Transcript Highlights:

• Only 40 people out of 170 who had registered to testify were allowed to speak.
• I urge our state to not allow anybody to run and make decisions for us.
• That year, the Texas legislature passed laws that allowed...
• Good morning, thank you all for allowing me to join these proceedings.
• Okay, thank you for allowing me to speak via telephone.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 342 is a bipartisan, pro-business, pro-local control bill that allows local governments to create
• AB 342 will allow, but not require, the creation of hospitality zones that local governments have full
• A 4 a.m. last call allows a more staggered closing time for businesses in a hospitality zone and a more
• Its language allows any city or county to design itself as an entire zone.
• will allow distillers to sell 4.5 liters per customer. ...to take place at any winery and to allow distillers

Committee: House Governmental Organization

Summary: The committee met without quorum for much of the hearing and heard testimony on a series of bills, mostly on business, alcohol licensing, transparency, and public health. AB 342 by Haney would allow local governments to create hospitality zones with 4 a.m. last call on Fridays, Saturdays, and state holidays; supporters argued it would help tourism, nightlife, conventions, and major events, while opponents warned it would weaken California’s 2 a.m. statewide last-call standard and create public safety risks. AB 684 by Patel would subject the UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools to the Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act, with supporters saying admissions-related changes should be more transparent and inclusive. AB 1008 by Addis would add up to 10 new on-sale general licenses in San Luis Obispo County to reflect tourism growth, and AB 1039 by Hart would require state agencies to offer nonprofits up to 25% advance payment on new grants and contracts; both drew support from local officials and nonprofit advocates. AB 221 by Ramos would streamline the Tribal Nations Grant Fund to provide equal annual grants to eligible non-gaming and limited-gaming tribes, and AB 795 by Jeff Gonzalez would create a commission to plan California’s participation in the nation’s 250th anniversary, with supporters emphasizing civic engagement and fiscal safeguards. AB 28 by Mark Gonzalez would authorize additional neighborhood-restricted liquor licenses in Los Angeles County to reduce secondary-market costs and support restaurants, AB 1246 by Hoover would raise craft distiller sales limits and address brandy barrel storage, AB 1428 by Ta would expand reporting of surplus and underutilized state land, and AB 957 by Ortega would prohibit tobacco sales in pharmacies; each received supportive testimony, with AB 957 backed by health and pharmacy groups and no opposition. Several measures were voted out to Appropriations, some on consent, and the committee later recorded roll-call votes after quorum was established, with AB 957 receiving one no vote and the other bills advancing with broad support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, thank you for allowing me to be here today to lay out House Bill 5263.
• if their children are at grade level or not where they're struggling and this is information that allows
• Current law does not allow these employees to use.
• The bill allows school districts to appoint in. non-voting student trustee to their board.
• Chairman and members for allowing me to lay out House Bill 1441 on behalf of Vice Chair Polisa.

Bills: HB 1178 , HB1411 , HB1441 , HB1773 , HB1813 , HB2107 , HB2598 , HB2911 , HB2967 , HB3672 , HB5263 , HB3797

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: education, temporary certification, out-of-state educators, teacher shortage, military spouses, personal leave, school holidays, employee compensation, overtime provisions, school safety, peace officers, mental health, de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed care, student trustee, school board, student representation, education policy, nonvoting position, school governance

Transcript Highlights:

• THE LEGISLATION ALLOWS THE JURY TO CONSIDER MORE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN CITING PENALTIES FOR THOSE COMMITTING
• CHAIRMAN GOOD MORNING EVERYONE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
• IT'S A FEASIBLE STUDY ALLOWING A UNIQUE PIN NUMBER OR CODE WORD TO PAIR WITH UNIQUELY GENERATED PHONE
• THEM TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE ALLOWED TO OWN AN ANIMAL GOING FORWARD TO BENEFIT THE PET ADOPTION FUND
• THIS BILL EXPANDS OR IS WRONGFUL DEATH ACT TO ALLOW THE PARENTS OF AN UNBORN CHILD TO RECOVER DAMAGES

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to, as much as possible, allow for 30 minutes for each bill.
• My name is Michael Dolce, and I thank you for allowing me to speak here today.
• Madam Chair, if you'll allow, I have some questions for someone in the audience.
• Thank you, Madam Chair, for allowing that. Mr.
• So you're not allowed to sit at the table. Sorry, Madam Chair, apologies.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for allowing me to testify on behalf of this bill, HB 2144.
• Thank you for allowing me to testify on behalf of this bill, HB2144.
• But allowing it in such a broad manner where it would be allowed if it's relevant to the behavior of
• This bill says that the court must allow hearsay evidence into these proceedings.
• these proceedings where the courts do not typically, by rule, allow hearsay.

Bills: HB2041 , HB2144 , HB2239 , HB2321 , HB2371 , HB2594 , HB2661 , HB2662 , HB2793 , HB2968 , HB2995

Committees: Senate Federalism and Family Law , Senate Senate Federalism and Family Law Committee of Reference

Keywords: child neglect, financial resources, behavioral health, Christian Science treatment, parental rights, child support, preborn children, retroactive support, medical expenses, child welfare, child care, grant program, low-income, early learning, infrastructure, economic growth, security freeze, credit reporting, dependent children, parental notification

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, the amendment removes the provision that would allow a public official serving on a board
• It simply changed it from, from, it eliminated advocacy, but it still allows the individual to vote for
• We should have allowed for all 12 of our state public universities to still continue to issue IDs that
• Those voters will be allowed to cast ballots only in federal elections.
• The House Amendment allows a local government, regardless of the status of as a grant participant.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:36.400><c> uh</c> aspects of the bill that would allow uh aspects of the bill that would allow
• Thank you for allowing us to present to you today. Again, I'm Mona Wamik.
• A dedicated facility would allow design.
• So, this is in no way intended to not allow offenders to be held accountable.
• So, this is in no way intended to not allow offenders to be held accountable.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The first was to allow that to continue and do nothing.
• And so they can allow just for a little bit of an adjustment there.
• But this would allow the assessment to take...
• But there's a carve-out that allows LEAs to exclude a certain portion based on allowable parent-excused
• they allow attendance.

Committee: Joint Education Interim Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> would allow that. would allow that.
• Allowing federal infrastructure country.
• </c><00:46:52.960><c> um</c> and and I'm perfectly happy to allow um and and I'm perfectly happy to allow
• </c> Madam Chair, and then that would allow Madam Chair, and then that would allow line<00:47:29.080>
• </c> weren't allowed on the floor. weren't allowed on the floor.

Summary: The Rules and Administration Committee met on March 19, 2026, to consider the referral path for Senate File 4139, the sports betting bill, rather than the substance of the proposal. Senator Franzen, the bill’s chief author, asked that the bill be referred first to the Commerce Committee, saying he had discussed the matter with the relevant committee chairs and that Commerce was the best place to address the bill’s consumer protection provisions. He emphasized that any final path to passage would still require the bill to go through State and Local Government as well. Senator Rasmusson objected and argued the bill should go first to State and Local Government, citing Senate jurisdiction rules, which he said assign gambling bills to that committee. He noted that prior sports betting bills had been referred there first and said a predictable referral process is important. Senator Maye Quade, Senator Dibble, Senator Bar, and Senator Jasinski also supported sending the bill to State and Local Government first, arguing that the committee has primary jurisdiction over gambling and that the bill’s consumer protection language does not change that basic referral. Senator Champion and Senator Miller supported the Commerce referral, saying authors may request an initial committee and that the bill’s consumer protection sections fit Commerce jurisdiction. Senator Marty moved to re-refer Senate File 4139 to the Committee on State and Local Government. Before the vote, members continued debating whether the bill’s structure and prior referral history justified Commerce or whether committee jurisdiction rules required State and Local Government first. The transcript ends with the motion pending and no final vote or disposition shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill simply allows individuals 21.
• What does the bill allow the senator to do that he or she isn't allowed to do now?
• [clears throat] proposal allows The [clears throat] proposal allows licensed<00:38:11.119><c> barber
• </c> allows you to get a license to do this. allows you to get a license to do this.
• to allow the employer more than 10 business days to respond.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• us to protect our SHPD is not allowing us to protect our EV<00:18:33.600><c> kuna.
• But you<00:19:22.160><c> have</c><00:19:22.799><c> allowed</c> you have allowed you have allowed SHPD
• </c> language to be added that would allow language to be added that would allow for<00:21:23.760><c>
• And then the third, the venues allow.
• </c><01:15:20.239><c> for</c> dab leases um because DNR allows for dab leases um because DNR allows for

Bills: SB2603 , SB2083 , SB2341 , SB2306 , SB2782 , SB2756 , SB2161 , SB2477

Committee: Senate Water, Land, Culture and the Arts

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2603, which would designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the state orchestra of Hawaii. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the Attorney General’s office, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Symphony, the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association, and others. Supporters emphasized the bill’s value to arts education, cultural vitality, and the visitor economy. The chair noted there were also many written testimonies submitted, and the bill was left without questions or action in the excerpt. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2083, which would create a state-owned historic properties preservation plan working group within DNR. The State Historic Preservation Division supported the bill and said it would help create a statewide database and better planning for state-owned historic properties, while noting its current review work is reactive and project-by-project. The committee asked about duplication and existing consultation processes; SHPD said it already reviews state projects under existing law and has in-house architectural staff. The measure was then set aside after brief discussion, with no vote shown in the excerpt. Next was Senate Bill 2341, which would authorize phased review of certain private-property projects and change SHPD’s review deadlines. SHPD and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the bill, saying it could encourage more proactive, programmatic review and that the current average review time for simple projects is about 56 days. Several opponents, including Sierra Club of Hawaii, Bianca Isaki, Malama Kane Lua, and Tara Roas, argued phased review would delay projects, create conflict, and weaken historic preservation protections, especially for iwi kūpuna and burial sites. Committee members raised concerns about whether the bill conflicted with prior court decisions and asked SHPD for its view; SHPD said it was not a legal question for them and suggested a programmatic alternative. The bill was not voted on in the excerpt. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 2306 on administrative fees for the Bureau of Conveyances. HGEA opposed the measure, focusing on a provision allowing the special fund to be used for qualified contractors, while the Bureau of Conveyances supported the bill as a fee correction that would equalize recording fees between systems. The bureau said specialized technical work sometimes requires outside contracting and that it could consider a contract period; the chair and members discussed the HGEA concern and asked whether the issue could be addressed. No final action was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, again there's no Video is not allowed in the committee unless you're a credentialed press person
• I do thank you for bringing this bill and allowing us to talk about this issue.
• Senate Bill 1642 makes some modifications on how we allow physicians to prescribe opioids.
• It allows them to actually prescribe in divided quantities for that seven-day period at first.
• Chairman, for allowing me to get my question worked out today.

Bills: SB1421 , SB1427 , SB1484 , SB1503 , SB1553 , SB1557 , SB1564 , SB1566 , SB1567 , SB1591 , SB1642 , SB1794 , SB1837 , SB2044

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: mental health, nonphysical intervention, training, youth care, conflict resolution, staff training, pediatric screenings, type 1 diabetes, health care providers, parental consent, reimbursement, state funding, public health, medicolegal investigation, medical examiner, coroner, sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, sudden unexpected infant death, SUID

Transcript Highlights:

• And I thank each of you for allowing...
• Uh, and I thank each of you for allowing me to have this opportunity to speak.
• And so I do believe the bill will allow that to happen, but it won't happen immediately.
• them to... because so then that now allows them to participate as the way I understand it would allow
• Uh, it can allow students who have to purchase these meal plans.

Bills: HB46 , HB379 , SB22 , HB487 , HB273 , HB525

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: rural physician, tax credit, healthcare access, physician recruitment, Alabama, HB379, Alabama income tax, nonresident exemption, remote workers, traveling employees, mobile workforce, withholding tax, state tax reciprocity, multistate employees, temporary work, work location tracking, time and attendance system, remote work taxation, professional athlete, professional entertainer

Transcript Highlights:

• THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS PRESENTATION.
• LET'S ALLOW THE WASTEWATER TO SETTLE IN IF WE NEED TO DECANT IT.
• WE ALLOW YOU TO INCREASE THE FLOW.
• THE SYSTEM WAS ALLOWED STARTING IN 2018. IT HAS NO LINER.
• THEY ARE GIVEN ALLOWANCES.

Transcript Highlights:

• Plus, we've got Headlight, which allows all of our inspectors to utilize this platform to collect and
• That allows us to obviously collect real-time inspection information each and every day on all of our
• It allows us to do a number of things. I want to mention two of those.
• And so that allows us to connect this system directly to mapping systems such as Waze.
• So with the processing of HB 2 last year, that allowed us to reinvest.

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met for an information-only hearing with no votes or formal actions. DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD and Deputy Secretary Beau Black outlined the department’s transformation efforts, emphasizing faster project delivery, improved transparency, and use of technology. They reported major reductions in contractor payment processing time, from roughly 35 days to 15 days or less, and change-order approvals from about 40–45 days to around five days. They also described new tools such as inspection tablets, a project delivery dashboard, e-ticketing, a customer service portal, and a pilot using sensor technology on department vehicles to identify potholes and damaged assets. The department said it is reorganizing district staffing, replacing the old area engineer model with district points of contact for construction, maintenance, and operations, without increasing total staff. Members focused heavily on local maintenance concerns, including potholes, drainage, culverts, mowing, overgrown ditches, and utility-related delays. Several legislators asked how to get quicker responses on routine maintenance and how to distinguish state responsibility from local jurisdiction. DOTD said it would meet with district administrators to address specific problems and clarify jurisdiction, and that the new customer service portal should help track complaints electronically. Members also asked about contractor accountability, utility relocations, and public communication on long-running projects; DOTD said it is improving internal KPIs, coordinating more closely with district staff and public information officers, and considering broader public updates beyond the website. The department also reviewed highway planning and funding. Officials said the Highway Priority Program is being reworked into a more fiscally constrained, staged process that starts earlier in concept development and gives legislators and constituents more feedback before the annual road show. They said the department is using new IDIQ contracting authority to bring in outside help for bridge maintenance and other work, and that bridge maintenance backlogs remain significant. DOTD reported that LTIF 1.0 and 2.0 together cover 91 projects statewide totaling more than $534 million, with over 40 complete, and that LTIF 3.0 adds 39 projects and about $165 million. Combined with other funding sources, the department said its upcoming construction program will include 385 projects worth about $1.73 billion. Legislators generally praised the department’s progress but raised concerns about lingering local problems and the need for clearer communication. Questions were also asked about a barge strike on the Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge, with DOTD saying divers and staff were inspecting the damage and that emergency repairs would likely be needed. After the DOTD update, the new Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, led by Archie Chesson, gave its own update on its first year, describing a small staff, heavy use of consultant and contractor pools, emergency procurement authority, and rapid delivery of rural bridge and roadway projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows them to sidestep the MEPA process, but this would allow for some confirmation locally before
• It allows them to sidestep the MEPA process, but this would allow for some confirmation locally before
• So it's important that we allow, if we are going to allow, that the environmental review process can
• This commission would allow This commission would allow for more expedited permitting for securing projects
• Allow me to elaborate on the impact on ecosystems.

Summary: The Senate took up a major environmental bond bill with amendments covering climate resilience, housing health, plastics reduction, coastal protection, fisheries, and related regulatory issues. Early debate included Senator Keenan’s withdrawn amendment to fund the Massachusetts Healthy Homes Program with $50 million, followed by his adopted amendment banning hotels from providing plastic toiletry packages. Senator Tarr’s amendment to remove the paper bag charge was defeated after extended debate over whether the 10-cent bag assessment functioned as a tax; a related floor speech from Senator Duner argued the fee would burden working families. The chamber also adopted Senator Fernandez’s ocean acidification amendment, which would aggregate ocean monitoring data to support shellfish, water quality, and coastal management, with support from Senators Sear and Driscoll. Other adopted measures included Driscoll’s Houghton’s Pond multi-use trail, Montigny’s New Bedford State Pier redevelopment and harbor oil-recovery provisions, Collins’s Commonwealth Conservation Commission later withdrawn, and several coastal resilience and housing-related amendments. The Senate also approved a series of environmental and public health measures. Senator Moore’s rodenticide restriction amendment was adopted after testimony from animal welfare and conservation groups, with the sponsor describing harms to wildlife, pets, and livestock and noting local municipal support. Senator Lewis’s amendment directing DEP to study the feasibility of banning polystyrene was adopted, as was Senator Mark’s Massachusetts Climate Bank amendment and Senator Edwards’s carbon sequestration amendment expanding attention to salt marshes, seagrasses, and waterways. The chamber adopted amendments on equitable representation, improving indoor air quality, and a Douglas State Forest trust fund that would raise the entry fee from $1 to $2 for maintenance. Several amendments were withdrawn, including Collins’s urban coastal resilience commission and Tarr’s proposed Commonwealth Conservation Commission. Housing and permitting issues were another major theme. Senator Driscoll’s amendment requiring local confirmation before a project is designated a priority housing project was defeated, but his related amendments clarifying the process and requiring consultation with the Housing and Livable Communities Secretary were adopted. The Senate also adopted Crichton’s amendments streamlining permitting for coastal resiliency projects in urban areas and creating a five-year pilot for nature-based solutions, as well as Tarr’s amendment adding dredging and sand placement to general coastal permits. Tarr’s amendment to revise the Salisbury Beach Preservation Trust Fund was adopted, while his later constitutional challenge to a landform-migration provision was withdrawn after he argued it could amount to an uncompensated taking. The session ended with the Senate noting only two amendments remained and then adjourning in memory of Quincy’s former mayor James A. Sheets.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1741 ensures that California law recognizes the gravity of this crime by allowing it to be charged
• And so this particular bill will allow an... to carry out these particular functions.
• AB 1743 simply allows trusted government and research partners to put that data to greater use.
• Thank you for allowing me to present Assembly Bill 2339.
• Thank you for allowing me to present Assembly Bill 2339. I want to start off by thanking.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm trying to wrap my head around what are we allowing that we normally wouldn't allow to happen to
• No, they're allowed to be considered to be bonded out. Yeah, yeah.
• No, they're allowed to be considered to be bonded out. Yeah, yeah.
• Thank you all for allowing me to be here.
• And the new law would allow everyone to file for free.

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met on May 12 and took up a series of bills, mostly on juvenile justice, gaming-related background checks, bail/electronic bonds, and corrections policy. Early in the meeting, the committee reported favorably SB 258 on juvenile traffic violations, SB 321 on electronic bonds, SB 134 on limiting certain child sexual abuse material offenses for juveniles under 17 in specific circumstances, HB 75 on promotional play for racetracks as amended, and SB 422 on unsupervised probation for certain fourth-offense impaired driving cases. Later, the committee also advanced SB 440 on the Renaissance District board membership, SB 393 on explosives regulation, SB 487 on charitable gaming rental arrangements, SB 339 and SB 288 on criminal background check procedures in the gaming and related regulatory systems, and SB 325 on excluding certain persons from sports wagering. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 201, which would change juvenile homicide sentencing procedures, including first- and second-degree murder cases, and how reviewing courts consider parole eligibility and prior death sentences converted to life. Supporters said the bill aligns sentencing with existing Supreme Court precedent and gives courts clearer guidance; opponents from children’s rights and civil liberties groups argued it weakens the “rarest and uncommon” safeguard for juvenile life-without-parole sentences and could expand harsh sentencing beyond constitutional limits. After debate and testimony, the committee adopted an amendment and reported SB 201 favorably by a 7-3 vote, with Representatives Adams, Knox, Moore, and others voting no. The committee also heard SB 523 on clemency and sentencing considerations for defendants who are victims of domestic abuse, human trafficking, or sexual assault. Survivors’ advocates and domestic violence organizations supported the bill’s overall purpose but objected to the mandatory pre-sentence investigation language, warning it could introduce biased information and harm survivors; the Board of Pardons and Parole said its staff and trauma-informed victim assistance coordinators are trained to handle these cases. The committee adopted an amendment narrowing the bill and then reported SB 523 favorably. Finally, SB 320 on DNA detection and crime lab reporting was advanced without opposition, and SB 470 on pregnant women in custody passed after testimony from the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association and discussion of pregnancy testing, bonding options, and prohibiting shackling during delivery and postpartum periods.

Transcript Highlights:

• allow the biggest flexibility, urging a yes vote.
• This will allow us to do that.
• It allows community-scale weatherization projects to take place, and this allows efficiencies of scale
• We generally allow other people an opportunity.
• Please allow the President to pick up his pen. Thank you, Mr. President.

Bills: SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6176 , SB6335 , SB6047 , HB2235 , HB2464 , HB2619 , HB1376 , SB5808 , SB5949 , HB1347 , HB1759 , HB1983 , HB2120 , HB2264 , HB2338 , HB2385 , HB2495 , HB2521 , HB2604 , HB2610 , HB2675 , HB2426 , SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6176 , SB6335 , SB6047 , HB2235 , HB2464 , HB2619 , HB1376 , HB1796 , HB2091 , HB2249 , HB2353 , HB2431 , SB5808 , SB5949 , HB2124 , HB2104 , HB2624 , HB2510 , HB1347 , HB1759 , HB1983 , HB2120 , HB2264 , HB2338 , HB2385 , HB2436 , HB2495 , HB2521 , HB2604 , HB2610 , HB2675

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects