Transcript Highlights:

• California's farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers in fueling our economy and putting food on tables across
• Every day, farmers like myself work hard to grow the food that feeds our families and fuels our nation
• Fuel and gas prices have gone up, largely because of policies that we've implemented.
• Fuel and gas prices have gone up.
• Republic of Nigeria to advance cooperation in sustainable transportation, green ports, low-carbon fuels

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Expenses for employee wages, fuel, parts, and vehicle maintenance have increased in recent years.
• The cost of fuel has gone up.
• The cost of fuel has gone up.
• Fuel, repairs, utility, admin costs, and capital purchases make up the remainder of our expenses.
• We can project fuel usage pretty easily.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Government Finance Transportation Study Subcommittee met to review fixed-route transit systems and related funding needs. After approving the prior meeting minutes, the committee heard presentations from Cities Area Transit in Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, Bisman Transit in Bismarck-Mandan, and MATBUS/Fargo, along with comments from North Dakota Protection & Advocacy. The transit agencies described their routes, paratransit services, ridership trends, fare structures, fleet replacement needs, and rising operating costs, emphasizing that transit supports access to work, school, medical care, and other essential services. Testimony also noted that ridership fell during the pandemic and has been recovering, while vehicle and maintenance costs have risen sharply. Grand Forks transit reported 17 routes, a recent fare increase, and operating costs that exceed fare revenue, with paratransit service extending beyond the federal minimum service area. Bisman Transit outlined its fixed-route and paratransit operations, recent service expansions, local mill levies, sales tax support, and federal grant structure, and said it is seeking more stable funding and flexibility beyond paratransit-only support. Minot’s transit superintendent explained the state’s existing transit aid formula, the use of refurbished buses, and the challenges of driver recruitment and electric bus infrastructure. Fargo asked for additional state support for fixed-route urban transit. Committee members discussed whether ride-share services could replace transit, the cost per trip, local match requirements, and whether a separate state funding source should be recommended for the four urban fixed-route systems. The subcommittee ultimately approved a motion to have Legislative Council prepare a summary of its activities for inclusion in the full Government Finance Committee report, and members indicated they would seek more detailed funding figures from the transit agencies before making any specific recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've sat here in the House when we debated fuel tax, fuel toll fees, and the compromise that happened
• in the house when we uh when<00:13:31.519> we<00:13:31.680> debated<00:13:32.240> fuel
• <00:13:32.639> tax<00:13:33.360> uh<00:13:33.519> fuel when we debated fuel
• tax uh fuel when we debated fuel tax uh fuel toll<00:13:35.519> fees toll fees toll fees and<00

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But what would work out is multiple major companies have new generation hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen
• But what would work out is multiple major companies have new generation hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen
• And treating all these fossil fuels the same, um, like just assuming they're evil by existing, natural
• And treating all these fossil fuels the same, um, like just assuming they're evil by existing, natural
• Unfortunately, coal's very plentiful, but we can't be demonizing all of these fuels because the number

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• receipt of notice or knowledge that the employee's disability is not the result of personal injury to terminate
• result of personal disability is not the result of personal injury injury injury to<00:44:50.040> terminate
• <00:44:50.800> to<00:44:50.960> terminate<00:44:51.520> payment<00:44:51.920
• > of to terminate to terminate payment of to terminate to terminate payment of Workers'<00:44:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When the power goes out, every fueling station goes dark: gas, diesel, natural gas, hydrogen, they all
• Emergency preparedness should address all fuels rather than giving 100% of its focus to 7% of vehicles
• Emergency preparedness should address all fuels rather than giving 100% of its focus to 7% of vehicles
• The only state that has requirements related to backup fueling capacity is Florida, but that requires
• And I think that, especially if we're going to rely on electricity to be more of a backbone fuel supply

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a project that has been worked on by Fueling Minnesota together with the Department of Commerce
• is a project that has been worked<00:38:26.640> on<00:38:26.880> by<00:38:27.520> Fueling
• <00:38:27.880> Minnesota<00:38:28.520> together worked on by Fueling Minnesota together
• worked on by Fueling Minnesota together with<00:38:29.320> the<00:38:29.920> Department
• So, that'll help us... ...use different fuels to actually save our environment, too. Thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You've got to cut them out away from all the other fuel and let them burn out.
• My name is Alessandra Mignasco and I'm here on behalf of the California Fuels and Convenience Alliance
• In many rural areas we have very few fueling stations and so the loss of even a single fueling station
• Chair and members of this committee, my name is Alessandra Mignasco, and I represent the California Fuels
• Many of which are critical to California's fuel supply out of business for reasons beyond their control

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many elected leaders across Minnesota and across our country really provided some fuel for this, whether
• We have a negative view of law enforcement, and this is providing some of the fuel of what we're seeing
• they make the decision about whether to pull over or not to pull over. country really provided some fuel
• for country really provided some fuel for this<00:09:25.120> whether<00:09:25.360> it's
• of what we're seeing on some of the fuel of what we're seeing on our<00:09:43.720> roadways<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , we now have fuel depots that are just being established left and right, right on the border.
• And they transfer whatever they have, whether it's fuel or oil, from one tanker to another tanker.
• a little over 30 FTEs across the division, and typically that is for tax compliance, whether it's fuels
• Glenn Hager: ...typically for tax compliance, you know, whether it's fuels, whether it's cigarettes,
• Typically, say for example, with stealing, not paying taxes on dyed fuels, using off-road fuel on-road

Bills: SB 1, SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• one works is, sorry, it takes a second for the wheel to start turning, even though I got the rocket fuel
• tax credit, qualified equity investment tax credit, grape and wine producers tax credit, alternative fuel
• vehicle refueling property and electric alternative fuel vehicle refueling property and electric vehicle
• growers, and that would be the new generation cooperative tax credit and the higher ethanol blends fuel
• growers, and that would be the new generation cooperative tax credit and the higher ethanol blends fuel

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House Agriculture Committee first met in executive session on House Bill 2998. Members discussed a committee substitute that narrowed the bill to a study of the Upper Mississippi River Basin and the Rural Development Office, and extended the deadline to December 1, 2029. After questions about the cost and whether the proposed river-related project would work, the committee adopted the substitute and then voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 2998 do pass by a roll call of 21 ayes and 0 noes. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 913, which would extend a number of agricultural tax credits for five years and add a short-line railroad tax credit. Senator Curtis Gregory explained the bill as a continuation of existing programs such as the MAZBIDTA program, rolling stock credits, meat processing incentives, biodiesel and ethanol-related credits, and the new short-line railroad provision. He and supporters said the bill would provide certainty for agricultural investment, rural development, and railroad infrastructure, and several witnesses from farm, railroad, banking, business, and commodity groups testified in favor. Committee members asked detailed questions about how unused credits carry forward, how the rolling stock credit reimburses local political subdivisions, and whether the short-line railroad credit could benefit lessees or be transferred. Supporters said the rolling stock provision makes local governments whole rather than creating a double payment, and that the short-line credit is intended to help rehabilitate aging rail lines and spur economic development. Opponents argued that Missouri’s tax credit system is too large, lacks sufficient auditing, and imposes significant costs on the state budget; one witness said the bill could add tens of millions in fiscal impact and should not be funded. No vote was taken on SB 913 in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, under existing law, when a plan terminates, retirement benefits for firefighters under age 50 must
• of Firefighter Relief the termination of Firefighter Relief Association<00:05:11.240> Retirement<
• ,<00:05:25.720> retirement<00:05:26.200> benefits<00:05:26.600> for terminates,
• retirement benefits for terminates, retirement benefits for firefighters<00:05:27.440> under<00
• The bill clarifies the termination process, helps ensure it is fair and workable for relief associations

