Transcript Highlights:

• And then and operated by a black person.
• , much about the the granting operation, much about the the granting operation, but<00:41:19.200>
• And workshops, and more certifications.
• DBE, MWBE, uh you name certification.
• certifications. I have the educations. certifications. I have the educations.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony focused on barriers facing minority-owned businesses and on local programs intended to improve access to capital and contracting opportunities. A representative from the U.S. Black Chambers described disparities in minority spending, argued for more intentional and transparent investment in Black communities, and emphasized the need to disaggregate data, hold officials accountable, and expand tools such as the byBlack certification directory. He also stressed that businesses need technical assistance, resources, and opportunities to grow through mergers, consortiums, and joint ventures. The main presentation then came from Larry Forester and Tyrone of Commerce Lexington, who outlined what they called eight major barriers for minority businesses, including limited access to capital, weak mentorship networks, discrimination and bias, bureaucratic hurdles, branding and visibility challenges, stereotyping, generational knowledge gaps, and limited financial literacy. They described several Commerce Lexington initiatives: the Access Loan Program, which brings small businesses before a pool of 26 lenders; a Minority Business Accelerator to help firms scale and connect with prime contractors; and an Opportunity Exchange for business owners to share experiences and lessons learned. They said the Access Loan Program has funded nearly $26 million in loans with an average loan size of about $62,000. Members asked about bias in lending and how to make contracting and certification easier for minority firms. Forester said applications are vetted by a subcommittee before reaching the full lender group, with attention to completeness and readiness, and that only one lender needs to say yes. On contracting, the witnesses said certification can be burdensome and suggested more hands-on help from the state, relationship-building events that include decision-makers, and incentives rather than mandates. They also relayed policy ideas from a business owner, including culturally informed underwriting, public-private matching grants, supplier diversity enforcement, and mentorship tied to capital access. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bianca Franks says she owns and operates a small advocacy agency called Tears of Hope.
• We exceeded goals in training and certifications and placement in livable wage jobs: 90 certificates
• earned, 75 industry-recognized certificates, 62 placements on average each year.
• wage jobs 90 certificates earned livable wage jobs 90 certificates earned 75<01:38:17.000> industry
• <01:39:34.599> a citizen I've been a forklift operator a citizen I've been a forklift operator

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:50:14.160> upon municipal utility certificate upon municipal utility certificate upon
• <01:51:04.000> certification remove their certificate certification remove their certificate
• within the certificated area. within the certificated area.
• or you know, operate on people. or you know, operate on people.
• operate a motor vehicle in this state. operate a motor vehicle in this state.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 10 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, received an invocation from Dr. Denise Pope, and led the pledge of allegiance. The body then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. Several guests were introduced, including the doctor of the day, student pages, Carthage Christian Academy, Mississippi Valley State University visitors, the University of Southern Mississippi’s DuBard School and related programs, and members of the Mississippi Association of Nurse Anesthetists. The Senate took up Senate Bill 2896, which revises the Department of Public Safety salary schedule for MHP and MBN officers. Senator Hopson explained it as the vehicle for possible pay raises for troopers, NBI, and MBN officers, and the chamber adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill by morning roll call. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 2917, a recurring appropriations cleanup measure; its main change would allow Mississippi Valley State University to use previously designated dormitory funds for repair and renovation instead. A reverse repealer amendment was adopted before final passage by morning roll call. Senate Bill 2825, the Mississippi Health Care Industry Zone Act, was then considered. Senator Harkins said the bill extends the repealer for the health care industry zone incentive program to 2028 and noted the program has generated significant investment and jobs statewide. An amendment requested by the Mississippi Development Authority was adopted to revise eligibility language, including replacing a CON requirement with a requirement that a hospital have at least 25 acute care beds and deleting a section under current law. The bill then passed by morning roll call. Finally, the Senate considered Senate Bill 2894 on local improvement projects and the return of unexpended funds and earned interest. Senator Harkins explained that the bill would require older local improvement project funds to be returned if projects were not moving forward, require reporting to DFA and the Legislative Budget Office, allow audits, and permit limited extensions, while also withholding a portion of other state distributions for noncompliance. Senators raised concerns about projects that are already obligated or delayed by workforce and engineering constraints, and Harkins said the bill would be refined with a reverse repealer to work with LBO and avoid disrupting active projects. The bill was discussed but not finally disposed of in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The confusion also lies in who actually needs the certification in the field.
• And if I do, the best measure of fence would cost my operation alone upwards of over $800,000.
• And if I do, the best measure of fence would cost my operation alone upwards of over $800,000.
• And if I do, the best measure of fence would cost my operation alone upwards of over $800,000.
• It’s not the way that the State Legislature should operate.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WE ARE OFFERING NEW ACCESS TO HEALTH RELATED INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS.
• AS WELL AS AWARDING HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS FOR CERTIFICATIONS COMPLETED DURING THE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM.
• CREDIT AND RECOMMENDED PATHWAYS TO OBTAIN EITHER AN AA OR AES DEGREE FOR INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION BECAUSE
• ALSO, AS WE CONTINUE TO EMASCULATE THIS OPPORTUNITY WE SEE STUDENTS TURNING 18 DOING THEIR CERTIFICATION
• THE PARTNERSHIP WITH -- THEY PROVIDED A SIMULATED OPERATING ROOM FOR STUDENTS IT TO CONDUCT WET AND DRY

