Transcript Highlights:

• The opinion said, "Because the regulatory process was not filed, the waivers or alternative tests were
• testing methods and waivers alternative testing methods and waivers used<00:03:37.640> during
• tests were null, waivers or alternative tests were null, void,<00:04:04.400> and<00:04:04.560
• When testing requirements are waived or alternatives are given, the safeguard is removed.
• , a great program, a great program, but<00:30:57.800> it<00:30:57.960> is<00:30:58.120

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee considered an emergency regulation from the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, 201 KAR 5021E, along with a staff amendment to conform the text to KRS Chapter 13A. The regulation was described as implementing an Attorney General opinion and a review of optometrists licensed during the 2020–2023 period when alternative testing and waivers were used during the COVID-19 era. The board explained that the rule requires affected licensees to complete specified examinations or an alternative certification before renewing in 2027, and that it now removes the OEBC Canadian exam as a future pathway while preserving recognition of OEBC results submitted during the period when that option was in effect. The staff amendment was approved without objection. Testimony was sharply divided. Board representatives and the Attorney General’s office said the regulation is needed to protect public health and to bring the licensure review into the formal administrative process. They said the NBEO Part 3 exam is the nationally recognized hands-on clinical licensure test, while the American Board of Optometry certification is a post-licensure credential for already licensed practitioners and is not a substitute for initial licensure testing. They also said no other state uses the ABOC certification for licensure, and that the board’s approach balances fairness, due process, and public protection. Opponents argued the regulation would allow individuals who were improperly licensed to continue practicing without meeting the same standards as other Kentucky optometrists. A representative from the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation described cases of alleged inadequate care and urged the committee to require full national board passage before independent practice. Representatives from ARBO and NBEO said the emergency regulation is not justified as an emergency, does not adequately address public safety or fiscal impacts, and exceeds the board’s authority by creating a renewal path for licensees whose initial licensure was challenged. They emphasized that NBEO Part 3 is a practical, hands-on exam and that the ABOC certification is not designed or validated for initial licensure. The committee asked several questions about the differences between the exams, and no final vote on the regulation itself was described in the transcript beyond approval of the staff amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And interestingly enough, the state program is one of our bigger programs.
• programs.
• program.
• program.
• ABC programs.

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and then shifted to an update from Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva and Deputy Commissioner Stacey Smith on early childhood education, especially the state-funded Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program. They said Arkansas had received a federal Preschool Development Grant and described ABC as a large state program with about 23,800 funded slots and roughly $114 million in annual appropriations. Department officials said they are reviewing slot allocations because about 1,000 seats are funded but unfilled, while more than 2,000 families are on waiting lists, and they plan to reduce or reallocate slots from providers that have not filled them over several years. They also said they are examining whether income thresholds, curriculum expectations, daily rates, and summer programming should be updated, and members raised concerns about access, local control, transportation, and whether the program should better align with K-12 choice and school readiness goals. The committee agreed to form an early childhood subcommittee and asked the Bureau of Legislative Research to help gather historical data and other information for future discussion. The committee then received a legal presentation from BLR attorney Taylor Lloyd on the constitutional and statutory framework for education adequacy in Arkansas. She reviewed the Dupree and Lake View cases, explaining that the state must maintain a general, suitable, and efficient system of free public schools, and that adequacy and equity are distinct but related concepts. She emphasized that the General Assembly is responsible for defining adequacy, studying whether the system meets that standard, and reacting to the evidence, while the courts ultimately decide constitutional compliance. Lloyd also explained the current adequacy definition, the role of the matrix as a funding tool rather than a spending mandate, and the distinction between unrestricted foundation funding and restricted categorical funding. BLR’s Elizabeth Bynum followed with a historical overview of how Arkansas responded to the court cases and developed the current adequacy process. She traced major legislative actions from the 1980s through the Lake View litigation, including the creation of funding formulas, categorical aid, isolated funding, declining enrollment funding, and the 2003-2004 adequacy study that led to the Continuing Adequacy Evaluation Act and the matrix used to set foundation funding. She also described later changes to the adequacy statute, the financial reporting requirements for districts, and the ongoing use of surveys, stakeholder testimony, and consultant studies in the biennial adequacy process. Members asked questions about whether private or homeschool programs could use public funds for expenses like utilities, whether stakeholders should include those groups, the difference between average daily membership and attendance, and whether school board members are surveyed; staff said those issues would need further research or were outside the scope of the presenters’ role.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:02.280> and departments as its programs and departments as its programs and operations
• with your testing program.
• with your testing program.
• with your testing program.
• legislation was adopted that alternative legislation was adopted that alternative was<01:31:05.800

