Transcript Highlights:

• <00:47:23.440> camping camper cabins and the group camping camper cabins and the group camping
• That group got together and, as Ms.
• That group got together and, as Ms.
• Peter, Anoka, Moose Lake, Brainerd, Willmar, and 70-plus group homes throughout Minnesota.
• Peter, Anoka, Moose Lake, Brainerd, Willmar, and 70-plus group homes throughout Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a federal funds tracking working group that we established in January of this year.
• I just don't want to lose sight of these other groups that are out there.
• I call them kind of a tier two group.
• I mean, if a group has an indirect cost rate of 50% on every federal program they have.
• That's that ACA group, that Affordable Care Act group.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said physicians are a heterogeneous group across the political spectrum, with people she agrees with
• The amendment that I am proposing is agreed-to language that is the result of the working group that
• I'm trying to remember one of the names of the group in Albuquerque. I think it's Optum.
• been told Optum's part of United Health Group, so I suspect they would be excluded from protections
• I know what it was like to, to this day, he's in a group home.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the same group that has... ...developing their impulse capacity.
• It's the same group that has 4% of the population but 17% of the homicide offenses.
• It's the same group that has 4% of the population, but 17% of the homicide offenses.
• And so the Supreme Court created a work group on judicial security.
• And so the Supreme Court created a work group on judicial security.

Summary: The committee first heard HB 133, which would lower the minimum age to purchase a long gun from 21 to 18. The sponsor said the bill restores the rights of law-abiding 18-year-olds. Public testimony was sharply divided, with supporters from Gun Owners of America and Florida Carry arguing that adults 18 and older should have equal Second Amendment rights and that current law is inconsistent with other adult responsibilities, while opponents, including gun violence prevention advocates, students, parents, and Parkland-related speakers, said the bill would reverse a post-Parkland safety measure and increase risks of suicide, accidental shootings, and school violence. Several members debated the bill, with opponents emphasizing Parkland, the Florida State shooting, and public polling showing broad opposition; supporters stressed parental responsibility, mental health, and constitutional rights. HB 133 was then reported favorably on a roll call vote of 13 yeas, with several members voting no. The committee then took up CS/HB 289, which would revise Florida’s wrongful death law to allow parents to recover damages for the death of an unborn child. The sponsor said the bill is intended to let grieving parents seek civil remedies, and members questioned how it would apply in situations involving surrogacy, rape, ectopic pregnancy, medical care, and damages calculations. The sponsor said the bill would not allow suits against the mother, would not apply to lawful non-negligent medical care, and would be handled through ordinary wrongful death damage proof before a jury. Public testimony was again split: supporters from pro-life and faith groups said the bill recognizes unborn children and aligns Florida with many other states, while opponents from civil liberties, reproductive rights, and advocacy groups warned it could be used to target abortion providers, helpers, and even families or businesses in miscarriage-related cases, and could be weaponized by abusive partners. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 289, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• under current state law, are eligible to donate directly to candidates, party units, and political groups
• If they were to donate to other groups or subsidiary groups of a potential PAC or independent expenditure
• group, other principal campaign apparatus-type organizations, then that would be applicable.
• of<00:04:37.240> a groups or subsidiary groups of a groups or subsidiary groups of a potential
• <00:06:02.080> who organization or a different group who organization or a different group

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A secure physician group practice.
• relationship with our physician group relationship with our physician group and<00:10:02.959>
• This A secure physician group practice.
• <00:57:46.720> will secures is the physician group will secures is the physician group will
• <00:58:12.000> is So the university physician group is So the university physician group is

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• farm landowner groups, citizens, environmental groups, local government, state and federal agencies.
• farm landowner groups, citizens, environmental groups, local government, state and federal agencies.
• farm landowner groups, citizens, environmental groups, local government, state and federal agencies.
• and so the damage reduction work group and so the work<00:51:29.960> group<00:51:30.240> is
• flood damage the work group the flood damage reduction<00:56:51.480> work<00:56:51.680> group

