovation needs after years of a moratorium on applications. He argued that districts forced to build during the moratorium were left to shoulder costs through local property taxes, and he cited examples such as Londonderry, Claremont, and other communities with aging or inadequate facilities. He also said the current aid structure, including paying 80% upfront and 20% at completion, concentrates too much spending at once and limits how many projects can be funded. Several committee members asked about the fairness and structure of the program. Representative Maguire questioned whether aid should be distributed more broadly to all districts rather than only a few selected projects, and Representative Luneau noted that the committee would also be considering related bills on catastrophic aid, special education aid, and the school foundation formula. Cahill responded that building aid has historically been targeted to property-poor communities and that the state should be a reliable partner in school construction. He also said the bill includes a small retroactive component for communities that built during the moratorium, which he described as a compromise. Testimony in support came from Representative Cluder, who described Claremont’s Stevens High School project as a case where a bond issue narrowly failed and the city later had to fund renovations without state aid, contributing to high property taxes. He said the bill would help property-poor communities and urged passage. Tony Weinstein of New Market also supported the bill, saying his community had serious facility and safety needs, had moved forward with scaled-back renovations during the moratorium, and still faced debt-service burdens without state participation. Robert Thompson, superintendent in Hampstead, testified that his district needs an addition for overcrowding, safety, and special education space, and said building aid would help reduce out-of-district placements and transportation costs. No vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm hoping that we'll be able to move forward with some of these applications because, as you can imagine
• And they are, well, I should say the form is on our KYTC forms library under TC-20 for rural municipality
• should say the form is on our<00:21:30.520><c> KYTC</c><00:21:31.400><c> forms</c><00:21:31.840><c> library
• /c><00:21:33.040><c> under</c><00:21:33.440><c> TC-20</c><00:21:34.320><c> for</c> our KYTC forms library
• under TC-20 for our KYTC forms library under TC-20 for rural<00:21:34.680><c> municipality,</c><00:21

Keywords: 00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:55 Bridge Improvement Program 18:56 County Priority Projects Program 38:10 Transportation Alternative Program 51:47 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for the first interim meeting of the 2025 Budget Review Committee on Transportation and heard from Bobby Jo Lewis, commissioner of Rural and Municipal Aid at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. She reviewed the new County City Bridge Improvement Program, created in the 2024 regular session, reporting that phases one and two are complete, 45 bridges have been funded so far, and about $18.45 million has been authorized. She said roughly $6.549 million remains for phase three in the current fiscal year, with about $26.445 million in bridge applications still pending. For fiscal year 2026, the program will again have $25 million and will use four application phases. She also described a training resource, Local Bridges 101, and said a new executive advisor, Greg Meredith, has been brought in to help with the bridge program. Members asked how rollover applications would be handled, whether they would be re-evaluated with new applications, how the program would account for bridge longevity and load posting, and how isolated communities would be prioritized. Lewis said applicants not funded in FY25 would be contacted and could choose to roll their applications into FY26, and all applications would be evaluated together at the end of each phase. She said preservation projects are assessed for how much they extend a bridge’s life, and isolated community access bridges or closed bridges with no detour access receive priority. She also said the department aims for equitable distribution across regions and plans to produce a map showing where funds have been awarded. Lewis then turned to the County Priority Projects Program and the Local Assistance Road Program established in House Bill 546 and related resolutions. She said the application cycle opened June 1 and closes October 1, with 106 memoranda of agreement being prepared for awards in House Joint Resolution 46. She described updated application and reporting forms, a scoring matrix, and a County City Pavement Evaluation Manual used to rate projects based on preservation of assets, average daily traffic, recent improvements, safety, cost, and district priority. She said projects must be rehabilitation projects designed to restore the original condition of the road, cannot exceed $500,000, and must use local match percentages tied to the economic development grant program formula. She also reported on funding status for prior road projects, including completed, partially completed, pending, and underrun amounts that may be reauthorized. Committee members asked about photo documentation, online access to project materials, how to measure whether projects truly restore roads to original condition, and what happens when project costs exceed estimates. Lewis said the department is still working on how best to store and share the large volume of photos, and that projects are certified through district offices and local sign-off after completion. She said overages are the responsibility of the applicant because the state does not have additional money beyond the awarded amount. No formal votes were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would imagine that every single person in this room would have said, would say no.
• It would harm public safety, roads, parks, libraries, and more.
• You can say... ...it would harm public safety, roads, parks, libraries, and more.
• By way of explaining my vote, these are the worst crimes imaginable.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I can't even imagine it being any other way.
• I would imagine in your governmental structure, it's the same way that you have to look at what is coming
• The Museum of Library and Sciences will see the loss of access to Native American grants and Native American
• library services, which was eliminated in HR 1.

