Transcript Highlights:

• Secondarily, thank you so much for answering that question.
• But that's the long answer.
• The word “minor” is key in this new edition.
• And I don't have a very good answer for it. I will do my best.
• So to answer your question, that was the turning point: we were naive.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Mr. Gibbs. We will take questions.
• But if you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them. You're right. Thank you.
• So I'm happy to answer y'all's questions. Very informative.
• Again, it leverages that nine-to-one state funds, which are really key for us.
• Y'all may know the answer. So I asked them about releasing maybe bread dough.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Did you state your name? I'm sorry.
• And to situate, as the Department of Finance mentioned, there are two key goals.
• And we're happy to answer any questions. with the Ledge Analyst's office.
• With that, happy to answer any questions. Thank you.
• Happy to answer any questions. Mr. Bentz, do you have any comments? Thank you, Chair.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• curriculum and it was to provide assessments and career ready readiness services work keys curriculum
• Okay, that doesn't answer my question. I appreciate the time frame.
• That does not answer the question. The question is this contract went out in 11/15/23.
• So if there's no one here that can answer it out there, can I ask staff to see if maybe they can answer
• This is for psychological evaluations for DCFS clients. 128 is with The Answer Foster Care, a private

Summary: The committee met to review a supplemental agenda item, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, reports, and a member disclosure. The supplemental agenda was accepted, and the Office of State Procurement’s rule revisions were approved after Jessica Patterson explained they were driven by 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, CASO Consulting recommendations, and updates to sole source, bid, protest, and debarment provisions. The methods of finance and discretionary grants were also approved, covering a range of university capital projects, health and human services grants, historic preservation awards, and tobacco prevention and cessation programs. The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys for services provided during a contract gap, a Department of Health ratification for water-leak repairs, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, a Veterans Affairs HVAC ratification, an ADFA medical services ratification, and a UA Little Rock painting contract ratification. Members questioned the Public Safety ratification at length about why the expired Motorola contract was not caught sooner and why it took months after discovery to come forward; agency officials said the work was tied to bond funding and was not tracked in ASIS, and the chair urged agencies to develop better monitoring procedures. The committee approved a large slate of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including many recurring service agreements for DHS, higher education institutions, corrections, health agencies, and state support functions. Several members asked about specific contracts, including aerial application services for correctional farms and a Southern Arkansas University custodial contract, and staff or agency representatives provided brief explanations. The meeting concluded with review of reports and approval of a member disclosure involving Representative Andrew Collins’ investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I can help answer any questions. All right, thank you. Members, are there any questions?
• I'm happy to answer any questions, and we do have somebody here from NAB to.
• Help answer questions as well. OK. Members, are there any questions? Obser Richland.
• It answers the question that I had. Thank you so much. You're very welcome.
• Chairman and members, I'm happy to answer any questions. All right, thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can give it to them at the end, and I'm happy to answer any questions.
• I'm happy to answer any questions. I have written testimony, so I didn't read it.
• I'm happy to answer any questions. I have written testimony, so I didn't read it.
• I'm happy to answer any questions, Senators.
• <01:13:15.320> any happy to answer any happy to answer any questions<01:13:18.400> seeing

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Umu Verbaten, while you're answering that question. Mr.
• Answer. Answer. Answer. You're<01:08:05.920> good.
• the chair when you're answering. the chair when you're answering.
• Addressing the housing crisis is a key concern and priority for this population group.
• Addressing the housing crisis is a key Addressing the housing crisis is a key concern<01:44:59.440

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:58.840> like<00:09:59.000> to Another key thing I always like to Another key
• > that key takeaway from this that key takeaway from this that I<00:20:08.400> appreciate
• So that's what was so answers.
• There's two different hard answer.
• <01:25:40.320> which So, that's hard for me to answer which So, that's hard for me to answer

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members, any questions?
• I'm happy to answer any questions. Very good. Thank you, members. Members, any questions?
• I’m happy to answer any questions and reserve the right to close.
• I'm happy to answer any questions. Any questions, members? You are Robert Wood.
• And with that, I'll be happy to answer any questions. Members, any questions?

Bills: SB263, SB467, SB850, SB1030, SB1352, SB1453, SB2064, SB2206, SB2779, SJR84

Keywords: SB 263, Texas franchise tax, cost of goods sold, COGS, broadcasters, television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, media tax, broadcast license, FCC, 47 C.F.R. Part 73, 47 C.F.R. Part 74, film production, television production, tax deduction, margin tax, Texas Tax Code, depreciation, amortization, broadcast rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Taiwan, as we all know, is a key economic and... Specifically, in Taiwan.
• And with that, I'm happy to try and answer any questions. We need more warships.
• And with that, I'm happy to try and answer any questions. We need more warships.
• I'll be very brief, but I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
• I'll answer any questions you may have. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Braggle.

