Transcript Highlights:

• We supported this bill in the concept, and I really appreciate the cleanup of language in the dialing
• is a good program that has worked exceptionally well, and just kudos to you and thank you for the cleanup
• is a good program that has worked exceptionally well, and just kudos to you and thank you for the cleanup
• is a good program that has worked exceptionally well, and just kudos to you and thank you for the cleanup
• is a good program that has worked exceptionally well, and just kudos to you and thank you for the cleanup

Bills: HF1082 , HF1042 , HF1295 , HF1686 , HF1998 , HF1775 , HF1163

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:58.359><c> fund</c> Federal fund projects and Highway fund Federal fund projects and Highway
• </c><01:49:42.760><c> funds</c> of the funds come from Highway funds of the funds come from Highway funds
• We believe it should be Highway-funded, so it may be shifting out of the general fund into the Highway
• </c><04:08:31.720><c> fund</c> do with the health of the highway fund do with the health of the highway
• </c> not good news to hear about the highway not good news to hear about the highway fund<04:08:50.040

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented its capital budget process and priorities, explaining that it maintains and operates 96 state buildings and uses annual facility walkthroughs, condition assessments, and rough cost estimates to rank projects for the governor’s capital budget. Officials described how requests are triaged, how the governor’s office and Public Works refine estimates, and how the resulting capital budget book serves as legislative intent for approved projects. They also noted that this year the governor’s office asked for estimates on all selected projects, which increased workload but reduced detail. The department highlighted several requested projects, including $1.5 million for the ERP system sustainability fund, which officials said is critical because the state is upgrading its core financial, HR, and budget system to the cloud. Other priorities included courthouse HVAC and boiler work, brick repointing at the State House annex/main building, window replacement at the Spalding building, and elevator replacement on the hospital campus. Officials also said the governor’s proposed capital budget included fewer DAS projects than in past years and asked the committee to consider funding closer to historic levels. The committee then reviewed lapse and reallocation items. DAS said most older projects are still in design, bid, or construction because projects now take four to six years rather than two to three, in part due to ARPA-related workload and post-COVID construction backlogs. Members discussed lapsing $81,000 from the completed Spalding roof project and redirecting small remaining balances from several 2019 projects toward the Hillsboro County South cell block project through the Capital Project Overview Committee. Officials also confirmed ARPA-funded projects are expected to be completed before the December 2026 deadline and explained that the ERP system is the main state IT exception outside DOIT’s usual centralized control, though it still requires DOIT consultation and approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• able to be out there all night and keep that from jumping over Highway 89.
• able to be out there all night and keep that from jumping over Highway 89.
• able to be out there all night and keep that from jumping over Highway 89.
• right along Highway 89 right along Highway 89 and<01:20:56.480><c> uh</c><01:20:56.640><c> local</c>
• And so it's jumping over the Highway 89.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is the Caltrans Highway Maintenance Program.
• We want them to go to streets, highways, At the ballot box, we want to restrict the use of those funds
• We want them to go to streets, highways, and certain mass transit activities.
• The other question I have relates to highway maintenance and that kind of question.
• Meanwhile, we're seeing with EVs and so on a reduction of highway transportation funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I brought up in committee: Is there anything that forces the Department of Highways to take those
• So I brought up in committee, is there anything that forces the Department of Highways to take those
• People working alongside the highway work in a very different environment.
• The highway workers work in a very different environment.
• This bill protects them, ensures that they can complete the necessary work to make our highways safer

Transcript Highlights:

• He asked members to imagine being on the road at night, getting in an accident, being robbed on a highway
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 2601 requires ADOT to request from the Federal Highway Administration
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 4027 designates Loop 202 as the Charlie Kirk Highway and requires all
• Members, House Bill 4027 designates Loop 202 as the Charlie Kirk Highway and requires all official state
• State Board on Geographic and Historic Names to rename United States Route 191 as Chief Barben Cito Highway

