Transcript Highlights:

• So for that reason alone, I don't support this bill.
• I think it is a worthwhile effort. Is it a recommendation? Yes, it is.
• So for that reason alone, I don't support this bill.
• I think it is a worthwhile effort.
• I think it is a worthwhile effort.

Bills: HF3

Keywords: legislative auditor, reporting, accountability, state finance, executive agency oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It even takes a lot of work and effort to get that tax credit.
• I agree with you that it should not be used for non-enforcement reasons.
• So there was no effort. This is not some kind of political effort on my part.
• And I respect the reasons that motivated you to bring it in this session.
• Republicans and Democrats are getting behind this effort.

Bills: SB97, SB55, SB40, SB38, SB120, SB113, SB116, SB117, SB118

Keywords: tax credits, municipality, county property, industrial revenue bonds, economic development, qualified expenditures, solar energy, tax credit, renewable energy, photovoltaic, solar thermal, New Mexico, economic incentive, energy independence, SB40, Driver Privacy and Safety Act, automated license plate reader, ALPR, license plate reader, vehicle surveillance

Transcript Highlights:

• And it was not a lobbyist-driven effort.
• However, I'm with the red card for a reason.
• The second reason, I am against... Think chemtrails.
• Only these five animals—there's no reason to euthanize them. There's no reason to seize them.
• for this HCR... ...and the reason for this HCR and at least the reason for the first ACR and then the

Summary: The committee first took up HB 804, the Louisiana Energy Protection Act, which was presented as a narrowly focused ban on climate-change damages lawsuits rather than a measure affecting emissions claims, pollution claims, or private property rights. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to stop speculative suits targeting energy producers, farmers, truckers, manufacturers, and other businesses for global climate impacts, while preserving claims for actual legal violations under state or federal environmental and safety laws. After a substitute amendment was adopted to clarify and streamline the bill, the committee heard extensive support from oil and gas, chemical, business, port, and legal reform groups, along with a few opposition speakers who argued the bill could still be read to shield industry too broadly or weaken climate accountability. HB 804 was reported favorably as amended. The committee then considered HB 802, as amended, which creates a watershed conservation fund tied to the Amite River Basin. The author explained that the bill was narrowed from a statewide proposal to a basin-specific program to reduce flood risk and restore watershed areas using existing severance revenue from sand mining, modeled in part on coastal restoration funding. Supporters from the concrete industry, landowners, levee boards, and conservation groups described it as a practical, low-cost, non-government solution to help remediate old sand and gravel pits and improve flood control. With no opposition cards and no objections, HB 802 was reported favorably as amended. Finally, the committee heard HB 934, as substituted, which would allow licensed wildlife rehabilitators to possess white-tailed deer fawns under specific conditions, including disease monitoring, release only within the same management zone, and other handling requirements. The author said the bill was meant to prevent the euthanizing of orphaned fawns that could be rehabilitated and to create a lawful pathway for licensed care. A supporter described her experience rescuing an orphaned fawn that was later confiscated and killed, while the Louisiana Wildlife Federation opposed the measure, warning it could effectively create a captive deer program, undermine wildlife conservation principles, and lead to dangerous or inhumane facilities. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 934, before final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• away from our taxpayers, but it takes away from the people who truly need the help, which is a big reason
• integrity and prevented a reasonable integrity and prevented a reasonable separation<00:18:27.640
• Our efforts, including reporting to federal law enforcement, have led to 70 criminal indictments.
• civil defense that the agency had reason civil defense that the agency had reason to<01:01:09.720
• of directors requirements for reasonable of directors requirements for reasonable salaries<01:17:00.440

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee met to hear a delayed presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on MDE’s oversight of Feeding Our Future, a report released in June 2024. The chair framed the hearing as an oversight review of how the Minnesota Department of Education handled the nonprofit’s participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program, emphasizing that the hearing was not about criminal charges against agency staff. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall and Director of Special Reviews Katherine Tyson explained that their review focused on state oversight, not the underlying federal fraud case, which involved an alleged $250 million scheme and ongoing criminal proceedings. The auditors concluded that MDE’s oversight was inadequate and created opportunities for fraud. They said MDE failed to act on warning signs before the pandemic, did not effectively use its authority to hold Feeding Our Future accountable, and was ill prepared to respond to problems. Examples included approving applications despite concerns about internal controls and staffing, failing to follow up on earlier review findings, not adequately investigating at least 30 complaints, and in one case referring a complaint back to Feeding Our Future for resolution rather than conducting an independent investigation. They also said MDE deferred serious deficiencies without enough evidence that problems had been fully corrected and approved meal claims despite records showing major inconsistencies. Tyson said MDE had made progress on all eight recommendations in the report, though one recommendation to the legislature had not yet been addressed because the session had not convened since the report’s release. The auditors recommended that the legislature establish clearer statutory criteria or give MDE rulemaking authority for sponsor applications, and that MDE strengthen verification of sponsor information, focus more on high-risk sponsors, improve complaint procedures, and emphasize program integrity if waivers reduce oversight in the future. In response to member questions, the auditors said MDE’s reported progress was partial in some areas and that further review would be needed to fully confirm implementation. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Efforts also include equipping clinicians with cultural competency.
• Were any historical expenditures, or have they been in the past, evaluated for reasonableness?
• So I do not believe it's a reasonability issue.
• It's not the reasonability. We have written approved cost allocation plans from the apartment.
• So I do not believe it's a reasonability issue.

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Dr. Kelly O’Dare on first responder behavioral health access, peer support, and suicide prevention. She described UCF Restores, the Second Alarm Project, and related partnerships that provide culturally competent treatment, peer training, clinician education, disaster response support, and behavioral health navigation. She cited survey and state data showing significant rates of sleep problems, anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide among Florida first responders, and said evidence-based treatment has helped many patients recover, including a reported 76% who no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria after treatment. Senators asked about measuring outcomes, peer support standards, and whether the state should create more consistent statewide requirements; O’Dare said peer support training must be specialized, linked to higher levels of care, and supported by sustainable funding and statewide coordination. The committee also heard from a public commenter who supported the work and emphasized the need for adequate resources and peer support infrastructure. The committee then received a Department of Children and Families presentation from Casey Penn on the proposed funding methodology for community-based care lead agencies under HB 7089. Penn explained that the new model is intended to be actuarially based, reimbursement-oriented, and more transparent than prior funding approaches, using historical expenditures, standardized reporting, and two main tiers: Tier 1 for largely fixed administrative and operational costs, and Tier 2 for direct child-serving costs based on per-child-per-month blended rates. He said the model includes a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, hold-harmless funding in the first year, and optional Tier 3 performance incentives, with an estimated additional state appropriation need after offsets. Senators raised concerns about prevention, historical inequities, reasonableness of costs, administrative overhead, blended state and federal funds, adoption subsidies, high-acuity placements, and disaster-related disruptions. Penn said some of those issues could be addressed in future iterations as the child welfare information system is modernized, and he agreed to provide written responses to committee questions. Representatives of the Florida Coalition for Children and CBCs responded that the model is a major improvement but urged additional safeguards, including an administrative cap, clearer separation of direct and indirect costs, and better treatment of federal and pass-through funds. They argued that the system already has oversight and that deficits reflect insufficient appropriations rather than excess spending, while also noting that higher-acuity children and regional differences can drive costs. No votes were taken on either topic, and the meeting ended with committee staff introductions and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you could walk me through the reasoning about that, because that's where my reluctance comes from.
• I think that maybe the reason for your question is we are navigating a truly unprecedented crisis.
• And if I may add, I think that that is one of the reasons that we feel such an urgency to act.
• I was here when we went through the first effort with Governor Brown.
• I think this has been a 20-year effort, actually, and that failed.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy convened with a quorum and first heard SB 254, a major utility affordability and wildfire package authored by Senator Becker and coauthored by Assemblymember Petrie-Norris. The bill was described as combining wildfire mitigation reforms, $6 billion in securitized financing for future fire-mitigation capital spending, a public ownership/transmission financing program, tighter scrutiny of utility profits, clean energy permitting streamlining, stronger customer connection timelines, and a successor wildfire fund/continuation account to replace the current fund. Supporters, including the Governor’s office, TURN, labor, clean energy groups, utilities, and public advocates, said the measure would lower bills, stabilize utilities, protect fire victims, and reduce wildfire-related bankruptcy risk. Opponents and some local government groups raised concerns about affordability impacts, the volumetric wildfire fee, strict liability, and provisions they said could affect local control. After discussion, the committee approved SB 254 on a 16-0 vote and sent it to the floor. The committee then held an informational hearing on AB 825, which would enable California to participate in a West-wide electricity market. The authors said the proposal could save ratepayers up to $1 billion annually, improve reliability by allowing California to draw on a larger regional supply, reduce curtailment of renewable power, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Support came from environmental organizations, labor, utilities, community choice aggregators, large energy users, and the Public Advocates Office, all emphasizing cost savings, reliability, and cleaner energy integration. TURN opposed the measure, warning that last-minute amendments removed safeguards against subsidizing out-of-state fossil generation and could expose California ratepayers to unwanted costs. Members questioned governance, exit rights, CPUC oversight, and local control, and the authors responded that the bill includes multiple safeguards, legislative reporting, the ability to exit without penalty, and continued local consultation. No vote was taken because the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• And for these reasons, we respectfully ask for your aye vote. All right. Thank you.
• So you appreciate the effort that you're bringing forth.
• And that's one of the reasons why I can't support the bill today.
• And the reason for that: 72% of teens have used an AI chatbot.
• It truly is a collaborative effort, a bicameral collaborative effort, which doesn't happen that often

