Transcript Highlights:

• In Asia, from the mayor's office as well.
• ...work of veteran services officers.
• We've asked the same questions within the office.
• I personally have visited all 23 of our area offices across the state, as well as our regional offices
• and a Pittsfield office and Springfield.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held an FY27 Health and Human Services budget hearing in Mattapan, hosted at the Boston Public Library branch. Chairs Lydia Edwards and Russell Holmes, along with Rep. Brandy Fluker-Reid, emphasized the significance of holding the first Ways and Means hearing ever in Mattapan and highlighted the importance of bringing state budget deliberations into a majority-Black neighborhood. Several legislators introduced themselves as they joined, and the committee noted that public testimony was not part of the format, though agencies were invited to discuss priorities and challenges. MassAbility opened the agency testimony. Leadership described the agency’s mission to support people with disabilities through employment, training, home and community life services, and disability determination. They said Governor Healey’s FY27 budget funds MassAbility at $93.3 million, a 1% reduction from FY26, and explained that the agency is responding to federal funding uncertainty and shifting program needs by redesigning services internally. Members questioned a proposed $1.3 million reduction to the Home Care Program, staffing changes, and whether services could be maintained with fewer resources. MassAbility said it was reviewing data on who uses the program, that it does not provide nursing or personal care, and that it is working with a transition plan and a working group. The agency also discussed federal uncertainty around vocational rehabilitation funding and said it had received delayed federal awards but remained in contact with national associations and federal partners. The testimony included a personal story from a participant, Joshua Corcoran, to illustrate the impact of services. The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing testified next, requesting $11.27 million, about a 6% increase over FY26. The commission said it serves about 1.4 million residents and focuses on communication access in health care, courts, public safety, and other public systems. It highlighted interpreter and captioner workforce shortages, a mentorship program to expand the provider pool, and a modernized referral platform funded through capital contingency money. Members asked about interpreter availability, after-hours emergency coverage, ASL access for students and families, and training for police and emergency responders. The commission said staffing remains limited, especially for after-hours services, but that it is expanding training, school outreach, and partnerships with DCF and other agencies. The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind then presented its FY27 budget request of $30.8 million. The commissioner said the agency serves nearly 9,000 legally blind residents, provides training and peer support, and placed 190 consumers in competitive integrated employment this year. It also described services for older adults, vocational rehabilitation, and the Turning 22 program for young adults with additional disabilities. Members raised concerns about a 7% cut from the prior year and asked how the agency could maintain services; the commissioner said the agency had no waiting list, had trimmed overhead, and could manage the budget through internal efficiencies and strong partnerships. The Office for Refugees and Immigrants closed the session, describing expanded legal and support services for immigrants and refugees, including Know Your Rights trainings, the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative, citizenship and financial literacy programs, and the Family Welcome Center in Mattapan. Members asked about federal funding losses and the structure of the new legal services program; ORI said FY26 funding is stable but FY27 federal cuts remain uncertain, and that the legal program uses a centralized intake system with priority for emergencies and first-come, first-served access.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the reason why we took the office.
• You know these hospitals have come to visit you in your offices.
• Donald Trump's post...
• This racist post is wrong, harmful, and unacceptable.
• Post, racist rhetoric, racialized hatred.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, completed the roll, and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions recognizing visitors, students, and a long-serving committee secretary, Tabitha Volga-Sang, who was honored for 32 years of service. Members also took up a procedural motion by Assembly Member DeMaio to immediately consider ACA 14, the Taxpayer Protection Act, without reference to file; that motion failed on a 14-44 vote. The main policy debate centered on SB 106 by Senator Laird, a budget appropriation to provide $90 million in one-time funding for Planned Parenthood and related women’s health and family planning services after federal cuts. Assembly Member Tangipa offered amendments arguing the money should be directed more broadly to women’s health and hospitals, but the Assembly voted 41-13 to lay the amendments on the table. Supporters, including Gabriel, Sharp-Collins, Gibson, Krell, Bonta, and others, said the bill was needed to preserve access to cancer screenings, contraception, STI testing, and reproductive care, especially in rural and underserved communities, and to offset the effects of federal defunding. Opponents, including Johnson, DeMaio, Patterson, and Tangipa, criticized the bill as lacking transparency, favoring a politically connected organization, and diverting attention from hospital funding and other health needs. After extended floor debate, SB 106 passed the Assembly 55-10 and was transmitted immediately to the Senate. The chamber then took up H.R. 84, a resolution condemning racism after President Trump circulated racist imagery depicting former President Obama and Michelle Obama. Members from the Black, LGBTQ, Latino, AAPI, Jewish, Native American, and other caucuses spoke in support, saying the post normalized dehumanization and had real-world consequences; Assembly Member Tangipa also stated the post was wrong and apologized on the record. The transcript ends during continued debate on H.R. 84, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• and American Legion Post 577 in St. Paul, a post which has struggled with its property tax burden.
• and American Legion Post 577 in St. Paul, a post which has struggled with its property tax burden.
• and American Legion Post 577 in St. Paul, a post which has struggled with its property tax burden.
• The American Legion Department of Minnesota has a total of 531 posts, but more than half of our posts
• The American Legion Department of Minnesota has a total of 531 posts, but more than half of our posts

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Within two days of this information being posted at the medical examiner's office, House Bill 4490 will
• House Bill 2715, relating to the removal from office of certain officers of political subdivisions.
• I move to suspend the posting rules and all necessary rules.
• to resume its previously posted meeting in E1.012, new location at 5 p.m.
• President, I move to suspend the 24-hour posting rule in accordance with Senate Rules.

Bills: HB2 , HB6 , HB18 , HB43 , HB138 , HB180 , HB300 , HB581 , HB647 , HB748 , HB762 , HB 1240 , HB1393 , HB1397 , HB1584 , HB1734 , HB2011 , HB2254 , HB2286 , HB2434 , HB2467 , HB2468 , HB2495 , HB2516 , HB2518 , HB2529 , HB2564 , HB2712 , HB2713 , HB2715 , HB2765 , HB2898 , HB3146 , HB3161 , HB3348 , HB3800 , HB4044 , HB4341 , HB4370 , HB4384 , HB4386 , HB4396 , HB4490 , HB4809 , HB5057 , HB5323 , HB5534 , HB5668 , SB203 , SB317 , SB719 , SB731 , SB801 , SB867 , SB1071 , SB1232 , SB1798 , SB2082 , SB2363 , SB2603 , SB2607 , SB2717 , SB2797 , SB2841 , SB2919 , SB3038 , SJR5 , SB4 , SB9 , SB21 , SB23 , SB27 , SB34 , SB40 , SB75 , SB213 , SB458 , SB482 , SB493 , SB647 , SB648 , SB840 , SB841 , SB843 , SB912 , SB1241 , SB1253 , SB1350 , SB1388 , SB1423 , SB1535 , SB1559 , SB1709 , SB1789 , SB1951 , SB2037 , SB2143 , SB2155 , SB2544 , SB1 , SB17 , SB260 , SB509 , SB1506 , SB1637 , SB1833 , SB2308 , HB2525 , HJR133 , HB1393 , HB26 , HB388 , HB2712 , HB1633 , HB685 , HB2286 , HB1606 , HB1458 , HB 1240 , HB2791 , HB3146 , HB1397 , HB2061 , HB647 , HB4738 , HB2563 , HB 128 , HB581 , HB766 , HB2259 , HB2358 , HB4384 , HB748 , HB1734 , HB5180 , HB3806 , HB3804 , HB3803 , HB1522 , HB3597 , HB1612 , HB4224 , HB1314 , HB 1237 , HB3126 , HB2856 , HB3114 , HB3505 , HB5652 , HB2025 , HB3395 , HB2495 , HB18 , HB2516 , HB2713 , HB24 , HB519 , HB609 , HB1592 , HB3348 , HB 120 , HB6 , HB1533 , HB2421 , HB2273 , HB2464 , HB2011 , HB5057 , HB5084 , HB5534 , HB5668 , HB3424 , HB2715 , HB2564 , HB2765 , HB2898 , HB3800 , HB4396 , HB4341 , HB43 , HB5686 , HB2467 , HB2468 , HB2518 , HB4310 , HB4386 , HB4490 , HB180 , HB5323 , HB2 , HB149 , HB4945 , HB2434 , HB2529 , HB3161 , HB3745 , HB4044 , HB5155 , HB5667 , HB4996 , HB2697 , HB2492 , HB2355 , HB2282 , HB2001 , HB1902 , HB1866 , HB1445 , HB1443 , HB 1306 , HB 1024 , HB908 , HB305 , HB285 , HB449 , HB171 , HB47 , HB3464 , HB2637 , HB4263 , HB5436 , HB4429 , HB3986 , HB3966 , HB3510 , HB2560 , HB2026 , HB2688 , HB4076 , HB5246 , HB3487 , HB3486 , HB4226 , HB216 , HB742 , HB2402 , HB143 , HB5033 , HB4413 , HB4042 , HB2440 , HB4426 , HB49 , HB4112 , HB3233 , HB2310 , HB5515 , HB3627 , HB2674 , HB322 , HB1481 , HB 126 , HB3062 , HB3421 , HB3180 , HB2530 , HB2524 , HB1916 , HB3153 , HB5650 , HB4894 , HB3120 , HB1629 , HB 103 , HB3234 , HB3680 , HB5698 , HB3171 , HB5693 , HB2694 , HB5664 , HB3732 , HB2508 , HB2293 , HB1991 , HB2014 , HB5331 , HB5247 , HB4751 , HB4690 , HB4668 , HB4464 , HB4395 , HB4063 , HB3833 , HB3623 , HB3214 , HB3512 , HB3250 , HB3016 , HB2520 , HB2221 , HB2213 , HB3824 , HB2067 , HB1732 , HB1562 , HB700 , HB1545 , HB252 , HB146 , HB5596 , HB1851 , HB3619 , HB3071 , HB3556 , HB851 , HB4230 , HB5320 , HB5651 , HB5670 , HB5665 , HB5437 , HB5679 , HB5699 , HB5661 , HB5662 , HB5654 , HB5672 , HB5656 , HCR141 , HCR118 , HCR127 , HCR40 , SJR36 , SJR50 , SJR63 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SB2023 , SB62 , SB666 , SB847 , SB284 , SB854 , SB810 , SB1505 , SB583 , SB507 , SB1434 , SB1772 , SB2016 , SB1122 , SB731 , SB397 , SB508 , SB1436 , SB287 , SB1882 , SB393 , SB1791 , SB209 , SB2429 , SB1085 , SB1975 , SB2717 , SB1262 , SB636 , SB2056 , SB884 , SB1200 , SB1845 , SB2458 , SB801 , SB3014 , SB3013 , SB758 , SB2797 , SB2076 , SB2876 , SB1640 , SB1449 , SB1181 , SB1234 , SB2926 , SB2841 , SB1528 , SB1854 , SB317 , SB1250 , SB2082 , SB1237 , SB2819 , SB629 , SB2608 , SB1602 , SB2009 , SB867 , SB640 , SB1698 , SB2680 , SB913 , SB1071 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1483 , SB1444 , SB1553 , SB1556 , SB1703 , SB2133 , SB2297 , SB2298 , SB2622 , SB2955 , SB2334 , SB1367 , SB2044 , SB2363 , SB2565 , SB1888 , SB3036 , SB3057 , SB3043 , SB3063 , SB3035 , SB203 , SB2688 , SB2522 , SB2459 , SB2655 , SB2251 , SB1884 , SB2928 , SB2566 , SB1749 , SB2549 , SB2553 , SB2919 , SB1944 , SB1232 , SB1798 , SB2603 , SB2607 , SB2683 , SB1319 , SB3038 , SB3045 , SB1538 , SB3071 , SB3065 , SB823 , SB3062 , SB3074 , SB1380 , HB6 , HB581 , HB1393 , HB1734 , HB2286 , HB2467 , HB2468 , HB2495 , HB2529 , HB2564 , HB2765 , HB2898 , HB3146 , HB3348 , HB3800 , HB4341 , HB4386 , HB4490 , HB5057 , HB5323 , HB5534 , HB5668 , HB2 , HB2715 , SR530 , SR552 , SB482 , SB493 , SB841 , SB912 , SB1241 , SB1350 , SB1388 , SB1559 , SB1951 , SB2143 , SB2155 , HB205 , HB220 , HB561 , HB2078 , HB2300 , HB2652 , HB3335 , HB3441 , HB4212 , HB4879 , HB5228 , HB5616 , HB205 , HB220 , HB561 , HB2078 , HB2300 , HB2652 , HB3335 , HB3441 , HB4212 , HB4879 , HB5228 , HB5616

Transcript Highlights:

• These are all basically culminations of data from the Treasurer's Office, the Secretary of State's Office
• Office as well as meeting minutes.
• I know the constitutional officers will have their offices open. Again, the people's house.
• I know the constitutional officers will have their offices open again.
• Facebook page, it’s like 45 posts a day.

Summary: The America 250 and Idaho Advisory Council approved the January 19 minutes and also approved reimbursement of up to $20,882 to the state superintendent for additional materials for Spirit of U.S. boxes for schools. The committee then reviewed a financial update and heard a detailed subcommittee report on plans for Idaho’s July 4, 2026 celebration at the Capitol, including a parade, park activities, bands, family stations, and open Capitol access. Members discussed cost-sharing with the We the People group, with the committee approving a proposed America 250 budget of $196,600 that includes the July 4 celebration and America 250 ambassador programs, authorizes private donations, and directs how remaining funds should be used for regional and county events later in the year. Treasurer Julie Ellsworth reported on the ambassador program, including staffing needs, the growing number of Spuds appearances statewide, and plans for six “go bags” so materials can travel to communities even when the mascots are unavailable. She also described the proposed Liberty Bell carriage, which would debut on July 4 and then travel to every county, along with related efforts such as the Veterans Mustang Ride, challenge coins, a heritage fountain, flags across Idaho, Liberty quilts, and the “Bring Idaho’s Liberty Bell Home” fundraising effort. Committee members praised the work and noted strong public engagement and social media response. The Governor’s Task Force report highlighted the America 250 website, voice-recording project, Idaho Lottery scratch ticket partnership, downloadable “Moments That Made Us” exhibit, and the upcoming “Four Score” and “United We Celebrate” exhibits. Director Gallimore also noted coordination with the BLM and Transportation Department for events at Signature Point and the Old Pen. Hannah Laurie Hine provided a national update on White House and congressional commission initiatives, including mobile museums, the Great American State Fair, a prayer-focused event on the National Mall, the Presidential 1776 Award civics contest, and other reflection and volunteer projects. The committee agreed to meet again on March 9 and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Within those clusters, Florida offers more than 900 unique curriculum frameworks, including 317 post
• The first being our Perkins post-secondary funding with approximately 6 million dollars allocated in.
• Each post-secondary certification was funded, meaning certifications are invested and sat one of the
• The total Appropriation for District post-secondary list at the X Axis.
• These scholarships cover significant portion of post-secondary tuition for students.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, between the Ombudsman's office and NAMI's office, it's a couple of months.
• We don't know whether posting cash bail makes someone more likely to come back to court in Minnesota.
• relief, and post-conviction relief has not— Post-conviction relief has existed for a long time within
• Ramsey County Attorney's Office.
• A case of wage theft to the county attorney's office.

Bills: HF2233 , HF1999 , HF1995 , HF1614 , HF2781 , HF1775 , HF1316 , HF2127 , HF2521 , HF689 , HF2380 , HF1273

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, all in favor, post. Bill was reported, 607, Noraleson.
• On favor of post. Bill's report, 826, Gonzáis. And that's Social Services Law.
• In that relation to office. Stek, second, Mr. Helming, all in favor of favor of post.
• On favor of post, Bill's reported, 10185, May. In Act 1-4-A.
• And that's office.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The transcript appears to be a committee vote session on many bills across a range of subject areas, including media rules, highway law, education, health, social services, business, insurance, real property, arts and culture, banking, navigation, and vehicle traffic. For each item, a senator moved the bill, another seconded it, and the chair repeatedly announced that the motion carried, with bills being reported out of committee. The transcript is heavily garbled, so many bill titles and bill numbers are unclear, but the overall pattern is consistent: sequential consideration and reporting of numerous measures. Most items were approved without recorded opposition, though the transcript occasionally notes “all in favor” or “all in favor, opposed,” suggesting routine voice votes or unanimous consent. A few specific references are legible, such as the highway law, education law, health law, insurance law, social services law, business law, and arts and cultural affairs law, indicating the committee was processing amendments or related bills in those areas. The session also includes repeated references to particular sponsors or bill numbers, but the text is too distorted to reliably identify them all. No substantive debate, testimony, or amendments are clearly described in the transcript. The main action was procedural: motions, seconds, and repeated announcements that bills were reported out. The meeting ends with additional garbled references to later bills, again suggesting continued routine reporting of measures rather than extended discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The new Office of Transformation and Office of Project Delivery are streamlining design, cutting red
• House Bill by Representative Beham, post-secondary education, prohibit public post-secondary education
• House Bill by Representative Beham, post-secondary education, prohibit public post-secondary education
• field offices.
• field offices.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received and accepted multiple resignation notices from members representing Districts 37, 39, 60, 69, 97, and 100, and then recognized the election and qualification of the members-elect who filled those vacancies: Doyle Boudreau, Reese Broussard, Chasity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray. Each member-elect was sworn in, and the House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session. The chamber then handled a large number of procedural actions related to prefiled legislation. By motion and without objection, the House suspended rules to refer prefile bills to committee and introduced a broad slate of House bills and resolutions. Topics included the state budget and appropriations, retirement system changes, carbon capture and sequestration, criminal justice and bail, public safety, education, health care, local government matters, transportation, and several memorial or commemorative resolutions. Several resolutions and bills were noted as lying over, and some prefiled bills were withdrawn from the files. The House also received a Senate message that SCR 1 had been adopted, and the resolution was taken up without objection. The chamber then recessed for a joint session with the Senate to hear the governor’s address and a presentation honoring Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister with the Distinguished Flying Cross. In his remarks, Governor Jeff Landry highlighted his administration’s priorities, including education, tax reform, workforce development, health and nutrition, insurance reform, transportation infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and criminal justice reform, while urging support for his agenda and several related bills and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> emphasizing the school resource officer emphasizing the school resource officer portion<00:10:25.839
• The data privacy officer would be a position within my office to help with compliance of those requirements
• </c><00:28:39.399><c> on</c> support from the executive office on support from the executive office on
• </c> to understand the delay in that posting to understand the delay in that posting so<01:00:53.760>
• </c> we'll have to further delay posting we'll have to further delay posting those<01:01:42.079><c> in

