Transcript Highlights:

• It requires limited third-party laboratory testing by processors.
• removing bad actors from the marketplace while preserving lawful adult access and keeping government limited
• Conservation Partnership, which, with each of us holding up our share of the load, provides a great deal of benefit
• Conservation Partnership, which, with each of us holding up our share of the load, provides a great deal of benefit
• And so we were able to step in and help a county with a very limited budget, find fisheries funding to

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The substitute provides that peace officer includes any general authority, limited authority, or specially
• I am persuaded that changing the blood alcohol limit will result in fewer stops, fewer DUI charges, fewer
• One thing we've heard is that in other countries, when they have lowered the limit to 0.05, they've seen
• And I think that everybody benefits when we have information sent to the Department of Health around
• And I think that everybody benefits when we have information sent to the Department of Health around

Summary: The Community Safety Committee met in executive session to act on several bills previously heard. On House Bill 1228, which concerns certification of toxicology labs for blood and breath analysis, the committee adopted two amendments: Whale 261 allowing use of an out-of-state private lab under specified conditions, and Pat 341 requiring a Washington State Patrol implementation report by October 1, 2031. Amendment Pat 340 was withdrawn. The bill was then reported out do pass. House Bill 1982, which expands vacation eligibility for convictions tied to treaty Indian rights and directs the Office of Public Defense to provide representation, was also reported out do pass with a proposed substitute that reorganizes the statute and clarifies hunting-rights eligibility. House Bill 2156, concerning Attorney General investigators’ authority, was reported out do pass after a roll-call vote of 6-3. The committee also approved House Bill 2165, creating the gross misdemeanor of false identification as a peace officer, after adopting a proposed substitute that moves some conduct from criminal impersonation into the new offense, revises defenses, and defines “peace officer”; the bill passed 8-1. House Bill 2203, creating reckless interference with emergency operations and allowing recovery of emergency response costs, was amended to reduce some penalty levels and shorten license suspensions, then reported out do pass. House Bill 2220, relating to the Criminal Justice Training Commission, was held for later action. House Bill 2362, the so-called 0.05 impaired driving bill, drew divided testimony and debate over public safety, toxicology lab capacity, racial disproportionality in traffic stops, and immigration consequences of DUI convictions, but it was ultimately reported out do pass by a 5-4 vote. House Bill 2403, which modifies provisions on failure to register as a sex offender or kidnapping offender, was reported out do pass after discussion about balancing administrative treatment of the offense against public safety concerns. Finally, House Bill 2464, requiring private detention facilities to report incidents to the Department of Health and law enforcement and requiring annual agency reports, was reported out do pass despite objections that the issue should be handled federally and concerns about state detention practices. The committee then adjourned its executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• by about 50% and could hamper the identification of vehicles in a variety of ways such as and not limited
• No, that was for my own benefit. Sorry, I didn't mean to trick you up.
• You've had your limit. The chair, the chair lays out the committee substitute for House Bill 787.
• And the benefits of repurposing them. Has there been any studies done?
• Pat, you've already reached your limit. Yeah I'm presenting the committee sub for House Bill 1126.

Bills: HB408 , HB787 , HB 1029 , HB 1126 , HB 1136 , HB1607

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: cultural attractions, highway signs, Texas Department of Transportation, travel guidance, Museum of the Big Bend, traffic control, tourism, sunscreening devices, motor vehicle, judicial specialty license plate, vehicle safety, Texas Transportation Code, disability, parking, Governor's Committee, mobility impairment, disabled veterans, legislative recommendations, license plates, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• asking and thank you for that dialogue on that last piece you mentioned to Senator Harrell for the benefit
• So there's no geographical limits so that even if Florida hasn't been affected yet, that's not to say
• What was that limit to 2? And I this is this. Now we're going to have additional ones.
• This bill also keep physicians in Florida and benefit patients access to quality care in our communities
• Byers, a associate at $240,000 a year under the limit. >> And they they prepare the contract.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Knight, Representative Knight's 3136, which is about creating state-based health benefit
• For my own benefit here, how many folks left? Go ahead.
• Well, we are going to limit testimony, so I will give you...
• We are limiting testimony to four minutes. Gentlemen, can I interrupt you for just a second?
• Gentlemen, please state your name, and remember that you are limited to two minutes.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The committee first took up executive action on Senate Bill 890. Members explained that the House committee substitute combined provisions from related bills, changed the title to accommodate an amendment, and restored language that had been unintentionally repealed in section 217.550. The amendment was adopted, the substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for SB 890 was voted do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 1 no. The committee then heard Senate Bill 945 from Senator Carla May, which would raise the civil filing surcharge in the city of St. Louis from $15 to up to $20 to support the law library and related court services. Senator May and a representative of the Law Library Association of St. Louis testified that the surcharge had not been raised since 1996, that costs had increased, and that the increase would help maintain legal research resources and public access. Questions focused on whether the amount was sufficient and what other funding sources existed; there was no opposition testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 29, which urges Congress to restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork. The sponsor and supporters argued that consumers should know where meat comes from, that independent cattle producers are harmed by consolidation in the packing industry, and that voluntary labeling is inadequate. Opponents from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and Missouri Pork Association argued that mandatory labeling adds regulatory burden, is not supported by consumer purchasing data, and should remain voluntary. The hearing included extensive testimony from cattle producers and consumers, but no vote on HCR 29 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even with significant investments, each campus faces practical limits based on the capacity of project
• Are— We provide a report each year to show our 12% cap limit, and our most recent report shows about
• Really what we should expect to happen in the next five years, especially given the limitations that
• Now, the resources are more limited.
• We're serving the same exact kid and having them go through a whole different process to get a benefit

Summary: The committee’s first major discussion focused on higher education facilities across UC, CSU, and the community colleges, with Chair Alvarez framing the issue as a final budget hearing before the May Revise. The LAO presented findings that campuses have grown substantially in buildings and square footage, while classroom and lab utilization remains below legislative standards and deferred maintenance backlogs continue to rise. The LAO also emphasized that the state and segments lack comprehensive data on capital renewal spending and recommended better reporting, clearer funding targets, and long-term planning for renewal and maintenance. UC, CSU, and community college representatives each described large five-year capital plans, aging facilities, seismic and deferred maintenance needs, and the role of student housing, while noting that construction costs are rising faster than inflation. Members questioned the segments about debt service, utilization rates, and how projects are prioritized. UC said its debt service tied to state support is about $665 million annually and described a $30 billion five-year capital financial plan, including housing, medical centers, and building renewal. CSU said it has about $31 billion in five-year needs and more than $8 billion in deferred maintenance, with funding coming from a mix of state-related and one-time sources since the state shifted capital responsibility to CSU. Community colleges said their unmet facilities needs total about $33.5 billion and explained their use of a scoring matrix and FUSION system to rank projects. The chair and members pressed all three systems to better distinguish between projects that are truly shovel-ready and those that are long-term needs, and discussed whether facilities condition data, total cost of ownership, and more standardized metrics should guide future bond proposals. The committee then turned to Proposition 2 and the Governor’s proposed community college capital outlay projects. The Department of Finance said Prop. 2 provides $1.5 billion for community colleges and that the Governor’s budget proposes 29 projects, with two continuing Prop. 51 projects also included. The LAO supported the overall use of the funds but raised concerns about the current 65/35 split between modernization and growth, the unusually large share of gymnasium projects, and some scoring metrics that favor larger campuses and certain regions. Community college officials said the scoring system was developed through participatory governance and would take one to two years to revise, but they supported the funding and agreed to follow up on questions about project categories and the rationale for the weighting. Members also suggested giving more weight to modernization, regional access, and intersegmental or collaborative projects. A final item addressed the CalKids program. The Department of Finance proposed $56,000 ongoing General Fund for three positions, while the LAO recommended approving two positions but rejecting a manager position until the current $7.5 million marketing campaign is evaluated. ScholarShare’s executive director said CalKids has enrolled more than 5 million children, with nearly 600,000 claims and over $45 million distributed, and argued that additional staff and outreach are needed to reach a goal of 1 million claimed scholarships by the end of 2025 and to implement AB 2808. Members asked about marketing effectiveness, data sharing, and eligibility rules, and the program said it is expanding partnerships with Cradle to Career and CSAC. No final vote was taken in the hearing, and the chair indicated the facilities item would be held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time, we
• Let us not be limited by a reliance on obsolete technology.
• We limited it in the committee that I took in my own committee. I don't know.
• I don't know how we did that, but we took amendments to our own bill, which limited it to, correct me
• We limited it in the committee that I took in my own committee. I don't know.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 470, which would change California’s carrier-of-last-resort rules and allow a phased transition away from copper landlines in areas deemed well served by alternative phone options. The author and AT&T argued the bill would protect consumers, preserve 911 access, require public notice and CPUC review, and direct investment toward modern fiber and emergency communications. Supporters included a wide range of business, civic, tribal, and community groups, while opponents from TURN, rural counties, labor, digital equity organizations, and local governments warned the bill could let AT&T shed service obligations too quickly, weaken protections for rural and underserved households, and harm workers. After extensive member discussion about CPUC authority, rural carveouts, labor impacts, and reinvestment, AB 470 was passed do pass as amended to Appropriations, with one no vote and one not voting, and the roll left open. The committee then took up AB 1532, a committee omnibus bill extending funding and surcharge authority for the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program and the TNC Access for All program, while also adding CPUC accountability provisions. Chair Boerner Horvath explained the bill would not raise consumer costs and would require the CPUC to appear at hearings when requested and adopt rules for commissioner attendance. There was no opposition testimony, and the bill was moved do pass and re-refer to Utilities and Energy, though the roll was left open because it had not yet reached the threshold for immediate transmission. Finally, the committee heard AB 353, the Affordable Home Internet Act of 2025, which would establish an affordability floor for home broadband for low-income Californians after the expiration of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program. Supporters said broadband costs remain too high and that families, students, and vulnerable communities need a state solution now; opponents from the wireless industry and rural county representatives argued the bill would amount to an artificial price mandate and could complicate existing rural broadband buildouts. Members generally supported the goal but raised concerns about impacts on small ISPs and rural areas, and the bill was moved forward with a motion and second while discussion continued about possible exemptions and amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'm trying not to limit some of that.
• </c><00:04:13.640><c> trying</c><00:04:13.959><c> not</c><00:04:14.159><c> to</c><00:04:14.640><c> limit
• <00:04:15.200><c> some</c><00:04:15.400><c> of</c><00:04:15.640><c> that</c> I'm I'm trying not to limit
• > would</c><00:04:19.720><c> ask</c><00:04:19.880><c> members</c><00:04:20.160><c> to</c> look at limits
• it I would ask members to look at limits it I would ask members to vote vote vote no<00:04:22.800><c