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The commission first approved the minutes and then took up several pension omnibus items. Representative Rapinski’s item, related to an I-RAP issue, was moved ahead of the agenda and passed without further information after members noted the State Board of Investment and Minnesota State had not identified additional facts; the bill, as previously amended, was recommended for inclusion in the 2026 Pension Omnibus Bill. The committee also corrected a procedural issue on Senator Gustafson’s bill, SF 3897/HF 3703, after realizing an amendment referenced earlier belonged to a different bill; the motion was restated without the amendment reference and the bill was then recommended to pass and be incorporated into the omnibus bill. The main policy discussion centered on SF 3897/HF 3703, which would change how terminating firefighter relief association plans value benefits for firefighters under age 50. Senator Gustafson said the current statute can unfairly reduce benefits by requiring present-value discounting and that the bill would instead allow benefits to be based on accrued benefit under the plan formula, while still leaving relief associations flexibility to use present value if they choose. Staff confirmed the bill applies only to relief associations under chapter 424B, not PERA or the statewide plan. Senator Rasmussen raised concerns about consistency between SVF and non-SVF reliefs and about differing treatment on termination; the bill author acknowledged the difference. The committee ultimately voted to recommend the bill for inclusion in the omnibus pension bill. The final major item was House File 4162, as amended by an A1 amendment, which requires employers of reemployed annuitants in TRA to make employer contributions during reemployment, including Minnesota State Colleges and Universities employees covered under section 354.445. Representative O’Driscoll argued the bill would direct existing education-formula pension dollars to TRA, prevent districts from using those funds elsewhere when retirees are rehired, and keep the employee neutral because the annuitant’s benefit would not change. Supporters said the measure would help pension funding and address situations where districts rehire retired teachers, often in hard-to-fill specialties. Opponents, including Senator Rasmusson, questioned the added cost to school districts, citing an estimated $5.385 million in annual TRA revenue from the change and warning it could reduce districts’ ability to hire or retain staff. After discussion, the committee had not yet taken final action on this item in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• could sneak through, but if and when it's caught in reference to that list, the contract can be terminated
• Again, I think the state, the way I... ...can be terminated and then no more further business.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• office, but official is no longer in office, but they<00:18:43.200> haven't<00:18:43.440> terminated
• <00:18:44.080> their<00:18:44.880> campaign they haven't terminated their campaign
• they haven't terminated their campaign um<00:18:45.840> or<00:18:46.240> their<00:18:46.480

Bills: HB1805, HB2110, HB2180, HB2184, HB2219, HB2469

Keywords: child welfare, advocacy, oversight, independent office, foster care, child advocate, child safety, nepotism, ethics, government transparency, accountability, legislative standards, electronic voting, legislative transparency, Hawaii House, voting system, appropriation, lawmaker safety, political violence, confidentiality

Summary: The House Committee on Legislative Management heard testimony on several measures. HB 1805, relating to child welfare, drew support from the University of Hawaii and concerns from the Attorney General about the bill’s definition of state agency and possible separation-of-powers and supremacy clause issues. During decision-making, the committee opted to move the child advocate function to the Attorney General’s office, accepted the Attorney General’s suggested scope and jurisdiction amendments, set the salary at 90% of the Department of Health deputy director’s salary, and passed the bill with amendments. HB 2110, relating to nepotism, received support from the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, which said the bill would apply the rule consistently and noted the existing good-cause exception process. The committee later deferred the bill, saying existing House rules on nepotism were already strict and that the proposal would be duplicative in statute. HB 2180, relating to voting boards, had no oral testimony in the room during the hearing, but the committee later amended it into a blank appropriations vehicle for the House of Representatives and passed it with amendments. HB 2184, relating to lawmaker safety, drew concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the bill would require redaction of address information and could create implementation issues, and the Attorney General noted missing language regarding appointed officials and an internal cross-reference issue. The committee adopted amendments to address those concerns and passed the bill with amendments. HB 2219, relating to disclosure of privileged communications to the Ombudsman, was clarified by the Ombudsman’s office as not requiring disclosure of privileged material, only preserving privilege if such material is voluntarily provided; the bill passed with amendments. HB 2469, relating to a regular session review working group, received testimony from the State Procurement Office, the Legislative Reference Bureau, and others in support and opposition, and the committee passed it with amendments after changing references and funding language.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we expect our case termination numbers will increase exponentially when we fill the current vacancy
• It should read that the ICA terminated 599 primary cases while 503 new cases were filed in fiscal year
• So, we expect our case termination numbers will increase exponentially when we fill the current vacancy
• It should read that the ICA terminated 599 primary cases while 503 new cases were filed in fiscal year
• It should read that the ICA terminated 599 primary cases while 503 new cases were filed in fiscal year

Bills: SB2444, SB2446, SB2450, SB2453, SB2461, SB2457, SB2462, SB2313, SB2528, SB2532, SB2571, SB2678, SB2529

Keywords: real property, exemption, attachment, execution, consumer protection, financial security, inflation adjustment, head of family, senior citizens, Intermediate Court of Appeals, judges, Hawaii judiciary, court membership, legal system, presidential preference primary, elections, political parties, Hawaii voting, 2028 election, voting

