Transcript Highlights:

• chance to look at with some of the audits that were really recently brought to public by Judge David Carter
• To public by Judge David Carter that kind of talked about some of the homelessness funding that comes
• And some of the reports and what it's outlining from Judge Carter is that there are some of the, you
• And what it's outlining from Judge Carter is that there are some main takeaways: one, there's really

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on California’s homelessness funding, focusing on the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HAP) Grant and the Encampment Resolution Grant Program. HCD described new accountability requirements, including regional action plans, stronger reporting and expenditure conditions, housing-element compliance, encampment response plans, and public dashboards that track fiscal spending, service outcomes, and encampment resolution status. Officials said the goal is to use the data to identify underperforming grantees, provide technical assistance, and, if needed, withhold or reallocate funds. Local officials from San Diego, Fresno, and Santa Cruz said the programs have helped expand shelter, outreach, and permanent housing, and that state dollars have leveraged local and federal resources. Mayor Todd Gloria said San Diego has used HAP to expand shelter and safe sleeping options, reduce downtown encampments, and increase housing production, but argued the state’s new accountability website is too high-level and does not fully reflect countywide conditions, behavioral health outcomes, or the role of continuum-of-care partners. Fresno officials said HAP and other state funds helped the city add shelter beds and reduce homelessness, while Santa Cruz emphasized that state funding helped build local coordination and draw in federal vouchers. Members pressed the panel on whether HAP is actually reducing homelessness, what the best success metrics should be, and whether the state is getting full, usable data from grantees and subcontractors. Several members asked for more granular jurisdiction-level reporting, better tracking of nonprofit spending, and clearer measures beyond point-in-time counts and “people served.” HCD said it is still improving HMIS participation and data quality, but can already show outcomes such as exits to permanent housing and returns to homelessness. The hearing ended with broad agreement that transparency is important, but disagreement remained over the best measures of success and how much emphasis should be placed on housing, prevention, shelter, and treatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Buddy Carter represents Georgia, I think, down near Savannah, and um his I think grand niece, uh,
• </c><07:50:46.478><c> And</c><07:50:46.638><c> Buddy</c><07:50:46.958><c> Carter</c> and his family.
• And Buddy Carter and his family.
• </c> three minutes to my friend Judge Carter. three minutes to my friend Judge Carter.
• Thank you, Judge Carter. Thank you for your leadership.

Bills: HB1717 , HR580

Keywords: communications security, reliability, interoperability, FCC, public interest, council, rules resolution, House Rules Committee, structured rule, appropriations, Department of Defense, DoD appropriations, fiscal year 2026, defense spending, digital commodities, cryptocurrency regulation, digital assets, SEC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, CFTC

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Carter? Here. Present. Representative Braud? Present. Representative Chenevert? Here.
• Senator Carter years ago helped us with an identification card driver's license bill, where underneath
• organizations do training for police officers, but I know that the Arc Louisiana, we do trainings for Carter

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:

• Chairman Carter? Here. Present. Representative Braud? Present. Representative Chenevert? Here.
• Senator Carter years ago helped us with an identification card driver's license bill, where underneath
• organizations... ...do training for police officers, but I know that the Arc Louisiana, we do trainings for Carter

Bills: HB302 , HB371 , HB597 , HB1097 , HB1190 , SB34 , SB164 , SB208 , SB232 , SB317 , SB357 , SB421 , SB510

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: legal representation, attorney general, elected officials, defense, legislative acts, judicial review, judiciary, election, judges, 19th Judicial District Court, East Baton Rouge, precincts, coroner, retention, body, mortuary, investigation, missing persons, Amber Alert, Endangered Missing Child Advisory

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Carter? Here. Representative Brough? Representative Chenevert? Here.
• I turned mine in, Chairman Carter. Thank you. Mr.
• Acting Chairman and members and Chairman Carter as well. Thank you. I don't see any courts. Huh?

Bills: HCR11 , HB153 , HB278 , HB424 , HB454 , HB455 , HB687 , HB816 , HB833 , HB942 , HB1053 , HB1097 , HB1147 , HB1148 , HB1190 , SB75 , SB85 , SB197 , SB200 , SB217

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: Camp Beauregard, Louisiana National Guard, Youth Challenge Program, military affairs, Pineville, National Guard training, emergency response, youth development, alternative education, high school equivalency, GED, at-risk youth, leadership training, job skills, citizenship, veterans, state military operations, mobilization, logistics staging area, public service

Transcript Highlights:

• And I also have Deputy Attorney General Carter Sue here. Um, so we have two deputy AGs. Right.
• year, but um I think a lot of what is discussed or what is shared, um, and I'll let our legal person Carter
• year, but um I think a lot of what is discussed or what is shared, um, and I'll let our legal person Carter
• year, but um I think a lot of what is discussed or what is shared, um, and I'll let our legal person Carter
• year, but um I think a lot of what is discussed or what is shared, um, and I'll let our legal person Carter

Transcript Highlights:

• Carter, and the gentlewoman from Florida, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, each will control 30 minutes.

