Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just wondering if there's any collective bargaining agreements in place that this would potentially
• The process still would follow their collective bargaining.
• wiping via factory reset state-issued cell phones and laptops that contain an enormous amount of evidence
• I think that does fly in the face of collective bargaining agreements.
• That would seem to be pretty self-evident, I would think, right?

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• But we can't really collect while they're in bankruptcy.
• We cannot, under law, collect while they are seeking bankruptcy protection.
• or had collections.
• , or the state is not able to collect on those borrowers' loans.
• We can go after and collect from them, but the cost to collect on these loans may be greater than the

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• They make decisions based on feelings and not clear and present evidence before the court.
• </c><02:46:36.720><c> the</c> of the peace officer to collect the of the peace officer to collect the
• </c> about the collection about the collection of<02:59:40.560><c> antique</c><02:59:41.040><c> guns<
• </c><03:15:55.880><c> um</c> uh you know, other sorts of evidence um uh you know, other sorts of evidence
• </c> references clear and convincing evidence references clear and convincing evidence to<03:20:53.320

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:03:04.639><c> I</c> the data collection in 22 and 23. I the data collection in 22 and 23.
• </c> no student data that's collected at all. no student data that's collected at all.
• </c><02:28:51.680><c> So</c> systems and our data collection. So systems and our data collection.
• </c> evidence-based practices and strategies. evidence-based practices and strategies.
• I certainly have evidence of it not.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• to the Idaho State Historical Society for providing us with history we can rely on, grounded in evidence
• to the Idaho State Historical Society for providing us with history we can rely on, grounded in evidence
• The State Historical Society team, including Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Nicole Inhilterra
• of aggregated student data regarding 144 Idaho Code to establish provisions regarding the collection
• So this is a long overdue collections notice telling the federal government it's time that they fulfill

Transcript Highlights:

• improved coordination, states can establish an interagency council, like one here, improve data collection
• And they also collect and publish data and work with the community and policymakers.
• But, yes, it's essentially just collecting the data about it.
• Because we also don't, we do collect some data, but we rely heavily on our state agencies' partners.
• And this would be informed by data that was collected with benchmarks from other states, app analysis

Summary: The Disability Employment Subcommittee met with roll call, approved prior meeting minutes, and began with an inspirational quote from Jane Goodall about every individual mattering and making a difference. Members introduced themselves and described their roles in disability services, workforce policy, accessibility, and advocacy. The committee then welcomed Katia Alpanis and Dina Klumkina from the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED), who explained that SEED provides technical assistance, research, peer-state examples, and policy support to help states improve disability employment outcomes. SEED presented seven broad policy areas where states are active: career readiness and work-based learning, behavioral health supports, stay-at-work/return-to-work programs, employer recruitment and accommodation supports, entrepreneurship and disability-owned business development, interagency coordination, and state-as-model-employer initiatives. They shared examples from other states, including scholarship and transition policies, peer support training, accommodation funds, procurement goals, and state hiring strategies. Members asked about SEED’s role in Massachusetts, digital accessibility, and the status of PEAT; SEED said PEAT has been refunded and that SEED’s role is policy-focused rather than implementation-focused, though it can connect Massachusetts with peer states and examples. The discussion then narrowed to two possible Massachusetts projects: developing a state-as-model-employer roadmap and creating a youth/young-adult employment and volunteer pipeline, especially for transition-age individuals. Members noted related state efforts, including the governor’s executive order reestablishing a disability policy subcommittee, the commission’s Meeting the Moment series, and the need to help people navigate upcoming work requirements and transition cliffs. SEED agreed to follow up with a questionnaire and draft briefs on Massachusetts analysis, career readiness, and state-as-model-employer policies, and the group planned an offline follow-up to define priorities and scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we know now that ed tech platforms, and it's been in the news quite a bit, are collecting a lot of
• And then there's also the idea that any data we collect on students can be sold, stolen, or subpoenaed
• The current way of collecting data has inadvertently led to many... ...our public schools.
• Several other states have acted to fix this problem, recognizing the need to collect...
• ... ...is CDC-designated as evidence-based.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• We can't have volunteers collecting ballots.
• We had evidence from a report. We could have taken the time. We had evidence from a report.
• Senators, it is our collective diversity that makes us so great as the Florida Senate.
• Senators, it is our collective diversity. individual perspective.
• Senators, it is our collective diversity that make us so great as the Florida Senate.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, and a retiring Senate employee. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators should not plan to be in next week, with hopes of sharing more budget news soon. The chamber then moved to third reading and took up a major bill on citizen initiatives and constitutional amendments, with sponsors saying it was needed to address documented petition fraud and to protect the integrity of the process. That bill drew extensive debate. Supporters argued that recent investigations showed widespread fraud in petition gathering, that the measure would add reasonable guardrails, and that it would prevent taxpayer-funded government messaging from being used to influence ballot measures. Opponents said the bill would make it much harder for ordinary Floridians to place amendments on the ballot by adding costs, deadlines, registration requirements, fines, and felony exposure, and they warned it would chill grassroots participation and effectively favor wealthy or corporate-backed campaigns. After debate, the Senate passed the bill 28-10. The Senate then adopted several House amendments and concurred on a series of education and public-safety measures, including bills on stem cell therapy, student-athlete electrocardiograms, cardiac emergency planning in schools, school safety, Bright Futures and other education policy items, and educator preparation. Most of those measures passed unanimously or with overwhelming support, and the chamber also recognized additional interns and a long-serving education advocate before recessing and returning to continue with House messages.

