Transcript Highlights:

• due to mental, emotional, sensory, long-term physical or developmental disability or dysfunction, brain
• understanding of how to best support their interns, including understanding how trauma affects the brain
• Understanding how trauma affects the brain, helping mentors recognize the long-term effects of adverse

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs received three presentations and took no bill votes. The Department of Children and Families gave an extensive update on human trafficking prevention and services, describing Florida’s statutory framework, hotline and investigation data, placement options such as safe houses and safe foster homes, new adult safe house certification rules, expanded screening tools for vulnerable adults, and prevention efforts including youth-led outreach and training. Members asked about whether current funding is sufficient, how DCF addresses grooming and re-victimization in residential settings, and how long youth typically remain in safe-house placements; DCF said funding is only one part of the support system, that families and youth receive prevention resources even when allegations are not substantiated, and that placement length varies by child. OPPAGA then presented its 2024 annual report on commercial sexual exploitation of children. The report found that verified CSE victims slightly declined in 2023, with Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, and Escambia among the highest-prevalence counties. Most verified victims were community youth rather than children already in care, though dependent youth had higher rates of prior maltreatment. OPPAGA also reported continued concerns about limited placement capacity, especially for less restrictive Tier 1 safe houses, and service gaps such as the need for survivor mentors. Its recommendations focused on expanding placement options, improving data collection, and strengthening collaboration to support survivor mentors. Finally, DCF presented the Step into Success pilot program for current and former foster youth ages 16 to 26. The program combines workforce education, professional development, and paid internships with mentor support; the first cohort launched in 2024 with 15 participants, all of whom secured placements, and the department reported strong satisfaction and early outcomes. Committee members asked about scalability, costs, and whether the model could be moved beyond DCF-run operations into community-based providers. DCF said the program was designed to be scalable, currently costs about $500,000 annually for the pilot, and could be expanded statewide with additional funding and partner support. The committee adjourned after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• They create toxic stress, which disrupts brain development and increases the risks of lifelong health
• 59:42.040> disrupts create toxic stress, which disrupts create toxic stress, which disrupts brain
• development and increases the brain development and increases the risks<00:59:45.000> of<00:59
• She spoke about toxic stress and how it disrupts brain architecture, impairs learning and memory, and
• <01:32:51.920> architecture,<01:32:52.920> impairs it disrupts brain architecture,

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met to approve the April 7, 2026 minutes and then held a hearing on the economic impact of Operation Metro Surge and related ICE enforcement activity. Testifiers described broad effects on cities, small businesses, workers, and schools, and several speakers voiced support for House File 4477, which would create a targeted state relief program for affected businesses and communities. Metro Cities said member cities reported unexpected burdens on public safety, public works, emergency management, and other local services, and its board adopted a policy supporting state assistance for those costs. Northstar Policy Action presented data arguing the operation contributed to higher unemployment, reduced hours, lost wages, and business losses, including a reported $106 million in lost wages from reduced hours and an estimated $18 million per week in taxpayer costs. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said the city incurred nearly $1 million in direct costs and estimated small businesses lost about $16 million per week, with major drops in foot traffic and sales, especially among immigrant-owned neighborhood businesses. Other testimony emphasized impacts outside the metro area and on specific communities. Georgia Gallardo of Kerkhoven Cattle Butcher said rural small businesses also suffered, citing reduced sales and weekend traffic. The Minnesota Council of Latino Affairs reported that Latino-owned businesses support thousands of jobs and have seen sales declines of 40% to 90%, while WomenVenture and the Minnesota CDFI Coalition said CDFIs were seeing urgent demand for flexible relief and described businesses delaying hiring, reducing hours, or pausing expansion. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruly said federal agents’ conduct during the surge undermined trust, created public safety concerns, and led to overtime and other local costs, while also noting he supports federal immigration enforcement in principle. Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis said the district lost 112 students since December, still had 72 not returned, and had to rapidly create a virtual learning option for students who did not feel safe attending in person. Across the hearing, witnesses argued the disruption was statewide, not limited to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and that state relief was needed to prevent business closures, job losses, and longer-term damage to communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• But our adult brain can handle taking them out, putting them here or putting them here, but a student
• , an adolescent brain, the studies say that when they take their phone out, whether they have it here
• out.<00:02:32.640> But<00:02:33.040> our<00:02:33.280> adult<00:02:33.599> brain
• But our adult brain can handle out.
• But our adult brain can handle taking<00:02:34.720> them<00:02:34.879> out,<00:02:35.120

Bills: HB0159

Keywords: student rights, free expression, K-12 education, speech protection, religious views, political speech, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was told by our victim advocate that the human brain will often forget or not form memories when it
• I was told by our victim advocate that the human brain will often forget or not form memories when it
• So, I in my brain that's how I...
• So, in my brain that's how I... Representative. No, I don't believe that Representative.
• So, I, in my brain, that's how I think that it saves well-meaning people.

