Transcript Highlights:

• Limited access facilities are those roads where the owners or occupants of the abutting land have no
• However, there are unique cases where the utility facility is located in one municipality but owned by
• The owner municipality imposes a 25% surcharge on the residents where the facility is located.
• SB 202 will ensure that a municipality operating a water facility must charge a recipient municipality
• Similar to somebody who's trespassing on a posted construction site has the same penalty.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions recognizing guests, students, advocates, and a resolution honoring the late USF men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim. Senators also observed moments of silence for victims of recent campus violence and for former FSU President John Thrasher. The chamber then moved to special order bills, with several members explaining measures and, in some cases, substituting House companions before final passage. Among the bills passed were measures updating child care and early learning provider regulation; strengthening penalties and cost recovery for false reporting and swatting; extending protections against extraordinary medical debt collection; expanding hazardous walking condition criteria for schoolchildren; creating young adult housing support for foster and homeless students; and requiring private schools participating in the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program to disclose which accommodations they will provide. The Senate also passed a bill adjusting interest rules for trust accounts funding legal aid, after extended debate over the impact on legal aid funding and banking practices, and a transportation package that was heavily amended to address issues such as school bus camera hearings, beach vehicle use for equipment removal, flooded-street wake restrictions, expectant mother parking permits, micromobility regulation, and traffic signal modernization. The chamber also approved public-records exemptions for Agency for Health Care Administration investigators, Judicial Qualifications Commission employees, and appellate court clerks; a municipal water and sewer rate bill affecting Miami-Dade residents near a plant; motor vehicle offenses involving impersonating law enforcement and obscured license plates; trespass penalties at law-enforcement-controlled locations and large ticketed venues; refund requirements for patient overpayments; stem cell therapy authorization with source and consent limits; and insulin administration authority for direct support professionals and relatives in group homes. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including cardiac emergencies, chemicals and consumer products, and motor vehicle manufacturer/franchise dealer legislation. Most measures passed with strong bipartisan support, though the trust fund interest bill drew notable opposition and passed 28-10, and the Family Empowerment Scholarship bill passed 37-1.

Transcript Highlights:

• 19, and reviewed and approved emergency rules for DHS regarding psychiatric residential treatment facility
• 19, and reviewed and approved emergency rules for DHS regarding psychiatric residential treatment facility
• Two, approved waiver requests from school districts for cooperative purchasing and construction services
• The subcommittee heard testimony from the Arkansas State Crime Lab regarding the construction and the
• timeline for the new crime lab that is under construction.

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Council met and first adopted the previous meeting minutes, then honored Lori McDonald of the Department of Human Services for nearly 28 years of state service. Members read a resolution recognizing her legislative, constituent, and leadership work at DHS, and the council adopted it unanimously. McDonald thanked members for their support, and the Senate also presented her with a citation, a flag flown over the Capitol, and a commemorative coin. The council then received the May 2026 revenue report, which showed gross adjusted collections of $7.76 billion year-to-date, up 4.4% from the prior year, and net available for distribution of $6.36 billion. The Bureau of Legislative Research noted collections were running above last year and that the updated forecast reflected a surplus. The Executive Subcommittee report was adopted after members were told it had approved captive insurance premiums and deductibles, a claims administration contract, emergency DHS rules, waiver requests, committee fund allocations, and the cancellation of the regular July ALC meeting in favor of only meeting for urgent matters. Several subcommittee reports were then adopted, including Administrative Rules, Game and Fish and State Police, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Lottery Oversight, Occupational Licensing Review, Peer Review, Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and Personnel. During the Administrative Rules discussion, members questioned the Department of Education about delays and vendor performance under the ClassWallet contract; department officials said they were meeting regularly with the vendor, keeping expense review in-house, and would consider other options if needed. In Personnel, the Department of Commerce clarified that a reallocation request was part of a broader departmental realignment and shared services move, not the Arkansas Workforce Connection waiver. The council also reviewed and took action on several communications, including filing retirement system investment summaries as reviewed, approving rural community grant funding, giving favorable advice for state park acquisitions/expansion, approving special maintenance funding for state parks, and filing proposed Office of State Technology service rates as reviewed before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and reviewed and approved emergency rules for DHS regarding psychiatric residential treatment facilities
• , and reviewed and approved emergency rules for DHS regarding psychiatric residential treatment facilities
• rules; and two, approved waiver requests from school districts for cooperative purchasing and construction
• The subcommittee heard testimony from the Arkansas State Crime Lab regarding the construction and the
• timeline for the new crime lab that is under construction.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our higher ed institutions, our DN door, our higher ed institutions, our DN DNR<00:10:30.320> facilities
• 32.560> I<00:10:32.720> mean,<00:10:32.959> that<00:10:33.200> is DNR facilities
• , trails, I mean, that is DNR facilities, trails, I mean, that is all<00:10:33.680> in<00:10:33.920
• bill<00:13:39.600> and $900 million bonding bill and $900 million bonding bill and construction
• <00:13:41.680> The construction costs have gone up. The construction costs have gone up.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And of course wastewater facilities also age and deteriorate over time, so it's, it's really good to
• We just heard about El Paso's produced water or not produced water, but their treatment facility and
• I know people who have put their facilities up for sale in, in this, this year because of not having
• And then also we're asking for water supply staff to review, um, design and plans for the construction
• However, for us, um, the permitting has to be in place prior to them beginning construction.