Transcript Highlights:

• language in my written testimony for how y'all could modify that. basically for one year of data collection
• It's comprised of four components with extensive written portfolio. components, a lot of evidence collection
• I just think that the variety of evidence we have to provide We have to make videos, for example.
• We have to collect student work samples. So it's not just test scores.
• Switching to a service intensity model is evidence-based, and that's what we want.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Those facts may be put in evidence and prove parentage. That's essentially what the bill does.
• of the evidence sometimes.
• We talked about the preponderance of evidence standard. That's a standard.
• What I'm also not in favor of is that it has become evident to me over the years.
• That's the evidence that you get. And in the RRA case that was referenced earlier... By Ms.

Bills: HCR16 , HB782 , HB2159 , HB2288 , HB3281 , HB3819 , HB4656 , HB4696 , HB5494 , HCR16

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Transcript Highlights:

• So what what what is the evidence.
• </c><01:28:51.360><c> medicine</c> line with evidence-based medicine line with evidence-based medicine
• </c> transmission but there's still evidence transmission but there's still evidence there's<01:39:25.440
• Um and so an at the whole of evidence.
• This information is not collected by the department.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Fortunately, there is ample evidence that safe storage laws do just that. The Supreme Court. Sorry.
• Fortunately, there is ample evidence that safe storage laws do just that. The Supreme Court. Sorry.
• Fortunately, there<00:03:26.319><c> is</c><00:03:26.480><c> ample</c><00:03:26.800><c> evidence</c><00
• :03:27.120><c> that</c><00:03:27.360><c> safe</c> there is ample evidence that safe there is ample evidence
• </c><00:30:12.559><c> and</c><00:30:12.799><c> research,</c><00:30:13.120><c> and</c> data collection

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs met on March 19, 2025, and heard testimony on several firearms-related bills. HB 125 would require firearm sellers or transferors to provide buyers notice about secure storage laws, expand secure-storage requirements, and clarify criminally negligent storage. The Department of Law Enforcement and the Department of Education supported the bill. The Office of the Public Defender raised constitutional concerns under District of Columbia v. Heller and suggested narrowing the bill so a firearm need not be made inoperable when the lawful owner is home. Supporters, including Brady, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, veterans, and other advocates, said secure storage would reduce accidental shootings, youth access, theft, suicides, and school shootings. Opponents argued the bill was redundant, could criminalize victims of theft, and imposed strict liability. The committee noted 24 individuals in support and 103 in opposition. The committee also heard HB 137, which would impose a mandatory prison term for violent felons who violate firearm or ammunition possession prohibitions. DLE, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, and the Hawaii County Prosecutor supported the measure, arguing it targets repeat offenders and strengthens public safety. The Office of the Public Defender opposed mandatory sentencing, saying judges already have discretion to impose lengthy sentences and that mandatory terms can be inappropriate in some cases. The committee then heard HB 392, which would prohibit ghost guns and establish mandatory minimum sentencing for use of a ghost gun in a felony. DLE and the Honolulu Prosecutor supported it, while the Public Defender and several opponents said parts of the bill were redundant or could create definitional problems; the committee recorded five supporters and 70 opponents. HB 995 would amend deadlines for annual firearms carry reporting by the Attorney General and county police chiefs. The Attorney General’s office and HPD supported the bill, with the Attorney General asking for more time for police departments to submit complete data and for the April 1 deadline to be removed. The committee also heard HB 664, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a grant program, a resource bank, and a special fund. The Department of the Attorney General supported the concept but recommended consolidating the new office’s duties with the existing Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission to avoid duplication and possibly repealing the existing commission statute. DLE supported HB 664, while the Tax Foundation objected to the special fund. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, basically, you’re running a small claims court, and evidently your jurisdiction doesn’t stop
• And I thought the reason may be because they’re licensees, but evidently that’s not a requirement.
• So all of these cases are lawsuits that we had to file because we weren't able to collect them prior
• Did you have that listed as an asset or something to be collected?
• But that's ultimately my question was, the harm was evidently someone committed fraud in your family

Committee: All ALC-CLAIMS REVIEW/LITIGATION REPORTS OVERSIGHT

Summary: The committee first reviewed several wage-claim and labor-related litigation reports from the Department of Labor and Licensing. Members questioned the department’s authority and jurisdiction, whether it was acting like a court, and why it sought attorney’s fees and costs. Department staff explained that the claims arose under the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act and related labor statutes, that the department investigates small wage claims and can file suit when informal resolution fails, and that filing fees are waived by statute though service costs may be incurred. The committee reviewed individual cases, including one where the employer had not proven cash payments, another that had already been paid and dismissed, and a third where service could not yet be completed. The committee then voted to review or batch-file the labor items. The University of Arkansas System then reported on three pending lawsuits under the litigation-notification statute. One case involving a tenured professor alleging age and race discrimination had already been resolved and dismissed after the university re-engaged in discussions about a position. A second case involving a former employee alleging ADA and FMLA retaliation was moving forward after partial dismissal and an answer denying liability. A third case involved a former vendor employee alleging retaliation tied to a parking ticket; members asked about individual-capacity exposure for a university police sergeant, and counsel explained that punitive damages could potentially create personal exposure. The committee reviewed each report. The Department of Finance and Administration presented a proposed tax settlement reducing a sales-and-use tax assessment from about $48,000 to $20,000, with interest and penalties waived, and the committee approved it. The Claims Commission then presented several claims and settlements, including an unpaid salary differential for the Department of Health, reissued warrants, unpaid bills for DHS, and multiple negotiated settlements involving UAMS, Arkansas State Police, and ARDOT; these were generally approved or batched for approval. The most extensive discussion involved a settlement between the Teacher Retirement System and Tetronics International Limited in liquidation, arising from losses tied to the failed Blue Oak project; members questioned the company’s liquidation status, the prior investment loss, and why the matter was settling for $65,000, and the committee ultimately affirmed the settlement. The committee also heard a disputed tax-sale claim involving the Commissioner of State Lands, where a claimant argued that excess proceeds from a 2009 tax sale should have gone to her family rather than escheating to the county. After testimony from the claimant and counsel, members debated sovereign immunity, heirship, and whether the committee could or should award the $4,200 overage. The motion was amended and then replaced with a motion to hold the matter over for further review in a future joint session, which passed. Finally, the committee considered an appeal by Andrew Simpson challenging dismissal of his claim against the Arkansas Court of Appeals; after Simpson and court staff explained the underlying dispute, the committee reviewed the dismissal and the matter was held over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I thought the reason may be because they’re licensees, but evidently that’s not a requirement.
• So it was, all of these cases are lawsuits that we had to file because we weren’t able to collect them
• The commission did not hear any evidence in this claim before it went to a full claim hearing.
• Did you have that listed as an asset or something to be collected?
• That's ultimately my question was, is the harm was evidently someone committed fraud in your family and

