Transcript Highlights:

• For clarification, EIPA is the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment.
• For clarification, EIPA is the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment.
• For clarification, EIPA is the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment.
• For clarification, EIPA is the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment.
• For clarification, EIPA is the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment.

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order/Roll Call 00:16 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations 25:49 Discussion of Hospital Rate Improvement Plan 58:50 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee began by reviewing a large slate of administrative regulations and explaining that it does not approve regulations but can find them deficient and send them back for further work. Members then asked questions on several items, including EMS reciprocity, dental hygienist licensure, and interpreter licensure. The EMS board explained that reciprocity would extend to applicants from any state, not just contiguous states, because the underlying statute had been amended. On the dental regulation, staff said the changes mainly clarified licensure requirements, reinstatement fees, and that dental hygienists administering local anesthetic must do so under direct dentist supervision. The most extended discussion involved the Board of Interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The board chair said the main concern was that the EIPA is an educational specialty assessment, not a nationally recognized certification, yet the regulation would allow it to support full licensure. Members discussed whether that could let educational interpreters work outside their intended scope and whether a separate educational license or statutory change would be more appropriate. The board said it did not think the regulation could be fixed further at this point and suggested a statute could create a narrower educational interpreter license. After discussion, the committee voted to defer both related interpreter regulations, 201 KAR 39:030 and the companion regulation, for further work. The committee then took up two community mental health regulations, 907 KAR 1:044 and 907 KAR 5:005, which had been found deficient in Administrative Regulations. Department for Medicaid Services staff said the rules would expand and rename the mental health associate role as a behavioral health associate, making the role available in many more facilities, but would also require additional coursework or progress toward licensure. Some members and providers raised access-to-care concerns, especially for rural areas and unlicensed staff already working in the field. Staff said the proposal had been revised through work with CMHCs and licensing boards, but the committee ultimately voted to defer both regulations as well. After finishing the regulation review, the committee heard a presentation from the Kentucky Hospital Association on the ATRIP hospital rate improvement program. Hospital representatives said ATRIP is a Medicaid state-directed payment program funded through a provider tax and federal matching dollars, allowing hospitals to receive payments tied to quality measures. They reported improvements including lower Medicaid readmissions, high sepsis screening rates, reduced infections and opioid prescribing, expanded postpartum depression and suicide screening, and training for more than 1,000 people. They said the program has helped hospitals invest in staffing and quality improvement and warned that without it, many hospitals would face severe financial strain.

Transcript Highlights:

• The course content for bilingual education ranges from instructional strategies And assessments that
• We needed small spaces to do student assessments. and diagnostic work.
• We really value them. So I'm going to click through a couple of other slides here.
• We have the whole assessment piece.
• I value this committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• value and a lower population?
• communities that have a higher assessed communities that have a higher assessed value<01:40:37.480
• /c><01:41:08.320> of<01:41:09.040> kids great assessed value but a lot of kids great assessed
• <01:41:25.040> value<01:41:26.000> but<01:41:26.320> have on on people per assessed
• value but have on on people per assessed value but have a<01:41:26.719> multiplier<01:41:27.560

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 187, which would allow parents or guardians to seek restraining orders on behalf of a minor child even when the alleged perpetrator is not a family or household member. Tracy Sirles testified that the bill was prompted by her family’s experience after being told by state police to seek a restraining order, only to learn the current law did not allow it because the offender was the child’s best friend’s father. Members agreed the change was straightforward, noted the fiscal note reflected only a small indeterminate cost to the judicial branch, and moved House Bill 187 ought to pass; the motion was approved unanimously. The committee then discussed House Bill 66, a Right-to-Know bill that removes “citizen” language in favor of “person” in some provisions and allows certain New Hampshire-connected requesters to seek records electronically if the records already exist in that format. Members reviewed concerns about defining “member of the media,” the scope of electronic requests, and a sentence stating appeals would have no filing fee or search charge. After debate, the committee voted to amend the bill by removing that fee-waiver sentence, then recommended House Bill 66 ought to pass as amended. The vote was 6-3. Next, the committee heard from the Environment and Agriculture chair about several solid-waste-related bills being folded into trailer bill language, including House Bill 215 and House Bill 171, with discussion of a possible three-year landfill moratorium and the need to address DEES staffing and funding concerns. DEES later clarified that the revised approach would not require new positions or create a fiscal impact because the new solid waste commission would be self-funded through filing fees. The committee voted unanimously to retain House Bill 215. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 566, which requires landfill permit applications to include a detailed leachate management plan and more information about disposal contracts. The sponsor said the bill was developed with DEES to address leachate problems and improve safety oversight. DEES testified that the bill largely reflects current practice and would have no specific fiscal impact, with existing staff able to absorb any review workload. The committee moved House Bill 566 ought to pass, and the motion was approved unanimously. The committee also briefly discussed House Bill 624, a grant program for local river management advisory committees, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, the value of solar is shown to be over $0.20 per kilowatt hour.
• And even though the value of solar is the only PUC-approved rate that accurately values distributed solar
• You used the applicable retail rate until they had the value of solar.
• way the state has approved. valuing the actual type of energy that CSGs produce.
• The current program doesn't use the value of solar, which is the actual value of it.

Bills: HF2103, HF2793

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, community solar, energy policy, sustainability, solar garden program, regulation sunset

Transcript Highlights:

• We talked about teaching to the standards, not to an assessment, but we made the assessments clear.
• It's not a surprise if a student's ready to pass that assessment or not.
• Well, when the students take the assessments, they're getting their results.
• Is that a fair assessment and my understanding what's happening correctly with them?
• It is for programs and purposes... ...based on the district's needs assessments.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• okay the cash at the time of the value okay the cash at the time of the value at<00:39:56.440>
• Any motor vehicle—there's a penalty assessment assessed on it, any criminal fine? Yes.
• $24 is now in the penalty assessment $24 is now in the penalty assessment Lane<01:36:11.000>
• <01:37:03.280> is<01:37:03.480> assessed there's a penalty assessment is assessed there's
• in which the assessment was paid.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting featured presentations from the Department of Administrative Services and the Treasury Department on state revenue reporting and unclaimed property. State Comptroller Dana Call explained DAS’s role in compiling statewide revenue reports, including the annual revenue plan set through the budget process and the monthly revenue focus reports that track cash receipts. She noted that unrestricted general fund revenue is about $2 billion annually, while miscellaneous other revenue is a much smaller and less predictable category, averaging roughly $30 million to $32 million a year. She also described two more material internal revenue lines: statewide indirect cost recoveries and post-retirement benefit recoveries, which are billed to agencies and often tied to federal reimbursement rules. Members asked about the interest line in the revenue charts and about how the figures were presented, and Call clarified that the totals were in millions and that the interest item would be explained by the Treasurer. She also explained that the indirect cost and post-retirement recoveries are internal cost allocations that flow back into the unrestricted revenue pool and are reflected in agency budgets as interagency costs. Treasurer Monica Meissner then outlined Treasury Department functions, including bank deposits, statewide disbursements, banking relationships, investments, debt management, compliance, the FONA College Savings Program, the ABLE Plan, scholarship programs, and the abandoned property program. In discussing unclaimed property, she said holders report property after a five-year dormancy period, the state uses automated systems and outreach to locate owners, and claim activity has increased. In fiscal year 2024, the state returned about $12.2 million to citizens through roughly 12,000 claims; over the last 10 years, about $72.6 million has been returned. She also said the state escheated $19.9 million to the general fund and $1.8 million to counties last year, and explained that securities-related proceeds are harder to estimate because they depend on market conditions. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas the State of Vermont recognizes the value and capabilities of its workforce and its strong commitment
• :14:41.839> Vermonters<00:14:42.480> and<00:14:42.639> help<00:14:42.800> assess
• <00:14:43.199> their with Vermonters and help assess their with Vermonters and help assess
• Food Security Roadmap Coalition valued Food Security Roadmap Coalition valued Vermont<00:15:56.480
• <00:25:01.840> and<00:25:02.080> treatment, mental health assessment and treatment,

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional performance, then introduced several bills. H.896 would create a New England Oregon bank specialty license plate and was referred to Transportation. H.897 would prohibit social media use by children and was referred to Commerce and Economic Development. H.898, a committee bill on transitions from copper-based to fiber-based telecommunications networks and consumer protections, was read and placed on the notice calendar. H.899 would finance multi-unit housing through the Vermont Economic Development Authority and was referred to Commerce and Economic Development. The chamber also referred H.635, eliminating Department of Corrections supervisory fees, to Ways and Means because it affects state revenue. The House adopted JRS 40, a joint resolution setting weekend adjournment for February 13, 2026, to reconvene no later than February 17, 2026. It also concurred in HCR 181 congratulating the 2025 Spirit of the ADA award winners and HCR 189 designating February 11, 2026, as Disability Advocacy Day at the State House. HCR 181 recognized a long list of employers for inclusive hiring and accommodations, while HCR 189 highlighted disability rights history, the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights, and ongoing barriers faced by Vermonters with disabilities. The House then took up HCR 192, recognizing February 11, 2026, as National 211 Day in Vermont and celebrating Vermont 211’s statewide referral and crisis-support role. The resolution noted more than 61,000 contacts and over 22,000 referrals in 2025, along with its emergency and after-hours support functions. Members also made announcements recognizing Recovery Day, the Spirit of the ADA award recipients, Disability Advocacy Day, National 211 Day, and other guests and events in the chamber. On the action calendar, the House considered the conference committee report on S.23, concerning the use of synthetic media in elections. The committee reported a strike-all compromise on definitions, disclosure requirements, exemptions, and penalties. The report defined deceptive synthetic media, required a disclosure for certain synthetic media distributed within 90 days of an election, provided exemptions for some broadcasters and parody, and set civil penalties for violations. The House was asked to adopt the conference report.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you want your citizens solvent don't want to be at risk of assessments year and then if we ever find
• If you can see total ensured value is analogous but not the exact same thing as when a consumer us or
• anybody looks at their home value on Zillow.
• The problem park, they're ensuring it'll give estimated home value.
• How much value any of a lot of that is is adding to the consumer consumer today?

Transcript Highlights:

• Should a utility violate provisions of this bill, while TCEQ may assess the penalty.
• Cost, what's the value of that water that was lost?
• There are so many ways we could value that water.
• We put a very high value on that water, recognizing that.
• If they are that resistant and just thumb their nose, then TCEQ could assess penalties.

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• look at their total output, um the value look at their total output, um the value of<02:11:02.159
• But who does the value go to?
• because most of the value that produce because most of the value that they<02:16:54.000> produce<
• <02:17:02.800> Um additional value. Um additional value.
• <04:28:04.800> and but where utilities saw the value and but where utilities saw the value

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We collected about 40% of what was assessed.
• A judge could add, assess, another fee onto that.
• So there was no deterrent value of fines or fees that they could measure.
• And just to say, it is not as cut and dry as fines and fees having no value, no recidivist value, on
• There is punishment value." "And so is the financial punishment different than its deterrent value?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We assess the risk of both physical and sexual harm, and that is the broadest range of risk because,
• We assess the risk of both physical and sexual harm, and that is the broadest range of risk because,
• We assess the risk of both physical and sexual harm, and that is the broadest range of risk because,
• and reviewed by uh they are uh assessed and reviewed by uh both<00:32:33.399> uh<00:32:33.559
• level and a values level and a<00:40:45.280> moral<00:40:45.720> level<00:40:46.160>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 435 was taken up with an author's amendment that added a definition of “female,” “woman,” and “girl” based on biological sex. The committee debated the amendment at length, with supporters saying it was needed for clarity and opponents arguing it was unscientific, dehumanizing, and imported from outside model legislation. The amendment was adopted, and the bill was laid over because no fiscal note had yet been received. As amended, HF 435 would require the commissioner of Corrections to house only biological females at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee and to transfer any nonbiological females out within seven days of enactment. Chair Franson described it as a common-sense women’s rights and human rights bill intended to protect incarcerated women. Alicia Beckman, a former Shakopee GED teacher, testified in support, saying the current policy had allowed biological males with violent histories into the facility and created fear, retraumatization, and safety concerns for staff and inmates. Several testifiers opposed the bill. Deva Guy, Lucy Ailia G., Reverend Dr. Justin Saia Tannis, and Jess Braverman argued that the bill would endanger transgender women, scapegoat a vulnerable minority, and conflict with research, the Prison Rape Elimination Act, and constitutional protections. They urged the committee to focus instead on broader prison conditions and safety issues. Committee members also questioned Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell about the placement process; he explained that transgender placements are reviewed through a multi-step process involving behavioral health and medical staff, a gender identity committee, and final review by the deputy commissioner and commissioner. He said 49 people systemwide have identified as transgender. The discussion ended with the bill laid over and the chair noting that a constitutional challenge would likely follow if the bill became law.

Transcript Highlights:

• You've heard testimony from a previous witness about the existing assessment. ...assessments that the
• And we use those values as a kind of cutoff.
• That we make when we set these values.
• Yeah, so the 16 are TCEQ's values.
• Where do you get those values from?

Bills: HB1341, HB1674, HB4028, SB2321

Keywords: hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• We have always instilled in our children the value of being educated and to be loving and caring about
• These values have guided me through every stage of my career.
• The Workers' Compensation is a self-funded agency based on a quarterly assessment fee.
• That base assessment fee has not increased since 1990. We all know costs have gone up since 1990.
• This was the first year that we actually proposed legislation to increase our assessment fee.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the 4% versus 6% is that based off of the value of the fund?
• supposed to do today, solely based on pecuniary factors for the purpose of maximizing shareholder value
• The requirement of OA is for a bill to first assess whether or not a proposal has a liability added to
• And we're going to ask that agencies perform post-contract assessment and publicly post those results
• central purchasing, we are asking that contracts include a metric to measure the success in post-assessment

Bills: HB1739, HB1784, HB1889, HB2116, HB2206, HB3625, HB2939, HB3028, HB3265, HB3313, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3420, HB3588, HB3748, HB3721, HB3852, HB4132, HB4263, HB4303, HB4311, HB4428, HB4429, HB4434

Keywords: retirement, law enforcement, disability benefits, pension system, Oklahoma, education reform, local control, student outcomes, curriculum changes, school funding, public retirement systems, pension, retirement benefits, cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, inflation adjustment, CPI-U, Consumer Price Index, firefighters pension, police pension

Transcript Highlights:

• There are insurer assessments that are built into the bill.
• member company assessments, and insurance company assessments.
• So they'll have the rate being a percentage of the risk value.
• Right, the premium is a percentage of the cost of the house, the value of the house.
• of the total property value goes up when you do this.

Bills: HB778, HB 1266, HB1576, HB2213, HB2517, HB2518, HB2841, HB3306, HB3320, HB3388, HB3508, HB3520, HB3689

Keywords: credentialing, healthcare, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, managed care, hurricane, windstorm, loss mitigation, grants, insurance discounts, property retrofitting, insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, board composition, coastal counties, property insurance, taxation, Texas FAIR Plan Association, premium taxes, maintenance taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe I demonstrated for you these core values around I believe I demonstrated for you these core
• values around accountability, quality systems change, collaboration and person-centered approach in
• Secretary Harris matter what you value. So Secretary Harris. So I'm on Jay lot. And so we did.
• during the year in which the National Pediatric Credit Readiness Assessment is not conducted and it
• And it also changes the date for collecting the assessments course. Thank you.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:17:59.080> uh relating to cognitive assessments uh relating to cognitive assessments uh
• The cognitive assessment testing is so critical at this time.
• The cognitive assessment testing is so critical at this time.
• standardization of cognitive assessment standardization of cognitive assessment Tas<00:25:28.000
• Next bill is HB 700, relating to cognitive assessments.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing opened with House Bill 1462 on crisis services. Testimony from the Department of Law Enforcement, the Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Department of Health supported expanding behavioral health crisis services as an alternative to arrest or incarceration. Witnesses said additional crisis sites would help divert people in mental health crisis to appropriate care, and the Department of Health described its current crisis center in Ewa, including the need for renovations such as a padded room and the time required to get the facility operational. In response to questions, the department estimated the Ewa center’s budgeted cost at about $4.3 million, not including rent or startup repairs, and said a second site’s cost would depend on whether it was freestanding or attached to an existing facility. The committee then heard House Bill 700 on cognitive assessments. The Executive Office on Aging supported the bill’s intent but asked that it be amended to make assessments optional rather than mandated, to pilot the program first, and to allow flexibility in handling HIPAA-protected data. SHPDA also supported the measure but said it should not be mandatory and suggested that payers reimburse for assessments when requested by patients, families, or physicians. The Alzheimer’s Association and caregivers strongly supported standardizing cognitive assessments to improve early detection and access to newer treatments, while noting the existing opt-out provision. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the bill but asked that the age 65 threshold be removed because cognitive decline can begin much earlier for people with Down syndrome, autism, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and related conditions. In response to a question, the Office on Aging said a pilot project could likely be done for about $150,000, with data security being the main added cost. The final bill discussed was House Bill 237 on peer support programs. Testimony from Family Hui Hawaii, Early Childhood Action Strategy, peer support workers, and families described peer-to-peer programs as a cost-effective way to reduce isolation, strengthen families, and provide long-term community support. Speakers said these programs help parents and caregivers navigate crises, child welfare involvement, addiction recovery, and other challenges, and can have lasting benefits for children’s development and family stability. Several witnesses tied the bill to broader state goals, including infant and early childhood mental health, trauma-informed care, and child welfare reform. Written testimony from about a dozen organizations and individuals was also noted in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• property that would be affected in the value of their residences.”
• I also recognize the value of these other flood control projects.
• I also recognize the value of these other flood control projects.
• We have constantly and consistently put... ...value, do replacement value, so it may be a net loss of
• Losing 700 acres of lower-value stuff from an economic standpoint and getting 40 acres of high-value

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1209, which would pause new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals after December 31, 2026, while allowing existing agreements to continue and renew through 2036. The author said the bill is intended to force a broader, data-driven review of Louisiana’s surface water management and to improve funding for aquatic plant control, especially giant salvinia. An amendment was adopted to broaden the description of how the aquatic plant control fund may be used and to require annual reporting on agreements, withdrawals, revenues, deposits, spending, and non-monetary consideration. Department officials said the current program is voluntary, underfunded for monitoring, and that the bill could create a gap for new users if no replacement mechanism is enacted. The bill was reported favorable as amended after testimony from supporters including the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and opposition concerns from industry representatives were noted but not formally presented. House Bill 599 was then heard, which would prohibit the sale of Louisiana running surface water outside the state. The author argued that out-of-state sales, especially involving Toledo Bend and Texas, would be short-sighted and could harm Louisiana’s long-term water interests. Supporters said Louisiana lacks a water budget and should preserve water for in-state needs, while the Department of Conservation and Energy noted that the state currently has no mandatory process for such agreements and that the bill would not affect Sabine River Authority authority. The committee reported the bill favorable. Finally, House Bill 1206, dealing with permitting and reporting of water usage at data centers, was discussed. The substitute bill and amendment would give the department authority to monitor and regulate groundwater and surface water withdrawals, require public hearings, and improve transparency through reporting and a universal project identifier. The author and supporters said the bill was prompted by concerns in communities affected by large data center projects and the lack of public hearings on water use. Department officials agreed that more comprehensive data and a clearer framework are needed, but the author voluntarily deferred the bill to continue working with the department on a broader measure for next session. The committee also heard House Bill 1171 on allowing airboats in the Mar-Paw Swamp Wildlife Management Area, but after extensive debate over noise, habitat impacts, and existing restrictions, the discussion was ongoing in the portion provided and no final action on that bill was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next is our vision, mission statement, and core values.
• Our core values are integrity, excellence, and customer service.
• And the staff down there do a wonderful job in upholding those core values.
• value to replace each item.
• Get it planned where we can have that assessment. It's going to cost us money, and we get that.

Keywords: 914, all