Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 504, an act making appropriations for the operations, maintenance, support, and functioning
• House Bill 504, an act making appropriations for the operations, maintenance, support, and functioning
• And page 14, line 24, delete quote, 'maintain the mandatory functions of the court of justice,' unquote
• And page 14, line 24, delete quote, 'maintain the mandatory functions of the court of justice,' unquote
• <01:24:39.920> of<01:24:40.040> the maintain the mandatory functions of the maintain

Keywords: In an effort to stave off issues that may occur with long format live streams, we have split this stream into two parts., 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• findings in its case management system within 45 days as required by statute, did not complete family functioning
• unsuccessful attempts to obtain the police report, the investigator was able to complete the family functioning
• does not remove our obligation to examine whether the systems that are supporting that work are functional
• Our focus is to understand the system's functioning, where it is under strain, and what changes are necessary
• Our focus is to understand the system's functioning, where it is understrained, and what changes are

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House Committee on Government was called to order with member and staff introductions, followed by a reminder of committee rules and amendment deadlines. Chair Blackman also gave an opening statement framing the committee’s work as legislative oversight focused on child safety, transparency, and systemic issues at the Department of Child Safety (DCS), noting the committee may hold additional hearings and use subpoenas if needed. The committee then heard a presentation from the Arizona Auditor General on a special audit of DCS investigations of non-criminal child abuse and neglect reports. The audit found that while DCS generally met initial contact timeframes, 123 of 125 sampled cases had at least one policy violation. Problems included failures to provide or document required notices to alleged perpetrators, incomplete or missing documentation of key investigative steps and safety plans, and investigations that exceeded statutory or policy timeframes. The Auditor General said DCS agreed with the findings and all 15 recommendations, and members asked questions about sample size, staffing, and whether the issues reflected broader systemic problems. After the audit, the committee considered House Bill 262, which authorizes a Buffalo Soldiers memorial in Wesley Boland Plaza. Supporters testified about the historical significance of the Buffalo Soldiers and the importance of recognizing their contributions in Arizona. The bill passed unanimously, 7-0, with members explaining their votes in support. The committee also heard House Bill 2018, which would prohibit DCS from entering into agreements with health care institutions that allow payment in exchange for reports of child abuse or neglect. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill would prevent financial incentives from influencing reporting and protect the integrity of mandatory reporting. Some members and public commenters raised concerns about DCS contracts, hospital reporting practices, and the need for documentation or a paper trail. After a recess and further discussion, HB 2018 was returned with a do pass recommendation by a 4-3 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, the four core reminder of the four core functions of the water management districts Members,
• the four core functions of the water management districts are water supply, water quality, natural systems
• those four things, right at 40% of our, of our, Members, the four core, reminder, the four core functions
• again, I can't stress that enough: we are dependent upon the appropriations from the state for our functionality
• The appropriations from the state for our functionality.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard budget presentations from the Northwest Florida, Suwannee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida water management districts for FY 2026-2027. Each district described its preliminary budget, major funding sources, staffing levels, and priorities within the four core missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems, and flood protection. Common themes included reduced budgets from the prior year due to completion of major projects, continued reliance on state appropriations and ad valorem revenue, rising construction and maintenance costs, and the need to maintain aging infrastructure while advancing alternative water supply, springs restoration, flood control, and land management projects. Committee members repeatedly asked how much of each district’s budget and personnel were devoted to the core missions, how maintenance and operating projections were developed, and how projects were selected. The districts generally said most spending was tied to core responsibilities, with administrative overhead relatively small, and explained that budgets are built through a mix of staff analysis, governing board direction, strategic basin planning, and cooperative funding with local, state, and federal partners. Several districts highlighted specific projects, including Water First North Florida, Black Creek, Taylor Creek Reservoir improvements, Crane Creek, Everglades restoration, and various springs and watershed projects. The districts also noted challenges from hurricanes, inflation, cybersecurity, and aging water control structures. South Florida Water Management District’s presentation focused on Everglades restoration and the large-scale infrastructure needed to move, store, and clean water in South Florida. The director said the district’s $1.05 billion preliminary budget is largely for flood control, water supply, ecosystem restoration, and maintenance of extensive canals, levees, pumps, and reservoirs, and emphasized that recent restoration investments are producing measurable water quality and salinity improvements. No votes were taken on the district budgets, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is a critical function.
• continue to be their guiding principles, their responsibilities, their obligation, and that they will function
• their guiding principles, it's their responsibilities, it's their obligation, and that they will function
• And that they will function within the framework of this new Western grid in the same way that they've
• functioned maintaining utility operations, overseeing utility operations, and maintaining electricity

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy convened with a quorum and first heard SB 254, a major utility affordability and wildfire package authored by Senator Becker and coauthored by Assemblymember Petrie-Norris. The bill was described as combining wildfire mitigation reforms, $6 billion in securitized financing for future fire-mitigation capital spending, a public ownership/transmission financing program, tighter scrutiny of utility profits, clean energy permitting streamlining, stronger customer connection timelines, and a successor wildfire fund/continuation account to replace the current fund. Supporters, including the Governor’s office, TURN, labor, clean energy groups, utilities, and public advocates, said the measure would lower bills, stabilize utilities, protect fire victims, and reduce wildfire-related bankruptcy risk. Opponents and some local government groups raised concerns about affordability impacts, the volumetric wildfire fee, strict liability, and provisions they said could affect local control. After discussion, the committee approved SB 254 on a 16-0 vote and sent it to the floor. The committee then held an informational hearing on AB 825, which would enable California to participate in a West-wide electricity market. The authors said the proposal could save ratepayers up to $1 billion annually, improve reliability by allowing California to draw on a larger regional supply, reduce curtailment of renewable power, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Support came from environmental organizations, labor, utilities, community choice aggregators, large energy users, and the Public Advocates Office, all emphasizing cost savings, reliability, and cleaner energy integration. TURN opposed the measure, warning that last-minute amendments removed safeguards against subsidizing out-of-state fossil generation and could expose California ratepayers to unwanted costs. Members questioned governance, exit rights, CPUC oversight, and local control, and the authors responded that the bill includes multiple safeguards, legislative reporting, the ability to exit without penalty, and continued local consultation. No vote was taken because the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• participants showed measurable improvement in concentration, memory, and various examples. executive function
• stimulant medications, which can be temporarily helpful in terms of. of attention and executive function
• Stanford study that was mentioned earlier actually demonstrated an improvement in neuropsychological function
• As a last step to regain functionality, he underwent a very invasive procedure called deep brain stimulation
• 24-7 skilled nursing home that he was in, return home to him. his mother and was able to live and function

Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• departments, in different agencies, and in a short span of time, it became clear that dividing these functions
• to my colleague, Natalie Sheeran, who will share additional information about how the department functions
• testing, retail Operationally, the Department of Cannabis Control 12 divisions that serves three core function
• uncertainty under that right so it's a 7 to 16 million pound range that's a wide error bar and it's a function
• A prime function of our work is also to encourage local commissions and other women and girls serving

Keywords: 988, house, all

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• Lieutenant Governor when we have judges and we have them. that are habitually refusing to carry out the functions
• What I've asked for in terms of additional staffing are two new lawyers, one who would function as a
• One of those lawyers will function as a rules attorney. coordinate on that issue.
• But either way, how do they functionally do that?
• You're exhausted, just trying to function.

Bills: HB170, HB865, HB748, HJR112, HB 1110, HB1495, HB786, HB 1130, HB170

Keywords: civil liability, self-defense, force, deadly force, legal immunity, attorney's fees, criminal justice, firearms, liability, veterans, gun ownership, immunity, firearm hold agreement, sexual abuse, nondisclosure, confidentiality, public policy, Trey's Law, parental rights, child upbringing

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Kathleen Cates [ID: member_14318], relates to turf, prohibiting the installation of non-functional
• Prohibiting the use of water other than recycled or reclaimed water to irrigate non-functional turf on
• Requiring non-functional turf on state-owned or state-funded property that is removed to be replaced

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• JAPC FUNCTIONS AS A REVIEW OR OVERSIGHT MECHANISM FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO ENSURE AGENCIES ARE ACTING WITHIN
• THAT STATUTORY LANGUAGE GRANTING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY, WHERE GENERALLY DESCRIBING THE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
• I THINK YOU SHOWED THE FUNCTIONS OF THIS COMMITTEE AND IN THE END, IF THE AGENCY DOESN'T HAVE STATUTORY

Keywords: 999, senate, all

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• She said, I cannot function as a water.
• And in so functions.
• our spending is functionally borrowed. our spending is functionally borrowed.
• with5600 billion dollars in functionally with5600 billion dollars in functionally to<03:27:40.560
• Some of that's not privacy. functionally, it's as if the fraudsters functionally, it's as if the fraudsters

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, May 1, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Though not my focus today, the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism does function to a similar effect and
• And, you know, the inclusion function is very tightly intertwined with discussions at BU on genocide
• And, you know, the inclusion function is very tightly intertwined with discussions at BU on genocide
• I don't know why, what function that serves, although you guys can enlighten me over lunch.
• They functionally exclude Israelis and Zionists. It happens every time.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Anti-Semitism met for its 11th meeting and approved the minutes from its August 7 meeting. Co-chairs said the commission had recently completed preliminary K-12 recommendations and would continue work on higher education, with additional topics such as workplace issues, the medical sector, and the arts to be addressed before the November 30 reporting deadline. They also said another public comment meeting would be held this fall. The first testimony came from Dr. Mark Posnansky of Harvard Medical School, who described anti-Semitism affecting STEM, research, and higher education. He said Jewish and Israeli students and faculty reported ostracism, gaslighting, intimidation, discrimination, and hiding Jewish identity, and he urged clear leadership statements, mandatory anti-Semitism education, and stronger reporting and discipline procedures. Commissioners asked about Harvard training, spillover into teaching hospitals, and whether anti-Semitic climates were causing students to leave; he said some students had turned down opportunities because of the environment and that concerns also affected healthcare settings. Lindsey Gabbo, a Harvard Law student and mother, testified that campus discourse after October 7 had made Jewish and Zionist students feel isolated and unwelcome, with protests, defaced hostage posters, and a student council BDS vote contributing to the climate. She said Harvard had sent some emails acknowledging anti-Semitism but that she had not seen meaningful steps to restore dialogue, and she argued the school needed more structured venues for conversation. Commissioners also asked about campus security, the effect on students’ mental health, and the impact of chants and protests that she said many Jewish students understood as calls to violence. A panel of concerned Jewish faculty and staff then offered contrasting views. Professor Jeremy Menchick argued the commission should use data carefully, include non-Zionist Jews in its analysis, and avoid reinforcing divisions within the Jewish community. Professor Hilary Lustick described restorative-practice approaches and said structured dialogue could address conflict without immediate punishment. Professor Jonathan Feingold warned that anti-Semitism was being weaponized by the Trump administration and right-wing groups to attack universities and DEI, and he urged the commission not to adopt approaches that could be used to undermine civil rights institutions. Commissioners pushed back on claims that the problem was being exaggerated or reduced to a “problem” rather than a “crisis,” and the discussion ended with continued debate over data, context, and how to balance anti-Semitism concerns with broader civil-rights protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• One was the implementation of shared services within Commerce, centralizing functions like accounting
• , HR, fiscal procurement, and IT, rather than having those functions in all of the Commerce divisions
• Waits, that really the intent was to bring together all of the workforce development-related functions
• You know, as I was mentioning earlier around the state board moving to the function as the local board
• , you know, when you have one organization that can refer clients to one moving to the function as the

Keywords: 1204, all

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• Diagnosis requires careful, individualized evaluation of intellectual functioning. Thank you.
• The diagnosis requires careful, individualized evaluation of intellectual functioning, adaptive behavior
• Requires evaluation of intellectual functioning, adaptive behavior, and developmental onset together.
• I was not expected to survive pregnancy, and I was not expected to function independently as I do today
• But if nothing else, allow for the adaptive behavior functioning test to be able to be presented to those

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• health and the wellness of the kids that are there, the youth that are there, and just even the functioning
• Any of us who work with the functioning.
• But it didn’t happen, I don’t believe, as a function. >> Yeah.
• /c><00:22:24.640> a didn't happen I don't believe as a didn't happen I don't believe as a function
• . function. function.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met on December 19, 2025, approved the draft minutes from the November 21 regular meeting, and received a DHS commissioners update. Patricia Tilly reported on the state’s rural health transformation application, saying CMS had provided only one question and positive feedback, that the final federal award amount was still pending, and that DHS was preparing an accept-and-expend item for fiscal review using an up-to amount. She also said the new Hampstead YDC facility remains on track, with substantive construction expected by late summer 2026 and move-in likely in early January 2027. In response to questions, she confirmed the playground/outdoor activity area had been in the original design and was added when funding became available. Henry Litman, Medicaid director, discussed the Senate Bill 248 study committee report on palliative and hospice care. He explained the distinction between palliative care, which can be provided while a patient still seeks curative treatment, and hospice care, which involves electing not to pursue curative services. He said the committee’s work pointed to a need for better education for providers and the public, and described ongoing conversations with the Foundation for Healthy Communities and Home Health and Hospice about developing materials and possibly addressing how palliative services are bundled. He also said the study committee itself did not generate future legislation, though members could pursue it separately. Litman then answered questions about Medicaid eligibility and long-term services and supports, including delays in processing, the backlog from pandemic-era redeterminations, and efforts to speed reviews. He said the department is using temporary staffing funded in part by last session’s legislation, working with the New Hampshire Healthcare Association, counties, and UNH Law to streamline policy and training, and relying more on electronic asset verification while still guarding against improper asset transfers. He emphasized the goal of balancing faster access to benefits with compliance and fraud prevention. Robert Rodler followed with the annual tuition waiver update for children in foster care or guardianship. He reported 82 applicants and 65 waivers granted, including 35 for USNH schools and 30 for the community college system, and noted a correction would be issued for inaccurate continuing/new student figures in the report. Senator Gray said he intends to pursue a separate budget appropriation for these tuition waiver costs in the future so the funding would be clearly identified and easier to track. No additional votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state auditor, the comptroller's office as well is supposed to have an audit function.
• It hasn't actually been resourced... ...is supposed to have an audit function.
• The state auditor, I agree, is one of my favorite functions as well.
• Is one of my favorite functions as well.
• I want to be clear that age-appropriate design, as a list of functions that protect our kids, should

Summary: The committee heard several privacy and consumer protection bills, with most of the discussion focused on AI and social media. AB 1405 would create a state registry for AI auditors and set basic transparency, ethics, and qualification standards for those auditors; supporters said it would build trust and provide a foundation for future AI oversight, while some members questioned whether government should define auditor qualifications instead of industry groups. The bill was moved out on a 5-1 vote to Appropriations, with the roll left open. AB 2, by Assemblymember Lowenthal, would impose enhanced financial penalties on large social media companies when their negligence causes harm to children and teens. Supporters, including a grieving parent and Common Sense Media, argued the bill would create accountability for harmful algorithms and design choices, while opponents from TechNet, EFF, CCIA, and CalChamber warned it was vague, could chill speech, invite censorship, and raise Section 230 and First Amendment concerns. Committee members debated private right of action versus public enforcement, possible shakedown lawsuits, and whether the bill should be narrowed; the bill passed 6-0 to Judiciary with the roll left open. AB 410 would expand California’s bot disclosure law so bots must identify themselves up front and truthfully if asked, rather than only prohibiting deceptive bots in limited commercial or election contexts. Supporters said the measure would help users, especially youth and vulnerable people, know when they are interacting with AI and reduce deception online; one privacy group withdrew opposition after amendments, and other industry groups said they were no longer opposed or had no formal position. The bill passed 9-1 to Appropriations with the roll left open. The committee also approved AB 1327, which lets consumers cancel home improvement contracts by email instead of only by mail and requires phone assistance for cancellations; the Contractor State License Board withdrew opposition after amendments, and the bill passed 11-0 to Judiciary with the roll left open.

Transcript Highlights:

• for their service coordinator, but there is a sense that too much time is spent on administrative functions
• You should, you know, I can't begin to explain how cost and case management functions became separate
• So in terms of future functionalities, I'll just leave you with a couple of points.
• We're doing it right now in a service provider directory, which is going to be a core function of the
• I have two children with autism: a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old with high-functioning autism.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The it it functionally<00:10:24.640> it<00:10:24.720> doesn't<00:10:25.080> work.
• But we can functionally it doesn't work.
• I'm not sure that that would be a function of our economic development portion of what we do.
• Uh, but around the raw milk and milk specifically, that's a function of UK and their programs at the
• “Uh, but around the raw milk and milk specifically, that's a function of UK and their programs at the

Keywords: Reuploaded to restore full meeting, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum and adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 28, which would create a framework for the $5 million in agricultural economic development funding included in the 2024 budget. Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell testified that the bill is intended to support agriculture-focused economic development, especially processing and further processing projects, by giving the Department of Agriculture tools to identify opportunities, convene partners, and offer incentives. He emphasized the role of the new economic development division in the department and said the effort is meant to complement, not replace, the work of the state Economic Development Cabinet. Shell and several senators described the bill as a rural development tool aimed at helping smaller communities attract projects that fit their scale. He cited examples such as poultry processing, grain and elevator operations, milling, and specialty crop ventures, arguing that local processing can create jobs, strengthen markets for farmers, and keep more value in Kentucky. Senators discussed the need for return-on-investment metrics and clawback provisions for unsuccessful projects, and Shell said the framework includes those concepts. He also said the department is working on opportunities in sustainable aviation fuel, biofuels, and other markets that could bring more acres into production. Members also raised questions about small-farm innovation, raw milk, and direct-to-consumer opportunities. Shell said raw milk testing and related consumer protection issues are more closely tied to the University of Kentucky and the department’s consumer/environmental protection functions than to the bill’s economic development focus, but he said the department can help expand small-farm programs such as Kentucky Proud, Buy Local, KOAP, CAP, food-as-medicine efforts, LFPA, and farm-to-school initiatives. The discussion also turned to beef processing and feedlot development, with Shell saying Kentucky wants a beef processor but first needs to prove it can feed cattle at scale; he said changing conditions in western states could create an opening for Kentucky if it can build the necessary supply chain.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'd like to see this function transferred back out either to the Administrative Office of the Courts
• I had a question about the conservatorship function. How many FTEs does that take?
• Where did this function live before 2021? That was before my time.
• Chairman, Representative Silva, the function wasn't being performed before this was a start, so there's
• So what I wanted to do, there we go, is just mention as a reiteration of what the core functions are.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a limited number of individuals responsible for their accounting functions.
• Dakota Stockmen's Association, they primarily have one individual responsible for all accounting functions
• , internal control weaknesses, or potential violations of state law for significant or high-risk functions
• And I just don’t think that’s a very functional remedy for the state.
• That is a function that many of my colleagues around the country have data analytics teams.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a limited number of individuals responsible for their accounting functions.
• Dakota Stockmen's Association, they primarily have one individual responsible for all accounting functions
• errors, internal control weaknesses, or potential violations of law for significant or high-risk functions
• And I just, I don't think that's a very functional remedy for the state.
• That is a function that many of my colleagues around the country, they have data analytics teams.

Summary: The committee convened, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received a memo summarizing major audit items. The State Auditor’s office and outside auditors then presented a series of audits, many of which were clean with unmodified opinions and no findings, including the Bank of North Dakota, the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Quality, Lake Region State College, and the Office of the Governor. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association audit was also clean overall, but it repeated findings about limited segregation of duties and auditor assistance in preparing financial statements, which the auditor said were expected to continue because of the organization’s small size. Committee members asked about out-of-state board addresses, and the association explained those members were North Dakota residents using South Dakota mailing addresses. Several audits did include findings. The Council on the Arts audit identified two issues: payroll charged to federal awards without supporting time records, and $12,825 in Cultural Endowment Fund spending that was not allowable under state law, including staff training, retreats, and executive director candidate travel. The Department of Public Instruction audit found unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, but additional testing confirmed the funds were credited properly and students completed required school district work, so no improper payments were identified. The University of North Dakota audit found a lack of documentation and transparency in School of Law admissions decisions; the auditor said the law school used a holistic process but did not keep notes or evaluation tools to show why applicants were admitted, waitlisted, or denied. UND leadership said the school is in good standing with the American Bar Association and agreed better documentation is needed, and the auditor said the issue was the missing documentation, not ABA accreditation itself. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which found four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating cap, grant conditions not being met, improper breeder fund awards, and improper procurement. The auditor said promotion fund spending exceeded the cap by $327,447 and the fund balance dropped sharply over the audit period. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson said the agency had become complacent, that grant requests were treated as routine, and that controls and documentation need to be tightened. He also explained that the breeder fund overpayments involved two horses whose ownership transfers were not properly documented before racing, and that the procurement issue stemmed from an advertising contract that proceeded without proper written procurement procedures after a misunderstanding with the State Procurement Office. The auditor said the Racing Commission will now be audited every two years because of the findings. The committee also received updates on Dakota College at Bottineau’s bank reconciliations, which Minot State University said had been brought current after an 18-month backlog, with only one account still needing cleanup; members asked for a written report on the corrective actions. The North Dakota Fair Foundation was reported to have dissolved, with remaining funds transferred to another nonprofit account for continued support of the state fair. Finally, the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, revising the earlier estimate to about $1.1 million based on incomplete district survey responses, and said the Anti-Lunch Shaming law likely increased meal debt because schools must feed students regardless of account balance. Members discussed the need for a more accurate year-end debt figure and possible future reporting at a later committee meeting.