Bills: HB0008, HB0009

Keywords: stalking, minors, felony, protection orders, criminal penalties, grooming, sexual offenses, child protection, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• touch with one of the key opinion leaders, one of the top doctors in the world, say for a type of brain
• They called, and that specialist in brain cancer returned a phone call within 10 minutes in order to
• in the world, say for a type of brain in the world, say for a type of brain cancer<01:49:52.320>
• <01:49:56.960> cancer<01:49:57.679> returned that specialist in brain cancer returned
• that specialist in brain cancer returned a<01:49:58.239> phone<01:49:58.400> call<01:49

Keywords: 12:30pm HB 421 2:00pm HB 701 3:00pm HB 377 4:00pm HB 712, 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference first took up House Bill 421FN, concerning notice of tax-exempt status filing procedures by town officials. Members reviewed the Senate changes and focused on whether the amended language would require multiple mailings to charitable organizations. House conferees said the Senate wording appeared to create more than one mailing and asked for clarification; Senate members explained the intent was to reduce clerk workload by posting forms and sending a follow-up notice only to organizations that failed to file after the deadline. After a brief caucus, the House concluded there were too many unresolved changes to work out in conference and moved to non-concur with the Senate amendment. The House motion to non-concur passed unanimously, 4-0, and the committee agreed to place the conference report on the House consent calendar. The chair then closed the committee of conference on House Bill 421FN. The transcript then shifted to a separate committee of conference on another bill, where members discussed revisions involving direct supervision at an eligible facility, federalwide assurance requirements, and immunity language. Testimony focused on whether the bill should require supervision at a specific facility or allow broader supervision arrangements, whether rulemaking should define direct supervision, and whether the immunity provision should cover reckless as well as willful misconduct. No final vote or action on that second bill was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sadly, many will experience permanent brain damage as a result.
• Hundreds of studies also show that these products hijack the brain. ...and depression.
• Children's brains are especially vulnerable, yet we fail to protect them. If we...
• Children's brains are especially vulnerable, yet we fail to protect them.
• Children's brains are especially vulnerable, yet we fail to protect them.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee heard a full agenda of bills, first adopting a consent calendar of 11 measures without individual presentations. The committee then took up AB 1412, which would require California schools to implement or adopt a transferred special education student’s IEP within 30 days for out-of-state transfers and to coordinate more quickly on records. The author and military-family witnesses said the bill would reduce delays for highly mobile students, especially military children; a school administrators group opposed it. The bill received initial support from committee members and was moved on call. The committee also reconsidered AB 281, which would require notice to parents when outside consultants provide sex education instruction; the author accepted amendments removing a copy-right provision, but the bill remained on call after a split vote. The committee heard AB 1005, which would create a statewide drowning-prevention education and swim-lesson voucher framework for underserved communities. The author and supporters described drowning as a preventable public health and equity issue, while the bill was clarified as developing a plan rather than immediately launching a voucher program. It was voted out on a 3-0 roll with the measure placed on call. AB 908, as amended, would add compliance monitoring for existing requirements that schools use LGBTQ-inclusive instructional materials and curriculum under the FAIR Act. Supporters said the bill would improve implementation and student safety; opponents raised concerns about privacy, girls’ sports, and school burdens. The committee approved the bill 5-2 and sent it to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 1401, which would affirm parents’ access to school records, including unofficial records unless exempt by law. The author argued that parents need clearer access to information held by schools and vendors, while school officials and teachers’ union representatives warned the bill was too vague and could sweep in personal notes, journals, and other sensitive material. The bill failed on a 2-3 vote and was placed on call. Finally, AB 727 would require student ID cards to include the Trevor Project hotline for LGBTQ youth; supporters framed it as a suicide-prevention measure, while opponents argued it conflicted with parental rights and religious beliefs. Committee discussion focused on whether 988 already provides similar access and whether the Trevor Project is an appropriate resource to print on IDs; the hearing continued with the bill still under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said it is not babysitting; it is brain building, and research shows that 90% of the brain develops
• <00:05:41.440> building<00:05:42.160> and not babysitting it's brain building and not
• babysitting it's brain building and research<00:05:42.759> shows<00:05:43.160> that<00
• :05:43.400> 90%<00:05:44.080> of<00:05:44.199> the<00:05:44.319> brain research
• shows that 90% of the brain research shows that 90% of the brain develops<00:05:45.120> in<00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The hearing covered Senate Bill 426, which would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the City and County of Honolulu, the Department of Human Services, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education, the Attorney General’s office, the Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, the University of Hawaiʻi’s early childhood educator project, and a Zoom testifier who described the importance of investing in high-quality early childhood education. Committee discussion focused on the program’s estimated cost, with figures of about $14.5 million in 2025-26 and $15 million in 2026-27, and on whether the program would require ongoing base-budget funding. The committee recommended technical, non-substantive amendments, including a statewide-concern amendment and a deferred effective date, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1622, which would appropriate funds to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute within the University of Hawaiʻi to support statewide artificial intelligence initiatives. University representatives described the proposal as the product of campus-wide input and outlined five pillars: governance and policy, outreach and engagement, research and development, workforce development, and AI tools for key sectors such as health care, creative industries, manufacturing, data science, astronomy, and climate change. Members questioned staffing distribution, tuition, enrollment timing, housing, campus placement, and whether positions would be permanent or temporary; the university said it planned about 10 positions across campuses, would start with internal resources, and would house the effort under the Vice President for Research and Innovation initially. The committees recommended an SD1 with the appropriation amounts blanked out, a July 31, 2050 effective date, and committee-report language on housing and West Oʻahu, and the higher education and labor/technology committees adopted the amended recommendation. Finally, the Higher Education Committee took up Senate Bill 1488, a housekeeping measure to consolidate existing University of Hawaiʻi conference center statutes into a single revolving fund structure, and Senate Bill 636, which would fund retention and internship coordinator positions and broader enrollment management efforts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. SB 1488 drew university support and no opposition. SB 636 prompted substantial questioning about Hilo’s declining enrollment, current retention rate of 72.8 percent, and the scope of the request, which includes not only two named positions but also about $432,000 for enrollment management initiatives such as data analysis, IT support, and other student services. Hilo said it is targeting 3 to 5 percent annual enrollment growth and that the positions would support recruitment, retention, internships, and data-driven enrollment strategy. The committee pressed for a clearer broader plan, but the discussion in the transcript ended before a final vote on SB 636 was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes the spinal cord and traumatic brain injury grant program and the Thomason ALS Grant research
• That includes the spinal cord and traumatic brain injury grant program and the Thomason ALS Grant research
• <01:09:41.440> and injury and uh traumatic brain and injury and uh traumatic brain and ALS
• it could include money from the competitive grant programs, the spinal cord injury, the traumatic brain
• it could include money from the competitive grant programs, the spinal cord injury, the traumatic brain

