Transcript Highlights:

• Benefits Division and the Office of Property Risk: March and April formulary recommendations, EBD Cell
• March and April formulary recommendations, EBD Cell and Gene Therapy Policy Update, UAMS, Thank you.
• EBD Cell and Gene Therapy Policy Update, UAMS Professional Consultants Services Contract Amendment, with

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bottom left picture is a typical housing unit with 256 beds and double cells.
• Those wings coming off are two stories, and that's where the cells are in the middle portion. the cells

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's really just giving them the same protections that a state has.
• charter, the state charter can have that same protection.
• How do we protect our consumers or your consumers?
• This is an effort to protect the child.
• I'm interested in protecting the child.

Bills: HB387, HB673, HB947, HB975, HB1102, HB1228, HB1229, HCR66, SB102, SB165, SB280, SB291, SB326, SB521

Keywords: engineering, land surveying, construction, state fire marshal, plan review, security cameras, abandoned property, blighted structures, property management, digital assets, abandonment, custodian, escheatment, blockchain, cryptocurrency, unclaimed property, state treasurer, Department of Public Service, statutory entities, public administration

Transcript Highlights:

• residents and businesses in the city of Santa Fe, and That is, everybody in our city feels safe, protected
• Because the cell phones are also going to be required to be backed up, I think daily in the bill.
• Protective services does make up the vast majority of CYFD's budget.
• Between FY 14 and FY 24, the protective services budget had grown by about $100 million and that was
• They're not housed within child protection or the child welfare agency.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I would remind everyone to please make sure that your cell phones are on silence, unless you would
• However, those of us in agriculture, we have a duty to do as well, and that's protect our infrastructure
• when you're spending money as we are as a state to build infrastructure, it's very important that we protect
• Our ag, and I do want to stress that our agriculture community does phenomenal jobs on protecting our

Keywords: Roll call 01:19 HB 293 02:50 HB 293 Vote 09:00, 958, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met for its third meeting of the 2026 session and established a quorum after welcoming guests, including the Montgomery County Future Business Leaders of America. The committee had one bill on the agenda, House Bill 293, relating to vehicle wheels. Representative Walker Thomas, accompanied by his intern Declan Farmer, presented the bill and used videos to show damage to roads caused by metal-wheeled equipment and trailers. He explained that the measure was a revised version of a 2024 proposal and, after concerns about religious exemptions, was narrowed in consultation with the local Amish community to require rubber on certain heavy equipment wheels rather than all metal and wood wheels. Members generally supported the bill and framed it as a way to protect public infrastructure. Representative Bivens said agriculture should also help protect roads and that the bill did not go far enough, but he would support it. Representative Dossett noted similar damage in Christian County and joked that horse shoes might eventually need to be addressed as well. Representative Smith also supported the bill and referenced separate legislation aimed at funding road maintenance. No opposition was voiced during the discussion. The committee then voted, with the bill receiving favorable expression and being recommended to pass on the House floor. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that Transportation would not meet the following Tuesday, the 17th, because of a holiday, and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, we just ask for folks to please turn off their electronic devices, especially their cell phones
• Basically, the intent of AB 234 initially started off to protect access to cancer screenings for... .
• Basically, the intent of AB 234 initially started off to protect access to cancer screenings for Nevada
• Currently, Nevada Revised Statutes provides protection and coverage for our insured patients for all

