Transcript Highlights:

• Importantly, this bill will also hold the developer or deployer of the technology accountable to ensure
• that the technology does not violate the law.
• AI can definitely bring advantages in the health care space, but as with all emerging technology, there
• AI can definitely bring advantages in the health care space, but as with all emerging technology, there
• common-sense way to add some much-needed protections for patients as we continue to see new AI technologies

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee held its first regular bill hearing of 2025 and considered a wide range of measures on health care access, professional regulation, animal welfare, and consumer protection. Early in the hearing, the committee adopted its rules and then approved a consent calendar of several bills, including measures by Chen, Caloza, Carrillo, Arreguín, Berman, and Flora. The committee also took up AB 1082, which would allow California nursing students enrolled in out-of-state programs to complete clinical training in California; supporters said it would help address the nursing shortage and keep students closer to home, while opponents warned it could worsen already limited clinical placement capacity and reduce oversight. The bill passed on a do pass recommendation to Appropriations after a quorum was established. The committee then heard and advanced several health-related bills. AB 50, by Assembly Member Bonta, would ease Medi-Cal access to over-the-counter hormonal contraception by removing the need for a prescription for coverage purposes; pharmacists, reproductive health advocates, and medical groups supported the bill, and it passed unanimously to the Committee on Health. AB 489, also by Bonta, would prohibit AI systems from misrepresenting themselves as licensed health professionals; supporters from medical, psychiatric, behavioral health, and other professional groups said the bill would protect patients from misleading chatbot advice, and it passed to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 481, by Assembly Member Rubio, would expand the tasks that federally qualified lab personnel can perform under CLIA supervision to help address lab staffing shortages; labor groups raised concerns about training, certification, and supervision, but the bill passed to Appropriations with an amended do pass recommendation. The committee also considered animal welfare and access-to-care measures. AB 631, by Assembly Member Lee, would require animal shelters to post intake and outcome data online; supporters said the reporting would improve policy and resource allocation, while members discussed how the requirement would work for shelters without websites, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 867, also by Lee, would prohibit cat declawing except when medically necessary for the animal; animal welfare groups strongly supported the bill, while the veterinary association opposed it as an improper legislative regulation of veterinary surgery, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, AB 1307 would create a pilot program allowing a limited number of qualified dentists trained in Mexico to practice in underserved California areas; supporters framed it as a cost-neutral way to address major dental access gaps, the California Dental Association remained opposed unless amended, and the bill passed to Appropriations. Several members later added their votes on the various items after the hearing, and the committee kept the hearing open briefly to allow additional add-ons.

Transcript Highlights:

• They did so in unprecedented ways, using new, novel tools and technologies of the 21st century.
• You're the Eugene and Barbara Bernard Professor in Intellectual Property, Technology and Civil Rights
• Federal and state governments fund and promote censorship and blacklisting technology.
• Media and technology companies have come under withering attack. Why?
• It's not as though modern technology has presented us with purely unique, sui generis...

Keywords: censorship, First Amendment, social media, misinformation, free speech, government regulation, Big Tech, public discourse

