Transcript Highlights:

• Traditionally, these girls would have had the opportunity to tour the State Capitol in fourth grade with
• "Today, they've come to Annapolis for the first time to see their State Capitol, and we greatly appreciate

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate convened with a quorum present and began the session with an invocation by Rabbi Ari Goldstein of Temple Beth Shalom, who urged senators to listen carefully, act with humility and integrity, and keep policy focused on real people and practical justice. His remarks were journalized without objection. The chamber also welcomed several guests, including a senior Girl Scout troop from Jefferson, family members of a senator, and visiting teachers, educators, and students from the College Board Foundation. The main floor action was a resolution recognizing Korean-American Day and honoring the Korean Society of Maryland and the broader Korean American community for their contributions to Maryland and the nation. The sponsor highlighted the community’s history since the first Korean immigrants arrived in North America in 1903 and named several Korean American leaders present in the gallery. The resolution was read in full and adopted unanimously, with applause and thanks extended to the guests. The Senate then handled first-reader bill introductions: Senate Bill 280, relating to state parks terminology in the Natural Resources/Education/Energy/Environment committees, and Senate Bill 281, the Metro Funding Modification Act of 2026, referred to Budget and Taxation. Leadership noted that the early weeks of session would be committee-heavy, with most bills going to standing committees rather than the floor. Committee chairs then gave scheduling updates, including truncated hearing formats due to bill volume, upcoming hearings on longevity, the AHEAD model and emergency department wait times, election law bills, controller briefings, and departmental hearings. The Senate adjourned without objection until Wednesday, January 21, for a 10:00 a.m. pro forma session.

Transcript Highlights:

• with professionalism and attention to detail, securing the safety of everyone who comes into the Capitol
• with professionalism and attention to detail, securing the safety of everyone who comes into the Capitol

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 6 January, 2026; 12:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Mississippi Senate convened on January 6, 2026, with a quorum present and opened the session with an invocation by Pastor Jonathan Vasquez and the Pledge of Allegiance. The chamber then administered the oath of office to newly elected and reelected senators, reaffirming their constitutional duties. After that, the Senate organized for the session by nominating and electing Jimmy Jordan as sergeant-at-arms by acclamation, followed by his oath of office. The Senate also recognized several guests and pages, including senior pages Caleb Bierman and Walter Townsend, Dr. Catherine Penhal as doctor of the day, Gerald Mumford, Jackson Mayor John Horhn, Jean Frazier, Mayor Uta Peterson, and Angela Simpson. Members offered multiple announcements and adjournment-in-memory requests honoring several deceased individuals and family members, including Ronnie Massey, Kathy Luke, Jimmy Alexander, Matt McElhaney, Sandra Farr Aiken, Amy Nixon Jackson, Robert L. Bobby Butler, John Buckman, Bonnie L. Monroe, Louis Smith, Davis Gray, David Wayne McClendon, Wells Warren McClendon, Shepherd Thomas McClendon, Yancey Burns, Dorothy Shackelford Stanfill, and Buddy Hollowell. The Senate also announced committee meetings: Public Health would meet after adjournment, Appropriations would meet 10 minutes after recess in Room 216, and Education would meet 5 minutes after Appropriations in Room 216. Finally, Senator Blackwell moved that the Senate stand in recess until 5:00 p.m., with the journal reflecting adjournment until 10:00 a.m. the next morning; the motion passed and the Senate recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• era, and a lot of the old property appraisers you would look at, there's a picture of them on the Capitol
• that era, and a lot of the old property appraisers you would look, there's a picture of them on the Capitol

