Transcript Highlights:

• True diversity and equality require a level playing field where individuals are evaluated based on merit
• In Arizona, we ought to evaluate individuals based on their skills, character, and their hard work.
• I want to be accepted in the profession and the role because of my competency, not because of who I look

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Special Committee on Government heard and advanced three measures. First, HCR 2044, a constitutional amendment to expand Arizona’s prohibition on preferential treatment and discrimination based on race or ethnicity in public education, public spending, and hiring, drew support from the Speaker, Goldwater Institute, and other advocates who argued it would close loopholes and reaffirm merit-based treatment. Opponents argued it would chill speech, training, and discussion of race and identity in public institutions. The committee approved the resolution on a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered HB 2671, as amended, which narrows mandatory transfer to adult court for juveniles by limiting chronic felony offender treatment to higher-level felonies and preserving judicial/prosecutorial discretion for lower-level repeat offenses. The sponsor and juvenile defense testimony said the bill would keep low-level youth offenders in juvenile court where rehabilitative services are available and reduce recidivism, while still holding them accountable. The Blackman amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 7-0. Finally, HB 2676 was heard to reduce the age for restoring firearm possession rights for certain juvenile offenders from 30 to 25 and to broaden restoration eligibility for other juvenile felony convictions. Supporters said it would align firearm-rights restoration with juvenile record-destruction timelines and help rehabilitated individuals move forward without unnecessary barriers. The committee approved HB 2676 unanimously, 7-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the DDDP program, persons are securely housed and provided competency training in order to return
• Conducted at the time of the QC review rather than an evaluation of when the department initially made
• Importantly, the department remains committed to ongoing evaluation of program performance and to identify

Transcript Highlights:

• We are funding some evaluation research because we want to make sure that what we're doing really works
• <00:10:07.640> research We are funding some evaluation research We are funding some evaluation
• <00:37:38.920> in<00:37:39.040> that organizations to compete in that organizations
• We can evaluate programs and services carried out under the plan, and we can administer, do training,
• 01:13:00.360> carried evaluate programs and services carried evaluate programs and services carried

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill requires certain carriers to provide coverage for the evaluation and management of menopause
• The Department of Health must identify at least one training program on the evaluation and management
• <00:07:46.880> and provide coverage for the evaluation and provide coverage for the evaluation
• and management of on the evaluation and management of menopause<00:07:58.080> and<00:07:58.160
• The bill establishes competencies.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum present and proceeded through a series of committee reports and floor actions, mostly on House bills. Several measures were advanced without opposition, often after brief floor explanations and unanimous adoption of committee amendments. Topics included behavioral health rate-setting modernization (HB 772), expedited Medicaid eligibility for relocated individuals with developmental disabilities (HB 1015), perinatal behavioral health screening and coverage (HB 1118), mammogram notices about breast arterial calcification (HB 1364), menopause provider training and coverage (HB 1365), cannabis licensing and training changes (HB 622), cemetery sale and transfer oversight (HB 892), travel services insurance requirements (HB 994), cash transaction rounding authorization (HB 1026), specie as legal tender (HB 1312), menstrual hygiene product ingredient labeling (HB 1357), health care quality reporting and a health centralization commission (HB 1372), special pediatric hospital transfer and review procedures (HB 1376), telehealth continuity of care for out-of-state counselors (HB 1483), and child placement protections for unlicensed settings and pediatric overstay patients (HB 1559). Most of these bills were ordered passed for third reading after the chamber adopted the committee amendments and favorable reports. The Senate also considered environmental and consumer-related measures. HB 146 would delay implementation dates for onsite wastewater system regulation and licensing requirements, while striking provisions on inspections and pumping for rental properties and sales. HB 254, a Department of Natural Resources bill, was described as facilitating community engagement in planning and development of departmental projects. HB 969 on retail electric vehicle fuel sales and charging equipment requirements was also taken up and reported favorably. In each of these cases, members noted no committee opposition and no fiscal impact, and the bills were advanced. Two bills were set aside rather than immediately acted on. HB 1037, concerning a Public Service Commission study on broadband and voice over internet protocol service, was special ordered until Friday at the request of a senator. HB 1312, the specie/legal tender bill, prompted questions about the definition of specie and was also special ordered for consideration the next morning. No roll-call votes were recorded in the excerpt; actions were taken by unanimous consent on amendments and committee reports, with multiple bills ordered to third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when it's used as part of a claims evaluation or pursuit of a lawful claim, it becomes public data
• <00:09:35.920> or as part of a claims evaluation or as part of a claims evaluation or pursuit
• We have the competency attainment years.
• And then competency attainment board cancellation, fiscal year 24-25 appropriation of $9 million.
• <00:30:40.080> in demand for timely evaluations in demand for timely evaluations in criminal

