Transcript Highlights:

• There's 369 million dollars for the Teacher Retirement System to provide active care insurance premium

Bills: HB149 , HB2017 , HB705 , HB223 , HB 1056 , HB2854 , HB4623 , HB3000 , HB46 , HB 117 , HB3619 , HB4464 , HB5646 , HCR84 , HB500 , HB2963 , HB5509 , HB1973 , HB3909 , HB718 , HB252 , HB5666 , HB 119 , HB346 , HB5624 , HB5658 , HB5677 , HB1545 , HB3073 , HB4081 , HB 121 , HB4236 , HB3848 , HB4144 , HB40 , HB5682 , HB3697 , HB3333 , HB3642 , HB20 , HB549 , HB2731 , HB4233 , HB4690 , HB 127 , HB2525 , SB1637 , SB1 , SB1198 , SB509 , SB13 , SB15 , SB30 , SB268 , SB331 , SB441 , SB447 , SB457 , SB568 , SB650 , SB763 , SB1540 , SB1610 , SB1660 , SB2018 , SB2024 , SB2217 , SB2337 , SB2753 , SB2900 , SB2972 , SB3059 , HB14

Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, community supervision, mandatory supervision, parole eligibility, Grayson's Law, cosmetology, licensure, interstate compact, state regulations, public safety, workforce mobility, municipality, procurement

Bills: HB149 , HB2017 , HB705 , HB223 , HB 1056 , HB2854 , HB4623 , HB3000 , HB46 , HB 117 , HB3619 , HB4464 , HB5646 , HCR84 , HB500 , HB2963 , HB5509 , HB1973 , HB3909 , HB718 , HB252 , HB5666 , HB 119 , HB346 , HB5624 , HB5658 , HB5677 , HB1545 , HB3073 , HB4081 , HB 121 , HB4236 , HB3848 , HB4144 , HB40 , HB5682 , HB3697 , HB3333 , HB3642 , HB20 , HB549 , HB2731 , HB4233 , HB4690 , HB 127 , HB2525 , SB1637 , SB1 , SB1198 , SB509 , SB13 , SB15 , SB30 , SB268 , SB331 , SB441 , SB447 , SB457 , SB568 , SB650 , SB763 , SB1540 , SB1610 , SB1660 , SB2018 , SB2024 , SB2217 , SB2337 , SB2753 , SB2900 , SB2972 , SB3059 , HB14

Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, community supervision, mandatory supervision, parole eligibility, Grayson's Law, cosmetology, licensure, interstate compact, state regulations, public safety, workforce mobility, municipality, procurement

Transcript Highlights:

• No one wants to hurt scholastic activities or sports activities in the state of Louisiana.
• Mary Beth Dickerson with Lobby is here in favor, not wish to speak.
• Mary Beth Dickerson, Lobby, in favor, not wishing to speak.
• Mary Beth Dickerson, from Lobby, in favor.
• And then Mary Beth Dickerson, Lobby, would like to speak. She waves.

Bills: HCR26 , HB28 , HB195 , HB283 , HB316 , HB319 , HB363 , HB380 , HB386 , HB392 , HB406 , HB636 , HB738 , HB807 , HB905 , HB992 , HB1146

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: human growth, development education, prenatal education, state standards, biological science, teacher certification, certification appeals, BESE, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Teacher Certification Appeals Council, educator licensure, teaching license, teacher licensure, appeals process, certification denial, administrative appeal, special meeting, board president, retroactive application, education board

Summary: The committee met with a large docket and adopted the April 29 minutes. Several bills were heard and advanced, mostly on education, workforce, literacy, early childhood, charter schools, and student mental health. Testimony was generally supportive, with many witnesses waiving in favor; a few bills drew questions about implementation, student awareness, and whether proposals were sufficiently broad or specific. House Bill 406, requiring the Department of Education to study the direction and regulation of interscholastic high school athletics and report back by March 1, 2027, was reported favorably after testimony from a retired principal who urged an open-minded study and discussion from the bill author about compliance and the bill’s purpose. House Bill 380, creating a pilot program between community and technical colleges and local school systems to expand awareness of CDL, entry-level driver training, and related programs, was also reported favorably. House Bill 807, creating a workforce and structure capacity investment program and fund to help industry partner with colleges to train instructors, was reported favorably after support from higher education and industry witnesses; senators raised interest in adding a stronger health care component and in reaching students earlier, but the author said he would work on amendments. The committee also advanced House Bill 316 on adolescent literacy and high-dose tutoring, with amendments clarifying teacher training timing, existing statutory bans on outdated literacy practices, and charter school participation; House Bill 1146, consolidating early childhood governance into a commission; House Bill 28, creating an appeal path for denied teacher certification applicants through BESE; and House Bill 992, assigning early childhood education identification numbers to support data collection on outcomes. House Concurrent Resolution 26, urging BESE to add the science of human growth and development to science and health standards and provide approved instructional resources, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 386, allowing local districts to let locally authorized charter schools operate as their own LEA under district rules, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 392, expanding suicide prevention information requirements on school websites, ID cards, handbooks, and signage, was reported favorably as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• We found out that students really value service but are really struggling to engage in civic activities
• Activities.

Bills: SB342 , HB379 , HB326 , HB233 , HB388 , SB342 , HB379 , HB326 , HB233 , HB388

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: land bank, land bank authority, local land bank authority, Alabama Land Bank Authority, tax delinquent property, tax sale, tax lien, redemption period, quiet title, blight remediation, vacant property, foreclosure, ad valorem tax, property tax exemption, intergovernmental agreement, county government, municipal government, redevelopment, brownfields, floodplain management

Transcript Highlights:

• It is intended to protect good active coaches who are stepping up to support student-athletes, not to
• The amendment updates disciplinary actions and unlicensed activities sections in Chapter 560 to apply
• The amendment updates disciplinary actions and unlicensed activities sections in Chapter 560 to apply
• Next, Tab 9, CS for CS for SB 538 on extracurricular activities.
• Next, tab 9, CS for CS for SB 538 on extracurricular activities.

Bills: S0050 , S0054 , S0176 , S0178 , S0198 , S0290 , S0420 , S0502 , S0538 , S0706 , S0834 , S0936 , S0962 , S1004 , S1080 , S7022

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: veterans, treatment court, nonviolent felony, probation, mental health, cognitive function, psychotropic drugs, violent offenders, autopsy procedures, medical records, school safety, campus safety, higher education, university safety, college safety, student safety, threat assessment, violence prevention, credible threat, campus security

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills, beginning with CS for CS for SB 54, which requires district medical examiners to perform toxicology screenings for psychotropic drugs and intoxicating substances in autopsies of violent offenders and report findings to state agencies. It was reported favorably after brief discussion about how the data would be used. CS for SB 176 also passed, requiring public postsecondary institutions to make campus safety reporting and response procedures clearer and more accessible for students, faculty, and staff who receive threats. Both bills were approved without opposition in the meeting. The committee then took up the large Florida Farm Bill, CS for CS for CS for SB 290, which drew extensive testimony and multiple amendments. The bill includes changes to fair associations, a preemption on local restrictions affecting gas- and diesel-powered farm equipment, surplus of certain state-owned lands for agricultural use, a food animal veterinary loan repayment program, permanent authorization for Farmers Feeding Florida, expanded Florida Forest Service training, a ban on signal jamming devices, tougher CDL English-proficiency penalties, protections for food safety inspectors, biosolids provisions, and contractor payment enforcement. Amendments expanded veterinary loan eligibility to equine veterinarians, merged citrus research entities, made technical corrections, and revised contractor payment language; a late-filed amendment removed the bill’s disparagement clause after significant First Amendment concerns and public testimony. A separate amendment delayed biosolids compliance deadlines. The bill was reported favorably as amended. Also approved were CS for CS for SB 834, which repeals a restriction on health care sharing ministries partnering with licensed insurance agents, while adding a disclaimer requirement; SB 936, allowing temporary door locking devices at any height above the floor and directing the Building Commission to add standards to the code; and CS for SB 50, expanding veterans’ courts statewide. Later, CS for CS for SB 1004 advanced with a strike-all regulating dog and cat sales, requiring disclosure of medical records and financing terms, a three-day waiting period for financed purchases, and consumer protections against deceptive pet sales; an amendment removed an appropriation section. The committee also approved CS for CS for SB 178, which directs the FHSAA to adopt rules allowing coaches to provide limited good-faith support to student-athletes, and CS for CS for SB 198, regulating virtual currency kiosks with registration, warnings, transaction limits, receipts, and refund protections. Each of these bills was reported favorably by recorded vote.

Bills: SB2042 , SB2892 , SB1163 , SB2076 , SB2116 , SB2122 , SB99 , SB2088 , SB2114 , SB2117 , SB2118 , SB2245 , SB2386 , SB2079 , SB2043 , SB2155 , SB2268 , SB2932 , SB3240

Keywords: SB2042, Hawaii insurance, captive insurance, sponsored captive, class 4 captive, minimum capital, surplus requirement, unimpaired capital, insurance commissioner, HRS 431:19-104, commercial insurance, risk retention, insurance regulation, financial solvency, captives, Ways and Means, CPN, feral chickens, chickens, animal control

Bills: SB2042 , SB2892 , SB1163 , SB2076 , SB2116 , SB2122 , SB99 , SB2088 , SB2114 , SB2117 , SB2118 , SB2245 , SB2386 , SB2079 , SB2043 , SB2155 , SB2268 , SB2932 , SB3240

Keywords: SB2042, Hawaii insurance, captive insurance, sponsored captive, class 4 captive, minimum capital, surplus requirement, unimpaired capital, insurance commissioner, HRS 431:19-104, commercial insurance, risk retention, insurance regulation, financial solvency, captives, Ways and Means, CPN, feral chickens, chickens, animal control

Transcript Highlights:

• activities conducted on behalf of foreign adversaries.
• and who they're lobbying for.
• This type of company, of course, should never be allowed to lobby.
• It takes their activities and it says we're recognizing the current law.
• Our recognizes those activities as criminal activity and we are going to punish it in an enhanced way

Bills: HB17 , HB34 , HB41 , HB 118 , HB 119 , HB 127 , HB 128 , HB 129 , HB 130 , HB132 , HB133 , HB17 , HB41 , HB118 , HB119 , HB127 , HB128 , HB129 , HB130 , HB132 , HB133

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: foreign ownership, real estate, national security, designated countries, Texas property law, lobbying, foreign adversaries, compensation prohibition, transparency, civil penalties, higher education, foreign adversary, research security, trade secrets, academic partnerships, HB 128, sister city, sister-city agreement, international exchange, municipal diplomacy

Transcript Highlights:

• are considered, quote, lobbying, unquote; which activities are expenses or don't count toward the dollar
• are considered quote what activities are considered quote lobbying<00:45:03.800><c> unquote.
• </c><00:45:04.800><c> Which</c><00:45:05.040><c> activities</c><00:45:05.520><c> are</c> lobbying unquote
• Which activities are lobbying unquote.
• need to register and, if so, what must be reported as lobbying activities.

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill applies to lobbying and political activity connected with a hostile foreign country defined
• The bill applies to lobbying and political activity connected with a hostile foreign country defined
• The bill applies to lobbying and political activity connected with a hostile foreign country defined
• The bill applies to lobbying and political activity connected with a hostile foreign country defined
• The bill applies to lobbying and political activity connected with a hostile foreign country defined

Bills: HB358 , HB358

Committee: House Ethics and Campaign Finance

Keywords: juvenile justice, detention, age of majority, jurisdiction, child welfare, foreign influence, political activity, transparency, registration, civil penalties, hostile foreign principals, state ethics, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently require anyone who's paid more than $3,000 annually for lobbying activities to register,
• on the Serve Minnesota Board, was appointed by Governor Walz, but I do not conduct lobbying activities
• , conduct lobbying activities, or communicate with the public or local officials in a manner that is
• lobbying<00:06:40.520><c> activities</c><00:06:40.960><c> or</c><00:06:41.160><c> communicate</c><00
• :06:41.599><c> with</c> lobbying activities or communicate with lobbying activities or communicate with

