Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the State Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs, listen up. Oh, y'all got really quiet.
• A small business, a small gun shop, family-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned in my district, House
• Military and Veterans Affairs Committee report.
• and milit Military state civic veterans and milit Military and<02:05:36.800><c> veterans</c><02:05:37.119
• </c> and veterans affairs committee report. and veterans affairs committee report.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• contract for services for the shelter and care of service and companion animals, and to support veterans
• accessing homeless services or medical care that requires temporary separation from the veterans' animals
• contract for services for the shelter and care of service and companion animals, and to support veterans
• Sorry, I'd like to just announce that House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs will meet 15 minutes
• Sorry, I'd like to just announce that House, Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs will meet 15 minutes

Bills: HM19

Keywords: New Mexico Aviation and Aerospace Day, aviation, aerospace, space industry, missile programs, Spaceport America, White Sands Missile Range, White Sands Test Facility, Kirtland Air Force Base, drone, unmanned aircraft systems, commercial space transportation, NASA, aircraft, STEM education, research laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, flight testing, medical evacuation

Transcript Highlights:

• President, this bill establishes a military veteran teaching temporary teaching certificate to create
• a career pathway for qualified veterans to teach in our K-12 schools in the state.
• Our veterans, as we all know, epitomize service, resilience, and leadership.
• </c><00:41:33.520><c> to</c> career pathway for qualified veterans to career pathway for qualified veterans
• </c><00:41:36.560><c> know,</c><00:41:36.720><c> epitomize</c> Our veterans, as we all know, epitomize

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum. Early procedural motions were adopted without objection, including excusing absent senators, dispensing with the prior journal, and allowing bills and committee reports to be introduced throughout the day. The Senate then took up several confirmation reports from the Committee on Confirmations, unanimously confirming Ralph Foster, Andre Harrison, Katie Randall, Donna Jones, and Reetta McCannan to the State Textbook Committee for Social Studies. The chamber also received a favorable report on Senate Bill 174 from the Transportation and Energy Committee, and later adopted a special order calendar from the Rules Committee. On the floor, the Senate passed a series of measures, including SB 104, which requires training for members of certain boards, commissions, and councils under the sunset law but was amended to exclude county and municipal boards; HB 59, a cleanup bill concerning the Certified Public Accountants Board; SB 8, authorizing the Emergency Management Agency to spend public funds on public information; SB 66, changing University of Monavalo board terms and related requirements, with an amendment protecting certain trustees appointed before January 1, 2027; SB 168, codifying limits on a reading technique and emphasizing the science of reading; SB 149, creating a temporary teaching certificate pathway for qualified military veterans; SB 46, adding a special driver’s license designation for individuals with invisible disabilities; and SB 90, addressing seafood dealer licenses and support for domestic seafood producers. Local bills including SB 175 and HB 84, HB 200, HB 201, HB 184, HB 203, HB 204, HB 205, HB 133, HB 134, HB 193, and HB 112 also advanced or passed, with several county-specific measures receiving BR adoption, final passage, and in one case certification. Near the end of the meeting, leadership and members discussed severe weather and contingency plans for the coming week. Budget hearings scheduled for Monday were canceled and moved to Thursday, with the Senate planning to meet Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. if weather permits, or Wednesday if necessary. The Senate also received several House messages referring local bills to committee. The session adjourned after a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, January 27 at 3:00 p.m., with the journal left open to receive House messages.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not how a U.S. veteran should be treated, not in life and certainly not in death.
• A veteran of our nation took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States.
• Taps and everything that we do to honor our veterans. Our veterans as they depart this life.
• I'm also a veteran of the United States Navy. Thank you for your service. Thank you.
• Army veteran, and the CEO of Metta Market, a Bioskills lab, or an anatomical facility.

