Transcript Highlights:

• It was about strengthening Minnesota's digital backbone for the next generation of service delivery,
• Minnesota's digital strengthening Minnesota's digital backbone<00:32:16.840><c> for</c><00:32:16.960
• Um, this is a new front door to all public-facing state digital services that residents go online to
• </c><00:42:33.120><c> services</c> public-facing state digital services public-facing state digital services
• </c> invest in these critical digital invest in these critical digital capabilities<00:52:32.920><c>

Bills: HF1338

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• It is no coincidence that this drop in requests coincides with the 2019 launch of the digital version
• TODAY MOST OF US RELY ON DIGITAL SOURCES FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION.
• Speaker, replacing CONAN, the print requirement, with a digital requirement is a no-brainer.
• The digital version provides Members and other users with the utmost, most up-to-date information and
• SPEAKER, REPLACING CONAN, THE PRINT REQUIREMENT, WITH A DIGITAL REQUIREMENT IS A NO-BRAINER.

Bills: HR997 , HR517 , HR1152 , HB1491 , HR1155 , HR998 , HR1234

Keywords: House of Representatives, code of conduct, suspension of rules, time zone clocks, rules reform, legislative efficiency, hospital, healthcare, anniversary, Sisters of Mercy, community outreach, American cowboy, cattle trails, historical recognition, 250th anniversary, cultural heritage, economic impact, tourism, agriculture, disaster relief

Transcript Highlights:

• seized inside our facilities during searches, showing that it is more sophisticated and more of a digital
• seized inside our facilities during searches, showing that it's more sophisticated and more of a digital
• electronic app, That is more sophisticated and more of a digital electronic app being used to pay for
• As you heard earlier, TDCJ’s implementation of a digital mail system in 2023...”
• “As you heard earlier, TDCJ’s implementation of a digital mail system in 2023 was intended to reduce

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll call the Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection to order.
• In this new digital era, it's more important than ever to safeguard students and education communities
• What we see every day at Replit is nothing short of a golden age of American digital entrepreneurship
• What we see every day at Replit is nothing short of a golden age of American digital entrepreneurship
• world and the digital economy, which is no longer optional.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on AI, privacy, and surveillance. SB 903 would prohibit AI from independently providing psychotherapy or presenting itself as a licensed mental health provider, require disclosure and informed consent, and reinforce confidentiality and privacy protections for therapy records. Supporters, including a mother and therapist whose son died by suicide after extensive chats with ChatGPT, argued the bill is needed to prevent harmful, crisis-related interactions. Behavioral health groups and labor/privacy organizations supported the measure, while TechNet, the California Medical Association, and the California Hospital Association opposed unless amended, saying the bill could restrict useful clinical tools and create conflicts around triage, screening, and data use. The committee passed SB 903 4-0 to Appropriations, with members noting the need for further work on definitions and implementation. SB 1119 would create a broader framework for chatbot safety for children, including annual risk assessments, crisis response protocols, default child protections, parental controls, notice and time limits, restrictions on advertising and use of children’s data, incident reporting, audits, and a private right of action. The author and supporters again cited the death of Adam Raine as evidence that chatbots can reinforce suicidal ideation and isolate children. Common Sense Media and several labor and privacy groups supported the bill. CalChamber, TechNet, the California State Sheriffs’ Association, and other industry and local government groups opposed unless amended, raising concerns about vague standards, overlap with SB 243, prescriptive design mandates, and litigation risk. The committee approved SB 1119 4-0 to Judiciary, with amendments to be taken there. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader data by requiring DOJ audits, employee training, and a 30-day retention limit for most data. Supporters said the bill responds to documented misuse and over-retention of data that mostly belongs to innocent drivers. Law enforcement groups opposed, arguing the retention limit would hinder investigations and reduce the usefulness of ALPRs in serious or delayed cases. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 1292, a local control bill for six cities, would allow camera or sensor-based enforcement of curb and loading zones, with a human reviewing each violation before issuance. Supporters said it would help cities manage congestion and unsafe blocking of bike lanes and loading zones; privacy advocates warned about expanding automated surveillance. It passed 4-1 to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard SB 1101, which would require higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when personal information is shared with federal agencies and limit disclosure to what is legally required. Supporters framed it as a transparency and anti-doxing measure in response to recent federal investigations and subpoenas; there was no opposition testimony. The bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. The committee then began hearing SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, which would require advance notice and reporting when employers displace workers due to technology and give displaced workers priority for openings, but the transcript cuts off before the hearing concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• that any general education core course that integrates technology include opportunities to improve digital
• in artificial intelligence, but if a computer science course does... ...opportunities to improve digital
• technology into our courses and, if they are integrated into those specific courses, that the student is digitally

Bills: S7038 , S1694

Committee: Senate Education Postsecondary

Summary: The Committee on Education Postsecondary heard and approved CS/SB 1694, which would revise general education core standards at public postsecondary institutions to incorporate technology-related instruction. The adopted amendment shifted the bill away from creating a sixth core course and instead required technology integration within existing core courses to include digital literacy, AI tool application, and related instruction in areas such as software engineering, networks, databases, and cybersecurity as applicable. For high school computer science courses, the amendment added guidance on critical evaluation of AI results, AI limitations, and ethical use of AI. The committee adopted the amendment and then voted the bill favorably. The committee also took up confirmation appointments on tabs 1 through 2 and, on one motion, recommended confirmation of all appointees favorably. In addition, it considered SPB 7038 on postsecondary education and workforce development, which addresses tuition and fee policies, consumer protections, career and technical education, student acceleration, and institutional operations. Members asked about dual enrollment expansion, CIE licensure exemptions, and the removal of the Classic Learning Test as a fee-waiver qualifier; staff said the dual enrollment change was intended to expand student options without necessarily increasing enrollment, the CLT removal was an error to be corrected, and a Florida Dental Association representative raised concern about preserving the long-standing exemption for dental assisting programs. The committee moved SPB 7038 as a committee bill and reported it favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• We actually have in Texas repeating last four digits of Social Security number because our state is so
• It talks about it requires embedded digital content provenance metadata.
• One thing that digitizing provides is an opportunity for interoperability.
• By implementing these systems, like utilizing digital service teams, you can move forward and implement
• These are the types of improvements that digitizing can provide and improve timeliness functionality.

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• This is important because the machines we rely on every day increasingly rely on digital components,
• The digital fair repair act has already helped to provide repair resources for so many other consumer
• We believe that expanding the digital... the same laws like the uh like the the same laws like the uh
• </c> motorcycles from Minnesota's digital motorcycles from Minnesota's digital right<00:38:02.240><c>
• </c> We believe that expanding the digital right-to-repair law that covers electronic consumer devices

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Can they be digital? How has How remote? Can they be digital?
• </c> they're digitized once we receive them. they're digitized once we receive them.
• About 3,000 of those are analog, the rest are digital.
• About 3,000 of those are analog, the rest are digital.
• </c> those are analog, the rest are digital. those are analog, the rest are digital.

Summary: The committee received testimony from Personnel Cabinet Secretary Mary Elizabeth Bailey and Deputy Secretary Robert Long on the state’s telecommuting policy. Bailey explained that telecommuting in the executive branch is governed by a statewide policy requiring eligible employees to work in the office three days a week and telecommute up to two days a week. Eligibility depends first on the position, not the person: public-facing jobs, roles requiring special equipment or insecure document handling, and other duties that cannot be performed remotely are not eligible. Employees and managers must complete training, sign agreements, comply with safety and IT requirements, and telecommuting privileges can be revoked for poor performance or discipline. She said the cabinet audits compliance and that telecommuting has helped maintain services during inclement weather, disasters, and building renovations. Bailey also said about 33% of the workforce is hybrid, 11% telecommutes full-time, and 56% does not telecommute. Members asked about cost savings, eligibility, discipline, and technology requirements. Bailey said she did not have statewide cost-savings figures and referred that question to the Finance and Administration Cabinet. She said employees must have reliable connectivity and appropriate equipment, but there is no fixed broadband speed requirement; if an employee cannot connect, they must come into the office. She also said telecommuting postings indicate whether a position is eligible, and that performance issues are handled through progressive discipline rather than being ignored. Transportation Cabinet officials then described how their agency manages remote work. Deputy Secretary Mike Hancock, along with IT and human resources leaders, said the cabinet follows the executive branch policy and actively manages telecommuting employees through Microsoft Teams, VPN access, daily standups, project tracking, and manager oversight. They said more than 2,600 of the cabinet’s 4,000 employees cannot telecommute because their jobs are public-facing or field-based, while about 35% are eligible to telecommute up to two days per week. The cabinet also has 13 state employees and 94 contract employees working full-time remotely in IT. Officials said telecommuting has improved recruitment and retention, supported emergency response and weather operations, and allowed the cabinet to continue working during storms and other disruptions. Members asked about phone equipment, monitoring, and “mouse jiggler” devices; officials said phones are often forwarded to personal or state devices, Teams shows real-time availability, and managers rely on daily accountability and project management tools to monitor work.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:00:38.319><c> assets</c><01:00:39.119><c> and</c> credit unions to hold digital assets and credit
• unions to hold digital assets and custody<01:00:39.839><c> accounts.
• if a bank or credit union chooses to if a bank or credit union chooses to offer<01:01:01.760><c> digital
• </c><01:01:02.880><c> asset</c><01:01:03.359><c> custody</c><01:01:03.920><c> services,</c> offer digital
• </c> institutions in holding digital assets. institutions in holding digital assets.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I've already touched on these a little bit, but first is digital surveillance.
• So making sure is digital surveillance.
• </c> um the decision-m and digital um the decision-m and digital surveillance<00:33:09.360><c> pieces
• surveillance, digital decision-making, displacement, maybe not as hard, but how do you gather that to
• surveillance, digital decision-making, displacement, maybe not as hard, but how do you gather that to