Transcript Highlights:

• 17-year-old to get a library card.
• Libraries can still set their own policies, such as who is liable for any damage to library materials
• We were told to obtain library cards prior to the field trip to the library.
• Can I ask you, when you were a young person seeking that library card and library use, what did you most
• often go to the library for?

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard several Senate bills focused on student health, access, equity, and career preparation. SB 608 by Sen. Menjivar would expand access to condoms and related sexual health resources for students in grades 7–12 and direct the Department of Education to align with the California Healthy Youth Act. Supporters argued the bill would help address high STI rates among youth and remove barriers to access, while opponents raised concerns about parental authority, local control, and encouraging early sexual activity. The bill was approved on a 6-1 vote and sent to the Health Committee. SB 965 by Sen. Blakespear would prohibit libraries from requiring a parent to be physically present for a 16- or 17-year-old to obtain a library card, while still allowing libraries to require parental consent or signature. Supporters said the current rule creates unnecessary barriers for teens and school research projects, and the California Library Association said it was now neutral after amendments. The committee passed the bill 6-0 to Appropriations. SB 998 by Sen. Gonzalez would define and expand the duties of discrimination prevention coordinators in the state’s Office of Civil Rights, including adding a disability coordinator and deputy coordinators focused on anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Latino, and anti-Native American discrimination. Testimony emphasized the need to address rising hate incidents and discrimination in schools, especially for Black, LGBTQ+, AAPI, and other marginalized students. The bill was approved and sent to Judiciary with amendments to be processed there. SB 845 by Sen. Perez, which expands work-based learning and youth apprenticeship opportunities, also received broad support from education, workforce, and industry groups and passed unanimously to Labor and Employment. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills and adjourned after all items were acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House bill, relative to certain affordable housing and branch library space in the City of Boston
• Massachusetts that we have the highest percentage of an insured health-insured population, I can only imagine
• that we have the highest number of percentage of an insured, health insured population, I can only imagine

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up a series of resolutions and bills, beginning with unanimous adoption of resolutions congratulating two Eagle Scouts. It then advanced several local and special acts, including measures on Machado-Joseph disease awareness day, the Ipswich senior tax referral program, Swampscott conservation commission appointments, protections for individuals with disabilities in MassHealth day habilitation programs, continued employment in Brookfield, Marblehead parking fines, Natick’s home rule charter, and Boston affordable housing/branch library space. The chamber also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committees. The Senate enacted House bills authorizing additional wine and malt beverage licenses in Lexington and a means-tested senior property tax exemption in Melrose. It also passed Senate Bill 2603 on affordable car rentals after adopting an amendment; supporters said the bill would reduce rental costs by changing Massachusetts’ rental car insurance rules to align with most other states. Senate Bill 1057 on fentanyl test strips was also passed to be engrossed after Senator Creem argued the bill would expand access to a low-cost overdose prevention tool and save lives. Senator Moore then spoke in support of expanding Nikki’s Law to cover MassHealth day habilitation programs, describing the bill as a needed protection for people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. A major portion of the meeting focused on House 4530, a FY2025 supplemental appropriations bill providing $234 million for hospitals and community health centers. Senators discussed the Health Safety Net shortfall, rising health care costs, underinsurance, and federal reimbursement; Ways and Means explained that about $93 million was expected back in federal financial participation, making the net state cost about $140 million. The Senate also took up House 4531 on the 2026 state primary election date, rejecting an amendment before passing the bill to engrossment. The chamber later adopted emergency preambles for House 4530 and House 4531, and all three final bills—Machado-Joseph Disease Awareness Day, the supplemental budget, and the primary election date bill—were enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate adjourned in memory of Ricardo Barbosa after a memorial statement by Senator Miranda.

Transcript Highlights:

• The dollars we collect build roads, libraries, and parks, support public education, local police and
• Can you imagine that? It's been a lot more years than it seems like.
• And I would imagine that those counties deserve and do receive more attention to try to fix the problem

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments not required to appear, including Deborah Garns, Davis Rabbit, Cindy Silva, Vincent Wells, and Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate, all by 5-0 votes. The committee also approved reference of bills to committees and floor acknowledgments, each by 5-0 vote, before moving to appointments required to appear. Trista Gonzalez, nominated to lead the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, testified about her 33-year career in tax administration and emphasized taxpayer service, efficiency, and team culture. Members asked about responsiveness to legislators, the lithium extraction tax, online sales tax compliance after Wayfair, and enforcement against illicit cigarette, tobacco, and cannabis activity. Gonzalez said the department is ready for the lithium tax, works to register businesses meeting the $500,000 threshold, and coordinates with law enforcement on inspections and seizures. Public commenters from Ryan LLC and the California Society of Enrolled Agents supported her confirmation. The committee voted 5-0 to send her nomination to the full Senate. Aaron McGuire, nominated as executive director of the Board of State and Community Corrections, described his experience at the agency and its expanded responsibilities, including annual detention facility inspections, major grant administration, and the new in-custody death review division. Senators questioned him about grant oversight, fraud prevention, public access to audits, implementation of SB 519, and conditions in local detention facilities, especially in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. McGuire said the board uses screening, reporting, site visits, audits, and recovery actions to monitor grants, and that trailer bill language has clarified access to records for in-custody death reviews. He also said staffing shortages remain a major issue in Los Angeles juvenile facilities and that the board continues to work with the courts and local officials. Supporters from Amity Foundation, Health Right 360, Westcare, and Giffords testified in favor, and the committee approved his nomination 5-0 to advance to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• She is an amazing woman, and it's not the deep, quiet library we all used to know.
• If any of you good folk are from Ada County, I can only imagine the stress that's happening to those
• I can only imagine the stress that's happening to those kids. But we talk, we have battle plans.