Bills: HB8365 , HB5625 , HCR75 , HB6260 , HB8469

Keywords: monitoring, court appointments, public service, accountability, government oversight, pro bono, reduced fees, cashless bail, criminal justice, public safety, Attorney General, pretrial release, Iran, military force, War Powers Resolution, U.S. Armed Forces, hostilities, Congress, national security, bail fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Carter. Thank you. Representative Billings. Here. Representative Boyd.
• Representative Carter. Representative Farnum. Here. Representative Gadbury. Here.

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The committee met on March 31 with a quorum present and heard three bills by Representative Bacala. House Bill 205 sought to increase compensation for election commissioners, with the author and several clerks of court and commissioners testifying that pay had not changed in 19 years despite greater responsibilities, longer hours, and additional training tied to election security and new voting systems. To avoid a state fiscal note, the committee adopted amendment set 2855, which removed the base pay increase and instead allowed parish governing authorities to provide a supplemental payment of up to $100 for commissioners in charge and those who complete instruction. The bill was then reported favorably. House Bill 67 addressed protected information for certain public officials and aligned the rules for clerks of court with those already applied to the Secretary of State’s office. The author described it as a technical correction to prior legislation governing what personal information may be published or removed. Stephen Procopio of PAR raised broader concerns about transparency, possible constitutional issues, and inconsistent treatment of information depending on the source, suggesting the law may need a larger review. The committee did not amend the bill and reported it favorably. House Bill 73 would allow local public bodies to vote by electronic voting machine, so long as the vote is publicly displayed, instead of being limited to voice votes. Bacala said the change was intended to clarify that electronic in-place voting is permissible and does not affect quorum, proxy voting, or remote participation. Representatives asked about whether members and the public must be able to see the vote and whether the bill changed existing procedures; the author said it did not. Support came from local government associations, and the bill was reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, bill sponsor, Representative Carter, please.
• Seeing none, Representative Carter, please.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of third-read consent bills across multiple committees, with staff giving brief descriptions and members asking only occasional clarifying questions. Topics included claims against the state, CPA certification, creditor assignments, insurance adjuster licensing, school equivalency instruction, extending a credit enhancement board, firearm safety instruction in schools, student eligibility for school activities, Celebrate Freedom Week civics instruction, release-time courses, voter registration roll access, campaign filing addresses, federal land designations, public records review standards, workers’ compensation burial benefits, first responder death benefits, veterans’ flags in HOA communities, restrictions on sexually explicit material for minors, agency guidance posting, standardized state hiring, mental health court procedures, autopsy supervision, tribal child welfare MOUs, controlled substance scheduling, EMT privacy, guardian notification in court-ordered treatment, dense breast tissue notice repeal, referral agency background checks and insurance, attorney disciplinary recoveries, fentanyl penalties, campus firearms rules, suppressors, defamation standards, mandatory reporting of child abuse, attorney licensing authority, municipal penalties tied to emergency calls, forcible detainer procedures, utility-worker assault enhancements, water basin reporting, small modular nuclear reactor siting, groundwater recovery assumptions, ICE notification after arrests, a military-police-to-peace-officer pathway, and scholarship tax credits. Most bills were simply presented as consent items, with no major debate or votes recorded in the transcript. A few measures drew brief discussion. On SB 1040, members clarified that the voter-registration portal would redact personal identifying information such as voter registration numbers, ID numbers, and Social Security numbers. SB 1193 prompted comments that emergency medical technician data being open source was surprising and that the issue might be expanded to paramedics. SB 1243 was described as a guardian-rights bill to streamline notice in court-ordered treatment. SB 1318 was characterized as a cleanup measure aligning dense-breast-tissue notice requirements with federal law. SB 1477, dealing with referral agencies for assisted living and home care, was noted as having passed committee unanimously. The most substantive exchanges came on SB 1148 and SB 1418. For SB 1148, members discussed shifting attorney licensing responsibility more directly to the Arizona Supreme Court rather than the State Bar, with staff explaining that the court already oversees licensing but currently delegates some functions to the Bar. On SB 1418, which limits county regulation of small modular nuclear reactors in certain circumstances, a member objected that it would reduce local control and said they would likely oppose it on the floor. H.C.M. 2009 was also presented, asking Congress to amend the Antiquities Act, compensate states for subsurface minerals, and streamline mining permits; the sponsor tied it to Arizona’s mining history and land-swap interests. The caucus ended after SB 1142, with no recorded votes or formal actions beyond the bills being discussed as third-read consent items.