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So the accounting is simple: all the dues go to non-lobbying activities, and other sources of revenue
• could go to lobbying.
• activity.”
• </c><01:09:46.839><c> could</c><01:09:46.960><c> you</c> lobbying activity follow up um could you lobbying
• We do lobby.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 118 in executive session and adopted Amendment 0882H, which would remove the House and Senate members from the Child Care Commission while leaving the commission in place. Members said the amendment was a continuation of earlier committee discussion and supported it as a needed change. The committee then voted 12-0 to recommend ought to pass as amended, and HB 118 was placed on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 142, dealing with Gold Star Mother’s Day. The sponsor explained that the bill was unnecessary because existing statute already directs the governor to issue a proclamation for Gold Star Mother’s Day and to urge appropriate observance, including flag-related ceremonies. Several members discussed how to ensure the proclamation and flag observance would happen and whether the committee report should note the existing statute. Other members said they would oppose killing the bill because the recognition was important. The committee voted 9-3 to table/ITL the bill, and HB 142 was declared inexpedient to legislate. The final major item was a public hearing on a non-germane amendment to House Bill 456, with a related draft amendment also discussed. The sponsor said the amendment would raise the annual membership allowance from $20 to $75, rename fees as dues, prohibit dues from being used to pay lobbyists, require NHMA dues to be brought before voters as a separate warrant article for transparency, and require separate accounting so lobbying funds are not co-mingled with other funds. Supporters said the goal was to keep taxpayer-derived money from funding lobbying while preserving non-lobbying services such as legal advice and training. Opponents argued the proposal was an overreach and would micromanage local towns. No vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a super important bill to create transparency of all lobbying activity, as far as every interest
• lobbying activity report.
• activity report and you would see all of the different players that had activated on that issue.
• that's not lobbying. Lobbying is when you say, 'Senator, can I talk to you about HB 13?'
• must file a lobbying report.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• activities.
• activities.
• activities.
• </c> executive action and engages in lobbying executive action and engages in lobbying activities.<00
• So it is simply not lobbying activities. So it is simply not an<00:13:55.360><c> organization.

Committee: Joint Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Keywords: Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency - Room 210; 28 January, 2026: 10:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's certainly the word lobbying doesn't appear in there.
• They're also, as I say, prohibited in the grant agreement from lobbying.
• Now I have further questions in regards to lobbying services.
• Are you included in that group of people that could not lobby?
• But did you not think that you were lobbying or active?

Summary: The follow-up informational hearing focused on the State Library’s oversight of the statewide Imagination Library and the Strong Reader Partnership (SRP), including how the original $68.2 million state investment was spent, why funds were not redirected sooner to the Dollywood Foundation, and whether spending complied with AB 157 and later SB 105. Committee members repeatedly raised concerns that SRP and the State Library had been slow to provide documents, that quarterly reporting and other contract requirements were not met on time, and that the State Library did not escalate issues earlier. State Librarian Greg Lucas said the library sent one demand letter, relied on counsel’s view that SRP could continue spending its $4.8 million so long as it furthered the program, and later redirected about $55 million to the Dollywood Foundation after paperwork was submitted. He also acknowledged the library should have shared SRP’s final report with the committee sooner and said the materials eventually received appeared satisfactory, though the chair and Senator Grove remained concerned that there was still no clear accounting of books delivered by SRP. A major portion of the hearing examined SRP’s expenditures and vendor contracts, including Shipyard for marketing and web services, SAGE Strategies for management consulting, Lotus Financial Solutions and other financial vendors, and United Way California Capital Region for a small marketing grant. Committee members questioned whether some spending, especially Changecraft’s work during the AB 157 period, amounted to lobbying or attempts to influence legislation, which the grant agreement prohibited. SRP representatives said the work was communications and stakeholder outreach, not lobbying, and that invoices reflected the board’s oversight and the nonprofit’s startup and closeout phases. They also said some work continued during the rescission and closeout period to unwind contracts and return funds, and that any reporting delays were due to transition, lack of a reporting mechanism from the State Library, and the need to collect records after vendors were canceled. Members of SRP said the nonprofit was created to build the infrastructure for a self-sustaining statewide program, expand local partnerships, and support multilingual outreach in underserved counties. They described a working board that met regularly, selected vendors collectively, and used multiple financial and administrative contractors to maintain checks and balances. However, committee members pressed them on the lack of detailed invoices, the absence of clear metrics showing how many books SRP actually delivered, and the limited apparent return on spending such as the $581,708 Shipyard contract, the $125,000 website work, and the $5,000 United Way grant. No formal vote or legislative action was taken during the hearing; it was an oversight session aimed at obtaining explanations and additional documentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• state and or local funds for lobbying activities.<00:08:49.360><c> This</c><00:08:49.600><c> is</c><
• </c><00:18:18.960><c> And</c><00:18:19.120><c> being</c><00:18:19.360><c> the</c> lobbying activities
• And being the lobbying activities?"
• And then if you go on to F, a municipality that has voted to allow the public funding of lobbying activities
• </c> allow the public funding of lobbying allow the public funding of lobbying activities<00:43:55.040

