Transcript Highlights:

• Her leadership has extended across troops, crews, ships, and packs, where she has consistently mentored
• Her commitment to mentoring<00:16:52.720><c> others,</c><00:16:53.120><c> promoting</c><00:16:54.480>
• <c> conser</c> mentoring others, promoting conser mentoring others, promoting conser conservation<00:
• What I wonder about here is, you know, why might that not be important or be useful for a teacher to
• </c><04:56:26.798><c> preparation</c> process relative to teacher preparation process relative to teacher

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's equip our teachers, healthcare workers, and local police with the understanding, compassion, and
• Imagine a city that is equipped with early signs that we understand very well, that the teachers don't
• The infrastructure that you're suggesting is teacher training is critical here? Yes.
• In talking about K-12 environments, we run into times when there are teachers, We run into times when
• What I mean by that is the average teacher may or may not have... ...or seeking in the classroom.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Combating Anti-Semitism opened by approving the minutes from its November 5, 2025 meeting and outlining plans for its next meeting on November 20, when it expects to vote on the draft master report and recommendations. The chair explained that revised drafts would be circulated, changes would be handled by motion, and the final vote would be by roll call. The meeting then moved through several public panels focused on prevention, education, workplace support, and community safety. Parents for Peace testified that anti-Semitism and extremism should be treated as a public health crisis and urged state funding for training in K-12 schools, healthcare, and law enforcement. The panel described its intervention work with radicalized youth and families, argued for early-warning training for educators, and recommended diversion resources for courts and prosecutors so cases can be addressed before they escalate. Commissioners asked about the origins of radicalization, the need for school-based training, and how to connect courts and police to available resources. Project Shema’s Orrin Jacobson argued that effective anti-Semitism education must be nuanced, pluralistic, and grounded in a better understanding of Jewish identity and contemporary anti-Semitism, especially in conversations about Israel and Palestine. He said the group has run dozens of workshops in Massachusetts and emphasized that institutions should adopt content-neutral norms, train staff and administrators, and measure whether trainings lower tensions and increase willingness to intervene. Commissioners asked about handling activists who reject nuance, the role of faculty versus students, and whether classroom norms should limit teachers from advancing personal agendas. A workplace panel from Klaal and Combined Jewish Philanthropies presented survey data showing many Jewish employees feel unsafe being openly Jewish at work and that antisemitism training is the top requested support. They described rapid growth in Jewish employee resource groups, existing programming and stipends for ERG leaders, and recommended mandatory anti-Semitism training, support for Jewish affinity groups in public and private sectors, and broader convenings of major employers. The commission also heard from Truah rabbis and educators, who urged stronger interfaith solidarity, a state office of faith-based and neighborhood partnerships, and explicit attention to democracy and civil rights as part of anti-Semitism strategy. After a recess, the commission heard from Israeli-American, Russian Jewish, and Persian Jewish witnesses who described antisemitism as a lived, personal, and civic issue affecting immigrants and their families. They called for inclusion of diverse Jewish voices in state initiatives, stronger protections for Israeli-American businesses, and recognition that anti-Zionist rhetoric often becomes direct harassment of Jews. The chair said the testimony and suggested edits would be incorporated into the draft report, and the meeting ended with plans for further revisions before the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then when we went to the teachers, the teachers didn't care. The teachers didn't care.
• , not just white teachers, but ought to see some Black teachers as well, ought to see some brown teachers
• as well, not just white teachers.
• How are you going to tell a white person, a white teacher, look, we can't just have Black teachers over
• It punishes teachers who stand up for those students.