Transcript Highlights:

• national commencement of African American and Black history in the United States dates back to 1926 by Carter
• Woodson... ...back to 1926 by Carter G.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Pam Carter, you're recognized. Question or comment? Mr. Speaker Pro Tem.
• Thank you, Representative Carter.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Sarah Lee Davison of Tucson. Members also introduced numerous guests and advocacy groups in the gallery, including Aliento students for Education Day, gun violence prevention advocates, agricultural visitors, military veterans, and representatives of the Kino Border Initiative and Nucor Steel. The chamber then observed a moment of silence in honor of Andy Grosetta, a longtime Arizona rancher and cattle industry leader, after a proclamation was read memorializing his life and renaming a meat transparency bill the Andy Grosetta Act. The House entered Committee of the Whole and considered HB 2074 and HB 2148. HB 2074, described by supporters as a measure to strengthen mandatory reporting related to partial-birth abortion and verify compliance with existing law, drew sharp opposition from Democrats who argued it would criminalize medical workers and punish women seeking care; supporters said it targeted only those with direct knowledge of the procedure and protected unborn children. The committee adopted the Judiciary Committee amendment and then gave HB 2074 a do pass recommendation as amended. HB 2148, described briefly by its sponsor as a transparency bill, also received an Appropriations Committee amendment and a do pass recommendation as amended. The Committee of the Whole reported both bills back to the House, which adopted the report and referred HB 2074 and HB 2148 to engrossing. The House also announced committee meetings for later that day and the following morning, including Appropriations, Federalism and Military Affairs, Science and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, and Rural Economic Development. The chamber then adjourned until 10 a.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Pam Carter, you're recognized. Question or comment? Mr. Speaker Pro Tem.
• Thank you, Representative Carter.

Transcript Highlights:

• was elected to the Missouri legislature, serving the 148th district to include Shannon, Reynolds, Carter
• Anyway, my son Carter over here lost both grandmas in a week. So, I just wanted to say thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• David Carter, John Mattingly, and David Weinberg. 1018 your way down and sit in any seat.
• Veronica Worms David Carter, Jennifer Doinoff, David Carter, Jennifer Doinoff.
• Carter out of Bell County, got about over 10 years' experience as an election judge.
• Carter. Your time is up, sir. Thank you. I really appreciate your testimony.
• Carter, you were going to tell us about the last page of your proposal. Go ahead.

Bills: SB16 , SB76 , SB310 , SB311 , SB396 , SB505 , SB827 , SB964 , SB1209 , SB1210 , SB1386 , SB1470 , SB2035 , SJR37 , SB 16

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We see you over there, Jimmy.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a wide range of bills affecting public safety and public sector employees, with most of the discussion focused on expanding occupational presumptions and retirement protections for police, firefighters, correction officers, court officers, and other public employees. Testifiers from the Legislature, police and fire unions, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, PERAC, and the AFL-CIO generally supported bills covering cancer presumptions, contagious disease presumptions, Parkinson’s disease for firefighters, PTSD-related disability and death, and equity for post-certified police officers under the Heart Law. Several speakers emphasized that these conditions are linked to long-term occupational exposure, that current law leaves out agencies such as UMass police, Environmental Police, DMH police, and other state or campus police, and that the bills would correct gaps in existing benefits and presumptions. Representative Colleen Garry and Senator Joan Lovely spoke in support of expanding the Heart Law and cancer presumption protections, while Representative and Senator sponsors for the firefighter and PTSD bills described the health risks faced by first responders and urged favorable reports. PFFM and MassCOP representatives argued that firefighters and police officers face toxic exposures, infectious disease risks, and chronic stress, and cited studies and other states’ laws in support of the measures. PERAC testified that the PTSD accidental disability bill would clarify confusing case law and update filing requirements so traumatic incidents can be used in applications even when PTSD develops later, while still requiring medical review and retirement board approval. Additional testimony came from correction officers and trial court officers seeking comparable disability and pension protections, including a bill to extend a 100% disability pension to correction officers injured in violent attacks and a bill to treat court officers more like police and firefighters when injured in the line of duty. The committee asked a few clarifying questions, including about whether the PTSD bill would address post-retirement claims and about the impact of excluding “forgotten” police agencies. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee ultimately adjourned after hearing all scheduled testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I am proud to have Jimmy Johnson with me today.