Committee: House Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm nine months post-TKR, so I'm looking forward to having more conversations with you on that.
• I know we met in my office briefly, but we often see student Board of Regents who are still pursuing
• Vo, I really enjoyed getting to know you when you came to my office last week. And Mr.
• All right, next up, we have the State Board for Private Post-Secondary Education, Kati.
• Madam Chair, members, the Arizona State Board for Private Post-Secondary Education is a seven-member

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the permanent deputy director of that office.
• I've been with the office since it was I'm the permanent deputy director of that office.
• So I'm going to talk a little bit more about our office.
• But we have 10 regional offices, and our project officers are located all across the U.S.
• So in January, our office and states have So in January, our office and states were incredibly busy.

Summary: The Rural Health Transformation Committee met with a quorum and approved the April 22 minutes. The main presentation came from Kate Sapra of CMS, who outlined the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion, five-year cooperative agreement for all 50 states. She emphasized CMS oversight, annual rescoring based first on implementation progress and later on outcomes, strict deadlines for obligating and spending funds, and the possibility of clawbacks if funds are not used on time or for approved purposes. She also described CMS’s Idaho site visit and the broader federal-state collaboration, including reporting requirements and technical assistance. Director Juliet Sharon of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare then reviewed the state’s first round of planned sub-awards and solicitations. She explained the distinction between full RFPs, cooperative agreements, and smaller sub-grants, and said the first year will focus on building program structure, hiring support staff, data analysis, third-party administration, needs assessments, and initial service and infrastructure investments such as EMS, maternal and child health, behavioral health, chronic disease prevention, transportation, and technology. Committee members asked for more detail on KPIs, scoring metrics, and access to the actual RFP documents, and Sharon said those materials could be shared through SharePoint with confidentiality protections. Members also raised questions about reimbursement versus upfront funding, especially for tribes and other rural providers that may not have capital to start projects. CMS said upfront funding is allowable if consistent with state procurement rules and that RHTP funds cannot supplant existing funds or pay for projects already underway without a strong new-project rationale. Questions were also raised about multi-year construction or renovation projects, minor renovation definitions, and whether funds could be shifted between categories; CMS said budget revisions are possible but time-consuming, and year one changes would be difficult. The committee agreed to submit feedback on the first batch of opportunities by May 29 and scheduled the next meeting for July 15.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in 2016, the Florida Post-Secondary Comprehensive Transition Program was passed.
• So in 2016, the Florida Post-Secondary Comprehensive Transition Program was passed.
• Prior to this, they were not able to meet the requirements to enroll in a post-secondary program.
• That is done through financial aid offices at the different institutions of higher education.
• We follow the taxonomy for post-secondary comprehensive transition programs.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee held its first meeting of the session and received an overview of the Higher Education Appropriations budget from staff director Tim Elwell. He explained the committee’s broad jurisdiction over universities, state colleges, district workforce programs, vocational rehabilitation, blind services, student financial aid, private colleges, and the Board of Governors, and reviewed key budget concepts such as local funds, funds per FTE, performance funding, and the distinction between the total appropriation and the recurring base budget. He noted that higher education is funded largely through state and local sources, with substantial flexibility compared with other state budgets, and that the base budget is heavily weighted toward lump-sum allocations to the public systems. The committee then heard a presentation from the University of South Florida’s Florida Center for Cybersecurity (Cyber Florida), led by retired Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie and USF representative Mark Walsh. They described Cyber Florida as a statewide cybersecurity platform created by the Legislature in 2014 to support education, research, workforce development, public policy, and community engagement. McKenzie emphasized the growing cyber threat environment, Florida’s leadership role, and several funded initiatives, including K-12 outreach, workforce training, a cyber range for county governments, critical infrastructure assessments, grant development, and public conferences and outreach. Members asked about public cyber awareness, the lack of a national cyber defense strategy, school district participation in Cyber Launch, and which counties are most at risk; McKenzie said smaller counties with limited cybersecurity staffing are generally more vulnerable and offered to provide follow-up information. Finally, the committee heard from the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities at the University of Central Florida, led by Dr. Drew Andrews, along with program and parent representatives from participating institutions. Andrews explained the center’s role in coordinating Florida’s postsecondary comprehensive transition programs for students with intellectual disabilities, supporting program development, distributing grants and scholarships, and monitoring outcomes. He reported that the state now has 33 approved programs at 35 institutions, including universities, state colleges, and technical colleges, and that scholarship and grant funding has grown significantly. He said student retention is about 88 percent, many graduates are employed, and median hourly earnings have increased over time. A representative from Southeastern University described how the center’s support helped build and sustain SEU Link, including a new third-year employment-focused option for students.

Transcript Highlights:

• During that period of time, the college actually posted the position for permanent department chair,
• It also directs the Office of Student Financial Assistance within WASAC to deposit all funds received
• We ask that you support access to post-secondary education by passing SB 5978 out of committee.
• Thank you. ...dual credit and post-secondary options available to them.
• We ask that you support access to post-secondary education by passing SB 5978 out of committee.

Bills: SB6090 , SB5931 , SB5963 , SB5978 , SB6082

Committee: Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development

Keywords: heritage orchard, agriculture, program, state funding, local agriculture, workforce education, accountability, oversight, administrative changes, investment, SB 5963, passport to careers, Washington College Grant, financial aid, higher education, student aid, need-based aid, college affordability, postsecondary education, workforce development

Transcript Highlights:

• AZ POST kind of oversees them.
• When the officer goes to that second level and wins again, in order to make the officer whole, they're
• Officer says, I didn't do anything wrong. Officer prevails, and he's made whole.
• Neither does this officer.
• And if the determination is that the officer didn't do anything wrong, why should the officer not be

Committee: House House Public Safety & Law Enforcement Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety and Law Enforcement heard several public safety measures. SB 1520 would have required state agencies to share certain immigration-related data with the federal government and included a repeal date in 2029. Representative Abatia offered a strike-everything amendment to replace the bill with a firefighter support grant program to help pay for station food, supplies, and small appliances, but the committee rejected the amendment and then gave the underlying SB 1520 a due pass recommendation. SB 1216 would repeal the sunset on traumatic event counseling for public safety employees and expand coverage to crime scene and digital forensics technicians. Supporters said the program helps officers and firefighters cope with trauma and that utilization is relatively low, while members asked about costs and usage. The bill passed 12-0. SB 1391 would create an AZ POST pilot program for law enforcement stress management, funded at $950,000 and run through a nonprofit, with emphasis on prevention, peer support, and family impacts. Some members objected that it was too prescriptive and looked like a vendor bill, and the committee failed to give it a due pass recommendation. SB 1493 would require employers to pay taxable costs, attorney fees, and expert fees when a law enforcement officer wins a wrongful termination appeal and the employer still refuses reinstatement. Supporters argued it was a fairness and due process measure for officers who must appeal twice to be made whole, while members debated whether similar treatment should apply in criminal cases and whether the bill should also restore other lost compensation. After adopting a chairman’s amendment, the committee gave SB 1493 as amended a due pass recommendation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• that they would have to double post.
• And when you go on there and you have post office boxes and no phone number, it should not be that you
• So it's listed, you know, the chairman, the office.
• And, you know, so the office isn't open.
• All the board members were post office boxes—totally no way to access. So it's on our website then?

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on April 23 and advanced several bills dealing with judicial vacancies, travel reimbursement, election administration, public records, and board transparency. Senate Bill 397 by Chairman Reese was reported favorably without objection; it allows the Supreme Court to reappoint a retiring judge on an ad hoc basis to finish cases or provide urgent coverage, while not changing other laws that prevent a judge from returning to the same seat after retiring or resigning. House Bill 398 by Representative Zerang was reported as amended after the committee adopted a new amendment removing lodging from the bill, leaving only meal reimbursement limits tied to the federal GSA rate. House Bill 1201 by Representative Ilk was also reported favorably; it would create per diem pay for legislators doing legislative business outside session and raise statewide elected officials’ salaries using a formula tied to university president pay. The committee deferred Senate Bill 41, which would have extended the deadline for public bodies to publish open-meeting minutes from 20 to 45 days, after the author said he wanted more time to work with opponents. Senate Bill 289 by Senator Abraham, which would have created public-records exceptions for certain university searches, research, and donor information, drew substantial questioning and testimony from the press and members; after amendments narrowed the scope, the committee ultimately held the bill for further work rather than voting it out. Senate Bill 47 by Senator Mizell, as amended, was reported favorably; it requires public boards and commissions to provide contact information, including at least two contacts, a mailing address, email addresses, a website if available, and a phone number, without requiring public funds for member phones. On election-related bills, Senate Bill 248 by Chairman Miller was reported favorably as amended. It allows precincts with fewer than 20 eligible voters to be consolidated with another precinct at the same polling place when both use the same ballot, with Secretary of State Landry saying it would preserve voter privacy, reduce costs, and be seamless for voters. Senate Bill 210 by Senator Klein-Peter was also reported favorably; it increases the number of election commissioners allowed in closed party primaries to match staffing needs created by the new system. Senate Bill 106 by Senator Klein-Peter, which makes certain crime-scene photos, audio/video recordings, and digital images nonpublic except by court order or clerk access, was reported favorably after a roll-call vote of 8 yeas and 2 nays. House Bill 906 by Representative Billings was reported favorably as amended; the amendments let party state central committees decide whether unaffiliated voters may participate in party primaries, require notice to the Department of State, and make participation rules consistent across the party’s related races, with an effective date of January 1, 2027. The committee also deferred Senate Bills 218 and 220 to the following week before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• To take the oath of office. I state your full name.
• and provide that peace officers shall be U.S. citizens.
• The new Office of Transformation and Office of Project Delivery are streamlining design, cutting red
• House Bill by Representative Beham, post-secondary education, prohibit public post-secondary education
• field offices, 593.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then received and processed multiple resignation notices and special-election proclamations for vacant seats. The chamber later recognized and swore in newly elected members Doyle Boudreaux, Reese Broussard, Chassity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray after no objections were raised to their qualifications. The House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session, and it adopted the proposed standing committee meeting schedule and referred prefiled bills to committee without objection. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the introduction and reading of a very large number of House bills and resolutions across many subject areas. Measures included the annual appropriations bill, a proposed constitutional convention, carbon dioxide sequestration and pipeline permitting, retirement-system changes, criminal justice and public safety proposals, education and workforce measures, local government and district creation bills, insurance and liability reforms, and numerous commemorative resolutions. Several prefiled bills were withdrawn, and many introduced measures were assigned to committees or allowed to lie over under the rules. The House then entered a joint session with the Senate for the governor’s address. Governor Jeff Landry outlined his administration’s priorities and praised recent legislative actions on taxes, insurance reform, transportation, education, and fiscal discipline. He urged support for Amendment 3 on teacher pay and retirement, called for further workforce and health initiatives, defended insurance and transportation reforms, and pressed for judicial reform, especially in Orleans Parish, citing the death of Jacob Carter and failures in electronic monitoring as examples. He also promoted replacing the vehicle inspection sticker with a QR code system and highlighted economic growth, lower taxes, and infrastructure investments. The joint session also included a presentation of the colors by the Louisiana National Guard and a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony for Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister, recognizing his 2018 rescue mission in Alaska. After the governor’s remarks and the military honor presentation, the joint session concluded and the House resumed introducing additional bills, continuing to file measures on topics such as health care, education, ethics, elections, local districts, and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• business development at Signature Post.
• When post leaves, the loss is quieter.
• make up the fabric of post-production.
• I'm a board member of the California Post Alliance and a post-executive, strong supporter of this bill
• Office in 2025.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several tax-related bills, beginning with AB 760, which would exempt settlement payments tied to the Garden Grove chemical incident from California income tax. The author and a school district trustee described evacuations, school closures, and losses to residents, businesses, students, and staff, arguing the payments should make victims whole rather than be taxed. There was support from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, no opposition, and the bill passed 3-0 to Appropriations, with committee amendments accepted. Members then heard AB 2319, creating a California post-production tax credit for film and television work done in-state, even when principal photography occurred elsewhere or the project did not receive the existing film credit. The author and supporters from the Motion Picture Editors Guild, California Post Alliance, and others said post-production jobs and facilities are leaving California and that the bill would help retain high-wage work; opponents were not present. The committee members generally supported the measure, and it passed 3-0 to Appropriations. AB 2186 followed, excluding future reparations benefits for descendants of formerly enslaved people from state income tax. The author and NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference said taxing such benefits would undermine reparative justice; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 3-0. The committee also heard AB 762, which would ban the sale of disposable nicotine vapes and add enforcement tools. Supporters, including waste, recycling, local government, and public health groups, said disposable vapes create fire hazards, waste problems, and costs for local agencies; opponents argued the bill would mainly eliminate the legal market while leaving illicit products untouched and urged stronger enforcement instead. The author accepted committee amendments adding CDTFA enforcement, but the bill was not voted on because a motion was pending and members were absent. Later, AB 1519, AB 2172, AB 2222, AB 1793, AB 2089, and AB 1265 were heard and each received support from committee members and passed 2-0 or 3-0 to Appropriations, with amendments accepted where noted. AB 1519 clarified that the 20-year tax collection statute of limitations should not be reset by later fees or penalties; AB 2172 would let large counties use a single assessment appeals commissioner for complex property tax appeals; AB 2222 would create a temporary tax credit for local news organizations to retain and hire journalists; AB 1793 would authorize symmetrical cash rounding to the nearest nickel after the federal penny phaseout; AB 2089 would streamline the welfare exemption filing process for affordable housing; and AB 1265 would extend and revise the historic building tax credit to encourage adaptive reuse for housing and mixed-use projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• She handwrites out a check, puts it in her mailbox outside, puts a little flag up, post office writes
• Our post office... But the taxpayer bears the burden for that penalty and that fee.
• Our post offices in Clay County, I’ll be very frank, we have some couple of horrible post offices.
• We’ve checked with the post office.
• We can’t waive it because the post office didn’t give them to us. Well, and I like your language.