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2444 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution, which the Attorney General said could create vague retroactivity language and litigation risk; the committee noted the exemption had last been adjusted around 1978. SB 2446 would add a seventh associate judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Judiciary staff testified in opposition, saying recent internal restructuring and a pending vacancy had improved output and that it would be prudent to wait and see the effect before adding another judge. The Public Defender supported the goal of faster appellate resolution but said it would defer to the court’s assessment and had no objection to revisiting the issue later. The committee also discussed current appellate timelines, with staff saying at least 225 days is built into the process before a case reaches a merit panel, and that a two-year delay from panel assignment was realistic under the current structure. The committee then heard SB 2450, which would establish a presidential preference primary for the 2028 cycle. The Chief Election Officer said the election would cost about $4 million, less if combined with the regular primary. Several opponents argued the bill would add bureaucracy, duplicate or undermine party-run processes, and waste taxpayer money; one speaker estimated the total cost could be closer to $6 million when county costs are included. Supporters and committee members discussed that the measure would not require parties to use the results and that Hawaii remains one of the few states still using caucuses. The committee also asked whether counties could staff the election and whether the results would be useful given Hawaii’s current primary timing. SB 2453 would require the Office of Elections to include a notice with each ballot that a digital and printed voter information guide is available, with the notice in 32-point font as a separate insert. The Chief Election Officer said the insert would cost about $90,000 and asked for an effective date of January 1, 2027 because mailing preparations for the primary would already be underway. The Disability and Communications Access Board, League of Women Voters, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and others supported the bill. The committee also began hearing SB 2461, which would have the Office of Elections prepare a questionnaire for candidates and publish responses online and in the voter guide; the Chief Election Officer said the office did not think it should be the agency to shape campaign questions, though he said it could work if the questions were specified in statute. Finally, the committee heard SB 2457, which would require a criminal conviction before seized property could be forfeited. The Attorney General and Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, arguing it would prolong cases, increase storage costs, and make forfeiture less effective against crime, especially where owners flee, die, or hide assets through shell companies. The Public Defender strongly supported the measure, saying forfeiture should be tied to convictions and that people challenging forfeiture often lack counsel. The Honolulu Prosecutor also opposed the bill, but said it supported transparency, due process, and even a right to counsel; it argued conviction-only forfeiture would fail in cases involving fugitives, deceased suspects, or hidden ownership structures. The committee questioned what would happen to property if an owner could not be found, and the prosecutor said the outcome would depend on the type of property and could involve abandonment or interpleader proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• um was the waiver that was successful um was the risk<04:33:15.080> of<04:33:15.600> termination
• uh to uh the risk of risk of termination uh to uh the risk of loss<04:33:18.359> of<04:33:18.561
• have benefits engage in treatment and then lose them, that care continues, and that's really what fueled
• 04:37:26.920> that's<04:37:27.160> really<04:37:27.520> what<04:37:27.959> fueled
• continues and that's really what fueled continues and that's really what fueled the<04:37:29.359

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• end of fuel competition. end of fuel competition.
• led to milelong gas lines in fuel led to milelong gas lines in fuel rationing.<04:28:30.720>
• Period. fossil fuel industry. All of this was fossil fuel industry.
• It's also important to note fuel source.
• would eliminate a product based on fuel would eliminate a product based on fuel type,<04:51:07.680

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is a fee for a service charged by the point-of-sale software terminals that process the transactions
• signed with the service, like Toast or Clover or some of those other convenience-store point-of-sale terminals
• That is a fee for a service charged by the point-of-sale software terminals that process the transactions
• signed with the service, like a toast or Clover or some of those other convenient store point-of-sale terminals
• The first question that's input into the terminal is: is a credit card present? Yes or no. Right?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing focused on interchange fees, sales tax and tip processing, chargebacks, fraud, surcharging, and the broader future of payment systems. Chair Paul Feeney and co-chair Rep. Jamie Murphy opened by explaining the commission’s charge and inviting testimony from small businesses, industry groups, banks, and policy experts. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that Massachusetts tourism depends on universal card acceptance and stable interchange, and urging the commission not to disrupt the current system ahead of major events expected to bring millions of visitors to the Commonwealth. A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates describing thin margins and the burden of paying percentage-based processing fees on sales tax and tips that are not business revenue. Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others said restaurants often operate on very small profits and that processing fees on taxes and gratuities can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, and limiting repeat abuse. Commission members pressed witnesses on whether tax and tip amounts could be separated at the point of sale, and several witnesses said current consumer card systems do not transmit that level of detail. Testimony from credit union, banking, and payments representatives largely opposed state-level changes that would carve out taxes or tips from interchange, warning of compliance burdens, higher costs, reduced rewards, and possible effects on fraud protection and access to credit. Alex Verine of America’s Credit Unions and Deb Peters and Keely McEwen of the Electronic Payments Coalition said the payment system is complex, that interchange funds fraud prevention and network infrastructure, and that new state mandates could create operational and legal uncertainty. Dan Swanson argued states have authority to act and pointed to Illinois litigation and federal court rulings, while Julian Morris and Brad Popolado emphasized the benefits of card acceptance, the decline of cash, and the need to consider other payment methods and check fraud as well. Several witnesses discussed international payment systems, instant payments, and QR standards as possible future directions. The chairs and members engaged in extended back-and-forth with witnesses about whether Massachusetts could exempt sales tax from swipe fees, whether surcharging should be revisited, and whether vendor compensation or other targeted relief might be more workable than broad changes to interchange. No votes were taken. At the close of the hearing, the chairs said the commission would hold one additional public hearing date to be determined, after which members would begin developing next steps and a report.

Transcript Highlights:

• the group foster home must immediately remove the employee until the confirmatory screening, and terminate
• Immediate removal from child contact pending confirmatory testing and termination when illegal or unauthorized
• The bill also includes provisions for employee background checks, drug screening, and requiring termination
• Continued operation terminates once the board issues or denies the new permit.
• The MCOs, including Banner, have threatened contracted providers with contract termination if they do

Bills: HB2035, HB2086, HB2434, HB2611, HB2732, HB2733, HB2830, HB2923, HB2932, HB4004

Keywords: kinship care, child welfare, foster care, relative placement, child protection, vaccination mandates, mask requirements, public health, government entities, COVID-19, controlled substances, prescription monitoring, opioid crisis, healthcare regulations, patient safety, group homes, children's rights, safety protocols, employee training, mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• The only consequence there is potential termination of employment, but it basically says this is not
• These are our proposed treasurer terminations.
• If a filer's been inactive for more than a year, the commissioner may terminate the filer's campaign
• Termination ends the filer's obligation to file additional reports, which means they do not continue
• Is there a motion to approve the terminations proposed by our staff and identified on the agenda?

Summary: The Texas Ethics Commission met on March 11, 2025, first in executive session and then in open session. The chair announced that, in light of Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-484, the commission would conform its practices to the opinion and move to repeal tolling rules for sworn-complaint deadlines. The chair also said the commission would dismiss 36 pending sworn-complaint cases in which the 120-day settlement deadline had been exceeded, even though the delay had been tolled under prior TEC rules. The commission then set future meeting dates for June 12 and September 17 and approved prior meeting minutes. The commission adopted a new criminal-referral rule clarifying that, once jurisdiction over a complaint is accepted, commissioners may vote to make a criminal referral. It also adopted revised advisory-opinion rules, with a clarifying amendment from a commenter, and republished proposed changes to the definition of “principal purpose” for political committees after staff recommended a 49 percent political-activity threshold and further public input. The commission published for comment proposed changes to ethics training rules, facial-compliance review procedures, late-filing waiver and reduction rules, and sworn-complaint procedures, including tighter discovery limits, a default-order set-aside process, and removal of tolling language inconsistent with KP-484. It also republished Chapter 28 rules on Speaker-candidate reporting. The commission adopted several advisory opinions. It declined to give an affirmative defense on whether certain school-district communications were political advertising because related litigation had already addressed the issue. It reaffirmed that a House member may use donated district-office space if it is not reimbursable with public funds and was accepted before the contribution moratorium. It also concluded that a judge may use political funds for travel to a Navy-hosted event as a local dignitary, that legislators’ use of a corporate aircraft for a border-region fact-finding trip could be permissible but would likely trigger reporting obligations, that a TCEQ commissioner’s revolving-door restrictions apply only to matters actually placed before the commissioner, and that a part-time legislative staffer may not take outside employment assisting a registered lobbyist. The commission then heard and acted on numerous fine-waiver appeals, granting several full waivers or reductions and approving staff recommendations on others, and terminated a number of inactive campaign treasurer appointments. Finally, the executive director briefed the commission on the 2025 legislative session, noting that staffing requests are tied to Sunset recommendations and that the House had preliminarily recommended about half of the commission’s appropriations requests.