Transcript Highlights:

• In early 2024, the office received a credible complaint from an individual who believed the Department
• review that concerned the Department of Human Services Investigations of alleged kickbacks in the early
• The purpose of the EIDBI benefit is to provide early intervention for children and youth under 21 years
• We're learning that we could be a part of a system, and that would help sort things out.
• They are gifts to the agency to catch a problem early.

Transcript Highlights:

• These orders established additional, but going back to 2022, the orders established additional early
• To relocate or consolidate polling sites or early voting sites.
• So we've learned that our citizens want to vote.
• They can vote at their precinct on election day, vote early at a designated site, or vote by mail.
• I do of central time zone turnout from early Eastern returns. I do.

Summary: The Government Operations Subcommittee met to hear a lengthy presentation from Secretary of State Cord Byrd on Florida election administration, with a focus on how elections are handled during natural disasters, election security, and preparations for the 2026 cycle. Byrd described Florida’s response to hurricanes in 2022 and 2024, saying the state works directly with county supervisors of elections to tailor executive orders to local conditions, add or relocate polling sites, extend deadlines, and help displaced voters and emergency workers cast ballots. Members from affected areas echoed that local supervisors had managed storm disruptions well and that turnout remained strong despite major damage. A large portion of the meeting covered election integrity and security. Byrd emphasized Florida’s use of paper ballots, pre-election logic and accuracy testing, post-election audits, public canvassing, standardized voter-intent rules, and strict vote-by-mail request and signature-match requirements. He said the Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security investigates complaints and refers matters to law enforcement, and that Florida has expanded access to the federal SAVE database to verify citizenship. Members asked about threats to election workers, staffing vacancies, cybersecurity, ballot design, vote-by-mail address changes, and how the state coordinates with county supervisors, emergency management, and other agencies. Several members raised questions about voter eligibility and returning citizens, and Byrd said the department provides free information to help people determine whether their rights have been restored, while noting that court and clerk reporting practices still create challenges. He also said the department is considering additional legislative proposals, including more safeguards tied to driver’s license and citizenship verification and a possible statewide 100% audit of races before certification. The meeting ended with the chair encouraging members to visit supervisors of elections offices and submit specific ideas for future elections legislation; no votes were taken and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just saying if we're going to try to prevent something, then catching it early, whether it is the
• Early detection is the key. Early detection is the key in reducing the risk of dying from cancer.
• For many cancers, 5 year survival rate is about 90% when diagnosed early in stage.
• Early detection is the key to reducing cancer death.
• For many cancers, the 5 year survival rate is above 90% when diagnosed in early stage.

Bills: HB46

Keywords: local government spending cap, expenditure limit, political subdivision, property tax, ad valorem tax, budget cap, taxpayer protection, spending restraint, inflation adjustment, population growth, voter approval, supermajority vote, county budget, municipal budget, school district finance, junior college district, hospital district, special district, attorney general enforcement, local fiscal limits

Transcript Highlights:

• The Boston Consulting Group research indicates that early adopters will capture 90% of this value.
• of the rest of the industry, operating our fifth generation of hardware while others are still in early
• So in conclusion, the time to invest is now, before 90% of the value is captured by early adopters.
• You know, when I came to the legislature 14 years ago, one of the key reasons was to fully fund early
• And the quantum learning lab at CNN... ...those are needed. It's a really big deal.

Bills: SB145, SB143

Keywords: auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, fee update, regulatory fees, egg inspection, egg grading, egg dealer, pesticide control, pesticide registration, pesticide applicator, pest management consultant, plant protection, nursery license

Transcript Highlights:

• We were able to bring it back, and it's been operating since the early 2000s.
• Last year, I mentioned that we were very early in a rollout of the US Postal Service's Intelligent mail
• program, the learning portal, in order to do digital training for the county election board.
• We are in the early stages of implementing Amazon Nect, which is a new customer service phone system
• And we're one of the early ones.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:52:43.600> abilities children of different learning abilities children of different learning
• how to read early on.
• someone who has worked a lot on early someone who has worked a lot on early childhood<01:07:33.160
• reading skills early um is beneficial. reading skills early um is beneficial.
• <01:23:34.480> firsthand this process, we have learned firsthand this process, we have learned

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know members are moving in and out and some had to leave early today.
• When we learned I couldn't safely carry a pregnancy, our dream did not disappear.
• I have been filled with grief, learning my body is not able to carry my own child.
• Learning I was donor-conceived in third grade, I yearned for the In a Jewish neighborhood, learning I
• I just want to learn how to pronounce it. S-A-M-A-R-I-P-A. Sierra is not with us.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we flagged that the Legislature may be able to learn lessons from these early implementers of such
• So we flagged that the legislature may be able to learn lessons from these early implementers of such
• I think I still get to say good evening, but early.
• I think I still get to say good evening, but early.
• According to the PPC in early 2023, about 3.2 million more Californians...

