Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:02.600> in<00:14:02.839> fiscal<00:14:03.199> year<00:14:03.399> 26
• > it<00:14:05.000> will<00:14:05.160> be<00:14:05.360> complete<00:14:06.279
• split uh officially<00:14:10.079> from<00:14:10.320> DHS<00:14:10.959> so<00:14
• <00:14:16.920> looking<00:14:17.279> into<00:14:17.839> what<00:14:18.040>
• > on<00:14:20.000> about<00:14:20.240> 89%<00:14:21.240> of<00:14:21.399>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first item of business is to approve the minutes for October 15th. If I could get a motion.
• Okay, we have a motion to approve the minutes for October 15th, 2025.
• when we looked at the requirement for the hours on nurse practitioners, it was going to affect about 14%
• Those students... ...about 14% of students.
• This legislation is the product of about 14 to 15 months of professionals in their expertise diving into

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's coming up later this month or early October.
• In October of 2024, the commissions advanced four toll rate scenarios to be assessed as part of that
• And 14 months to the day after that bridge went down 14 months to the day after that bridge went down
• If I recall, it was around $300 million at the time, and 14 months from the beginning to the end.

Summary: The committee met jointly with the Washington-Oregon Legislative Action Committee for an update on the Interstate 5 Bridge Replacement (IBR) program. Members first adopted the proposed committee rules, then received program updates from staff on environmental review, permitting, design, tribal consultation, and public engagement. Staff said the project remains in the supplemental EIS process, with a final supplemental EIS and amended record of decision expected in early 2026, which would allow construction to begin. They also described ongoing work on Coast Guard navigation clearance, Section 106 historic-property coordination, and architectural guidelines for the bridge and five-mile corridor, emphasizing that the visualizations shown were conceptual and that public and partner feedback has already influenced design considerations such as accessibility and shared-use path connections. Members raised concerns about schedule delays, rising costs, and whether the project is being designed to be functional, safe, and economical. Staff acknowledged that the timeline has slipped from earlier expectations and said the delay reflects the complexity of the environmental and federal review process, as well as the need to avoid redoing steps. They said the updated cost estimate is being prepared now that design has advanced to roughly 30 percent, and that it will account for inflation, risk factors, and both fixed-span and movable-span options. Staff estimated a movable span would add more than $400 million and said the first construction work after environmental approval would likely be preliminary freeway and retaining-wall work in late 2026, followed by the bridge procurement. The committee also received funding and tolling updates. Staff reported that major federal grants have been executed, including Mega and Bridge Investment Grant agreements, and that state STIP amendments are advancing to allow access to federal funds. The tolling team described Level 3 traffic-and-revenue work, a bi-state tolling subcommittee process, and possible toll scenarios aimed at supporting either about $1.24 billion or $1.6 billion in toll revenue. Members questioned low-income toll relief timing, truck toll rates, and the effect of tolls on freight users. Staff said low-income discounts are being analyzed for both revenue and operational feasibility, that tribal exemptions and other policy exemptions are under review, and that the commissions expect to move into public outreach on toll rates and policies in 2026, with tolling on the existing bridges currently projected to begin in spring 2027.

Transcript Highlights:

• and the if you want to go back to the base budget, you can see that at the centers funded on row one, 14
• On October one, we approved programs with an active grant.
• So our median earning per hour, you see that we've gone from 10 to 11 to 12.7 to last year, $14 an hour
• was our median earning to 11 to 12.7 to last year, $14 an hour was our median earning per hour.
• We also submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature every October 1st.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:02.240> Clerk,<00:14:02.560> please<00:14:02.720> report.
• >> House<00:14:03.360> Bill<00:14:03.600> 111,<00:14:04.399> an<00:14:04.560
• Speaker,<00:14:11.680> I<00:14:11.920> yield<00:14:12.160> to<00:14:12.320> the
• <00:14:14.399> of<00:14:14.560> the<00:14:14.720> bill<00:14:15.040> and
• <00:14:16.720> Chair<00:14:16.959> recognizes<00:14:17.360> a >> Mr.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened with 92 members present, approved the prior day’s journal, and received Senate messages announcing passage of Senate Bills 104 and 152 and Senate Joint Resolution 74. The chamber then moved through second reading of several bills, including measures on pension spiking, real property, organ donation safety, probationary retirement benefits, elections, and retired emergency personnel. Later, the Committee on Committees and Rules reported new referrals and posted bills for Monday’s regular orders, and the House also introduced several floor amendments. Two bills were taken up and passed. House Bill 527, relating to insurance regulatory requirements, was amended by House Committee Substitute 1. The substitute removed language repealing the workers’ compensation deductible range, revised the strengthened Kentucky Homes program to provide one-time grants of up to $15,000 to approved contractors for certification costs, and added an emergency clause for that grant provision. Supporters described the bill as a broad technical modernization of insurance law, including updates to licensing and responsibility requirements; it passed 92-0. House Bill 111, relating to on-farm animal health, was also amended by House Committee Substitute 1 after the sponsor said the bill had been negotiated with agriculture and animal-industry groups. The substitute clarified that farmers may seek guidance from professionals, exempted equine operations, and preserved state and federal authority in disease or abuse cases; the bill passed 94-0. During motions, petitions, communications, and announcements, members recognized Black History Month with a tribute to Georgia Davis Powers, highlighting her civil rights leadership and legislative achievements. The House also heard announcements about an upcoming Kentucky Nuclear Energy Authority/NITA board meeting and a Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board meeting. House Bill 495 was withdrawn by its sponsor, and House Bill 1 was briefly read and returned to committee as part of procedural handling. The House adjourned until 4:00 p.m. Monday, February 23, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fiscal year 24, investment income as a share of total was 14%.
• All right, turning to pages 14 and 15. You can kind of open them both at the same time.
• How far those revenues fall below appropriations is charted on page 14.
• So on slide 14, a little bit more about hold harmless. Distributions.
• So despite this sizable base, if you turn to page 14, much of this potential revenue never reaches.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, we will take up tab 14, CS for SB 1602 by Senator Harrell.
• The webpage must be live by January 1, 2026, and be reviewed and updated annually by October 1.
• Tab 14, affirmative. Anyone else? Yes. Senator Davis. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• I would like to be recorded in the affirmative on tab 1, tab 11, tab 10, tab 14.
• I need to record a vote in the affirmative on tab 1, 4, 10, 11, and 14. Is there objection?

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up a series of health and human services bills, beginning with CS/SB 1602, which would require hospital emergency departments to have evidence-based pediatric care protocols, staff training, child-sized equipment and medications, a pediatric care coordinator, and participation in a national pediatric readiness assessment. The bill was reported favorably after no public opposition. CS/SB 1224, aligning Florida law with federal requirements for paramedics to administer controlled substances under physician or nurse practitioner direction, also drew supportive testimony from the Florida Fire Chiefs Association and was reported favorably. CS/SB 1182, requiring coverage of continuous glucose monitors under both pharmacy and durable medical equipment benefits, was likewise reported favorably after brief support from AARP. The committee then considered CS/SB 890, the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act, which addresses venous thromboembolism by defining certain conditions as chronic diseases, creating a statewide registry, and requiring screening and training in hospitals, surgical centers, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Family members and blood clot advocates strongly supported the bill, but assisted living representatives objected to being included, arguing the bill would impose unrealistic medical expectations and liability on residential care facilities. Senators also raised concerns about the assisted living provisions, but the bill was reported favorably after the sponsor said more changes were likely later. CS/CS/SB 954, dealing with recovery residences and treatment centers, was amended to reduce the number of active patients from 500 to 300 and then reported favorably after extensive debate over zoning, clustering, neighborhood impacts, and access to recovery housing. CS/SB 1050, which expands the developmental disabilities pilot program and creates an adult pathways waiver option, generated the most extensive testimony. Supporters said it would help reduce the long APD waitlist and expand services, while many families and advocates warned against managed care, citing provider shortages, weak oversight, and the importance of consumer-directed care. Committee members emphasized that participation is voluntary and that people can disenroll, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 614, requiring a public educational webpage about background screening and level-two screening requirements, and CS/SB 1578, expanding breast cancer screening coverage, were both reported favorably with little opposition. CS/SB 1060 created a joint legislative oversight committee for Medicaid financing and operations; after an amendment expanding the committee from three to five members, it was reported favorably. CS/CS/SB 1240, updating DCF substance abuse and mental health procedures including 988, methadone assessment, forensic evaluators, and Baker Act transfer timing, was amended and reported favorably after debate over transfer deadlines and facility responsibilities. Finally, the committee began hearing CS/SB 526, a major nursing education bill aimed at improving Florida’s low NCLEX passage rates by tightening program standards, requiring exit exams and remediation, mandating reporting and inspections, and limiting accreditation extensions. A strike-all amendment was introduced that would also require certain low-performing programs to offer a three-month graduate preceptorship. The transcript cuts off before the bill’s full debate and final action are completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• It says beginning October 1, so that's what we do not have a point. Thank you.
• And then—so this would take effect in October.
• So there will not be any escalator, and it will strictly start October 1.

Summary: The Senate Corrections and Public Safety Committee met in hybrid format, approved the minutes from May 13, June 10, and June 17, and then considered two bills. HB 329 would reduce the governor’s control over emergency powers by giving the General Assembly more authority to review, limit, or end emergency orders and regulations, requiring more frequent updates and tighter renewal rules; members discussed the bill’s effective-date language, and no public comment was offered. The committee then heard HB 468, which would raise the monthly 911 surcharge from 60 cents to 90 cents, the first increase in about 20 years, to generate roughly $13 million annually for 911 operations and next-generation technology. Senator DeFar and the state 911 administrator emphasized the need to stabilize funding and improve services such as text-to-911, geolocation, and faster language translation for non-English callers; several members expressed support and asked to be added as sponsors. No votes on the bills were taken during the meeting, and there was no in-person public comment on either measure. The meeting concluded after public comment was closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Essentially, the applications open up in the middle of October and are accepted until we come into the
• we're gonna jump down to item Number 23, House Taxation Revenue Committee substitute for House Bill 14
• I yield to Senator Hamblin for House Taxation Revenue substitute for House Bill 14 as amended.
• : Senate Floor Amendment Number 1 to House Taxation and Revenue Committee Substitute for House Bill 14
• adopt Senate Floor Amendment Number 1 to House Taxation Revenue Committee Substitute for House Bill 14

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to get everything submitted to CMS and approved by the end of October.
• So our first obligation deadline will be this October of '26.
• what obligation means is we have to have everything signed, approved, contractually obligated by October
• able to spend those funds on those contracts, agreements, anything that we had in line from that October
• Agreements, anything that we had in line from that October deadline.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Joint Policy Committee met to hear an overview of North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program before taking up the related policy bills. Department of Health and Human Services staff explained that the state received a $198.9 million CMS award, with funding focused on four pillars: strengthening rural workforce, bringing care closer to home, connecting technology and data, and improving population health through prevention. They emphasized that the program is intended to benefit rural and frontier residents statewide, including areas near urban centers when the project serves rural patients, and that CMS approval, provider readiness, and sustainability will drive what can be funded. Committee members asked about how the program would treat border communities, frontier counties, urban providers serving rural patients, multilingual outreach, tribal consultation, and whether there would be information sessions for applicants. HHS said the website will include sign-up and translation features, more listening sessions and training will be offered, and a rural health tribal liaison will work alongside the existing Medicaid tribal liaison. Members also raised concerns about reimbursement timing, cash flow for providers, and whether projects in urban areas could qualify; HHS responded that urban projects may be eligible if they clearly benefit rural residents. The department then outlined the four policy bills tied to the grant scoring: nutrition continuing medical education for physicians, the presidential fitness test, the physician assistant compact, and pharmacist scope of practice. HHS said these policy actions were incentivized in the federal funding opportunity and that failure to pass them could reduce future funding. The committee did not take final action on the bills in this portion of the transcript and recessed for lunch before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• The latest year we have is 2023 because this was published in October of 2025 and some people were still
• Because this was published in October of 2025 and some people were still filing their 2024 tax returns
• in October 2025, that's the reason why 2024 is not there.
• Now, it doesn't start until October '27, but down to 3.5%.
• Eventually, over time, now it doesn't start until October '27, but down to 3.5%.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the January 15 morning meeting. The main agenda item was the Department of Revenue’s budget and revenue presentation from Secretary Eric Nelson, Deputy Secretary Peter Shirley, and Deputy Secretary Mark Mucco. Nelson said the state remains double-A rated with a positive outlook, the budget includes a 5% personal income tax reduction, and the 2027 general revenue estimate is $5.493 billion, up $170 million from the prior year. Shirley gave an economic overview, saying West Virginia is forecast to see continued but slowing employment growth, continued wage growth, gains in private education/health services and business services, declines in some sectors, improving labor force participation relative to the nation, and strong recent net in-migration. He also noted continued growth in natural gas production and a modest rebound in coal production, though coal faces longer-term demand pressure. Mucco reviewed revenue trends and said 2025 collections were about $5.5 billion, below the prior year but above estimate, with personal income tax and sales tax driving the surplus. He explained that the forecast incorporates the 5% PIT cut and annual conformity to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including changes such as Section 179 expensing, bonus depreciation, R&D expensing, business interest deductions, and a new manufacturing facility expensing provision. He also discussed the effects of tax credits, severance tax volatility, declining tobacco revenues, and health care provider tax changes tied to federal Medicaid rules. He said road fund revenues are largely flat absent policy changes, and county commission revenues are growing faster than state revenues. Members asked about when new economic development projects like NewCore would appear in the projections, how much 20,000 new jobs would matter, whether the department had a calculator for job-growth impacts, the status of recent tax cuts, road fund growth, tobacco/vape taxation, and whether migration data could be broken down by county. The witnesses said major projects are not yet in the S&P-based forecast but would likely add jobs, wages, and tax revenue over time; they estimated 20,000 jobs would be a significant increase. They also said the state is unlikely to hit the current personal income tax trigger in the near term. No substantive votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and the committee adjourned after a motion carried by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• PAYING PROVIDERS AT A MONTHLY RATE BY THE END OF THIS MONTH FOR SERVICES PROVIDED DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
• OUR PROVIDERS WHILE AVOIDING PAYMENT DISRUPTION AND ENSURING THAT ALL SERVICES RENDERED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER
• THIS DRAFT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE CBC LEAD AGENCIES ON OCTOBER IT WILL BE A WORKING SESSION TO DISCUSS
• ONCE THIS IS COMPLETED BUT THE END OF OCTOBER THE PROJECT MOVES INTO PHASE THREE WHICH IS FUNDING MODEL
• DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA GOING INTO THE OCTOBER 30th MEETING WHAT THOSE QUALITY MEASURES MIGHT ULTIMATELY

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:40.280> Now,<00:14:41.000> um<00:14:41.200> is<00:14:41.320> there
• I<00:14:49.600> would<00:14:49.760> like<00:14:50.000> OHE<00:14:50.240> to
• c><00:14:50.360> come<00:14:50.520> up<00:14:50.680> and<00:14:50.800> let's<
• about<00:14:51.839> how<00:14:51.959> we<00:14:52.079> define<00:14:52.640>
• <00:14:55.160> Would<00:14:55.320> someone<00:14:55.640> from<00:14:55.800><

Bills: HF1323, HF4266, HF4413, HF3101, HF4572, HF4698, HF3650, HF2634

Keywords: undocumented, financial aid, state policy, higher education, noncitizen eligibility, state grants, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium

Transcript Highlights:

• subversive ways that antisemitism has existed has impacted generations of us and not solely since October
• And I will tell you, it's gotten harder since October 7th. Indeed. Well, yes. Go ahead.
• But you just made a remark about how much harder it's gotten since October 7th, and before you said that
• But October 7th has created a whole new breed of hatred, and so much of it is frightening.
• . ...that was changed from the draft we circulated in October in a way that I think is very appropriately

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission held its 16th and final meeting to review and vote on revisions to its draft report on combating antisemitism. After roll call, members approved the prior meeting minutes, adopted a procedure for handling substantive and technical edits, and authorized limited technical corrections after the meeting. Senator John Velis’s letter was read into the record noting his military deployment and support for the final report, and the commission discussed the scope of the report, including its 118 findings and recommendations and the large volume of testimony received over the year. Members then worked through a series of amendments to the report. The chair’s prefatory statement was revised to restore language and data about Massachusetts Jews’ relationship to Israel and the impact on the commission’s work. Commissioner Liken’s proposal called for DESE guidance and teacher training to support intellectually diverse K-12 classrooms; members debated how to ensure it could not be used to justify biased or false material, and the amendment passed with discussion about existing guardrails. Commissioner Hay’s technical edits were adopted, and commissioners also discussed whether DESE’s new reporting system should anonymize data; the language was revised to specify anonymized data and approved. Additional amendments were adopted on public safety and higher education, including clarifying support for nonprofit security grants and personnel grants, refining language on academic boycotts, and adding references to Zionist identity and presumed Zionist identity as possible bases for antisemitic treatment. Commissioner Kipnis’s revisions to the prefatory statement were also considered, with some members objecting to the removal of language about minimization and traumatic invalidation and others supporting a more concise, fact-driven tone. The commission also approved language strengthening recommendations by changing several “should” statements to “must.” Treasurer Deborah Goldberg then delivered closing remarks praising the commission’s work and sharing personal family history to illustrate the persistence of antisemitism in Massachusetts. She said the report offers a practical roadmap, including bias reporting in schools, security coordination, and broader anti-discrimination training, and emphasized that the recommendations will help all communities. Commissioners thanked her for her leadership and testimony. The meeting continued with further amendments, including one on law enforcement security grants and another on higher education findings and recommendations, and the commission repeatedly voted by roll call, generally approving the revisions unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the raising hands events that you guys have every fourth, I think it's the fourth Saturday in October
• The Cowlitz Tribe received our recognition on February 14, 2000.

Summary: The joint hearing of the Senate Business, Trade, and Economic Development Committee and the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee focused on proposed amendments to the tribal-state gaming compacts for the Tulalip Tribes and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Washington State Gambling Commission staff explained the compact approval process under IGRA and said the parties had reached tentative agreement; the commission and ex officio members will take public comment and vote at an August 28 special meeting on whether to forward the compacts to the governor or return them for further negotiation. Tulalip Chairman Hazen Chappell described the tribe’s long history of gaming in Washington and emphasized that gaming revenues support governmental services, jobs, charitable giving, and community support. Commission advisor Johnny Bray said the Tulalip restated compact consolidates 12 prior amendments, reorganizes and updates appendices, removes some outdated provisions, and includes higher wager limits, jackpot sharing, and the option to increase player terminal allocation in stages. Chappell also noted the tribe’s ongoing responsible gaming efforts and community support, including aid for wildfire-affected families. For the Cowlitz Tribe, Chairman William Ayala and Ilani Casino President Kara Fox LaRose described the tribe’s history, community programs, and the resort’s growth. The proposed sixth amendment would raise gaming station wager limits up to $1,000, create a special higher-limit player process with financial suitability and anti-money-laundering checks, strengthen responsible gaming signage and marketing requirements, allow temporary gaming areas, and adjust TLS ticket pricing through the most favored nation process. Committee members asked about self-exclusion and credit practices; Cowlitz gaming officials said hundreds of people have used the self-exclusion program and that higher-limit play is tied to substantial credit/front-money requirements. No votes were taken at the hearing, and the meeting ended with closing remarks and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• in public schools, and it also requested a $1.75 million dollar appropriation to support operating 14
• Chair, uh, Senator Cedillo Lopez, uh, yeah, they, uh, were requested to have a report out, I think by October

Transcript Highlights:

• concepts with pop-up shops and lounges in Austin... pop-up shops and lounges in Austin, Texas, since October
• In the last two weeks, PMI has started to sell their product in Austin and is actually offering a 14-

Bills: SB282, SB300, HB72, HB396, SB282, SB300, HB72, HB396

Keywords: virtual currency, cryptocurrency, tax exemption, state tax law, digital assets, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, business incentives, economic impact, firefighter, license plate, fees, funds distribution, support programs, memorial, disabled veterans, property tax exemption, debt-to-income ratio, homestead, veterans affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The first item on the agenda is approval of the October 15th meeting minutes.
• But per the discussion at the October board meeting, in which members agreed that 'letter of recommendation
• But per the discussion at the October board meeting, in which members agreed that 'letter of recommendation

Summary: The board approved the October 15 meeting minutes and then reviewed three employment disclosure forms involving staff or spouses employed by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board and the Department of Corrections. The disclosures were approved unanimously. The board also adopted a proposed rule change to conform board rules to a prior statutory amendment that separated fines from costs. Members then discussed a draft advisory opinion interpreting the phrase “letter of recommendation” under the ethics statute. The draft would read the term broadly, allow legislators to decide when to write such letters when requested by a constituent, and reaffirm that it remains appropriate to use state resources for job references or scholarships for individuals the legislator has supervised or worked closely with at the legislature, as well as for certain gubernatorial appointments. Members generally supported the draft, but asked for possible clarification of the phrase “work closely with,” and approved the opinion as drafted with that caveat. The board also reviewed proposed future meeting dates, noting a concern that January 19 falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and may need to be changed. No final action was taken on the dates during the public portion. The meeting then moved toward executive session after adjourning the public portion.

Transcript Highlights:

• has restricted the public's recreational use of a water body after January 1, 2024, and prior to October
• board that has restricted the public's recreational use of a water body after January 1 and prior to October
• So you have to remove that restriction, but then on October 2nd, they can just put it back.

Bills: HB473, HB397, HB397

Keywords: water recreation, public access, water bodies, recreational use, water commissions, real estate, disclosures, equitable interest, disciplinary actions, Alabama Real Estate Commission, HB397, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax, tax relief, senior exemption, elderly homeowners, retiree exemption, disability exemption, blind exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• It got so out of hand, and it was so mismanaged, that the governor came down on October 2nd, met with
• Our sales were up in January 23%, up in February 34%, March 14%, April 23%.
• We've never had a down year, not even like, I mean, up 14, up 23 to down 3%.
• We've never had a down year, not even like, I mean, up 14, up 23 to down 3%.
• The pattern continued until October. In October, they removed the tolls.

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 27 and first took up House Bill 175 and its companion House Bill 165, both dealing with lottery proceeds for veterans. HB 175 was amended to create a Veterans Service Grant Board within the Department of Veterans Affairs and direct $500,000 annually from Louisiana Lottery net proceeds into a Veterans Service Grant Fund, with unused money returned to the lottery proceeds fund that supports the MFP. Supporters, including the bill sponsor, The Boot Louisiana, LDVA Secretary Charlton McGinley, and Bastion Veterans Organization, argued the grants would help veteran services, workforce placement, mental health, housing, entrepreneurship, and retention of veterans in Louisiana. Members raised concerns about drawing from lottery proceeds that traditionally support education, but the committee adopted amendments and reported HB 175 favorably as amended. HB 165, the constitutional amendment companion, was also amended for technical and ballot-language changes and then reported favorably as amended for voter consideration. The committee then considered House Bill 457, which would authorize the Louisiana Department of Health and the State Fire Marshal to set minimum housing standards for homeless shelters, group homes, and halfway homes. The sponsor said the bill responded to a state auditor recommendation and to unsafe conditions in some facilities; he also explained an amendment changing the Fire Marshal’s duties from mandatory to permissive to reduce fiscal impact and allow agencies flexibility. Some members questioned whether local standards already existed and how enforcement and funding would work, while others supported the need for statewide minimum standards for human housing. The committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 457 favorably as amended. House Bill 488, by Representative Brough, sought to create a Belle Chasse Bridge Merit-Based Special Fund using recurring severance tax revenues from Plaquemines Parish to help buy out the Belle Chasse toll bridge and end what the sponsor described as excessive tolls and fees. He and several local witnesses, including business owners, a YMCA representative, and a parish council member, testified that the tolling arrangement had harmed access, businesses, and quality of life. The committee adopted a technical amendment clarifying the revenue source and then reported HB 488 favorably as amended. House Bill 566, which would prohibit state funds from supporting net-zero greenhouse gas initiatives tied to the 2022 Louisiana Climate Action Plan, drew significant debate over whether it would interfere with agency funding and economic development efforts; the sponsor argued the plan lacked legislative approval and should be repudiated, while members urged caution and suggested hearing from affected agencies. The sponsor agreed to consider deferring the bill, and the committee did not advance it at that time. House Bill 603, a constitutional amendment authorizing investment of state funds in digital assets and precious metals, was discussed as a way to hedge inflation and preserve value; members asked about limits and safeguards, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then began hearing House Bill 763, a transparency measure creating a public database for settlement agreements involving state agencies.