Summary: The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Property Appraisers Association of Florida on ad valorem valuation, exemptions, and the property tax process. Lauren Levy reviewed the legal and historical framework of Florida property taxation, including Save Our Homes, the 10% cap on non-homestead assessments, portability, tangible personal property exemptions, TRIM notices, and the distinction between taxable value and millage rates. He emphasized that property appraisers are independent constitutional officers who assess just value, administer exemptions, and are overseen by the Department of Revenue, with values and exemptions generally determined as of January 1 and subject to challenge through the Value Adjustment Board or circuit court. Mike Twitty described the mass appraisal process in Pinellas County, explaining how property appraisers value large numbers of parcels using the same core approaches as fee appraisals but with statistical testing, field reviews, aerial imagery, and technology. He discussed the importance of budget, staffing, and the January 1 valuation date, and noted that recent hurricanes caused significant damage, increased petitions, and required new procedures to help property owners with value reductions and FEMA-related issues. Paul Polk focused on Department of Revenue oversight, explaining sales ratio studies, uniformity measures such as COD and PRD, time adjustments, sales qualification reviews, and in-depth studies that can lead to corrective action if assessment standards are not met. He also noted that the Department reviews property appraiser budgets to preserve independence from county pressure. Senators asked about the supersized homestead concept, DOR review and rejection standards, value trends, and the impact of storms and new construction on taxable value. Twitty and Polk said value growth has been driven by a mix of new construction, market appreciation, cap resets, and storm-related adjustments, while noting that some counties saw market value decline even as taxable value rose. They also said some property tax relief proposals would be easier to implement than others depending on how local tax bills are structured, especially where law enforcement millage is separately identified. No votes were taken on legislation, and the committee adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• That we frequently deal with here around the Capitol for information and expertise, and they're good.
• I think all of us would say that if that happened here in the Capitol, that it's wrong and it should

Bills: HB2226, HB2269, HB2343, HB2760, HB3621, HB4079, HB4204, HB4518, HB4531, HB4555, HB4850, HB4876, HB4903, HB4996, HB5122

Keywords: construction trust funds, Property Code, Chapter 162, construction payments, mechanics lien, contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, materialmen, real property improvement, assignment of payment rights, unpaid trust funds, trust fund beneficiaries, construction industry, payment protection, Texas construction law, property owners association, landscaping, grass maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• Mary in her tomato red coat and white curls bouncing as she walked through the halls of the State Capitol
• wasn't there, putting her subtle classic "Mary's Touch" in our schools in Duluth and here at the Capitol

Transcript Highlights:

• In our Capitol building.
• the best news she said was that 2 people were arrested, uh, several others were removed from the Capitol

Transcript Highlights:

• of the case at this moment but I share that because we have to understand this issue can be very complex
• It's gotten so complex that it's hard to keep up and we do our best and I'm not complaining.
• HB 6 responds to these complex systemic.
• Um, we are looking for, this looks kind of like oversimplification. something that is very complex and
• It's complex.

Bills: HB6, HB27, HB 123, HB210, HB213, HB222, HB610, HB 1085, HB1481, HB6, HB27, HB123, HB210, HB213, HB222

Keywords: mental health, telehealth, public schools, discipline management, behavioral interventions, financial literacy, high school education, curriculum requirements, economics, personal finance, HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the most consistent concerns we heard from small business owners was the overwhelming complexity
• And so it's a complex. long-term project. We're having to stand up.
• Investigation take Depending on the complexities of the matter it could be anywhere from Six months to
• We became familiar with it as part of the discussion in the complexity around maintaining it and I'd
• I'm trying to get to the bottom of a complex problem that we need to continue to work on.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They had a tour of the Capitol.
• extent that there is a settlement, there is agreement on certain terms, and typically, they may be complex
• EXTENT THAT THERE IS A SETTLEMENT, THERE IS AGREEMENT ON CERTAIN TERM, AND TYPICALLY, THEY MAY BE COMPLEX

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions, including students from Brooklyn and St. John’s University, followed by adoption of the resolution calendar with exceptions for two items. The chamber then took up a series of previously adopted resolutions recognizing Black Maternal Health Week, Workplace Violence Prevention Month, the one-year anniversary of the Jet Set nightclub tragedy in the Dominican Republic, New York Constitution Day, and the Month of the Military Child. Senators speaking on the maternal health resolution emphasized racial disparities in maternal mortality and the need for culturally competent care; the workplace violence resolution highlighted hospital safety programs; the Jet Set resolution was adopted in memory of the victims; and the Constitution Day speech reviewed New York’s delayed but eventual support for independence in 1776. The military child resolution stressed the sacrifices of military families and support for children of service members. All of these resolutions were adopted, and the resolutions were opened to co-sponsorship. The Senate then moved through the third reading calendar, passing several bills and laying others aside. Measures passed included bills on public health, environmental conservation, executive law, public authorities, and consumer protection. One notable debate involved a bill to require transparency from private arbitration organizations handling consumer cases; supporters argued it would provide basic public data and guard against conflicts of interest, while opponents said it would burden a useful dispute-resolution process and intrude on privacy. The bill passed after debate. Another debated bill would phase out number 4 heating oil statewide; supporters said cleaner alternatives exist and the fuel is harmful to public health, while opponents raised cost and transition concerns, especially for colder regions. That bill also passed. The chamber also considered a bill to create a rebate program for battery-powered landscaping equipment, funded through utility-related mechanisms administered by NYSERDA. Supporters said it would reduce air and noise pollution and help companies transition, while opponents argued ratepayers should not subsidize landscaping equipment. The bill passed after being restored to the non-controversial calendar. Finally, the Senate began discussion of a housing-related bill aimed at preserving manufactured home parks by enabling nonprofits or municipalities to acquire development rights and keep the land dedicated to that use, with the sponsor explaining that the goal is to protect affordable housing and help residents remain in their homes.

