Transcript Highlights:

• Anyone here from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network?
• Anyone here from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network?
• Anyone here from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network?
• <00:18:26.919> oh Cancer Society cancer Action Network oh Cancer Society cancer Action Network
• or ACS can cancer is a leading Network or ACS can cancer is a leading cause<00:18:36.760> of<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education heard several measures focused on health, environment, and research. HB 970 would allow chiropractic students to participate in clinical practice under direct supervision; the Hawaii Board of Chiropractic offered comments and asked for a delayed implementation date until July 2027 to allow time to adopt rules, while the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association supported the bill. Members also discussed that there are currently no chiropractic schools in the state. The committee then heard HB 1185, which creates a plant-based building materials working group, and HB 1337, which establishes an endemic plant seed bank pilot program. Supporters of HB 1185 said the bill could help create green jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by developing materials such as bamboo, hempcrete, and bio-cements, with questions raised about in-state processing. For HB 1337, witnesses supported the goal of preserving endemic species but said a large-scale refrigerated storage and seed-production facility would be needed; one witness estimated startup costs of about $6 million for one island and noted existing seed banks are small-scale and not designed for reforestation. HB 1300 would fund a University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center multi-ethnic cohort study on cancer disparities among Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Filipinos, and Asians, including environmental and social factors such as proximity to landfills. The Cancer Center, ACS CAN, and labor representatives supported the bill, emphasizing health disparities and concerns about landfill exposure; committee members asked about federal funding, and the Cancer Center said it would pursue NIH, private, and foundation support, with the state share described as $500,000 per year for two years. HB 736 would create a wastewater technology testing pilot program at the Water Resources Research Center; supporters said it could help certify cheaper alternatives to costly cesspool and septic upgrades, and the Department of Health supported the measure. The committee also heard HB 531, which authorizes special license plates for the Cancer Center; supporters said it would raise visibility and funds, and the Cancer Center estimated revenue would likely be under $100,000. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• , balance billing, we're doing a network, balance billing, we're doing a network, um<00:52:23.400
• If somebody goes out of network, they go out of network when there's so long as there's not a service
• If somebody goes out of network, they go out of network when there's so long as there's not a service
• If somebody goes out of network, they go out of network when there's so long as there's not a service
• that covers their doctors in network. that covers their doctors in network.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The credit card companies are global financial networks.
• These global financial networks are putting an unbelievable burden on us.
• These global financial networks are putting an unbelievable burden on us.
• It doesn’t affect the merchant discount or the network fee.
• Amex is different because they are both the card network and the issuer.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on several bills focused on financial security, banking regulation, and payment-card fees. Treasurer Deborah Goldberg supported the Massachusetts baby bonds proposal (H. 48) and also endorsed bills on matched savings (H. 1158/S. 737) and retirement planning/Secure Choice (H. 1143/S. 722), arguing these measures would help address wealth inequality, build assets, and improve retirement readiness. Supporters of baby bonds included policy experts and health advocates from Children’s Health Watch and Boston Medical Center, who said early-life asset building could improve long-term economic and health outcomes for children in low-income families. AARP also urged passage of the retirement planning bill, citing the large share of private-sector workers without access to an employer retirement plan. Representative Donato testified for H. 1143, describing it as a voluntary retirement-savings opportunity for workers at small employers. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3933, concerning the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation, from former Bank Commissioner Mike Hanson, who defended the state’s full deposit insurance system for credit unions and savings institutions as a longstanding consumer-protection model. The Massachusetts Bankers Association raised concerns about the bill’s technical provisions and broader credit union/bank competitive issues, while the Cooperative Credit Union Association supported related legislation allowing modest compensation for credit union directors (S. 821/H. 1338) and flexibility for state financial institutions to grow through partnerships (S. 723). Bankers opposed those credit union bills, arguing they would upset a level playing field and blur long-standing distinctions between banks and credit unions. A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 1259/S. 688, which would prohibit card interchange fees on the tax and gratuity portions of restaurant transactions. Restaurant owners and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association testified in favor, saying the fees are a significant and growing expense, especially as most customers now pay by card; they argued the bills would save restaurants money without affecting state revenue. Credit union, banking, and payments-industry representatives opposed the bills, saying interchange helps fund fraud protection and payment infrastructure, that the proposal would create compliance burdens and likely litigation, and that it would mainly affect Massachusetts-chartered institutions while national banks could be preempted. Committee members noted that a commission on payment-card fees is being established and said the issue would be studied further. The hearing also included support for a separate bill on virtual credit cards for dental providers, with dentists saying automatic virtual-card payments impose hidden processing fees and fraud risks.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<01:26:57.360> including of their immigration status, including of their immigration status
• , whether it's their actual status or their perceived status, would create a permanent underclass of
• , whether it's their actual status or their perceived status, would create a permanent underclass of
• , whether it's their actual status or their perceived status, would create a permanent underclass of
• , whether it's their actual status or their perceived status, would create a permanent underclass of