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on the implications of government involvement in censorship, particularly regarding social media platforms and compliance with misinformation standards. senators and witnesses discussed growing concerns over the influence of large tech companies, like Facebook and Google, in shaping public discourse and suppressing dissenting views. A significant part of the meeting included testimonies from various experts emphasizing the dangers of the 'censorship industrial complex'—a term used to describe the collaborative efforts between government entities and private organizations to control information flow. This collaboration is viewed as a violation of First Amendment rights, with calls for urgent legislative action to restore free speech protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number one is the use of technology.
• Prohibiting the use of technology is not how Minnesota became a healthcare leader.
• Technology has been a benefit, as we heard testimony on. I mean, it's been a benefit.
• such as AI against the use of technology such as AI or<00:55:26.000> video?
• technology or artificial intelligence. technology or artificial intelligence.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Demcon has invested to bring this technology to Minnesota.
• <00:28:53.520> Uh,<00:28:53.760> the this technology to Minnesota.
• Uh, the this technology to Minnesota.
• <00:38:33.599> training offering micro grid technology training offering micro grid technology
• Thank you again for grid technologies.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, part of that is a lack of volume and technology costs.
• Thankfully, there's new technology and some other technologies that are helping with that.
• In the meantime, how can technology address this?
• That technology-neutral definition is critical to allowing the provider.
• Technology infrastructure is absolutely vital for transformation.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If age estimation technology predicts that a user is 15 or under, verifiable parental in one or more
• currently being used to technology currently being used to target<00:05:15.360> content<00:05
• If age estimation<00:05:21.360> technology<00:05:22.000> predicts<00:05:22.400> that
• <00:05:22.560> a estimation technology predicts that a estimation technology predicts that
• And, um, yeah, the technology is there. It's no mystery.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4138, a bill aimed at limiting harmful social media practices for minors by requiring verifiable parental consent for accounts and restricting addictive features and targeted advertising for youth users. Chair Scott offered an A2 amendment, with an oral clarification striking specific language and two commas; the committee adopted the amended A2, and the bill was then discussed as amended. The bill author described social media as addictive by design and said the measure would use age-estimation technology to identify users 15 and under, require parental consent, and provide a different, less addictive experience for youth. Supportive testimony came from the Minnesota Catholic Conference, parents Jerry and Giana Cox, and a Minnesota high school student, all arguing that social media harms youth mental health, encourages excessive use, and exposes children to manipulation, cyberbullying, and addictive design features like infinite scroll and autoplay. They said the bill would help parents, protect children, and reduce exploitation of minors’ data. Several committee members also spoke in favor, saying the bill addresses corporate negligence, youth mental health, and the need to act even if the proposal needs more work. Opposition testimony came from industry groups including the Computer and Communications Industry Association, the Information Technology Industry Council, and NetChoice. They argued the bill is vague and narrow in scope, could create uneven coverage, and may push platforms toward intrusive age-verification or digital-ID-like systems that raise privacy and data-breach concerns. They also said restrictions on personalized or algorithmic features could weaken safety tools and make it harder to protect young users. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the excerpt, but the amended A2 was adopted and the bill remained under discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now noting all members present from labor committee and technology.
• Now noting all members present from labor committee and technology.
• <00:35:03.680> Um, um labor committee and technology.
• Um, um labor committee and technology.
• /c><00:37:17.839> vice committee labor and technology vice committee labor and technology vice

Bills: SB3179, SB2872, SB2391, SB3282, SB2836, SB2181

Keywords: educational workers, harassment, workplace safety, temporary restraining orders, investigation procedures, retired education employees, teacher shortage, rehired retirants, entry level salary, collective bargaining agreements, pension benefits, education, teacher salaries, automatic increments, collective bargaining, teacher retention, workforce development, Pell grant program, short-term education, eligibility

Summary: The joint committee first heard SB 3179, which would require the Department of Education and charter schools to report harassment incidents involving educational workers and adopt procedures for handling them. DOE supported the bill, while the Attorney General recommended clarifying amendments to limit the measure to harassment directed at workers because of their position, to limit DOE legal assistance to temporary restraining order actions, and to clarify whether the harassment must come from outside the school system. Members also discussed whether the bill should cover non-DOE individuals on campus, whether investigations could be handled in-house, and whether training should be embedded in existing workday or school-year training rather than added as a separate requirement. The committee later voted to pass the bill with amendments as SD1. The committee then took up SB 2872, which would require retired teachers or administrators rehired into shortage or hard-to-fill positions to be paid the entry-level salary for that position. DOE supported the bill, and the Attorney General requested clarifying language about its effective date and that it would not affect already matured rights and duties. The Employees’ Retirement System administration emphasized that the bill should retain a 12-month break in service to preserve the pension system’s tax-exempt status and noted the importance of consistent classification of eligible positions. Members expressed support for using retired educators to help fill staffing gaps, but no final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard SB 2391, which would provide annual step increases for public school teachers under bargaining unit 5, subject to funding. The Attorney General said the bill could conflict with collective bargaining procedures and Chapter 89, while DOE said unit 5 includes more than teachers and asked that the benefit be considered for other bargaining units as well, with funding provided if enacted. HSTA strongly supported the measure, arguing that annual step movement is already recognized in the collective bargaining agreement as a recruiting and retention tool. Testimony totals were noted as 16 in support, two in opposition, and three comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 3282, which would establish a statewide framework for the federal workforce Pell Grant program to fund short-term workforce education and training. The Attorney General suggested clarifying that the matter is one of statewide concern because UH is involved. UH and the Chamber of Commerce supported the bill, and DLIR testified that it is coordinating with DOE, the Workforce Development Council, and national groups on implementation. Members questioned whether the Workforce Development Council or DLIR should handle rulemaking and administration, and DLIR said the council is advisory while the department has grant administration expertise. The committee then moved into decision-making after discussion of possible amendments and implementation concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I, I don't know what we do about technology, but I am glad to hear you're at least working on it,
• It's going to take years of technology improvements before we are ever at a place where an effective
• Uh, you, you mentioned sensor technology a couple of times, um, in, in your dialogue with Mr.
• the aircraft and you're gonna have to either retrofit it as technology changes.
• meeting minimum technical standards to compete, regardless of the technology employed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, we have GM550, Radiologic Technology Board, David Wodsworth.
• Radiologic Technology Board, David Wodsworth. >> Um, David, are you present?
• technologies. Right. technologies. Right.
• <00:17:24.959> and about how with today's technology and about how with today's technology
• How I mean so I through technology.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on a series of gubernatorial nominations to health, disability, aging, and advisory boards. Early nominees included Pria Tay for the Kauaʻi Service Area Board on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, who emphasized her 25 years in the mental health field and commitment to community access to training and resources, and Ashley Mishihara for the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee, who described her involvement in the Red Hill response and ongoing concern about protecting the sole-source aquifer and ensuring remediation. Christopher Luthie, nominated to the State LGBTQ+ Commission, said he wanted to advocate for LGBTQ+ residents statewide and help improve programs so people are not overlooked, and he received support from commission member Michael Galuyo Jr., who said the commission had lacked a Hawaii County representative since December. The committee also heard from nominees to the Radiologic Technology Board, including David Wodsworth and Reena Shimata. Wodsworth said the board should modernize rules and regulations, while the Department of Health supported him and clarified that the board focuses on policy and procedures rather than direct licensing decisions. Shimata said she wanted to help protect patients, technologists, and the public from radiation exposure, and the Department of Health and several medical professionals supported her, with one witness noting that modern technology reduces dose but competent technologists remain essential to avoid unnecessary exposure. The committee deferred GM712, a nomination not present at the hearing, until Monday, March 9. Additional nominations included Judy Pike for the disability communications/access board, who cited her prior DECAP staff experience and long involvement in disability access work, with strong support from a current board member; Rick Taber for the Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Affairs, who sought a second term and highlighted his committee leadership and long mental health career; Amy Healey Austin for the Statewide Health Coordinating Council, who said she wanted to represent rural health needs and described her leadership roles in West Hawaiʻi health care; and Ed Chevy for DECAB, who stressed the importance of interpreter access and communication access, with support from Christine Pagano. The committee took no final votes in the portion of the hearing provided, and several nominees were told their decisions would be taken up later in the meeting or at the end of the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that bill requires us in the Division of Technology Services to develop uniform technology policies
• Of review for new technologies through our architecture review board.
• As we've done this, we've had to create new models of thinking about how you look at this technology.
• The other aspect of it is what technology do you select?
• Some things you can do implement, and it makes it so things are not even technologically possible.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the afternoon of the first day, we spent time on a technology overview of what storage technologies
• It's a new company, T-O-R-U-S, and they use a fly—it's a brand new technology.
• Yeah, I'm familiar with the technology.
• So, your thoughts about that technology are right, but...
• In reference to the advanced grid technologies.

Transcript Highlights:

• To me that connotes driving system is the manufacturer's technology.
• And, and I'm for the technology.
• Um, so there's a, there's an answer for this, you know, autonomous technology is advancing rapidly.
• economy through AV technology with the right legal framework in place.
• Uh, first, they erode Texans' trust in this emerging technology and understandably so.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because my understanding that technology hasn't quite caught up... to the point where we can do that
• Advanced technology, one well is producing vastly more than others did in the past.
• And what we've all seen is technology advances... and completion techniques advance, that while...
• We're not going to have any activity in the Permian Basin, but we've seen technology change and that
• Energy storage is the most flexible, dispatchable... ...technology on the grid on a standalone basis

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The technology modernization request number two exceeds our current revenue.
• For exceptional item number two, you're asking for $4.7 million for information technology modernization
• To manage workload effectively, additional staffing is necessary in key areas of information technology
• One last exceptional item is technology and system upgrades.
• Now it's ancient, as technology goes, and we need a new system.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Determination against our technology companies.
• Build up their nuclear arsenals and seek to overtake America's technological edge.
• Including promoting data flows, combating forced technology transfer, and promoting non-discrimination
• I mentioned technology; I'd rather have a technology NATO.
• They're blocking important feed additive technologies in beef.