Bills: SB1406 , SB1681 , SB2480 , SB2721

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: body donation, medical science, forensic science, willed body program, informed consent, boarding home, boarding home facility, adult care home, group home, assisted living, county reporting, municipal reporting, annual report, reasonable accommodation, fair housing, disability accommodation, local ordinance, permit requirement, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Weber: Madam President, House Bill 1280 was heard in our Senate Ag and Veterans Affairs Committee
• You'll see that in Section 2, we're changing the definition of veteran with a couple word changes.
• Section 2, we're changing the definition of veteran with a couple word changes, and the intention there
• , according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, is to align our state definition with a veteran more
• Sections 2 and 3 come, as spoken previously, at the request of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum call showing 46 members present. It then took up multiple House messages and amendments, appointing conference committees on several measures, including SB 2007, SCR 4007, SB 2374, SB 233, and House bills 1029, 1218, and 1022. The chamber also considered a series of House bills on the sixth and 14th orders, often adopting committee amendments before final passage or, in some cases, rejecting the bill outright. Among the major policy items, the Senate passed HB 1524 on regional planning council grants, HB 1143 increasing a food bank appropriation to $10 million, HB 1126 modernizing cosmetology licensing and inspections, HB 1542 making student applications for admission exempt records, HB 1613 regulating law enforcement use of robots, HB 1582 directing a study on false reports and accusations, HB 1214 revising school transportation funding, HB 1448 creating a study on advanced technologies, HB 1280 on drainage project voting rules, HB 1499 protecting records related to federal judges, and several Senate bills returned from the House, including SB 2221, SB 2117, SB 2198, SB 2120, and SB 2214. The Senate also adopted amendments to HB 1541 on septic systems before rejecting it on final passage. Several high-profile bills failed after debate. HB 1566, dealing with kratom regulation, saw an amendment to convert it to a study fail on a 21-25 vote, after which the chamber laid the bill over for one legislative day rather than take final action. HB 1283, which would have eliminated cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams in the state employee plan, was defeated 22-24 after extensive debate over cost, precedent, and insurance impacts. HB 1527, requiring Holocaust education in statute, also failed 22-24, with supporters emphasizing the importance of the subject and opponents arguing curriculum belongs in standards rather than statute. The Senate adjourned after announcements, scheduling its next meeting for Monday, April 14, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a disabled Gulf War Army veteran.
• These specialized handicapped parking permits, including disabled veteran license plates for veterans
• New Jersey provides extensive support for veterans through the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
• New Jersey pushes to be a pro-veteran support state.
• necessity to continue to support our veterans in New Jersey.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Veterans, the Marine Corps League, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Paralyzed Veterans of
• America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
• ,</c> AMVET, the Disabled American Veterans, AMVET, the Disabled American Veterans, the<01:35:50.320>
• :51.440><c> Marine</c> the Jewish War Veterans, the Marine the Jewish War Veterans, the Marine Corps<
• </c> veterans, but we are ignoring them. veterans, but we are ignoring them.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Tant: ...include women, African American, Hispanic, disabled, faith, and veteran-owned
• Members, veterans who have served our country deserve more than our gratitude.
• Of course, we recognize many veterans here earlier today, and we appreciate you.
• Some of our veterans don't have the best housing.
• This is a pro-veteran bill. We're doing the right thing for our Florida veterans.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum call, and several recognitions, including law enforcement guests, a Spina Bifida Week presentation, and a salute to the 2025 IPSC Handgun World Shoot team. The chamber then adopted the special order report and moved to floor consideration of Senate bills. Members passed several bills unanimously or near-unanimously after brief debate and, in some cases, floor amendments. CS/SB 590 clarified that changes to the statute of limitations for mandatory reporters of child abuse apply prospectively and passed 111-0. SB 418 required law enforcement autism-interaction training and allowed the blue-envelope program to be offered in electronic or physical form; it passed 111-0. CS/CS/SB 1668 addressed NICA’s actuarial soundness and passed 112-0. CS/SB 1246 expanded the Linking Industry to Nursing Education fund to broader health science programs and passed 112-0. CS/CS/SB 1404 set baseline standards for memory care providers and passed 111-0. CS/CS/SB 1030 revised recovery residence rules, including MAT-related provisions, and passed 168-0. CS/CS/SB 178 changed FHSAA rules so school coaches may use limited personal funds for student welfare with parent consent and passed 112-0. CS/CS/SB 422 barred use of ADS-B data for airport billing and passed 108-2. CS/CS/SB 598 modernized funeral, cemetery, and consumer services licensing and passed 111-0. The House also considered CS/CS/SB 1134, a controversial bill restricting county and municipal DEI-related official actions and contracting. Sponsor Rep. Black described broad prohibitions with numerous exceptions, while members asked about effects on observances, special events, parade participation, and local economic-vitality offices. Rep. Gant offered an amendment to narrow the bill’s DEI definition by removing vague prongs, arguing the language was ambiguous and could chill local government action; debate on that amendment was underway when the transcript ended. The chamber then moved into farewell remarks, including an extended address from Rep. Eskamani reflecting on her service, family, staff, constituents, and policy priorities, followed by remarks from the Speaker praising her energy and preparation. Rep. Overdorf also delivered farewell remarks highlighting his work on environmental policy, human trafficking, development regulation, property rights, and property taxes, with the Speaker commending his contributions.

