Transcript Highlights:

• When we look at the impact of this geothermal development and decision, it will guide and control for
• When we look at the impact of this geothermal development and decision, it will guide and control the
• for the Next Generation or and control for the Next Generation or two<00:15:12.519> the<00:15
• <00:38:19.640> so<00:38:19.839> the are getting up to speed so the are getting up to
• speed so the Department's<00:38:20.359> plan<00:38:20.560> to<00:38:20.680> address

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several measures on agriculture, energy, stadium governance, and hotel consumer protections. On SB 448 relating to agriculture, Agra Business Development Corporation and the Hawaii Farm Bureau testified in support of a proposed conservation easement acquisition in Central Oahu; the chair asked follow-up questions about the exact location, cost, and agricultural potential of the land, and the witness said the parcel had good soil and water and was former pineapple land, with cost still to be provided. On SB 827 relating to meat processing, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism said the state needs more meat-processing capacity and that any grant program should complement, not compete with, existing efforts; the Attorney General’s office warned the bill lacked legally sufficient standards for grants of public money under the state constitution and offered draft standards. Several industry and chamber witnesses supported the measure, while discussion focused on the need for brick-and-mortar or modular facilities, infrastructure costs, federal inspection needs, and access for hunters and neighbor islands. The committee then took up SB 1269 relating to geothermal resources, which drew broad support from county officials, energy consultants, utility representatives, and community advocates, with one witness opposing it. Supporters described geothermal as a viable, indigenous, firm baseload energy source that could help reduce Hawaii’s high electricity costs and support clean energy goals; one witness emphasized prior work in New Zealand and another urged the state to move forward with exploration. A DBEDT representative explained that the department is coordinating geothermal-related work with the Hawaii Technology Development Corp., the University of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Energy Office, noting a prior $3 million appropriation, phase-one community engagement work, and plans to seek a contractor for geoscience and exploration in phase two. Members pressed DBEDT to explain how this bill fits with other geothermal measures moving through different committees, and the chair asked the department to review SB 993 and better coordinate the package of geothermal bills. On SB 1337 relating to the Stadium Authority, the stadium manager testified in support of clarifying quorum rules, explaining that the authority currently has eight seated voting members out of nine possible voting seats and that the bill would help ensure voting members are counted for quorum; he said meetings have not been delayed. Finally, on SB 883 relating to hotels, the Attorney General’s office raised First Amendment and contract-law concerns and recommended adding a purpose statement and a non-impairment savings clause. Unite Here Local 5 and other supporters said guests should be notified of hotel service disruptions such as construction, closures, or labor disputes, while opponents questioned who would enforce the law, what penalties would apply, and whether the measure could require hotels to pay damages even without a complaint. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This conference report relates to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority permitting of retail
• the printed calendar, we come to a conference report for House Bill 642, which relates to cannabis control
• call the tip line, and that would go right to ABC, and they would coordinate that with the Cannabis Control
• This conference report relates to photo speed monitoring devices, photo monitoring systems for traffic
• We know that speeding is more likely to kill. Did we sit on our hands and say, nothing to do here?

Keywords: March 14, 2026 - Regular Session Part 2, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This encourages private investment, speeds housing production, and does so without requiring major new
• One of the small towns in my district were pretty adamant about local control.
• What then controls that aspect of it?
• and what we've been studying across the state and across the country, is that unfortunately local control
• and what we've been studying across the state and across the country is that unfortunately local control

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have better controls on existing programs right now?
• And so we did start to strengthen our internal controls around expenses all around.
• Internal controls around expenses all around.
• And obviously there wasn't a whole lot of control over what was going on with those dollars.
• There are sometimes we don't have any control over that because, again, the action's not criminal.