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of benefits? of benefits?
• They were using age limits.
• They were using age limits.
• Of course, anybody with a age limits.
• They recommended our limits for that.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> with limited resources. with limited resources.
• </c> and taxpayers who are also benefiting and taxpayers who are also benefiting from<01:24:50.159><c
• Uh public benefit is decided support it.
• </c> thinking about cost rather than benefit. thinking about cost rather than benefit.
• Rooms and meals will benefit from that. I believe that. Look at Old Orchard Beach.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like I said, the benefit that is delivered to the community is demonstrable.
• </c><00:35:50.160><c> that</c><00:35:50.400><c> is</c> like I said, the benefit that is like I said,
• So because there's a lot of other time-limited programs out there and it may not make sense to require
• So because there's a lot of other time-limited programs out there and it may not make sense to require
• So because there's a lot of other time-limited programs out there and it may not make sense to require

Bills: HB0111 , HB0112 , HB0122

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I can see the benefits of having a longer-term focus. Thank you. Other questions, comments?
• We did not take this position that this benefit should be cut.
• </c><01:26:17.920><c> And</c> healthcare and their food benefits.
• And healthcare and their food benefits.
• </c> limited to just the overnight. limited to just the overnight.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• It means that we have limited flexibility in compensation adjustments, accelerated hiring timelines,
• And we want to reach an agreement in a practicable and reasonable manner that benefits the workforce
• And then, as I said, we have those two tables for our health benefits bargaining.
• Arbitrators can't hear about retirement benefits.
• Our retirement benefits are established by statute.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Employment Relations

Transcript Highlights:

• It does mean that we have limited time for public testimony.
• It does mean that we have limited time for public testimony.
• They're testing to the per se limit, so they are only testing.
• And lowering the per se limit is one of the more effective tools that you could adopt.
• Initially, 54% of people asked said they support lowering the limit to 0.05.