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Higher Ed Finance and Policy Committee met to begin a budget overview for higher education. The chair noted quorum, committee member introductions, and that Democratic members were absent. The chair also said the Office of Higher Education would not be appearing for the planned budget deep dive, so nonpartisan fiscal staff would present instead. Ken Savory, the committee’s nonpartisan fiscal analyst, introduced a presentation on the higher education finance structure and timeline. Savory explained the state budget cycle, the difference between direct appropriations, statutory appropriations, open appropriations, base funding, tails, and one-time appropriations, and how those concepts apply to higher education. He described the committee’s usual budget areas: the Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State, the University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Foundation. He also reviewed historical spending charts showing higher education’s share of the general fund over time, the 2/3-1/3 funding policy in statute, and how tuition and general fund support have shifted. He noted that the FY 26-27 base for the Office of Higher Education area is about $725 million, including roughly $450 million for the State Grant program and about $99 million for North Star Promise. Members asked about comparing the current budget to earlier biennia, and staff responded that they would need to calculate the percentage difference. The chair then summarized prior budget growth, saying the previous budget was about $650 million over base and the current budget/tail was about $450 million over base. Staff also reviewed the 2024 omnibus higher education bill, including a roughly $5 million reduction to North Star Promise that was redirected to the Fostering Independence Grant program and a $500,000 appropriation for Minnesota State’s Kids on Campus program. The committee did not take any formal votes or actions during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• what you know as far as the impact on careers of the young people, like, hey, I was going to go be a brain
• to<00:21:20.480> go<00:21:20.640> be<00:21:20.799> a<00:21:20.960> brain
• <00:21:21.200> surgeon<00:21:21.600> but I was going to go be a brain surgeon but I
• was going to go be a brain surgeon but now<00:21:21.919> I<00:21:22.159> want<00:21:22.320

