Transcript Highlights:

• SB68 proposes to simply update and align Alabama law with present-day emergency management operations

Bills: SB68, SB68

Keywords: emergency management, mutual aid, disaster response, local government, political subdivision, public safety, public health, emergency services, first responders, intergovernmental agreements, reciprocal aid, emergency preparedness, local emergency management organization, governing body, liability immunity, Alabama Code 31-9-9, Alabama Code 31-9-11, tribal agreements, federally recognized Indian tribes, state emergency management plan

Transcript Highlights:

• According to the Department of State.
• Program in a pediatric subspecialty for medical in the state.
• So this. to allow a blue-collar workforce to come to the state.
• It doesn't cost the state any money.
• state auditor's office.

Bills: HB232

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm assuming the State Department will get involved at that point. Thank you.
• Throughout Texas and the United States.
• We're already laying out, you know, movies and genres in the state.
• It doesn't cost the state any money.
• Several states have already passed similar legislation to this.

Bills: HB232

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• Out-of-state tuition is approximately two to three times more than in-state tuition.
• Texas led the country to become the first state to pass in-state tuition and 24 other states.
• for in-state tuition purposes.
• Then you qualified for in-state tuition regardless of the state that you arrived from.
• the state.

Bills: HB232

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• One is I just want to make sure, because the State of Texas has...
• It's certainly hard for the state without an adjustment for the state dollars to level up the cost of
• And I told him I'd qualified for the state meet.
• the state base.
• for any of the extra at the state base.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee met to consider HB 2, the major school finance bill, with the chair explaining that the committee substitute would provide about $8 billion in new public education funding. The bill was described as including permanent teacher compensation increases, expanded teacher incentive allotment funding, support for early literacy and numeracy, teacher certification and residency pathways, special education funding, career and technical education, school safety dollars, and facilities support for charter schools. The committee adopted the committee substitute without objection after roll was called and a quorum was present. Members questioned the bill’s structure, especially the balance between across-the-board teacher pay and the teacher incentive allotment, the treatment of uncertified teachers, and differences in requirements between traditional public schools and charter schools. Senator Menendez and Senator West raised concerns about equity, charter-school parity, facilities funding, inflation, and whether the bill should include more support for fine arts and extracurricular programs. The chair responded that the bill was designed to direct most new money to traditional public schools while also preserving flexibility and that charter-school and public-school alignment would need further work. Invited witnesses Dr. Imelda De La Rosa and Val Acri testified in support of the bill, emphasizing that the Teacher Incentive Allotment helps recruit and retain teachers in rural districts and supports mentorship and certification pathways. Public witnesses also supported the bill but urged more funding for fine arts, local flexibility, and full restoration of House-proposed funding levels. Dr. Josh Jones supported year-long teacher residencies, Dr. Philip Morgan asked for more local control and restoration of fine arts funding, Rich Saina supported the bill but warned about hold-harmless reductions, and Dr. Greg Poole supported the bill while asking for flexibility for high-performing districts that already pay high salaries. After the invited testimony and some public testimony, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair so members could attend the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of our non-federal funds come from the state, which means you, our state legislators, are the only
• Again, state your name. Got two minutes. The yellow light comes. Again, state your name.
• Again, state your name. Got two minutes. The yellow light comes. Again, state your name.
• I'm the policy manager for Teach Plus Texas.
• I have four certifications from the state of Texas.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the state M&O without recap.
• They're 100% funded by the state.
• In funding from state sources.
• In terms of what the state puts in from state revenue sources.
• No, this is all state program.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• We're a rich state. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. It's Pollack.
• I know the budget climate is not the result of good luck or good management.
• Communities strengthen. expanded and a state that leads this great nation.
• Vasquez stated the surplus is a result of underfunding our public school system.
• To be a member of a regional day school program by the state.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• We were producing less certified teachers in the state of Texas.
• That, to me, is the wrong policy of the state.
• Your willingness to invest in the children of our state strengthens the future of our great state, and
• All of our non-federal funding comes from the state, which means you, our state legislators, are the
• So, in the United States, one in ten children lives in Texas.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• We filed in the history of the state of Texas.
• It's a shamefully low rating among the 50 states.
• So last night we had, well this morning, We had some emergency issues in the state.
• Especially for emergency issues, where I want to see the state agency let us know.
• Texas educates the greatest proportion of emergent. bilingual students of any state in the country.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill's intent was to enhance our current instruction to state agencies on how they hire manager-level
• Current law states that agencies with more than 100 employees must maintain a staff-to-manager ratio
• Current law also states that state agencies shall develop procedures for use in achieving a management-to-staff
• The comptroller will have prudent investor authority, allowing the state to manage digital assets with
• One theme that emerged loud and clear is that many small businesses interact with state government in

Bills: HB565, HB3743, HB4310, HB5083, HB5129, HB5195, HB5331, HB5469, SB21, HB3185, SB 21

Keywords: constitutional amendment, fiscal impact, state budget, ballot measure, transparency in voting, management-to-staff ratio, state agencies, employee regulations, government efficiency, workforce management, public information, governing board, transparency, confidentiality, access rights, privacy, identifying information, state agency, consent, occupational license

Transcript Highlights:

• You state this count, but we... ...question.
• You state this count, but we also include our concerns with countries that we are concerned with.
• Different areas where it is, but it also provides a framework for the rest of the state.
• What this does is modernize counties' authority to coordinate emergency aid resources.
• This legislation proposes specific updates to align Alabama law with present-day Emergency Management

Bills: HB68, HB140, HB168

Keywords: foreign investment, agriculture, property rights, critical infrastructure, sanctions, HB140, private sewer systems, wastewater utilities, Public Service Commission, PSC jurisdiction, utility regulation, rate setting, rate consolidation, affiliated systems, common ownership, private utilities, sewer rates, wastewater management, Alabama utilities, Jefferson County Board of Health

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4rBXVyBAeM, 2026-06-21T07:17:03+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 01:56 Discussion 02:54 – John Hicks, State Budget Director Jeremy Slinker, Emergency Management Director Stephanie Robey, Emergency Management at Eastern and Western Ky State Aid Fundraising for Emergencies (SAFEFUND) Fund Appropriations Safe Fund Process Application Approval Process, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• designated as an emergency manager coordinator.
• Member and they will give you a certified emergency manager credential.
• And while this says the Division of Emergency Management.
• And the same kind of goes for emergency management plans too.
• They're requiring an emergency manager to hold an emergency manager to life: basic, intermediate, advanced

Bills: HB2, HB1, HB18, HB19, HB20, HB1, HB 2, HB18, HB19, HB20

Keywords: emergency communication, interoperability, grant program, first responders, state council, disaster response, emergency management, mass fatality, justices of the peace, training programs, emergency manager license, volunteer management, justice of the peace training, criminal history checks, state health services, broadband, public safety, disaster preparedness, funding, flood disaster plan

Transcript Highlights:

• , I got to know Secretary Urkheart, who’s over that agency, and we talked about the need to update state
• code. about the need to update state code.
• It also adds cyber security and some of the new roles that they perform in state government.
• This piece of legislation deals with the emergency management agency of Alabama.
• So, it's not just them at the state house. Hey, Grinch Jr.'s got to get his licks in, too.

Bills: HB207, SB269, SB279, SB291, SB266

Keywords: cybersecurity, Office of Information Technology, data management, telecommunications, state government, emergency management, public awareness, promotional materials, education, state funding, Alabama State House, Montgomery, Legislative Council, demolition, state capitol, state capitol building, historic preservation, state property, inventory removal, fixtures

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, New York State in 2021 amended their emergency management act um to allow for the legislature
• > currently are in a state of emergency currently are in a state of emergency currently and<00
• c> any<00:22:08.440> of emergency management agencies of any of emergency management agencies
• example, New York State in 2021 amended their<00:23:41.560> emergency<00:23:42.040> management
• It happened during COVID. emergencies in the state. There's a emergencies in the state.

Bills: SB2109, SB2151

Keywords: emergency preparedness, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, multilingual resources, American Sign Language, public education, community resilience, disaster response, emergency management, governor powers, legislative oversight, public safety, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Public Safety met on March 20, 2026, and the chair opened by noting severe rain and flooding conditions in Hawaii and said the committee would proceed with the hearing but defer decision-making until the next meeting on March 25. The first measure discussed was SB 2109, an omnibus bill on emergency preparedness communications. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, including from state agencies and advocacy groups such as the Disability and Communications Access Board, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Legal Clinic, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and others. Supporters emphasized the need for funding and planning for multilingual emergency materials and language access, citing current evacuation notices that were not available in languages such as Ilokano or Tongan. The chair stated that action on SB 2109 would be deferred until March 25. The committee then heard SB 2151, relating to emergency management and changes to the governor’s emergency authority. Testimony was mixed but heavily focused on concerns about executive power. Earthjustice supported the bill with amendments, saying it should narrow extraordinary emergency powers, add definitions for emergency and disaster, preserve transparency under the Uniform Information Practices Act, and lower the legislative threshold to terminate an emergency proclamation from two-thirds to a simple majority. Other supporters, including the League of Women Voters of Hawaii and some individuals, also backed reform. Opponents, including Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and numerous individuals, argued the bill still gave the governor too much power, used overly broad disaster definitions, and did not sufficiently protect constitutional rights; several urged major amendments or repeal of portions of Chapter 127A. Some opponents specifically objected to the two-thirds termination standard and to provisions they said could enable compulsory immunizations or other mandates. Members questioned Earthjustice about whether the bill would suspend constitutional rights. Earthjustice responded that the bill would not authorize constitutional violations, but would allow suspension of laws enacted by the legislature, and pointed to existing statutory procedures for individuals to challenge emergency proclamations. The witness described a Mauna Kea case in which a three-judge panel granted relief to an individual under the current statute, and explained that the process could potentially affect a broader proclamation if allowed to run to completion. The hearing continued with additional testimony and questions, but no final vote or committee action on SB 2151 was taken during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said Minnesota is state administered and state supervised, county administered, and one of 10 states
• Are getting state grants, state funding, for some of the work that they do.
• the state because those positions are open across the state.
• the state because those positions are open across the state.
• the state because those positions are open across the state.

Bills: HF1, HF98

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• We are convening the House Committee on Finance in Conference Room 306 at the Hawaii State Capitol, scheduled
• I'm Robin Magastadman with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission.
• Hawaii State Ethics Commission in support.

Bills: HB2240, HB2272, HB2273, HB2274, HB2275

Keywords: appropriations, legislative expenses, auditor, legislative reference bureau, state ethics commission, ombudsman, government transparency, HB2272, Act 026, public employment cost items, emergency appropriations, collective bargaining, bargaining unit 11, BU-11, state employees, excluded employees, salary increases, cost adjustments, health premium payments, benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• State or expanding existing project nursing programs.
• Management for the...
• Talks about how the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management may enter into memorandums of understanding
• Management retain 2% of some of these millions of dollars.
• Do you know what amount this deduction has been costing the state?

Bills: HB4028, HB4029, HB4059, HB4063, HB4073, HB4074, HB4075, HB4076, HB4077, HB4078, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1142

Keywords: tax deduction, venture capital, economic development, Oklahoma, investment, ALS, funding, healthcare, State Department of Health, emergency declaration, public finance, state budget, financial regulations, monetary policy, referendum, constitutional amendments, special election, Oklahoma legislature, public voting, recovery fund

Transcript Highlights:

• There are 5 funds that are allowed under this program right across the state.
• Also, for our SBA lending, which sends business to our banks in the state to finance these companies,
• So, 4440 didn't the emergency fail in the Senate twice? Is this correct?
• Peaker, just to the point about when When State Question 2 was on the ballot, that was done first by
• Management for the emergency response and relief grant program to address gaps.

Bills: HB4028, HB4029, HB4059, HB4063, HB4073, HB4074, HB4075, HB4076, HB4077, HB4078, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1142, HB4028, HB4029, HB4059, HB4063, HB4073, HB4074, HB4075, HB4076, HB4077, HB4078, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1142

Keywords: tax deduction, venture capital, economic development, Oklahoma, investment, ALS, funding, healthcare, State Department of Health, emergency declaration, public finance, state budget, financial regulations, monetary policy, referendum, constitutional amendments, special election, Oklahoma legislature, public voting, recovery fund