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The conference committee met late on Friday evening to discuss the Public Safety and Judiciary budget agreement, beginning with a brief exchange among members about concerns that the executive branch had been delaying the committee’s work by waiting to approve legislative decisions. Members emphasized that the legislature should retain its independence while still allowing normal collaboration with the governor’s office. The committee then moved through several outstanding policy items and adopted them without opposition, including the A38 amendment addressing data-sharing concerns involving disability-related information, a study of firefighting services by the state fire marshal, and an A46 amendment governing access to unredacted portable recording system data in collision investigations, with guardrails on disclosure and use. The committee next reviewed the spreadsheet and budget targets. Fiscal staff explained the judiciary side of the agreement, including funding for court operating costs, a one-time Justice Partner Access Program appropriation, forensic exam rate increases, guardian ad litem funding, public defense, human rights, the competency attainment board, the cannabis expungement board, and fee increases for civil filings and motions. On the public safety side, staff described the target as well as the discretionary items funded, including nonprofit security grants, BCA staffing changes, fire marshal initiatives, a 10-year arson statute of limitations, prosecutor training grants, legal representation for children, E911 funding for critical infrastructure, Philando Castile Training Fund support, corrections-related savings from the Stillwater phased closure and sentence-to-serve elimination, a mandatory minimums task force, a victims of crime account transfer, a decommissioning study, in-service use-of-force training, and extensions of several expiring appropriations. The committee also noted a correction to a spreadsheet label related to the Stillwater closure item. After the spreadsheet walkthrough, the committee took testimony from Chief Justice Natalie Hudson and State Court Administrator Jeff Shorban on behalf of the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Hudson thanked the committee for its work and said the agreement covers some unavoidable costs, including insurance, lease expenses, forensic examiner pay, and the new access system, but argued it does not adequately address the judiciary’s most urgent problem: staffing and judicial compensation. She said court employees are leaving for better-paying jobs, judicial salaries are frozen for two years, and applicant pools for judgeships have declined, especially in greater Minnesota. She also said the judicial branch was not meaningfully consulted on the budget target and urged lawmakers to recognize the courts as a constitutional obligation rather than a discretionary program.

Transcript Highlights:

• status, feasibility, and utility of a personalized firearm technology tax incentive program, an evaluation
• recommendations, together... ...of a personalized firearm technology tax incentive program, an evaluation
• Our smart gun has undergone rigorous evaluation to meet all applicable safety requirements for handguns
• Our smart gun has undergone rigorous evaluation to meet all applicable safety requirements for handguns
• comprises thousands of models of firearms from a competitive group of manufacturers, with each model competing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met for its fourth hearing on emerging firearm technology, focused on personalized firearms and related privacy issues. Co-chairs noted the commission’s charge to study personalized firearm incentives, risks from digital manufacturing codes and AI, and the costs of requiring personalized firearm and microstamp technologies, and said the report deadline is being extended to July 31. They also announced the next public hearing for April 17 at 11:00 a.m., limited to Massachusetts residents. The first witness, Kai Kloepfer of Biofire, described the company’s personalized 9mm smart gun and argued it is designed to prevent unauthorized use through biometric authentication, local encrypted data storage, no wireless connectivity, and automatic disarming when released. He said Biofire opposes any mandate requiring personalized firearms, calling such mandates a de facto gun ban that would stifle innovation, limit consumer choice, and burden a still-developing market. He said the company has a patent portfolio, has received thousands of pre-orders, is shipping in all 50 states, and is approved for sale in Massachusetts; he also said the gun costs about $1,500, is currently sold online, and is intended mainly for home defense. Members questioned him about sales, manufacturing, battery life, repairability, transfer of ownership, possible expansion to other firearms, and whether microstamping could be incorporated. A Massachusetts firearms roster official, Michaela Dunn, explained the state’s testing and approval process for handguns and confirmed that the Biofire firearm is now on the Massachusetts roster and commercially available for retail sale in the state. Kate Crockford of the ACLU of Massachusetts testified only on facial recognition, warning that commercially available systems show significant demographic bias and that Massachusetts lacks comprehensive biometric privacy protections. She urged passage of pending data privacy and biometric privacy bills, including the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act and related measures, before any broader use of biometric verification in firearm laws. Commissioners discussed privacy concerns, and Biofire said its system is zero-knowledge and would likely comply with stronger biometric privacy laws. No votes were taken and no formal action was reported beyond the scheduling announcement and the extension effort.

Transcript Highlights:

• flexibility for districts and instructional personnel by authorizing districts to design personal evaluations
• , but require student performance to make up half of the evaluation establishes a three-year teachers
• When we talk about the performance evaluation, I just want to ask the rationale behind this.
• We based our teacher evaluation on the data and indicators based on the student performance.
• open up the choice options for all of our kids to make sure that our public schools are also able to compete

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• thoughtful debate, have decided to move forward with resort-style casinos to drive up tourism and compete
• You know, from a tax standpoint, I mean, legal operators need to be able to compete, and so having that
• mean, legal operators need to be able I mean, legal operators need to be able to<00:40:53.480> compete
• 54.360> so<00:40:54.640> like<00:40:54.880> having<00:40:55.240> that to compete
• and so like having that to compete and so like having that having<00:40:55.800> that<00:40:56.000

Bills: SCR145, SCR132, SCR31, SCR110

Keywords: traffic violations, demerit point system, driver license points, traffic safety, hit and run, reckless driving, repeat offenders, recidivism, Department of Transportation, DOT, task force, traffic enforcement, road safety, vehicle code, license suspension, county police, Hawaii transportation, SCR132, Senate Concurrent Resolution, Makakilo Drive Extension

Transcript Highlights:

• I think as we move forward, we need to evaluate whether or not that is something we want to add to it
• 41.880> to so I think as we move forward we need to so I think as we move forward we need to evaluate
• :10:43.040> or<01:10:43.199> not<01:10:43.480> that<01:10:43.600> is evaluate
• whether or not that is evaluate whether or not that is something<01:10:44.280> we<01:10:44.400
• Where we can't get the competent professional individuals to serve.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• contrast to this bill for proactive strategies for educators and students that include culturally competent
• At one point I heard the opposition talk about cultural competency. and various opposition asked us to
• take out cultural competency of one of the pieces of this. to whittle it down.
• They evaluated a number of offices, a number of places, including that, and this was where the governor
• The fact that we have these two sometimes competing, sometimes confusing in terms of the scope of work

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You have to go through a process of ensuring your teacher evaluation and appraisal system is fair, and
• If they cut muster with our evaluation process, processes, then we make a recommendation to the state
• At the top, if you are an A or B approved charter, If you're an A or B evaluated operator under our A
• So it's sort of not a core competency. of our organization, in no small part, because we've never been
• Evaluated. Evaluated. Thank you. I'm not a teacher. I'm a nurse. evaluated, and that's costs.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So these resources can compete fairly in the marketplace.
• How do all those people who have now batteries in their homes, how can they compete?
• Is it a character flaw that, you know, the competency? How do you know?
• Staffing agency competency, character, responsibility.
• Judges should have the ability to evaluate the threat that the defendant would pose to the community

