Transcript Highlights:

• Be with those who are responsible for governing our state.
• been founded in the United States by Thomas Valentine Sullivan, having been founded in the United States
• Also, she served as a commissioner of the Washington State Women's Commission.
• State your point of personal privilege. Thank you, Mr. President.
• Medical Commission and the Washington State Medical Association.

Bills: SB5223 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB6183 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB5840 , SB6061 , SB6058 , SB5931 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6011 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB5936 , SB6137 , SB5185 , SB5956 , SB6025 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB6188 , SB5890 , SB5917 , SB5820 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB6136 , SB6091 , SB6024 , SB5223 , SB6178 , SB5892 , SB5177 , SB6039 , SB5941 , SB5993 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB5912 , SB6183 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB5840 , SB6061 , SB6058 , SB5931 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6011 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB5936 , SB6137 , SB5185 , SB5956 , SB6025 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB6188 , SB5890 , SB5917 , SB5820 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB6136 , SB6091 , SB6024

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, medical debt, interest charges, consumer protection, healthcare, financial burden, mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment

Transcript Highlights:

• It merely states<00:31:32.559><c> first</c> states first states first responders.<00:31:34.480><c> And
• </c> states have already fixed this problem. states have already fixed this problem.
• </c> hospital in the state that does not. hospital in the state that does not.
• </c> states to run the Medicaid program. states to run the Medicaid program.
• </c> have any data coming from those states. have any data coming from those states.

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'll look forward to serving our state.
• So we're doing good things for the state of Oklahoma.
• state.
• expansion or daycare or any other state priority.
• And two, our state has a lot of historical trauma in it.

Bills: HB1675 , HB3242 , HB1739 , HB3320 , HB3047 , HB4434 , HJR1089 , HB4432 , HB3718 , HB3705

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Rules Committee met to consider a long slate of executive nominations and several bills. All of the nominations received broad support and were advanced to the floor, including Lori Burns to the Redlands Community College Board of Regents, Lisa Daly to the Oklahoma State Credit Union, Juana Ellison to the Forensic Review Board, Haley Frick to the Regional University System of Oklahoma, Michael Hillary to the Wildlife Conservation Commission, Dustin Hillary to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, John Holt to the Used Motor Vehicle Dismantler and Manufactured Housing Commission, Brian Sweeney to the Capital Medical Center Improvement and Zoning Commission, and Cale Walker to the USAO Board of Regents. Most nominations passed unanimously; Brian Sweeney’s nomination passed 15-2. The committee then heard and passed several policy bills. HB 1675 created a severe-weather preparedness framework for youth camps and passed 16-1. HB 3242, the Women’s Safety and Protection Act covering shelters, schools, and higher education, passed 15-2 after questions about enforcement and legal remedies. HB 1739 increased state police pension benefits and employer contributions to help retain officers, passing 16-1. HB 3320 overhauled the sunset review process for boards and commissions and passed 15-2. HB 3047 designated LOFT as the central recipient for legislative reports and passed unanimously, and HB 4434 required the governor or acting governor to notify the next successor before leaving the state, also passing unanimously. The committee also advanced HB 4432, which would restore the ability to deduct gambling losses against gambling winnings for state income tax purposes; supporters said it would help ordinary taxpayers, while opponents raised fiscal concerns, and it passed 16-1. HB 3705 raised the parental choice tax credit cap from $250 million to $275 million and passed 13-3 after extended debate over school choice, public funding, and reporting. HB 3718 set timelines for school districts to process evaluations tied to the Lindsay Nicole Henry Scholarship program and passed 12-2, with critics arguing it could create a separate track and strain school psychology resources. HJR 1089, which would have sent voters a constitutional convention referendum, was laid over and not voted on. The meeting ended with adjournment after the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh it's personnel across the state.
• merit scholarship, and all of those states extend the full benefits of that scholarship to homeschooling
• who have a lottery-based merit um states who have a lottery-based merit scholarship<00:16:12.200><c>
• </c> scholarship um and all of those states scholarship um and all of those states extend<00:16:15.320
• Um state law treats um Crystal.

Committee: House Postsecondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> vote by 400 members of the state vote by 400 members of the state committee.<00:13:59.279><c> Right
• </c> working to represent the state working to represent the state Republican<00:18:18.240><c> platform
• Closed primaries are in 42 states in the United States of America.
• Closed primaries are in 42 states in the United States of America.
• Closed primaries are in 42 states in the United States of America.

Bills: HB541 , HB541

Committee: Senate State Governmental Affairs

Keywords: PFAS, drinking water, public health, environmental management, liability, primary elections, party registration, party affiliation, open primary, closed primary, runoff election, crossover voting, voter registration, Secretary of State, absentee ballot, polling place signage, election integrity, political party, Democrat, Republican

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Capitol, and thank you for all that you do across the state of Louisiana.
• So if we do not do that, we're going to be in a state of emergency, okay?
• We're going to be in a state of emergency, okay? Even if we can get them in the seats.
• law and where they aren't covered by state or national law.
• Clerks need to send under the same rules as Secretary of State. Representative Laudan?

Bills: HB65 , HB67 , HB73 , HB205 , HB225 , HB339 , HB550

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: sexual harassment, public employees, training requirements, mandatory education, elected officials, public records, personal information, protected individuals, ethics, transparency, public meetings, voting, electronic voting machine, government accountability, term limits, governor, Louisiana constitution, elections, gubernatorial, law enforcement

Bills: SB19 , HB40 , HB27 , HB40 , HB27 , HB40 , HB27

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: contraceptive rights, healthcare access, civil action, Attorney General, contraception enforcement, prostate cancer, health insurance, screening, high risk, cost-sharing, African American men, savings accounts, catastrophe, emergency funds, financial security, state laws, criminal justice, parole, Board of Pardons and Paroles, risk assessment

Bills: SB207 , SB72

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Keywords: cotton, agriculture, levy, assessment, referendum, Alabama law, medical cannabis, cannabis license, integrated facility license, Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, AMCC, medical marijuana, dispensary, cultivation, processing, license appeal, administrative hearing, judicial review, consultant selection, license denial

Transcript Highlights:

• I am State Representative Samara Heavrin.
• </c><00:31:37.240><c> is</c> that houses dual credit scholarships is that houses dual credit scholarships
• </c><00:32:05.600><c> uh</c> education dual credit scholarships uh education dual credit scholarships
• the Dual credit scholarship program um the Dual credit scholarship program um and<00:32:16.080><c> that's
• </c> postsecondary Dual credit scholarships postsecondary Dual credit scholarships into<00:32:34.120>

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:26:42.360><c> state</c><00:26:42.640><c> special</c> there'll be state state special there'll
• like other state agencies.
• There are seven state universities in this system: Bemidji State University, Metro State, Moorhead, Mankato
• So, seven state universities and 26 state colleges, which are listed here.
• state directly uh<01:27:05.000><c> these</c><01:27:05.159><c> are</c><01:27:05.280><c> scholarships<

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Eskamani stated.
• This budget would also cut positions to the state parks and funding, putting our award-winning state
• or turn them away to other states?
• As you stated, and as Rep.
• Maybe that's happening in other states. I'm not a House member in another state.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the pledge, quorum call, and several recognitions, including guests for Education and Sharing Day, law enforcement officer of the day Detective Miata Anderson, and later FAMU Day at the Capitol and other visiting groups. The chamber adopted the special order report and then moved through a series of budget-related bills and conforming measures, with debate focused largely on recurring funding, environmental programs, housing, insurance reserves, and tax policy. Members approved HB 5011/SB 2506, which conform environmental resource funding to the proposed budget by shifting Seminole Gaming Compact-related dollars from recurring to nonrecurring funding; supporters said this preserves annual legislative review, while opponents warned it would reduce funding for the Resilient Florida program, wildlife corridor protection, invasive species removal, and other conservation efforts. The House then passed HB 5013, reducing state-funded property reinsurance reserves by lowering the RAP program and repealing FORA funding, and HB 5501, which redirects documentary stamp tax revenues from housing and transportation trust funds to general revenue; Democrats argued the housing changes would reduce affordable housing support, while Republicans said the move was needed to control recurring spending. The chamber also passed HB 5015 on state group insurance, HB 5201 on Florida PALM accounting conforming changes, HB 5203 on Capitol Center tenancy and utilities control, and HB 5009 creating a Florida Accountability Office and revising audit and budgeting functions. The most extended debate came on HB 7031, which permanently reduces the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25% and also lowers several related tax rates. Supporters described it as broad-based, immediate tax relief for Floridians, while opponents said property tax relief would be more targeted and that sales tax cuts also benefit tourists and out-of-state visitors. The bill passed 112-0. The House then took up the main budget bill, HB 501, and subcommittee chairs outlined the proposed $112.9 billion budget, including education, health care, transportation, agriculture and natural resources, higher education, state administration, justice, and IT spending. Members began questioning the pre-K-12 budget on school funding, vouchers, proration, mental health and safety allocations, and inflation, with the discussion continuing beyond the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• find a state.
• In other words, there are in state after state, parents that are not wealthy are accessing these programs
• state of Texas.
• not one of those states.
• Three, there's a tax credit scholarship program making its way through the United States Congress that

Bills: HB3 , HB3

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• When we started this journey, only 15 states covered pediatric hearing aids. Today, 35 states do.
• What are other states doing?
• Some states have 2.8 million just living in the whole state. That is correct. That is correct.
• Some states have 2.8 million just living in the whole state. That is correct. That is correct.
• Or if other states have leftovers because they cannot. Depending on what other states do.

Summary: The hearing began with testimony from Let California Kids Hear and supporters urging action on pediatric hearing aid coverage. Advocates said California has repeatedly failed to enact a workable solution over the past eight years and argued that children need early access to sound to support development. The proposal discussed would limit the coverage mandate to the large-group market, which advocates said would cover roughly 70% to 80% of affected children and avoid the exchange-related cost issue that contributed to prior vetoes. Supporters, including parents, audiologists, and children’s health groups, backed the proposal, and the chair expressed sympathy and support while noting hope for a federal solution for exchange plans. The Department of Finance then gave opening remarks about the state’s structural deficit and the need to balance new investments against projected out-year shortfalls. HCAI followed with a broad overview of its programs, including CalRx insulin and naloxone initiatives, reproductive health grants, the Office of Health Care Affordability, hospital seismic compliance, workforce programs, and the diaper access initiative. Members asked about geographic targeting of workforce funds, the behavioral health workforce pipeline, and the status of the 21st Century Nursing Initiative, which HCAI said had reverted funds. The committee also discussed a proposed transfer of the Data Exchange Framework and Office of the Patient Advocate to HCAI, new reporting on long-term care staffing and health coverage waiting periods, and a Behavioral Health Services Act workforce proposal that would use BHSA funds to support training, stipends, and technical assistance while offsetting $100 million in General Fund spending; members and LAO questioned the offset and asked for more detail, and the item was held open. HCAI also presented the Rural Health Transformation Program, explaining that California received $233.6 million in federal funds for the first year and had to revise its proposal so that $35 million in provider payments would be tied to specific transformative activities rather than general financial relief. The program will fund rural care model redesign, workforce development, and technology/infrastructure improvements, with grants to be rolled out on a tight timeline and subject to CMS approval. Members asked about the size of California’s award, the use of funds for maternity care, labor and delivery access, dialysis, tribal set-asides, and the role of a technical assistance contractor. The department said the program will use supply-and-demand workforce modeling to target funding and that all funds must be obligated by October 30. Finally, the Department of Managed Health Care outlined its budget and two major bill-related proposals: SB 41 on PBM reform and SB 306 on prior authorization transparency. DMHC said SB 41 would require PBM licensure, ban spread pricing, require rebate pass-through, and regulate pharmacy network practices, while SB 306 would require reporting on prior authorization and create a list of services exempt from prior authorization. DMHC requested additional positions and funding to implement both measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> must be first a resident of this state must be first a resident of this state who<00:03:44.080><
• </c><00:06:01.600><c> Clearing</c> facilitated by an outof State Clearing facilitated by an outof State
• </c> state representatives I think our state state representatives I think our state employees<01:05:
• It was an examination of state data provided by the state of Arizona. Very much.
• Are we going to have a state sales tax, a state income tax?

