Transcript Highlights:

• We're adding $250,000 in fiscal year 26 and $264,000 in fiscal year 27 for the Silver Alert program.
• 264,000 in fiscal year 27 for<00:15:33.920> the<00:15:34.040> silver<00:15:34.440> alert
• for the silver alert for the silver alert program<00:15:37.120> for<00:15:37.399> Department

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee met in decision-making only and first took up HB 300, the Senate majority budget package. The chair described the bill as a response to economic uncertainty and reduced revenue forecasts, and outlined a wide range of appropriations and staffing changes across state agencies, including agriculture, education, health, public safety, housing, labor, natural resources, and corrections. The package emphasized one-year funding for many new programs, vacancy reductions, and investments in services such as preschool, mental health, wildfire mitigation, cybersecurity, public access, and workforce development. HB 300 was recommended to pass with amendments and was adopted unanimously, with members voting yes and no reservations noted only as procedural responses. The committee then acted on HB 794 and HB 795, both recommended to pass with amendments by changing the defective date to 2050; both measures were adopted without discussion. On the 101 agenda, HB 400, the Judiciary budget bill, was recommended to pass with amendments. The bill included vacancy reductions, security funding, permanent staffing for several court and justice programs, and support for civil legal services, immigration-related services, and technology licenses. HB 400 was adopted. HB 410 was also adopted with amendments and a defective date change to 2050. On the 102 agenda, the committee passed several bills either unamended or with targeted amendments. HB 3, HB 134, HB 177, HB 237, HB 648, HB 713, HB 735, HB 1391, and HB 1462 were passed unamended. HB 214 passed with amendments expanding eligibility for retired employees to fill labor-shortage or succession-planning positions, including certain management positions excluded from collective bargaining; one member raised concerns about school resource officers and community fit, which the chair said could be addressed in the committee report. HB 441 passed with amendments to direct cigarette tax funds to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund, with a discussion about whether e-cigarettes should be included. Other measures passed with amendments included HB 448, HB 667, HB 727, HB 740, HB 806, HB 1020, HB 1345, and HB 1365, generally involving date changes, blank appropriations, or technical language. HB 1391 was adopted with a reservation from Senator Kim. The meeting concluded with HB 1462 adopted unamended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it seems like we're moving in the opposite direction with this piece of legislation.
• The bill is comprehensive, omnibus legislation that addresses many of the concerns that were brought
• First of all, thank you for the hours and hours of work you've put into this legislation.
• Do we need this legislation to start helping businesses today in these disaster areas?
• One is that Texans... ...have learned to turn off their alerts 29.5% of the time.

Bills: SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3, SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3

Keywords: education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, Texas congressional redistricting, U.S. House districts, congressional map, redistricting, gerrymandering, 2020 Census, census tracts, block groups, voting districts, election law, Texas House of Representatives districts, federal congressional districts, 2026 elections

Transcript Highlights:

• But we are not in, you know, really concerned alert... ...you know, really, really concerned alert mode

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This work requires sound policy, strong advocacy, and legislators who understand what's at stake for
• Dated this fifth day of February 2026, Representative Jeff Weninger, Legislative District 13.
• Date of this fifth day of February, 2026, Representative Jeff Winneger, Legislative District 13.
• If you are in support of good legislation to protect the community, ...of law enforcement.
• Mays alerts after Arizona's lost $177 million in 2004.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we're asking is that Legislative Council Service, with the State Personnel Office, along with
• , not only a legislator but the chair of Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs, coming to us with this
• As legislators, we all operate differently. I can't go into your area.
• It should send an alert to the employer that you do not take action that could be retaliatory in nature
• The legislation does not intend to make drastic changes to the law, but rather to ensure that the PERA

