Transcript Highlights:

• The second item before you is the Broadcom Computer Associates Integrated Database Management System,
• More importantly, it also identified a major gap around audit capacity and accountability oversight,
• And we were quite modest in our request for six analysts and one manager, or one Supervisor I.
• And we were quite modest in our request for six analysts and one manager, or one Supervisor I.
• With me today is my colleague Sarah Hamilton, who's the chief of our fiscal management office.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a series of May Revision budget items, beginning with the State Controller’s Office. SCO described requests for Fiscal Book of Record stabilization, payroll system implementation, ACFR reporting support, and unclaimed property outreach funding. Members focused on the Fiscal system’s July go-live, the improved timeliness of the ACFR, and the unclaimed property program’s roughly $15 billion balance and outreach efforts. The Department of Finance and LAO raised no major concerns, and the item was closed after discussion of how the new outreach funding would be used. The committee then considered several revenue proposals. Finance presented a proposal to tax pre-written digital software and SaaS, with estimated General Fund gains of $450 million in 2026-27 and $900 million ongoing; LAO suggested broader digital tax changes and a business-use exemption, while industry groups opposed the measure as a tax on essential digital tools. CDTFA also presented an administrative request tied to the software tax, and later a $10 million budget reduction reflecting lower operational needs. The committee then heard a federal conformity proposal for new children’s tax-deferred accounts, which LAO supported, and a proposal to cut the first-year LLC/LP minimum tax from $800 to $400, which Finance said would aid small business formation but LAO argued was poorly targeted and would reduce revenue. Another major item was a permanent business tax credit limitation beginning in 2027, capping credits at the greater of $5 million per corporation or 50% of pre-credit liability. Finance said it would raise about $850 million in 2026-27 and more in later years, while LAO noted it would mainly affect large firms using the R&D credit and could also touch California Competes and other programs. Public testimony split sharply between business groups opposing the cap and advocates supporting it as a progressive revenue measure. The committee also heard FTB’s CalFile realignment proposal, which would retain a smaller staff to continue improving the free filing system and return most of the prior funding to the General Fund. The hearing concluded with the California Arts Council’s request to reauthorize the Keep Arts in Schools voluntary contribution fund, which brings in about $221,000 to $266,000 annually for arts grants and teacher stipends. Members and advocates supported the item but also urged larger arts funding, including the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development then presented proposals for the California Civic Media Program, CA RISE reappropriation, and a reversion of unused Chips for America facility funds; LAO supported the latter two but was cautious about new civic media spending. Members raised concerns about the civic media program’s scope, including the exclusion of broadcast and the lack of a specific ethnic media set-aside, while GoBiz said funds would begin going out in the fall if approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendments that came up from the House prohibit a vision benefit manager from denying certain eye
• Members, this bill is a cleanup measure dealing with the trial court case management information system
• This will help out a parish like Pointe Coupee to be able to save some money on the audits.
• This will help out a parish like Pointe Coupee to be able to save some money on the audits.
• House Bill 10... like point to P to be able to save some money on the audits. I see no question.

Bills: SR125, SCR70, SCR12, HB4, HB251, HB623, HB819, HB944, HB986, HB1098, HB1222, HB1257, HB221, HCR58, SCR22, SCR24, SB29, SB30, SB32, SB41, SB42, SB43, SB47, SB84, SB93, SB113, SB192, SB199, SB219, SB220, SB221, SB222, SB241, SB253, SB255, SB289, SB292, SB306, SB314, SB351, SB399, SB404, SB14, SB102, SB133, SB151, SB165, SB169, SB170, SB200, SB217, SB280, SB291, SB300, SB303, SB330, SB449, SB489, SB521, SB45, SB156, SB181, SB203, SB274, SB304, SB379, SB396, SB410, SB425, SB427, SB436, SB424, SCR61, SCR9, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB246, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB490, SB492, SB500, HCR31, HB296, HB299, HB322, HB364, HB519, HB535, HB538, HB568, HB571, HB622, HB635, HB676, HB772, HB784, HB1006, HB1018, HB1043, HB1070, HB1134, HB1239, HB62, HB193, HB203, HB210, HB220, HB228, HB246, HB420, HB475, HB486, HB574, HB584, HB750, HB813, HB815, HB826, HB870, HB949, HB953, HB1045, HB1092, HB1151, HB1162, HB1176, HB1177, HB1196, HB1214, HB1241, HB22, HB28, HB33, HB41, HB47, HB87, HB115, HB162, HB195, HB214, HB217, HB233, HB283, HB290, HB319, HB324, HB345, HB362, HB363, HB368, HB377, HB380, HB382, HB386, HB392, HB406, HB431, HB441, HB466, HB503, HB533, HB559, HB575, HB590, HB593, HB618, HB636, HB655, HB664, HB685, HB692, HB707, HB715, HB732, HB738, HB741, HB748, HB776, HB807, HB822, HB856, HB860, HB868, HB887, HB888, HB905, HB908, HB961, HB980, HB990, HB992, HB999, HB1000, HB1010, HB1146, HB1157, HB1233, HB1236, HB1243, HB54, HB137, HB180, HB192, HB310, HB321, HB396, HB512, HB552, HB578, HB638, HB663, HB708, HB717, HB718, HB1009, HB1082, HB1104, HB1107, HB1198, HB1246, HB1250, HB17, HB36, HB73, HB119, HB126, HB129, HB133, HB140, HB159, HB166, HB211, HB226, HB245, HB271, HB280, HB337, HB351, HB354, HB399, HB677, HB712, HB723, HB726, HB728, HB759, HB789, HB844, HB850, HB966, HB1036, SB149, SB382, SB441, HB134, HB258, HB359, HB782