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• OUR STUDENTS EARN SOME OF THE MOST RIGOROUS INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS AVAILABLE.
• I FIND THAT INTERESTING BECAUSE I AM AN OPERATOR IN INDUSTRY.
• OF OPERATIONS, HIS GROW. WE PLANTED 68 ACRES, ONLY HARVESTED 13.
• SO UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE THE LAST OUTDOOR LARGE OUTDOOR OPERATION STANDING.
• ABC IS A FLORIDA FAMILY-OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESS SINCE 1936.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was commissioned in 1994 and operated by Duluth Public Schools, Duluth Technical College, which later
• It was commissioned in 1994<00:10:32.480> and<00:10:32.800> operated<00:10:33.200> by
• by Duth Public Schools 1994 and operated by Duth Public Schools Duth<00:10:35.279> Technical<
• required per industry and certification required per industry and certification standards.<00:13
• <01:03:18.160> and<01:03:18.559> congressionally certifications and congressionally certifications

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The same applies to the beef calf operation; I need veterinarians to work with them.
• Certification is required in some situations.
• The requirements for seed potato certification are contained in the statutes referenced here.
• This program has operated at a loss during four of the past five years and is on track to be out of operating
• They've been knowingly operating in a deficit for four of the last five years.

Transcript Highlights:

• separate certification it rolls The Lure separate certification it rolls The Lure into<02:13:32.119><
• This oversight bill, as already described by the prime sponsor, focused on certification.
• The Bureaus of Licensing and Certification unit, so that is a big change.
• <03:04:04.520> it affordability board ought to operate it affordability board ought to operate
• uh having had an opportunity to operate uh having had an opportunity to operate the<03:04:37.600

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Standards organization, repeals outdated code, and ensures existing course providers can continue operations
• Virtual hybrid courses operate similarly to.
• Which is authorized through a one-year planning process that includes both academic and operational plans
• This flexibility allows a qualified provider to operate the program and demonstrates and demonstrate
• My wife and I own and operate childcare center in the Dallas, Dallas metroplex.

Bills: HB117

Keywords: county regulation, impervious cover, land use, unincorporated areas, environmental management

Transcript Highlights:

• standards organization, repeals outdated code, and ensures existing course providers can continue operations
• Virtual and hybrid courses operate similarly to a course catalog, where students remain enrolled at their
• . or license, as well as at least one industry-recognized certification or license in a high-demand field
• My wife and I own and operate a child care center in the Dallas Metroplex.
• We have worked for the last four years to send multiple teachers to certification programs.

Bills: HB 117, HB2196, HB2689, HCR64, HB117

Keywords: early childhood education, task force, governance, Texas Education Agency, child care, education policy, virtual education, hybrid learning, school funding, average daily attendance, education technology, remote learning, education legislation, workforce development, adult education, high school diploma, industry certification, pilot program, gifted education, education support

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that an accurate assessment of how this program operates?
• that we've already seen operate that we've already seen operate successfully<03:38:59.399> you
• <03:40:28.040> a administrative burden operating a administrative burden operating a facility
• We had the certificate of need, and then when the certificate of need went away, we replaced it in 2016
• of need and then when the certificate of need and then when the certificate<03:52:58.279> of<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• operations wise, everything is in order. operations wise, everything is in order.
• I'm Vanessa Young, operating as the director of programs here at 30,000 ft.
• I'm Vanessa Young, operating Thank you.
• ,<01:37:30.400> skills workforce certification, skills workforce certification, skills training
• . certification. certification.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the chief operations officer for Restore Hope and Restore Hope Housing, and we currently serve 19
• Essentially, you've got three government entities that are operating these Continuums of Care when the
• Essentially, you've got three government entities that are operating these continues of care when the
• And we've previously been operating under the $50,000. So that's what this is doing. Yes, sir.
• Two of the previous requirements for certification and qualifications were removed.

Summary: The committee first approved a motion, then heard a lengthy presentation on homelessness policy and behavioral health. Testimony focused on the view that Arkansas should shift toward more data-driven, outcomes-based responses to homelessness, including stronger treatment options for serious mental illness and substance use disorder, better data collection, provider accountability, and possible statewide use of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model. Speakers from Fort Smith, Restore Hope, Our House, and Western Arkansas Counseling described local work, the need for better coordination across providers, and the role of crisis services, ACT teams, and employment support. Members asked about sex offender tracking, the difference between sheltered and unsheltered homelessness, how to scale successful programs statewide, and whether Arkansas could apply for a statewide Continuum of Care or CCBHC planning grant. The discussion also touched on camping bans, civil commitment, and federal funding changes, with several speakers urging the state to pursue the CCBHC planning grant and more transparent reporting systems. After the homelessness discussion, the committee moved through a series of Department of Energy and Board of Nursing rule reviews. DEQ proposed updating the post-closure cleanup threshold for solid waste matters from $50,000 to $2 million to match Act 791 of 2025, and members asked about financial assurance and oversight; the rule was reviewed without objection. The Board of Nursing then presented multiple rule changes tied to recent acts, including adding fees for dialysis patient care technician registration, expanding contact-information requirements, implementing APRN delegation authority to unlicensed workers, clarifying APRN authority for death certificates and durable medical equipment prescriptions, updating certified medication assistant training and insulin-injection authority, and conforming independent-practice rules for clinical nurse specialists. Each rule was reviewed without objection. Near the end of the meeting, Senator Irvin announced that UAMS had completed its NCI designation submission for the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute, calling it an important milestone for the state. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the chief operations officer for Restore Hope and Restore Hope Housing, and we currently serve 19
• And so as long as we're operating off of their priority list that they've approved, then we don't see
• And so as long as we're operating off of their priority list that they've approved, then we don't see
• And we've previously been operating under the $50,000. So that's what this is doing. Yes, sir.
• Two of the previous requirements for certification and qualifications were removed.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on homelessness in Arkansas, with speakers from law enforcement, behavioral health, homeless service providers, and policy groups. Presenters argued that Arkansas should focus more on treatment, accountability, better data, and stronger coordination among providers, and they highlighted the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model as a way to expand Medicaid-reimbursed crisis, mental health, substance use, jail-based, and homeless outreach services. Testimony emphasized that Arkansas has relatively low overall homelessness numbers but a significant unsheltered population with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, and several members asked about sex offender tracking, provider accountability, statewide coordination, and whether the state could apply for federal funding or a statewide continuum of care arrangement. Speakers also discussed workforce supports, family homelessness, and the need for more transparent reporting and outcomes-based funding. The committee then reviewed several Department of Energy and Department of Health/Board of Nursing rules. DEQ sought to raise the threshold for commission review of certain post-closure cleanup expenditures from $50,000 to $2 million to match Act 791 of 2025, and members asked about financial assurance and oversight; the rule was reviewed without objection. The Board of Nursing presented multiple rule changes implementing recent acts, including adding fees for dialysis patient care technician registration, updating contact-information requirements, clarifying APRN authority to sign death certificates and prescribe certain durable medical equipment, implementing delegation of certain nursing tasks to unlicensed workers, adding a declaratory-order process, revising certified medication assistant training and insulin-injection authority, and conforming independent-practice rules for clinical nurse specialists. Each nursing rule was reviewed without objection after brief questions. In closing remarks, Senator Irvin announced that UAMS had completed its National Cancer Institute designation submission, calling it an important step for the state. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So do you still have the certification, like a clerk and a treasurer, which is more in-depth, and they
• The chairman of the board did not properly supervise operations.
• A letter detailing the percentage allocation of expenditures for capital outlay and operational costs
• All of them have been through the board certification... ...the board certification school, and I just
• While you are the boots on the ground, the buck stops with you as far as day-to-day operations go.

Summary: The committee approved the February 12 minutes and received updates on delinquent municipal water and sewer reports for 2022 and 2023, noting continued progress toward compliance and reinstatement of turnback funds for several cities. It also deferred several matters to the June 4 meeting, including Fargo’s municipal accounting noncompliance report, Jericho’s street-fund misuse issue, Biggers and Holly Grove deferred reports, and a group of private water and sewer reports lacking proper responses. Members then heard and filed a detailed report on the City of Strong, which involved repeat findings on undeposited receipts, improper use of solid waste funds, unsupported spending, late payroll tax payments, accounting control problems, and fund balance issues. Mayor Darrell Howell described corrective steps, including new internal controls, outside CPA assistance, repayment of misapplied funds, budget amendments, and efforts to address the findings; the committee commended the city’s efforts and filed the report. The committee also filed reports on Thornton Waterworks, Calhoun County, Salem, Briarcliffe, Compton Water Association, Montgomery County Regional Public Water Authority, Camden, Johnson County, and Sparkman, while deferring several private water reports and other unresolved items. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Pulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management District and other regional solid waste districts. The audit found issues in Pulaski County involving unapproved payroll items, missing credit card documentation, unapproved contracts, vehicle and cell phone documentation problems, lack of competitive bidding, and weak internal controls; members questioned the district’s practices and deferred the report to June while requesting district representatives appear. The committee also reviewed a statewide report on six regional solid waste management districts, with findings in Pulaski, Faulkner, and Benton counties and no findings in three others; that report was likewise deferred for Pulaski County questions. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion with Cross County Rural Water System about overdue audit posting, water quality problems, grant-funded improvements, board notice practices, and the broader challenges facing rural water systems, after which the committee filed the report and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• nutrition programs but also operating nutrition programs but also operating under<00:31:25.320><
• <00:47:46.359> and differentiation between operational and differentiation between operational
• evaluate the district's um operating evaluate the district's um operating Capital<00:48:12.800><
• proposal is around our operating proposal is around our operating adjustment<00:56:11.960> this
• unexpended non-grant operating unexpended non-grant operating operations<00:56:41.400> from

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Essentially, the goal is to balance enhanced safety against fission the need for efficient operations
• This technical changes to weapons certification requirements, but those waived into certification are
• And then you delete some of the reporting requirements to FDLE on that certification from the share.
• Certification prohibits exemptions for background screening for educator certification removes the Commissioner
• We are eliminating any exemption for background checks, for teachers, for teacher certification. >> Any

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In Massachusetts, we have a certification in place, a code of ethics, and a 25-year-old professional
• In Massachusetts, we have a certification in place, a code of ethics, and a 25-year-old professional
• barriers, because we know that sometimes certification can be a barrier for CHWs.
• And 37 of our 61 hospitals had negative operating margins.
• Next I'd like to address H. 2360, which would allow funeral establishments to operate crematories.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing covered a wide range of public health bills, with much of the testimony focused on two major themes: expanding access to care and stabilizing health-related workforces and services. On House 2364, an act relative to medical health and fitness facilities, representatives from Dedham Health and Athletic Club argued for a pilot program recognizing supervised exercise as medicine, saying it could improve outcomes for chronic disease, fall prevention, and mental health while reducing costs. On House/Senate bills concerning community health workers (H. 359/S. 251), multiple witnesses from MACHW, Health Care for All, MHA, Cambridge Health Alliance, Mass General Brigham, Boston Children’s Hospital, Asian Women for Health, and the City of Somerville described CHWs as essential for navigation, trust-building, language access, and addressing social needs, and urged reimbursement by MassHealth, the GIC, and private insurers, along with workforce development measures. One pediatric neurologist also told the committee that losing grant-funded CHW support led to more avoidable ER visits and threatened clinic operations. The committee also heard extensive testimony on hospital closures and essential services. Witnesses including Dr. Alan Sager, MNA President Katie Murphy, nurses from Brockton Hospital and Providence Behavioral Health, and local officials and legislators from Norwood described the loss of hospitals and service lines, especially maternity, pediatric, and behavioral health care, and argued current closure processes are too weak to protect communities. They supported bills such as H. 2460/S. 1503 and H. 2534/S. 1574, which would require earlier notice, community input, stronger state oversight, possible receivership, and limits on reopening or expanding after closures. Testimony emphasized the impact of Steward’s bankruptcy, the closures of Carney and Neshoba Valley, and the need to preserve access to essential services in underserved areas. Several end-of-life and professional regulation bills were also discussed. On H. 2436, Representative Omar Gomez and funeral industry witnesses supported eliminating Office of the Chief Medical Examiner fees for the removal of a child’s body in cases involving children five and under, describing the bill as a small but important relief for grieving families. On H. 2444 and related Senate bills, cemetery and consumer advocates supported legalizing alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction as environmentally friendly after-death options, while cemetery representatives opposed H. 2360, which would allow funeral establishments to operate crematories, arguing cemeteries should retain that role. The committee also heard support for H. 2382, which would exempt dentists and oral surgeons from a new office-based surgical center framework, and for H. 2461, which would create hospital efficiency standards; employers and retailers backed that bill as a way to address rising health care costs. Finally, the committee heard testimony on autism services and hospital governance. On S. 1414, behavior analysts and school representatives said Massachusetts already licenses assistant-level ABA providers but MassHealth does not reimburse them, causing long waitlists and limiting school and family access; an actuary testified that a three-tier ABA reimbursement model could reduce MassHealth costs by up to 6% per child served. Senator Lovely also testified in support of S. 1572, which would require at least one registered nurse on each acute care hospital governing board, arguing nurses’ frontline perspective would improve quality and retention. No votes were taken in the hearing excerpt, but many witnesses urged favorable reports on their respective bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, I guess the challenge that we have is what the original language, the core issue is operation,
• At time of operation, there's nothing that I can use.
• No, no, but we still have to prove operating.
• And we only caught those on a cremation death certificate review to come into us.
• This is... ...paperwork saying, yes, these are the... they signed the death certificate.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2777 by Representative Rose, which would bar the death penalty for defendants who can prove by clear and convincing evidence that they had schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and active psychotic symptoms at the time of the offense. Rose said the bill would still hold defendants accountable through life without parole, would save money by avoiding lengthy capital litigation, and would address cases where severe mental illness was not adequately considered. Supporters from NAMI Texas, the Catholic bishops, and a forensic psychologist said the bill is narrowly tailored, consistent with neuroscience and moral principles, and would prevent executions of people whose psychosis substantially impaired reality testing. Committee members questioned how the bill interacts with existing competency and insanity law, whether the diagnosis is sufficiently defined, and whether the statute requires active psychosis at the time of the offense. An opponent argued the death penalty should remain available for juries to decide in all cases. The bill was left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 1221 by Representative Lozano, which would raise the cap on pretrial intervention program fees from $500 to $1,200. Lozano and a district attorney witness said the increase is needed because program costs have risen and the fees help make diversion programs self-sustaining, allowing first-time or low-level offenders to complete rehabilitation and potentially obtain expunction. Opponents from the Texas Fair Defense Project argued the higher fee could make diversion unaffordable for indigent defendants and undermine an important alternative to incarceration, especially where related supervision and monitoring costs already add up. Members discussed whether the fee applies only to PTI participants, how payment plans and waivers work, and whether ability to pay should be addressed more explicitly. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1738 by Representative Jones, which would repeal Penal Code Section 21.06 and related Health and Safety Code references concerning homosexual conduct. Jones said the law is unconstitutional under Lawrence v. Texas, remains harmful on the books, and has led to confusion and unnecessary costs even though it is unenforceable. Supporters said the bill simply removes outdated language and protects civil liberties, while opponents from Texas Values argued the statute still serves as a statement that homosexual conduct is unacceptable and should remain as a warning, even if unenforceable. Members debated whether the law’s remaining language is merely symbolic or still harmful, and whether other criminal statutes already cover conduct such as prostitution, incest, and offenses involving minors. The bill was left pending after testimony.