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection heard the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs present its biennium budget request for fiscal years 2025 to 2027. Director Nainoa Ando said the department’s requests were primarily special-fund ceiling increases to meet operational needs. Major items included an additional $12 million to complete the King Kamehameha V Post Office building roof project after hidden deterioration and water intrusion were discovered, plus funding related to fringe benefits and central services assessments. The department also outlined requests for a new medical compact implementation cost, an auditor position, an engineer position, and a captive insurance IT modernization project. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the Office of Consumer Protection’s landlord-tenant call line and public service access. Senators raised concerns that callers often reach voicemail, are told to leave a message, and sometimes are referred to look up the law themselves. DCCA said the Oʻahu line is staffed by one full-time employee backed by two to three investigators, with one investigator each on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, and that calls are tracked in a case management system. The department said it plans to add one more Oʻahu staff position through a transfer from another division and that a new call-center/web system with time tracking is expected to go live in the summer. Members also discussed a possible bill related to Pearson VUE nursing certification testing, with one senator describing the burden on neighbor-island nursing graduates who must travel to Honolulu for a one-hour test. The senator said she intended to introduce legislation after receiving no response to repeated outreach. DCCA did not take action on that proposal during the hearing. For the PUC-related requests, the department explained a one-time $1 million request for outside consulting tied to Maui wildfire-related filings, including wildfire safety mitigation and hazard mitigation plans, and a separate $900,000 request through the Consumer Advocacy Division to hire consultants for review and analysis. The committee also discussed a captive insurance IT modernization request, which DCCA said would replace manual and spreadsheet-based processes with a cloud-based system to better handle filings, payments, and workflow; no vote or final action was taken on the budget items during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1215 was based on a very successful program.
• The remainder of that program is funded by the county general fund.
• Fire costs, and like the consumer benefit programs that we all want to support, the CARE and FERA programs
• alternative financing.
• alternative financing.

Summary: The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and authorize additional funding to support renewable natural gas projects by reducing interconnection costs. Supporters said high interconnection costs and the current tax treatment are major barriers to methane reduction projects; opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, raised ratepayer cost concerns and objected to rate-basing and additional public funding. The author said amended language would remove the rate-basing provisions and instead urge the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Community Impact Mitigation Program for the Diablo Canyon plant through 2030 to continue funding local emergency preparedness, fire protection, public safety, and school district costs. The County of San Luis Obispo and labor groups supported the bill, while TURN opposed it as a statewide ratepayer subsidy that could be funded from existing PG&E revenues instead of higher rates. Members discussed the bill in the context of the 2022 Diablo Canyon extension deal and the possibility of a future longer extension. SB 1215 by Senator Cortese would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing and evaluate progress, with amendments aimed at affordability and limiting system upgrade costs. Supporters said renters are largely locked out of home charging and that prior utility programs proved cost-effective; no opposition testified. SB 1359 by Senator Stern would require more deliberate CPUC review before major gas system investments, emphasizing electrification and non-pipeline alternatives. Gas utilities and several industry groups opposed it, arguing it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and change the regulatory compact. The committee also heard SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar, presented by Senator Gonzalez, which would establish a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Water agencies, environmental groups, and local governments supported the measure, while one member expressed concern that it lacked a funding source and could not overcome Proposition 218 limits; the bill was moved to Appropriations and the roll was left open. Finally, SB 1098 by Senator Perez would restrict the use of long-running memorandum and balancing accounts by investor-owned utilities, require exceptional circumstances for new accounts, and add sunset and cost-sharing requirements. Consumer advocates and large energy users supported tighter oversight, while the utilities and business groups opposed the bill as too rigid and potentially harmful to flexibility for wildfire, emergency, and safety-related costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a list of alternates, and these are tax preferences that may get a full review if staff capacity
• I wanted to highlight two alternates on this schedule as well because they, too, have tax preference
• This preference is listed as an alternate because all of the deferred state sales tax has been repaid
• And this preference is listed as an alternate because there's only limited data available about its use
• For the full review 2027 and alternates, have you been... 2027 and alternates?

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on May 6, 2026, with quorum present and unanimously approved the October 21, 2025 minutes. The Attorney General’s Office then provided its annual refresher on Washington’s Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act, emphasizing broad disclosure requirements, records retention, prompt routing of records requests to staff, and OPMA rules for meetings, conference calls, emails, special meetings, and executive sessions. JLARC staff next reviewed 2026 tax preference legislation, noting 20 bills affecting tax preferences. Examples included repeal of the coal sales tax exemption, changes to data center exemptions, new property tax exemptions for renewable energy facilities and land bank authorities, and a broad tax package in Senate Bill 6346 that created credits and deductions, expanded the working families tax credit, and exempted items such as diapers and hygiene products. Staff also presented the 2026 expedited review report covering 64 tax preferences and explained that it is based on prior JLARC reviews and Department of Revenue studies rather than full new reviews. The commission approved unchanged 2026 public testimony questions and then adopted the draft 2027–2036 tax preference review schedule, along with a new rolling 10-year schedule format that will be updated each May. During discussion, Representative Pollitt questioned how preferences are prioritized for full review versus expedited or no review, especially for large preferences without performance statements, and staff explained that legislative mandates, expiration timing, and staff capacity drive the schedule. The commission agreed staff would meet with members to discuss possible future adjustments. The meeting concluded with public and staff recognition of Commissioner Grant Forsyth, who is leaving the commission after 13 years of service. Speakers praised his leadership, consensus-building, and long tenure as both commissioner and chair. The next commission meeting was announced for August 4, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are a list of alternates, and these are those tax preferences that may get a full review if staff
• This preference is listed as an alternate because all of the deferred state sales tax has been repaid
• This preference is listed as an alternate because there's only limited data available about its use.
• For the full review, 27 and alternates, have you been? “You 2027 and alternates?”
• That’s a review of the working families tax credit, which is a remittance program for low-income families

Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on May 6, 2026, with quorum present and unanimously approved the October 21, 2025 minutes. The Attorney General’s Office then provided its annual open government refresher, covering key points of the Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act, including broad disclosure requirements, records retention, response timelines for public records requests, and rules for meetings, special meetings, emergency meetings, and executive sessions. JLARC staff gave a 2026 legislative session update on tax preference bills. They highlighted 20 bills affecting tax preferences, including repeal of the coal-related sales and use tax exemption, changes to data center exemptions, new property tax exemptions for renewable energy facilities and land bank authorities, and a broad tax package in engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6346 that created multiple credits, deductions, and exemptions. Staff also presented the 2026 expedited tax preference review report covering 64 preferences, noting it is based on prior JLARC reviews and Department of Revenue studies and is now available in an interactive searchable format. The commission approved the 2026 public testimony questions without changes and then adopted the 2027–2036 tax preference review schedule, along with a new rolling 10-year schedule that will be updated each May. During discussion, commissioners raised concerns about how preferences are prioritized for full review versus expedited review, especially for older or high-revenue preferences without performance statements, and staff explained that legislative mandates, expiration dates, and workload constraints drive the schedule. The meeting also included a public and staff recognition of Commissioner Grant Forsyth’s 13 years of service and leadership, with remarks praising his collaborative approach and long tenure; the next meeting was set for August 4, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• So are you talking about alternate pathways as far as maybe internship right after high school?
• So are you talking about alternate pathways as far as maybe internship right after high school?
• So are you talking about alternate pathways as far as maybe internship right after high school?
• So are you talking about alternate pathways as far as maybe internship right after high school?
• So are you talking about alternate pathways as far as maybe internship right after high school?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They could have declared the programs high-risk much earlier.
• I just thought an alternative reality.
• They've been creating an alternate done.
• What was wrong for Minnesota is to have fraud across the state in 14 Medicaid programs.
• State in 14 Medicaid programs. That's wrong for Minnesota.

Transcript Highlights:

• Person program.
• cost savings of the program, and how Congress was really ruining the program because they weren't providing
• a long-term extension of that program.
• housing voucher programs.
• So that's a very important program. It's now called, in Massachusetts, the Moving Forward program.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities’ Long-Term Services and Supports and Health Equity Subcommittee met to hear a presentation from the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University. Monica Mitra introduced the institute’s work on disability health equity and long-term services and supports, and staff described several research centers focused on community living policy, disability and pregnancy, and parents with disabilities. The presentation emphasized participatory research, accessible dissemination, and the connection between health equity and access to home- and community-based services. Joe Caldwell discussed the Community Living Policy Center’s work on Medicaid HCBS, the direct care workforce crisis, housing, and policy advocacy, including efforts related to the Money Follows the Person program and the Medicaid access rule’s interested parties advisory group. Sid Pickern highlighted a workforce study interviewing direct care workers, a forthcoming policy brief on the access rule, and housing research including Massachusetts’ Alternative Housing Voucher Program. Teresa Nguyen described the Community Living Equity Center’s focus on disparities in community living for people of color, especially a study on self-direction and community living outcomes, and asked for help recruiting participants. Lauren Bixby demonstrated the community living data dashboard, which compares adults who need LTSS with those receiving Medicaid LTSS using ACS and TMSIS data. She explained that the dashboard can be filtered by state and demographics, but noted major race and ethnicity data gaps for Massachusetts and other states. Commissioners praised the dashboard and the institute’s work, asked questions about data sources and the 1115 waiver, and discussed possible connections to the Health Equity Compact. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with an invitation for follow-up, including a forthcoming direct care workforce brief and the institute’s October 28 lecture.

Transcript Highlights:

• in Teaching Fellowship Program.
• Now, in order to be in this program, this was a new program that we worked on throughout the agency,
• So, you know, we've been looking back at this program. This is year one of the program.
• This specific program, the teacher fellowship program, was to…” “The teacher fellowship program was to
• education, which is the specialized programming, and alternative learning environments, even though

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• method similar to the federal alternative calculation that was enacted in 2006.
• method similar to the federal alternative calculation that was enacted in 2006.
• By providing this alternative calculation, many taxpayers can begin claiming the research credit for
• By providing this alternative calculation, many taxpayers can begin claiming the research credit for
• We haven't heard anything about the many programs that we have in the tax committee that do actually

Bills: HF4, HF173

Keywords: tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief, state surplus, fiscal forecast, wealthy taxpayers, high-income exclusion, 2026 ballot, referendum, surplus distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate amended the bill to include compliance with ADEQ's non-point source management plan as an alternative
• Madam Chair, members, HB 4001, alternative nicotine products regulation, has passed the House.
• It structured regulation guidelines for alternative nicotine products.
• date of this section, and then it defines both television program and television series as a recurring
• And then it defines both television program and television series as a recurring or episodic production

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a program, the Stillwater Girls Varsity Soccer Team enjoyed great success and set a high standard
• This program would be renamed in his honor.
• THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE RENAMED IN HIS HONOR, AGAIN, IT IS AN OASAS SCHOLARSHIP AND ONE TO TRAIN THOSE
• "Easier for these companies to use alternative ingredients that are better for us and healthier.
• Reformulating a product using an alternative color source is not only possible, it is already being done

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Imam Tahir Kukaj of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, who offered remarks about gratitude, diversity, and support for Kosovo’s independence. The Journal was approved, and the chamber then took up several previously adopted resolutions, including Resolution 1516 commemorating the 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence and Resolution 1317 honoring the Stillwater Girls Varsity Soccer Team and Head Coach Christine Ihnatolya for winning the NYSPHSAA Class C state championship. Both resolutions were adopted, and the sponsors were authorized to seek additional co-sponsors. The Senate then moved through the calendar and passed a series of bills, including measures on environmental conservation, education, public health, civil service, penal law, public service, labor, and a retroactive real property tax exemption for the Silver Lake Foundation. Most bills passed with broad support, though several drew recorded no votes from a small group of senators. Senator Fahy explained her vote on a bill renaming an OASAS scholarship in honor of Father Peter Young, emphasizing his work on addiction, incarceration, and homelessness. Two items drew extended debate. On Calendar 141, Senator Walczyk appealed the chair’s ruling that an amendment to a public service bill was nongermane; the Senate voted 21 to overrule the chair, so the ruling stood, and the bill then passed 52-6. On Calendar 213, Senators Kavanagh and Borrello debated a food-safety bill concerning disclosure of certain food ingredients and chemicals; supporters said it would improve transparency and protect children’s health, while opponents argued federal action was already underway and a national standard would be preferable. After the bill was restored to the non-controversial calendar, it passed 56-2. The Senate then adjourned until Monday, February 9 at 3:00 p.m., with intervening days as legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not give that alternate point of contact the ability to access your stuff, but it's all to allow
• So I love that there's both alternatives. I think that's just the way things are going now.
• So I love that there's both alternatives. I think that's just the way the things are going now.
• We've hired plenty of people through these programs.
• That prevents gouging in situations where workers often have no alternative.

Summary: The Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee heard and voted on four bills. HB 587 on self-storage spaces would let rental agreements include an alternate contact person and allow default notices to be published online instead of only in newspapers, while keeping existing notice timelines and servicemember protections. Newspaper and press witnesses opposed the online-notice change, arguing it could reduce public reach and transparency, especially in rural areas; the sponsor said newspapers could still be used and the bill was only adding another option. The committee adopted an amendment changing the effective date to October 1, 2025, and then reported the bill favorably 12-2. HB 6033 would repeal the Florida Labor Pool Act. The sponsor argued the act duplicates other state and federal protections, while opponents said it contains unique safeguards for day laborers, including limits on fees, transportation charges, and deductions, and a private right of action. Testimony from labor advocates and workers warned repeal would reduce protections for vulnerable workers; the sponsor and supporters said other laws already cover the issues. The committee reported the bill favorably 11-3. HB 897, dealing with timeshare plan management, was presented as a clarification of conflicts created by recent condominium legislation and would require faster records responses, more disclosure of contracts, and clearer remedies for mismanagement. Support came from industry groups, and the bill passed unanimously, 14-0. The final measure, PCS for HB 1385, created a civil remedy for parental abduction or unlawful withholding of a child in violation of a timesharing order. Family law attorneys opposed it over concerns about added litigation, child involvement, and overlap with existing remedies, while the sponsors and supporters said it would provide needed deterrence and compensation in serious cases. The committee adopted the PCS and reported it favorably 13-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• Certification Program, the Grads Program, and then lawsuit sufficiency fees.
• In those programs. Okay, thank you.
• We do not require that these programs pay for benefits.
• It is to convince them to not do the alternative pathway licensure program going cold with no training
• The first beginning in elementary school NM Pre-K Program.

Transcript Highlights:

• keep up your rabies detection program? keep up your rabies detection program?
• <00:46:36.640> um the program um the program um this<00:46:38.640> is<00:46:38.720>
• <00:57:20.720> design licenses because it was program design licenses because it was program
• <00:59:32.559> or people stopping to use the program or people stopping to use the program
• And it's, you know, it's program.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee met on April 17 and approved the prior meeting minutes, then set its next meeting for May 29 at 9:30 a.m. Members also discussed a New Futures effort to collect questions about Medicaid changes and post answers as an FAQ, with a preference that the FAQ live on New Futures’ website rather than the state website. The commissioner’s office said it would coordinate responses and that the issue is still evolving. The main presentation was an HHS update focused on the state public health laboratory and its work during Public Health Lab Week. Officials reviewed the lab’s history, its biosafety functions, and its role in disease prevention, food safety, preparedness, and response. They highlighted mosquito surveillance for eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, and Jamestown Canyon virus, noting that the lab tested more than a quarter million mosquitoes last year and that mosquito testing helps provide early warning for local public health decisions. They also discussed rabies testing, saying New Hampshire’s lab is the only one in the state that performs it, that rabies is fatal once symptoms begin, and that the work is preventable through early prophylaxis. Members asked about federal funding cuts, water testing, and whether CDC changes to rabies testing would affect New Hampshire. The department said it had been affected by an $80 million federal clawback but was managing through other funds and staff reassignments; for the water lab, temporary staff had been hired to continue swimming-area testing. Officials said the state remains able to handle rabies testing and that federal changes would mainly affect areas without similar services. They also answered questions on Jamestown Canyon virus, saying New Hampshire had one human case in 2025 and three in 2024, compared with zero West Nile cases in 2025 and one in 2024, and that weather and protective measures influence mosquito-borne disease levels. Additional questions covered biosafety levels, cyanobacteria coordination with the Department of Environmental Services, and the Brown Building flood mitigation, which was described as about halfway complete with a hoped-for reopening of the west side by June.

Transcript Highlights:

• We looked at different alternatives.
• Uh we look at different alternatives. alternatives. alternatives.
• that<01:21:28.239> the Some of the alternatives that the Some of the alternatives that
• That is body warn camera program.
• stated objectives of the program.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:23.360> modernized<00:04:23.919> requirements, alternative modernized requirements
• , alternative modernized requirements, excuse<00:04:25.520> me,<00:04:26.000> that<00:04
• :06.560> professional<00:05:07.120> and<00:05:07.440> many<00:05:07.680> programs
• health professional and many programs health professional and many programs have<00:05:08.560>
• Youth act teams would those programs.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 3520, as amended by an A1 technical amendment from DHS, was heard in committee. The bill was described as a policy-only measure aimed at modernizing mental health statutes to reduce confusion, ease staffing burdens, and improve recruitment and retention in a workforce facing shortages. The author said the bill was developed with mental health stakeholders over several years, shared with DHS, and intended to have no cost unless provisions are later flagged for fiscal impact. Chris Westgard of Touchstone Mental Health testified in support and walked through the bill’s main provisions. Section 1 would exclude weekends and holidays from the 10-day deadline for completing diagnostic assessments after admission to intensive residential treatment services, which he said would reduce weekend and holiday work for limited staff. Section 2 would clarify statutory language governing the behavioral health fund’s coverage of intensive residential treatment and residential crisis stabilization services. Section 3 would update Youth ACT rules by allowing board-certified psychiatrists with relevant clinical experience to serve as prescribers, making registered nurses optional team members, and allowing teams with demonstrated experience to serve children and youth ages 8 to 20. Members raised questions about statutory wording, including the use of “notwithstanding” and the term “qualified provider.” Nonpartisan staff said the bill could be tightened with a cross-reference if it advances. There was no public testimony against the bill. The committee laid House File 3520, as amended, over for possible inclusion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Treatment programs have wait lists. Some programs are unavailable.
• Any of the programs, well, let me ask, in regards to the mandated program, and I had it written down
• The alternative is that probation expires and they continue doing the program or they don't.
• AB 2217 will rename the program as Alternatives to Arrest and will add petty theft, second-degree burglary
• The Commission on the Revision of the Penal Code recommended expanding... ...alternatives to arrest programs

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ESF investment should have the same protections as market investors had under the public securities program
• And this provides an alternative to that with several discount factors and checks and balances to make
• This alternative in HB 3069 allows another process to look longer-term, HB 3069 allows another process
• The purpose of this compact is to create an additional, optional, alternative pathway to multi-state
• The purpose of this compact is to create an additional, optional, alternative pathway to multi-state

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and took up a long list of pending House bills, most of them on motions by Senator King or Senator Campbell. The committee adopted committee substitutes and favorably reported numerous bills, including HB 252, HB 700, HB 1500, HB 1545, HB 1562, HB 1732, HB 267, HB 2213, HB 2221, HB 2520, HB 2818, HB 3016, HB 3214, HB 3250, HB 3512, HB 3623, HB 3689, HB 3833, HB 4063, HB 4395, HB 4690, HB 4751, HB 5331, HB 3824, HB 4464, HB 4468, and HB 5247. Most of these were sent to the local and uncontested calendar, while some, including sunset and other significant measures, were reported to the full Senate. HB 146 was the only bill reported out on a divided vote, passing 6 ayes to 4 nays. Several bills received brief explanation of committee substitute changes. HB 3016, dealing with rental car collision damage waivers and stolen vehicles, was amended to change a cooperation standard from “fully cooperate” to simply “cooperate.” HB 3689, a major ESF/TWA financing bill, was described as making technical changes to align terminology with the Comptroller’s authority and to avoid creating state debt or new liability. HB 5247, a capital cost recovery bill for transmission in the Permian Basin, was revised to clarify how the new mechanism fits with existing Utilities Code provisions and to add a 2035 expiration date. HB 3824, the battery fire safety bill, also received technical changes to align terminology with industry usage. The committee heard public testimony on several pending measures. HB 3069, which would direct the PUC to develop supplemental multi-decade planning criteria for transmission certificates in ERCOT, drew support from industry, environmental, and manufacturing witnesses who said it would help address congestion costs while balancing consumer protections; the bill was left pending. HB 5196, requiring state agencies to adopt and post telework policies and use written telework agreements, received both support and concern: supporters said it would preserve productivity and retention, while a senator raised concerns about notice and family logistics; it was left pending after testimony. HB 3112, allowing closed deliberations on cybersecurity policy details, was laid out and left pending after brief discussion. HCR 102, supporting federal nuclear tax credits, drew testimony from nuclear industry and energy advocates, who argued the credits are essential for existing plants, new nuclear development, grid reliability, and U.S. competitiveness; the resolution was left pending, with discussion about whether the language should focus more exclusively on nuclear. HB 705, creating a cosmetology licensure compact, was supported by industry, employers, and compact experts as a mobility tool that preserves state authority; HB 3516, expanding a public information exemption for Railroad Commission administrative law judges and technical examiners, and HB 3388, authorizing group property and casualty coverage for personal lines, were also heard and left pending. At the end of the meeting, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.