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also ensures protection of our conservation easements and The bill also ensures protection of
• , you've done well to protect the rate...
• our state and to protect our community.
• It protects our residents, it protects our rate payers, first and foremost.
• It protects our residents, it protects our rate payers, first and foremost.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including guests from the press, Florida State women’s soccer, and former Senator Janet Cruz. Members also announced there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and proceeding quickly to third reading and final passage. Among the measures approved were bills modernizing trust settlement and trustee discharge procedures; revising military affairs laws, including leave protections, retirement eligibility, and assistance programs; creating uniform cash-rounding rules as Florida prepares for the end of the penny; refining podiatric medicine rules on cellular/tissue-based products and informed consent; expanding veterans’ court access statewide; clarifying RV park special assessments; establishing concurrent state-federal jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations; reauthorizing alcoholic beverage loss deductions; and revising bail bond and pretrial release laws, including training, electronic notices, forfeiture timing, and related procedures. Members also passed bills on eyewear insurance licensing, expanding the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund into health science education, streamlining recovery residence regulation, enhancing felony battery penalties, and updating child welfare rules to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success program permanent, and create a best-practices program. Several bills drew brief supportive remarks, especially those affecting veterans, the National Guard, foster youth, and military families. One bail bond bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor stating the current statute would remain unchanged. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously; the bail bond measure passed 36-1, while the others noted here passed with no or minimal opposition. The Senate also adopted an amendment to the military affairs bill and a delete-all amendment to the military-installation jurisdiction bill before final passage. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman on her farewell. Members from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, preparation, collegiality, advocacy on issues such as voting rights, women’s rights, Israel, anti-Semitism, breast cancer, school safety, and family law, and her effectiveness in committee and on the floor. Berman delivered an extended farewell speech reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, her district, and her legislative priorities, and the Senate ordered her remarks spread upon the journal before recessing and later returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate confirmation number 90 appointing Chenica Johnson Anom to the Alabama Cickle Cell Oversight and
• to the Appointing Chenica Johnson Anom to the Alabama<00:14:30.000> Cickle<00:14:30.399> Cell
• <00:14:30.639> Oversight<00:14:31.199> and Alabama Cickle Cell Oversight and Alabama
• Cickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory<00:14:32.160> Commission<00:14:33.040> is<00:14:33.279
• them in a felt would clarify and protect them in a further<01:45:37.920> way.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum. It adopted motions to excuse absent senators, dispense with reading the prior journal, and allow bills and committee reports to be taken up throughout the day. The chamber received multiple House messages and a gubernatorial confirmation, including House Bill 1 on motor vehicles, Senate Bill 170 on health insurance, and Senate confirmation 90 for Chenica Johnson Anom to the Alabama Cickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission, all of which were referred to the appropriate committees. The Senate later concurred in the House amendment to Senate Bill 170 by a 29-0-1 vote. Committee reports covered a wide range of measures, with favorable reports and, in several cases, amendments or substitutes. Judiciary reported favorably on House Bills 228, 132, 347, 405, 86, 263, and 302, and on Senate Bills 318 and 260; State Government Affairs reported favorably on House Bills 435, 97, and 407 and Senate Bill 361; Education Policy reported favorably on Senate Bills 337 and House Bills 520 and 75; Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development reported favorably on House Bills 303 and 477 and Senate Bills 360, 325, 329, and 330; Transportation and Energy reported favorably on Senate Bills 341, 354, and 340; Veterans and Military Affairs reported favorably on House Bills 465 and 307 and Senate Bills 338 and 359; and Local Legislation reported favorably on Jefferson County Senate Bill 243 and Shelby County House Bill 532. These reports generally advanced the bills to second reading and placement on the next legislative day’s calendar. The Senate also confirmed George Pierce to the Alabama Ethics Commission by a 33-0 vote after a favorable committee report, with several senators offering brief remarks of congratulations. In motions and resolutions, the chamber adopted Senate Joint Resolution 77 honoring the Section boys basketball team and Senate Joint Resolution 78 honoring the North Sand Mountain girls basketball team for state championships. It also adopted Senate Joint Resolution 79 establishing a legislative study commission on child sexual abuse laws and policies. A senator additionally urged colleagues to support broadband expansion efforts in rural Alabama and to ask the education chair to place HB 4 on the agenda. The most substantial floor discussion concerned Senate Bill 146, the state general fund budget substitute. The sponsor explained several budget provisions, including a $12 million transfer and an additional $5 million for the judiciary to address funding for newly created judgeships, a conditional $40 million for the Department of Corrections tied to progress on the Elmore and Escambia prison projects, conditional funding for DHR tied to reducing its federal error rate and developing a SNAP-related plan, conditional mental health funding tied to reporting and data requirements, and language preserving legislative control over certain federal rural health care funds. The Senate adopted the committee substitute for SB 146 by a 32-0-1 vote and then continued with the budget explanation as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's one way, one layer of protection, to try to help at least keep you informed as an owner of
• number of counties in Kentucky is about as likely as all of us strapping ourselves to the top of a cell
• us strapping oursel to the top of a cell us strapping oursel to the top of a cell phone<00:25:50.000
• So, what I heard, because I'm on the Public Protection Oversight Board, and Senator Hickman is bigger
• So, what I heard, because I'm on the Public Protection Oversight Board, and Senator Hickman is bigger

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard an update from representatives of the Kentucky County Clerk’s Association on the transition to electronic recording and land records modernization. They reviewed the 2021 task force work, the legislation and budget funding that followed, and the requirements for county clerks to provide online search portals and complete 30-year property record searches, with a 60-year standard expected next summer. Speakers said most counties are still working through scanning and verification, with only a small number fully complete, and emphasized that verification of records is the main bottleneck because it requires staff time and careful matching of indexes to deeds. They also noted limited vendor availability, differences among counties in what records are already digitized, and that the association and land title attorneys are now working more closely on future “continuous improvement” legislation. The clerks also raised related issues, including concerns about deed fraud as more records become searchable online. They said some counties already offer notification services that alert property owners when a document is recorded, which can help owners respond quickly to suspicious filings. They also discussed the filing document storage fee and KDLA digitization grants, saying the funding structure has generally worked but that two grant cycles have been missed. Another topic was whether, once records are fully digitized and searchable, some permanent records should remain publicly accessible or be moved to a safer archive. In response to committee questions, the witnesses said the remaining delays are less about money than staffing shortages and the need for more manpower to complete verification, and they said they would follow up on the balance in the KDLA fund and other details. The committee then received a presentation from an Area Development District representative, who described the districts as regional, nonpartisan service organizations that help cities and counties pool resources, provide technical assistance, and leverage public and private partnerships. He highlighted examples of regional cooperation, including veterans-directed care and other shared programs, and argued that the districts create efficiencies and economies of scale for local governments and the state. No votes or formal actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cloud, you're talking about four or five tiers of traditional cells, and staff are operating and working
• c> traditional about four or five tiers of traditional about four or five tiers of traditional cells
• um and staff are operating and cells um and staff are operating and working<00:33:10.120> on<
• <00:59:28.960> status<00:59:29.280> quo<00:59:29.559> and<00:59:29.720> protecting
• because of the status quo and protecting because of the status quo and protecting the<00:59:30.319

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Go on your cell phone. It'll be convenient. It is optional.
• that those living near it have those same protections as well.
• qualified immunity protections?
• Protect those that protect each and every one of us. Thank you for your time. Thank you members.
• What we're trying to do here is just protect officers that are.

Bills: HB2034, HB2436, HB3010, HB3033, HB3138, HB3177, HB3426, HB3686, HB3858, HB4176, HB4257, HB4264, HB4804, HCR98

Keywords: groundwater, foreign ownership, national security, water permits, environmental health, deadly conduct, firearm, recklessness, peace officer, prosecution, Penal Code, Texas laws, disaster recovery, infrastructure, rural communities, grants, state funding, emergency management, HB 3033, Texas Department of Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Please ensure that all cell phones and other communication devices are turned off. Thank you.
• Cell phones and other communication devices are turned off.

Summary: The meeting was the organizational session of the conference committee for the House Justice Budget Subcommittee and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Civil and Criminal Justice. Members elected Representative Meini as chair and Senator Garcia as vice chair, and the committee was formally organized to begin reconciling the House and Senate versions of the budget. The chair explained that the House had provided the Senate with the original conference documents, including positions on the budget proviso, back-of-the-bill language, implementing bills, and conforming bills. The House also presented an offer on the proviso and back-of-the-bill language, with the chair saying the House had tried to move closer to the Senate on several issues. Senator Garcia said the Senate would review the offer and expressed appreciation for the work so far. There was no public comment, and no substantive votes on budget items were taken at this meeting. Senator Simon moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned after the organizational and introductory remarks.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please ensure that all cell phones and other communication devices are turned off. Thank you.
• Cell phones and other communication devices are turned off.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• law or violation of worker protection laws.
• But in the event that Oklahoma does have the lowest protections for environmental protections and the
• It simply protects this particular industry from this kind of lawsuit. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• This is to protect existing well owners from encroachment. influence.
• It protects them. So, I am all in favor of this bill and Thank you for bringing this up.

Bills: SB1191, SB1314, SB1319, SB1333, SB1346, SB1439, SB1509, SB1510, SB1613

Keywords: SB1191, Oklahoma Energy Initiative Act, Oklahoma Low Carbon Energy Initiative Board, low carbon energy, clean energy, energy policy, renewable energy, board repeal, statutory repeal, administrative board, energy committee, natural resources, Oklahoma statutes, 17 O.S. 802.3, groundwater, indemnity fund, well drilling, pollution prevention, regulatory compliance, SB1319

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, there are so many people that are so sick that there aren't enough cells in the infirmary.
• cells in the infirmary.<00:14:34.480> And<00:14:34.639> very<00:14:34.880> sick
• The lone hospice room is on the cycling, where people were yelling and banging on their cells, which
• people were yelling and banging on where people were yelling and banging on their<00:23:45.679> cells
• , which was hardly a peaceful their cells, which was hardly a peaceful place<00:23:47.760> for

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on best practices for medical or compassionate release programs used by correctional systems nationwide and how Hawaii’s current approach compares. Kristen Johnson of the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission introduced Molly Crane of Families for Justice Reform, noting that the commission, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Hawaii Paroling Authority have all been involved in developing proposed legislation, though the bill itself was written by community advocate Bob Merse. Crane described FAM’s work on justice reform and said the group has studied compassionate release programs across the country, including federal reforms, to help Hawaii align with best practices. Crane argued that compassionate release is intended for people who are too ill or cognitively impaired to pose a public-safety risk and who are often the most expensive and resource-intensive people to incarcerate. She said Hawaii is the only state without a compassionate release statute and currently relies on an agency policy, which she described as complex and slow. She cited examples of severe medical cases in custody, including people with advanced dementia, multiple sclerosis, kidney failure, and hospice needs, and said the burden on correctional medical staff, overtime, off-site transport, and specialized care can consume a disproportionate share of staff time and state resources. She also said the recidivism rate for this population is under 1 percent, citing Vera Institute research. Members asked about the source of the recidivism figure, how a statute would streamline the process, and why the issue had not advanced in the past. Crane said the proposed bill would reduce layers in the process by moving cases from the medical director to the director and then to the Hawaii Paroling Authority, with a target timeline of about 30 business days from petition to hearing. Johnson said prior efforts failed in part because the agencies most affected were not included early in drafting and revision, and she said one attempt was vetoed, another was removed in conference committee, and another passed one chamber but did not advance. Johnson also explained that incarcerated people’s medical care is paid entirely by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with no private insurance or Medicaid/Medicare coverage while incarcerated, making severe cases a direct burden on state funds. No votes or formal actions were taken because the briefing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• project includes renovations to the intake area, improved security controls, and conversion of dry cells
• to wet cells, so we'll locate sinks and toilets in those cells.
• We will be communicating back and forth either by cell phone or through the computer.
• phone or uh through forth either by cell phone or uh through the<00:48:37.200> computer<00:48
• Well, whether it be cell phones or laptop computers, those computers have the same types of firewalls

