Transcript Highlights:

• So it's providing access for teacher professional learning across the state in priority areas.
• Additional investments supported math professional learning for more than 500 educators.
• In New Mexico, from engineers and linemen to technicians and cybersecurity professionals, the energy
• By supporting innovation, professional development, and alignment with real-world applications, this
• learning and networking. $200,000 would go to statewide professional learning and networking.

Bills: HB40, HB100, HJR1, SB64, SB19, SB44, SB83

Keywords: educational retirement, annuity adjustments, cost of living, non-compounding payments, retirement benefits, STEM funding, education, innovation, public education, New Mexico, nominating committees, boards of regents, student representation, political party registration, New Mexico constitution, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• the commissioner's office about kind of the plans for how these would be funded, because the bill entertains
• SWT funding has also enabled SWT funding has also enabled professional marketing and video production

Bills: SB6061, SB5844, SB6079, SB6137, SB5831, SB6031, SB6178

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, storage rental, tenancy agreements, tenant rights, landlord obligations, termination notice, insurance, wildfire prevention, policy nonrenewal, cancellation, risk management, sports wagering, sports betting, sports gambling, bookmaking, gambling regulation

Summary: The committee first heard public testimony on Senate Bill 6137, which would allow wagering on collegiate events involving Washington colleges while continuing to prohibit bets on the performance of individual Washington college athletes. Tribal gaming representatives strongly supported the bill, saying it would keep sports wagering in a regulated tribal marketplace, protect integrity, and help smaller tribal facilities participate through a hub-and-spoke model. University of Washington and Washington State University representatives supported the ban on individual prop bets but raised concerns about student-athlete harassment and the broader expansion of wagering. Sports betting operators also supported the measure, arguing that legal in-state wagering would reduce illegal betting and improve monitoring of suspicious activity. No vote was taken. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6079, which creates the Strengthen Washington Homes wildfire mitigation grant program and would use grants to help homeowners and others retrofit dwellings to IBHS wildfire-prepared standards. The insurance commissioner, the bill sponsor, a city mayor from Medical Lake, and several advocates testified in support, emphasizing rising non-renewals, wildfire losses, and the value of upfront mitigation. Insurance industry groups said they support wildfire mitigation and the grant program but opposed the bill’s insurance underwriting prohibition tied to IBHS designations and raised concerns about using the commissioner’s regulatory account for funding. Questions focused on audit controls and rulemaking, and the commissioner said audit procedures would be handled through rules. No action was taken. The committee next held a work session and then a public hearing on Senate Bill 6061, which would create a tourism self-supported assessment program. State of Washington Tourism, the Washington Wine Commission, hospitality and brewery groups, the Port of Seattle, and rural economic development representatives supported the proposal, saying Washington is underfunded compared with peer states and that an industry-led assessment could provide stable, competitive funding for statewide tourism promotion. Testifiers described the model as similar to commodity commissions and said it would help rural communities, small businesses, and visitor spending. Some concerns were raised about which business sectors would be assessed and how local lodging taxes fit into the structure, but the sponsor said the bill is designed to give participating businesses control over the program. No vote was taken. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5844 on self-storage rental agreements and termination procedures. The bill would allow electronic delivery and signatures for storage agreements, clarify when unsigned agreements become enforceable through continued occupancy, and create a uniform process for termination or nonrenewal with notice and access rules. The sponsor and self-storage industry witnesses said the measure would modernize the law, improve safety, and provide clearer procedures for both operators and consumers. Testimony was generally supportive, and no vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm happy to entertain any questions you may have. Okay, great. Thanks.
• I'm happy to entertain any questions you may have. Okay, great. Thanks.
• and hospitals of any proposed material amendments that would require the health care professional or
• and hospitals of any proposed material amendments that would require the health care professional or
• Proposed material amendments that would require the health care professional or hospital to accept a

Bills: HB1904, HB2106, HB2211, HB2247, HB2329, HB2339

Keywords: animal welfare, cats, declawing, animal rights, pet care, healthcare, contract modifications, provider notifications, insurance carriers, health facilities, HB 2211, medically tailored meals, medical nutrition therapy, medical assistance, Medicaid, Health Care Authority, Department of Social and Health Services, nutrition support, chronic disease, dietary accommodations

Summary: The committee heard public hearings on several health-related bills. HB 1904 would prohibit cat declawing except for therapeutic purposes, with staff describing fines, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements; the prime sponsor and animal welfare and veterinary witnesses argued declawing is cruel and causes pain and behavior problems, while the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association supported the ban but asked to remove the added reporting and disciplinary provisions. HB 2211 would direct implementation standards for medically tailored meals under Medicaid-related nutrition supports; the sponsor said it clarifies an existing program and prioritizes Washington-based nonprofits, and supporters from Meals on Wheels, food coalitions, distributors, farms, and nonprofits said local sourcing improves health outcomes, keeps dollars in-state, and builds capacity, while questions were raised about whether the local provider requirement could limit current vendors. HB 2329 would allow licensed midwives to delegate certain tasks to medical assistants and supervise medical assistants, with the sponsor and birth center/midwife witnesses saying it would fix an omission and reduce staffing barriers, especially in rural areas; they also indicated the lactation consultant provision would likely be removed. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 2247, which would expand and clarify veterinary telehealth and the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Supporters, including animal shelter leaders, nonprofit outreach providers, veterinarians, and an attorney, said telehealth would improve access in rural and underserved areas, help triage cases, reduce shelter intake, and allow care when transportation, cost, or mobility barriers prevent in-person visits; opponents or cautionary testimony from the veterinary association said they were working on amendments to preserve guardrails and clarify when access-to-care exceptions are documented. HB 2339 would modernize nursing licensure language for ARNPs, clarify titles for the four ARNP roles, adjust rules for CRNAs’ controlled substance administration, remove transcript submission requirements, and let the Board of Nursing issue interim permits directly; nursing witnesses and the Board supported the bill as technical cleanup, while hospitals and physicians raised concerns about title language and the deletion of a reference to the medical profession. Finally, HB 2106 would restrict health carriers from making significant mid-contract changes to provider agreements without notice and acceptance, requiring 90 days’ notice and voiding noncompliant changes; the sponsor and provider groups said carriers are unilaterally changing payment and service terms mid-contract, while UW Medicine described repeated insurer policy changes that can reduce reimbursement and disrupt patient care.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 874, professional licensure reciprocity and the practice of surveying and mapping by Senator
• Under this bill, the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers retains full authority to independently
• review all credentials, and SB 874 preserves professional standards while helping Florida meet current

Bills: S0386, S0528, S0806, S0696, S0930, S0874, S0898, S0826, S0838

Keywords: farm equipment, agricultural machinery, farm machinery, tractor, combine, harvester, implements, warranty, lemon law, defective equipment, repair rights, consumer protection, manufacturer liability, authorized service agent, replacement, refund, rural agriculture, urban agriculture, Florida Statutes, chapter 604

Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee met with a quorum and considered several bills, most of them receiving favorable reports. SB 386, relating to farm equipment repair rights, was briefly explained by the sponsor as a lemon-law style measure for farm equipment; it passed without questions or debate. SB 528, aimed at strengthening Florida’s manufacturing sector by expanding Department of Commerce responsibilities, codifying the chief manufacturing officer role, creating a workforce development grant program, and requiring reporting, drew support from several appearance forms and was reported favorably. SB 806, a broader right-to-repair bill covering portable wireless devices and agricultural equipment, drew the most discussion: dealership and industry representatives opposed it, arguing existing manufacturer agreements already provide access to repair information and that the bill could force manufacturers into competition with dealers, while supporters framed it as pro-consumer and pro-repair access; it was still reported favorably. SB 696 on trademark registration modernization and SB 930 creating a Florida Retirement Savings Task Force were both explained as administrative/policy measures and passed without opposition. SB 874, which creates a professional licensure reciprocity path for out-of-state surveyors and mappers to address workforce shortages, also passed favorably. The committee then took up SB 826 on gift certificates, which the sponsor said is intended to target bank-branded “reward cards” that function like gift cards but expire, while not affecting loyalty programs. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association expressed concern about unintended consequences and asked to work on tighter definitions, but the bill was reported favorably after the sponsor said clarifying language would be added later. The committee also heard SB 838, as amended, on electronic payments for retail installment contracts; the sponsor said it would clarify that reasonable convenience fees for optional electronic payments are permissible, require disclosure, and preserve a fee-free option. Members raised concerns about what counts as a “reasonable” fee and whether the bill could authorize junk fees, but the committee substitute was reported favorably. Several votes were taken by roll call, with the bills above reported favorably and SB 898 temporarily postponed at the sponsor’s request. Members later asked to be recorded as voting affirmatively on bills they had missed. The meeting concluded after the final vote on SB 838 and a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• traits person. organization that focuses, it's non-profit, we focus on education for. guardians, professional