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee met and first heard House Memorial 7, which asks Legislative Council Service, the State Personnel Office, DFA, and GSD to study the use of temporary, term, seasonal, casual, on-call, and other non-regular classifications in state government. The memorial was presented as a response to concerns that some workers are repeatedly terminated and rehired, sometimes after a one-day break, to avoid regular status and associated benefits. Testimony from CWA and AFSCME described long-term temporary workers at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and other agencies who allegedly do full-time work without health insurance, retirement, leave, or consistent pay progression, and who in some cases were denied union coverage. Committee members questioned the scope, definitions of temporary employment, and whether the issue should instead be referred to the state auditor; the sponsor said the study would gather data and recommendations first. The committee voted due pass, and House Memorial 7 passed unanimously. The committee then heard House Bill 177, which appropriates funds to the Veterans Services Department to contract for shelter and care of service and companion animals so veterans can access housing, medical care, and other services without fearing separation from their pets. Support came from the Veterans Services Department, Animal Protection New Mexico, and the Veterans and Military Families Caucus/Veterans Integration Center, all of whom said pets are often a barrier to veterans seeking care and that existing community-based animal boarding models could be used. The bill received no opposition, and the committee voted due pass with no opposition. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 43, a PERA cleanup bill intended to update and clarify the Public Employees Retirement Act and align it with administrative practice. Testimony focused on a provision allowing PERA to use licensed physicians, including out-of-state physicians who can be licensed in New Mexico, to serve on the disability review process when needed so disability cases are not delayed. Committee members raised concerns about ensuring medical expertise and avoiding abuse of the licensing flexibility, but PERA explained the change was meant to address recruitment difficulties and maintain timely review. The committee voted due pass on House Bill 43.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris Gildon, your senator for the 25th Legislative District. Thank you.
• June Robinson, State Senator, 38th Legislative District, Chair, Ways and Means. Okay.
• As I mentioned before, recent legislation paused all Plan 1 funding through the 2027-29 biennium.
• It has eight legislators.
• So this recommendation is more about alerting the council and staff, but if a change...

Summary: The Pension Funding Council met on October 8 with introductions from council members and staff, then received a detailed presentation from the Office of the State Actuary on long-term economic assumptions and the state pension systems’ financial condition. OSA reported that the combined pension systems are currently 100% funded on a smoothed basis, with open plans above 95% funded, and that legacy Plan 1 systems remain on a path toward full funding under current policy. The actuaries recommended updating assumptions to 3% inflation, 3.5% general salary growth, and a 7.25% investment return, while keeping Plan 1 membership growth at 1%. They also explained asset smoothing, the role of recent strong investment returns, and the expected budget impacts of the recommended changes. Representatives from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council and the State Investment Board offered supporting perspectives, generally describing the assumptions as reasonable and consistent with their own outlooks. The council also heard an overview of the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (WACares) from DSHS and OSA. Program staff described the program’s social insurance structure, premium collection, benefit eligibility, and upcoming implementation milestones. OSA reported that the program’s first actuarial valuation showed a positive actuarial balance under the base scenario and recommended no change to the current 0.58% premium rate during the program’s early learning phase, noting that future changes would depend on experience and the program’s risk-management framework. OSA also said the recommendation would remain the same regardless of the outcome of the pending ballot measure affecting investment options. During public comment, a representative of the Washington State School Retirees Association urged continued work on Plan 1 funding and related legislation, while the Association of Washington Cities cautioned against increasing pension assumptions in a way that could raise future employer costs and reduce flexibility for current local government services. In action, the council adopted a motion to maintain the current long-term economic assumptions by a 4-2 vote, adopted the recommendation to keep the WACares premium rate at 0.58% by a 6-0 vote, and then elected Katie Chapman as council chair by unanimous vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal or arrest or other appropriate legal
• I rise as chair of the Legislative Native American Caucus to present ACR 39, which designates May 2025
• It was moved by an executive order rather than legislation.
• It also requests that he veto any legislation that would defund the Forest Service.
• This legislation builds upon that.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any other legislators attending?
• response efforts so we have a legislator response efforts so we have a legislator um<01:35:43.600
• This meeting is adjourned. legislation I think last session or the legislation I think last session or
• discussion as we go into the legislative discussion as we go into the legislative session<02:28:
• this conversation during our legislative this conversation during our legislative session<02:28:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House and Senate agriculture committees met on January 17, 2025, for an informational briefing on biosecurity and invasive species; Chair Kahaloa opened by noting there would be no public testimony. Members introduced themselves, and the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) program manager Chelsea Arnot outlined the purpose of the briefing and the statewide impacts of invasive species, citing examples such as coconut rhinoceros beetle, little fire ant, coquí frogs, albizia, and mosquito-borne disease. She emphasized that biosecurity requires coordinated action across state departments, counties, federal agencies, universities, and communities, and highlighted HISC’s role in funding interagency projects, island invasive species committees, research, outreach, and early detection efforts. Arnot and HISC representatives described major funding and program needs, including a requested $4.25 million increase to HISC to raise its baseline budget to $10 million, support island committee operations, research, biocontrol, marine biosecurity, surveillance, and staffing. They also requested $500,000 for the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab, saying it is critical to invasive ant research and little fire ant response. The briefing also noted HISC’s leverage of federal dollars, including a $4.6 million REPI award with HISC providing the match, and cited successful collaborative eradications and responses, including veiled chameleons on Maui, axis deer on Hawaiʻi Island, and a 2023 coconut rhinoceros beetle response on Maui that prevented further spread. Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture officials then discussed implementation of updated administrative rules effective January 20, 2025, which permanently restrict movement of coconut rhinoceros beetle host material and give the department stronger authority to stop movement of infested material. They reported 2024 import activity of about 50,000 ship and aircraft arrivals, inspection/clearance of 20 million pieces, and 16,000 interceptions, with additional staffing from Act 231 expected to increase interceptions. They also described Act 231 funding and current spending status: about 65% obligated and 52% encumbered, with some funds tied to contracts for CRB and little fire ant response, plus an $800,000 green-waste hauling RFP that had to be reissued because of a flaw. The department said 580 Oʻahu homes and 290 Hawaiʻi Island homes are slated for little fire ant treatment, while Maui and Kauaʻi will focus on survey and outreach. Members questioned how homes are selected for subsidized treatment, whether HISC and the island invasive species committees received Act 231 support, and whether the state should direct how contracted funds are prioritized. Representative Martin raised concerns that the RFP limited eligibility to private pest control companies and excluded more experienced entities such as the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab. Department officials said they would follow up on prioritization and funding details, and noted that emergency proclamations and procurement flexibility could help with rapid response and hiring during invasive species emergencies.