Summary: The meeting was a lengthy caucus-style review of many bills and resolutions across multiple committees, with staff giving brief descriptions and most items placed on consent or third-read consent calendars. Topics included appropriations, commerce, education, government, health and human services, environment, public safety, and transportation. Measures discussed ranged from school policy and board continuations to housing, water, public safety, licensing, and election-related changes. Several bills were noted as strike-everything amendments or as having been amended in committee. A number of bills drew sponsor comments or brief questions. In education, members discussed bills on teacher strikes, school math placement, school meals, student clubs, bond election disclosures, and a proposed commission on student outcomes. In health and human services, members discussed nursing board rules, pharmacist testing and treatment authority, medical records timelines, opioid antagonist expiration dates, and a proposed constitutional amendment on the right to refuse medical mandates. In government and public safety, members debated funding and staffing issues for DPS and corrections, including a proposed public safety parity fund, as well as bills on county sheriffs, legal representation for DPS, and corrections oversight funding. There was also discussion of election and local government measures, including inactive voter list procedures, circulator disclosure rules, and committee termination filings. Other topics included housing affordability districts, development fees, historic-area middle housing exemptions, water and groundwater management, environmental compatibility siting, and trade-related commissions. One notable exchange involved HB 4044, where members debated whether using rainy day fund interest for public safety pay was fiscally responsible; supporters argued it was a practical way to fund raises, while opponents said it would weaken the fund and should instead be handled through the general fund. No roll-call votes were taken in the transcript, and most items were simply presented, briefly discussed, and left on consent or third-read consent calendars.

Transcript Highlights:

• want to point out a few safety concerns that we would have as the Department of Public Safety, the Highway
• A few safety concerns that we would have as the Department of Public Safety, the Highway Patrol, the
• It is a significant percentage of the highway patrol that is up here.
• It is a significant percentage of the highway patrol that is up here.
• Yes, members, as you know, I've been working on some highway issues with wrecks, trucking remediation

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills covering property, criminal justice, public safety, courts, insurance, housing, and family law. Early measures included HB 4343, which would let district courts set appraiser fees in condemnation cases at levels more comparable to private appraisers, and HB 4125, restoring firearm rights to certain nonviolent felons after meeting requirements. The committee also approved HB 4126 on liability protections for dirt bike tracks, HB 3471 expanding information protections for ongoing investigations by OBN, ABLE, and the Corporation Commission, and HB 3407 clarifying the process for abandoned manufactured homes on private property. Several bills were advanced on recorded votes, generally with strong support, including HB 2933, an omnibus insurance consumer protection bill, and HB 3453, which shifts the burden of proof in eminent domain cases to the condemning authority after amendment. A major point of debate was HB 3094, which would allow SDA license holders to carry firearms in the Capitol. Representative Jenkins argued the bill would align Oklahoma with other states and protect constituents who must leave firearms in vehicles; Department of Public Safety Director Tipton opposed it, citing safety, threat-assessment, and manpower concerns. Committee members questioned the bill’s practical effects, including screening, tracking, and whether the Capitol is truly a gun-free zone. The motion to advance HB 3094 failed on a 4-5 vote. The committee also rejected HB 3727, which would impose a four-year waiting period before former legislators could register as lobbyists, after members raised constitutional and free-speech concerns and the sponsor defended it as a revolving-door restriction. Other notable measures included HB 3845, restoring a driver’s license revocation tool for chronic child-support delinquency; HB 1453, barring foreign entities and individuals tied to designated countries from owning Oklahoma real property or agricultural land and requiring divestment; HB 387, extending garnishment timelines to 30 days; HB 2941, creating overdose reporting and fentanyl-related death presumptions; HB 2959, tightening mandatory child-abuse reporting from schools to law enforcement; and HB 2945, creating a civil qui tam action against trafficking in abortion-inducing drugs, which drew extensive questions about standing, privacy, enforcement, and intent but ultimately failed 3-5. The committee also advanced bills on child custody interview standards, workplace violence protective orders, utility debt collection through tax refunds, eviction mediation to stabilize housing for children, AI chatbot protections for children, supported decision-making for adults with disabilities, commercial receiverships, charitable reporting protections, notice publication errors for municipalities, uniform wage garnishment procedures, and ending cost arrest warrants for unpaid court fines and fees. Most bills were reported out by recorded vote, often with sponsors noting they would continue working on language with stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Highway Patrol enforced, they would say this is legal gaming, give them a probable cause statement
• The Highway Patrol enforced, they would say this is legal gaming, give them a probable cause statement
• I walk in, if I'm Highway Patrol, I see the sticker on a machine. It looks legal.
• I think we'd be in a different world if the bill passed because, for one, the Highway Patrol can enforce
• the roads and the bridges. ...to contractors, the people that are putting the asphalt on the highways

