Transcript Highlights:

• Number two is that we have kids who are in placements in group home settings, primarily in the custody
• Number two is that we have kids who are in placements in group home settings, primarily in the custody
• drive to the Capitol in the morning, they will have to pass the face of a guy who actually did his ...job
• In 2025, small businesses created 80,016 net new jobs in Arizona, which was 85% of the total net new
• jobs created in the state.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a memorial adoption of HCR 2064 honoring former legislator Barbara Leff, which was unanimously adopted and sent to the Senate. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Eladio Pereira, and numerous student and constituent guests in the gallery. After routine desk business and bill referrals, the House moved into Committee of the Whole to consider a long calendar of measures. Several bills were amended and advanced with do pass recommendations. HB 2170 was narrowed to restrict state purchases of certain electronic and information technology from China/Chinese-controlled entities and to address third-party resellers. HB 2375 dealt with middle housing in historic districts, with amendments limiting demolition of historic structures unless necessary for health and safety and preserving local discretion. HB 2380 focused on school district transparency and meeting location rules, requiring governing board materials online and keeping meetings within district boundaries, with debate over local control and comparisons to legislative caucus retreats. HB 2617, HB 2621, and HB 2671 also moved forward after amendments; HB 2621’s discussion centered on certificates of educational convenience and ensuring special education access for children in unorganized territory and DCS placements. The committee also advanced HB 2720 on anti-human trafficking and prostitution-related reforms, including sealed records for sex trafficking survivors and an anti-human trafficking grant fund; HB 2772, allowing a DNR designation on driver’s licenses, prompted extended questions about emergency care and liability; HB 2784, dealing with school district excess cash refunds, was amended to phase in implementation; HB 2902, affirming support for the Electoral College, drew the most ideological debate, with supporters citing constitutional structure and opponents arguing for a national popular vote; and HB 2950, concerning a tourism/hospitality district, saw a failed attempt to make participation voluntary. The House also considered HB 4025, a study bill on the feasibility of building an oil refinery in Arizona, which sparked extensive debate over fuel prices, refinery capacity, environmental impacts, and whether a study was necessary, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff did a great job of reminding us of the Budget Act that the Department of Finance just responded
• That's because of our placement in the Constitution.
• Well, congratulations on that placement.
• Our campuses and locations do a phenomenal job of doing orientation and other forms of engagement, both
• And I think my team, led by John, has done a great job of lining up support.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held an extended hearing focused primarily on University of California budget issues, enrollment, housing, and Title IX. Chair David Alvarez opened by noting the governor’s proposed 8% ongoing General Fund reduction to UC, the deferral of compact funding, and the College of the Law budget item, while emphasizing that no votes would be taken that day. Public commenters, including UC Davis employees and lecturers, urged restoration of UC funding and opposed the hiring freeze, saying cuts would worsen staffing shortages, reduce research capacity, and harm students and patients. On UC core operations, the Department of Finance said the governor’s budget maintains the compact but defers $240.8 million in ongoing support and continues a planned 7.95% reduction, while the LAO recommended rejecting the deferrals and instead making any changes in the budget year. UC San Diego’s chancellor and UC Office of the President argued the cuts and deferrals would create major campus shortfalls, force hiring freezes, larger class sizes, fewer course offerings, delayed projects, and possible layoffs. Committee members questioned whether cuts could be shifted away from students and toward administration, discussed UCOP reserves and bond debt, and noted that UC’s budget structure makes the campus-level impact larger than the headline reduction. The committee also reviewed enrollment trends and nonresident replacement. The LAO said UC resident enrollment has grown and recommended revisiting 2026-27 targets and pausing the nonresident replacement plan if state funding does not improve. UC said it has exceeded California undergraduate enrollment and nonresident replacement goals, but warned that continued growth without funding would force enrollment reductions and harm quality. Members discussed the role of nonresident and international students, tuition rates, and the value of UC as a pathway for California students and a source of talent for the state. A separate housing item covered the state’s Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program. UC reported that recent bond savings could support additional affordable beds at UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara, but the LAO and Finance noted the Legislature would need to decide how to use the $6.2 million in savings from the original projects. The committee also heard a Title IX update from UC’s systemwide civil rights office, which described campus Title IX structures, training, and policy enforcement, and said the system has been working to improve confidentiality guidance and streamline complaint processes after survey feedback showed confusion and lengthy procedures.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have other companies or systems that can do this job as well.
• Chair, we're doing a much better job.
• We've focused on regional colleges with two-year jobs and administrative jobs, where we find that employees
• But they are all excellent and know how to do their job.
• So our eyes, as inspectors, were on the job. The quarter staff was on the job.

