Transcript Highlights:

• Can you go dig in your backyard right now? Can you get a big old bulldozer and start digging?
• Can you start digging? I'm sorry, I didn't hear it. Can you just start digging in your yard?
• No, it's not within the Safe Drinking Water Act.
• that we've acknowledged is very, very safe: carbon sequestration.
• And I think that's the safe way.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you go dig in your backyard right now? Can you get a big old bulldozer and start digging?
• Can you start digging? I'm sorry, I didn't hear it. Can you just start digging in your yard?
• No, it's not within the Safe Drinking Water Act. Okay.
• that we've acknowledged is very, very safe: carbon sequestration.
• And I think that's the safe way.

Summary: The committee took up public comment on a package of similar local-option bills related to carbon capture and sequestration, including House Bills 5, 6, 497, 498, 501, and 504. The bills would let parishes, or in some cases specific parishes such as Rapides and Livingston, decide by local vote whether Class VI wells, CO2 sequestration, and related pipeline infrastructure could be permitted. The chair grouped the bills together for testimony, adopted a three-minute public comment rule, and noted that the bills were not yet under consideration for a vote during the public-comment portion. Supporters, including Speaker Pro Tem Mike Johnson, parish officials, local activists, and residents, argued that communities affected by carbon capture projects should have a direct voice through local option elections. They said the bills were about self-determination, local control, and allowing residents to decide whether the risks are worth the benefits. Several speakers said their parishes had passed resolutions opposing carbon capture or asking for local choice, while others emphasized concerns about eminent domain, aquifer protection, lack of public understanding, and the need for more information about project impacts and financial benefits. Some supporters also said a local vote would force industry to engage more directly with communities and could improve transparency. Opponents, including representatives of the Department of Conservation and Energy, the Louisiana Chemistry Association, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, warned that the bills would create uncertainty, undermine Louisiana’s primacy over Class VI permitting, and invite litigation under federal preemption and the Supremacy Clause. They said the state already has a strict permitting process with public input and technical review, and that allowing parish-by-parish approval could delay or block billions of dollars in investment, jobs, and export-related projects. The department testified that if the state adopted a local-option referendum system, EPA could determine Louisiana was not implementing the program consistently and could move to remove primacy. No committee vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:12.120> and regulations that keep our kids safe and regulations that keep our kids
• safe and regul<00:21:12.720> regulations<00:21:13.200> that<00:21:13.279> are<00
• I certainly—we want our children to be safe and well cared for, but turning them into nurses, aides,
• I certainly—we want our children to be safe and well cared for, but turning them into nurses, aides,
• are met and that the children are safe are met and that the children are safe uh<00:41:29.480>

Bills: HF1247, HF628

Keywords: child care, aides, supervision, child care centers, staffing regulations, childcare, day care, licensed child care center, early childhood education, child care licensing, director qualifications, staff ratios, group size, staff-to-child ratio, substitutes, volunteers, assistant teacher, teacher qualifications, infant care, toddler age

Transcript Highlights:

• They dig through the water table every day as part of what they do for the unions, and DEP is taking
• flooding, and to collect and bring sewage safely to our regional secondary treatment plant.
• flooding, to collect and bring sewage safely to our regional secondary treatment plant.
• It's a large and complicated bill intended to solve a complex problem, and we look forward to digging
• The other... $32 billion, which is as much as two big digs.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on H. 4144, the Governor’s Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act, with the administration arguing the bill would lower bills in the short and long term while expanding clean energy supply and innovation. The Governor and Secretary said the bill would reduce or restructure charges on customer bills, reform Mass Save, expand securitization as a financing tool, speed interconnection, create energy-ready zones, strengthen consumer protections in competitive supply, and allow broader state procurement of energy resources. They said the package could save consumers billions over time and would help address high energy costs, especially during extreme heat and winter spikes. Committee members pressed the administration on several provisions, especially securitization, asking whether the bill requires an apples-to-apples comparison of total costs over time, including interest and lost tax revenue, versus paying through rates. Administration witnesses said DPU review and public comment would be required and said they would work to clarify the language if needed. Members also questioned the bill’s solar and procurement provisions, including reduced net metering compensation for some large facilities, the scope of all-resource procurements, and whether hydro, solar, and nuclear would be included; the administration said those resources were contemplated and that procurement would still be reviewed by DPU. Other questions focused on the short-term relief from bill changes, the treatment of low- and moderate-income discounts, and whether the bill’s heat pump and Mass Save reforms would help customers who cannot afford upfront costs. Several witnesses and committee members discussed Mass Save reforms, including securitization of program costs, on-bill financing, pre-approval of rebates, and shifting program administration away from gas utilities. Administration witnesses said the changes were intended to reduce volatility, lower administrative costs, and better align costs with long-term savings. Questions also touched on geothermal permitting, municipal participation in offshore wind procurement, and the proposed repeal of the ballot requirement for nuclear power, which the administration defended as preserving future options under heavy review. No votes were taken during the hearing portion described. Supportive testimony came from labor, environmental, business, planning, and development groups. The AFL-CIO, NECA, and the Environmental League of Massachusetts backed the bill, emphasizing lower bills, job creation, labor standards, just transition protections, and cleaner energy. NAIOP, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and MAPC supported provisions on energy-ready zones, interconnection reform, microgrids, extreme-heat shutoff protections, and Mass Save improvements. A HEET representative praised the bill’s use of securitization, geothermal, and utility financing tools but urged guardrails and workforce protections. Overall, testimony was broadly favorable, with most witnesses calling for refinements rather than opposing the bill outright.

Transcript Highlights:

• decrease the chances of developing all skin cancers, especially melanoma, while still allowing for the safe
• decrease the chances of developing all skin cancers, especially melanoma, while still allowing for the safe
• But he left, so I'm not getting to dig him, but I will later for sure, girls. Girls golf.
• But he left, so I'm not getting to dig him, but I will later for sure, girls.
• But he left, so I'm not getting to dig him, but I will later for sure, girls.

Summary: The House convened to finish items from an adjourned resolution and spent most of the meeting recognizing individuals, teams, and organizations through a series of House resolutions. One resolution designated May as Skin Cancer Awareness Month, with the sponsor emphasizing that skin cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in the U.S., that early detection greatly improves outcomes, and that public education on prevention and sun safety is important. Another resolution honored Frederick Henry Middleton of Arkadelphia for 50 years of service to the city’s street department and his long record of community involvement. The chamber also recognized the Rolling Razorbacks wheelchair basketball team for winning its sixth Division II national championship, and several Arkansas high school athletic programs for state titles, including Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School boys basketball, Rogers High School teams in girls cross country, baseball, boys tennis, girls wrestling, and boys golf, Mountain Home High School boys and girls cross country, Mount St. Mary Academy girls golf, and North Little Rock High School girls basketball. Members highlighted team records, championships, coaches, and individual achievements, and many resolutions were adopted by title only after brief presentations. Additional resolutions honored the Central Arkansas Christian High School choir for its state festival success, Arkansas Tech University women’s cross-country team for winning the Great American Conference championship, and Arkansas Tech women’s basketball coach Dave Wilbers upon his retirement after a highly successful career. No substantive debate or roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript; the meeting ended after the final recognition with notice that the House would reconvene later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• to thank Representative Dyson. for introducing House Bill 3791 to address the needed updates to the DIG
• Excavators are Excavators must ensure that they can complete their projects in a timely and safe manner
• So, when I'm training, I'm explaining to them that they have to wait a full 48 hours prior to digging
• They went ahead and energized a certain part of the lease, even after being told it wasn't safe.
• If he can't operate safely, I don't think he ought to be operating. Right. Thank you, Joe.

Bills: HB2766, HB2891, HB3334, HB3791, HB3911, HB4021, HB4041, HB4042, HB4384, HB4426

Keywords: inactive wells, oil and gas regulation, environmental protection, Railroad Commission of Texas, well plugging, Railroad Commission, penalties, violations, pipeline safety, civil penalties, criminal penalties, wildfire prevention, oil and gas, safety inspections, administrative penalties, excavation, notification, utilities, underground facilities, regulatory compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• So I would say in this case, you're safe. Explicitly, in order for the language to apply to them.
• So I would say in this case, you're safe. Okay. All right.
• This is so important, and thank y'all for getting in the weeds on this, digging into the laws and the
• I'm digging into the laws and the policies and making sure we have in place.

Bills: HB591, HB766

Keywords: family leave, insurance, paid leave, employment benefits, caregiver support, cancer treatment, anti-cancer medications, health insurance, copayment, cost-sharing, health policy, 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I would say in this case, you're safe. So, you're safe. Okay. All right.
• This is so important, and thank y'all for getting in the weeds on this, digging into the laws and the
• I'm digging into the laws and the policies and making sure we have in place.

Summary: The Senate Insurance Committee met on May 20, confirmed a quorum, and approved the May 13 minutes. The first bill heard was House Bill 591, which would create the Paid Family Leave Insurance Act as a voluntary private-market insurance option for employers, with no mandate, state program, or taxpayer cost. Senator Bass presented the bill, offered technical amendments, and after brief questions about why the framework was needed, the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably with amendments. The committee then took up House Bill 76, dealing with coverage for orally administered anti-cancer medications. Representative Amy Freeman and former Representative Julie Stokes explained that the bill updates Louisiana’s oral chemotherapy coverage law, which had not been revised since 2012, and addresses insurer rejection of newer oral cancer drugs. They also explained Amendment Set 4063, which was intended to restore the bill to the proper posture after changes made in the Appropriations Committee and to prohibit copayment adjustment programs such as accumulator or maximizer programs from reducing credit for manufacturer assistance toward deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Senator Bass raised a concern about prior authorization language and possible ERISA litigation, and department staff responded that the bill would not alter ERISA enforceability and that the fiscal note already reflected about $67,000 in OGB costs. After the amendments were adopted, Senator Bass moved to report HB 76 favorably with amendments, and the committee did so without opposition. Senator Carter thanked the bill authors for their advocacy on cancer-related issues and offered to help during the interim. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• financial responsibility, examining what's been done in the past, and trying to make sure we're providing safe
• I'm just trying to dig to the bill here. I know, thank you. You don't mind? Sure, I'd love that.
• I've got to dig this out of the bill. Apologies, Senator Harrell. I apologize, Senator Harrell.
• So in digging through this a little bit more. We'll just set up the time. So a couple of things.
• So in digging through this a little bit more. We'll just set up the time. So a couple of things.

Summary: The Health Policy Committee met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of health care, Medicaid, and patient-access measures, along with confirmation votes. The committee first reconsidered and amended SB 1606 on patient access to records, clarifying portal obligations, deleting a section affecting nursing home facility records, and setting a January 1, 2026 effective date; the bill then passed favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of appointees and separately confirmed Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after Harris testified about priorities including financial accountability, managed care oversight, transparency, and quality improvement. Senators asked about audit findings and Medicaid managed care performance, and several witnesses and committee members voiced support for her appointment. The committee then advanced a series of bills, most of them with amendments, including claims bills SB 28 and SB 22 for South Broward Hospital District settlements, SB 772 on undesignated glucagon in schools, SB 998 on death certification by physician assistants and APRNs, SB 1412 on home health administration flexibility, SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF, SB 306 on managed care network access during holidays and after hours, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies by physicians, SB 1602 on pediatric readiness in emergency departments, SB 1156 on the home health aide program for medically fragile children, SB 1490 on Children’s Medical Services and managed care administration, and SB 1182 on Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors. Most of these bills received support from industry, advocacy, or provider groups and were reported favorably as committee substitutes. The most debated measure was SB 1270, a broad strike-all amendment combining provisions on mRNA vaccine documentation, vaccination-status protections in the Patient Bill of Rights, medical marijuana reporting and background-screening definitions, compact language, and volunteer immunity. The committee heard extensive testimony both for and against the vaccine-related provisions, including concerns about discrimination, patient safety, provider discretion, and medical liability. After additional technical amendments and a time-certain motion, the bill passed favorably as a committee substitute, with Senators Davis and Osgood voting no and Senator Harrell expressing a weak yes. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded their votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stay safe. >> The Ways and Means Committee will not meet today. >> Subcommittee announcements. >> The
• took us three just say that because it took us three hours<00:12:47.279> to<00:12:47.680> dig
• 48.399> to<00:12:48.560> get<00:12:48.800> down<00:12:48.959> to hours to dig
• out to get down to hours to dig out to get down to Annapolis<00:12:50.320> and<00:12:50.560><
• >> Please<00:25:25.039> stay<00:25:25.279> safe.<00:25:25.840> Okay.

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, January 23, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 118 members present, opened with prayer, and proceeded through the day’s desk work. The clerk read introductory House bills 445 through 488, which were first read and referred to the appropriate committees, along with introductory House joint resolutions and several bond initiatives referred to Appropriations. A letter reassigning House Bill 149 to Economic Matters was also journalized. Committee announcements noted that several standing committees would not meet that day, while the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee would meet virtually on Monday at 1:00 p.m. because of the snowstorm; the fiscal briefing was moved to 4:00 p.m. on Zoom. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on questions about the Rules Committee hearing process for House Bill 488, the congressional redistricting bill. Members asked about witness sign-up timing, whether the weekend extension was allowed, and whether there were conflicts of interest in the process. The parliamentarian and Speaker responded that the chair has discretion, that testimony sign-up had been extended through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday due to weather, and that if there were no electricity on Monday the hearing would be rescheduled. The Speaker also said the fiscal note for HB 488 would be available before the hearing. The rest of the session consisted largely of caucus, delegation, and guest announcements. Members announced upcoming meetings for the Waterman’s Caucus, Legislative Jewish Caucus, Women’s Caucus, LGBTQ+ Caucus, and a fire/EMS coalition, and noted the cancellation of an in-person Holocaust Remembrance event in favor of a virtual format. Guests and interns were recognized in the gallery, including representatives from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, 100 Black Men of Charles County, Howard University students, and several student interns. The House also recognized the pages for their service and celebrated Delegate Marlon Amprey’s upcoming birthday. The chamber then adjourned until Monday, January 26 at 8:00 p.m., with the public again invited to submit testimony over the weekend.

Transcript Highlights:

• but how our kids get to school safely. but how our kids get to school safely.
• But I also want to thank Representative Keeler for her bipartisan work and really digging in.
• But I also want to thank Representative Keeler for her bipartisan work and really digging in.
• What we know is that loving on our kids and making sure our kids are safe and protected is more than
• <00:16:51.759> and making sure our kids are safe and making sure our kids are safe and protected

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are things like overtime pay, minimum wage, earned sick and safe time, and then most importantly
• I've been able to dig into this issue a lot on the attorney general's uh task force on misclassification
• Those are things like overtime pay, minimum wage, earned sick and safe time, and then most importantly
• So, um, I have been digging into this issue a lot in the past two years.
• Um and uh in digging into this enforce.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Superfund Act, among others. Mr.
• Without such expertise, how do we make sure our country's most polluted sites are safe?
• Otherwise, severe weather events will wreak havoc on sites that were previously considered safe.
• Let me just kind of dig deeper on this remediation plan holdup, Mr. Fox, that you've talked about.
• The things that you talked about, in terms of having to dig it out, transporting the waste, removing

Keywords: presidential nominations, EPA, environmental policy, Fish and Wildlife, committee meeting

Summary: The committee meeting focused on the presidential nominations of Brigadier General Brian Nesvick as Director of Fish and Wildlife and Jess Kramer and Sean Donahue as assistant administrators at the EPA. Each nominee presented their qualifications and experiences in their respective fields, with an emphasis on their commitment to uphold the laws passed by Congress. The discussion highlighted the nominees' dedication to addressing environmental issues and their proactive stances on regulatory matters. After deliberation, votes were held to report the nominations favorably, despite some members voicing concerns regarding their qualifications and potential conflicts with environmental interests.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you’re probably still safe.
• in, the more conflict—” “To put this kind of convoluted, as Emily said, the more you dig in, the more
• And then when we dig into the Department of Commerce, where, It's kind of interesting, but then when
• we dig into the Department of Commerce, where, you know, they share that with tourism, and we get that
• We're going to move on to six months away, and we're going to be digging into North Dakota law, rules

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you're probably still safe.
• To put this kind of convoluted, as Emily said, the more you dig in, the more complicated it gets, type
• And then when we dig into the Department of Commerce, where— It's kind of interesting, but then when
• we dig into the Department of Commerce, where, you know, they share that with tourism, and we get that
• We're going to move on to six months away, and we're going to be digging into North Dakota law, rules

Summary: The Legislative Procedures and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The committee first considered and adopted a Joint Rule 211 change clarifying the deadline and statutory references for bill drafts involving health insurance mandates, after discussion that the process is still somewhat cumbersome but improved by the clarification. The committee then reviewed a revised draft addressing confidentiality protections for certain legislators and candidates, but members expressed concerns about the breadth, enforceability, and transparency implications of the proposal, and the committee chose not to advance it at this time. The committee received an informational update on the new NCSL Legislator Security Fund. Staff explained that North Dakota is applying for the grant, which could provide about $200 per legislator for home security or related safety expenses, subject to Emergency Commission approval and reimbursement procedures. Members asked about eligible expenses, administrative burden, and whether new legislators would be covered; staff said guidance would be provided if funding is approved. The committee also approved the 2027 timing for the State of the Judiciary, tribal-state relationship message, and State of the State address on January 5, and set the Commerce Department and agricultural commodity reports for January 13 and 14, respectively, as required by statute. A major portion of the meeting focused on legislative staffing and organizational planning. The committee approved a recommendation for 36 Senate staff positions and 41 House staff positions, along with a 3% compensation increase for session staff. Discussion centered on replacing some procedural clerk duties with permanent policy analyst staff, retaining quality assurance roles for now, and adding or repurposing positions in IT, program evaluation, legal, and administration. Members also discussed expanding program evaluation capacity and the need for clearer oversight of new programs, with staff noting upcoming training and model-sharing with other states. Finally, the committee reviewed a proposed new legislator orientation day on November 30 and broader organizational session training changes, including mock committee and floor sessions, security training, and more robust budget/appropriations instruction, but took no final action on the agenda items and adjourned after completing the budget-related recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• through education, advocacy, and collaboration, ensuring vulnerable Floridians can access and receive safe
• Senators, I think next session is the perfect opportunity to really dig into the way that we are going
• Senators, I think next session is the perfect opportunity to really dig into the way that we are going
• Senators, I think next session is the perfect opportunity to really dig into the way that we are going
• Senators, I think next session is the perfect opportunity to really dig into the way that we are going

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll be digging in over the next couple of weeks while all the members are working on getting these
• policy side, you see that we don't have targeting paid family medical leave, targeting earned sick and safe
• We'll be<00:03:18.239> digging<00:03:18.480> in<00:03:19.120> uh<00:03:19.280>
• in uh over the next couple of be digging in uh over the next couple of weeks<00:03:20.800> while<
• <00:04:48.800> time, targeting earned sick and safe time, targeting earned sick and safe time

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Democratic leaders and House Republican leaders announced a compromise set of budget targets reached Friday night, describing it as a numbers-only deal that leaves policy issues aside. They said the targets are the first step in the budget process: House committee chairs will write bills to fit the targets, those bills will go to Ways and Means, and later leaders will negotiate global targets with the governor and Senate. Leaders emphasized that the agreement reflects compromise rather than either party’s ideal budget, and that they will continue talks with Governor Walz and the Senate over the next several weeks. The speakers highlighted what was not included in the deal, saying it does not target paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe time, reproductive rights, or universal school meals. They said the House priorities that did make it in include housing, education, pensions, public safety, and transportation. On education, they said the compromise provides $40 million in new money in the first biennium for the READ Act and no cuts in either biennium, contrasting that with larger cuts in the governor’s and Senate proposals. They also said schools could still choose to fund unemployment insurance for school workers from existing resources, though it was not earmarked in the targets. Leaders said the agreement leaves room for committee chairs to make choices within the targets, including in health and human services, where they described the target as a reduction in projected growth rather than a cut to existing appropriations. They said the budget plan sets aside discretionary inflation adjustments in the first biennium while preserving inflation indexing for items like the K-12 formula. They also said the deal improves the state’s long-term balance, with a projected $1.6 billion balance in the first biennium and a $1.3 billion deficit in the second, and that the House’s numbers do not include the same revenue assumptions as the governor’s and Senate’s plans. In questions, leaders said conference committees will require majority support from both House and Senate conferees, and that the House will send equal numbers of Democratic and Republican conferees. They said the bonding bill size is still under discussion, but the adopted numbers would allow for roughly a $700 million general obligation bill. They also said large state spending for professional sports facilities is likely over, and explained that the press conference was held without Republican leaders for logistical reasons after the deal was reached late Friday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Keeping their community safe.
• , the most absolutely astronomical increases in project costs I've seen is when government starts digging
• And I'll quote the Boston Big Dig.
• Whatever the cost has gone up, and digging in the dirt is incredibly expensive.
• Yep, very, very costly to dig in an urban area, and that would explain the extra.

Bills: SB3038, SB3045, SB3065, SB3069, SB3071, HB2025, HB2149, HB3370, HB4205, HB4506, HB5424, HB5652, HB24, HB3687, HB24

Keywords: Fort Bend County, Municipal Utility District, MUD, special district, Rosenberg, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, ad valorem tax, bond issuance, assessments, fees, taxes, eminent domain, road district, storm drainage, infrastructure financing, development agreement, municipal consent, temporary directors, public utility district

Transcript Highlights:

• committee like digs into this stuff. committee like digs into this stuff.
• willingness to keep digging in on this. willingness to keep digging in on this.
• So, I encourage they feel safe in.
• and get to safe housing.
• <01:13:13.040> and helping them keep children safe and helping them keep children safe and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to double the number of shelter options in our city by a combination of shelter, safe parking
• and our innovative safe.
• take to get that, and these interim shelter opportunities, whether it's congregate, non-congregate, safe
• parking or safe sleeping is proving effective in getting people housing ready and then allowing them
• because sometimes we can return them home and it was supports and services appropriate it can be a safe

Keywords: 988, house, all