Transcript Highlights:

• And we've got our Paul Revere crying out that the primaries are coming. The primaries are coming.
• And we've got our Paul Revere crying out that the primaries are coming. The primaries are coming.
• It was originally intended to close May 1st.
• It was originally intended to close May 1st.
• We've kind of been doing it in a two-week rotation now that we're getting close.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The America 250 and Idaho Advisory Council met with a quorum and approved the April 20, 2026 minutes. Staff gave a financial update showing $68,267.67 unobligated in the commemorative fund, $440,710 spent to date, and $205,852.93 in celebration grants dispersed, with about $35,000 left to distribute. The committee also approved a motion to reallocate $10,000 from a project coordinator travel line to cover higher final production costs for the hanging Declaration of Independence display. Treasurer Ellsworth gave an extensive update on America 250 outreach, highlighting ambassador activity across cities, counties, businesses, schools, and veterans groups; numerous community events; the Revolutionary Spud “take-home” packs and coloring book; the Liberty Bell quarter-drive fundraising effort; the Liberty Bell carriage project; the service challenge nearing $250,000; and the final storybooks and Spuddy Buddies materials moving toward print. Members praised the strong engagement with schoolchildren and local communities, and Ellsworth said the signature collection for the declaration display was complete. Secretary McGrane reported that planning for the July 4 celebration is intensifying, with logistics, volunteers, the Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance, the parade, the Foundations and Freedom Tour, and Capitol displays all being coordinated. Director Gallamore summarized state agency efforts, including a new America 250 license plate, oral history interviews, the Move 250 campaign, educational tiles, the Great American State Fair, and other events tied to the commemoration. Hannah Laurie Hine outlined federal and national America 250 initiatives, including the congressional caucus, oral history efforts, the Great American State Fair, and the extended student art contest deadline. The Idaho Lottery previewed an America 250 scratch ticket going on sale statewide, and the Senate described plans for a Capitol for the Day event with schools and agencies. The committee set its next meeting for Tuesday, May 26, in the afternoon, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out after the comment period has closed.
• With affordability being the primary.
• Yes, we do work closely with the ISD with regards to their preferences.
• You know, if you close the dorms during the break, then where did they go? right?
• Have no... providers and we've got to do get more primary care folks out there.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• NIX YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE ON YOUR AMENDMENT, ON YOUR PARTY HOUSE AMENDMENT.
• Nix: THIS BILL DOES EVEN IN HIS AMENDMENT REQUIRED PURCHASERS OF A HOME RESIDE IN THE PRIMARY DWELLING
• SO IT IS IN THERE THE OWNER HAS TO RESIDE IN THE PRIMARY DWELLING UNIT AND WITH THAT I CLOSED. >> Chair
• MOONEY, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE US OUT. >> Rep.
• WE WILL FORGIVE YOU THIS TIME. >> THANK YOU, SO CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR A MINUTE AND OPEN THEM AND WE WORK

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, would you like to close? Thank you.
• Thank you for already closing. Thank you, Senator Valadares.
• SB 378 closes that gap.
• Senator, would you like to close? Great conversation.
• Senator, would you like to close?

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several measures, including SB 402 by Senator Valadares, which would move existing qualification requirements for qualified autism service providers and related professionals from the Health and Safety Code and Insurance Code into the Business and Professions Code without changing the standards. Supporters said it was a technical cleanup that would improve consistency and legislative oversight, while an opponent argued the bill was unnecessary and could create access issues; another witness urged inclusion of the QABA credentialing board. The committee approved SB 402 on a due pass motion to the Committee on Health. The committee also heard SB 378 by Senator Wiener, aimed at online platforms that facilitate sales of illicit cannabis and intoxicating hemp products. Supporters, including labor, local government, and cannabis industry representatives, said the bill would help protect consumers, minors, legal businesses, and tax revenue by creating accountability for online marketplaces. Opponents from the hemp industry and TechNet argued the bill was overly broad, could sweep in legitimate platforms and payment services, and should better distinguish bad actors from compliant hemp businesses; members discussed implementation, enforcement through a private right of action, and coordination with AB 8. The committee passed SB 378 to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. Senator Arreguín presented SB 779, which would establish minimum enforcement fines for Contractors State License Board citations where minimums are currently very low or absent, and would raise the board’s reserve cap from six months to 12 months. The sponsor said the changes would better match penalties to violations and help support consumer protection and board operations during economic downturns. There was no opposition, and the committee approved SB 779 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar, which included SB 344 and AB 652, both sent to Appropriations. SB 508 was not heard because it had been pulled by the author.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, pull it close to you. There you go. Thank you.
• Haney, you may close. I appreciate that.
• McKenna, you may close.
• Any primary witnesses in opposition to 1416?
• Yes, I was going to ask you if you'd like to close. Okay, thank you.

