Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1252 will be referred to the Finance Committee.
• Senate Bill 1257 will be referred to the Judiciary and Rules Committee.
• Services.
• House Bill 515 will be referred to the Education Committee.
• House Bill 518 will be referred to the Judiciary and Rules Committee.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome all those that are returning. to this committee.
• And so there's just not as many little humans relative to the ratio of big humans as there used to be
• Happy to share it with the entirety of the committee.
• And have you made that clear to the committee, or to?
• Chairman and committee members.

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Will the committee assistant please call the roll?
• to introduce to the committee?
• </c> of support in other regional service of support in other regional service models<00:12:57.839><c
• ,<00:13:10.800><c> feasibility</c><00:13:11.519><c> studies,</c> service, feasibility studies, service
• </c> aren't receiving those type of services aren't receiving those type of services now?

Keywords: Reupload to restore attendance roll call Roll Call 00:00:00 Approval of Minutes from September Meeting 00:00:24 Presentation of the Kentucky Association of Counties Legislative Platform for the Upcoming 2026 Session 00:01:48 Discussion of Legislation Concerning Firefighter Death Benefits 00:35:43 Discussion of DNA Collection in Jails for Felony Arrests 00:45:52 Discussion of Federal Immigration Law Enforcement 00:54:18 Adjournment 01:15:39, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its sixth meeting, established a quorum, and approved the minutes from the October 21 meeting. The main agenda item was a presentation from Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) leaders and county officials on jail funding and jail-system reform. Speakers said county jail costs have reached crisis levels, citing large and rising general-fund subsidies in counties such as Hardin, McCracken, and Warren, and noting that county general-fund contributions to jail funds have increased by 76% since 2019. KACo outlined a three-part legislative approach for the upcoming session: incentivizing regional jails, clarifying responsibility for pre-trial felony detainees, and redefining the model for housing state inmates in county jails. On regional jails, they proposed one-time state construction funding, statutory changes to allow former county jails to serve as 96-hour holdover facilities, broader participation of jailers on regional jail authority boards, an increased supplement for closed county jails, and a one-time payment for counties that close local jails and join regional facilities. Union County Judge Adam Onan described his county’s savings from contracting with Webster County and said regionalization can reduce costs where feasible. Harlan County Judge Executive Dan Mosley focused on pre-trial felony detainees, saying counties bear the full cost of housing people awaiting trial for long periods, sometimes years, and that pre-trial time is later credited toward state sentences. He argued the state benefits from that credit and referenced prior bills that would have reimbursed counties for time-served credit. Shelley Hampton then proposed replacing the current per diem model for state inmates with contracts requiring the Department of Corrections to pay actual housing costs and to support programming such as substance abuse treatment, cognitive behavioral programming, re-entry services, workforce training, and academics. No votes were taken on the jail proposals, and the meeting ended with the presentation and discussion of the county recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• and ongoing service to the state of California.
• and ongoing service to the state of California.
• Reports of committee will be deemed read and amendments adopted.
• He was approved by the Rules Committee on the 11th with a 5-0 vote.
• Anne embodied public service in its truest form.