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an interactive digital report.
• uniform standards out, since web content accessibility is a Minnesota legislature statute now for digital
• They decided to set a eighth grade lexile. legislature statute now for digital legislature statute now
• for digital accessibility<00:53:59.839><c> that</c><00:54:00.240><c> happened</c><00:54:00.480><c> in
• </c> with them since we've gone digital with them since we've gone digital the<00:55:07.839><c> other

Transcript Highlights:

• using some of that to make meaningful investments in our local newspapers, broadcast stations, and digital
• using some of that to make meaningful investments in our local newspapers, broadcast stations, and digital
• Chair and members. broadcast stations, and digital news broadcast stations, and digital news platforms
• ,</c><00:36:14.600><c> hybrid,</c><00:36:15.240><c> broadcast,</c> It's print, digital, hybrid, broadcast
• Um, and I broadcast or radio or digital.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, the move to digital formats is a necessary and important aspect of our work here.
• format... ...digital format.
• Just in the, obviously, the moving to digital formats is necessary and important aspects of our work
• But digital formats actually, they rot. There's a thing called bit rot.
• It is harder to maintain digital files over years than it is actually paper records.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by a 129-0 vote. Members then used points of personal privilege to recognize Law Enforcement Week, discuss personal health and family matters, and honor colleagues, spouses, interns, and guests in the gallery, including students, community members, and a visiting governor from Uzbekistan. The chamber also received Senate messages on House Bill 1871 and House Bill 2818, and fiscal review committee reports recommending passage of several deferred bills, including Senate Bills 953, 1470, and 1871, and House Bill 1940. The House agreed to conference requests on Senate Bills 835 and 1111 and on Senate Bill 1020, the latter a Department of Revenue bill focused on customer service and inspection language. Senate Bill 977 and 1011, dealing with limits on international organizations and foreign law, drew extended debate. Supporters argued the bill would protect Missouri from foreign or international mandates and foreign laws that conflict with constitutional rights, while opponents said such bodies already lack authority in Missouri and warned the bill was unnecessary, politically motivated, and could create problems for forum non conveniens and private arbitration. The bill ultimately passed 99-45. House Bill 1470, revising legislative research and statutory publication procedures, was amended on the floor to remove privacy-sensitive provisions and change a state auditor duty from mandatory to permissive; a later amendment to alter committee composition was defeated 50-94. The bill then passed 148-1. House Bill 1940, the newspaper/public notice bill, was adopted and finally passed 142-1 with two present. House Bill 1871, an elections administration bill, was also taken up with debate over added Senate language, including campaign finance and election testing provisions; discussion continued near the end of the transcript, with no final vote shown before the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without this funding, many programs across the state, such as digital literacy, including AI training
• and emerging tech support, digital inclusion, would be cut or not happen at all.
• and emerging tech support, digital inclusion, would be cut or not happen at all.
• CLSA also funds the sharing of physical and digital materials statewide.
• They use CLSA funds to address their needs, including shared digital books.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill by Representative Muscarello, court reporter shortages, digital remote court reporting, digital
• House Bill by Representative Muscarello, court reporter shortages, digital remote court reporting, digital
• House Bill by Representative Murray, digitized credentials; authorize commissioner to coordinate with
• ; transfer of abandoned digital assets, 947.
• ; transfer of abandoned digital assets, 947.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then received and processed multiple resignation notices and special-election proclamations for vacant seats. The chamber later recognized and swore in newly elected members Doyle Boudreaux, Reese Broussard, Chassity Verrett-Martinez, and Edwin Murray after no objections were raised to their qualifications. The House also appointed committees to notify the Senate and the governor that it was ready to conduct business for the 2026 regular session, and it adopted the proposed standing committee meeting schedule and referred prefiled bills to committee without objection. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the introduction and reading of a very large number of House bills and resolutions across many subject areas. Measures included the annual appropriations bill, a proposed constitutional convention, carbon dioxide sequestration and pipeline permitting, retirement-system changes, criminal justice and public safety proposals, education and workforce measures, local government and district creation bills, insurance and liability reforms, and numerous commemorative resolutions. Several prefiled bills were withdrawn, and many introduced measures were assigned to committees or allowed to lie over under the rules. The House then entered a joint session with the Senate for the governor’s address. Governor Jeff Landry outlined his administration’s priorities and praised recent legislative actions on taxes, insurance reform, transportation, education, and fiscal discipline. He urged support for Amendment 3 on teacher pay and retirement, called for further workforce and health initiatives, defended insurance and transportation reforms, and pressed for judicial reform, especially in Orleans Parish, citing the death of Jacob Carter and failures in electronic monitoring as examples. He also promoted replacing the vehicle inspection sticker with a QR code system and highlighted economic growth, lower taxes, and infrastructure investments. The joint session also included a presentation of the colors by the Louisiana National Guard and a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony for Technical Sergeant Adam W. Brister, recognizing his 2018 rescue mission in Alaska. After the governor’s remarks and the military honor presentation, the joint session concluded and the House resumed introducing additional bills, continuing to file measures on topics such as health care, education, ethics, elections, local districts, and constitutional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Wall Street Journal reported that researchers from the Center for Countering Digital Hate set up
• In fact, the impact will be even more damaging. young adults into a digital world at a time when they
• How can we have free speech in the digital age?
• on the digital public due to giving their ID data to notoriously insecure sites?
• Imagine how easy it is for a young child to access explicit content through digital programming on TV