Bills: SB66, SB2165, SB2342, SB2878, SB2903

Keywords: disability, supported decision-making, legal assistance, confidentiality, access to justice, autonomy, civil rights, advocacy, Texas Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child welfare, foster care, substitute care, missing child, missing from placement, permanency hearing, parent-child relationship, SAPCR, conservatorship

Bills: SB49, SB60, SB365, SB685, SB895, SB1191, SB1400, SB1401, SB1786

Keywords: junior college funding, performance tier, credentials, education, workforce development, Texas education law, performance tier funding, junior college, Texas education, student success, performance funding, education policy, state finance program, public junior colleges, educational outcomes, SB 60, public junior college library, community college, library materials, book donation

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, Chair McDonald, I'm very happy to propose giving more money, if you will entertain this, to our
• to public spaces and community festivals, supporting Latino artists to gain new tools through professional

Bills: HF2411, HF2471, HF1440, HF1393, HF1631, HF1259, HF280, HF1281, HF1459

Keywords: cultural heritage, funding, White Earth Nation, tribal community, construction, Delano, sesquicentennial, community events, fall of Saigon, Saigon anniversary, Vietnam War commemoration, Vietnamese Minnesotans, Cambodian Minnesotans, Lao Minnesotans, Southeast Asian refugees, Asian American heritage, cultural heritage fund, Minnesota Humanities Center, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, equity funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and now, Co-Chair McDonald, I'm very happy to give more money if you will so entertain this to our
• Featured entertainment included music, theater, vaudeville shows.
• Featured entertainment included and TVs.
• Featured entertainment included music,<00:42:17.119><c> theater,</c><00:42:17.599><c> vaudeville</c><
• </c><01:30:30.400><c> development,</c> tools through professional development, tools through professional

Bills: HF2411, HF2471, HF1440, HF1393, HF1631, HF1259, HF280, HF1281, HF1459

Keywords: cultural heritage, funding, White Earth Nation, tribal community, construction, Delano, sesquicentennial, community events, fall of Saigon, Saigon anniversary, Vietnam War commemoration, Vietnamese Minnesotans, Cambodian Minnesotans, Lao Minnesotans, Southeast Asian refugees, Asian American heritage, cultural heritage fund, Minnesota Humanities Center, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, equity funding

Transcript Highlights:

• scholarship and loan forgiveness programs, and we found that while some were effective, placing medical professionals
• It could be for taking advantage of economies of scale or other factors, like outsourcing of professional
• We get to participate in professional development with them and network to do all those things.
• There are two programs that I think were about 33% successful, and then one that had placed one professional

Bills: SB197, HB140, SB214, HB214, HB147, HB270, SB73

Keywords: business regulation, nonprofit entities, electronic filing, merger agreements, limited liability companies, partnerships, property transfer, termination fees, HB140, private sewer systems, wastewater utilities, Public Service Commission, PSC jurisdiction, utility regulation, rate setting, rate consolidation, affiliated systems, common ownership, private utilities, sewer rates

Transcript Highlights:

• a qualifying condition rests solely with the prescribing clinician, who assumes all associated professional
• qualify for a clinician participation license, an applicant must hold an active, unrestricted professional
• And when you have behavioral health professionals and clinicians to help guide you through that, you
• And with proper safeguards and professional oversight, and robust integration therapy, it can provide
• The majority of my professional work involves setting up manufacturing facilities and testing programs

Bills: SB5921, SB5185, SB6182, SB6115, SB6258, SB5916, SB5981, SB5985, SB6019, SB6161, SB6183

Keywords: psilocybin, mental health, therapy, decriminalization, legalization, international medical graduates, preceptorship, hardship pathways, medical practice, licensure, abortion, reproductive health, pregnancy termination, clinic access, abortion access fund, abortion savings account, health carrier assessment, insurance assessment, health insurer tax, Department of Health

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held public hearings on several bills, with most of the discussion centered on Senate Bill 5921, which would create a Department of Health medical psilocybin program for adults with qualifying conditions. The staff briefing described licensing for producers and participating clinicians, training and safety standards, data collection, and a 2028 effective date. Senator Jesse Solomon said the bill uses a medical-control model and is intended to provide supervised access for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. Testimony was sharply divided: supporters included clinicians, veterans, first responders, and patients who described personal benefit and argued the bill would create a safe, regulated pathway; opponents and some medical groups raised concerns about missing safeguards, contraindications, monitoring, cost, and the bill’s exclusion of broader decriminalization or community-use protections. The hearing closed with 25 people signed in pro, 140 con, and 7 other. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5185, a pilot program to create a pathway for international medical graduates with clinical experience licenses to obtain full unrestricted primary care licensure. Senator Rebecca Saldana and supporters from the Washington State Medical Association, the Washington Medical Commission, and the International Medical Graduate Academy said the bill builds on an existing pathway, improves access to care, and maintains patient safety standards. No opposition testimony was presented, and the hearing closed with 9 pro and 118 con sign-ins. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills with amendments or substitutes: SB 5916 on non-opioid pain drugs, SB 5981 on 340B drug pricing transparency, SB 5985 on endometriosis resources, SB 6019 on home care rate statutes, SB 6161 on Department of Health dementia information, and SB 6183 on HIV antiviral drug coverage. The committee adopted proposed substitutes or amendments and sent the bills onward, with some referred to Rules and others to Ways and Means. The committee later reopened and completed the hearing on Senate Bill 6115, which would fund a comprehensive cancer education program for students in grades 6 through 12. Supporters, including Cancer Pathways staff, educators, and families affected by cancer, said early education could reduce risk behaviors like vaping and improve prevention; the hearing closed with 33 pro and 665 con sign-ins, and the remaining two agenda bills were postponed to a later hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would further... ...this bill would further require doctors and other healthcare professionals
• The bill also prohibits the use of honorifics in professional...
• The bill also prohibits the use of honorifics and professional titles for externs who have not met all
• Have had trial and error finding out a way and that's what the number is, but I'll be glad to entertain

Bills: SB191, HB84, HB79, SB132, HB108, HB109, HB110, HB114, HB118, HB120, HB122, HB124, HB126, HB128, HB129, HB131

Keywords: postpartum depression, mental health, Medicaid, screening, education, maternal health, Chiropractic, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, license renewal, continuing education, election procedures, off-label, pharmacists, medical treatment, state board of pharmacy, employment protection, SB132, Alabama, controlled substances, Schedule I

Transcript Highlights:

• able to have additional dollars to provide support staff and additional, whether it be a pair of professionals
• through understanding school funding through formal training or formal parent groups or formal professional

Bills: SB1627, SB227, SB366, SB1193, SB1433, SB1450, SB1481, SB1749, SB1810, SB1812, SB1921, SB1948, SB2044, SB2178, SB169, SB1877, HB1409, SB1266, SB1432

Keywords: criminal code cleanup, duplicate statutes, statutory consolidation, repealer bill, emergency clause, Title 21 crimes, Title 47 DUI, child abuse reporting, child neglect, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, sex offenses, rape, stalking, domestic abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, sex trafficking, gang-related offense, eluding police

Transcript Highlights:

• formal training or formal... ...through like formal training or formal parent groups or formal professional

Bills: SB1627, SB227, SB366, SB1193, SB1433, SB1450, SB1481, SB1749, SB1810, SB1812, SB1921, SB1948, SB2044, SB2178, SB169, SB1877, HB1409, SB1266, SB1432

Keywords: criminal code cleanup, duplicate statutes, statutory consolidation, repealer bill, emergency clause, Title 21 crimes, Title 47 DUI, child abuse reporting, child neglect, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, sex offenses, rape, stalking, domestic abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, sex trafficking, gang-related offense, eluding police

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered prayer, and recognized several guests, doctors, nurses, pages, student shadows, and visitors in the gallery. Members also adopted a motion to request the House’s consent for the Senate to adjourn for more than three days, with Senator Hicks opposing the motion because of the number of bills still available for consideration. The motion passed. The chamber then considered several bills. Senate Bill 1627, a cleanup measure to eliminate duplicate criminal code sections and clarify the law for legal research, passed 45-0 and was advanced as an emergency. Senate Bill 227, dealing with gross production tax and ad valorem taxation on oil and gas means of production, drew extensive questioning and debate over possible revenue impacts, county assessors, schools, and economically at-risk wells; it passed 37-9. Senate Bill 366, which gives charter schools a first right of refusal to buy or lease public school buildings sold or leased by districts, also generated debate over local control and lack of resale guardrails, and passed 40-6 as an emergency. Later, Senate Bill 1193 to remove general fund carryover caps for school districts passed 46-0 as an emergency after supporters argued it would reduce “use it or lose it” spending and allow more local flexibility, while opponents questioned fiscal effects and accountability. Senate Bill 1433, the Guidance Transparency Act requiring agencies to publicly disclose guidance documents in a searchable database, passed 37-7 after concerns about attorney-client privilege, administrative burden, and whether guidance could function like law. Senate Bill 1450, expanding relief from fines, fees, and court costs for certain people in the criminal justice system, was advanced and passed unanimously; Senate Bill 1481, increasing minimum recess time for K-5 students from 20 to 40 minutes, was advanced as an emergency measure; Senate Bill 1810, allowing expert testimony in human trafficking cases, passed 45-0; Senate Bill 1812, requiring school districts to make benchmark testing information available to parents, passed 46-0 as an emergency; Senate Bill 1921, increasing OSBI background-check fees, passed 39-7; and Senate Bill 1948, updating fireworks laws and limiting county restrictions on private outdoor consumer fireworks displays, was taken up with significant safety and local-control questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas, their dedication and professionalism reflect the highest standards of service to the state
• Now, therefore, pursuant to the whereas their dedication and professionalism reflect the highest standards

Bills: SB2026, SB1376, SB1355, SB2115, SB1533, SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, Oklahoma National Guard, education assistance, military benefits, dependents, CareerTech Assistance Act, burial grant, memorial headstone, eligibility requirements, funding, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, fiscal management, state law, veteran burial, burial assistance, indigent veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• This extends the sunset to 2031 for the state board of licensure for the professional engineers and surveyors
• Senator Murdock, would you entertain a question from the chair?
• Senator Thompson, would you entertain questions from the chair? I would be happy to.
• And I think at the end of the day, do we believe that our dental providers, as professionals and small

Bills: SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: professional licensing, licensing fees, home inspection, home inspector, Construction Industries Board, CIB, contractor license, journeyman license, apprentice registration, alarm endorsement, code inspector, electrical license, plumbing license, mechanical license, permit fees, renewal fee, reciprocity, poultry house contractor, poultry house wiring, environmentally controlled poultry house

Transcript Highlights:

• less than eight minutes, ensuring the best possible outcome, and whereas their dedication and professionalism

Bills: SB2026, SB1376, SB1355, SB2115, SB1533, SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, Oklahoma National Guard, education assistance, military benefits, dependents, CareerTech Assistance Act, burial grant, memorial headstone, eligibility requirements, funding, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, fiscal management, state law, veteran burial, burial assistance, indigent veterans

Summary: The Senate convened, a quorum was established, and Senator Yek delivered the opening prayer. The body then granted unanimous consent for an entourage to appear on the floor for a citation presentation honoring Oklahoma State Troopers Michael Patnode and Joy McLaughlin for their quick response and lifesaving assistance during a medical emergency at the Capitol on January 13, 2026. The citation praised their professionalism and noted that emergency responders arrived in less than eight minutes because of their actions. The floor leader also recognized the Senate staff and others involved in the incident, noting that the person who had the medical emergency was recovering and had returned part-time. Senator Nice introduced an intern, Cottrell Strain, a sophomore English major at Langston University with an interest in politics. Several announcements followed, including a Farm City Festival lunch on the second floor, a Veterans and Military Affairs Committee meeting, and a Business and Insurance Committee meeting. The Senate also adopted a motion to celebrate Senator Julie Daniels’ birthday. No legislation was debated or voted on in the transcript beyond the citation and the procedural motions, and the chamber adjourned until Monday, February 16, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• This extends the sunset to 2013 for the State Board of Licensure for the Professional Engineers and Surveyors
• Senator Murdoch, would you entertain a question from the chair?
• Seeing none, Senator Thompson, would you entertain questions from the chair? I would be happy to.
• clarification, and I think at the end of the day, do we believe that our dental providers, as professionals

Bills: SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: professional licensing, licensing fees, home inspection, home inspector, Construction Industries Board, CIB, contractor license, journeyman license, apprentice registration, alarm endorsement, code inspector, electrical license, plumbing license, mechanical license, permit fees, renewal fee, reciprocity, poultry house contractor, poultry house wiring, environmentally controlled poultry house

Summary: The Business and Insurance Committee considered a long agenda of Senate bills covering real estate, construction licensing, insurance, alcohol regulation, medical marijuana, and other business matters. Among the measures discussed were SB 1732, which preserves Oklahoma’s current rule that brokers are not required to enter into a buyer brokerage agreement before showing real estate; SB 1443, which codifies payment rules for anesthesia services and physical status modifiers; and several sunset-extension bills for boards and agencies including the architects and interior designers board, the Construction Industries Board, the Abstractors Board, and the engineering and surveying board. The committee also heard bills on workers’ compensation, dental insurance billing practices, salvage title thresholds, energy standards for state-funded buildings, self-storage lien modernization, and medical marijuana training and licensing issues. Testimony and debate focused heavily on consumer costs, market competition, and regulatory clarity. Supporters of the dental bill (SB 1942) argued it would keep insurers from setting prices for non-covered services and allow patients and providers to negotiate directly, while opponents warned it could raise costs for consumers; the bill passed 8-2. Similar free-market arguments were made for the real estate, anesthesia, and alcohol-related bills, while consumer protection concerns were raised on the self-storage and dental measures. SB 1590, which would expand a fortified-roof grant program to commercial buildings, drew discussion about funding and the state’s role in helping reduce insurance costs. SB 1767 sought stronger enforcement against out-of-state spirit shipping, with concerns noted about lost tax revenue and age verification. Most bills received committee approval, often unanimously or by wide margins, including SB 1732, SB 1217, SB 1443, SB 1455, SB 1457, SB 1459, SB 1466, SB 1944, SB 1946, SB 1352, SB 2132, SB 1920, SB 1285, SB 1304, SB 1305, SB 1326, SB 1590, and SB 1767. Several bills were amended in committee, often to update sunset dates or clarify language, and title-striking motions were adopted on some measures that were still being worked on. The meeting ended with the chair noting that 20 bills had been handled and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• system, modernizes our workforce, and improves public safety and ensures that credentialing by professionals
• system, modernizes our workforce, and improves public safety and ensures that credentialing by professionals
• So you're going to create a professional path under licensing, which will also connect individuals to
• But by licensing those individuals, you become a licensed professional.
• Owens urges and requests the Surgeon General in the Louisiana Department of Health to conduct a professional

Bills: HR174, HR194, HCR98, SB39, SB124, SB190, SB236, SB270, SB273, SB359, SB415, SB426, SB437, SB451

Keywords: fenbendazole, cancer treatment, public health, FDA, clinical trials, patient safety, visual acuity, student health, de-identified data, longitudinal analysis, education policy, SNAP, food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, grocery delivery, delivery fees, service charges, online grocery, food access, food insecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• recognized for the nomination of Richard Willoughby of Guthrie to the State Board of Licensure for Professional
• We are thrilled to have Richard Willoughby willing to serve another term on the Professional Engineers
• If you look at his resume, he has been in this profession his entire professional career.
• Secretary Melissilissa Houston we created a commission where we systematically one by one reviewed all professional
• About 3/4 of our economy is actually regulated by some professional or occupational license serving in

Bills: HB2933, HB3041, HB3048, HB3081, HB3297, HB3338, HB3673, HB3790, HB3983, HB4105, HB4139, HB4203, HJR1023

Keywords: insurance regulation, homeowner claims, premium discounts, catastrophe mitigation, civil penalties, credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, Oklahoma, fire extinguisher, licensing, public safety, age qualification, State Fire Marshal, towing services

Transcript Highlights:

• Richard Willoughby of Guthrie to the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
• We are thrilled to have Richard Willoughby serve another term on the Professional Engineers and Land
• If you look at his resume, he has been in this profession his entire professional career.
• We created a commission where we systematically, one by one, reviewed all professional and occupational
• About three-quarters of our economy is actually regulated by some professional or occupational license

Bills: HB2933, HB3041, HB3048, HB3081, HB3297, HB3338, HB3673, HB3790, HB3983, HB4105, HB4139, HB4203, HJR1023

Keywords: insurance regulation, homeowner claims, premium discounts, catastrophe mitigation, civil penalties, credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, insurance, nonadmitted insurers, surplus lines, Oklahoma, fire extinguisher, licensing, public safety, age qualification, State Fire Marshal, towing services

Summary: The Business and Insurance Committee considered a long agenda of bills and executive nominations. Among the bills, it advanced measures to update fire extinguisher industry age restrictions and application rules (HB 381), create a five-day cancellation right for homeowners after severe storm-related contracts (HB 3790), require a biennial workers’ compensation medical fee schedule update (HJR 1023), create the Oklahoma Home Services Act to standardize home service contract disclosures (HB 4139, amended to correct a wording error), cap surcharge fees and add a career tech exemption (HB 3041), create the Oklahoma Tolling and Recovery Board (HB 3297), allow expired electrical contractor licenses to be reinstated without re-examination (HB 3673), clarify who is not a security guard for licensing purposes (HB 4105), create a licensing framework for in-ground pool contractors effective November 1, 2027 (HB 3338), and streamline surplus lines insurance procedures and premium tax enforcement (HB 3048). One bill on smokeless tobacco taxation (HB 3983) drew extended debate over whether a weight-based tax would be fairer and revenue-neutral; after questions about health impacts, reporting, fraud concerns, and inflation, the bill failed to receive a second and was left in committee. HB 3041 also drew significant debate over whether it would effectively allow higher credit card surcharges, but it ultimately passed 5-4. The committee also heard numerous executive nominations, all of which were approved and sent to the full Senate. Those included Michael Stop and Michael Bauer to the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission, Michael Cantrell and Burrell Sears to the Oklahoma Abstractors Board, Richard Willoughby to the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, E. Keith Mitchell and Andrew Revelis to the ABLE Commission, Jackie Ward to the alarm, locksmith, and fire sprinkler industry board, Terence Shreve to the Used Motor Vehicle Dismantler and Manufacturer Board, and Adra Berry as Cabinet Secretary of Licensing and Regulation. Nominees generally described their professional backgrounds and commitment to public safety, regulation, or industry expertise, and several senators spoke in support of their service. Most nominations passed unanimously or near-unanimously.