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, a prayer marking World Water Day, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then suspended Senate Rule 55 to allow guests on the floor. Several special introductions followed, including California Wildlife Photo of the Year winner Alice Cahill, outgoing Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham, Avalon Fire Chief Michael Alegría, and a Cal Poly Pomona student delegation participating in CHESS/CSU Lobby Day. Members praised Bonham’s long service and the students’ advocacy on higher education issues. The Assembly’s passage of AB 2156 was announced, and the Senate approved the March 16–19 journals as corrected. The chamber then took up SCR 132, designating March 22, 2026 as California STEAM Robotics Day. The author and supporting senators emphasized robotics and STEAM education as hands-on preparation for careers in engineering, AI, manufacturing, and other technical fields, and highlighted partnerships with industry and programs such as FIRST Robotics. The resolution passed on a 34-0 vote. Afterward, the author introduced robotics students and industry representatives, including Ethan Wynn of Poway High School and leaders from Garner Holt Productions, to recognize their work in STEAM education and robotics. The Senate next considered five gubernatorial appointments, all brought by Senator Grove: Paul Toopee to lead the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Peter Britery to the Southwestern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission, Dr. Youngping Chen and Gregory Lung to the California Acupuncture Board, and Roy Mather to the Board of Pilot Commissioners. Each nominee was described as experienced in the relevant field and each was confirmed unanimously, 34-0. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 62(a) to allow the Committee on Governmental Organization to hear AB 2156 on March 24 without sufficient notice. In closing, Senator Blakespear requested adjournment in memory of Anne Colchin, a longtime Carlsbad city councilmember and civic leader remembered for decades of public service, environmental stewardship, and community planning. The Senate agreed to memorialize her, then announced that members would proceed to the Assembly chambers for the joint convention and State of the Judiciary address, with the next floor session scheduled for March 26, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next order of business is reporter committees. There being no need.
• </c><00:06:09.520><c> There</c> business is reporter committees.
• There business is reporter committees. There being<00:06:10.000><c> no</c><00:06:10.160><c> need.
• </c><00:18:46.080><c> um</c> committee committee testimony on it. um committee committee testimony on
• </c><00:19:36.160><c> I</c> uh the gentleman on the committee I uh the gentleman on the committee I think

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 04:41 Calendar/2nd Readings 05:37 Orders of the Day 06:14 HB 312 06:41 Interrupted Stream 38:41, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> thank you, members of the committee. thank you, members of the committee.
• </c> committee. Introduce yourself. committee. Introduce yourself.
• </c> committee. Senator Duckworth. committee. Senator Duckworth.
• to pass and referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services. All in favor say aye.
• Aye. health and human services. All in favor health and human services.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What we've seen from for-profit attempts at shared housing is to remove all of the human services side
• and any of that ongoing support that happens, which I think... ...remove all of the human services side
• Motions do pass to Human Services. Kalra? Aye. Callra? Aye. Dixon? No. Kalra? Aye. Dixon? No.
• Motion is due pass as amended to Human Services. Calderon? No. Dixon? No. Bauer-Kahan? Aye. Bonta?
• Motion do pass to Human Services. Calra, Dixon: not voting. Bauer-Kahan: aye. Brian, Connolly: aye.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with the most detailed discussion focused on AB 316, AB 251, AB 474, AB 1201, AB 464, and AB 614. AB 316 would prevent AI developers or deployers from arguing in civil cases that an AI system’s alleged autonomy absolves them of responsibility. Supporters framed it as a narrow guardrail to protect families, especially children, from harms like dangerous chatbots and deepfakes; opponents, including TechNet and the Chamber of Progress, raised concerns about possible strict-liability implications. The bill was moved out of committee to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 251 would let judges lower the burden of proof in elder abuse cases when a skilled nursing facility or RCFE intentionally destroys evidence. Supporters said the measure is needed because elder abuse victims are often unable to testify and records are vulnerable to spoliation, while opponents argued existing sanctions are sufficient and warned of more litigation. The bill passed, with committee members emphasizing the vulnerability of elder abuse victims. AB 474 sought to expand nonprofit home-sharing programs, including tax incentives for low-income homeowners and changes to housing law and lodger rules. Supporters said it would help older adults and low-income Californians avoid homelessness, but several members and the California Apartment Association raised concerns about removing lodger-law protections for homeowners; the author committed to keep working on the issue. The bill passed to Human Services. AB 1201 would give courts discretion to provide family reunification services to parents with certain violent felony convictions, rather than applying an automatic bypass. Supporters from Starting Over Inc. described personal experiences with permanent family separation and argued the bill would give parents a fair chance when the conviction is unrelated to child safety. Some members supported the measure but questioned whether domestic violence histories should be treated differently; the author said the bill still allows courts to deny services when reunification would endanger a child. The bill passed to Human Services. AB 464 addressed sexual abuse and retaliation in state prisons by extending reporting time after release, adding 90-day monitoring after reports, barring rehiring of confirmed abusers, and strengthening reporting and anti-retaliation rules. Survivors testified about abuse, retaliation, and failures in CDCR’s response; the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 614 would standardize the Government Claims Act filing deadline at one year for all claims. The author and supporters argued the current six-month deadline for injury and wrongful death claims is too short for victims to learn the process, find counsel, and gather evidence, while businesses often get a full year. A civil rights attorney and a family member of a deceased jail detainee testified in support, describing how the current deadline can block meritorious claims. The bill was presented for committee consideration as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• I accept the committee amendments to this bill and appreciate the work put in by committee staff.
• Good afternoon, Chair Bains, committee members.
• The motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Human Services. Bains, aye. Ellis, aye.
• Bains and committee members, my name is Dan Okunfuss.
• The motion is due pass and re-refer to the Committee on Human Services. Patterson, aye.