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by a 134-0 roll call vote. Members then moved through a series of personal privileges and introductions of guests, including Turning Point USA chapters, CASA volunteers and staff, JAG students, university students, nursing students, interns, and other visitors recognized from across the state. On third reading, House Bill 1766, dealing with personal property tax treatment and new construction, was debated as a taxpayer relief measure. Supporters said it would treat personal property more like real estate under Hancock-style limits, while opponents warned it could reduce revenue for taxing districts. The bill passed 94-50. The House then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2989, a major gaming bill aimed at cracking down on illegal “gray market” machines while creating a regulated local-option video lottery terminal system. Debate focused on enforcement, local control, consumer protection, revenue for education, veterans, and disability programs, and whether the bill effectively legalized gambling in a new form. A motion to send it to Fiscal Review failed 69-44, and the bill ultimately passed 83-66 with one present. The chamber next considered House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2014, the supplemental appropriations bill. The sponsor said it provides a little over $3 billion in additional authority for the rest of FY2026, including tax refunds, disaster response, St. Louis tornado relief, Medicaid-related spending, and Missouri Department of Transportation operations. Members discussed the size of supplemental spending, the use of federal and general revenue funds, and the first-time use of general revenue for the adult expansion Medicaid population. The House adopted an amendment reducing some unused Medicaid authority, then adopted the bill as amended and perfected it for printing. The session ended with announcements, including a notice that the Super Committee on Tourism would meet immediately in Hearing Room 6.

Transcript Highlights:

• What about, um, the, you know, Highway Patrol or officers on the ground when they have roadblocks?
• What about, um, the, you know, Highway Patrol or officers on the ground when they have roadblocks?
• have to stop everybody, which makes them constitutional from my ... so that's why when you're on the highway
• have to stop everybody, which makes them constitutional from my ... so that's why when you're on the highway
• have to stop everybody, which makes them constitutional from my ... so that's why when you're on the highway

Committee: Joint Ports and Marine Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Annette Atkinson, and I am the owner of Highway 420, Poulsbo, and Highway 420 Silverdale,
• My name is Annette Atkinson, and I am the owner of Highway 420, Palsbo, and Highway 420 Silverdale, retail
• Highway 420, Palsbo and Highway 420, Silverdale, retail cannabis stores in Kitsap County.

Bills: SB6196 , SB6204 , SB6195 , SB5882 , SB6134

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: kratom, taxation, regulated substances, health safety, state revenue, cannabis, marijuana, home grow, home cultivation, personal cultivation, adult use cannabis, recreational marijuana, 21 and older, controlled substances, RCW 69.50, Liquor and Cannabis Board, LCB, plant limits, cannabis possession, cannabis concentrates

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a problem with recidivism when it comes to excessive speed on our highways.
• And for those who have been going down the highway at ...experience some of that.
• This bill creates accountability for those who are engaged in this reckless behavior on our highways,
• This is one reason why the highest speeds are reserved for limited-access and divided highways.
• The highest speeds are reserved for limited-access and divided highways.