Summary: The committee first considered RS 33019, a joint memorial sponsored by Representative Ben Furman urging Congress to fully fund special education under IDEA. Furman argued that Congress promised 40% funding in 1975 but Idaho currently receives only about 12%, leaving schools and property taxpayers with an unfunded mandate. Several members supported the memorial as a way to press Congress, while others said they wanted a fuller discussion of special education requirements and maintenance-of-effort issues. The committee then voted to introduce RS 33019, with the motion passing on voice vote. The committee next recognized Idaho’s 2026 Teacher of the Year, Laren Johnson of Rigby High School, introduced by Superintendent Debbie Critchfield. Johnson spoke at length about the importance of teacher-student relationships, crediting mentors and describing how he works to connect with students through classes, extracurriculars, and community involvement. He highlighted programs and colleagues at Rigby, his work with Holocaust education and Future Hispanic Leaders of America, and the role of Idaho scholarships and career pathways in helping students stay in the state. Members thanked him for his service and remarks. Critchfield then presented a proposal for Idaho to seek federal flexibility on education rules and testing, including an EdFlex-style waiver and changes to assessment requirements. She said the department had reviewed reporting burdens and wanted to reduce requirements not mandated by state or federal law. The main waiver requests would exempt third graders from duplicative reading tests and allow 11th graders to choose among approved assessments, such as the ISAT, SAT, ACT, ASVAB, or technical exams, to better match student goals. Members asked about district testing practices, the portability of the ISAT, and future AI-related policy work. Critchfield said the proposal was out for public comment and would go to the State Board of Education before federal submission.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> agreements and work with the libraries. agreements and work with the libraries.
• The libraries have power and authority over libraries. It's in chapter 312.
• It's clear that the libraries belong to the libraries, and they manage it.
• /c><00:26:51.919><c> libraries</c><00:26:52.320><c> and</c> the libraries belong to libraries and the
• </c> library sits on in your mind. library sits on in your mind.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education met on March 19 and moved through several bills under time pressure, hearing mostly brief testimony. SB 2024 SD2 and SB 896 SD2, both concerning public-private partnerships for charter school facilities, drew support from the Department of Education, the Charter School Commission, White Kids Can, and Hawaii Technology Academy. DOE said any P3 model should apply only to charter schools on private land and not affect public schools on DOE land. Supporters argued the approach could speed construction, reduce costs, and keep public money in public assets, while UPW and HGA raised concerns about privatization. In response, SFA said the intent was to mirror the existing conversion charter school model, with public ownership of assets and unionized staff, and noted some regions have waited years for schools. SB 2613 SD1 on TMK transfers was heard next. DOE said the bill had originally been supported as part of the governor’s package but was amended to require DOE to convey lands for 13 libraries on DOE property, which DOE said would create “donut holes” in campuses and was unnecessary because existing agreements already govern library use. The State Public Library System supported the bill, saying it has long coexisted with DOE but needs clearer separation and more reliable control over its sites. The Attorney General’s office said the library system currently lacks express statutory authority to own real property and flagged implementation issues because some of the affected parcels are not currently owned by DOE. Committee members questioned both sides about current agreements, communication, and how the bill would change operations. SB 494 SD2, concerning charter school audits, received comments from the Charter School Commission, which said the bill was redundant because charter schools already undergo annual audits during the term of their contracts. The Office of the Auditor was also present. SB 2391 SD2, relating to automatic pay increases for teachers, drew strong opposition from the Office of Collective Bargaining, which said step movement and longevity increases are negotiated in each contract and do not automatically carry over when a contract expires; it warned the bill could affect upcoming negotiations with HSTA. HSTA and several other supporters argued the bill would standardize annual step movement, improve retention, and reflect existing contract language. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• of July and the week after that in Medora, North Dakota, visiting the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library
• So, I'll be spending the 4th of July in Medora at his Presidential Library.
• So, I'll be spending the 4th of July in Medora at his Presidential Library.
• So, I'll be spending the 4th of July in Medora at his Presidential Library.
• And the only thing I can imagine worse than having to look at that empty desk is the empty chair across

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also operate a statewide arts education resource library available to all Minnesota residents, and
• </c> arts education resource library arts education resource library available<00:02:43.760><c> to</c
• From the time we receive an appropriation to the time construction is complete, as you can imagine, we
• Um as you can imagine<00:19:00.640><c> we</c><00:19:00.799><c> receive</c><00:19:01.120><c> the</c><00
• :19:01.280><c> appropriation</c><00:19:02.160><c> we</c> imagine we receive the appropriation we imagine

