Transcript Highlights:

• <05:32:50.320><c> with</c><05:32:50.718><c> international</c> international with international international
• International Criminal Court.
• International Criminal Court.
• So it's important to support the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court.
• 55:58.798><c> Justice,</c> International Court of Justice, International Court of Justice, International

Bills: HR1048 , HR242 , HB1534

Keywords: House resolution, committee assignment, standing committee, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, committee membership, committee seniority, Mr. Menefee, Mr. Riley of New York, House organization, congressional procedure, internal rules, legislative administration, Energy Conservation, Energy Standards, Department of Energy, Higher Education Act, Foreign Contracts, rules resolution, House Rules Committee, Congressional Review Act

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, today is International Student Recognition Day, and I bring you greetings from a few of the
• Oklahoma's colleges and universities currently host thousands of international students who contribute
• Beyond economics, international students enrich our educational environment.
• And whereas hosting international students allows Oklahomans to increase awareness of the benefits of
• Kevin Stitt, do hereby proclaim February 24th, excuse me, 2026, as International Student Recognition

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and recognitions, including guests from a South African refugee program, Weatherford Middle School students, international students, and the 2025 Aviation State Teacher of the Year, Sam Madewell. Representative Ranson also presented remarks for International Student Recognition Day, highlighting the economic and cultural contributions of international students in Oklahoma. The chamber then took up House Bill 4329 on dental insurance claims, with Pro Tem Moore arguing it would restore fairness by preventing insurers from controlling prices for services they do not cover; the bill drew questions about free-market effects, rural dentistry, and premiums, but Moore said it should not raise costs and noted similar laws in other states. HB 4329 passed 91-5. The House also passed House Bill 2730, which ties the interest rate on taxpayer underpayments to market rates rather than a fixed statutory rate, after brief questions about how the rate would fluctuate; it passed 87-11. House Bill 3465, extending the sunset on the emission tax credit program from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2029, passed 82-16. House Bill 4426, extending the sunset on the strategic industrial development enhancement sales tax credit from December 31, 2027 to December 31, 2032, passed 76-20. During announcements, members noted upcoming committee meetings, a rural caucus with OSU President Hess, a devotional, and a lunch event tied to International Student Recognition Day. The House then recessed until the next day, Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, we add the intern to the definition of employee and exclude intern from the definition
• We then define the intern employee and the intern employee position.
• First of all, we add the intern to the definition of employee and exclude intern from the definition
• We then define the intern employee and the intern employee position.
• Intern employee and the intern employee position.

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up Senate Bill 79, sponsored by Senator McDaniel, with testimony from McDaniel and Deputy Secretary Robert Long of the Personnel Cabinet. They described the bill as a cleanup measure for personnel law that would, among other things, add interns to the definition of employee while excluding them from full-time employee status, remove the Personnel Cabinet secretary as an ex officio member of the KERS Board, clarify personnel board membership and grievance rights, limit appeals of satisfactory-or-above evaluations, address layoffs and reemployment rights, allow leave donation in certain resignations or retirements, restrict remote work from outside Kentucky without approval, permit deductions for unreturned state equipment, and make DJJ facility supervisors non-merit positions. The committee voted on SB 79 and passed it with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 67, presented by Chair Nemes, an elder property tax bill. The bill would freeze the assessed value of a primary residence for homeowners age 65 or older until the property is no longer their primary residence, while still taxing at the current rate. Nemes said the measure was intended to help seniors on fixed incomes and noted a fiscal analysis showing little to no direct revenue loss, though it could reduce projected budgeted growth in property tax revenue. Committee discussion noted a local impact and a statewide budget impact estimate of about $4 million for the first two fiscal years. SB 67 also passed with favorable expression, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've already started investing in domestic and international data to enhance our knowledge of relevant
• I've already started investing in domestic and international data to enhance our knowledge of relevant
• We do have 2025... ...to see that lag, of course, is international.
• What I would say, though, is that that international marketing segment needs to increase.
• I would also say, too, direct-to-international flights. It's a really competitive space.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Director Nominations met to consider Alex Scalpsa Ridgeway’s nomination to serve as Director of the Arizona Office of Tourism. Chair Jay Kaufman opened with remarks about the committee’s role in reviewing nominees for fidelity to state law and executive accountability. Ridgeway gave an opening statement describing her Arizona background, prior state service, and her view that tourism is a major economic driver for the state. She highlighted record visitation and spending, the importance of marketing the whole state, and efforts to expand social media, data use, and support for rural communities. Committee members questioned Ridgeway about the state of tourism, responsible visitor messaging, the need to market Arizona despite major attractions like the Grand Canyon, rural tourism strategies, international travel declines, return on investment for marketing, and how she would respond to unlawful or poor policy directives. She said she would always follow the law, would raise concerns about policy using data, and emphasized an activity-based marketing strategy focused on family travel, outdoor recreation, cultural travel, culinary, wellness, and luxury. She also discussed conflict-of-interest safeguards, said she would support more transparency and checks and balances, and noted plans to explore AI and other technology to improve efficiency. Public testimony strongly supported the nominee. Representatives from the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association, the Cactus League Baseball Association, and Experience Scottsdale praised Ridgeway’s experience, leadership, and collaborative approach, and emphasized tourism’s economic importance statewide. The committee then moved to recommend her confirmation. The motion passed 5-0, and Chair Kaufman congratulated Ridgeway on the committee’s approval and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• International criminal networks are going after our seniors because they know they're soft targets.
• Finta oversaw cases regarding international scam rings targeting older Americans. You may begin.
• with these international scams.
• scams, would the FBI have the resources to put a lot of smart talent against these international?
• resource, international scams? The FBI hires pretty well, sir.

Committee: Senate Aging (Special) Committee

Keywords: Chinese Communist Party, retirement security, investment risks, SEC enforcement, Bipartisan action

Summary: The meeting primarily addressed concerns regarding the impact of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on American investments and the financial security of retirees. The chair discussed legislation aimed at ensuring the protection of American investors against the risks posed by Chinese companies. There was a consensus among the members regarding the necessity to enforce existing policies that require compliance from foreign companies wishing to trade on American exchanges. The discussion included testimony from various stakeholders highlighting the urgent need to limit exposure to the CCP in retirement portfolios. Additionally, there were calls for increased accountability of regulatory bodies such as the SEC to better shield American investors from potential loss.

Transcript Highlights:

• Internal Auditor's standards, allows our state agencies to do... the same thing with its internal auditors
• I am here today as the chair member of the Texas state agency internal audit forum.
• of internal auditing.
• So the standards actually would . . . govern any work that the internal auditors do.
• Would be within that internal auditor's role and responsibility to audit. Okay.

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:

• By working alongside international partners and industry, we can unlock the true economic potential of
• Looking at... the international role on telecommunications.
• Trustee, at the FCC through international governing bodies is increasingly important.
• For the last 26 years, the strategic value of the International Space Station has been. invaluable.
• The International Space Station is managed at a Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

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

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

Transcript Highlights:

• controls, and that these internal controls or practices could also be of benefit. in scope or delayed
• controls, and that these internal controls or practices could also be of benefit. ...controls, and that
• We have a director of internal controls that I created.
• We have a director of internal controls that I created.
• In addition, one of the things I did want to point out, in addition to the BSCC's own internal controls

Committee: House Joint Legislative Audit

Transcript Highlights:

• , different assumptions regarding international migration.
• Because of international migration, different assumptions regarding international migration.
• The international migration number, does that include both in- and out-migration?
• The international migration number does that include both in and out migration?
• I'm still chewing on the frame of the net international migration.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census met on December 8 at 9:32 a.m. to examine the dynamics that drive census undercounts and overcounts, with testimony first from Joseph Salvo and then from Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute. Salvo explained the Census Bureau’s two main evaluation tools: demographic analysis, which uses vital records, migration estimates, and Medicare data to produce a national benchmark, and the post-enumeration survey (PES), which compares a separate sample-based count to the census. He said the 2020 census showed a small national net undercount, but larger age- and race-based disparities, including the highest undercount among children ages 0 to 4, higher undercounts for men, substantial undercounts for Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, and overcounts among some older and college-age groups. He also described how self-response, non-response follow-up, administrative records, proxy responses, and imputation affected data quality, arguing that proxies and imputation were especially weak and that outreach remains critical for 2030. Committee members asked Salvo to clarify the methods and error bands, the role of international migration estimates, and how the PES differs from the census address list and LUCA. He explained that PES is based on a separate sample of blocks and can add units within sampled blocks, but it does not measure units missed entirely from the original address list; LUCA matters because it improves that list before enumeration. He also discussed age heaping, duplicate responses among older adults, and why group quarters and COVID-related disruptions complicated the 2020 count. Senator Driscoll briefly interrupted to describe Randolph’s successful appeal of its 2020 count after an undercount in disability care homes, and Salvo noted that the post-census group quarters review helped correct some missed facilities. Susan Strait then focused on Massachusetts-specific results. She said Massachusetts’ 2020 count was strong overall, with population growth above the national average and a PES-based finding that the state was overcounted by 2.24 percent, though she emphasized that this did not mean all areas were accurately counted. Using demographic analysis, she said Massachusetts had an estimated 4.15 percent undercount of children ages 0 to 4, with the largest county-level undercounts in Hampden, Suffolk, and Essex, and she linked higher child undercounts to lower educational attainment and female-headed households. Strait also reviewed operational metrics showing that Massachusetts had relatively strong internet self-response, but that non-response follow-up relied heavily on household interviews, administrative records, proxies, and imputation in different counties. She highlighted higher proxy use in college-heavy counties such as Hampshire and Suffolk, and said counties with more minority residents were more likely to have population-count-only cases and other indicators of harder-to-count populations. The hearing ended with discussion of how these findings could inform outreach and census planning for 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> about asking our units to internally about asking our units to internally reallocate<00:42:06.800
• while the president the funds internally while the president the board<00:45:27.640><c> make</c><00:
• The state specials are distributed internally consistent with designations in law or consistent with
• </c><00:51:33.480><c> audit</c><00:51:34.280><c> and</c><00:51:34.400><c> I'll</c> office of internal
• </c> combined with continued internal combined with continued internal spending<01:34:56.280><c> cuts

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Ryan Hetchler, Senate broadcast intern. Nicholas Perry, Senate broadcast intern.
• Senate Broadcast Intern. Jose Rivera Mayo, Senate Broadcast Intern.
• Kylie Smith, Senate broadcast intern. Tamar Stern, Senate broadcast intern.
• Luke Taggart, Senate broadcast intern. Andrea Ferrales, Senate Democratic staff intern.
• Thank you for our interns. Good job, you guys. We sure appreciate our interns.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and several guest recognitions, including a student honored for a national Mandarin speech contest, a Ms. Black Arizona candidate, and a Madison Elementary School reusable-tray pilot program. The body also recognized interns and approved the prior journal. The chamber then moved through Committee of the Whole calendars and adopted committee reports recommending passage of a series of budget-related bills. The main legislative business centered on the 2026-27 budget package and related omnibus measures, including appropriations, budget implementation, capital outlay, commerce, criminal justice, environment, health care, higher education, human services, K-12 education, state property, revenue/taxation, and transportation bills. Most of these measures were advanced with do-pass recommendations, with repeated debate focused on the tax omnibus and the overall budget’s policy choices. Supporters argued the package provided affordability, tax relief, conformity with federal tax changes, reduced government spending, and reforms to entitlement and other programs; opponents argued it favored corporations and wealthy taxpayers, cut health care, food assistance, housing, tourism, wildfire response, and education, and would forfeit federal matching funds. Several members specifically criticized the failure to close the data center tax exemption and to raise sports betting taxes, while supporters defended those provisions as pro-business and pro-growth. There was also discussion of fund sweeps, including university research funds, housing trust funds, and other agency balances, with opponents saying the sweeps targeted encumbered or already-committed money. After debate, the Senate adopted Committee of the Whole reports and advanced the bills, and later took up House bills introduced and placed on third reading, with members explaining their votes on HB 4138, the General Appropriations Act, largely along party lines. At the end of the session, the Senate processed messages from the House requesting the return of SB 1160 and SB 1786 for reconsideration, and the Senate requested the House return HB 2415 for reconsideration. The chamber also introduced and placed several House budget bills on third reading, including HB 4138 through HB 4153, continuing the budget process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ryan Hetchler, Senate broadcast intern. Nicholas Perry, Senate broadcast intern.
• Senate Broadcast Intern. Jose Rivera Mayo, Senate Broadcast Intern.
• Kylie Smith, Senate broadcast intern. Tamar Stern, Senate broadcast intern.
• Luke Taggart, Senate broadcast intern. Andrea Ferrales, Senate Democratic staff intern.
• Thank you for our interns. Good job, you guys. We sure appreciate our interns.

Transcript Highlights:

• my committee clerk for higher education, uh my office manager Ta, legislative aid Kate, and our uh intern
• year actually makes 25 years to the session where I actually served in this body as a legislative intern
• </c> legislative aid Kate and our uh intern legislative aid Kate and our uh intern Himea<00:11:42.640
• :52.880><c> a</c><00:11:53.040><c> real</c><00:11:53.279><c> full</c><00:11:53.519><c> circle</c> intern
• from uh it's a real full circle intern from uh it's a real full circle moment.<00:11:54.079><c> So</

Bills: HB2028 , HB1859 , HB1851 , HB1660 , HB1890 , HB1892 , HB1893 , HB2122 , HB2012 , HB1770 , HB2121 , HB1979 , HB1650 , HB1982 , HB218

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> effective internal controls? effective internal controls?
• </c> um related to this one, strong internal um related to this one, strong internal controls<00:36:18.160
• </c> support internal support internal controls<00:37:41.760><c> that</c><00:37:41.920><c> are</c><00
• </c> MMB that you've complied with internal MMB that you've complied with internal controls,<01:04:50.760
• testing internally of the internal<01:13:55.080><c> controls</c><01:13:56.320><c> before</c><01:13:56.800

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, STR 12 and SR 8, recognizing International Dark Sky Week. DNR online.
• </c> STR 12 and SR8 recognizing International STR 12 and SR8 recognizing International Dark<00:21:06.640
• ,</c><00:25:38.000><c> um</c> delegate of Dark Sky International, um delegate of Dark Sky International
• </c> endorsing Taiwan's international endorsing Taiwan's international participation,<00:26:39.760><c
• Moving on to STR 12 and SR 8, recognizing International Dark Sky Week.

Summary: The Committee on Transportation and Culture heard a series of resolutions covering cultural preservation, civic education, dark-sky protection, Taiwan relations, aviation safety reporting, waterborne cargo subsidies, and Maui transportation planning. Testimony on the Hawaii Theatre resolutions (SCR 131/SR 110) came from the Hawaii Theatre Center in support, with a question about whether acquisition funding was in the current budget; the witness said he was not aware of any such funding. The state archivist strongly supported SCR 169/SR 138 on expanding public outreach and civic engagement, and a student testifier supported the measure while urging stronger language to include Indigenous culture and closer work with Native communities. On STR 12/SR 8 recognizing International Dark Sky Week, testimony emphasized light pollution’s effects on birds, marine life, human health, and astronomy, and suggested stronger lighting ordinances and possible dark-sky reserve efforts. STR 31/SR 17 on Taiwan received support from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, while STR 180/SR 150 on aviation safety reporting drew support from Blue Hawaiian Helicopters but opposition from the Department of Transportation, which said much of the requested information falls under FAA jurisdiction and would be voluntary at the state level. STR 150 on waterborne cargo subsidies was supported by DOT, Young Brothers, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, with DOT asking that the working group be smaller to speed a report to the 2026 session. STR 37/SR 21 and STR 38/SR 22 on Kihei road planning drew support from the Kihei Community Association, which described severe congestion and safety concerns in South Maui. In decision-making, the committee advanced SCR 131/SR 110 on the Hawaii Theatre as introduced. SCR 169/SR 138 was advanced with amendments to address comments about Indigenous culture. STR 12/SR 8 on International Dark Sky Week was deferred for further discussion until the following Tuesday. STR 31/SR 17 on Taiwan was advanced with technical, non-substantive amendments. STR 180/SR 150 and STR 150 were both deferred to the same later decision-making date to allow further work on possible amendments and jurisdictional issues. STR 37/SR 21 was passed as introduced, and STR 38/SR 22 was passed with technical, non-substantive amendments. In each vote taken, the measures were adopted without recorded opposition from the members present.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:26.960><c> emails</c> follow up on this uh CDC internal emails follow up on this uh CDC internal
• </c><00:41:53.359><c> many</c> "We should meet internally many "We should meet internally many considerations
• Thank you for your question. international bodies. So uh international bodies.
• </c> uh role of China and international uh role of China and international organizations<01:47:20.159
• </c> that uh according to the international that uh according to the international knowledge<01:49:02.239

Summary: The New Hampshire House Special Committee on the COVID Response Efficacy met to continue its fact-finding review of the state’s pandemic response, with the chair restating the committee’s mission and focus on federal guidance, federal funding, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID, patient rights, and vaccination policies. The chair said the committee had previously reviewed materials about the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear a COVID vaccine case and CDC internal emails about vaccine risks, and introduced additional research on CDC testing and communications failures. A large portion of the meeting was devoted to summarizing articles and a recent U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations report titled *Unmasked: How Biden Health Officials Purposely Turned a Blind Eye Toward COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Signals*. The chair argued that CDC testing and guidance were flawed, citing delayed data publication, confusing guidance, a faulty early COVID test, missed opportunities to study silent spread, and alleged suppression of safety information. The Senate report was described as alleging that FDA and CDC officials knew their surveillance systems could mask vaccine safety signals, that officials discouraged internal analysis from being shared externally, and that newer analytical methods identified multiple statistically significant adverse-event signals. The chair also discussed the V-safe system, VAERS, and claims that federal officials downplayed or concealed adverse-event data. Members and the chair connected these federal issues to New Hampshire, noting changes in the state’s health care landscape since the pandemic, including more urgent care facilities and satellite ERs. The chair suggested New Hampshire should develop independent scientific assessment resources to validate federal information in future emergencies. Representative Wheeler noted that the materials would be entered into the committee record and made available on the House website. No votes were taken; the committee discussed the materials, invited further questions, and indicated that a proposed committee communication would be revisited later after additional supporting information is gathered, with a goal of issuing a statement by the end of June.

Transcript Highlights:

• These measures are intended to strengthen internal controls and ensure constitutional compliance.
• These measures are intended to strengthen internal controls and ensure constitutional compliance.
• We've got some interns that are joining the legislative audit team.
• that are interning for the legislative audit team.
• that are interning for the legislative audit team.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Summary: The committee met to review education audit reports and heard responses from several school districts with findings. Camden Fairview School District was cited for using operating funds for an end-of-year employee awards banquet and for unauthorized credit card charges that caused a small loss; district officials said the current administration had strengthened controls, stopped the banquet practice, and improved monthly credit card reconciliation. Members questioned whether the prior officials were still employed, whether the credit card issue was an outside hack, and how teacher appreciation could continue without using district funds. Forest City School District was cited for spending about $33,000 on an off-campus staff celebration and entertainment event; district representatives said the money came from long-standing Pepsi-related donation funds, that the event was intended to recognize staff and growth, and that they would change practices and receive training going forward. Members discussed whether those funds were private donations or operational funds, and staff said the district’s accounting treatment made them subject to the constitutional restriction at issue. The committee also reviewed several other findings. Conway School District was referred for an ongoing investigative report involving misuse of district funds and resources by former maintenance employees. Magnolia School District had undeposited activity funds totaling more than $21,000, tied to a resigned high school secretary and sponsor receipts not deposited. Westside School District had about $30,000 in credit card charges lacking documentation or business purpose, including charges by the superintendent, personal purchases, and items shipped to personal addresses; the matter was referred to the prosecuting attorney. Boonville School District was cited for paying a board member’s son more than the statutory limit for seasonal groundskeeping without the required exemption, and DESE later denied the exemption request. After discussing those cases, the committee filed the remaining eight findings en masse and then filed the 89 reports with no findings. Members noted that most school districts audited had clean reports and encouraged districts to continue good practices while learning from the findings discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:33.480><c> with</c><00:13:33.600><c> the</c> Fuentes, those are two interns with the Fuentes
• , those are two interns with the legislative legislative legislative internship<00:13:35.720><c> program
• First, I'd like to introduce<00:15:33.760><c> my</c><00:15:34.120><c> intern</c> introduce my intern
• introduce my intern our<00:15:35.760><c> intern</c><00:15:36.560><c> Natalia</c><00:15:37.000><c> Vasquez
• ,</c><00:15:37.920><c> bodybuilder</c> our intern Natalia Vasquez, bodybuilder our intern Natalia Vasquez

Bills: SCR48 , SCR28 , SCR74 , SCR62 , SCR60 , SCR89 , SCR147 , SCR179 , SCR182 , SCR59 , SCR54 , SCR180

Transcript Highlights:

• He is an intern with the Policy Cats with the Cooperative Extension.
• In the Senate gallery, I've got a new intern helping me with my campaign.
• He's also interning for me. He is a senior at the University of Arizona.
• He's also interning for me. He has been interning for me, and he will continue to intern for me.
• SB 11, Internal Revenue Code confirmed deductions. Finance. Finance. Finance.

Transcript Highlights:

• will hear first from William Kimmett who is nominated to serve as Undersecretary of Commerce for International
• Kimmett will oversee the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, or ITA.
• His experience covers every aspect of the Internal Revenue Code, and since 1981, he's been involved in
• International Trade Administration.
• You've been nominated to be the Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade.

Committee: Senate Finance Committee

Keywords: Commerce, International Trade, Tax Policy, Nominees, Inflation, Middle-class, Trade Practices, Economic Concerns

Summary: The committee convened to discuss various bills and nominees, including the critical nominations of William Kimmett for Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade and Ken Keyes for Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy at the Treasury Department. Discussions highlighted the nominees' roles in managing critical trade and tax policies amidst rising economic concerns, particularly focusing on inflation and its impact on American families. Members expressed both support and skepticism, emphasizing the significance of fostering fair trade practices and ensuring tax policies that benefit the middle-class amidst claims of an agenda favoring affluent individuals and corporations.