Bills: SB 7

Keywords: water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• To talk about the hard work behind design, construction, finance, and operation of built infrastructure
• or residential care facility work for the Committee on Public Health.
• on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development HB 2631 by Harristavala relating to the prohibited facility
• 2640 by Lilai to the medical director certification and training requirements of certain nursing facilities
• entitled to request a hearing from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality relates to the construction

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:52:35.680> and various aspects of con constructing and various aspects of con constructing
• because of highway construction.
• their facilities because of highway<00:55:06.319> construction.
• The Supreme Court highway construction.
• , or what constitutes proper construction, or what constitutes proper construction, reconstruction

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been to the Heart River facility numerous times.
• You talk to the staff at these facilities where many of them are.
• If we have to put criminals in out-of-state facilities, so be it.
• They are secure facilities.
• This individual was living in a transition facility.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. Representative Hoverson offered remarks recognizing World Autism Day, and the House then handled conference committee motions on several bills, including House Bills 1460 and 1248 and Senate Bills 2262, 2070, 2294, and 2297, with the Speaker appointing members to each conference committee. The chamber also set aside Senate Bill 2200 for re-referral to Appropriations and moved to amendments on Senate Bill 2128, which was the main subject of the day. Senate Bill 2128, a major criminal justice and corrections bill, drew extensive debate over truth-in-sentencing, mandatory minimums, parole, transitional facilities, work release, electronic monitoring, and the fiscal impact of longer incarceration. Division A of the amendments removed mandatory minimums for resisting arrest and felony simple assault while keeping consecutive-sentence language; supporters said this preserved judicial discretion and reduced costs, while opponents argued it weakened public safety. Division A was adopted 70-23. Division B proposed broader changes to preserve transitional programming, add penalties for tampering with electronic monitoring and escape, limit some work-release restrictions, create a parole board study, and fund electronic monitoring with a $600,000 appropriation. Supporters framed it as a compromise that balanced rehabilitation and public safety; opponents said it undercut the bill’s intent and left dangerous offenders with too much access to transitional release. Division B failed on a 46-46 tie. The House then took up the bill itself, with the Judiciary Committee reporting a do-not-pass recommendation as amended, and debate continued over whether the amended bill should advance, with members split between concerns about victims and public safety versus rehabilitation, prison capacity, and recidivism.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to helping to build child care facilities.
• In addition to helping to build child care facilities.
• In addition to helping to build child care facilities.
• In addition to helping to build child care facilities.
• In addition to helping to build child care facilities.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then as the jurisdiction goes through architecture, engineering, construction, and starts doing those
• Uh, um, most of these, uh, cyber, uh, facilities need to have, uh, redundancy.
• Then there's guaranteed power for those facilities.
• Uh, and I've said this for years, I'm gonna have the, the sweetest law enforcement training facility
• And sit in a traffic construction zone. Uh, day in and day out.