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• But up until our paramedic scholarship program in the 2023 session, the state really had no options,
• State.
• State.
• State.
• State.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I call to order the second meeting of the Senate State and Local Government Committee.
• Chris McDaniel, State Senator, 23rd District.
• thank you Mr chairman uh<00:01:10.280><c> Chris</c><00:01:10.520><c> McDaniel</c><00:01:11.040><c> state
• </c><00:01:11.240><c> senator</c><00:01:11.640><c> 23rd</c> uh Chris McDaniel state senator 23rd uh Chris
• McDaniel state senator 23rd District<00:01:13.600><c> I'm</c><00:01:13.799><c> Robert</c><00:01:14.080

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up Senate Bill 79, sponsored by Senator McDaniel, with testimony from McDaniel and Deputy Secretary Robert Long of the Personnel Cabinet. They described the bill as a cleanup measure for personnel law that would, among other things, add interns to the definition of employee while excluding them from full-time employee status, remove the Personnel Cabinet secretary as an ex officio member of the KERS Board, clarify personnel board membership and grievance rights, limit appeals of satisfactory-or-above evaluations, address layoffs and reemployment rights, allow leave donation in certain resignations or retirements, restrict remote work from outside Kentucky without approval, permit deductions for unreturned state equipment, and make DJJ facility supervisors non-merit positions. The committee voted on SB 79 and passed it with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 67, presented by Chair Nemes, an elder property tax bill. The bill would freeze the assessed value of a primary residence for homeowners age 65 or older until the property is no longer their primary residence, while still taxing at the current rate. Nemes said the measure was intended to help seniors on fixed incomes and noted a fiscal analysis showing little to no direct revenue loss, though it could reduce projected budgeted growth in property tax revenue. Committee discussion noted a local impact and a statewide budget impact estimate of about $4 million for the first two fiscal years. SB 67 also passed with favorable expression, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• An average means state employees; the average state employee makes about $60,000. So...
• And the biggest one is the Hope Scholarship. The biggest one is the Hope Scholarship.
• October 1, the 50-50 that the federal split used to be with the states now goes 25% federal, 75% state
• Scholarship, State Aid Formula, there's no projection past this year.
• As a state employer? Yes, as the employer.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• african origin in the state of minnesota the<00:10:40.800><c> state</c><00:10:41.600><c> you</c> the
• state you the state you our<00:10:43.120><c> state</c><00:10:43.519><c> allocated</c><00:10:44.160><c
• </c> on our success open up our scholarship on our success open up our scholarship to<00:12:48.560><c
• </c> welcome to the committee please state welcome to the committee please state your<00:13:15.120><c
• Cloud State University.

Committee: House Education Finance

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met remotely on February 16, 2022, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the previous day by voice vote. Chair Dabney said the committee was spending the week on public school staffing shortages, especially efforts to increase and retain BIPOC teachers, and introduced testimony on the Collaborative Urban and Greater Minnesota Educators of Color Grant Program (CUGMEC) and the broader Increasing Teachers of Color Act. Testifiers from St. Thomas, Augsburg, and Hopkins described the history and impact of the legacy educator-of-color programs. Kathleen Campbell said the original Q program was created to address underrepresentation, remove financial barriers, and provide mentorship and culturally relevant support; she argued that when the grant became competitive in 2017 without additional funding, support was spread too thin and student capacity dropped. Audrey Lensmeyer described Augsburg’s East African Student-to-Teacher Program, rooted in community advocacy in Cedar-Riverside, and said it has produced strong completion and licensure outcomes. Keenan Jones shared his path from paraprofessional to teacher and district leader, emphasizing the importance of scholarships, mentorship, and outreach to high school students, including a statewide co-enrollment Intro to Teaching course. Representative Hassan then presented House File 3079, saying the bill aims to attract, prepare, complete, and retain more teachers of color and American Indian teachers through several grant and program changes, including Closing the Educational Opportunity Gap grants, Cook Mac funding, teacher mentorship and retention updates, and revisions to CUGMEC. He said the bill responds to a severe shortage of BIPOC teachers and that the requested investment is small relative to the state surplus. Student and educator testimony followed, including a third-grade student from Crookston and Ava Roots, both of whom described the importance of having teachers who reflect students’ cultures and experiences. Natalia Benjamin, the 2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, also testified about retention challenges for educators of color and racialized workplace treatment. The committee indicated it intended to lay over HF 3079 for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill, and Representative Richardson moved the bill to be laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• South Dakota's Build Dakota scholarship program, for example, ties aid to employment within the state
• And the state does not impose residency requirements on the state grant program or its workforce scholarship
• In the past, when the state has looked at doing workforce development types of scholarships or grant
• We don't impose these kinds of residency requirements on the state grant program or workforce scholarships
• requirements on the state grant program or<01:04:28.799><c> workforce</c><01:04:29.280><c> scholarships

Bills: HF2634 , HF2241 , HF2649 , HF2520 , HF2610

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We're putting state dollars into this.
• universities and state colleges, as well as the funding we give through the EASE grant, Our state universities
• and state colleges, as well as the funding we give through the EASE grants and a whole variety of scholarships
• Us as a state and the state university system, we need to be nimble with funding and preparation to be
• the state of Florida, is that we're talking about 47 technical colleges across the state of Florida.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to focus on nursing education funding, workforce supply, and Florida’s low NCLEX pass rates. The chair emphasized that Florida ranks last nationally in nursing exam pass rates and said the committee wants to use budget decisions and a forthcoming nursing bill to improve outcomes. The Florida Center for Nursing at USF presented preliminary workforce and education data showing RN supply is moving toward equilibrium with demand through 2037, while LPN shortages are projected to worsen, especially in some regions. The center also reported on enrollment, retention, faculty vacancies, and NCLEX trends, noting Florida still underperforms the national average but has shown some recent improvement, including higher RN pass rates in 2024 despite fewer test takers. The center highlighted that students who test sooner after graduation tend to pass at higher rates. A panel of nursing education leaders from public universities, state colleges, technical colleges, and private institutions described how prior state pipeline and line-item funding helped expand enrollment, simulation labs, faculty hiring, student support services, and partnerships with hospitals. UNF, Galen College, College of Central Florida, Keiser University, and Lorenzo Walker Technical College each reported strategies such as expanded simulation, mental health and social work support, test-prep and remediation, and efforts to grow faculty pipelines. Several speakers said faculty recruitment and retention remain major barriers because of salary competition with hospitals, faculty debt, and aging faculty. Technical college representatives also stressed the need to strengthen LPN pathways, English-language support, and LPN-to-RN bridge programs. Members asked for ideas to improve NCLEX outcomes and discussed possible policy options, including student loan forgiveness, critical shortage supplements for faculty, incentives for students to test soon after graduation, and possible changes to timing or regulation around NCLEX eligibility. Several witnesses supported more flexible or recurring funding, while noting that one-time line funding has been useful for simulation, scholarships, and faculty support but is harder to sustain. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with the chair saying the ideas would be considered in future funding and policy decisions.