Transcript Highlights:

• the good fortune to meet with a constituent just the other day during guardian ad litem day at the Capitol
• Although I would say, with something this complex, the way we've always worked is if people bring things
• Although I would say, with something this complex, the way we've always worked is if people bring things

Bills: HF3874, HF962

Keywords: judicial funding, Chief Justice security, fiscal year 2028, court system, judicial branch

Transcript Highlights:

• And the second part of that is do we have the granularity on those wells to understand some of the complex
• Chairman: I do real quick, I want to announce today is Jacksonville Day at the state capitol, and I've
• There's a tremendous amount of complexity there.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You've heard it here time and time again from countless students who've come to the state capitol, who
• I like it more in a whole complex and a complement of ideas. Right?
• it more<01:41:41.640> in<01:41:42.000> a more in a more in a whole<01:41:43.120> complex
• whole complex and a complement of ideas. whole complex and a complement of ideas. Right?

Bills: HF4252

Keywords: higher education, student aid, financial aid, grant programs, scholarships, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, community college, technical college, postsecondary institution, college affordability, student fees, athletic facilities, competitive athletics, developmental education, remedial courses, pregnant students, parenting students, priority registration

Transcript Highlights:

• information sensitive, much like we consider the leases that we have in our apartments up here at the Capitol
• confused by the numbers that are being thrown out, and that's what I think makes this conversation so complex
• makes this and that's what I think makes this conversation<01:04:42.960> so<01:04:44.000> complex
• <01:04:44.400> and<01:04:44.720> timeconuming conversation so complex and timeconuming
• conversation so complex and timeconuming is<01:04:45.680> we<01:04:45.839> have<01:04:

Bills: HF3830, HF3688

Keywords: utilities, rate cases, cost recovery, reporting requirements, gas infrastructure, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• sounds pretty straightforward, but in practice it really oversimplifies something that is far more complex
• Specifically, at a time where our broader state system has too few beds for all sorts of complex medical
• Specifically, at a time where our broader state system has too few beds for all sorts of complex medical
• For all sorts of complex medical and justice needs, it is important to focus local property tax dollars
• Um, and then what will happen after that is that if you come back to the Capitol, your neighbors will

Bills: HF4077, HF3798, HF3886

Keywords: municipal nondisclosure agreement, NDA, public records, transparency, local government, county, city, town, school district, housing and redevelopment authority, economic development authority, port authority, economic development, land development, public financing, tax increment financing, TIF, abatement, municipal bonds, debt obligations

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> It's a complex name. Sorry about that. >> Yeah, it's chair.
• James Malisious. >> It's a complex name. Sorry about that. >> Yeah, it's chair.
• >> It's a complex name. Sorry about that. >> It's a complex name. Sorry about that.
• This is our Friday, February 6, 2026, 9:30 a.m. agenda in Conference Room 229 at the Hawaii State Capitol

