Transcript Highlights:

• Some of these groups that have been honored earlier this week are actually here in attendance with us
• Representative Richmond, did you have another group here today? I certainly do.
• You're recognized to introduce your group. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• It specifies how much certain individuals or groups can receive a raise.
• Members, the next group we're going to batch are all reappropriation bills.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, and approved leave requests and the previous day’s journal. The chamber received a governor’s communication listing several fiscal-session measures that had been signed into law, and members recognized a number of guests, including law enforcement officers, medical staff, and several championship athletic teams and Special Olympics participant Justin Tate. Representative Dolly Henley also made a personal explanation regarding her request to vote no on House Bill 1098, apologizing for any confusion. On the red and yellow calendars, the House passed Senate Bill 1, the Arkansas Senate appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027, by a large margin and then considered a series of appropriation and reappropriation bills in batches. Amendment 1 to House Bill 1034, concerning the Treasury Office of State Appropriation and a 10% salary increase for the Secretary of State, was rejected. Several bills passed, including House Bill 1020, House Bill 1041, House Bill 1098, Senate Bills 2, 14, 26, 68, 69, 72, and 74, along with multiple batched general appropriation and reappropriation measures. House Bill 1023 and House Bill 1053 failed on final passage. Members also discussed the scope of certain appropriations, including questions about whether funds allowed disproportionate staff raises and whether a workforce-services reappropriation would centralize services in Little Rock; the sponsor said the bills did not do those things. After completing the calendar, Representative Meeks moved to adjourn until 3:00 p.m. Monday, and the motion carried. The House announced that House Management would meet 15 minutes after adjournment on Monday and that the deadline for submitting resolutions was that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we are fortunate today, as you have just adopted these resolutions formally, some of these groups
• Representative Richmond, did you have another group here today? I certainly do.
• You're recognized to introduce your group. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• It specifies how much certain individuals or groups can receive a raise.
• Members, the next group we're going to batch are all reappropriation bills.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Richmond, did you have another group here today? I certainly do.
• Representative Puryear, while you're standing, I believe you have another group that has entered into
• You're recognized to introduce your group. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• It specifies how much certain individuals or groups can receive a raise.
• Members, the next group we're going to batch are all reappropriation bills.

Summary: The House convened with a prayer and pledge, established a quorum, approved leave requests, dispensed with the prior journal, and received a governor’s communication listing several fiscal-session bills that had been signed into law. The chamber also adopted a consent calendar of resolutions and recognized multiple guests, including law enforcement officers, a doctor and nurse, a House staff member celebrating her 80th birthday, and several student athletic teams and Special Olympics participants. During the floor session, members heard a personal privilege statement from Representative Dolly Henley apologizing for any confusion about her request to vote no on House Bill 1098. The House then took up appropriations and related budget measures. Senate Bill 1, the Arkansas Senate appropriation, passed 90-1 with the emergency clause. An amendment to House Bill 1034 concerning the Secretary of State’s appropriation was rejected. The House passed a batch of general appropriation bills, then separately passed House Bill 1020, House Bill 1041, House Bill 1098, Senate Bill 2, Senate Bill 14, Senate Bill 26, Senate Bill 68, Senate Bill 69, and Senate Bill 72. House Bill 1023 and House Bill 1053 failed. Several bills were pulled from batches for separate votes at members’ requests, and the chamber repeatedly noted that some measures contained no appropriation increase while others reflected pay-plan, security, performance-fund, or capital-project adjustments. Senate Bill 69 was described as a supplemental for a University of Arkansas food science building without drawing on general revenue. Most measures passed with strong margins, though House Bill 1023 and House Bill 1053 failed. The House then adopted a motion to adjourn until 3 p.m. Monday, and committee announcements noted House Management would meet 15 minutes after adjournment and that the deadline for submitting resolutions was that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• The EGIP pool would create increased stability by spreading risk over a larger group.
• to have that set group.
• to have that set group.
• Looking at a more stable or more predictable group to have that set group.
• So I don't of those groups today.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2312 allows youth groups that are designated under federal law, 36 U.S.C.
• It prohibits the denial of equal access or fair opportunity for a youth group that wishes to conduct
• A youth group includes Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• , then they have to admit all the groups.
• So I don't think that our schools should be using instruction hours to allow for groups to talk with

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not looking at any particular group or agency.
• So when I came up for justice, it was a group, and they would ask me questions.
• This group would determine whether I'm qualified, and you'd send the name to the governor.
• So when I came up for justice, it was a group, and they would ask me questions.
• I got the same group of criminals—typically young people, younger people.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The problem comes from independent research groups, as well as other research groups that are researching
• . ...which is also under investigation by the FBI for itself being a hate group.
• They had — it's the same group.
• Wasn't there a group that was charged with looking at some of these issues?
• Chairman Rogers, I'm sorry, was there any group signed with...

Bills: SB1015, SB1049, SB1066, SB1081, SB1092, SB1133, SB1134, SB1139, SB1147, SB1148, SB1168, SB1189, SCR1001, SCR1002, SCR1005, SCR1010

Keywords: gender transition, detransition, healthcare liability, medical malpractice, youth protection, legal action, Arizona law, spousal maintenance, court guidelines, self-sufficiency, financial support, marriage dissolution, child safety, dependency cases, attorney regulation, foster care, legal representation, probation, dangerous crimes, children

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the Independent Women's Study Group. I've been in some coalitions with them.
• Does that fall within a particular group of individuals? A group of ethnicity?
• Groups like Aid Access actually are.
• I would love to see a group that is hurting women shut down, absolutely.
• These are groups that are getting away with murder, and we've got to put an end to it.

Bills: HB7, SB 8, HB7, SB 8

Keywords: abortion, healthcare, jurisdiction, civil action, qui tam, prohibition, state law, sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, particularly of the Legislative Study Group, over to my left.
• For the Legislative Study Group, we do a lot of work. The staff is up.
• So the Legislative Study Group Freshman of the Year is Ms. Linda Garcia.
• Out that Tony has a group of Republicans who follow him around religiously.
• Group, Georgia Harrington, Amir Sovali, and Jeanette Sledgers.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was part of a group that came up with strategies to campaign against it.
• Chairman, is we believe that this will just lead to another group coming in next year that decides they
• And the group that they feel very strongly about, and that individual collects those petitions, is he
• If you collect with your neighborhood mom's group and you collect petitions, you would be committing
• Also, signing a petition more than once... ...these petitions to a community group.

Summary: The committee first took up CS for CS for CS for SB 462 on transportation. A substitute amendment was adopted that would require counties receiving transportation surtax proceeds to report how the money is used to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, prohibit certain airport fees tied to collegiate aviation flight training, create a Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority pilot program, and dedicate $10 million annually for a traffic signal modernization program. The amendment also removed several provisions from the bill, including a sales-tax transfer to the State Transportation Trust Fund, a bid-protest-related contracting requirement, and repeal of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. A late-filed amendment was tabled, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard CS for CS for CS for SB 628, Lucy’s Law, which strengthens boating safety penalties for leaving the scene of a vessel accident and reckless operation. After the sponsor withdrew a pending amendment, the committee heard emotional testimony from Lucy’s parents and others in support, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee next considered CS for CS for SB 700, the Florida Farm Bill, under a strike-all amendment. The bill’s major provisions included removing non-purity additives from public water systems, requiring clearer labeling for meat, milk, poultry, and eggs, criminalizing drone harassment over farmland, updating agriculture disaster recovery programs, creating an honest services registry for charities tied to countries of concern, expanding FFA-related scholarships and school infrastructure, and allowing the state to repurchase certain former agricultural lands converted to solar fields. Testimony included strong support from agriculture and related groups, opposition from the Florida Bankers Association over a private right of action related to financial discrimination, and criticism from speakers opposed to fluoride removal. The bill was amended and then reported favorably despite some opposition. The committee also reported favorably SB 796, which authorizes DEP general permits for distributed wastewater treatment systems to replace failing septic tanks. The committee then took up a large strike-all for CS for SB 1618, a K-20 education package. The amendment combined provisions on VPK flexibility, early grade success, agriculture education, financial literacy, reading intervention, teacher assignment transparency, restrictions on spending public funds for political or social activism, emergency opioid antagonists, corporal punishment consent, teacher certification pathways, and other higher-education and workforce items from SB 1624, including guardrails for certain private religious postsecondary institutions. Members questioned the new prohibition on using public funds for political or social activism, with the sponsor saying it was intended to keep public schools from being a battleground for ideology; Equality Florida and the ACLU opposed that section. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee began extensive debate on CS for SB 7016, a major initiative-petition reform bill. The sponsors said the bill responds to fraud and abuse documented in a large Office of Election Crimes and Security report and would impose tighter rules on petition circulators, including Florida residency and U.S. citizenship requirements, training, shorter submission deadlines, stronger penalties, new identification requirements on petitions, and a 25% invalid-signature trigger for investigations by election-crimes officials. Senators raised numerous questions about due process, public records, penalties, the treatment of volunteers and former felons, the verification process, and the practical effect of the new deadlines and thresholds. The discussion was ongoing when the transcript ended, and no final vote on SB 7016 is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Forestry Association was founded in 1914 by a group of dedicated conservationists with the goal
• And it has an inviting, friendly group of residents who welcome every single visitor. day hundreds of
• In doing so, it retroactively provides LECO credit for ERS group one, two, and three members employed
• group 4 has a cash ballot structure which is the new structure we added after pension reform.
• I spoke to two conservation groups, one from Kenny, one from Val Verde.

Bills: SJR 12, SCR 39, SB 7, SB 8, SB 27, SB 29, SB 125, SB 241, SB 371, SB 396, SB 406, SB 464, SB 568, SB 578, SB 608, SB 617, SB 660, SB 689, SB 693, SB 707, SB 731, SB 732, SB 763, SB 779, SB 836, SB 854, SB 857, SB 875, SB 878, SB 879, SB 906, SB 920, SB 921, SB 922, SB 942, SB 965, SB 985, SB 996, SB 1029, SB 1035, SB 1036, SB 1059, SB 1084, SB 1098, SB 1101, SB 1185, SB 1188, SB 1321, SB 1332, SB 1366, SB 1388, SB 1396, SB 1453, SB 1484, SB 1494, SB 1536, SB 1563, SB 1596, SB 1610, SB 1619, SB 1737, SB 1738, SB 1741, SB 1816, SB 1822, SB 1841, SB 1939, SB 2155, SB 2188, SB 2230

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border, National Guard, state guard, border wall, border barriers

Summary: In this meeting, significant discussions revolved around the passage and modification of various Senate Bills, including SB1388, which pertains to family support services under the Health and Human Services Commission. Senator Kolkhorst advocated for the bill, emphasizing its focus on pro-life, family-centered care. The committee passed the bill after thorough examination, showcasing a collaborative effort among the members to ensure its alignment with successful past initiatives. In another session, Senator Hughes presented SB942, aimed at retroactive child support linked to prenatal care, which sparked a constructive dialogue reflecting bipartisan support for maternal and child welfare.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a group that is on Lānaʻi.
• I think there's three or— been hearing from Community groups from been hearing from Community groups
• We did this strategic working group between HTDA, L?U, and HHFDC.
• <05:40:06.478> was meet because the healing group was meet because the healing group was making
• They are part of our Ocean Resource Management Planning Group.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Education on its budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. The Superintendent and staff described the department’s mission, enrollment and staffing scale, recent gains in NAEP reading and math, persistent attendance problems since the pandemic, and the need for resources to support student recovery, middle school math, and other strategic priorities. The department said its proposal is intended to be aligned with its 2023–2029 strategic plan, fiscally balanced, and reliable for schools, while also addressing inflation, workforce needs, and uncertainty in federal funding. Assistant Superintendent and CFO Brian Hallet reviewed federal grants, non-general funds, and the budget development process. He said federal funds make up about 11% of the department’s FY25 appropriation and warned that House budget proposals could threaten predictable funding for core programs. He also explained that the department began its biennial budget work in April 2024 and used an internal review group to identify possible reallocations. The department characterized its request as a “flat” budget proposal overall, with a large share devoted to continued funding for existing recurring needs, and noted challenges including a projected state funding decline, inflation, lingering pandemic impacts, recruitment and retention, and uncertainty about future federal support. A major topic was the department’s capital improvement program. DOE officials argued for a risk-based, proactive approach using lump-sum “buckets” to manage facilities and deferred maintenance across more than 21.5 million square feet at 268 sites. They said this would allow more efficient prioritization of projects and better coordination with complex area superintendents, principals, and legislators. Members asked about how legislative priorities would fit into the bucket system, county-versus-state property jurisdiction issues affecting school facilities, enrollment decline and staffing ratios, and how the department plans to adjust facilities and human resources to shifting enrollment patterns. DOE said it is studying enrollment trends, will brief the Board of Education next month, and is willing to provide further briefings to legislators. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then what's that other group called? What are you called, Jessen?
• other group called? other group called?
• It was just a group of people getting together.
• Discussion group topics, uh, May 12th, 2026.
• Um yes, this is for nonprofit groups that own grazing land.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• group.
• And if I don't know if anybody remembers what the military advisory group did, it was a bipartisan group
• the MAG group, the military advisory<00:31:30.559> group.
• . uh and uh he was a advisory group. uh and uh he was a senator,<00:31:33.520> I<00:31:33.679>
• did, it was a military advisory group did, it was a bipartisan<00:31:45.279> group<00:31:46.080

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate came to order, a quorum was established, and the chamber proceeded through routine business on the February 19, 2026 agenda. Several newly introduced Senate files were given first reading and referred to committees, including SF 3658 to Health and Human Services, SF 3665 to Judiciary and Public Safety, and SF 3687 to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development. Senate resolutions 54 through 57 were referred to Rules and Administration. The body then adopted several resolutions. Senate Resolution 58, which updates the mileage resolution to add the chamber’s three newest members, passed 60-2. Senate Resolution 59, the annual postage resolution setting each member’s postal budget at $1,170 and additional amounts for the majority and minority leaders, was adopted 56-8. Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, setting session deadlines for March 27 and April 17, was also adopted after Senator Howe questioned why the first two deadlines were on the same date and Majority Leader Murphy said the schedule matched recent sessions to expedite work. The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring Helen Marjorie Spade Levy on her 104th birthday and recognizing her World War II service as a Rosie the Riveter and her long community involvement. The chamber then moved into tributes for the late Senator Bruce Anderson, with multiple senators describing his military service, faith, veteran advocacy, committee work, and personal kindness. Senators Lucero, Grunhagen, Howe, Pappas, Lang, Putnam, and others shared memories of his leadership and character, and the presiding officer noted that members could later sing in his honor after the remarks concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Adult and Aging, and the Bureau of Developmental Services work group.
• and there's a second committee group and there's a second committee which<00:17:04.319> is<00
• It's certainly possible to pick a group It's certainly possible to pick a group of<00:28:37.600>
• So I wanted to throw it out to the group for their collective expertise.
• I I wanted to throw it out to the group I I wanted to throw it out to the group for<00:49:01.359

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Performance Audit and Oversight Committee met to accept prior minutes and receive updates on ongoing audits. Audit staff reported progress on three education-related reviews: special education (34 of 71 observations completed, draft expected in the second quarter and final in the summer), education freedom accounts (22 of 41 observations completed, draft expected in the second quarter and final in the summer), and the doorway program (5 of 13 observations completed, draft expected by the end of February and final by April or May). No committee questions were raised on the audit status update. The committee then discussed possible future oversight topics, beginning with SNAP and concerns about fraud and work requirements. Members suggested inviting DHS officials and contract administrators to explain program operations and compliance, and also discussed whether the Department of Justice Medicaid fraud unit or other experienced officials could provide useful context. Members noted New Hampshire’s existing oversight layers, including the Executive Council and the joint HHS oversight committee, while also expressing interest in hearing more directly from department staff about staffing and contract management capacity. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on whether to pursue an audit of special education at the local school level. Members debated whether to wait for the ongoing statewide special education review and a legislative study commission report, or to begin scoping a local audit now so work could start sooner. Supporters argued that local-level spending, identification rates, and effectiveness vary widely by district and that an audit should examine both costs and outcomes; others cautioned that the scope would need to be manageable given limited audit staff and that the statewide report may help narrow the focus. The committee also briefly discussed a potential audit of the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, but no decision was made on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• Group, you might ask?
• We have been looking at doing pilot projects for a group.
• Lucero was talking about, the different interest groups.
• There will be a working group. This is an... Thank you. Mr.
• With the Oregon Mountain Group there.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• two public comment sessions at every committee meeting and a public comment meeting at every work group
• We established five work groups with nearly 100 members collectively from the community, representing
• To further ensure that this was led by voices of community, we had five work groups that each had two
• of the same state agencies who don't know about the other work group.
• Since the enactment of the statute, we have had a quality incentive work group established.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on developmental services, rehabilitation, and related supports, with no votes taken. The first major topic was the Master Plan for Developmental Services. Administration officials described a year-long, community-driven process that included a steering committee, work groups, and statewide engagement sessions, and said the final draft would be released that Friday with about 170 recommendations. The Department of Developmental Services said the plan would inform future work, but did not offer a detailed implementation roadmap. The LAO said the plan contains significant policy and budget implications, may require statutory changes, and needs further analysis to turn recommendations into actionable proposals. Advocates and regional center representatives urged the Legislature and administration to avoid letting the plan sit on a shelf, called for prioritization and ongoing stakeholder oversight, and emphasized the need to address equity, workforce, service coordination, and cross-system collaboration. The chair said he wanted to work with the LAO on trailer bill language and future reporting to create a clearer path forward. The second topic was the Office of Employment First and competitive integrated employment. Administration witnesses said California has ended subminimum wage under SB 639, but that moving people into competitive integrated employment remains a major priority. They described existing efforts such as DDS’s coordinated career pathways pilot, paid internships, job development services, benefits counseling, and DOR’s career counseling and referral services, along with pilot projects in San Diego and Orange County. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and advocates argued that employment outcomes have remained stuck at roughly 15% and that a dedicated Employment First Office is needed to coordinate across agencies, align goals, and improve outcomes. The LAO recommended regular legislative oversight on people transitioning out of subminimum wage and asked for technical assistance on coordinated career pathways. The chair criticized the administration’s decision to effectively eliminate funding for the office, requested a detailed implementation timeline and quarterly transition reports, and said the committee would continue pressing for the office to be implemented. The final issue was respite services, utilization trends, and access. DDS reported that in-home respite use and spending have risen sharply over several years, with about 150,000 people using respite in 2023-24 and expenditures reaching about $1 billion. Officials said access depends on families knowing the service exists, service coordinators identifying need, and having enough providers, especially in rural and linguistically diverse communities. The San Diego Regional Center said utilization generally mirrors statewide trends, but access is stronger in some areas, such as Imperial County, where families often prefer family-directed or agency-supported models that allow them to hire trusted workers. Committee members emphasized the importance of respite for family health and caregiver well-being, asked whether service coordinators are asking practical questions about sleep and stress, and discussed the need for better identification of complex behavioral and medical needs. DDS said a standardized family support tool and updated IPP process are intended to improve consistency, transparency, and person-centered assessment for respite and related services.

Transcript Highlights:

• IT WAS A PLEASURE SERVING ON THE HEMP WORK GROUP AND I BELIEVE THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WAS INFORMED
• ALWAYS BEEN A CONTENTIOUS ONE WHERE YOU ARE BALANCING ALL THESE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS, STAKEHOLDER GROUPS
• WHEN PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS I REFER THEM BACK TO THAT WORK GROUP.
• Overdorf: THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE OVERALL WORK GROUP, IT WAS EYE-OPENING TO SAY THE LEAST AND
• AND OUR GROUP IS IN SUPPORT, WE ARE IN DEBATE, RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE ON YOUR GOOD BILL. >> Rep.

Transcript Highlights:

• But over the large group market, it's actually not that much.
• Some are large group, some are large and small group, some have different levels of coverage.
• Some are large group, some are large and small group, some have different levels of coverage.
• large group some are large and small group<01:07:16.200> some<01:07:16.520> are<01:07:
• health care plans or the large group health care plans or the small<01:08:39.359> group<01:08:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um, we are entering into a pilot project with a company called the Falcon Group, and they have a
• And it's for this group of seriously mentally ill who—that's the group that we're struggling with.
• And that's the group that I don't think this legislature realized.
• And it's for this group of seriously mentally ill who—that's the group that we're struggling with.
• And that's the group that I don't think this legislature realized.

Keywords: 910, house, all