Transcript Highlights:

• of veteran of the week, introduction of doctor and or nurse of the day, correction of previous day's
• State Department of Education and the State Board of Education.
• She received a doctoral degree in clinical child psychology from the University of Alabama and completed
• Let's give Sophie a round of applause. And all of these exceptional pages of the week.
• Let's give Sophie a round of applause and all of these exceptional pages of the week. Mr.

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including Veteran of the Week First Sergeant Jeff Osterdock, Nurse of the Day Madison Lehman, Psychologist of the Day Dr. Jennifer Steber, and a large group of student pages and visitors. Members also made personal announcements and welcomed guests from schools and community groups. On the floor, the House considered and adopted Senate amendments to House Bill 1484, a schools measure, and passed it 96-1; the emergency clause also passed 96-1. The House then took up House Bill 1085 on contracts, which would standardize service warranty fees with a delayed phase-in schedule, adopted the Senate amendments, and passed the bill 8-1. The House also considered Senate Bill 133 on groundwater permits. After an amendment and debate, members discussed how the bill would apply to commercial water wells and how it would interact with marijuana-related licensing and notification to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. The bill passed 85-12, and the emergency clause also passed by the same vote. The chamber then adjourned until February 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• of veteran of the week, introduction of doctor and/or nurse of the day, correction of previous day's
• our State Department of Education and the State Board of Education.
• She received a doctoral degree in clinical child psychology from the University of Alabama and completed
• Let's give Sophie a round of applause. And all of these exceptional pages of the week.
• Let's give Sophie a round of applause and all of these exceptional pages of the week. Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Motions and resolutions of the state of Minnesota.
• There was a lot of concern about that from folks from a lot of different areas, including my side of
• I sincerely question, based off of some of this boss behavior that I have seen on the other side of the
• Of course we do. Of course we do.
• Of course.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am aware through the committee process that there was a Department of Justice letter.
• I've had no communication with the Department of Justice.
• One of the challenges that they brought forth with redistricting is that the CVAP and the Justice Department
• HB218 by Koehler, relating to the prohibition of transporting or funding the transportation of an unemancipated
• HB244 by Martinez relating to flood control measures and Texas Department of Transportation highway projects

Bills: HB4 , HB4

Transcript Highlights:

• That is one industry in the Florida can take advantage of the use of a host of what a wide variety of
• The the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has developed a recovery strategy in partnership
• of the most widespread causes of crashes.
• I represent 20 cities, most of which have their own departments and talk about what it's like if they're
• Several eyes of one of his thanks. Part of the harbor.

Transcript Highlights:

• I work for the fire department that has seen the amount of tragedy as the Fernandez family has experienced
• emergency care, which mirrors what we currently do with the Department of Corrections.
• Florida may file the petition. ...or in the state of Florida may file the petition with the Department
• Then that department will investigate the alleged violation and submit a report of its findings to the
• The state of Alabama has 12,000 guardsmen for a state of 5 million.

Summary: The committee first heard CS/HB 69, which would preempt local land-use decisions for presidential libraries to the state. The sponsor said the bill was intended to make it easier to site a presidential library in Florida. Members asked about whether the bill could affect nontraditional uses such as hotels or casinos, and the sponsor said it only addressed land-use and development-order decisions. There was no public testimony, and the bill was reported favorably 16-7. The committee then took up CS/HB 289, “Lucy's Law,” on boating safety. The bill expands boating education requirements, aligns boating penalties more closely with driving offenses, prohibits false information in vessel accident reports, and requires certain nonresidents to obtain boating safety cards. An amendment requiring boating safety courses for those convicted of civil boating infractions was adopted. The committee heard emotional testimony from Lucy Fernandez’s mother, who described the fatal 2022 boating crash that inspired the bill, along with support from industry and local-government witnesses. Members from both parties spoke in favor, emphasizing accountability, education, and enforcement. The bill passed unanimously, 25-0. HB 7003, an open-government/sunshine bill, preserved a public-records exemption for sensitive business information submitted with applications to the Office of Financial Regulation’s financial technology sandbox. It drew no public testimony or debate and was reported favorably. HB 4007, a local bill for Martin County, capped reimbursement for inmate emergency health care at 110% of Medicare, mirroring the Department of Corrections standard; it also passed favorably after supportive public testimony. The longest discussion was on HB 991, which would prohibit creation of new community redevelopment agencies after July 1, 2025, bar current CRAs from starting new projects or issuing new debt after October 1, 2025, and sunset existing CRAs by 2045 or their charter date, whichever is earlier. The sponsor argued CRAs have become long-lived funding vehicles used beyond their original anti-blight purpose and said local governments have other tools. Many members from both parties objected that CRAs remain important for affordable housing, small business support, infrastructure, and redevelopment in blighted areas, and several said the bill would harm ongoing or multi-phase projects. Three amendments were offered: one defining “new project,” one striking the new-CRA prohibition, and one striking the new-debt/new-project language; all were defeated except the first, which was adopted. Public testimony was split, with redevelopment groups, cities, and the Florida League of Cities opposing the bill and Americans for Prosperity supporting it. The committee did not reach final disposition in the portion provided, but the debate showed substantial opposition and concern about the bill’s impact on local redevelopment efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a point of order.
• All of those communities of interest are being maintained. ...area or Acadiana area, all of those communities
• So I wanted to know, are you aware of the state of the emergency?
• State's website at the conclusion of each day of early voting.
• Since a majority of Democrats are people of color, let's draw maps that recognize the voting power of