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, offered a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then proceeded through gubernatorial appointments and third-reading measures. Three appointments to the California Housing Finance Agency Board and the State Mining and Geology Board were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body then considered a series of bills on criminal procedure, military authority, housing, refinery safety, land use, music festivals, homelessness planning, solar tax assessment, HOA assessments, privacy, utility accounts, refrigerant disposal, law enforcement training, natural gas planning, school transfers, and regional transportation planning. Among the more debated measures, SB 1173 on lesser related offense instructions passed 25-10 after opposition centered on judicial discretion and consistency. SB 1354, limiting out-of-state military or law enforcement activity without the Governor’s permission, passed 29-9 after supporters framed it as a sovereignty measure and opponents argued federal command authority controls. SB 1090, the Altadena disaster-speculation bill, passed 29-9; supporters said it would curb predatory investor purchases after wildfire disasters, while opponents raised concerns about property rights and market effects. SB 966 on refinery worker participation in safety standards passed 30-9 amid a dispute over worker protections versus regulatory burden, and SB 1256, a local housing/subdivision bill, passed 32-0 despite concerns about fire-safety amendments. The Senate also approved SB 865 on music festivals, SB 866 on homelessness planning with a commitment to exempt smaller cities, SB 1007 on HOA assessment transparency and homeowner approval thresholds, SB 923 on privacy deletion rights, SB 1098 on utility balancing accounts, SB 1010 on refrigerant recovery, SB 937 on flashbang and breaching-device restrictions, SB 1082 on inter-district transfer timelines, and SB 1087 on modernizing regional transportation planning. SB 1329 on solar farm property tax assessment drew extensive debate over county revenues, solar development certainty, and fairness to rural communities, but ultimately passed after the call was lifted. Several measures were supported by authors and committee chairs as balancing consumer, worker, or local government protections against concerns about costs, regulatory stability, and local control.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are competing philosophies around the use of cell phones.
• who's checking it able to be evaluated who's checking it and<01:46:38.960> how<01:46:39.080><
• recruitment supervision and evaluation recruitment supervision and evaluation of<01:58:30.280>
• You're on the world stage competing with everyone across the world. It was a stretch school.
• You're on the world stage competing with everyone across the world. It was a stretch school.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began by announcing that afternoon hearings, including House Bill 283, would be moved to Representatives Hall because of expected public interest. It then took up House Bill 671, which would establish a kindergarten literacy readiness program. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mark Pearson, described the measure as a way to close gaps in early reading readiness and said it was intended as a first step, with only a placeholder appropriation while details are developed. He framed it as a targeted effort to help children who are not entering first grade ready to read. Testimony on HB 671 was largely supportive. Representatives asked about the bill’s structure, whether a specific program had been identified, how it would interact with play-based learning, and why the provider was limited to a registered nonprofit. Waterford.org representatives Teresa Rosenberger and Rob Riley testified in support, describing Waterford Upstart as a home-based, evidence-based early learning program already used in New Hampshire. They said the program provides adaptive instruction, family coaching, and technology support, including computers, tablets, internet access, and translation services in more than 100 languages. They also said the model has been successful in New Hampshire, including a Nashua pilot and later statewide efforts, and that similar legislation has existed in other states. Rep. Jonah Wheeler also spoke in support of the bill. The chair then closed the hearing on HB 671. After a fiscal note for HB 671 was distributed, the committee moved to House Bill 781, which would require school districts to adopt policies for a cell phone-free education and includes an appropriation. The transcript cuts off as Rep. Litchfield was introduced to testify on that bill, so no testimony, debate, or vote on HB 781 is included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that grant would have meant that I was fundamentally competing with another public defender office
• lawyers, but there are other paths to be a competent lawyer without law school.
• lawyers, but there are other paths to be a competent lawyer without law school.
• So you're missing some cultural competency, right?
• Individuals can, at any point, refuse adult protective services if they are competent to do so.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are recognized nationally for leading responsible evaluation of AI in clinical practice, including
• We are recognized nationally for leading responsible evaluation of AI in clinical practice, including
• We have to make sure the business climate is strong and that firms can compete and companies are going
• <01:31:22.800> accuracy,<01:31:23.520> bias, disclosure to evaluate accuracy, bias,
• disclosure to evaluate accuracy, bias, disperate<01:31:24.639> impacts,<01:31:25.120> and<

