Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; We have been busy. &gt;&gt; We have been busy.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Y'all have been busy. &gt;&gt; Y'all have been busy.
• The I think the main liability case.
• We are desperate in business.
• . liability. liability.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you. the DOE on matters such as liability? the DOE on matters such as liability?
• It's right in the middle of our busy<01:58:25.360><c> hiring</c><01:58:25.840><c> season.
• It sometimes can put busy hiring season.
• </c><02:00:08.400><c> So</c><02:00:08.560><c> it's</c> around or the principal is busy.
• So it's around or the principal is busy.

Summary: The committee on Education heard testimony on HB 1895, which would add education-worker protections by expanding harassment-related offenses. The Department of Education, HSTA, HGA, and several school employees and principals testified in support, describing increased harassment and threats toward teachers and staff, especially since COVID, and saying the bill would help deter bad actors. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, saying the language was vague and overbroad, could criminalize ordinary parental advocacy or speech, and might not survive constitutional scrutiny. In response to questions, the public defender said existing statutes already cover threatening or assaultive conduct against educational workers, while DOE representatives said the bill was aimed at excessive and repetitive disruptive behavior. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up HB 1592, concerning protections for educational workers and sports officials. DOE, the Charter School Commission, HGA, HSTA, school principals, athletic programs, and many individual testifiers supported the bill, with several describing threats, harassment, and aggressive behavior at schools and athletic events. One principal said he had repeatedly involved law enforcement after threats and incidents on campus, and a teacher testified about the need to keep school environments safe and orderly. The Office of the Public Defender again opposed the bill, arguing that current law already enhances penalties for assaults and terroristic threatening against educational workers and sports officials, and that new offenses would have little deterrent effect. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be a separate statute and how to distinguish passionate advocacy from harassment; DOE said the line was crossed when conduct became excessive and repetitive, while the public defender urged clearer drafting and more emphasis on prevention, education, security, and de-escalation. No vote or final action was announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Shamp amendment dated February 11th, 2026, at 12:50 p.m. specifies that the bill does not limit any liability
• ensure that I was really concerned that citizens may think that they're covered for any kind of liability
• ensure that I was really concerned that citizens may think that they're covered for any kind of liability
• Having no further business before the committee, we are... Senator Scho. Senator Warner? Aye.
• Having no further business before the committee, we are

Committee: Senate Senate Health and Human Services COR

Summary: The committee heard and voted on several health and human services bills. SB 1192 would exempt good-faith basic first aid given without compensation from Arizona Medical Board licensure requirements, with added consent and law enforcement notification rules for injured minors; an amendment clarifying that the bill does not limit existing liability protections was adopted, and the bill passed 5-2. SB 1398 would require AHCCCS to redetermine eligibility for members over 21 every six months and report eligibility data annually; AHCCCS testified it would create significant administrative costs and that the bill lacked federal-population exemptions and an appropriation, while supporters argued it was needed for transparency and fraud detection. The committee adopted a technical amendment and passed the bill 4-3. SB 1399 would require prepaid capitated AHCCCS contractors to report spending on direct patient care versus administrative costs; supporters framed it as taxpayer accountability, and it passed 6-1. The committee also considered SB 1494, a strike-everything amendment making it a felony for providers, institutions, or drug manufacturers to pay premiums or otherwise steer enrollees to change health plans for financial gain, while exempting licensed insurance producers. Blue Cross Blue Shield and brokers supported the anti-patient-brokering goal, but ARMA warned the language was too broad and could chill ordinary provider-patient conversations and navigator/social worker assistance. The committee adopted the striker and passed the bill 4-3, with several members saying they wanted to refine the language on the floor. SB 1813 would remove the Maricopa County 55-bed cap at the Arizona State Hospital and require admission based on clinical need; supporters said the cap is outdated and leaves beds unused, while ADHS and others warned about rural access, fiscal costs, and possible litigation under Arnold v. Sarn. The committee adopted an amendment removing a citizenship requirement and passed the bill 5-2. Later, SB 1821 passed 6-1. It would let JLBC audit teams review DCS’s case-management system, allow unannounced inspections of licensed group foster homes, prioritize placement with relatives or other significant adults, and require newly hired child safety workers to train for a year under experienced staff. Finally, SB 1557 would require signed informed consent before medical interventions except in emergencies; supporters said it simply codifies standard practice, while the ACLU argued the bill lacked clear standards and could create burdens for ongoing or controversial care. The committee passed SB 1557 4-3 and then adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• to our business.
• I would argue that business probably doesn't get a lot of business. Why? Again, convenience.
• businesses.
• , which is small business.
• So in my business, 2.5% is what we pay on credit cards. My business paid $1,366,442 in 2024.

Bills: SB231 , SB584 , SB600 , SB668 , SB841 , SB986 , SB1003 , SB1244 , SB1625 , SB1960 , SB1963 , SB1964 , SB2026 , SB2056 , SB2368

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• perhaps only matched or exceeded by your other bill we're going to be hearing later, but you've been busy
• Thank you for taking amendments last week dealing with liability, which was a big issue, and again, just
• What we're talking about is protecting the homes and the businesses in their service area.
• California should not be in the business of carving out industries from critical hazardous waste laws
• I'll close with one comment: being in this business, and it comes down to...

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Transcript Highlights:

• These changes also set the state on a trajectory to stabilize the health insurance premium liability
• I think this will be one of the first orders of business on the LFC work plan for the interim: really
• liabilities that have been hanging out there. Have we got any money set aside for that? Mr.
• Chair, most of the funding for that liability fund comes out of agencies' recurring budgets.
• All those components together would pay for roughly 80 to 90 million of the 110 million unfunded liability

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And I've seen that in multiple Amish businesses.
• And I've seen that in multiple Amish businesses.
• So essentially it's a person that's not within the, Amish businesses.
• because we're in the business of making sure businesses are out there able to.
• Business. Your bill, I think, is a little broad.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes you’re family businesses where they live on site.
• That is better than any of you in the room get for any of your businesses.
• You're committed to the line of business.
• You're committed to the line of business.
• The exemption is necessary to protect proprietary business information.

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Rules Committee took up a large agenda of bills, with many measures reported favorably after brief explanations, amendments, and testimony. Early bills included CS/SB 658 on lien waivers and releases, which was amended to preserve enforceability despite form differences and then passed; CS/CS/SB 736 on brownfields redevelopment, which drew support from business and redevelopment interests and passed; and CS/SB 1002 on utility service restrictions, which was amended to bar certain building or fire code provisions affecting fuel-source choices and then passed despite opposition from environmental advocates. The committee also advanced CS/CS/SB 1132 on right-to-repair for certain equipment, where manufacturers, dealer representatives, and industry groups warned the bill could undermine dealer networks and existing repair programs, while supporters argued it would improve consumer access and help farmers and equipment owners. The bill still passed. Other measures reported favorably included CS/SB 1378 on restitution for leaving the scene of property-damage crashes, CS/CS/SB 768 on foreign-country controlling interests in health care licensing, CS/SB 772 on school access to glucagon for diabetes emergencies, CS/SB 1400 on removal of nonconsensual altered sexual depictions, and CS/SB 1696 on transportation network company impersonation and transit funding. A major portion of the meeting focused on affordable housing. CS/SB 1730, a follow-up to the Live Local Act, made several changes to zoning, height, density, parking, moratorium, and enforcement provisions, with members raising concerns about parking reductions, attorney’s fees, local control, and impacts in the Keys and other sensitive areas. Supporters said the bill closes loopholes and improves workforce housing implementation, while some witnesses urged additional exemptions for areas of critical state concern. The bill was reported favorably after amendment. Later, the committee considered several bills from Senator Leak, including CS/SB 576 on service of process, CS/SB 606 on public lodging and food service establishments, and CS/SB 1164 on electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices. CS/SB 606 drew substantial debate over whether hotels and extended-stay properties should be able to remove nonpaying guests without treating them like residential tenants; the sponsor said the bill clarifies transient occupancy and removes mandatory arrest provisions, and it passed. CS/SB 1164, which allows email notice delivery by agreement, passed despite concerns from tenant advocates that the bill should include clearer consent and safeguards. The committee also approved CS/SB 1374 on school district reporting of educator arrests and misconduct, CS/SB 940 on third-party restaurant reservation sales, and began hearing CS/SB 1690 on surrendered infants, which would authorize infant safety devices or “baby boxes” as a legal surrender option, with supportive testimony from proponents describing crisis situations and the need for anonymous surrender options.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I know you've got a very busy schedule, Chairman.
• In state, we can compel those responses, but it removes liability concerns.
• In state, we can compel for those responses, but it removes liability concerns.
• And if it's a reason. for those responses, but it removes liability concerns.
• You have to know liability.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Like the potential for future civil liability.
• So the reference to business days now is not as clear as it used to be in the past.
• of five business days, people in jail don't always have access to the phones.
• Not totally against, but I am against the business day proposal. Okay.
• We were just checking our list of unfinished business.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• First, I’m in business as minutes. Representative Crane. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• And it reduces their liabilities and avoids creating a publicly funded asset that cannot be fully utilized
• And it reduces their liabilities and avoids creating a publicly funded asset that cannot be fully utilized