Bills: HB2268 , HB3000 , HB3043 , HB3066 , HB3078 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB3320 , HB3467 , HB3321 , HB3329 , HB3431 , HB3464 , HB3499 , HB3500 , HB3586 , HB3590 , HB3650 , HB3671 , HB3695 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB3764 , HB3767 , HB3834 , HB3931 , HB3934 , HB3940 , HB3944 , HB3979 , HB3985 , HB4113 , HB4294 , HB4302 , HB4317 , HB4324 , HB4359 , HB4426 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4434 , HJR1077 , SR42 , SR35 , HJR1023 , HB1225 , HB1374 , HB1381 , HB1590 , HB1675 , HB2153

Keywords: HB2268, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, OHCA, appropriation, General Revenue Fund, PACE, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, elderly care, aging Oklahomans, long-term care, Medicaid, health care funding, provider reimbursement, rate increase, low-income seniors, senior services, integrated care, emergency measure, cosmetology, barbering

Transcript Highlights:

• Having received 10 ayes and two nays, I declare the nomination of Jimmy Groyke to the board of regents

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• After a firefighter leaves employment, for example, we had a firefighter by the name of Jimmy Greene,

Summary: The Budget Committee met with a quorum present and heard several bills, with HB 1483 temporarily postponed. The most contentious measure was HB 945, which would create a state counterintelligence/counterterrorism team within FDLE. The sponsor said it was aimed at terrorists, nation-state actors, and other criminal threats, not political speech, and noted an amendment would address First Amendment concerns later. Opponents from the First Amendment Foundation, ACLU Florida, and other groups argued the bill was too vague, lacked guardrails, and could enable surveillance of protected speech or political activity. Members also raised questions about fiscal impact, oversight, warrants, and the bill’s July start date. Despite those concerns, the committee reported HB 945 favorably by roll call vote. The committee then unanimously passed HB 6507, a claims bill appropriating funds to compensate for damages caused by departmental negligence. HB 813, which clarifies Florida’s firefighter cancer law and death-benefit provisions, also passed after an amendment narrowed the bill and added language allowing a firefighter’s family to receive the death benefit if the firefighter separates from employment and dies within one year. Firefighter representatives supported the bill as a compassionate fix, while one local firefighter representative opposed the amendment, saying it would remove protections and create an arbitrary cutoff. Sponsors responded that DROP would not be affected and that the change was intended to help terminally ill firefighters spend their final days at home without losing survivor benefits. Finally, HB 365, dealing with law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism, passed favorably. Supporters, including family members and autism advocates, said in-person training and positive interactions are crucial to preventing escalations and tragedies during police encounters. They described real-life incidents where lack of training led to harmful outcomes and urged adoption of the bill’s training provisions. Members from both parties voiced support, calling the measure overdue and important for both public safety and the autism community. The chair closed the meeting by noting it was likely the committee’s last budget meeting and adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jimmy Mason. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Representative, for bringing this forward.

Bills: HB310 , HB323 , HM51 , HB194

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Keywords: museum, cultural affairs, lowrider, Espanola, appropriation, feasibility study, broadband access, low-income, rural areas, Indian nations, affordable internet, employment opportunities, detention centers, immigration, economic development, repurposing facilities, job transition, rural development, housing, affordable housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Jimmy Mason. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Representative, for bringing this forward.

Bills: HB310 , HB323 , HM51 , HB194

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Summary: The committee first heard HB 310, which would appropriate $1 million to continue planning and development for a Lowrider Museum in Española. The sponsor said the project had already received prior capital outlay support and that the new funding would help complete the study and planning phase for a future world-class museum. Members asked about the increase from prior funding levels and discussed the broader cultural and economic value of the museum. The bill received a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Memorial 51, which addresses the economic and community impacts of ending civil immigration detention in affected rural counties. Sponsors said the memorial would call for planning around workforce retraining, economic diversification, community services, and possible repurposing of detention facilities. Testimony and discussion focused on the short-term harm to workers and local economies, the role of Workforce Solutions, and concerns about family disruption, housing, property tax revenue, and whether facilities might close or be repurposed. The memorial passed on a 7-0 vote. Finally, the committee took up HB 194, which would expand the Metropolitan Redevelopment Code to support housing shortage areas and workforce housing through property tax freezes and related incentives. The sponsor and Apartment Association representative described the bill as a tool to increase missing-middle housing, with affordability requirements, voucher acceptance, audits, and reporting provisions. Members raised concerns that the amendment was very large and difficult to absorb in the committee timeframe, and several said they preferred to see it as a substitute bill. No motion was made to adopt the amendment, HB 194 was rolled, and HB 323 was also rolled because the sponsor was unavailable. The committee then adjourned.