Committee: Joint Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Contracting services include strategic planning, traditional and digital media placement, creative asset
• down on the marketing and advertising and the general and administrative, we are doing a very good job
• Long, I just want to say good job to you and your staff for the advertisement and marketing promotion
• Y'all did a great job with that, and I think it brought some enthusiasm to the area, and so I want to
• tell you and your staff, y'all did a heck of a job.

Committee: All ALC-LOTTERY OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The committee reviewed two Arkansas Scholarship Lottery contracts and the lottery’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget, along with the monthly disclosure report for May 2026. The first contract was a new three-year advertising and marketing agreement with Cranford Company, running July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, for $19.29 million total, with two optional one-year extensions. Lottery officials said the contract followed an RFP with five bids, no disqualifications, and would cost about $1 million less than the prior contract. Members asked about the bid scoring formula and the weight given to price, and the item was reviewed after a motion and vote. The second contract was a three-year University of Arkansas sponsorship agreement through Learfield for $86,800 per year, or $260,400 total, with no extensions; members questioned a system-generated summary figure that incorrectly showed $1.8 million, and staff clarified that the contract itself did not contain that amount. This item was also reviewed without objection after a motion and vote. In the budget presentation, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery projected about $108.2 million in net proceeds to be transferred to the scholarship account for fiscal 2027. Officials highlighted expected savings of about $1 million each from the new gaming system/scratch ticket printing contracts and the new advertising contract, along with slight shifts in instant and draw ticket revenue forecasts. The committee did not take action on the budget beyond hearing the presentation. The monthly disclosure report showed May 2026 instant game sales were flat year over year, draw game sales were up 12.6%, and total revenue was up 2.2%, while net proceeds were down 8.2% year over year but up 2.5% versus budget for the month. Year to date, draw game sales were up nearly 11.5% and net proceeds were up about 6.4% to 6.5% year over year, with net proceeds ahead of budget by 9.5%. Members asked how unclaimed prizes are handled, and staff explained that scratch-off prizes must be claimed within 90 days and draw prizes within 180 days; unclaimed prizes remain in reserve during the year, then all but $1 million are transferred to the scholarship trust account at fiscal year end. The meeting ended with praise for the lottery’s marketing around a recent large winner and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Contracting services include strategic planning, traditional and digital media placement, creative asset
• down on the marketing and advertising and the general and administrative, we are doing a very good job
• Long, I just want to say good job to you and your staff for the advertisement and marketing promotion
• Y'all did a great job with that, and I think it did... ...brought some enthusiasm to the area, and so
• I want to tell you and your staff, y'all did a heck of a job.

Committee: All ALC-LOTTERY OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The committee met to review Arkansas Scholarship Lottery contracts and receive updates on operations and finances. Sharon Strong, the lottery’s executive director, presented a new three-year advertising and marketing contract with Cranford Company for $19.29 million, replacing an expiring contract and coming in below the prior three-year amount. Members asked about the RFP process, number of bids, and how cost is weighted in the award formula; the contract was reviewed and approved without objection after a motion and vote. The committee also reviewed a three-year Learfield sponsorship contract tied to University of Arkansas promotional events for $86,800 per year, with a corrected three-year total of $260,400; members questioned a system-generated summary figure that incorrectly showed a seven-year total, and staff clarified the contract itself was only for three years with no extensions. That item was also reviewed without objection. Strong then presented the fiscal 2027 budget, highlighting expected savings of about $1 million each from the new gaming system/scratch ticket contracts and the new advertising contract. The lottery projected slight shifts in instant and draw ticket revenue, corresponding prize payout changes, and net proceeds of about $108.2 million transferred to the scholarship account. In the monthly disclosure report for May 2026, she reported flat instant game sales, a 12.6% increase in draw game sales, and year-to-date net proceeds ahead of budget, with strong draw game performance attributed in part to Powerball. Members asked about unclaimed prizes, which remain in reserve during the year and are transferred at fiscal year-end to the scholarship trust account except for a $1 million reserve, and about how scholarship funds are distributed through the Division of Higher Education based on student rosters and class year awards. The committee also discussed the lottery’s financial statements, including revenue, prize payouts, operating expenses, trust account balances, and unclaimed prize balances. Staff explained that the lottery is self-sustaining and funded by lottery revenue, not taxpayer appropriations, and that the trust account balance is used to meet scholarship requests from higher education. The meeting ended with Senator Hill praising the lottery staff’s marketing around a recent large winner in Little Rock, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• presented by Senator West, addresses the modification of court orders based on parental child safety placement
• Senator Ioannoni moves that Senate Bill 1923, substituted, be recommended and certified for placement