Keywords: SR125, Senate Resolution 125, MUSV, Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel, MASC, Modular Attack Surface Craft, Conrad Shipyard, Morgan City, Louisiana shipbuilding, U.S. Navy, Department of the Navy, unmanned naval vessels, autonomous ships, defense procurement, military contracting, shipyard jobs, maritime workforce, advanced manufacturing, robotics, software engineering

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, received an opening prayer from Pastor Elizabeth Ali Frank, and adopted the journal. The chamber then handled a large number of messages, committee reports, resolutions, and House bills, including several ceremonial resolutions and many House measures returned with amendments. Notable resolutions included recognition of World Preeclampsia Awareness Day, commendations for Louisiana sports honorees, and a resolution urging higher reimbursement rates for behavioral health crisis centers, which was adopted. The Senate also concurred in SCR 22 on opioid settlement fund reporting, with Senator Myers explaining the House changes were technical and improved the reporting deadline and detail. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to concurrence or rejection of House amendments on Senate bills. The Senate concurred in several bills involving telehealth, prenatal bereavement care, official journals, ambulance Medicaid coverage, insurance and licensing disclosures, peptide regulation, psychosocial rehabilitation services, university records confidentiality, the Inspector General, religious exercise protections, child care assistance, eye care coverage, teacher retirement, and electronic service of pleadings. The chamber rejected House amendments to SB 42 on AI-created child sexual abuse materials and SB 43 on psychedelic-assisted therapy, and also rejected amendments on SB 29 and SB 32 before later concurring in many other technical or clarifying House changes. Several members explained that the House amendments were mostly technical, clarified effective dates, or adjusted definitions and contact information. The Senate then took up numerous House bills on final passage. Bills passed included measures on inmate workforce development cleanup, jury bond filing by mail, free transcripts for victims testifying before pardon/parole hearings, public awareness on illegal firearm discharge, special masters in complex litigation, paternity acknowledgments in hospitals, juvenile court filing fees in East Baton Rouge Parish, drug-free school zone penalties, criminal history record confidentiality, body brokering/fraudulent patient referrals, bail notice and residence requirements, sex offender registration updates, parish court jurisdictional amounts, court technology fees, deferred retirement options, shared custody standards, women’s policy and research commission membership, sickle cell and uterine fibroids commission membership, child exploitation reporting on online platforms, recreation of the state civil service department, children’s cabinet membership, DCFS employee background checks, AI disclosure in health care visits, the psychology inter-jurisdictional compact, mental health advisory board updates, foster children’s rights, automatic renewal contract disclosures, Orleans sheriff term alignment, access to death records for financial institutions, insurance referral disclosures, radiologist assistant regulation, plumbing licensure reforms, legislative auditor thresholds, developmental disabilities office renaming, insurer investment rules, Medicare Advantage coverage for integrative care services, and more. Some bills were returned to the calendar for further work, including HB 571, HB 475, HB 750, and HB 1162, and HB 490 was set aside after extensive debate on private-use electrical networks and data-center power arrangements. The most prominent floor action was final passage of HB 636, the Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act, which Senator Boudreaux described as a comprehensive response to hazing tragedies on Louisiana campuses. He said the bill was developed by a task force that included the Wilson family and would strengthen education, reporting, accountability, and penalties, including permanent banishment for organizations involved in hazing deaths. After the bill passed 37-0, the Senate recognized the Wilson family and presented flags in Caleb Wilson’s honor. Throughout the day, many bills passed overwhelmingly, though a few drew dissent, including HB 296, HB 538, HB 568, HB 635, and HB 784. The meeting ended with continued consideration of additional House bills and unfinished items returned to the calendar for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• <05:04:45.558> and agencies that would run an audit and agencies that would run an audit and
• the Pentagon has failed for eight years an audit.