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:43.920> we duplic duplication of efforts we duplic duplication of efforts we recommend
• <00:38:49.040> to to convene and coordinate um efforts to to convene and coordinate um efforts
• our prevention efforts on: gun violence.
• to do but I appreciate your good efforts to do but I appreciate your good efforts thank<00:58:11.319
• agencies we just for various reasons agencies we just for various reasons don't<01:09:02.040>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on February 12 at 2 p.m. and heard several measures related to corrections, re-entry, law enforcement, retirement benefits, and gun violence prevention. On HB 10002, which would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify unannounced inspection authority, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it had no objection to the term length or to 24/7 unannounced access. The commission’s chair, Commissioner Mark Patterson, asked for a longer term, saying the commission needs more time and stability to manage reform efforts after years without staff during COVID. Community Alliance on Prisons and Carolyn Eaton also supported a longer term, with both suggesting six years would better insulate the position from politics. The chair noted he had asked Chair Bot for background on the prior committee’s changes and said that could be discussed during decision-making. The committee then heard HB 67, which would require DCR to help inmates obtain civil identification documents such as IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards as soon as practicable, including for people in furlough or community placement programs. DCR said it supported the bill and described ongoing work with the city and county on ID machines and with agencies on certificates and Social Security cards. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Oversight Commission, Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Office of Public Defense all supported the measure, emphasizing that identification is essential for housing, employment, and successful re-entry and noting the disproportionate impact of incarceration on Native Hawaiians. On HB 1183, which would classify certain law enforcement administrators and Department of Law Enforcement employees as Class A members for retirement purposes, the Department of Human Resources Development, the Employees’ Retirement System, and the Department of Law Enforcement all supported the bill. DHRD said it would help recruitment and retention, ERS said it had technical amendments to suggest, and DLE said the change would help with succession planning and allow the governor to appoint the most qualified leader. The committee also heard HB 1045, an emergency appropriation bill to cover payroll fringe benefits for Department of Law Enforcement personnel after salary funding had been shifted to other departments; Budget and Finance and DLE explained the need for the supplemental funding, and no opposition was noted. Finally, the committee took up HB 664, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a grant program, a resource bank, and a special fund. The Attorney General recommended adding standards for grant awards and warned of overlap with the existing Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission, suggesting consolidation and repeal of the older commission to avoid duplication. Supporters included the Brady Campaign, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action Hawaii, a physician, and an Army veteran, who argued the office would centralize data, coordinate prevention efforts, and help secure outside funding. Testimony was mixed, with the chair noting 37 supporters, nine opponents, and three commenters, but no vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um, we literally were having meetings to justify the existence or having a reason to have the meetings
• That is my proposal and the reason for this bill, and I'm ready for Chair Mariani. to exist there will
• I celebrate and welcome the reemergence of similar efforts in our local jurisdictions.
• I celebrate and welcome the reemergence of similar efforts in our local jurisdictions.
• I asked was this notion that um reason I asked was this notion that um chair<00:13:34.000> nne

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 1257, which would eliminate the Public Safety Advisory Committee to the POST Board, was the final bill heard. The bill’s sponsor argued the committee was created in 2020 in response to post-Floyd criminal justice reforms but had since become obsolete because local agencies and communities had created their own oversight bodies and the main POST Board still includes citizen members and public participation. The sponsor said the advisory committee had run out of issues to address and was effectively meeting just to justify its existence. Former Representative Carlos Mariani testified in opposition, saying the committee was a bipartisan part of the 2020 Minnesota Police Accountability Act and was intended to preserve citizen involvement in policing policy and protect civil and human rights after George Floyd’s murder. He argued that eliminating it would weaken a state-level structure created to rebuild public trust and ensure consistent oversight, while still allowing local efforts to continue. Another member asked about compensation and noted the committee has a $20,000 ongoing appropriation through the POST Board; the sponsor clarified members are not individually compensated beyond per diem and travel. After discussion, the sponsor renewed the motion to recommend re-referral to the General Register. The committee voted, and the motion carried, sending House File 1257 to the General Register.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are to submit to reasonable searches. They are not to possess any weapons.
• Consolidate our efforts. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> I'm Karen Rosenberg.
• events and efforts to recruit counsel. events and efforts to recruit counsel.
• <00:40:45.520> the that we um do appreciate the reason the that we um do appreciate the reason
• <00:43:51.520> um robustly bipartisan uh effort um robustly bipartisan uh effort um sponsored

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So for those reasons, we stand in support. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Weeks, Mr.
• We want to thank Representative Dixon for championing this effort.
• For this and the reasons already stated, we strongly urge your support of House Bill 27. Thank you.
• It won't go outside of to the communities outside of New Mexico, and my big question is the reason I
• And figure out how this implicates or intersects with these other efforts.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm honored to stand here and represent their efforts.
• Strategies efforts also include a clipping clinicians with cultural competency.
• We should prioritize and expand those efforts to maximize our impact.
• This effort represents a significant step towards addressing the urgent need for sustainable resources
• It's not the reason ability we have written approve cost allocation plans for the department.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are opposed to House Bill 2156 for a couple of reasons.
• And we are opposed to House Bill 2156 for a couple of reasons.
• And so that was the reason for the creation of the ADAS program.
• And so that was the reason for the creation of the ADAS program.
• So it sounds like it's a great team effort.

Bills: HB2013, HB2026, HB2056, HB2098, HB2113, HB2156, HB2158, HCM2011, HCR2057

Keywords: air pollution, wildfires, environmental standards, public health, Arizona Revised Statutes, assured water supply, groundwater, commingling, commingled water, water supply, Arizona Department of Water Resources, ADWR, active management area, AMA, subdivision plat, development approval, water rights, municipal provider, private water company, certificate of assured water supply

Transcript Highlights:

• These costs are kept reasonable and manageable. And again, I don't...
• The reason that you and I...
• It's really the neighborhood subsidizing the county's efforts.
• I think it's reasonable to think that public safety expenses, parks, and libraries might reasonably grow
• Number one, thank you for your efforts. We've heard a lot today.

Bills: HB26, HB73, SB 14, HB46

Keywords: HB26, law enforcement contracts, sheriff, constable, county commissioners court, commissioners court, private security, special law enforcement district, property owners association, POA, municipal utility district, school district, junior college district, local government, contract policing, supplemental police services, large counties, population over 3.3 million, Texas Local Government Code, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• For that reason, we are in support of this bill and urge the committee to vote to pass it.
• We're talking about people that are using drugs for reasons other than a medical reason, and that needed
• We're talking about people that are using drugs for reasons other than a medical reason, and that needed
• other than a using drugs for reasons other than a medical<00:37:17.200> reason<00:37:17.560><
• communities along with the state efforts communities along with the state efforts that<00:58:33.720

