Transcript Highlights:

• of infants in safe child care settings.
• of infants in safe child care settings.
• And just can't afford $20,000, $25,000 to take care of infants in safe child care settings.
• </c> day. Is that correct? day. Is that correct?
• </c><01:45:59.199><c> ago</c> just had a big win a couple days ago just had a big win a couple days ago

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• So they're going from 30 days to 120 days at the request of HHS. So, sorry.
• at the request of 30 days to 120 days at the request of HHS.
• </c> community based care. Okay. community based care. Okay.
• managed care program.
• </c> of long-term care into the managed care of long-term care into the managed care program. program

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 reviewed comparison documents and worked through a long list of House and Senate positions, agreeing on some technical or already-enacted items while setting aside others for later discussion. Early on, members agreed to delete a House Bill 2 section tied to a bill already passed into law, and a representative explained a technical amendment to the EFA provisions clarifying enrollment-cap repeal language and compulsory attendance rules for EFA students. That amendment was discussed but a vote was postponed because not all members were present. The committee also noted that the overall EFA budget numbers had already been settled separately. Several items were either agreed to or held for further negotiation. Members agreed to delete sections already covered by other enacted bills, including BTLA-related language, and to accept a technical amendment changing "municipalities" to "political subdivisions" in a section affecting funding eligibility. They also agreed on some items involving workers’ compensation second injuries, certain pilot-program language, and some sections related to state loan repayment and other technical corrections. In contrast, they set aside or disputed items involving site evaluation, lottery-related provisions, opioid abatement, the Commission on Aging, Granite Advantage premium costs, renewable energy/offshore wind funding, special education funding, and several education trust fund and unique-fund provisions. The committee spent substantial time on policy disputes. The House side argued against keeping money in dedicated Fish and Game funds rather than increasing the main Fish and Game fund, while the Senate side defended its approach and raised concerns about fee impacts, including one tied to the fishing license. The members also discussed a housing appeals board proposal, with one member suggesting a possible compromise that would preserve some function while shifting duties and possibly sunsetting the arrangement later; the contracts for the positions were noted as running through June 30, 2028 and June 30, 2029. Another extended discussion concerned the child advocate records-access section, which one side wanted removed as policy that should go through the normal bill process, while another member asked to hold it and suggested a possible middle-ground, time-limited approach. Later, the committee agreed to remove sections already handled in other bills, including House sections 254 and 255, and discussed but did not resolve disputes over liquor licensing functions, cannabis-related language, cost containment, special education, and several fee and fund provisions. The Senate explained its position on the governor’s commission language, saying opioid abatement trust funds could not be used for that purpose and that the commission should continue to be funded through 5% of gross liquor profits; it also described renaming the body the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention and expanding its scope to include problem gambling. The meeting ended with several major items still open for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Be careful how you say that.
• is whether or not their providers are allowed to be providing care.
• The third is every day there are so many newly created apps and downloads and connections.
• Third is, every day there are so many newly created apps and downloads and connections.
• And have a great day. to this and have a great day.