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Randy White on the state’s juvenile detention network and several facility projects. He identified the currently operating detention centers as Boyd County for females, Breathitt County for low-risk males, Fayette County for high-risk males, Adair County for high-risk youth from Jefferson and surrounding counties, Warren County for high-risk males, and McCracken County for low-risk males. Members asked about capacity and staffing; White said Boyd County houses 33 and is usually near full, Breathitt County is about half full, Fayette County runs about 80-90% full, Campbell County’s operational limit is about 25 due to staffing, Adair County can hold 60 and has hit capacity several times this year, Warren County holds 43 and usually runs near capacity, and McCracken County holds 43 and is not currently full. He said staffing is generally harder in higher-risk facilities and in metropolitan areas because of wages and housing costs. White then updated the committee on the Louisville Detention Center downtown renovation and the Lyon facility project. For the Louisville downtown facility, he said schematic design and design development are complete, construction documents are expected by late February or early March, bids are anticipated in April, and completion is projected for March 2027. He explained the delay is due to extensive renovation work needed to bring the building up to current building, life-safety, ACA, and PREA standards, including security, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, food service, and roof work. The project is designed for 64 beds for high-risk Jefferson County boys, with the facility currently vacant and those youth being housed in Adair County and Campbell County. For the Lyon project, he said the contract was issued November 21, 2024, demolition is underway, completion is expected June 14, 2026, and the facility will have 34 beds in four pods for low-risk offenders; he said the project appears to be on time and on budget within the $4.5 million authorization. The committee also discussed the medical services contract. DJJ officials said they are reviewing whether to continue with the current state contract provider, Wellpath, or pursue an RFP, while retaining current merit staff and continuing oversight through four nurse program administrators. They said DJJ uses a state master agreement to staff nurses, APRNs, and the chief medical officer, and that the current contract is about $20 million per year. Members asked about Wellpath’s bankruptcy filing; officials said they were aware of it, asked questions, and were told it would not affect Kentucky service delivery or contracting, though they could not recall the bankruptcy type and offered to provide more detail later. They also said DJJ is working with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to become a Medicaid provider, and any future contractual partner will need to be a Medicaid provider. Finally, White described the proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility. He said DJJ must accept court-ordered youth even when they have severe mental illness, but detention centers are not equipped to treat those youth and private psychiatric hospitals often refuse them or discharge them early. He argued that a dedicated secure treatment facility is needed for a small number of highly violent, high-need youth who require intensive psychiatric care and are disruptive in detention. The facility would provide behavioral and psychiatric treatment, reduce delays caused by lack of beds or outside placements, and serve youth determined by clinical assessment to need a secure treatment environment. No votes were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and member, Senate Bill 1121, radiation protection system medical procedures, passed out
• Madam Chair and member, Senate Bill 1121, radiation protection system medical procedures, passed out
• So if we really wanted to protect children like some of the members of the other caucus say they want
• Madam Chair and member, Senate Bill 1121 radiation protection system, medical procedures, passed at it
• Member, Senate Bill 1121 Radiation Protection System Medical Procedures passed out a committee with

