Transcript Highlights:

• of them.
• While studying international relations at Colgate University, I was profoundly inspired by one of former
• , earning two master's degrees at the University of Columbia. and a doctorate.
• Of course.
• of globally?

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Keywords: committee meeting, bill discussions, nomination, David Perdue, Monica Crawley, U.S.-China relations, foreign policy

Summary: The meeting of the committee was marked by significant discussions regarding various bills, including HB22 and SB5. A notable moment was the introduction of nominees Senator David Perdue and Ms. Monica Crawley, which led to discussions on the implications of their roles, particularly in relation to U.S.-China relations and foreign policy. Members exchanged views on the nominees' qualifications, emphasizing the importance of leadership in foreign diplomacy. Additionally, the committee heard testimonies from several witnesses both supporting and opposing certain bills, showcasing the diverse perspectives present.

Transcript Highlights:

• I led the introduction of this legislation with the help and support of many of the veterans and advocates
• I have never seen this sort of blatant barrier of outreach. before in my entire time of Congress.
• And our risk ID, you know, universal screening of all veterans is very much that strategy.
• Our deaths of despair study deep dive in partnership with Duke University School of Medicine allows us
• Matter of fact, a lot of areas it's gotten worse.

Committee: Senate Senate Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: veterans, mental health, suicide prevention, Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Grant Program, HOPE Act, BRAVE Act, Every State Counts for Vets Mental Health Act, advocacy, legislation, mental health resources

Summary: The committee meeting focused primarily on the critical issues surrounding veterans' mental health and suicide prevention. Discussions centered on the reauthorization of essential programs aimed at providing non-clinical support services to veterans, particularly the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Senators emphasized the urgent need for adequate mental health resources as the suicide rate among veterans remains alarmingly high. Key testimonies were provided by various advocates and officials, illustrating both successful implementations of these programs and areas needing improvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a recent Columbia School of Business study that followed an University of Oxford study looking
• It was the same findings at Columbia School of Business as it was at the University of Oxford.
• higher because of kind of how broken that part of the system is.
• of these types of cases.
• place in April of 2023 my telephone bill dropped by 63 for what I was paying into the Universal Service

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee heard three bills. SB 371 by Senator Cabaldon would reduce uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage requirements for transportation network companies from $1 million to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, with committee amendments adding findings and declarations, higher limits than originally proposed, and a joint study on UM/UIM impacts. Supporters, including Uber, Lyft, business groups, and some consumer advocates, argued the bill would lower fares and increase driver earnings by reducing insurance costs. Opponents, including consumer attorneys, labor groups, and consumer watchdog organizations, warned it would cut protections for riders and drivers and might not guarantee savings would be passed through. The committee approved SB 371 on a due-pass basis and re-referred it to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote. The committee then heard SB 716 by Senator Durazo, which would create a Home Internet Lifeline Program to let eligible low-income households apply Lifeline subsidies to home broadband service. Proponents said the bill addresses broadband affordability after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program expired, and that it would help students, workers, and families access reliable internet. Opponents from the wireless industry objected to the funding mechanism, arguing the surcharge would fall unfairly on wireless consumers, while one broadband group moved to neutral after amendments. The bill was approved on a due-pass basis and sent to Appropriations, but the roll was held open and later completed with the bill passing 7-1. The committee also took up SB 480 by Senator Archuleta relating to autonomous vehicles as a consent item, with no presentation or debate. It was approved on a due-pass basis and re-referred to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly focused on affordability, consumer protection, and whether savings from the bills would actually reach riders, drivers, or households.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lord God, you are the author of life and the giver of every good gift.
• of Trustees.
• Members, this bill establishes the University of Florida Diabetes Institute. Thank you, Mr.
• Members, this bill establishes the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute for purposes of
• the campus of Howard University in 1908.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I applied for a publicly posted position at the University of Washington because the position offered
• time, only because I applied for a publicly posted job at the University of Washington and was selected
• by the University of Washington out of a field of 30-plus applicants.
• Today, I am proud to be part of the University of Washington, focused on supporting and advancing the
• mission of the university.