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee met with a delayed start while waiting for quorum, then heard several bills before moving to the suspense file. AB 564 by Assemblymember Haney would freeze the planned cannabis excise tax increase at 15% rather than allow it to rise to 25%; supporters argued the legal cannabis industry is struggling against the illicit market and high taxes, while opponents said the measure would reduce funding for children, youth programs, environmental restoration, and enforcement promised under Prop. 64. The bill was sent to suspense during regular order and later approved out of suspense on a 6-0 vote with amendments, including a five-year sunset and a reduced rate. AB 1265, also by Haney, would extend and expand the state historic tax credit to encourage rehabilitation of vacant historic buildings for housing and mixed-use projects; preservation and housing advocates supported it, and it was also sent to suspense rather than voted on immediately. The committee then heard AB 1377 by Assemblymember McKenna, which would require studios seeking optional diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility film tax credits to complete the plans they submit to the California Film Commission. Labor supporters said studios should do more than make good-faith efforts, and the bill passed 5-1 to Appropriations. AB 1416 by Vice Chair Ta would clarify disaster-related property tax deferrals for homeowners who have requested installment plans, and it passed 7-0 to the Assembly Floor. Afterward, the chair gave a general warning that the bills on suspense represented large revenue losses and emphasized the committee’s need to weigh tax expenditures against other state priorities. On the suspense file, the committee approved AB 27, AB 53, AB 97, AB 231, AB 232, AB 429, AB 613, AB 984, and AB 1485, mostly on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, while AB 547 passed 5-1. Several other bills, including AB 386, AB 389, AB 490, AB 6991, AB 814, AB 1057, AB 1219, AB 1282, AB 1354, AB 1431, AB 1435, and AB 1481, were held in committee. The meeting concluded with the committee adjourning after completing the suspense-file actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, primary witnesses and support are those designated by the author.
• You may go ahead and close. Respectfully ask for my vote. Thank you so much.
• Are you a primary witness? No.
• You may close. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• You may close. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on March 25, 2026, with nine measures on the agenda and three bills taken on consent. The committee approved the consent calendar for AB 1736, AB 1853, and AB 2153. The committee also heard several election-related bills, including AB 1993 on ballot-envelope privacy, AB 1788 on nonprofit disclosure of travel payments for elected officials, AB 1560 on barring people convicted of public corruption from lobbying, AB 1539 on presidential and vice-presidential ballot eligibility certifications, AB 1919 on Santa Cruz Metro local tax initiative procedures, and AB 1562 on county selection of poll workers. The chair also noted membership changes and welcomed new and returning members and staff. AB 1993 drew the most debate. The author argued it was a common-sense safeguard to prevent voters’ choices from being visible through ballot-envelope holes, citing a Sacramento County incident and public concern about ballot privacy. County election officials, the Secretary of State’s office, and Disability Rights California opposed the bill, saying the holes also serve accessibility and processing functions, that existing voter instructions already address privacy, and that the measure would create implementation problems and an unfunded mandate. After extended discussion, the committee voted the bill out on a 2-6 roll call and it failed. AB 1788 was supported by the FPPC and the League of Women Voters and passed as amended to Appropriations, with members emphasizing transparency while seeking to avoid unintended coverage of organizations like NCSL and CSG. AB 1560 passed 6-0 despite the Secretary of State’s implementation concerns about how the office would learn of relevant convictions. AB 1539, which would require party representatives to certify presidential and vice-presidential nominees’ constitutional eligibility, passed 7-0 as amended. AB 1919, which would clarify procedures for a Santa Cruz Metro voter initiative to place a transit tax on the ballot, passed 6-2, and AB 1562, which would allow counties to randomly select poll workers, passed 7-1 after discussion about civic engagement, guardrails, and election administration. The committee then completed roll-call adjustments for absent members and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Waive close. Having waived close on the amendment, all in favor of the amendment, say aye.
• We've closed on the amendment. We've closed on the amendment.
• Waive close. Having waived close on the bill as amended.
• Seeing no debate, Senator Gaetz, you are recognized to close on your amendment. I waive close, sir.
• Having waived close on the amendment, all in favor of the amendment say aye. I waive close, sir.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• when it's really hot, access to cool water (and not cool water that's a mile away, but reasonably close
• So we have worked very closely with the Department.
• So, we need to work closely with them to build their capacity, and that's crucial.
• Next, close to me in my community, and how can I get help? So that's available for you.
• So now your primary care physician and advanced practice nurses are able to order that.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the from the coalition of the primary the from the coalition of the primary care<00:08:20.479><c
• If they think they’re getting close to a line, they probably shouldn’t be getting close to the line,
• That was his primary argument.
• </c> it's safe to say we were the primary it's safe to say we were the primary instate<01:24:49.800><
• That was his primary or citizens.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 34, which would require parental consent for each new service provided to a student through the Medicaid to Schools program and require reports to legislative policy committees. Senator Ruth Ward said the bill was intended to increase transparency, protect parental involvement, and ensure continuity of care, especially for students with disabilities. She also noted a proposed amendment she received shortly before the hearing that would change the bill’s focus from a “new service” to a “new care plan.” Representatives from the New Hampshire Primary Care Association and Amoscake Health testified that they opposed the bill as written but would support it with the amendment. They explained that tying consent to individual diagnosis codes or services could be burdensome, could delay care, and could create compliance problems if a diagnosis changes during a visit. They said the amendment would better align consent with the overall care plan and avoid interrupting treatment mid-appointment. Committee members raised questions about how the bill would interact with IEPs, individualized health plans, homebound services, telehealth, billing, and whether the amendment would still require parental involvement after a care plan changes. The deputy Medicaid director from the Department of Health and Human Services testified that the amendment was more operationally feasible because Medicaid billing involves many ICD-10 codes that can change or overlap, and consent should be tied to the care plan rather than to each code. He said the current law already requires parental consent for participation in the Medicaid to Schools program and annual consent for billing, but the bill would make explicit consent for care-plan changes. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing provided, and the committee appeared to continue discussion with DHHS after the testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• this session knowing we had to balance the budget, and because we're in the majority, that's our primary
• care with our f federally primary care with our f federally qualified<00:04:31.759><c> health</c><00
• </c> the majority, that's our primary job. the majority, that's our primary job.
• </c><00:18:06.799><c> doors</c> a lot of behind the behind closed doors a lot of behind the behind closed
• Uh, their staff were working very closely together within that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2020, elections, July primary curing observers. Mr.
• This moves the primary up, as we know, by two weeks, which gives us more time to get the vote out.
• And it also stipulates that in the primary, observers will now be necessary in every county.
• That's necessary for the upcoming elections and the primary.
• The system is now closed by your votes of 27 ayes, 1 day, 2 not voting.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And before we close for lunch here, just wanted to wish Mr.
• Enhanced oil recovery projects, consider them like a closed-loop system.
• The CO2 is recompressed and reinjected in a closed-loop system.
• But in a closed loop, basically everything we inject stays locked in the ground.
• And one of the primary things we've been doing through this task is the Energy Hawks program.