Bills: HF1316, HF4369

Keywords: HF1316, child support, new hire reporting, centralized work reporting system, independent contractors, payors, employers, payor of funds, withholding orders, income withholding, child support enforcement, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, gig economy, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, 1099, W-9, W-4, newly hired workers, rehired employees

Transcript Highlights:

• We are not diminishing the amount of analysis that will be completed and evaluated by the water board
• We are not diminishing the amount of analysis that will be completed and evaluated by the water board
• And we do have ...and evaluated by the Water Board.
• What we are evaluating, and the results are kind of there, is whether we could finish with this if we
• Little closer to the microphone, may revise, as the legislature evaluates, the may revision proposals

Summary: The hearing opened with budget framing from the chair and the LAO, who said the May Revision addresses roughly a $14 billion budget problem and that the environment and transportation subcommittee’s proposals account for about $1.9 billion of the solution. The LAO urged members to focus on solutions that do not worsen out-year deficits, to preserve reserves, and to defer major policy changes that are not necessary to pass the budget, including the newly introduced water-related trailer bills. Members also raised concern about a late-dropped Olympic-related trailer bill, which the LAO likewise suggested should be deferred for fuller review. The first major item was the Delta Conveyance Project and related water quality control plan trailer bills. The administration argued the proposals would streamline permitting, water rights proceedings, judicial review, and land acquisition, and would clarify DWR’s bond authority for the project. DWR said the project is needed to protect water supply reliability against drought, earthquakes, sea level rise, and other climate-related disruptions, and that the tunnel would help move water when conditions are wet and safer for the environment. Committee members from both parties questioned the timing, the use of budget trailer bills for major policy changes, the scope of the CEQA and water-rights changes, the lack of a bond cap, cost growth, and eminent domain protections. The LAO recommended deferring both water trailer bills without prejudice. Public comment was sharply divided, with labor, water agencies, and some business groups supporting the project as climate adaptation and reliability infrastructure, while environmental, tribal, fishing, county, and community groups opposed it as an attempt to bypass public process and weaken protections. The committee then briefly heard the DMV’s Digital Experience Platform fee trailer bill, which would reinstate a $1 system improvement fee to help fund the vehicle-registration phase of the project. DMV said the fee would raise about $7 million annually and offset roughly $59 million to $60 million of project costs, while the LAO noted it would help but would not solve the Motor Vehicle Account’s broader structural gap. The hearing then moved to California High-Speed Rail, where the new CEO presented an updated plan and said the project remains a major climate and infrastructure investment. He reported a revised Merced-to-Bakersfield cost range of $34.9 billion to $38.5 billion, said the agency is trying to reduce risk through direct procurement of materials, and argued that stable annual funding is needed to avoid higher costs from delays.

Transcript Highlights:

• for those who are then evaluations for those who are then determined<00:55:48.680> which<00:55
• an emergency being evaluated in an emergency department<01:18:35.520> perhaps<01:18:35.840>
• We also offer neutral case evaluation.
• That neutral case evaluation has been incredibly successful.
• <01:46:05.599> has that has neutral case evaluation has that has neutral case evaluation has