Transcript Highlights:

• one that's sort of for new construction one that's sort of for new construction primarily<01:07:
• And I anticipate that that would be part of the discussion in the construction code council.
• on a multi-ousing facility on a multi-ousing facility similar<01:09:39.759> to<01:09:40.080
• up to that them to bring their facility up to that standard. standard. standard.
• So, the um construction code council.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The task force approved the minutes from the previous meeting and then reviewed the structure and statutory requirements for its final report. Staff explained that the report must go to the commissioners of commerce, housing finance, and economic development, as well as relevant legislative leaders, and must include a summary of task force activities, adopted findings and recommendations, tort reform recommendations to reduce insurance costs, any draft legislation, and other necessary information. A draft report, likely excluding recommendations and draft legislation, is expected to be circulated before the first January meeting. Most of the meeting focused on the Fair Plan and whether it could be expanded to help homeowners associations, affordable housing, and common interest communities that are struggling to obtain coverage. Supporters said these groups are facing availability problems and often end up in the surplus lines market, which lacks the consumer protections of the admitted market. They argued the Fair Plan could serve as a third-market option with stronger protections and better access, especially for properties that are having difficulty getting quotes. Several members and witnesses raised concerns that the Fair Plan was never intended to be a broad affordability solution and warned against using it to artificially lower prices below risk-based levels. They said doing so could shift losses onto other policyholders through assessments and potentially weaken the broader insurance market. The Fair Plan administrator explained that any expansion would require substantial research, staffing, actuarial and underwriting expertise, reinsurance planning, IT changes, and likely assessments or other capitalization decisions, and that the plan would need to focus on a limited subset of properties rather than the entire market. No votes were taken on policy recommendations, and the discussion ended with agreement that more information and scoping work are needed before any formal recommendation is made.

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes any facility deemed to be protected by the Attorney General. ...includes any facility deemed
• The audit found that vacancy rates at some facilities remained extremely high, facilities.
• I’m here to present AB 2550, which helps support women in construction.
• I'm here to present AB 2550, which helps support women in construction.
• The construction defect liability law passed in 2002.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To begin construction, homeowners must qualify for both a short-term construction loan and the long-term
• That would be the construction loan loss guarantee.
• That would be the construction loan loss guarantee.
• only for the period of construction.
• They just need that to begin construction.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:48:01.839> of taking effect under current construct of taking effect under current construct
• <01:03:25.359> a construction projects often require a construction projects often require
• maintenance facility. maintenance facility. 2017<01:08:06.960> with<01:08:07.119> the<
• fact that I'm a construction attorney. fact that I'm a construction attorney.
• Now, can't with within the construct?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And on January 1, 2027, the camp operator shall construct or expand a cabin, not expand or construct
• , rigging, development, rehabilitation, or redevelopment of the facility or facilities is anticipated
• <03:34:55.279> The or facilities and fixtures. The or facilities and fixtures.
• or facilities.
• or facilities.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The meeting included a Senate recognition ceremony honoring the Winona High School boys basketball team for winning the 2026 Alabama High School Athletic Association 5A state championship. A resolution was read commending the team for its 101-40 victory over Silicag, noting the team’s record-setting performance, Brendan Davis’s MVP honor, the contributions of other players, and Coach Cedric Lane’s leadership. Senators and the lieutenant governor praised the players’ sportsmanship, the school community, and the team’s historic season, and copies of the resolution were presented to the team, coaches, and administrators. Several guests and school representatives also spoke briefly, including the coach and principal, who thanked the Senate and noted the team’s success and the principal’s retirement after 35 years. After the recognition, the Senate returned to session and adopted the Committee on Rules report setting the special order calendar. The calendar included Senate Bill 99 on the Ten Commandments, Senate Bill 298 on Class 3 municipalities, House Bill 381 on camp safety, Senate Bill 370 on tax increment districts, Senate Bill 363 on the Department of Economic and Community Affairs, House Bill 466 on firefighters, House Bill 95 on elections, House Bill 259 on stablecoin, and Senate Bill 342 on education. The chamber then took up SB 99, sponsored by Senators Kelly and Sessions. Senator Kelly described the bill as requiring local school boards to display the Ten Commandments, together with founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Alabama Constitution preamble, in certain history classrooms and common areas for grades five through 12, using donated displays and funds when available. He said the bill was intended as a historical and educational measure, not religious instruction, and emphasized the inclusion of a disclaimer stating Alabama is not establishing a religion. After extended debate and a petition to close debate from the Rules Committee, the Senate voted on the bill by long roll and passed SB 99, with the recorded vote announced as 30 yeas and 4 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:09:33.799> at an issue for correctional facilities at an issue for correctional facilities
• basis of sex, but such facilities provided for students of one sex shall be comparable to such facilities
• Separate toilet, locker room, and shower facilities on the basis of sex, but such facilities provided
• That was the assumption. multi-user uh public restroom facility multi-user uh public restroom facility
• last part of the bill the construction last part of the bill the construction Clause<04:50:22.400

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 148, with the chair limiting testimony to two minutes and asking for no outbursts so the committee could get through eight bills that day. Representative Kofalt, the prime sponsor, said HB 148 was the same as last year’s HB 396, which passed both chambers but was vetoed by the governor. He explained the bill would allow, but not require, separation by biological sex in bathrooms, locker rooms, houses of correction, and certain athletic competitions, leaving local school boards and administrators discretion to set policies. He argued the bill was meant to address safety and privacy concerns and cited a Milford incident and concerns in several school districts as examples of why local flexibility was needed. Committee members questioned the lack of a definition of “biological sex” and how the bill would be applied. Kofalt said he did not think a definition was necessary because males and females are generally understood, and he said the bill would give local policymakers latitude to make practical rules. He also said the bill was intended to address situations where people might misuse transgender claims to access spaces inappropriately. In response to questions, he said he was aware of issues in Kearsarge, Milford, and Mascoma school districts and had heard of discomfort in the State House, though he did not know all the details. Several opponents testified that the bill would discriminate against transgender and non-binary people and create enforcement problems. Executive Councilor Karen Hill said the bill would roll back New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination protections and conflict with the state’s Live Free or Die values. Alice Wade, a trans woman, said she had used women’s restrooms without incident and argued the bill would invite invasive enforcement and harassment. Representative La Selig said the bill was discriminatory and that bathroom concerns were being confused with unrelated harassment by cisgender males. Betsy Harrington supported the bill, citing a girls’ soccer game at Kearsarge that she said was disrupted by a boy playing on a girls’ team. Rosie Emer and her child testified against the bill, saying bathroom restrictions would increase anxiety and risk for trans and non-binary children. Stephen Scaer and Wendy Stallings supported the bill, arguing sex is biologically fixed and that excluding males from female spaces should not require genital inspections. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you all know, the state built the facility, and we need your support to operate this as the training
• And just a little bit of context on the three capital construction projects we're asking for: ones with
• And just a little bit of context on the three capital construction projects we're asking for: ones with
• <00:34:50.159> Just<00:34:50.639> scheduling tour their facilities.
• Just scheduling tour their facilities.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education heard presentations from the University of Louisville and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) on their strategic plans, enrollment trends, and budget priorities. University of Louisville President Bradley highlighted the university’s new five-year strategic plan, its R1 research status, community-engaged and opportunity college classifications, record enrollment of 25,005 students, and its role in serving first-generation, Pell-eligible, military-connected, and rural students. He also emphasized the university’s economic and workforce impact, including athletics, nursing, dentistry, and a recent Speed School building, and previewed major capital and program requests: a $142 million STEMH building, a $15 million one-time request for National Cancer Institute-related cancer research, and $5.3 million for the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership. He also discussed a planned $260 million health sciences building and the university’s efforts to expand health care access beyond Louisville through regional sites and residency partnerships. Members responded positively, with Representative Tipton asking about agency bond projects and regional health outreach, and President Bradley saying the university is evaluating debt capacity and exploring smaller projects while noting that the STEM building request would rely on state-funded debt service. He described UofL Health’s expansion into places such as Bullitt County, Shelbyville, Madisonville, and Paducah, and its efforts to train physicians for rural practice. Representative McCool praised the university’s military-friendly designation and cancer research priorities and noted personal family ties to UofL. Michaela Aman, a sophomore from Letcher County, also testified about how UofL has supported her as a rural student and emphasized the university’s commitment to opportunity and social mobility. KCTCS President Ryan Quarles and CFO