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• stationed at these work zones will primarily be using off-duty officers.
• It's generated through the funds when citations are issued by the officer.
• your rates and you can't charge above what your posted rate is, exactly?
• your rates and you can't charge above what your posted rate is, exactly?
• your rates and you can't charge above what your posted rate is, exactly?

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met with a quorum, approved prior meeting minutes, and then took up several transportation-related measures. House Bill 664, concerning work zone safety, was amended by the committee to clarify that a peace officer may issue a citation based on images from an automated speed enforcement device. Representative John Blanton said the bill was prompted by the 2019 death of Jared Lee Helton in a work zone and is intended to slow drivers, protect workers, and improve safety. The bill would allow automated devices to transmit speed and rear license plate images to an officer, require active worker presence and warning signage with flashing lights, keep the $500 fine, and direct fines to the work zone safety fund. After questions about whether citations would be mailed and whether a worker must be present, the committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 664 favorably with expressions of opinion that it should pass. House Bill 682, sponsored by Representative Ken Upchurch, was also amended by a committee substitute and reported favorably. The bill gives cable operators and broadband providers the same reimbursement treatment as other public utilities when their facilities must be relocated for construction projects. House Bill 493, sponsored by Representative Steve Pollock, was taken up next and, after a committee substitute was adopted, was reported favorably. Pollock described the bill as a transparency measure for towing and storage, creating a certification process through the Transportation Cabinet, requiring public rate sheets, and setting rates to be reasonable and customary in Kentucky. The substitute removed an initial $1,500 cap, extended notice timing to up to five days in some cases, and clarified fees related to investigations and fatalities. Senators asked about regional differences in towing rates, and Pollock said the cabinet would consider different situations and that posted rates would govern. House Joint Resolution 5, designating honorary road and bridge names, was amended by both a committee substitute and committee amendment and then reported favorably. Representative Josh Branscum said the resolution honors various Kentuckians and is especially in memory of Russell County Deputy Joshua Fipps, who was killed in the line of duty in September 2024. The committee approved the resolution and a title amendment. Later in the meeting, Senator Armstrong asked to be recorded as voting aye on HB 664, HB 682, and HB 493. The committee also received an update from Transportation Cabinet IT Director Heather Stout on the CAVIS system, including improved performance, upcoming integration with KY ELT, centralized lien management, online boat renewals, permanent fleet plates, rolling replating changes, temporary tag printing, insurance modernization, and an electronic sheriff’s inspection system expected to reduce fraud and streamline transfers. No vote was taken on the CAVIS update, and the committee also began consideration of a referred administrative regulation on hazardous materials endorsement requirements.