Transcript Highlights:

• relation to establishing a right of first refusal in municipalities for state land to be sold at public auction
• relation to establishing a right of first refusal in municipalities for state land to be sold at public auction

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Investigations and Government Operations Committee met on March 10, 2026 and considered a series of bills, mostly reported favorably. Measures discussed included S.104, requiring the State Liquor Authority Chair to make quarterly reports; S.333, concerning the description of the state arms; S.384, related to the Public Lands Law; S.647, expanding video conferencing for purely advisory bodies; S.663 and S.3075, both Alcoholic Beverage Control Law bills involving alcohol sales and private label liquor; S.3371 and S.6599, Public Officers Law measures; S.5396, concerning private label wine; S.5827, requiring child-resistant packaging for edible cannabis products; and S.9020A, another Public Officers Law bill. Members also briefly noted the importance of public lands protections and one bill’s relevance to the committee’s prior work on state symbols. Two bills were referred to finance rather than reported: S.625A, dealing with the timing of annual tax elections, and S.3052, establishing a municipal right of first refusal for state land sold at public auction. S.4657A, a legislative law bill concerning the Law Revision Commission, was also referred to finance after being noted as part of the one-house budget resolution. Most other bills were approved with one or more members voting without recommendation, and S.663 received one nay while still being reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're auctioning it off, and the proceeds will go to the state. They do not come to the agency.
• Just for curiosity purposes, for the record, what where are you going to be auctioning that off?
• Off or contracted through like Purplewave or is it uHome's auction site? Do you know?

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This advertisement is meant to bring bidders to the auction. It's not a public notice.
• So when they advertise online, most auctions are done online now, almost all of them.
• accepted term of notice that says public website customarily conducts or advertises personal property auctions

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the USDA Forest Service did the same thing to the alpine horses and publicly auctioned them.
• The BLM did this to the Placitas horses and tried to publicly auction them, of course, will filed suit
• scheduled for capture and transport to Bilan to a quote unquote horse facility that specializes in auction

Transcript Highlights:

• grants that came as a result of confiscated or abandoned firearms through the Kentucky State Police auction
• Kentucky abandoned Firearms through the Kentucky State<00:21:58.120> Police<00:21:58.640> auction
• <00:22:00.880> service<00:22:01.600> so<00:22:01.840> these State Police auction
• um service so these State Police auction um service so these grants<00:22:02.440> provide<00:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate VMAP Committee met with a quorum and heard several measures focused on public safety and emergency preparedness. Senate Bill 266, sponsored by Vice Chair Aaron Reed, would allow Kentucky State Police troopers to engage in secondary employment under a policy set by the commissioner. Reed argued the change would improve morale, recruitment, retention, and compensation opportunities. Senators Boswell, Nunn, and Higden asked about when the extra work would occur and whether the commissioner had been consulted; Reed said the policy would be left to KSP leadership and cited examples such as convention centers and events like the Derby. The bill passed unanimously and was sent to the floor. The committee then adopted a committee substitute for Senate Concurrent Resolution 67, which creates a task force to study disaster preparedness, mitigation, and related issues such as flooding, wind events, insurance, communications, and coordination among state and local agencies. The sponsor described recent severe weather and flooding across Kentucky and said the resolution was intended to help the state identify risks and best practices, save money, and save lives. Senators discussed whether the National Guard should be included, and the sponsor said they would not object to adding a representative. The resolution passed unanimously. House Bill 234, presented by Representative Wade Williams with the Kentucky Police Chiefs Association, would add airport police departments to the list of agencies eligible for grants funded through confiscated or abandoned firearms sold through the Kentucky State Police auction process. Williams said the grants support life-saving equipment such as tasers and bulletproof vests and that airport police had been inadvertently left off the eligibility list. Senators asked whether the change would reduce funding for other departments, and Williams said he did not expect a detrimental effect. The bill passed unanimously. The meeting concluded with an invitation to legislators to attend a National Guard briefing and aerial flight event, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• the amount that's going to transportation, but the total amount that has been generated from the auctions
• There's a cap, so the amount of allowances that are available for auctions decline over time.
• It shows that in the most recent quarterly auctions, there have been two that have been higher than even
• And then there are two other auctions that will, one of which has already occurred, that will mean that
• Somewhere in the magnitude of four to five hundred million dollars, maybe, depending on how these next auctions