• And in the security areas, fine, you do human auditing of those.
• for eight years an audit it's for eight years an audit it's unauditable<05:32:28.360> is<
• the asset list because you can't audit the asset list because you can't audit it<05:32:35.040>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That would allow us, because we can manage our loads.
• My name is Nathan Rake, manager of state and local affairs at Renew Northeast.
• The energy audit reporting appears to go beyond current statutory obligations.
• I'm the manager of state government affairs for New England for Constellation. the manager of State Government
• I'm the managing director of energy advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on H. 4144, the Governor’s Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act, with the administration arguing the bill would lower bills in the short and long term while expanding clean energy supply and innovation. The Governor and Secretary said the bill would reduce or restructure charges on customer bills, reform Mass Save, expand securitization as a financing tool, speed interconnection, create energy-ready zones, strengthen consumer protections in competitive supply, and allow broader state procurement of energy resources. They said the package could save consumers billions over time and would help address high energy costs, especially during extreme heat and winter spikes. Committee members pressed the administration on several provisions, especially securitization, asking whether the bill requires an apples-to-apples comparison of total costs over time, including interest and lost tax revenue, versus paying through rates. Administration witnesses said DPU review and public comment would be required and said they would work to clarify the language if needed. Members also questioned the bill’s solar and procurement provisions, including reduced net metering compensation for some large facilities, the scope of all-resource procurements, and whether hydro, solar, and nuclear would be included; the administration said those resources were contemplated and that procurement would still be reviewed by DPU. Other questions focused on the short-term relief from bill changes, the treatment of low- and moderate-income discounts, and whether the bill’s heat pump and Mass Save reforms would help customers who cannot afford upfront costs. Several witnesses and committee members discussed Mass Save reforms, including securitization of program costs, on-bill financing, pre-approval of rebates, and shifting program administration away from gas utilities. Administration witnesses said the changes were intended to reduce volatility, lower administrative costs, and better align costs with long-term savings. Questions also touched on geothermal permitting, municipal participation in offshore wind procurement, and the proposed repeal of the ballot requirement for nuclear power, which the administration defended as preserving future options under heavy review. No votes were taken during the hearing portion described. Supportive testimony came from labor, environmental, business, planning, and development groups. The AFL-CIO, NECA, and the Environmental League of Massachusetts backed the bill, emphasizing lower bills, job creation, labor standards, just transition protections, and cleaner energy. NAIOP, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and MAPC supported provisions on energy-ready zones, interconnection reform, microgrids, extreme-heat shutoff protections, and Mass Save improvements. A HEET representative praised the bill’s use of securitization, geothermal, and utility financing tools but urged guardrails and workforce protections. Overall, testimony was broadly favorable, with most witnesses calling for refinements rather than opposing the bill outright.

Transcript Highlights:

• Workforce Programs and Services; Tyler Burch, Controller; Vincent Steiner, Accelerate Mississippi Fiscal Manager
• Vincent Steiner, Accelerate Mississippi Fiscal Manager.
• Um, it also includes the cost of contracting for the ROI study, auditing funds, managing the award processing
• /c><00:22:07.600> moved<00:22:08.080> the<00:22:09.039> um<00:22:09.840> auditing
• done is we have moved the um auditing done is we have moved the um auditing the<00:22:10.559>

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:

• I have been on and I remain on the Investment Committee that manages the... ...Board for nine years.
• We’re a family-owned business, and we’re one of the largest pest management companies in our industry
• We currently have 191 offices and 9,000... ...largest pest management companies in our industry.
• My aim is to manage the scale wisely, ensuring quality education persists.
• My aim is to manage the scale wisely, ensuring quality education persists.

Summary: The committee first heard a confirmation from UCF trustee reappointee Mr. Christie, who described his background in medical devices and prior board service and said he wanted to help UCF strengthen its financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology pipeline. Members asked about UCF’s direction, and he emphasized the university’s role in producing engineers and supporting Florida’s space and technology sectors. The committee then moved to the higher education budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which was presented as an $11.5 billion total budget including local funds and focused heavily on workforce education, nursing, agriculture technology, tutoring, student aid, and university initiatives. Chair Harrell highlighted increases for school district workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education grants, the GATE program, nursing education through USF’s Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS rural and agricultural programs, UCF’s Community School Grant Program, UF’s literacy and tutoring initiatives, autism and neurodevelopment services, full funding for major scholarship programs, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and Harrell said a conforming bill would address the details. The budget proposal was adopted as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee, with staff authorized to make technical corrections. The committee then took up a series of confirmations, beginning with Florida State University reappointee Peter Collins, who emphasized his long FSU ties, leadership on the board, and goal of keeping FSU on a path toward top-10 status and AAU membership. Rebecca Matthews, a new University of West Florida appointee, discussed her education-related volunteer work, Florida Education Foundation service, and interest in supporting UWF’s continued excellence; senators questioned her on Title IX and she said she would support student protections and compliance. Rachel Moyah, another UWF appointee, highlighted her education, school board experience, and priorities of student safety, fiscal discipline, and workforce readiness; she also said she would comply with Title IX and other applicable rules. Ashley Ross, also nominated to UWF, said she would focus on university advancement, military ties, cybersecurity, civil engineering, and strong governance, and agreed that Title IX protections should be preserved and advanced. The most extensive questioning came during the confirmation of Adam Kessel, a UWF appointee and Heritage Foundation fellow, who was asked about prior writings on privatizing public universities, his comments about the GI Bill, and his views on free speech and Project 2025. Kessel said he did not recommend privatizing Florida universities, clarified that his comments about the GI Bill and over-enrollment were about broader higher education policy, and said he supports veterans and the GI Bill. He described his higher education work as focused on civic education, accreditation, student success, tenure, and free speech, and said trustees should improve campus culture through policies, training, and institutional neutrality. Public testimony on UWF was sharply divided: former UWF leaders and community members warned that the new slate of trustees and their vote to make Scott Yenor chair had chilled donations, enrollment, and community trust, while a James Madison Institute representative praised Kessel’s scholarship and thoughtful approach. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment Belvin Perry, who cited his judicial career and board service and said his goal is to support student success, retain strong faculty and staff, and help FAMU continue rising in national standing. Finally, the committee began hearing from remote appointees, including UCF nominee Mark Philburn, who emphasized his construction, affordable housing, and higher education board experience, and FSU nominee Peter Jones, who described his finance and investment background and long service to FSU boards and committees. The last nominee heard before the transcript ended was Florida Gulf Coast appointee Paul Applegarth, whose audio issues delayed his remarks; he began by noting his prior federal confirmation, military service, and GI Bill-supported education.

Transcript Highlights:

• managed care organizations...
• . foundational principles as it related to potential claims management.
• So we designated risk management and created an army of experienced clinicians to serve in the risk management
• These ECHOs focus on diabetes self-management education and support.
• We also have a bimonthly opioid crisis and pain management ECHO.

Transcript Highlights:

• We look at audited statements of the districts and add all the numbers up.
• aptitude, high energy, a lot of. passion for children, but no one comes out of the womb knowing how to manage
• audit.
• We've seen some year-over-year improvement in the success of intruder detection audits.
• That's just harder for classroom management, school, I mean, all of it, behavior. management, and just

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Managing agents have to take this seriously. Managing agents have to take this seriously.
• agents this measure requires managing agents this measure requires managing<01:21:00.159> agents<
• The site manager, resident manager, or potential general manager are usually, uh, facilitate the on-site
• :25:05.800> resident hawaiana the site manager resident hawaiana the site manager resident manager
• <01:25:08.600> are manager or potential general manager are manager or potential general manager