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the prior meeting and then heard several audit-related reports. The executive committee report noted audit and special reports were scheduled for standing committees and the full Legislative Joint Audit Committee, with one requested report still in progress. The City, County, and Local report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, reinstatement of turnback funds for entities that filed required reports, and action involving the town of Daisy, which was directed to repay misused street funds at 10% of general fund revenue annually. The education and state agencies reports included higher education audits and state agency findings, with some reports filed and others deferred to the February meeting for additional information or corrective-action details. The committee then took up a special audit of the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UA Little Rock. Legislative Audit reported that the program, funded with $10 million in desegregation money plus a $50,000 grant, awarded $1.87 million in scholarships to 379 students, with 116 graduates, but found numerous eligibility and disbursement problems, including scholarships to ineligible students, excessive awards, improper documentation, and unclear disposition of some assets. Committee members questioned UALR representatives about oversight, staffing, and whether funds were properly used, and also heard from Philander Smith College about its limited role in verifying enrollment. Members expressed concern about the program’s results and the lack of detail on accountability, and the committee voted to table the report until the next meeting for further review and requested additional information, including the federal court order and more detail on expenditures and oversight. Finally, the committee reviewed the annual disposition report on matters referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General for 2024. Staff said 164 matters were referred, with 28 resulting in criminal charges and convictions, 39 still under review, 96 not charged, and others dismissed or pending; 20 convictions produced fines, restitution, and audit-cost orders, and bond trust fund claims were paid in some cases. Prosecutor Coordinator and Attorney General representatives explained that some referrals do not meet criminal standards, may lack intent, or are otherwise not prosecutable, and members asked for more standardized reporting, clearer explanations of why cases are not charged, and more information on restitution efforts. The committee discussed possible templates, training, and better coordination, then voted to file the report and adjourned, with the next meeting set for February 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• IT SEEMS LIKE AI IS CONTROLLING THE WORLD.
• MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR DATA IS IN CONTROL UNDER OUR TENANT.
• THAT IS WHAT WE ARE BUILDING RIGHT NOW SO THAT STUDENTS CAN TAKE CONTROL.
• YOUR POINT HOW DO WE CONTROL EDUCATION?
• NOT SAYING THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE COMPANY BUT IT'S HOW WE CAN SPEED UP DATA AND DATA ANALYSIS CLASSROOM

Transcript Highlights:

• sworn complaint files revealed no abuse of discovery process, Sunset recommended TC adopt discovery control
• plans to ensure speed resolutions of cases.
• The discovery control plans mirror those plans that you would see in the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure
• Jim, will you bring us up to speed on this? Yes, thank you, Chair.
• Some sort of medium that you don't control a newspaper, magazine, broadcast, generally speaking, and

Transcript Highlights:

• And try to get some of the witnesses through so we can speed this up and then if I, if I'm here by 9,
• engage a windstorm engineer, um, that designs the, uh, the, the home according to, you know, the wind speed
• that contribute to the rise in property and casualty rates are things that are completely beyond our control
• We can't control the weather. We can't control inflation.
• I can't control the availability of building materials, and I can't control how the houses that are already

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got a lot of traffic control going on, people coming and going. I know it's Israel Day.
• Okay, members, we're going to take a pause while we do a little traffic control here. Thank you.
• Instead of addressing these issues, this bill adds more government mandates, strips away local control
• with not a peep from the…” “...during the Gilded Age, with not a peep from the politicians they controlled
• HB 351 adds driving 50 miles per hour over the speed limit and driving at speeds of over 100 miles an

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee heard a long agenda of bills covering education, public safety, local government, labor relations, and foreign policy. Early measures included HB 1055, which would support Florida State University’s Election Law Center; CS/HB 4073, a Leon County local bill updating career service rules for sheriff’s office employees; CS/HB 253, creating penalties for license plate obscuring devices and misuse of emergency-style lights; and HB 293, codifying the Office of Faith and Community in the Governor’s Office and creating a liaison and advisory council. Members raised questions on academic freedom in HB 1055 and on church-state concerns and oversight in HB 293, but both bills advanced after supportive testimony from university, faith-based, and law enforcement representatives. The committee also approved HB 4029, a local bill for the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District, and HB 889, requiring classroom driver education for minors before licensure, with supporters emphasizing roadway safety and teen crash reduction. The committee then took up PCS/HB 731, which would require standardized testing for admission to health-related degree programs at state universities. The sponsor argued the bill would ensure qualified applicants and objective admissions standards, while several members and public witnesses raised concerns that it would duplicate existing requirements like the MCAT and create unnecessary barriers; the bill still passed, though with several no votes. HB 1519, expanding Florida’s anti-BDS law to cover academic boycotts, nonprofits, local governments, and certain grants, drew strong support from Jewish organizations and strong opposition from speakers who argued it chilled free speech and punished criticism of Israel. After an amendment narrowing and clarifying parts of the bill, it passed favorably as a committee substitute. The most contentious debate came on HB 1387, a major overhaul of Public Employees Relations Commission procedures and public-sector union rules. Supporters said the bill would streamline PERC processes, improve fairness, and address cases where unions were certified with very low participation; opponents, including teachers and labor advocates, said it weakened collective bargaining and public employee rights. After a strike-all amendment and extensive testimony, the bill passed as a committee substitute. The committee also approved HB 351, which adds extreme speeding to reckless driving and increases penalties, after removing impoundment language in an amendment, and PCB GOS 25-07, preserving a public records exemption for minors seeking judicial waiver of parental notice/consent for abortion. The meeting adjourned after all measures were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, thank you very much, and we have to kind of speed it up a little bit.
• Parents should be able to have control over social media considering the harms that it causes.
• includes the parent to be able to give permission and access to social media and that they have the control
• an outright prohibition, efforts should focus on age-appropriate safeguards, increased parental controls
• maintain the integrity of and empowering parents to definitely, you know, strengthen those parental controls

Bills: HB 186

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivisions, government expenditure, transparency, local government, political subdivision, county, city, municipality, special district, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying restriction, registered lobbyist, government association, county association dues, Texas Legislature, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, Chapter 556

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I've seen districts that are We're moving at the speed of light, and I've seen districts that
• They don't necessarily control opportunity opportunities to leverage a whole lot of new funds.
• They don't necessarily control all the players that are handed to them on the field relative to the funding
• issues with with environmental or what are some ways we could be looking at to cut the red tape and speed
• cats at times. to deliver a transportation project, not all of which are under the strict, specific control

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's the angle of the drums that controls the reactivity.
• You've got drums, and it's the angle of the drums that controls the reactivity.
• We should be able to control emissions and bring down, you know.
• When you don’t have control of these things, you really don’t have control of the ability to maintain
• We're looking at new control rod mechanisms.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it’s the angle of the drums that controls the reactivity.
• Um, you’ve got drums, and it’s the angle of the drums that controls the reactivity.
• We should be able to control emissions and bring down, you know.
• When you don't have control of these things, you really don't have control of the ability to maintain
• We're looking at new control rod mechanisms.

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the quality of questions from the group, followed by a series of technical presentations from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent nuclear regulatory changes tied to presidential executive orders, including NRC Part 53 for advanced reactors, the forthcoming Part 57 for very small reactors, and DOE updates to reactor authorization standards. He emphasized efforts to align DOE and NRC processes, use risk-informed and performance-based licensing, support reactor deployment for AI/data centers and national security, and use AI to speed communications and crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements. In response to questions, he said there was no plan to merge agencies, but rather to improve coordination and public outreach through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and reprocessing. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), why it is needed for advanced reactors, and DOE’s HALEU Availability Program and related investments in enrichment, transportation, deconversion, and supply chain development. He also covered spent fuel management, the possibility of centralized storage or a fuel-cycle campus, the Center for Used Fuel Research, and ongoing work on high-burnup cask testing and reprocessing technologies. Tolman described aqueous, pyrochemical, and fluoride-volatility reprocessing approaches, noting the advantages and waste characteristics of each, and said several companies are working with INL on these technologies. Ashley Shields presented INL’s AI and nuclear work, focusing on the Genesis initiative and the Prometheus effort to use AI to design, license, build, and operate reactors with far less human intervention. She described INL’s broad use of generative AI tools, the need to manage large volumes of legacy technical data, and applications in reactor design, materials discovery, autonomous laboratories, and digital twins. Shields said AI is being used to reduce the enormous documentation burden in nuclear licensing and to support autonomous or remotely operated reactor demonstrations, while stressing that humans remain in supervisory roles. In discussion, she addressed data security, model access, and the continued need for software engineers. The session then recessed briefly and resumed with Mitch Kerman beginning a presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to do this with speed. We're tired of the empty talk, Governor.
• scale we need to do this with speed scale we need to do this with speed we're<00:24:36.000> tired
• Huffman, will each control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
• Huffman, will each control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
• Hoffman, each will control 20 minutes. The gentleman from Arkansas, Mr.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:52:49.640> limit miles an hour hour over the speed limit miles an hour hour over the speed
• And so maybe with some creative approaches we can find ways to increase marine control and unlock those
• I guess that is something that the public body can control in accordance with 91A.
• <01:23:37.360> in<01:23:37.679> accordance public body um can control in accordance
• public body um can control in accordance with<01:23:38.320> 91A.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our controller and our assistant controller helping with the processing of accounting payments
• There's also something in HLC called a change of control.
• controlled by another entity based on business...
• There's also something in HLC called a change of control.
• So change of control, there's policies around whether independently accredited institution is being controlled

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met on the Minot State University campus for presentations on campus operations, enrollment, and new academic initiatives. President Shirley reviewed recent audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings, and highlighted MSU’s broad academic offerings, specialized accreditations, athletics, and partnerships with Minot Air Force Base and the MSU Development Foundation. Members asked about declining interest in teacher education, tuition waivers for athletes, dual credit incentives, and how MSU decides when to launch new programs and avoid duplication within the university system. Shirley also discussed several workforce-focused initiatives supported by the Legislature’s Workforce Education Innovation Funds, including the purchase of the Trinity Health Center West building for a downtown health sciences hub, a new daycare/preschool partnership near campus, the Aspire program to recruit rural students into teaching, and a paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Enrollment data showed overall headcount was flat at just under 2,750, but full-time equivalent enrollment rose slightly and new student numbers increased, including the largest freshman class in 15 years. The committee also discussed Minot State’s in-state tuition rate for all students, its dual credit “Emerging Scholars” scholarship, and concerns about the share of high school graduates who do not immediately pursue postsecondary education. Faculty then presented two new programs funded in part by WEAF: an Innovation Engineering degree and a master’s program in counseling with an integrated addiction studies focus. The engineering program was described as industry-driven, designed with broad early coursework, hands-on learning, and local employer input to prepare students for western North Dakota workforce needs; officials said it had already drawn more applicants than expected and would use renovated library space and donated or grant-funded equipment. The counseling program will be mostly face-to-face with hybrid options, aims to address shortages in mental health and substance use providers, and is structured to help students meet licensure requirements. Committee members asked about startup costs, licensure supervision hours, and whether the programs would be on campus rather than online, and presenters said both programs had recently received required approvals and were moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to speak about road construction and maintenance, dust, and ice control.
• As you know, the Water Quality Control... Urge you to please vote no on HB 207.
• I hate to see freshwater being used for dust control and things like that.
• I hate to see freshwater being used for dust control and things like that.
• And this body created the Water Quality Control Commission in 2019, is that correct?

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• which<00:07:14.080> is<00:07:14.319> we<00:07:14.639> can't<00:07:14.880> control
• <00:07:15.440> So<00:07:16.080> that<00:07:16.319> was which is we can't control
• So that was which is we can't control.
• So that'll help us with speeding up the timeliness, which is one of the concerns. happy with the the
• speeding up the timeliness<00:23:31.919> which<00:23:32.080> is<00:23:32.240> one

Bills: HB517, HB520, HB233, HB354, HB517, HB520, HB233, HB354

Keywords: underground damage prevention, one-call notification system, utility locating, excavation safety, dig safe, call before you dig, 811, utility lines, underground utilities, pipeline safety, gas pipeline, electric utility, telecommunications, water utility, wastewater, cable television, locate request, premark, tolerance zone, positive response

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 444 simply aligns state statute to federal regulations by allowing hospice personnel to control
• or to destroy controlled substances after the death of a patient.
• This is a request that allows distilleries, suppliers of two locations controlled by the licensee, to
• It just expands THC and a controlled substance to model federal guidelines. AG request.
• would be able to go and look and say that Facility A has three adult inpatient beds, and you could speed

Bills: SB1983, SB444, SB1503, SB1561, SB592, SB1501, SB1946, SB1567, SB1833, SB2026, SB904, SB2178, SB1651, SB1558, SB1565, SB1553, SB1257, SB65, SB1749, SB1242, SB1642, SB640, SB667, SB1436, SB1484, SB1562, SB1794, SB1644, SB1533, SB933, SB1555

Keywords: SB1983, foster care, resource family partner, resource family partners, Department of Human Services, DHS, child welfare, foster homes, foster children, placement data, data sharing, de-identified data, aggregated data, sibling groups, placement disruptions, foster parent recruitment, foster parent retention, private child-placing agency, Title 10A, Oklahoma

