Transcript Highlights:

• ,<01:03:02.400> and Uh a lot of work, debate, and Uh a lot of work, debate, and negotiation
• I heard that the tribes during debate.
• And then learning more about the efficacy of debate in 2023 debate in 2023 because<01:48:01.440> I
• Uh, and that is a very fair, uh, debate, an honorable debate to have. I disagree.
• <02:14:37.199> that and finally the crux of the debate that and finally the crux of the debate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• around it was I recall in in the debate around it was to<00:27:41.159> provide<00:27:41.600><
• <00:29:16.559> that the committee's time up to debate that the committee's time up to debate
• considering or debating the idea of<00:29:54.840> a<00:29:54.960> carbon<00:29:55.279>
• We can't really participate in those debates, and we can't be making good decisions if we don't have
• <01:20:41.560> and really participate in those debates and really participate in those debates

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if I could, on the cost thing, and we debated this in Senate, I don't think there is a cost.
• But just for everybody's knowledge here, we debated it. I don't think there's any cost to it.
• When college students and even high school students are watching this particular debate, I don't know
• And I'm saying that because, again, when people are looking at us, the debate that we've had today, it
• So we can debate this to the end of the earth.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations met for its final meeting of the 2026 session and took up SB 312 by Senator Talbot, a bill concerning labor organizations, employee dues and fees, withdrawal from unions, annual notice requirements, and related reporting and notification provisions. The committee first adopted a technical amendment set, then debated a larger amendment set that shifted the cease-withholding request to the employer, required electronic confirmation, placed certain administrative costs on the labor organization, and added language about employer notification and authorization procedures. Members discussed whether the bill was needed, whether employees already have the ability to opt out, and whether the amendments would create confusion or unnecessary bureaucracy. Supporters said the bill protects employee choice and ensures dues stoppage happens at the nearest payroll period; opponents argued the added language was unclear and burdensome. The committee also adopted a separate technical amendment adding mass transit employees to the list of exemptions. Testimony came from the bill author and several stakeholders. Senator Talbot said the bill is meant to ensure workers know they do not have to join a union, can revoke dues authorizations, and can stop deductions without waiting for a fixed annual window. Representative Eccles defended the amendments as employee protections and a way to shift administrative costs away from taxpayers. Jim Patterson of LABI supported the amendments, saying they protect public employers and taxpayers from administrative costs. After the amendments were adopted on a roll call vote, union representatives Matt Wood of the Louisiana AFL-CIO, Peter Robbins-Brown of the AFL-CIO, and Larry Carter of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and School Employees testified in opposition to the amended bill, saying they had worked in good faith on a simpler opt-in/opt-out framework and objected to the new cost and bureaucracy provisions. Several members also spoke in favor of the bill as a matter of freedom of choice and employee control over paycheck deductions. At the end of debate, Representative Wilder moved to report SB 312 with amendments. The motion passed on a roll call vote, and the bill was reported from committee with amendments. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd love to watch him debate his own constituents, because it's really easy for us to sometimes just
• Everybody loved to debate him, to visit with him, but there was never a...
• Everybody loved to debate him, to visit with him, but there was never a cause in Yale County that he
• We can debate policy respectfully, and we can argue priorities.
• It's non-debatable. All those in favor say aye. Opposed, nay. The ayes have it.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of guests, then adopted House Memorial Resolution 1001 honoring former Senator Gary Don Stubblefield and House Memorial Resolution 1002 honoring former Representative Stan Berry. Members offered remarks about both men’s service, faith, and support for their communities, and both memorial resolutions passed unanimously. The chamber also briefly recognized several visiting groups and individuals, including law enforcement, medical personnel, students, choirs, and HIV Awareness and Education Day participants. The House then moved through the budget calendar. House Bill 1100, the RSA/budget bill, drew debate over spending priorities, Medicaid, human development centers, vouchers, and tax cuts; it passed 64-30-3, and the emergency clause passed 73-22. Senate Bill 77, an appropriation related to Arkansas TV/PBS funding, was defeated 71-21-2 after members argued it was unnecessary and not requested by the board. House Bill 1007, the public school fund appropriation, passed 91-7 with the emergency clause after debate over early childhood funding and the Arkansas Better Chance program. Several other appropriations passed with varying levels of support, including House Bill 1022 (Arkansas Development Finance Authority), House Bill 1023 (DHS Secretary’s Office), House Bill 1034 (Treasurer’s Office), House Bill 1035 (tobacco cessation and related settlement-funded programs), House Bill 1036 (Department of Health), House Bill 1053 (University of Arkansas at Little Rock), House Bill 1064 (Department of Finance and Administration), House Bill 1066 (Department of Energy and Environment), Senate Bill 24 (DHS Developmental Disability Services), Senate Bill 29 (Lieutenant Governor’s Office), Senate Bill 41 (University of Arkansas), Senate Bill 51 (Auditor of State), and Senate Bill 59 (educational television). Debate focused on Medicaid rates, human development centers, tobacco settlement spending, environmental enforcement, and higher education athletics funding. The House adjourned after adopting a motion to meet again at 10 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I just don’t understand how, after what we all saw firsthand, we’re still debating the fact that
• “I just don’t know why we are still debating this issue.
• We're up to wit—I know we've not finished the debates, but I would definitely encourage you to consider
• had been raised repeatedly and that the only way to solve problems is to bring them to committee, debate
• Representative Chassion said he would not debate the money and would stick to health and welfare.

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 23 and first disposed of several items without hearing them, including HB 1093 and HB 1145, and voluntarily deferring HB 946. The committee then quickly reported HB 1095 favorably without objection. That bill would require nursing facilities to have fuel or another alternative power generation source to maintain power, and supporters said it preserves existing backup-power safety requirements while giving facilities more flexibility as technology changes. The committee then took up HB 926, which concerns vaccination status and admission to public buildings and seeks to prohibit medical mandates. After adopting an amendment set and additional changes clarifying exclusions for licensed health care providers and facilities, medical masks, and child welfare/school-related provisions, the committee heard testimony both for and against the bill. Supporters framed it as a civil-liberties measure limiting vaccine-card requirements for public buildings, while opponents warned it could interfere with public health measures, school immunization rules, and the ability of health care facilities to protect patients. The bill was reported favorably on an 8-4 vote. HB 1220, a cleanup bill for the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, was then reported favorably after a technical amendment set. HB 1227, which would require complaints involving medical judgment to be reviewed by a three-physician panel before formal disciplinary action, drew extensive testimony from a physician sponsor, a doctor describing his disciplinary experience, and the board’s executive director, who said the board already uses practicing physicians, nurses, and experts in its process and warned the proposed panel system could be impractical because physicians are difficult to recruit for such reviews. At the sponsor’s request, the committee voluntarily deferred HB 1227 for further work. Finally, the committee reported HB 1217 favorably with amendments to a pharmacy benefit manager transparency bill, after supporters said it would expose hidden pricing and rebate practices and opponents argued some provisions were duplicative or unnecessary. HB 1028, setting minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for non-emergency medical transportation, was reported favorably and referred to Appropriations after supporters described the need for higher rates and members discussed funding. The committee also reported HB 1185 favorably, with amendments preserving the existing Rural Hospital Preservation Act while extending similar protections to additional rural-lookalike hospitals, and adopted HCR 76 to continue the Health Inequities and Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force for another year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thanks for the healthy debate. Yes, sir. Thank you. Any questions? All right.
• Thanks for the healthy debate. Sir. Thank you. Any other questions on N1 through none?
• Thanks for the healthy debate, sir. Thank you. Any other questions on N1 through none?
• Thanks for the healthy debate. Yes, sir. Thank you. Any questions? All right.
• Thanks for the healthy debate. Sir. Thank you. Any other questions on N1 through none?

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any more debate on the amendment? We just called you. He gave you a shout out.
• Any more debate on the amendment? Okay, we are going to do a roll call vote on the amendment.
• What I am incredibly proud of in this committee is that we can have respectful debate and discussion.
• So while we may have had a lot of debate everywhere else across the board, today we said we trust New
• We often debate here whether or not these tax credits have the economic impact that they're projected

Bills: SB240

Keywords: capital outlay, capital projects, severance tax bonds, general fund appropriations, supplemental severance tax bonds, UNM School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, infrastructure, state buildings, courts, schools, higher education, road improvements, water and wastewater, tribal infrastructure, tribal projects, public safety, housing, emergency services, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we're in debate on the amendment. No debate.
• Seeing none, members, we are in debate. Any debate on this bill? No debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can fiercely debate the issues, but do it in a way that's civil and respectful.
• She won't know the debates we're having today, but she will have to deal with the choices we make or
• She<00:41:00.000> won't<00:41:00.240> know<00:41:00.480> the<00:41:00.800> debates
• <00:41:01.119> we're<00:41:01.359> having She won't know the debates we're having She
• won't know the debates we're having today,<00:41:02.800> but<00:41:03.119> she<00:41:03.359

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That’s worthy of debate, and certainly is debated, and it should continue to be debated.”
• “And certainly is debated and should continue to be debated.

Summary: The committee met to hear fiscal year 2026-2027 legislative budget requests from several justice-related agencies. The Florida Commission on Offender Review requested funding for investigator and revocation staff salary increases to address turnover, plus nonrecurring funds for Wi-Fi, seven vehicles, technology support, and commissioner salary adjustments. The State Courts Administrator presented a broad judicial branch request focused on trial court case-management technology, additional case managers, trust fund authority for child support hearing officers, courthouse furnishings, district court flexibility in staffing, a future courthouse for the Sixth District Court of Appeal, Supreme Court elevator replacement, POM accounting implementation support, judicial security liaison positions tied to the Florida Fusion Center, expanded senior management service authority, and judicial salary adjustments. The Office of the Attorney General outlined pay and operating requests for consumer protection, citizen services, ethics, crime compensation, victim services, vehicle replacement, IT and cybersecurity, lease and operating costs, and PALM-related expenses, while several senators questioned the office about outside counsel contracts, contingency-fee arrangements, transparency, and the use of private law firms. The Department of Corrections made the largest presentation, describing severe staffing shortages, high turnover, rising inmate populations, increased assaults, and heavy overtime use. Secretary Ricky Dixon said the agency’s request was driven by constitutional and public safety needs and included funding for operations, security equipment, inflationary costs, vehicle replacement, offender information system modernization, technology restoration, inmate health services, drug and food cost increases, staffing pilots, maintenance, security infrastructure, Florida PALM, recruitment and retention, and $56 million for new correctional housing units. Members asked about inmate labor, prison safety, overtime, vehicle breakdowns, and whether more National Guard support was needed; Dixon said the agency needed more staffing and pay competitiveness rather than a long-term military presence. A correctional officers’ union representative also urged support for pay raises, citing low pay and staffing concerns. No votes were taken on the budget requests. The chair allowed extended questioning, especially for the Department of Corrections, but noted time constraints and asked agencies to return in a later committee meeting, including FDLE, which was deferred because of a House site visit.

Transcript Highlights:

• We could also have a little bit of debate about what should actually be included in the study.
• So this is what I mean, there can be debate about what should be included in the study.
• In some of the previous debates that we've had regarding Marvin Nichols Reservoir, I think that my position
• So, as a result of that, when it comes to groundwater-related debates, our members have a range of different
• significant, and we are committed to working on this issue during the interim to better inform this policy debate

Bills: HB24, HB27, HB24, HB27

Keywords: groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 25.839> assistance<00:13:26.399> program So, I am urging my colleagues out there as we debate
• So ultimately for us, you know, when we were sitting there debating where we should invest a lot of the
• :23:11.039> were<00:23:11.200> sitting<00:23:11.440> there<00:23:11.679> debating
• when we were sitting there debating when we were sitting there debating where<00:23:12.559> we

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley held a press event ahead of the House floor debate on the housing budget bill, focusing on funding for the Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP). She described FHPAP as emergency rental, mortgage, and utility assistance that helps families avoid homelessness, and said the bill reflects a community effort to keep families stably housed across Minnesota, including in rural areas. Jenny Larson, executive director of Three Rivers Community Action, testified that her organization administers FHPAP in a 20-county region and uses it to help renters and homeowners remain housed, maintain employment, and stay in school and community. She said the program is fiscally responsible, estimating it costs about $3,500 to resolve a household crisis versus as much as $45,000 to help a family recover after homelessness. Community members Mierra Allen, Ebony McMillan, and a written statement from Tamita Gaines described how FHPAP helped them avoid or recover from homelessness and maintain stability for their children. The speakers also said the House housing bill includes broader housing investments, including funding for new housing units, housing infrastructure bonds, a challenge fund, and affordable/workforce homeownership initiatives, with attention to greater Minnesota. In response to questions, they said homelessness is not partisan, that current FHPAP funds are depleted, and that local providers use quarterly allocations and advisory committees to prioritize urgent cases. Momanyi-Hiltsley urged support for House File 2298 and said the program was a top priority because of limited funding and the need to prevent families from falling into homelessness.

Transcript Highlights:

• hiked over 175 miles at Philmont, led his high school drumline, and earned numerous honors in speech, debate
• wonderful parties and events And for years, we lived through every session as he would talk about the debates
• to explain the bill and this three-minute explanation period does not count against the 10-minute debate
• does not have objections from five members at this time the bill will be laid out before the body debate
• If, after the bill is laid out, debate. 10 minutes or the chair receives objections from five members

Bills: HB 118, HB388, HB 114, HB205, HB2789, HB2791, HB499, HB2960, HB3163, HB3135, HB2427, HB1618, HB1672, HB1722, HB1338, HB787, HB2618, HB879, HB 1126, HB4134, HB3513, HB718, HB1536, HB1445, HB1640, HB1893, HB1734, HB3229, HB3306, HB 1276, HB3272, HB3276, HB3516, HB4145, HB1585, HB4810, HB2989, HB2558, HB3014, HB2742, HB1695, HB29, HB 125, HB145, HB171, HB255, HB50, HB363, HB 116, HB491, HB1495, HB368, HB 1285, HB1905, HB2002, HB917, HB2723, HB2067, HB 1238, HB745, HB 1188, HB1606, HB2003, HB2147, HB2355, HB2546, HB2495, HB2818, HB2249, HB3228, HB3240, HB1507, HB658, HB1748, HB1851, HB1922, HB2798, HB 107, HB1587, HB3684, HB 118, HB388, HB 114, HB205, HB2789, HB2791, HB499, HB2960, HB3163, HB3135, HB2427, HB1618, HB1672, HB1722, HB1338, HB787, HB2618, HB879, HB 1126, HB4134, HB3513, HB718, HB1536, HB1445, HB1640, HB1893, HB1734, HB3229, HB3306, HB 1276, HB3272, HB3276, HB3516, HB4145, HB1585, HB4810, HB2989, HB2558, HB3014, HB2742, HB1695, HB609, HB630, HB420, HB767, HB1708, HB1404, HB2457, HB140, HB227, HB913, HB2198, HB2763, HB 1261, HB 1135, HB1318, HB2358, HB2765, HB2735, HB3307, HB 1242, HB2842, HB333, HB201, HB694, HB2415, HB155, HB272, HB405, HB519, HB 1136, HB 1275, HB1437, HB1532, HB1675, HB1868, HB1888, HB1990, HB2286, HB2523, HB3129, HB3251, HB3354, HB3479, HB3803, HB3804, HB3805, HB3806, HB3887, HB4163, HB4238, HB 1240, HB1842, HB2029, HB2622, HB3255, HB654, HB4643, HB4945, HB3611, HB3724, HB3623, HB3810, HB4127, HCR78, HCR12, SB767

Keywords: HB 388, HB388, coordination of benefits, COB questionnaire, health benefit plan, health insurance, insurance commissioner, Texas Department of Insurance, uniform form, primary payer, secondary payer, multiple coverage, dual coverage, Medicaid, CHIP, managed care, HMO, small employer health plan, school district health coverage, self-funded plan

Transcript Highlights:

• IS THERE DEBATE ON THE AMENDMENT?
• SEEING NO PUBLIC TESTIMONY IS THERE DEBATE? OKAY REPRESENTATIVE TANT YOU HAVE DEBATE? >> Rep.
• SEEING NO FURTHER DEBATE REPRESENTATIVE OLIVER YOU MAY CLOSE. >> Rep.
• MEMBERS, WE ARE IN DEBATE ON THE BILL.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uhland, about three years ago we were engaged in an omnibus spending debate, and I asked my colleagues
• So there's a debate. Congress limit the president from firing people.
• I think it's a debatable point.
• We've occasionally gotten some bipartisan support, often though the debate runs this way that they say
• point is, if you save a million, let's send it back to the Treasury, which will get back into this debate

Keywords: nominations, Scott Cooper, Eric Ulan, federal workforce, Office of Personnel Management, Office of Management and Budget, accountability, collective bargaining

Summary: The committee convened to discuss the nominations of Scott Cooper for Director of the Office of Personnel Management and Eric Ulan for Deputy Director at the Office of Management and Budget. This meeting highlighted the critical roles both positions play in managing the federal workforce, which comprises over two million civilian employees. Concerns were raised regarding the current administration's approach to federal employment, citing issues like mass firings and the undermining of collective bargaining rights. Members expressed the need for better accountability and transparency within the federal system, emphasizing the importance of attracting talented public servants.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have to debate it. They have to figure out the mission. What does victory look like?
• And since then, we've had no accountability, no congressional oversight, no debate on what we're doing
• way for the states to leverage their 10th Amendment and say no more, not without a declaration, a debate
• Um, in that instance, uh, debate in Congress for a declaration of war would have foreseen sufficient
• It requires debate, consensus, and sober thinking before sending our armed forces off to battle.

Bills: HB39, HB227

Keywords: public school finance, property values, homestead exemptions, funding allocation, education policy, HB227, kratom, Mitragyna speciosa, kratom products, kratom processor, kratom retailer, controlled substances, Texas Controlled Substances Act, Health and Safety Code, Penalty Group 1, tianeptine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, mitragynine, synthetic kratom, kratom alkaloids

Transcript Highlights:

• We can't have a real debate about wasteful spending.
• Foreign aid has been pushed to the forefront of the national debate by President Trump's Inauguration
• just reflect on this a little bit because you know there is a... and there is a way for us to have a debate
• We can have a debate about foreign aid, but we can do it without demonizing the people who have sworn
• subsidize American farmers that's a question that needs to be discussed, and economists and others can debate

Keywords: fiscal responsibility, government waste, foreign aid, funding resolution, legislative oversight

Summary: The committee meeting addressed government spending and foreign aid, with a particular emphasis on perceived wasteful expenditures. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing a funding resolution for the committee, which received unanimous support from the members present. The chair noted a quorum at the beginning of the meeting, signaling that the committee was ready to conduct its business. Discussions highlighted ongoing debates concerning fiscal responsibility and the necessity of legislative oversight, notably regarding foreign aid allocations and their implications for domestic fiscal health.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think what we're running into is this debate of whether scientifically defensible is the same standard
• So I think what we're running into is this debate of whether scientifically defensible is the same standard
• 54.519> this I think what we're running into is this I think what we're running into is this debate
• <00:10:55.000> of<00:10:55.200> whether<00:10:55.760> scientifically debate of whether
• scientifically debate of whether scientifically diffusible<00:10:57.240> is<00:10:57.399>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:38 HB 137 Discussion 01:30 HB 137 Roll Call Vote 16:24 HB 196 Discussion 17:21 HB 196 Roll Call Vote 21:59, 958, all

Summary: The Natural Resources and Energy Committee held its first meeting of the 2025 session, welcomed several new members, and confirmed a quorum. The committee first took up House Bill 137 on air quality monitoring. The sponsor and committee substitute were presented as requiring scientifically defensible, quality-assured data for air pollution enforcement, with the sponsor saying citizen complaints could still prompt agency inspections. A Kentucky Resources Council attorney testified in opposition, arguing the bill could limit low-cost community monitoring, conflict with the Clean Air Act’s credible evidence provisions, and undermine community efforts to identify pollution hotspots. After discussion, the committee adopted the substitute and passed HB 137 with favorable expression. The committee then considered House Bill 196, dealing with mining emergency technicians. The sponsor said the bill responds to the decline in coal mining and smaller mine operations, and that it was developed with the Energy and Environment Cabinet and was not opposed by the Kentucky Coal Association or the UMWA. The bill would require one medic for mines with 10 or fewer miners, two for larger operations up to 50, and one additional medic for each additional 50 miners, with the sponsor saying the change would help small mines avoid shutting down shifts when a medic is unavailable. A question about the ratio above 50 was answered by noting the language came from the cabinet and was not being changed. The committee then passed HB 196 with favorable expression. At the close of the meeting, the chair reminded members that the committee would continue using the 24-hour rule for amendments and committee substitutes and that agendas would generally be sent out the day before meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, in our discussion we think that something that is missing from this debate is the fact that there
• One more thing I was thinking when we're going through the debate and stuff, you know, there are people
• concerns, and I'm going to leave it there, but I'm definitely going to be listening to the rest of the debate
• supporting animals; I love animals, and I just have some concerns, but I will continue to listen to the debate
• Okay, and I, Madam Chair, I think we could debate for another hour on that, but I think he said that

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I just—sometimes it's frustrating when we get up here to debate, when we talk with our colleagues
• c> we<01:26:55.360> talk<01:26:55.520> with<01:26:55.679> our up here to debate
• , when we talk with our up here to debate, when we talk with our colleagues.<01:26:57.040> What
• This is not tied to the debate of the bill at all whatsoever.
• <02:07:12.000> of<02:07:12.079> the This is not tied to the debate of the This is not

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal from January 30, 2026, and then moved several bills to special order. The chamber first took up House Bill 1068, which would authorize the Legislative Council Executive Committee to set remote-participation policies for legislators serving on joint committees. Supporters described it as a bipartisan, zero-fiscal-note measure to provide flexibility and consistency for joint committee meetings. An amendment offered by Representative Luck to give the House’s majority position precedence in tie situations was debated and failed, and the bill then passed. The House next considered House Bill 1027, concerning boards of cooperative services (BOCES). The sponsor explained that the bill would allow BOCES executive directors to remain eligible for PERA retirement benefits while working full-time and would expand BOCES eligibility for postsecondary and workforce readiness funding. Supporters emphasized the importance of BOCES to rural education, special education, concurrent enrollment, and workforce training. The committee report was adopted and the bill passed. The chamber then took up House Bill 1045, dealing with housing protections for individuals with disabilities and assistance animals. Supporters said the bill would restore and codify federal housing guidance in Colorado law after federal guidance was withdrawn, reducing confusion for tenants and landlords and protecting people who rely on service animals. Opponents argued the bill could create presumptions, increase liability, and impose vague standards on housing providers. Amendment L005 to the committee report passed as a clarifying change, but Amendment L008 and a later amendment from Representative Brooks (L006) both failed. After the committee report was adopted, the bill itself passed. Representative Brooks then introduced another amendment package, including L007, and a title ruling was requested, leading to a brief recess.