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a caucus review of a large calendar of Senate bills, with members mainly hearing short titles, committee vote counts, and whether bills were on consent or pulled for further discussion. Many measures were reported out on party-line or split votes and several were flagged to be removed from consent, especially bills involving artificial intelligence content verification, public benefits eligibility, gender transition procedures liability, health insurance reimbursement for vaccines, light rail feasibility review, public employees merit hiring, public records fees, virtual currency payments, tax conformity, undocumented immigrants and financial services, central bank digital currency, and public monies investment in trust currency. The caucus also discussed a number of education, public safety, child welfare, health, and regulatory bills. These included measures on school communications, bullying liability, AED training, classroom management, school safety reporting, DCS procedures, fingerprinting at behavioral health facilities, probation conditions, missing children reporting, sex offender monitoring, crimes against children probation monitoring, and domestic violence release conditions. Several members raised objections or concerns about specific bills, including mandatory sentencing, religious sectarian law language, concealed weapons notice repeal, and a bill on death sentence by firing squad, with some members asking to pull those bills from consent. A final topic was a blue-sheet Senate amendment to HB 2874 on campaign committee termination statements and penalties. Rhonda explained the Senate changes would void penalties for committees with no contributions or expenditures, retroactive to December 2021, but noted the Senate did not secure enough votes for the emergency clause. Members asked about the rationale, the Secretary of State’s position, and the amount of outstanding penalties. The chair later announced that the Senate amendment was being refused, so the bill would not receive final passage that day and would instead be sent back for further action or conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Brannan: Let me remind everyone to silence your cell phones.
• Maggard: The court has a clear codified tool to protect it. That is the bill, Mr. Chairman.
• I think what you were getting at is trying to protect them early on doing security and risk assessment
• That's very important and to make sure we protect our Second Amendment.
• If that condition is excused by the person who it is there to protect.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'd also like to remind everyone in the room, once again, silence your cell phones.
• I respectfully urge you to oppose the bill and protect Texans' freedom to choose better, faster, more
• We feel that this bill would actually Take away or bypass our constitutional protection by just putting
• This legislation would bypass our constitutional protection by allowing local counties who want their
• This bill would bypass that protection and apply to all toll entities with the exception of just Tech

Transcript Highlights:

• A few standard announcements: please silence your cell phones, and so on.
• A few standard announcements: please silence your cell phones.
• Where is he protected in this bill?
• So you don't generally have a duty to protect someone from criminal acts of third parties.
• We should know exactly what to do and how to protect ourselves and our customers.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 408 by Senator Myers, a workers’ compensation overhaul creating an all-claims medical database, requiring electronic reporting and billing, and setting up confidentiality, rulemaking, and penalties. Senator Myers said the bill was meant to modernize a paper-based system, speed injured workers back to care and work, reduce disputes through a more predictable fee schedule, address outliers and abuse, and generate reliable data for future fee-schedule decisions. Representative Melarine then offered a large amendment package combining portions of House Bills 780 and 1101 into SB 408, adding preliminary-determination procedures, changes to benefit durations, fraud language, and a deadline for the department to establish a fee schedule if no agreement is reached. Supporters said the package would create a more complete reform; opponents argued the additions were rushed, not germane, and would harm injured workers, especially those without lawyers, by adding technical filing burdens and stricter fraud consequences. After debate, the committee adopted the amendment package, then adopted a follow-up amendment removing the word “potential” from a fines provision and deleting the fraud section, and finally reported SB 408 with amendments on a divided vote. Testimony on SB 408 was sharply split. Proponents, including Alton Ashy and Trey Mustian, argued the bill’s transparency and data-collection provisions were the most important part, that the system needs a modern fee schedule, and that the added reforms would help control costs and speed payment. Opponents, including Shannon Lindsay and another injured-worker advocate, said the original bill was a good compromise but the added provisions changed its character and would disadvantage pro se claimants, remove materiality from fraud law, and reduce benefits for seriously injured workers. Committee members also questioned the timeline for the database and fee schedule, the effect of historical data gaps, and whether the reforms would help employers and injured workers alike. The committee ultimately agreed the bill still contained its core goals of faster care, predictable fees, anti-abuse measures, and modernization. The committee then moved to House Bill 585 by Representative Chasson, a workplace-violence/safety measure for small-box discount retailers. Chasson explained that the bill had been narrowed to require retailers to submit an existing written workforce safety plan, or develop one if they do not already have one, with no penalties attached. The committee adopted a substitute bill incorporating prior amendments. Representative Glorioso noted continuing concerns about civil-liability implications and the duty to protect against third-party criminal acts, but the bill was advanced from committee after the substitute was adopted.