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in executive session to consider HB 314, which would prohibit the use of federal, state, or local funds for lobbying activities. Representative Turkot offered a replace-all amendment intended to be a compromise measure focused on transparency and local control. He explained that the amendment narrows the bill to registered lobbyists, clarifies that public officials and employees who are not required to register as lobbyists are not restricted from testifying, and adds a process allowing municipalities to opt in to lobbying-related spending if approved locally and disclosed in annual reports. He also said the amendment was designed to address confusion he believes has been caused by misinformation about the bill’s effect on municipalities and associations. Committee members raised repeated concerns about how the amendment would apply to school districts, cooperative districts, counties, and other associations beyond the New Hampshire Municipal Association. Turkot and others said the language in RSA 15 and the added references to RSA 318-A were intended to cover lobbying entities generally, while the NHMA section was included because it is separately addressed in statute. Several members questioned whether the amendment’s intent was clear enough without explicit references to schools and counties, and whether the committee should have held a public hearing on the substantially revised language. Supporters argued the amendment was clear, that school districts and municipalities are distinct legal entities, and that cooperative districts could handle the issue through their existing annual-report and voting processes. The discussion also covered how local approval would work, including whether the proposal would require an opt-in vote and how county budgets would reflect lobbying-related dues or expenses. Members noted that in cooperative districts and county settings, approval would likely be handled through existing budget or annual report procedures, with majority vote rules applying where relevant. No final vote on the amendment or bill is reflected in the transcript excerpt, but the committee spent most of the session debating the scope, clarity, and transparency requirements of the proposed changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• There’s certainly the word lobbying doesn’t appear in there.
• They’re also, as I say, prohibited in the grant agreement from lobbying.
• So I want to repeat that again: quarterly financial and activity reports.
• Now I have further questions in regards to lobbying services.
• But did you not think that you were lobbying or active?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Just would basically discourage any type of activity like this.

Bills: SB7 , SB22 , SB39 , SB40 , SB45 , SB46 , SB86 , SB95 , SB107 , SB7 , SB22 , SB39 , SB40 , SB45 , SB46 , SB86 , SB95 , SB107

Committee: Senate State Governmental Affairs

Keywords: voting rights, absentee ballot, protected classes, Alabama Voting Rights Act, felony conviction, election integrity, preclearance, Alabama Jobs Act, incentives, job creation, economic development, recapture provisions, capital investment, employment, board governance, occupational licensing, Sunset Law, public accountability, training requirements, SB40

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to read statute 3.084 before I proceed, which is the lobbying activities prohibited.
• I would like to read statute 3.084 before I proceed, which is the lobbying activities prohibited.
• So, subdivision one definition, as used in this section, lobbying means engaging in activities that would
• It depends on conduct that constitutes lobbying or government relations activity.
• actively supported and lobbied<00:04:20.840><c> for</c><00:04:21.600><c> according</c><00:04:21.959>

Committee: House Ethics

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the issue behind taxpayer fun lobbying the issue behind taxpayer fun lobbying in<00:33:04.720><c
• You know, that's lobbying and trips.
• We're very active with the EAC.
• We're We're very active with the EAC.
• ><c> Association</c><01:21:13.520><c> of</c> active with the National Association of active with the

Keywords: Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15 Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14 Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the October 21 minutes, and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal to prohibit the use of tax dollars and public resources to advocate for or against ballot questions, including constitutional amendments. Senator Rawlings and the other presenters argued the current law already bars such advocacy but lacks meaningful enforcement, citing the 2024 school choice amendment campaign and other examples where public officials and school systems allegedly used taxpayer-funded resources to influence voters. They said the bill would add civil and criminal penalties, while preserving First Amendment rights for public employees acting in their personal capacities. Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill should be limited to school districts or broadened to cover other public entities, and on how to define terms such as “advocating in impartial terms.” Members raised concerns about possible effects on county and city lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, on legitimate factual explanations by public officials, and on whether the bill could unintentionally restrict needed representation for local governments. The sponsors said the measure was intended to be narrow, would be vetted further, and would not bar individuals from speaking on their own behalf. Several members suggested revisions. Representative Lockett asked that schools and school employees be specifically named, and suggested separating the lobbying restrictions from the ballot-measure provisions into different bills. Representative Layman questioned the meaning of the bill’s language and whether it would cover factual testimony by officials. Representative Heen asked about a Jefferson County example involving legal fees used to challenge petition signatures; counsel said that situation would likely be allowable under the bill as drafted, though some members thought it should be covered. No final vote was taken on BR 25 during this discussion.