Transcript Highlights:

• It appeared that they extrapolated growth in the program. on participants and the cost.
• Yes, you have the basic or initial allotment, and then you have.
• We are talking about money that is spent beyond the initial appropriation.
• It does not appear that they were because there is no fee subsidy associated with it.
• Once it starts, there's an initial check.

Bills: SB2, SJR36, SB2, SB2, SR29, SB2

Keywords: Maverick County, recognition, economic development, Texas Senate, community celebration, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And in this case, it appears... ...are not being followed.
• It appears the ayes have it. Madam Vice, please move the bill as amended. Mr.
• Thank you for appearing. Name and who you represent, or if you represent yourself.
• It appears the ayes have it. Do you have it? I will go ahead and do the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• It appears the ayes have it. Do you have it? So ordered.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee opened with remarks framing the meeting as a bipartisan effort to improve Arizona’s child welfare system, especially DCS oversight, accountability, and child safety. The chair said the committee would focus on reforms based on Auditor General findings and hear bills and testimony from youth, advocates, foster parents, and attorneys. Roll was taken, and the committee then began considering several child-welfare bills. HB 2611, dealing with group foster home safety, employee drug screening, resident rights, training, and advocates in congregate care, drew extensive testimony. Supporters, including current and former foster youth, described bullying, unsafe staff behavior, drug use in homes, trafficking concerns, and the need for posted rights, mental health services, and stronger accountability. The sponsor and members discussed an amendment that would require quarterly drug-screening results to be submitted, require removal from child contact pending confirmatory testing after a positive result, and give the DCS director more discretion. The amendment was adopted, and HB 2611 as amended received a do-pass recommendation by a 5-1 vote, with some members voting present or expressing procedural concerns but supporting further work on the bill. HB 2035, which expands kinship placement requirements by adding extended family members to search and notification duties and presuming kinship placement is in the child’s best interest, also received substantial testimony. Advocates argued kinship care reduces trauma and improves stability, while several witnesses described cases where children were not placed with available relatives and instead ended up in congregate care. The committee discussed whether the bill duplicated existing law and whether DCS was already required to search for kin; the sponsor said the bill strengthens existing policy and adds written documentation requirements. HB 2035 was given a do-pass recommendation by a 4-2 vote. The committee then heard HB 4049, which would authorize DCS to employ legal counsel or incur legal expenses, along with an amendment that would require the Attorney General or appointed counsel to represent the state’s interests independently in certain cases and not be subject to DCS retaliation for taking a different position. Testimony split between those who argued the current structure creates a conflict of interest and allows DCS narratives to go unchallenged, and those who said the AG’s office already has separate divisions and that keeping representation centralized preserves consistency and oversight. Discussion continued on whether the current system is structurally broken and where counsel would be housed if the arrangement changed; the transcript ends while that debate is ongoing, without a recorded final vote on HB 4049.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Chang, um, we are here in strong support of this measure, which would go to support our initiative
• Moving on, Mariah Yoshu, hello, Vice Chair Mariah Yoshu, on behalf of Ulupono Initiative.
• Deputy Attorney General Trisha Nakamatsu appearing on behalf of the Department of the Attorney General
• general TR nakatu appearing on behalf<00:22:18.840> of<00:22:19.000> the<00:22:19.120>
• as if it would these bonds appears as if it would violate<00:29:04.640> act<00:29:04.880>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first heard Senate Bill 151 relating to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and geothermal development on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL and Ulupono Initiative testified in strong support, saying the measure would help advance clean energy goals, create economic opportunities, and support DHHL’s mission. Fine Electric also supported the bill. Several members of the public testified in opposition, raising concerns about consultation with beneficiaries, water impacts, land issues, and the scale of the proposed spending. In response to questions, DHHL staff explained slimhole drilling, the permitting distinctions between water exploration and geothermal exploration, and said prior studies and geophysical testing had been done. The chair then recommended passage with amendments, including SMA technical amendments, a directive to establish a permitted interaction group to study geothermal options, removal of the appropriation language, and a new effective date. The committees adopted the recommendation and passed SB 151 with amendments, with one senator voting no and several excused. The joint committees then took up Senate Bill 371 on property damage to critical infrastructure facilities. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill with amendments, recommending broader critical infrastructure language to cover systems such as transportation, gas, power, water, and oil, and suggesting additional changes to improve prosecution. Utility and other supporters also testified in favor. The chairs proposed adopting the AG’s amendments except one, and further expanding the bill to make manslaughter explicit when a death results from disruption of critical infrastructure, and to add water as a covered infrastructure category. The committees adopted the amended recommendation and passed SB 371 with amendments. Finally, the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee heard Senate Bill 585 on special purpose revenue bonds for Bana Pacific. The Attorney General noted a possible issue with the company’s entity status and the bill title, but Bana Pacific stated it was in the process of converting from an LLC to a corporation and was satisfied with the title. The State Energy Office supported the concept, and Bana Pacific described the project as an integrated biogas and green hydrogen facility that would support energy security, create jobs, and reduce emissions. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 964 on waste-to-energy, where the State Energy Office offered supportive comments but many testifiers opposed the measure, arguing incineration is costly, polluting, and inferior to recycling. Written testimony showed more opposition than support, and public testimony focused on environmental and cost concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• The ayes appear to have it. So ordered.
• The ayes appear to have it. So ordered. Oh, division was called.
• The ayes appear to have it; so ordered.
• The ayes appear to have it; so ordered.
• The ayes appear to have it; so ordered.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and several guest introductions recognizing Disability Day at the Capitol, the Arizona Cattle Association, Nurse-Family Partnership nurses, Navajo Nation visitors, and others. Members also made personal privilege remarks on topics including a strike by ASU Aramark food service workers, Lent and Ramadan, and Black History Month. The chamber then adopted House Resolution 2006, a death resolution honoring Yvonne Glee Lyme Federson and her work with Childhelp, with a moment of respectful silence. The House resolved into Committee of the Whole and then Additional Committee of the Whole to consider several bills. HB 2089, HB 2177, HB 2258, HB 2322, HB 2786, and HB 2825 were all recommended do pass, with HB 2177, HB 2322, and HB 2825 amended. HB 2074, dealing with abortion-related language, drew extensive debate over a floor amendment that removed a life-of-the-mother exception; the amendment was adopted and the bill was then recommended do pass as amended. HB 2104 and HB 2105, both relating to county property tax assessment procedures and inspections, were amended to address assessor concerns and then recommended do pass as amended. After the committee reports were adopted, the House considered and passed several third-reading bills. HB 2173, HB 2203, HB 2223, and HB 2501 all passed 57-0. HB 2307, an emergency measure concerning dangerous and incompetent defendants and out-of-state treatment options, passed 37-20 but did not receive the required two-thirds vote to enact the emergency clause. The House then received announcements about upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the second hearing DHS has failed to appear at with an invitation.
• Make it clear to employees, providers, recipients—whatever they do—if they see something that appears
• It is so entrenched that the need to retaliate against people who speak up, as I initially did, is so
• It is so entrenched that the need to retaliate against people who speak up, as I initially did, is so
• Well, as you know, This huge level of fraud that we've seen across Medicaid-funded programs appears to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, for instance, for those of you may be familiar with the concept of queuing, well, it appears from
• So, for instance, for those of you may be familiar with the concept of queuing, well, it appears from
• So, for instance, for those of you may be familiar with the concept of queuing, well, it appears from
• So, for instance, for those of you may be familiar with the concept of queuing, well, it appears from
• I think I was probably misunderstanding your question initially. Okay, thank you.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education to require objective, science-based evidence for pedagogical methods. The prime sponsor said the bill is a verbatim reintroduction from the prior session and argued that current federal definitions are too vague, allowing subjective surveys and other weak evidence to justify teaching methods. He said the bill is limited to pedagogy, not subject matter, and is intended to improve student outcomes, reduce fad-driven practices, and potentially save money by limiting unnecessary retraining and new materials. Members asked repeatedly about the bill’s scope, including whether it would affect classroom teachers, curriculum content, and existing instructional approaches such as phonics versus whole language or queuing. The sponsor said the bill applies to state and local education bodies and educator training policies, not individual teachers in their classrooms, and that teachers would retain flexibility. He also said standardized testing could be part of a scientific study but is not itself a study, and that textbook providers could be asked to furnish the studies supporting instructional guidance included in their materials. Several members raised concerns about the fiscal note and possible cost shifts to local districts and taxpayers. The sponsor disputed the idea that the bill would necessarily create major new costs or require additional staff, saying any costs would likely be limited and that the department is already applying federal evidence-based rules. He also said if some current methods are not science-based, updating them would be justified even if there were some initial expense. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any appearance forms on the bill? Questions? I'm sorry.
• Any appearance forms on the bill? Questions? I'm sorry.
• All right, we do have one appearance form.
• Are there any appearance forms for the amendment?
• Are there any appearance forms for the bill?

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Pre-K through 12 considered a series of education-related bills, many of them after adopting amendments. SB 1122 on Florida Virtual School was amended to remove virtual preschool provisions and then passed favorably, with the sponsor describing it as a clarifying bill about FLVS operations, revenue sources, reporting, and student access. SB 1374, on school district reporting requirements for educator arrests and misconduct, was also approved; it requires faster district action and reporting when instructional personnel are arrested for certain offenses and clarifies that self-reports are not admissions of guilt. SB 1402, on student enrollment and dropout retrieval programs, was amended and passed to broaden eligibility for dropout retrieval services and allow certain virtual providers to receive a school improvement rating instead of a school grade. SB 364, moving the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys from the Department of Education to Florida Memorial University, was amended and reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 772 on diabetes management in schools, which would allow districts to obtain and store glucagon for emergency use by trained school staff or nurses, with liability protections included. SB 1102 on school readiness programs for children with disabilities passed after testimony that it would expand identification of disabilities, require more training for providers, and direct special-needs funding toward better-supported classrooms. SB 1382, also on school readiness, was approved and would change the definition of economically disadvantaged families, adjust priority tiers, and update the waitlist and forecasting process for child care assistance. The most debated measure was SB 140, which was substantially rewritten by delete-all amendment to create “job engine charter schools,” allow municipalities to seek charter schools aimed at attracting industry, authorize parent votes for conversion of existing public schools, and set requirements for district five-year property plans and surplus property use, including affordable housing and charter school purposes. Supporters argued it could aid economic development and repurpose underused property, while opponents raised concerns about privatization, reduced stakeholder input, unclear voting procedures, and loss of district control over property. Despite extensive debate and multiple public speakers against it, the bill passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 430, a merged AED and cardiac emergency response bill requiring public schools to have a cardiac emergency plan, trained staff, and an operational AED in a publicized location, with reimbursement provisions and liability protections; it passed after supporters emphasized life-saving benefits and manageable training costs. The committee adjourned after recording additional members’ votes on selected bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> The ayes appear to have it, and we've concurred in the House proposal of amendment on S. 278.
• genetic data. >> [clears throat] >> [clears throat] >> [clears throat] >> And you may recall that we initially
• The eyes appear to have it.
• The eyes appear to have it, and the Senate has accepted and adopted the report of the Committee of Conference

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm reading This appears to say that only community-based organizations can apply for this grant.
• This is Initiative 70, which is related to schools.
• Utah has a credit enhancement program, and their fund, they initially appropriated $3 million into the
• And in Utah, their fund grew from an initial appropriation of $3 million in 2012, and it is currently
• What exactly is the difference because it does appear I.

Bills: HB2997, HB2021, HB3041, HB1823, HB3372, HB1427, HB3127, HB3128, HCR1020, HB4198, HB3000, HB3001, HB3002, HB3003, HB3004, HB3005, HB3006, HB3007, HB3008, SB392, HB3320

Keywords: motor vehicles, administrative fines, license regulation, state agencies, employment levels, after-school programs, grant funding, community organizations, child care, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, housing finance, Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, publication requirements, housing policy, state regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you feel that that would be like at the bond hearing or initial appearance?
• Would that be something that you guys could pick up if there was initial appearance or bond hearing coverage
• not saying that it's wrong to interrupt the system, but I'll tell you the state of Oklahoma through initial
• appearance, man, it is it it's just a machine and it goes and it follows itself.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the initial problem we're asking to solve.
• However, in reversing it, it appears that they've cut our budget by **$38 million**.
• **Michelle Price**: ...And it appears, in reversing it, that they've cut our budget by **$38 million*
• The program has faced challenges in outreach, and while there was a need initially, it seems to have
• That judge is now no longer sitting on cases in that district, so it appears to have been a process of

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, Attorney General, budget recommendations, funding swaps, salary increases, Landowner's Compensation Program, public testimony, law enforcement

Summary: The meeting focused on the budget recommendations for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), where key issues included the proposed decrease of $163.9 million for the 2024-25 biennium and various methodology swaps for funding. Attorney General Paxton discussed ongoing litigation expenditures and emphasized the need for continued investments in agency staffing to address rising demands within law enforcement. Notably, he requested a 6% salary increase for 2026 and 2027 to retain talented personnel amidst competitive job markets. Public testimony highlighted community awareness challenges regarding the Landowner's Compensation Program, indicating a need for enhanced outreach efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, what we recommend and what we've been doing with most of ours is when they bring us the initial
• budget, we ask they bring us the initial budget, we ask them<00:09:49.600> to<00:09:49.760>
• appears that you can keep cheat grass. appears that you can keep cheat grass.
• Jonathan Downing appearing on behalf of Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association and Convenience Stores
• Jonathan Downing appearing on committee.

Bills: SF0052, SF0024

Keywords: wildlife management, environmental restoration, funding, invasive species, aquatic ecosystems, native fish, habitat conservation, lottery, debit card payments, gambling regulations, state revenue, financial transactions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you on behalf of the judicial branch.
• And this is one of the really the initiatives that we all should be really proud about.
• So we're really proud of this initiative.
• So we're really proud of this initiative.
• I may have had initiatives that aren't in the scope of everyday work.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held its sixth public hearing on the Governor’s H-2 budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, focused on public safety and judiciary agencies, at the Foxborough Community Center. After opening remarks and local welcomes, the committee heard first from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, led by Secretary Gina Kwan, who outlined a $1.72 billion budget, up $69.8 million from FY26. She said the proposal emphasizes core operations, readiness, and partnerships with municipalities, and highlighted work on firearms-law implementation, State Police reform, DOC reentry efforts, hate-crimes prevention, emergency response, and planning for major events including the World Cup. Members also raised concerns about DNA backlog reporting, State Police academy boxing and training standards, ICE communication, disaster relief funding, crime lab staffing, EMS placement, and diversity in public safety leadership. Several exchanges focused on specific operational issues. Secretary Kwan and her team said the State Police are tracking the influx of forensic work from local sheriffs, that the boxing program remains suspended pending an IACP review and likely will not return in its prior form, and that EOPS has no direct communication with ICE but supports law-enforcement coordination where appropriate. On disaster preparedness, officials said the new disaster relief fund is being developed with MEMA and A&F, currently capitalized at $14 million with another $14 million expected, though members urged a more permanent funding source. On the crime lab, staff said the roughly $4.5 million increase is intended to cover core operations and a structural funding gap rather than expand services. The secretary also said EOPS is not ready to absorb OEMS from DPH at this time, though she would keep an open mind. The committee then heard from district attorneys, led by Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden, who said the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association is seeking a 10% increase in operating budgets, including about $16.7 million for staffing salaries, to recruit and retain prosecutors, advocates, and support staff. He said the request reflects rising workload and the need to keep the criminal justice system functioning efficiently and fairly. The hearing was recessed briefly after the district attorneys’ opening remarks, with additional testimony expected to continue afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• development of those properties initial development of those properties so<00:14:52.040> let's
• initial costs subdivision covering those initial costs subdivision 8<00:15:25.040> talks<00:15
• Louis River restoration initiative. And those are projects up in the St. Louis River Estuary.
• Louis River restoration initiative. And those are projects up in the St. Louis River Estuary.
• 1,782 acres to the highest which appears 1,782 acres to the highest which appears to<00:38:04.960

Bills: HF1250

Keywords: outdoor heritage, land acquisition, wildlife management, conservation easements, environmental restoration, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we will be hearing about various hunger initiative bills and addressing food insecurity in Minnesota
• are working on addressing needs, and then the individual bill discussions, some of the individual initiatives
• Today we will be hearing about various hunger initiative bills and addressing food insecurity in Minnesota
• But a year ago, we launched an initiative called Make Hunger History, which was kind of a community call
• And yes, it does appear from your testifiers that there is a great need.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:41:52.720> early<00:41:53.040> on, um we had initially, early on, um we had initially
• part of their legislative initiatives part of their legislative initiatives and<00:42:06.240>
• initial dollar amounts that you Hennepin County alone receiving CCAP.
• initial initial dollar<00:48:43.080> amount<00:48:43.480> findings,<00:48:44.440> what
• So, they came out with their initial So, they came out with their initial report,<01:46:39.040><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Next is Patricia Chin, manager for Epic Ohana Hawaii Hopes Initiative.
• I serve as a High Hopes Initiative manager at Epic Ohana.
• Uh, next we have a number of testifiers from Epic Ohana High Hopes Initiative. GAL. GAL.
• stands<00:57:51.280> firmly Uh high hopes initiative stands firmly Uh high hopes initiative
• from Epic Ohana High Hopes Initiative. from Epic Ohana High Hopes Initiative.

Bills: SB2444, SB2446, SB2450, SB2453, SB2461, SB2457, SB2462, SB2313, SB2528, SB2532, SB2571, SB2678, SB2529

Keywords: real property, exemption, attachment, execution, consumer protection, financial security, inflation adjustment, head of family, senior citizens, Intermediate Court of Appeals, judges, Hawaii judiciary, court membership, legal system, presidential preference primary, elections, political parties, Hawaii voting, 2028 election, voting

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2444 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution, which the Attorney General said could create vague retroactivity language and litigation risk; the committee noted the exemption had last been adjusted around 1978. SB 2446 would add a seventh associate judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Judiciary staff testified in opposition, saying recent internal restructuring and a pending vacancy had improved output and that it would be prudent to wait and see the effect before adding another judge. The Public Defender supported the goal of faster appellate resolution but said it would defer to the court’s assessment and had no objection to revisiting the issue later. The committee also discussed current appellate timelines, with staff saying at least 225 days is built into the process before a case reaches a merit panel, and that a two-year delay from panel assignment was realistic under the current structure. The committee then heard SB 2450, which would establish a presidential preference primary for the 2028 cycle. The Chief Election Officer said the election would cost about $4 million, less if combined with the regular primary. Several opponents argued the bill would add bureaucracy, duplicate or undermine party-run processes, and waste taxpayer money; one speaker estimated the total cost could be closer to $6 million when county costs are included. Supporters and committee members discussed that the measure would not require parties to use the results and that Hawaii remains one of the few states still using caucuses. The committee also asked whether counties could staff the election and whether the results would be useful given Hawaii’s current primary timing. SB 2453 would require the Office of Elections to include a notice with each ballot that a digital and printed voter information guide is available, with the notice in 32-point font as a separate insert. The Chief Election Officer said the insert would cost about $90,000 and asked for an effective date of January 1, 2027 because mailing preparations for the primary would already be underway. The Disability and Communications Access Board, League of Women Voters, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and others supported the bill. The committee also began hearing SB 2461, which would have the Office of Elections prepare a questionnaire for candidates and publish responses online and in the voter guide; the Chief Election Officer said the office did not think it should be the agency to shape campaign questions, though he said it could work if the questions were specified in statute. Finally, the committee heard SB 2457, which would require a criminal conviction before seized property could be forfeited. The Attorney General and Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, arguing it would prolong cases, increase storage costs, and make forfeiture less effective against crime, especially where owners flee, die, or hide assets through shell companies. The Public Defender strongly supported the measure, saying forfeiture should be tied to convictions and that people challenging forfeiture often lack counsel. The Honolulu Prosecutor also opposed the bill, but said it supported transparency, due process, and even a right to counsel; it argued conviction-only forfeiture would fail in cases involving fugitives, deceased suspects, or hidden ownership structures. The committee questioned what would happen to property if an owner could not be found, and the prosecutor said the outcome would depend on the type of property and could involve abandonment or interpleader proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, school districts are spending millions of taxpayer dollars on DEI initiatives. that divide
• If more than five grievances are upheld, against a district, the superintendent is required to appear
• It appears as though that there's an issue. in some person's mind about the use of diversity, equity,
• While DEI initiatives may appear well-intentioned, mounting evidence suggests they do more harm than
• what we witnessed was an individual paid through this initiative. to radicalize our schools.

Bills: SB12, SB1565, SB13, SJR12, SB686, SB371, SB204, SB609, SB112, SB400, SB813, SB 12, SB 13

Keywords: parental rights, education, social transitioning, diversity, equity, inclusion, school policy, student clubs, school district, grievance procedure, public education, diversity and inclusion, funding penalties, school libraries, library advisory councils, library materials, educational content, challenging materials, constitutional amendment, school choice

Transcript Highlights:

• SEEING NO QUESTIONS, ANY APPEARANCE FORMS? OKAY. WE HAVE GOT DEREK HOFFER.
• THAT CONCLUDES OUR APPEARANCE FORMS. SENATORS, ANY DEBATE ON THE BILL?
• WE ARE GOING TO START WITH OUR APPEARANCE FORMS.
• OKAY FOLKS, WE ARE GOING TO START THE APPEARANCE CARDS. FIRST UP WE HAVE GREG MATHERS. WELCOME.
• THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY, OUR APPEARANCE FORMS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ...concluding and collecting initially.
• > by<01:28:31.600> states mirrors such uh initiatives by states mirrors such uh initiatives
• We have Ulup Pono Initiative in support.
• We have Ulup Pono Initiative Thank you.
• Um we stand on our Ulup Pono Initiative.

Keywords: 910, house, all