Transcript Highlights:

• We took out, just as a reminder, that bill removes vehicle inspections for passenger vehicles not owned
• Just to briefly, the removing of the, are adding in the removal of the vehicle inspection, but still
• It's in here so they can continue to operate even without the required inspections. Okay.

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The Commerce Committee first met in executive session on Senate Bill 1020 and adopted an amendment and then a House Committee substitute. The amendment combined language from several other bills and topics, including vehicle inspections, salvage titles, online registration, registration renewal options, and removal of a Montana LLC/property-tax workaround. Members discussed the provision preserving highway patrol authority to stop unsafe vehicles even if inspections are removed, and the substitute was then passed unanimously, 9-0, as due pass. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 1576, which would reestablish a Missouri-Ireland commission with appointments by the governor, Senate, and House to study and strengthen the state’s relationship with Ireland. The sponsor said the commission would cost nothing and would support trade and economic development. Members voiced support, with questions focused on the bill number in the fiscal note and on whether the commission could quantify potential economic gains; the sponsor said the bill was intended to improve and study the relationship rather than address a specific loss. After the hearing, the committee moved into executive session and voted Senate Bill 1576 due pass unanimously, 8-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next bill before you is Senate Bill 6291, concerning on-site wastewater treatment system inspections
• bill extends the maximum period that a non-certified individual may review designs and conduct inspections
• surprise the next bill before you is Senate Bill 6291 concerning on-site wastewater treatment system inspections

Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee held its last Senate bill hearing before cutoff and then moved into executive session. The chair announced several bills were being removed from the executive calendar, including SB 6181, SB 6154, SB 6242, and SB 6279. Staff then summarized the remaining bills: SB 6211 would create uniformity for how GMA-planning cities implement real estate excise tax, with no amendments; SB 6234 would regulate sewage grinder pumps for new residential buildings, with a proposed substitute narrowing the bill to single-family residences, adding public utility districts, clarifying conditions for installation, and assigning maintenance responsibilities; SB 5633 would change subdivision and preliminary plat procedures, with a proposed substitute and a large Commerce fiscal note; SB 6291 would extend from two to four years the period a non-certified person may work on on-site wastewater treatment systems under supervision; SB 6274 would require housing and transportation planning to identify infrastructure barriers and review street and frontage standards; and SB 6309 would allow regional transit authorities more flexibility to apply for permits and construct facilities, with a proposed substitute expanding permit application authority and adjusting subdivision exemptions. In executive session, the committee adopted the proposed substitutes for SB 6234, SB 5633, and SB 6309. SB 5633 drew a no vote from one member, who cited concerns about the fiscal note and public input. The committee then voted do pass on SB 6211, SB 6234, SB 6291, and SB 6274, sending them to Rules. SB 5633 and SB 6309 were sent to Ways and Means after adoption of their substitutes. All measures were reported as passed subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then under the Minnesota State Patrol, there would be a need for two additional FTEs related to inspection
• </c><01:09:36.720><c> and</c> FTEs related to inspection and FTEs related to inspection and investigate
• <01:09:37.480><c> the</c><01:09:37.640><c> inspection</c><01:09:38.120><c> and</c> investigate the inspection
• and investigate the inspection and investigation<01:09:38.960><c> role</c><01:09:39.240><c> for</c><
• regulate all kinds of things that we do within the city, including background checks and vehicle inspections

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill actually brings boilers into our office where currently we're not getting those inspections
• If you were to go to work for an insurance company doing boiler inspections in Louisiana, you'd be making
• So we have one chief boiler Inspector and two inspectors that go out and do these inspections, and we're
• it into where we're going to license the industry folks to go out and start doing those boiler inspections

