Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Avenue Improvements Budget and Taxation. Avenue Improvements Budget and Taxation.
• Head Highway and Livingston Road.
• </c><00:31:54.399><c> the</c> who would then uh work to uh improve the who would then uh work to uh improve
• </c><00:32:23.919><c> that</c> doing something to improve that doing something to improve that property
• And CVS came in and bought that Road.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, February 12, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with 39 members present, heard the invocation from Reverend Meredith West, and journalized her remarks. The chamber then recognized several guest groups and observances, including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Second District Corridor 1 for “100 Q’s in Annapolis Day,” the Kent Island High School boys lacrosse team for winning the Maryland 2A state championship, Arts Day participants, Rural Maryland Council members, Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition advocates, and visitors from the Maryland Judiciary. Senators also spoke about the meaning of Kente cloth during Black History Month, and the chamber recognized a birthday and thanked protocol staff for Valentine’s Day decorations. The Senate’s featured presentation was the annual Lincoln Day speech by the Senator from the 37th District. The senator reflected on Abraham Lincoln’s life, political career, and moral leadership, emphasizing his self-education, opposition to the expansion of slavery, the Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg, and the idea that the nation’s founding principles of liberty and equality guided Lincoln through the Civil War. The minority leader praised the address, and the Senate agreed without objection to journalize the remarks. After the ceremonial portion, the Senate moved to business. Bond initiatives on the calendar were read and referred to the Capital Budget Subcommittee. The Executive Nominations Committee reported favorably on a list of recess appointees, including gubernatorial secretaries, district court judges, and a state board appointee, and the report was special ordered to Monday, February 16, 2026. The chamber then began second-reader consideration of Budget and Taxation bills: Senate Bill 25, altering the cyber security technology and service tax credit, was amended and ordered printed for third reading; Senate Bill 58, creating a property tax credit for retail service station conversions, was discussed with questions about who would receive the credit and why the incentive was needed, and consideration was ongoing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Using treated produced water for road construction is a discharge to groundwater.
• I want to speak about road construction and maintenance, dust, and ice control.
• Madam Chair, my next question: will you talk about road construction?
• Madam Chair, Representative, again, sorry, I'm not a road construction expert.
• We used produced water to build roads.

Committee: House House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this simply allows the Oklahoma Capital Improvement Authority to utilize $25 million from the
• Where is it the state's responsibility to improve these facilities that are being described?
• Senator Woods, you will be presenting House To improve transportation infrastructure with that, Mr.
• You think page two It talks about improved access onto or off a military facility.
• We're talking about roads funding.

Bills: HB4030 , HB4031 , HB4032 , HB4033 , HB4034 , HB4035 , HB4036 , HB4037 , HB4038 , HB4039 , HB4040 , HB4041 , HB4042 , HB4043 , HB4044 , HB4045 , HB4046 , HB4047 , HB4048 , HB4049 , HB4050 , HB4051 , HB4052 , HB4053 , HB4054 , HB4056 , HB4057 , HB4065 , HB4067 , HB4071 , HB4072 , SB1144 , SB1145 , SB1146 , SB1147 , SB1148 , SB1149 , SB1156 , SB1157 , SB1158 , SB1159 , SB1161 , SB1162 , SB1163 , SB1164 , SB1165 , SB1166 , SB1167 , SB1174 , SB1175 , SB1176

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: education funding, budget appropriations, public schools, teachers' retirement, early childhood education, aeronautics, infrastructure, funding, sustainability, Oklahoma, mining, operator fees, coal production, noncoal mining, department of mines, revenue, state budget, budgetary reform, financial legislation, fiscal accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1001 by Representative Charles to improve rural health.
• This is a long-term bill and improved general health care in rural areas. Okay. Thank you.
• Quality is improving, making better, not just looking better or bringing people to look good.
• I'm in support of this bill to improve rural health care in Arkansas.
• What evidence do we have that simply hiring more teachers will improve educational outcome?

Committee: All BOYS STATE

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks to Arkansas Boys State delegates about leadership, public service, and the significance of the Capitol, followed by prayer, attendance, and announcements that both chambers were organized and ready for business. The House then considered House Bill 1001, which would have increased funding for rural health care through a 10% tax on people earning at least $300,000; supporters argued it would improve access and quality in rural areas, while opponents raised concerns about fairness, funding, and driving away doctors and taxpayers. The bill failed, 24 yeas to 51 nays. House Bill 1002, aimed at funding more teachers for rural school districts and limiting how many subjects a teacher could be assigned, drew debate over teacher burnout, funding, and whether it would improve outcomes; it passed after immediate consideration, 38 yeas to 36 nays, though the transcript later includes a conflicting note that it failed. House Bill 1003, the Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2026, would let counties restrict data centers and impose a 10% tax for conservation; supporters emphasized local control and resource protection, while opponents warned about jobs, economic loss, and federal issues. It passed 62 yeas to 7 nays. House Bill 1004, reducing motor vehicle registration fees, was debated as a way to ease costs for families but criticized for reducing transportation funding; it failed, 20 yeas to 46 nays. The chamber then moved to Senate bills. Senate Bill 1 proposed incentives tied to SNAP benefits and healthier food purchases, including a Double Bucks-style program; supporters said it would help address food insecurity and obesity, while opponents objected to taxing junk food and burdening non-SNAP users. It passed 43 yeas to 27 nays. Senate Bill 2 would require reading tests in earlier grades and provide state tutoring for students who fail; supporters said it would address literacy problems early, while opponents wanted clearer provisions for older students and more detail on implementation. It passed 67 yeas to 6 nays. Senate Bill 3, the Freedom to Earn Act, would lower the individual income tax rate from 3.7% to 3.0%; supporters said it would help working families and attract business, while opponents argued the benefits would mostly go to corporations and wealthy executives. It passed 53 yeas to 15 nays. Senate Bill 4 created a zoning grant program to encourage mixed-use development in growing cities, funded by a 1% hotel tourism tax up to $50 million; supporters said it would promote housing, small business growth, and downtown revitalization, and it passed 51 yeas to 7 nays. The session ended with a motion to adjourn, which carried.

Transcript Highlights:

• A study referral to the roads safer.
• </c> we want people in our roads to be safer. we want people in our roads to be safer.
• </c><00:56:32.960><c> And</c> safer roads. They have less deaths. And safer roads.
• </c> that's totally bad deaths on the road that's totally bad deaths on the road and<00:56:40.720><c>
• </c><01:28:45.040><c> Senator</c> shouldn't be on the road. Senator shouldn't be on the road.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I move L033 to House Bill 26113 to the amendment. improving efficiencies, these improving efficiencies
• This<01:53:36.000><c> improves</c><01:53:37.440><c> this</c><01:53:37.679><c> improvement</c><01:53:38.239
• ><c> uses</c> This improves this improvement uses credit agency data to review voter rolls against more
• And House Bill 1113 is going to help improve that.
• So, just wanted to make those road.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• think we could do better setting out in statute and just helping create the most transparent and improved
• Um, and just again sort of offered in the spirit of hoping to improve our process by laying out sort
• </c><00:32:33.679><c> process</c> transparent and and improved process transparent and and improved process
• </c><00:33:55.600><c> our</c> in the spirit of hoping to improve our in the spirit of hoping to improve
• that you can't get there from roads that you can't get there from here,<00:44:43.440><c> you</c><00:

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on the fund so we won't overfund it, but we'll have money in place to continue this work down the road
• because it does this work down the road because it does take<00:04:29.440><c> time.
• </c> as far as improvement since then. as far as improvement since then.
• improve our data sharing capabilities on an agency-based system.
• <00:21:19.320><c> security</c> improve security improve security and<00:21:20.800><c> identification<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the other thing it will do is it will actually improve the process because if we know we have
• We read countless stories of Jesus caring for neighbors at temple gates, on the side of the road, and
• We read countless stories of Jesus caring for neighbors at temple gates, on the side of the road, and
• To me, I’m concerned about sustainability and thinking down the road for the future. Mr.
• for the future Like it, to me, I'm concerned about sustainability and thinking down the road for the

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard several appropriations and policy bills, beginning with HB 263, which would appropriate $1.5 million to fund the Independent Correctional Oversight Office. Representative Blackman argued the office is needed to address serious problems in the Department of Corrections, including lawsuits, staffing shortages, injuries, and safety concerns, and said he was open to shifting existing dollars to cover the cost. A supportive witness from Justice Action Network said the funding would make the oversight office operational and is a small investment compared with the department’s overall budget. The bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 17-1 vote. The committee then considered HB 2993, as amended, which would let the Department of Public Safety spend money on legal services independent of the Attorney General and move $5 million from the Consumer Protection/Consumer Fraud Revolving Fund to the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission Fund. Speaker Montenegro said the bill was intended to support law enforcement and shift resources toward frontline public safety work. The amendment changed the destination of the $5 million from the Peace Officers Training Fund to GITEM, and the bill passed 11-7. HB 2271 followed, dealing with firefighter cancer insurance reimbursement and rate deviations for insurers. Witnesses described it as a technical, unfinished consensus measure meant to bring fire districts into the existing cancer reimbursement structure without changing claim handling for firefighters. Members repeatedly noted more work was needed, but the bill still received a do-pass recommendation on a 16-1-1 vote. HB 2416 appropriated $20 million to DPS for local border support, including law enforcement positions, prosecution and detention costs, and equipment. Sheriffs and the Arizona Sheriffs Association testified in support, saying the funding has been used for drug interdiction, fentanyl seizures, and joint task forces, while opponents argued the money should go elsewhere. The bill passed 11-6-1. HB 2692, a procurement bill, would create or revise rules for construction delivery methods, including one-step competition and progressive design-build for federally funded public infrastructure projects. Construction and procurement stakeholders said it was a long-negotiated consensus measure, while some members worried about taxpayer risk and wanted more information; it passed 10-7-1. The committee also amended and passed HB 2478, which creates the Arizona Commission on Student Outcomes and funds it with Classroom Site Fund dollars to study K-12 accountability, standards, graduation requirements, early childhood education, and a possible trade pathways diploma. Supporters said Arizona needs a broader conversation about student outcomes and school accountability, while opponents questioned the funding source and whether the work should instead be done by existing education agencies. The amended bill passed 11-7. Finally, HB 4044 was introduced to create a Public Safety Parity Fund for DPS and Corrections salaries using proceeds from forfeited digital assets and interest from the Budget Stabilization Fund; the sponsor and a troopers association witness said it would help address long-standing pay parity and vacancy problems, but the transcript cuts off before any vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the other thing it will do is it will actually improve the process because if we know we have
• We read countless stories of Jesus caring for neighbors at temple gates, on the side of the road, at
• I'm open to being convinced that I'm wrong, that this will, in fact, be a better improvement for the
• at night, but really, really... ...the vacancy rates, the lack of troopers on the road at night, but
• To me, I'm concerned about sustainability and thinking down the road for the future. Mr.

Bills: HB2063 , HB2271 , HB2416 , HB2478 , HB2593 , HB2692 , HB2813 , HB2992 , HB2993 , HB4044

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: corrections oversight, appropriation, independent office, public safety, funding, firefighters, insurance rates, workers' compensation, firefighter cancer reimbursement, rate deviations, cost analysis, premiums, border security, drug trafficking, human smuggling, law enforcement funding, Arizona, immigration, education reform, K-12

Transcript Highlights:

• Hampshire roads? Yes. Thank you. Hampshire roads? Yes. Thank you.
• </c> utilizing this technology on our roads? utilizing this technology on our roads?
• I want them to drive on safe roads. I am convinced that this bill will make the roads less safe.
• And and to me and on our roads.
• </c> firewood on the side of the road. firewood on the side of the road.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now is the time to be the good Samaritan to cross the road, to bind the wounds, to say, you matter.
• So I've kind of bought into this notion about housing being infrastructure, just like roads, just like
• And this was 20 years ago, 20 years ago, to work on how do we improve. school lunches.
• their lot in life, trying to improve.
• SB 241 would take important steps to improve the conditioning process.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> would be for like Capital Improvements would be for like Capital Improvements that<00:08:16.199>
• </c><00:10:32.480><c> make</c> do the same kind of improvements make do the same kind of improvements
• </c> government has made these improvements government has made these improvements so<00:10:41.399><c
• </c> benefiting from government improvements benefiting from government improvements that<00:23:12.400
• made and because they made improvements made and because they made the<00:24:51.440><c> improvements

Bills: HF2296 , HF1566 , HF1854 , HF1385 , HF1142

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: landlord-tenant, victim confidentiality, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, tenant privacy, housing law, eviction, unpaid rent, damages, release of information, shared database, protective order, victim of violence, Minnesota Statutes 504B.206, housing finance, civil law, autism, rental properties, reasonable accommodation

Transcript Highlights:

• At the heart of my work is a commitment to improving.
• Besides the improvement of air quality, what other public benefits are we getting out of that?
• So that's a that's a vehicle that would have been on those Texas roads. all day, every day.
• How have you improved the public's participation? Quantifiably.
• But in order to know whether public participation is being improved.

Bills: HB512 , HB2248 , HB2679 , HB2832 , HB3112 , HB3368 , HB3490 , HB3512 , HB3623 , HB3666 , HB3700 , HB3711 , HB3770 , HB3963

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: grievance procedures, state agency, employee rights, workplace regulations, employment law, employees, employment actions, appeal, state employees, workplace rights, disciplinary actions, employment conditions, employment disputes, job protections, public information, transparency, government accountability, information access, notification requirements, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:01:08.319><c> food</c> and planting practices to improve food and planting practices to improve
• </c><01:02:22.079><c> in</c><01:02:22.279><c> students</c> shown improvements in students shown improvements
• I think that’s an improvement.
• I think that’s an improvement.
• </c> of that I think that's an improvement of that I think that's an improvement but<01:36:25.239><c>

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Other improvements include campsite living spaces, paving of campground roads and sight pads, and other
• Utility improvements. Our utility improvements total $20 million.
• Our utility Utility improvements.
• </c> improvements total $20 million. improvements total $20 million.
• Building system improvements.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Protection received a detailed update from Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Meyer on capital projects funded through HJR 76, HJR 56, and House Bill 6. He said the department is making steady progress on a large portfolio of park improvements, with regular quarterly reporting to the legislature and ongoing coordination with the Finance Cabinet, the Energy and Environment Cabinet, the Commonwealth Office of Technology, and local utilities and governments. He emphasized that ADA accessibility is a priority across projects and noted that many completed items, including campground bathhouse renovations, broadband upgrades, life safety improvements, playground replacements, and some furniture and mattress upgrades, are already drawing positive feedback. The presentation focused heavily on campground, utility, and infrastructure work. Meyer described $40 million in campground upgrades split between western and eastern Kentucky, including projects at Ken Lake, Carter Caves, My Old Kentucky Home, Cumberland Falls, and others. He also outlined $20 million in utility improvements, including a federal matching grant for grid resiliency at Ken Lake and Kentucky Dam Village, plus wastewater and electrical infrastructure work at parks such as Dale Hollow, Blue Licks, Natural Bridge, and Cumberland Falls. Additional categories included building systems, life safety, structural repairs, accommodations and hospitality upgrades, pool and beach work, dam safety, playgrounds, and golf course improvements. Members asked about the status of Lake Barkley utilities, the possibility of transferring upgraded utility infrastructure to local providers after repairs, and how park repair priorities are set. Meyer said park managers report issues through regional directors and that projects are prioritized through a running capital list, similar to a long-range transportation plan. He said the department has already spent the current $20 million allocation and is requesting $40 million in the next budget cycle, adding that the department believes it could spend and complete projects if that amount is appropriated. The commissioner also said the department is managing 284 additional capital projects outside the main funding streams, totaling nearly $70 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• It sells the finish line, but without paving the road.
• And so without audits, without safeguards, this bill could... ...road.
• , the young man improves in math, not because he likes math.
• The young man improves in math, not because he likes math. He loves welding.
• So this is to improve access. This is by no means to make it to where one path fits all.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met with two bills on the agenda. HB 1055, by Rep. Albert, would make permanent the Center for the Study of Election Law at Florida State University’s College of Law, which was created temporarily in 2023. The sponsor described the center as successful and tied to Florida’s election reputation. There was brief public testimony, including support from FSU-affiliated witnesses, and no debate or amendments. The bill passed unanimously. The committee then heard HB 1105, by Rep. Kinghart-Johnson, a broader education bill affecting Bright Futures and related programs. As explained by the sponsor, the bill would change the Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship requirement from three full credits in one program to three full credits total, align the CTE diploma with scholarship eligibility, add the AP Capstone Diploma as an automatic Bright Futures Academic Scholarship qualifier, and remove barriers for some students whose parents are retired military or public service employees stationed out of state. An amendment was adopted that revised AP Capstone requirements, kept the Gold Seal GPA requirement unchanged, and added the ACE diploma as a qualifier for the Florida Seal of Fine Arts. Public testimony on HB 1105 included two social work students who supported expanding opportunities but warned that the bill could steer students into vocational tracks without enough safeguards, transparency, or access to transportation, internships, and counseling. Several members spoke in support of the bill’s goal of recognizing multiple paths to success, while also acknowledging concerns raised by speakers. In closing, the sponsor said the bill was intended to improve access and correct language that treated vocational pathways as lesser options. HB 1105 passed unanimously as amended, and the meeting adjourned afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• And within 100 feet of road rights-of-way.
• What do we do for our schools, our roads, our bridges?
• That helps improve the efficiency there.
• It also has to improve efficiency or reliability.
• So that would improve reliability there.

Summary: The committee met at the Coteau Freedom Mine in Mercer County, approved the June 2 minutes, and heard an overview of the mine from Coteau Properties president Andrew Hawbaker. He described the Freedom Mine’s production history, customer mix, safety record, reclamation practices, workforce, community involvement, and economic impact. Members asked about how long land stays in production before reclamation, how quickly it returns to agriculture, labor shortages, groundwater impacts, and which skilled trades are hardest to fill. Hawbaker said the mine typically disturbs land for three to five years, reclamation returns much of the land to agricultural use, and the biggest hiring challenges are electricians, welders, mechanics, operators, engineers, and accountants. The committee then heard from Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christman on coal mining reclamation. He reviewed the history of North Dakota and federal reclamation laws, the PSC’s permitting and inspection authority, bonding requirements, contemporaneous reclamation standards, and how the state handles topsoil, subsoil, drainage, and revegetation. He emphasized that North Dakota’s program is well regarded, with frequent inspections and no corrective-action issues in recent federal reviews. Christman also discussed problems caused by federal coal ownership that can delay mine plans, and he answered questions about reclamation timing, wildlife easements, wind and pipeline reclamation, and whether similar bonding concepts could apply to data centers. In the afternoon, the committee received an update from Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jonathan Fortner on the lignite industry. He highlighted the industry’s long-term role in providing reliable electricity, jobs, and tax revenue, along with North Dakota’s low electricity rates and strong grid reliability. Fortner discussed severance and conversion tax revenues, federal regulatory changes, litigation over EPA rules, carbon capture, critical minerals, and the potential for large-load customers such as data centers to support new coal generation. He said the industry sees a window of opportunity for growth and expressed support for new large-load development, while noting that diversified energy companies are also pursuing natural gas and other resources. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning for the tour.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of this outcomes review hearing is to assess and improve the outcomes of specified laws.
• I'd like to hear more today about what obstacles the clearinghouse faces and what improvements can be
• Just quickly: one, improve transparency and efficiency for voluntary market outreach.
• We have several improvements that could strengthen the clearinghouse program.
• Yeah, so going to some of your feedback then on how to improve the clearinghouse, Mr.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee held its first outcomes review oversight hearing on the residential fair plan clearinghouse program created by AB 3012. Chair and members focused on whether the program is actually helping depopulate the California Fair Plan and move policyholders back to the voluntary market. The Fair Plan and Department of Insurance testified that the program exists as a platform for admitted and, in some cases, non-admitted insurers to review Fair Plan policies and make offers through the broker of record, but they acknowledged limited participation and limited results. CDI said it has received no formal complaints specific to the clearinghouse, but identified obstacles including only 11 participating residential insurers, the broker-of-record requirement, compensation and appointment issues, and the lack of direct consumer contact. CDI said about 730 residential risks have moved to voluntary market coverage through the program from June 2021 through April 30, 2025, and opt-outs are under 1%. Committee members pressed witnesses on the program’s opacity, the lack of data on offers made versus policies actually moved, and whether the clearinghouse is functioning as intended. CDI and the Fair Plan said they do not have data on how many offers have been made, only on cancellations that are self-reported and marked as clearinghouse-related. Members also raised regional growth in Fair Plan enrollment, especially on the Central Coast, and concerns about underinsurance when policyholders move back to the regular market. CDI recommended more mandatory reporting, broader broker education, possible direct offers to policyholders after a period of time, and changes to commission and appointment rules to reduce barriers to insurer participation. The second panel of industry witnesses generally agreed the clearinghouse is not a stand-alone solution and said its effectiveness depends on a healthier admitted market and actuarially sound Fair Plan rates. Independent agents and brokers, admitted-market insurers, and surplus lines representatives said the current system is constrained by low rate adequacy, limited insurer appetite for high-risk properties, operational friction, and misaligned incentives. Several witnesses suggested improvements such as better data sharing, clearer depopulation procedures, stronger broker education, and more flexible appointment or compensation rules. Some supported giving the program more time under the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, while others said the Legislature should consider whether to strengthen, modify, or potentially sunset the program if it continues to produce limited results. A public witness later reported that a new carrier had recently joined the clearinghouse and was working with brokers to bring in additional capacity.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of this outcomes review hearing is to assess and improve the outcomes of specified laws.
• Just quickly: one, improve transparency and efficiency for voluntary market outreach.
• Just quickly: one, improved transparency and efficiency for voluntary market outreach.
• Now, we have several improvements that could strengthen the clearinghouse program.
• So, going to some of your feedback then on how to improve the clearinghouse, Mr.

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 988, house, all