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing on child welfare, foster care, child support, and related prevention efforts. The chair opened by emphasizing mandated reporting reform, foster care system improvements, and community-based prevention, and noted that no votes would be taken. Public testimony focused first on mandated reporting, where a lived-experience advocate and several organizations argued that the current system overreports families, especially Black, Native, and Latino families, causes trauma, and should be reformed through standardized training, clearer thresholds, and stronger community supports rather than more hotline referrals. Casey Family Programs cited data showing nearly 90% of reports are unsubstantiated, while CDSS said it is already forming a Mandated Reporting Advisory Committee, updating training, and exploring community pathways and possible changes to the list of mandated reporters. CWDA and SEIU supported training and alternative response concepts but stressed child safety, county capacity, funding, and the need for careful implementation and accountability. The committee then discussed a proposal to create a foster care multi-agency office within the California Health and Human Services Agency, led by a chief foster youth advocate with authority to coordinate across departments. Advocates said foster youth often need services from education, health, housing, and behavioral health systems that do not coordinate well, and argued that a central office with real authority could improve placement stability and access to services. CDSS responded that existing structures already provide coordination, including AB 2083 interagency teams, the Child Welfare Council, complex care steering committees, and the foster care ombudsperson, but said it was open to technical assistance. Members raised concerns about whether the new office would have enough authority and funding to avoid becoming another layer of bureaucracy, and the chair emphasized the need for real “teeth” and better interagency action. The final major topic was the continuation and expansion of Promise Neighborhoods. A community leader described strong early results from the state-funded neighborhoods, including improved kindergarten readiness, reduced chronic absenteeism, higher graduation rates, food access, housing supports, and mental health services, but warned that current funding sunsets in June 2025 and that a fiscal cliff could jeopardize staff and services. CDSS said the four funded neighborhoods have reported positive outcomes and valuable flexibility, but also noted challenges with one-time funding, student mental health, and long-term planning. Assemblymember Mia Bonta urged continued investment, saying the place-based model is difficult to rebuild once lost, and the chair asked LAO to help identify the minimum funding needed to preserve the existing infrastructure while evaluation results are still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can do it early in session now and have the communication happening as we move into the LBO working
• in session now and we can do it early in session now and<00:04:21.639> have<00:04:22.639>
• in the in the higher fund balance early in the in the um<00:17:36.440> existence<00:17:36.799
• The LBO reached out early in the process for developing this fiscal note.
• <01:04:52.440> engagement early um sort of early engagement early um sort of early engagement

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the fiscal note process, prompted by concerns raised in a prior hearing about the fiscal note for the Paid Family and Medical Leave law. Chair Marty, Senator Pratt, and Senator Wiklund said the goal was not to revisit the bill itself but to strengthen understanding of fiscal note standards, the role of the Legislative Budget Office (LBO), and communication with agencies. They emphasized bipartisan concern that fiscal notes must be respected and that the process should be clearer going forward. Christian Larison of the LBO explained that the 2024 fiscal note issues stemmed from three main problems: choosing the proper baseline for a program that had not yet started, interpreting the seven-day qualifying event/waiting period, and determining whether DEED could adjust the first-year premium rate. He said the LBO, DEED, MMB, and House fiscal staff ultimately used the October 2023 actuarial analysis as the baseline because it was the most recent and likely most accurate estimate, but that choice meant the fiscal note did not show the difference from the 2023 enacted budget. He also described how DEED later interpreted the seven-day provision as a waiting period and how the premium-rate assumptions affected the fiscal impact. Larison outlined possible responses, including more assertive early communication from the LBO, providing more detailed analysis in unusual cases, and possibly creating a working group through the LBO Oversight Commission to consider new standards for substantial assumption changes, complex new programs, and third-party actuarial work. He also noted the LBO has authority to issue unapproved fiscal notes if standards are not met, though it has not used that authority. In questions, Senator Murphy asked about protecting the credibility of fiscal notes, and Larison said maintaining independence, objectivity, and consistent standards is central to the LBO’s role. No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that, I will leave it to our members. ...and learning.
• . ...to learning, teaching, and learning that are outside of the scope of what a teacher or the administration
• Learn.
• That they are hoping other students can learn.
• For some high schools in the early season,...