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we will be operational on the first segments of the network this July.
• And we will be operational on the first segments of the network this July.
• We know that we have contracts for operating the network throughout 2026-27 that need to be paid.
• So we know we have contracts to operate this network starting in July.
• Do you have any knowledge or update on the status of the return-to-work vision?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Extension, our research network, through all the entities we have, through our weather network, working
• It's a fantastic network of folks that they have across the country.
• And so Grand Farm is a fantastic meeting convener and networker.
• , connectivity, a fantastic network of folks that they have across the country.
• The status of any recommendations. So I guess those are the two bill proposals.

Summary: The committee met in Fargo and approved the minutes from the March 31 meeting before hearing a series of informational presentations focused on North Dakota agriculture, water, and research. NDSU President David Cook opened with remarks about NDSU’s land-grant mission, emphasizing statewide service through research, teaching, and extension, and highlighting examples such as the Lilac Agriculture startup and the university’s role in applying research to real-world problems. He said he intends to spend time listening across the state to better understand local needs. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study projected significant potential for expanded irrigation acreage, especially in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau, and estimated major economic gains from irrigation, including higher farm returns and support for value-added agriculture. Members discussed water permits, surface water versus aquifers, infrastructure, drought resilience, and the role of legal drains in improving productivity and generating economic activity. The presenters also noted that the full report is available online. Dr. Greg Lardy followed with NDSU’s required interim report, outlining the university’s agricultural research and extension system, including the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, seven research-extension centers, and the economic importance of agriculture to the state. He highlighted recent research impacts such as new crop varieties, potato breeding successes, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, weather-network tools, and 4-H programming. He also described NDSU’s budget priorities: restoring the governor’s proposed 10% cuts, additional operating support, and deferred maintenance funding. Committee members asked about the new agricultural field lab, storage sheds, and NDSU’s partnership with Grand Farm. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor presenting water-related research, including data center cooling, water reuse, smart irrigation, and a feasibility study on co-locating data centers with greenhouse and aquaculture production. Members asked about water use, ownership, and whether the concepts were operational or still speculative. Finally, North Dakota AgTech presented its NSF-funded innovation engine work, describing startup commercialization, on-farm trials, workforce development, and partnerships with NDSU, UND, tribal colleges, and other land-grant institutions. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the prior meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So then our our staff worked the phones network phones hard.
• The statute that the statue lays out, what happens if they're not, if they're not approved, if they're
• But the online application in the status, we've only had one status in the past and that was basically
• a status of received where where are we on this improvement?
• And with regard to the eligibility status, it's already there's there's multiple status is other than

Transcript Highlights:

• have a daughter with a disability, and I am also a representative of the Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network
• . ...disability, and I am also a representative of the Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network as the chair
• I'm asking you to maintain the status quo that has existed in New Mexico for more than 50 years, which
• of the leaders in gifted education for so many years, and partly because of that, because of the status
• ... ...education for so many years, and partly because of that, because of the status that gifted had

Bills: HB30, HB120, HJR1, SB210, SB306

Keywords: teacher residency, Teacher Residency Act, public schools, teacher preparation, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment, teacher retention, student teachers, apprenticeship, co-teaching, mentor teachers, residency stipend, teacher salary, level one teacher, charter schools, school districts, New Mexico education, teacher workforce, principal stipend, cohort model

Transcript Highlights:

• To speak truth to power, to work to change the status quo, that is something that has inspired countless
• Jamelia Land is the co-founder of the Abolish Slavery National Network, a coalition- committed to eradicating
• STEM fields like engineering play a crucial role in California's status as the fifth largest economy
• , I carried a piece of legislation that was signed into law, creating the California ALS Research Network
• After graduation, FX built a remarkable career in organized labor, attaining journeyman status with the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In California, we have one of the most extensive networks of mandated reporters, with over 49 categories
• of us know what is the right thing to do but so many times we get so afraid to change the current status
• quo even though the current status quo is doing harm but because it's the status quo we're more comfortable
• with that when we should be more uncomfortable with the status quo and so I want to thank you for continuing
• of Californians who are unable to access essential food benefits solely due to their immigration status

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard a long agenda of bills focused largely on child welfare, foster care, child care, CalWORKs, mandated reporting, and public benefits. Early items included AB 890, which would ease county transfer rules for nonminor dependents in extended foster care; AB 461, which would replace punitive truancy-related penalties with supportive services for families; and AB 753, which would create an interim associate teacher pathway to help address the child care workforce shortage. Testimony on these bills emphasized barriers faced by foster youth, low-income families, and child care providers, and members expressed support for the general policy direction. The committee also heard AB 926 on foster care visitation, AB 563 on early childhood planning and reporting, AB 601 on standardized mandated reporter training, AB 1074 on CalWORKs reunification aid, AB 822 extending the Commission on the State of Hate, AB 970 creating a Los Angeles County mandated reporter pilot, AB 1161 protecting public benefits during disasters, AB 1172 allowing trained staff to administer emergency seizure medication in community care settings, and AB 363 expanding CalWORKs student supports and work-study. Witnesses generally supported these measures as ways to reduce trauma, improve reunification, modernize reporting and training, and expand access to services. County welfare and child welfare groups, advocacy organizations, and providers largely testified in support, while some bills drew concerns from county representatives about implementation or needed amendments. Several bills were voted out of committee, often unanimously and sometimes as amended, including AB 926, AB 563, AB 601, AB 1074, AB 822, AB 970, AB 1161, and AB 1172; AB 1172 was reported on call. The committee also took up consent items and later voted on subcommittee-held bills AB 461, AB 753, and AB 890, leaving them on call. At the end of the hearing, the committee heard AB 1211, which would protect CalFresh benefits from federal cuts and require a feasibility study on increasing benefits and eligibility; testimony stressed rising food insecurity and the economic importance of food assistance, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• refer complaints to the Department of Justice for investigation, keeping complainants informed of the status
• advocates know that area of law and why it impacts the citizens of New Mexico who have that unique status
• I'm the founder and executive director of New Mexico Child First Network, dedicated to improving the
• Let's all protect the status quo.
• I'm Jason Espinoza, registered lobbyist with New Mexico Child First Network.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, for 23 children on missing status in 2023 alone.
• Again, for 23 children on missing status in 2023 alone.
• So this is an extremely important bill. to our network and to everyone who works with children and youth
• just does not make sense for courts to be dismissing cases when children are missing. or on runaway status
• I'm also on the, I'm now in visiting status mode and And on the board of directors of the Texas Guardianship

Bills: SB66, SB2165, SB2342, SB2878, SB2903

Keywords: disability, supported decision-making, legal assistance, confidentiality, access to justice, autonomy, civil rights, advocacy, Texas Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child welfare, foster care, substitute care, missing child, missing from placement, permanency hearing, parent-child relationship, SAPCR, conservatorship

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members, for 23 children on missing status in 2023 alone.
• Again, for Senator Parker: 23 children on missing status in 2023 alone.
• So this is an extremely important bill to our network and to everyone who works Sarah Crockett: with
• just does not make sense for courts to be dismissing cases when children are missing or on runaway status
• I'm now in visiting status mode and on the board of directors of the Texas Guardianship Association and

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:01:52.800> that<02:01:52.920> we<02:01:53.520> have status that we have status
• that include um not just your network that include um not just your network number<02:23:15.600>
• Network and support on Network and support on Zoom<04:11:15.800> Aloha<04:11:16.439> chair<
• ready to succeed and it takes a network ready to succeed and it takes a network of<04:11:43.640>
• have Hawaii children's Action Network have Hawaii children's Action Network speaks<04:21:28.840>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• payment, not out-of-network.
• And then on the network terms, we can work on that.
• An individual who becomes eligible for Medicaid again because of their income status would be able to
• Karen Woodall, and then on deck is Susan Harbin, American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network.
• I'm with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