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with committee process reminders from the chair, including rules for questioning witnesses, time limits for testimony, and how motions and committee reports are handled. The chair also discussed the committee’s history, emphasized a cooperative approach with agencies and the Judiciary, and noted that a special committee on the Family Division of Circuit Court had previously done useful work; he said a new subcommittee could be appointed later to continue looking at judicial-system issues. He also mentioned that the Speaker’s office was expected to name members to the DHHS oversight committee by Friday at 1. The substantive presentation was from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Child Support Services. Attorney John Williams introduced the bureau team, and Bureau Chief Lisa Dekowski described the program’s mission: encouraging responsible parenting, family self-sufficiency, and child well-being by locating parents, establishing paternity, setting or modifying support orders, and enforcing court-ordered child and medical support. She said the bureau operates statewide under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, works with courts, employers, and other partners, and serves both in-state and out-of-state cases, with some international and tribal coordination. She also cited program scale, saying the bureau dispersed about $76 million to families in New Hampshire in fiscal year 2023 and that most collections go directly to families. Members asked about enforcement tools, especially passport denial. In response to a question about a case involving a very small shortfall, the bureau said the federal passport-denial threshold is $2,500 in arrears, not a few cents, and that denial remains in place until the balance is resolved or an arrangement is made with the agency, with hardship factors potentially considered. The bureau also explained that either parent can apply for services when a child support order exists and that the bureau can help initiate income withholding orders. No votes or formal actions were taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:13:00.880> summaries<00:13:01.400> from<00:13:01.560> evaluations evaluation
• summaries from evaluations evaluation summaries from evaluations presented<00:13:03.360> on<00
• <00:13:21.320> summaries evaluation summaries evaluation summaries uh<00:13:22.720> for
• evaluation findings. evaluation findings.
• more detail the evaluation findings. more detail the evaluation findings.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Tax Expenditure Review Commission met on June 17, 2026, approved the January 20, 2026 minutes, and then adopted updated commission procedures. The procedural changes, presented by Legislative Budget Office Director Christian Larson, required a quorum of voting members to complete evaluations before a formal recommendation vote, and allowed members to bundle or unbundle tax expenditures for voting. The commission approved the revised procedures by roll call vote, with five ayes and four excused. The commission then reviewed member evaluation summaries for tax expenditures presented in December 2025 and January 2026. It first considered the alcoholic beverage tax credits for small brewers and microdistilleries, and after discussion voted to recommend repeal of those two expenditures, while leaving the small winery credit for a later meeting because it lacked enough member responses under the new procedures. The vote on the repeal recommendation passed 4-1, with Commissioner Marquart voting no. The commission next approved the lawful gambling bundle, which included bingo, raffle, and related exemptions. Larson reported that most members recommended continuation for each item, and the commission voted to recommend continuing all six lawful gambling expenditures. It then reviewed the residential utility services bundle—residential heating fuels, residential water services, and sewer services—where members generally favored continuation but several noted possible modifications or caps for higher-income users; the commission voted to recommend continuation of the bundle. Finally, the commission reviewed the data center equipment sales tax exemption, which Larson said had an estimated annual revenue loss of $95 million and was intended to create jobs in construction and data center industries. Members raised questions about its effectiveness and whether the exemption should be modified or capped, but the commission ultimately voted to recommend continuation. The meeting concluded with these recommendations set to be included in the commission’s 2026 annual report.

Transcript Highlights:

• So my vote for Michael Dresser is a vote for the principle that we evaluate judicial nominees on their
• 00:42:12.400> principle<00:42:12.720> that<00:42:12.960> we<00:42:13.119> evaluate
• for the principle that we evaluate for the principle that we evaluate judicial<00:42:13.920>
• this process apolitical, and his vote for the proposition that we need people of character and competence
• Our part of the process is limited to ensuring the nominees meet the requirements of competence and character

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• members of the committee, as previously mentioned, my name is Garrett Mosley, and I'm a program evaluator
• School readiness includes social competence, emotional maturity, general knowledge, physical health,
• Again, these tools focus on the full readiness of children, their social competence, emotional maturity
• Thanks to our two evaluators.
• And thank you for, thank our evaluators. Thank you, Madam Secretary.