Transcript Highlights:

• The judicial branch is not a discretionary program like much of what we deal with here in this House
• The judicial branch must be funded appropriately.
• The judicial branch was not at the negotiating table when leaders from the other two branches decided
• However, we are bringing you a conference report that underfunds the judicial branch.
• We funded operating adjustments to judicial staff at a level that would support less than a 1% raise,

Transcript Highlights:

• It creates a non-judicial avenue for citizens to use before being required to file a judicial challenge
• Used for judicial notice. That was the intent. Is that right?
• From what I saw, it does mirror language in the federal rules for judicial notice.
• This is literally submitting based on a judicial notice standard.
• Courts usually have precedent and what have you to determine whether something is judicially...

Bills: SB801 , SB1200 , SB1410 , SB1717 , SB1862 , SB1863 , SB2216 , SB2681 , SB506 , SB2626 , SJR63 , SB 3

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Friedman, in order relative to requesting the opinions of the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Judicial
• And now, therefore, be it ordered that the opinions of the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Judicial
• Two, does the petition relate to the powers of the courts, and so far as it grants the judicial branch
• Friedman, an order relative to requesting the opinions of the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Judicial
• Now, therefore, be it ordered that the opinions of the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and several ceremonial items, including introductions of championship Tri-County High School football and boys’ cross-country teams and adoption of a resolution honoring Auburn and the Robert and Esther Goddard Centennial Committee for the 100th anniversary of the first liquid-fueled rocket launch. The chamber then gave final passage to several local bills, including measures authorizing payment by the City of Revere, adjusting Wellesley’s senior property tax deferral income threshold, amending the Hopedinton/Hopkinton town charter regarding library trustees, and other local matters, all of which were passed to be enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer House petitions to committees and took up several local bills from the Orders of the Day. These included bills enhancing the powers of the Cotuit Fire District’s Board of Water Commissioners, authorizing the Cotuit Fire District to raise money for the Historical Society of Santuit and Cotuit, further regulating the Salem licensing board, and validating the results of Bourne’s May 20, 2025 annual election. Each was advanced by unanimous consent, read a third time, and passed to be engrossed. A major portion of the session focused on two orders from Senator Friedman requesting advisory opinions from the Supreme Judicial Court on initiative petitions. One concerned a public records proposal that would extend public records law to the General Court and Governor’s office; the other concerned a legislative stipends proposal that would alter internal legislative procedures and compensation rules. Senator Feeney argued the requests were needed to clarify constitutional issues before the Legislature acts on the initiatives, and both orders were adopted. The Senate also received a Ways and Means report on Senate Bill 2720, a bill banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and pet sharks, with a new draft, Senate No. 3014, recommended. The chamber adopted an order placing the bill on the Orders of the Day for second reading on March 19, 2026, with amendments in order, and then adopted a separate order to adjourn until Monday at 11 a.m., dispensing with the printing of a calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so what comes to mind is Medicaid or the university system or the judicial branch retirees. it's
• </c> judicial branch retirees. judicial branch retirees.
• so judicial branches is part of our<01:59:05.040><c> healthcare</c><01:59:05.440><c> plan.
• , UNH, um CCS&amp;H I think like health trust, UNH, um CCS&amp;H I think was<01:59:30.000><c> part</c
• I brought this up two years ago, but um in House Bill 2 this year, the judicial branch has been given

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• corporations and Republicans didn't trust the government.
• But now he's like, I don't know if we trust these big tech companies either.
• </c> I know that in the past, Democrats didn't trust corporations and Republicans didn't trust the government
• But now he's like, I don't know if we trust these big tech companies either.
• </c> responsibility to to the judicial responsibility to to the judicial branch.<01:17:17.199><c> So<

Transcript Highlights:

• trust fund you'll see that the education trust fund is<00:23:12.679><c> $</c><00:23:12.799><c> 53.8<
• </c> general fund and the education trust general fund and the education trust fund<01:03:41.240><c>
• I'm also a trustee of trust funds in Greenland. We deal with trust funds.
• I see trusts written up here. Some of these are trust funds.
• </c> Securities regulation and judicial Securities regulation and judicial branch<04:33:16.279><c> that'll

