Transcript Highlights:

• Home internet for the kids to do schoolwork, and with the expiration of the federal Affordable Connectivity
• And without affordable internet, students can't do homework.
• As the prime reason for not being connected.
• So that is really a lot of focus on the infrastructure connectivity.
• parents didn't have affordable access to the internet at home.

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee heard three bills. SB 371 by Senator Cabaldon would reduce uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage requirements for transportation network companies from $1 million to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, with committee amendments adding findings and declarations, higher limits than originally proposed, and a joint study on UM/UIM impacts. Supporters, including Uber, Lyft, business groups, and some consumer advocates, argued the bill would lower fares and increase driver earnings by reducing insurance costs. Opponents, including consumer attorneys, labor groups, and consumer watchdog organizations, warned it would cut protections for riders and drivers and might not guarantee savings would be passed through. The committee approved SB 371 on a due-pass basis and re-referred it to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote. The committee then heard SB 716 by Senator Durazo, which would create a Home Internet Lifeline Program to let eligible low-income households apply Lifeline subsidies to home broadband service. Proponents said the bill addresses broadband affordability after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program expired, and that it would help students, workers, and families access reliable internet. Opponents from the wireless industry objected to the funding mechanism, arguing the surcharge would fall unfairly on wireless consumers, while one broadband group moved to neutral after amendments. The bill was approved on a due-pass basis and sent to Appropriations, but the roll was held open and later completed with the bill passing 7-1. The committee also took up SB 480 by Senator Archuleta relating to autonomous vehicles as a consent item, with no presentation or debate. It was approved on a due-pass basis and re-referred to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly focused on affordability, consumer protection, and whether savings from the bills would actually reach riders, drivers, or households.

Transcript Highlights:

• The program has yet to connect a single American to high-speed Internet after 1,241 days.
• to high-speed internet, and of course we're not quite where we need to be.
• I also learned the value of a simple internet connection.
• We must keep all Americans connected.
• The Universal Service Fund itself has connected millions of Americans across the country.

Keywords: state policy, governance, legislative processes, public concerns, policy improvement

Summary: During the committee meeting, various issues surrounding state policy and governance were deliberated. Although the specifics of bills under discussion were not highlighted, comments from several committee members indicated a focus on improving legislative processes and addressing public concerns. The chairman facilitated discussions that included several points of critique as well as suggestions for enhancement of existing laws. The atmosphere remained constructive despite the complexity of the topics at hand.

Transcript Highlights:

• Millions of consumer products today are enhanced through internet connectivity, think dishwashers vacuum
• . of consumer products today are enhanced through internet connectivity, think dishwashers, vacuums,
• connect to the internet.
• Internet-connected devices require security updates from manufacturers in order to remain secure and
• There are 20 billion internet-connected devices right now and growing.

Summary: The committee began as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum and heard several privacy- and technology-related measures. The first item was H.R. 117, a resolution urging Congress to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The author and supporters argued the law is outdated and shields platforms from accountability for harms such as harassment, exploitation, scams, and other online abuse. Witnesses, including a survivor parent and a gender justice advocate, described harms to children, women, and LGBTQ people and urged a two-year sunset to force federal reform. Some members supported the resolution as a call for federal action, while one member said he could not support it because the resolution was too general and lacked specificity about the reforms being sought. No vote was taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The committee then heard SB 898, which would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long they will support the software and to notify consumers when products approach end of life. The author said consumers deserve transparency about security updates and continued functionality, and supporters from Consumer Reports and PIRG emphasized cybersecurity risks, consumer confusion, and electronic waste from unsupported devices. Opponents, including business and industry groups, raised concerns about enforcement through the unfair competition law, notice burdens, labeling issues, and compliance challenges, especially for products with long support windows or third-party dependencies. One member expressed support, noting the cybersecurity risks of end-of-life devices, but again no vote was taken because there was no quorum. The committee also heard SB 435, which would narrow the CCPA definition of publicly available information to limit how businesses classify data as public. The author and supporters said the bill would close a loophole that allows data brokers and others to monetize personal information without meaningful consent and could help prevent surveillance and misuse of data, including by government agencies. Opponents argued the bill would upset the balance between privacy and the free flow of information, create compliance uncertainty, and retroactively reclassify information that businesses reasonably believed was public. Some members said they supported the goal of stronger privacy protections, while others said the bill was too broad. The committee again could not vote due to the lack of a quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 923, which would expand Californians’ right to delete personal information to cover data obtained from third parties and require online businesses to offer a web form or similar method for deletion requests. Supporters, including the California Privacy Protection Agency and consumer advocates, said the bill would make deletion rights meaningful and better address data broker practices. Opponents sought an opt-out-of-processing alternative and raised operational and legal concerns, but supporters said deletion is not the same as retention or processing limits. Members largely spoke in favor of the bill’s privacy goals, but no action was taken. The committee also heard SB 947, the “No Robo Bosses Act,” which would require human review for certain automated employment decisions and limit predictive analysis in workplace discipline and termination. Labor groups supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or erroneous AI-driven decisions, while business, public employer, and local government groups opposed it as overbroad and burdensome. Members voiced support for human oversight in employment decisions, but the item was not voted on because the committee still lacked a quorum. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1114, the SOGI Data Privacy Act, which would restrict disclosure of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data to federal agencies absent a court order or legal requirement; the author and witness framed it as a response to federal efforts to obtain sensitive LGBTQ-related data.

Transcript Highlights:

• Millions of consumer products today are enhanced through internet connectivity, think dishwashers vacuum
• . of consumer products today are enhanced through internet connectivity, think dishwashers, vacuums,
• connect to the internet.
• Internet-connected devices require security updates from manufacturers in order to remain secure and
• There are 20 billion internet-connected devices right now and growing.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the open internet remains what we So, the open internet remains what we call<00:27:30.840> an<
• , And we want to help them feel connected, And we want to help them feel connected, capable,<00:36
• identify early needs and also connect identify early needs and also connect these<00:38:08.200><
• you know, we felt that this is connected you know, we felt that this is connected to<00:59:22.800
• We're able to monitor what internet.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:40:02.520> service Investments by our internet service Investments by our internet service
• that has to be made for our internet that has to be made for our internet service<00:42:56.640><
• <00:43:12.520> service programs through the internet service programs through the internet
• the internet um and that is to connect the internet um and that is to connect people<00:55:03.559
• the internet or to connect<01:03:36.680> for<01:03:36.960> to<01:03:37.200> information

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that keeps motans informed, connected that keeps motans informed, connected and<00:25:38.640>
• /c><00:31:14.880> tax violating the permanent internet tax violating the permanent internet tax
• particularly by targeting internet-based particularly by targeting internet-based activity<00:31
• <00:41:36.079> It this bill connecting those two. It this bill connecting those two.
• It had a couple of pigs on the internet. It was on the internet.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Importantly, no heart device is capable of connecting to the Internet.
• and disconnected from any other system. that might be connected to the internet.
• So there's that air gap that they are not connected to anything that. is connected to the internet.
• But, you know, zero connection to the Internet. than that. How long is that?
• Those do not connect to the Internet in any way, shape, or form.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one is comparing IT practices to the Center for Internet Security Critical Security Controls
• connection.
• up to the internet?
• So we'd make sure that that has no connectivity to you... That must contact that system.
• So we'd make sure that that has no connectivity to the Internet, for example, that only those people,

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s Office cybersecurity performance audits for fiscal year 2025, covering both state agencies and local governments. SAO staff explained that the audits are conducted independently under Initiative 900 and are kept confidential at the entity level, with detailed findings shared directly with the audited organizations. They reported that state agency audits found nearly one-third of assessed safeguards fully implemented on all systems and 227 vulnerabilities across seven agencies, including three critical and 21 high-severity issues. For seven local government cybersecurity audits, nearly a quarter of safeguards were fully implemented on all systems, and auditors identified nearly 300 vulnerabilities, including nine critical and 47 high-severity issues. SAO also summarized its ransomware resiliency audits and critical infrastructure audits for local governments. In six ransomware audits, a little over 35% of assessed safeguards were not in place, while about 60% were at least partially in place. In 39 critical infrastructure audits, focused largely on water and sewer providers, auditors found over 260 vulnerabilities and said more than 10% were critical or high. Staff highlighted that these audits have led to improvements, including one vendor making security changes after SAO testing that were later echoed in a federal advisory. They also described related services such as cybersecurity checkups, policy guidance, and other cyber-related work by the office. Washington Technology Solutions’ state chief information security officer, Ralph Johnson, praised the audits and said they help protect essential public services. He cited a sharp national rise in ransomware incidents against governments and said Washington has used more than $11 million in federal and state cybersecurity grant funds for over 200 projects. In response to questions from Representative Scott, SAO and WOTEC discussed options for addressing urgent vulnerabilities, including compensating controls, grant funding, and low-cost mitigation steps. The committee also discussed how Washington’s program compares nationally, with Johnson saying Initiative 900 is unusually comprehensive and that local governments often seek audits voluntarily. No votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony was offered but none was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• High-speed Internet is no longer a luxury for our constituents; it's an absolute necessity.
• What barriers exist in the state of Texas that prevent us from connecting every Texan?
• Computer systems and the internet, not regulated.
• I think a lot of us who use broadband have a feel for what a good connection is and what a bad connection
• That's a very fast connection. Down at the bottom, you see the satellite.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• generation Kentucky K-12 internet generation Kentucky K-12 internet service<00:27:54.480> we<
• , Connect Benefits, Connect Healthcare.
• for Medicaid then there's the connect for Medicaid then there's the connect benefit<01:07:19.240
• <01:07:24.120> benefits that application within connect benefits that application within connect
• > another<01:15:16.760> state every time we connect another state every time we connect

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Commonwealth Office of Technology 00:01:00 Department of Education 00:21:00 Transportation Cabinet 00:35:30 Secretary of State 00:45:15 Cabinet for Health and Family Services 00:56:11 Discussion of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and Related legislation 01:09:11, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and then focused first on the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s legacy systems and two specific projects. COT officials said many agencies have made progress moving off legacy applications, with remaining mainframe systems slated to be retired through RFPs or other work orders. They also described a legacy funding pool of $10 million per biennium used to help agencies transition. The two projects discussed were the Kentucky aerial photography and elevation data program, which provides statewide aerial imagery and lidar data for GIS, E911, environmental, transportation, and other uses, and a citizen identity and access management system intended to give residents a single login for state services. Officials said the GIS program costs about $1.2 million annually to host and maintain, with data acquisition costing several million more per year, and that the citizen identity system would cost about $2.5 million per year after an initial three-year COT investment. Members asked about duplication of funding, licensing, local government use, and whether multi-factor authentication would be required; COT said the GIS data is being acquired as statewide unlicensed data and that MFA would be available but not yet mandated statewide. Committee members pressed COT on costs, overlap with cabinet-level IT spending, and the practical benefits of the GIS and identity projects. COT explained that GIS hosting is generally covered through enterprise assessments billed quarterly to agencies, while the new aerial data is intended to benefit the whole state and local partners. On the identity project, officials said it would centralize authentication for citizens who use state systems, improve compliance with zero-trust and NIST-related security expectations, and reduce help desk and maintenance burdens through self-service account tools. Members also discussed whether the system would extend to local governments; COT said it would be a Kentucky.gov-style state login for users inside the state identity infrastructure, not a local-government system. The Department of Education then testified that it does not operate mainframes or major legacy systems, having moved long ago to cloud-based, off-the-shelf products and vendor-supported services. KDE officials described a strong emphasis on staff cybersecurity awareness, standardized statewide systems, vendor risk-sharing, and reducing sensitive data exposure, including efforts to move away from student Social Security numbers. They also highlighted a transition from Microsoft Active Directory to Identity Automation, which they said will improve identity management and make multi-factor authentication universal across K-12. In response to questions about Kentucky Wired and internet service, KDE said all 171 school districts and KDE agencies have been moved to a new next-generation internet service through ENA by Zayo, with strong satisfaction, e-rate savings, and better reliability. Officials warned that any internet disruption would immediately affect attendance, grades, student records, payroll, security systems, and communications across the K-12 system.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're all hooked on the internet.
• This bill has to do with broadband providers and internet providers.
• And that's, say, you all go attack it, and let's have internet throughout the state.
• It will for sure help keep the cost of internet lower and has a better chance to do that.
• I just know that this legislation will help all broadband internet connection companies, rural co-ops

Bills: SB2102, SB1940, SB1625, SB1442, SB1623, SB1242, SB1949, SB1592, SB1913, SB592, SB992, SB1241, SB259, SB1928, SB1426, SB1531, SB1561, SB1122

Keywords: credit card fees, merchant discounts, payment card network, interchange fees, transparency in fees, Oklahoma law, payment card, rebate, merchant, tax compliance, health insurance, mandate, impact analysis, insurance department, public health, access to healthcare, SB1442, alcoholic beverage control, ABLE Commission, liquor license fees

Transcript Highlights:

• We found that over 75% of internet connections we tested never reached the. the speed threshold to be
• Most alarmingly, the connections in our highest income zip code with the largest population of white
• for internet.
• Poor communities pay more for worse internet.
• In LA, the advertised cost of internet service is systematically higher in neighborhoods with higher

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:47.919> service really based on internet service really based on internet service providers
• provide funding match uh to internet provide funding match uh to internet service<00:09:22.480><
• And we do work with connected the state.
• So, um, our grants are for internet So, um, our grants are for internet service<00:34:30.159>
• internet for all indeed. internet for all indeed.

Bills: HF3508, HF3548, HF3549

Keywords: dairy assistance, agriculture, investment, relief initiative, farm support, farm assistance, down payment, state funding, loan modification, grain indemnity, financial security, crop insurance, Minnesota agriculture, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• To do that properly, it needs to connect to the locations that are essentially the core of the internet
• , connecting there to, for example, the exchange in Montgomery.
• This is essentially making it so that if you're connected to Montgomery, you're just as connected as
• we need to connect to Alabama that we pay.
• So, internet access is crucial, and being able to... internet access is very important.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That they send their kids to schools that don't allow phones or internet or screens.
• Okay, so the concerns that were raised and the money that would be raised, there's no connection.
• I don't see this bill connecting those two. It simply puts more money into the general fund.
• I'm not a big fan of the internet. I'm not a big fan of social media.
• It was on the internet. We get all the food we want to eat, free housing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any connection there?
• a short-term federal program to make sure that we got people connected to the internet so that they
• we got people connected to the internet<01:06:18.119> so<01:06:18.279> that<01:06:18.440
• Certainly, we understand that access to a high-speed internet connection means little without the tools
• access to a high-speed internet access to a high-speed internet connection<01:21:06.040> uh

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee met for an introductory session to begin the new legislative session. Members and staff went around the table introducing themselves and describing their agricultural backgrounds, including farming, livestock, crop production, county government, and related research or staff roles. Chair Paul Anderson emphasized agriculture’s importance to Minnesota’s budget and economy, welcomed new members and staff, and noted that the committee would have a full agenda. The committee then heard a presentation from the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, Extension, and the Forever Green initiative on the GREE program (Agricultural Research, Education, Extension, and Technology Transfer). Testimony described GREE as a state investment created in 2015 to support agricultural productivity and growth through research, education, extension, and technology transfer. Speakers highlighted its broad focus areas, including crop and livestock genetics, soil health, water quality, nutrient management, microbial science, agroecological innovation, and technology stewardship, as well as rapid-response funding for emerging issues such as waterhemp, PRRS, and avian influenza. University witnesses said the program has brought in faculty and extension educators, generated sponsored research awards, and leveraged state funding into additional grants and contracts. They cited a reported roughly 12-to-1 return on investment and said the state has invested about $39 million since 2015. They also noted additions such as a deep winter greenhouse program and a tribal representative on the advisory group. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Internet connectivity and cellular communication towers, for example, are critical components for enabling
• We don't have reliable internet. We are working on getting reliable internet.
• And also, I believe it's also an internet issue. We don't have stable internet either.
• So, like you said, you're connecting people, connecting solutions.
• How do we see real-time footage if we can't even connect through our internet? It's a problem.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FLORIDA, WE HAVE LEO GARCIA FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, CHARLES DUDLEY FROM THE FLORIDA INTERNET
• AS YOU CAN SEE OVER 1200 LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN ALREADY CONNECTED THROUGH THIS FUND.
• >> TYPICALLY WHAT WE ARE PROCESSING IS FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR US THE INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS SO IF
• CHARLIE DUDLEY FROM FLORIDA INTERNET AND TELEVISION, WHATEVER YOU PREFER. >> Mr.
• I'M GOING TO USE A QUICK EXAMPLE IN MARION COUNTY BECAUSE THAT WAS THE MOST RECENT WHERE WE CONNECTED

Transcript Highlights:

• devices and services for people with disabilities to connect to the services that they need.
• They are for projects connecting to middle mile network.
• , a connection to the home that will allow customers to have that reliability of service.
• So that was just... and that's two very connected people.
• to the FFA grant locations that will connect to MMBI.

Keywords: 988, house, all