Transcript Highlights:

• EMS and volunteer firefighters.
• and keep those volunteers.
• So, And keep those volunteers.
• So I volunteer. I go through the church. I volunteer. I go through the training.
• I've been in the volunteer fire service. I've been in the volunteer fire service 35, 40 years.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• persistence and ongoing volunteer efforts, and to all of the volunteers.
• MONT IN MY DISTRICT FOR HER VOLUNTEER PERSISTENCE AND ONGOING VOLUNTEER EFFORTS AND TO ALL OF THE VOLLER
• We’ve got a group of volunteers that do so much.
• He is a dedicated volunteer, mobilizing the powers of many other volunteers to support the...
• I would encourage anyone interested in doing volunteer... I work to volunteer with the Red Cross.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the prior journal and took up motions and resolutions. Senator Gianaris moved to reconsider and restore Senate Print 3179A, an Environmental Conservation Law bill, to the third reading calendar, and amendments were also received on Senate Print 8491. The chamber then considered and adopted Resolution 1716, designating March 2026 as Greek History Month in New York, with remarks from several senators about Greek heritage, Greek independence, immigration, and the contributions of Greek Americans. The Senate also adopted Resolution 1607, proclaiming March 2026 as American Red Cross Month, with extensive testimony praising Red Cross disaster relief, blood donation, preparedness work, and volunteers; several senators highlighted local volunteers and urged greater support for the organization, including budget resources. The Senate welcomed guests, including Red Cross representatives and students from Brooklyn, and later opened the resolutions for co-sponsorship. The chamber then moved through the calendar and passed multiple bills, including measures affecting mental hygiene, elder law, penal law, public authorities, labor, public service, correction, education, election law, alcoholic beverage control, and state administrative procedure. Most bills passed by wide margins, though some drew recorded opposition, including the public authorities bill and several election, public service, and correction measures. Senator Ramos explained her support for the labor bill as a workplace dignity and anti-bullying measure, and Senator Ryan explained his support for the small-business regulatory website bill as a way to simplify access to agency rules and guidance. Senator Skoufis’s Public Health Law bill was also recalled from the Assembly, restored to the third reading calendar, and amended. The Senate then adjourned until Thursday, March 12 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had volunteers literally. rescuing people. I know these volunteers.
• We will always need volunteers, and we will always want volunteers.
• But an organized volunteer and an organized volunteer group is a powerful source, ones that we want to
• I don't understand the purpose of registering volunteers because if we'd had to register volunteers,
• There has to be a certain window of time where volunteers can do what volunteers do.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Volunteers, of course, pay no contributions to the plan as they're volunteers.
• responder; it means a volunteer firefighter or volunteer emergency responder.
• And then volunteer firefighter means an individual who volunteers as a firefighter.
• agency, defined as volunteer fire departments or volunteer EMS.
• Eligible volunteer agencies, as I talked about before, would be volunteer fire departments and volunteer

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee was called to order, a quorum was established, and the minutes from the prior meeting were approved. The first major presentation came from Montana Public Employees Retirement System executive director William Hollahan, who gave an overview of Montana’s Volunteer Firefighters’ Compensation Act plan. He explained that the plan covers volunteer firefighters in unincorporated areas, is funded by 5% of state fire insurance premium taxes, and currently serves 228 departments with about 2,936 active members and 1,242 retirees. He described eligibility rules, annual training and reporting requirements, benefit levels for partial and full pensions, disability, death, medical, and funeral benefits, and said the plan is actuarially sound with roughly $60 million in assets and a funded ratio slightly above 100%. Committee members asked about prior-service credit, whether EMS personnel are included, the effect on recruitment and retention, and whether expanding coverage would require a funding analysis; Hollahan said prior service is not credited, EMS is not currently included, and any expansion would need financial review. Tim Walleen of Workforce Safety and Insurance then presented a draft North Dakota workers’ compensation solution for volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS personnel. He explained that volunteer responders are already covered by workers’ comp for medical and wage-loss benefits, but the proposal would set a minimum annual wage of $30,000 for calculating wage-loss benefits for qualifying volunteers, with the benefit paid at two-thirds of that amount. Representative Porter suggested tying the volunteer definition to existing code rather than a fixed dollar amount, and Walleen agreed. Questions focused on whether search and rescue or other volunteer emergency services could be included, whether departments would face new paperwork, and whether volunteer organizations can already elect coverage; Walleen said there would be no additional paperwork and that volunteer coverage is already available. The committee also heard from volunteer fire service representatives and the state fire marshal. An Oakes-area firefighter, Mr. Olson, testified that small departments are struggling with retention, communication, and administrative burdens, especially around separate bookkeeping and funding rules for donated or fundraising money, and he said departments need clearer guidance from the state. State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark introduced himself and outlined a broader effort to improve education, support, and coordination for fire departments, including a planned 10% audit of certificates of existence beginning in 2027, more outreach through his office, and better assistance with training, reporting, and grant access. He said his office is authorized under current law to provide these services, but the role has been vague and underused. Finally, Arnagard Rural Fire District Chief Rick Schreiber testified in favor of new recruitment and retention ideas, including retirement-style benefits, health insurance, tax incentives, scholarships, grants, and more remote or regional training. He said volunteer departments are losing members, that local tax and donation funds are already stretched, and that any new retirement or incentive program should be sustainable and likely involve a mix of state and local support.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> volunteer instead of a paid. volunteer instead of a paid.
• </c> bill for our volunteer fire departments. bill for our volunteer fire departments.
• I'm a volunteer. My fire career is totally volunteer. I deal with banks every day.
• </c> volunteer. I deal with banks every day. volunteer. I deal with banks every day.
• </c><00:31:10.559><c> fire</c> the amount of money volunteer fire the amount of money volunteer fire