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Also adding a study for potential wildfire recovery and a working group.
• Next up, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species with comments.
• But that being said, this isn't meant to be a working group.
• lead to dysfunction in the working group lead to dysfunction in the working group if<02:08:05.159
• want this group to be a cohesive group want this group to be a cohesive group that<02:08:18.000>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 48 SD2 HD1 relating to combat sports. The Attorney General offered a technical comment on the bill’s effective date, and several testifiers from the combat sports community strongly supported the measure with amendments. They argued that boxing and MMA should be treated separately, that the current regulatory structure has made events too costly and reduced opportunities, and that more local oversight would help revive the sport and give youth a constructive outlet. Committee members questioned whether the bill’s medical staffing requirements would apply to boxing, MMA, or both, and whether the added requirements would increase costs and reduce access. The witness from the combat sports community said amateur boxing is already regulated through USA Boxing, that the DCCA should focus on professional boxing, and that for safety he would support two physicians and one ambulance for boxing and MMA events. The committee then took up SB 117 SD2 HD1 relating to transportation. The Department of Transportation and the Ulon Initiative testified in support, and the bicycling community was listed as supporting as well. Members focused on the bill’s rebate program for electric transportation devices, asking how successful it had been and whether removing the rebate would affect use. DOT said the program began in February 2023 and had issued about 500 rebates totaling roughly $166,000, aimed at helping people without vehicles access transportation options. The department explained that the bill would broaden access and increase the rebate amount, including additional assistance for low-income applicants. Finally, the committee heard SB 897 SD3 HD1 relating to energy and wildfire liability. The Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Public Utilities Commission, the Attorney General, Clearway Energy Group, Ulon Initiative, Kawai K, IBEW Local 1260, and Hawaiian Electric all testified in support, while the Hawaii Association for Justice was listed as opposed but not present. Supporters said the bill would help finance wildfire mitigation and infrastructure improvements through securitization, reduce wildfire risk, and address utility cost and credit concerns. Hawaiian Electric emphasized that the bill is forward-looking, would help protect customers from future wildfire-related cost increases, and requested amendments including a study on a future wildfire recovery fund. In questioning, members pressed Hawaiian Electric on the liability cap, asking whether it would have applied to the Maui wildfires and whether it would cover personal injury or wrongful death; the witness and company counsel clarified that the aggregate cap applies only to qualifying property damage, not personal injury or wrongful death, and said they would follow up on how the cap would calculate in a Maui-type event. Hawaiian Electric also said it would seek financing under the bill if enacted and updated members on settlement funding efforts, including raising the first $550 million in equity and divesting assets to help meet its obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• specific activities entities or groups specific activities entities or groups of<00:10:38.200>
• <00:44:22.040> of does is it treats the group of does is it treats the group of Corporations
• <00:58:56.559> of approval um and then the last group of approval um and then the last group
• A working group might be a good idea; every tax will defer to their working group and then come back
• A working group might be a good idea; every tax will defer to their working group and then come back

