Transcript Highlights:

• just for the ZBA and the building code just for the ZBA and the building code board<00:35:41.359
• Our existing zoning codes weren't designed to address data centers.
• A 2024 analysis found utility load growth forecasts jumped from 38 gigawatts in 2023 to 128 gigawatts
• <00:52:02.800> Noise Texas, Bitcoin Data Mining Center.
• Noise Texas, Bitcoin Data Mining Center.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The land grant had to utilize certain measures in order to acquire this once-in-a-lifetime property.
• It's a tool that's been utilized by land grants to ensure they can purchase properties.
• The real estate contract, because it's not considered a loan, allows them to utilize capital dollars
• I do have some questions because I have gotten some concerns about some coding issues that I have.
• And depending on your Utilities that are present are the variable for how much we charge per year.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is Senate Bill 300 by Senator Mizell, providing relative to the Louisiana Procurement Code.
• We had started, I would say, refining the procurement code last year.
• We had started, I would say, refining the procurement code last year.
• And then there's various changes to the procurement IT code, and they're all technical.
• Texas and on the East Coast.

Bills: HB513, HB581, HB596, HB660, HB719, HB766, HB802, HB940, HB950, HB1028, HB1183, HB1201, SB233, SB300, SB303, SB315, SB324, SB411

Keywords: name image likeness, NIL, student-athlete, college athletics, high school athletics, intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, athlete compensation, athlete endorsements, sports marketing, athlete agent, marketing representative, sports attorney, publicity rights, right of publicity, Louisiana high school sports, NCAA, school policy, athletic association, athletic conference

Summary: The committee first handled House Bill 513 by Rep. Young, which would regulate name, image, and likeness issues for intercollegiate and interscholastic athletes, especially high school athletes. Young said the bill reflects recommendations from a statewide NIL task force and sets parental-consent and prohibited-category guardrails while preserving flexibility for colleges. The committee adopted a technical amendment and reported the bill favorably as amended. Members then advanced several procurement and administrative measures. Senate Bill 233 by Sen. Mizell would create a statewide data exchange compact for state agencies; testimony from the Department of Health said it would improve eligibility and program administration by allowing agencies to share data more efficiently, and the bill was reported favorably. Senate Bill 300, also by Mizell, would make various changes to the Procurement Code, including auction techniques in negotiated procurement, sole sourcing for consulting services in limited cases, and other technical and legal remedy revisions; it was reported favorably. Senate Bill 303 by Sen. Cloud would let executive branch agencies directly contract with other states for information technology systems and use the federal GSA schedule, and it was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 411 by Sen. DePlessis, removing a 20-year lease cap for certain state property in Orleans Parish, was also reported favorably. The committee then took up several bills affecting criminal justice funding. House Bill 660 by Rep. Egan would raise the state warrant amount used to fund assistant district attorney salaries from $50,000 to $60,000; Egan and district attorneys argued the increase is needed to recruit and retain prosecutors, while an opponent said the state should fund prosecutors and public defenders more equitably. The committee adopted an amendment making the bill effective only upon appropriation and reported it favorably as amended. House Bill 719, also by Egan, would increase the number of assistant district attorney warrants statewide, with most of the new warrants directed to Baton Rouge, St. Tammany, and Caddo; supporters cited workload studies and local needs, while an opponent raised concerns about New Orleans court consolidation and broader funding balance. It too was amended to be subject to appropriation and reported favorably as amended. Other measures included House Bill 76 by Rep. Freeman, which addresses coverage for orally administered anti-cancer medications and was reported favorably as amended after changes to cost-sharing and high-deductible plan language; House Bill 802 by Rep. Sawyer, which redirects existing revenue to watershed and flood-control restoration in the Amite River Basin, was reported favorably as amended; House Bill 940 by Rep. Barrow, creating a law-enforcement task force and rules framework for counter-drone operations, was reported favorably as amended; and House Bill 950 by Rep. Boyd, aimed at consumer protection education for seniors, was reported favorably. House Bill 596 by Rep. McCormick, which would have created an inactive-well fee assessment credit tied to plugging wells, drew concerns that it would reduce funds for orphan-well restoration, and the bill was voluntarily deferred after discussion. House Bill 581 and House Bill 1183 were also voluntarily deferred.