Summary: The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of Minnkota Power Cooperative before hearing presentations on large energy consumers and related infrastructure issues. The first presentation, from the North Dakota Transmission Authority, focused on the need for better local decision-making tools for counties, townships, and planning and zoning boards facing major projects such as transmission lines, pipelines, data centers, wind, solar, and large-scale agriculture. The speaker urged more objective, data-driven analysis, noted that local officials often have limited time and resources, and said the state should support training and tools through groups like the League of Cities and the Association of Counties. Members asked about proactive outreach, data center ordinances, and how to avoid subsidizing large loads or causing reliability problems. The Division of Air Quality then discussed environmental oversight of data centers, emphasizing that North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the country and that the agency’s role is limited to air, water discharge, stormwater, and waste—not zoning or water use. The presentation explained that data centers generally have low direct emissions but may rely on diesel backup generators when the grid is unavailable, which creates air-quality concerns; the department said it is requiring air monitors at some projects to collect real-world data and guide future decisions. Members asked about generator emissions, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession, and the agency said permit applicants pay for the monitors while the state handles some QA work. The Department of Water Resources followed with an overview of North Dakota water law and data center water use. The director explained the state’s prior-appropriation system, the public-interest review for permits, and the large overall water supply available from groundwater and the Missouri River. He said most proposed data centers use closed-loop cooling systems and generally request relatively small amounts of water compared with other uses such as power plants, irrigation, and oilfield operations, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use only a tiny fraction of Missouri River flow. Questions focused on downstream impacts and comparisons to fracking water use, and the director said the state’s use is too small to materially affect downstream users. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd-Erickson testified online about data center zoning and permitting. He asked the committee to have Legislative Council gather information on how other states handle data center permitting and to keep the topic on the interim agenda. He argued that local zoning should remain local, but said counties lack the technical and legal resources to manage complex reclamation or bonding requirements and that state-level enabling legislation may be more appropriate. He also recommended eliminating tax incentives for data centers. The committee chair said staff would prepare a document on other states’ zoning and permitting approaches. After a lunch recess, the committee reconvened at the EERC, where CEO Charles Gorecki gave an overview of the center’s 75 years of work and its role in oil and gas, carbon management, and other energy technologies, highlighting enhanced oil recovery and carbon dioxide utilization as major opportunities for future production and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, Massachusetts was tied for the second-latest primaries in the country, and in '26, we will be
• tied for the very last and latest primaries in the nation.
• So what this bill does, this amendment rather, moves our primaries up. It gives voters more choice.
• On this issue as we kind of take a broader look on when our primary should be.
• This bill starts, travels very closely, dangerously close to the edge of First Amendment violations,