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Tax Committee met for an organizational and orientation session. Members and staff introduced themselves, with several lawmakers noting their districts, business backgrounds, and interest in tax policy. Chair Greg Davids then opened the committee’s first substantive item: a presentation from House Research and House Fiscal staff on how the committee works and on basic tax concepts. House Research staff Sean Williams and Chris Clayman explained their roles in drafting bills and amendments, writing bill summaries, answering legal and policy questions, and modeling tax proposals. They also described the committee’s key documents, including partisan and nonpartisan bill summaries, revenue estimates, fiscal notes, and supporting materials. Their presentation covered core tax concepts such as tax bases, rates, deductions, exemptions, credits, tax revenues, and tax expenditures, emphasizing that tax expenditures function like spending through the tax code and are reviewed by a legislative commission. The staff then reviewed Minnesota’s major taxes, focusing on the individual income tax and business taxation. They explained that Minnesota’s individual income tax starts with federal adjusted gross income, then applies state additions, deductions, subtractions, and credits, and that the state’s income tax brackets and rates are set separately from federal law. They also outlined the difference between corporate franchise taxes for C corporations and individual income tax treatment for pass-through entities, and discussed how the federal SALT cap led Minnesota and other states to adopt pass-through entity taxes so businesses could preserve federal deductibility of state taxes. Members asked questions about a duplicate “marriage penalty” entry on a slide, the purpose of Minnesota’s marriage penalty credit, comparisons with other states, and the timing and effect of the pass-through entity tax; staff answered that the duplicate was a mistake, the credit offsets bracket-related marriage penalties, and the pass-through entity tax was adopted in response to the federal SALT cap.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:08:25.480> groups<01:08:26.000> from principles of these groups groups from principles
• of these groups groups from making<01:08:26.600> contributions<01:08:27.159> to<01:08:
• <01:53:05.880> be it to require that the working group be it to require that the working group
• Moving on to House Bill 225 relating to squatting, establishing a working group.
• Moving on to House Bill 225 relating to squatting, establishing a working group.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 1324, which would require the Judiciary to contract for legal services for residential tenants in landlord-tenant disputes and allow attorneys, paralegals, and law students to provide those services, with an appropriation. The Department of the Attorney General recommended removing reference to Hawaii Public Housing Authority tenants because HPHA eviction proceedings are administrative and could conflict with the bill. Hawaii Appleseed and other testifiers strongly supported the measure, citing studies showing much higher tenant retention when counsel is available, and suggested adding notice of the right to counsel at key points such as rent increases, eviction notices, and lease signing. The committee adopted amendments, including the Attorney General’s suggested change and a technical amendment, and passed the bill out with a recommendation to move it forward; members voted aye, with one member voting with reservations and several excused. The committee then heard House Bill 126 on property forfeiture, which would increase transparency and accountability in civil asset forfeiture by clarifying covered property, changing disposition rules, and removing language requiring liberal construction of the forfeiture act. The Attorney General said forfeiture remains an important law enforcement tool and that the bill would not impair its use. The Office of the Public Defender supported the measure but argued civil forfeiture is broadly problematic because many people cannot meaningfully challenge it and are not entitled to counsel. Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, saying forfeiture is useful in fighting illegal activity and that added procedures would delay enforcement and reduce operational funding from forfeiture proceeds. Community Alliance on Prisons, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and other supporters urged reform or abolition of civil forfeiture, citing transparency concerns and the risk of abuse. No vote on HB 126 was taken in the portion provided. The final measure discussed was House Bill 166, which would require the state to defend professionally licensed or certified state employees in certain civil actions, allow employees to hire their own counsel at their own expense, and set a process for the Attorney General to transfer or withdraw representation if the state declines to defend. Testimony from the Hawaii Association for Justice and labor representatives was in strong support, describing the bill as a negotiated clarification that balances employee protections with accountability and noting it had passed previously but died in conference. The transcript cuts off before any committee action on HB 166.

Transcript Highlights:

• recovery groups in my city.
• The same groups are currently committed to DMH hospitals.
• The needs of the group outweigh the wants of an individual.
• DMH protected the group home and the reputation of the group home.
• I worked in a community mental health center, primarily in group homes and supporting people in group

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on a broad set of mental health, substance use, recovery, and patients’ rights bills. Early testimony focused on H. 2227, which would replace stigmatizing substance use terminology in the General Laws, and H. 3950, which would support parents in recovery involved with DCF by requiring more individualized recovery plans, clearer benchmarks for parenting time, access to recovery coaches or counselors, family counseling after sustained recovery, and staff training on addiction and lived experience. Speakers described the bills as ways to reduce stigma, increase accountability, and improve reunification outcomes for families. A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 1386, which would transfer Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health. Advocates, family members, and disability groups testified that Bridgewater functions like a prison rather than a hospital, with excessive restraint, seclusion, involuntary medication, poor conditions, and racial disparities, and argued DMH should oversee a treatment setting. One DMH occupational therapist and MNA member opposed the transfer, saying the real issue is mixing forensic and continuing-care patients and that DMH should instead create designated forensic units under bills H. 228/S. 1408. Committee members asked about Bridgewater’s population, the history of DOC control, capacity, staffing, and how a transfer might be implemented. The committee also heard testimony on modernizing the six fundamental rights for psychiatric inpatients, including expanding communication options, clarifying visitation and advocacy definitions, and improving access to gender-appropriate and culturally relevant items. Another bill, H. 2216, would require stronger oversight before antipsychotic medication is prescribed in nursing homes, prompted by concerns about inappropriate use. Finally, testimony supported H. 2240 and H. 2239 on sober homes, with supporters saying discharge and relocation policies are needed when a resident returns to active use or becomes unsafe, while preserving the recovery environment and resident rights. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we'll have our housing work group.
• Okay, we have two work groups that are going to get started.
• Um, thank you so much, members of the housing work group. All right.
• Thank you so much, members of the housing work group.
• This is another area where it's not my number one knowledge group.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, do you know what groups, like the names of those groups, that have been engaged?
• Like, do you know what groups, like the names of those groups, that have been engaged?
• Like, do you know what groups, like the names of those groups, that have been engaged?
• Like, do you know what groups, like the names of those groups, that have been engaged?
• Like, do you know what groups, like the names of those groups, that have been engaged?

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:05 Attendance Roll Call: 00:17 HB 30 (Rep. Blanton): 01:12 HB 27 (Rep. Osborne: 05:22 HB 45 (Rep. Hodgson): 08:29 HB 211 (Rep. C. Lewis): 15:54 HB 441 (Rep. Tipton): 36:38 Adjournment: 41:20, 958, all

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up House Bill 30, which addresses pension spiking and retired state troopers returning to work. The sponsor and Kentucky Public Pensions Authority staff said the bill would codify court language clarifying that across-the-board raises from the General Assembly do not count as pension spiking, and the committee substitute would also give retired troopers rehired on a year-to-year basis the same vacation, sick leave, and bereavement benefits as new troopers. The committee adopted the substitute and a title amendment, and HB 30 passed 9-0. The committee then considered House Bill 27, which removes an arbitrary 2023 date from the Planned Communities Act that had created confusion over political signage rules in HOA and planned community phases. The sponsor said the change would preserve HOA authority to regulate sign size, duration, and placement while eliminating inconsistent treatment of neighboring properties. The bill passed 10-0. House Bill 45 followed, proposing to ban foreign funding in Kentucky elections and ballot measures and to require disclosure for express advocacy ads related to ballot measures. Supporters said the bill would put ballot measures on the same footing as candidate and PAC restrictions and prevent foreign nationals from influencing Kentucky elections; one senator raised concerns that the language could unintentionally chill participation by noncitizens, especially in one-on-one discussions, and the sponsor said he would work on that issue. The committee adopted the bill as amended, and it passed 8-1. The final major item was House Bill 211, which would create a narrow exemption allowing cigar bars under defined conditions, including a revenue threshold, age restrictions, ventilation requirements, and local permitting options. The sponsor said the bill would not roll back general smoke-free laws but would allow tightly regulated cigar bars and grandfather existing ones from some requirements. Public health witnesses, including a nurse, a physician, and a thoracic surgeon, opposed the bill, warning it would weaken strong smoke-free protections, harm workers and patrons, and reverse progress against tobacco-related disease. The transcript provided did not include a final vote on HB 211.

Transcript Highlights:

• contracting, a legislative work group contracting, a legislative work group and<01:27:04.080>
• Um, remember would be with this group.
• <01:37:35.440> and that the study and the work group and that the study and the work group
• <01:49:17.360> or that um having the the working group or that um having the the working group
• Uh is there shall convene a work group.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , I heard a recording of a concert held in Carnegie Hall by Sweet Honey in the Rock, an a cappella group
• Next is Senate Bill 239, which is an act relating to the child abuse and neglect reporting working group
• :16:04.400> Please S. 239, an act relating to the child abuse and neglect reporting working group
• would consult with. ...regarding the stakeholders that the working group would consult with, which was
• S. 239, an act relating to the child abuse and neglect reporting working group.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Representative Tom Stevens of Waterbury, who reflected on the Sermon on the Mount as a call to resist exclusion, greed, and coercion and to focus on blessing and care for those in need. After the devotional, the chamber suspended rules to take up Senate Bill 313, relating to transforming Vermont’s career and technical education system, and committed it to the Committee on Education. The House also adopted HCR 241, a concurrent resolution congratulating University of Vermont Distinguished Professor and Vermont State Climatologist Dr. Leslie Ann Dupigny-Giroux on receiving the Manny L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science, with members offering remarks about her climate work and public service. On the action calendar, the House passed Senate Bill 157 on recovery residence certification in concurrence with proposal of amendment, and Senate Bill 239 on the child abuse and neglect reporting working group in concurrence with proposal of amendment. During discussion of S. 239, a member explained that the House amendment was a technical correction adding the Vermont School Counselor Association and the Agency of Education as stakeholders for the working group to consult. The House also concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment to House Bill 410, which concerns the calculation of recidivism and other criminology measures; the Judiciary Committee said the Senate change was a clarifying wording revision and supported it. The chamber then moved through announcements, including recognition of visiting family members, a UVM intern, and notice of a caucus discussion on permitting modernization. A member also invited colleagues to view Vermont Railways’ train in Montpelier. The House completed its orders of the day and adjourned until the next morning at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• So next, we have a legislative interim committee working group.
• When we built the federal program, we—this group right here built it.
• We got to take care of this special interest group.
• And then last but not least, Senate Memorial 20 Youth Violence Summit Planning Group.
• Since the end of session, we have had two groups use the Chambers here.

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate when we have groups out there that are experts in the area, and they are quick and easy
• Are all religious groups allowed?
• On top of that, this group and other secular groups are philosophical groups.
• The atheists are philosophical groups, not religious, and they do not qualify for release time under
• Well, School Ministries several years ago was the group that... years ago, actually, was the group that

Bills: HB298, HB342, HB332, HB344

Keywords: athletic classification, public high schools, English language learners, state education policy, athletic associations, religious instruction, elective credit, released time, public education, school policy, educational intervention, State Superintendent, local boards of education, subpoena, accountability, state control, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• While under the care of his group home in Dallas, Leroy... went into a diabetic coma and died as a result
• This individual was in a group. poem, and therefore, generally, people in group homes are. covered by
• agency would convey to all interested parties. who are care givers, say operators and employees of group
• I've experienced in the death of my autistic son who also lived in a residential group home.
• After a meeting that was held in April 17, that A Champion Home group, community-based services, Upon

Bills: HB451, HB645, HB 1041, HB 1151, HB 1155, HB1536, HCR12, HCR12

Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit

Transcript Highlights:

• rather than the Arizona Department of Health Services to establish minimum security standards for group
• rather than the Arizona Department of Health Services to establish minimum security standards for group
• foster homes rather than juvenile group homes, and the amendment details additional security standards
• DCS must require of group foster homes.
• lot of the recommendations, I will tell you, members, came from the actual kids that live in those group

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rather than the Arizona Department of Health Services to establish minimum security standards for group
• The Arizona Department of Health Services to establish minimum security standards for group foster homes
• of group foster homes.
• lot of the recommendations, I will tell you, members, came from the actual kids that live in those group
• lot of the recommendations, I will tell you, members, came from the actual kids that live in those group

Summary: The meeting covered seven Senate-amended House bills on the caucus agenda. HB 248 was described as changing prior language about private process servers and, in the Senate strike-everything version, prohibiting more restrictive utilization controls for FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications than those applied to opioid or narcotic drugs, with a repeal date of September 1, 2028. HB 2265 would continue limiting certain court fees charged to criminal defendants, though the Senate removed the provision barring courts from creating new fees without express legislative authorization. HB 2404 would require authorized transporters for certain mental health transports; the sponsor explained the Senate changes delay implementation until 2030 and preserve officer involvement when safety concerns exist. HB 2611 would strengthen DCS group foster home safety rules, including drug screening consequences for employees and additional security standards, with the sponsor emphasizing child safety and accountability. HB 2950 would authorize tourism improvement areas and lodging assessments, with the Senate shifting assessment approval to the governing body and removing some new-business assessment requirements. HB 2986 made multiple ADEQ-related changes, including replacing the recycling fund with the solid waste fee fund and expanding its uses. HB 2995 revised child custody and domestic violence standards to make domestic violence a dominant factor in custody decisions, with Senate amendments adjusting findings, evidence standards, burdens of proof, and adding an emergency clause. Most bills were met with sponsor concurrence and no recorded opposition. HB 2404 drew questions about whether peace officers would still be involved in transports; the sponsor clarified officers would still handle the initial pickup and could be recalled if the person remained high risk or aggressive. HB 2611 was supported as a child-protection measure based partly on recommendations from youth in group homes. HB 2950 was described as a private, opt-in tourism financing tool that would cost taxpayers nothing. HB 2986 was noted as having passed the Senate unanimously. HB 2995 generated the most discussion. Supporters said it addresses coercive control and financial abuse in domestic violence cases and was developed through a lengthy stakeholder process, including court input, to better protect children and families. One member objected that the bill’s wording could sweep in ordinary marital conduct, such as managing finances, making demeaning remarks, or threatening to call police or file for divorce, and urged an amendment to narrow the language. Supporters responded that the bill is aimed at coercive control in custody disputes, that the emergency clause reflects immediate need, and that fixes could be revisited later. The caucus ended with a reminder about a second caucus after floor for the budget bill.