Transcript Highlights:

• 1,000 members without legislative authority.
• Chair and Senator Kuby, the legislation before you doesn't expand the AED program.
• That's our highest order here in this legislative body: public safety.
• The bill contains a statement of legislative intent and a Prop. 105 clause.
• I'm the legislative research intern on the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

Bills: SB1041, SB1050, SB1131, SB1138, SB1249, SB1267, SB1272, SB1317, SB1461, SB1488, SB1504, SB1517, SB1523, SB1580, SB1582, SB1584, SB1585, SB1602, SB1630, SB1654, SB1672, SB1673, SB1718, SB1761, SB1819, SB1826, SB1827

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, veterans, lifetime pass, state parks, Arizona, access, disabled veterans, cardiac arrest, defibrillators, school safety, emergency response, CPR training, Arizona education funding, automated license plate readers

Transcript Highlights:

• While legislative support with legislative support, Veterans Community Health has expanded suicide prevention
• While legislative<00:02:04.799> support<00:02:05.280> with<00:02:05.520> legislative
• developed in response to legislative developed in response to legislative direction<00:05:21.919
• Legislative funding is directly translated into measurable system improvements.
• Legislative funding is directly translated into measurable system improvements.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• WITH THE REMAINING 1.7 CONTINGENT UPON LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL. THAT IS THE BILL.
• TO THAT POINT, THIS LEGISLATION I THINK IN MY OPINION A COUPLE'S WELL WITH SOME OF THE REFORMS THAT WE
• WHAT I AM SAYING IS A LEGISLATION DOESN'T SHOW CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT'S THE CASE.
• WE KNOWINGLY CREATE LEGISLATION UNCONSTITUTIONAL. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.
• THIS IS HARMFUL AND WILL CREATE CHAOS WHEN THE LEGISLATION GOES THROUGH HERE THANK YOU.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Early in 2021, instead of issuing an alert on the health alert network, they developed 17 pages of talking
• Will you support legislation?
• We've had bipartisan legislation in several different committees now to get at this.
• So I'm asking you whether you believe that we have to legislate in this area.
• In principle, I support that legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The original legislation did have us funded through fees and assessments, like many other boards in the
• them to what we have them by alerting them to what we have found<00:20:43.880> uh<00:20:44.000
• <00:28:15.679> Health<00:28:15.960> economists legislators Health economists legislators
• act that is active led uh to legislation act that is active in<00:33:12.639> the<00:33:12.840
• We are here to be a resource for you and for other legislators and the public and public payers.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The working session focused on the New Hampshire Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s budget request and its recent work. Early discussion centered on a technical question about a statutory dedicated fund for donations: members asked why the budget did not show a line item for accepting donations, and DHHS CFO Nathan White explained that the statute already authorizes the fund, but because no revenue has been received yet, it does not appear in the budget. He said any future donations would go through the normal process under RSA 14:30-a, with fiscal committee and Governor and Council approval and a memo to the Department of Revenue Administration. The chair clarified that the account was not a prerequisite to soliciting donations, and White said the fund would supplement, not replace, General Fund support. Kirk Williamson, the board’s executive director, then presented the board’s mission and budget. He said the governor’s budget provides about $256,500 in the first year and slightly more in the second, all General Funds, and that the board had distributed a technical amendment to continue the executive director position. He described the board’s role as analyzing prescription drug costs, identifying savings opportunities, monitoring market trends, promoting transparency, and making recommendations to the legislature and public payers. He also emphasized that the board operates publicly, with live-streamed meetings and a stakeholder advisory council that includes unions, state agencies, Medicaid, corrections, higher education, and other stakeholders. A major topic was the board’s estimate of $6 million in potential savings, based on Medicare’s newly negotiated prices for 10 drugs. Williamson explained that the board used those federal negotiated prices as a benchmark to estimate what New Hampshire public payers might be missing by not having similar leverage, and said the board is trying to build evidence for future recommendations rather than directly setting prices. Members asked how those potential savings could become actual savings, and Williamson said the board is sharing findings through its advisory council and feedback loops, though it has not yet sent a formal recommendation letter to specific purchasers. He also discussed the difference between pharmacy-benefit spending, which relies heavily on PBM-negotiated rebates, and medical-benefit spending, which is administered differently and is being added to the board’s next report. Williamson highlighted other work, including a model on Humira and a pending legislative effort to improve biosimilar competition, plus a proposed state-backed pharmacy savings card that would be no cost to the state and could save users about $240 per prescription based on Connecticut’s experience. No votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• 2.5 will revert absent legislative action, and the game and fish funds will revert absent legislative
• <00:46:41.200> action revert if absent legislative action revert if absent legislative action
• , as as an appropriator, as a legislator, as as an appropriator, as a legislator, we<00:51:27.520
• Kyodo alerted portion of the state.
• So he is that's his first he won't alert So he is that's his first he won't alert to<01:44:27.360

