Transcript Highlights:

• <00:34:29.639> ownership argued that modern ownership argued that modern ownership Arrangements
• I held the master mariner’s license of unlimited tonnage, and I was a Jones Act mariner.
• I’m here to speak in opposition to H.R. 10. master Mariners license of unim tunage master Mariners license
• Hampshire resident and dual licensed Hampshire resident and dual licensed Mariner Mariner Mariner
• “More about the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we've licensed over 6,000 businesses, including restaurants and others food providers.
• This is a program that is self-funded through those licensing and registration fees.
• This is a program that is self-funded through those licensing and registration fees.
• This is an account that has other funds, again, some licensing fees.
• This is an account that has other funds, again, some licensing fees.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division III work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health Services budget. Department staff said Public Health has a relatively small budget compared with other DHHS divisions, is supported mostly by federal and other non-General funds, and contains nearly 100 accounting units and more than 50 federal grants. They emphasized that the governor’s budget did not include significant cuts, but that federal funding uncertainty and the winding down of pandemic-era resources were major factors affecting the division. The division also explained that some apparent budget growth reflects reorganizations, including moving the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and some programs from other DHHS divisions into Public Health. The presentation described Public Health’s mission as serving the entire state through food and water safety, disease surveillance, emergency response, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, WIC, community health center support, and public health data collection. Members asked about bird flu, and staff explained that human-health response would involve Public Health’s lab, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness units, while animal-health issues are handled with the Department of Agriculture; they also noted ongoing milk testing requested by FDA and USDA. The division said its organizational structure includes bureaus for Family Health and Nutrition, Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Protection, Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Wellness, Statistics and Informatics, and Public Health Laboratories, with about a 15% vacancy rate. Committee members questioned whether the division’s budget and staffing had really grown since pre-COVID, and staff responded that full-time authorized staffing is about the same as in 2018, with the increase largely due to federal pandemic funding that has since receded and to program transfers between divisions. They said Public Health’s General Fund share is about $24 million out of roughly $1.1 billion in DHHS General Fund spending, or about 2.2% of the department total. Members also asked about the 3,000-position cap and unfunded positions; staff explained that the cap remains in chapter law through June 30, 2025, that 394 positions were unfunded in the governor’s budget, and that the division expects flexibility to move money from personnel lines and fill unfunded positions to manage changing needs. No votes or formal actions were taken in this portion of the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Persons-Mulicka: The bill modernizes various statutes to provide a more efficient hearing process as
• years and there are archaic provisions and from a processing standpoint we need to bring it into the modern
• This is House Bill 841 and this is the bill that will remove the yellow decal from Florida license tags
• Tax Collector in support of House Bill 841 which will eliminate the registration decal for Florida license
• It is bipartisan to make sure to reflect a shared commitment to modernize government and improving service

Transcript Highlights:

• SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE FOR CTE FUNDING AS WELL AS COMPETITIVE GRANT FOR EQUIPMENT, UPGRADE AND MODERNIZATION
• WE DID RECEIVE A CAPITALIZATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT. $660,000 TO EXPAND AND MODERNIZE OUR MARINE
• BUT FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR ONE OF -- I GUESS PROUD MOMENTS WAS FOR OUR LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSING
• CLASS AA FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVING CLASS A. $3,100 COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVING CLASS B $2,600 LICENSED
• STATE FUNDING IS ALSO ALLOWING US TO INVEST IN CUTTING EDGE EQUIPMENT AND MODERNIZE FACILITIES ENSURING

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2633 gives us the modern and voter-driven tools we need to attract new businesses, create
• However, the demands of my office is that modern airline logistics, particularly related to food and
• I've been a licensed... I have been a realtor in Arizona for over 30 years.
• I have been a licensed realtor for 45 years, and I'm also an ordained minister.
• Yourselves in a civil suit beyond defending yourselves related to your licensing? No.

Bills: SB2101, SB2334, SB2633, SB2637, SB2713, SB2781, SB2782, SB3059, HB1130, HB256, HCR19

Keywords: minors, sexually explicit materials, public libraries, age verification, civil penalties, library collection review, alcohol storage, airline permits, beverage regulations, airport, commercial flights, alcoholic beverages, local option election, zoning regulations, municipality control, land use, state law, social media, bot accounts, misinformation

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexicans deserve a reliable, modernized grid that not only meets our current energy demands, but
• We do agree electric grid modernization is a priority.
• We know that we have an incredible opportunity here in the state of New Mexico to, uh, to modernize,
• I carried a New Mexico driver's license for 20 years, even though I didn't live in New Mexico.
• This is math, OK, at least modern math. Although I still use a pencil and paper as mold, but uh.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have some updated regulation of health maintenance organizations to align with modern insurance
• I guess my only question is, is MDH prepared to take over the licensing for this?
• This would sort of put forward the process by which they would be able to provide those licenses.
• <01:10:37.440> license<01:10:38.239> I able to provide those license license I able
• to provide those license license I know<01:10:38.520> that<01:10:38.679> mdh<01:10:39.280

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 3718 modernizes the regulatory framework of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine.
• It modernizes licensing by updating application and credentialing requirements for veterinarians and
• It is adding a licensed veterinarian, technician, to the board because we've expanded what those people
• It is adding a licensed Green.
• It is adding a licensed veterinarian,<00:18:38.840> uh,<00:18:38.960> technician,<00:18

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met under call, established a quorum, and adopted the printed committee reports, except those relating to Senate Concurrent Resolution 6. It then gave second reading to Senate File 4282 and several House files, and later handled motions including re-referring Senate File 4634 from Jobs and Economic Development to Taxes. The chamber also designated special orders for immediate consideration. On special order, Senate File 4339, relating to the excavation notice system and utility locating, was presented as a safe-digging measure requiring electronic positive responses from utility operators and updated contact information for locators. The bill was read a third time and passed 64-0. The Senate then took up House File 3718, which modernizes the Board of Veterinary Medicine, updates definitions and licensing rules, expands scope of practice and telemedicine provisions, changes board composition, and adds a background check requirement; after questions from Senator Green about the bill’s sponsor, background checks, and board size, it passed 52-13. The Senate next considered Senate File 4455, concerning the Lake City and Red Wing port authorities. An A2 amendment was adopted to address municipal public utilities commission voter ratification language, and the bill as amended passed 65-0. The session ended with announcements, including a lighthearted note about “Steak on a Stick Eve,” excusing Senators Webber and Miller, and adjournment until Thursday, April 16 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second part of the bill modernizes Florida's address confidentiality program.
• Specifically, the legislation proposes three key reforms: mobility for CPAs licensed in other states
• to serve clients in Florida without having to obtain a Florida CPA license.
• Other states without getting a license to that state.
• standing in another state by quickly allowing them to become licensed in Florida.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• investments also modernized These investments also modernized login.mn,<00:30:14.360> the<00:
• > to rapidly modernized infrastructure to rapidly modernized infrastructure to enhance<00:31:07.920
• , the Technology Modernization Lastly, the Technology Modernization Fund,<00:32:29.240> a<00:32
• Technology modernization supports modernizations of high-impact systems such as agency licensing platforms
• jumping-off point to our modernization jumping-off point to our modernization and<00:37:05.560><

Bills: HF1338

Keywords: Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, state oversight, government accountability, fraud, waste, abuse, audit, investigation, subpoena, whistleblower, public integrity, transparency, state agencies, executive branch, public funds, taxpayer funds, law enforcement oversight, public safety programs, advisory council

Transcript Highlights:

• rededication of the courthouse exactly the way it looked on the exterior, but the interior was modernized
• Near term, we’re projecting a 17% increase in license costs to maintain the Poison Control Network.
• Maybe they want driver’s license off. Give them the driver’s license off.
• Give them the driver’s license. Give them the driver’s license. Give them the driver’s license.
• Give them the driver’s license. We’re looking for a taker. I’ll defer to the comptroller.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to say on the amendment, the hemp retailers do not want a cannabis license.
• It doesn't rise to the level of them being a, quote, professionally licensed shop because maybe a very
• Issuing less than two dozen hemp licenses doesn't reflect the true demand for these products here in
• The legislation draws a clear distinction between traditional beverages like coffee and tea and modern
• The legislation draws a clear distinction between traditional beverages like coffee and tea and modern

Bills: HB305, HB395, HB341

Keywords: hemp, marijuana, THC regulations, cannabis products, adult-use industry, public health, youth protection, child support, reunification, Department of Services for Children, family court, liability

Summary: The committee met in late June with Senators Hansen, Buckson, Siegfried, Townsend, and Huxable present, and first approved the meeting minutes by voice vote. The opening bill, HB 341, would limit DFS from filing child support in foster care cases unless doing so would not hinder reunification; Children’s Department staff said the department has already decided to stop filing in all such cases, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $140,000 annually. Public testimony from the League of Women Voters supported the bill as a compassionate measure to help families reunite. The committee then heard HB 446/related anaphylaxis legislation for colleges and universities, which would allow institutions to stock and use intranasal epinephrine alongside auto-injectors and update training and reporting requirements. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America supported the measure, emphasizing the need for needle-free options and faster treatment of anaphylaxis. The committee also took up HS1 for HB 356 on PFAS, which would ban firefighting foam containing PFAS beginning in 2028, require disclosure if PPE contains PFAS, and address recalls; DNREC and the fire service supported it, saying most departments have already transitioned away from PFAS foam. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 305, a diabetes wellness pilot program that would use continuous glucose monitoring, app-based care coordination, lab testing, and DHIN data analysis to shift care toward prevention and remission. Sponsor Senator Siegfried described the bill as a response to Delaware’s high diabetes costs and prevalence, and the Medical Society of Delaware supported it as a proactive model. The committee also discussed HB 395, which would regulate intoxicating hemp-derived products and synthetic cannabinoids by classifying products over a THC threshold as marijuana and creating penalties for unlicensed sales; the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner supported the bill, while hemp industry representatives and Senator Hoffner warned it could harm legitimate hemp retailers and access to hemp products. The final item, HS1 for HB 332, would ban sales and marketing of kratom products to those under 21 and direct the state to study testing and regulation of kratom and synthetic variants. Supporters, including the Delaware Healthcare Association and several recovery advocates, said age-gating is a reasonable first step and that synthetic products are the main concern; opponents and some senators argued the bill should go further and fully ban kratom or better distinguish synthetic products from natural leaf kratom. No formal roll-call votes were taken on the substantive bills during the transcript, and the meeting adjourned after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So not licensed, not kinship placements that became licensed foster parents.
• I'm a registered and licensed dietitian.
• And so what we would need to do is, is establish a provider type of a licensed dietitian.
• Sorry. 249 licensed dietitians.
• So, sorry, correction, over 1000 CCP providers and 249 licensed dietitians, OK.

Bills: HB 26, HB 140, HB 141, HB 142, HB 215

Keywords: Medicaid, nutrition support, maternal health, chronic conditions, pilot program, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, child abuse investigations, child neglect, child exploitation, advisory committee, Family and Protective Services Council, council abolition, foster care, due process, investigative procedures, child welfare, parental rights, family preservation services

Transcript Highlights:

• What individual attorneys do is regulated through actions on somebody's license.
• Sanctions, they're somebody's license.
• private equity I believe my law license private equity I believe my law license could<01:51:02.000
• private equity my I believe my license private equity my I believe my license would<01:52:29.520
• Tamalei license plate to run to >> Okay.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And just for transparency, the licenses in Maine and the licenses in Massachusetts, and I believe in
• in Maine and transparency the licenses in Maine and the<01:34:32.440> licenses<01:34:33.040><
• <01:35:02.239> and buy a license you own that license and buy a license you own that license
• They go ahead, I think they try to touch each license physically once a year to check on the license
• and people were getting licenses and people were getting licenses emergency<03:27:21.600> licenses

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed House Bill 1, focusing on the legislative branch budget, especially the Senate and House lines. Members discussed that the Senate’s fiscal year 2025 adjusted authorized amount was higher than 2024 actual spending, largely due to personnel, benefits, and travel, and one member proposed a $500,000 annual cut. Staff explained that any reduction would need to be allocated across specific line items such as personnel, benefits, and travel, and noted that the Senate budget is entirely General Funds. After discussion of how the adjusted authorized figures were calculated and why the branch no longer staffs some joint committees as it once did, the committee moved on without taking a vote on that section. The committee then heard a detailed presentation from the New Hampshire Retirement System. NHRS officials described their statutory administrative budget, which is funded through the retirement trust rather than the General Fund, and said the FY 2026-2027 increase is driven by IT modernization, cybersecurity, a new strategic plan, and additional staff positions. They also reviewed the system’s funding progress, clean audit opinions, investment performance, and changes to asset allocation, while noting that several recent pension-related laws required major database changes. Members questioned the large increase in salaries and benefits, the need for new employees versus contractors, the purpose of training costs, and the source of the Group Two benefit funding. NHRS said the governor’s budget includes General Funds for Group Two benefit changes, with $5 million in FY 2026 and $27.9 million in FY 2027, and that the figures reflect the governor’s recommendation and related HB 2 provisions. Committee members also asked about employer and employee contribution rates for Group Two police and fire members, which NHRS said were not included in the budget document but were about 31.2% for police and 30.35% for fire, with employee shares around 11.55% and 11.8%. The committee did not make a decision on the NHRS budget during this exchange and indicated it would review the details further before returning to it later. The committee then heard from the Community Development Finance Authority on the State Treasury Department budget line for the required state match to administer the federal Community Development Block Grant program. CDFA explained that its $280,000 annual request for FY 2026 and FY 2027, totaling $560,000, supports administration, technical assistance, contracting, and monitoring of roughly $19 million in annual federal CDBG funds. Members asked about the leverage of the state match, oversight of projects, staffing, and grant prioritization. CDFA said it has 18 employees, uses public hearings and a scoring system to prioritize awards, and conducts both desk and on-site monitoring, with annual audits to ensure compliance. No vote was taken on the CDFA item in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know like in Farmington they have the license plate readers; in Albuquerque, we have the real-time
• They're granted a license to practice that profession, and you need to be licensed by the Certification
• You need a driver's license.
• This is dealing with the professional license.
• Government, elections, modernization issues that we might be looking at in the next session. Okay.

Transcript Highlights:

• So generally speaking, EDD Next is basically a top-to-bottom modernization to completely transform EDD
• We started down this path in 2022-23, so we're now in year three of the EDD Next modernization.
• So we're now in year three of the EDD Next modernization.
• I am a licensing program analyst in San Diego.
• We need flexible modern policies. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Heather Olivaris.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an informational update on the state’s generative AI implementation and related oversight. Administration officials said several proof-of-concept projects have moved into minimum viable product phases, including work at CDTFA and Caltrans, and that CDPH has a May Revision request for up to $8 million to scale up its healthcare facilities inspections project. The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged the administration to publish a report on lessons learned from each POC and recommended limiting the new generative AI approval process to a pilot through the first two rounds of projects, with continued monthly meetings and stronger legislative oversight. Members pressed for more transparency and questioned why the CDPH request was not included in January; the administration said the cost estimate was not available then and that only one project is seeking additional resources beyond existing departmental budgets. The committee then reviewed a proposed $400 million loan from the Labor and Workforce Development Fund to the General Fund. Finance and the Labor Agency said the fund has grown because civil penalty revenues have risen sharply, and the loan would be repaid in 2029-30 with provisional language allowing earlier repayment if needed. The LAO agreed the fund could support the loan but warned that recent PAGA reforms may reduce future revenues. Public commenters, including labor and community groups, argued the money should instead support labor-law enforcement and outreach programs such as CWOP, and urged rejection of the loan. Members also heard a Department of Industrial Relations request for $19.1 million for phase two of Public Works Information Technology System Enhancements, which officials said will support labor-law enforcement and apprenticeship registration. The department said the project was delayed because a prior procurement did not result in a contract award and that completion is now expected in October 2026. The committee then took up an EDD Next reappropriation technical adjustment to extend UI fund spending authority through June 30, 2026; the LAO said the request was fine but again raised concerns about oversight of the larger modernization effort, which EDD said now totals more than $660 million and is expected to continue through 2029. Finally, the committee discussed DGS’s request for new parking facilities near the May Lee Building and a trailer bill shifting statewide telework policy language from DGS to CalHR while also expanding NDI eligibility for certain CEA employees. The LAO said the telework trailer bill should likely go through the policy committee process instead of budget, and union and employee witnesses strongly opposed it, arguing it would undermine bargaining rights and could be used to narrow telework. In a separate item on the governor’s return-to-office order, administration officials said departments are being directed to move to a four-day in-office expectation starting July 1, 2025, but they had no statewide cost estimate yet because departments are still assessing vacancies, exemptions, and space needs. Members criticized the lack of analysis and said the state should have clearer numbers before moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:49:42.680> standards<00:49:43.040> that occurred prior to Modern standards that
• occurred prior to Modern standards that would<00:49:43.240> have<00:49:43.400> prevented
• Without modern, well-maintained wastewater systems, new housing projects cannot move forward, limiting
• economic growth without modern economic growth without modern well-maintained<01:05:45.079> Wastewater
• They see declining revenues from hunting and fishing licenses.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we build a new, more modern facility, we can not only meet the needs of the offenders we have today
• , try to get that driver's license renewed before it expires, before they get out.
• try to get have a a driver's license try to get that<00:08:40.919> driver's<00:08:41.279>
• license renewed before it that driver's license renewed before it expires<00:08:42.919> before
• We do want to modernize the sirens, so that's part of the money for the ask.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony first from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Director Tommy Johnson outlined short-term goals to reduce overcrowding, improve living and working conditions, fill vacancies, expand mental health services, and update the correctional master plan. He said the department is still dealing with severe overcrowding at facilities such as OCCC and HCCC, with 947 people at OCCC against a design capacity of 628, and noted 938 inmates are currently housed on the mainland because of temporary repairs at Halawa. He also reported progress on staffing, saying the correctional officer vacancy rate has dropped from 34.3% to 24% through expanded recruitment. The department’s major budget request was $30 million for planning and design for a new Old Triple C project, along with other requests for re-entry services, identification documents, security systems, radios, sink-toilet modules, and trauma-informed care. Members asked about the timing and scope of the OCCC project, courtroom space in new facilities, and the department’s plan to use the funding to improve re-entry and reduce recidivism. The committee then heard from the Department of Law Enforcement on a wide range of priorities. The department described requests to expand agricultural crime enforcement, traffic enforcement, illegal fireworks enforcement, and facilities such as a police building at the DKI airport, a state training center, and new police facilities in central and Leeward Oahu. It also discussed a major IT request for a statewide law enforcement and critical infrastructure notification platform, plus funding for grants management, the Wahiawa Civic Center and court complex, the prescription monitoring program, narcotics enforcement operations, and the narcotics lab. A significant portion of the discussion focused on a proposed traffic enforcement program for commercial vehicle inspections, speeding, and DUI enforcement, which the department said would be funded with federal dollars and would operate concurrently with county police. Committee members questioned whether the effort duplicated county jurisdiction and how the program would be trained and staffed. Members also pressed the department on salary disparities for deputy sheriffs and related vacancies, and the department said the administration was working on a supplemental agreement and placeholder funding to address the issue. Additional discussion covered agricultural crime staffing, the Silver Alert program, and expansion of the forensic lab to handle explosives, firearms, and related evidence. No votes were taken in the portion provided, and the meeting moved from the corrections presentation to the law enforcement budget review with questions and answers throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the way to renew your license, the way to renew your tabs for your vehicle, so forth and so on.
• the way to renew uh your your license the way to renew uh your your tabs<00:33:22.679> for<00
• Department of Corrections modernization Department of Corrections modernization uh<00:37:09.800>
• Nineteen states oversee occupational licensing, as does Minnesota at OAH.
• boards a couple of other licensing boards a couple of other boards<01:56:00.400> including<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all