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related measures, with most of the discussion focused on bills addressing tobacco/vape enforcement, psychology licensure, hospital price transparency, prior authorization, and medical cannabis. The chair opened by explaining the one-minute testimony limit and that written testimony had been reviewed. For SB 2175 on disposable electronic smoking devices, the Department of Health said the bill’s placement in litter-control law was not a good fit because disposable e-cigarettes contain hazardous materials like lithium and nicotine, but it supported the intent and pointed to a related measure. Public health and tobacco-control advocates strongly supported the bill, citing youth use, toxic waste, battery fires, and the need to tighten definitions and remove exemptions; a long list of organizations and individuals were noted in support, with no opposition mentioned. For SB 2410, which would create a state directory and enforcement tools for authorized e-cigarette products, the Attorney General’s office strongly supported the measure and said it would help enforce the FDA-authorized list of products through certification, inspections, and civil penalties. The Department of Health said thousands of illegal products remain on the market and cited youth usage rates, while public health groups also supported the bill. One tobacco industry-related witness was noted in opposition. SB 2080, the psychology interjurisdictional compact, drew support from the Department of Corrections, which said it had severe staffing shortages and that the compact would help fill gaps, especially for forensic psychology and neighbor island facilities. Some committee members raised concerns about whether the compact would loosen licensure standards and reduce licensing revenue, and the Board of Psychology was said to be meeting and had not taken a formal position; testimony also noted the need for resources if the compact were adopted. The committee also heard SB 2276 on surgical assistance, with DCCA in opposition and a supporter from the field, but little discussion followed. SB 2277 on hospital price transparency drew support from consumer and patient advocates, who argued that clearer pricing would reduce medical debt and help patients shop for care; DCCA and the Department of Health offered comments, with the department suggesting an alternative enforcement model using outside review entities and noting that implementation would require significant staffing and funding. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii opposed the bill, saying federal transparency rules already cover the issue and state law could create duplication. SB 2282 on prior authorization received comments from insurers and providers; HMSA asked that the bill be set aside pending the report of the prior authorization working group created by Act 151, while the Hawaii Medical Association said prior authorization is a major burden but deferred to regulators on resources. Finally, SB 2413 on medical cannabis was supported by the Office of Medical Cannabis and others, who said the bill would close a patient-access gap by allowing viable seed sales; one witness suggested clarifying jurisdictional language and allowing dispensaries to sell seeds to each other. The committee then began SB 2425 on health insurance, where an addiction treatment provider testified that insurers’ refusal to honor assignment-of-benefits payments can delay reimbursement and create relapse risk for patients, but the transcript cuts off before further action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said that the proposed amendments add unnecessary complexity to the program that already is working
• The proposed amendments add unnecessary<00:18:03.919> complexity<00:18:04.400> to<00:18
• :04.640> the<00:18:04.799> program unnecessary complexity to the program unnecessary complexity
• Through government legislation, through the legislation we write here at the Capitol, we subsidize many

Bills: HF2634, HF2241, HF2649, HF2520, HF2610

Keywords: North Star Promise, scholarship, higher education, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in-demand jobs, workforce development, career training, job market, high-demand occupations, high-demand industries, college aid, state financial aid, FAFSA, student eligibility, program of study, degree program, certificate program, community college, university, labor market data

Transcript Highlights:

• I happen to take this exit every day to and from coming to the Capitol. I know some of us, Mr.
• That intersection is very complex and very dangerous.
• 59:43.839> very with a jurn that intersection is very with a jurn that intersection is very complex
• 44.839> and<00:59:45.039> very<00:59:45.280> dangerous<00:59:45.920> it's complex
• and very dangerous it's complex and very dangerous it's high-speed<00:59:46.760> traffic<00:59

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Capitol here. Mr. Chair, Chair Gomez, thank you.
• We understand that this is a complex matter with many ideas and solutions, and I think the core, you
• is<01:13:32.639> a know we understand that this is a know we understand that this is a complex
• 33.679> with<01:13:33.840> many<01:13:34.120> ideas<01:13:34.440> and complex
• matter with many ideas and complex matter with many ideas and solutions<01:13:36.000> um<01:13

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• February 17th, 2026, 10:00 a.m. decision-making agenda in Conference Room 229 at the Hawaii State Capitol

Bills: SB2738

Keywords: tax haven, corporate tax, foreign subsidiaries, income reporting, state revenue, transparency, tax law, penalties, apportionment, economic policy, 912, senate, all

Summary: The meeting reconvened on Senate Bill 2760 during the Tuesday, February 17, 2026 decision-making agenda in Conference Room 229 at the Hawaii State Capitol. The only action discussed was a recommendation to defer action on the measure for one additional day. Members were informed that the committee would reconvene in Room 229 on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 10:07 a.m. to consider action on the bill. No vote was taken on the measure at this session. The meeting was then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Remember, please have either your Capitol ID card or your driver's license so you can get in.