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any other legislators attending?
• Any other legislators attending?
• Any other legislators attending?
• Any other legislators attending?
• species because early on I got alerted species because early on I got alerted here<01:43:40.080>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation only applies to curbside voting.
• What this legislation will do is draw attention to any bad actors.
• The Secretary of State, and this legislation was based on eyewitness accounts.
• Members, this legislation passed last session out of the House and went to the Senate at the last of
• the legislation goes into effect.

Bills: HB2139, HB2253, HB3632, HB4171, HB4309, HB4508, SB760, SB1470

Keywords: voting access, polling place, disability, caretaker provisions, ballot delivery, election code, HB 2253, Texas Election Code, bond election, bond issuance, local government, election cancellation, disaster declaration, natural disaster, emergency election, county election officer, polling place notice, open meeting, election workers, voter safety

Transcript Highlights:

• within the limits of our time, we will not permit disruptions that impede the orderly conduct of legislative
• I do also want to recognize the discussions that went into looking at the goals of this legislation.
• Leary pointed out, this legislation is critically important.
• Maybe good legislation would be to prevent refineries from closing.
• And so, you know, we haven't had to have any flex alerts in the last three years.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 440 by Morales of Harris relating to requiring certain alert messages to be in English and Spanish
• HB 457 by Morales of Harris relating to an alert system for notification and release of a toxic chemicals

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a report from the Office of Legislative Auditor.
• Catherine Tyson, deputy legislative auditor from the Office of the Legislative Auditor, introduced herself
• Sometimes they're called legislative auditors.
• With chairs and legislators from both parties, I also want to thank the Legislative Auditor for the important
• It is not always looked on favorably by legislators.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you should pieces of legislation.
• So appreciate the legislation. lights. So appreciate the legislation.
• Uh it does not piece of legislation.
• <01:13:42.640> are those those state legislators are those those state legislators are saying
• seems like some common sense legislation seems like some common sense legislation to<01:24:49.360

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association on the importance of general aviation airports in Kentucky and their economic and public-safety role. Witnesses said the state has more than 50 general aviation airports that support jobs, agriculture, tourism, medical transport, disaster response, and law enforcement, and they urged continued support for aviation infrastructure and workforce development. They asked the legislature to again provide $200,000 per general aviation airport for operating and basic infrastructure costs, to route the money through the Kentucky Department of Aviation for accountability, to revisit a special-purpose governmental entity audit requirement they said is too costly for small airports, to create a long-term appropriations process for the roughly $100 million in unmet capital needs, and to fund the Arrow Act for aviation education and scholarships. Members asked about a dedicated aviation fuel tax and about local training partnerships, simulators, and school or community college programs; the witnesses said they preferred an appropriations-based solution and offered to help connect interested communities with aviation education resources. The committee then took up “Troy’s Law,” sponsored by Representatives White and Flannery, which would allow tow trucks to use blue lights while stationary and actively removing vehicles or debris from highways. Sponsors and tow operators said the bill is intended to improve worker safety after the deaths of tow operators Troy Cwell and Hubert Mosley in highway hit-and-run incidents, and they emphasized that tow operators often work in dangerous conditions at night, in bad weather, and near fast-moving traffic. They said the proposal would not apply while driving or towing and noted that other states have adopted similar measures. Witnesses from the towing industry, including Bubba Johnson and Barbara Maguire, supported the bill as an added layer of protection and described tow operators as first responders who help motorists in emergencies. Representative Flannery and other members expressed support for the safety goal and invited further discussion, but no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt.