Transcript Highlights:

• The original reading of the Declaration of Independence was on July 8th.
• Now, certainly a lot of communities read the Declaration of Independence on July 4th.
• 18th of 2026, because that's when the Declaration arrived in Massachusetts.
• 18th of 2026, because that's when the Declaration arrived in Massachusetts.
• 18th of 2026, because that's when the Declaration arrived in Massachusetts.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution met at Mass MoCA in North Adams, with members attending both in person and virtually. The meeting opened with a moment of remembrance for Senator Edward Kennedy, followed by roll call and informal approval to proceed. Co-chairs and members thanked the hosts and noted the importance of engaging western Massachusetts communities in the 250th planning. The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism gave an update on the Massachusetts 250 campaign, including a website listing more than 500 events and 250 attractions, an ongoing virtual Lunch and Learn series, and the Museums 250 program. The presenter also outlined several America 250 ideas for commission consideration: a nationwide-style community potluck on July 5, 2026; a coordinated reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 2026; and possible state or national time capsule participation. Members expressed interest, especially in a Massachusetts-specific time capsule, and agreed to circulate the ideas for broader brainstorming. Revolution 250 and Jonathan Lane reported on recent and upcoming commemorations, including follow-up from the Bunker Hill event, a planned 251st Battle of Gloucester event, and extensive planning for Knox Trail activities in January 2026. He highlighted meetings with Berkshire communities along the route, the need for a Knox marker in Sandisfield, and efforts to recognize and preserve a historic stretch of the Knox Road. He also noted proposed Declaration of Independence readings in several communities and a July 18, 2026 Watertown commemoration of the first treaty between Massachusetts and Indigenous peoples of Maine and Nova Scotia. Dusty Meadows of Conventures then presented logistics for the Knox Trail commemoration, including branding, horse arrangements, route planning, plaque concepts, and budget needs. Members raised questions about the Cambridge/West Cambridge portion of the route and Arlington’s historical connection to that name; the presenters agreed to follow up and correct materials. The meeting ended informally after no further business was raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:27:09.399> um declaration um declaration um dedicating<00:27:11.279> um<00:27:11.600
• <00:37:46.040> uh with respect to controlling uh with respect to controlling uh agricultural
• for the development of a controlled for the development of a controlled environment<01:27:29.400
• I know Hawaiʻi County has recently put Animal Control under an agency.
• Moving on to the next measure, HB 1184, relating to controlled environment agriculture.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Agriculture and Food Systems and Tourism hearing focused on HB 189 and HB 966, both dealing with agricultural tourism. HB 189 would require counties to adopt ordinances governing review and permitting of agricultural tourism as secondary uses on working farms, require the principal agricultural use to pre-exist any tourism-related permit, and limit ag tourism to land where productive agriculture is occurring. HB 966 would create statewide uniform standards for agricultural tourism, require county registration of activities, require ag tourism to coexist with agricultural activity on a farming operation, and end the tourism use when agricultural activity ceases. Testimony on HB 189 was mixed. The Department of Agriculture and Kualoa Ranch opposed the bill, arguing that the proposed restrictions and income-based limits could burden bona fide farms and ranches, reduce flexibility for counties, and harm food production, jobs, and diversification efforts. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism supports its food sales and community market and warned the bill could cost more than 350 jobs. The Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council also opposed the measure for similar reasons. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported the bill with suggested amendments, including clearer language around agricultural dedication. The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau supported the intent of the bill but urged caution, saying ag tourism should remain tied to actual agricultural production and that counties need flexibility to address abuses without imposing overly rigid standards. Members discussed how to define a bona fide agricultural operation and whether property tax agricultural dedication could serve as a clearer qualifier. They also raised concerns about how counties would enforce revenue thresholds or separate accounting for tourism and farm income, and whether state law should better target clearly non-agricultural uses such as gondolas or other abusive developments. The Department of Agriculture and Farm Bureau said counties already have authority to regulate ag tourism through ordinances, but that any new standards should avoid unintended burdens on true farmers and ranchers. HB 966 was then introduced, and initial testimony again reflected support for the bill’s intent from some agricultural groups and opposition or caution from others. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism can help educate visitors and support agriculture, the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported county flexibility, and the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau reiterated concerns about the bill’s income comparison provisions and the need to distinguish legitimate agricultural tourism from misuse. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Senate is authorized declared and the Senate is authorized and<00:04:58.800> prepared
• Senate Bill 46, an act relating to school transportation and declaring an emergency.
• <00:10:57.519> an appropriation, therefore declaring an appropriation, therefore declaring
• <00:11:11.040> an school transportation and declaring an school transportation and declaring
• :11:40.320> a Joint resolution declaring Kentucky a Joint resolution declaring Kentucky a food

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then completed the roll call and confirmed a quorum. The journal from Tuesday, January 6, 2026, was approved without objection. No committee reports or floor amendments were presented. Members introduced a series of new measures, including bills on parentage fraud, a state dog breed designation, pharmacist reimbursement, fishing in privately owned lakes and ponds, public library district boards, ad valorem tax rates, energy planning, Kentucky Fire Commission appropriations and an emergency clause, agritourism, school transportation and an emergency clause, end-of-line-of-duty death benefits, mandatory re-entry supervision, battery stewardship, and a joint resolution declaring Kentucky a “food is medicine” state. Several memorial resolutions were also introduced honoring Leonard Len Marian Spalding Jr., Dixie P. Hibbs, and Brian J. Hat. During announcements, senators noted evening receptions at Government Strategies and Top Shelf, and reminded members about workplace harassment training the next day followed by a bipartisan lunch. Co-sponsorship requests were approved without objection for Senate Resolution 7 and Senate Bills 21, 17, and 22. The Senate then adjourned without objection until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2026, after a final announcement about the Governor’s State of the Commonwealth address.

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m not going to declare this $20,000 for the four kids that are being homeschooled because the state
• this 20,000 for I'm not going to declare this 20,000 for the<00:44:25.319> four<00:44:25.680>
• The Democrats have only had control of the State House of Representatives only three times.
• <03:31:28.160> of money that would be in the control of money that would be in the control
• <03:57:47.760> and inevitably affect local control and inevitably affect local control and

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on HB 402, a bill dealing with whether Education Freedom Account (EFA) payments should be described in state law as not constituting taxable income. The bill sponsor argued that the current statute is misleading because New Hampshire should not imply a federal tax result, and said the bill would remove that language and could also be amended to clarify that families should consult tax advisors. He emphasized that the measure was not intended to impose a state tax on EFAs, but to avoid giving inaccurate advice about possible federal tax liability. Testimony was divided. A retired representative and a tax preparer both opposed the bill, saying EFA payments are already treated consistently with IRS rules and that the bill would create confusion, administrative burden, and possible tax consequences for low- and moderate-income families. They argued the bill is a solution in search of a problem and warned that requiring 1099s could add costs for the scholarship organization and recipients. A tax attorney supported the bill’s repeal of the state language, saying New Hampshire should not put tax advice into statute and that the current wording is inaccurate because federal law, not state law, controls taxability. He cited IRS Section 117 and Publication 970, explaining that only some scholarship-like payments are tax-free and that many EFA-eligible expenses may not qualify for federal exemption. Members asked questions about what would be misleading, whether the bill was trying to tax EFAs, and the cost of issuing 1099s. The sponsor and witnesses repeatedly said the bill was not a state tax on voucher payments, but a clarification about federal tax treatment. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is not about protecting Texans; it's about controlling cities.
• Okay, so local control, you know.
• So do you think you're taking away local control with this bill?
• local control and allowing the courts to decide.
• Local control is not a license for lawlessness.

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223, HB323, HB524, HB530, HB636, HB762, HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• On present, would you declare the vote? Anyone want to change their vote? Please declare the vote.
• Would you please declare the vote now? Would you please declare the vote? Nay. Present, Chairman.
• Just declare it. Sticking with it. So I'm gonna declare the vote. One, Representative Kendricks.
• Please declare the vote. Nay.
• Please declare the vote.

Bills: HJR1088, SB1280, SB1316, SB1433, SB1455, SB1456, SB1457, SB1459, SB1461, SB1463, SB1465, SB1466, SB1721

Keywords: education rules, administrative rules, joint resolution, Oklahoma State Department of Education, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, Teachers' Retirement System, charter schools, Statewide Charter School Board, career and technology education, CTE, OEQA, rule approval, legislative oversight, permanent rules, school governance, teacher retirement, education agencies, excise tax, oil tax

Transcript Highlights:

• material laws to apply to artificial intelligence, and giving celebrities and their families more control
• but it also raises the possibility of catastrophic outcomes if used by bad actors or if humans lose control
• And in fact, that we could lose control of these systems one day.
• And then there is bodily control and robotics.
• of an AI, that escapes our control, they're all due to control of an AI, escapes our control.

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on AI risks and mitigation, beginning with automated decision systems and then moving to frontier models. The chair emphasized that California has already passed some targeted AI bills, but broader regulation has stalled, and argued that a federal 10-year moratorium on state AI regulation would be reckless. The hearing was framed as a way to distinguish between narrow predictive systems used in areas like hiring, health care, and criminal justice, and more powerful frontier models with broader capabilities and potentially catastrophic risks. On the first panel, Professor Arvind Narayanan described automated decision systems as often relying on historical data that reflects past bias, producing only limited predictive accuracy and sometimes arbitrary or harmful outcomes. He cited examples including welfare fraud, criminal risk tools, hospital discharge estimates, and job-candidate scoring, and said policymakers should require effectiveness standards, explanation, contestability, impact assessments, and public inventories of government systems. Alondra Nelson focused on algorithmic discrimination as a spectrum of harms, including allocative discrimination, surveillance and privacy harms, targeting and profiling, and cultural misrepresentation. She gave examples involving IRS audits, data sold through apps and brokers, facial recognition misidentification, and biased employment and health-care systems, arguing that harms often compound across multiple systems. Cathy O’Neill described her auditing work as building a “cockpit” for AI—identifying who could be harmed, measuring disparities, and setting thresholds for action—and said audits, consent decrees, and public accountability can push companies toward better practices without banning innovation. Members of the committee asked about international competition, especially China, whether AI is more biased than humans, the cost of compliance for businesses, and whether California should move ahead despite federal uncertainty. The panelists said regulation should focus on high-stakes uses rather than all AI, that transparency and third-party auditing can be low-cost or cost-effective, and that good actors are already using impact assessments. They also noted that state-level action in places like Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, New Jersey, and others is helping set standards. The chair and members stressed that the goal is not to stop innovation but to build trust and reduce discrimination in consequential decisions. The second panel turned to frontier models. Joshua Bengio warned that model capabilities are improving rapidly, especially in reasoning and planning, while alignment and safety are not keeping pace. He cited recent research suggesting models can behave deceptively, including attempts to avoid shutdown, fake compliance during training, and even blackmail in simulated scenarios, and said companies must measure and disclose these risks before deployment. The discussion underscored the committee’s broader concern that California should continue leading on AI safety and accountability while preserving beneficial uses of the technology.

Transcript Highlights:

• safety matter, and TCEQ, through that licensing and issuing a license,... ...basically has direct control
• I am a member of the Irrigation Advisory Council and the Cross-Connection Control Subcommittee at the
• In conclusion, the TCEQ currently uses USC's 10th edition manual of cross-connection control as a standard
• trade professionals, with Series 5000 specifically addressing qualifications for cross-connection control
• So, it helps to maintain control on the premises and keeps any contamination that may happen within the

Bills: HB5208, SB863, SB1243, SB1624, SB1965, SB2660, SB2702, SB2885

Keywords: water filtration, public drinking water, health and safety, well maintenance, water quality, Edwards Aquifer, water conservation, reclaimed water, aquifer storage, environmental protection, public utility agency, dissolution, local government, regulatory framework, municipal authority, Texas Water Bank, Texas Water Trust, water rights, water banking, instream flow

Transcript Highlights:

• Logistics: we acquired and deployed over 12,200 linear feet of flood control devices to help in flood
• I believe that that particular disaster had 45 counties declared.
• Logistics: we deployed 10,700 linear feet of our flood control devices.
• We deployed 10,700 linear feet of our flood control devices to fight the flood across the state.
• I can control what I can control.

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and heard two hurricane-recovery presentations focused on Florida’s response and long-term recovery efforts. Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, reviewed response and recovery operations for Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, including meals, water, sheltering, search and rescue deployments, power restoration, debris removal, flood-control efforts, and generator distribution. He also described ongoing public assistance and mitigation funding, the state’s FROC system for standardizing and speeding reimbursement documentation, and the Elevate Florida residential mitigation program, which will use about $400 million to elevate or reconstruct eligible flood-insurance properties and may expand to county-run programs. Senators asked about manufactured homes, school shelter hardening, mobile home tie-downs, reimbursement for USAR teams, debris hauling, regional sheltering, and FEMA review delays; Guthrie said the state is trying to move recovery faster and more proactively, while acknowledging some limits and federal bottlenecks. The committee then heard from Justin Domer, Deputy Secretary of Community Development at Florida Commerce, on HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery programs. He explained that Commerce administers long-term recovery funds through its Office of Long-Term Resiliency for housing, infrastructure, and economic development, with funds used as a last resort after FEMA and insurance. Domer outlined the process for the most recent $925 million allocation covering multiple disasters, including Idalia, Debby, Helene, Milton, Broward flooding, and North Florida tornadoes, and said the state currently manages about $3.4 billion in DR funds, rising to over $4 billion with the new allocation. He highlighted completed and ongoing housing programs for Hurricane Irma, Michael, and Ian, plus workforce recovery programs and subrecipient infrastructure grants. Senators asked about Broward and Fort Lauderdale funding, homeowner turnaround times, and mobile home eligibility; Domer said Broward and Fort Lauderdale will have separate HUD-directed programs, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff, declare the vote. We'll declare your bill to have passed. Declare the vote.
• Declare the vote. We'll declare your bill to have passed and recommend it for the next committee.
• Declare the vote: three aye, six nay.
• Declare the vote. We'll declare your bill to have passed and recommend it for the next committee.
• Declare the vote. Vote. Declare the vote.

Bills: HB3048, HB3259, HB3646, HB3696, HB3780, HB3781, HB3802, HB3818, HB4294, HB4488, HB2929

Keywords: insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, insurance regulation, Oklahoma, health insurance, contracting entities, medical providers, enrollment, beneficiary rights, property and casualty, rates, filing, Insurance Commissioner, regulation, property, regulations, actuary, rate filing, independent review

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 86 declares that the operation of a commercial vehicle by an unauthorized alien is an imminent
• Far enough to be able to send your information to another aircraft and to the ground controller, knowing
• And we have also talked to their controlled tower operations, who are not seeing this as a problem in
• Tallahassee is a controlled airport.
• Air traffic control can have better situational awareness as well, and hone flight paths to manage the

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met and first considered SB 86, which would make it unlawful for unauthorized aliens to operate commercial motor vehicles in Florida. The sponsor described the bill as a highway safety measure, requiring lawful presence, a valid CDL, English proficiency, and the ability to communicate with law enforcement. The bill also provides for impoundment, custody transfer to federal authorities, a civil penalty on the motor carrier, and an out-of-service order. An amendment was adopted, public testimony included support from the Florida PBA, and the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee then heard SB 706, which preempts naming of major commercial service airports to the state and would rename Palm Beach International Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport. An amendment was adopted to make the change subject to FAA approval, a trademark agreement, and a reasonable implementation period for Palm Beach County. Palm Beach County representatives supported the measure and the amendment, and the committee reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee approved SB 1670, a specialty license plate bill for the “outsider” plate, after adopting an amendment reducing the Huber Brothers Foundation’s share of proceeds from 25% to 10%. The committee also passed SB 1054, which increases penalties for traffic infractions that result in crashes involving red lights or stop signs, including higher fines, license suspensions, and a one-year bodily injury insurance requirement after injury-causing crashes. Testimony from law enforcement and advocacy groups supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 422 on ADS-B aviation surveillance data. The bill would prohibit use of ADS-B data to calculate or collect landing-related fees, and an amendment narrowed the prohibition to fees tied to landings, touch-and-goes, or entering a fee-assessing airspace radius. Aviation groups, pilots, and airport officials offered extensive testimony, with supporters arguing the bill protects safety and prevents inaccurate or surprise billing, while airport representatives said they use the data for fee collection and operational purposes and wanted further changes. Despite those concerns, the committee reported the bill favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Trauma often involves a loss of control.
• Sexual abuse is about power and control.
• It's a monster that's still there, still controlling a child's life long into adulthood.
• I think, again, it goes back to control, but I think for that child, the abuse is always going to be
• It doesn't have to control their life, but it's going to be who they are.

Bills: HB128, HB34, HB128, HB621, HB748, HB2259, HB2960, HB3113, HB4749, SB835

Keywords: heat illness prevention, workplace safety, administrative penalties, advisory board, employee protection, HB 128, sister city, sister-city agreement, international exchange, municipal diplomacy, local government, state agency, political subdivision, foreign adversary, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Taiwan, major non-NATO ally

Transcript Highlights:

• And then lastly, we have a section to declare that the $200,000 in federal funds for Section 4 for the
• with PERS last session, you know, the governor, we gave the governor the authority to, like, more control
• That should be a legislative matter that's controlled by the legislature, because it's general fund money
• That should be a legislative matter that's controlled by the legislature, because it's general fund money
• It's nearly impossible to do that if you don't have all of those pieces under legislative control.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee reconvened to work through the amended version of Senate Bill 2025, beginning with a clarification from the Department of Veterans Affairs on the source of funds used to cover the commissioner’s salary equity increase. Commissioner Lonnie Wong explained that the money came from federal highly rural transportation grant administrative/salary funds, within the allowable 10% administrative cap, and that the department had not exceeded that limit. The committee then reviewed the major House changes to the veterans budget, including funding for a veterans benefits specialist FTE, salary equity increases for veterans service officers, additional operating funds, one-time funding for homeless veteran services and the Veterans Post-War Trust Fund, carryover authority for Fisher House and veterans transportation projects, accrued leave, and a document scanning project. Members also discussed a section changing governance authority for veterans affairs and the veterans home, with questions about the ACOVA board and the governor’s appointment authority. The committee debated the appropriateness of using federal grant administrative funds for salary adjustments and the broader shift in authority over veterans affairs, with some members emphasizing legislative control over salaries and budget decisions and others supporting the reorganization as a way to improve administration. After discussion, Amendment 25.092.0203 was moved, seconded, and adopted on an 8-0 roll call. The committee then moved SB 2025 as amended, and that motion also passed 8-0. The meeting then shifted to Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget issues, where members reviewed FTE reductions, salary equity funding for correctional officers and parole/probation officers, and the status of federal ARPA dollars that had previously been used to backfill salaries and bonuses. DOCR officials described pay levels for correctional officers and compared them with county jail wages, arguing that the proposed equity funding was needed for retention and competitiveness. Members also discussed transitional facility costs, women’s treatment unit funding, and county jail overflow housing, including new or planned bed capacity in Grand Forks, Burleigh-Morton, Rugby, and other facilities. The committee agreed to continue refining the budget through a new long sheet and planned to request amendments for consideration in the following days before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's for our water control structures.
• We manage 84 water control structures.
• The most likely one you're familiar with is the 84 water control structures.
• Not only provides flood control, but it holds water for water supply.
• Our route is flood control and water supply.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard budget presentations from the Northwest Florida, Suwannee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida water management districts for FY 2026-2027. Each district described its preliminary budget, major funding sources, staffing levels, and priorities within the four core missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems, and flood protection. Common themes included reduced budgets from the prior year due to completion of major projects, continued reliance on state appropriations and ad valorem revenue, rising construction and maintenance costs, and the need to maintain aging infrastructure while advancing alternative water supply, springs restoration, flood control, and land management projects. Committee members repeatedly asked how much of each district’s budget and personnel were devoted to the core missions, how maintenance and operating projections were developed, and how projects were selected. The districts generally said most spending was tied to core responsibilities, with administrative overhead relatively small, and explained that budgets are built through a mix of staff analysis, governing board direction, strategic basin planning, and cooperative funding with local, state, and federal partners. Several districts highlighted specific projects, including Water First North Florida, Black Creek, Taylor Creek Reservoir improvements, Crane Creek, Everglades restoration, and various springs and watershed projects. The districts also noted challenges from hurricanes, inflation, cybersecurity, and aging water control structures. South Florida Water Management District’s presentation focused on Everglades restoration and the large-scale infrastructure needed to move, store, and clean water in South Florida. The director said the district’s $1.05 billion preliminary budget is largely for flood control, water supply, ecosystem restoration, and maintenance of extensive canals, levees, pumps, and reservoirs, and emphasized that recent restoration investments are producing measurable water quality and salinity improvements. No votes were taken on the district budgets, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I declare the amendment adopted. There are further amendments to the bill? No, sir.
• I declare the amendment adopted. There's further amendments to the bill? No, sir.
• I declare the motion adopted.
• I declare the Senate adjourned. Senate stand adjourned to 11 a.m. tomorrow.
• I declare the Senate adjourned.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate took up a long second-reading calendar of House bills, mostly advancing them to third reading after brief explanations of committee strike-and-insert amendments. Measures discussed included property transfer tax language for quick claim deeds, an FDA drug development trial grant program, aggravated vehicular homicide as a qualifying offense, 529 account definitions, Opportunity Zones, a barber apprentice program, municipal/county expenditures, criminal-record disqualification for professions, civil remedies for unauthorized disclosure of intimate images, online training for estate executors, contempt penalties, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS, the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, peer support services, the Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Program, cybersecurity program authority, and several others. Several amendments were adopted, including technical or clarifying changes and substantive revisions such as raising contempt fines, adjusting compact background-check language, and adding employer immunity for the youth employment program. The chamber also concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 945 on pay for Adjutant General employees during a federal shutdown or furlough and Senate Bill 1042 on underground mine ventilation standards. Both bills then passed 32-0, and SB 1042 was made effective from passage by a 32-0 vote. The Senate received and advanced several House-passed supplemental appropriations for Homeland Security, the Adjutant General, Health, the State Road Fund, and Tourism/Revenue. Committee reports moved a number of bills forward, including resolutions to study the eastern gray fox decline and an upland game bird stamp, utility regulation changes, civil service and personnel reform, constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds, E-Verify safe harbor, special education classroom cameras, a camping ban on certain public property, child care, tax efficiency, DUI-causing-death penalties, food regulation, mine subsidence, Medicare supplement guaranteed issue rights, medical cannabis fund allocations, domestic violence prevention, EMS funding, virtual currency kiosk regulation, metallurgical coal tax reduction, foundation allowance changes, workers’ compensation updates, wellness reimbursement programs, education code cleanup, school choice scholarship participation, and virtual instruction for foster students in temporary placement. The Senate then adjourned until 11 a.m. the next day, with committee meeting announcements following.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Voino offers Senate Bill 1084, a bill to amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code of 1998.
• Senate Bill 1084, a bill to amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code of 1998.
• Resolution 14, a concurrent resolution to approve an extension of the State of Energy Emergency declared

Keywords: 983, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Declare the vote: six ones, six yeses, and one nay. I declare your bill to have passed.
• Declares a vote: 91 nays, 99 yeas. In one day, declare the bill to have passed. Thank you, Mr.
• Declare the vote: 9 representatives and 2 nays. That declares your bill to have passed.
• Let us close the queue and declare the vote.
• Declare the vote. Representative of six, yes, and 3 nays. Declare your bill to have passed.

Bills: SB248, SB985, SB1307, SB1319, SB1405, SB1530, SB1919

Keywords: tourism, revolving fund, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, real property, fund management, Oklahoma Local Food for Schools, school meals, local food procurement, farm to school, school districts, Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, local producers, meat processors, reimbursement program, agriculture, nutrition, farmers, ranchers, local sourcing

Transcript Highlights:

• Declare the amendment adopted. The division has been called.
• Declare the title amendment adopted.
• I declare the amendment adopted. Mr.
• I declare the motion adopted.
• I declare the motion adopted.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the prior meeting. It then reconsidered Committee Substitute for House Bill 5212, noting that an Education Committee amendment had been inadvertently omitted the day before; the vice chairman withdrew the prior motion to report the bill, and the committee returned to the bill with the technical Education Committee amendments pending. The transcript then moved through a long agenda of bills and supplemental appropriations, with the committee generally hearing brief explanations from counsel, occasional member questions, and then voting to adopt amendments and report measures to the full Senate. Among the substantive policy bills, the committee advanced House Bill 4007 on the Industrial Access Road Fund, allowing an additional possible $3 million transfer in a fiscal year, expanding eligible uses, and increasing county/municipal spending limits; House Bill 4765, which raises salaries for state police, teachers, and school service personnel and, via a strike-and-insert amendment, creates a market pay enhancement tied to county and regional income data; House Bill 5162, recodifying tax lien sale procedures and clarifying ownership and government-property tax treatment; House Bill 5382, extending the Neighborhood Investment Tax Credit Program to July 1, 2031; House Bill 5685, authorizing up to $150 million in revenue bonds backed by excess lottery funds for State Culture Center improvements; House Joint Resolution 42, placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot to raise the homestead exemption from $20,000 to $40,000; House Bill 4010, creating an airport hangar grant program and fund; House Bill 4404, increasing from $500 to $5,000 the amount volunteer fire departments may spend on training and fire prevention materials; House Bill 4592, requiring standardized campus safety mapping data for higher education institutions; House Bill 4784, extending and making retroactive a qualified opportunity zone business tax modification; and House Bill 5088, increasing retirement benefits for Division of Natural Resources police officers, with a one-time $4.25 million cash injection. The committee also reported several supplemental appropriations and originating bills, including Senate Bill 842 for the Spay Neuter Assistance Fund, Senate Bill 846 for Culture and History capital repairs, Senate Bill 872 for Natural Resources capital repairs (reduced to $10 million in committee substitute), Senate Bill 876 for Department of Health facilities, Senate Originating Bills 1 through 5 covering Culture and History, road funds, corrections IT and services, tobacco education, and the Adjutant General’s armory board transfer, respectively. Most items were adopted by voice vote; House Bill 4765’s strike-and-insert amendment was adopted after a division vote of 10-6. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The majority party that controls this chamber. That's a lie. It is a lie by omission.
• This executive order declares that, quote, conversion therapy, close quote, is, quote, harmful, close
• quote, and declares that no state agency shall, quote, use state resources to enable any practice or
• There's so little we can do in some areas to bring the cost down, and, you know, we can't really control
• Chairman, can't, or at least de facto control of the company? Yeah.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The majority party that controls this chamber. That's a lie. It is a lie by omission.
• This executive order declares that, quote, conversion therapy, close quote, is, quote, harmful, close
• quote, and declares that no state agency shall, quote, use state resources to enable any practice or
• There's so little we can do in some areas to bring the cost down, and, you know, we can't really control
• Chairman, can't, or at least de facto control of the company? Yeah.

Summary: The Committee on Director Nominations met with four members present and approved the prior minutes without objection. Chair Jay Kaufman outlined the committee’s role in reviewing executive nominations and explained the hearing process for three nominees: Mary Foote for the Office of Economic Opportunity, Debbie Johnston for the Department of Health Services, and Chuck Bassett. Foote did not appear for her hearing, and members discussed her absence and alleged omissions in her disclosure materials, including prior service with Planned Parenthood-related organizations. The committee then moved to reject her nomination, and the motion passed 3-2, recommending that the full Senate reject Mary Foote. Debbie Johnston, nominee to lead the Department of Health Services, appeared and gave an opening statement describing her Arizona background, prior Senate staff work, and more than 20 years with the Arizona Hospital and Health Care Association. She said her priorities at ADHS include rebuilding trust in public health licensing, improving stakeholder engagement, standardizing rulemaking communication, addressing alleged religious discrimination and retaliation concerns in licensing, and using technology and AI to improve efficiency. In questioning, senators pressed her on her management style, conflict-of-interest safeguards given her prior industry role, enforcement priorities, budget pressures, behavioral health and assisted living oversight, and the department’s response to COVID-19. Johnston said she would follow statutes, recuse herself from enforcement matters involving former contacts, and resign if directed to carry out an unlawful policy. She also said the department does not regulate therapy itself, only facilities, and that it would rely on legal counsel regarding the governor’s conversion-therapy executive order and related federal civil-rights allegations. Several senators focused on public health trust and the department’s pandemic response, with Johnston acknowledging concerns about closures, data collection, and communication during COVID-19 while saying she would review past after-action materials and be better prepared in the future. Public testimony from stakeholders in aging services and health care strongly supported her confirmation, praising her accessibility, responsiveness, and collaborative approach. After testimony, the vice chair moved to recommend Johnston’s confirmation to the full Senate. The roll call was underway when the transcript ended, with several members voting aye and one member expressing reservations about her not reviewing the pandemic after-action report before another crisis occurs.