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We serve schools, towns, cities, libraries, housing authorities—any public entity in the state of New
• we serve we ser serve schools towns we serve we ser serve schools towns cities<00:27:01.159><c> libraries
• housing authorities any cities libraries housing authorities any public<00:27:04.720><c> entity</c><
• I can't imagine the insurance companies would fall on their sword over this issue, but I mean, you know
• I I I I can't imagine the way it is.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 297 and a new amendment, 2462, which combined the original Senate bill with the Carson amendment and added a proposed alternative regulatory system, RSA 420R. The chair and members discussed that the amendment was intended to give the Senate what it had asked for while also creating a dual system for public entity risk pools. Members asked whether the new structure would affect ownership or governance of health trusts, and the chair explained that 420R would be a separate regulatory statute while existing 420J-style arrangements could remain in place. The committee also noted that a paragraph had been accidentally deleted from the amendment and that another amendment would be prepared to correct it, with the subcommittee recessed while that was done. Public testimony focused on School Care, represented by Executive Director Lisa Ducette, who opposed the shift to Department of Insurance oversight under 420R. She argued that public entity risk pools are not insurance companies, that they are accountable to member entities and taxpayers, and that the proposed dual regulation would add unnecessary costs through examinations, higher reserves, and additional accounting requirements. She said the change could threaten tax-exempt status and create an uneven playing field, and she urged the committee to support SB 297 with the Carson amendment instead of moving to 420R. Committee members questioned whether the amendment would actually affect pools that stayed under the Secretary of State model, and one member cited support from the New Hampshire Municipal Association for the dual system. The discussion then shifted to amendment 245 on ambulance reimbursement and contracting timelines. Members reviewed a provision giving insurers 45 days and ambulance providers 60 days in the contracting process, and one member suggested making both periods 60 days. The chair and others said the current language was intentional and part of a broader compromise aimed at ending balance billing and forcing insurers to establish reimbursement rates. Members noted that the measure was unusual and that its effects would be reviewed over the next two years, with one member saying the bill would likely be difficult to roll back later. No final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• um so we serve both the house library um so we serve both the house and<00:08:22.000><c> the</c><00:
• things you can imagine now we are<00:18:48.080><c> subject</c><00:18:48.440><c> to</c><00:18:48.559>
• If you can imagine a report as a Word document attached to every sentence, again, sometimes every part
• I can't imagine what it takes to put those together.
• I can't imagine what it takes to put those together.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Library.
• And what this does Imagination Library. And what this does Imagination Library.
• Dolly Parton Imagination Parton program. Dolly Parton Imagination Parton program.
• Dolly Parton Imagination Library and the program and so we are Library and the program and so we are
• Library and the program and so we are presently doing it in Alabama.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a citizen before elected, I would have not imagined that they weren't talking to each other and didn't
• That I would have not imagined that they weren't talking to each other and didn't even realize that we
• Jean Nacan, president, not wishing to speak in opposition, and Mary Susie Library is in opposition, not
• Jean Nacan, president, is in opposition, not wishing to speak, and Mary Susie Library is in opposition
• And you can imagine something that affects the boundary of your community going up is going to create

Bills: HB88, HB181, HB210, HB250, HB486, HB529, HB544, HB639, HB996, HB1036, HB1071, HB1113

Keywords: local law, special bill, legislative process, transparency, election amendment, Medicaid, SNAP, fraud detection, income tax, legislative auditor, data sharing, state revenue, lobbying, public service, ethics, statewide officials, compensation, disclosure requirements, government employment, financial disclosure

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, if you can just, for example, if you can imagine trying to, you know, ban shoes.
• , if you can imagine trying to you<01:49:39.679><c> want</c><01:49:39.760><c> to</c><01:49:39.920><c>
• with a bill to ban every library with a bill to ban every conceivable<01:49:59.520><c> practice.
• But, um, I never heard of her, but I did go down to UNH library, uh, checked out some books.
• Um, I can't speak to kind of what's happened since it was enjoined because since then I imagine many

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These are items that come from across the state from other public libraries and university libraries
• These are items that come from across the state from other public libraries and university libraries
• libraries in the Amador and Lodi area may cancel their Link+ book sharing. ...libraries in the Amador
• I'm a library regional manager with Yolo County Library, but I'm here today in my personal capacity.
• I'm a library regional manager with Yolo County Library, but I'm here today in my personal capacity.

Keywords: 988, house, all