Transcript Highlights:

• somewhere</c><00:56:02.200><c> at</c><00:56:02.320><c> home</c><00:56:03.080><c> and</c><00:56:03.440><c> clouds
• </c> have been somewhere at home and clouds have been somewhere at home and clouds hoping<00:56:04.280

Transcript Highlights:

• the method of response, including electronic delivery, the amendment changes the bill and serves to cloud
• </c><01:10:53.440><c> the</c><01:10:53.679><c> definition</c><01:10:54.000><c> of</c> serves to cloud
• the definition of serves to cloud the definition of requesttor<01:10:54.880><c> by</c><01:10:55.199>
• Investments that support real-world advancements in technology, computer science, and engineering.
• , computer science, and engineering.<05:35:37.360><c> These</c><05:35:37.680><c> institutions</c><05:

Transcript Highlights:

• She said achieving R1 status is very significant and noted that quantum computing will be discussed more
• So I think that's a major step and certainly as we go into quantum computing, we will hear more and more
• We have quantum computing moving into the area, and FAU just announced a partnership with D-Wave.
• It's going to be one of the only universities in the country with its own quantum computing lab and its
• own quantum computer.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education opened by noting it would not present its budget that day, explaining the budget rollout would be delayed until the following week to align with House partners and Senate notice requirements. After a roll call confirmed a quorum, the chair explained that because of the large number of gubernatorial appointments, the committee would hear only a subset individually and consider reappointments in a block unless members requested otherwise. The committee then heard testimony from appointees and reappointees to several university boards. Florida A&M University nominees Roderick Harris, Victor Young, and Rafael Vasquez emphasized service to their alma mater, support for leadership, student success, entrepreneurship, scholarships, and maintaining FAMU’s status as a leading HBCU. Florida Atlantic University appointees Linda Stock and Thomas Mersh highlighted FAU’s growth, R1 research designation, quantum computing, servant leadership, entrepreneurship, and expanded research opportunities. University of Central Florida reappointee Alex Martins focused on UCF’s preeminence, workforce needs, nursing and engineering, and keeping graduates in Florida. Florida Gulf Coast University nominees James Gris-Mall, Douglas Van Orte, Robert Rommel, Sarah Partial Perry, and reappointee Joseph Fogg discussed workforce development, affordability, student success, water and environmental programs, business and entrepreneurship, nursing outcomes, and FGCU’s regional role. University of South Florida reappointee Rogan Donnelly cited USF’s AAU status, research growth, and focus on student success, health care, cybersecurity, and AI. Committee members generally praised each nominee’s background and the universities’ achievements. At the end of the hearing, the committee approved all nominees in a single block vote for confirmation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you just explain to folks who might be listening, like, what is quantum computing?
• The computer in the glasses is 100,000 times more powerful than the computer that served the Apollo service
• And so we have traditional computing, which powers AI, right?
• So we have traditional computing, which powers AI, right?
• Then we have quantum computing, leveraging quantum physics.

Transcript Highlights:

• Computer code is speech.
• Computer code is speech.
• How an individual can possess computer code.
• I think they should be allowed to possess computer code. Do not concur. Further remarks.
• And I believe strongly that possessing computer code is speech. It's a form of speech.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, offered the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer, approved the prior day’s minutes, and then recessed briefly for caucus. The chamber received several Senate messages, including concurrence on amendments and the signing of Engrossed Senate Bill 5068, before moving into third reading and final passage of multiple bills. Most of the floor debate centered on concurrence with Senate amendments and the policy effects of those changes. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1170 passed 55-38 and was described as reorganizing and clarifying how Climate Commitment Act auction revenues are distributed among state accounts; supporters said it would create a clearer budget process, while opponents objected to shifting funds away from transportation and capital uses and reducing tax relief. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251 passed 54-40 after debate over Climate Commitment Act account structure and operating-account allocations. Engrossed House Bill 2445 passed 66-29 on probate-related changes, with supporters citing clarifications and opponents saying it did not go far enough to limit outside involvement in probate matters. The House also passed Substitute House Bill 2334 80-15, with little debate after Senate “perfecting” changes. Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 passed 86-9; supporters said it would replace an inconsistent property tax on wind, solar, and battery storage facilities with a stable excise tax to benefit rural communities, counties, and labor, while opponents focused on tax impacts and local burdens. Additional bills passed included Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1500 on HOA resale certificates (61-34), Second Substitute House Bill 1909 creating a Court Unification Task Force (57-38), Engrossed House Bill 2156 expanding Attorney General investigative authority over economic and financial crimes (54-41 on reconsideration), Substitute House Bill 2539 on inmate funds and related deductions (57-38), Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2548 on health care facility mergers and market oversight (55-41), Engrossed House Bill 2588 on local control for the Lummi ferry system (56-40), and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2320 on gun violence prevention and 3D-printed firearms (58-38). The House also agreed not to concur in Senate amendments to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408 and retransmitted it to the Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• his principal to remove some computers his principal to remove some computers out of a room um and he
• fell down, fell on his computers fell down, fell on his computers fell down, fell on his foot, and he's
• And I know and also computer science. And I know and also computer science.
• science on um an update to our computer science on um an update to our computer science bill now.
• science bill like all these computer science bill like all these computer science bill like all these

Bills: SB199 , HB142 , SB86 , HB152 , HB297 , SB1 , SB1

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: parental leave, state employees, local education agencies, adoption, work-life balance, family support, portable benefits, portable benefit account, independent contractor, gig worker, 1099 worker, freelancer, app-based worker, rideshare, delivery driver, worker benefits, health insurance, retirement benefits, life insurance, income replacement insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• broadband and we need to ensure that Minnesotans get connected to broadband and get connected on a real computer
• Minnesotans get connected to broadband and get connected on a real computer, not just complete tasks
• And but, you know, I see computer access and things 3.27, you know, well, before that, you know, we're
• And but, you know, I see computer access and things Representative Nelson: You know, computer access
• I think the goals of, you know, developing broadband, you know, when you start adding computer access

Transcript Highlights:

• phones and computers and were doing forensic<00:21:37.080><c> analysis.
• Uh, what we found or what the OIG's team found was DHS's computer systems tran DHS's computer systems
• That's what an IP log is in the computer system.
• It's a basic in computer system.
• It's a basic in computer system. brakes. It's a basic in computer system.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• As a family of the military, I worked at White Sands as a computer programmer many years ago.
• The other thing that we do is we have a computer lab with six computers.
• When I first became the director, I was asked, "Do we really need the computers there?
• We have a lab across the hallway with 60 computers. Do we really need to have them?"
• It is not because those computers across the hall can't do the same thing; they can study.

Transcript Highlights:

• classrooms, screens are now being used to deliver scripted instruction and to administer frequent computer-based
• We had a little computer adventure early this year and basically didn't have access to laptops for about
• they would use their powers for good and not for evil—but they will key in certain things on their computer
• But they, and they didn't get a lot of the computer stuff, my high school kids, when they were younger
• I bring that up because at our last town hall, there were parents who were very concerned about computers

Bills: SB194 , SB200 , SB203 , SB204 , SJR3

Committee: House House Education

Summary: The committee first announced that House Bill 161 would be rolled over until Monday so the sponsor could work out unintended errors and bring back a clean amendment. The committee then heard House Memorial 2, which calls for a Legislative Education Study Committee study of screen time in elementary classrooms, including instruction, assessment, and general use. The sponsor and supporters said the memorial is intended to examine the effects of screen use on young children’s learning, attention, literacy, social-emotional development, and physical well-being, and to develop research-based guidance rather than rely on anecdotes. Testimony in support came from educators and school leaders, including AFT New Mexico, NEA New Mexico, and the superintendent of Carlsbad Municipal Schools, who argued that screens are being used too heavily in elementary settings and that hands-on learning and direct interaction are being displaced. Committee members raised questions about whether the study should extend beyond elementary grades to secondary education, online books, and AI-related assessment issues such as voice recording and accessibility. The sponsor and legislative staff said the memorial is currently limited to elementary classrooms but could potentially be expanded; they also noted that assessment-related AI concerns would fall within the study. The committee then approved HM2 on a do-pass motion with no opposition. The committee next heard House Memorial 16, recognizing the New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory for 80 years of service and contributions to research, innovation, national security, workforce development, and economic prosperity. Support testimony highlighted the laboratory’s role in southern New Mexico and its status as one of eight FAA test sites for unmanned aerial systems. A member of the public also testified in support as an NMSU alum and STEM advocate. The committee approved HM16 on a do-pass motion with no opposition. The meeting also included introductions from visiting high school students and a reminder that Monday is NMSU Day at the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• described under code 518210 of the 2022 North American Industry Classification System, including computer
• </c> 210 and and those include computer 210 and and those include computer processing,<05:12:30.000><
• 14:10.400><c> for</c> So, for instance, say you produce films and you put those films out into the cloud
• also like to add that everything that you have on your phone that gets stored, it has to go to the cloud
• So now we know where our cloud is.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• And my grandson, her son, took this test on the computer.
• Page 384 is the core for the computer science administration.
• with very little computer science background.
• Everybody's got a computer in their pocket or their purse.
• computers and quantum computing, there's some... ...really good and some really scary stuff that's on

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee first heard the Secretary of State’s FY27 budget presentation. Secretary Denny Hoskins described his office’s work on business filings, elections administration, securities enforcement, archives, libraries, and Safe at Home, and said the office had cleaned up voter rolls by removing more than 200,000 ineligible voters. Members questioned him closely about deceased voters, voter registration through DMVs, information sharing with the federal government, and whether any personal identifying information would be released; Hoskins said only publicly available information had been shared and that PII would not be released absent a court order. He also said his office had 10 pending lawsuits handled by the Attorney General’s office, and discussed budget lapses, staffing levels, and the need to spend federal and other funds before general revenue when possible. A major portion of the discussion focused on election-related funding requests. Hoskins defended funding for ballot publication in newspapers, saying the constitution and state law require publication of statewide ballot measures and that the cost could rise sharply if many petitions or a referendum reach the ballot. Several members questioned whether the newspaper notices are still effective, while others emphasized that many Missourians still rely on print and that the requirement remains constitutional. The committee also discussed the technology services NDI tied to the sunset of the $5 business filing fee that funds IT operations, with Hoskins saying the office would need general revenue if the sunset is not extended. Other topics included absentee ballot postage reimbursement, election cost transfers, and the library networking fund, which Hoskins said has not historically been funded at the full 10 percent level. Members also raised broader budget and policy concerns, including the office’s FTE count, the restoration of some previously cut archives/local records positions, and the need for a new voter registration system and election-night reporting system. Some members pressed Hoskins on whether his budget requests were consistent with his past calls for smaller government, while he responded that election-year obligations, cybersecurity risks, and outdated systems require investment. The committee did not take a vote on the Secretary of State items during this segment. The committee then began the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education presentation from Commissioner Carla Eslinger. She outlined the FY27 request for the foundation formula, transportation, child care, literacy, educator workforce, and strategic planning. Eslinger said the formula increase is driven by policy changes such as enrollment-based funding and higher special education and virtual education costs; transportation needs a modest increase; child care needs general revenue to replace expiring federal funds; and literacy efforts continue to expand through science-of-reading training and state-approved assessments. She also highlighted through-year testing, grade-level descriptors, teacher recruitment and retention, and work with a new Transforming Schools group. The presentation was cut short when the committee recessed for floor activity, with no votes taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we've seen whether it be Elon Musk, or Google, or others are looking to create new human-computer
• </c> familiar with the human computer familiar with the human computer interface<00:23:17.000><c> right
• </c><00:23:34.440><c> interfaces</c> create new human computer interfaces create new human computer interfaces
• </c><00:24:35.399><c> interfaces</c><00:24:36.399><c> can</c><00:24:36.600><c> they</c> human computer
• interfaces can they human computer interfaces can they implant<00:24:37.559><c> a</c><00:24:37.799><

Transcript Highlights:

• times our CAD systems or MDTs in our cars, they'll go down so we can't get that information off the computer
• registration back with us and we'll compare what the registration says on the paper copy and also on the computer
• the computer's working and compare what the registration says on the paper copy and also on the computer
• We keep going back to the computer not working. What if it doesn't work for everything else?
• All the information is available on the computers and patrol vehicle.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> The next item is eliminating computer The next item is eliminating computer science<00:59:53.440
• The cut that we have is in one of the new proposals: a computer science education grants cut, a computer
• Um, second point, uh, computer science.
• Um, second point, uh, computer<01:37:33.119><c> science.
• So, that was a an computer science.

Bills: HF2430 , HF2433

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education finance, teacher training, Read Act, state aid, school funding, education funding, children with disabilities, transition aid, special education, school district consolidation

Transcript Highlights:

• We have quantum computing moving into the area, and FAU just announced a partnership with D-Wave.
• It is going to be one of the only universities in the country with its own quantum computing lab and
• its own quantum computer.
• So I really... ...universities in the country with its own quantum computing lab and its own quantum
• computer.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this bill protects minors online by prohibiting interactive computer services that contract
• to minors to a minor account that was created by the interactive computer service.
• Amendment number four removes the restrictions on algorithms used by an interactive computer service.
• to minors to a minor account that were created by the interactive computer service.
• Amendment number four removes the restrictions on algorithms used by an interactive computer service.

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 718, which would limit liability for landowners who allow free use of private property for aeronautical activities at non-public airports. The author said the bill was modeled on Arkansas law and was intended to help private airstrips. After brief questions about fees and the effective date, the bill was reported favorably without objection. House Bill 134, dealing with material harmful to minors online, was then amended to clarify that interactive computer services may not deliver harmful material to minor accounts they created, while removing algorithm restrictions and cure language; it was reported as amended. House Bill 410, which would require notification before recording direct in-person conversations, drew substantial testimony. The author said the bill was aimed at privacy concerns raised by wearable AI devices and hidden recording tools, and the adopted amendments changed the measure from consent to notification and added exceptions for first responders, evidence preservation, civil or administrative proceedings, criminal matters, and recordings in one’s own residence. Supporters said the bill protected ordinary people from secret recordings, while opponents warned it could chill family-law recordings, citizen journalism, HOA disputes, and other legitimate uses. The bill was ultimately reported as amended. House Bill 318, which would reduce the presumption of paternity period from 300 days to 150 days, was heavily criticized by family-law practitioners and a law professor who said the current 300-day rule tracks gestation and that shortening it would shift burdens onto mothers; the author then voluntarily deferred the bill. A companion study resolution, HCR 19, directing the Louisiana State Law Institute to study the presumption of parentage, was reported favorably. The committee also heard House Bill 970 on competing custody orders. The author described cases where different courts issued conflicting custody rulings for the same child, but judges and attorneys raised concerns about the bill’s “earliest order controls” rule, its effect on out-of-state orders, protective orders, and the lack of a clear mechanism for judges to discover prior orders. After testimony from judges and committee discussion about possible fixes and a unified filing system, the bill was voluntarily deferred. House Bill 163, another private-airstrip liability bill, was reported favorably, and House Bill 170 and House Bill 194, both dealing with construction/design professional contracts and preemptive periods, were reported as amended or favorably after testimony that they would align design-professional rules with contractor rules and keep Louisiana projects under Louisiana law. House Bill 254, limiting acts of donation of motor vehicles to certain relatives and charities, was reported as amended after discussion about tax treatment and possible loopholes. Finally, the committee began House Bill 485, a proposed constitutional amendment declaring parental rights fundamental and subjecting government restrictions to strict scrutiny. Supporters argued it would protect parents’ authority over children’s upbringing, education, care, and control, while opponents said the language was overly broad and could complicate child welfare, public health, and school safety measures. The author said the amendment would not protect abuse or neglect and was meant to ensure government interference meets strict scrutiny, but the transcript cuts off before final action on the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, human instead of a computer.
• Page two, line three, delete a computer, Page two, line three, delete a computer, insert<01:14:00.320
• ,</c> actual human instead of a computer, actual human instead of a computer, which<01:15:10.320><c>
• </c><01:26:29.280><c> that</c> is uh speaking with a computer that is uh speaking with a computer that
• We appreciate the computers and AI.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I think that is the positive case, but my colleagues—so my colleague Judy Shen in computer science
• So many of my colleagues here in computer science, at Stanford, at Berkeley, across the nation and the
• world... ...colleagues here in computer science, at Stanford, at Berkeley, across the nation and the
• My sense, though I think just like lawyers might disagree, computer scientists may also disagree, but
• I teach computer science. It's all about innovation.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee and Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing at Stanford on the intersection of artificial intelligence, copyright, transparency, and California’s creative economy. Chairs and members emphasized that the hearing was not on a specific bill and would not include a vote, but was intended to gather information ahead of the next legislative session. Opening remarks stressed the tension between protecting artists’ intellectual property and allowing AI innovation to continue in California, with several members noting the state’s outsized role in both the tech and entertainment sectors. The first panel featured Professor Pamela Samuelson and Stanford researcher Rishi Bommasani. Samuelson reviewed the current copyright litigation landscape, including dozens of lawsuits against generative AI companies, and explained that fair use will likely be central, especially the market-effects factor. She said state action is constrained by federal copyright preemption, but transparency, privacy, and deepfake-related regulation may still be possible. Bommasani described widespread opacity around training data among major California AI companies, discussed AB 2013 and the EU AI Act as transparency models, and warned that disclosure rules face enforcement and design challenges. Members asked about market dilution theories, open-source models, user data, machine unlearning, and what California can do without conflicting with federal law. The second panel included SAG-AFTRA board member Jason George, Animation Guild president Danny Lynn, and OpenAI copyright counsel Mark Gray. George and Lynn argued that AI training on performers’ and artists’ work without consent or compensation is already harming careers, devaluing creative labor, and enabling digital replicas and style imitation; both supported stronger transparency so rights holders can identify when their work is used and negotiate licenses. Gray said AI is increasingly being used as a productivity tool and pointed to growing partnerships between AI companies and publishers, studios, and record labels, while acknowledging concerns about deepfakes and specific harmful uses. Committee members pressed him on labeling AI-generated content, training-data disclosure, and how to protect creators while still encouraging innovation. No formal action or vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• computer science?
• Yes. >> So, we have computer science and other requirements can make up for the computer science?
• Yes. >> Certified teacher, but not certified or not in computer science, because I think computer science
• </c><01:32:54.200><c> And</c> the computer science? Right. Okay. And the computer science? Right.
• <01:33:53.280><c> science</c> computer science computer science &gt;&gt; computer<01:33:54.040><c> science

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum present, then quickly handled routine business including excusing absent senators, adopting the prior journal, and recognizing several guests in the gallery. The chamber also paused to honor Dr. Mark Sullivan, superintendent of Birmingham City Schools, with a Senate resolution commending him as the Alabama Education Association’s 2025-26 outstanding superintendent of the year. Senator Smitherman and Dr. Sullivan both spoke, with Sullivan highlighting Birmingham’s academic gains, reduced failing schools, and lower chronic absenteeism. The Senate then processed a series of House messages and confirmations. It concurred in SB 288 on agriculture authorities and SB 317 on the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services, but non-concurred and sent SB 174 on natural resources and SB 32 on solid waste collection fees to conference. The chamber confirmed numerous appointments, including Rex Jones, William Donahue, Jim Massey, Jason Windham, Alexander Atwater, Charles Dean, Steve McKinnon, Bonnie Temple, Shaniqua Johnson-Enam, Dwayne Jenkins, Troy Skipworth, Gloria Watts, Tracy Doughty, Kevin Ball, Joe D. Briggs, Josh Bryant, Dylan Turk, David R. Pruitt III, and Carol Smitherman, with most confirmations passing on near-unanimous rolls. Committee reports advanced several House bills, including favorable reports on HB 224, 591, 614, 609, 444, 248, 611, 622, 92, and 556, with HB 248 amended. The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring the University of Alabama women’s wheelchair basketball team for winning the 2026 national championship, and another resolution recognizing the seriousness of the national debt and urging Congress to establish regular budget order. A resolution honoring retired Brigadier General Vandiver H. Carter as the 2026 Marion Military Institute Alumnus of the Year and a resolution commending John R. Cooper were also adopted. In local legislation, the Senate passed HB 635 for Choctaw County, HB 639 for Escambia County, SB 10 for Tuscaloosa County, HB 315 for class one municipalities after adopting a committee substitute and a friendly amendment, and HB 404 for class one municipalities. Finally, the Committee on Rules reported and the Senate adopted a special order calendar for the next legislative day, listing a wide range of bills for priority consideration, including measures on solar power facilities, homestead exemptions, education, guardianships, tax increment districts, legal tender, college tuition, crime victims compensation, motor vehicles, entertainment industry issues, campus chaplains, tax abatements, alcoholic beverage producers, data privacy, constables, insurance, municipal audits, income tax, public high schools, taxation, state health planning, and University of Alabama matters.