Transcript Highlights:

• care child care prohibition, is referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• care child care prohibition, is referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• care child care prohibition, is referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• care child care prohibition, is referred to the Committee on Human Services.
• care child care prohibition, is referred to the Committee on Human Services.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• New Hampshire FMLA allows more than new parents to care for their young families.
• It aids in care of older children, parents, and direct family members.
• It aids in care of older families.
• ><c> direct</c><00:13:19.040><c> family</c> children, parents, and direct family children, parents, and
• care of an elderly new baby, taking care of an elderly parent,<00:17:14.720><c> or</c><00:17:14.880>

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As trustees, our role is to set direction, monitor progress, and ensure our decisions lead to better
• It moves us towards measuring genuine progress, ensuring that state-directed initiatives are yielding
• I have to face this direction. Okay.
• of our students with disabilities and making sure that they have that continuity of care, that they
• of the most significant impacts of this funding has been the direct engagement of our teachers, our

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, this bill creates the option to direct excess funds to the Louisiana Fortified Homes Program
• Almost all patients will live a life completely dependent on others for their care and safety.
• And what the amendment does, it still gives the health care provider some discretion.
• I'm not trying to stop care. I'm just trying to make sure that we've got the right.
• I'm not trying to stop care.

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• action and have more direct access to data.
• action and have more direct access to data.
• action and have more direct access to data.
• action and have more direct access to data.
• </c> direct and immediate action, more direct direct and immediate action, more direct and<00:54:08.960

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes there's unintended consequences when we try to go too far in one direction.
• They get it back if they take care of the unit. So it is that flexibility.
• If they take care of the unit. So it is that flexibility.
• So this is just more of a tweak and a little more directive about when this would kick in. Okay.
• Okay. ...and a little more directive about when this would kick in. Okay.

Keywords: Virginia Housing Commission - Fees in Residential Rental Agreements Workgroup, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It supports access to employment, education, health care, shopping, and community activities.
• Things like health care, jobs.
• Chairman and members of the committee, the original directive with the subcommittee was to meet twice
• I guess I'm looking for direction there, too.
• I guess I'm looking for direction there, too.

Summary: The Government Finance Transportation Study committee heard detailed presentations from transit officials in Grand Forks, Bismarck/Mandan (Bisman Transit), and Fargo about fixed-route and paratransit service. Grand Forks described Cities Area Transit’s routes, fare structure, ridership recovery after COVID, fleet replacement needs, and rising costs, noting fares cover only a portion of expenses and that the system relies on local, state, federal, and university funding. Bisman Transit outlined its history, service hours, route structure, recent expansion of hours, fare levels, ridership growth, funding sources including mill levies, federal grants, and new local sales tax revenue, and major challenges such as aging buses, driver recruitment, and the need for more stable operating support. Fargo’s representative briefly reinforced the importance of public transit and asked the committee to consider additional funding for urban fixed-route systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dear Heavenly Father, you have given us another day to work hard and to take care of the business of
• It's consistent with Idaho's recent policy direction.
• Hearing on, the gentleman from one, care to close. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• So we've been able to adjust and take care of that.
• This is really the last direction we should be moving in right now.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• county entity, the Administrative Office of the Courts, or the Supreme Court may impose orders or directives
• Because some of those concerns written in the administrative order were already taken care of, and yet
• Don't care.
• They have to be directed by this body to do what they want to do.
• The legislature is, of course, the most powerful branch of our government, and they should be directing

Bills: HB2226 , HB2406 , HB2663 , HB2695 , HB2805 , HB2976

Committee: House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Keywords: veteran status, veterans court, treatment court, diversion program, initial appearance, arrestee processing, criminal procedure, DD-214, Department of Veterans' Services, prosecuting agency, court notification, military service, armed forces, veterans benefits, reentry, mental health court, drug court, specialty court, Arizona criminal law, pretrial hearing

Transcript Highlights:

• it correctly, um, but the, the biggest piece that we saw in that legislation that I, I want to be careful
• So then all of a sudden everybody runs that direction and we've missed another group of individuals that
• What would be helpful as we try to figure out the state policy direction on math.
• the will of, of what the people have, have got you in that job to do, which is educate kids, take care
• I'm taking your question in a different direction now, aren't I?

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of that has been more difficult of late, and, you know, the policy direction of do we freeze out
• The Health Care and Accessibility Subcommittee is examining the use of AI for health care utilization
• We may have the ability to do some direct negotiating, as we had considered under previous rounds, if
• We may have the ability to do some direct negotiating, as we had considered under previous rounds, if
• You can't go in many directions several miles without hitting some of our infrastructure.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on technology in government, AI, broadband, and digital equity. Seattle CTO Rob Lloyd described the city’s AI strategy, emphasizing responsible use, privacy, security, community input, and data strategy. He said Seattle is using small pilots and partnerships to test AI for tasks such as public records processing, infrastructure inspection, and permitting, while keeping humans as the final decision-makers. Members asked about bias, liability, training on best practices, labor involvement, and public records; Lloyd said AI should remain an assistant tool, not a replacement for human judgment, and that Seattle is still testing solutions for records requests and permitting. WATech CTO Nick Stow and Deputy Director Mark Quimby discussed the state’s broader AI policy, the generative AI executive order, a sandbox with more than 15 agencies, and use cases including a resident portal, cybersecurity, and wildfire detection. They stressed consent, closed systems, human-centered design, and the need to govern all forms of AI, not just generative AI. Committee members raised concerns about federal data access, labor issues, and wildfire detection effectiveness. Spokane County IT staff described a more restrictive approach to AI, citing privacy, bias, and cyber risks. The county standardized on Microsoft Copilot as its only approved chat-style AI tool, blocked other AI chat platforms, and requires human review of all AI-generated content. They said AI is also being used by criminals for phishing and deepfakes, underscoring the need for strong policy and security controls. The committee also received an update from the Attorney General’s AI Task Force. Yuki Ishizuka said the task force has 19 members and eight subcommittees covering ethics, consumer protection, labor, health care, public safety, education, government efficiency, cybersecurity, and industry/energy. The task force is working toward an interim report due December 1, 2025 and a final report due July 1, 2026, and is reviewing recommendations through public forums and advisory committees. Ishizuka warned that a federal budget reconciliation provision could bar states from enforcing AI regulations for 10 years, and several members voiced support for state authority and asked about possible 2026 legislation. The committee then heard updates on broadband and digital equity. Commerce’s Dave Pringle said the BEAD broadband program is being reshaped by new NTIA guidance, which removed or reduced emphasis on several prior priorities, and Washington is now working under an expedited process to submit its state application by September 4. He noted that no projects have been built yet, that four counties did not receive applications in round two, and that the state is trying to keep applicants engaged through office hours and a shortened review window. The Office of Equity and the Digital Equity Forum reported increased participation, new members, and ongoing outreach to tribal, rural, and underserved communities, while previewing recommendations such as creating an interdepartmental digital equity team and improving data use. Finally, Lumen’s Robert Thoms described private-sector broadband deployment challenges, including permitting, regulation, and the economics of extending fiber, while noting continued investment in overbuild projects, a $30 low-cost service option tied to the former ACP, and work with the state, tribes, and libraries. No votes were taken; the meeting consisted of presentations and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, if something doesn't change, and soon, at the agencies... that care for these public lands,
• The Department is responsible for taking care of and auditing and overseeing the weapons stockpile.
• I don't care what you say.
• It should probably come as no surprise that I care a lot about LNG exports.
• If the president says that these are the claims that can be acted upon, you are going to be directed

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Keywords: nuclear energy, permitting process, energy production, public lands, national parks, uranium imports, legislative bills, infrastructure development

Summary: The committee meeting was dominated by discussions on a variety of legislative bills including major topics such as nuclear energy advancement, the effects of regulatory hurdles on energy production, and proposals to improve national park staffing and maintenance. Members expressed concerns over the federal government's handling of uranium imports and the necessity for maintaining a robust domestic nuclear supply chain. Efforts to streamline permitting processes to facilitate more efficient energy project development were also a focal point, alongside public testimony from stakeholders in the energy and environmental sectors. The meeting highlighted the urgent need for infrastructure development to meet rising energy demands while addressing climate change impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• started in 2020 and was originally The program was started in 2020 and was originally funded through CARES
• So when we give the funding, are we not then directing the funding where the greatest need or where we've
• And so there is a direct connection there with all levels of employment throughout the district.
• But we are shorter on personnel and manpower in order to take on those responsibilities and take care
• The only thing they cared about was did they arrive?

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and first heard a Department of Education program review on three district support programs: assistance to low-performing schools, the Florida Partnership program, and regional literacy teams (RAISE). Dr. Paul Burns described how the Bureau of School Improvement supports schools with D/F grades through regional teams, classroom observations, professional learning, and targeted funding, noting that 104 of 168 low-performing schools improved after 2022-23 and that the share of failing schools fell from 6% to 4%. He also outlined the Florida Partnership’s $4 million annual appropriation for advanced-course teacher training and student access, and the RAISE literacy program’s $5 million funding, universal/targeted/intensive supports, and progress monitoring results. Senators asked about rural participation, post-COVID reading data, parent support, and how long schools remain under monitoring after improving; Burns said rural districts can participate statewide, parents can access school and department support, and schools continue to receive monitoring after exiting low-performing status to prevent recidivism. The committee then received a presentation on the school district education foundation matching grants program from Suzanne Pridgen, who explained that the Consortium of the Florida Education Foundations administers the grants, which require private matching funds and support tutoring, literacy, STEM, career education, professional learning, books, and supplies. She said the program leverages about $1.44 in private support for every state dollar. The committee then moved to the regional education consortia, where representatives from PAEC, NEFEC, and Heartland, along with several rural superintendents, described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide economies of scale, professional learning, HR, risk management, purchasing, legal and operational support, crisis assistance, and leadership development for small and fiscally constrained districts. Superintendents from Lafayette, Holmes, Calhoun, Union, DeSoto, and Hendry counties testified that the consortia are essential because rural districts often have very small staffs, multiple-duty administrators, and limited in-house expertise. They cited support with insurance and hurricane recovery, training for new finance and HR staff, instructional coaching, CTE and leadership programs, and help with turnaround schools. Members emphasized that these districts can be high-performing despite limited resources, and several senators praised the consortia’s value. Senator Gaetz asked about additional back-office collaboration, possible regulatory relief, and FEFP issues tied to scholarship-related enrollment swings; rural superintendents responded that more local control would help. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll still go ahead and do directives.
• So, we want to be very careful about that.
• </c><01:22:15.280><c> about</c> So, we want to be very careful about So, we want to be very careful about
• But would it take care of our dropout rate?
• of our dropout it would it take care of our dropout rate?

Committee: Joint Education

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Pharmacy Association takes care of the pharmacists.
• And so we've got to be careful.
• And we just got to be careful.
• The real crisis is lack of preventive care.
• That's not health care. It's chaos.

Bills: HB25 , HB48 , HB149 , HB254 , HB26 , HB192

Keywords: ivermectin, pharmacist authority, prescription-free, healthcare regulation, patient access, HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Bowles, do you care to vote? Seeing none, declare the vote.
• Senate Bill 1990 directs the Incentive Evaluation Commission to also submit its annual report to the
• It also directs the commission to evaluate whether a business would have likely taken a specific action
• The commission is also directed to examine whether an incentive meets a strategic economic goal and assess
• flesh out a lot of what our existing political subdivisions can do and the authority they have to direct

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on economic development, infrastructure, and education policy. SB 1530, described as a research and development ecosystem bill, would encourage universities, businesses, and industry to partner to strengthen Oklahoma’s high-tech economy; it passed 29-0. SB 1847, a measure aimed at helping Oklahomans avoid nursing home placement and reduce costs, also passed 29-0. SB 1990 would require the Incentive Evaluation Commission to send its annual report to the Secretary of State and expand its review of incentives to include broader comparative analysis and strategic economic goals; it passed 28-0. The committee also considered SB 2060, the Build Act, which is intended to help small towns finance upfront infrastructure costs for development. Members raised concerns about independent boards, debt, assessments, zoning authority, and accountability, and the author said an adopted amendment was meant to preserve city and county control over planning and infrastructure protections. The bill passed 22-5. SB 1992, a Department of Commerce cleanup bill, passed 27-2. Later, the committee took up SB 1579, a taxpayer bill of rights, which passed 26-0. SB 1778, agreed-upon reading legislation language that cleans up formulas and clarifies the SRA formula and related reading provisions, also passed 28-0. The chair noted upcoming longer Appropriations and J-CAB meetings and then adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you came into the hearing room today, the Sergeant directed your attention to the rules for public
• Assembly Bill 1669 helps remove that fear by ensuring that taking care of one's mental health does not
• And we know that maintaining educational access for disabled students is not only a directive from our
• And we don't need to do an expensive study to know that stable housing is a direct contributor.
• However, youth with experience in foster care or homelessness can be successful college students.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard a long policy agenda focused largely on student access, equity, and institutional oversight. Bills discussed included AB 2236 on common course numbering and streamlined articulation across the community colleges, CSU, and UC; AB 2422 on protections when financial aid is delayed; AB 1669 on medical and mental health leaves of absence; AB 1713 on accepting IEPs and 504 plans as proof of disability for accommodations; AB 2766 on priority housing and related supports for foster youth and students experiencing homelessness; AB 2212 on tech-facilitated sexual harassment and AI-generated intimate images; AB 2504 on a pilot to upskill creative-industry workers for AI-related changes; AB 1734 on preserving and expanding California food insecurity data collection; and AB 2771, the sunset bill for the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. The committee also took up a consent calendar of three bills earlier in the hearing. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from student groups, advocacy organizations, and system representatives, with many speakers describing personal experiences with transfer confusion, delayed aid, mental health crises, disability documentation barriers, housing instability, and online sexual harm. AB 2236 drew support from community college, CSU, UC student associations, and college-opportunity advocates, while the CSU Academic Senate registered opposition. AB 2771 drew a notable exchange over the cost and scope of the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education, with Vice Chair DeMaio opposing the extension on fiscal and bureaucracy grounds; the author responded that the bureau is fee-funded and that its fees had not been raised in years. AB 1734 also prompted skepticism from DeMaio about the survey’s cost, methodology, and whether the work should be competitively bid, though supporters argued the existing California Health Interview Survey infrastructure was the most efficient way to preserve critical food insecurity data after federal cuts. The committee voted to advance the measures it heard, generally on party-line or near-party-line votes, with several bills held open for additional members to add on. AB 2236, AB 2422, AB 1669, AB 1713, AB 1734, AB 2766, and AB 2212 all received do-pass recommendations and were re-referred to the appropriate policy or fiscal committees. AB 2771 was also moved forward to the Committee on Business and Professions after debate over the bureau’s reauthorization and fee structure. The hearing ended with the committee beginning consideration of AB 2504, the AI-related workforce upskilling pilot for creative industries.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you came into the hearing room today, the sergeant directed your attention to the rules for public
• Assembly Bill 1669 helps remove that fear by ensuring that taking care of one's mental health does not
• And we know that maintaining educational access for disabled students is not only a directive from our
• And we don't need to do an expensive study to know that stable housing is a direct contributor.
• However, youth with experience in foster care or homelessness can be successful college students.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have done a preliminary analysis of our federal funds, of the direct funds that we receive.
• You might have to arrange for child care.
• You might have to arrange for child care.
• It hampers the system as a whole and creates a lot of risk for injustice from all directions.
• </c> um in accomplishing CJ's um directive um in accomplishing CJ's um directive for<02:06:56.360><c>

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard House Bill 4000, the Judiciary’s biennium budget bill for FY 2026-2027. Judiciary Director of Policy and Planning Brandon Kimura testified in strong support, outlining operating requests of about $6.17 million in FY 26 and $6.25 million in FY 27, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $9.9 million in capital improvements. He described funding needs for specialty courts, preparations for the Wahiawa District Court, an additional district court judge and staff for Kona, cybersecurity upgrades, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, statewide priority items, and restoration of several essential staff positions. He also said the Judiciary was seeking an additional $2 million for the Children’s Justice Center relocation lump sum because updated estimates had risen to about $8 million. The committee also discussed potential impacts from uncertain federal funding and asked for written follow-up on those risks and on the capital request, including coordination with Budget and Finance. Several organizations and individuals testified in support of the Judiciary budget, including the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association, Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi, and legal service providers. Mioko Eto asked for an additional $1 million for civil legal service providers, explaining that the current funding is spread across multiple providers and that the need remains high. David Copper of Legal Aid supported the request, citing statewide demand, 105 staff, 7,100 cases closed in the past year, and 15,000 calls received, while noting that many people seeking help cannot be served because of capacity limits. He also said recent federal funding disruptions and proposed cuts could affect legal services and related programs. Committee members asked about the Criminal Justice Research Institute’s mission; Kimura said its primary statutory role is to build a database focused on pre-trial reporting and data analysis, though it is also working on probation and mental health-related projects. No vote or final action on HB 4000 was taken in the hearing excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said to them, famously, we're not retreating, we're fighting in a different direction.
• Sikhs work to make sure that every member of our community is cared for.
• SIKHS WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY IS CARED FOR.
• BILLS REPORTED DIRECT TO THIRD READING. &gt;&gt; MOVE TO ACCEPT THE REPORT OF THE RULES COMMITTEE.
• This: These hospitals are community health centers, our federally qualified health care centers, and

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and discharged several identical Assembly/Senate bills from committee so they could be substituted on the calendar. The chamber then took up and previously adopted two commemorative resolutions: one designating April 2026 as Sikh Heritage Month and another honoring Korean War veterans. Senators from both parties spoke in support of the Sikh resolution, emphasizing the community’s contributions, service, and the need for recognition and inclusion; the resolution was opened for co-sponsorship and the Sikh guests in the gallery were recognized. The Korean War resolution drew remarks from members recalling family service and the sacrifices of veterans, with repeated calls to preserve their stories and honor their legacy. The Senate then moved through the calendar, passing a series of bills. Among them were measures related to charter bus safety and seat belt awareness, coverage for doula services under insurance, social services/EBT-related changes, education, navigation, highway, public service, and hospital-closure reporting. Several bills passed unanimously or with only one dissenting vote; the social services bill drew the most opposition, with Senator Murray objecting that New York should first address EBT chip technology and skimming before adding new vendor requirements. One bill on the calendar was laid aside for the day. The chamber also adopted a supplemental bill authorizing the South Country Central School District to finance certain deficits, described by Senator Murray as a necessary rescue to keep the district operating and pay staff. Senators discussed the state budget impasse during debate on an extender bill, with the sponsor explaining it was a “clean extender” to keep government running through May 4 and cover payroll, health, education, and other essential payments. Senator Helming raised concerns about the lack of rural health transformation funding and the consequences of the delayed budget for schools, local governments, and hospitals. The extender passed, and the Senate adjourned until Monday, May 4, 2026.