Summary: The committee received an overview from Chris of the Legislative Budget Assistance Office on how it will estimate unrestricted revenues for the General Fund, Education Trust Fund, Highway Fund, and Fish and Game Fund. He explained that the committee’s work is based on current law, not pending bills, and that the estimates will feed into a House resolution and an amendment to House Bill 1, the operating budget. He also described the broader budget process, including how House and Senate estimates are reconciled, how surplus statements account for revenue changes from enacted bills, and how a committee of conference could resolve differences later in the session. No votes were taken. Members then asked about why the Education Trust Fund was running below plan. Chris said the shortfall appeared to be driven largely by business taxes, including differences in the BET/BPT split and improved tax-processing systems that better track where business tax payments belong. Representative Orr also asked about tobacco tax collections and out-of-state sales; Chris said tobacco revenue was likely overestimated in 2023 based on COVID-era patterns, with more people smoking at home, and noted that e-cigarette tax revenue goes to the General Fund while cigarette taxes are split between the General Fund and Education Trust Fund. He said he did not have a specific estimate for cross-border sales. Commissioner Lindsay St. Pierre of the Department of Revenue then began a deeper dive into the department’s role and the taxes it administers. She reviewed the department’s mission, organizational structure, taxpayer services, and the tax policy and legislative analysis staff who prepare fiscal notes and testify on bills. She noted that the department administers about $2.9 billion in revenue across major taxes such as business taxes, meals and rooms, and utility property tax, and that the figures being discussed were preliminary because the annual report had not yet been issued. The discussion was informational only, with no formal action taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> is available in a Judicial is available in a Judicial foreclosure<00:14:36.600><c> um</c><00:14:
• </c> by action judicial by action judicial foreclosure<00:16:19.519><c> um</c><00:16:20.279><c> up</c
• Association and the Minnesota judicial Association and the Minnesota judicial branch<01:18:19.400><c>
• </c> work say that one more time judicial work say that one more time judicial officers<01:21:13.920>
• official is no longer a judicial official is no longer a Judicial<01:26:43.880><c> official</c><01:26

Bills: HF1662 , HF1224 , HF1836 , HF1367 , HF1168 , HF1999 , HF1792 , HF102 , HF2127 , HF104

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• That number was presented by the Board on Judicial Compensation.
• The Board on Judicial Compensation was created by the statute.
• And their budget is requesting a 517.58% judicial pay increase based on the Board of Judicial Compensation
• But I do think it's time that we have a judicial security officer housed at the Judicial Center that
• Primarily, we use the National Judicial College in Reno.

Committee: House A&B Judiciary Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Today's agenda includes updates from the judicial branch, the State Board of Parole, Access to Justice
• Commission, Commission on Judicial Discipline, BHA, or the Behavioral Health Administration, Office
• </c><00:26:28.159><c> branch,</c><00:26:28.400><c> the</c> updates from the judicial branch, the updates
• from the judicial branch, the state<00:26:28.799><c> board</c><00:26:28.960><c> of</c><00:26:29.120>
• </c> commission, commission on judicial commission, commission on judicial discipline,<00:26:31.919><

Transcript Highlights:

• go missing from group homes; they're less likely to leave when there was someone that they know and trust
• Who can I trust? Who can I not? Who's going to beat me up? I moved schools six times as a child.
• agency holds police powers over those rights, there must be a meaningful check on that power by the judicial
• He had built such trust with that boy that the child would call him directly when something felt wrong
• The AAG was privy to this and withheld exculpatory information, violating principles of judicial deception

Committee: House House Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Government met for a presentation-only hearing focused on the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and related child welfare system issues; no bills were heard or voted on. Chair Blackman opened by stressing that the hearing was for fact-finding and data, not personal attacks, and Director Catherine Patak then presented DCS data on hotline volume, investigations, reunifications, adoptions, guardianships, extended foster care, and placement patterns. She said DCS investigated more than 43,000 cases in 2025, kept the out-of-home population relatively steady, and emphasized that Arizona places a high share of children with kin. She also highlighted a mismatch between the age of children entering care and the availability of foster homes willing to take older youth, and said behavioral health capacity, not DCS alone, is a major constraint. Patak discussed kinship supports, foster care reimbursement increases, the Family First Prevention Services Act, missing youth, congregate care reduction, and the department’s procurement process for group home beds. Members asked about kinship caregiver support, behavioral health access, reunification services, parental-rights terminations, Auditor General findings on notices and documentation, licensing and reimbursement rates, and why some relatives are not approved as placements. Patak said DCS is working on policy guidance, supervisor training, and improved supports, but that provider capacity and other system partners limit what DCS can do. Representative Gillette then gave a lengthy presentation focused on system design, procurement, funding flows, and congregate care. He argued that DCS, DES, and Access are structurally intertwined, that DCS’s procurement carve-out and capitated funding model create incentives tied to bed space and volume, and that fragmented oversight diffuses accountability. He cited budget figures, contract amendments, and audit concerns to argue that the system is overreliant on congregate care and that decision-making, medical referrals, and placement processes are too vague or too centralized in ways that can harm children and families. Gillette said his findings were based on contracts, interviews, and public records, and he indicated some material would be referred to special counsel. He also raised concerns about placement decisions, due process, and demographic disparities in congregate care outcomes. The chair cut off further questioning of Gillette for time and announced the committee would move on to the next presenter, Vice Chair Fink, with attorneys and other speakers to follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you have a trust that's made up and there are 10 members of that trust, who would vote?
• If it's a trust, then only the person who owns the trust. Like, that makes it more confusing.
• An LLC or a trust is a non-human person. It's a trust.
• Trust your people. Trust your constituents. And they'll trust you. Whether you agree or not.
• But please, trust your people, because if you want trust, you've got to trust.

Summary: The Senate received communications from the House on numerous measures, including several bills and resolutions passed with amendments, committee reports on bills such as large energy use facilities, campaign finance, voting rights, and appropriations, and a list of pre-file legislation. The chamber then moved through a long floor session with confirmations, bill readings, and roll-call votes, ultimately confirming the nomination of Morgan T. Zern to the Delaware Supreme Court by a 21-0 vote. Among the major policy items considered were property tax and school tax measures tied to the statewide reassessment. The Senate passed House Bill 460, clarifying monthly municipal permit-data reporting to New Castle County; House Bill 461, granting temporary authority for New Castle County school districts to reset school tax rates for one cycle; and House Bill 462, making the split school tax rate permanent with a lower nonresidential cap. Members discussed the fiscal effects at length, including testimony from a school district finance officer that HB 461 would allow revenue-neutral rate setting and offset the fiscal note on HB 462. The Senate also passed House Bill 365 creating a Delaware Indigenous Affairs Commission, House Bill 458 on backflow requirements for low-hazard buildings, Senate Bill 27 establishing the Office of New Americans with a sunset and interagency coordination, and Senate Bill 315 on the Delaware Technical Innovation Program. The chamber also approved Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 300, a firearms dealer regulation bill, after extensive debate over amendments, confidentiality, background checks, and the balance between public safety and burdens on lawful dealers. Several members raised constitutional and practical objections, while supporters argued the bill would reduce trafficking, straw purchases, and theft from dealers. In addition, the Senate passed House Bill 305 creating a diabetes wellness pilot program, with supporters emphasizing the state’s diabetes burden and the program’s federal funding, and House Concurrent Resolution 157, which asks the State Lottery Office to report on iLottery’s impact on small businesses. Senate Bill 325, a fire prevention/background-check bill, was laid on the table after concerns about a late House amendment and requests for more time to consult stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• With respect to the following appointment to be a member of the Commission on Judicial Conduct: Sylvie
• Members, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct is the commission created to protect the public and
• The joint resolution would also remove the ability of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to issue
• SJR 27 proposes a constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial
• The state commission on judicial conduct increases public membership to seven, with no more than two

Bills: SJR27 , SJR39 , SB22 , SB33 , SB34 , SB37 , SB209 , SB310 , SB326 , SB505 , SB605 , SB618 , SB732 , SB762 , SB769 , SB783 , SB819 , SB825 , SB870 , SB964 , SB1030 , SB1080 , SB1085 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1233 , SB1314 , SB1320 , SB1333 , SB1398 , SB1405 , SB1541 , SB1567 , SB1596 , SB1598 , SB1625 , SB1646 , SB1662 , SB1750 , SB1758 , SB1791 , SB1804 , SB1810 , SB1818 , SB1838 , SB1855 , SB1869 , SB1951 , SB2024 , SB2077 , SB2078 , SB2252 , SB2253 , SB2368 , SB2411 , SB2420 , SB2425 , SB2569

Transcript Highlights:

• no recourse other than to file for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court, asking them to order judicial
• no recourse other than to file for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court, asking them to order judicial
• no recourse other than to file for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court, asking them to order judicial
• no recourse other than to file for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court, asking them to order judicial
• no recourse other than to file for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court, asking them to order judicial

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:41.160><c> great</c><00:07:41.440><c> respect</c><00:07:42.120><c> and</c><00:07:42.280><c> trust
• and trust in her leadership. leadership. leadership.
• channel for our high-quality, trusted channel for our families<00:20:19.840><c> in</c><00:20:19.960>
• Uh, I've been crippled by lawyer fraud and judicial fraud. who<00:56:43.280><c> have</c><00:56:43.520
• </c><01:08:22.920><c> another</c> the body that we did trust another the body that we did trust another

Bills: HF3455 , HF3936 , HF3860 , HF3656 , HF4060

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: public television, funding, Minnesota, operations, appropriation, cybersecurity, state government, legislative commission, extension, technology, civil law enforcement, attorney general, record custody, government transparency, legal services

Transcript Highlights:

• So those are projects you fund through the annual capital trust board.
• The colonial infrastructure fund, Tribal Infrastructure Fund, and now the Housing Trust Fund.
• higher education side, LFC received 2.2 billion in capital outlay requests from state agencies, judicial
• our long-term debt in our severance tax bonding program and redirected some of the savings to a new trust
• We want to ask all at once because we don't trust you to give us the money later.'

Bills: HB1 , HB1

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• doing this, we created a real workload problem for the district court, specifically in the Second Judicial
• This bill ensures that New Mexico's immunization rules align with trusted medical authorities, like the
• What we're doing is the state of New Mexico is telling the federal government, we don't trust the CDC
• So it's not trusted authorities, plural. It's one authority.
• You might have seen my daughter on TikTok; trust me, we all got it. But I...

Transcript Highlights:

• They've put their trust in you, and in turn they expect a lot from you.
• 00:01:53.880><c> their</c> have faith in you they've put their have faith in you they've put their trust
• 01:57.119><c> they</c><00:01:57.399><c> expect</c><00:01:58.360><c> a</c><00:01:58.520><c> lot</c> trust
• in you in turn they expect a lot trust in you in turn they expect a lot from<00:01:58.960><c> you</c
• Speaker qualities like civility that fosters respect and dialogue, trust that builds bridges and ensures

Transcript Highlights:

• Not trusting one time that the information I got was correct, I've had to send kind of cross requests
• Not trusting one time that the information I got was correct, I've had to send kind of cross requests
• Um, not trusting have been entertaining.
• Um, not trusting one<00:20:38.559><c> time</c><00:20:38.720><c> that</c><00:20:38.880><c> the</c><00:
• </c> through some sort of pro judicial through some sort of pro judicial proceeding<00:42:42.880><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Anchor our trust in you.
• Give us the courage to pick up our smooth stones of prayer, scripture, and obedience, trusting that you
• We mentioned the housing trust fund being secure; that's so important.
• We mentioned the housing trust fund being secure; that's so important.
• We mentioned the housing trust fund being secure, that's so important.

Summary: The meeting began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a guest introduction for Deputy Frank Sloop. The Senate then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, with most measures receiving do-pass recommendations after brief explanations and, in several cases, floor amendments. Topics included public records, capital outlay review, local government, taxation, state budget implementation, higher education appropriations, utility regulation, towing regulation, homeowners association disclosures, nursing board regulation, veteran services, criminal justice, human services, K-12 education, state property management, and the continuation of the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Several bills were amended on the floor before receiving favorable recommendations. House Bill 2114 on motorcycle-related provisions was amended to require that at least one registered owner be legally licensed to operate a motorcycle in Arizona. House Bill 2397 on HOA/condominium disclosures was amended to change disclosure timing and fee rules and make other conforming changes. House Bill 2408 on nursing board regulatory action was amended to remove a clear-and-convincing-evidence burden in disciplinary matters and clarify complaint-sharing procedures. House Bill 2957 on driver’s license/handheld provisions, House Bill 2305 on towing regulation, and House Bill 2321 on DCS-related reporting also received amendments before do-pass recommendations. The largest item was Senate Bill 1847, the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act. Senators offered extensive floor amendments affecting agriculture, corrections, criminal justice, school safety, law enforcement equipment, vehicle theft task force funding, liquor licensing, and other budget items. During third reading and debate on the budget, Democratic senators praised negotiated gains such as funding for aging services, food assistance, civil legal aid, school meals, heat relief, and a three-year moratorium on new data center tax incentives, while criticizing border-related funding, ESA/voucher policy, and cuts to higher education and adult education. One member’s remarks were ruled dilatory after repeated off-topic comments, and the ruling of the chair was sustained by a 16-12 vote. The transcript ends with additional budget-related explanation of votes continuing after the budget’s third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re going to be as judicious and efficient with the dollars and also our timeline as well with the
• , Sonoma Land Trust, Resources Renewal Institute, Pacific Forest Trust, and Power...
• Land Trust, Renewal Institute, Pacific Forest Trust, and Power Nature.
• Paul Mason, the Pacific Forest Trust.
• Rico Mastrodenado with the Trust for Public Land.

Summary: The meeting began with a lengthy opening discussion with Secretary Karen Ross of the Department of Food and Agriculture, who reviewed the department’s proposed budget, emphasized California agriculture’s record output, and highlighted major priorities including climate-smart agriculture, groundwater management, local food systems, farm-to-school, food hubs, invasive pest prevention, bird flu response, and food safety. She also warned about federal budget cuts, especially at USDA and FDA, and discussed market access challenges abroad, rising input costs, labor shortages, and the need for automation and workforce training. Members raised questions about the future of Farm to School, the California Nutrition Incentive Program/Market Match, local food procurement, and how to better connect farmers to schools, food banks, and food hubs; Ross said the department had strong evidence the program benefits small farms and Title I schools and noted continued interest in building out local food infrastructure. The committee then took up item one on eliminating vacant positions at the Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Parks and Recreation, and Food and Agriculture. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that the Governor proposed eliminating 6,000 vacant positions statewide, with the Joint Legislative Budget Committee previously rejecting 650 of them, including 174 in these three departments. LAO and Finance said the vacancies represented a source of budget flexibility, but warned that eliminating them could create program impacts; LAO recommended retaining the special-funded positions at Fish and Wildlife and Food and Agriculture, while weighing the General Fund positions against other priorities. Finance argued the reductions were part of a broader budget-resiliency exercise and that departments could reclassify or shift vacancies to higher priorities. Members focused heavily on the practical impacts of the cuts. Assemblymember Petrie-Norris argued that Fish and Wildlife staffing shortages were already slowing permits needed for housing, clean energy, water, and transportation projects, and questioned the value of saving relatively small amounts of money. Fish and Wildlife officials said the department had prioritized mission-critical work and could still meet permitting obligations, but acknowledged limited-term staffing constraints. State Parks said the proposed ranger and maintenance cuts would not have immediate effects but could slow maintenance and eventually worsen deferred maintenance. Food and Agriculture said some of the eliminated positions supported early pest detection and eradication, but that the department believed it could still meet its mandate and reclassify positions if needed. The chair and several members signaled concern about the Fish and Wildlife and Parks cuts, while also noting the broader need for budget reductions. The committee then moved to item six, hearing an overview from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Staff described the office’s role in CEQA implementation and said the budget requests were baseline funding to maintain existing functions, including IT services and administrative/legislative support, rather than new programs. The chair asked the presenters to move quickly through background material so the committee could get to questions, and the item began with no votes taken during the meeting.