Transcript Highlights:

• If a city funds outreach to veterans, if a county provides translation services in English, Spanish,
• Members, veterans who have served our country deserve more than our gratitude.
• Of course, we recognize many veterans here earlier today, and we appreciate you.
• Some of our veterans don't have the best housing.
• This is a pro-veteran bill. We're doing the right thing for our Florida veterans.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But today I will focus on our request for the coming biennium and the results of our recent veterans
• </c><00:04:23.880><c> history</c> results of our recent veterans history results of our recent veterans
• </c><00:05:04.880><c> in</c> different segments about veterans in different segments about veterans in
• Special funding this year allowed us to share the experiences of veterans and immigrants.
• </c><00:56:54.960><c> gave</c> was all of the reasons the veterans gave was all of the reasons the veterans

Bills: HF1679 , HF1019 , HF2321 , HF1740 , HF2278

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: public television, funding, grants, arts and culture, Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, arts education, cultural heritage, community engagement, public radio, community radio, educational grants, community cable, public access, programming funding, civic engagement, ethnic media, public access television, Minnesota Humanities Center, funding appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• As a chair of the Military and Veterans Committee, I want to turn the clock back.
• And I requested from the Dodgers that they opened up a section for at least 350 veterans.
• But the Dodgers gave those veterans a welcome home they have never seen before.
• So I want to acknowledge that the Dodgers love their veterans, and obviously our veterans love the Dodgers
• The Dodgers love their veterans, and obviously our veterans love the Dodgers, not just in America, but

Summary: The Senate session opened with a roll call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long series of floor recognitions and votes. Members spent substantial time honoring the Los Angeles Dodgers, celebrating their back-to-back World Series championship and highlighting the team’s history, community role, and connections to Jackie Robinson, Fernando Valenzuela, Vin Scully, and Jaime Jarrín. Senators also recognized summer interns and welcomed members of Kappa Alpha Psi’s Kappa League and Guide Right program to the floor. The chamber then took up several measures, beginning with AB 182 on ballot order and proposition numbering for the 2026 statewide ballot, which passed 38-8 after debate over whether placing legislatively referred measures first was fair. SR 113, commemorating the International Day of Peace and honoring Dr. Yongshik Cho’s role in proposing it, passed unanimously after supportive remarks about peace, education, and California’s diversity. The Senate also adopted SJR 16 urging Congress to restore commercial driver’s licenses for affected California truck drivers, and SCR 185 designating Probation Services Week. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to budget trailer bills. The Senate concurred in Assembly amendments to AB 112, AB 150, AB 152, AB 181, and AB 179, covering Medi-Cal, child care, human services, education governance, and housing. It also passed or concurred in SB 168, SB 169, SB 170, SB 171, SB 172, SB 174, SB 177, and SB 180, addressing public resources and energy, transportation, executive branch reorganization, labor, state government, courts, Medi-Cal financing, and taxation. Several of these drew opposition centered on energy costs, transparency, business impacts, or the proposed “fair share” approach to Medi-Cal costs for large corporations, but most measures passed on party-line or near-party-line votes. The Senate also confirmed three California Horse Racing Board appointments and ended with adjournment motions, including a request to adjourn in memory of Francis Lydia Limos of American Canyon.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Resolution by Representative Baham to commend Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 550.
• House Resolution by Representative Baham to commend Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 550 and St.
• Bernard Parish government on the occasion of the annual Vietnam War Veterans Commemoration Ceremony.
• House Resolution by Representative Baham to commend decorated veterans and Tenarian James Jim Bollett
• A veteran of the United States Army and National Guard, Abney served.