Summary: The House first suspended Joint Rule 12 to send a petition naming the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court as the Judge Leslie E. Harris Courthouse to the Judiciary Committee. It then took up two Ways and Means bills on election integrity: House Bill 76, renamed House Bill 5093, to protect against election misinformation, and House Bill 846, renamed House Bill 5094, to enhance disclosure requirements for synthetic media in political advertising. Supporters said both bills were a response to AI-generated deepfakes and misleading election content, emphasizing transparency, disclosure, and protection of voters without banning political speech. Opponents argued the measures could be overbroad and raise First Amendment concerns, especially for smaller campaigns and organizations. House Bill 5094 was amended to exempt certain broadcasters and streaming services when paid to air materially deceptive election-related communications, and a separate amendment to move Massachusetts primaries earlier was rejected 131-25. Another amendment narrowing the bill’s scope was also defeated 145-12. After debate, House Bill 5094 passed to be engrossed by a vote of 153-3. House Bill 5093, which prohibits deceptive AI use in the 90 days before an election, also passed to be engrossed after debate and the defeat of amendments. The House also passed several engrossed local bills to enact: a Rockland charter amendment, a Williamstown senior property tax exemption measure, and a Rochester bill allowing continued employment of Fire Chief Scott Royal. Later, the House rejected Senate amendments on a teacher preparation and student literacy bill, declined concurrence, and appointed a conference committee. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for former Quincy public servant Arthur Tobin before adjourning until the next day at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, Massachusetts was tied for the second-latest primaries in the country, and in '26, we will be
• tied for the very last and latest primaries in the nation.
• So what this bill does, this amendment rather, moves our primaries up. It gives voters more choice.
• should be... ...on this issue as we kind of take a broader look on when our primary should be.
• This bill starts, travels very closely, dangerously close to the edge of First Amendment violations,

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:43:51.000><c> caregivers</c> provides relief to primary caregivers provides relief to primary
• </c><02:42:06.920><c> to</c> doses that comes to uh pretty close to doses that comes to uh pretty close
• </c> we haven't even seen the direct Primary we haven't even seen the direct Primary Care<03:39:25.520
• They're closing down this, they're closing down that. We hear that in this committee all the time.
• They're closing down this, they're closing down that. We hear that in this committee all the time.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• some witnesses here to help answer questions, and I would like to respectfully reserve the right to close
• The chair recognizes Dean Thompson to close on her bill. Mr.
• I’m happy to close and am happy to answer any questions.
• If not, we'll definitely give you the opportunity to close.
• If not, the chair recognizes Representative D'Aollo to close. Thank you, Mr. Chair and members.

Bills: SB663, SB958

Keywords: community supervision, budget approval, corrections department, strategic plan, judicial oversight, SB 958, Texas Government Code, nondisclosure, order of nondisclosure, criminal history record information, trafficking of persons, human trafficking, compelling prostitution, survivor rights, record sealing, expunction, deferred adjudication, prostitution, controlled substances, theft

Transcript Highlights:

• In doing so, we have an astounding number: close to 94% of Californians now have health insurance, and
• We know that it's also stopped hospitals that were on the verge of fiscal insolvency from closing.
• On how to make sure that this population is able to utilize their primary insurance.
• Good afternoon, my name is Andrea Mavisco with the California Primary Care Association.
• Andrea Mavisco with the California Primary Care Association.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So just in closing, SB 1026 is a comprehensive, targeted reform that closes dangerous loopholes, strengthening
• We see the pain up close, and we share the urgency to act.
• We see the pain up close, and we share the urgency to act.
• We see the pain up close and we share the urgency to act.
• Do you want to close?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Daniels, here to close. I close. She closes. I wave. Clerk, please call the roll.
• Senator Kurt, would you care to close debate? Clerk, please call the roll. Senator Brooks?
• I've heard the sky's fallen, and we're going to close businesses. That's not true at all.
• No business has closed. It hasn't been a problem.
• Senator Stanley, would you care to close debate? Senator Stanley waives.

Bills: SB1303, SB1343, SB1435, SB1438, SB1444, SB1641, SB1765, SB1916, SB2067

Keywords: workers' compensation, workers comp, Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission, Administrative Workers' Compensation Act, self-insurance guaranty fund, multiple injury trust fund, physician advisory committee, advisory council on workers' compensation, workers' compensation court, insurance, employer liability, self-insured employer, fund transfer, records transfer, agency reorganization, statutory cleanup, technical corrections, Title 85A, SB1343, Vision Plan Contractual Requirements Act

Summary: The Business and Insurance committee met and first announced that several bills—1765, 1916, 1438, and 1444—would be laid over. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1303, which repeals an obsolete workers’ compensation advisory commission that members said is no longer needed after the state moved to a commission-based system; it passed 9-0. Senate Bill 1641 followed, clarifying that annual renewal notices for certain business certifications may be sent to the last known email address of record; it also passed 9-0. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1435, a property insurance measure responding to rising premiums. The author argued it would prohibit insurers from using credit scores in premium rating, citing examples of large rate differences tied to credit rather than driving or property risk. Members questioned whether banning credit scoring would shift costs to other policyholders, but the bill passed 5-3 after the title was struck. Senate Bill 1343, an optometry-related bill intended to ensure vision plan organizations and optometrists follow existing regulatory rules, drew questions about discounts and incentives but was described as not changing the current framework; it passed 8-1. Finally, Senate Bill 2067 was heard to help financial institutions more effectively report suspected financial exploitation of vulnerable adults and share information with Adult Protective Services or law enforcement more quickly. The author said the bill would remove legal barriers and improve scam prevention, especially for older adults. It passed unanimously 9-0. The chair then adjourned the meeting, noting the next meetings would be longer.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> credit cleanup Bill uh the the primary credit cleanup Bill uh the the primary thing<00:31:11.360
• </c><00:31:51.279><c> goal</c> scholarships um so the the primary goal scholarships um so the the primary
• At the primary level, we have what you call ungraded primary, which means there's really no pass and
• In the primary level, we have what you call ungraded primary, which means there's really no pass and
• </c> that you mentioned something to close that you mentioned something to close that<00:47:00.680><c

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education bills and first received a presentation from Paige Cash of Kentucky FFA/Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education. She described the reach of CTE in Kentucky, saying more than 143,000 secondary students are enrolled in CTE courses, and highlighted work-based learning, dual credit, industry certifications, and student organizations such as FFA, DECA, FCCLA, HOSA, TSA, and SkillsUSA. She said CTE funding has helped update lab equipment, support teacher training, fund field trips, and expand participation in career and technical student organizations. Representative Wilson presented House Bill 132, which would address home hospital instruction reimbursement in cases involving short stays, particularly mental health placements that are often under five days. He said schools continue providing instruction even when they are no longer reimbursed under current rules. The committee advanced the bill unanimously after a motion and second, with the measure passing with an expression of opinion that it should pass. The committee then heard House Bill 272 on dyslexia, sponsored by Representative Heavrin. The bill would require KDE to annually update the dyslexia toolkit, require local boards to adopt policies for identifying and assisting K-3 students with dyslexia, require KDE to report district implementation data to LRC, and require teacher preparation programs to include dyslexia instruction. Members discussed whether the bill would require teacher diagnoses, how it would interact with existing IEP/504 and RTI processes, and concerns about added reporting and district burden. Supporters said many students are falling through the cracks and that earlier identification is needed; Representative Willner noted a shortage of school psychologists. The committee passed HB 272 with a motion and second, though several members voted pass and explained concerns about reporting burdens, red tape, and district costs. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 193, a dual credit cleanup bill presented by Joe Carol Ellis of KHEAA. She said the bill would consolidate the statutes governing general education dual credit and CTE/work-ready dual credit scholarships to match current funding practice and reduce confusion for K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions. The presentation was underway when the transcript ended.