Summary: The committee heard several public hearings on criminal justice and victim-related bills. SB 6087 would expand existing liability protections for donations of children’s items to include religious organizations and add strollers and car seats to the definition of children’s items; the sponsor said it would make it easier to donate usable baby equipment, and the Washington State Board of Health said it supported the goal but noted rulemaking and funding concerns under the original version. SB 5934 would change the standard for post-conviction DNA testing so courts must grant testing unless the state shows by clear and convincing evidence that the results could not demonstrate a likelihood of innocence; the Innocence Project and a DNA exoneree supported it as a way to reduce years of litigation, while prosecutors and sheriffs/police chiefs opposed it as a burden shift that could increase frivolous motions and strain lab and attorney resources. SB 5520 would revise Washington’s wrongful-conviction compensation law by broadening definitions, extending filing deadlines, removing the waiver requirement, and making other process changes; the sponsor and Innocence Project said it would reduce barriers and better fulfill the state’s promise to exonerees, and a DNA exoneree described years of litigation just to access compensation. The committee also heard SB 6017, which would expand victim-centered and trauma-informed protections. The bill would allow a court to appoint a representative to ask questions of victims when a defendant represents themself, extend forensic exam consent to minors 13 and older in non-fatal strangulation cases, add female genital mutilation survivors to protections similar to the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights, and reauthorize and broaden the Safe Advisory Group’s mandate. Survivors, advocates, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy strongly supported the bill, describing courtroom questioning by self-represented defendants as retraumatizing and urging broader access to services for FGM survivors; defense advocates raised constitutional concerns about limiting a pro se defendant’s right to personally question witnesses and said the bill could be vulnerable to challenge without narrower guardrails. The hearing drew extensive survivor testimony, and the chair noted 108 people signed in support and one opposed. Finally, the committee heard SB 5890, which would create an alternative reckless-driving offense for driving more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. The sponsor, a former firefighter, framed the bill as an accountability measure aimed at preventing severe crashes caused by extreme speeding. A committee member asked about officer discretion in emergencies, and the sponsor said the bill targets excessive speed while acknowledging that some situations may still be problematic. A preliminary fiscal note had been received.

Transcript Highlights:

• reside in Minot need new office space: the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the North Dakota Highway
• And the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
• Housing the North Dakota Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation increases the sharing
• better situated geographically for moving in and around the city of Minot, with quick access to the highway
• The proposed location gives the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the North Dakota Highway Patrol

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then moved through a series of conference committee appointments and reconsideration motions. Senator Axtman successfully moved to reconsider House Bill 1160, which had previously failed, and the chamber later passed it. HB 1160 creates a statewide bell-to-bell policy restricting personal electronic devices during instructional time; supporters argued it would reduce distractions, improve mental health and academic outcomes, and help teachers, while opponents raised local control concerns. The bill passed 42-4. The Senate also passed several other measures, including HB 1247 on protecting student victims of sexual offenses, HB 1489 consolidating civil protection orders into one chapter, HB 1032 making municipal courts courts of record and updating related procedures, HB 1487 authorizing a Minot facility for the Highway Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Investigation with a line of credit and emergency clause, HB 1469 requiring annual online statements of interest for public officials, HB 1199 creating the Missing and Indigenous People Task Force and related MMIP initiatives, HB 1169 regulating paid veterans benefits claim assistance with consumer protections, HB 1209 directing a foreign adversary threat assessment, and HB 3018 as amended to study water, wetlands, and taxation of inundated lands. Most of these passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 1169 drew substantial debate over veterans’ service options and HB 1209 passed on a narrower 40-7 vote. The chamber rejected or declined several other measures. HB 1455, which would have required the Indian Affairs Commission to review introduced legislation for tribal implications, failed 7-40 after concerns about an unfunded mandate and duplicative duties. HB 1259, which would have put North Dakota on year-round daylight saving time, was defeated 15-32 after debate over time zones, construction, recreation, and whether the issue should be left to future legislatures. HB 1555, dealing with statements of ownership for foreign organizations of concern, also failed 3-44. The Senate then moved to announcements and committee scheduling for later meetings and conference committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a bill that was drafted around a circumstance that happened in my district personally along Highway
• Along Highway 30, in April of 2021, there was a serious car accident that had happened where a man was
• He blew a .192, and this happened in Jefferson County on Highway 30 and Upper Burns Mill Road, and of
• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 283 people were killed in impaired-driving
• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 283 people were killed in impaired-driving