Summary: The Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs met on May 19, 2026, established a quorum, approved the May 11 minutes, and then took up several House bills. House Bill 1039, presented by Rep. DeSotel, would add taxpayer protections in local sales tax audits by requiring clear notice that waiving prescription is voluntary, requiring a written request identifying records sought before an estimated assessment, and allowing mutual agreements to suspend interest and penalties during an audit. The committee had no opposition and reported the bill favorably. House Bill 799, handled by the State Fire Marshal’s office, would move boiler inspections into the Fire Marshal’s office and allow licensed industry inspectors to perform them, with the stated goal of improving efficiency because current staffing only covers about 20% of inspections; it was also reported favorably without objection. The committee then spent most of the meeting on House Bill 2, the capital outlay bill, with Chairman Bacala explaining that the House had worked with the Division of Administration and Facility Planning and Control to find about $50 million in savings through cash-flow adjustments, under-budget bids, over-appropriations, and bundled-project savings. He argued the bill has grown beyond a true five-year plan and that some prior funding is not transparent because money placed in projects in earlier years no longer appears in later versions of the bill. Division officials said the savings would help address deferred maintenance, especially in higher education, and that Priority 2 projects are used to absorb additional funds if more savings are found later in the year. Senator Luneau asked about dormant projects and the process for removing or reallocating funds from projects with no recent expenditures; officials said such removals must go through the Bond Commission and that they are considering ways to improve the process. Bacala then offered amendments to HB 2, saying they kept Priority 1 fully funded, added about $54 million in Priority 2 projects, and included a large Priority 5 list of member requests. The committee adopted the amendment set without objection and then reported HB 2 as amended favorably. The committee also reported House Bill 3 favorably; Bacala described it as a housekeeping measure that provides bonding capacity to move HB 2 forward. Finally, the committee granted staff authority to make technical changes to the reported bills and adjourned on Senator Lambert’s motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• On when a utility enters into a pole inspection program, that's not required at this time by the PUC
• that they have to have a pole inspection program?
• If a utility voluntarily enters into a pole inspection program, do they report that they are disabled
• The weatherization inspections, the firm fuel, coordination with the Railroad Commission on critical

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• They have to inspect the surgery center.
• They do the inspection, and they submit the paperwork back to the Department of Health Services.
• The Department of Health Services has to then transmit that inspection to CMS. And Ms.
• Colburn said there's no reason why we're going to do. inspection to CMS. And Ms.
• This is about helping, especially rural health centers and surgical centers, get timely inspections,

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2019, Cal/OSHA conducted a study of more than 4,000 heat-related inspections.
• Cal/OSHA conducted more than 4,000 inspections and cited employers for noncompliance in 47% of those
• inspections.
• They conducted more than 4,000 inspections, and there were issues in 47% of the inspections.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Insurance met as a subcommittee and heard several bills, with most focused on workers’ compensation, insurance access, and climate-related risk. AB 815 by Assembly Member Ortega would prevent social service workers who use personal vehicles to transport or assist clients from being misclassified as commercial or for-hire drivers under personal auto policies; supporters said the current practice leads to unaffordable premiums and denied claims, while no opposition testified. AB 1329, also by Ortega, would reform the Subsequent Injury Benefit Trust Fund to reduce litigation and administrative costs; supporters said it would lower employer assessments while preserving protections for hiring previously disabled workers, and opponents said they were working on amendments but raised concerns about fund costs and eligibility language. Both bills were approved and sent to Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar, which included AB 1125, AB 1293, and AB 1398, and later approved AB 1048 by Assembly Member Chen. AB 1048 would allow disputed unauthorized or silent-network medical payment reductions in workers’ compensation to be reviewed through the independent bill review process; supporters framed it as a transparency measure to address unexplained underpayments, while opponents argued the bill would improperly use IBR to resolve contract disputes and could conflict with existing arbitration provisions. Despite opposition, the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1236 by Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez was approved with broad support. The bill would create a Climate and Sustainability Insurance and Risk Reduction Grant Program at the Department of Insurance to fund pilot projects aimed at improving insurance availability, affordability, and resilience in communities facing wildfire, flooding, heat, and sea level rise. Supporters, including the Department of Insurance, described it as implementing recommendations from the state’s climate insurance report, and several committee members asked to be listed as coauthors. AB 1336 by Assembly Member Addis, the Farmworker Heat Illness Prevention Act, also passed after extensive debate; it would create a rebuttable presumption that a heat-related injury arose out of employment when an agricultural employer failed to comply with heat illness prevention standards. Supporters said it would incentivize compliance and protect farmworkers, while opponents argued it inappropriately used workers’ compensation to enforce safety rules and raised implementation concerns. All of the approved bills were reported out to the Committee on Appropriations, and the committee adjourned after recording final roll-call votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• the growing reliance of main street carriers on homeowners' claims being handled by third-party inspection
• those people are all licensed, but the speaker was talking about third-party people who do the inspection
• It was added that the adjusting is going on based upon the results of the inspection, so those third-party
• if they desire to seek some type of coverage on an older roof, would have the ability to get it inspected
• if they desire to seek some type of coverage on an older roof, would have the ability to get it inspected

Committees: House Insurance , House Insurance and Banking

Transcript Highlights:

• or private entity that receives public funds to ensure compliance with applicable laws, conduct inspections
• or private entity that receives public funds to ensure compliance with applicable laws, conduct inspections
• or private entity that receives public funds to ensure compliance with applicable laws, conduct inspections
• compliance with applicable<00:03:58.280><c> laws,</c><00:03:59.440><c> conduct</c><00:03:59.960><c> inspections
• ,</c> applicable laws, conduct inspections, applicable laws, conduct inspections, evaluations,<00:04:

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes once and for all the flu-rusher distracted-driving pamphlet inspection requirement. 2 big.
• But it did mean that my child care facility had a potential violation on inspection.
• DCF comes around three times a year to inspect on a whole host of things, and one of them is whether
• But it did mean that my 1091 child care facility had a potential violation on the 1092 inspection.
• Dcf comes around 3 times a year to inspect on a 1093 whole host of things.

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard four bills, beginning with HB 423 on school elopement plans for students with autism or other elopement risks. The sponsors described the bill as a statewide framework for school elopement response plans, immediate parent notification, campus search procedures, and staff training. Public testimony from parents, disability advocates, and a teacher emphasized the dangers of elopement and the need for standardized procedures; members from both parties spoke strongly in support. The bill was reported favorably by a 15-0 vote. The committee next considered HB 1253, which allows coaches to use limited personal funds, up to $15,000 per athletic team per year, to support student-athletes with food, transportation, and physical rehabilitation services. An amendment added guardrails, including that the coach be a school employee, clarified the scope of athletic associations covered, and refined the rehabilitation language. Members discussed the bill as a way to help students in need while avoiding recruiting concerns, and the bill passed favorably 14-0 after the amendment was adopted. HB 1091 addressed dental screenings for K-12 students in districts that voluntarily offer them. The bill requires advance written notice to parents and an opt-out process, and clarifies that screenings are informational only, with any findings sent to parents rather than compelling treatment. An amendment added the language to student welfare provisions as well as school health services. Public testimony from dental and health advocates supported the measure, and the bill was reported favorably 14-0. Finally, the committee heard HB 765 on child care and early learning services. The bill expands before- and after-care options for certain school-based preschool programs without requiring a child care facility license, removes a flu brochure inspection requirement, bars insurance cancellation based on providing child care, creates a professional recognition program, and establishes a child care tuition fund. Two amendments broadened the bill to public and nonpublic elementary schools and created the Brighter Futures fund concept. After debate, the bill passed favorably 13-1, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• not owning one, not being able to show up for a road test with a truck that's going to pass the inspection
• not owning one, not being able to show up for a road test with a truck that's going to pass the inspection
• not owning one, not being able to show up for a road test with a truck that's going to pass the inspection
• not owning one, not being able to show up for a road test with a truck that's going to pass the inspection
• not owning one, not being able to show up for a road test with a truck that's going to pass the inspection

Transcript Highlights:

• We have moved to a monitoring system... ...that requires inspections at key milestones, technical assistance
• For grantees that receive other sources of funds, we have staff that are out in the field doing inspections
• out over $8.1 million without proper verification processes and failed to conduct required site inspections
• ...up with money continuing to flow without things like site inspections, right?
• Site inspections don't fall under finance, right?

Summary: The Senate Committee on Director Nominations met to consider Ruby Dylan Williams for Director of the Arizona Department of Housing. Williams described her long career at the department, her work on operational improvements, housing development, manufactured housing, and efforts to expand supply, preserve existing housing, and improve transparency through data and technology. She also said she would work with the legislature, local governments, tribal nations, nonprofits, and private partners, and emphasized the department’s role in addressing housing affordability and homelessness across the housing continuum. Members questioned her about the department’s response to Auditor General findings, including fraud prevention, payment verification, site inspections, and oversight of grantees. Williams said the department had rewritten policies, retrained staff, added stronger controls, and implemented verbal verification steps for wire transfers after a fraud incident. Senators also pressed her on budget priorities, possible cuts, and her view of homelessness policy, with some members characterizing her approach as closer to shelter or transitional housing before permanent placement. Williams said interventions should be individualized and that the department works with local jurisdictions and service providers to match people with appropriate support. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Developers, housing industry representatives, and nonprofit partners praised Williams’ private-sector housing finance experience, her knowledge of LIHTC and the QAP process, and her leadership in making the agency more efficient and business-friendly. After debate, the committee voted 3-2 to recommend her confirmation to the full Senate. Two members voted no, citing concerns about her answers on fraud oversight, cost controls, and homelessness policy, while the majority supported advancing her nomination.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also would probably include inspecting watercraft to make sure that they're out there.
• Safety to help defray crime lab expenses; Boiler and Pressure Vessels Safety Fund, which is the inspection
• Boiler and Pressure Vessels Safety Fund, which is the inspection and permit program operations.
• Those are fee funds from asking for a license, if a business is needing a license or an inspection.
• We are in the process of investigating raising the fees related to elevator inspections because, again

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and adopted a House Committee substitute combining House Bills 2592, 2834, and 2787 into one measure. The combined substitute was then voted do pass by a unanimous roll call, recorded as 15 ayes and 0 noes after a brief correction to the tally. The committee then heard House Bill 1786, which would raise the Highway Patrol’s spending threshold for purchasing vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and related specialized equipment without returning to the legislature from $100,000 to $500,000. The sponsor and Highway Patrol witnesses said the current cap is outdated because boats, armored vehicles, bomb trucks, and aircraft equipment now cost far more than $100,000, while members asked about inflation, the revolving fund, and whether a lower increase might be more appropriate. No opposition testimony was offered. Next, House Bill 2885 was heard. It would redirect the first $1 million in annual boat registration fee revenue away from general revenue and into the Missouri Water Patrol Division. The sponsor and Highway Patrol said registration revenue has declined while operating costs have risen, and the division needs the money to support enforcement, search and rescue, dive operations, and boating safety programs. Members asked how much revenue is collected and whether the change would affect other programs; testimony indicated the bill would mainly earmark existing revenue rather than increase overall department funding. The committee also heard House Bill 2694, which would exempt four fee-supported funds from the end-of-biennium sweep to general revenue: the Highway Patrol Academy Fund, the State Forensic Laboratory Account, the Boiler and Pressure Vessels Safety Fund, and the Elevator Safety Fund. The sponsor and Department of Public Safety witnesses said the sweeps make long-term planning difficult and can disrupt training, lab support, and safety inspection operations, though members raised concerns about excess balances, guardrails, and whether fee reductions should be considered if reserves grow too large. Finally, House Bill 1712 was heard; it would make intentionally failing to charge an electronic monitoring device a crime, closing a loophole in existing tampering law. The sponsor, a sheriff, and other witnesses said the bill addresses deliberate attempts to evade monitoring, while members discussed battery warnings, rural access to electricity, and the costs and benefits of pretrial release. No votes were taken on the later bills before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That allows us to obviously collect real-time inspection information each and every day on all of our
• That allows us to obviously collect real-time inspection information each and every day on all of our
• If we're driving out to do construction inspection on I-20, it would observe all the technology— I mean
• They are sending divers out to inspect that, as well as our team out on the ground today to look at it
• It happened earlier this morning, and so we'll have to get the details of that inspection back to you

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met for an information-only hearing with no votes or formal actions. DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD and Deputy Secretary Beau Black outlined the department’s transformation efforts, emphasizing faster project delivery, improved transparency, and use of technology. They reported major reductions in contractor payment processing time, from roughly 35 days to 15 days or less, and change-order approvals from about 40–45 days to around five days. They also described new tools such as inspection tablets, a project delivery dashboard, e-ticketing, a customer service portal, and a pilot using sensor technology on department vehicles to identify potholes and damaged assets. The department said it is reorganizing district staffing, replacing the old area engineer model with district points of contact for construction, maintenance, and operations, without increasing total staff. Members focused heavily on local maintenance concerns, including potholes, drainage, culverts, mowing, overgrown ditches, and utility-related delays. Several legislators asked how to get quicker responses on routine maintenance and how to distinguish state responsibility from local jurisdiction. DOTD said it would meet with district administrators to address specific problems and clarify jurisdiction, and that the new customer service portal should help track complaints electronically. Members also asked about contractor accountability, utility relocations, and public communication on long-running projects; DOTD said it is improving internal KPIs, coordinating more closely with district staff and public information officers, and considering broader public updates beyond the website. The department also reviewed highway planning and funding. Officials said the Highway Priority Program is being reworked into a more fiscally constrained, staged process that starts earlier in concept development and gives legislators and constituents more feedback before the annual road show. They said the department is using new IDIQ contracting authority to bring in outside help for bridge maintenance and other work, and that bridge maintenance backlogs remain significant. DOTD reported that LTIF 1.0 and 2.0 together cover 91 projects statewide totaling more than $534 million, with over 40 complete, and that LTIF 3.0 adds 39 projects and about $165 million. Combined with other funding sources, the department said its upcoming construction program will include 385 projects worth about $1.73 billion. Legislators generally praised the department’s progress but raised concerns about lingering local problems and the need for clearer communication. Questions were also asked about a barge strike on the Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge, with DOTD saying divers and staff were inspecting the damage and that emergency repairs would likely be needed. After the DOTD update, the new Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, led by Archie Chesson, gave its own update on its first year, describing a small staff, heavy use of consultant and contractor pools, emergency procurement authority, and rapid delivery of rural bridge and roadway projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• are pulled and paid for, along with third-party... ...pulled and paid for, along with third-party inspection
• and inspection services for actual, once you pull a permit, or how a resident can pull their own permit
• private inspector to provide for persons either contracted with or registered with a public entity to inspect
• certain requirements for private inspectors, and also that when a building official may reject an inspection
• This bill gives the council some certain authorities to regulate the way that these building inspections

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on Wednesday, April 22, with a quorum present and heard several bills. HB 1195, relating to the Louisiana State Athletic Commission, was amended with technical changes and a fee-related amendment tied to student athlete agents, then reported favorably. Members asked about criminal penalties and whether the bill would affect prison athletic events; the author said he would follow up on those questions. HB 798, the Broadband and Cable Price Notice Act, was amended to clarify definitions, federal compliance, notice requirements, and severability, then reported favorably after extensive debate over whether providers already give adequate notice, whether a separate notice is necessary, and whether the bill would be preempted by federal law. Charter Communications testified in opposition, saying the bill was duplicative and would add costs, while the author argued it was needed to ensure clear, conspicuous notice of price increases and cancellation rights.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 146, Environment On-Site Wastewater Systems Requirements for Inspection and Pumping Services
• <c> and</c><00:09:34.959><c> pumping</c><00:09:35.360><c> services</c><00:09:35.839><c> and</c> inspection
• and pumping services and inspection and pumping services and implementation<00:09:36.959><c> dates.
• And so what this allows is for a contractor, once there's a failed inspection, to go out and fix sections
• to go out and fix uh sections inspection to go out and fix uh sections of<00:10:52.399><c> a</c><00:

Summary: The House convened with 132 members present, offered prayer, approved the previous day’s journal, and adopted a House resolution honoring United Communities Against Poverty for 60 years of service in Prince George’s County fighting poverty. The organization’s board members were recognized in the gallery. The chamber then handled introductory business, including first-reading referral of House Bills 1587-1596, two introductory House bond initiatives referred to Appropriations, and Senate Bill 25 and other Senate bills received in the House and referred to committees. The House also took up committee reports and special orders. The Economic Matters Committee reported favorably on several bills, including House Bills 236, 241, 242, 259, and 308, all of which were adopted and ordered printed for third reading. On House Bill 146 regarding on-site wastewater systems, a friendly amendment was adopted to allow repair or replacement of failed drain field components needed to meet the bill’s requirements. On House Bill 220 concerning individual water meters/submetering, a substitute amendment was adopted to strike a provision related to eviction proceedings and keep the bill aligned with existing law; the bill was then ordered printed for third reading. Members also made several announcements recognizing visiting groups and observances, including the ALS Association, Career and Technology Education Month, Economic Development Day, Developmental Disabilities Day, Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day, the start of Ramadan, and Easter season. The House heard a Black History Month-style recognition of Ethel Beh Hill and welcomed multiple delegations and student groups. Committee and subcommittee meeting announcements followed, and with 134 members present, the House remained in session before the majority leader moved adjournment until Thursday, February 19 at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, there are new inspections now that intoxicating hemp is banned.
• Three... ...a seizure takes twice as long as doing a basic inspection.
• So we conducted, last fiscal year, 590 inspections for cannabis.
• In terms of our seizures, against the 590 inspections, we did 540 seizures.
• While the inspection volume is relatively flat, our seizure volume is going much higher.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the inspection process requires an odometer reading to be captured at the time of inspection, and
• the inspection needs to be conducted before a registration can occur.
• The odometer reading is captured at the time of inspection, and the inspection needs to be conducted
• And that is: if they pick the per-mile, does that mean they pay at their inspection?
• So the inspection always happens before the registration. Oh, okay.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee first took up three highway naming resolutions on its consent calendar: ACR 109, SCR 78, and SCR 90. The committee approved the consent calendar with 11 aye votes and no no votes, then adjourned the bill-hearing portion. Members also recognized committee science fellow AJ Mendeola for his service, noting his contributions to bill analysis and staff support. The committee then held an informational hearing on alternatives to the gas tax, focused on the projected decline in fuel-tax revenue and the need for a more sustainable transportation funding model. The chair and invited experts described how inflation, improved fuel efficiency, and growth in electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles are eroding gas-tax revenues. Presenters from the National Conference of State Legislatures and the University of California discussed state options such as higher or indexed gas taxes, EV registration fees, road usage charges, delivery fees, public EV charging fees, transportation network company fees, and managed lanes, emphasizing tradeoffs among revenue adequacy, fairness, administrative cost, and public acceptance. Committee members raised concerns that mileage-based fees or EV fees could function as new taxes on commuters and lower-income drivers, especially if the gas tax is not repealed. Presenters responded that road usage charges are generally intended as replacements for the gas tax, not additions, and argued that mileage-based systems better preserve the user-pays principle while being less tied to vehicle fuel efficiency. They also noted that flat EV registration fees are easy to administer but can be less equitable because they are not linked to actual road use. Officials from Hawaii, Utah, and Oregon described their state programs and policy choices. Hawaii said its new road usage charge began July 1, 2025, for EVs, offers a choice between a per-mile charge and a flat annual fee through 2028, and will transition to mandatory EV participation before expanding to all light-duty vehicles by 2033. Utah described its voluntary EV road usage charge program, quarterly reporting, privacy protections, and legislative scenarios for removing the cap or making participation mandatory. Oregon outlined its constitutional cost-responsibility framework and broader transportation funding challenges, including reliance on user fees and limited use of general-fund support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the Senate removed the ability for the AG to inspect such records on request. sexual material
• Additionally the Senate removed the ability for the AG to inspect such records on requests.
• The Senate removed the ability for the AG to inspect such records on request.

Summary: The House Democratic Caucus met on Minority Caucus Calendar items and reviewed several Senate-amended House bills. HB 2003 would lower the learner’s permit age from 15½ to 15 and increase supervised driving time; the Senate added a delayed effective date of December 1, 2026, and the sponsor was said to have refused the amendment after previously concurring. HB 2693 would allow chambers of commerce to set up insurance purchasing pools for small businesses, and the Senate added a third-party-funded feasibility study by ADOA on what it would cost for state health insurance to enter the marketplace; members raised concerns that the study could be used to undermine the state self-insured plan, but no action was taken. HB 2133, dealing with synthetic sexual depictions and online sexual material verification, had multiple Senate changes that removed the synthetic-depiction expansion, added parody/artistic-expression exceptions, altered verification and record-retention rules, and removed AG inspection authority; the sponsor was expected to refuse the changes, and members were directed to stakeholder emails outlining concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the Senate removed the ability for the AG to inspect such records on request. sexual material
• Additionally the Senate removed the ability for the AG to inspect such records on requests.
• The Senate removed the ability for the AG to inspect such records on request.

Summary: The House Democratic Caucus reviewed several Senate-amended bills on the Minority Caucus Calendar. HB 2003, which lowers the learner’s permit age and increases supervised driving time, had a Senate delayed effective date added; members were told the sponsor had previously concurred but now intends to refuse. HB 2693, allowing chamber-of-commerce insurance purchasing pools and adding a third-party-paid feasibility study on state health insurance entering the marketplace, drew questions about possible impacts on the state employee health plan and whether the study could be used to undermine the current self-insured system. HB 2133, dealing with sexual material consent and synthetic depictions, generated the most discussion. The Senate removed the synthetic-depiction language from the revenge porn statute, added parody/comedy/artistic-expression exceptions, narrowed and expanded various verification provisions for commercial entities, removed limits on retaining identifying information, and eliminated AG inspection authority; members were told the sponsor intends to refuse the changes and that stakeholder concerns were outlined in emailed comments from the ASEO of Arizona and the Motion Picture Association. HB 2013, requiring ADEQ to submit exceptional-event demonstrations to EPA for certain wildfire impacts, had a Senate amendment limiting it to wildfires over 25,000 acres and tied to smoke or land damage; the sponsor was expected to concur, though stakeholders’ concerns remained unresolved. HB 2226, which requires courts to ask about veteran status at initial appearance and provide information about veterans’ services, was amended by the Senate to have the court rather than the prosecutor provide the information; members said the sponsor likely would concur. HB 2032, adjusting statewide assessment testing windows and related deadlines, was amended to extend the testing window to six consecutive school weeks and move the start of testing for grades 3-8 to the second week of April; the sponsor concurred, and members noted that organizations previously opposed had shifted to support. The caucus then adjourned.