Transcript Highlights:

• Today's date is May 6, 2026. Thanks. Today's date is May 6, 2026.
• I appreciate the opportunity and am happy to answer any questions members may have.
• They are elected in October, and they don’t take office until May.
• They are elected in October, and they don’t take office until May.
• David Peterson from the AG's office may be able to provide their statutory counsel.

Bills: SR86, SB491, HB205, HB210, HB228, HB813, HB1045, HB1177

Keywords: Senate rules, Louisiana Senate, Senate Chamber, smart glasses, recording eyewear, audio recording, video recording, wearable technology, covert recording, legislative security, media access, chamber decorum, Senate President, internal rules, public access, lobbyists, official journal, public notices, competitive bid, Louisiana legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• Admin's primary role is to help government best serve Minnesotans.
• There may be others in the room that can provide an answer for the entirety of the governor's budget.
• on those issues and I believe, if I may on those issues and I believe, if I may take<00:48:34.560
• may need to<01:18:45.160> submit<01:18:45.600> private<01:18:46.120> data<01:18
• <01:30:04.760> leadership recognize the primary leadership recognize the primary leadership

Bills: HF2783, HF2603, HF2846, HF2354, HF1836, HF2713, HF1198, HF1389

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• or may not be doing as great a that may or may not be doing as great a job<00:12:56.640> as<00
• We may have gotten a different result.
• You seldom may see some of these.
• <02:10:56.360> um in the gallery may um in the gallery may um may<02:10:57.200> feel
• may feel honored by you. may feel honored by you.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened under a call, established a quorum, received a chaplain’s prayer and the pledge, and then proceeded through routine business. Members adopted the committee reports except those relating to Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, gave second reading to Senate File 203 and several House files, and referred Senate File 5200 to Rules and Administration. The chamber also adopted a motion to return Senate File 4390 from the general orders calendar to the Finance Committee. The main floor activity centered on a series of motions to send withdrawn executive appointments back to their originating committees under Senate Rule 8.2. Senator Putnam moved to return appointments from the Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee, including the Board of Animal Health, the Veterans Affairs commissioner, and the Rural Finance Authority. Senator Swadzinski moved a similar action for Education Policy appointments, and Senator Her did so for Environment, Climate, and Legacy appointments, including the DNR commissioner, the PCA commissioner, the Clean Water Council, and related boards. Senator Wicklund later moved to return Health and Human Services appointments, including the Children, Youth and Families commissioner, Health commissioner, VNSHUR Board, and EMS director. These motions prompted extended debate. Supporters of returning the appointments argued that the Senate has a constitutional advice-and-consent duty and that committee hearings should occur before floor consideration. Opponents, mainly Republicans, argued that sending the appointments back without floor action avoided accountability and transparency, especially in light of fraud concerns in state programs and agencies. Some authors said hearings had not yet been scheduled or that the committee process should come first; others noted at least one hearing had already occurred on a health nomination. The debate repeatedly focused on whether the Senate was fulfilling its constitutional role or delaying confirmation review. Roll-call votes were requested on the appointment motions. The Putnam, Swadzinski, Her, and Wicklund motions were each adopted by narrow 34-33 margins, returning the appointments to committee rather than leaving them on the confirmation calendar for floor action.

Transcript Highlights:

• It may have been some inconvenience.
• And may even have an opportunity.
• , I want to vote in the Democratic primary.
• It may, it may, it... And I don't see that being great. Neither do I.
• It may be you or it may be your grandchildren, but it will happen.

Bills: SB116, SB121, SB130, SB407

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Louisiana, 2020 census, elections, precincts, voting, election, political representation, 2026 precincts, demographics, Louisiana congressional map, U.S. House, election districts, precinct shapefiles, Voting Districts, VTD, 2020 Census, 2026 Precinct Shapefiles, apportionment

Transcript Highlights:

• There may be some clients who are impacted, but it might happen more on the long-term care side.
• These are the groups: primary care does not include—although it says mental and behavioral health, it
• First, there are two primary changes to benefits. ...is on deck to speak to it at greater length.
• First, there are two primary changes to benefits.
• We determine eligibility for food assistance based on income and deductions that people may have.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a work session to review how H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) could affect Washington’s Medicaid, long-term care, developmental disabilities, and food assistance programs, with a focus on implementation challenges, fiscal impacts, and likely coverage losses. Staff and agency officials explained Washington’s Medicaid financing structure, eligibility categories, caseload trends, and the role of the Health Care Authority and DSHS in administering Apple Health and related services. They also described how Medicaid expansion increased access to behavioral health services and how H.R. 1’s provisions are expected to affect the expansion population most directly. Health Care Authority and DSHS officials outlined several major H.R. 1 changes: new work and community engagement requirements for the Medicaid expansion population, six-month redeterminations instead of annual renewals, changes to immigrant eligibility, limits on provider taxes and state-directed payments, new cost-sharing requirements, reduced retroactive coverage, and changes affecting long-term care eligibility. They said Washington is still awaiting federal guidance on many details, but estimated that about 620,000 Apple Health expansion enrollees could be subject to work requirements, that roughly 30,000 immigrants could lose Medicaid eligibility under the new definition of qualified alien, and that some long-term care and developmental disability clients could be indirectly affected. Officials also said the state is working with other agencies to build shared verification systems and may seek a delay waiver, though they do not expect broad federal flexibility. The committee also heard that H.R. 1 immediately blocks Medicaid reimbursement for Planned Parenthood services for one year, with the state planning to backfill about $11 million to preserve access. In addition, officials warned that the law could reduce federal Medicaid revenue by billions over time and strain hospitals and emergency rooms as more people become uninsured. They noted that Washington’s rural health transformation grant application is due November 5 and could bring some funding, but not to offset coverage losses. No votes were taken; the session was informational only. The committee then heard a separate presentation on food assistance, where staff and DSHS described H.R. 1’s SNAP changes, including expanded work requirements, immigrant eligibility restrictions, higher state administrative costs, and a possible future state share of benefit costs tied to payment error rates. DSHS estimated a four-year fiscal impact of about $750 million for food assistance changes and said the state is working on system and policy changes across agencies before the new requirements take effect.

Transcript Highlights:

• Secretary, let me just interrupt here, if I may.
• have or Madam Chair may have.
• have or Madam Chair may have.
• have or Madam Chair may have.
• Madam Chair, may I respond to the prior question? Yes, you may.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• higher than our primary family home. higher than our primary family home.
• And may I have followup? And may I have followup?
• your communities may be As you may your your communities may be aware<03:14:59.200> uh<03:14:
• any questions that may come up. any questions that may come up.
• <04:58:36.480> with issues that may or may not align with issues that may or may not align

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have no idea what it may or may not be. have no idea what it may or may not be.
• So currently we may have a singular connection into a PAP.
• So currently we may have a redundancy.
• And you may wonder where some of that has gone.
• <01:23:51.520> objectives primary it had three primary objectives primary it had three primary

Bills: SF0032, SF0010, SF0001, HB0001

Keywords: 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety, mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, Wyoming, budget, funding, education, wildfire prevention, healthcare, community colleges, grants, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, the subsection says the legislature may establish a subclass of primary residences. tied to
• uh primary residences. uh primary residences.
• the legislature may establish a subclass<00:18:35.840> of<00:18:36.320> primary<00:18:36.880
• <01:40:54.560> or<01:40:54.719> may to another state where there may or may to another
• /c> most susceptible and may or may not play most susceptible and may or may not play out<02:29:37.600

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , May 12th.
• Fee revenue may also be used...
• Senate amended third reading May 8th, 2026. Senate amended second reading May 7th, 2026.
• You may be seated.
• You've got to ask, "Please, sir, may I have some more? May I have some more handouts?

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• May they look like New England. Our country and our state, classic New England. New England.
• And for those that may proclaim the benefits of prison, make... ...of its own people.
• Sixty percent of women in jail are primary caretakers, and 80% are mothers.
• Our primary caretakers, 80% are mothers.
• S. 2182, an act establishing May as Native Plant Month.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight held a hybrid hearing covering public construction, business regulations, and honorary designations, with most of the discussion focused on two matters: a five-year moratorium on new jail and prison construction (S. 2114/H. 3422) and a bill designating June 7 as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day (S. 2152/H. 3305). The chair emphasized that the hearing was public, testimony would be recorded, and speakers should generally keep remarks to three minutes. Senator Comerford introduced the prison moratorium bill, saying it would pause new construction while allowing renovations, and Senator Friedman introduced the Tourette awareness bill and a separate Tuskegee Airmen commemoration measure, asking for favorable action on both honorary designations. A large portion of the hearing featured remote testimony from incarcerated people at MCI Framingham and MCI Shirley in support of the prison moratorium. Witnesses repeatedly argued that Massachusetts does not need a new women’s prison, that the incarcerated population is declining, and that funds would be better spent on mental health care, addiction treatment, vocational training, pre-release programming, housing, and repairs to existing facilities. Several speakers described poor conditions, limited programming, and the need to address trauma, domestic violence, and substance use as root causes of incarceration. One committee member responded to testimony by noting that incarceration numbers are going down, that the state is working on housing and workforce opportunities for people returning home, and that the committee wants to expand pathways to employment and reentry. The Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day bill drew testimony from the bill’s young sponsor, Owen Rosenthal, his parents, medical professionals, and advocates. They described Tourette syndrome as a misunderstood neurodevelopmental condition, said awareness would reduce stigma and improve diagnosis and support, and cited the need for education in schools, workplaces, and the medical community. The Tourette Association of America supported the bill, noting underdiagnosis, co-occurring conditions, pain, and mental health risks associated with Tourette syndrome. Committee members praised the youth advocates and asked that written testimony be submitted electronically. The hearing ended without any recorded votes or final committee action in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we're going to be looking at two primary areas.
• So they may be taking 6 credit hours or 9 credit hours, but they're not full-time.
• May have been a little bit of a Gatling gun going through, but we have so many great data points.
• Some of the issues or problems I may bring forward are systemwide from the 28 colleges.
• This may appear to be solely one specific problem. It is not.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• May he stimulate and illuminate our minds.
• That which intentionally oversees the universe from above and fully sees the truth behind all things, may
• Assembly Bill 6 creates this program to serve as the primary program within the department to provide
• Assembly Bill 6 creates this program to serve as the primary program within the department to provide
• I would move that we stand in adjournment until 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 31st, 2025.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But in the March primary, that's not what happened.
• How a party conducts a primary is an important logistical and budgetary decision.
• . when they're reliant on another party to know how they'll run their primary.
• host their primaries differently, do you worry about that creating more confusion?
• And that is for primaries and runoffs. This is not for the general election.

Transcript Highlights:

• You may or may not know I’m a former high school ag teacher.
• You may proceed.
• You may proceed.
• Okay, you may proceed.
• Is that the primary driver?

Summary: The House Committee on Public Health heard House Bill 5, a proposal to ban THC products outside the Texas Compassionate Use Program while allowing non-intoxicating CBD and CBG products under tighter regulation. Chair Van Deaver gave a lengthy background on the 2018 federal Farm Bill and Texas’s 2019 hemp law, arguing that the lack of guardrails allowed a large, unregulated THC market to develop. HB 5 would impose licensing fees, product registration, testing and inspection requirements, and restrictions intended to keep products away from children. Invited witnesses from law enforcement strongly supported the bill. Steve Dye of the Texas Police Chiefs Association and Brian Hawthorne of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas argued that THC consumables are widely mislabeled, often far more potent than advertised, and linked to youth access, impaired driving, and organized crime. Both said regulation would be ineffective and would amount to legalization, while a ban would be easier for officers to enforce. They also emphasized support for the Texas Compassionate Use Program and said medical THC should remain available. Dr. Peter Stout of the Texas Association of Crime Lab Directors and Alice Amelot of Texas DPS testified as resource witnesses about forensic testing. They said current lab resources are already stretched thin, that quantitative testing for THC and related cannabinoids is expensive and time-consuming, and that a ban would simplify enforcement because labs could focus on presence/absence testing rather than concentration. Amelot said DPS labs are neutral on the bill but explained that mislabeled products and inaccurate certificates of analysis are common. Committee members asked about traffic safety, impairment, youth use, and the costs of enforcement and lab testing; witnesses repeatedly said the bill would reduce complexity for law enforcement but that any approach would still require more resources for labs.

Transcript Highlights:

• may have. may have. >> Thank<00:26:26.080> you.
• ,<00:30:02.240> as mostly directed to you, Dean Mays, as mostly directed to you, Dean Mays
• Chair. >> Dean Mays. >> Uh, yes, great question.
• The primary example of this would be revenue bonds.
• The primary example of this would be revenue bonds.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So in a few minutes, I may get called to go... ...session.
• So in a few minutes, I may get called to go and be in session and actually vote.
• So my position on it is I don't see xylazine as primary, and we have DEA agents to work with us and a
• Pharmacies and doctors and everything can be more active in helping patients that may walk in with these
• This may be a foolish question.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The working group on best practices for oversight and enforcement met for its first session and focused on xylazine, including its legal veterinary uses, its appearance in the illicit drug supply, and whether it should be classified as a controlled substance. Members discussed the distinction between pharmaceutical-grade and non-pharmaceutical-grade xylazine, the role of international/illicit sourcing, and the limits of state-level regulation if the substance is already being added to fentanyl or other drugs outside the Commonwealth. The Department of Public Health representative summarized the agency’s view that scheduling xylazine could follow the “ironclad law of prohibition” and push the market toward other, potentially worse substances, and said DPH opposed straight scheduling in favor of education, support, and harm-reduction approaches. Veterinary members explained how xylazine is used in large-animal and research settings, why it is useful, and why federal-style scheduling could create practical burdens for veterinarians who work in the field. They also described reversal agents such as yohimbine and atipamezole (Antisedan), and noted that xylazine is not commonly used in small-animal practice. Several members raised questions about how much xylazine is actually used legally in Massachusetts, whether boards of pharmacy or distributors could provide useful data, and what other states have done. Arizona and Florida were mentioned as possible examples for further research, along with the need to examine stakeholder opposition and any effects on legitimate veterinary practice. The group agreed to divide into two subgroups: one focused on oversight and regulation of production/distribution, and another on whether xylazine should be classified as a controlled substance and what penalties, if any, should apply. Staff said they would circulate notes, a draft PowerPoint template, and a shared folder, with members asked to submit materials by December 2, draft materials due December 4, and final approval by December 9 ahead of the next public meeting on December 11. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, a second, and unanimous closure.

Transcript Highlights:

• And while we may have had some delays in this presentation, I think it is absolutely appropriate that
• So you may see this in the legal field or or information technology or computer programming.
• And so we have 3 primary metrics in the post-secondary CTE audit.
• We have a primary target and and alternative target.
• The line funding has done something else that you may not realize. It's bolster our partnerships.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:10.560> line from MDES is driven by two primary line from MDES is driven by two primary
• And, of course, we're happy to answer any questions you guys may have. College.
• And, of course, we're happy to answer any questions you guys may have.
• And, of course, we're happy to answer any questions you guys may have. >> Thank you, Mr.
• have been another at it but it may have been another facility. facility. facility.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 14 January, 2026: 3:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: MDES presented its FY27 budget request, describing the agency as a special fund workforce agency focused on helping Mississippians get jobs through employment services, labor market information, and unemployment insurance. Executive Director Bill Ashley said the revised request seeks level spending authority similar to FY26, with line-item changes driven mainly by higher salaries and fringe benefits and lower contractual services. He said MDES currently has 406 employees, 28 active recruitments, and six additional planned positions, for a requested total of 440 positions, down from 453 authorized last year. The request also includes $1.4 million for the State Longitudinal Data System and $400,000 for Accelerate Mississippi fiscal support. Committee members asked about the SLDS pass-through funding, whether it is recurring, and the staffing/pin changes; MDES explained the SLDS is a recurring annual pass-through and that the staffing request reflects turnover and recruitment needs rather than a net expansion. Accelerate Mississippi then outlined its FY27 request and program updates. Officials said the office is requesting level funding overall, with some salary adjustments tied to benefits and two new positions, including one for Talent Solutions and one systems administrator. They described workforce initiatives such as Encore, a recruiter/instructor program; Facet, a partnership with Northwest Mississippi Community College to strengthen instructor preparation; Power Path, a K-12 advanced manufacturing credential model; and expanded career coach activity, reporting 204 coaches serving 209 schools and more than 22,000 unique student interactions. They also reviewed funding streams for workforce enhancement training, Mississippi Works, Equip Mississippi, and ARPA, saying ARPA funds are on track to be fully spent by the September 30 reimbursement deadline and that monthly check-ins are being used to ensure funds are drawn down. Members asked about the budget changes, the use of contractual services, and the career coach program; the office said it was shifting some audit and monitoring costs to the funds being monitored and was not requesting an increase for career coach funding. The Mississippi community college presidents and the Community College Board also presented their budget priorities. They reported that Mississippi community colleges served 88,600 students in academic year 2023 and said the system’s graduation rate is about 42 percent, with a goal of reaching 55 percent. Their FY27 request includes a 6 percent salary increase for employees, increased basic operations funding, and continued support for CTE Advantage programs, totaling $61.5 million in general support. On facilities, they requested $150 million after receiving no facilities funding last year, citing roughly $413 million in identified needs across capital improvements, repairs and renovations, and pre-planning. The Community College Board requested restoration of $310,000 in general fund cuts and a new $2 million appropriation for adult education, noting that an estimated 300,000 to 330,000 Mississippians lack a high school diploma. No votes were taken during the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill provides the following sales tax holidays: a 17-day disaster preparedness tax holiday from May
• 15 through May 31.
• Lastly, it clarifies the activities that the Department of Revenue may engage in during the pre-audit
• Senator Avila, you're recognized, and you may go back and forth as needed. Thank you, Mr.
• there in the middle—but in that era there was a discussion of a supersized homestead exemption that may

Summary: The Finance and Tax Committee considered several tax-related measures. SB 674, allowing county property appraisers to budget for and pay hiring or retention bonuses with Department of Revenue approval, was supported by property appraisers and reported favorably. C.S. for SJR 318, as amended, would create a tangible personal property exemption for agricultural land used in agricultural production or agritourism; the amendment clarified the property’s location and allowed the Legislature to define conditions, and the resolution was reported favorably with support from Farm Bureau and the Florida Chamber. The committee also advanced C.S. for SB 1664, as amended, which requires locally approved discretionary taxes to be reauthorized by voters when they expire and sets rules for taxes tied to revenue bonds. Local government and tourism-related groups raised concerns about impacts on tourist development taxes, beach funding, transportation surtaxes, and long-term planning, while supporters argued voters should periodically reaffirm taxes; the bill was reported favorably. C.S. for SJR 1510 and its implementing bill, SB 1512, were both amended to sharply narrow a proposed long-term lease property tax exemption to one qualifying property and to single-family homes, mobile homes, and condominiums; counties and cities opposed the measures as tax shifts, but both were reported favorably. The committee then took up SPB 7034, the Senate tax package, which includes permanent sales tax exemptions for certain clothing and bullion, multiple tax holidays, a temporary motor vehicle fee reduction, a property tax study, corporate and insurance tax credit changes, a communications services tax freeze, and other tax provisions, with staff estimating $2.1 billion in total revenue reduction. Testimony included support for studying property taxes and strong opposition to the firearm and ammunition tax holiday from students and advocacy groups, who argued it was unsafe and inappropriate; others urged adding combined reporting or removing tourist development tax changes. After debate, the committee reported the package favorably and also approved a motion to submit it as a committee bill. The meeting ended after Senator Bernard recorded an affirmative vote on tab 5 and the committee adjourned.