Summary: The Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee met on April 21 and heard three bills. AB 1819 by Assemblymember Sanchez would require buildings serving 50 or more people to have an automated external defibrillator on site. Sanchez said the bill is intended to protect older adults and other community members by improving access to life-saving emergency equipment; supporters included recreation and park districts and respiratory care professionals. The committee members present voted in favor, and the bill was passed as amended and re-referred to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members. AB 1983 by Assemblymember Blanca Rubio would create an optional sequential repayment method for continuing care retirement communities, allowing entrance fee repayments to be made in the order residents leave rather than waiting for a specific unit to be reoccupied. Rubio and Erickson Senior Living argued the change would make repayments more predictable and equitable while preserving consumer protections. Support also came from LeadingAge California and the California Assisted Living Association. The committee approved the bill and sent it to Human Services, again holding the roll open for later votes. AB 2037 by Assemblymember Patterson would establish a pilot grant program to help seniors and people with disabilities harden their homes against wildfire risk, with Patterson describing it as a way to support property maintenance and reduce wildfire spread. The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, AARP California, and local officials testified in support, and committee members accepted amendments to add another county to the pilot. The committee voted to pass the bill as amended and re-refer it to Appropriations. After the initial votes, add-on votes were recorded and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:13:17.920><c> talking</c><01:13:18.159><c> more</c> human services and we'll be talking more
• human services and we'll be talking more about<01:13:18.719><c> families</c><01:13:19.120><c> who</c>
• Um, good afternoon, honorable committee chair and committee members.
• , it would touch on transportation, housing, health, and human services, taxes, and on and on.
• This topic really is in a different committee, the health committee.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> legislative session and your committee legislative session and your committee expanded<00:02:06.880
• services or in the jobs and economic development sphere.
• </c><00:02:25.840><c> the</c> health and human services or in um the health and human services or in
• So, that's something that's happened in the veterans committee, but I'm also pretty proud of it just
• Now, Senator, your committee received good and bad news with its budget targets.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, who can quickly walk the committee through that. Please proceed. Good afternoon, Mr.
• The Energy Committee today. Our second bill is House File 2803 from Representative Hudson.
• Chair, and welcome to the committee, Representative Hudson.
• And our Human Rights Act, and a variety of other issues.
• Thank you, Chair Mecklund, co-chairs Swaczynski and Acom, and members of the committee.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee, Jacob Scott here, frequent flyer of this committee, representing
• Chairman and members of the committee.
• I think that we have that down in this committee. So I'd like to talk about today, Committee.
• Chair, committee, thank you very much.
• Committee, thank you very much.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee continued a public hearing on House Bill 2897, which would expand optometrists’ scope of practice. Supporters, including Dr. Kelly Deering, said optometrists are trained to perform the listed office-based procedures, that rural Missouri lacks access to ophthalmologists, and that the bill would reduce wait times, travel burdens, and costs while helping retain students and practitioners in the state. Opponents, including representatives of the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, argued the bill does not guarantee rural access and said the procedures should remain within the medical/surgical training of physicians. Members also questioned training on live human eyes and how suspicious lesions would be handled. No vote was taken, and the hearing on HB 2897 was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2353, which would create a licensing and sign-and-seal framework for interior designers and move oversight to the board that includes architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects. Sponsor Rep. Sherri Gallick and supporters said the bill modernizes regulation, recognizes accredited education and NCIDQ testing, and would let licensed interior designers take responsibility for non-structural interior design work without hiring an architect to stamp plans. Opponents from the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers and others said they were still negotiating but remained concerned about scope-of-practice language, especially phrases like “all interior design of buildings” and “publicly occupied buildings,” which they said could create overlap with architecture and engineering or unintended obligations for public entities. Testimony also focused on whether unlicensed interior designers would still be allowed to work under carve-outs. No final action was taken. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2241, which would create a separate framework for certain faith-based residential child care facilities to operate without a state license while registering with the state and meeting background-check, reporting, and oversight requirements. Sponsor Rep. Jamie Gregg and MACA representatives said the bill is intended to expand foster placement capacity for children in need while preserving the religious mission of Christian homes, and they cited federal and state initiatives encouraging partnerships with faith-based providers. Opponents argued the bill would create a two-tier system, weaken state licensing protections, and risk placing vulnerable children in facilities without the same direct oversight, inspections, and reunification safeguards as licensed foster homes. Members raised concerns about abuse history at some faith-based homes, the role of the proposed board, and whether religious practices or other mission-based rules would conflict with child welfare standards. The hearing continued with additional testimony; no vote was reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reports of a committee.
• Joint Rule 12 is suspended, and the matter will be referred to the Committee on Financial Services.
• Matters will be referred to the Committee on Financial Services.
• Report of a committee.
• , the Design and Review Committee, and the Monuments Committee.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Don't speak for the rest of the committee. One member should not be speaking for the committee.
• </c> should not be speaking for the committee should not be speaking for the committee I<00:27:13.919
• I sit on House Education funding committee, sat on the Full House Education committee last year, and
• </c> do I very much appreciate the committee do I very much appreciate the committee and<00:58:57.920
• </c><01:01:15.880><c> will</c><01:01:16.680><c> um</c> hope the committee will um hope the committee

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House, excuse me, the House Committee on Public Education will come to order.
• And so that actually grades the same way that humans grade.
• They don't know this 316 because we don't tell anybody who grades their papers, but, um, the human, human
• Chair and members of this committee.
• The committee stands in recess.

Bills: HB8

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Summary: The House Committee on Public Education met to hear House Bill 8, which would replace STAAR with a new assessment and accountability system beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The chair described the bill as reducing testing time, limiting benchmark tests, adding beginning-, middle-, and end-of-year assessments, requiring faster score turnaround, involving Texas teachers in test development, and tightening accountability timelines and transparency rules. Members also discussed provisions on A-F ratings, cut scores, CCMR, local accountability plans, and TEA reporting requirements. Committee members and invited witnesses split sharply on the bill’s approach. Supporters, including the chair, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, and Ed Trust’s Nicholas Munyon Penny, argued the bill would reduce high-stakes pressure, provide quicker and more actionable data, limit over-testing, and better align assessments to Texas standards while preserving criterion-referenced accountability. They said the new system would help teachers and parents intervene sooner and would improve transparency, including parent access to student responses and automatic rescoring in some writing cases. Opponents, including Rep. Hinojosa and student witness Ella Moran, argued the bill still increases testing and replaces one high-stakes test with multiple TEA-created tests. Moran testified that STAAR creates anxiety, disrupts instruction, and does not reflect real learning, while Hinojosa said the House had previously passed a better bill based on a nationally norm-referenced model and criticized the new proposal as a concession to the Senate. Questions also focused on AI scoring of writing, rescoring rates, and whether the bill’s new accountability rules would be reliable and fair. The committee did not take a final vote during the portion provided, but the chair said a vote on HB 8 would be called after public testimony later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then during special session, the Health and Human Services in House Bill 1623, Section 7, also received
• So can you give another example in regards to data sets outside of human services? Mr.
• Is it the IT committee or is it the DOGE committee? Where does that land?
• Is it the IT committee or is it the Doge committee? Where does that land?
• very closely with the emergency service interim committee, because if legislation passes out of that

Committee: Joint Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have card services this morning enabled, and we have shared a card services link with attendees and
• And four, mental health services. research, and for mental health services.
• So at this time, our next agenda is an update on human service apprenticeships and apprenticeships of
• We have thriving apprenticeship programs in human services, in IT, in early education, in bio, you name
• We have thriving apprenticeship programs in human services, in IT, in early education, in bio, you name

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities held its quarterly virtual/in-person meeting and approved the December minutes. The chair announced plans for the next “Meeting the Moment” community forum in Lowell on March 27, in partnership with MassAbility, focused on digital accessibility, education-to-employment transition, workforce supports, long-term services and supports, and health equity, along with a resource fair. The commission also began planning for its October National Disability Employment Awareness Month event and sought volunteers for a small planning group. The meeting featured an update from the Attorney General’s office on federal litigation affecting Massachusetts, including challenges to federal actions on higher education diversity data collection and DEI-related funding conditions, immigration/TPS for Haitians, NIH research grant disruptions, and the nonrenewal of mental health services grants for schools. The presenter said the state has helped protect more than $3 billion in federal funding and noted ongoing or pending appeals in several cases. Commissioners asked about possible impacts on disability-related DEI work and Medicaid; the AG’s office said guidance on DEIA/employment initiatives is available and that the state is closely monitoring federal Medicaid communications and coordinating with the governor’s office. Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler and apprenticeship liaison Amara Riemann presented on registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, emphasizing paid, employer-driven pathways with classroom instruction and wage progression. They highlighted growth in nontraditional fields such as human services, IT, early education, biotech, and banking, and described Bridgewater State University’s Excel program for neurodivergent people and people with disabilities as a model that can lead from pre-apprenticeship to apprenticeship. Commissioners discussed expanding similar models through community colleges and disability-focused workforce pipelines. Subcommittee reports covered disability employment, long-term services and supports, and health equity. The employment subcommittee heard from CED on state disability employment initiatives and planned future presentations from the Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment and Veterans Affairs. The long-term services and supports subcommittee discussed MassHealth budget pressures, anticipated federal Medicaid changes, the personal care attendant working group, and an upcoming discussion on crisis standards of care. In commissioner announcements, members highlighted recent honors for several commissioners, updates on municipal digital accessibility grants, a June Medicaid summit, and other commission activities. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Public Safety Committee and Senate Transportation Committee.
• The Senate Public Safety Committee and Senate Transportation Committee will now come to order.
• In October of last year, the California State Transportation Agency and California Health and Human Services
• Good afternoon, committee chairs and committee members.
• I want to thank the committee chairs, committee members, and committee staff, as well as our public safety

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and aspirations, just human beings.
• and aspirations, just human beings.
• and aspirations, just human beings.
• So you guys want to talk about human rights? That's great. I love human rights.
• Thank you for your service, Sarah.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1742, a bill to
• Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 444, a bill to be entitled an act relating to human trafficking
• Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1644, a bill to be entitled an act relating to emergency services
• Committee Substitute for House Bill 1487, a bill to be entitled an act relating to emergency services
• Committee Substitute for House Bill 1487, a bill to be entitled an act relating to emergency services

Summary: The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for Pope Francis. After routine announcements, the chamber moved to the special order calendar and took up a long series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills before final passage. Among the measures approved were bills creating an expedited DNA testing grant program for local law enforcement, adding aggravating factors in capital cases involving gatherings for religious, school, or government activities, requiring state health coverage for fertility preservation services for cancer patients, authorizing indemnification for commuter rail providers, prohibiting abandonment of migrant vessels in Florida waters, and creating new specialty license plates. The Senate also passed bills on Alzheimer’s awareness, relocating the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University, charter schools, sex offender registration, utility worker protections, juvenile justice, student mental health reporting, foster home licensure transfers, water access facilities, Florida Virtual School, school readiness, sexual images involving children, tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certified recovery residences, the FSU Election Law Center, the Office of Faith and Community, and bonuses for county property appraiser employees. Several other bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, officers injured in the line of duty, school social workers, and Brownfields. Debate was especially extensive on the Office of Faith and Community bill, where an amendment to bar political activity by office staff was offered but failed 13-23 after arguments over election-related communications and the scope of existing law. The certified recovery residences bill also drew notable debate, with supporters emphasizing housing as essential to recovery and opponents raising concerns about implementation and local control. Most other bills passed with little or no opposition, though a few drew dissenting votes, including the capital aggravating factors bill, charter schools, and the Office of Faith and Community measure.