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and endangered person provision, which adds people diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's, traumatic brain
• 15.680> traumatic with dementia, Alzheimer's, traumatic with dementia, Alzheimer's, traumatic brain
• <00:13:19.040> And<00:13:19.200> we brain injury, and also autism.
• And we brain injury, and also autism.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a great effort to fill that gap and try to address it, particularly for individuals with brain
• will say, this is just critical and a great way to provide services for people with mental illness, brain
• have to recognize that the same applies to people with mental illness, substance use disorders, and brain
• injury, although brain injury is not a behavioral health condition.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, of so many people, you know, brains aren't born, they are built, and every day the teachers
• in this state are building brains, and this is the proof that we're doing it well in this state, or
• You know, of so many people, you know, brains aren't born, they are built, and every day the teachers
• in this state are building brains, and this is the proof that we're doing it well in this state, or
• I just want to make one comment, Representative Freiberg: I like that brains are built.

Bills: HR249, HR251, HB395, HB902, SB83, SB132, SB157, SB338, SB450, SB484, SB501, SB507

Keywords: artificial intelligence, AI, BESE, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, content standards, K-12 education, public schools, curriculum, digital literacy, computer science, STEM, technology education, student privacy, ethical AI, workforce development, future-ready workforce, instructional resources, education policy, school standards, Louisiana education

Transcript Highlights:

• It can also be because you have a brain injury or neurocognitive disorder, or you have Alzheimer's, or
• Services Committee will be meeting at 1:30 in the old Supreme Court to hear confirmation of the Colorado Brain
• confirmation<01:42:55.400> of<01:42:55.560> the<01:42:55.640> Colorado<01:42:56.000> Brain
• confirmation of the Colorado Brain confirmation of the Colorado Brain Injury<01:42:56.600> Trust

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the previous day’s journal, and received a series of committee reports and appointment recommendations. Reports included several bills being amended and referred onward, along with confirmations for appointments to the Colorado State University System Board of Governors and the Western Colorado University Board of Trustees. The chamber also suspended a rule to allow a child to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and later recognized visiting Scout Troop 873 from Highlands Ranch and the Colorado Sportsmen’s Day at the Capitol, including a tribute to the Colorado Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and remarks about conservation, hunting, and angling. The Senate also honored the Be Well Health and Wellness Initiative for 23 years of work on health equity, community wellness, and resident-driven system change, with remarks highlighting its community engagement model and efforts to address social determinants of health. In addition, the chamber recognized legislative aides, interns, and staff with a tribute praising their work supporting senators and the legislative process. These recognitions were largely ceremonial and were met with applause and supportive remarks from members. The main policy item taken up was Senate Bill 149, concerning pathways for individuals with mental health disorders who are incompetent to stand trial. Senators Amabile and Simpson described the bill as a response to longstanding gaps in treatment and placement options for people found incompetent to proceed, especially those who are dangerous and not likely to be restored. They said the bill was developed over many months with input from prosecutors, public defenders, and budget staff, and emphasized public safety and the need to avoid releasing people when no appropriate placement exists. Senator Coram Reyer spoke in support, citing a local case involving a violent defendant who was released and later threatened people with a gun. The Committee of the Whole adopted the Judiciary and Appropriations committee reports on SB 149, and then considered amendment L049 from Senator Marble, which would reduce certain judicial staffing assumptions by half while preserving capital and IT funding and allowing the judiciary to return through the normal budget process if needed. Senators Marble and Simpson supported the amendment, describing the fiscal estimates as uncertain and the bill’s implementation as still being in flux. The transcript cuts off before the final disposition of the amendment or the bill vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• But one of the things that's important to remember is that the eye is actually part of the brain.
• But one of the things that's important to remember is that the eye is actually part of the brain.
• is that the eye is actually part<00:27:09.679> of<00:27:09.919> the<00:27:10.240> brain
• > And<00:27:11.200> I'm<00:27:11.600> sure<00:27:12.120> that part of the brain
• And I'm sure that part of the brain.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• technological tools are built using the concept of persuasive design, which utilizes human psychology and brain
• technological tools are built using the concept of persuasive design, which utilizes human psychology and brain

Keywords: House Committee Room A, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If I could have, like, you know, sent, beamed into Linda's brain, I could have probably answered that
• If I could have, like, you know, sent, beamed into Linda's brain.

Bills: SB2397

Keywords: oil and gas, tax exemption, development incentive wells, gross production tax, flaring, 908, all

Summary: The Senate Finance and Tax Committee met and first took up House Bill 1382, the gas tax bill. Members explained an amendment to ensure that the proposed three-cent gas tax distribution would include all counties and townships in oil-producing counties, rather than excluding non-oil-producing counties as in the original draft. The committee adopted the amendment unanimously, but then held the bill for the time being because of related work on the Department of Transportation budget in the House. The committee then turned to House Bill 1168, a large hoghouse amendment that combined the bill with the contents of House Bill 1176 and added technical corrections. The proposal would raise the primary residence property tax credit maximum from $1,250 to $1,650, keep the 75% cap with a $500 floor, and extend the credit to voter-approved levies while excluding special assessments. Other changes discussed included aligning the disabled veterans property tax credit with the $200,000 exemption level, adjusting budget and distribution dates so taxing districts are made whole sooner, exempting townships from a general-election vote requirement for levy increases, and modifying school funding formulas so schools are not shortchanged if mill levies are reduced under the cap. Testimony from the Association of Counties and the State Supervisor of Assessments was generally supportive of the technical cleanup and implementation changes, but they raised concerns about the June 1 distribution date, application timing, and the practicality of some programming and administrative changes. Committee members also discussed the policy and messaging implications of the 75%/floor structure and the difficulty of applying the credit to certain voter-approved levies. No final action was taken on House Bill 1168; the committee agreed to continue working on amendments and recessed until later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Children are mainly showing when they have brain health issues between the ages of 13 to 25.
• It's because the decision-making and impulse control parts of their brains aren't fully developed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Children are mainly showing when they have brain health issues between the ages of 13 to 25.
• It's because the decision-making and impulse-control parts of their brains aren't fully developed.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• go back upstairs and would welcome anyone that didn't choose to comment publicly to come pick our brain
• go back upstairs and would welcome anyone that didn't choose to comment publicly to come pick our brain
• go back upstairs and would welcome anyone that didn't choose to comment publicly to come pick our brain
• go back upstairs and would welcome anyone that didn't choose to comment publicly to come pick our brain
• come<01:10:12.680> come<01:10:12.880> pick<01:10:13.040> our<01:10:13.120> brain

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee opened with quorum and housekeeping, then began setting interim topics for discussion. The first major topic was trapping, including prior legislation on mandatory trapper education and trapping setbacks. The Game and Fish director said the department had already gone through a trapping reform process in 2018-2019 and was prepared to testify on those issues again, noting that the commission had previously wanted legislative authority for them. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on a proposed non-motorized trail user fee. Supporters argued it could help fund trail systems and match state trail grants, citing demand for professionally built trails and examples from other states. Testimony estimated potential revenue at roughly $150,000 to $250,000 annually, depending on the model, while noting enforcement would likely rely on an honor system. Committee members discussed possible alternatives and related ideas, including using good neighbor authority with federal land managers and looking at motorized trail funding models. The director said the concept was not yet ready for immediate passage but was worth continued discussion. The committee also briefly discussed fishing outfitter issues, with the co-chair noting a prior bill had passed and that the current board still exists, but more data would be needed later in the interim. Another topic addressed ticket scalping and fake tickets at Jackson’s rodeo, which the sponsor said was affecting visitors and could warrant broader state discussion. The State Archives topic proposed expanding the digital archive and requiring agencies to use it, with added resources for local governments; staff said it would improve security, access, and storage efficiency. The committee then discussed problematic gaming and program funding, but noted a pending bill to create a separate statutory select committee on gaming, so the topic may be better handled there if formed. The final major discussion was the Game and Fish budget. The director said employee compensation increases had raised salary costs from about 40% to 60% of the budget, while overall revenue had not kept pace, forcing cuts to habitat and research work. She warned the department could reach a critical budget point by 2030. Committee members and the Wyoming Wildlife Federation supported a deeper interim review of the department’s finances and possible new revenue sources, with the director suggesting a three-meeting structure: first to lay out the budget outlook, then to discuss additional revenue options, and finally to consider what future generations may have to pay.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, my daughter's brain remains damaged by these easily accessible substances. drugs.
• I am the Director of Citizens for a Safe and Healthy Texas and Every Brain Matters.
• I suffered a traumatic brain injury 25 years ago at the age of 14.
• Fortunately for me, I also live with epilepsy and traumatic brain injury.
• I use these products for many things, including... ...brain injuries, stress, anxiety disorder.

Bills: HB28, SB3, SB 3

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, state health, youth protection, licensing fees, criminal offenses, flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program