Bills: HR58 , HR59 , HR60 , HR61 , HR62 , HR63 , HR64 , HCR32 , HB43 , HB447 , HB573 , HB1000 , HB1001 , HB1002 , HB1003 , HB1004 , HB1005 , HR46 , HR48 , HR50 , HR51 , HR52 , HR53 , HR54 , HR55 , HR56 , HR57 , HCR31 , HB20 , HB21 , HB166 , HB494 , HB710 , HB795 , HB985 , HB986 , HB987 , HB988 , HB989 , HB990 , HB991 , HB992 , HB993 , HB994 , HB995 , HB996 , HB997 , HB998 , SB128 , SB149 , SB174 , SB191 , SB205 , SB213 , SB218 , SB220 , SB229 , SB238 , SB243 , SB375 , SB379 , HB8 , HB9 , HB10 , HB15 , HB16 , HB17 , HB18 , HB19 , HB22 , HB33 , HB34 , HB35 , HB44 , HB46 , HB47 , HB48 , HB61 , HB101 , HB126 , HB135 , HB142 , HB164 , HB185 , HB215 , HB226 , HB232 , HB233 , HB242 , HB284 , HB292 , HB297 , HB301 , HB334 , HB436 , HB468 , HB548 , HB571 , HB582 , HB593 , HB594 , HB609 , HB613 , HB712 , HB722 , HB732 , HB746 , HB781 , HB827 , HB845 , HB848 , HB921 , HB923 , HB951 , HB953 , HB999 , HB129 , HB130 , HB287 , HB489 , HB545 , HB553 , HB555 , HB570 , HB854 , HB952 , HB28 , HB36 , HB50 , HB52 , HB56 , HB62 , HB68 , HB92 , HB110 , HB117 , HB119 , HB124 , HB140 , HB147 , HB171 , HB182 , HB193 , HB196 , HB203 , HB228 , HB234 , HB260 , HB268 , HB271 , HB285 , HB289 , HB351 , HB400 , HB413 , HB469 , HB534 , HB551 , HB552 , HB574 , HB576 , HB634 , HB649 , HB677 , HB735 , HB739 , HB779 , HB784 , HB796 , HB842 , HB850 , HB919 , HB149 , HB733 , HB875 , HB868 , HB901

Keywords: waterfowl conservation, wetlands preservation, Ducks Unlimited, environmental stewardship, Louisiana, tennis, athlete recognition, family legacy, sports achievements, coaching, student parents, higher education, academic support, family stability, workforce equity, Homeland Security, federal funding, public safety, emergency services, TSA

