Transcript Highlights:

• to provide grants to retrofit properties in accordance with wildfire preparedness standards and prohibits
• This would remove the prohibition on an insurer using wildfire risk as a disqualifying factor for property
• This would prohibit an insurer from using wildfire risk as the sole disqualifying factor rather than
• Agenda item number seven, Substitute Senate Bill 6091, is the bill prohibiting real estate brokers from
• Agenda item number seven, substitute Senate bill 6091, is the bill prohibiting real estate brokers from

Bills: SB6178 , SB5831

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: SB6178, property insurance, insurance claims, assignment of benefits, AOB, post-loss assignment, post-loss benefits, homeowners insurance, policyholder, insured, restoration contractor, mitigation contractor, public adjuster, insurance commissioner, claims handling, consumer protection, void and unenforceable, Washington insurance code, chapter 48 RCW, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• In the 86th legislative session, we passed and signed into law the prohibition of local and state tax
• Despite this prohibition, abortions still occur.
• This bill doesn't prohibit that.
• It's not prohibited.
• Doesn't prohibit that, and exactly as you asked, it doesn't... It doesn't prohibit that. Okay.

Bills: SB6 , SB11 , SB33

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• And this bill prohibits enforcement of Sharia law generally if doing so would violate any constitutional
• And this bill prohibits enforcement of Sharia law generally.
• And this bill prohibits enforcement of Sharia law generally if doing so would violate any constitutional
• It generally relates to gender transition procedures and most substantively prohibits them from being
• It generally relates to gender transition procedures and most substantively prohibits them from being

Summary: The committee considered several Senate bills for whether they were constitutional and in proper form. Senate Bill 1018 would add Sharia law to Arizona’s definition of foreign law and bar its enforcement when it would conflict with constitutional rights or state or federal law. The Rules Attorney flagged potential Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause problems, citing the Oklahoma Sharia-law case, but the committee still recommended the bill by a 5-3 vote. Senate Bill 1075 would restrict conveyances of real property to hostile foreign governments or their agents unless approved by a new state commission. The Rules Attorney warned it may be preempted by federal foreign-affairs authority and conflict with federal law governing foreign investment and national security. The committee nevertheless recommended it by a 5-3 vote. Senate Bill 1095, which bans gender transition procedures for minors and also restricts referrals for those procedures, was described as consistent with recent Supreme Court precedent on the underlying ban, but the referral restriction raised First Amendment concerns under Ninth Circuit case law; it was also recommended 5-3. Senate Bill 1635 would address alerting someone to an imminent law-enforcement arrest effort, with the Rules Attorney saying it was generally consistent with free-speech principles but suggesting clearer drafting around arrest-warrant execution and surveillance language. It was recommended 5-3. The committee then took up a large mass motion covering many additional Senate bills and several Senate Concurrent Memorials, which the Rules Attorney said were all constitutional and in proper form; that package was approved unanimously, 8-0, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members of the committee, Engrossed House Bill 2294 prohibits agreements that restrict the
• voting. ...or pharmacy, is declared to be against public policy, prohibited, void, and unenforceable
• For example, the prohibition does not apply to agreements made prior to the effective date of the bill
• Local governments may modify some of these statutory prohibitions upon a showing of good cause by the
• And the Attorney General or city, town, or county may judicially enforce the prohibition of negative

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members of the committee, Engrossed House Bill 2294 prohibits agreements that restrict the
• voting. ...or pharmacy, is declared to be against public policy, prohibited, void, and unenforceable
• For example, the prohibition does not apply to agreements made prior to the effective date of the bill
• Local governments may modify some of these statutory prohibitions upon a showing of good cause by the
• And the Attorney General or city, town, or county may judicially enforce the prohibition of negative

Summary: The Washington State Senate Committee on Business, Trade, and Economic Development waived the five-day notice rule to consider Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2274 and Engrossed House Bill 2294. The committee first heard HB 2274, which would modify the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act by requiring false or misleading subject lines to be knowingly false or misleading, and reducing statutory damages from $500 to $100 or actual damages, whichever is greater. Representative Springer and retail witnesses described the bill as a compromise reached with consumer lawyers, retailers, and the Attorney General’s office, intended to address a surge in lawsuits after a recent Supreme Court ruling while preserving consumer protections. Consumer advocates testified that they supported the compromise as a temporary step, while one consumer-side attorney objected to the bill’s text-message damages change, arguing it was unrelated to the email issue and could weaken existing protections. The committee held the public hearing open and did not take final action on the bill during the meeting. The committee then heard HB 2294, which prohibits private agreements that restrict real property from being used as a grocery store or pharmacy, declaring such negative use restrictions against public policy and unenforceable after the bill’s effective date, with exceptions for preexisting agreements and limited relocation scenarios. Representative Farivar said the bill was prompted by grocery and pharmacy closures and aimed to prevent property covenants from blocking replacement stores in underserved communities. Supporters from the Washington Food Industry Association and Northwest Grocery Retail Association said the bill would help independent grocers and communities, though the retail association asked for further language refinement for retail-center situations and noted the bill preserves some limited protections for existing investments. The committee took public testimony but did not vote on HB 2294 during the hearing. In executive session, staff briefed Substitute House Bill 2428, which requires insurers issuing individual life insurance policies to send lapse notices to policyholders and designated third parties. The committee then adopted a due pass recommendation and sent the bill to the Rules Committee. The motion passed by voice vote, with the bill passed subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Going on, we see prohibited DEI conduct.
• On page three, we will see prohibited acts.
• And I think that this bill further prohibits that, if that makes sense.
• Paragraph two: nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit...
• So what I just read was nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; S 209, an act relating to prohibiting &gt;&gt; S 209, an act relating to prohibiting civil
• </c> warrant should be prohibited. warrant should be prohibited.
• This is not a prohibition on some them.
• It is not even a prohibition behavior.
• It is a prohibition<00:09:32.399><c> on</c><00:09:33.131><c> [clears throat]</c> prohibition on [clears

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Witt, members, House Bill 2271 prohibits workers' compensation insurers covering firefighters from
• amended by the Commerce Committee, House Bill 2342 prevents a planned community association from prohibiting
• Madam Witt, members, House Bill 2600 prohibits a public school from allowing a sixth, seventh, or eighth
• House Bill 2775, as amended by the Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs and Elections, prohibits
• That subject to vote or approval prohibits a school district from using public monies or resources to

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a caucus-style run-through of many bills and resolutions across Appropriations, Commerce, Education, Federalism/Military Affairs/Elections, Government, Health and Human Services, Judiciary, ENRU, Public Safety, and Rural Economic Development. Measures discussed included housing and HOA rules, school policy and funding, health care licensing and records timelines, public safety and corrections funding, election and campaign rules, water and environmental policy, and several criminal justice and juvenile justice changes. Many items were described as being on third-read consent or consent calendars, with staff often noting that no questions were raised and no sponsor was present. Several bills drew sponsor explanation or member discussion. In education, members reviewed bills on teacher strikes, school safety, math placement, student outcomes, free school meals, parent permission for clubs, and school bond ballot disclosures. In health, bills covered prior authorization data reporting, nursing board rules and complaint procedures, pharmacist testing/treatment authority, opioid antagonist expiration dates, board continuations, and a constitutional amendment on refusing medical mandates. In government and public safety, members discussed DCS legal representation, inmate medical records, public safety parity funding, sheriff authority, border support funding, and a resolution supporting county sheriffs. In commerce and housing, bills addressed condominium and HOA authority, shade structures, pet restrictions, insurance certificates, apprenticeship definitions, automatic renewal contracts, and a state housing affordability district. There was notable discussion on House Bill 4044, which would create a Public Safety Parity Fund for DPS and DOC salaries using interest from the state rainy day fund and other revenue sources. The sponsor argued it would provide a reliable way to fund public safety pay, while others objected that it would consume interest needed to preserve the fund’s value and that a general fund appropriation would be more appropriate. The bill prompted extended back-and-forth, with some members supporting the concept and others saying it was fiscally irresponsible. Another point of discussion came on House Bill 2775, where staff noted a possible misprint in the bill history, and on House Bill 467, where staff clarified that the inactive voter list changes related to e-poll book status categories. No formal votes were recorded in the transcript, and the meeting appears to have been a review of measures before floor action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Prohibits new state employees from taking official action on matters they worked on before state employment
• Prohibits former permanent employees of the Office of the Governor and Office of the Lieutenant Governor
• ><c> from</c> Prohibits new state employees from Prohibits new state employees from taking<00:01:12.560
• Prohibits<00:01:16.320><c> former</c><00:01:16.720><c> permanent</c><00:01:17.119><c> employees</c><00
• :01:18.000><c> of</c> Prohibits former permanent employees of Prohibits former permanent employees of

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Labor and Technology Committee heard testimony on several measures. SB 2245 would tighten revolving-door restrictions for state employees by barring new employees from acting on matters they worked on before state service and imposing a 12-month post-employment restriction for certain former Governor and Lieutenant Governor staff; the Ethics Commission and League of Women Voters supported it, and the committee later passed it as is. SB 99 would allow certain retirees to return to work as school resource officers or investigators without losing retirement benefits; the Attorney General supported the investigator portion, ERS and other agencies offered comments and suggested amendments, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including changes from the Attorney General, ERS, and the Department of Law Enforcement, plus a far-future effective date. SB 2304, which would expand identity theft law to cover AI/deepfake or materially deceptive media impersonation, drew opposition from the Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor over prosecution burdens and First Amendment concerns, while some prosecutors and others supported it; the committee deferred the bill. SB 2115, dealing with collective bargaining impasse procedures for repricing public employee classes, drew opposition from human resources officials who said arbitrators lack the technical expertise needed, while unions and HGA supported the measure; the committee deferred decision-making to a later hearing. The committee also heard SB 1036, a net neutrality bill that would bar broadband providers from blocking, prioritizing, or zero-rating traffic. Supporters argued Hawaii needs stronger consumer protections, while the Hawaii Broadband Office said it saw no current problem in Hawaii and warned the bill could affect federal BEAD funding unless exempted; the committee deferred the measure. SB 1163 would prohibit the sale of geolocation and browser data and data collected through microphone-based background apps; Consumer Protection supported the intent but urged a broader privacy framework, and the Honolulu Prosecutor sought an exemption for lawful law-enforcement investigations, which the committee later accepted along with Hawaiian Telecom’s proposed amendments before passing the bill with amendments. SB 2076 would update publicity-rights law to address AI/deepfake uses of a person’s likeness; testimony supported the goal and amendments from the Recording Industry Association of America, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including replacing references to AI/deepfake with “digital replica.” After hearing testimony, the committee recessed briefly to obtain quorum and then reconvened for decision-making. It adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass SB 2245 as is, passed SB 99 with amendments, deferred SB 2304, deferred SB 2115 to a later hearing, deferred SB 1036, passed SB 1163 with amendments, and passed SB 2076 with amendments. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and members, HB 2584, public money, genetic sequencing prohibition, prohibits the use of
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2957 prohibits state, city, town, or county entities from requiring,
• It prohibits DHS in conducting a compliance inspection or initial complaint investigation to consider
• It also prohibits a maximum civil penalty from exceeding $25,000 in a six-month period, but does allow
• The court is prohibited from having the expertise demonstrated only through forensic testing.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long calendar of House bills across education, health, water, land, housing, labor, public safety, and taxation. Several measures dealt with artificial intelligence, including bills on AI disclosures for minors, AI-assisted divorce arbitration, an Arizona AI education program, AI privilege protections, and a required AI course in schools. Other topics included ESA administration funding, a prohibition on public money for certain foreign-controlled genetic sequencing devices, towing regulations, DUI and ignition interlock changes, health facility and nursing facility complaint timelines, internationally trained physicians, nurse anesthetist reimbursement, pharmacy penalties, childhood cancer research, cybersecurity encryption, school mental health instruction repeal, superintendent performance pay, adoption disclosures in student health settings, anti-Semitism in schools, and a range of water, land, and housing bills. Members frequently raised concerns about local control, unfunded mandates, constitutional issues, and the scope of state intervention. Several bills drew criticism for affecting school curriculum, public education, reproductive rights, protest activity, or tribal communities. Others were supported as technical fixes, consumer protections, or funding measures. The caucus also discussed a series of bills related to the Mexican gray wolf, state land management, solar and wind siting, groundwater transport, and rural development, with some members objecting that the proposals would undermine federal protections or tribal interests. A number of bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, including HB 2020, HB 2957, HCR 2044, HB 2352, HB 2667, HB 2906, HB 2093, HB 2386, HB 2481, HB 2830, HB 2076, HB 2411, HB 2136, HB 2665, and HB 2904. The meeting ended with an announcement of the Latino Caucus guest presentation and an emotional tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson, followed by presentation of an Affordability Award to Representatives Lorena Austin and Stephanie Simacek for work on economic justice and working families. The caucus then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1735 prohibits the force feeding of birds. This was heard last session on February 7th.
• size and prohibits the sale, possession, transportation, or distribution of foie gras that has been
• It also removes the prohibition on the knowing sale, possession, transportation, and distribution of
• It prohibits the practice of force-feeding birds generally, rather than for the purposes of enlarging
• It also removes the prohibition on the knowing sale, possession, transportation, and distribution of

Bills: HB2238 , HB1311 , HB1608 , HB1735 , HB1825 , HB1976 , HB2062

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: HB 2238, HB2238, statewide food security, food security strategy, hunger, food insecurity, food access, food assistance, anti-hunger, nutrition education, food system literacy, agricultural viability, supply chain resilience, Washington Department of Agriculture, food policy forum, BIPOC, tribal consultation, small farmers, diet-related health disparities, food affordability

Transcript Highlights:

• HCR 2040, as passed by the Senate, refers a measure to the voters that prohibits a school district from
• It prohibits a school district from deducting any payment from an employee's paycheck for labor organization
• It prohibits school district employees from distributing written, printed, or digital communications
• It prohibits school district employees from distributing written, printed, or digital communications
• And this also... ...prohibits a court from severing any portion of a bill or measure that violates the

Summary: The committee heard presentations on two Senate-passed HCRs that would refer constitutional amendments to voters. HCR 2040 would bar school districts from using public money or resources to support labor organizations, including payroll deductions for dues, use of internal communication systems for recruiting or political materials, and distribution of labor-related communications using public resources; it also would prohibit the state and political subdivisions from entering exclusive representation or collective bargaining agreements with labor organizations. The sponsor indicated an intent to concur with the Senate amendment, and the measure was left open for questions. HCR 2048 would amend the Arizona Constitution to prevent the state from confiscating money from scholarship accounts belonging to children of military families, and would void any later law or voter-approved measure after November 1, 2026, that violates that protection. Members asked how the proposal would work if a student moved out of state or no longer met scholarship eligibility requirements, and staff explained that funds could still be reclaimed if the student no longer qualified under the program. Questions also focused on the measure’s language making any conflicting future bill or initiative null and void, with staff explaining that courts would still apply severability principles in litigation. The discussion became sharply political, with one member criticizing the measure as a pretext to protect ESA voucher funds and another questioning whether the military-family framing raised DEI concerns. Another member argued the majority was using military families to shield fraudulent ESA spending and said voters wanted action on the issue. No votes were taken in the excerpt, and the chair ultimately closed the discussion after questions and comments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 7 is a prohibition. Yes, Madam Chair, Representative.
• a sales prohibition.
• Heller was addressing a total prohibition on all handguns.
• So Madam Chair, Representative, Senators, what prohibits...
• It was only a question of whether federal law prohibited that prohibition.

Bills: SB48 , HB250 , SB17

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, technology, innovation, advisory board, entrepreneurial support, stakeholder representation

Transcript Highlights:

• ; SB 1019, public water system fluoride prohibition; SB 1020, special plate, Arizona Space Commission
• therapy for veterans; SP 1068, disruption, educational institution, concealed weapons; SB 1069, prohibited
• amount; SCR 1003, property tax exemption, virtual currency; SCR 1004, photo enforcement systems prohibition
• 1006, schools, biological sex requirements; SCR 1007, technical correction, racing commissions prohibition
• amount; SCR 1003, property tax exemption, virtual currency; SCR 1004, photo enforcement systems prohibition

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then completed roll call, approved the prior journal, and welcomed several guest groups to the gallery, including CSG West and NCSL visitors, Tucson Electric Power/UniSource Native BRG members, Pascua Yaqui constituents, Marcos de Niza High School students, and guests from Payson. Members also observed a moment of silence for former Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Senator Hatathlie read a proclamation honoring the life and service of Amaya Curley, a Navajo woman and Navy veteran, and the chamber recessed for presentation of an Arizona state flag flown in her memory, with her family present. The President Pro Tem announced extended deadlines for opening Senate folders and for Senate bill intro set preparation, and the Senate received House messages regarding adjournment. The chamber voted to accede to the House request to adjourn after Thursday, January 15, 2026, until Tuesday, January 20, 2026. No substantive bill debate occurred; instead, the body moved a large number of measures to second reading, including election, education, health care, firearms, immigration-related reporting, cryptocurrency, transportation, and various memorial and appropriation bills. Committee and caucus announcements were made for Thursday, January 15, including Rules Committee and both party caucuses. The Senate then adopted a motion to adjourn until Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the prohibition, and any state revenue otherwise payable to the parish from the prohibited activity
• activity prohibited by the parish.
• It's just an understanding that if a parish does a prohibition, a parish-by-parish prohibition, and I
• If a parish does a prohibition, a parish-by-parish prohibition, and I believe six is for Rapides, or.
• But they did not prohibit the capture of it. Okay, but they did not prohibit the capture of it.

Summary: The committee took up public comment on a package of similar local-option bills related to carbon capture and sequestration, including House Bills 5, 6, 497, 498, 501, and 504. The bills would let parishes, or in some cases specific parishes such as Rapides and Livingston, decide by local vote whether Class VI wells, CO2 sequestration, and related pipeline infrastructure could be permitted. The chair grouped the bills together for testimony, adopted a three-minute public comment rule, and noted that the bills were not yet under consideration for a vote during the public-comment portion. Supporters, including Speaker Pro Tem Mike Johnson, parish officials, local activists, and residents, argued that communities affected by carbon capture projects should have a direct voice through local option elections. They said the bills were about self-determination, local control, and allowing residents to decide whether the risks are worth the benefits. Several speakers said their parishes had passed resolutions opposing carbon capture or asking for local choice, while others emphasized concerns about eminent domain, aquifer protection, lack of public understanding, and the need for more information about project impacts and financial benefits. Some supporters also said a local vote would force industry to engage more directly with communities and could improve transparency. Opponents, including representatives of the Department of Conservation and Energy, the Louisiana Chemistry Association, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, warned that the bills would create uncertainty, undermine Louisiana’s primacy over Class VI permitting, and invite litigation under federal preemption and the Supremacy Clause. They said the state already has a strict permitting process with public input and technical review, and that allowing parish-by-parish approval could delay or block billions of dollars in investment, jobs, and export-related projects. The department testified that if the state adopted a local-option referendum system, EPA could determine Louisiana was not implementing the program consistently and could move to remove primacy. No committee vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 1090 by Paul relating to the prohibition prohibiting certain individuals from serving as a volunteer
• HB 1127 by Gomez, relating to the promotion of breastfeeding and the prohibition against interference
• HB 1134 by Oliverson relating to the prohibited maintenance and certain vaccine exemption records of
• Relating to prohibiting a registered sex offender from residing within a certain distance of a public
• Refer to the Committee on Natural Resources HB 1164 by Gonzales of Dallas relating to the prohibition

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, cities are prohibited from imposing different standards on existing buildings than
• and... ...an exception to that prohibition for emergency housing and transitional housing.
• Cities are prohibited from funding hotels. reason by analogy theory does not apply.
• This bill would prohibit us from requiring that as a provider.
• And we believe that would be prohibited by the bill. So can I ask a clarifying follow-up?

Summary: The Housing Committee held work sessions on federal Continuum of Care homelessness funding and on state step-housing siting rules before moving into public hearings on House Bill 2266 and House Bill 2489. Commerce staff said HUD’s late and restrictive Continuum of Care funding notice put about $120 million a year in Washington operating support for existing homeless housing projects at risk, but a lawsuit led by the Attorney General forced HUD to restart renewal funding. Commerce also reviewed how local governments are implementing step-housing requirements, including model ordinances, planning updates, and ongoing compliance reviews under recent state law. House Bill 2266 would require cities and counties to allow step housing in all nonindustrial zones, apply the same permitting and environmental review as other residential uses, limit design review to administrative processes, and remove certain local standards and conditions on existing buildings and affordable housing. Supporters, including Plymouth Housing, Disability Rights Washington, King County, the Attorney General’s Office, and Catholic Community Services, argued the bill would reduce discriminatory barriers, protect people with disabilities, and make it easier to site shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. Several city representatives and the Association of Washington Cities opposed or sought amendments, saying the bill was too broad and could limit local authority over operational agreements, safety plans, spacing, community engagement, and funding conditions; some asked for clearer carveouts for emergency shelters and related uses. House Bill 2489 would bar local governments from enforcing public-space anti-camping or similar laws unless adequate alternative shelter space is available, with “life-sustaining activities” and “adequate alternative shelter space” defined in detail. Rep. Gregerson said the bill would create a statewide floor and prevent punishment for survival conduct when no real shelter option exists. The ACLU, service providers, and shelter operators supported the bill, citing displacement from fragmented local ordinances, enforcement costs, and the need to align enforcement with actual shelter availability. Testimony also described low-barrier shelter operations and examples of people stabilizing once housed. The hearing on HB 2489 began with staff explanation and initial testimony; no votes were taken on either bill in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the bill prohibits the State Treasurer from investing in speculative investments and using
• It also prohibits a school or athletic association that maintains private space integral to athletic
• State contracts for an adversary prohibition is just the way it was stated.
• Madam, on that point, this already prohibits— I think there were staff.
• Could you read that last part where it’s— It already prohibits, I think.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting covered a large number of bills and resolutions across education, federalism, government, health, commerce, and judiciary-related topics. In education, members heard bills on moving the statewide testing window later, allowing paper-based testing in more cases, posting school administrator compensation data, expanding who may receive student directory information, reviewing duplicative ADE reporting requirements, requiring religious excusals, creating a school fitness recognition program, and a proposed ballot measure on sex-designated school sports and private spaces. In federalism, the committee discussed banning foreign nationals from funding ballot-measure committees and a proposal to eliminate voting centers and return to precinct-based voting. Other items included memorials urging the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations and the IMF, and a government bill penalizing agencies that fail to submit financial reports on time. Health and human services bills focused on lactation care, a state certification program for lactation providers, prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors, requiring chief medical officers at state agencies to hold active licenses, clarifying air ambulance statutes, seeking a SNAP waiver to restrict non-eligible food purchases, and collecting hospital patient immigration-status data for reporting. Sponsors generally framed these as consumer protection, public health, or administrative cleanup measures, while some members raised concerns about cost, privacy, and possible legal conflicts. In commerce, the committee heard bills on digital goods disclosure, protections for child content creators, liability limits for river outfitters, landlord utility billing transparency, appraisal management company definitions, unemployment eligibility verification, and association-based health plans. Several measures were pulled from consent or flagged for amendments. The judiciary portion included bills creating a civil cause of action for violations of anti-DEI laws, expanding hate-crime-style penalties to include political affiliation and expression, adding reporting requirements for name changes by sex offenders, penalizing possession of falsified commercial driver’s licenses by unlawfully present individuals, adding penalties for mailing abortion-inducing drugs, allowing speed-limiting devices as an alternative to license suspension, extending inmate transition services, increasing penalties for sexual extortion involving older teens, requiring legislative approval to close state shooting ranges, and advancing an Article V convention resolution for congressional term limits. Several sponsors emphasized public safety, parental rights, election integrity, or government accountability, while some members raised constitutional or implementation concerns, particularly on liability, voting systems, and the term-limits resolution. Multiple bills were reported as being on consent calendars, with some pulled for amendments or further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clarify that Sections 1553 and 19230 of the Elections Code do not prohibit agreements between elections
• SB 73 fortifies the protections of our voters by expanding the existing prohibition of armed persons
• So there isn't a state prohibition on challenging a signature requirement right now.
• There's not a state prohibition on challenging a ballot based on the signature not matching.
• So it prohibit those challenges across the board? Correct.

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was prohibitive employment for folks convicted in Louisiana of certain serious crimes.
• So that's an absolute prohibition anyway.
• So the conditional employment would not touch on what the prohibition already includes.
• But that amendment On the offense to make sure that it would not already prohibit it.
• It also removed language prohibiting PPE and prohibiting a healthy asymptomatic individual from participating

Committee: Senate Health & Welfare

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 13 with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee first heard HB 971, which would equalize Medicaid reimbursement rates between independent clinics and hospital-owned rural health clinics; supporters said independent clinics are disadvantaged by a large payment disparity, and the bill was reported favorable without objection. The committee also recognized visiting Alpha Phi Alpha members and other guests during personal privilege remarks. Members then considered HB 414, which would bar hiring certain health care workers and direct support professionals with serious disqualifying convictions from other states and address background-check issues for therapeutic group homes. After adopting three amendment sets, the bill was reported as amended. HB 740, creating an independent review process for Medicaid behavioral health claim disputes in the coordinated system of care, was amended to clarify applicability and CSOC definitions and then reported as amended. HB 288, which would place the term “miscarriage” alongside “spontaneous abortion” in medical documentation, drew emotional testimony from affected parents and advocates; the committee reported it favorable. The committee also advanced several more bills: HB 405, updating the name of the national acupuncture certifying body, was reported favorable; HB 786, prohibiting extrapolation in certain managed-care claims recoupments, was reported favorable; HB 1095, allowing alternative backup power sources for nursing homes, was reported favorable; HB 403, raising the cottage food gross-sales cap, was amended from $50,000 to $150,000 and then reported favorable; HB 930, modernizing cosmetic-product regulation and creating a small-producer exemption, was reported favorable; HB 557, defining long-term pharmacies for policy purposes, was reported favorable; HB 779, on expedited partner therapy for sexually transmitted diseases, was reported favorable; HB 915, setting utilization-management timelines and standards, was reported favorable; HB 546, expanding criteria for peace officers to take someone into protective custody during a mental health crisis, was reported favorable; HB 796, creating a chiropractic preceptorship program, was reported favorable; and HB 933, authorizing commemorative birth certificates, was reported favorable. The final major item was HB 1041, a “no-mandate” bill barring discrimination based on medical intervention status. The sponsor and Surgeon General said it was aimed at healthy, asymptomatic individuals and not at public health quarantine powers, but Senator Boudreaux objected to exemptions for schools and hospitals and offered an amendment to restore broader coverage. That amendment failed on a roll-call vote, and the bill remained under discussion as the transcript ended, with no final committee disposition shown in the excerpt.