Transcript Highlights:

• or two and three the cross out section or two and three line.<00:40:54.400> Yep.
• Why don't we move Rule 3, page 4, under the definitions section? Pardon? Say that again.
• And sections two and three are coming out. We're already out. Okay, perfect.
• But the reference to the probate court would be on page four, section one, two.
• um 18, section one, two. um 18, section one, two.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee work session focused on SB 148 and competing amendments dealing with forfeiture and civil recovery in murder cases. Members compared the “Lynn” and “Burge” amendments and narrowed the remaining disputes to two issues: whether the bill should apply only to first-degree murder or also to second-degree murder and related federal offenses, and whether any civil action could be brought before criminal charges or conviction. The group concluded that the pre-conviction approach created serious practical and constitutional problems, including Fifth Amendment concerns and uncertainty over how a civil case would proceed while a criminal investigation was pending. The discussion then shifted toward limiting the bill to post-conviction remedies. Members agreed that the Department of Justice pre-charge stay language should be removed, that the bill should not try to define “victim” in a way that included the person convicted of the murder, and that the definition should be revised to mean the estate of the victim or the victim’s immediate family, excluding the convicted person. They also agreed to delete language about “after right to appeal has been exhausted,” to correct a typo on page one, and to remove a section dealing with pre-conviction probate-style procedures and third-party notice issues. The committee also discussed how to handle third parties such as insurers, publishers, and innocent purchasers. Members concluded that third parties acting in good faith should not be liable if they make payments or transfer property without notice, but if they receive notice they should not disburse funds. They noted that existing post-conviction civil recovery language already allows victims to sue within three years, making the earlier pre-conviction mechanism unnecessary. The meeting ended with the members saying they had reached a deal on the revised language and would bring the updated amendment forward for further processing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even the Republicans' so-called small... business tax deduction, Section 199A, does not primarily help
• Section 179, Small Business Expensing Deduction. Thank you. Gentleman yields back.
• The Congressional Research Service found that Section 199A's benefits are skewed.
• So that 10-year plan, without the Section 199A coming back.
• Clegg, how would your business be harmed if the Section 199A deduction were to...

Keywords: joint hearing, small business, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, economic recovery, tax relief, job creation

Summary: In this joint hearing of the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the primary focus was on the importance of making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) permanent. The chair emphasized that small businesses are crucial for the nation's economic recovery, especially in the wake of current federal policies perceived as detrimental. Witnesses shared their experiences and highlighted how the tax cuts facilitated job creation and business expansion, stressing the need for continued support through ongoing tax relief measures. The meeting included discussions about the economic implications of the TCJA's potential expiration, with members voicing their concerns regarding how this could impact small businesses and the broader economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• million in fiscal year 26 and $2.2 million in fiscal year 27 to create the explosives enforcement section
• <00:15:12.040> to<00:15:12.240> help explosives enforcement section to help explosives
• enforcement section to help stop<00:15:12.720> the<00:15:12.880> importation<00:15:13.440
• line nine insert language under section line nine insert language under section two<00:24:42.440
• unit section within the criminal<00:30:31.880> investigation<00:30:32.480> division<00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee met in decision-making only and first took up HB 300, the Senate majority budget package. The chair described the bill as a response to economic uncertainty and reduced revenue forecasts, and outlined a wide range of appropriations and staffing changes across state agencies, including agriculture, education, health, public safety, housing, labor, natural resources, and corrections. The package emphasized one-year funding for many new programs, vacancy reductions, and investments in services such as preschool, mental health, wildfire mitigation, cybersecurity, public access, and workforce development. HB 300 was recommended to pass with amendments and was adopted unanimously, with members voting yes and no reservations noted only as procedural responses. The committee then acted on HB 794 and HB 795, both recommended to pass with amendments by changing the defective date to 2050; both measures were adopted without discussion. On the 101 agenda, HB 400, the Judiciary budget bill, was recommended to pass with amendments. The bill included vacancy reductions, security funding, permanent staffing for several court and justice programs, and support for civil legal services, immigration-related services, and technology licenses. HB 400 was adopted. HB 410 was also adopted with amendments and a defective date change to 2050. On the 102 agenda, the committee passed several bills either unamended or with targeted amendments. HB 3, HB 134, HB 177, HB 237, HB 648, HB 713, HB 735, HB 1391, and HB 1462 were passed unamended. HB 214 passed with amendments expanding eligibility for retired employees to fill labor-shortage or succession-planning positions, including certain management positions excluded from collective bargaining; one member raised concerns about school resource officers and community fit, which the chair said could be addressed in the committee report. HB 441 passed with amendments to direct cigarette tax funds to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund, with a discussion about whether e-cigarettes should be included. Other measures passed with amendments included HB 448, HB 667, HB 727, HB 740, HB 806, HB 1020, HB 1345, and HB 1365, generally involving date changes, blank appropriations, or technical language. HB 1391 was adopted with a reservation from Senator Kim. The meeting concluded with HB 1462 adopted unamended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our sections include fund transfers and transportation.
• that when we get to that section of the bill.
• Chair, that on line 107, there is some additional funding in the fund transfer section.
• So Section 5 is special appropriations, which would be for FY25 and FY26.
• Chairman, we come to the final section of the bill, which is the Department of Transportation.

Transcript Highlights:

• This section is going to examine what's being spent on items in the matrix.
• So that brings us to our key finding section for non-matrix expenditures.
• So that brings us to our key finding section for non-matrix expenditures.
• So I'll wrap up the non-matrix section with some additional key findings.
• So this section will include... So we'll go over total spending.

Summary: The joint education committee continued its adequacy study with a detailed Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on resource allocation, covering how Arkansas school districts and charters spend foundation and other funds on matrix and non-matrix items. Staff explained the methodology for mapping expenditures, the district and school categories used in the analysis, and key findings showing that districts spend more per student from all fund sources than the foundation amount alone. The presentation highlighted that classroom teachers account for the largest share of matrix spending, while operations and maintenance, student support staff, nurses, and other lines also drew significant attention. Members asked for additional breakdowns by district type, size, rural/urban status, and trend data, and several questions focused on how waivers affect funding and spending, especially for library media specialists and other positions. The committee then discussed non-matrix spending, including instructional aids, non-technology-related facilities, school safety, mental health services, dyslexia support, food service, gifted and talented, career and technical education, and other items not explicitly defined in the matrix. Staff reported that non-matrix spending exceeded $2 billion in 2025, with most of it coming from other fund sources, and that the top superintendent-identified unmet needs over recent surveys were mental health services, school safety, and dyslexia support. Members raised concerns about dyslexia identification and funding, possible over-identification, and whether some support costs are being coded in ways that obscure the true spending picture. There was also discussion of facilities funding, the building fund, and the Department of Education’s partnership program for school construction and maintenance, with staff agreeing to provide more information and potentially bring department officials back for a future meeting. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly requested more granular data and clarifications, including waiver counts and funding impacts, trend lines for superintendent-reported needs, district-by-district spending spreadsheets, and definitions for certain matrix and accounting terms such as salary enhancement, LEA indebtedness, and other employee health insurance. The chair noted that the committee would continue the adequacy process over the coming months and use the worksheet in the binder to develop recommendations for the next biennium. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting; instead, the committee received the report, asked for follow-up data, and agreed to continue the discussion at future meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• President Pro Tem, esteemed members of the Senate: Pursuant to Article 4, Section 5(B)(2) of the New
• President Pro Tem, esteemed members of the Senate: Pursuant to Article 4, Section 5(B)(2) of the New
• 7-27-12.6 NMSA 1978, being Laws 2025, Chapter 82, Section 2.
• 33-9A-5 NMSA 1978, being Laws 1988, Chapter 101, Section 43, as amended.
• bodies to provide up to two Section 80, requiring state agencies and local public bodies to provide

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• within the bill, to approve that before those sections become effective.
• within the bill, to approve that before those sections become effective.
• within the bill, to approve that before those sections become effective.
• within the bill, to approve that before those sections become effective.
• within the bill, to approve that before those sections become effective.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the committee substitute simply adds a section to track federal law, um, such that.
• It's Section 3B.
• Next section I want to deal with is section 4, with these changes going to effect with all pending cases
• And those are my questions as to Section 4 if it doesn't start or if it starts.
• Um, the centerpiece of the substitute is section 3.

Bills: HCR 10

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism

Transcript Highlights:

• It moves the offense of theft of real property from the theft statute into its own new section, Section
• This section also adds enhancements for targeting the elderly and homestead.
• It moves the offense of real property fraud from the statute into its own section, Section 32.56.
• This section also adds enhancements for targeting the elderly. Section 32.56.
• Sections 4, and then Sections 5 and 6 of the bill, both address 51.901 and 51.903 of the Government Code

Summary: The committee heard and laid out a series of criminal justice bills, with public and invited testimony on restitution, juvenile justice, child abuse reporting, public-safety protections, organ trafficking, property fraud, disaster-response worker protections, fentanyl exposure, emergency data disclosure, insurance-fraud investigations, blood warrant execution, human smuggling, and TJJD advocacy access. Several measures drew support from prosecutors, clerks, law enforcement, utility companies, and victims who described real-world harms and delays in current law; opposition or caution came from civil-rights and advocacy groups on bills involving expanded criminal liability, data disclosure, and juvenile-facility access. Most bills were left pending after testimony, with the committee later voting out SB 127 favorably and placing it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1666 would streamline restitution payments for parole or mandatory supervision cases by requiring TDCJ to include victim information when forwarding payments, shortening the period before unclaimed funds go to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, and clarifying confidentiality and contact procedures; county clerks supported it as an efficiency measure. SB 2776 would let TJJD disclose certain information, with written consent, to support the Credible Messengers Program, and SB 127 would extend limitations periods for failure-to-report child abuse and concealment offenses, with testimony emphasizing delayed discovery of abuse and the need for accountability. SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting or interfering with peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers, and SB 456 would raise penalties for organ purchasing/trafficking and create a more specific criminal framework for the offense; both drew strong support from law enforcement and victims. The committee also heard SB 2611 on real property theft and deed fraud, which would create separate offenses for real property theft and fraud, add a ten-year limitations period, require criminal judgments to be filed in county property records, and expand restitution and title-clearing remedies. Witnesses described forged deeds, stolen church and family properties, and long, costly efforts to restore title; county clerks and prosecutors said the bill would help victims and streamline civil remedies. SB 482 would increase penalties for offenses against utility workers during declared disasters or evacuation orders, prompted by reports of threats and assaults during Hurricane Beryl; utility representatives said the bill is needed to keep mutual-aid crews coming to Texas. SB 1234 would add fentanyl to the endangerment statute for vulnerable people, while SB 816 would allow providers to disclose electronic data in immediate life-threatening situations; both drew support from prosecutors and criticism from civil-rights advocates concerned about overbreadth and liability protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• H.527, an act relating to extending the sunset of 30 VSA section 248A.
• I will now walk through the bill section by section, which can be found as passed on the House Energy
• In section one, we outline consumer protections during copper-to-fiber transitions in Title 30.
• c> with<00:27:01.919> legislative And this section begins with legislative And this section
• This section defines copper network.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with devotional remarks from Representative Mark Higley, who read poems about maple sugaring and Groundhog Day and offered a Valentine’s Day reminder to give maple sugar candy. The chamber then recognized the first class of legislative pages for their service during the 2026 session, presented them with pins, and took photos. Several guests and groups were welcomed, including representatives from Vermont’s natural resources conservation districts, members of the St. Albinstown Fire Department for its 50th anniversary, and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition, which highlighted housing, land conservation, and historic preservation work supported by the Housing and Conservation Board. The House also recognized former legislators in the gallery and several members’ birthdays. On the legislative calendar, H.900, relating to exempting Social Security benefits from Vermont income tax, was introduced and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. HCR 164, congratulating the St. Albinstown Fire Department on 50 years of service, was read and adopted. The House also voted to relieve the Committee on Education of H.750, relating to school districts pursuing construction projects during the moratorium on state aid, and commit it to Ways and Means. Later, H.527, extending the sunset of 30 V.S.A. § 248A, passed third reading, and J.R.S. 37, supporting gender equality in Nordic combined Olympic competition and urging gender-equal new Olympic sports, was adopted in concurrence. The House then took up H.898, concerning copper-to-fiber telecommunications network transitions and consumer protections. The committee explained that the bill requires advance written notice to customers and state agencies, reporting on backup power and E911 issues, public safety coordination, consumer education, and ongoing monitoring by the Department of Public Service. The committee reported an 8-0-1 vote, and after a question about whether the bill would affect provider-of-last-resort obligations, the House ordered the bill to third reading. The session ended with announcements about an upcoming report on Women, Work, and Wages and a motion to adjourn until the next meeting day, which was agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is dealing with section 800.04.
• This bill involves Section 775.027 to eliminate the traditional insanity defense and replace it with
• This bill will amend Section 916.12, Florida statute to require competency experts... 916.12, Florida
• It creates section 921.245, allowing courts...
• But I read that as a two-part section. It says, you know what?

Bills: S0132, S0418, S0442, S0646, S0748, S1326, S1332, S1660, S1734, S1742, S1750

Keywords: voting rights, felony conviction, database, Florida Commission on Offender Review, restoration of rights, autism spectrum disorder, law enforcement, communication, training, blue envelope, blue card, search warrant, remote appearance, drones, data privacy, drug paraphernalia, narcotic testing, fentanyl, controlled substances, civil forfeiture

Summary: The committee took up a series of criminal justice and public safety bills. SB 646, allowing the use of drug testing tools such as fentanyl test strips and reagent kits to detect dangerous adulterants, was presented as a harm-reduction measure and reported favorably after supportive testimony from advocates and criminal defense groups. SB 442, extending the return period for warrants involving digital evidence from 45 days to one year, also passed unanimously amid testimony from prosecutors and law enforcement about encryption, backlogs, and large volumes of child exploitation evidence. SB 418, creating autism-related law enforcement training and a Blue Envelope Program for traffic stops and other encounters, was reported favorably with support from police, disability advocates, and families. SB 132, creating a public database to help people determine eligibility for restoration of voting rights, and SB 748, requiring notice of voting-rights restoration information on sentencing score sheets, both passed with broad support from voting-rights and criminal defense advocates. The committee also approved SB 1734, recognizing juvenile probation and detention officers as officers under Florida law and extending related training and benefits, and SB 1660, designating June as Responsible Firearm Safety Awareness Month. SB 1742, which repealed the existing “unnatural and lascivious acts” statute and created a new offense for indecent exposure of sexual organs to a minor, was amended with a delete-all amendment and then reported favorably. SB 1750, a major overhaul of career offender registration requirements, was later reconsidered after a bill-number mix-up and then reported favorably as SB 1332, with FDLE and sheriff’s association support. The most contentious measure was SB 1326, which would eliminate the traditional insanity defense and replace it with a lack-of-culpable-mental-state defense, require malingering assessments in competency evaluations, and limit downward departures based on mental illness. Criminal defense attorneys and disability advocates argued it lacked a treatment component, raised scientific and cost concerns, and could worsen public safety by sending mentally ill defendants to prison without adequate care. Supporters, including the sponsor and the Attorney General’s office, argued it would close gaps and better protect the public. After extensive debate, the bill was reported favorably on a divided vote, with several members voting no. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional votes on some bills, and Senator Pizzo moved for reconsideration of SB 1326 for a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment deletes section 7, which is any reference to the film credit.
• After this amendment is adopted, there will be a motion to remove that section from the bill.
• And then after this amendment section.
• <00:07:40.319> That remove that section from the bill.
• That remove that section from the bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What you also have before you is Section 3. This just goes through everything.
• What you also have before you is Section 3.
• can see exactly which sections of FOIA have been amended.
• There's one section of Virginia—you have to drive through North Carolina to get to the Virginia section—and
• And so you'll see the bill before you get to that, a lot of the same section.

Keywords: Freedom of Information Advisory Council, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we jump into section C on page three.
• <00:02:45.519> Any<00:02:46.000> person into section C on page three.
• Any person into section C on page three.
• Fentanyl includes fentanyl and section.
• So I think we're moving which section we're talking about, the except as provided.

Bills: SF0009

Keywords: fentanyl, controlled substances, minors, drug distribution, enhanced penalties, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They must also be pursuant to Section 2.2-3708.3(C) of the Code of Virginia. Any request...
• Section 2.2-3708.3(C) of the Code of Virginia.
• It amends two code sections that are related to court orders for appointing guardians or conservators
• This creates a new code section 21-217.5 and it prohibits any student with a disability In any place
• Conversely, it also amends Section 8.01-341.1 to state that a person shall be exempt from jury...

Keywords: Disability Commission, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the first section talks about per diem, mileage, lodging, and travel expenses.
• Um, the first section talks about per diem, mileage, lodging, and travel expenses.
• Um, the first section talks about per diem, mileage, lodging, and travel expenses.
• Um, the first section talks about per diem, mileage, lodging, and travel expenses.
• Mileage is the next section, and then finally, in-state and out-of-state travel guidelines.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That whole section needs to go.
• That whole section needs to go. Okay. Next year, maybe, or a floor amendment, or, yeah.
• So that's where the vagueness of this comes in, and that's why that whole section needs to go.
• So that's where the vagueness of this comes in, and that's why that whole section needs to go.
• , blah—that whole section is where the vagueness comes in.

Bills: HB2006, HB2085, HB2109, HB2167, HB2205, HB2410, HCR2016

Keywords: sample ballots, elections, primary election, general election, mailing deadline, ballot mailing, county election officials, board of supervisors, secretary of state, early voting list, election administration, voter information, postal service, USPS processing center, city elections, town elections, special district elections, Arizona election law, ballot proofing, party chair

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 1038: An act amending Title 16, Chapter 4, Article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by amending Section
• Senate Bill 1247, an act amending Title 36, Chapter 4, Article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding Section
• Senate Bill 1247: An act amending Title 36, Chapter 4, Article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding Section
• And that section that you refer to says, 'if authorized by law,' definitely... ...that future times the
• Bill 1175, an act in Title VIII, Chapter 4, Article 4 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding Section

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 2 issue, depending on where... ...that would be a potential Section 2 issue depending on whether the
• Finally, will the court either redefine or declare unconstitutional Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act
• What is, what exactly is Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act? Yes, sir.
• Section 2 is the vote dilution provision that we discussed on these slides.
• So vote dilution refers to Section 2. You recognize. Thanks again, Mr. Chair.

Summary: The Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting met for an informational presentation from outside counsel Andy Bartos on the legal standards governing congressional redistricting. He reviewed federal Equal Protection principles, Florida’s non-diminishment provision, and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, explaining how race can be considered in redistricting but generally cannot be the predominant factor. He also discussed the Florida Constitution’s tiered standards, including the prohibition on intentional political favoritism, compactness, and the requirement to use existing political and geographical boundaries where feasible. Bartos focused on two recent or pending cases: the Florida Supreme Court’s Black Voters Matter decision, which upheld the legislature’s 2022 congressional map and held that the non-diminishment clause does not justify making race predominant absent specific identifiable discrimination, and Louisiana v. Callais, pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, which may further clarify whether race may be used predominantly to comply with the Voting Rights Act or whether Section 2 remains constitutional as applied. He also explained how courts assess compactness and intent, and how data such as the 2020 census, voter registration, turnout, and election results are used for voting-rights analysis. Members asked about what triggers redistricting, whether the legislature must redraw maps now, what data is available in the mapping tool, how intent is measured, and whether public input opportunities will be provided. Bartos said redistricting timing is largely a legislative judgment unless a court requires changes, that the committee can consider whether BVM or the eventual Callais decision warrants revisions, and that the Callais ruling will bind Louisiana directly but serve as precedent for other courts. No votes or legislative actions were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to know how many of those Section 8 vouchers go unused in those areas.
• It is similar to Section 8, as the resident long-term disability services through Medicare.
• There are currently about 40 Section 811 vouchers in various properties. 8 and Section 811 project-based
• And so I have some questions on the section on I'm assuming individuals and families.
• This is not including Section 8. This is within community development.