Summary: The committee met to review the Attorney General’s budget and related agency operations, beginning with Legislative Council staff walking members through compliance reports and a blue-sheet base budget document. Staff highlighted current-biennium items such as FTE changes, one-time appropriations, litigation funding, opioid settlement receipts, continuing appropriations, and major special and federal funds. Members asked for clarification on items including the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund, the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit grant funding. Assistant Attorney General Clare Ness then gave an overview of the office’s structure, staffing, and budget pressures. She emphasized the office’s broad statutory duties, the value of its legal services to state and local government, and concerns about attorney pay lagging behind other agencies. Members discussed whether attorney compensation should be benchmarked more consistently across state government and whether some legal work could be consolidated within the AG’s office. Ness also addressed questions about AG opinion turnaround times, boards-and-commissions training, the new-and-vacant FTE pool, operating expense cuts, office leases, and the state’s criminal justice information systems. The crime lab presentation drew significant attention. Director Jennifer Penner described severe space, safety, and infrastructure problems at the current lab, including cramped work areas, glycol leaks, outdated fire and burglar alarms, air-handling limits, and equipment failures that have delayed toxicology work. She said the 2024 study projected a much larger facility would be needed and that the preferred location would be near the current health department site, but in a new building. Members asked about possible evidence risks, backlog status, and whether the proposed building would solve the current problems; Penner said it would and noted backlogs have improved overall, though some delays remain. The committee also heard from the new Medicaid Fraud Control Unit director, who described the unit’s civil and criminal work, federal-state funding split, and examples of fraud such as billing for services not provided or upcoding. The gaming division reported continued growth in charitable gaming and e-tabs, with members expressing concern about large trust-account balances, site competition, and possible misuse of proceeds. Finally, BCI outlined its caseload, cybercrime work, missing Indigenous persons task force, and the surge in CSAM cyber tips; members asked about AI-generated CSAM, and the AG’s office noted that last session’s law increased penalties and expressly allowed AI-generated CSAM to be prosecuted like other CSAM. No formal votes or actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're here for Lobby Day, and if they're in the room... there they are.
• We only are in session 30 days one year, 60 days the next.
• </c><00:09:03.399><c> one</c><00:09:03.680><c> year</c><00:09:04.200><c> 60</c><00:09:04.720><c> days
• </c><00:09:05.120><c> the</c><00:09:05.440><c> next</c> know 30 days one year 60 days the next know 30
• days one year 60 days the next how<00:09:06.839><c> is</c><00:09:07.079><c> the</c> how is the how is

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met with a quorum and first heard Senate Bill 20, sponsored by Senator Matt Nunn, which would bar state agencies from adopting administrative regulations with implementation and compliance costs above $500,000 over a two-year period unless an exception applies. Nunn said the bill is intended to increase legislative oversight, reduce burdensome regulation, and preserve agency authority for routine rules, with exceptions for emergency actions, loss of federal funds, express legislative authorization, and health facility/service matters. Senators asked about the definition of “major economic impact,” whether broader societal costs were considered, and how the legislature could respond quickly to year-round agency rulemaking; Nunn said the bill is meant to force those larger policy choices into the legislative process. Several members voiced concern that the threshold was too low and could tie agencies’ hands, while others supported the bill as a check on regulation. The committee voted to report SB 20 favorably, with some members voting no or passing. The committee then took up Senate Bill 127, sponsored by Senator Shelley Frommeyer, concerning real estate license reciprocity. Frommeyer and representatives from Perry Real Estate College explained that the bill would codify Kentucky’s current education and licensing standards for out-of-state real estate licensees, rather than relying on bilateral agreements that can be terminated by other states. They said the measure was prompted by the end of reciprocal agreements with states such as Ohio and West Virginia, which left students and licensees uncertain, and argued that codifying the standards would provide stability, help military spouses, and support Kentucky’s real estate industry. Senators questioned whether a compact would be better, whether the bill would disadvantage Kentucky licensees seeking to practice elsewhere, and whether it would weaken Kentucky’s leverage in future negotiations. Supporters said the bill only fixes Kentucky’s side of the process and could encourage other states to adopt similar standards; opponents worried it was unilateral and might not produce reciprocity from other states. The committee ultimately reported SB 127 favorably, with several members explaining yes, no, or pass votes, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• relative to extending until Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the time within which the Committee on Health Care
• of an annual proclamation by the Governor to designate October 15 as Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day
• The House being in order, are there any objections to proceeding to the orders of the day?
• House of being in order, are there any objections preceding the orders of the day?
• Yeah, so we're going to ask, no, you don't care with you in there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you.

Summary: The House first took up several procedural orders extending reporting deadlines for the Committees on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity; Health Care Financing; and Public Health. All three orders were adopted after suspension of the rules. The chamber also concurred in Senate petitions referred under Joint Rule 12, including proposals on cosmetology license reciprocity, judicial and clerical matters, retirement pension notarizations, and automated curb enforcement. The House then suspended Joint Rule 12 for additional petitions on Medicaid coverage for autism treatment and assistive technologies and on a gubernatorial proclamation for Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The House passed to be enacted two local bills: House 2320, establishing an appointed treasurer-collector in Berkeley, and House 4136, further regulating stabilization funds in Leicester. It also ordered several bills to a third reading, including measures on employment discrimination based on legal cannabis use, the role of the governor’s council on the ballot, absentee voting, ballot uniformity and election ballots, changing Chicopee’s mayoral term from two years to four, and regulating employer use of credit reports. Later, the House accepted and adopted a gubernatorial amendment to the FY2026 appropriations bill related to vital statistics. The bulk of the session focused on FY2026 budget veto overrides. The House considered and approved multiple Ways and Means recommendations to let appropriations stand notwithstanding the Governor’s vetoes, including items for administrative staff in the trial courts, state parks and recreation, nursing facility rate add-ons, community services for the blind, substance addiction services, early intervention services, Korea Technical Institutes, the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership, shelter workforce assistance, housing services and counseling, regional economic development grants, charter school reimbursement, and the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine program. Roll call votes on these items generally passed by wide margins. The House also observed moments of silence for Bolton Police Chief Amos Luke Hamburger and former Senator Edward J. Kennedy Jr., and then adopted an order to adjourn to meet the next day at 11 a.m. before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the acting comptroller failed to comply with the requirements for 30 days' advance public
• My late wife founded Impulse Health Care in 2005 in support of the University of Texas Health Science
• Impulse is a trusted distributor of technical heart... ...care and technology.
• To this day, we haven't met to talk about this issue.
• And so this lawsuit hopefully will turn around and make certain we get all of the state and care.

Transcript Highlights:

• and that we ...previous legislative day and that we adopt said journal.
• Then the big day, you may be at home barbecuing or whatever.
• Smitherman on this day of her retirement. Mr.
• It was a grueling 10-day event, but his team led from start to finish.
• Senate, I think we've had a great day today.

Bills: SJR 2 , SB 4 , SJR 36 , SJR 2 , SB 4 , SR 42 , SR 74 , SR 76 , HCR 5 , SB 710 , SB 710

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it still 15-day? Yes, Mr. Chair, Representative.
• So we would have a 30-day notification and potential 15-day notification? Yes, Mr.
• , not 15 days.
• to match the 30-day notification with literacy.
• And so I think we have to be very careful about that language.

Summary: The committee first heard a detailed staff presentation on the LESC FY27 public school support recommendation. Staff reviewed the budget structure and explained that, despite a downward revision in state revenue estimates, the recommendation still relied on recurring and non-recurring revenue to support educator compensation, insurance, transportation, literacy, math, special education, and other school programs. Major recurring items included a 3% compensation increase, funding for an 80-20 health insurance cost share, insurance premium growth, and transportation adequacy funding. Staff also flagged a possible supplemental need of up to $35 million for virtual education tied to rapid enrollment growth in Chama and Santa Rosa, and members raised concerns about the quality, accountability, and funding model for virtual programs. Members asked questions about transportation for rural districts, the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit fees, the treatment of enrollment declines in the school funding formula, and whether the word “average” in salary language should remain in the budget. Staff explained that the SEG should remain whole, that the insurance and transportation recommendations applied to all public school employees but not contractors, and that the budget included multiple math-related investments spread across several lines rather than one single appropriation. There was also discussion of out-of-school learning grants, school meals, literacy center operations, special education training, and the Public Education Reform Fund, including the use of multi-year, evaluation-based appropriations for high-impact tutoring and community schools. After discussion, the committee adopted the LESC budget recommendation. The committee then moved to endorsed legislation proposals. It endorsed a bill allowing the secretary to suspend an individual school board member, with notice and appeal procedures clarified, and a bill creating an 80-20 health insurance cost-share requirement for public school employees, along with a study of the sustainability of public school insurance programs. It also endorsed a bill on attendance provisions for students with severe medical conditions, which would keep those students from being classified as excessively absent. Finally, the committee discussed a teacher residency bill that would raise stipend levels, allow residents to complete service anywhere in New Mexico, and remove the requirement that sponsoring schools must hire them, though the bill did not include an appropriation. Members also raised questions about bilingual, Hispanic, and Black education funding, cultural and linguistic supports in teacher preparation, and where various programs should be placed in the budget or PERF framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• work weeks, and 10-hour days.
• Day, graduation, all of life's celebrations.
• This is not their day job. It is your day job.
• So we're being very intentional, very careful.
• I mean, these people come to work every day. They care about what they do.

Committees: Senate Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation , Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Keywords: aviation safety, midair collision, American Airlines Flight 5342, Army Black Hawk helicopter, NTSB, FAA, ADS-B technology, safety protocols

Summary: The meeting focused on the discussions surrounding the tragic midair collision involving American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in the loss of 67 lives. Testimonies were provided by key figures including NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and FAA Acting Administrator Chris Richelieu. The committee expressed grave concerns regarding the existing safety protocols, questioning why the FAA failed to act on numerous warnings and data indicating potential collision risks. Members emphasized the need for urgent reforms in aviation safety to prevent such tragedies in the future. Specific highlights included the recognition of the importance of ADS-B out technology and concerns about the operational practices of military helicopters in controlled airspaces.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is a chaotic day, I'm sure, for you as well as for us.
• In my case, the town negotiates the union health care that I'm going to get.
• She tried many avenues to get answers about how to proceed with this Medicare health care dilemma.
• Always an honor to be asked to join Paul and Craig, just like the old days.
• AFT Massachusetts members care deeply about their students and communities.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting public employees, retirees, and public safety personnel. Early testimony focused on House Bill 2859, which would make Massachusetts Department of Correction industrial instructors permanent civil service employees after years of provisional status, and House Bill 2995, which would reduce the Boston Fire Cadet Program service requirement from two years to one year. Supporters of the Boston fire cadet bill argued it would improve equity, expand opportunities for Boston residents, and help diversify the Boston Fire Department; committee members asked about the current makeup of academy classes and the effect of a hybrid model, and the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association was described as neutral on a separate age-related police bill. The committee also heard several proposals related to post-retirement earnings and civil service rules for police and fire retirees. Testimony supported bills including H. 2903 and H. 2966, which would loosen earnings limits for retired public safety workers returning to work, and related measures affecting civil service exemptions and professional services for retirement boards. Speakers argued the current limits are confusing, discourage experienced workers from filling needed municipal jobs, and can create safety issues on public works and construction sites. One witness from Worcester Police supported raising the police academy age limit from 32 to 39 to improve recruitment, especially in BIPOC communities, while Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata supported a separate bill to raise the Boston Police Academy age cap from 39 to 45. A substantial portion of the hearing was devoted to H. 2812 and S. 1817, which would increase the pension COLA base from $13,000 to $18,000 and freeze certain retiree health insurance contribution rates, with additional testimony about capping out-of-pocket health costs for some retirees. Educators and union representatives said the current COLA structure has eroded pension value and leaves retirees struggling with rising costs, while one witness described long delays and confusion in navigating retiree health coverage. The committee took no substantive votes on the bills during the hearing and adjourned after hearing all testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just take care of them. Be with them. Take care of them.
• Look after us and take care of us.
• Lord, just be with them as they make those decisions and take care of them.
• Thank you for taking care of our first responders that take care of us every day.
• I don't care what counsel said it.

Bills: HR144 , HB4182 , HC51 , HR169 , HB4178 , HB4179

Transcript Highlights:

• It's been a long day. You're a professional; you can do whatever you want. Yes, I'm so sorry.
• Last year, CARE received over 8,000 complaints of anti-Muslim incidents nationwide, a 300% uptick.
• To this day, we still don't know who committed the acts. these crimes.
• Just like you all, I care about free speech. I want to have discussions.
• If they have both left for the day... Yes, come forward. Holly Hoffman.

Bills: SB2972 , SB1909 , SB2815 , SB735 , SB2233 , SB800 , SB1069 , SB2683 , SB2986 , SB2058 , SB2310 , SB2055 , SB1032

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• It took months to find child care centers for my kids, and the care almost cost as much as my home after
• rent, child care, groceries, and utilities.
• centers for my kids and the child care centers for my kids and the care<00:25:50.520><c> almost</c><
• Work more hours, take out more loans, cut back on food or health care, or drop out of college?
• This comes days after Elon Musk tweeted 'CFPB RIP' with a tombstone emoji.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• For the House, we have nine ayes, one nay, zero days, one absent and excused.
• That takes care of half of what the governor said.
• That's about, you know, four and a half days of receipts.
• That's four, four and a half days of receipts for Medicaid. That's not a lot.
• Lippett, that concludes your work for the day. Thank you very much. We appreciate all that you do.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee met to consider several Department of Health and Welfare Medicaid items, Idaho State Police budgets, the Department of Juvenile Corrections, and the Department of Administration and Military Division. The committee first approved a FY 2026 Medicaid forecast supplemental, then approved a budget-neutral FY 2026 hospital assessment fund shift and creation of a separate hospital assessment budgeted program. For FY 2027 Medicaid, members heard extensive discussion of MMIS procurement, estate recovery, program integrity, purchasing staff, hospital assessment alignment, population forecast adjustments, and proposed reductions tied to provider rates and RESHAB. After debate among three competing motions, the committee rejected two alternatives and passed the original motion, which included the governor’s recommended Medicaid adjustments and the $22 million reduction concept, sending it with a do pass recommendation. The committee then approved Idaho State Police Brand Inspection replacement items for trucks and equipment, as well as Idaho State Police division requests for a commercial vehicle safety grant increase, a mobile live scan pilot, and replacement patrol vehicles and equipment. POST Academy replacement items were also approved. For the Department of Juvenile Corrections, members approved clinician service transfer funding from Health and Welfare, replacement items, IT hardware, and restoration of six FTPs and related funding for direct care staff and substance use disorder mentoring services. In the Department of Administration budget, the committee debated Medicaid procurement staffing and related transfers. A substitute motion to fund three FTPs failed, and the committee ultimately approved a compromise motion funding two FTPs, utilities alignment, program transfers, inflationary utilities, IT hardware, and a prior rescission adjustment. The Military Division enhancement request for indirect cost recovery for emergency management and state education assistance funding was also approved. The committee adjourned after announcing its Monday agenda, which included DEQ, public school support and financing, services for the deaf and blind, Idaho Digital Learning Academy, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Education.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today was a busy day in the annex.
• I heard that busy day in the annex.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Definitely day 24, Mr. President. &gt;&gt; Definitely day 24, Mr. President.
• </c> day. Senator from Taylor. day. Senator from Taylor.
• I care That's why I filed this bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• A typical adolescent gets 237 notifications a day.
• The chair, we're going to take care of some pending business.
• The chair calls CARE SET.
• , $5,000 per day, per time.
• But on day one, when... ...and joined, permanently in Arkansas.

Bills: HB2963 , HB3005 , HB3287 , HB3288 , HB3289 , HB3290 , HB3344 , HB3712 , HB3862 , HB3874 , HB4196 , HB4308 , HB4901 , HB4984

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: digital equipment, repair rights, manufacturers, maintenance, consumer rights, construction contracts, payment regulations, public works, dispute resolution, audit procedures, construction, trust funds, mechanic's lien, contractor, subcontractor, residential properties, disputes, payment obligations, accountability, payment disputes

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to technology, construction, economic development, and consumer protection. HB 3862 would restrict minors’ access to certain social media apps and limit smartphone use in classrooms; supporters, including Champions for Childhood, argued that smartphones and social media contribute to addiction, distraction, depression, self-harm, and trafficking risks, and the bill was left pending. HB 3712 would change Texas retainage rules so owners could not withhold payment on specially fabricated construction materials once they are delivered, approved, and warranted; subcontractors and suppliers said current retainage practices delay payment for years and create financial risk, and the bill was left pending. HB 2963, the right-to-repair bill, would require manufacturers to provide parts, tools, and information for independent repair of digital devices, with exemptions for medical devices, vehicles under existing agreements, and trade-secret protections; consumer, environmental, business, and repair advocates supported it, while Safelite asked that automotive manufacturers not be excluded from the bill, and it was left pending. HB 4308 would create county industrial development districts to attract major employers and finance infrastructure through local elections and bonds; Fort Bend County supported it as a tool to add jobs and broaden the tax base, and it was left pending. The committee also heard HB 3344, which would create a licensing system for re-roofing contractors, require insurance and bonding, and establish a public database and complaint process. Supporters said it would help curb storm chasers and protect homeowners after storms, while opponents argued it would add burdens on legitimate small roofers, duplicate existing fraud laws, and potentially restrict consumer choice and contractor pricing flexibility. After extensive testimony and questions, the bill was left pending. HB 4196 would create a task force on modernizing manufacturing through digital integration and automation; Schneider Electric and the Texas Workforce Commission supported it as a way to improve competitiveness and create skilled jobs, and it was left pending. HB 3874 would require contractors to receive copies of incorporated contract documents before signing if requested; subcontractors and construction attorneys said it would improve transparency and prevent parties from being bound by unseen terms, and it was left pending. In pending business, the committee voted out several bills. HB 74, creating the Port Verde Port Authority District, was reported favorably to the full House without amendment. HB 112, relating to a science park in certain counties, was reported favorably as substituted. HB 2214, on floodplain notice requirements for leased dwellings, HB 3016, on rental vehicle damage waivers, HB 3133, on explicit deepfake material on social media, HB 3173, on workforce development program planning and evaluation, HB 3807, on child care waiting list priority for children of certain child care workers, HB 463, on unilateral memoranda of contract for residential property, HB 4115, on shareholder proposals to certain domestic corporations, and HB 5008, on use of the Skills Development Fund by certain entities, were all reported favorably, most without amendment and some as substituted. HB 2652, creating a certified caregiver pilot program in the Borderplex workforce area, was also reported favorably and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars.

Transcript Highlights:

• Signed speaker proemporary on this day.
• ,</c> emergency rooms for basic care, emergency rooms for basic care, resulting<00:15:59.120><c> in</
• And every day these accountability.
• to another day, the files remain hidden to another day, the elites<07:41:36.478><c> laugh</c><07:41:
• ,</c><08:12:48.878><c> and</c> challenges of housing, child care, and challenges of housing, child care

Transcript Highlights:

• workforce, and health care consumer protections.
• Protections, rural health care, and all those really big key topics.
• The Corrections Department, especially, is proposing for 15 total days, which will include a two-day
• They're requesting a meeting in Taos, a two-day meeting, so... That's for IPOC.
• Say having to take a trip to Taos for some meeting that would not be part of my regular day-to-day work

Committee: House Legislative Council

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge a place that cares for people.
• I think we should continue that conversation another day.
• A cost that quite frankly of the day.
• We're trying to catch up and take care of the poor and the needy and disability services and health care
• It's every day your behavior is being exploited.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• and so we know our city administrator and our city community development manager do so much of the day-to-day
• and so we know our city administrator and our city community development manager do so much of the day-to-day
• </c> The statute says Cesar Chavez Day The statute says Cesar Chavez Day celebrates<00:42:03.640><c>
• or a United Farm of a Dolores Huerta Day or a United Farm Workers<00:43:35.120><c> Day</c><00:43:35.840
• </c> foster care. foster care.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government