Summary: The House met in a late-session floor session that began with prayer, pledges, quorum, and a series of excused absences and Senate messages reporting action on numerous bills, conference committee appointments, and conference reports. Members also adopted a memorial resolution honoring Mark James Hanna, a Capitol lobbyist and advocate for nurses, and a congratulatory resolution for Rishi Tarumalasetti, an eighth-grade civics bee winner from Katy. The chamber also received and recorded a parliamentary colloquy about an unusual Senate request on SB 293, with the Chair stating the House could not recede from only part of its amendments and could not suspend the rules because the bill had not been returned from the Senate. The bulk of the session was devoted to taking up conference committee reports and related procedural resolutions, especially the state budget. The House adopted a resolution allowing the SB 1 conferees to go outside the normal bounds, then adopted the SB 1 conference report on a 107-21 vote. Debate on the budget centered on public education funding, tax relief, health care, corrections pay, and judicial compensation, with supporters calling it a responsible compromise and opponents arguing it was overly expansive and insufficient on property tax relief. The House also adopted a technical correction resolution tying judicial pay increases in SB 1 to the House version of SB 293, and members discussed at length the relationship between judicial salaries and legislative pensions. The chamber then adopted a long series of conference reports on measures covering topics such as school library review and book challenges (SB 13), SNAP restrictions on sweetened drinks and candy (SB 379), hospital price transparency (SB 331), nursing home accountability (SB 457), school district personnel compensation conflicts (HB 3372), property notice rules (HB 2011), research and development tax credits (SB 2018), and several other bills affecting elections, permits, education, and criminal justice. Most reports passed by wide margins, though some drew significant opposition, especially SB 13 and SB 379. The House also granted several Senate requests for conference committees and introduced additional resolutions to suspend conferee limits on various bills as the session moved toward adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some provided me with mentors to meet the students where they are in their journey.
• ><01:05:04.599><c> to</c><01:05:04.720><c> meet</c><01:05:05.000><c> this</c> are provide me with mentors
• to meet this are provide me with mentors to meet this meet<01:05:05.559><c> the</c><01:05:05.720><c>
• Summit Academy is a great career training solution for the Twin Cities, with great teachers who care
• Summit Academy is a great career training solution for the Twin Cities, with great teachers who care

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a six-month process, and it ensures procedural fairness and also allows all the judges to become mentors
• So the byproduct is you have other mentors, and we help assist all the other members of this group, so
• with the hope that if we had a group that was recognizing the best judges, maybe they would help to mentor
• they are now training other judges as part of the Justice Court Training Center, so that is part of mentoring
• I think as more judges go through it, they can become mentors, but we're already seeing that happen.

Bills: SB1211 , SB1574 , SB2774 , SB2873 , SB2900 , HJR4

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: hydraulic fracturing, sales tax exemption, oil and gas, environmental impact, water reuse, justice, judicial council, centers of excellence, court operations, recognition program, franchise tax, retail trade, tax classification, business regulation, economic impact, SB 2873, Texas Tax Code, electronic filing, e-filing, tax reports

Transcript Highlights:

• . 1974 while David was working as an art and art history teacher.
• I'll miss him as a mentor. I'll miss him as a role model.
• Hands off our teachers, hands off our students, and hands off our schools."
• I've seen how a great teacher can change the course of a life.
• As a teacher, you heard Congresswoman Mullen say that I was a public school teacher for 15 years, worked

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 7, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• his office, full-time student in the spring of 1972, and I honor this gentleman who was my first mentor
• 18.480><c> first</c> I honor this gentleman who was my first I honor this gentleman who was my first mentor
• mentor mentor and<00:05:21.080><c> uh</c><00:05:21.160><c> of</c><00:05:21.320><c> high</c><00:05:21.520

Bills: SCR56 , SCR79 , SCR85 , SCR120 , SCR129 , SCR181 , SCR63 , SCR112 , SCR194 , SCR195 , SCR196 , HB202 , HB963 , HB1050 , HB1511 , HB1546 , HB1550 , HB1553 , HB1643 , HB1656 , HB1658 , HB1664 , HB1667 , HB1682 , HB1700 , HB1721 , HB1810 , HB1823 , HB1824 , HB1878 , HB1969 , HB2005 , HB2078 , HB2152 , HB2246 , HB2270 , HB2279 , HB2289 , HB2385 , HB2417 , HB2429 , HB2503 , HB2599 , SB253 , SB847 , SB1142 , SB1432 , SB2043 , SB2050 , SB2074 , SB2102 , SB2135 , SB2138 , SB2140 , SB2320 , SB2340 , SB2386 , SB2396 , SB2397 , SB2398 , SB2433 , SB2446 , SB2521 , SB2544 , SB2567 , SB2578 , SB2580 , SB2595 , SB2601 , SB2645 , SB2673 , SB2706 , SB2727 , SB2802 , SB2852 , SB2892 , SB2929 , SB2972 , SB3007 , SB3069 , SB3073 , SB3076 , SB3136 , SB3138 , SB3157 , SB3204 , SB3234 , SB3247 , SB3302 , SB3324 , SB3325 , HB1815 , HB2592 , HCR32

Keywords: lifeguards, first responders, public safety, ocean safety, emergency response, community wellbeing, invasive species, octocoral, Pearl Harbor, environment, Navy responsibility, marine ecosystem, ecosystem preservation, shoreline maintenance, civil service, classification review, compensation systems, labor shortage, employee retention, department collaboration

Transcript Highlights:

• Some time in the summer for a teacher to really immerse themselves in a particular industry, particularly
• in technical education course. say it's building construction, this might be an opportunity for teachers
• And I think even more importantly so we can take advantage of the good teachers that may not be in a
• I'm a former vocational teacher, by the way, so I'm not unbiased on this, but it struck me as I walked
• We often hire our faculty straight out of industry and then we teach them to be teachers.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• teachers are more restricted do teachers teachers are more restricted do teachers teachers are more
• of Laura Hall and she is the guest of Laura Hall and she is the member of Alabama Federation of teachers
• member of Alabama Federation of teachers member of Alabama Federation of teachers let's give her a big
• programs I know about more mentoring programs I know about more mentoring programs I know you're working
• soldiers day in and day out mentoring soldiers day in and day out mentoring soldiers day in and day

Bills: HCR 21 , HCR 22 , HCR 23 , HCR 24 , HCR 25 , HCR 26 , HCR 27 , HCR 31 , HCR 41 , HCR 42 , HCR 43 , HCR 44 , HCR 45 , HCR 52 , HCR 53 , HCR 66 , HCR 67 , HCR 73 , HR 8 , HR 10 , HR 13 , HR 20 , HR 21 , HR 50 , HR 59 , HR 61 , HR 71 , HR 74 , HR 79 , HR 84 , HR 86 , HR 90 , HR 91 , HR 102 , HR 103 , HR 107 , HR 113 , HR 125 , HR 126 , HR 132 , HR 142 , HR 145 , HR 149 , HR 150 , HR 152 , HR 167 , HR 179 , HR 181 , HR 183 , HR 186 , HR 192 , HR 196 , HR 199 , HR 207 , HR 211 , HR 212 , HR 213 , HR 216 , HR 249 , HR 256 , HR 259 , HR 261 , HR 263 , HR 272 , HR 281 , HR 285 , HR 294 , HR 295 , HR 300 , HR 305 , HR 311 , HR 313 , HR 315 , HR 316 , HR 323 , HR 331 , HR 339 , HR 340 , HR 346 , HR 349 , HR 352 , HR 357 , HR 358 , HR 360 , HR 363 , HR 374 , HR 377 , HCR 20 , HCR 28 , HCR 30 , HCR 32 , HCR 49 , HR 14 , HR 15 , HR 19 , HR 23 , HR 24 , HR 25 , HR 26 , HR 27 , HR 29 , HR 47 , HR 48 , HR 55 , HR 56 , HR 66 , HR 85 , HR 92 , HR 93 , HR 95 , HR 96 , HR 140 , HR 155 , HR 164 , HR 204 , HR 241 , HR 242 , HR 250 , HR 253 , HR 260 , HR 262 , HR 265 , HR 279 , HR 310 , HR 312 , HR 328 , HR 332 , HR 359 , HR 362 , HR 367

Keywords: recognition, award, petroleum industry, leadership, community service, HCR 22, House Concurrent Resolution, Texas Legislature, commendation, honorary resolution, Dr. James Olson, James Olson, University of Texas Permian Basin, UT Permian Basin, psychology professor, 50 years of service, faculty recognition, academic award, Piper Professor Award, Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award

Transcript Highlights:

• the internship, each eligible foster youth is paired with an experienced employee who serves as a mentor
• Currently, 100% of mentors reported they would recommend being a mentor with the Step Into Success program
• Currently, 100% of mentors reported they would recommend being a mentor with the Step Into Success program
• Based on feedback from mentors, the bill... ...is focused on expansion into more diverse areas.
• Based on feedback from mentors, the bill increases the training opportunities for mentors and allows

Bills: S0042 , S0578 , S0624 , S7018

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Keywords: child protection, medical records, investigation, abuse, neglect, healthcare, Child Protection Team, diagnosis, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimers, dementia, related dementias, brain health, early detection, caregiver support, elderly affairs, Department of Elderly Affairs, Department of Health, public health outreach, memory loss

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first heard SB 624, which would codify DCF’s current practice of allowing batterers intervention programs to offer supplemental faith-based activities so long as participation is voluntary. The bill drew support from faith-based and family organizations, which argued it would restore access to effective rehabilitation options and remove discriminatory barriers. SB 624 was reported favorably after a roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 42, which would require child protective investigators and child protection teams to rely on qualified medical professionals when a child has a documented pre-existing diagnosis or when a parent requests an exam, and would require clearer notice to parents and custodians at the start of an investigation. Testimony overwhelmingly came from parents, advocates, and disability rights representatives describing cases in which medically complex children were allegedly misdiagnosed as abuse victims and families were separated unnecessarily. Members expressed sympathy and support, and SB 42 was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered CS/SB 578, creating an Alzheimer’s disease awareness initiative within the Department of Elder Affairs to promote early detection, brain health education, research updates, and clinical trial awareness, with outreach focused on older adults and at-risk populations. An amendment was adopted to place the campaign within the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative. A caregiver testified about the need for public education and early diagnosis, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also took up SPB 7018, a committee bill on child welfare that would extend the definition of “visitor” for foster homes to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success foster youth workforce pilot permanent and statewide, and create a program through the Florida Institute for Child Welfare to catalog best practices among community-based care lead agencies. The bill was approved as a committee bill and reported favorably. Finally, the Department of Children and Families presented its 2025-26 final funding methodology and rates report for community-based care. Members questioned the proposed tiered model, including insurance costs, risk corridors, prevention funding, performance measures, and regional funding disparities. No vote was taken on the presentation, but members discussed the possible need for follow-up legislation and additional stakeholder input.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are providing reagents, core services, education, mentoring, and coursework to aging researchers
• </c> course Services education mentoring course Services education mentoring coursework<00:35:06.280>
• Most of the instructors are high school teachers in the Twin Cities and Rochester area who teach the
• <01:42:51.639><c> are</c><01:42:51.800><c> high</c><01:42:52.000><c> school</c><01:42:52.199><c> teachers
• </c><01:42:52.599><c> and</c> instructors are high school teachers and instructors are high school teachers

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I was a public school teacher for many years. I'm still a public school parent.
• So I was a public school teacher for many years. I'm still a public school parent.
• I'm a retired teacher, 32 years in Mesa Public Schools, and I strongly oppose this bill.
• I'm a retired teacher, 32 years in Mesa Public Schools, and I strongly oppose this bill.
• So the math teacher in me says, check your work. This doesn’t add up. Thank you. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard a series of bills, many dealing with cryptocurrency and tax administration. SB 1042 would allow certain state retirement and treasury funds to invest up to 10% in virtual currency; SB 1043 would let state agencies accept cryptocurrency payments; SB 1044 and SCR 1003 would exempt virtual currency from property tax, with SB 1044 contingent on voter approval of the referral. All four measures advanced on 4-3 votes, with Democratic members largely opposing them as risky, speculative, and favoring wealthy crypto interests. The committee also considered SB 1221, which would require the Department of Revenue to notify legislative tax chairs before adopting a new tax interpretation or application that would adversely affect taxpayers and to testify if a hearing is held. Supporters framed it as transparency and good governance, while opponents worried about added red tape and administrative burden. The bill passed 4-3. Another major item, SB 1142, would opt Arizona into a new federal scholarship tax credit program administered through certified scholarship-granting organizations; supporters said it would expand scholarship opportunities for public, charter, private, and homeschool students, while opponents argued it would deepen inequities, lack accountability, and divert resources from public schools. That bill also passed 4-3. A lengthy discussion followed on the Department of Revenue’s press release about tax conformity and the governor’s executive order. DOR explained that the forms were issued assuming conformity with federal changes, including the standard deduction and certain below-the-line adjustments, and said taxpayers generally should file on time but may need amended returns if the Legislature later changes the law. Members pressed DOR on the cost and clarity of the guidance, with estimates that widespread amendments could cost the department about $20 million. Finally, the committee heard SB 1254, which would require both grantor and grantee signatures on real property conveyances before recording; county assessors said it would reduce deed-fraud risk and fix recording gaps. County officials from Maricopa and Mohave supported the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we’ve got Cal Mentor and Mentor Protegé programs, and these two programs are really geared toward
• The Cal Mentor in particular is geared towards engineering and architectural contracts.
• The Mentor Protegé is more on the construction side.
• The Cal Mentor in particular is geared towards engineering and architectural contracts.
• The Mentor Protegé is more on the construction side.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several items, beginning with gubernatorial appointments not required to appear. The committee approved multiple appointments on 3-2 and 5-0 votes, including members to the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Contractors State License Board, and the Medical Board of California. Members also approved a bill referral item, a rule waiver request to suspend SR 55 for guests on the Senate floor during an adjourn-in-memory for former President Pro Tempore John Burton, and floor acknowledgment items, all by 5-0 vote. The committee then heard the required appearance of Dina El-Tawansy for Director of the California Department of Transportation. In her opening remarks, she emphasized Caltrans’ priorities of safety, equity, climate resilience, economic prosperity, workforce development, and multimodal transportation. Senators questioned her on a range of issues, including impacts from federal and state rules affecting immigrant truck drivers, the Highway 58 truck climbing lane project, DBE reevaluation under new federal guidance, asphalt recycling and waste disposal, climate-related damage to infrastructure, and the future of transportation funding as gas tax revenue declines. El-Tawansy said Caltrans would prioritize emergency and safety projects, continue work on the Highway 58 corridor, and help DBEs through a reevaluation process and outreach efforts. She described ongoing climate adaptation work, including vulnerability assessments, vegetation management, and corridor studies such as Route 37 and LOSSAN, and said the department is researching road user charges through pilots and national collaboration. She also discussed small-business programs, local hiring, toll lane agreement consistency, and efforts to address litter and homelessness on Caltrans property through delegated maintenance agreements and new staff positions. After public testimony from numerous transportation, construction, local government, labor, and technology organizations in support of the nominee, the committee voted 5-0 to advance El-Tawansy’s appointment to the full Senate floor for confirmation. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As my mentor and as the person I looked up to for how good policy is developed, I hope that we will all
• thank Speaker Emerita Hortman for making the class of 2019 an awesome class of legislators, for mentoring
• thank Speaker Emerita Hortman for making the class of 2019 an awesome class of legislators, for mentoring
• :14:57.800><c> for</c> an awesome class of legislators, for an awesome class of legislators, for mentoring
• <00:14:58.600><c> us,</c><00:14:59.360><c> including</c> mentoring us, including mentoring us, including

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We strive to give back to the community, and I pride myself on becoming a mentor to youth and projects
• And Ari Pei, sitting to my left, who is my mentor. And I work very closely with him with the SBDC.
• And, you know, when you're a team of one, sometimes it's really nice to just call your mentor and tell
• I also have employed and mentored about 12 youth ambassadors.
• But like me, and some of my mentors say, like, I just rolled the dice.

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically at Stevenson, this is their Eagle Mentors.
• So the Eagle Mentors, which are our fourth graders, they're like our ambassadors, they got the opportunity
• So the Eagle Mentors, which are fourth graders, they're like our ambassadors.
• So the Eagle mentors, which are our fourth graders there, like our ambassadors, they got the opportunity

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from January 27 and January 28, 2026, with a correction noted to the January 28 minutes regarding the listing of Haley Sweeten as incoming executive director of IHLA. Members were also reminded to review upcoming rules work and to wait until testimony is complete before making motions during bill hearings. The main presentation focused on support for military-connected students in Idaho. Dominique Haig, school liaison for Mountain Home Air Force Base, and Dr. Spencer Barsey of the Idaho Department of Education described Idaho’s Purple Star School designation, the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MC3), and related supports such as the military student identifier and a state website with resources for families. They highlighted the challenges military children face from frequent moves, deployments, and school transitions, and described school-based activities at Stevenson Elementary such as student ambassadors, Month of the Military Child events, and Flagpole Friday. Barsey explained that Idaho joined MC3 in 2013, adopted advance enrollment in 2020, and now identifies military-connected students as a distinct reporting group to better track and support them. In response to questions, Haig said the compact helps compare credits and graduation requirements when students move between states, but it applies only to public schools and not homeschool or charter schools. She also said the department supports any educational choice families make. In response to a question about school funding, she said schools with enough military-connected students can receive federal impact aid, with districts reportedly receiving about $1 million to $3.5 million annually. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically at Stevenson, this is their Eagle Mentors.
• So the Eagle Mentors, which are our fourth graders, they're like our ambassadors, they got the opportunity
• So the Eagle Mentors, which are fourth graders, they're like our ambassadors.
• So the Eagle mentors, which are our fourth graders there, like our ambassadors, they got the opportunity

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• deserve special recognition for their decades of commitment to the program, spending countless hours mentoring
• spending commitment to the program spending countless<00:04:12.760><c> hours</c><00:04:13.360><c> mentoring
• </c><00:04:13.959><c> and</c><00:04:14.200><c> inspiring</c> countless hours mentoring and inspiring
• countless hours mentoring and inspiring generations<00:04:15.400><c> of</c><00:04:15.599><c> pages</c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> help with certifications, teacher help with certifications, teacher certifications<00:37:11.520>
• ,</c><03:01:19.040><c> and</c> helping administration, teachers, and helping administration, teachers
• </c> basically it's for teachers and staff. basically it's for teachers and staff.
• </c><03:09:46.960><c> and</c> it may have saved some teachers and it may have saved some teachers and
• Question for ask a lot of our teachers. Uh we provide ask a lot of our teachers.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 8527, by including necessary language for DOE to continue to receive wrap-back reports for mentors
• through the state mentoring program.
• reports in the future, as it clarifies that all individuals currently or prospectively serving as mentors
• to one or more students through a mentoring program under the Department of Education must submit to
• I know we have talked about mentoring several times in this committee and the success those programs

Committee: Senate Executive

Summary: The Senate Executive Committee met in hybrid format and first considered two gubernatorial judicial appointments. Morgan T. Zurn, nominated to the Delaware Supreme Court, described her background in public service, the Court of Chancery, DOJ, and federal clerkship, and answered extensive questions about judicial philosophy, precedent, statutory interpretation, access to justice, AI and deepfakes, corporate law stability, civility, social media, and public confidence in the courts. Christy N. Vitola, nominated to be Commissioner of Family Court, discussed her Delaware upbringing, legal career in family law and child support, and experience with pro se litigants and high-volume dockets; she was questioned about handling family court cases efficiently, the best interests of the child, and correcting calculation errors. No votes on the nominations were taken during the portion shown. The committee then moved to legislation. House Bill 443, concerning background checks for volunteers and mentors in the Department of Education’s mentoring program, was presented as a technical update to allow DOE to continue receiving wrap-back reports and to ensure mentors undergo state and federal criminal background checks. There was no public comment or committee debate on the bill. House Bill 431 with House Amendment 1, sponsored by Representative Bush and Senator Hoffner, would allow composting of yard waste, food residue, and other organic materials to divert waste from landfills, extend landfill life, reduce disposal costs, support farmers by returning nutrients to the soil, and reduce methane emissions; it also preserves county/local control over siting and inspection. Senator Townsend asked whether composting was currently allowed, and Senator Hoffner explained that the bill would authorize it under the stated controls. No public comment was offered on either bill. At the close of the meeting, the chair noted that the bills and nominee backers had been circulated for signatures. Senator Hocker moved to adjourn, Senator Townsend seconded, and the committee adjourned without objection.