Todd Kilburn then presented the system’s enrollment, completion, and workforce-training results. They said KCTCS now serves more than 110,000 students, graduated a record 24,000 students last May, and has moved from 45th to 4th nationally in graduation rate. They also highlighted that over half of students are first-generation, 60% work while enrolled, 70% of graduates work in Kentucky, and 74% graduate with no student loan debt. KCTCS described its common-course-numbering agreement with Morehead State as part of a broader transfer simplification effort, and said it trains about 200,000 Kentuckians annually when including workforce training and firefighter instruction. The system also outlined efficiency measures, including property sales, a new bookstore contract projected to save $4.3 million over five years, and a new evaluation process for real estate and facilities. KCTCS’s budget and capital requests included operating funding tied to enrollment growth, support for the TRAINs program, the ECTC training facility at Glendale, continued support for Health Force Kentucky, three capital construction projects at Jefferson, Bluegrass, and Gateway, and asset preservation funding focused on safety and security upgrades. Quarles also referenced House Bill 5, saying it would expand KCTCS’s correctional education and re-entry work and could help reduce recidivism. Members asked about the bill and its impact, and KCTCS said it already provides instruction in jails and prisons and sees the proposal as an extension of that work.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of 287(g), as we know, 287(g) only relates to detention facilities.
• Where in your bill are we... ...must transport them to a federal facility.
• So we could say... must transport them to a federal facility.
• So that is why the bill is constructed this way.
• They need construction workers.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the pledge, and a moment of silence honoring former Senator and Judge Thomas Gallen. The chamber then moved to special order items focused on immigration and related enforcement measures. Senate Memorial 6C, urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements, passed by voice vote. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 4C, an immigration measure that would impose a mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of capital felonies and create state crimes for illegal entry and re-entry. Senators Pizzo, Polsky, and Sharief raised concerns about constitutional issues, plea bargaining, trial and penalty-phase procedures, prosecutorial discretion, and the effect on victims’ families. Supporters, including Senators Fine and Gruters, argued the bill was a strong deterrent and a response to serious crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. The bill passed 25-11. The chamber next debated Senate Bill 2C, a broader immigration enforcement package. The bill would create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, expand local-federal cooperation, fund detention and enforcement efforts, strengthen pretrial detention rules for unauthorized aliens, and end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Davis and Pizzo questioned enforcement mechanics, jurisdiction, bond procedures, and whether local agencies were actually mandated to participate; supporters said the bill was designed to maximize cooperation with federal authorities and the Trump administration. A late-filed amendment by Senator Pizzo to preserve tuition waivers for current students failed 14-22, and a second amendment was withdrawn after discussion. Debate then continued on the bill, with opponents arguing it was costly, federal in nature, and harmful to Dreamers and other students, while supporters said it was necessary to crack down on illegal immigration and align state policy with federal enforcement priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• , center construction, center construction, strong<00:18:58.640> consumption<00:18:59.200>
• And the installation of it is construction, but the purchase of the HVAC is not construction.
• . construction. construction.
• awarded later in the construction cycle. awarded later in the construction cycle.
• contract or construction firm. contract or construction firm.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, take facilities require.
• <00:31:13.039> This<00:31:13.279> fact for a single facility.
• This fact for a single facility.
• energy is being consumed at the facility energy is being consumed at the facility and<00:36:52.560
• . facility. facility.

Bills: HF2928, HF2912, HF2297

Keywords: water appropriation, data centers, environmental review, energy conservation, permit application, carbon-free energy, geothermal energy, renewable energy, Macalester College, appropriation, sustainability, solar energy, pollinator programs, license plates, agrivoltaics, environmental sustainability, 1183, house