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met on October 16, 2025, for a budget and revenue overview, a traffic safety presentation, and a discussion of potential transit and active transportation grant programs. Committee staff reviewed the adopted 2025-27 transportation budget, noting $15.5 billion in expenditures, the large share for WSDOT, and the mix of revenue sources including fuel tax, vehicle-related fees, federal funds, Climate Commitment Act revenue, and new 2025 revenues from SB 5801 and SB 5802. Staff said the 2025 session produced a balanced four-year plan, preserved major project schedules, maintained highway preservation funding, and added money for culverts, local preservation, and other priorities. They also described a September forecast showing lower motor fuel consumption than previously expected, but still enough revenue growth to keep the transportation plan balanced. For the 2026 supplemental, staff said agency requests were relatively modest overall, with most capital requests reflecting reappropriations and timing shifts rather than new projects, while WSDOT’s addendum identified much larger future needs for maintenance, preservation, paving, culverts, and safety work. Senators asked for more detail on how revenues are distributed by fund type and geography, how much of the maintenance and preservation request is actual maintenance versus equipment, whether paving needs could be supported through bonding, and how electric vehicle sales trends might affect forecasts. The committee then heard a remote presentation from Dr. Jessica Chikino of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on traffic safety trends and countermeasures. She said U.S. traffic fatalities have risen sharply over the past decade, with especially large increases for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, and argued that the U.S. lags other high-income countries in roadway safety. Her presentation highlighted IIHS’s “30 by 30” goal to reduce fatalities 30% by 2030 through safer speeds, stronger impaired-driving countermeasures, better pedestrian protection, and safer commercial vehicles. She discussed research linking higher speed limits to higher fatality risk, the benefits of lower urban speed limits, speed safety cameras, traffic calming, lighting, pedestrian beacons, and safer intersection design. She also described ongoing work with Bellevue on smart signal technology and pedestrian safety pilots. Committee members thanked her for the presentation and said they would share the materials with others. In the final work session, the committee revisited transit and active transportation grant concepts that had been included in the Senate budget proposal but did not advance in 2025. Barb Chamberlain of WSDOT’s Active Transportation Division explained how grant programs need runway, staff capacity, applicant readiness, and clear criteria, and compared program design to getting a plane off the ground. She discussed the proposed Senior Transportation Emphasis Program and regional trails/cycle highways concepts, noting that some projects could be structured as funding-first programs while others would work better as project-line or project-first models. She said regional trail projects are already eligible under existing programs but often score lower because current criteria emphasize safety and population served. Justin Leighton of the Washington State Transit Association then reviewed transit grant programs and argued that transit safety and security needs remain underfunded, including operator barriers, lighting, shelters, behavioral health coordination, and non-uniformed security staff. He said many transit capital programs are oversubscribed, that operator barrier retrofits alone could cost $20 million to $30 million, and that agencies face uncertainty about how recent sales tax changes apply to security-related contracts. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Madam Chair, right after New Mexico became a state, and So the land went up for auction, Madam Chair
• This was prior to them conducting tax auctions, and in addition to that, the land grant was at that time
• So that home was offered to our heirs at auction, and that went to the highest bidder.
• Within details with Max, one of the places that he left to us was put up for auction.
• The most recent example, of course, is Torrance County, not Bernalillo County, which went at auction

Transcript Highlights:

• , if this bill, if this language were to happen, if you had 52 houses, those could be forced into auction
• want to make sure I heard you would like for the Attorney General to be able to force people into auction
• want to make sure I heard you would like for the Attorney General to be able to force people into auction
• c><00:26:00.480> people<00:26:00.800> into<00:26:01.920> uh<00:26:02.000> auction
• be able to force people into uh auction. be able to force people into uh auction.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 2687, as amended by a DE1 amendment. The amendment narrowed the bill to prohibit private equity companies from buying single-family homes and to limit corporations and partnerships to owning no more than 50 single-family homes, with enforcement through the Attorney General’s office. The committee adopted the DE1 amendment, and the author, Representative Bajaj, described the bill as a step toward expanding homeownership and reducing corporate concentration in the housing market. Representative Bajaj and supportive testimony argued that corporate ownership of single-family homes makes it harder for first-time buyers and working families to compete, especially in lower-income neighborhoods, and can lead to absentee ownership and poor maintenance. Ellen Sahli of the Family Housing Fund cited research on single-family rentals showing that larger portfolios are associated with worse renter experiences, higher rents, and more repair problems. Rachel Ruby Jones testified in support based on her experience renting from Havenbrook, describing flooding, delayed repairs, safety concerns, and poor treatment by management, and said private equity ownership can shift risks and costs onto vulnerable tenants. Opposition focused on market effects and the bill’s scope. Mark Brunner of the Minnesota Manufactured Home Association said the language was too broad and could unintentionally affect manufactured home communities on leased land. Paul Eger of Minnesota Realtors warned that market prohibitions could create unintended consequences, especially in a cyclical housing market, and suggested alternatives such as tax incentives for sales to owner-occupants and more first-time buyer assistance. In member discussion, Representative Nash questioned whether the problem was widespread and pressed for details on enforcement and divestiture; Representative Agbaje said the current language is forward-looking, would not force existing owners below the cap, and would rely on lawsuits and remedies the Attorney General deems appropriate, with more detail to be worked out later. The chair indicated the bill would be laid over for further consideration and likely move next to Judiciary, with some discussion of whether Commerce should also be a stop.

Transcript Highlights:

• ahead of that district in size, and they said, well, yeah, we got a ton of books, but we have to auction
• And so instead of having it submit to an auction and come to find out it's really a thing, whereas there
• And so instead of having it submit to an auction and come to find out it's really a thing, whereas there
• them off like what and I'm to auction them off like what and I'm not<01:24:49.199> sure<01:24
• them through the Public Surplus auction them through the Public Surplus auction website<01:26:53.159

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Minnesota Senate Education Policy Committee heard testimony on Senate File 508, a bill to restrict cell phone use in schools. Senator Mann said the proposal was based on roundtables with school districts across the state and on reports from other states, and argued that cell phones are harming student attention, mental health, classroom culture, and student-teacher relationships. She said K-8 restrictions are broadly supported, while high school policies should be more flexible, and emphasized that districts should control implementation. The bill also includes funding for education efforts around why the restrictions are being adopted and how students can use technology responsibly. Testifiers largely supported the bill or the general goal of limiting cell phone use. Dr. Anna Tyranny, a parent and licensed psychologist, said cell phones and social media can contribute to anxiety, poor concentration, cyberbullying, and inappropriate sharing, and urged a balanced approach that includes digital literacy education. St. Cloud Area Public Schools Superintendent Laori Pam and Tech High School staff member Molly Kenzie described their district’s policies, which keep phones away for the day in elementary and middle school and restrict them during class in high school. They cited U.S. Department of Education guidance, research on mental health and sleep disruption, and the need for age-appropriate, equitable, and consistently communicated policies. St. Cloud reported that its middle school policy, piloted and then expanded districtwide, led to a 50% reduction in cell phone discipline referrals and fewer classroom power struggles. The district said high school violations remain concentrated in certain grades, especially ninth and eleventh, and that it continues to address the issue through PBIS teams. No vote or final committee action on the bill was described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• He added that the reverse is also true: with an effective faculty and a good principal, in three to five
• For example, we have to sell buildings at pennies on the dollar when we auction them off.
• buildings at pennies on the dollars<01:39:40.760> when<01:39:40.960> we<01:39:41.160> auction
• dollars when we auction them off. dollars when we auction them off.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the State Land Commissioner to renew an existing mineral or mineral materials lease without public auction
• It also outlines requirements and procedures for public auctions of state lands associated with those

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The proceeds from the auction of the forfeited vehicle will go to the Crime Victims Compensation Board
• <00:24:30.640> of<00:24:30.720> the The proceeds from the auction of the The proceeds
• from the auction of the forfeited<00:24:31.720> vehicle<00:24:32.720> will<00:24:33.080
• <00:25:17.560> or<00:25:17.720> it can be sold that goes to auction or it can be sold
• that goes to auction or it can<00:25:17.920> be<00:25:18.040> destroyed<00:25:18.680><

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:07:46.880> and<02:07:47.199> extends<02:07:47.679> the<02:07:47.920> reversion
• <02:07:48.400> date projects and extends the reversion date projects and extends the reversion
• the you know the the federal<02:38:58.399> sales,<02:38:59.120> the<02:38:59.359> auctions
• <02:39:00.800> um<02:39:01.280> under federal sales, the auctions um under federal
• sales, the auctions um under state<02:39:01.920> control.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If the certified letter comes back, then we can auction off the vehicle and the stuff inside of it.
• If the certified letter comes back, then we can auction off the vehicle and the stuff inside of it.
• If the certified letter comes back, then we can auction off the vehicle and the stuff inside of it.
• If the certified letter comes back, then we can auction off the vehicle and the stuff inside of it.
• If the certified letter comes back, then we can auction off the vehicle and the stuff inside of it.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the bank slapped a lien on the property and the mortgage company scheduled an open-air foreclosure auction
• So a lien on the property, and then an open-air foreclosure auction was scheduled on the property.
• in Springfield banks refusing to do short sales now because they can get more at the foreclosure auction
• During that period, there were multiple attempts to actually have the auction, which is a violation of

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Committee on Financial Services heard testimony on several bills focused on consumer debt, mortgage regulation, credit unions, and foreclosure prevention. The Attorney General’s Office strongly supported the Debt Collection Fairness Act (S. 735/H. 1275), saying it would curb abusive debt collection, prevent stale claims, limit civil arrest warrants, modernize wage garnishment rules, and reduce judgment interest rates. Senator Eldridge and legal aid advocates echoed that support, while the Massachusetts Bankers Association and the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association supported bills on credit union mission/competition, consumer privacy in mortgage applications, subprime loan definitions, UCC updates, and protections for vulnerable adults, but opposed foreclosure mediation proposals and several credit union expansion measures, arguing they would distort competition and add unnecessary burdens. A large portion of the hearing focused on foreclosure prevention bills (S. 765/H. 1090), with testimony from homeowners, housing organizers, and legal advocates describing predatory lending, confusing servicing practices, health harms, and displacement caused by foreclosure. Supporters said a statewide pre-foreclosure mediation program would give borrowers and lenders a chance to reach alternatives such as loan modifications or repayment plans, and cited local experience in Lynn where mediation reportedly produced high rates of foreclosure alternatives. Opponents from the banking industry argued Massachusetts already has strong foreclosure protections and that a new mandatory process could delay resolution without added benefit, though they also noted a 2024 pilot should be evaluated first. The committee also heard strong support for H. 1282/S. 684, which would update the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code. State Street and a bankruptcy attorney said the changes are needed to keep commercial law current with electronic transactions, tokenized assets, and blockchain technology, and to maintain competitiveness with other states. The hearing concluded after public testimony, with no bill votes taken during the session; the chair thanked speakers and the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2256 authorizes a salvage auction dealer to acquire a title to a vehicle
• The committee amendment clarifies that before a salvage vehicle may be brought onto a salvage auction
• see none okay let's move to HV 2256 Israel madam chair members house bill 2256 authorizes a salvage auction
• claim the committee amendment clarifies that before a salvage vehicle may be brought onto a salvage auction

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee worked through a very long minority caucus calendar covering a wide range of bills, with many items being described and then either left on consent, pulled from consent, or noted for votes. Topics included bullion and state depository proposals, a produce incentive appropriation, a biennial budget change, veterans services funding, driver licensing and traffic enforcement measures, procurement and public records changes, school board and school facilities rules, SNAP work requirements and verification, child welfare and juvenile justice provisions, housing and homelessness measures, energy and fuel policy, election administration, and several tax, commerce, and licensing bills. Members repeatedly raised concerns about constitutionality, federal preemption, duplication of existing law, and whether some measures were policy priorities that had been vetoed in prior sessions and were returning unchanged. Several bills drew extended debate. Members objected to English-proficiency requirements for commercial drivers and motor carriers, arguing federal law and the supremacy clause would bar them. Earned wage access regulation prompted strong opposition over consumer harm, overdraft cycles, and high effective APRs. School-related bills were criticized for overregulating public schools while not imposing similar requirements on ESA/private-school programs, especially on fingerprint clearance and reporting. SNAP-related bills were also opposed as setting unrealistic mandates and repeating vetoed proposals. Other contested measures included a drag-show criminalization bill, a bill restricting photo enforcement, a bill limiting local regulation of unmanned aircraft, and a bill conforming Arizona tax law to federal changes, which members said would benefit wealthy taxpayers and corporations without a clear funding source. The committee also heard a number of supportive or less controversial measures, including bills on veterans awareness, dementia care telemonitoring, Braille transcription funding, CPA licensure pathways, cash acceptance by retailers, and some child safety and court administration changes. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, while others were noted as having unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The meeting ended with caucus announcements, including an affordability award presentation, an upcoming Latino Caucus discussion on community land trusts, and an invitation to African American Legislative Day activities, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Blue Ribbon Auction last year netted over $1.2 million.
• Eighty percent of it went back to the exhibitors that sold in the auction, and the other 20% went to
• uh Blue Ribbon auction the Blue Ribbon<01:09:16.839> auction<01:09:17.239> last<01:09:
• over Ribbon auction last year netted over $1.2<01:09:19.480> million<01:09:20.480> of<
• and the other 20% went to the auction and the other 20% went to support<01:09:28.319> programs

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the Livestock Board or law enforcement would remain the responsibility of the state to either auction
• And I have gotten A horse, at least one horse, was sent to Stroud's livestock auction from one of these
• wasn't on the health certificate of the horse that was going to slaughter, presumably at a livestock auction

Bills: HM26, HB243, HB109

Keywords: insects, ecosystem, education, public awareness, wildlife conservation, state agency involvement, New Mexico, equine welfare, animal rescue, shelter funding, trust fund, veterinary care, water project fund, water project finance act, New Mexico Finance Authority, water infrastructure, water grants, water loans, regional water planning, water rights adjudication

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:16.160> that That would mean whether they're doing property tax sales or a lien auction
• or<00:15:10.240> uh<00:15:10.639> a<00:15:10.880> lean<00:15:11.279> auction
• c><00:15:12.480> the<00:15:12.880> price<00:15:13.360> of sales or uh a lean auction
• , the price of sales or uh a lean auction, the price of the<00:15:14.000> assessment<00:15:14.720
• That would mean whether they're doing property tax sales or a lien auction, the price of the assessment

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was looking at auctioneers. I'm like, wait a minute. Okay, that's the next one. Got it. Okay.
• <00:09:26.320> was<00:09:26.480> looking<00:09:26.640> at<00:09:27.120> auctioneers
• and then I was looking at auctioneers. and then I was looking at auctioneers.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all