Summary: The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 12, 2026, and focused primarily on Senate Bill 407, a congressional redistricting proposal, with Senate Bill 121 also scheduled for later. The chair explained the committee would first take up SB 407, consider amendments, then hear public testimony, and would not take up SB 116 or SB 130. Two amendment sets were adopted on SB 407: one technical set adjusting dates to align with the upcoming election cycle, and another updating the map in the bill. Committee members and the bill sponsor described the proposal as a 4-2 congressional map intended to comply with the Supreme Court’s CalA ruling, preserve traditional redistricting criteria, and avoid using race as the basis for district lines. Supporters of SB 407 argued the map was compact, contiguous, kept parishes and cities together, and created two opportunity districts without racial predominance. Several senators said the map better reflected Louisiana’s political and demographic realities and could withstand legal challenge under the Equal Protection Clause and First Amendment. Testimony in support also emphasized fairness, representation, and the idea that the state should not move to a 5-1 map. Some speakers, including former legislators and community advocates, said the state should maintain or preserve two districts where Black voters and Democratic voters could elect candidates of choice. Opponents of the broader redistricting effort criticized the process as rushed and confusing, especially because early voting had already begun and the Secretary of State was not present to answer questions. Some speakers said the legislature had not been properly involved in the election suspension process and raised concerns about whether votes already cast would count if maps changed. Others argued the proposed changes were an attempt to dilute political power and disenfranchise voters, particularly Black, poor, and queer communities. The committee heard extensive public testimony on both sides, but no final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the lease.
• of the lease.
• of the lease.
• <c> so</c><00:36:50.240><c> we</c> these tens of thousands of people so we these tens of thousands of
• In Alabama, where this program is modeled, 95% of the fortified homes survived with little or no damage

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 818 HD1, which would establish the Waiawa Community Development District. The Attorney General’s office said the bill may not comply with requirements for a special fund, and DLNR asked for further amendments so lease revenues would remain with DLNR while it continues managing the lands. DLNR cited ongoing costs, including the Uncle Billy’s demolition debt and management needs at Banyan Drive/Banyan Country Club. HCDA/Waiawa representatives supported the bill, agreed that DLNR should keep lease revenues while it remains the land manager, and said a future transfer of land management would change where revenues should go. Members focused on whether removing lease revenue would undercut the bill and on how existing and future revenues should be allocated. The committee then took up HB 338 HD1 and HB 339 HD1 on renewable energy-related utility transactions and procurement. Testimony came from the Consumer Advocate, the State Energy Office, the Public Utilities Commission, Hawaiian Electric, IBEW Local 1260, Ulupono Initiative, and Life of the Land. Supporters generally backed the measures, while some asked for labor-related strengthening language. Discussion centered on how the PUC should handle competing bids or offers in utility merger or acquisition situations, with concerns raised about NDAs, timing, and whether the original version or amended language better allowed public and intervenor participation. A witness from Life of the Land argued that utilities should not negotiate under NDA in a way that blocks later public competition, and a PUC-related witness said the current language was changed from the original to address PUC testimony. Finally, the committee heard HB 1467 HD1 on housing resiliency. OIP was not present, while B&F raised concerns about placing federal funds into a special fund, saying federal grant money should remain in a separate P fund for transparency, accountability, and single-audit compliance. State agencies and groups including OPSD, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Climate Advisory Team, and Hawaii Realtors supported the measure. Testimony emphasized that many older roofs lack hurricane clips and that strengthening homes could reduce disaster sheltering and temporary housing costs. IBEW Local 1260 supported the bill but argued that building to current standards upfront is preferable to retrofitting later. Members questioned funding structure, eligibility, and whether the program should be needs-based; the bill was described as limited to households under 140% AMI. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, because currently under the Department of Public Health rules, it's forbidden unless they have
• But I'm happy to say that I met with the Department of Public Health.
• the Alabama Department of Public Health.
• There is a little bit of a change in the definition of inland port because Bilabacry was left off of
• :09:05.600><c> in</c> bit of a change in the definition of in bit of a change in the definition of in

Bills: HB277 , SB89 , HB135 , HB277 , SB89 , HB135

Committee: House Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit

Transcript Highlights:

• We've written a discussion about that, but also talked with the New Mexico Department of Transportation
• NMDOT, New Mexico Department of Transportation, they collaborate to see what projects they're going
• And that, Madam Chair, that chunk of money comes from the Department of Defense of the U.S. government
• One of the things that we do in our Department of Community Services is that we apply for grants, and
• Department of Education, so we have that grant.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• All of these clients are watching the explosion of AI, and yes, there's a lot of good that comes from
• of America.
• That would put plaintiffs' counsel on notice regarding any of the detail. a kind of laundry list of items
• of each of the payments that the provider had made in the last two years.
• of parents and children in cases involving the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Bills: SB1960 , SB1730 , SB766 , SB2342 , SB2501 , SB2903

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: digital rights, replication, Voice likeness, visual likeness, private causes of action, fee structure, online service providers, postmortem rights, self-defense, stand your ground, castle doctrine, use of force, deadly force, civil immunity, civil liability, tort claims, attorney fees, court costs, lost income, Chapter 9 Penal Code

Transcript Highlights:

• of mind.
• I'm the strategic advisor to the State Forester with the Department of Natural Resources.
• I'm the strategic advisor to the State Forester with the Department of Natural Resources.
• sale of this kind of data?
• sale of this kind of data?

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on three bills and then moved into a work session on insurance-related topics. House Bill 2428 would require life insurers to send advance written notice of an impending lapse or cancellation, including notice to a designated third party, and to provide proof of delivery; it would also require applicants to be told they may designate such a third party. The prime sponsor and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the bill as a consumer protection measure for older or vulnerable policyholders, while the life insurance industry supported the concept but requested a delayed implementation date and a small technical amendment. The committee then heard House Bill 2399, which would prohibit post-loss assignments of benefits in property insurance. Staff and the prime sponsor described the practice as allowing contractors to step into the policyholder’s shoes and potentially take control of claims, litigation, and settlement, often to the consumer’s detriment. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the Washington State Association for Justice, PEMCO, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau all supported the bill, emphasizing consumer vulnerability after disasters and the risk of fraud or inflated claims. Members asked about steering by adjusters, alternative ways for homeowners to authorize others to help with claims, and the $50,000 per-violation penalty, which would go to the general fund. House Bill 2087 would enact a Washington Travel Insurance Act based on the NAIC model, creating a more detailed statutory framework for travel insurance licensing, travel retailers, travel administrators, disclosures, and prohibited sales practices. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill would expand consumer choice and standardize rules, while the Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the compromise language but raised a remaining concern about claims being adjusted by unlicensed adjusters. The Attorney General’s Office testified that the bill should not be read to supersede Washington’s anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws, and the sponsor said amendments were being worked on to address that concern. In the work session, OIC and Department of Natural Resources staff presented the wildfire mitigation and resiliency work group report. They said the group reached consensus on several areas, including the importance of community-level mitigation, better data sharing, improved transparency around wildfire-related nonrenewals and cancellations, and a voluntary grant program to help homeowners retrofit to IBHS wildfire-prepared standards. Members asked about leadership for the recommendations, overlap with existing programs, privacy concerns in data sharing, and how the proposals would fit with broader statewide wildfire planning. The committee also received a briefing on flood insurance markets and claims after the December atmospheric flooding event, with staff noting that private flood policies generally offer broader coverage than the federal NFIP, and that Washington had seen about 700 federal claims and roughly $18 million paid out so far.

Transcript Highlights:

• As one of the original owners of the South Texas Project in Bay City, As one of the original owners of
• I sent each of you, I think I sent each of you. Either of those.
• We also have as a resource witness from the Texas Department of Insurance, Rachel Bowden.
• Senator Nichols, Department of Licensing, you're here as a resource, I assume.
• There's about six or seven different types of licenses that we formed, and we let the Department of Licensing

Bills: HB 11 , HB14 , HB132 , HB1584 , HB1606 , HB5061 , HB 1041 , HB2286 , HB132

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The committee first took up pending business and quickly reported several measures favorably, including HB 12, SB 1361, SB 1705, SB 1749, SB 1897, SB 2344, SB 2566, HB 3809, and HB 4215, with most sent to the Local and Uncontested Calendar. HB 12’s substitute clarified a limited midterm review of regulatory agencies tied to Sunset Commission recommendations. SB 2696’s substitute changed med spa regulation from a license to a certificate, with training instead of an exam, plus background checks, continuing education, and two-year renewals. HB 3809 dealt with battery energy storage decommissioning and recycling, and HB 4215 was reported without a substitute. SB 1978, concerning interconnection of electric facilities in ERCOT and federal jurisdiction concerns, was reported out on a 5-3 vote after debate, but then the chair later announced the bill was withdrawn and left pending subject to the call of the chair. HB 1899 was also reported favorably, with one nay. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 14, the advanced nuclear energy bill. Senator Schwertner described it as creating a Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, a nuclear permitting coordinator, a development fund, a completion grant program, and a workforce development program. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives from Fermi America, Dow/X-energy, CPS Energy, Paragon Energy Solutions, Bridge to Nuclear, Aalo Atomics, and the Texas Association of Business, argued that Texas should lead in advanced nuclear, citing future baseload demand, data centers, industrial power needs, supply-chain development, and long-term energy diversification. Opponents, including Public Citizen, Texas Nuclear Watchdogs, Sierra Club, and individual citizens, argued the bill would subsidize unproven, expensive technology, create grants rather than loans, and expose taxpayers to major risk while doing little to meet near-term energy needs. Several members questioned whether the state should fund projects that may not produce grid power for years, and whether the bill’s grant structure and new office were justified. The committee also heard HB 5061, which Senator Schwertner said would prohibit unethical surveillance and misuse of confidential information by state contractors, create a confidential reporting system through the State Auditor’s Office, authorize Texas Rangers investigations, protect whistleblowers, and impose penalties including contract termination, fines, and contracting bans. No public testimony was offered, and the bill was left pending. HB 132, sponsored by Senator Hughes, would extend confidentiality protections for sensitive information to hostile acts by foreign adversaries; it was also left pending after no testimony. HB 1584 was then laid out, with Senator Schwertner explaining it would require utilities to maintain and update priority restoration lists for critical facilities after Hurricane Beryl exposed communication failures, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we ought to have out of many departments of education, one Department of Education that will take
• </c> Department of Education. Department of Education.
• </c><08:09:50.240><c> of</c> closes the department of closes the department of education<08:09:52.878
• </c><08:42:20.240><c> of</c> the Department of the Department of Education.<08:42:22.160><c> It's</c>
• > Education</c> closure of the Department of Education closure of the Department of Education would<08

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I see that you're the former Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• </c> Department of Housing and Urban Department of Housing and Urban Development.<02:16:34.960><c> And
• Um, we have a lot of uh activity in our department.
• We don’t have public transportation in a lot of our towns.
• subject matter of parking and driving and access to public transport.

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• The department, LDWF, is the implementation arm of that policy board.
• This is a report that was published in February of 2026 by the United States Department of Commerce.
• This is a report that was published in February of 2026 by the United States Department of Commerce.
• Department of Commerce. It's fisheries economics in the United States.
• So I don't know if that's answered your question, but it is kind of a discussion of why the department

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 886 by Rep. Orgeron, which would make seasonal catch totals and related reporting for the commercial menhaden fishery publicly available by carving out an exception to confidentiality rules. The author said the bill was intended to align with the original intent of prior reporting legislation and to ensure the public can see how much menhaden is being taken from Louisiana waters. Supporters, including Louisiana Wildlife Federation, CCA, charter captains, and recreational anglers, argued the fishery uses a public resource and that transparency is needed for policymaking. Opponents said they did not object to transparency in principle, but one speaker asked that size-sampling data be removed, arguing it has no scientific value and is already handled through NOAA and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Council processes. The committee reported HB 886 favorably without opposition. The committee then heard House Bill 855, also by Rep. Orgeron, which would establish a 22-foot depth requirement for the commercial use of purse seines in the menhaden fishery. The author said the bill was based on a state-funded bycatch study showing red drum bycatch rises sharply in shallow water and that the current quarter-mile buffer is insufficient, especially in nearshore areas where recreational fishing and sensitive habitats are concentrated. Supporters emphasized the public trust nature of menhaden, the economic value of recreational fishing, and concerns about bycatch, beach fouling, and localized depletion. Several speakers cited the bycatch study, public comments opposing the recent reduction from a half-mile to a quarter-mile buffer, and the belief that deeper-water fishing would reduce impacts on redfish and other species. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries staff and the study’s principal investigator, Dr. Scott Rayburn, answered questions about the current buffer rules, enforcement, and the science behind the 22-foot threshold. They explained that the recent reduction to a quarter-mile buffer came from a commission directive and that the department had investigated complaints but found no violations. Dr. Rayburn said the 22-foot figure came from modeling red drum bycatch as a function of depth and that the study focused on red drum because of its economic and social importance, while not analyzing every species in the same way. Opponents of the bill, including West Bank Fishing and Ocean Harvesters representatives, said the rule of three is a standard confidentiality concept, argued the bill should not be framed as anti-transparency, and urged removal of the size-sampling provisions. The committee heard extensive testimony but no final action on HB 855 was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I wasn't aware of that, but in Blanco, Alabama...
• What you're... when you're putting, I have a definition of department file and I have a definition of
• of failure to hold officers accountable by departments.
• And by the terms of the bill, the department...
• And the last sentence of this bill says, a department.

Bills: HB17 , HB16 , SB 10 , HB27 , HB23 , SB 15 , SB 18 , HB17 , HB16 , SB10 , HB27 , HB23 , SB15 , SB18

Transcript Highlights:

• I was speaking to the approval from the Environment Department of the pretreatment system.
• Jeremy Klass from the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management.
• Some of it fire, some of it flood, some of it both.
• And some of the transportation work.
• we provide in emergency situations does take away from other core duties of the Environment Department

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• University of Alabama.
• Department of Health.
• Uh, I had a question on number four, Department of Education... Department of Education.
• I have a question on number three for the Department of Corrections. Department of Corrections.
• At Wade Hodge, Chief of Staff, Department of Correction.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The committee reviewed methods of finance for 17 capital projects, including multiple university and agency projects such as UAMS renovations, ASU Jonesboro repairs, UCA track resurfacing, and other campus improvements. One item, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Food Science Research Center project, was held until Friday so members could receive more detail on the large cost increase from the original estimate; the remaining methods of finance items were approved. Members then reviewed four discretionary grants: a suicide prevention training grant for the Arkansas Crisis Center, an amended youth services grant to Right of Passage, and two Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board grants for catfish marketing. All were approved. In the services contract section, the committee approved a ratification for an Economic Development Commission grant evaluation contract, several construction-related contracts, six intergovernmental contracts, 28 out-of-state contracts, and 16 in-state contracts. Several contracts drew questions. Members asked DHS about cloud hosting for the ARIES eligibility system and about staffing support for the Medicaid backlog, and DHS said the staffing contract is intended to maintain processing capacity and allow for future surges. The Department of Education explained a $12 million tutoring contract for rural districts funded by a federal grant. The Department of Corrections discussed a medical services contract and a separate transitional housing contract, clarifying that the housing item covers five beds only and that the medical contract includes oversight and staffing-ratio penalties. The committee also reviewed large marketing and communications contracts for the Department of Health, DPS, and UAMS, and then accepted the reports before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the state of Washington.
• This was my fifth session as chair of the Transportation Committee, and every session I am more and more
• This was my fifth session as chair of the Transportation Committee, and every session I am more and more
• Eighth order of business: presentation of resolutions.
• Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, the Senate concurring.

Bills: SCR8410 , SCR8410

Keywords: returning bills to house of origin, sine die, end of session, legislative procedure, Rules Committee, third reading, unfinished business, pending bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, joint memorials, special session, bill numbering, legislative records, House of Representatives, Washington Legislature, session adjournment, procedural resolution