Committee: All ALC-CLAIMS REVIEW/LITIGATION REPORTS OVERSIGHT

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> scholars to contradict with evidence scholars to contradict with evidence that<02:36:24.479><c>
• And I think there's much evidence<03:01:41.920><c> to</c> evidence to evidence to support<03:01:44.240
• Now I a piece of the best evidence.
• They collect data.
• years, 30% of US tax collections go just years, 30% of US tax collections go just to<03:23:00.160><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• The data that is being collected is sobering.
• Birdwell told you about the data that we are collecting.
• The overwhelming evidence is clear and consistent.
• And there is no evidence of increased malpractice.
• And we've heard a lot of other evidence about this.

Bills: SB1888 , SB3003 , SB2417 , SB2459 , SB3055 , HB1393 , HB2884 , SB2943

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So I don’t disregard or disrespect your evidence.
• This bill does not end child support collection.
• This bill does not end child support collection.
• In fact, collections increased.
• California's United for Sex-Based Evidence in Policy and Law. Opposed. Thank you.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• As Chaburip noted, there is some evidence that disease-modifying medications are effective at slowing
• As Chaburip noted, there is some evidence that disease-modifying medications are effective at slowing
• , we believe plans should maintain the ability to apply evidence-based utilization management tools,
• Our experience demonstrates what evidence has already shown: biosimilars are safe, effective, and can
• So is there any evidence that the biosimilar would cause that more than the biologic?

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Rules of evidence apply. Rules of procedure.
• If it's introduced, you've got the applicant and its attorney offering evidence; we'll be offering evidence
• , and any of the other parties can offer evidence.
• But if the evidence is overwhelmingly supportive...
• So there’s no collection of an export fee.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Summary: The committee held a hearing on high-capacity groundwater wells proposed in Anderson, Henderson, and Houston counties, with members framing the issue as one of local water supply, fairness, and the need to modernize groundwater law while protecting private property rights. Opening remarks focused on the scale of the proposed Redtown Ranch and Pine Bliss projects, the potential export of tens of thousands of acre-feet of groundwater annually, and concerns that the applications lacked sufficient technical detail and could harm nearby landowners, cities, agriculture, and manufacturing. Members also noted the broader context of the recent flooding tragedy in central Texas and the Legislature’s intent to address water-related loss of life in the upcoming special session. Witnesses from the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts and the Texas Water Development Board explained the current groundwater management framework. They described groundwater conservation districts as the state’s preferred management method, the role of groundwater management areas and desired future conditions, and how the Water Development Board uses those conditions to calculate modeled available groundwater. They emphasized that districts rely on local data, monitoring wells, and planning processes, but that information is often more limited in areas without a district, where the rule of capture applies. Members pressed witnesses on recharge rates, export permits, subsidence, the effect of pumping on nearby wells, the age and real-time availability of model data, and whether the proposed project would exceed modeled available groundwater in some counties. TCEQ explained its limited oversight role over groundwater conservation districts, including inquiries, compliance actions, and, in extreme cases, dissolution authority. Water Development Board staff also outlined funding programs, saying the New Water Supply for Texas Fund is limited to projects such as brackish desalination, reuse, ASR, and other new-supply projects, and does not fund fresh groundwater exports alone. They said the project at issue had not applied for board funding. A water lawyer then testified on the rule of capture, ownership in place, and district regulation, arguing that districts must use permitting and other tools to manage production within modeled available groundwater and that the Legislature could consider additional authority over groundwater exports under current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is just to compare sales tax and total tax collections. They've grown in the last four years.
• So this report won't have any. about city and county property taxes. collect that data at all to know
• I often hear, you know, the surplus is because we're over collecting property taxes, but.
• Next we move into the assessment item. and collection phase.
• And I want to punctuate that point with a little. bit of data and evidence as well.

Committee: House Ways & Means