Summary: The committee opened with prayer and then heard a long series of Senate bills, many of them agency request or cleanup measures. Early bills included SB 1983, directing DHS to provide foster care data to resource family partners to better identify foster family needs; SB 444, allowing hospice personnel to control or destroy controlled substances after a patient’s death; and SB 1503, a PCS related to pregnancy resource center outreach and in-state referrals, which drew discussion about virtual versus face-to-face support and was reported out after members agreed to continue working on the language. Other measures advanced included SB 1561 on progressive discipline for certain M.T.M.S. personnel, SB 592 and SB 1946 on alcohol-related licensing/sales issues, SB 1501 and SB 1567 as cleanup or implementation bills, and SB 1833 codifying a SNAP waiver barring candy and soft drinks purchases. The committee also considered several health and human services bills. SB 2026 expanded access to military discharge papers to grandchildren; SB 904 addressed public funds and state facilities, with members raising concerns about legislative interference in medical decision-making and liability; SB 2178 modified alcohol licensing insurance requirements; SB 1651 updated Oklahoma Medical Board license language; SB 1558 clarified the definition of a child for level E group homes; SB 1565 promoted Food is Medicine efforts to improve maternal and infant outcomes; and SB 1553 required psychologist review of appealed adverse determinations involving mental health claims. SB 1257, with a policy recommendation, expanded THC/controlled substance language to align with federal guidelines, and SB 1749 made a cleanup change related to food trailers and LP gas inspections. Later in the meeting, the committee advanced SB 65 with a policy amendment adding fentanyl and xylazine test strips; SB 1242, which included OMMA education and abandoned grow cleanup provisions; SB 1642, allowing shorter acute prescriptions to help reduce addiction risk; SB 640, treating abandoned grow facilities as public nuisances so local governments can abate them; SB 667, clarifying accreditation language for chiropractic programs; SB 1436, requiring hospitals to provide information on obtaining records after stillbirth or miscarriage; SB 1484, codifying medical examiner practices in infant or child deaths; SB 1562, addressing hospice patient solicitation; SB 1794, creating a mental health bed-availability database; SB 1644, seeking data on alpha-gal syndrome to support federal research funding; SB 1533, ensuring burial assistance for Oklahoma veterans who die out of state; SB 933, creating a right-to-try pathway for individualized treatments; and SB 1555, aligning the definition of intellectual disability with federal law. Most bills were reported out do pass, with recorded votes ranging from unanimous to a few nays on some measures. SB 1304 was laid over, and the committee adjourned at the end of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Roads showed up on the list, and then we had fire control show up on the list, solid waste show up on
• Air control show up on the list, solid waste show up on this list, airports show up on this list, and
• Other general government, utility services, water-sewer services, fire control, many of these are very
• Water utility services, you see several instances of different utilities, parks, recreation, fire control
• It has a lot to do with the, very much like the state, has a lot to do with the speed in which some of

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for a listening session focused on a presentation by Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research on local government revenues and expenditures. Baker reviewed statewide financial data for counties, municipalities, and independent special districts, using 2018-19 as a baseline year because it was stable and pre-COVID. She explained that counties rely heavily on taxes, with ad valorem taxes making up about 73% of county tax revenue and about 24% of total county revenues statewide, while municipalities rely more on charges for services and have a lower statewide ad valorem share of about 14.7%. She also noted wide variation across local governments, with some counties and cities highly dependent on property taxes and others using them minimally or not at all. Special districts were shown to be very different from counties and cities, with hospital-related revenues and expenditures dominating many of them, while water management districts were more reliant on ad valorem taxes and focused expenditures on the physical environment. Baker also summarized expenditure patterns: counties spent the largest share on public safety, while municipalities spent the largest share on general government services, followed by physical environment and public safety. She emphasized that local government structures vary widely and that the committee should study what characteristics are associated with greater property tax reliance. She said the next research steps would be to extend the analysis through later years, including the COVID and inflation period, and to examine institutional and legal factors that shape local fiscal structures. Members asked about unfunded mandates, fuel taxes, reserves, school taxes, millage rates, and how property taxes relate to specific services such as police and fire. Baker said the current analysis did not yet account for mandates or school taxes and that further work could examine links between revenues and expenditures, commercial versus residential tax burdens, and other factors. After the presentation, members reported back on local meetings with counties and municipalities. Several described large differences in millage rates, revenue mixes, and the impact of any property tax changes on fiscally constrained counties versus larger, wealthier ones. Concerns were raised about how local governments would replace lost revenue, especially for public safety and emergency response, and members discussed the need to consider both revenue replacement and ways to rein in spending. The co-chairs said the committee would continue gathering information, send members follow-up homework and requests for panel suggestions, and invite additional input from constituents, stakeholders, and local governments. The meeting ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator Maye, and your ongoing effort getting our kids up to speed on reading.
• <00:47:11.200> Any up to speed on reading. Thank you. Any up to speed on reading.
• We recognize that some may argue for this issue to be left to local control.
• this issue to be left to local control. this issue to be left to local control.
• how schools want local control. So, I how schools want local control.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all