Transcript Highlights:

• So SB 6 that year may change the tax code intended to raise revenue by reducing a distribution to the
• We do all of these things with our tax code without really being able to measure whether or not they
• And he wrote the first American tax code for Santa Fe. It was interesting.
• And Colonel Kearney had a tax code written. It's 21 sentences long.
• If Ernst & Young, the largest CPA firm on the planet, can't figure out our tax code.

Summary: The committee’s final day focused first on a historical overview of New Mexico tax packages by Pam Stokes of Legislative Council Services. She described how tax packages have alternated over the decades between tax relief, revenue raising, and tax reform, with examples ranging from the creation of the gross receipts tax in 1966 to major packages in 1981, 1986, 1991, 1994, 2005, 2019, 2022, 2024, and the vetoed 2025 package. Members discussed how tax policy often tracks revenue conditions, how packages can combine increases and decreases, and how local government gross receipts taxes and hold-harmless distributions have affected communities differently. Several members reflected on past packages, especially the 2004 food tax repeal and the 2013 film tax and manufacturing changes, and noted that tax policy can have major economic and political effects even when it is not “sexy” legislation. The committee then heard a proposal to expand the health care practitioner gross receipts tax deduction to include co-insurance, and to extend the sunset date. Sponsor Senator Figueroa said the bill was intended to help recruit and retain medical providers and build on prior deductions for co-pays and deductibles. Testimony explained that co-insurance is the patient’s share after the deductible, that providers currently absorb the gross receipts tax on those payments, and that the proposal would cost about $30 million to the state plus about $20 million to municipalities and counties, with the exact fiscal impact likely to be updated. Members raised concerns about the effect on local governments, whether insurers could be required to reimburse providers, whether the bill would actually attract doctors, and whether better evaluation measures and sunsets should be added. The sponsor said the bill was part of a broader set of efforts to address provider shortages and that the discussion would continue. Representative McQueen then presented a bill to update the Land Conservation Incentives Act. He and conservation partners said the program has protected more than 500,000 acres but has not kept pace with rising land values, especially for irrigated agricultural land in the Middle Rio Grande. The proposal would increase the percentage of conservation value eligible for the credit, raise the per-transaction cap from $250,000 to $2 million, and make the credit refundable rather than only transferable. Testimony emphasized that the program is voluntary, keeps land in private ownership and production, and helps land-rich, cash-poor landowners preserve farmland and water rights. Members asked about average credit amounts, how easements work, whether landowners could effectively buy land and then use the credit, and whether there should be inflation indexing or a statewide cap. The discussion also touched on water rights, fencing, and the role of conservation easements in protecting agricultural land and compact water deliveries. Finally, Senator Sharer previewed his 2% tax proposal with a historical presentation on New Mexico tax law, using props to illustrate the evolution from early territorial tax codes to the modern tax system. He argued that the state’s current tax structure is overly complex and that recent federal changes have disrupted the personal income tax base. The committee did not take any votes on the day’s presentations; the meeting was primarily informational, with members offering feedback and raising policy concerns for future sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Curbing nuclear verdicts will help the Texas economy thrive and keep Texas as a prominent business environment
• I'm a licensed attorney here in Texas.
• trucking companies in East Texas.
• Midland, Texas.
• Texas.

Bills: HB4806

Keywords: civil action, damages, health care services, noneconomic damages, negligence, legal standards, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they actually span from Texas all the way close to almost to the Florida border.
• Of Title 17, the Education Code, relative to early childhood care and education, provides for an early
• House Bill 28 by Representative Owen and Mends Title 17, the Education Code Relative to Teachers, 28
• However, many of these studies do not utilize Louisiana-specific data.
• House Bill 386 by Representative Chenevere, amends Title 17, the Education Code, relative to charter

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Merkley and I have a bill, the No Up Code Act, that actually achieves that.
• And there is frustration with coding.
• That is responsible. for coding and it is time.
• In West Texas, the South Plains of Texas, 223 cases.
• The child has unfortunately died in the state of Texas. My question is simple.

Keywords: Michael Falkender, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, IRS, taxpayer privacy, nomination process, committee hearing

Summary: The committee convened to discuss critical issues surrounding the nomination of Michael Falkender for the position of Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. This meeting included a series of remarks from committee members who expressed divergent views on Falkender's qualifications and the implications of his appointment. Senator Wyden voiced strong opposition, arguing that Falkender represents harmful policies expected to be perpetuated under the current administration, especially concerning taxpayer privacy and IRS tactics. Meanwhile, other members defended Falkender, noting his extensive experience, including a commitment to transparency in government operations if confirmed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of that time as an attorney, I spent a long time in Houston, Texas.
• By utilizing some state money for a county road project, we're kind of...
• Texas committed $120,000 per megawatt in incentives. Utah put $1.7 million.
• If we don't, the timeline belongs to Texas, Utah, and Nevada instead.
• Did you utilize that, and how are your feelings about that program? Okay.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Energy Development and Transmission Committee met in interim session and approved the November 6 minutes. Chair Novak outlined the committee’s study agenda, including large energy users such as data centers, geothermal, landowner relations, wind and solar, and other energy topics across the state. The meeting was framed as informational only, with no bills or formal legislative action taken beyond the minutes approval. Testimony focused first on landowner relations. Oliver County Commissioner Dave Berger described the county’s energy history and local support for coal and related development. North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue emphasized proactive, face-to-face communication with landowners, respect for property rights, and the need for developers to be transparent about tradeoffs; he also discussed insurance and liability concerns tied to easements. Committee members asked about eminent domain, local versus state authority, and how communities can better understand the revenue and infrastructure implications of energy development. Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Tom Bodine then described the department’s ombudsman programs for pipeline restoration and reclamation, wind restoration, and royalty oversight. He said the programs provide confidential, third-party assistance on reclamation and royalty disputes, but do not provide legal advice. Senators raised concerns about post-production deductions in royalty leases and whether the ombudsman can explain them; Bodine said the program can clarify statements and deductions but cannot resolve legal disputes. He also said the department has not received requests related to fiber lines. Representatives from Grid United and One Oak described their project development and landowner engagement practices. Grid United’s Brent Johnson discussed the North Plains Connector transmission project, its route selection process, voluntary acquisition approach, and efforts to avoid eminent domain by working closely with regulators, counties, townships, and landowners. One Oak’s Danette Welsh and Tom Giltner described the company’s midstream operations, extensive North Dakota footprint, and emphasis on direct landowner communication, consistent local regulation, careful construction practices, and post-construction reclamation. Members asked about setbacks, zoning consistency, invasive species prevention, outside advocacy groups, and eminent domain use; One Oak said it has not used eminent domain on its North Dakota projects, largely because most gathering lines are negotiated easements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Resulting in more efficient utilization of APD's resources.
• . related to rent, mortgage, and utility amounts.
• Historically, the state has accepted self-attestations for elements such as rent and utilities.
• Again, informed by data, which identified rent and utilities as a top driver for error rates, Florida
• Just the other day, I was talking to Texas and a few other states.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, I'll be glad to try to answer any questions. utilized to um support the initiative of utilized
• How can we effectively utilize that so the citizens of the state are comfortable? I'm not sure.
• That's the only place that NHTSA would allow for those funds to be utilized.
• utilized utilized um<03:41:49.560> I<03:41:49.720> can<03:41:50.000> say<03:41:
• in the state police are not utilizing in the state police are not utilizing all<03:41:55.520>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our understanding is that we would have to do citizenship checks on all our CSA participants that utilize
• They're paying their rent, their utilities.
• with the increased costs and the lack of qualifications plus the unfamiliarity, I guess, with the Code
• of Civil Procedure... ...with the Code of Civil Procedure and what's needed.

Bills: HCR41, HB11, HB227, HB243, HB278, HB335, HB424, HB454, HB455, HB492, HB623, HB641, HB660, HB708, HB719, HB940, HB1029, HB1053, HB1069, HB1077

Keywords: coupons, rebates, alcohol regulation, malt beverages, Louisiana Department of Revenue, remembrance, Charlie Kirk, state recognition, October 14, memorial day, court filings, electronic filing, letter size paper, privacy, legal procedure, recusal, district attorney, substitute attorney, appointment process, legal proceedings

Transcript Highlights:

• $69 million air traffic control tower, which includes enabling projects, including building demo, utilities
• The city already owns the site, with utilities and road infrastructure already in place.
• With the construction of this pretreatment facility, AMPI's Paynesville plant could utilize about an

Bills: HF4156, HF3835, HF3995, HF4383, HF4091, HF4084, HF4311, HF198, HF4486, HF4302, HF4309, HF4032, HF3855, HF3673, HF4265, HF4012, HF4339, HF4298, HF3852

Keywords: infrastructure, wastewater, stormwater, Buhl, state bonds, appropriations, economic development, water infrastructure, grants, capital investment, funding, state regulation, Frazee, North River Drive, infrastructure improvements, HF4383, Minnesota capital investment, bonding bill, Department of Natural Resources, DNR

Transcript Highlights:

• committee in 1972 and came up with a big bill that made lots and lots of changes to the property tax code
• Sext that year made changes to the tax code intended to raise revenue by reducing a distribution to the
• We do all of these things with our tax code without really being able to measure whether or not they
• And Colonel Kearney had a Tax code written. It's 21 sentences long.
• They can begin to utilize that fund instead of coming to legislators to fund those big projects that

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lindy McGee testifying on behalf of Texas Medical Association and Texas.
• He's licensed in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas, and I'm a licensed Texas realtor.
• Did this occur in Texas? It did not occur in Texas. I'm in Virginia. Thank you. OK. Thank you.
• No realtor member in Texas has ever been found in violation of the code of ethics anti-discrimination
• These are Texas realtors.

Transcript Highlights:

• metal building, a climate-controlled industrial paint booth, improved support roads, drainage and utilities
• will modernize an existing 6,000-square-foot building and include HVAC and electrical improvements, code
• Certainly Texas, too.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works met to receive public testimony and act on port priority applications for inclusion in the FY 2027-2028 Port Priority Construction and Development Priority Program. After approving the March 9, 2026 minutes, the committee heard from Commissioner Andrew Kilshaw of the Office of Multimodal Commerce on two applications from the Avoyelles Harbor and Terminal District: a building addition and waterfront industrial improvements project, and a Workforce Training Center redevelopment project. He said both met program criteria and projected substantial state benefits, jobs, and high benefit-cost ratios. Committee members asked about the projected jobs, the unusually high benefit-cost ratio, and the status of other port projects. Kilshaw and DOTD’s Molly Bergoin said the program has a backlog of more than $200 million, but the department is working through it, with some projects nearing closeout. They also said the annual request cap has been increased and that a tiered funding approach is being considered to help projects compete for federal dollars. Members expressed support for expanding investment in ports and for a statewide strategic plan. Chairman Boriak moved to accept the port priority applications received through March 1, 2026, for inclusion in the FY 2027-2028 program. There was no objection, and the committee accepted the projects. The meeting then adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many other states like Texas have long championed electronic recording.
• Many other states like Texas have long championed electronic recording.
• Many other states like Texas have long championed electronic recording.
• Many other states like Texas have long championed electronic recording.
• Many other states like Texas have long championed electronic recording.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• certificate of need the Public Utilities certificate of need the Public Utilities Commission<00:
• a blank check the Public utility a blank check the Public Utilities<00:04:40.800> Commission<
• the tech uh industries that utilize the tech uh industries that utilize security<00:11:56.240>
• centers um so the Public Utilities centers um so the Public Utilities Commission<00:19:28.280>
• make more efficient use of uh utilities make more efficient use of uh utilities resources<00:25:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The low utilization rate of in-person early voting at these elections is not a failure.
• Further, Saturday voter registration is not well utilized.
• We're not having hold-ups on vote by mail while alleviating this very low utilization.
• We had other voters utilize same-day registration.
• is understood to be a stronger predictor of health than their genetic code.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on a wide range of voting-access and election-administration bills. The largest portion of testimony focused on same-day voter registration (H. 834/S. 505), with support from Rep. Gentile, Boston and Chelsea officials, civic groups, and election administrators from Maine and Vermont. Supporters argued that same-day registration would help eligible voters who move frequently, miss deadlines, or face administrative errors, and would reduce rejected provisional ballots. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Vermont elections director Sean Sheehan testified that same-day registration has worked in their states without major administrative problems and has helped increase turnout. A Boston-based panel also described high rejection rates for provisional ballots and the burden of registration cutoffs on renters, students, immigrants, and low-income voters. A second major topic was restoration of voting rights for incarcerated people, including S. 524 and related House bills. The committee heard extensive virtual testimony from incarcerated individuals at MCI Norfolk and MCI Shirley, who said voting should be restored as part of rehabilitation, civic engagement, and reintegration. They described disenfranchisement as dehumanizing and argued that voting would help maintain family and community ties, reduce recidivism, and give incarcerated people a voice on laws affecting prisons and reentry. Rep. Erica Uyterhoeven also testified in support, saying the bill would restore municipal voting rights for incarcerated residents and align with broader efforts to expand political participation. The committee also heard testimony on bills affecting election administration and access, including a proposal to reduce or eliminate mandated early in-person voting in primaries and shorten the general-election early voting period, with supporters from the town clerks’ community arguing that low usage, staffing burdens, and costs justify the change. Opponents warned that reducing in-person early voting could hurt voters who do not use mail ballots and could disproportionately affect communities of color. Other bills discussed included decoupling the municipal census from voter registration, requiring periodic accessibility inspections of polling places, and a Somerville home-rule petition on non-citizen municipal voting and another on lowering the voting age in municipal elections. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the Texas election code requires continuous counting of ballots at precincts.
• You know, complying with the Texas election code on election day, and that certainly is not acceptable
• That resulted in Texas election code being in conflict with federal law.
• True Texas project to True Texas elections, and you are now neutral on the bill. Yes sir.
• code.

Bills: HB304

Keywords: franchise tax credit, food desert, grocery store, healthy corner store, nutrition assistance, economic development, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• existing alternative energy code existing alternative energy code sections<00:15:10.080> where
• increment financing, or TIF, code increment financing, or TIF, code section.<00:19:54.680> This
• You know, just a few pages earlier in our code is a tax incentive whereby this state, in the tax code
• I see no... schools like Texas, Tennessee, Florida, schools like Texas, Tennessee, Florida, who<00:53
• It's not being utilized by our employers across the state.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 25 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, dispensed with the reading of the journal, and welcomed several student and FFA groups from around the state, including chapters from Tippah, Forrest, Newton, and Wheeler counties, as well as the Puckett High School student council and an AP government class from Madison-Ridgeland Academy. After announcements, the chamber moved to the Ways and Means calendar and took up a series of tax and finance measures. House Bill 327 would extend Mississippi’s existing film tax credit to television production businesses, with a $42 million aggregate cap and a requirement that qualifying production activity occur in-state. House Bill 343 would create a tax credit for employers offering private health insurance to employees, set at $400 per employee in the first year and $200 in the second, capped at $10 million. House Bill 420 would lower the age threshold for an existing full homestead exemption for honorably discharged veterans and spouses from 90 to 85; members discussed the local cost impact, but the sponsor said the state cost would be zero. House Bill 489 would exempt from income tax any capital gains from a forced sale through eminent domain, so the property owner would not owe tax on that transaction. The House also passed House Bill 715, clarifying that both perishable and non-perishable food sold to food pantries are exempt from sales tax. House Bill 1063 would adjust an alternative energy/local tax provision by allowing a fee-in-lieu rate down to 10% and adding energy storage, such as large-scale batteries, to qualifying projects. House Bill 1793, by committee substitute, would add gun safes to the state’s Second Amendment sales tax holiday. House Bill 1941 would raise the Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund’s administrative fee from 2% to 3% and authorize $5 million in bonds. House Bill 1942 would create a conduit bond mechanism under the TIF code for local development projects. House Bill 1944, by committee substitute, would expand the Children’s Promise Act tax credit program from $18 million to $40 million over three years and add a new $1 million credit for facilities serving adults with mental handicaps; members debated its effects on private schools, foster care entities, and public education funding. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, including several unanimous votes; House Bill 327 passed 115-1, House Bill 343 passed 118-0, House Bill 420 passed 120-0, House Bill 489 passed 120-0, House Bill 715 passed 120-0, House Bill 1063 passed 115-0, House Bill 1793 passed 109-3, House Bill 1941 passed 118-0, House Bill 1942 passed 116-0, and House Bill 1944 passed after extended debate. The discussion on House Bill 1944 featured questions about whether the credits favored private schools over public schools, whether schools could also receive ESA-related funds, and how much money individual institutions could receive; the sponsor said the credits are separate from tuition, are administered by DOR on a first-come, first-served basis, and do not reduce direct public school funding.