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> currently have 52 active volunteers. currently have 52 active volunteers.
• Go ahead. >> Our current volunteer presence, we have 52 volunteers with 52 cases assigned. 52 volunteers
• and recruit volunteers.
• </c> volunteers and recruit volunteers. volunteers and recruit volunteers.
• </c> volunteers, but past employees. volunteers, but past employees.

Bills: HF2825

Keywords: expungement, criminal justice, background check, security industry, private detective, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our volunteers are amazing and they allow us to do what we do.
• Our volunteers are amazing and they allow us to do what we do.
• Our volunteers are amazing and they allow us to do what we do.
• Our volunteers are amazing and they allow us to do what we do.
• Our volunteers are amazing and they allow us to do what we do.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• No volunteer pays any money into it; no volunteer fire department pays money into it.
• It's more prevalent in the volunteer plan because, you know, somebody starts volunteering at, say, 35
• I have a soft spot in my heart for volunteer firefighters because my father started the volunteer fire
• We are not getting the volunteers we need, and if we don't train those kids to volunteer, we're not getting
• Volunteered or were an active volunteer last year or years prior.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, Madam Speaker, volunteers and youth cadets Volunteers and youth, it says youth cadets.
• volunteers, to have access to Allows volunteers, untrained volunteers, to have access to data, including
• I think without this particular amendment, these volunteers wouldn't be volunteers.
• , they don't want to volunteer.
• the volunteers have access.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6137, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Summary: The House took up Second Substitute Senate Bill 5974, a bill modernizing and strengthening laws concerning sheriffs, police chiefs, volunteers, youth cadets, and related law enforcement roles. Members first considered a striking amendment and then a series of floor amendments, with debate repeatedly focusing on sheriffs as elected constitutional officers, the scope of state authority over local law enforcement, and whether the bill would create unfunded mandates or practical problems for counties. Supporters of the bill and many amendments argued for clarifying language, local flexibility, and state payment for new requirements; opponents generally warned the bill would weaken elected sheriffs, impose costs on counties, or overreach into local control. Amendment 2343, which would have added intent language emphasizing that sheriffs are directly accountable to the electorate, was debated at length and defeated on a roll call vote, 41 yeas to 56 nays. Amendment 2373, shifting background-check costs to the state through the Washington State Patrol, was also defeated, 44 yeas to 53 nays. Amendment 2374, narrowing provisions affecting private security and specially commissioned officers, failed 41 to 56. Amendment 2369, clarifying rules for volunteers and youth cadets, failed 41 to 56. Amendment 2371, limiting surveillance-related provisions to situations requiring a warrant, failed 42 to 55. Amendment 2372, clarifying that only non-public information would be restricted from disclosure, also failed 41 to 56. Later, Amendment 2370, which would have aligned the bill’s definition of volunteer law enforcement officers with existing statute, was defeated 42 to 55. Finally, Amendment 2352, which would have exempted current sheriffs from the bill’s new decertification rules, was debated as a protection against changing the rules midstream but was opposed on the grounds that the bill already grandfathered in the one sheriff who did not meet the new experience requirement; the amendment’s vote was not completed in the excerpt provided. The transcript also begins with the Speaker signing several bills, including Substitute House Bill 1570 and Substitute Senate Bill 6248.

Transcript Highlights:

• volunteers, to have access to Allows volunteers, untrained volunteers, to have access to data, including
• And many volunteers.
• I think without this particular amendment, these volunteers wouldn't be volunteers.
• , they don't want to volunteer.
• sure the volunteers have access.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB5831, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002, HB2720, HB2073, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6137, SB6244, SB5420, SB5868, SB6044, SB6132, SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a volunteer firefighter. And they're not paid, you know, that's volunteer.
• who might volunteer once in six months and a volunteer who might go out every week?
• who might volunteer once in six months and a volunteer who might go out every week?
• who might volunteer once in six months and a volunteer who might go out every week?
• who might volunteer what's the volunteer who might volunteer once<01:15:47.719><c> uh</c><01:15:47.800

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, thank you also, Marilyn, for volunteering, continuing to volunteer, and answering our questions
• Okay, thank you also, Marilyn, for volunteering, continuing to volunteer, and answering our questions
• Also, thank you for volunteering and continuing to volunteer and answering our questions.
• Also, thank you for volunteering and continuing to volunteer and answering our questions.
• </c><00:44:25.920><c> and</c> for all those willing to volunteer and for all those willing to volunteer

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing began with SB 59 on prescription drugs, which drew extensive testimony from insurers, pharmacies, patient advocates, and health organizations. Supporters argued the bill would address PBM practices such as spread pricing, unclear reimbursement, and patient steering, and would help independent pharmacies and lower patient costs by passing rebates through to consumers. Opponents from health plans and PBM-related groups raised concerns, while Walgreens supported the measure and suggested amendments to establish a reimbursement floor. After questions, the committee accepted the Hawaii Pharmacist Association’s proposed amendments, added technical changes and a defective date of December 31, 2050, and voted to pass SB 59 with amendments. The remainder of the hearing focused on a series of nominations and reappointments to health, aging, disability, mental health, juvenile justice, and advisory boards. Nominees and agency representatives generally described their backgrounds and interest in serving, with support testimony emphasizing experience, continuity, and the value of volunteer service. Several nominees highlighted issues such as mental health access, substance abuse treatment, elder services, language access, disability access, and rehabilitation services. The Department of Health, SHPDA, DHS, and other organizations largely testified in support of the nominees. No votes were taken on the nominations during the transcript excerpt, and the chair repeatedly thanked the nominees for their service and testimony. The hearing also included brief procedural remarks about time limits, Zoom testimony, and a possible reconvening date in case of technical difficulties.

Transcript Highlights:

• About 80% of our state is covered by volunteer firefighters.
• This would offer a cancer death benefit to our volunteer firefighters.
• fire chiefs tell me he had more pieces of equipment than he had volunteers.
• So he didn't have enough volunteers to drive.
• We just... these folks, volunteers, it's rain, snow, sleet; you call... volunteers.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the purposes of this bill, this is so they can volunteer to assist the poll workers.
• For the purposes of this bill, this is so they can volunteer to assist the poll workers.
• For the purposes of this bill, this is so they can volunteer to assist the poll workers.
• For the purposes of this bill, this is so they can volunteer to assist the poll workers.
• So this bypasses that as a volunteer and lets them work on the weekends as a poll worker volunteer.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several education-related measures. CS/SB 1062 on speech and debate, sponsored by Senator Brodeur, was amended with a delete-all and rewritten to create a Speech and Debate Hall of Fame, designate Florida Speech and Debate Week, authorize a teacher endorsement and FLVS institute, direct statewide coursework and credentials, and require annual district reporting. Supporters, including parents, the Florida Debate Initiative, and school representatives, praised the bill’s funding and statewide expansion of debate opportunities. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard and reported favorably SB 1718 on educator preparation and certification, which aims to reduce administrative delays for initial certification and reinstatement while maintaining standards; an Orange County school administrator suggested adding language to allow educators to bank professional learning hours. SB 1646 on educational facilities was presented as revising the funding formula and priorities for school capital projects, with added attention to safety, maintenance, and planning, and it was reported favorably. CS/SB 564 on student volunteers at polling locations was amended to clarify that pre-registered or registered high school students may volunteer at polling places and count the hours toward graduation or postsecondary financial aid; election officials and civic groups supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 1340 on coordinated screening and progress monitoring was also reported favorably. It requires school districts to screen students for characteristics of dyslexia and dyscalculia, place identified students on support plans, and use evidence-based interventions, with the sponsor emphasizing early identification and intervention. The committee then recommended confirmation of Laila Collins to the State Board of Education, and the meeting concluded after a birthday recognition and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• From the people cooking food out back to the volunteers, to the volunteers who came and searched in those
• Is that one of your volunteers?
• It ain't going to the volunteers, you know? I mean, well, my God. I've got volunteers.
• Lastly, volunteer efforts.
• I'm a flood volunteer who experienced the volunteer disconnection many have noted.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness and flooding hearing opened with quorum calls, prayer, testimony time limits, and remarks from legislative leaders emphasizing decorum, respect, and the goal of learning from the July 4 flood to prevent future loss of life. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows said the special session and hearings were intended to hear directly from local officials and residents, and that the state would pursue immediate and longer-term legislation and continue working beyond the current session. The committee then heard invited testimony from Kerr County, Kerrville, Kendall County, Real County, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, followed by member questions. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and emergency management coordinator William B. Thomas described the flood as a sudden, unprecedented event that overwhelmed local systems before many officials or residents understood the danger. They said the county received multiple National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts, but the rain fell in remote upstream areas with limited gauges, and the flood rose too quickly for normal response. They detailed the emergency response, including dispatchers handling heavy call volumes, deputies and volunteer firefighters conducting rescues, and state and federal partners assisting. County officials said 108 people died, including 37 children, and two remained missing. They called for better real-time flood detection, stronger rural emergency management resources, improved broadband and cell coverage, and more funding for swift-water rescue and warning systems. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and City Manager Dalton Rice said the city had floodplain rules, emergency plans, and prior preparedness efforts, but the event exposed gaps in communications and regional warning capacity. They urged the Legislature to fund a flood warning system, whether sirens, automated alerts, or a hybrid, and asked for support for predictive weather modeling, broadband expansion, a hazard mitigation fund, and disaster recovery resources. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority said it had long funded gauges and pursued flood-warning and mitigation projects, including a new software-based flood prediction system and possible retention dams, and planned to dedicate reserve funds to feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements. Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said his county’s emergency action plan and early alerts helped prevent deaths there, and he recommended easier access to alerting tools, a river-wide warning system, simpler grant applications, and regional coordination. Real County Judge Bella Rubio said rural counties face major challenges because of limited cell service, broadband, staffing, and funding, especially for camps and visitors along the Frio and Nueces rivers, and argued that reliable alert systems should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury. Members asked about the timeline of the flood, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and funding, and several witnesses said the key lessons were better communications, better warning systems, and more investment in rural flood mitigation and emergency response.

Transcript Highlights:

• It ain't going to the volunteers, you know? I mean, well, I've got volunteers.
• We're by the volunteers.
• Lastly, volunteer efforts.
• I'm a flood volunteer.
• I'm a flood volunteer who experienced the volunteer disconnection many have noted.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness hearing convened in Kerrville with quorum, public testimony limited to three minutes and invited testimony to 10 minutes. Leaders from both chambers, along with the lieutenant governor and speaker, framed the hearing as an unprecedented joint effort focused on learning from the July 4 flood, honoring victims, and identifying actions to reduce future loss of life. The committee also heard opening remarks about decorum, logistics, and the intent to continue work in future sessions. The first panel included Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, Emergency Management Coordinator William B. Thomas IV, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr., Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, Upper Guadalupe River Authority representative William Rector, Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk, and Real County Judge Bella Rubio. They described the flood as sudden and catastrophic, with Kerr County reporting 108 deaths and two missing. Local officials emphasized that they received no timely warning of the scale of the event, that responders and volunteers acted heroically under extreme conditions, and that communications, cell coverage, and rural emergency resources were strained. Several witnesses said the county’s existing alert systems were limited by geography, sparse broadband, and the speed of the flood. Testimony focused on possible improvements, including real-time flood gauges and predictive monitoring, stronger rural emergency management staffing and training, better interoperability and alerting tools such as IPAWS, CodeRED, WENS, and sirens, and expanded broadband and radio coverage. Kerrville asked for a flood warning system before next summer and state help for stormwater, floodplain, and disaster recovery funding. UGRA described its past and current flood-warning and mitigation efforts, including gauge funding, a new software-based flood prediction project, and consideration of additional retention dams. Kendall and Real counties highlighted successful or needed alerting and evacuation practices, while also stressing the difficulty of funding and maintaining such systems in small rural counties. Members asked detailed questions about the timeline of the flood response, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and whether regional consolidation or additional infrastructure could improve future preparedness.

Transcript Highlights:

• to talk into being a volunteer.
• Is that one of your volunteers?
• I've got volunteers.
• Lastly, volunteer efforts.
• I'm a flood volunteer who experienced the volunteer disconnection many have noted.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Comfort volunteer.
• Road and bridge budget, extra funding for local volunteer fire departments and volunteer EMS. and especially
• Mountain Home Volunteer Fire Department asks KCSO to tone out Ingram Volunteer Fire.
• Is that one of your volunteers? As I heard, it was a volunteer fire department siren.
• I turned it down to help as a volunteer.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> on breed or weight preventing volunteers on breed or weight preventing volunteers from<00:02:27.400
• Our volunteers are amazing, and they allow us to do what we do.
• </c><00:04:42.639><c> are</c> period some of those volunteers are period some of those volunteers are
• </c> allow us to do what we do our volunteers allow us to do what we do our volunteers host<00:05:01.880
• </c><00:05:07.720><c> who</c> years we've had potential volunteers who years we've had potential volunteers

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our supervision and support is different than it was when we had a volunteer, a large pool of volunteers
• </c><00:31:15.559><c> a</c> than it was when we had volunteer a than it was when we had volunteer a large
• I understand that the volunteers are now back.
• I understand that the volunteers are now back.
• I understand that the volunteers are now back.

Keywords: 1183, house