Committee: House Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 3144 and House Bill 3160, both dealing with appeals of preliminary injunctions. The sponsors said the bills would allow a party to appeal a preliminary injunction more broadly, rather than limiting that right to the Attorney General, and they described the measure as a response to prior litigation and equal protection concerns. Supporters, including a Campaign Life Missouri lobbyist and Attorney General’s office counsel, argued the change would align Missouri practice with federal interlocutory appeal rules and protect both sides from harm while litigation is pending. Some members questioned whether the bills were aimed at pending Amendment 3 litigation and raised concerns about fairness and whether the language should apply evenly to all parties; the sponsors said one bill would be amended to match the other. No vote was taken on these bills during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 1910, “Bentley and Mason’s Law,” which would require a person convicted of driving while intoxicated or drug-impaired driving that causes the death of a parent or guardian to pay child maintenance to the surviving children, with support continuing until age 18 or longer if the child is in college, and with arrearages addressed after release from incarceration. Representative Williams and several family members and victims testified in strong support, describing the bill as a deterrent and a way to hold impaired drivers financially accountable for the children left behind. Supporters said similar laws have passed in other states and cited a Tennessee case as an example of the law working in practice. Committee members asked about how maintenance would be calculated, whether the offender’s income would be considered, how civil judgments would interact with the maintenance order, and whether arrearages should accrue during incarceration; the sponsor said the bill could be refined and that those issues could be worked out. Opposition to HB 1910 was limited, but one law enforcement witness said he supported the concept despite being listed as opposition, and another witness from MADD strongly endorsed the bill. The hearing ended with no action on HB 1910. In executive session, the committee voted HJR 130 do pass by a vote of 13-0. It then considered HB 2086, a bill relating to the practice of law, which drew constitutional and separation-of-powers concerns from several members; the final vote was 7-7, and the bill was reported as due pass despite the tie.

Transcript Highlights:

• background here: some of you may recall Senate Bill 1201 of 2018 ended the fund distribution from the highway
• And the law enforcement fund no longer receives distribution from the highway distribution account.
• Some of you may recall Senate Bill 1201 of 2018 ended the fund distribution from the highway distribution
• account to the 1 of 2018 ended the fund distribution from the highway distribution account to the law
• And the law enforcement fund no longer receives distribution from the highway distribution account.

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee reviewed the Idaho State Police budget, including the Division of Idaho State Police, POST Academy, and the Brand Inspection Division. Legislative analyst Noah Peterson outlined funding sources, staffing levels, recent budget enhancements, and the fiscal year 2027 requests. For the state police division, the main new request was a $12.6 million commissioned officer pay plan tied to a proposed increase in the vehicle registration “project choice” fee from $3 to $12, along with a $500,000 federal grant increase for commercial vehicle safety, a $551,500 mobile live-scan pilot, and $3.2 million in replacement items. Peterson and Colonel Gardner explained that the pay plan is intended to make ISP compensation more competitive and to fund base pay in a way that allows future CEC increases to apply to the full salary rather than only part of it. Colonel Gardner gave extensive testimony on staffing shortages, vacancy patterns in districts such as Lewiston and Idaho Falls, and the difficulty of retaining trained troopers after three to five years when other agencies offer higher pay. He said the agency is using overtime, reduced travel, and strategic deployment to cover gaps, but warned that vacancies are affecting public safety and that the proposed pay plan is needed to stabilize staffing. Committee members questioned the size of the fee increase, the sustainability of the plan, and the effect on trooper pay. Gardner said the request was based on what is needed to sustain the plan for about 10 years and emphasized that commissioned officers and troopers are the same group in this context. The committee also heard that a trooper injured in a fentanyl seizure the day before was receiving medical evaluation, and members expressed support for ISP personnel. The committee then reviewed POST, where Peterson said the academy has 31 FTP and no ongoing fiscal year 2027 enhancement requests beyond $324,100 for replacement items. Administrator Brad Johnson explained that POST’s basic academy costs about $10,700 per student for a 14-week course, while ISP’s internal trooper training and first-year costs are much higher because they include equipment, wages, room and board, and other expenses. He said students sign a two-year repayment agreement if they leave the profession after training. Members asked about agency-run academies, college programs, and whether the training model could be extended, and Johnson said POST remains the only accredited academy in Idaho and has received top national accreditation scores. Finally, the Brand Inspection Division budget was reviewed. Peterson said the division is funded by the State Brand Board Fund and has no new ongoing requests for fiscal year 2027, only $288,100 in replacement items, including six trucks and computer equipment. Brand Inspector Cody Burlisle said most inspectors are POST-certified and perform both regulatory inspections and law-enforcement duties. Committee members praised the division for keeping vehicles in service for high mileage and for helping livestock producers during gathers and inspections. The meeting ended with instructions for members to attend work groups and a reminder that votes on transfers, rescissions, and reductions would occur later in the week, followed by adjournment until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also deals with Highway Patrol off-duty vehicle usage, ensuring that the fees go back to the General
• you are passing or changing lanes in excess of 100 miles an hour; or if you are on a limited access highway
• Senator DeSgli's bill, which will actually raise the speed limit five miles per hour on limited access highways
• to do 125 miles per hour on the But now we're talking about having to do 125 miles per hour on the highway
• It's not a highway. I think that's the right spot.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice considered and advanced a series of criminal justice bills, with most measures reported favorably after brief presentations, amendments, and roll-call votes. Among the bills approved were CS/SB 468 on fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, which increases offense levels and allows impoundment of involved vehicles; CS/SB 1136 on age as an element of a criminal offense, which strengthens protections for minors and was amended to adjust age thresholds and luring/enticement language; CS/SB 144 on criminal justice, which was narrowed by substitute amendment after discussion with law enforcement and includes provisions on kill switches, body cameras/AI, first responder recognition, and other corrections-related items; and CS/SB 1782, which creates penalties for dangerous excessive speeding. The committee also favorably reported CS/SB 964 on objective parole guidelines, CS/SB 1450 on arrest and detention of individuals with significant medical conditions, CS/SB 612 on murder involving unlawful drug distribution by minors, CS/SB 1838 on tampering with or harassing court officials, CS/SB 716 on enhanced penalties for sexual offenses by repeat offenders, CS/SB 1604 on corrections, and CS/SB 1360 on xylazine, which preserves veterinary use while increasing penalties for illicit trafficking and possession for sale. Several bills drew substantive testimony and debate. CS/SB 1838 prompted concerns from the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers that the tampering language could be applied to prosecutors or defense attorneys; the sponsor said he would work to refine the language. CS/SB 964 received support from criminal defense advocates and a witness who argued Florida’s parole system needs revision due to prison overcrowding and staffing issues. CS/SB 1604 generated questions about inmate access to courts, the statute of limitations for confinement claims, and involuntary mental health treatment; the sponsor said the bill aims to balance inmate rights with timely reporting and to address bad actors in corrections. CS/SB 1360 was supported as a response to the spread of xylazine on the street, while noting its legitimate veterinary use. The most contested measure was CS/SB 1804 on capital sex trafficking. The bill would create a capital offense for adult trafficking of a child under 12 or a mentally incapacitated person under specified circumstances, with a life-felony fallback if capital punishment is later found unconstitutional. Supporters argued it targets especially heinous conduct and closes a gap in existing law; opponents, including the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and anti-death-penalty advocates, argued it expands the death penalty beyond homicide, raises constitutional concerns, risks retraumatizing victims, and would be costly to litigate. After extensive debate, the committee adopted an amendment aligning the bill with the House companion and reported the bill favorably. The committee also approved SB 776 adding an aggravating factor for assassination or attempted assassination of a head of state, despite objections from some members who voted no. At the end of the meeting, the chair thanked members for the session, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You just got tripped, okay, Corridor H and Coalfield Expressways, two top highway priorities for the
• From our endless highways, bridges, and tunnels, to city skyscrapers, water treatment centers, to our
• Whether it's turning the lights on in the morning, or commuting to work on a highway, it's likely a laborer
• In other words, we don't put a highway patrolman on every car on the interstate.
• communities and it's the same way could happen at the federal government The federal government used highway

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Keywords: environmental review, permitting process, infrastructure, bipartisan legislation, economic growth, Nucor, West Virginia

Summary: The meeting focused on critical discussions surrounding the need for modernizing the federal environmental review and permitting processes. Witnesses from various sectors, including Nucor, provided testimony on the delays and costs associated with current regulations, emphasizing the impact on infrastructure and economic growth. Major projects in West Virginia, such as the Corridor H and Coalfield Expressways, were highlighted as examples of initiatives stalled by excessive permitting hurdles, prompting calls for bipartisan legislation to streamline these processes while maintaining environmental protections. The committee expressed a commitment to address these issues immediately, highlighting the urgency to enhance efficiency in permitting to facilitate economic development.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're on the highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.
• high<00:09:18.000><c> We're</c><00:09:18.240><c> on</c><00:09:18.400><c> the</c><00:09:18.520><c> highway
• </c><00:09:18.839><c> to</c><00:09:18.960><c> climate</c> high We're on the highway to climate high We're
• on the highway to climate hell<00:09:19.480><c> with</c><00:09:19.680><c> our</c><00:09:19.800><c> foot

Bills: SCR142 , SCR39 , SCR40 , SCR83 , SCR168 , SCR96 , SCR166 , SCR172

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Summary: The Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection held its final hearing of the session on April 17, 2026, and took up a series of Senate concurrent resolutions focused on environmental protection, waste reduction, and energy policy. Measures discussed included SCR 142 on dust monitoring near Waimanalo Gulch, SCR 39 on a mattress stewardship program, SCR 40 on banning disposable bodyboards, SCR 83 on a lithium-ion battery disposal facility, SCR 168 on a demolition waste reduction working group, SCR 96 on reporting on the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, SCR 166 on PUC considerations for a generational energy commitment, and SCR 172 on a comprehensive analysis to reduce costs and financial risk while meeting state goals. Testimony was generally supportive of the environmental and waste-management measures. The Department of Health supported SCR 39 and provided comments on SCR 142; Climate Protectors Hawaii supported SCR 39, SCR 83, SCR 168, and SCR 172; the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and Hawaii Reef and Ocean's Coalition submitted comments or support on SCR 168; and the Public Utilities Commission provided comments on SCR 96 and SCR 166. On SCR 166, Greenpeace Hawaii testified in opposition to LNG, arguing it would worsen pollution and climate impacts, while Earthjustice supported the intent but suggested amendments. Earthjustice also supported SCR 172 and offered friendly amendments to improve the study language. In decision-making, the chair recommended deferral of SCR 142 because an existing regulatory framework already addresses the issue. The committee then voted to pass SCR 39, SCR 40, SCR 83, SCR 96, and SCR 166 unamended. SCR 168 was passed with amendments to reflect OPSD's requested changes and to make the working group temporary, with a two-year term and annual reports due before session. SCR 172 was passed with amendments accepted from Earthjustice. Rep. Quinlan was noted as excused for the votes, and the committee adjourned after adopting the final recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I move that the House request that the Senate return House Bill 4027, the Charlie Kirk Highway
• , SB 1673, SB 1720, SB 1754, SB 1776, SB 1818, SB 1829, and SCM 1006, PFC Michael Nolene Memorial Highway
• , SB 1673, SB 1720, SB 1754, SB 1776, SB 1818, SB 1829, and SCM 1006, PFC Michael Nolene Memorial Highway
• SCM 1006, PFC Michael Nolene Memorial Highway.

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Jasleen Chatwal. Members also introduced a number of guests and visiting groups, including Irish dignitaries for St. Patrick’s Day recognition, labor organizations such as AFSCME and CWA, the Arizona Farm Bureau, the Arizona chapter of the American College of Surgeons for Stop the Bleed training, and advocates for rare skeletal conditions. A proclamation recognizing St. Patrick’s Day was read, and the House later heard a proclamation honoring AFSCME Arizona. On the floor, the House took up several procedural motions, including requests to have the Senate return HB 4027 and HB 2444 for reconsideration, and received multiple Senate bills on first and second reading. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole and approved HB 2750 with a friendly floor amendment, sending it forward as amended. The House also sent HB 2999 to an additional Committee of the Whole, adopted a floor amendment, and advanced it as amended for engrossing. During third reading, HB 2197, relating to water access and camping near water sources, failed on reconsideration after members debated whether it imposed unnecessary criminal penalties and enforcement concerns. HB 2429, relating to vacation and short-term rentals, passed after supporters said it restored local control to cities and towns. HB 2950, creating special districts for tourism improvement areas, passed after amendments made participation voluntary and added notice requirements. HB 4001, relating to nicotine products, also passed after debate over youth vaping, enforcement authority, and whether the bill struck the right balance between regulation and parental responsibility. The House then made committee announcements and adjourned until Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• An act relating to financing of highway projects, providing for a...
• An act relating to financing of highway projects, providing for additional bonding authority to the State
• Transportation Commission for state highway projects identified in the statewide transportation improvement
• program, requiring the Department of Transportation to include a report on highway project selection

Transcript Highlights:

• College Station Police Department was in pursuit of her, and she made a turn and began to go down Highway
• For all of you Aggies that travel from Houston know how busy that highway is.
• For all of you Aggies that travel from Houston know how busy that highway is.
• Police Department stopped their pursuit at that point, but Navasota PD was in pursuit going north on Highway

Bills: SJR36

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard the daily invocation, approved the previous day’s journal, and received a House message announcing passage of H.C.R. 54, which authorizes the legislature to adjourn for more than three days during a specified period. The chamber then took up several recognitions, including Senate Resolution 8 honoring Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Advocacy Day, a recognition of the Texas A&M University System Chancellor’s Student Advisory Council, a delegation from Dimmit County, and the doctor of the day, Dr. Hosey Hinojosa. The main floor business centered on Senate Resolution 15, commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the start of Texas Holocaust Remembrance Week. Senators King, Menendez, Bettencourt, Perry, Hughes, Hinojosa, Campbell, Hall, Cook, Paxton, West, Parker, and others spoke in support, emphasizing Holocaust history, the rise of anti-Semitism, the importance of education, and solidarity with Israel. The resolution was adopted without objection, and Senator Bettencourt moved to add all senators’ names. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 17, recognizing Sexual Assault Survivors Day, with remarks focused on the prevalence of sexual violence, underreporting, support for survivors, and the need for prevention and stronger systems of response. The Senate then adopted Senate Resolution 14 in memory of Brazoria County Sheriff’s Deputy Jesse Vargas, who was killed in the line of duty, with Senators Middleton and Huffman highlighting his service and using the occasion to call for tougher measures against violent offenders. Additional resolutions SR 3, SR 4, SR 5, SR 6, SR 7, SR 11, and SR 12 were adopted together, and SR 54 granting permission for adjournment for more than three days was approved by a 31-0 roll call vote. The chamber also recognized Leadership Frisco Class No. 28 and later honored former Senator Dr. Joe J. Bernal and, upon adjournment, Sergeant Mark Allen Butler of the Navasota Police Department. The Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in memory of Deputy Vargas and Sergeant Butler.