Transcript Highlights:

• The truth is that many of the gaming operators would like to be on the side of reform and introduction
• In the interest of time, we could talk for hours about that.
• 02:15:34.840><c> the</c> hours about that that's part of the hours about that that's part of the purpose
• And when it comes to the approach to operating the rest of the operating budget, I think we're going
• And when it comes to the approach to operating the rest of the operating budget, I think we're going

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The public hearing focused on HB 290, which would raise cigarette and e-cigarette/vaping taxes and create a committee to study tobacco and nicotine tax policy. Representative Jerry Stringham introduced the bill as both a public health and revenue measure, arguing that nicotine use causes health harms and public costs, and that New Hampshire’s cigarette tax has been unchanged at $1.78 per pack since 2013. He said the bill would raise the cigarette tax by $1 per pack to $2.78, still below most New England states, and would also adjust vaping taxes, which he described as having been set as placeholder rates in 2019. He said the bill would also establish a study committee to review broader tobacco and nicotine taxation, including products such as premium cigars. In response to questions, Stringham said the proposed cigarette tax would be roughly equal in real dollars to the 2008 rate after inflation, and he suggested that a smaller annual increase could be considered, though he believed a larger increase would have a stronger public health effect. He explained that the vaping tax structure differs between closed and open systems because one taxes a fixed hardware product while the other taxes reusable liquid, and he said the proposal would move the rates toward a more uniform approach. He also said New Hampshire would remain below neighboring states even after the increase, though members raised concerns about cross-border shopping, business impacts, and preserving the state’s competitive advantage. Several members questioned whether the bill’s main purpose was revenue or reducing smoking and vaping. Stringham said he viewed it primarily as a public health bill, but also as a revenue measure, and said he would consider it successful even if consumption fell enough to reduce revenue. Other members emphasized personal freedom and argued the committee should focus on taxation rather than cessation, while some supported the bill as a way to capture revenue from out-of-state buyers and keep New Hampshire’s rates below surrounding states. The hearing consisted of testimony and questions only; no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• You are the man of the hour. Thank you, Senator, for being here.
• You are the man of the hour, the man we've all been waiting for.
• In order to address some of this corruption, lawsuits were filed by a fair midway operator against the
• San Diego and Orange Some of this corruption, lawsuits were filed by a fair midway operator against
• There are 54 agricultural districts in the state of California that operate up to 97 fairs.

Committee: House Agriculture

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's the cost of operations, the cost of maintenance.
• I mean, a block layer was $124 an hour. Most schools are made out of block, right?
• And I said, oh, no, no, you just take instead of $175,000, I found a transformer within an hour, same
• The state appropriated the funds, constructed an earthen dam and was now the owner and operator of a
• Mark Martinez is my Executive Director of Operations. Ms.

Transcript Highlights:

• to kind of hit some of those high points of some of the updates in the Office of Early Childhood and
• Of some of the updates in the Office of Early Childhood and the work that they've been doing.
• Non-traditional hours, like our licensing specialists, they will go out all different kinds of times,
• If it was outside of typical hours, then our team typically says to the parent, what is a good time to
• The other thing is the PD requirements are a little bit different in terms of the hours that they have

Committee: All EDUCATION- HOUSE EARLY CHILDHOOD SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Early Childhood Committee met to receive an update from the Office of Early Childhood on Arkansas child care and early learning programs. Committee members discussed the state’s child care crisis, including reported economic losses from lack of access, the need to track access, affordability, workforce shortages, rural and infant/toddler care gaps, and the role of local leads in identifying needs across the state. The committee also approved the February 17 minutes. Office of Early Childhood staff explained their responsibilities under the LEARNS Act, including kindergarten readiness, provider quality, and access to affordable seats. They reviewed licensing, quality efforts, and the two main funding streams: School Readiness Assistance (SRA), a federally funded voucher program serving about 14,600 children with a wait list of more than 3,000, and Arkansas Better Chance (ABC), a state-funded program serving about 23,000 children, with approval to increase to 24,000 slots. Members asked about the difference between market rate surveys and cost analyses, and staff said the office is procuring both, with results expected by the end of the year. Several members raised concerns about funding levels, especially that ABC reimbursement has not kept pace with K-12 funding increases and that child care reimbursement remains below the true cost of care. Staff said ABC requires certified teachers and lower ratios than SRA, but pays less, and that some federal pre-K slots were moved into ABC to preserve continuity of care. They also explained that SRA eligibility changes, including a higher work requirement and ending a child care worker eligibility category, were made to reduce spending and serve families on the wait list. The committee discussed communication with providers and parents, technical assistance for centers, and possible future legislative action to stabilize providers and expand access, but no votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a professional MMA fighter and the director of operations for the Combat U program here at Sacramento
• And the Director of Operations for the Combat U program here at Sacramento State University.
• He was a man of God. He was a man of truth, a man of justice.
• This is the same number of points assessed for reckless driving and driving over 100 miles an hour. for
• This is the same number of points assessed for reckless driving and driving over 100 miles an hour. for

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to nominate Senator McClendon as secretary of the committee. >> We have a nomination of Senator
• Um, a lot of states are undertaking bans on or prohibitions of geoengineering.
• the bill in front of you.
• of the sunlight.
• Both of those programs deal with remediation, demolition of buildings, and that sort of thing.

Committee: Joint Environment Prot, Cons and Water Res

Keywords: Environment Prot, Cons and Water Res - Room 210, 2 February, 2026; 3:30 P.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Crystal Moreno, on behalf of the California-Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers, in opposition.
• Crystal Moreno, on behalf of the California-Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers, in opposition.
• At least with a gut-and-amend, there's 72 hours of the bill being in print before any of you can act
• There's 72 hours of the bill being in print before any of you can act on it, and there's at least a floor
• have had to spend 1,000 hours of time per claim dealing with the nonsense you've just heard.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So why would somebody choose to be in a veteran cemetery operated by the state instead of being in a
• So why would somebody choose to be in a veteran cemetery operated by the state instead of being in a
• </c><01:05:23.480><c> operational</c><01:05:24.480><c> uh</c> the need for this type of operational uh
• the need for this type of operational uh change<01:05:24.920><c> in</c><01:05:25.079><c> the</c><01:
• It's just the time of ending an emergency proclamation prematurely will kind of hamper the overall operations

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: At the joint hearing on SB 951 SD2, the committees heard testimony on a child protection measure requiring mandatory child abuse and neglect reports to include military status and to improve communication between DHS and the Department of Defense. The U.S. Department of Defense testified in support and described its coordinated community response process for abuse reports, saying the bill would help ensure child safety and better coordination with DHS. DHS was initially absent, later appeared, and said it supported the measure but was still working with DOD on implementation details and staff training. Members asked about how DHS becomes involved and whether there were gaps in the current process. The chair recommended passage with technical amendments, including changing the effective date to 7/1/25 and conforming related language, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The Public Safety committee then heard SB 1377 SD2, which would create a Veterans Cemeteries Board within the Office of Veterans Services in the Department of Defense to provide guidance, education, and technical assistance to state veteran cemeteries. DOD supported the bill and explained that county-run cemeteries must meet National Cemetery Administration standards to remain eligible for federal reimbursements and grants; witnesses described past compliance problems at several cemeteries, including one still not compliant in Hilo, and said the board would help counties prepare for future site visits and improve oversight without taking over operations. Members asked about costs, reimbursement amounts, and whether the state would assume cemetery operations; DOD said the current reimbursement process runs through the state to the counties and that direct takeover would be costly. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments. The committee also heard SB 1382, which would make intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a National Guard member performing duty a class C felony. The Hawaii National Guard and HPD supported the bill, citing incidents during the Maui response where Guard members encountered noncompliant and sometimes physically confrontational individuals while assisting police and protecting impacted areas. Testimony emphasized that Guard members are often unarmed and should receive protections similar to first responders. One witness opposed the bill, but the committee moved forward and adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments. Finally, the committee took up SB 1379 SD2 on emergency preparedness and Community Readiness Centers. Hawaii Emergency Management supported the bill, and supporters said it would create a statewide framework for resilience hubs that can provide supplies, action plans, and refuge during disasters. Testimony highlighted recent hurricanes, wildfires, and other hazards, and argued the measure would complement existing county efforts rather than replace them. County of Hawaii testimony opposed the bill, raising concerns about overlap and cost, while members asked about estimated expenses and implementation. The discussion ended with questions about planning and whether the bill would enhance existing programs; no final vote was captured in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a quality of life that we love, even when you're feeding cows in a snowstorm, working 18-hour days
• operations covering nearly half of the county's entire land base.
• More than 900 U.S. companies currently operate in Ireland, and six of the 10 biggest foreign direct investing
• of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence were of Irish origin.
• That took about an hour each hair setting, and they participated up and down the state of California

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call and prayer, then handled several procedural matters before moving to the daily file. Members approved a motion to withdraw Assembly Bills 100 through 219 to the second reading file by a roll call vote of 42-15, and unanimously approved re-referrals of AB 440 and AB 1265 to different committees. The chamber also welcomed international visitors, student and community guests, and later heard a series of guest introductions tied to agriculture, immigration, and Irish heritage. The main floor action centered on two resolutions. H.R. 19, recognizing California Agriculture Day, drew strong support from members representing agricultural districts, who highlighted the state’s farm production, exports, and the role of farmworkers and ranchers; the resolution was adopted by voice vote after 65 co-authors were added. ACR 51, honoring Irish American Heritage Month, was also adopted by voice vote after 66 co-authors were added, with members speaking about Irish immigration, labor history, California-Ireland ties, and St. Patrick’s Day. The Assembly also held multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes for the Honorable Leon Lawson Williams, a pioneering Black civic leader in San Diego who served on the City Council and County Board of Supervisors and helped expand public transit and advance civil rights. Members from San Diego and others described his barriers-breaking career and lasting influence on local government and community leadership. The House then received announcements about upcoming committee hearings and adjourned until Thursday, March 20, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• H. 955 represents the result of that input plus the hours of testimony since the session started, the
• of</c><00:02:00.440><c> testimony</c><00:02:01.120><c> since</c> input plus the hours of testimony since
• input plus the hours of testimony since the<00:02:01.440><c> session</c><00:02:01.840><c> started,</
• </c> as we have sort of gone through all of as we have sort of gone through all of this,<00:19:08.360
• Uh, and I'd say that really what this bill reflects is a lot of analysis and thought about how we operate

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you have a copy of the amendment in front of you? All right.
• The PBM, we can get that drug into the hands of the patient within 24 to 48 hours at most.
• of Insurance.
• of trying to curb some of those perverse incentives.
• , on behalf of the Senators and also on behalf of the men of Capitol-Asi fraternity.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Summary: The Senate Insurance Committee met on May 13, 2026, adopted the May 6 minutes, and then took up several bills dealing with pharmacy benefit managers, prescription access, behavioral health coverage, and Citizens Property Insurance. HB 938, as amended, was the main PBM reform measure. After the committee adopted a large amendment set that narrowed the bill, members heard extensive testimony in support from Mark Bloom, Justin Joseph of Capital Rx, and Kathy Ue of Pontchartrain Cancer Center, all emphasizing transparency, pass-through pricing, reverse auctions, and patient access. Supporters described savings from reverse auctions and administrative models, while the cancer center testified that PBM-owned specialty pharmacy requirements can delay cancer medications and create financial hardship. The committee reported HB 938 favorably with amendments. The committee also heard HB 1154, which prohibits prior authorization for certain generic medications prescribed by qualified physicians, with a $250 cap discussed as a safeguard against higher-cost generics. The bill was supported by representatives from Ochsner Health and the Louisiana State Medical Society and was reported favorably. HB 909, which requires commercial coverage for behavioral health crisis services, was amended to clarify the insurers covered and then reported favorably with support from the Office of Behavioral Health and several outside groups. Testimony on HB 909 focused on reducing emergency room and law enforcement burdens and expanding crisis response capacity across the state. HB 1187, dealing with excess emergency assessment funds from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, was explained by the Insurance Commissioner as a way to transfer remaining Katrina-era assessment funds to the Fortified Roof Program. The committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, SB 511 and SB 512 were deferred and converted into a study resolution approach because there was not yet consensus on the underlying issue. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number 17, DHS Division of County Operations with Health Management Systems.
• Number 15, DHS Division of County Operations, with Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.
• Can you give me an approximate number of hours flown on that aircraft?
• Can you give me approximately what the number of hours flown on that aircraft in 2025?
• We came up with kind of a cost per hour with per aircraft.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of three o'clock has come and gone. We'll go ahead and start.
• The company also owns and operates a rail transfer facility on the main line of the Union Pacific Railroad
• From our point of view as an operator, we believe this legislation is necessary, and I would say it's
• I've been on sort of both ends of those.
• And many of the stories you've read, the outcome of the 15 of them, I believe.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of three o'clock has come and gone. We'll go ahead and start.
• The company also owns and operates a rail transfer facility on the main line of the Union Pacific Railroad
• From our point of view as an operator, we believe this legislation is necessary, and I would say it’s
• I've been on sort of both ends of those.
• And many of the stories you've read, the outcome of the ... 15 of them, I believe.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 12, 16, and 17, 2026. It then heard House Bill 593, a Department of Environmental Quality cleanup bill tied to the DOGE Task Force review. Senator Semmelroth explained that the bill removes obsolete references and repeals outdated provisions related to the state hazardous waste management planning committee and the Big Payette Lake Water Quality Act council. After brief support from a Republic Services representative and DEQ’s hazardous waste bureau chief, the committee voted to send HB 593 to the floor with a do pass recommendation. Next, the committee heard House Bill 714, which repeals the Hazardous Waste Siting Act and consolidates hazardous waste siting provisions into the Hazardous Waste Management Act. Senator Burkey said the bill streamlines Idaho’s hazardous waste laws while preserving safety, public notice, hearings, and expert review. Republic Services and DEQ testified in support, describing the measure as protective, efficient, and the product of stakeholder review. The committee then voted to send HB 714 to the floor with a do pass recommendation. The committee also considered House Bill 788, a pilot program intended to reduce Medicaid prior authorization burdens for certain medical professionals who precept medical students in high-need specialties. Representative Wheeler said the goal is to increase preceptorships by giving eligible providers a temporary “gold card” exemption, and he asked for a sunset date of July 1, 2030. The Idaho Freedom Foundation testified in opposition, arguing prior authorization is a cost-control tool and that the bill could raise Medicaid costs. The committee voted to send HB 788 to amending orders, with several senators recorded as no. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 724, which would establish foster child safety rights, require written notice of those rights, and direct courts and the Department of Health and Welfare to consider safety in placement and visitation decisions. Representative Wheeler said the bill responds to concerns from foster parents and aims to ensure children in state custody have clear protections. Multiple foster parents, a child psychologist, and a former foster youth testified in support, describing serious safety failures and arguing that children need clearer rights and more complete information before reunification or placement decisions. The committee voted to send HB 724 to the floor with a do pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• to do was amend subsection K of Section 12B of Chapter 76 of the General Laws to provide the municipalities
• I'm here today not only in support of this bill, but out of concern for the future of our community.
• Education is one of the central pillars of the town's identity.
• I am a long-time resident of Warwick, a small town of 780.
• of caring educators, but because of systemic barriers.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a hearing on two late-file bills: H. 4867, concerning school choice, and H. 4927, concerning access to applied behavior analysis (ABA). For H. 4867, testimony focused on a DESE interpretation of M.G.L. c. 76, §12B(k) that would require small elementary-only districts with school choice students to pay secondary tuition when those students continue into high school. Superintendents, school committee members, parents, teachers, and a representative argued this creates large fiscal shortfalls for rural districts such as Hancock, Warwick, Richmond, and Worthington, which do not operate high schools and already rely on tuition agreements for their own resident students. Witnesses said the current interpretation has led some districts to stop accepting school choice students, reducing class sizes and limiting educational opportunities; they urged an exemption or amendment so these districts could continue school choice without assuming high school tuition obligations for nonresident students. Committee members asked about the number of affected districts, how the arrangement worked before 2023, and whether alternative statutory language might solve the issue more broadly. Representative Barrett described the bill as a simple fix to an unenforced provision that had only recently been raised by DESE, and the hearing later included testimony from both district officials and families supporting the bill. The committee closed testimony on H. 4867 and H. 4927 and then adjourned. H. 4927 drew testimony from educators, an ABA provider, and a parent of a child with autism in support of protecting in-school ABA access. Witnesses said the bill would clarify that qualified ABA providers, including BCBAs and RBTs under supervision, may deliver services in schools while allowing districts to maintain neutral safety and operational rules. They argued that inconsistent access to ABA can undermine districts’ obligations under IDEA, including free appropriate public education and placement in the least restrictive environment, and that school-based ABA can reduce removals from class, improve student progress, and support families. A parent testified that her young son needs ABA to function in school and that promised supports had been delayed or not delivered, while another witness said the bill would help ensure accountability and consistent services for students with autism.

Transcript Highlights:

• You are the man of the hour. Thank you, Senator, for being here.
• You are the man of the hour, the man we've all been waiting for.
• In order to address some of this corruption, lawsuits were filed by a fair midway operator against the
• San Diego and Orange Some of this corruption, lawsuits were filed by a fair midway operator against
• There are 54 agricultural districts in the state of California that operate up to 97 fairs.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Agriculture met to hear one bill, SB 1223 by Senator Padilla, which would require district agricultural associations and fairs to follow competitive bidding standards under the Public Contract Code and prohibit sole-source contracting. Senator Padilla and his witness argued the bill was needed to close a loophole exposed by litigation and investigations involving fair contracts, citing alleged bid tailoring and favoritism in San Diego and Orange County fair contracting. They said the measure would promote transparency, accountability, and fair competition, while noting that existing exemptions and guidance should allow smaller fairs to continue routine procurement without difficulty. Committee members asked how the bill would affect small and rural fairs and what steps managers would need to take to comply. The author and witness responded that the bill was aimed at large contracts where abuse had occurred, and that fair managers generally already know how to write RFPs so more than one bidder can qualify. The vice chair indicated support after receiving clarification, and the chair and other members spoke in favor of the bill as a safeguard against corruption. No opposition was presented in committee or public comment. The committee then voted to send SB 1223 to the Appropriations Committee. The roll call showed the measure passing with eight aye votes. Before adjournment, the chair also recognized the committee’s chief consultant, Victor, and secretary, Nicole, for their long service and upcoming retirements, thanking them for their work with the Agriculture Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are kind of the industries of the future.
• During the LA fires alone, we provided more than 8,000 hours of direct client services, helping owners
• So it's also like how they're being utilized, how many hours of a project are they getting?
• Are we getting that sort of How many hours of a project are they getting?
• For these types of engagements, we do have a minimum Eight hours to make sure that the individuals are

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State laws defining drug paraphernalia prohibit the operation of needle exchanges and criminalize the
• But it is limiting the amount of resources that we're being able to provide because we do operate where
• The stores that sell these products and operate these gambling devices become hubs of unlawful activity
• of dopamine over a period of time.
• And I'm not trying to introduce another acronym in the 11th hour of this hearing.

Committee: House Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Task Force

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• any that we at least at ASI have of any that we at least at ASI have operated<00:09:22.640><c> under
• under uh during our 44 plus operated under uh during our 44 plus years<00:09:25.200><c> of</c><00:09
• </c> leaving those of us trying to operate leaving those of us trying to operate without<00:12:21.720
• Um, IC provides intermittent supports and training up to 24 hours in categories of community living to
• hours in categories of training up to 24 hours in categories of Community<00:27:03.039><c> Living</c

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, I want to thank all of the presenters.
• that would go with EV vehicles, I'm just operating in the spirit of fairness, right?
• This really was to utilize existing systems to support the smooth implementation and operation of the
• As you can see here, less than 3% of the taxes from that bill went to highway maintenance and operations
• But we found a lot of participation from drivers of all types of vehicles.

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.