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened in prayer, and received official notice from the Secretary of State certifying Dana Henry and Paul Sawyer to fill vacancies in the chamber. Both members were sworn in. The House also received Senate messages on several concurrent resolutions and a large slate of Senate bills, and it adopted a number of House resolutions recognizing groups and individuals, including agriculture, athletic trainers, GoFar Louisiana, homeschooling families, veterans, and several community honorees. Committee reports and bill referrals were also announced throughout the morning hour. A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to floor action on House bills, many of them memorial highway designations and policy measures. The House gave final passage to bills naming roadways and bridges for Officer Trevor Abney, Dr. Harry Blake Sr., Virginia Green Evans, and American Legion Post No. 14, and it also passed bills extending Tax Commission assessment fees, creating a transfer-on-death securities registration act, increasing lender origination fees, expanding assessor certification committee membership, and strengthening protections for eligible adults against financial exploitation. Other bills passed included measures on teacher certification appeals, removing Evangeline Parish from a juvenile justice district, re-creating the Department of Education, and repealing a $25 impaired-driving fine. Most of these bills passed overwhelmingly or unanimously. The most extensive debate centered on House Bill 68, which would create a new offense for disturbing worship services and impose a mandatory 30-day jail term for certain misdemeanor conduct, with higher penalties for related offenses. Supporters argued the bill was intended to deter disruptions and reduce the risk of escalation in houses of worship, citing heightened security concerns and incidents in churches nationwide. Opponents questioned the bill’s vagueness, the mandatory minimum sentence, the distinction between misdemeanor and felony treatment, and whether existing law already covered the conduct. The bill remained under discussion as members continued to raise constitutional, enforcement, and policy concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Forty-nine percent of the veterans in our country are registered to vote as declined to state.
• I'm curious, you stated that 40% of veterans are not choosing a party.
• And it's the Veterans and Military Families Caucus.
• I think I'm fairly plugged into the veterans community. I was just curious about that.
• But this veteran said to me, "Why do you make me lie?

Committee: House House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• of Administration Services requests approval on behalf of the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans
• of Administration Services requests approval on behalf of the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans
• I have General Matis here with me from the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services.
• </c><00:12:50.199><c> services</c><00:12:50.600><c> to</c> Affairs and veteran services to Affairs and
• veteran services to construct<00:12:51.360><c> a</c><00:12:52.000><c> uh</c><00:12:52.560><c> Army</

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee met in organizational session and first elected Representative John Cluder as clerk. A nomination of Senator Mark Makoni as vice chair was made but not voted on because he was absent; it was carried over to the next meeting. The committee also reviewed its guidelines and procedures, including how it handles property-disposal requests, late items, and informational materials, and then approved the November 12, 2024 minutes with one abstention from a member who had been absent. The committee then considered several state property and lease requests. It approved a 50-year, $1-per-year ground lease for about 5.66 acres at Berlin Regional Airport in Milan for a New Hampshire Army National Guard hangar/support facility, after hearing that the project is federally funded, intended for training and search-and-rescue support, and would have no permanent full-time staffing. The committee also approved a 30-year lease for the Department of Justice to move the chief medical examiner’s offices, morgue, and autopsy suite to 279 Pleasant Street in Concord, with testimony that the current Concord Hospital space is inadequate and that the new site would double body-storage capacity. Several Department of Safety and Department of Transportation property items were approved as well. Safety received approval for a 10-year lease, with renewal options, for the State Police aircraft hangar at 91 Airport Road in Concord. Transportation was authorized to continue disposal efforts for remnant parcels in Concord, Conway, Lisbon, Effingham, and Mount Vernon, with testimony explaining market conditions, appraisals, access limits, and easements; members asked questions about access and buildability, but each item was approved. During the Berlin lease item, the committee was told the FAA objects to any lease longer than 50 years at that airport, so the request was revised from 55 years to 50 years on the record before approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• Back then, there was no veterans court, environmental court, or women's court.
• court environmental court or no veterans court environmental court or women's<00:17:46.039><c> court
• We created Veterans Treatment Court that serves veterans who are having a hard time re-acclimating to
• We created Veterans Treatment Court that serves veterans who are having a hard time re-acclimating to
• </c><00:47:58.720><c> treatment</c> environmental Court veterans treatment environmental Court veterans

Keywords: House Agenda:, 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:56.399><c> subcommittee</c> remember from the veteran subcommittee remember from the veteran
• </c> even though our American Indian veterans even though our American Indian veterans comprise<00:18
• </c><00:18:19.760><c> population,</c> 1.3 of the state's veteran population, 1.3 of the state's veteran
• </c> amendment happened in the veterans amendment happened in the veterans subcommittee.<00:19:03.360
• </c> uh this was amended in in the veterans uh this was amended in in the veterans committee. committee

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 66, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the House Labor, Veterans
• House Bill 67, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the House Labor, Veterans
• House Bill 68, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the House Labor, Veterans
• House Bill 84, having been read twice by title, is ordered printed and referred to the House Labor, Veterans
• To the House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee, then to the House Judiciary Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Respectfully request that House File 4492, an act relating to veterans, the >> The message signed Thomas
• Luckily, we had a very wise and astute chair of veterans who was able to find another bill for us to
• to refine literacy law, including the REACH Act in Minnesota and provide high school diplomas to veterans
• Every member of this chamber cares about both literacy and veterans.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we have CS for HB 199, Veteran Affairs, by Roe.
• Next, we have CS for HB 199, Veteran Affairs, by Representative Maney. Welcome, sir.
• This is a very short, very simple amendment, amending the statute for veterans treatment courts.
• state attorney is part of the multidisciplinary team that reviews and works on getting people into Veterans

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met and considered two bills. HB 145, by Rep. McFarland, would update sovereign immunity financial liability caps for claims against government entities, raising them to $500,000 per person and $1 million per incident, with a future automatic increase, aligning the statute of limitations with private claims, and allowing governments to settle valid claims above the cap without further legislative action. Several local government and related organizations waived in opposition. The bill passed on a 12-2 vote and was reported favorably. The committee then took up CS for HB 199, by Rep. Maney, which makes a short change to veterans treatment court law to align its procedures with mental health and drug courts and emphasize the state attorney’s role in the multidisciplinary review process. An amendment clarifying the state attorney’s role was adopted without objection. Public testimony on the bill was in support, and the committee reported the bill favorably as amended on a 14-0 vote. After completing both measures, the chair thanked members and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will help my veterans and seniors. I do have to go to committee in Transportation.
• It will help my veterans and seniors. I do have to go to committee in transportation.
• there that the veterans, they can't afford housing, will go.
• and making sure that veterans have a roof over their heads.
• and making sure that veterans have a roof over their heads.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2584, which would prohibit public monies from being used for genetic sequencing procedures involving devices made by companies owned or substantially controlled by entities domiciled in a foreign adversary. The sponsor said the bill is intended to protect genetic data from being sold or used against the United States. There was no public testimony, and the committee approved the bill on a 13-5 vote for a do pass recommendation. The committee then took up HB 2804, which creates a rural development and housing tax credit capped at $2 million per year and tied to federal low-income housing tax credit projects in counties under 800,000 population. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Flagstaff mayor, and housing investors/developers, argued it would leverage private capital to address rural affordable housing shortages, especially for seniors, veterans, and low-income residents. Opponents, including the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, argued state LIHTC programs are inefficient, costly, hard to oversee, and can add complexity and higher per-unit costs. The bill passed 13-4 with one not voting. HB 2388, as amended, appropriates $100,000 for the Arizona Commerce Authority to study the economic benefits of small modular reactors and data centers, with a report due June 30, 2027. Supporters said the study would help Arizona plan for energy demand and data center growth, while opponents argued the agency should use existing funds instead of a new appropriation. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved the bill 10-7 with one not voting. The committee also received a presentation from the Auditor General on county treasurer procedural reviews, including the response to the Santa Cruz County treasurer embezzlement case and the office’s ramp-up plan for reviews and staffing. Later, the committee approved HB 2352, which appropriates $2,385,900 in FY2029 to make the Auditor General’s county treasurer review funding ongoing. Members supporting the bill said the office needs certainty to plan audits and retain staff, while opponents objected to funding it so far in advance during budget uncertainty. The bill passed 11-7. The committee also approved HB 2418, as amended, which directs $600,000 to be evenly distributed among five county sheriff task forces in Cochise, Coconino, Navajo, Pinal, and Yuma counties; supporters said it codifies the long-standing distribution practice, and it passed 17-1. Finally, the committee heard HB 2499, which would provide $2.6 million and 12 FTEs to the Department of Education for ESA administration; supporters argued the program’s rapid growth requires more staff for enrollment, reviews, and accountability, while members questioned the lack of standardized testing data and how to measure student outcomes. The transcript ends during that discussion, before a final vote on HB 2499.