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee opened by outlining testimony procedures and then heard SB 376 on tax credits, which would create a home fire safety improvement tax credit. Testimony from the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi urged that the concept would be better handled as a subsidy program and raised drafting concerns about unclear definitions and eligibility. Later, the committees agreed to pass SB 376 with amendments, including making the credit nonrefundable, clarifying third-party certification, deleting recapture-related language, and making technical changes. Members then heard SB 417, which would make unlicensed contractor work during or within five years after an emergency or disaster a class B felony. The Contractors License Board was listed for comments, and the Subcontractors Association supported the measure. The committees ultimately recommended passage with technical, non-substantive amendments and an adjusted effective date, and the measure was adopted. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on SB 782, which would require free and accessible voice communication services for incarcerated people and prohibit state agencies from profiting from those services, while also directing the PUC to set standards and providing funding for the SAVIN victim notification program. Supporters, including the Public Defender, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Worth Rises, and others, argued the bill would reduce costs for families, improve reentry, and align adult corrections with the juvenile system. Opponents, including the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Hawaiʻi Paroling Authority, and SAVIN-related witnesses, warned that changing the funding structure could weaken victim notification and safety services. The committees deferred SB 782. The committee also heard SB 999 on fireworks, which would repeal permissible consumer fireworks uses, impose civil penalties and forfeiture remedies, and create a forfeiture special fund for safety education. The Department of Law Enforcement and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, while fireworks industry representatives and others opposed it, arguing prohibition would be ineffective and urging stronger enforcement and education instead. The committees deferred SB 999 for further consideration, and SB 1136 on insurance was also deferred after insurers and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs opposed it. In the later joint session with the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, SB 744 on condominium loans was heard with support from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and banking groups, while one testifier raised concerns that the program could function like C-PACE financing and add risky debt to condominium associations; testimony and discussion continued on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we do not want them auditing people that are working in good faith.
• So I have an to audit all systems.
• Uh we do not want them actually audit.
• And so what we're trying to do is establish an audit system to where they could audit these failing systems
• DFA said, "Well, we've got to talk to the benefit manager.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 10 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, received the invocation and pledge, and then dispensed with reading the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. Several guests and pages were introduced, including junior pages, a doctor of the day, Farm Bureau representatives, and other visitors in the galleries. The chamber also recognized a birthday and welcomed a House member to the Senate. On the calendar, the Senate took up several bills and mostly adopted strike-all amendments before passing them, often by morning roll call. These included HB 1646, which increased disaster trust fund transfer limits for declared and non-declared disasters; HB 1649, which authorized additional state fund transfers for Main Street revitalization projects and increased the total authorized expenditure; HB 1653, which kept a local improvements project fund bill alive for possible repurposing of funds, including a Mississippi Valley State residence hall project; and HB 669, which allowed patrons to bring wine into licensed premises with a corkage fee and changed wine shipment reporting from quarterly to semiannual. HB 1620 created an economic zone around the Chevron refinery in Jackson County, and HB 2787 changed school district gas-piping inspection requirements from annual testing to a two-year cycle, with funding support from gas companies. The Senate also handled several concurrence and conference motions on House and Senate bills, including SB 2263 on probable-cause requirements for Marine Resources officers boarding or stopping vessels, SB 2524 establishing the Postsecondary Attainment Council, and SB 2597 involving the ABC warehouse transfer in Madison County, with the chamber choosing not to concur and to invite conference on those items. SB 2368 made technical changes to the higher education legislative plan grant program, and SB 2526 on the Rural Water Oversight Committee returned with changes removing a reverse repealer and shifting administration of some duties to a nonprofit using rural water revolving loan funds. The Senate also tabled motions to reconsider on some items, and one nomination-related motion drew extended remarks about the role of the capital post-conviction counsel office and respect for crime victims.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, right now we don't have an audit mechanism in place. We can only accept what is provided.
• And then, in terms of the auditing for other kinds of reporting, when we do sanctions, we hold the CEO
• On the flip side, they don't want unsuspecting landlords or property managers where these parties are

Bills: HB287, HB280, HB57, HB252, HB286, SB36, HB287, HB280, HB57, HB252, HB286, SB36

Keywords: law enforcement, transparency, reporting, public safety, regulation, accountability, public nuisance, event liability, local government, community health, legal action, education, property acquisition, municipality, land use, annexation, competitive bidding, procurement, disclosure statements, state contracts

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a special education teacher and an IEP case manager.
• districts to employ an internal auditor while maintaining the requirement for independent financial audits
• districts to employ an internal auditor while maintaining the requirement for independent financial audits
• The bill proprietors. for independent financial audits.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum present and observed a moment of silence for Senator Geraldine Thompson. The committee first took up CS/SB 102, a bill by Senator Gates directing the Department of Education to develop a workforce credential program for students with autism spectrum disorder or students on a modified curriculum, in coordination with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA. Supporters said the bill would help autistic students gain job skills and workplace safety credentials, while an opponent argued the bill should clearly make participation voluntary, expand to other exceptional student groups, include funding, and add stronger accountability. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 166, the Administrative Efficiency in Public Schools bill by Senator Simon. The bill would reduce or remove several state mandates and give districts more flexibility on testing, teacher evaluations, contracts and certification, school board operations, instructional materials timelines, audits, facilities planning, emergency make-up days, federal fund use, and public VPK oversight. Senators asked about the impact on student proficiency, teacher evaluations, and the transfer of public VPK oversight to districts; Simon said the tests would remain but count as 30 percent of the grade, districts would retain flexibility in evaluation measures, and only public VPK would shift to districts. Public testimony was largely supportive, with some speakers praising reduced testing and local control, while one senator cautioned that Florida still has a math proficiency problem. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 296 by Senator Bradley, which would repeal the 2023 statewide mandate requiring later middle and high school start times and return the decision to local districts, while still requiring districts to inform the community about the health, safety, and academic impacts of sleep deprivation and consider later start times. Supporters argued the mandate created transportation, staffing, and scheduling problems and that local control was more practical, while opponents emphasized sleep science and the benefits of later start times for teens. Several senators discussed the tension between research and district resources, and the bill sponsor said the measure preserves the conversation about sleep while allowing local scheduling decisions. CS/SB 296 was reported favorably, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would not apply to management, administrative staff, or mechanics.
• The federal government wants to audit people in poverty.
• I think we should be auditing the system and employers that keep people in poverty.
• I think we should be auditing the system and employers that keep people in poverty.
• Private equity managers can't be the only ones who evaluate potential risks, given their interests in

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard SB 921, which would create a tax credit tied to agricultural overtime wages. Senator Grove argued the measure is intended to help farmworkers recover take-home pay lost after California’s agricultural overtime law reduced hours, and said the credit would apply only after overtime is paid and would not change existing overtime rules. Supporters included farmworkers, the California Farm Bureau, Western Growers, and other agricultural groups, who said the bill would help workers get more hours and more pay while helping employers afford overtime. Labor groups opposed the bill, arguing it would subsidize employers with taxpayer money and undermine the principle that employers, not the public, should bear overtime costs. The bill was held in subcommittee until more members arrived. The committee then took up SB 1083, a follow-up to last year’s school employee misconduct database law. The bill would add an administrative law judge review for classified school employees before they are placed in the statewide egregious misconduct database, require notice when an employee leaves during an investigation, and extend related vetting to certain contractors and non-permanent workers. Supporters, including the California School Employees Association and the California Federation of Teachers, said the measure adds needed due process and parity with certificated employees while preserving student safety. School business officials, administrators, and other education employer groups opposed it, warning that the bill could add duplicative procedures, delay investigations, and weaken the protections created by SB 848. The committee passed SB 1083 on a 3-0 vote, with the bill sent to Appropriations and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1089, which would require CalPERS health plans to offer GLP-1 medications and expand access through CalRx. The author described the bill as a response to personal experience with obesity treatment costs and argued that broader access could improve health outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The American Diabetes Association and other medical groups supported the bill, saying GLP-1s are effective tools for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes and that access is often limited by insurance coverage and cost. A pharmaceutical industry representative expressed concerns but said discussions were ongoing. The committee approved SB 1089 on a 4-0 vote and sent it to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard SB 954, which would revise last year’s CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing by narrowing the exemption and adding environmental, labor, and community protections, including prevailing wage, skilled-and-trained workforce requirements, and review for projects near disadvantaged communities. Labor and environmental groups supported the bill, saying the prior exemption was too broad and could cover highly polluting activities without adequate review. Business and manufacturing groups opposed it, arguing the added restrictions would make the exemption ineffective and push projects and jobs out of California. Members debated the balance between environmental review, labor standards, and manufacturing competitiveness. The bill was passed on a 3-1 vote, with Senator Strickland voting no, and was sent to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would not apply to management, administrative staff, or mechanics.
• The federal government wants to audit people in poverty.
• I think we should be auditing the system and employers that keep people in poverty.
• I think we should be auditing the system and employers that keep people in poverty.
• So private equity managers can't be the only ones who evaluate potential risks, given their interests

Summary: The committee heard SB 921, which would create a tax credit to help agricultural employers offset overtime premium costs for farmworkers. Senator Grove and supporters, including farmworkers, the California Farm Bureau, and agricultural groups, argued the bill would restore lost hours and take-home pay after California’s agricultural overtime law reduced schedules. Opponents, including the California Federation of Labor Unions and CRLA Foundation, argued the proposal would subsidize employers with taxpayer dollars and undermine the principle that employers should pay overtime themselves. The bill was held in subcommittee until more members arrived. The committee then took up SB 1083, a cleanup bill to the prior year’s school employee misconduct database law. The author and supporters said it would add due process protections for classified school employees, require an administrative law judge review before placement in the database, and improve notice and vetting rules for contractors and non-permanent staff. School employer groups and other opponents warned the bill could slow investigations and weaken child-safety protections. The committee approved the bill 3-0 and sent it to Senate Appropriations. Members also considered SB 1089, which would require CalPERS health plans to cover GLP-1 medications and expand access through CalRX for chronic weight management and related health conditions. The author and supporters, including the American Diabetes Association and medical groups, said the drugs can prevent diabetes and improve health outcomes but remain unaffordable for many. Pharma representatives expressed concerns about the bill as drafted but said they were open to continued discussions. The bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar 4-0. Later, the committee heard SB 954, which would narrow and add guardrails to last year’s CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing, including environmental review near disadvantaged communities and labor standards such as prevailing wage and skilled-and-trained workforce requirements. Labor, environmental, and community groups supported the bill as a cleanup of an overly broad exemption, while business and manufacturing groups opposed it, warning it would discourage investment and worsen California’s competitiveness. The bill passed 3-1 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1299, a fire sprinkler fitter certification bill, was heard and passed 3-0 to Appropriations with support from the sprinkler fitters and building trades and no recorded opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tolman said, contract with food service management companies.
• We examine other schools, like charters and some districts that use food service management companies
• management companies so that they also have to meet the requirements of the rule.
• We're also working with them to conduct food waste audits.
• Because he didn't give me any instructions after I managed the questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Salinas, we have Councilman Ruben Villalon, Chief of Police, Renaldo Correia. with this, and city manager
• City Councilman Ramiro Trevino, the City Manager Fred Reyes, and so many of the city staff.
• Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as a special fund managed under the comptroller of public accounts.
• We've got to allow our fund managers... to be in a position to succeed, to keep Texas vibrant, to get
• Relating to the conduct of efficiency audits of state agencies to business and commerce.

Bills: SJR34, SB10, SB18, SB19, SB21, SB72, SB140, SB262, SB370, SB480, SB495, SB627, SB703, SB767, SB790

Keywords: parental rights, parents, children, custody, care and control, upbringing, family law, constitutional amendment, Texas Constitution, child welfare, education policy, medical decisions, parental authority, primary decision makers, family autonomy, education, Ten Commandments, public schools, religious display, First Amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't have to go through a pharmacy benefit manager, right?
• I'm with the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association.
• Is it net or clawback in audits?
• who manage prior authorization and claims-denial requests.
• But how do you manage what the person ends up paying?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Dave Catterson, staff for the Joint Transportation Committee, and I'm the project manager for this project
• Dave Catterson, staff for the Joint Transportation Committee, and I'm the project manager for this project
• I am the project manager for the alternative sidewalk funding study.
• I am the project manager on this project.
• What this is showing is essentially how I manage the road fund.

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Joint Transportation Committee study of transportation impacts if the Lower Snake River dams were removed. WSDOT and Jacobs described the study’s phases, including current work on geology, infrastructure risk, and a total logistics cost model. They explained that the study is examining how freight now moved by barge—especially wheat, fertilizer, and wood—could shift to rail and roads, and they outlined several scenarios ranging from no-dam future conditions to new unit-train terminals, short-line rail options, and a combined “many solutions” scenario. Members asked about irrigation, impacts in Idaho and Oregon, port capacity, emissions, competition, EV trucks, and whether the model could estimate transportation effects if grain volumes decline. The presenters said the study assumes current production levels continue, does not model irrigation changes or broader farm-economics impacts, but does account for transloading costs and can estimate transportation impacts under different volume assumptions. WSU’s independent review team said the model has improved substantially but still needed refinement, especially in routing, road data, and spatial detail, and that stakeholder engagement had been strong though delayed by model development. No votes were taken. The committee then received a presentation on the alternative sidewalk funding study. Staff and consultants said the study is exploring ways local governments could sustainably fund sidewalk maintenance, repair, and new construction, using a statewide survey, interviews, national research, and case studies in eight jurisdictions. They noted sidewalks are important for pedestrian safety and connectivity, but there is no dedicated funding source in Washington, and existing grants and local revenue tools are highly competitive or limited. The consultants highlighted sidewalk fees or utility-style charges as the most promising option to study, while a parcel tax was largely set aside because of state property-tax uniformity concerns. Members asked whether the study would duplicate existing funding or add to current taxes, and how a sidewalk fee would be collected; the consultants said the goal is to expand local options, not mandate adoption, and that fees would likely be billed through utilities rather than property taxes. A preliminary draft report is due December 15, with a final report due in mid-June. Next, staff gave a brief update on the ocean-going vessels study, which is examining shore power and emissions rules for vessels at berth. The presenter explained that federal Clean Air Act rules and California waiver authority create legal limits on how far Washington can go if it wants to adopt similar standards, and that deviations from California’s approach can increase litigation risk. The report will summarize stakeholder outreach and will be presented in draft form at the next JTC meeting. Finally, county engineers from Chelan and Douglas counties began a presentation on county transportation challenges, with the association’s director emphasizing collaboration with state agencies and local partners on issues such as fish passage barriers and infrastructure needs. The county presentation was only beginning when the transcript ended, and no committee action or votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was establishing a nationwide management plan for beavers and aquatic ecosystems.
• I was establishing a nationwide management plan for beavers and aquatic ecosystems.
• <00:21:22.200> agencies other agencies Land Management agencies other agencies Land Management
• <01:27:56.119> of and reg ation to guide management of and reg ation to guide management of
• In times past, it has been done without management.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason is we manage escrow accounts.
• Just like your bank manages your money, just like your lawyer manages your money, or a title company
• manages your money, we manage escrow.
• Just like your bank manages your money, just like your lawyer manages your money, or a title company
• manage your money, we manage an escrow.

Summary: The subcommittee heard and approved four bills focused on reducing or modernizing professional regulation. HB 6015, by Rep. Oliver, repeals the word “reusable” from the wine keg statute to allow businesses more flexibility in container materials; members joked about the possibility of a Home Depot bucket, and the bill passed 16-0. HB 339, by Rep. Abbott, creates an alternative temporary licensure pathway for surveyors and mappers based on employer recommendation and exam passage, but members raised concerns about qualifications, liability, and oversight; Abbott said he was open to amendments, and the bill passed 14-1 with Rep. Overdorf dissenting. HB 139, by Rep. Lopez, allows pawnbrokers to use digital transaction forms instead of only printed forms; a technical amendment added readability and placement requirements for digital forms, and the bill passed unanimously. HB 195, by Rep. Chambliss, lets the Department of Corrections coordinate with DBPR boards so inmates who complete licensure-related classes can receive credit toward professional licensure; supporters framed it as a second-chance and workforce bill, an amendment clarified that DBPR handles professions without boards, and the bill passed favorably 15-0. The committee then received a presentation from DBPR Secretary Melanie Griffin on the department’s role overseeing more than 1.7 million businesses and professionals across over 30 fields. She highlighted enforcement and complaint data, including more than 24,000 inspections and complaints handled in the last fiscal year, a preference for education and voluntary compliance over formal discipline, and the department’s alternative dispute resolution program, which returned $2.7 million to consumers and saved $270,000 in costs. Griffin also reviewed recent deregulatory and efficiency efforts, including endorsement/reciprocity reforms, fee waivers, reduced processing times, and shorter call wait times, and said DBPR is continuing to look for ways to cut red tape while protecting public safety. Members questioned Griffin about permitting, continuing education, complaint processing, board vacancies, fraud in cosmetology and construction, coordination with other agencies, and whether schools can block students from taking state exams over unpaid tuition. DBPR staff said complaints are generally processed within 60 days, schools cannot bar graduates from taking the exam because of tuition debt, and the department works with other agencies when issues cross jurisdictional lines. The panel discussion that followed featured industry representatives from landscape architecture, building/code administration, pools, roofing, construction, HVAC/electrical, and hospitality, who generally supported reducing local permitting burdens, standardizing requirements, improving reciprocity and training pathways, and using technology and clearer scopes of work to make licensure and inspections more efficient.