Summary: The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 6152 would add physical and occupational therapists as attending providers in workers’ compensation claims. Supporters said it would reduce delays, improve access to care, and speed return to work; opponents, including the Washington State Medical Association, retail and business groups, and L&I, raised concerns about diagnosis, scope of practice, network enrollment, implementation time, and the $1.9 million fiscal note from accident and medical aid accounts. The committee also heard SB 5437, which would prohibit non-compete agreements and clarify non-solicitation rules. The sponsor and labor and physician groups supported ending non-competes as anti-competitive and harmful to worker mobility, while business, banking, and clinic representatives argued non-competes protect investments, confidential information, and patient/customer relationships and asked for narrower changes. The committee then heard SB 6058, which would give L&I discretion over whether to investigate wage complaints and would toll civil statutes of limitation when a complaint is filed. The sponsor said it would better match agency resources, and testimony was entirely supportive. SB 5944 would require language access provider compensation bargaining to include missed or canceled appointments and make CBAs prevail over conflicting agency policies; the sponsor and union representatives said it would create consistency across agencies, with no opposition testimony. SB 6039 would modernize L&I communications by allowing electronic notices while preserving a non-electronic option; supporters called it a permissive modernization, while worker advocates warned email could be missed and could burden vulnerable workers, though L&I said the bill preserves choice and has no fiscal impact. Finally, the committee heard SB 6117, which would place workers and employers not covered by the NLRA under PERC jurisdiction if federal law no longer applies, with card-check and secret-ballot procedures and interest arbitration provisions. Supporters said it would create a state backstop if federal labor enforcement fails and protect workers’ organizing rights; opponents from agriculture, business, and small business groups warned it was too broad, could sweep in agriculture and small businesses, and could weaken secret-ballot protections and disrupt harvest operations. The sponsor closed by saying the bill is intended to create a clear framework where federal jurisdiction is absent. No votes or executive actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lord God, you are the author of life and the giver of every good gift.
• of Trustees.
• Members, this bill establishes the University of Florida Diabetes Institute. Thank you, Mr.
• Members, this bill establishes the University of Florida Diabetes Institute in statute for purposes of
• the campus of Howard University in 1908.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing visiting groups and guests, including college students and leaders, health and nonprofit organizations, Catholic Days at the Capitol participants, foreign dignitaries from Morocco, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, with remarks honoring the Parkland community and the school safety law that followed. The chamber then took up a special order calendar of bills, beginning with several claims bills and local relief measures. SB 14 for Jose Correa against Miami-Dade County passed 37-1, and HB 6517 for A. Sanchez-Mayan against the City of St. Petersburg passed after substitution. HB 6515 for Lordes Latour and Edward Lator against Miami-Dade County also passed 38-1. The Senate then approved SB 52 on volunteer armed security at places of worship (39-0), SB 124 updating Florida Virtual School statutes (39-0), SB 504 on code inspector body cameras (39-0), and SB 506 on related public records (38-1). A lengthy debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Several senators argued for tighter oversight and supported an amendment by Senator Berman that would have limited fund use and required Legislative Budget Commission approval for continued spending; that amendment failed 12-27. The underlying bill then passed 29-10. Senators also adopted SB 594 on local housing assistance for mobile home owners (39-0), SB 656 strengthening Internet Crimes Against Children programs (39-0), SB 806 creating right-to-repair protections for wireless devices and agricultural equipment (39-0), SB 816 establishing the University of Florida Diabetes Institute (39-0), SM 1186 urging Congress to increase Florida National Guard force structure by voice vote, SB 308 creating the Florida Museum of Black History with a late-filed amendment clarifying ex officio nonvoting legislative members (39-0), and SB 572 updating ethics law to include foster children and foster parents, as amended (38-0). The Senate also withdrew SB 1360 from further consideration, certified passed bills to the House, and adjourned until February 19.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the primary responsibilities of public notaries is to... witness the signing of important legal
• I'm here on behalf of the Association of Dental Support Organizations in support of the bill.
• I am the Chief Medical Executive at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
• For over 40 years, physician assistants at the University of Texas M.D.
• of Texas.

Bills: HB111

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by threat of force or violence of, an employee or contractor of a public or private elementary or secondary
• of Lakewood, here in support of Senate Bill 5286.
• of penalty.
• At Central Washington University, we host a massive 45% of our population who are people of color.
• in economics, policy analysis, politics, and philosophy from the University of Washington.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on January 18, 2026, and heard staff briefings and public testimony on several familiar bills. Engrossed Senate Bill 5068 would broaden eligibility for law enforcement, civil service, prosecuting attorney, and Fish and Wildlife officer jobs to anyone legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law, replacing references to lawful permanent residents and DACA recipients. Supporters, including Sen. Lovick and King County, said it would expand the applicant pool and align state law with federal work authorization rules; opponents raised concerns about background checks, visa fraud, and whether the bill could allow people without U.S. citizenship to serve in sensitive public safety roles. The committee also heard testimony on Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5268, which would require community custody for unlawful possession of a firearm offenses; law enforcement and prosecutors supported it as an accountability measure, while the Sentencing Guidelines Commission urged more specificity and cautioned against over-supervision for lower-level cases. The committee then heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5272, which expands school-related interference and intimidation offenses to include employees, contractors, students, and officials or volunteers involved in extracurricular athletic activities, increases penalties, and requires non-student offenders to be barred from the school or activity for 12 to 18 months. Sen. Lovick and several witnesses, including referee Bob West, supported the bill as a response to rising abuse of sports officials and school personnel. The committee also heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5286, which would codify and fund community policing partnerships at Western State Hospital in Lakewood and Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, with annual reporting requirements; the mayors of Lakewood and Medical Lake testified in support, saying the programs had reduced calls and improved safety. A major portion of the meeting focused on Substitute Senate Bill 5855, which would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public, with exceptions for undercover work, SWAT/protective gear, and other hazardous conditions. Supporters, including Sen. Valdez, the King County prosecutor, local officials, and several public commenters, argued the bill would improve transparency, accountability, and public trust, especially in response to masked federal immigration enforcement. Opponents warned about officer safety, doxing, weather and smoke conditions, and possible conflict with federal law; committee members and stakeholders discussed a possible amendment tied to Labor and Industries rules to address protective coverings in hazardous conditions. The chair said the committee would take executive action on SB 5272, SB 5286, and SB 5268 the next day, and the meeting adjourned after public testimony on SB 5855.

Transcript Highlights:

• Doing a lot of this work in a lot of different places.
• All of the research universities, we have partnerships with Los Alamos National Lab and Sandia National
• of them, the vast majority of them, most of them, are not in the state of New Mexico.
• a university that they could then have the first crunch of money to begin that.
• the University of New Mexico or NMSU go looking for resources for money.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of the day. of the day.
• from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry; whereas Dr.
• from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry.
• Priorities to the University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, Campbellsville University, Madisonville
• </c> of defense assets in the state of of defense assets in the state of Kentucky.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Senate convened with an opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, then completed roll call, excused absent senators, and approved the journal from February 3, 2026. The chamber received second readings for Senate Bill 5 on Kentucky-grown agricultural product procurement and Senate Bill 73 on tallow-based cosmetic products, and heard committee reports advancing Senate Bill 18 with a committee substitute, along with Senate Bills 33, 85, and 132. The House also communicated passage of House Bill 1694 and requested concurrence. Senate Bill 162, relating to children, was introduced, and Senate Bill 34 was passed over while retaining its place on the calendar. The Senate adopted Senate Citation 4 recognizing National School Counseling Week, with remarks emphasizing the role of school counselors in student academic and mental health support. The body also adopted Senate Resolution 71 honoring Dr. Samantha Shaver for her service as president of the Kentucky Dental Association; the sponsor and other members praised her leadership and oral health advocacy. Later, the Senate received a committee report posting Senate Bills 5, 12, and 73 to the regular orders and referring several bills to committees, including Senate Bills 129, 136, and 183 to Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor, Senate Bill 71 to Education, and Senate Bill 9 to State and Local Government. Members made several co-sponsorship requests for bills including Senate Bills 9, 12, 33, 132, 143, 153, 154, 159, and 183. A lengthy floor statement from the Senator from Clay praised Senator McConnell’s long service and recent federal funding achievements for Kentucky, including education, transportation, defense, and economic development projects. The Senate also received a floor amendment to Senate Bill 33, introduced Senate Bill 163 on unemployment insurance and Senate Resolution 78 honoring the CSX Santa Train, and then adjourned until 2 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Women Voters of New Mexico and the American Association of University Women.
• of Women Voters of New Mexico and the American Association of University Women.
• of University Women and the League of Women Voters of New Mexico.
• colleges of nursing. ...nurse practitioner council representation, and deans of colleges of nursing
• of life ahead of them.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, incentivizing Texas grapes, um, is the goal of, I think one of the goals of this bill.
• Several of the people that are on the other side of this are part of my board, uh, of my client, uh,
• of Texas.
• For example, we have recently seen An increase in numbers of fraudulent licenses being taken to universal
• Finally, universal licensing of cosmetology in Texas would almost, would almost allow anyone to come

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, two years ago, I got a call from a couple of students who attend a large major university
• I also teach medical students at Florida State University College of Medicine and at the Alabama College
• four years at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital program.
• of practice.
• all kinds of quality of access.

Summary: The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee heard and advanced several health care bills. HB 909, joining the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, was presented with a strike-all amendment and reported favorably as amended by a 13-0 vote. HB 911, the related public records exemption protecting certain biological information, was also adopted and reported favorably as amended by a 14-0 vote. CS for HB 597, allowing schools to procure and administer glucagon for students with diabetes under trained personnel, passed unanimously 14-0 after a technical amendment. HB 519, aligning state law with federal language on controlled substances administered by paramedics, passed as amended 14-0. The committee then took up HB 919 on nursing education programs. Sponsor Rep. Overdorf argued the bill would create accountability for underperforming nursing schools by requiring remediation, tuition refunds in the lowest-performing programs, and public reporting of passage rates. Supporters said it would improve quality and protect students from debt without licensure success, while opponents from private nursing schools warned it could close programs and reduce nurse supply. After extensive debate, the bill was reported favorably 15-0. HB 1553, which would require health care providers to submit identified uterine fibroid data so the Department of Health can implement the research database previously authorized by law, passed unanimously 15-0. The final bill, HB 883, would allow psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to practice autonomously; supporters said it would expand access to mental health care, especially in rural and underserved areas, while opponents raised concerns about quality and physician oversight. After lengthy testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably 14-3.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's been a lot of change in education, which is sort of the name of the game in education, but. the
• in both of those boards just because of elections, one of the things that I think that would be really
• She quit because of the bad behavior of kids because of lack of parental control.
• every one of our teachers and every one of our schools and most importantly every one of our students
• all of those kinds of things.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have a couple of components of this fund: $18 million of it will remain for rural services in New
• in some of the most rural parts of the state.
• I sometimes wonder if we have an Office of Telephones, an Office of Broadband, and an Office of Satellite
• You heard several of the options, and as I keep telling people, the topography of New Mexico is all of
• And so, as we look at some of the things we've done there, some of the—we've removed some of the whole

Bills: HB2 , SB152

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• It is definitely out of compliance. This pile of bagasse is definitely out of compliance.
• heard of.
• Tulane University, they have a culinary school of medicine, I think is what they call it.
• Too much of.
• Too much of.

Bills: HCR65 , HB512 , HB1194 , SCR23 , SB502

Committees: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development , House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture & Rural Development

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2A program, seasonal workforce, Louisiana economy, Healthy Food Retail Act, food access, food deserts, economic opportunity, public health, Louisiana agriculture, community development, fresh food, agriculture, national security, food production, supply chain, security task force, farm labor, Chinese investments

Transcript Highlights:

• And it was in violation of all of our local ordinances.
• This pile of bagasse is definitely out of compliance.
• This pile of bagasse is definitely out of compliance.
• Tulane University, they have a culinary school of medicine, I think is what they call it.
• Too much of.

Bills: HCR65 , HB512 , HB1194 , SCR23 , SB502

Committee: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2A program, seasonal workforce, Louisiana economy, Healthy Food Retail Act, food access, food deserts, economic opportunity, public health, Louisiana agriculture, community development, fresh food, agriculture, national security, food production, supply chain, security task force, farm labor, Chinese investments

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, which would create an Agricultural-based National Security Priorities Task Force to study issues such as Chinese drones, farmland ownership, and other technology-related concerns that could affect farmers and national security. Senator Kathy Stewart said the goal was to avoid unintended consequences in legislation and to bring agriculture stakeholders together. The resolution was moved favorably with no objections. The committee then took up Senate Bill 502 on sugarcane bagasse storage. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the American Sugar Cane League, said the bill would clarify that bagasse is an agricultural byproduct and would protect storage practices that comply with department best practices from local ordinances. Several residents from St. Martin Parish testified in opposition, saying a large bagasse pile near their homes was out of compliance, created dust and odors, and caused health and property-value concerns. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably with no objections. House Bill 512, by Representative Schamerhorn, would prohibit the manufacturing and sale of cell-cultured food products in Louisiana while allowing university research to continue. An amendment was adopted to make the bill effective only if certain federal court rulings allow such a ban. The sponsor and Commissioner Strain argued the issue is still scientifically uncertain and that the state should avoid costly litigation; the bill was reported favorably with amendments after no objections. House Bill 1194, the Healthy Food Retail Act, was amended to shift food-desert research and mapping duties to the LSU AgCenter, while the financing authority would continue handling grants and related funding mechanisms. Supporters said the bill would improve data on food deserts and help target grocery access in underserved urban and rural areas; some members raised concerns about government subsidies and long-term dependence, but the sponsor and Commissioner Strain said the program is intended as infrastructure support to launch stores, not ongoing operating aid. After debate, the bill was reported favorably with amendments by a 10-3 roll call vote. The committee also reported favorably House Concurrent Resolution 65, which urges federal action to reclassify crawfish-industry job duties as agricultural labor for H-2A purposes; testimony emphasized labor shortages, the impact on crawfish and rice producers, and the need for more legal guest workers. The meeting ended with a brief informational handout on direct marketing and custom slaughter plants and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> kind</c> came out of out of the commission kind came out of out of the commission kind of<00:04:
• </c> general fund appropriation of $139,000. general fund appropriation of $139,000.
• of bills and a series of years.
• </c> series of bills and a series of years. series of bills and a series of years.
• </c> &gt;&gt; That makes one of us. &gt;&gt; That makes one of us.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, 90% of those in Kentucky live within 5 miles of a pharmacy.
• This is part of the corporatization of medicine and the lack of trained personnel in this state.
• </c><00:21:33.520><c> We've</c><00:21:33.679><c> had</c> University of Louisville.
• We've had University of Louisville.
• Well, I appreciate that question, and one of the universal truths I think we have to embrace is that

Keywords: 26RS SB 38 Testimony 00:28 26RS SB 38 Roll Call Vote 06:54 26RS SCR 9 Testimony 11:06 26RS SCR 9 Roll Call Vote 32:00 Adjournment 32:49, 958, all

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Bill 38, sponsored by Sen. Richardson, which would require Medicaid to reimburse pharmacists for services already within their legal scope of practice. Richardson and Taylor Williams of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association argued the bill would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, reduce emergency room use, and lower Medicaid costs by using pharmacists as lower-cost providers. Members asked whether the bill’s language simply aligned Medicaid with an earlier commercial parity law, and Richardson confirmed that it did. He also cited prior study work, research articles, and examples such as strep/flu testing and medication therapy management as covered services. The bill passed unanimously, and several members commented in support, including concerns about pharmacy access and the need for pharmacists to remain available to patients. The committee then took up a concurrent resolution sponsored by Sen. Meredith calling for a feasibility study of a proposed new Medicaid delivery model. Meredith argued that Kentucky’s Medicaid spending is growing unsustainably and that current managed care arrangements are not improving outcomes enough. He proposed an accountable community health care organization, described as a locally owned, not-for-profit public-private partnership combining elements of accountable care models, with the goal of reducing bureaucracy, improving outcomes, and lowering costs. He said the study would examine a five-year program and ultimately test the model in five regions, with initial focus on the Lincoln Trail, Green River, and Barren River area development districts. Members asked about the study timeline, vendor costs, rural versus urban impacts, and provider recruitment; Meredith said the resolution would be studied by November and that no fiscal note had been prepared. The resolution passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• universal pre-k beyond the first year of TK implementation.
• lot of way to kind of predict these kind of things but Is there any thoughts in terms of the housing
• So, just quickly, four items on the proposed elimination of the DSB. University.
• I'm here to address the cutting of DSP University from the budget, just go around.
• the sake of time, I will echo. the comments made about maintaining the structure of DSP University and

Keywords: 988, house, all