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator West's bill about the modification of the court order based on parental and child safety placement
• Senator Ana hostsa moves that Senate Bill 1923 as substituted be recommended and certified for placement

Committee: Senate Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• licensed professional managers out there that don't work for management firms and are doing their jobs
• I see where you're going with it, but I think that that's their job, is to look at their budget and say
• Placement? Classman? We'll be... Eugene Clayson will be... Mark, what happened to you?
• Yes, Placement? Good handwriting, man. Thank you. Is that...
• Sorry, great job. Thank you. Any questions? No, we're good.

Bills: S0468 , S0822 , S1234 , S1260 , S1580 , S1706

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Keywords: animal cruelty, reporting, veterinary, protection, liability, regulation, community association, management certification, Florida Statutes, certified manager, association governance, building permits, inspections, offsite construction, local government, housing, property regulation, construction standards, state of emergency, emergency response

Transcript Highlights:

• That requires them to do a little bit better job, sometimes a real tough job of cash management to go
• And I think Senator Osgood did a very good job really trying to get clarity. ...sit down and think it
• And I think Senator Osgood did a very good job really trying to get clarity.
• I wouldn't have had some choices if I couldn't provide the transportation or if I didn't work two jobs
• But I'm choosing this one because maybe they did a better job in this particular area and this is what

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Summary: The committee first heard the proposed Pre-K-12 education budget for fiscal year 2025-26, totaling $34.7 billion. The chair highlighted major increases for the FEFP, including $29.6 billion for public schools and K-12 scholarships, a $984 million year-over-year increase, along with higher per-FTE funding, $4 billion for the Family Empowerment Scholarship, $431.4 million for VPK, funding for school safety, the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, school hardening, Jewish day school security, and an education enrollment stabilization fund. With no public comment, the committee adopted a motion for staff technical corrections and then approved the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee then considered SB 1402 on dropout retrieval programs. The bill expands eligibility so any individual who has withdrawn from high school may enroll in dropout retrieval services and clarifies how school grades are calculated for virtual instruction providers that offer those services. An amendment clarifying the grading calculation was adopted, and the committee reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee took up SPB 7030 on educational scholarship programs, a broad measure addressing school choice funding and administration. The bill would fund the Family Empowerment Scholarship as a separate categorical, expand the education stabilization fund, create fall and spring application windows, require a single scholarship application and more documentation, assign student IDs, standardize payment timing to monthly installments, require continued eligibility verification, and add Level 2 background checks for providers receiving state funds. Members raised questions about background-check enforcement, payment timing, data sharing, and the impact on homeschool and private-school families. Public testimony included support from school-choice advocates and concerns from private-school representatives about added regulatory burdens and deadlines. The committee adopted the bill as a committee bill and reported it favorably, with Senator Osgood voting no. Finally, the committee considered SB 508 on the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, which requires private schools to disclose in writing what accommodations, modifications, and services they will provide to students with existing plans such as IEPs, EEPs, 504 plans, or ELL plans before enrollment. An amendment was adopted to require public schools to consult with private schools about equitable services. Testimony was mixed: supporters said the bill would give parents needed information for informed choice, while private-school representatives said the language could be burdensome and vague. The committee reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• People can use them for job interviews.
• They could use them for job interviews.
• Is a state, if you're aware of, are they tracking, are we tracking job placements or certifications or
• Is a state, if you're aware of, are they tracking, are we tracking job placements or certifications or
• You reference millions of jobs. How many New Mexico jobs are we talking about?

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation from the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative in support of fully funding the rural library endowment with an additional $29.5 million. The presenters described rural libraries as essential community infrastructure that provide not only books and internet access, but also early childhood programs, adult education, workforce support, telehealth, disaster response, and civic meeting space. They argued that the endowment would provide stable annual support for staffing and operations, help sustain libraries in very small towns and tribal communities, and support new or developing libraries. Members asked about eligibility, county coverage, how funds are distributed, and whether the state tracks broader outcomes such as job placements or certifications; the presenters said the State Library administers the funds and that the initiative itself is a nonprofit capacity-building organization, not the fund manager. Some members raised concerns about whether an endowment is the best long-term model versus recurring annual appropriations, and about the need for better reporting and state-library involvement. The committee then heard from food bank leaders Jill Dixon and Katie Anderson about food security and its economic impact. They said New Mexico’s five food banks and more than 500 partner agencies serve all 33 counties, distribute over 45 million meals, and rely mostly on philanthropy, with some state and local support. They emphasized that SNAP is a major economic driver, supporting grocery access, jobs, and local spending, and that recent legislative growth funding helped food banks respond to a surge in demand during a SNAP disruption. They also highlighted food banks as community hubs that can connect people to health care, job training, and other services, including through clinic referrals and closed-loop systems. In response to questions, they said food access gaps remain in some rural areas, that clients can generally seek food at other distribution sites without barriers, and that longer-term solutions should include more grocery access, healthy corner stores, and stronger broadband and health care infrastructure. The final presentations came from the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce and the Artesia Chamber of Commerce. Gallup-McKinley described a shrinking workforce, youth outmigration, crime, health care shortages, malpractice costs, and gross receipts tax burdens as major barriers to rural economic growth, and urged action on workforce pipelines, housing, public safety, malpractice reform, and tax/regulatory changes. Artesia highlighted its murals, library, sports tradition, oil and gas, agriculture, federal training center, and refinery, while also noting workforce shortages, health care recruitment challenges, housing constraints, and the need for quality-of-life investments and more flexible regulation. The committee also briefly heard a bill presentation proposing a New Mexico-Ireland Trade Commission to promote bilateral trade and investment, especially in technology, agriculture, and energy sectors. No votes were taken because quorum was not reached, and the endorsement item was not acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it makes our job a little bit more difficult than normal.
• So it makes our job a little bit more difficult than normal.
• It is often a complicated and compounding series of events that can include health crises, job loss,
• But it's kind of our job to get our arms around those.
• And if, like I said, if they're not enrolled currently, part of our job is to get them enrolled.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 met to hear an oversight discussion focused on homelessness, including the state of homelessness in California, state data systems, and the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HAP) program. In opening remarks, the chair emphasized accountability and the need to focus on families and people at the bottom rung, while the vice chair argued that homelessness and affordability problems stem from policy choices and the state should give counties more flexibility rather than top-down mandates. The committee also announced that the one scheduled vote would be postponed and public comment would be taken later. Dr. Ryan Finnegan of UC Berkeley’s Turner Center presented recent homelessness data, saying California’s homelessness remains high at about 187,000 people in the 2024 point-in-time count, with most still unsheltered, though the unsheltered share has declined somewhat. He explained differences between point-in-time counts and the state’s Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS), noted progress in shelter, permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and interim housing capacity, and highlighted declines in youth and veteran homelessness. He also described persistent racial disparities, the large number of chronically homeless people, and risks from federal changes and possible reductions to programs such as Emergency Housing Vouchers and Continuum of Care funding. Members questioned the causes of recent trends, the role of Housing First, Proposition 47, Martin v. Boise, and how funding streams such as HAP and CalAIM are layered together. The California Interagency Council on Homelessness then outlined its data systems and AB 799 implementation. Staff explained that HDIS aggregates HMIS data from all 44 continuums of care and is used to measure outcomes, disparities, and program effectiveness statewide. They said HAP 4 was cost-effective under the State Auditor’s methodology, and that new AB 799 dashboards will provide more public-facing fiscal and outcome reporting by June 2027. Members asked whether the system can better distinguish which interventions work, how self-sufficiency will be measured, how fraud is detected, and whether the council can meet the auditor’s concerns on time. Cal ICH said it has met prior statutory deadlines, that program outcome data already exist, and that fiscal reporting will be built through a web-based tool and aligned with existing departmental reporting systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• jobs—and so what this...
• jobs—and so what this...
• jobs—and so what this...
• First, job promises were made, but they can't actually say how many jobs the state got.
• I sure that's my job. Mr.

Bills: HF1277 , HF1006

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: data centers, tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, economic development, employment growth, property tax, abatement, land bank, redevelopment, political subdivision, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Coach Tom Hart and team members in individual placement were Jake Frenchennini, gold medal, first place
• Team members and individual placement were Marie Mike Sarantina, gold, seventh place in the nation; Tommy

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House convened with the South Shore Technical School leading the Pledge of Allegiance, and members recognized the school’s FFA teams for national achievements in nursery landscape and floral career development events. The chamber also introduced guests and Representative Sweezy before turning to scheduled business. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling recommended four House bills for consideration: H.2799 on protecting local retirees, H.3008 on non-continuous farmland, H.3306 establishing Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day, and H.3424 enhancing cooperative purchasing opportunities for cities and towns. The House suspended Rule 7A, advanced those bills to a third reading, and then approved H.4249, as amended, relative to vital statistics, for reenactment. The House then passed several engrossed bills to be enacted, including S.1830 authorizing Brookfield to continue employing Herbert A. Chafee II, H.3388 designating September 22 as Military Service Members and Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day, H.4135 establishing an appointed clerk position in Allington, and H.4170 addressing a vacancy in the Ward 7 councillor office in Malabur. The House adopted an order to reconvene the next day at 11 a.m. and then adjourned to meet Thursday at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bettencourt moves that the committee's substitute to Senate Bill 2035 be recognized. certified for placement
• Senator Bettencourt moves that the committee sub to Senate Bill 31 be recommended and certified for placement

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These companies are powerful economic engines creating local jobs, drawing tourism. dollars and earning
• The bootmaking industry significantly supports the local. as well as the state economy by providing jobs
• I'm here today to testify. in strong support of SCR 19 which authorizes the placement of the Texas life

Bills: SB2053 , SCR19 , SCR23 , SCR29

Committee: Senate Administration

Keywords: Governor's Medal of Service, Texas award, state honor, public service recognition, Governor's office, Governor's award, Texas Government Code Chapter 3108, ceremonial award, honorary medal, state service award, local government retirees, private sector contributions, Texas Legislature recognition, gift acceptance, donations, grant funding, executive recognition, Texas Life Monument, human life, preservation

Transcript Highlights:

• These companies are powerful economic engines creating local jobs, drawing tourism dollars, and earning
• The bootmaking industry significantly supports the local as well as the state economy by providing jobs
• I'm here today to testify in strong support of SCR 19, which authorizes the placement of the Texas Life

Committee: Senate Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• I just kind of wanted to touch on a few other things, and I think Chris and John did phenomenal jobs
• You did a great job. Mary, are there other Marys in the room?
• </c> don't have an appropriate placement don't have an appropriate placement outside<02:59:43.200><c>
• But I also learned the hard way that looking for work was a full-time job as a cancer patient.
• Good job. All right, Senate Bill 75. Cross that one off the list like we just did that one.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And caregivers who love what they do, but too many are being forced to consider leaving the job that
• I personally have side jobs, which equal nine jobs on the side, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• I basically spend all of my... ...nine jobs on the side, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• covering all of the May Revision items, with the exception of IST solutions and the independent placement
• On behalf of Ochen, we really appreciate the perspective on the health tax job proposal.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what matters is the placement of that statue, where that statue is located.
• what<00:05:15.200><c> matters</c><00:05:16.120><c> is</c><00:05:16.360><c> the</c><00:05:16.480><c> placement
• </c><00:05:17.160><c> of</c><00:05:17.440><c> that</c> what matters is the placement of that what matters
• is the placement of that statue,<00:05:18.400><c> where</c><00:05:18.840><c> that</c><00:05:19.160><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the easiest job on the committee. Thank you.
• But uh if a student transfers, they're not guaranteed placement next year.
• student transfers, they're<00:37:53.920><c> not</c><00:37:54.160><c> guaranteed</c><00:37:54.960><c> placement
• </c><00:37:55.520><c> next</c> they're not guaranteed placement next they're not guaranteed placement
• they need that capacity the next year, I don't want a student that's a transfer in to be guaranteed placement

Committee: Joint Education

Keywords: Education - Room 216, January 6, 2026; 12:45 PM, 925, all