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• I move the Senate advance to the fourth order of business.
• I move to advance to the eighth order of business.
• Hearing no objection, so order, seventh order of business. third reading of bills. business.
• I move the Senate revert to the sixth order of business.
• Sixth order of business: second reading of bills. Senate Bill 6-220. Sixth order of business.

Bills: SB5223 , SB6071 , SB5966 , SB6061 , SB6016 , SB5973 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB5899 , SB6190 , SB5574 , SB5873 , SB5924 , SB6263 , SB6282 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6096 , SB5609 , SB5901 , SB5943 , SB5975 , SJM8016 , SB5907 , SB6031 , SB6155 , SB6158 , SB6227 , SB5947 , SB6085 , SB6234 , SB6274 , SB5909 , SB6044 , SB6239 , SB6045 , SB6089 , SB6170 , SB5954 , SB5762 , SB6032 , SB6066 , SB6082 , SB6164 , SB6176 , SB6319 , SB6308 , SB6200 , SB6080 , SJM8014 , SB6177 , SB6052 , SB6182 , SB5828 , SB6335 , SB6017 , SB5470 , SB5990 , SB5046 , SB5387 , SB5637 , SB5647 , SB5839 , SB5888 , SB5962 , SB6018 , SB6037 , SB6047 , SB6078 , SB6130 , SB6147 , SB6151 , SB6197 , SB6220 , SB6256 , SB6311 , SB6343

Summary: The Senate convened with all members present, heard a prayer and pledge, approved the prior day’s journal, and then moved through committee reports and House messages. Several bills were referred to committees, including low-income energy assistance and real property use restrictions. The chamber then took up a series of gubernatorial appointments, confirming Apollonio P. Hernandez to the University of Washington Board of Regents, Violet M. Frolov to the Central Washington University Board of Trustees, and Monica U. to the Washington Student Achievement Council, each after sponsor remarks and roll-call votes. The Senate also recessed briefly for caucuses and later resumed floor action on bills. On final passage, the Senate approved SB 6220 on nonprofit housing property tax exemptions for temporary community use, SB 5947 creating the Washington Health Care Board, ESSB 631 on safe pedestrian passage during construction, ESSB 6066 establishing crash prevention zones, SB 6044 recognizing Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas, SB 5899 allowing qualified chiropractors to treat non-human animals under a licensing framework, SB 6151 dedicating environmental program fee accounts, ESSB 6200 allowing renters and mobile home occupants to install portable cooling devices with safeguards, SB 5901 adjusting school construction assistance for on-base schools, and SB 6080 governing federal detention contracts with county and municipal jails. Most of these bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though SB 5947, SB 5924, SB 6200, and SB 6080 drew notable opposition from some senators who raised concerns about cost, scope, safety, or implementation. The Senate also adopted amendments to several measures, including technical or stakeholder-driven changes to SB 5947, ESSB 631, ESSB 6066, SB 5899, and ESSB 6200. SB 5924, expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice, passed after a lengthy debate over access to care, professional training, and the role of collaborative drug therapy agreements; supporters framed it as a response to provider shortages, while opponents argued it moved too quickly or needed more study. SB 6080, concerning jail contracts for federal detainees, saw failed amendments seeking an attorney general opinion and a good-faith extension, before passing on a 30-19 vote. The meeting ended with a personal privilege statement marking Lunar New Year and a motion to recess for lunch and caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we're seeing is the landscape for liability post-wildfire as it relates to water systems has
• So I want to make sure that this bill is both, you know, balancing, obviously there's real liability
• Let's, whose liability is this? A lot of times, Mother Nature doesn't really have a liability.
• Let's, whose liability is this? A lot of times, Mother Nature doesn't really have a liability.
• It doesn't matter, and even your plan itself, it doesn't matter from a liability perspective.

Committee: Senate Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• What about liability? Would liability then pass on to the hospital system?
• This doesn't change anything about liability whatsoever. It just, it just addresses.
• Anything about liability whatsoever.
• But so this will then, in your opinion, increase the liability of the physician themselves?
• So would it increase their liability or decrease it?

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The General Laws Committee met without a quorum and heard House Bill 2749, sponsored by Rep. Davidson. The bill would allow hospital systems, rather than only individual physicians, to sign and maintain collaborative practice agreements for physician assistants in hospital settings. The sponsor said the measure is intended to reduce administrative burden and paperwork without changing scope of practice, supervision requirements, or liability, and noted it has a $0 fiscal note. Committee members asked about how the bill would work in practice, including what happens when physicians leave a hospital system, whether the collaborating physician relationship would still be meaningful, and whether the bill could affect liability or accountability. Supporters, including a long-time PA with BJC and the Missouri Hospital Association, said large hospital systems already use credentialing and chart-review processes, and that centralizing the paperwork would help hospitals, physicians, and the Board of Healing Arts while freeing physician time for patient care. They emphasized that the bill would not change clinical oversight or reimbursement arrangements. Opposition came from the Missouri State Medical Association and the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons. Their witness argued that collaborative practice agreements are personal physician agreements, not mere paperwork, and warned that shifting them to a hospital-level document could weaken physician accountability and potentially increase liability. The hearing concluded after testimony, with no vote taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the other thing is I think there's a liability issue too, and so when we have the fire department
• 34.760><c> a</c> So the other thing is I think there's a So the other thing is I think there's a liability
• issue too and so when we we liability issue too and so when we we have<00:06:37.720><c> the</c><00:06
• </c> liability piece there as well. liability piece there as well.
• </c> within jurisdictions for liability within jurisdictions for liability reasons. reasons. reasons.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; So, Representative Bol and we get busy &gt;&gt; So, Representative Bol and we get busy
• Uh, this bill takes care of a liability issue, if I may say it that way.
• That is a frame of civil liability.
• </c><00:51:46.240><c> So,</c><00:51:46.960><c> so</c> the business community there.
• So, so the business community there.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a quorum duly constituted to conduct business. &gt;&gt; Representative Stevenson.
• </c> uh work when we're having liabilities uh work when we're having liabilities and<00:19:01.520><c>
• </c> believe is a very good business believe is a very good business decision. decision. decision.
• So that's as clear of an answer as I can give you why it's just not good business for us to continue
• </c><00:46:01.760><c> for</c> why it it's just not good business for why it it's just not good business

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the September 17 meeting, and heard a presentation from Kentucky Department of Education staff on SEEK school funding and KDE on-behalf payments. KDE explained recent SEEK changes, including the guaranteed base per-pupil amount, attendance-based calculations, second-month and January growth, the 2022 change funding kindergarten at 100% instead of 50%, and the existing add-ons for at-risk students, exceptional children, limited English learners, home/hospital instruction, and transportation. Staff also reviewed tier one funding, noting the 2024 increase from 15% to 17.5% and explaining that eligibility depends on local tax effort and property wealth. They also described Senate Bill 6 from the 2025 session as a reporting proposal to include on-behalf costs in education spending totals. KDE staff then outlined on-behalf payments made for districts, including roughly $458 million for Teachers Retirement System contributions, $942 million for health insurance, about $12 million for technology costs, and additional SFCC debt service outside KDE’s appropriation, for a total of about $1.5 billion. Members asked how a future Senate Bill 6 would affect local contributions and whether folding on-behalf payments into SEEK would shift costs among districts. KDE and Senator Gibbons clarified that the bill was intended only as a reporting mechanism and would not change local contribution or district payments; it would simply present a broader total of state education investment. The discussion also noted that Kentucky’s reported SEEK amount alone does not capture all state education spending. Members raised questions about home and hospital instruction data, saying local concerns suggest growth in some communities even if statewide numbers appear stable. KDE said the statewide figure has been relatively consistent but offered to provide district-level trend data. Co-Chair Petrie also asked about the accuracy of SEEK projections and on-behalf calculations, referencing prior concerns from the Office of Education Accountability. KDE responded that it works with the state budget director’s office in a consensus forecasting process and has been reviewing demographic and property-assessment data, including exceptional child counts, to improve forecast accuracy.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would also allow police or firefighters to be able, without the possibility of liability, to
• Right now, when no one's there, they are subject to potential civil liability for taking the child out
• We know life is busy. That's why we've asked for the civil sanctions when there is no injury.
• We know life is busy. That's why we've asked for the civil sanctions when there is no injury.
• Many were fired for refusing a brand-new, liability-free product.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The committee hearing began with opening remarks from the House and Senate chairs outlining procedures for a large public hearing with more than 100 witnesses on 64 legislative proposals. They explained time limits, rules for in-person and virtual testimony, written testimony procedures, and the committee’s reporting deadline. Testimony then moved through a series of juvenile justice, child protection, and civil liberties bills, with witnesses generally urging favorable reports or, in one case, opposing expanded juvenile court transparency and child advocate access to records. Several witnesses supported bills aimed at juvenile justice reform. Representative Hendricks backed H. 1744 to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking, citing federal findings of child labor in seafood processing and calling for stronger penalties and a ban on minors working in such facilities. Senator Gomez supported S. 1131 and S. 1121 to reduce juvenile fees, fines, restitution burdens, and bail-related costs, arguing they worsen racial and economic disparities. Senator Crean and other advocates supported S. 1051/H. 1695 to expand juvenile diversion eligibility, while multiple witnesses from juvenile justice and immigrant advocacy groups supported H. 1657/S. 1058 to expand juvenile expungement and to limit sharing juvenile fingerprints with federal authorities, describing recent ICE detentions of Chelsea students and the resulting fear in immigrant communities. Witnesses also supported H. 1918/S. 1240 to narrow the youthful offender statute, raising the minimum age and reducing mandatory adult-style penalties for youth. The committee also heard testimony on child safety and bodily autonomy bills. Middlesex District Attorney Marion Ryan supported H. 1752 to protect children left in extreme temperatures, explaining it would create civil penalties, allow emergency responders to remove children from cars without liability, and add criminal penalties when serious injury results. Representative Thurber and Senator O’Connor testified for H. 2011/S. 1227, a bill prohibiting coercion or mandates for health-related interventions, including vaccinations, and allowing legal remedies for violations. Senator Jalen supported S. 1136/H. 1847 to prevent false confessions by requiring recording of interrogations and banning deceptive tactics, and several innocence-project and legal-services witnesses described wrongful convictions tied to false confessions and coercive interrogations. Another major topic was H. 1626, which would require age verification for pornographic content and launch an education campaign about online sexual exploitation; Representative Cruz and survivor Udoz Wallace testified in support, describing nonconsensual image sharing and deepfake harms. Not all testimony was supportive. The Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed S. 1035, which would increase transparency in juvenile court proceedings, and H. 1689, which would expand the child advocate’s access to confidential juvenile records, arguing both would undermine privacy and trauma-informed protections for children and families. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the session consisted of opening remarks and public testimony on the listed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• The one thing that I wasn't sure exactly how it would work, but real estate agents have certain liability
• making this property available, where a traditional real estate agent would absolutely assume that liability
• And it's a quick way to just release your liability. But this is a good deal.
• We already provide a high level of disclosure and transparency in our business operations as Missouri
• — We already provide a high level of disclosure and transparency in our business operations as Missouri-licensed

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, Senator Hickey brought up a great point on the liability, the medical liability of physicians
• One is that the most lucrative business that the cartels engage in is human trafficking.
• or the labor trafficking business.
• In fact, we are, I would say, a magnet for business development.
• I used to work at Intel in business development, and it was all about attracting businesses here so we

Bills: SB41 , SB33 , SB32 , SB30

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: sexual crimes, statute of limitations, criminal justice, victim rights, child abuse, individualized treatment, investigational treatment, health care, life-threatening illness, patient rights, physician recommendation, informed consent, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, child protection, prosecution, crime amendments, SB30, induced abortion, abortion reporting