Transcript Highlights:

• You have an education, media and technology.
• Is it employing technology?
• I do think there's a role for technology here, Senator Gaetz, and I think it's worth exploring.
• But there has been considerable research dawn on ways to detect autism through technology.
• But I do think technology is the future here.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, ironically, you're not looking for specific technology.
• Um, ironically, you're not looking for specific technology.
• Um technology first as an entrepreneur.
• <00:45:35.920> consulting so I had my own technology consulting so I had my own technology
• opportunities whether it's a technology opportunities whether it's a technology I<00:54:30.960><

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology met on February 25, 2026, to consider gubernatorial nominees to the Hawaii Workforce Development Council under GM 630, GM 628, and GM 631. The chair explained hearing procedures, noted backup reconvening plans in case of technical failure, and said decision-making would occur after testimony if time permitted. Testimony on all three nominees was overwhelmingly supportive, including from Department of Labor and Industrial Relations officials, Workforce Development Council representatives, and various outside supporters. For GM 630, Carrie Miro described decades of work on career pathways and emphasized applied learning, internships, and stronger links between education and employers. Senators questioned how to restore hands-on trade and career education and how to connect students to real workforce opportunities; Miro said businesses should help shape training and that students need both credit and employment incentives. For GM 628, Rona Fukumoto said her experience leading Lanakila Pacific and working in homeless services would help the council better understand the needs of people with disabilities, older adults, and other vulnerable populations, and she stressed educating employers and the public. She also said youth programs, apprenticeships, and early intervention for “opportunity youth” are important, and noted that college-based programs like those at HCC can still provide effective hands-on pathways. For GM 631, Keith Dlo, who is seeking reappointment, said the Workforce Development Council should help create a future in Hawaii for younger generations by aligning schools, agencies, employers, and communities. He said his work on American Job Centers and the council’s convening power show it is an active body, not just a reporting mechanism. Senators pressed him on how to measure success beyond federal compliance, and Dlo said the council needs Hawaii-specific metrics focused on participation, completion, job placement, and retention of young residents, while also adapting to changes like AI. No votes or final confirmations were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also teach EV market and technologies class at the University of St. Thomas.
• Paul, and I represent Uber Technologies.
• Paul, and I represent Uber Technologies.
• The technology of how we can aggregate supply and meet demand has really been advanced.
• The technology of how we can uh ago.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mine is actually for the Office of Technology. Okay.
• Mine is actually for the Office of Technology. Okay.
• Jay Harton, Director of Office of State Technology. Gary Vance, State Chief.
• Office of State Technology. Gary Vance, State Chief Information Security Officer.
• So we take advantage of the technology that's in the software.

Summary: The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met on June 5 and first adopted prior minutes and several committee reports. The executive committee report noted adoption of its minutes, staff updates on scheduled audits, approval of an annual financial audit for the City of Horseshoe Bend, and an update on the intern program. The Counties and Municipalities report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, compliance follow-up with towns including Denning, Gum Springs, Omer, Fargo, Jericho, and Haynes, and review of current and deferred reports; the committee filed most current reports but deferred several and referred some matters to prosecutors and the Attorney General. The Educational Institutions report said 103 education audits were reviewed, most with no findings, while several school districts had findings and one Booneville School District finding was referred to law enforcement. The State Agencies report included findings at the Department of Finance and Administration and a deferred Department of Health report, and the committee filed 13 reports. The committee then received lengthy presentations on the State of Arkansas annual comprehensive financial report and the state single audit for fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. Legislative Audit issued unmodified opinions on the state financial statements, but identified two material weaknesses: insufficient internal controls at the Office of State Technology to monitor threats and unauthorized access, and improper methodology changes and documentation issues at the Division of Workforce Services affecting year-end estimates for unemployment-related accounts. The single audit covered $12.4 billion in federal awards across 469 programs, with 16 major programs reviewed. Auditors reported 33 findings overall, including 31 federal findings, $12.9 million in outstanding questioned costs, and qualified opinions for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Child Care Development Fund cluster. Committee members questioned DHS, the broadband office, OST, DFA, Education, and Workforce Services about the findings, corrective actions, cyber protections, federal drawdowns, child care reporting, and accounting methodology changes. Several agencies described corrective steps. DHS said it had changed how it draws Summer EBT funds, addressed provider revalidation and incarceration-related Medicaid issues, and updated internal processes and staffing. The broadband office said the questioned costs reflected invoice documentation disputes rather than missing payments and expected Treasury review to resolve the issue. OST said it was expanding logging, endpoint detection, and enterprise monitoring, and described broader cybersecurity investments, training, and a roadmap. DFA and Workforce Services addressed the workers’ compensation and unemployment accounting issues, with Workforce Services saying it had updated its policy and submitted the methodology to DFA. After discussion, the committee voted to hold the two statewide audit reports over until the August meeting, with members asked to submit specific questions in advance so only needed agencies would return. The final item was a special report on the Hot Spring County Solid Waste Authority for January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. The audit reviewed compliance with laws, board procedures, bidding, payroll, permits, inspections, and cash handling. It noted prior private audit findings on segregation of duties, that recent private audit reports had not been obtained for 2023 through 2025, and that the current administrator said prior office staff and bookkeeping contractors resigned when he was hired. The authority’s operations and revenue sources were described, and the report was presented for committee review.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mine is actually for the Office of Technology. Okay. Mr.
• Chair, mine is actually for the Office of Technology. Okay.
• Jay Harton, Director of Office of State Technology. Gary Vance, State Chief...
• So we take advantage of the technology that's in the software.
• And we want to continue to do that by leveraging the technology.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met on June 5 and first adopted the March 2026 minutes, then approved reports from the executive committee and the standing committees on counties and municipalities, educational institutions, and state agencies. The counties and municipalities report noted progress on delinquent private water and sewer audits, compliance improvements by Denning and Gum Springs, and a 60-day compliance window for Omer and Fargo; several reports were deferred, while others were referred to prosecutors, the Attorney General, or the Government Bonding Board. The educational institutions committee filed 103 audit reports, including findings for several school districts, and one Booneville School District finding was referred to law enforcement. The state agencies committee filed 13 reports and deferred one Department of Health report to August. The committee then reviewed the State of Arkansas annual comprehensive financial report and single audit for fiscal year 2025. Legislative Audit reported clean opinions on the state’s financial statements, but identified two material weaknesses: insufficient internal controls at the Office of State Technology over threat monitoring and unauthorized access, and problems at the Division of Workforce Services with changes to year-end accounting estimates and documentation for unemployment-related receivables and payables. The single audit covered $12.4 billion in federal awards across 469 programs, with 16 major programs reviewed; auditors reported 33 findings, including 31 federal findings, $12.9 million in outstanding questioned costs, and qualified opinions for the Summer EBT program, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Child Care Development Fund cluster. Findings included improper advance draws and reporting issues in Summer EBT, documentation problems in broadband projects, and reporting/reconciliation issues in child care funding. Members questioned agency officials from DHS, the Office of State Technology, the Department of Finance and Administration, the Department of Education, and Workforce Services about the findings and corrective actions. DHS said the Summer EBT issue involved drawing funds in advance and that procedures had been changed for the 2026 cycle; it also explained several repeat findings as timing or provider-enrollment issues. OST officials said they were expanding logging, endpoint detection, and enterprise monitoring, and described cybersecurity as a moving target requiring more investment and training. DFA and Workers’ Compensation officials discussed the workers’ comp fund’s actuarial position and said it should be monitored but did not require immediate action. Education officials said the child care reconciliation problems stemmed from a former employee’s failure to reconcile reports, that staffing and checks had been strengthened, and that the federal funding cut affecting child care was a separate issue. The committee voted to hold the two major state financial reports over until the August meeting, with members asked to submit specific questions in advance, and then received a special report on the Hot Spring County Solid Waste Authority review.