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The the break has thrown me off early.
• early last week. early last week.
• Cochran, and Miss Dawson for the history that we got to learn today.
• , certainly not without lots of learnings, certainly not without lots of learnings, but<01:19:04.560
• > 1990s,<01:27:47.679> United compared to the early 1990s, United compared to the early

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Eastland, on counselors, I want to learn a little bit more about that.
• Because some counselors know their plans early; some know internships later.
• And then early on at Ingram Elementary, they disappeared.
• I've learned that the latter is one that gives me the grief.
• I've learned that the latter is one that gives me the grief.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So with credit for prior learning, credit for prior learning gives students a jumpstart on completing
• So with credit for prior learning, credit for prior learning gives students a jumpstart on completing
• Credit for prior learning sets students on a structured and rewarding learning journey by honoring their
• Yeah, from our perspective, we're seeing some early returns from that investment and from the early work
• So we've begun some very early discussions about it.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held a hearing focused on California Community College budget proposals. Chair Alvarez opened by emphasizing the system’s role in access, transfer, workforce training, and serving more than 2 million students, while also noting persistent challenges in enrollment, persistence, transfer, and graduation. Public commenters and system representatives broadly supported COLA, enrollment growth funding, deferred maintenance, student support block grants, and additional flexibility for districts facing uncertainty. The first major panel covered the student-centered funding formula, COLA, and enrollment growth. The Department of Finance said the Governor proposes a 2.43% COLA ($230.4 million) and 0.5% enrollment growth funding ($30.4 million). The LAO said the COLA was reasonable and recommended funding at least the proposed growth amount, citing uneven enrollment recovery and regional differences. The Chancellor’s Office supported both proposals and asked for additional changes, including using the greater of current-year or three-year average for apportionments and lifting the 10% local enrollment cap, arguing these would better fund growing districts. Members questioned how the formula works, whether SCFF is improving outcomes, and how much additional funding would be needed under different growth scenarios. The committee then reviewed categorical program COLAs, Rising Scholars, career education proposals, IT proposals, and student housing. The Governor proposed a 2.43% COLA for selected categorical programs ($31.9 million). For Rising Scholars, the Governor proposed $30 million ongoing and removal of the cap on participating colleges; the LAO urged waiting for outcome data before doubling funding, while the Chancellor’s Office said the program is serving more students and supports equity for justice-impacted students. On career education, the Governor proposed $50 million for credit for prior learning and $50 million for a career passport; the LAO supported more reporting on credit for prior learning but recommended rejecting the career passport as too undefined, while the Chancellor’s Office supported both. On technology, the Governor proposed $162.5 million for a common cloud data platform and $168 million for a common ERP system; the LAO said both were premature or lacked sufficient planning and recommended rejection, while the Chancellor’s Office argued they would improve real-time data, security, and systemwide efficiency. The committee also heard an update on student housing: the administration said the 2024 shift to a lease-revenue bond model remains in progress for 13 approved projects, with 11 still active, and members asked about withdrawn projects and possible use of any returned funds. No votes were taken, and several items were held open for further discussion and May Revision updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so she's using multiple student information systems and has to learn them and has to operate both
• systems of support, and the learning management system.
• Again, built into our application is social-emotional learning.
• of extra learning that's they're learning at almost twice the rate of students that do not participate
• Educator licensure, quality assessment, evaluations, and ensuring equitable student learning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The school, the police, and our family learned of this in 2022.
• I learned that he had been placed on administrative leave in late 2019.
• We're here to learn and benefit from you, so thank you for being here. Thank you.
• Since the early 2000s, when...
• But again, we went through. ...rigors and have learned.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These guys need to learn.
• One of the first things they learned was the Ten Commandments, and they learned it in five different
• opportunity to learn that different language by learning the Ten Commandments.
• I'm here to learn and teach others.
• Our schools should be a place of learning true information and learning facts and science.

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, heard an invocation and pledges, and approved several routine motions, including excuses for absent members, permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, and postponements of some bills. The chamber also received a Senate message listing measures passed by the Senate and adopted a memorial resolution honoring the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, with remarks entered into the House Journal after a moment of silence. The House then took up a long third-reading calendar and passed a series of Senate bills on topics including criminal justice and corrections sunset provisions (SB 2405, 2406, 2407), election equipment testing (SB 2166), electric grid reliability and attack-preparedness exercises (SB 2148), firefighter collective bargaining (SB 777), DFPS and foster care procedures (SB 1141 and SB 1398), Medicare durable medical equipment billing (SB 1330), property tax administration (SB 1453), probate cleanup and record transfers (SB 1448 and SB 1839), mental health filing procedures (SB 53), school residency for children in safety placements (SB 226), diabetes-related amputation study (SB 1677), rapid DNA analysis (SB 1723), utility rate transparency and capacity cost recovery (SB 1664 and SB 1856), community supervision eligibility (SB 552 postponed), and other measures. Several bills passed with broad support, while others drew notable opposition and narrower margins, including SB 777, SB 2137, SB 2111, SB 1677, SB 1936, SB 1453, and SB 38. Two bills drew especially extensive debate. SB 2148, dealing with electricity supply chain reliability and tabletop exercises for critical facilities, was discussed as a grid-security measure aimed at coordinating utilities, law enforcement, ERCOT, and the PUC in the event of physical attacks; it passed unanimously. SB 1936, changing how LSD is measured for criminal prosecution from dosage-based to weight-based calculations, prompted extended discussion about lab consistency, carrier mediums, and fairness in charging, with supporters saying it would help crime labs and law enforcement and opponents warning it could distort penalties depending on the medium used; it passed 108-26. The House also passed SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, after questions about overlap with TDEM and the cost of adding personnel. Late in the day, the House debated SB 38 on eviction procedures, with supporters saying it targeted squatters and streamlined removal of unauthorized occupants, and opponents arguing it would make evictions too easy and worsen homelessness; it passed 85-44. The chamber also began debate on SB 37, a major higher-education governance bill that would expand governing-board oversight of curriculum, hiring, and faculty senates; members raised concerns about academic freedom, faculty governance, and the impact on humanities programs, and debate was still underway at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• board of governors, I've approached this responsibility with humility and a commitment to listen, learn
• I learned from the best. I look forward to hearing from you guys. Thank you.
• We want to make it easier for students if we give them credit for prior learning through work in the
• I'm passionate about early college and middle college.
• But I really love early college and the dual enrollment programs.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• VOGO IS A VIDEO-BASED LEARNING THAT CONNECTS WITH OUR 43,000 INMATES.
• THEY GENERATED 520,000 PROGRAM LEARNING HOURS SO VIRTUAL TRAINING IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN PRISONS.
• WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THE LAST TWO DECADES WE PRIORITIZE THINGS LIKE EARLY LEARNING AND KINDERGARTEN
• THINGS LIKE LIKE EARLY LEARNING AND KINDERGARTEN READINESS.
• THE LEARNING GAINS, THE PM ASSESSMENTS USED ACROSS ALL SCHOOLS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, last year, in early spring, we convened a task force on civic learning and engagement, and there
• When students learn about projects.
• Making these decisions is part of learning to be a journalist.
• So, um, you know, we've been learning a lot about this new board policy.
• <01:10:45.440> and are implementing the civic learning and are implementing the civic learning

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Education and Higher Education first heard HCR 75 and HR 67, which ask the Department of Education and the University of Hawaiʻi to assess criteria for building an educational pipeline and curriculum for advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity. The Department of Education said it would stand on its written testimony, and UH supported the measure, noting existing community college and four-year programs related to the topic. Members asked how DOE promotes cybersecurity opportunities and whether it provides funding; DOE said schools usually connect with partners and its office works with them, but it does not have separate funding for such efforts. UH also explained that some advanced manufacturing concepts may overlap with 3D printing, material sciences, and entrepreneurship, and described P20 as a forum for aligning K-12 and higher education pathways. The committees then recessed the joint hearing and moved to the Education Committee agenda. The committee next heard HCR 46 and HR 39, which would make DOE recreational facilities available to the public during non-peak hours and non-school days. DOE said it already uses facilities agreements with insurance, liability waivers, indemnification, and certificates of insurance to protect schools. The Attorney General opposed the resolutions, warning that unrestricted public use without safeguards could create substantial liability and cost risks for the state. The measure’s introducer said the goal was to help underserved communities that lack access to public recreation spaces, and DOE said it would be open to joint-use arrangements with larger organizations but remained concerned about vandalism and liability. The committee also heard HCR 86 and HR 80 on creating an Aloha Civics working group, with DOE offering comments and Common Cause Hawaiʻi strongly supporting the idea. DOE described a civic learning and engagement task force that met with stakeholders, including UH and the PACE Commission, and produced recommendations such as building partnership inventories, integrating civic learning across grade levels, and aligning the work with DOE’s HA framework and learner outcomes. Common Cause said civic education can be implemented effectively and affordably, citing existing school projects such as ranked-choice voting and classroom constitutions. Later, the committee took up HCR 87 and HR 81, urging an annual Climate Week in public schools. DOE again stood on written comments, while the Climate Change and Health Working Group, Climate Future Forum, a student from Kaimuki High School, and other supporters argued that a dedicated week would ensure consistent climate education, build resilience, and connect climate issues to health, food security, and disaster preparedness. Supporters said existing climate-related opportunities are uneven across schools and that a formal Climate Week would create a more equitable approach. The committee then heard HCR 95 and HR 91 on informing students about changes to gun safety and storage laws; DOE asked for clarification on the measure’s intended outcome, and one individual testified in support. Finally, the committee heard HCR 104 and HR 100 on strengthening farm-to-school initiatives. DOE said it is already working to improve menus, emphasize local products, and meet with distributors to increase local procurement, while the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience offered food science, nutrition, and extension support. Climate Future Forum, the Hawaii Youth Food Council, and other supporters said farm-to-school efforts are important for student health, local farmers, and food sovereignty, noting that local food procurement in schools remains far below the state’s 30% by 2030 goal. DOE explained it is trying to provide distributors and farmers with more predictable demand and is meeting with distributors to set up next year’s supply chain.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:55.080> childhood office of early childhood office of early childhood in<00:42:56.880
• because I'm I'm learning a lot here. because I'm I'm learning a lot here.
• learning.
• So lives early and that's a good thing.
• I think we're all going to be learning I think we're all going to be learning as<00:59:33.920>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved a motion and then deferred a large batch of 246 contracts totaling about $187.8 million until the April 2026 meeting. It then moved through the agenda and reviewed several pulled items, beginning with four Attorney General contingent-fee contracts. Committee members questioned why the contracts were new, what the $20 million maximums meant, and how the fees would work; the AG’s office explained they were new awards from a September RFP, that the $20 million was an outside estimate tied to a full recovery, and that one contract would require a $380 million recovery to pay out the maximum. The committee voted to consider those contracts reviewed without objection. The Department of Highways then explained an “alternative delivery support” contract, describing it as a procurement method different from the usual design-bid-build model and noting it can help with innovation, speed, timeliness, or cost reduction. After that explanation, the committee again voted to consider the contract reviewed without objection. The Kentucky Horse Park/Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation presented eight legal services contracts; members focused on differing hourly rates and retroactive approval. The corporation said it had selected four firms through an RFP to maintain flexibility and avoid conflicts, would use in-house counsel first, and did not expect to use the maximum rates. Senator Thomas argued the committee’s statutory hourly rate cap is outdated and should be revisited. The committee then approved the contracts. One Transportation Office of the Secretary contract was deferred to the April meeting, consistent with the agency’s prior request. The committee then reviewed Cabinet for Health and Family Services items from the Department of Community Based Services: three contract amendments and one memorandum of agreement. Members asked about funding sources, service outcomes, and whether the programs reduce future need; the agency said one amendment was a $55,000 increase offset by reductions elsewhere, that the total contract amount with the agency did not change, and that follow-up data show over 90% of children remain in the home after services. The committee approved those items. Finally, the committee reviewed a LIHEAP contract amendment from the Division of Family Support, which the agency said used federal funds, not state general funds, to add newly appropriated federal money for low-income home energy assistance and crisis heating support. Members asked about future funding and were told that continuation depends on Congress. The committee approved that item. It then began reviewing Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities memoranda of agreement tied to Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center staffing; members asked for a count of personnel, and the agency said it would provide that information, after which the discussion continued.