Transcript Highlights:

• And from then on, it just started a ripple effect of knocking on doors and hearing this issue come up
• that somebody who goes to a laser spa and gets a laser on their face, which can have a lot of side effects
• So it has a lot of side effects. It takes about a month to heal from that.
• will allow the PRC to consider avoided greenhouse gas emissions in how they evaluate the cost-effectiveness

Bills: HB145, HB164, HR1, HB20, HB65, HB66, HB80, HB306, SB29, SB37, HB99, HB206, HB213, HB270, SB104, SB193, HB38, HB254, HB256, SB58, SB64, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM20, HM51, HM1, HM31, HM35, HM36, HM46, HM53, HM54, HM39, HM29, HM43, HM59, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50, HB253

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, lobbying, transparency, public records, government oversight, accountability, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation, subpoena power, public corruption, criminal activity, Zorro ranch, Santa Fe County

Transcript Highlights:

• To make those decisions effectively, to govern effectively, we must modernize our legislature.
• That has been in effect since 1980. That has been in effect since 1980.
• Because when I was looking at teachers, now I may be wrong. I'm not a teacher.
• So I guess what I could see, the opposite effect happening, Mr.
• Our teachers only make $50K. Which looks to be about $64K.

Bills: HB145, HB164, HJR6, HR1, HB20, HB65, HB66, HB80, HB166, HB295, HB306, SB29, SB37, HB99, HB206, HB213, HB270, HJR5, SB104, SB193, HJM2, HJM3, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM20, HM51, HM1, HM31, HM35, HM36, HM46, HM53, HM54, HM39, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, lobbying, transparency, public records, government oversight, accountability, constitutional amendment, legislative sessions, veto override, New Mexico legislature, session length, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation

Transcript Highlights:

• So that teachers have the right to join any teacher professional organization that they choose to.
• the bank on retired teachers.
• I serve a lot of teachers.
• That's not good for teachers.
• And when teachers go into their classroom without that fear, they do a better job being teachers.

Bills: SB1090, SJR49, SB633, HR1059, SB650, SB2063, SB122, SB1614, SB1884, SJR52, SJR53, HJR1101, SJR50, HB3021, HR1058, SB514, SB382, HB3320, SB740, SB833, SB2143, SB1209, SB244

Keywords: SB1090, Oklahoma Homeowner Repair Contract Protection Act, home repair, home solicitation contract, cooling-off period, right to cancel, consumer protection, contract rescission, certified mail cancellation, home solicitation sales, contractor regulation, home improvement scams, public finance, State Treasurer, Invest In Oklahoma, OCAST, venture capital, private equity, growth funds, direct investment

Transcript Highlights:

• it, quote, hurt teachers.
• bill would hurt teachers.
• I serve a lot of teachers.
• That's not good for teachers.
• That's putting a lot on a teacher. But think about the teacher who thinks... A lot on a teacher.

Bills: SB1090, SJR49, SB633, HR1059, SB650, SB2063, SB122, SB1614, SB1884, SJR52, SJR53, HJR1101, SJR50, HB3021, HR1058, SB514, SB382, HB3320, SB740, SB833, SB2143, SB1209, SB244

Keywords: SB1090, Oklahoma Homeowner Repair Contract Protection Act, home repair, home solicitation contract, cooling-off period, right to cancel, consumer protection, contract rescission, certified mail cancellation, home solicitation sales, contractor regulation, home improvement scams, public finance, State Treasurer, Invest In Oklahoma, OCAST, venture capital, private equity, growth funds, direct investment

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including the Nurse of the Day and a guest pastor, on the National Day of Prayer. Members also made announcements about prayer activities in the Capitol and welcomed former Speaker Charles McCall to the gallery. The chamber then moved through a long floor calendar of Senate bills, joint resolutions, and a conference committee report, with several measures amended on the floor before final passage. Among the bills passed were SB 1090, a consumer protection measure aimed at giving homeowners time to cancel contracts with predatory door-knocking roofers and contractors; SJR 49, repealing a Wildlife Conservation Commission rule on surety for oil and gas leases; SB 633, a juvenile code measure described as protecting children from fentanyl poisoning; SB 650, a public utilities bill tied to transparency and accountability for state employee salary increases; SB 263, amended to include a “lemonade stand” provision; SB 122, a transportation-related bill on proof of insurance; and SB 1614, creating a teacher induction program, which also received emergency passage. SJR 52 and HJR 1101, both dealing with agency rules, also passed, as did SJR 53 on Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority rules. The most debated item was SB 1884, which would strengthen equal access for school employees to teacher professional organizations and related membership/dues procedures. Supporters argued it would clarify existing law, ensure fair access, and give teachers more choice and legal support; opponents said the problem was compliance with current law, not a need for new statute, and warned against duplicating existing protections. After extended debate, the bill failed 47-44. Members then took up SJR 50, a major Medicaid expansion-related resolution revising earlier trigger language; supporters said it preserved expansion unless federal funding changed and gave lawmakers flexibility, while opponents argued the state had not done enough fiscal analysis before proposing changes. SJR 50 passed 69-18. Finally, the House adopted a conference committee report on HB 3021, consolidating graduation requirements into the ICAP framework and clarifying related school rules, and the bill passed with emergency status.

Bills: SR28, SB201, SB1379, SB1525, SB1966, SB2112, SB2170, HB2749, HB3262, HB3265, HB3673, HB3781, HB3040, HB3076, HB3369, HB3982, HB3462, HB3465, HB3521, HB3796, HB3800, HB4095, HB4298, HB4316, HB4338, HB4408, HB4454

Keywords: alpha-gal syndrome, alpha gal, tick-borne illness, tick bite allergy, red meat allergy, meat allergy, dairy allergy, anaphylaxis, Lyme disease, public health, tick prevention, vector-borne disease, allergy awareness, May awareness month, Oklahoma Department of Health, outdoor safety, health education, research funding, minimum salary, education funding

Transcript Highlights:

• certified classroom teachers as defined in statute.
• They pay more than the minimum wage for teachers.
• And so even though this is not a guaranteed teacher raise for every teacher in the state, teachers that
• It talked about a filing, and it talks about when filings become effective.
• And secondly, it effectively raises a cap on the subsidy co-pays from 7% to 10%.

Bills: SR28, SB201, SB1379, SB1525, SB1966, SB2112, SB2170, HB2749, HB3262, HB3265, HB3673, HB3781, HB3040, HB3076, HB3369, HB3982, HB3462, HB3465, HB3521, HB3796, HB3800, HB4095, HB4298, HB4316, HB4338, HB4408, HB4454

Keywords: alpha-gal syndrome, alpha gal, tick-borne illness, tick bite allergy, red meat allergy, meat allergy, dairy allergy, anaphylaxis, Lyme disease, public health, tick prevention, vector-borne disease, allergy awareness, May awareness month, Oklahoma Department of Health, outdoor safety, health education, research funding, minimum salary, education funding

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a special family recitation of the Declaration of Independence by Senator Hamilton’s children. The chamber then adopted SR 28, recognizing May as Alpha-Gal Awareness and Prevention Month in Oklahoma and encouraging awareness, prevention, and research on alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne allergic condition. Senator Seifried also introduced constituents affected by alpha-gal. Later, the Senate heard a gallery introduction from advocates for victims of impaired driving, highlighting the toll of DUI-related crashes in Oklahoma. The Senate then took up several House amendments and final-passage votes on bills. SB 201, clarifying that a teacher pay raise applies to certified classroom teachers, passed 47-0 and was advanced as an emergency. SB 1379, SB 1525, SB 1966, SB 2112, and SB 2170 also passed after adoption of House amendments, with SB 1525 and SB 1379 advanced as emergency measures. SB 1525 raised the threshold for contracting to host a conference from $25,000 to $75,000, and SB 1966 served as the annual omnibus highway, memorial highway, and bridge designation bill. Among the House bills considered, HB 3262 increased the sheriff fee for service of process from $50 to $100 and passed 37-8. HB 3265 allowed a psychologist to make PTSD determinations for the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System and passed 47-0. HB 3781, a major insurance modernization bill changing rate-filing procedures for homeowners insurance and expanding the insurance commissioner’s review authority, passed 39-6 after extended debate over transparency, regulation, and market impact. HB 3040 expanded sex-offender loitering restrictions around businesses serving minors and passed 40-4, while HB 3076 authorized alternative teacher certification providers under OEQA oversight and passed 38-6 as an emergency measure. The chamber also passed HB 3369, a deregulation and efficiency bill affecting fire suppression and LP gas inspections, HB 2749, which shifted an intergenerational education program toward a Medicaid state plan amendment, HB 3982 on fleet vehicle titling, HB 3462 creating a shorter residential-only plumbing licensure pathway, HB 3465 extending the Oklahoma Emission Reduction Technology Rebate Program to 2029, HB 3521 modernizing money transmission law, HB 3796 as an Oklahoma Insurance Department omnibus bill, HB 3800 as a roofing-industry cleanup bill, and HB 4095 modernizing the 211 hotline advisory council. Several of these measures drew debate over regulation, workforce needs, public safety, or fiscal and policy impacts, but all of the listed bills ultimately passed by recorded vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Executive Director of the Texas Retired Teachers Association.
• teachers these days.
• I'm not sure that this is the fair thing to do to those teachers.
• But my reaction is that my wife is a special education teacher.
• I know that we've taken care of teachers recently with regard to this issue.

Bills: HB886, HB1514, HB2434, HB2688, HB2802, HB3161, HB3221, HB4029, HB4339, HB4591, HB4774, HB4802, HB4853, HB5627, SB1737

Keywords: retirement, supplemental payment, benefits, Employees Retirement System, eligible annuitants, legislation, annuity, service credit, Employees Retirement System of Texas, employee benefits, pension reform, public retirement systems, municipality pensions, firefighters, police officers, retirement age, DROP program, actuarial studies, pension benefits, municipal retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• has been able to provide 13 checks, or in this case of this last session, a COLA for our retired teachers
• This is similar to what you have rightly provided retired school teachers in recent sessions.
• For things like teacher salaries.
• This will have a significant impact on public charter school teachers and students.
• My name is Tim Lee, I'm the Director of the Texas Retired Teachers Association.

Bills: HB886, HB1514, HB2434, HB2688, HB2802, HB3161, HB3221, HB4029, HB4339, HB4591, HB4774, HB4802, HB4853, HB5627, SB1737

Keywords: retirement, supplemental payment, benefits, Employees Retirement System, eligible annuitants, legislation, annuity, service credit, Employees Retirement System of Texas, employee benefits, pension reform, public retirement systems, municipality pensions, firefighters, police officers, retirement age, DROP program, actuarial studies, pension benefits, municipal retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• , and with that, we've got one amendment that's being passed around, and that has to do with the effective
• date of this act, and it would be... date of this act and it would be effective immediately upon signing
• I was just going to ask why was the effective date changed from October to immediate?
• And basically, what we're asking is that the science and teacher education program require the commission

Bills: SB213, HB24, HB163, HB226, HB271, HB288, HB319, HB24

Keywords: utility tax, poultry industry, energy consumption, agricultural exemption, tax exemption, HB24, Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Program, EMS, emergency medical services, EMSP, paramedic training, EMT training, tuition reimbursement, scholarship, workforce development, volunteer rescue squad, volunteer fire department, ambulance service, nonprofit ambulance, Alabama Department of Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Last line: effect immediately.
• Clerk will read: An act relating to securing effect immediately. There are amendments.
• Insert new section, section 3: this act takes effect January 1, 2027. There are amendments.
• And that may be the worst effect of some of these well-meaning policies.
• It's going to have a bad effect. Vote no.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5467, SB5820, SCR8406, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB6278, SB5831, SB5915, SB5963, SB6025, SB6046, SB6084, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, SB6188, SB6291, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government, RCW 57, real property disposal, personal property, notice of intent to sell, public auction

Summary: The House received several Senate messages announcing passage of engrossed or substitute versions of House Bill 2294, House Bill 2472, Senate Bill 606, Substitute Senate Bill 6335, engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6266, and engrossed substitute House Bill 3. The chamber then moved through second and third reading action on a series of measures, with most bills advancing after debate and roll-call votes. A major early item was Senate Concurrent Resolution 8406, which would reauthorize the Joint Select Committee on Civic Health. An amendment to keep the committee at 12 members instead of expanding it to 16 was offered by Representative Walsh but failed. Supporters argued the committee helps build public trust, civility, and collaboration; opponents said it duplicated legislative work and risked becoming a proxy legislature. The resolution then passed 83-10. The House also passed engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6200 on portable cooling devices in rental housing, despite objections that it added burdens on landlords and could create conflict; it passed 65-28. Senate Bill 6084, clarifying the prohibition on voting in more than one state in the same election, passed unanimously 93-0. The House also passed second engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5105, dealing with sexually explicit depictions and child sexual abuse material, with members emphasizing child protection and closing loopholes for altered or AI-generated images; it passed 93-0. Senate Bill 6046, allowing the Civil Air Patrol to be used by the governor in emergencies and for disaster response, passed 88-4 after debate over federal-state authority. Other measures passed included Substitute Senate Bill 6054 on HOA/common-interest community restrictions and wildfire hardening (87-5), Substitute Senate Bill 6091 on real estate broker transparency and access to listing information (92-1), Senate Bill 6291 on on-site wastewater inspection staffing and training timelines (93-0), Substitute Senate Bill 6081 creating a Public Records Act exemption for sex designation information to protect transgender people from doxxing and harassment (57-36), Senate Bill 5963 automatically enrolling certain foster youth, homeless minors, and unaccompanied minors in the Washington College Grant (92-1), Substitute Senate Bill 6226 on audiology scope of practice and clinical autonomy (90-3), Senate Bill 5915 on health technology assessment funding priorities (93-0), Engrossed Senate Bill 6106 on layoff notice and related privacy/tribal-government provisions after a scope ruling struck a seasonal-worker amendment (75-18), and Substitute Senate Bill 6014 on pregnancy accommodation cleanup and public-records handling for complaints, after an amendment to change “individuals” to “pregnant woman” failed (68-25). The House also considered Senate Bill 5820 on Growth Management Act and freight rail issues; multiple amendments sought to preserve freight rail, natural-resource transport, contract rights, and development certainty, but the transcript cuts off before final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• he refereed or umpired a wrestling match and was knocked unconscious and still lingers from those effects
• Effective immediately.
• So the Seattle Police Department was effective. Let them be effective. Vote yes on this amendment.
• It makes a lot of sense and will help the effectiveness of our police operations.
• What we all want in the end is for law enforcement to be able to act lawfully and effectively.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5467, SB5820, SCR8406, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB6278, SB5831, SB5915, SB5963, SB6025, SB6046, SB6084, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, SB6188, SB6291, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government, RCW 57, real property disposal, personal property, notice of intent to sell, public auction

Summary: The House received several Senate messages announcing passage of House Bill 1345, Senate Bill 6297, engrossed substitute Senate Bill 6354, and that the President had signed substitute Senate Bill 5874. The chamber then moved through second reading and final passage of a series of bills, often suspending the rules to advance them to third reading. Senate Bill 6025, described as an update to how fetal age/time of death is dated using more objective modern methods, passed 91-2. Engrossed Senate Bill 5272, dealing with penalties and protections related to sports officials and referees, was amended to restore separate treatment for students and lower penalties back to current law, then passed 92-2 after members described repeated assaults and harassment of referees. Substitute Senate Bill 5938, a foreclosure-related technical fix to the Foreclosure Fairness Act, passed 59-35 despite objections that it continued to impose fees on homeowners. Substitute Senate Bill 6149, which adds Cowlitz County to the rural county designation by setting a population cap, passed 93-1. Substitute Senate Bill 6183, requiring coverage of HIV antiviral medications without prior authorization or step therapy, passed 95-1. Senate Bill 5467, raising the surplus property threshold for water-sewer districts, passed unanimously 94-0. The House then took up substitute Senate Bill 5855, a bill concerning face coverings by law enforcement officers, and spent most of the remainder of the meeting debating a long series of amendments. Supporters of the bill argued it would improve transparency and public trust by limiting face coverings, while opponents and amendment sponsors sought broader exceptions for undercover work, warrants, plain-clothes assignments, religious coverings, health and safety needs, riots/civil unrest, criminal mischief, and other exigent circumstances. Several amendments were adopted, including one allowing religious head or face coverings and another allowing helmet use for transportation; many others were rejected, including proposed intent language and broader waiver/exemption provisions. The Speaker also ruled one proposed amendment outside the scope of the bill title. The transcript ends during debate on Amendment 2139, which would shift safety-rule authority to state labor and industries/DOSH, with opponents raising fiscal and implementation concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Speaker would also like to remind the body that the three-minute rule is now in effect as we carry
• Senate Bill 6278, clerk will read: An act relating to the ongoing review of approved teacher...
• And I think there's a lot of importance now, especially in these rapidly changing times where teachers
• Section 5, this act takes effect January 1, 2027. There are no amendments.
• It has a nice extended effective date that we worked on to make sure that landlords have the time to

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5467, SB5820, SCR8406, HB2487, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB6278, SB5831, SB5915, SB5963, SB6025, SB6046, SB6084, SB6134, SB6136, SB6137, SB6188, SB6291, HB2689, SB5922, SB5944, SB5957, SB5988, SB5994, SB6011, SB6065, SB6103, SB6151, SB6244

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government, RCW 57, real property disposal, personal property, notice of intent to sell, public auction

Summary: The House considered and passed a series of Senate bills, often after adopting committee amendments and suspending the rules to move bills to third reading. Senate Bill 6188, dealing with Department of Labor and Industries rules related to department-issued identification and asbestos-related worker safety, was amended to clarify that rules should address safety and health hazards; it then passed 61-33. Substitute Senate Bill 5185 created a pilot pathway for certain internationally trained physicians to pursue licensure to help address primary care shortages and passed 89-4. Substitute Senate Bill 5825 authorized the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit private gifts and grants; a transparency amendment failed, and the bill passed 85-8. Second Substitute Senate Bill 6035, aimed at improving voting access for military overseas and tribal communities, passed 57-36 after concerns were raised about an unfunded mandate for county auditors. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6087, clarifying liability and reuse rules for donated child-related items such as car seats, passed unanimously 93-0. The House also passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5552, which directs the Building Code Council to create codes for kit homes as a way to expand affordable housing, by a 93-0 vote. Senate Bill 6278, which codifies standards and review processes for teacher preparation and alternative route programs, passed 86-7 despite objections that it was unnecessary codification. Substitute Senate Bill 6268, requiring long-term retention of special education records and an online complaint/record system to support families and improve practice, passed unanimously 93-0. Substitute Senate Bill 6237, requiring rental property disclosures about flooding history and flood insurance, passed 65-28 amid debate over added paperwork for housing providers. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5937 addressed smart access systems in rental housing, requiring a traditional lock option for tenants who do not want app-based access, and passed 93-1. Substitute Senate Bill 6039 modernized Labor and Industries communications by allowing email notices with an opt-out for paper mail, and passed 94-0. After these votes, the House announced caucus times and went at ease.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a high schooler, I played percussion and had the same band teacher each year.
• A teacher cannot accidentally groom a student.
• Thankfully, none of them were with a teacher.
• So the effective date applies to crimes committed on or after the effective date, and so it couldn't
• So the effective date applies to crimes committed on or after the effective date, and so it couldn't

Bills: HF3489, HF3990, HF3825, HF3826, HF3827, HF3822

Keywords: grooming, child protection, student safety, sexual exploitation, educator licensing, teacher discipline, mandatory reporting, mandated reporter training, school misconduct, predatory offender, child abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, position of authority, school employee, school administrator, license revocation, license suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• These students are accompanied by teacher Chu Hong. Welcome to the Senate. And let's welcome them.
• :02:41.200> by And these students are accompanied by And these students are accompanied by teacher
• teacher Chu Hong. Welcome to the Senate. teacher Chu Hong. Welcome to the Senate.

Bills: HB9, SB2069, SB2342, SB2861, SB3123, SB2623, SB585, SB2211, SB2446, SB2919, SB2125, SB2116, SB2999, SB2656, SB2001, SB3169

Keywords: HB9, Hawaii Purple Heart state, Purple Heart, Purple Heart recipients, veterans, military, armed forces, service members, combat wounded, war veterans, military honors, state designation, symbolic legislation, honorary designation, Chapter 5 HRS, Hawaii Revised Statutes, military appreciation, veteran recognition, SB2069, Hawaii housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Brian Ardis, and teachers Mrs. Amanda, Mr. Ben Sandival, and chaperone Mrs.

Bills: HB9, SB2069, SB2342, SB2861, SB3123, SB2623, SB585, SB2211, SB2446, SB2919, SB2125, SB2116, SB2999, SB2656, SB2001, SB3169

Keywords: HB9, Hawaii Purple Heart state, Purple Heart, Purple Heart recipients, veterans, military, armed forces, service members, combat wounded, war veterans, military honors, state designation, symbolic legislation, honorary designation, Chapter 5 HRS, Hawaii Revised Statutes, military appreciation, veteran recognition, SB2069, Hawaii housing

Bills: HCR11, HCR181, HCR187, HCR47, HCR44, HCR161, HCR102, HCR107, HCR118, HCR42, HCR176, HCR84, HCR94, HCR195, HR14, HR171, HR177, HR43, HR40, HR151, HR94, HR99, HR110, HR38, HR166, HR76, HR86, HR185

Keywords: charter schools, facilities, school funding, education, Hawaii, student enrollment, policy change, HCR181, House Concurrent Resolution, Department of Education, DOE, temporary positions, position renewal, superintendent-level positions, legislative intent, statutory interpretation, budget accountability, fiscal oversight, government transparency, state employment

Transcript Highlights:

• We can stay away from the teachers.
• This bill is good for teachers, but most importantly, This bill is good for teachers, but most importantly
• We are in desperate need of teachers. In elementary, Excited about is we need teachers.
• We are in desperate need of teachers. In elementary world, we can find teachers.
• Middle school teachers, not so much.

Bills: SB8, SB10, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB14, SB16, SB17, SB18, SB20, SB21, SB22, SB416, SB455, SB456, SB477

Keywords: Municipal Employees' Retirement System, Louisiana, participation, employer, retirement, SB 10, Act 222, Louisiana State Police Retirement System, state police retirement, retirement system funding, employer contributions, actuarial gains, amortization, Permanent Benefit Increase, PBI account, benefit increase reserve, supplemental permanent benefit increase, public retirement systems, state pension, pension funding

Summary: The Retirement Committee met on April 29, 2026, established a quorum, and heard a series of retirement-related bills, mostly cleanup or technical measures affecting various public retirement systems. SB 22 would extend Municipal Employees Retirement System eligibility to certain positions in the Second City Court constable’s office in New Orleans. SB 17 would create a funding deposit account for cost-of-living adjustments for registrars of voters’ employees’ retirement system. SB 455 would allow certain district and parish courts to participate in the Parochial Employees Retirement System. SB 456 would update compensation rules for assigned retired judges, and SB 8 would add the Louisiana Asset Management Pool as a participating employer in MERS. All of these bills were described as aligning statutes with current practice or expanding participation options, and each was reported favorably without objection. The committee also heard several Louisiana State Police retirement bills. SB 10 would repeal outdated priority allocation and retiree raise rules and adjust handling of surplus employee contributions; SB 11 would increase the funding cap for benefit increases from 2.5% to 3.5%; and SB 12 would update membership and definition language to reflect the State Police Commission rather than the Civil Service Commission. SB 18 would repeal a special exception allowing certain MERS retirees to return to part-time work while collecting full benefits, while protecting roughly 30 current participants. SB 20 and SB 21 would update actuarial gain/loss and unfunded liability funding rules for school employees’ retirement and LASERS, respectively, in light of the new permanent benefit increase funding structure. Each of these bills was supported by system officials as cleanup or modernization measures and was reported favorably. The committee spent the most time on education and return-to-work issues for teachers and public employees. SB 16 would reduce annual trustee training requirements for retirement system boards from 16 hours back to 12 hours, which witnesses said would better fit smaller systems and match the original intent of the law. SB 13 would similarly update TRSL’s actuarial funding rules after the sunset of the experience account. SB 14, based on a 2025 study work group, would consolidate and simplify TRSL return-to-work rules and expand options for retired teachers, with witnesses emphasizing teacher shortages and the need to retain experienced educators. All three were reported favorably. Finally, SB 416 would allow certain Department of Public Safety and Corrections retirees to return to critical shortage positions after one year, and SB 477 would classify the chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board as a full-time state employee for retirement purposes. Both bills drew questions and discussion, especially SB 416, and both were reported favorably. The chair announced the committee’s next meeting would be moved from Monday to Tuesday, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also clarifies the definition of certified classroom or certified teacher and includes counselors,
• This act shall become effective July 1st, 2026, and section four adding an emergency submitted by Senator

Bills: HB2947, HB3257, HB3264, HB3834, HB3940, HB3944, HB3979, HB4003, HB4118, HB4326, HB4346, HB4421

Keywords: behavioral health, Medicaid expansion, clinical interns, mental health services, licensing requirements, veterans, disability benefits, federal law, Oklahoma Statutes, military service, criminal justice, minimum sentences, parole eligibility, violent crimes, Oklahoma statutes, HB3834, Oklahoma Breakthrough Therapy Act, ibogaine, ibogaine-based therapeutics, ibogaine analogs

Transcript Highlights:

• So now it just says it matches the teacher contract. ...work.
• So now it just says it matches the teacher contract.
• Mexico, and I won't burden your time by repeating so much of what's already been said about the effectiveness
• really what we're... ...we're seeing is a lot of the enforcement efforts aren't having the intended effect

Bills: HB10, HB12, HB34, SB130, SM21

Keywords: physician assistants, interstate compact, medical services, licensure, cross-state practice, military families, regulatory authority, physical therapy, licensure compact, interstate practice, healthcare, military spouses, criminal background check, HB34, school nurse, school nurses, nurse licensure, charter school, charter schools, school district

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4427 by Hilbert of the House and Andyfried of the Senate, an act relating to adjunct teachers
• Peaker, my question regards whether the curriculum that's developed will be delivered by teachers or
• It's not my intent that every second-grade teacher in Oklahoma is now teaching firearms education.
• So these services will be provided by a company, telemedicine, effectively making.
• House Bill 4201 simply changes current law requiring master teachers Ratios in licensed childcares to

Bills: HB2059, HB3920, HB2992, HB3267, HB4457, HB3800, HB3818, HB4425, HB4427, HB4430, HB4431, HB4333, HB4340, HB4343, HB4344, HB4363, HB4229, HB4230, HB4236, HB4246, HB1979, HB3431, HB3052, HB3047, HB3048, HB4092, HB4302, HB3261, HB3704, HB3312, HB3546, HB3849, HCR1021, HB4105, HB4159, HB4304, HB3835, HB3619, HB4490, HB3710, HB4201, HB3907, HB3748

Keywords: health care, medication, inmates, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, reimbursement, county jails, medical expenses, sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, procurement, transplant research, Oklahoma Tax Code, HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers