Transcript Highlights:

• Vela $6,000 to visit in January, to plan together how to make sure it's safe to defend Israel's occupation
• under international law, their right to self-determination, their rights as people living under occupation
• territories and uses archival footage that draws a direct parallel between the actions of the Israeli occupation
• Advocating for Palestinians to be free from the oppression of occupation is not anti-Semitism.
• cultural project was rejected several times simply because it included personal experience and illegal occupation

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission held a public comment hearing as it continued work toward a November 30 statutory deadline for its final report. The co-chairs reviewed logistics for the hybrid format, two-minute testimony limit, respectful conduct, and the plan to alternate between in-person and virtual speakers. The commission approved the minutes from its previous September 8 meeting by motion and vote, with no nays. Much of the testimony focused on how the commission should define antisemitism, especially whether to adopt the IHRA definition and whether it improperly conflates antisemitism with criticism of Israel or Zionism. Many speakers, including Jewish educators, rabbis, academics, students, and legislators, described personal experiences with antisemitism and urged the commission to address hate while protecting free speech, academic freedom, and the ability to criticize Israeli government policy. Several called for the commission to reject or narrow the IHRA definition and instead consider the Jerusalem Declaration or other frameworks that distinguish antisemitism from anti-Zionism. Others emphasized that antisemitism should be addressed alongside racism, Islamophobia, white nationalism, and other forms of bias, and some urged broader anti-bias training in schools. A smaller number of speakers supported stronger action against antisemitism in schools and public institutions, including concerns about antisemitic materials in education and about organizations or events they viewed as promoting hate. A recurring theme was the conflict in Gaza and its impact on the debate: some speakers condemned Israel’s military actions as genocide, apartheid, or colonialism and said criticism of those actions should not be treated as antisemitic, while others defended Israel, rejected genocide claims, and argued that anti-Israel activism can fuel antisemitism. Several speakers also raised concerns about campus discipline, union materials, and state facility rentals, and one speaker asked that state resources not be used by groups they viewed as inciting hate. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the prior minutes and hearing public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment 15 clarifies that any additional damage caused by the actions of the homeowner or occupant
• prohibiting timely repair work is the responsibility of that homeowner or occupant.
• Ideally, we wouldn't be talking about an occupational license for drying hair.
• states that are either reducing the number of hours required for a blow-dry license or eliminating occupational
• Anytime we address an occupational license in here, if you remember the florist license discussion, you'll

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 11, 2026, with a quorum present and took up a series of Senate bills, a resolution, and one House bill. The committee reported favorably Senate Bill 79 to recreate Louisiana Economic Development, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 to establish the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, Senate Bill 375 on firefighting foam with amendments clarifying use in declared emergencies, Senate Bill 398 moving manufactured and modular housing oversight under the Contractors Licensing Board with technical and substantive amendments, Senate Bill 163 on virtual currency business licensing with an amendment providing for federal preemption if Congress enacts a national licensing regime, and Senate Bill 287 on virtual currency kiosks with consumer-protection provisions and technical amendments. The committee also reported favorably House Resolution 197, as amended, urging the Public Service Commission to study distributed energy generation and storage resources with LSU involvement, and Senate Bill 54, which would allow estheticians to blow-dry hair after certain services; that bill drew extensive testimony from supporters and opponents in the cosmetology and aesthetics industries before being reported favorably. Several bills prompted detailed discussion and testimony. On Senate Bill 398, the sponsor and Contractors Licensing Board representatives said the change would improve enforcement and consumer safety for manufactured-home installation, especially tie-downs, leveling, and foundation blocking, while not affecting HUD-regulated construction. On the virtual currency bills, OFI said it currently licenses 37 virtual currency businesses with 33 pending applications, and supporters described the kiosk bill as a response to fraud complaints by requiring clearer disclosures, refund procedures, live customer support, and reporting to OFI. For House Resolution 197, the sponsor, PSC officials, and energy stakeholders said the study would examine the value of distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar and battery storage, in light of rising demand and grid reliability concerns; PSC staff and LSU energy experts described the study as focused on market value and avoided-cost benefits. House Bill 744, which would have shifted regulation of certain New Orleans utilities from the city council to the PSC, generated discussion about constitutional history, rate impacts, and utility consolidation. PSC officials and the sponsor said the current city-council regulation is a constitutional exception dating back to 1921, and they argued that PSC regulation could reduce costs and simplify oversight, but the sponsor ultimately moved to defer the bill rather than force a floor fight, and the committee agreed. The committee then began consideration of Senate Bill 386, the Louisiana Data Privacy Act, adopting technical amendments and then a larger amendment package that revised definitions and compliance provisions; the transcript ends while that bill’s amendment process is still underway, with no final action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amendment 15 clarifies that any additional damage caused by the actions of the homeowner or occupant
• prohibiting timely repair work is the responsibility of that homeowner or occupant.
• Ideally, we wouldn't be talking about an occupational license for drying hair.
• states that are either reducing the number of hours required for a blow-dry license or eliminating occupational
• Anytime we address an occupational license in here, if you remember the florist license discussion, you'll

Bills: HB744 , HR197 , SB54 , SB79 , SB163 , SB287 , SB375 , SB386 , SB398 , SB469 , SCR5

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: public utility, common carrier, regulation, Public Service Commission, New Orleans, constitutional amendment, distributed energy, energy storage, electricity demand, virtual power plants, reliability, hurricane resilience, esthetics, cosmetology, hair services, beauty industry, Louisiana regulation, Louisiana Economic Development, sunset law, legislative authority

Transcript Highlights:

• including $10 million partially forgivable loans to businesses that lost significant revenue due to the occupation
• revenue<00:41:42.600><c> due</c><00:41:42.880><c> to</c><00:41:43.000><c> the</c><00:41:43.160><c> occupation
• ,</c><00:41:44.200><c> as</c><00:41:44.440><c> well</c> revenue due to the occupation, as well revenue
• due to the occupation, as well as<00:41:44.840><c> rental</c><00:41:45.240><c> support</c><00:41:45.720
• he's also been working in his community to help families who have loved ones abducted during the occupation

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A cursory look at current state holidays reveals that no occupational group, with the exception of Mother's
• I mean, there were a host of occupations.
• So I suspect next session we could probably sit down and discuss exactly what occupational groups we
• Chair, Senator Miranda, we just heard your amendment described as just recognizing some sort of occupational
• consequences, just like every single man named in the Jeffrey Epstein files, including the current occupant

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and several personal privileges recognizing guests and proclamations, including a Coolidge centennial proclamation, a Pre-born Day of Rights proclamation, and a tribute to retired public servant Carmen Green Smith. The chamber also welcomed various guests and groups in the gallery, including Arizona Right to Life, Reproductive Freedom for All, a doctor of the day, schoolchildren, and community visitors. A motion to suspend the rules and immediately advance SB 1396 on contraception rights failed by a vote of 12 ayes to 16 nays. The Senate then considered House Concurrent Resolution 2053 honoring Brad Brower, adopted it unanimously, observed a moment of silence, and transmitted the resolution to the House. In Committee of the Whole, members considered HB 2072, HB 2307, and HB 2874. HB 2072, dealing with holidays and the César Chávez Day repeal/renaming debate, drew extensive floor debate over a Miranda amendment to rename the day for farm workers; that amendment failed 12-15, and the bill was ultimately advanced as amended by the committee’s striker/repeal language. HB 2307, concerning dangerous and incompetent defendants and a state facility process, received committee and floor amendments and was advanced as amended. HB 2874, relating to campaign committee termination statements and contributions, also received committee and technical floor amendments and was advanced as amended. On final third readings, HB 2874 passed 18-11 with one not voting and was transmitted to the House. HB 2307 passed 27-2 with one not voting and was transmitted to the House, with supporters emphasizing public safety and the emergency clause. HB 272 passed after a lengthy and contentious debate over whether to repeal or rename the holiday associated with César Chávez and the farm worker movement; supporters of repeal cited allegations against Chávez and the need for accountability, while opponents argued the holiday should preserve recognition of farm workers and the movement’s history. The Senate also adopted the Committee of the Whole report and assigned the bills accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations.
• So, House Bill 185 directs occupational licensing boards to consider very specific details submitted
• So, House Bill 185<00:03:19.360><c> directs</c><00:03:19.680><c> occupational</c><00:03:20.239><c> licensing
• </c> 185 directs occupational licensing 185 directs occupational licensing boards<00:03:21.200><c> to

Committee: Senate Licensing & Occupations

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• has had under consideration Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5065, relating to hotel occupancy
• has had under consideration Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5065, relating to hotel occupancy
• Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5065, relating to hotel occupancy tax.
• Radiation Therapy, Technology Board of Examiners, Municipal Pension Oversight Board, Board of Occupational
• Radiation Therapy, Technology Board of Examiners, Municipal Pension Oversight Board, Board of Occupational

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and spent much of the day recognizing pages, guests, school groups, and civic organizations visiting the chamber. Several communications from the House and committee reports were received, and a petition on support for new electric transmission lines was referred to the Committee on Energy, Industry, and Mining. Senate Resolution 61, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell, was referred to the Committee on Rules, while other resolutions and bills were held over or referred as required. The chamber then acted on a large number of measures, including concurrence in House amendments to Senate Bill 137 on parole eligibility for second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, and a conference committee was appointed on House Bill 4026 regarding integrated resource plans. Numerous House bills were advanced or passed after committee reports, covering topics such as industrial access roads, local airport hangar financing, college campus safety, youth and handicapped hunting, missing persons records, driver’s licenses, adjudicatory alternative dispositions, chronic absenteeism, party-switching deadlines for candidates, teacher/school personnel/state police pay raises, election official trainees, political committee filing notices, security personnel for the State Treasurer, post-secondary financial aid, legal practice rules, overseas voting, public officials’ residential information, homestead exemption, military juvenile jurisdiction, military interpersonal violence, kinship care subsidies, statewide prevention planning, contraband smuggling into federal prisons, forestry equipment taxation, microgrid and data center certification, transcript acceptance for students, emeritus medical licenses, higher education rule authorizations, board and commission reforms, managed care organization taxes, and deputy sheriff vacation carryover. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, and several received title amendments. The Senate also passed a series of supplemental appropriations, many with immediate-effect motions adopted by the required two-thirds vote. These included funding for the Department of Commerce, Workforce West Virginia, Homeland Security divisions, Health Facilities, Administration, Human Services, the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund, the Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Senior Services. Votes were overwhelmingly in favor, with only a few measures drawing one or more dissenting votes. One bill on tourism appropriations was referred to the Committee on Rules, and several second-reading bills were advanced, including measures on the West Virginia Collaboratory, business-ready sites, volunteer fire companies, religious organization eminent domain restrictions, electric load forecasting, and funeral service licensure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee has met and reports House Bill 45
• The Licensing, Occupations,<00:07:19.680><c> and</c><00:07:19.919><c> Administrative</c> Occupations,
• and Administrative Occupations, and Administrative Regulations<00:07:20.960><c> Committee</c><00:07:
• To Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations: House Concurrent Resolution 48.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:02 Calendar/2nd Readings 05:49 Report of Committees 06:49 Orders of the Day 08:20 HB 4 08:33 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 17:34 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 27:40 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 29:22 ConC/Rules Report 33:29 Floor Amendments 35:06 Adjournment 35:37, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, excused absent members, and suspended rules to allow bill co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The chamber approved the journal and received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 48 and 102 and requested concurrence. The clerk then reported second-reading bills including measures on school bus safety, special license plates, healthcare workforce credentials, housing, veteran PTSD treatment, postsecondary education, the Kentucky Fire Commission, and local purchasing, along with committee reports advancing a wide range of bills on cultured meat, eviction/removal of unlawful occupants, involuntary commitment, grand jury service, CPA licensure, physical therapy, engineering scholarships, rabies vaccinations, the Controlled Substance Prescribing Council, robotics, reading and language arts instruction, and the education assessment/accountability system. The main floor action was House Bill 4, relating to grooming a minor. The sponsor described the bill as creating criminal penalties for grooming behavior, with enhanced penalties when the offender holds a position of authority. A floor amendment was adopted making technical wording changes and adding siblings and volunteers to the bill’s lawful-purpose exceptions. Members from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing child protection and the need for stronger legal tools, though one member said she wished the age threshold were higher. The House then passed House Bill 4 as amended by a vote of 98-0. After HB 4, the House moved through announcements and legislative citations. Members recognized the Corbin Middle School football team and the Lion County High School boys basketball team, and honored M. Samantha Shaver, DMD. Committee meeting notices were announced for several panels, including Economic Development, State Government, Natural Resources and Energy, Families and Children, and Health Services. The clerk also reported newly introduced bills and resolutions covering school foods, family care leave, correctional services, protective orders, data privacy, school funding for districts with high tax-exempt property, Medicaid coverage for adult day health and in-home attendant care, alternative diplomas, Kentucky Nurses Day, a sister-city partnership with Israel’s Shamron Regional Council, and DUI. The House then recessed briefly for committee meetings, received committee referral and rules reports, introduced floor amendments to HB 257 and HB 305, and adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• For background, apprenticeship programs enable individuals to learn trades and occupations through on-the-job
• For background, apprenticeship programs enable individuals to learn trades and occupations through on-the-job
• National data show construction workers have some of the highest rates of suicide of any occupation.
• Some of the highest rates of suicide of any occupation.
• disorder, or—excuse me—construction workers experience some of the highest suicide rates of any occupation

Summary: The committee heard several bills and took executive action on a number of them. Senate Bill 6282, by Senator Nobles, would require building and construction trade apprenticeship programs to provide two hours of behavioral health and wellness training starting in 2027, covering stigma reduction, distress recognition, suicide prevention, substance use awareness, peer support, and resource connection. The bill drew strong support from labor and construction groups, who described high suicide and substance use rates in the industry and said the training would help apprentices and, with a planned amendment, journey-level workers as well. No vote was taken in the hearing portion shown, but testimony was overwhelmingly pro. Senate Bill 6135, by Senator King, would require interest arbitration panels for certain uniform personnel at local governments to consider the employer’s ability to pay. Counties and cities supported the bill as a modest fiscal-relief measure and argued it would align local arbitration with existing state-law language. Teamsters representatives and other labor witnesses opposed it, saying it would weaken collective bargaining and give employers leverage to stall or deny fair contracts. The committee closed the public hearing with 5 in favor, 22 opposed, and no other testimony. In executive session, the bill was later advanced subject to signatures. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6128 on independent medical exams, which would require IME recordings to be made through an L&I-approved third-party app and prohibit independent local recording. Supporters said the change would improve security, consistency, and reliability of recordings and reduce cancellations and disputes; opponents said it would burden injured workers and undo the 2023 right to record IMEs on their own devices. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6068, which would make owners and direct contractors jointly liable for unpaid wages and related damages on construction projects, with a notice-and-cure process before suit. Workers and labor groups supported it as a tool against wage theft and labor trafficking, while contractors and industry groups opposed it as overbroad and costly. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices, with testimony split between sustainability advocates and industry supporters on one side and public health and poison center witnesses on the other, who warned that loosening individual edible packaging could increase child poisonings. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute for SB 6053 and moved it forward, and also passed SB 6134, SB 6147, SB 6106, and SB 6045 subject to signatures, with SB 6045 amended before passage to Ways and Means.

Transcript Highlights:

• TDLR is the primary occupational licensing agency in the state and we've grown steadily over the years
• Cosmetology continues to be the occupation with the highest number of licenses issued or renewed each
• And then electrician occupations come in. at a fairly close second with 201,000 licenses. has seen a
• structure, licensing and inspections, compliance, enforcement divisions, provide the service to all occupations
• One thing I like to say, Chapter 51, our occupational, our foundational statute that creates TDLR.

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Debt reform for medical debt and garnishment, making sure kids get treatment for their rare diseases,
• treatment<00:03:38.160><c> for</c><00:03:38.320><c> their</c><00:03:38.560><c> rare</c><00:03:38.840><c> diseases
• ,</c> treatment for their rare diseases, treatment for their rare diseases, uh<00:03:41.040><c> supporting

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a pediatrician who can diagnose and treat children who have heart disease all the way down to those
• my job is heart job with a heart disease my job is to<00:52:10.400><c> give</c><00:52:10.559><c> the
• The fruit of somebody else's labor and their occupation because it is your right.
• The decision to treat heart disease, ma'am—your time is up.
• I mean, there's cancer registries and, like, cancer data out there, but infectious disease is its own

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened with procedural remarks, including notice of an overflow room and a brief apology from Representative Andress about returning to his seat after introducing HB 114. The committee then took up HB 476, a proposed 15-week abortion ban. Chairman Lynn explained that a request to withdraw the bill had been filed, but because the bill was already scheduled for hearing, the committee would proceed with testimony and the withdrawal would require later House action. The chair also reminded witnesses to keep remarks to three minutes and asked the audience to remain respectful. Most testimony focused on abortion access, maternal health, and the likely effects of a 15-week limit. Opponents, including Nancy Pariser, Dr. Cynthia Rasmussen, Dr. Young, Bonnie Bruno, and others, argued that abortion restrictions increase maternal mortality, worsen miscarriage care, create “OB deserts,” and can delay emergency treatment in cases such as sepsis or ectopic pregnancy. Several speakers cited experiences from Texas and Georgia and warned that HB 476 contained no exceptions for rape, incest, or maternal health. Supporters of the bill, including Paul Galasso and Lynn Hill, framed abortion as the loss of unborn life and argued that 15 weeks still allows most abortions while saving lives; they also said New Hampshire’s current law is already adequate and that the bill should be strengthened rather than abandoned. Other witnesses emphasized practical and economic concerns, saying unwanted pregnancies can worsen poverty, childcare burdens, housing insecurity, and women’s lifetime earnings. Some speakers urged lawmakers to focus instead on affordable housing, childcare, and family support. No committee vote or final action on HB 476 occurred during the hearing; the meeting consisted of opening remarks and public testimony only.

Transcript Highlights:

• And getting that certificate of occupancy from the counties.
• Um and getting that certificate<00:04:19.600><c> um</c><00:04:19.680><c> of</c><00:04:19.919><c> occupancy
• </c><00:04:20.639><c> from</c><00:04:20.880><c> the</c> certificate um of occupancy from the certificate
• um of occupancy from the from<00:04:21.440><c> the</c><00:04:21.840><c> counties.

Bills: SB2066

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: permitting, construction, efficiency, state projects, county collaboration, funding, staffing shortages, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Energy, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Government Operations heard Senate Bill 2066 on county permitting and inspection. Testimony focused on whether the bill should exempt state projects from county permitting requirements. One testifier opposed the measure, arguing it would bypass established permitting processes, weaken good government, and put the public at risk. A DOE representative said the intent was to speed up state projects, but suggested a different approach: funding county positions dedicated solely to state permits, possibly as a pilot program, rather than removing county review entirely. Committee members discussed the difficulty of moving state projects through county systems, the lack of special treatment, and whether a more systematic or standardized process could be created for repetitive projects. After the discussion, the chairs announced a substantive rewrite of SB 2066. The amended version would delete the county-permitting exemptions for state projects and instead create a cooperative working group to address the intersection of state projects and county permitting needs. The revised measure would also include a blank appropriation for counties to fund personnel to expedite permitting for state projects only. Members clarified that any funded staff would be dedicated solely to state projects. The committee then took votes on the revised measure. The committees adopted the amended bill. The Government Operations Committee recommended the Senate draft one version, and members present voted yes, with Senator Awa excused. The measure was adopted with the revised approach and an effective date set for April 19, 2042.

Transcript Highlights:

• the bill says that now you can wait to pay developer impact fees until the point of certificate of occupancy
• the bill says that now you can wait to pay developer impact fees until the point of certificate of occupancy
• the bill says that now you can wait to pay developer impact fees until the point of certificate of occupancy
• the bill says that now you can wait to pay developer impact fees until the point of certificate of occupancy

Bills: HB2107 , HB2588 , HB2946 , HB2950

Committee: House Rural Economic Development

Keywords: SNAP, nutrition assistance, fast food, vitamins, waiver, food policy, municipal planning, homeowner association, building permits, single-family home, property rights, design standards, development fees, municipalities, infrastructure, public services, annual reporting, property development, tourism improvement area, TIA

Transcript Highlights:

• I think you know there are issues that have emerged as a result of the occupation here in the state of
• of</c><00:04:28.160><c> the</c> have emerged as a result of the have emerged as a result of the occupation
• 04:29.040><c> in</c><00:04:29.199><c> the</c><00:04:29.360><c> state</c><00:04:29.440><c> of</c> occupation
• here in the state of occupation here in the state of Minnesota<00:04:30.080><c> dealing</c><00:04:30.400

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for use by public transit vehicles, motorcycles, private motor vehicles with specified numbers of occupants
• Currently, private employer shuttle programs help reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips and provide dependable
• Each year, our shuttles remove nearly four million single-occupancy vehicle trips from Puget Sound corridors
• This approach helps reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips, lowers emissions, and manage congestion while

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held public hearings on several measures. ESHB 1980 would allow private employer shuttle services to use certain BAT lanes in King County under a two-year pilot, with local authority and transit-agency approval, performance standards, fee-for-use requirements, labor input, annual reporting, and a 10-year sunset. Supporters from Bellevue, transit employers, and business groups said it would improve commute options, reduce congestion, and support the upcoming RapidRide K Line; staff noted the bill differs from prior versions by adding the pilot, labor representation, vehicle markings, and reporting. The committee then heard SB 6252, which would extend the transit support grant program’s zero-fare requirement to degree- and certificate-seeking community and technical college students. Supporters said it would improve access to education and transit, especially for older and rural students, while transit groups raised concerns about fare revenue losses and implementation costs; staff estimated no state cost but significant local revenue impacts. The committee also heard SB 6081, a privacy bill that would restrict public disclosure of sex designation change records in Department of Licensing and Department of Health records, limit sharing with other jurisdictions, and keep updated credentials from showing that a change occurred. The sponsor and many supporters framed it as a safety measure for transgender Washingtonians, while opponents argued it would undermine accurate records; staff said the Department of Licensing would face about $1 million in implementation costs over four years, with other agencies expecting minimal impacts. Finally, SB 6265 would allow electronic, non-notarized signatures and printed copies for documents transferring a totaled salvage vehicle to an insurer; the sponsor and salvage-industry witnesses said it would modernize the process and reduce hardship, and staff reported no fiscal impact. No votes or executive actions were taken; the committee closed each public hearing and adjourned after a reminder about amendment deadlines for upcoming executive session bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• The $1 million in liability insurance, $1 million in occupational accident insurance to protect drivers
• Unlike UIM coverage, the Occupational Accident Insurance provided under Proposition 22 excludes compensation
• And that we have $1 million in occupational accident insurance. That was the benefit of Prop 22.
• And so the driver would be protected for medical costs and lost wages through occupational accident insurance

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Right, the occupancy swells in the summertime and over spring break in Galveston, but how can we bring
• occupancy up in areas in Galveston where we've had lower levels of occupancy, as we've done in other
• At least the kind of basic occupancy statistics from each member's district profile, but then the information

Bills: HB158 , HB714 , HB 1198 , HB1630 , HB1998 , HB3509 , HB3788 , HB3875 , HB3948 , HB3977 , HB4097 , HB4313 , HB4314 , HB4317 , HB158

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• State of Minnesota's single-stair study, the single-stair mid-rise buildings have a lower number of occupants
• As a result, these small floorplate single-stair buildings have a much lower risk of occupants being
• In this unlikely case, the risks to occupants are similar regardless of the number of stairways.

Committee: Senate Housing and Human Services

Summary: The Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services met with a quorum, adopted the June 16, 2026 minutes, and then unanimously adopted S-1 substitutes for House Bills 5570 and 5571. The chair said the committee would take testimony and likely not move to final passage that day, in order to allow more discussion and questions. The bills, as substituted, would allow local governments to permit certain multifamily buildings up to four stories to be built or converted with a single staircase, subject to conditions such as limits on units per floor, floor size, and existing fire safety requirements. A sunset provision was described as ending the statute once LARA adopts corresponding building code rules. Representatives Fairbairn and Wooden testified in support, saying the bills are intended to address Michigan’s housing shortage by making smaller infill and “missing middle” projects more feasible and less costly. They argued the current two-stair requirement drives up costs, makes land assembly harder, and limits development on narrow or irregular lots. Senators asked about stair width, emergency safety, the choice of four stories instead of six, and why the American Institute of Architects opposed the approach; the sponsors said the 48-inch stair width was intended to allow two-way movement, four stories was a compromise aligned with expected code changes, and the architects preferred rulemaking over statutory change. Supportive testimony came from Pew Charitable Trusts, which said research from New York City, Seattle, and other places found fire death rates in modern single-stair buildings to be indistinguishable from other multifamily buildings, and that modern safety features such as sprinklers, alarms, and fire-rated construction make these buildings safe. A developer from Ann Arbor and the Michigan Home Builders Association said the reform would improve floor-plan efficiency, reduce wasted circulation space, lower construction costs, and help smaller projects pencil out. Abundant Housing Michigan also supported the bills, estimating they could reduce apartment construction costs by nearly 13%. The clerk read in numerous written cards in support from business, housing, municipal, and advocacy groups, while the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs and the Michigan Professional Firefighters Union were listed as neutral. The committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the Trades Program Director for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.
• Trades Program Director in the Building, Construction, and Real Estate Bureau for the Division of Occupational
• I am the Trades Program Director for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses in the Bureau

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Keywords: 989, all