Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 357 by Senator Reese provides relative to the courts and the judiciary.
• And these amendments provide for the use of working groups to develop And these amendments provide for
• They provide for an effective date of July 1, 2027, for security personnel provisions.
• Senate Bill 208 by Senator Kathy provides relative to certain services provided to veterans.
• House Bill 597 by Representative McMakin provides relative to judicial compensation.

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of bills, mostly from the Senate, covering military affairs, courts, veterans’ services, tobacco/vape regulation, and emergency alerts for missing persons with disabilities. Several measures were described as cleanup or modernization bills, including SB 317 adding the House and Senate military committee chairs to the Louisiana Military Advisory Council, SB 357 updating court administration and appellate e-case management provisions, SB 421 modernizing electronic records language, and SB 232 and HB 597 addressing judicial compensation and related funding/commission issues. The committee also heard SB 164, which would add public works employees to the definition of first responders, and SB 510, which would regulate certain licensed establishments that allow on-premises consumption of hemp/THC products and related age restrictions. These bills were generally presented as technical updates or alignment with existing practices, and the committee reported them favorably after brief questions and, in some cases, amendments. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 208, which revises Louisiana’s law on services provided to veterans after a prior version was struck down. Senator Kathy and LDVA representatives said the bill is intended to protect veterans from unaccredited “claim sharks” by limiting fees and creating state-level safeguards, while an opponent argued the issue is preempted by federal law and should be left to Congress and the pending appeal. The committee also heard extensive testimony on SB 34, which would create “Bryan’s Call” emergency alerts for missing children and adults with cognitive or developmental disabilities, including wireless alerts and responder training. Family members and disability advocates described fatal risks from elopement and drowning, and supporters said the bill would fill a gap between Amber and Silver Alerts; the committee moved the bill favorably. Another bill, HB 302, sought to restrict vape sales near schools; the sponsor and Alcohol and Tobacco Control discussed possible language changes, and public health testimony supported broader protections for youth. Several bills were voluntarily deferred, including HB 1190, HB 1097, and HB 374-1, and the committee adjourned after reporting the remaining measures favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have to provide a match.
• It does provide access to health care.
• health, midwifery, and fill inpatient needs as well as providing emergency and acute care.
• Yes, I can definitely work on that, you know, with the providers.
• Right now, we have one provider that takes dental Medicaid. And so, that is...

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• services to them without turning to the legislature to provide the services that the county can't provide
• But it provides a little easier method to get that before them. Remember, think about it.
• that are retail provide places, if they agree to it, for signature gathering.
• On the contrary, it provides valuable and important flexibility.
• This facility would provide. to support the development of an aquatic center.

Bills: SB6132 , SB6181 , SB6154 , SB6189 , SB5903 , SB6037 , SB5983 , SB5995 , SB6016 , SB5820 , SB6064 , SB6077 , SB6101 , SB6013 , SB6066

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: indebtedness limits, inland port districts, federal funding, infrastructure improvements, economic development, city incorporation, local governance, municipalities, state law, government structure, culvert replacement, fish passage, hydraulic project approval, Department of Fish and Wildlife, stream crossing, bank stabilization, flood control, erosion control, emergency permit, expedited permit

Transcript Highlights:

• As Sarah said, UW provides monthly revenues and expenses.
• As you provided here, another piece of insight for us. Any questions?
• To provide some context to this dashboard, this is part of the...
• All of the data that we provide here originate from publicly available data sources.
• being able to provide to us, or is that not an issue?

Committee: Joint Joint Higher Education Committee

Summary: The Joint Higher Education Committee met for a work session on higher education accounting practices and financial transparency. OFM Deputy Director Sarah Rupp explained how state accounting rules and higher education reporting differ, including what data is captured in AFRS today and what will move into Workday, with universities generally reporting summary-level fund data, mandatory codes, and most balance sheet and income statement activity, but not transaction-level detail or vendor payment information. Representatives from the University of Washington and Washington State University described the complexity of their own accounting systems, the many entities and business lines they must track for audits and compliance, and the need to reconcile university-level accrual accounting with state reporting requirements. The committee also heard from the Education Research and Data Center on the public four-year finance dashboard created under Senate Bill 5512; ERDC said the dashboard is based on publicly available data, is best used to examine institutions individually rather than compare them directly, and will be updated with additional metrics in 2025 and 2026. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington Student Achievement Council on the Workforce Education Investment Account (WIA). Joel Anderson reviewed WIA’s creation under House Bill 2158, its revenue sources, and its intended uses for higher education, financial aid, and workforce development. He said recent legislation significantly increased WIA revenues and that, in the 2025–27 budget, the account is being used in new ways, including to replace general fund support for University of Washington operations and to fund a larger share of the Washington College Grant and some faculty compensation costs. Anderson said roughly 98% of current WIA appropriations go to higher education, but the share used to supplant other higher education funding has grown, and he estimated about 60% to 70% of current spending still aligns with the account’s original intent. He also described a new effort to track WIA appropriations across biennia in more detail and noted the WIA Oversight Board’s role in recommending uses of the account and monitoring outcomes. No votes were taken; the committee ended by moving into executive session for staffing issues and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to answer your questions and provide some neutral testimony.
• And then on the front page here, I also included our private providers, the locations, and then what
• Now, there's ways to account for that within a provider rate methodology.
• That's not what we're here to do, to provide rate-setting guidelines in this bill. No, but, Mr.
• Okay, and I think I provided you the dates of when we would do the RFP.

Committee: House Appropriations - Human Resources Division

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2399, concerning therapeutic leave days for psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs). Sarah Aker from the Department of Health and Human Services explained the current Medicaid rate-setting methodology, how occupancy affects rates, and why paying the full rate for leave days would create additional fiscal impact. Members debated whether the bill should pay the full Medicaid rate, a flat reduced rate, or a tiered rate, and discussed whether a cap or department authorization should be used to control use of leave days. The department said it was not supporting the change as it was not in the governor’s budget, though it supported family engagement in care. After discussion, the committee settled on a compromise motion to set therapeutic leave days at a $500 daily rate and require department authorization of the number of leave days. The motion passed 6-2, with Representative Anderson voting no and the rest of the recorded members voting yes. The committee then moved on to Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget materials, where Michelle Zander walked through detailed population and rate calculations for women’s and men’s facilities, county holds, deferred admissions, transitional facilities, work release, and proposed reentry, man camp, and Grand Forks-related costs. Members asked about the county jail reimbursement rates and the overall pool of funds, and Zander explained the calculations and noted the proposal was roughly break-even depending on assumptions. The committee also heard an overview of DOCR IT requests from Amy and NDIT staff, including data processing, medical modules, a new client management system, body scanners, data management tools, facility management software, medical software upgrades, college solutions, and body cameras/tasers. Staff explained that the new client management system would likely be a multi-phase project with a wide cost range based on vendor selection and scope, and that the current request was for phase one. Members emphasized the importance of better data tracking, staff safety tools, and information that could help explain programming and release outcomes to the public. The committee planned to continue with Veterans Affairs the next day and then return to Senate Bill 2015.

Transcript Highlights:

• All providers must be U.S. citizens or legally here as well.
• And it does add some costly requirements for nonprofit providers, including church-associated providers
• There is another $16 million for provider capacity grants.
• This is another quality product we provide to our customers.
• We had a sheet provided.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have provided a chart here that kind of outlines where our money goes.
• </c> participate in that as a way to provide participate in that as a way to provide educational<00:13
• </c><00:23:13.600><c> more</c> about that as well and or provide more about that as well and or provide
• </c> and babit together those mines provide and babit together those mines provide jobs<00:36:33.160>
• </c><00:38:10.520><c> financial</c> and entrepreneurs to provide financial and entrepreneurs to provide

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ultimately, this bill seeks to lessen the trauma of temporary removal for children and provide kin and
• And so why do we need to codify that in statute to provide access to every student?
• And so this provides equal access to all students. access to every student.
• We provide all the tools, right?
• Provide transportation and provide transportation for disabled. Absolutely. Okay. All right.

Bills: SB226 , SB413 , SB571 , SB1049 , SB2398 , SB2920

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, school boards, transparency, public meetings, attendance, recording, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension, reporting requirements, released time, religious instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, it's now providing, as I say, multiple benefits.
• They said it was going to provide 500-year flood protection.
• We provide flood-fight materials and assist as we can.
• I'd now like to provide a quick history on the Central...
• AB 876 provided us an opportunity to model...

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on flood risk and flood management in California, with opening remarks emphasizing that flooding is a statewide and growing threat due to climate change, including the possibility of extreme losses in a worst-case event. Members noted recent flooding in places such as San Diego, the Tulare Basin, and Pajaro, and framed the hearing as a way to better understand prevention, response, and how to capture excess water for later use. Jeffrey Mount of PPIC gave the main overview, describing California’s high flood exposure, the different flood types the state faces, and the mix of structural and non-structural tools used to manage them. He stressed that levees, dams, bypasses, land-use planning, flood insurance, and emergency response all matter, but that risk is rising because current standards are based on past hydrology rather than future climate conditions. He also warned that flood management is underfunded, that the National Flood Insurance Program is weak, and that federal support is increasingly uncertain. Members asked about groundwater recharge, permitting, NOAA and federal cuts, and which communities are most at risk; Mount said recharge can help but does not eliminate flood risk, and that small Central Valley communities and heavily developed floodplains are especially concerning. State officials Laura Hollander of the Department of Water Resources and Jane Dolan of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board described the state’s role in forecasting, emergency response, grants, planning, and the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. They highlighted aging infrastructure, the need for better coordination, and the state’s special liability in the Central Valley after the Paterno decision. Dolan reviewed the history of major floods and said the plan calls for about $1 billion per year over 30 years to meet current needs, while Hollander said the state works with local and federal partners on preparedness, response, and subventions projects. Both emphasized that floodplain planning, regional coordination, and faster permitting are important, but that more consistent funding is needed. A later panel from local flood agencies and districts reinforced those points, arguing that the state’s annual flood funding is below identified needs and that a proposed statewide flood and dam safety bond was reduced substantially in the broader climate bond package. Witnesses urged more routine maintenance funding, support for regional flood planning, and continued federal-state-local partnerships to reduce risk and maintain eligibility for federal assistance. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the informational hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think our goals of providing safety at all levels for all folks in the system, but also providing a
• I think our goals of providing safety at all levels for all folks in the system, but also providing a
• providing the salaries, we're providing the support to make sure that new attorneys have the ability
• This program provides that legal aid organizations will provide representation to both low-income tenants
• We provide them with guidance and we go out and provide information with Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was held in Clinton Town Hall as part of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means’ budget review, with local officials welcoming legislators and noting the long agenda of many panels. The main presentation was from Secretary Terrence Reedy of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, who outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s FY26 proposal for the secretariat, including a $1.7 billion budget and a 7% increase over FY25. He described investments in emergency preparedness, hate-crime prevention, reentry programming, technology modernization, internships, and public safety training, while also noting some reductions driven by resource constraints, including cuts to certain grant programs and administrative costs. Committee members also raised concerns about federal uncertainty and how it could affect state budgets and public safety planning. A major portion of the questioning focused on the Department of Correction. Secretary Reedy and Commissioner Sean Jenkins said the biggest challenges are staffing, officer wellness, facility safety, and contraband—especially K2. They described steps taken at MCI Souza and other facilities, including reducing population at the maximum-security unit, changing management, removing metal products and free weights, improving screening and roll calls, adding a rapid response team, and increasing investigative and technological efforts to combat K2. They also discussed the closure of MCI Concord, saying it was driven by high maintenance costs and staffing needs, and explained that savings are being used to improve staffing patterns and address deferred maintenance over time rather than producing immediate large budget reductions. Members also questioned the budget’s impact on police training and community policing. The administration defended the increase in police academy tuition from $3,200 to $6,000 as reflecting true training costs and said it would still be subsidized by the state, while acknowledging the burden on small municipalities. They said the MPTC is expanding regional training and considering proposals such as Greenfield Community College’s. On community policing, officials emphasized uniform statewide training, de-escalation, and communication skills. The State Police also announced an outside review of the academy by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and said the next class will be split into two smaller groups to improve oversight and allow quicker implementation of recommendations. Other topics included ICE and federal immigration enforcement, with Reedy saying state law prohibits Massachusetts law enforcement from acting in a civil immigration capacity and that no state dollars were used in the Tufts-related ICE operation mentioned by a member. Senators and representatives also raised the upcoming FIFA World Cup, warning that it will require significant public safety resources and likely federal funding. Additional discussion covered restorative justice and juvenile diversion, health care costs in DOC, electronic health records, and the need for more diverse and culturally competent public safety staffing. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it also gives you the freedom—your pharmacist can provide so much in our communities.
• Pharmacists can provide so much in our communities.
• Our doctors are very, very busy these days, and our pharmacists can provide so much.
• Our doctors are very, very busy these days, and our pharmacists can provide so much.
• , and ask whether that provider would like to write a script for said disease state.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• breaks, modifying a no-food-drink policy, providing reasonable breaks to express breast milk, and providing
• Vellant, you've provided that language to a member of our committee to do.
• It's also affecting the number of language access providers that we can provide and we can use because
• This will help our language access providers, but will also help our customers in IOTGS vote.
• And if it did provide too much leverage, or if it didn't provide too much leverage, that would be another

Bills: SB6136 , SB6188 , SB5944

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial insurance, premium rates, rate transparency, actuarial rates, contingency reserves, Department of Labor and Industries, L&I, risk classifications, employer premiums, insurance regulation, rate setting, premium increase limits, workers' compensation advisory committee, retrospective rating, state insurance fund, accident and medical aid funds, SB 6188, asbestos, asbestos training

Transcript Highlights:

• CDCR is also working to provide more leadership and ethics trainings to our staff.
• We provide transparency to the correctional system.
• We also provide a lot of training. There's been training going on.
• And to provide the opportunity to provide healing to others.
• The testimony you provided was very moving. It was very moving to me.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that work with those agencies providing services to children and families.
• that work with those agencies providing services to children and families.
• that work with those service providers that work with those agencies<00:05:12.520><c> providing</c><
• 00:05:12.960><c> services</c><00:05:13.400><c> to</c><00:05:13.639><c> Children</c> agencies providing
• services to Children agencies providing services to Children and<00:05:14.360><c> Families</c><00:05

Committee: Senate Children and Family Law

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This just These are already provided.
• </c><00:21:34.480><c> uh</c><00:21:34.640><c> in</c> provide care until they arrive. uh in provide care
• </c><00:43:17.359><c> is</c> Trying to get in and see a provider is Trying to get in and see a provider
• ><c> only</c><00:59:41.839><c> a</c> The department shall provide only a The department shall provide
• </c> provided for everyone. provided for everyone.

Bills: SF0122 , SJ0006 , SF0121 , SF0106

Committee: House Labor, Health & Social Services

Keywords: medical necessity, insurance, healthcare policy, independent review, claim processing, shared parenting, family law, joint custody, child well-being, parental rights, pharmacy, collaborative care, healthcare, prescriptions, patient safety, Wyoming Pharmacy Act, welfare, Medicaid, employment, eligibility verification

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> SF2209 requires insurers to provide SF2209 requires insurers to provide clear,<00:14:06.000><c>
• We provide a safe, for their family.
• ><c> this</c> understand you do provide this understand you do provide this information<00:51:40.640>
• It simply provides an framework.
• </c> agency where we were the last provider agency where we were the last provider in<01:35:33.280><c

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> past OA audits but our report provides past OA audits but our report provides the<00:12:32.160><
• </c><00:13:36.040><c> another</c> motans auto theft provides another motans auto theft provides another
• </c> the programs are still able to provide the programs are still able to provide value<00:56:39.319
• </c> assistance partnership which provides assistance partnership which provides grants<00:57:42.680>
• Most employers do provide 30-minute meal breaks because if they provide less than 30 minutes, then it

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill provides that the written notice of the designation will be provided if the cabinet decides
• When we talk about providing material support, we talk about providing military training to these...
• the provider of necessity and the provider of care for people who need this drug.
• the provider of necessity and the provider of care for people who need this drug.
• It provides transparency.

Summary: The House met with a quorum present, heard prayers and ceremonial remarks, and then took up a series of returning messages from the Senate. The first major item was CS/CS/HB 1503 on computer science education and certification. Members explained that the House concurred in a Senate amendment that restored teacher certificate language, kept computer science and AI-related content in the bill, and delayed implementation to give the Department of Education time to develop curriculum. The House adopted the amendment and then passed the bill 105-0. The House also considered CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity. Members adopted a House amendment allowing local governments to buy into the cyber grant program even if they do not receive a grant, adding a five-year sunset and reporting provisions. The House then concurred in the Senate amendment shifting grant administration from a university to the Florida Digital Service, and passed the bill 104-1. Several other returning messages were rejected or sent back to the Senate. The House refused to concur in Senate amendments to CS/HB 351 on concurrent legislative jurisdiction over military installations and HB 6011 on reporting gifts or honoraria, as well as CS/HB 851 on professional learning for instructional and school administrative personnel. The most contentious debate came on CS/CS/HB 1471, which concerns systems of law and terrorist organizations; the Senate amendment defined “promote,” refined notice and timeline requirements, and retained references to Sharia law. Opponents argued the bill was overbroad, lacked due process and evidentiary standards, and threatened First Amendment rights, while supporters said it targeted conduct, not speech, and protected against terrorist support. The House adopted the amendment and passed the bill 80-25. The House then took up a related public records bill, CS/CS/HB 1473, which made a technical conforming change to align with HB 1471; debate focused on transparency and due process concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill provides that the written notice of the designation will be provided if the cabinet decides
• When we talk about providing material support, we talk about providing military training to these...
• the provider of necessity and the provider of care for people who need this drug.
• the provider of necessity and the provider of care for people who need this drug.
• We're asking them to provide certain documentation. In some cases, it's very difficult to provide.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:26.960><c> a</c><00:08:27.159><c> holistic</c> goal these policies provide a holistic goal
• </c><00:18:21.919><c> information</c> coordinating and providing information coordinating and providing
• </c><00:32:57.200><c> for</c> increasing the services we provide for increasing the services we provide
• Uh, I don't want to call it a scam, but this less than effective way of providing electricity.
• </c><01:01:49.520><c> electricity</c> effective way of providing electricity effective way of providing

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all