Transcript Highlights:

• The money goes through the CTED and then is distributed to that satellite campus. Follow-up, Mr.
• We can't even build the facility or update a facility or hire the teachers until they've approved it.
• The market value of excess facilities is estimated at about $12.2 billion.
• The market value of excess facilities is estimated at about $12.2 billion.
• We could accumulate all of the dead cash and then distribute it to all of the districts.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 4043, which would require each school district and charter school to ensure that at least one employee at each school is trained in CPR, first aid, and AED use by August 1, 2027. The sponsor said he would consider floor amendments to clarify that a trained person should be available at all times and to tie the requirement to schools that actually have AEDs. Supporters, including a constituent who lost a child, said the bill could help save lives; opponents and some members raised concerns about cost, staffing, and whether one trained employee is enough. The bill received a due pass recommendation on a 7-1 vote with several members voting present. The committee then took up House Concurrent Resolution 2015, as amended by a strike-everything amendment supporting at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for students and prominent display of the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans. A public health advocate testified in favor, emphasizing chronic disease prevention in children. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and then gave the resolution a due pass recommendation on a 12-0 vote. House Bill 2621, as amended, addressed enrollment and special education access for pupils in unorganized territory, tribal land, and certain military-connected students, including changes to certificates of educational convenience and timelines for district and county action. The sponsor and stakeholders described it as a technical fix to reduce enrollment delays and improve access to services. After adopting both the strike-everything amendment and a Garcia amendment, the committee passed the bill 11-0. The committee also advanced House Bill 2385, which limits superintendent contracts to one-year terms during the first three years of employment and allows longer terms only after three consecutive years. The sponsor framed it as a way to reduce costly buyouts and give school boards more flexibility; there was no public testimony, and the bill passed 7-4. House Bill 4106, creating the One Arizona Service Fellowship Program, also passed after amendment. Supporters said it would build service opportunities and workforce experience, while some members objected to creating and funding a new state program; it passed 8-2 with one present. Later, House Bill 2992, as amended, established a pilot program in schools for child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention, expanded to K-12 in the amendment and funded from the Victim Compensation and Assistance Fund. A survivor and anti-trafficking advocate strongly supported teaching children and training staff, while some members objected to the funding source and possible unintended consequences. The bill passed 6-5 with one present. House Bill 2370, concerning who may modify weapons detection systems and requiring superintendent notification to governing boards within 24 hours, passed 8-3 after a debate over school safety, accountability, and whether the bill was too vague or too narrow. House Bill 4056, as amended, would bar fees for legislators making public records requests in their official capacity and require electronic delivery; the sponsor cited large fees charged by school districts, while opponents warned against broad fee exemptions. It passed 8-3. Finally, the committee began House Bill 2478, which would create the Arizona Commission on Student Outcomes to study K-12 performance, accountability, graduation requirements, finance, and related issues, with a proposed amendment to add early childhood analysis. The sponsor said the commission would help drive a statewide conversation and that the Classroom Site Fund had sufficient unused balances to support it. Testimony from early learning and advocacy groups was generally neutral but supportive of including early childhood in the study, and the discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have nine clients that are living choices waiver clients in the facility.
• We have nine clients that are Living Choices waiver clients in the facility.
• There are nine clients under our waiver program at the facility. All right, thank you.
• Has this facility always filed timely, and do you have that off the top of your head?
• Has this facility always filed timely, and do you have that off the top of your head?

Summary: The subcommittee met to review Arkansas DHS hospital spending and reimbursement methods, with Secretary Janet Mann and Deputy Secretary Misty Eubanks explaining Medicaid hospital payments. They described fee-for-service per diem payments, cost settlements, and the upper payment limit (UPL) program, noting that SFY 2025 hospital payments included $688 million in inpatient/outpatient claims, $473 million in UPL payments, $248 million in cost settlements, and about $47 million in other payments such as graduate medical education and disproportionate share hospital funds. Members asked about why per diem rates vary, how cost settlements work, why UPL applies mainly to private hospitals, and how assessment fees are structured and funded. DHS said the hospital assessment fee is broad-based and uniform, used as the state share to draw federal funds, and that supplemental hospital payments after federal match totaled $548 million with no general revenue used. The Arkansas Hospital Association’s Jody Ann Tritt then gave a broader overview of the hospital landscape, explaining the different hospital types in the state, including critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, PPS hospitals, and specialty hospitals. She said Arkansas hospitals face financial strain, citing a negative 5.18% patient service margin statewide and lower reimbursement than surrounding states. She argued that Arkansas hospitals are paid less than hospitals in neighboring states for similar services, that commercial payer rates and administrative burdens are a major problem, and that Medicaid and Medicare rates remain below cost even with UPL support. She also said hospitals are the backbone of community care, provide emergency and public health functions, and are looking for ways to invest in technology and telehealth but often lack the revenue to do so. Members pressed for clearer data on hospital finances, reimbursement adequacy, and the impact of commercial insurers. Tritt said the association had just authorized a statewide survey to gather updated financial information from hospitals, which she said would take about a year to complete. She also explained that Medicaid pays weekly, Medicare and commercial plans can involve delays and denials, and that hospitals often spend significant resources on revenue cycle work. The discussion ended with a brief update on assisted living reimbursement: DHS said one facility, The Pillars of the Community in Crossett, had announced closure, nine Living Choices waiver clients were being transitioned, and the updated rate study would be available after cost reports are collected, likely before the end of the fiscal year. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• > you that those state-own facilities then you that those state-own facilities then you pay<00
• This is a testing facility license variance.
• <00:59:21.680> these to distribute these to distribute these funds<00:59:23.720> our
• request this is a testing facility request this is a testing facility license<01:00:01.839> variance
• licenses with the state outline facility licenses with the state outline facility requirements<02

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , that's an Otero County facility, to a concentration camp.
• Her stance now is that this is focused on rural facilities.
• To lose any more health care facilities, health care providers.
• Speaker, gentlelady, what is a fair distribution? Distribution defined as? Mr.
• or daycare facility without the immunization requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:21:53.040> energy added a reference to distributed energy added a reference to distributed
• /c> unregulated facilities could expand unregulated facilities could expand operations,<02:24:17.040>
• .<02:24:50.319> These<02:24:50.720> off-rid<02:24:51.439> facilities facilities.
• These off-rid facilities facilities.
• <02:26:05.120> line that said that any distribution line that said that any distribution line

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So as you can see in this slide, the funds are distributed across 13 different interest sectors, with
• I'm the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Facilities for Minnesota State.
• The way the funds are to be distributed is specified in statute.
• the amounts to be distributed the amounts to be distributed however<01:41:24.440> some<01
• It was decided that the first year's money would be distributed based on square feet of facility space

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Any written testimony will be distributed to all the JLARC members.
• Some describe needing to fire good staff when their certification took too long, and facilities can be
• Some describe needing to fire good staff when their certification took too long, and facilities can be
• And all written testimony is distributed to the membership of the committee.
• And all written testimony is distributed to the membership of the committee.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on the Restoring Quality Home Care Initiative (I-1163), which created home care aide certification requirements, FBI background checks, and an abuse/neglect registry. Auditors said some requirements likely improve safety, especially background checks and training, but the state lacked pre-2011 data to measure outcomes directly. They also found Washington has a long-term care workforce shortage, though its workforce supply ranks better than many states, and that more stringent entry requirements do not appear to reduce workforce participation compared with other states. The audit’s main concern was that the certification process is slow and burdensome. Auditors reported that most applicants never finish certification, that only about one-third of fiscal year 2025 applicants were certified within the 200-day legal deadline, and that the average time to certification was 463 days. They identified delays between training and testing, limited testing access in some areas, and redundant Department of Health verification of FBI background checks as key causes. The audit recommended streamlining the process by accepting applications later in the process, expanding testing within training programs, and eliminating the redundant background-check verification. Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services staff largely agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations. They said they have already made improvements, including moving exams into more than 110 training programs, increasing credentialing staff, and reducing barriers through rule changes. DSHS noted testing is offered in 13 languages. Committee members asked about testing contract incentives, language access, and whether the agencies would seek statutory or budget changes to implement the recommendations. No public testimony was offered, and the meeting adjourned without any vote or formal action by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1785, water storage facility, withdraws area. Finance.
• SB 1678, health facilities, group homes, resident information.
• SB 1699, empowerment scholarship amounts distribution intervals.
• SCR 1045, permanent funds land trust distributions.
• SCR 1045, permanent funds land trust distributions.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a recorded roll call showing 30 members present, and approval of the previous journal. The President announced receipt of HB 2022 from the governor and made temporary committee substitutions for the Rules Committee. The chamber also received a large calendar of first- and second-reading bills and resolutions covering elections, education, water, public safety, marijuana, housing, taxation, and other topics. A major presentation recognized licensed naturopathic physicians in the gallery, who were invited to support SB 1178, a bill expanding their authority to administer certain intravenous legend drugs, including antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals. The Senate then recessed to honor public safety personnel with a proclamation commending Deputies Gregory Sanders and Jacob Montoya, along with several Cochise and Pinal County and Border Patrol personnel, for rescuing an eight-year-old boy from a human trafficking situation. The members applauded the honorees and took photos with them. After returning to order, several senators used points of personal privilege to urge the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to review $2.85 million in election-related funding requested by the Secretary of State for IT and election infrastructure needs, arguing the money was already available and necessary for secure 2026 elections. Another senator spoke about the need for long-term water planning and reduced groundwater reliance. Additional announcements covered caucus and committee meeting times, Arizona Aerospace Day, and a mental health advocacy group visiting the chamber. No substantive floor votes on legislation were taken in the portion provided, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's a real concern for me, especially the Hooksett facility.
• And it's a real concern for me, especially the Hooksett facility.
• And it's a real concern for me, especially the Hooksett facility.
• And it's a real concern for me, especially the Hooksett facility.
• And it's a real concern for me, especially the Hooksett facility.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As you may know, the portion of the bill addressing the Chapter 90 distribution formula and its funding
• This dual formula distribution system addresses community equity by assisting municipalities...
• This dual formula distribution system addresses community equity by assisting municipalities that do
• Increasing Chapter 90 by $100 million, distributing it by road miles only, increases the average distribution
• The proposed investments and distributions will provide at least a 45% increase in investment to over

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held its first hearing of the session on H. 53, Governor Healey’s Chapter 90 proposal to increase state funding for municipal roads, bridges, sidewalks, and culverts. Committee chairs outlined the hybrid hearing process and invited testimony from municipal officials, labor groups, regional planning organizations, contractors, and administration officials. Across the hearing, speakers consistently supported the bill, emphasizing long-deferred maintenance, inflation in construction costs, climate-related flooding, and the need for more predictable, multi-year funding so cities and towns can plan projects and take advantage of the construction season. The administration described H. 53 as part of a broader $8 billion transportation package, proposing to raise annual Chapter 90 funding from $200 million to $300 million for five years, with the additional $100 million distributed by road mileage to better support rural and small communities. They also highlighted $200 million for culverts and small bridges, plus other transportation investments, and said the five-year authorization would provide certainty for municipal capital planning. Municipal witnesses from places including Carlisle, Beverly, Granby, Hatfield, Newton, Nahant, Gardner, Beckett, and Yarmouth described local road and culvert backlogs, rising asphalt costs, and the difficulty of maintaining infrastructure on limited local budgets. Labor and industry witnesses from the AFL-CIO and MAPA said the bill would support good-paying jobs and provide stability for contractors and producers. The MBTA Advisory Board and regional planning representatives also backed the proposal, noting the connection between local roads and the broader transportation system. Committee members asked questions about the road-mile formula, culvert needs, asphalt costs, and the rationale for a five-year authorization. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for any of those facilities that provide an athletic program, then all of the facilities contained
• clause of it, and the facilities clause applies to everyone who would use the facility, assuming the
• facility is contained in a place that has a gymnasium, for example.
• Well, if you're looking at the paper that was distributed, it's under number four.
• Is it distributed? Okay. Thank you. All right, Representative Gutierrez. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1978 by Hall relating to the interconnection of a facility in the ERCOT power region to a
• facility outside the power region to Business and Commerce.
• Senate Bill 1979 by Hall relating to renewable energy generation facilities to Business and Commerce.
• Senate Bill 1983 by Hall relating to the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products developed using
• Senate Bill 2015 by Bettencourt relating to the relocation or adjustment of certain facilities for certain

Transcript Highlights:

• It would require essentially a one-line... distribution statewide by the liquor distribution statewide
• high bay research facility at UW. high bay research facility at UW.
• facility itself. facility itself.
• <01:53:53.760> I those funds are to be distributed. I those funds are to be distributed.
• This impacts the distribution of Wyoming stable token funds.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Even Santa Fe cannot afford to update their treatment facility.
• You get the Water Trust Board, you give that distribution.
• The money is already appropriated in many cases with the distribution.
• , and the total amount spent by counties on detention facilities is about 400 million.
• Those are distributed between counties, municipalities, and school districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's just based on the historical distribution of Proposition 98 funding.
• It would just be distributed on per-pupil basis. Okay, yeah, I just want to clarify that.
• Weed Union and SISCU is a facility rated. Several of you... We progress here.
• Weed Union and SISCU is a facility rated.
• This is a general fund that is stable except for an overextended, if I can say this, facility project

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance met for its annual Proposition 98 overview, with Chair Alvarez outlining the committee’s focus on K-12 funding, student outcomes, and use of one-time funds. Superintendent Tony Thurmond gave an update on education issues, including wildfire recovery support for affected school communities, ongoing concerns about federal threats to education funding and immigration enforcement, progress on literacy and math, dual-language immersion, educator housing, and support for dual enrollment. Members broadly expressed support for these priorities, while also raising concerns about implementation, funding stability, and the need for schools to remain safe places for students. The committee then reviewed the Governor’s Proposition 98 proposal. The Department of Finance said the 2025-26 Proposition 98 guarantee is projected at $118.9 billion, with higher revenues and TK-related rebenching driving the increase. The LAO said the budget adds about $7.5 billion over two years and discussed the volatility of the guarantee, especially in 2024-25, when changes in revenue could have an outsized effect on school funding. Members questioned the proposed $1.6 billion delayed settle-up payment, the legal basis for delaying it, and the impact of possible federal funding freezes. The LAO presented alternatives such as a reserve deposit or delayed disbursement, while Finance said the proposal is intended to manage uncertainty. Members also raised concerns that ethnic studies implementation was not funded in the January budget, and Finance said the administration was not proposing funding for it. The committee next heard on the Proposition 98 rainy day fund and education deferrals. Finance said the reserve would receive a mandatory deposit of about $1.2 billion in 2024-25 and a discretionary deposit of $376 million in 2025-26, leaving a balance of about $1.5 billion. The LAO supported rebuilding the reserve as a way to manage volatility. On deferrals, Finance described the Governor’s plan to eliminate remaining deferrals by 2025-26, and the LAO said paying them off improves cash flow and budget resilience. Members generally supported eliminating deferrals and rebuilding reserves, though some asked about acting earlier if revenues allow. The committee also reviewed the proposed $1.8 billion student support and professional development block grant; Finance said it would fund professional development, recruitment and retention, and dual enrollment, while the LAO recommended clearer language on local discretion and use for one-time costs. Members were divided, with some supporting flexibility and others warning that one-time block grants can create instability and confusion for districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• facilities in Cottage Grove and Maple Grove.
• <00:23:57.600> plan prepare to bring our facilities plan prepare to bring our facilities plan
• for both the water treatment facility for both the water treatment facility and<00:26:43.039>
• connect it to our distribution center. connect it to our distribution center.
• > the<00:39:42.240> public our current facility, the public our current facility, the public

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:57:23.599> senator's collect and distribute the senator's collect and distribute the senator's
• Pages as you distribute it. Uh board. Pages as you distribute it.
• <01:41:59.199> with the adult correctional facilities with the adult correctional facilities
• in the adult correctional facilities. in the adult correctional facilities.
• Pages will collect and distribute the senator’s amendment. university.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, journalized the prayer, and recognized Read Across America Day with a special resolution congratulating the Maryland State Education Association on the program’s 28th anniversary. Senators also welcomed several guests and student groups, including Eleanor Roosevelt High School students, Maryland Federation of Republican Women members for Red Scarf Day, medical shadows from Johns Hopkins, a student page prospect, and a group from Matthew Henson Elementary School. The chamber then took up multiple Finance Committee consent calendars and individual local alcohol-related bills, all of which were reported favorably, adopted without objection, and ordered printed for third reading. Measures included changes to alcohol license fee refunds for uniformed service members, Anne Arundel County license classifications and compensation for liquor board officials, a Baltimore City racetrack license extension, a Cecil County license quota change, and new or expanded licenses for golf courses, sports venues, and barber shop/beauty salon establishments. The Senate also advanced bills on social work licensing, a rural readiness economic development program, a Maryland-Ireland Trade Commission extension, peer-to-peer car sharing insurance rules, telematics-based auto insurance disclosures and appeals, and veteran status notation on public profiles. Several bills were amended before being advanced, generally with technical or clarifying changes and no recorded opposition. Senate Bill 18 would create a provisional social work license; Senate Bill 351 would regulate insurer use of vehicle telematics data; Senate Bill 395 would revise insurance and liability rules for peer-to-peer car sharing; and Senate Bill 197 would alter comprehensive plan elements in land use law. Senate Bill 439, protecting fire and rescue public safety employees from adverse action based on medical cannabis certification, also moved forward without amendment. One measure, Senate Bill 69, which would make permanent the nonprofit navigator position in the Department of Commerce, was discussed at length after a member raised concerns about oversight of nonprofit grant funding. On request, the bill was special ordered to the next day for further consideration. All other bills discussed in the transcript were advanced to third reading by unanimous or near-unanimous voice action, with no recorded roll-call votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second part of the bill is focused on taking advantage of load flexibility at the distribution level
• Second, the bill will address critical bottlenecks on the distribution grid.
• In the past, attempts to use load flexibility as a distribution system resource have had some limited
• And to date, with the exception of a pilot facility in Tracy, none of the CDR removals have occurred
• And if people haven't had a chance to visit the Tracy facility, I suggest going by and looking.

Summary: The committee heard several energy and water affordability bills, with extensive testimony on SB 254 by Senator Becker, SB 541 by Senator Becker, SB 453 by Senator Stern, SB 292 by Senator Caballero, and SB 473 by Senator Padilla. SB 254 was presented as a broad utility affordability package addressing short-term climate credits, a Power Fund, tighter scrutiny of rate increases and utility profits, wildfire spending, securitization of future utility costs, and streamlining. Supporters, including TURN and several environmental and public power groups, said it could lower bills and reduce long-term costs; opponents from investor-owned utilities, labor, business, and local government raised concerns about market impacts, insufficient analysis, and the breadth of the bill. The committee approved SB 254 on a 6-3 vote and placed it on call. SB 541 focused on load flexibility and using existing grid capacity more efficiently. Senator Becker described it as a transparency and planning measure to identify cost-effective load shifting and reduce peak demand, while supporters said it could improve resiliency and save money. Several CCAs and utilities opposed the bill in print or unless amended, arguing that some language implied a mandate and that the concept needed more cost-effectiveness analysis; the author said amendments would remove language dividing the state goal among retail suppliers and clarify that the bill is not a procurement mandate. The committee passed SB 541 as amended to Appropriations on a 9-1 vote and left it on call. SB 453 by Senator Stern would return unspent ratepayer-funded microgrid program dollars and was described as a way to keep the lights on and redirect unused funds. It drew support from local government and environmental groups, with PG&E expressing concern about how the bill would affect its ability to spend awarded funds. The committee passed SB 453 as amended to Appropriations on a 12-0 vote. SB 292 by Senator Caballero would require more granular outage and reliability reporting, including census-tract-level data, to better inform resilience planning after PSPS events; utilities opposed unless amended, citing duplicative reporting and regulatory overlap, but the bill passed 12-0 to Appropriations. SB 473 by Senator Padilla would require or expand water utility decoupling to promote conservation and affordability. Supporters, including water utilities, labor, business, and local government groups, argued decoupling stabilizes revenue, supports conservation, and can keep rates lower for low-use customers. The Public Advocates Office opposed, saying prior pilot data showed no conservation benefit and about $1 billion in added costs, and that the CPUC had already rejected similar requests. Committee members questioned the conservation and capital-investment effects of the different rate structures; the author and supporters argued decoupling helps utilities fund infrastructure while allowing lower fixed charges for low-use customers. The transcript ends during that discussion, before a final vote on SB 473 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then when you build a data center or you build a quantum facility, there are secondary and tertiary
• And so those are things like fabrications, they might be research facilities, you name it.
• This creates a GDRT distribution to a newly established UNM School of Medicine fund to help pay for a
• GDRT distribution to a newly established UNM School of Medicine fund to help pay for a new school of
• And is that for The land acquisition, building facilities, etc.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our four largest programs receive regular distributions of funds: the Public Project Revolving Fund,
• There's a trust fund that you've heard of that makes annual distributions over to the project fund, and
• about $6.25 million, the Local Government Planning Fund for $2 million, and the Cultural Affairs Facility
• Since 2019, we've been making those $5 million distributions.
• We currently have eight certified facilities. Many of these are in our rural communities.