Bills: HB346, HB1851, HB2974, HB5596, HCR118, HCR127, HCR141

Keywords: expedited service, business records, veteran-owned businesses, franchise tax, fee schedule, surplus vehicles, law enforcement equipment, school districts, Texas Facilities Commission, economically disadvantaged areas, HB 5596, voter-approval tax rate, property tax, ad valorem tax, Tax Code, Texas municipalities, coastal municipality, eligible coastal municipality, municipal hotel occupancy tax, hotel occupancy tax revenue

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee heard and laid out several measures focused on school safety, Texas-Taiwan relations, defense manufacturing, business formation, hotel tax policy, and NASA relocation. HB 1851 would allow surplus DPS vehicles and law enforcement equipment to be transferred to school districts in economically disadvantaged areas for use by school police and security personnel, with a two-year resale restriction. HCR 127 expressed support for the Texas-Taiwan relationship and trade ties, HCR 118 supported expanding warship manufacturing in Texas, HCR 141 urged Congress to move NASA headquarters to Houston, HB 346 (with a committee substitute) revised business filing and fee authority while making permanent a franchise tax exemption for new veteran-owned businesses, HB 2974 was an omnibus hotel occupancy tax and qualified hotel project bill, and HB 5596 addressed accountability for municipal hotel occupancy tax revenues in coastal communities. Witnesses generally supported the measures, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association on HB 2974 and resource witnesses from the Texas Veterans Commission and Secretary of State on HB 346; no opposition testimony was registered on the laid-out bills. After public testimony, the committee took up pending business and adopted committee substitutes where applicable. HB 1851, HB 346, HB 2974, and HB 5596 were each reported favorably to the full Senate, with HB 346 and HB 2974 also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. HCR 127 and HCR 118 were reported favorably as well, and HCR 127 and HCR 141 were likewise recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also reported HB 4320 favorably, though the transcript repeats that motion several times. The meeting ended with the committee standing in recess until 7:00 a.m. subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for answer any questions.
• Um, I'm not sure the specifics on that answer.
• So that's part of the key of bonding.
• Representative Carroll, want me to answer that? Yeah. No, I'll answer that. Representative Joy.
• So it's kind of a key.

Bills: HF1569, HF460, HF850, HF707, HF798, HF852, HF366, HF365, HF836, HF866, HF885, HF959, HF1196, HF1788, HF1349, HF2272, HF2652, HF1251, HF607

Keywords: transportation, bond issuance, capital investment, infrastructure, road improvements, HF460, Sibley County, Highway 21, County State-Aid Highway, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, transportation grant, infrastructure improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, stormwater, public works, local infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• Mark Key on Zoom. Perhaps Mark Key on Zoom? I'm sorry, Mary.
• Thank you very much for taking up this issue, and happy to answer any questions.
• Thank you very much for taking up this issue, and happy to answer any questions.
• Thank you very much for taking up this issue, and happy to answer any questions.
• So thank you so much, and I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 114, which would create a presidential preference primary for the 2028 election. The Office of Elections said the bill would cost about $4.1 million. Supporters, including the Hawaii Democratic Party and the League of Women Voters, favored moving the process to a state-run primary, while several opponents, including the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women and multiple individual testifiers, argued it would be too expensive, would shift control away from the parties, and would replace volunteer-run caucuses with a mail-in system. Committee members questioned the chief election officer about election timing, certification, and how a primary might be scheduled with other elections. Testimony was recorded as 11 in support, 41 opposed, and 3 comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up SB 725, which would require judges to make findings about a defendant’s ability to afford bail. Judiciary and Attorney General witnesses asked that the bill be deferred or amended, saying the Judicial Council is already reviewing pretrial bail reform and that the bill’s language could create practical problems for police, sheriffs, and courts. Supporters, including the Correctional System Oversight Commission, the public defender, the Community Alliance on Prisons, the ACLU of Hawaii, and disability rights advocates, said cash bail disproportionately harms low-income defendants, increases pretrial detention costs, and should require clearer findings and records. Opponents included the Hawaii County prosecuting attorney. Members questioned how bail is initially set, what records exist, and whether the bill would change current practice; Judiciary witnesses said initial bail decisions are often made by police or judges and later reviewed on the record, while supporters argued the bill would strengthen front-end due process. The ACLU said it supported the bill with amendments, including clearer standards for ability to pay and written findings. The committee also began hearing SB 733, a proposed constitutional amendment to establish a continuous legislative session. Early testimony was strongly supportive, with advocates arguing that the current 60-day session limits public participation, makes it hard for working people to testify, and prevents lawmakers from collaborating effectively. Supporters said a year-round model could improve transparency, reduce duplicate bills, and better accommodate neighbor island legislators. The excerpt ends during the opening testimony on SB 733, before any committee action or vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Certification was key then, just as it should continue to be.
• I have a question for all of you if you can answer in one minute.
• I don't know the answer, but maybe you can help us figure it out.
• I think the key issue is, though, that those are gonna be earmarked for certain things.
• Thanks, and I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you for your testimony. Ms.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• Key talking points I want to make about this: This is an opportunity for us to enter into a public-private
• decisions about... budget policies and key decisions about veterans.
• I thank you for your time and consideration, and I'll be glad to answer any questions. Thank you.
• The answer was yes.
• I'll tell you I answer phone calls.

Bills: HB154, HB153, HB180, SB70

Keywords: veterans affairs, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, State Board of Veterans Affairs, commissioner, governor appointment, board advisory, veteran service organizations, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, veteran service officers, district managers, state veterans home trust fund, veterans benefits, military veterans, disabled veterans, elderly veterans, active-duty service members, state agency reorganization, executive authority, governance reform

Transcript Highlights:

• So, any questions that I may answer?
• So, any questions that I may answer?
• So, any questions that I may answer? So, any questions that I may answer?
• So, with that, I'd be happy to answer So, with that, I'd be happy to answer any<00:28:12.040>
• >> Thank thank you for your answer sir. >> Thank thank you for your answer sir.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's take our Kei and achieves that.
• Good answer.<01:30:57.920> Okay.
• So a brief answer to that question.
• Oh, please come forward. and happy to answer any questions that and happy to answer any questions that
• <03:06:17.200> any measure and I'd be happy to answer any measure and I'd be happy to answer

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are guided by the mission statement of the Minnesota Historical Society, and there are several key
• Chair, members, I'm available to answer any and all questions.
• Uh, Chair Nash and members, my name is Tori Key.
• Thank you, Miss Key.
• Dean can answer that question. Mr. Dean sees it every day, I'm sure. Mr.

Bills: HF1234, HF1956, HF1025, HF1172, HF791

Keywords: payment transparency, public contracts, contractor rights, government accountability, construction payments, municipal finance, liquor store, audit requirements, state auditor, local government, historic flag, state flag, display standards, ceremonial, Minnesota Statutes, Ursa Minor, state symbol, Minnesota state laws, constellation, official state designation

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to begin by grounding this work in a key point.
• We wanted to share some key quotes from the stakeholder engagement.
• Chair and members of the committee to answer your question, Mr. Chair.
• I think the answer is yes, but not as many. Mr.
• I hope that answers your question. Thank you, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• sure that when the special session occurs, we'll have an answer for you.
• That person will be able to answer questions.
• So I think the flexibility is key. We just can't get too specific on this.
• So I think the flexibility is key. We just can't get too specific on this.
• Donna responded that readiness is the key issue.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Appropriations Division met in a work session on the draft Rural Health Transformation appropriations bill, 25.1392.01000, with no public testimony taken. Legislative Council and the Department of Health and Human Services walked through the bill, which would appropriate about $397.8 million in federal grant funds over two federal fiscal years, provide transfer authority, allow certain federal funds to be used for salaries and wages without counting against existing transfer limits, and authorize OMB to adjust other agencies’ spending authority if they receive grant awards through HHS. The bill also includes several temporary statutory exemptions to help implement the program, plus recipient acknowledgement/reporting requirements, periodic reports to Legislative Management, and an immediate effective date upon filing. Committee discussion focused heavily on how the federal rural health transformation money can be used and administered. Department officials explained that CMS will review projects for allowability and sustainability, that the state has flexibility to move funds among categories, and that the grant is limited to 10% administrative costs. Members asked about whether the funding could support renovations, equipment, ambulances, bulk purchasing, food distribution, and other rural health ideas, and were told many details will depend on CMS approval and the eventual applications. Questions also addressed cash flow, timing of obligations and reimbursements, FTE funding, and whether grant recipients should be told the program will not continue beyond the federal period; officials said the language is meant to prevent expectations of automatic continuation, not to bar future legislative action. The committee also discussed the bill’s use of a two-year appropriation amount, with staff explaining that the state must appropriate enough authority to cover the federal grant cycle and that unused authority would lapse if the full amount is not received or spent. Members raised concerns about whether the bill’s language could limit creativity or future program design, but department officials and several members emphasized the need for flexibility because CMS may reject overly specific directives. After discussion, the committee voted to recommend the bill draft to the full committee; the motion carried on a roll call vote, and the chair said the full Joint Appropriations Committee would take up the bill at the special session next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the answer is yes, but unfortunately I can't give you the reason.
• If you could, that answer. Thank you.
• Essentially getting the answers for you from the thing.
• Okay, thank you for answering my question. Yes.
• And I'll answer any questions. I have an amendment, Madam Clerk.

Bills: HR286, HR287, HR288, HR289, HR290, HR291, HR292, HR293, HR294, HCR114, HR275, HR276, HR277, HR278, HR279, HR280, HR282, HR283, HR284, HR285, HCR112, HCR113, SCR62, SCR64, SB132, SB135, SB405, HR179, HR216, HR223, HR225, HR274, HCR89, SB39, SB99, SB111, SB112, SB124, SB134, SB174, SB189, SB190, SB201, SB233, SB236, SB258, SB270, SB273, SB288, SB307, SB313, SB320, SB321, SB325, SB326, SB331, SB339, SB341, SB345, SB346, SB347, SB353, SB357, SB359, SB387, SB393, SB401, SB415, SB419, SB422, SB426, SB435, SB437, SB440, SB451, SB464, SB470, SB487, SB488, SB495, SB504, SB505, SB518, SB523, SB228, SB408, HR168, HR174, HR194, HCR54, HCR74, HCR79, HCR87, HCR94, HCR95, HCR97, HCR98, HCR102, HCR104, SCR23, SCR38, HCR26, HB250, HB265, HB339, HB427, HB445, HB463, HB468, HB606, HB639, HB649, HB665, HB746, HB781, HB853, HB861, HB872, HB886, HB916, HB937, HB1054, HB1068, HB1117, HB1237, HB75, HB705, SB34, SB164, SB172, SB198, SB208, SB232, SB281, SB286, SB317, SB322, SB334, SB380, SB385, SB409, SB417, SB421, SB430, SB439, SB447, SB458, SB510, SB54, SB56, SB72, SB79, SB97, SB105, SB123, SB125, SB129, SB163, SB171, SB252, SB287, SB375, SB386, SB461, SB466, HR84, SCR3, HB582, HB625, HB646, HB998, HB1191, HB1255, SB81, SB100, SB109, SB197, SB374, SB479, SB78, HB901, HR20, HR74, HCR65, HCR71, HB284, HB302, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1240, SB82, SB89, HB134, HB258, HB359, HB782, SB149, SB382, SB441

Keywords: HR286, House Resolution 286, LED, Louisiana Economic Development, rural development, energy efficiency, renewable energy, public-private partnership, tax credits, economic development, workforce training, school energy costs, community colleges, technical colleges, local government, building modernization, on-site energy generation, public facilities, rural parishes, distressed communities

Summary: The House met with a quorum, received a guest minister for prayer, approved the journal, and heard several announcements and recognitions, including NEC Awareness Day, a European Union delegation visit, and the Glenmore Wildcats baseball team’s state championship. Members also received Senate messages, including concurrence on some House measures, the filing of Senate bills, and several Senate resolutions and bills laid over for later consideration. The chamber then took up a long series of resolutions and bills. Among the resolutions adopted were measures on a Louisiana-United Kingdom Trade Commission, support for migratory waterfowl studies, hunting education in schools, SNAP delivery-fee studies, fraud prevention for seniors, subsurface data preservation, boating safety reporting, and visual acuity screening data. Some items were temporarily returned to the calendar, including a sales-tax uniform-base rule resolution and several Senate measures. The House also adopted a resolution creating an agricultural national security task force and another supporting a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. On legislation, the House passed bills on missing-person alerts for people with disabilities (“Brian’s Call”), first responder status for public works employees, planning commission procedures, historic preservation district rules, judges’ supplemental compensation, the Baker Economic Development District, New Orleans downtown development district tax authority, a local crime prevention district, clerks of court records, hotel occupancy taxes in Shreveport-Bossier, firefighter cancer screenings, Shreveport police civil service rules, local ethics entity funding, hemp/alcohol age restrictions, OMV digital signatures, LED recreation, TOPS Tech eligibility for veterans, anatomical gift recordkeeping, crypto kiosk fraud protections, firefighting foam definitions, and consumer data privacy. Several bills failed, including HB 705 on legislative contempt penalties and HB 75 on gaming promotional play. One bill on vehicle insurance reinstatement fees was amended and passed, and a bill on judicial compensation fund adjustments was amended and passed after questions about CPI indexing.