Bills: S0006, S0026, S0206, S0532, S0576, S1012, S1110, S1178, S1192, S1758, S1760, S7046, S7048

Keywords: child welfare, negligence, settlement, injury compensation, Department of Children and Families, motorcycle accident, compensation, Department of Transportation, legal claim, autism, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special education, exceptional student education, ESE, teacher preparation, educator certification, micro-credential, loan forgiveness, student loan repayment

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met and considered a large agenda of bills, reporting several measures favorably. Early action included SB 6, a settled claim bill involving the Department of Children and Families and the estate of Leila Estrada and Sapphire Williams, which was approved for $3.8 million. The committee also passed a cybersecurity internships bill creating a Department of Commerce program with Cyber Florida, and SB 532, which lets clerks of court retain the full amount of certain excess revenue and clarifies foreclosure-sale procedures. Veterans housing measures, CS for CS for SB 1602 and SB 1604, were approved to create a pilot program and a related trust fund for vacancy relief and risk mitigation for veteran housing. The committee also favorably reported SB 1110 on Medicaid and insurance coverage for orthotics and prosthetics, with emotional testimony from a student and family describing the high cost and importance of activity-specific prosthetics. Members also approved CS for CS for SB 1012 after adopting an amendment that removed inmate emergency and specialty medical service compensation provisions while retaining changes to the contractor-operated institutions inmate welfare trust fund. Another bill, CS for CS for SB 1614, was narrowed by a delete-all amendment to focus on limiting the use of excess fees for new building construction by local governments. All of these measures were reported favorably after brief debate, with some support testimony submitted in writing or waived. The most extensive discussion centered on CS for CS for SB 17, a major Medicaid and public assistance overhaul. The bill would create a Joint Legislative Committee on Medicaid Oversight, allow the Legislature to retain its own actuary, tighten Medicaid program oversight, update encounter-data reporting, set performance standards for managed care plans, revise pharmacy benefit manager rules, and require DCF to implement SNAP fraud-reduction and payment-accuracy reforms, including photo IDs on EBT cards and updated work requirements. It also would direct agencies to seek federal waivers for Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults and expanded behavioral health services. After lengthy questioning and testimony, the committee adopted amendments adding a transitional medical benefits glide path for people who gain employment and later lose Medicaid eligibility, and exempting hospice patients with six months or less to live. Supporters argued the bill would improve accountability, reduce fraud, and save money, while opponents warned it would create administrative burdens, increase paperwork, and cause eligible people to lose coverage or food assistance. The committee ultimately reported the bill favorably as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• all people covered by the current medical release of information form about that person's health status
• all people covered by the current medical release of information form about that person's health status
• California is one of only seven states that denies help to victims because of their record or status
• That is the status quo for victims right now in California.
• So this arbitrary determination of involvement as is is clearly not working for the status quo.

Summary: The committee first adopted a seven-bill consent calendar, then heard several public safety measures. AB 1127 by Assembly Member Gabriel would restrict sale of certain semi-automatic handguns that can be easily converted to automatic weapons with “switches”; supporters, including Everytown and Moms Demand Action, said it targets a specific Glock-style design flaw linked to mass shootings, while the NRA and gun-rights groups argued the bill duplicates existing federal law and effectively bans popular handguns. The bill was moved on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Judiciary and remained on call. AB 468, also by Gabriel, would increase penalties and clarify offenses involving looting and impersonating emergency personnel in evacuation zones and during disasters; firefighters, district attorneys, and law enforcement supported it as a deterrent, while public defenders and justice advocates warned it was overbroad and could worsen racial profiling. The committee approved the bill on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations, also held on call. The committee then heard AB 1187 by Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez, which would require eight hours of firearm safety training, including live-fire instruction, before obtaining a firearm safety certificate and would add a requirement for new residents who import firearms. Supporters said California should require training comparable to other safety-sensitive activities and that the measure would reduce gun deaths; opponents argued the bill misunderstands the existing FSC process, would be hard to implement because of range and instructor limits, and would burden a constitutional right. The bill passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations and was held on call. The committee also heard AB 1424 by Rodriguez, which would require CDCR climate resiliency and heat-safety measures in prisons, including temperature monitoring, shade, showers, fans, and emergency planning. Prisoner-rights and labor groups strongly supported the bill, citing extreme heat, wildfire, and flooding risks, while one opponent said the monitoring mandate could be too costly; the bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Labor and Employment and held on call. Finally, the committee began hearing AB 1258 by Assembly Member Kalra, which would extend the sunset of the Young Adult Deferred Entry Program through 2029 for selected counties. Kalra and Santa Clara County Judge Erica You described the program’s success in reducing recidivism and providing wraparound services for young adults with felony charges, including housing, counseling, and parenting support. The transcript cuts off before the committee completed action on AB 1258.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:23:54.720> if also counterparty and network risks. if also counterparty and network risks
• ,<01:24:49.679> there um of these different networks, there um of these different networks
• steps on a blockchain network steps on a blockchain network essentially<01:26:28.719> to<
• Um ARC is uh is network as well.
• um access to to different network um access to to different network resources.<01:59:33.840>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Stable Token Study Commission held its first regular meeting, welcomed all remaining appointed members, and completed brief introductions from legislators and agency designees. The chair outlined the commission’s plan to use the first part of the enabling legislation as a “level-setting” discussion, focusing this meeting on the basics of blockchain, the current landscape for stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets, and leaving blockchain-based trust for a later meeting. No votes were taken. The main presentation came from Deanna Bario Zales of the Global Blockchain Business Council, who described stablecoins as increasingly converging toward fiat-backed or asset-backed models, with algorithmic designs viewed more cautiously. She said stablecoins are being used for payments, remittances, DeFi activity, cross-border transfers, retail use in high-inflation markets, and treasury functions, while noting risks such as peg instability, reserve transparency, counterparty and network risk, and possible capital flight from weaker banking systems. She cited growth in supply, wallet activity, and transfer volume, and said U.S.-pegged stablecoins dominate the market, with USDT and USDC leading. Zales also discussed tokenized real-world assets, describing them as digital representations of physical assets that can enable fractional ownership, liquidity, and faster settlement. She said the market is growing quickly, with institutional participation from firms such as BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, and projected continued expansion. She closed with an overview of regulatory developments, emphasizing the new U.S. stablecoin framework under the Genius Act, the proposed Clarity Act, OCC guidance, and similar regimes in the EU, UK, UAE, Singapore, Japan, and elsewhere, all of which she said are shaping compliance requirements and market development.

Transcript Highlights:

• up incorporated Association could give up its<01:18:39.040> incorporation<01:18:39.880> status
• and go back to its incorporation status and go back to be<01:18:41.880> unincorporated<01:18:
• And therefore, I think, in addition to the status quo, which includes, as you say, activity by the DHS
• 02.000> includes<05:08:02.638> as<05:08:02.760> you<05:08:02.920> say status
• quo uh which includes as you say status quo uh which includes as you say uh<05:08:03.878> activity

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What's the Blackhawk Network? I'm sure they will be here to tell you.
• <01:04:36.400> I'm<01:04:36.720> sure What's the Blackhawk Network?
• I'm sure What's the Blackhawk Network?
• what a Blackhawk uh network is? I don't. what a Blackhawk uh network is? I don't.
• You know, they go to the store... it's Blackhawk Network that are actually it's Blackhawk Network that

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas peer network model to create the Texas First Responders Peer Network for PHI and EMS allows
• To establish the peer network for this group.
• Bill 64 creating the Texas Law Enforcement Peer Network.
• With this model, the Military Veteran Peer Network helped to design the Texas Law Enforcement Peer Network
• You have a map on here, and it says the JPS Health Network is a member.

Bills: HB46, HB35, HB4490, HB4454, HB2188, HB3078, HB4743, HB2556, HB46, HB5342, HB4783, HB3785, HB5278, HB1639, HB2581, HB4224, HB4070, HB4099, HB4882, HB3794

Keywords: local government spending cap, expenditure limit, political subdivision, property tax, ad valorem tax, budget cap, taxpayer protection, spending restraint, inflation adjustment, population growth, voter approval, supermajority vote, county budget, municipal budget, school district finance, junior college district, hospital district, special district, attorney general enforcement, local fiscal limits