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:55:43.520> it's areas where it's reasonably it's areas where it's reasonably it's reasonable
• But again, as as we other reasons.
• :20.240> regular<01:07:20.720> leaking effort to remediate the regular leaking effort to
• the reason why we set all that in. the reason why we set all that in. >> Yeah.
• to be counter to some of the efforts to be counter to some of the efforts that<02:12:50.239>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on February 3, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills, with the chair emphasizing a two-minute limit and noting that bills would die if the hearing ran past noon. For HB 1848, the Commission on Water Resource Management and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development both supported the measure with technical, non-substantive amendments. Testimony focused on requiring early consultation about water availability in district boundary amendment petitions, with water officials explaining that the petitioner should submit a written statement reflecting consultation and that the goal was to identify water constraints earlier in the development process. The Land Use Commission’s representative opposed the bill, arguing that water availability is already addressed through existing environmental review and agency consultation, that the issue had been raised and rejected before, and that the proposal could create unnecessary delay or litigation. The committee then heard HB 1728 on rainwater catchment systems. The Commission on Water Resource Management said it acknowledged the bill’s intent but deferred to counties and other regulatory agencies, including the Department of Health, on regulatory implications. Hawaii Realtors testified in support. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing shown. For HB 1652 on storm water management systems, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association opposed the bill, arguing it would weaken protections created by Act 281 (“Sharkey’s Law”) and increase drowning risk for children by exempting certain water features from safety requirements. The American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii supported the bill, saying the language clarifies and better balances child safety with practical green stormwater infrastructure, including depth-based limits and exemptions for certain agricultural ponds. The Hawaii Farm Bureau also supported the agricultural pond exemption, saying such ponds are used for irrigation, livestock, and fire control and are generally away from the public. A private testifier, Allison Schaers, opposed the bill and described her daughter’s drowning in a detention basin, arguing that poor maintenance can turn stormwater features into dangerous hazards. The hearing ended without any recorded committee action or vote in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• For those reasons, I hope this amendment is not adopted. Senator Tarr. Thank you, Mr. President.
• For these reasons, I ask that you vote no on this amendment. Thank you, Mr.
• I just want to also lend my support to the efforts of Senator D. D.
• I just want to also lend my support to the efforts of Senator D. D. D. D.
• I think this effort goes a long way toward that.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a supplemental appropriations bill and a series of amendments focused on education, health, transportation, tax administration, and oversight. Senator Kennedy spoke in support of increasing funding for DTA caseworkers to improve SNAP access and reduce delays, but then withdrew the amendment by unanimous consent. Senator O’Connor’s amendment adding $500,000 for Free Period to provide free menstrual products in public schools was adopted, as was Senator Miranda’s $1 million METCO transportation and student support amendment. Senator Collins briefly proposed extending paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance coverage to graduate student workers, but withdrew that amendment for later discussion. Several amendments were debated and either adopted or rejected. Senator Tarr’s proposal to create oversight of the Group Insurance Commission and fund an Inspector General review was defeated after opposition argued existing oversight was sufficient. Tarr also offered amendments on MBTA deficiency fund withdrawals and on requiring 90 days’ notice before state tax code decoupling changes; both were rejected after standing votes. Senator Driscoll’s amendment for Randolph Public Schools restroom improvements was adopted, while his veterans student loan forgiveness amendment was withdrawn. Additional amendments were adopted for Bridgewater Middle School water filtration, Uffum’s Corner Health Center, and NeighborHealth’s pharmacy technician training program for local high school students. A major discussion centered on school funding and enrollment declines. Senator DiDomenico withdrew an amendment that would have provided $100 million to address Chapter 70 funding losses tied to enrollment drops, but he and Senator Collins used the floor to argue that districts facing declining enrollment and rising costs need a broader state response. The Senate also adopted a new draft of the supplemental budget and then passed the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote, with 35 members in the affirmative and 4 in the negative. The chamber then adjourned to meet again Monday, and did so in memory of Arthur H. Tobin, a former Quincy mayor, state legislator, and clerk magistrate.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to work on this and make a concerted effort to improve it.
• I know that's the point of our efforts.
• To represent Godfrey and Mary Frances Clark for championing this effort.
• There's a reason for that.
• Lots of reasons besides getting sick.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we already know about and can point to some of our efforts and some of the efforts of this committee
• , from successful prevention efforts, from successful prevention efforts, including<00:03:05.120>
• of our efforts and some of the efforts of our efforts and some of the efforts of<00:03:10.400>
• , a great idea and a really worthy effort, a great idea and a really worthy effort, I<00:07:49.759
• <01:11:28.719> Um, sustain that that extra effort. Um, sustain that that extra effort.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For these reasons, I'm voting no.
• For these reasons, I'm voting no.
• <00:55:55.880> I For these reasons, I'm voting no. I For these reasons, I'm voting no.
• those reasons, I'm in support. those reasons, I'm in support.
• effort to end dark money in politics. effort to end dark money in politics.

Keywords: 910, house, all