Bills: HB186 , HB201 , HB229 , HB796 , HB1506 , HB2702 , HB2885 , HB3225 , HB3909 , HB4285 , HB5138

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> a modern safe deposit box for digital a modern safe deposit box for digital assets<04:30:44.399><
• As digital assets to their communities.
• virtual</c><04:31:44.880><c> currencies</c> As digital assets and virtual currencies As digital assets
• ><c> currencies</c> Digital assets and virtual currencies Digital assets and virtual currencies are<04
• </c><04:32:36.800><c> already</c><04:32:37.199><c> in</c> digital assets mirror those already in digital

Transcript Highlights:

• So folks who called the 10-digit line, automatically got our 988 call center.
• And then we have folks that are. are getting used to dialing the three-digit number.
• We also have some digital tools that we provide.
• We were approached by the state to create these digital tools in partnership.
• Everything that Claire described in the digital app is also in the workbook.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• bill addresses this unequal commerce that will inevitably happen as we shift our focus more towards digital
• bill addresses this unequal commerce that will inevitably happen as we shift our focus more towards digital
• focus inevitably happen as we shift our focus more<00:21:31.200><c> towards</c><00:21:31.600><c> digital
• > You</c><00:21:32.320><c> know,</c><00:21:32.480><c> I</c><00:21:32.640><c> buy</c> more towards digital
• You know, I buy more towards digital.

Transcript Highlights:

• Controller cooperate with the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and Hawaii Broadband and Digital
• 00:35:06.480><c> and</c> development and Hawaii broadband and development and Hawaii broadband and digital
• :08.560><c> in</c><00:35:08.839><c> addition</c><00:35:09.839><c> to</c><00:35:10.079><c> the</c> digital
• equity office in addition to the digital equity office in addition to the Hawaii<00:35:10.800><c> State
• Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office in addition to the Hawaii State Public Library system to identify

Summary: The Committee on Education heard three resolutions. STR 53 SD1 sought to have the Legislative Reference Bureau work with the Hawaii State Public Library System to identify rural and underserved communities needing better telecommunications access so residents can participate in the legislative process. Testimony from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the measure, emphasizing that many advocates cannot always travel to the Capitol and need better access. STR 117 SD1 urged the Department of Education to work with the Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee and the County of Hawaii to inventory bus stops on Hawaii Island used by students and develop safety improvements; DOE described an upcoming live route audit, noted the large number of routes and stops on the Big Island, and said some stops are on private roads. The Department of Transportation, Hawaii County Council, the mayor’s office, and others supported the measure, and members discussed whether the effort could eventually expand statewide. STR 134 asked the Department of Education to provide a detailed report on the true cost of producing school meals to improve transparency and avoid unnecessary price increases. DOE said it already tracks food, labor, benefits, supplies, equipment, and other costs to calculate per-meal costs, but does not currently include transportation costs in the same way; it stated its breakfast cost was $5.80 and lunch cost was $8.66. Support testimony came from the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Appleseed, the Hawaii Children’s Action Network, the Hawaii Hunger Action Network, and others, who said clearer cost information is especially important amid funding uncertainty. In decision making, the committee amended and passed STR 53 SD1, reverting it to the original draft by replacing the Legislative Reference Bureau with the Controller and adding coordination with the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office, while removing references tied to the LRB and the public access room outreach clause. The committee also amended and passed STR 117 SD1, shifting the lead role to the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee and adding a request for the County of Hawaii to consider funding the effort. STR 134 was passed unamended. Representative Souza was excused for the votes.