Summary: The House Committee on Community Safety held public hearings on House Bill 2220, which would change Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) certification hearings for peace and corrections officers. The bill would raise the standard of proof for suspension or revocation from a preponderance of the evidence to clear and convincing evidence, expand the hearing panel from five to six members by adding another law enforcement representative, and require biennial reporting by law enforcement agencies and the CJTC on officer certification, training completion, and decertifications. Sponsor Rep. Mari Leavitt and supporters argued the bill would improve fairness, transparency, training compliance, and recruitment/retention, while CJTC staff said they support objective hearings but opposed the burden-of-proof change and parts of the definitions, especially probation. Opponents, including police accountability advocates and several CJTC commissioners, argued the current system is working, there is no demonstrated problem, and the bill would weaken civilian oversight and make decertification harder. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2362, which would lower Washington’s per se blood alcohol concentration threshold for impaired driving from 0.08 to 0.05, require a public information campaign, and direct an evaluation of the policy’s impacts by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy. Rep. Brandy Donaghy said the bill is intended to reduce traffic deaths and improve public safety. Supporters, including several prosecutors and victims’ family members, said lower BAC limits can deter impaired driving and save lives, and argued the change would educate the public and reduce crashes. Opponents from the hospitality, brewing, and wine industries said the bill would not address the main causes of fatal crashes, would burden businesses and responsible consumers, and pointed to Utah’s experience as evidence the policy may not reduce fatalities. Prosecutors also raised concerns about the toxicology lab backlog, though some said the bill could eventually reduce cases and improve safety. The hearing on HB 2362 ended with public testimony; no committee action or vote was taken in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is phased implementation, and, as I just stated, there are market benefits.
• It is phased implementation, and, as I just stated, there are market benefits. All right.
• Then there is the sky's the limit on a rate increase. I get that.
• But what I would say is, big picture, this is something that really can benefit Missouri consumers in
• Do you ever do it more often than that, or do you limit it to only...? No, we can.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The committee first met in executive session, laying over H.J.R. 153 and H.J.R. 119, then unanimously advanced HB 2904 after adopting a committee amendment and substitute. HB 2904 passed 13-0. The committee also adopted a substitute for HB 2933 and sent that bill do pass by a vote of 11-3. The committee then moved into regular session and heard HB 2266, which would add the attorney general and staff, or as members suggested possibly assistant attorney generals, to the list of officials authorized to concealed carry while performing duties. The sponsor and an assistant attorney general testified that the bill was intended to protect AG staff who travel and work in courthouses and hotels; some members raised concerns about the breadth of the term “staff,” and one witness urged clearer limits and identification safeguards. No vote was taken on HB 2266 in the portion provided. The committee then heard HB 2207 and HB 2233 together, both aimed at restructuring Missouri’s electric industry to allow competitive generation while keeping transmission and distribution regulated. The sponsors argued that competition would lower costs, improve reliability, spur innovation, and let customers choose suppliers, while preserving PSC oversight of the grid and default service. Supporters, including a market think tank and retail energy advocates, said competitive states have seen more generation investment and that private generators bear their own risk rather than ratepayers. Opponents, including Evergy, argued deregulation has not delivered promised savings, can increase fraud and consumer confusion, and would force divestment of utility generation assets without clear guardrails. Members pressed witnesses on comparisons to Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania, legacy costs, divestment mechanics, and whether the PSC would still set generation-related rates; witnesses disagreed sharply on the likely effect on residential prices and on whether the bill’s structure was sufficiently specific.

Transcript Highlights:

• In line 26, Personnel Benefits, right? For internally that line?
• Yes, give me a A little bit more of what they're doing with that Employee Benefits.
• Again, I think this goes back to a limited current year capacity.
• And now we've got this $48 million that is for a very limited group of kids, I see under five.
• That's part of where I think that we could really benefit those rural communities.

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time, we
• Another associated benefit is that public transit vehicles—buses, specifically on bus rapid transit—can
• So there's a lot of kind of co-benefits with managed lanes. Next slide, please.
• That's the benefit of having electric vehicles.
• There's no programmatic benefit to having the GPS enabled.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee first took up three highway naming resolutions on its consent calendar: ACR 109, SCR 78, and SCR 90. The committee approved the consent calendar with 11 aye votes and no no votes, then adjourned the bill-hearing portion. Members also recognized committee science fellow AJ Mendeola for his service, noting his contributions to bill analysis and staff support. The committee then held an informational hearing on alternatives to the gas tax, focused on the projected decline in fuel-tax revenue and the need for a more sustainable transportation funding model. The chair and invited experts described how inflation, improved fuel efficiency, and growth in electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles are eroding gas-tax revenues. Presenters from the National Conference of State Legislatures and the University of California discussed state options such as higher or indexed gas taxes, EV registration fees, road usage charges, delivery fees, public EV charging fees, transportation network company fees, and managed lanes, emphasizing tradeoffs among revenue adequacy, fairness, administrative cost, and public acceptance. Committee members raised concerns that mileage-based fees or EV fees could function as new taxes on commuters and lower-income drivers, especially if the gas tax is not repealed. Presenters responded that road usage charges are generally intended as replacements for the gas tax, not additions, and argued that mileage-based systems better preserve the user-pays principle while being less tied to vehicle fuel efficiency. They also noted that flat EV registration fees are easy to administer but can be less equitable because they are not linked to actual road use. Officials from Hawaii, Utah, and Oregon described their state programs and policy choices. Hawaii said its new road usage charge began July 1, 2025, for EVs, offers a choice between a per-mile charge and a flat annual fee through 2028, and will transition to mandatory EV participation before expanding to all light-duty vehicles by 2033. Utah described its voluntary EV road usage charge program, quarterly reporting, privacy protections, and legislative scenarios for removing the cap or making participation mandatory. Oregon outlined its constitutional cost-responsibility framework and broader transportation funding challenges, including reliance on user fees and limited use of general-fund support.

Transcript Highlights:

• This amendment would add a limited back-to-school sales tax holiday for families across Pennsylvania.
• facilities that they've got to heat, that they've got to light, and those reductions are going to benefit
• But until the governor stops making unilateral decisions that affect that benefit, it. decisions that
• affect that benefit people in other states, people that he might be campaigning in two years from now
• We're not going to see any benefit, especially when he's blocking access to the natural gas resources

Transcript Highlights:

• You cannot comply with a limit you never measure.
• on everybody else in the executive branch and legislative limits on judges.
• on everybody else in the executive branch and legislative limits on judges.
• And we have the benefit of these photographs because this case went to trial.
• We're going to limit it. Why is that the singular focus?

Committee: Joint Judiciary Committee

Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence honoring a deceased member, then approved the April minutes. The first major presentation was from Chelsea Florey of Child and Family Services on the Diversion Task Force and related grant programs created with one-time funding from HB 1012. She reported that five of six proposals were funded, with youth diversion services operating in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and a Red River Children’s Advocacy Center program focused on problematic sexualized behavior. Members discussed barriers such as staffing shortages, voluntary family engagement, service fatigue, and the need for better coordination, broader outreach, and possible changes to diversion eligibility rules so low-level cases can remain in diversion longer. Several legislators pressed for more practical system changes and clearer service navigation, while Florey said the task force is trying to build a service array or hub and is leaning on the Children’s Cabinet for broader recommendations. The committee then heard from North Dakota Lottery Director Thomas Lawler, who gave an operational overview and biennium report. He described the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, Pick and Click subscriptions, Players Club membership, and revenue distribution. For the 2023-25 biennium, about $67 million in tickets were purchased, with roughly $16.2 million transferred overall, including money for the general fund, drug task force grants, and compulsive gambling prevention and treatment. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether the amount is set by statute. A lengthy presentation followed from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on criminal justice data connectivity and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that North Dakota’s jail, court, HHS, and correctional systems use multiple separate databases that do not communicate in real time, requiring manual cross-checks and staff communication. He said the department is exploring a centralized hub or other integration approach, but noted challenges with identifiers, vendor contracts, confidentiality, and cost. Robin Schmolenberger then updated the committee on a Medicaid data-sharing project with HHS, saying monthly application assistance is now occurring in correctional facilities and that automated bi-directional data exchange is expected in late 2026 to help suspend and reactivate Medicaid coverage and identify former foster care youth. Members also discussed parole, probation, transitional housing, and the need for better real-time notifications and clearer data definitions. The committee also received an update from county representatives on the 24/7 sobriety program, including a recent attorney general opinion that if a court waives 24/7 fees, sheriffs may use the cheaper twice-daily breath test or urine testing instead of SCRAM bracelets or drug patches. Finally, Bruce Johnson of the Racing Commission presented on an audit report, acknowledging serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, grant documentation failures, a breeders fund eligibility reversal, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has already changed its procedures by tracking fund limits monthly, requiring grant applications and itemized reports, enforcing breeders fund rules as written, and routing purchases through procurement with written contracts. The committee asked follow-up questions throughout but took no formal votes on these presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I've been looking through this bill very closely, but I just wanted to ask about your limiting
• There is a lot of different occupations that could benefit from psilocybin therapy.
• Could benefit from psilocybin therapy, and it's important to note that psilocybin has been designated
• I'm just wanting to see what we can do to actually get it approved, and many people can benefit from
• Trauma is not limited to combat. Obviously, trauma is in homes. Trauma is not limited to combat.

Committees: House Emerging Issues , House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration