Transcript Highlights:

• <00:54:07.040> last<00:54:07.359> week have received via email late last week have
• It's like at my office, you know, I'm downtown and I be down there late sometime.
• And with us having there late sometime.
• to file a proof with the ethics director that we had filed.
• to file a proof with the ethics director that we had filed.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, confirmed a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. The chamber also recognized guests, including members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and employees of the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative. A senator then delivered a Black History Month-style presentation highlighting James Weldon Johnson, A. Philip Randolph, Jan E. Matzeliger, and Percy Lavon Julian for their contributions to civil rights, labor, industry, and science. The Senate received House messages referring two Archives and History board appointments to the Committee on Confirmations, then took up numerous committee reports. Several bills from Finance and Taxation, Judiciary, Education Policy, Agriculture, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, Healthcare, Tourism, Veterans and Military Affairs, State Government Affairs, and Local Legislation received favorable reports, some with amendments or substitutes, and were advanced to second reading and placement on the next legislative day’s calendar. The chamber also recommitted Senate Bill 266 to the Tourism Committee. The Senate confirmed multiple appointments, including Llaya McNair to the Alabama Trust Fund Board, several members to the Credit Union Administration Board, and Elizabeth Smithart, Leslie Sanders, and Wayne Sers to the Alabama State Board of Human Resources. It then adopted several resolutions, including commendations and memorials, such as resolutions honoring Mary Francis Holland, the Stanhope Elmore boys bowling team, and Alicia Cannon for more than 50 years of service to the Alabama judicial system. The Senate also adopted a resolution creating the Study Commission on Artificial Intelligence and Children’s Internet Safety, after discussion about its purpose, membership, and duties; an amendment to the commission resolution was adopted before the resolution itself was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is very similar to a bill that I had filed, Senate Bill 509. Um, it's okay. It's got off radio.
• This isn't filling out a one-page form and filing it with somebody so they know who to serve when they
• it with somebody so they know who filing it with somebody so they know who to<00:11:58.480> serve
• <00:18:11.600> on<00:18:11.760> your marker on your file on your marker on your file
• They spent a lot of time chasing workers' comp claims and have people filed, have employers filed.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we looked and looked to file a bill. Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen.
• I filed this bill as a refile, and Representative or His Honor Judge Parasala used to file this in the
• I filed this bill as a refile.
• Representative or His Honor Judge Parasala used to file this in the past, but the bill was filed to make
• His wife, his widow, did file for benefits under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 32, but she also filed

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing on a wide range of credible service and retirement-related bills, with testimony largely focused on allowing public employees to buy back prior service time or receive more appropriate retirement classifications. Bills discussed included retirement buyback for Joint Base Cape Cod firefighters (H. 4317), clarification of call firefighter buyback rights (H. 2883/S. 1915), veterans’ buyback (H. 2957), a Bridgewater State University police death-benefit/heart-law issue (filed by Rep. Gallagher), unpaid parental leave buyback for municipal employees (H. 2946), school nurse creditable service (H. 2887/S. 1787), former private/parochial school teacher buyback (S. 1900/H. 2873), Massport police retirement classification (S. 1888), contract employee buyback (H. 2795), Retirement Plus late entry (H. 2792), CVTE/teacher-related buyback issues (H. 2762), Peace Corps/AmeriCorps creditable service (H. 2927), and institutional school teacher retirement fairness (H. 2757). Several speakers also referenced related bills for teachers and nurses that had been heard previously or were filed in parallel in the other branch. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support of the bills. Speakers argued that the measures would correct inequities, recognize prior public service, and help recruit and retain workers in hard-to-fill public jobs. Firefighters described the unique federal-to-state transition at Joint Base Cape Cod and said some members were left out of earlier buyback opportunities. Veterans, teachers, school nurses, correctional educators, and Massport police all described service requirements, administrative gaps, or outdated statutory language that they said unfairly limited retirement credit or placed them in the wrong retirement group. Several witnesses emphasized that the proposals were fiscally responsible because employees would pay the cost of the buybacks, and some noted that similar bills had been filed repeatedly in prior sessions. Committee members asked a few clarifying questions, mostly about why certain employees had been excluded under current law or how the retirement provisions would work. No opposition testimony was presented. The hearing concluded after all scheduled witnesses testified, with the chairs thanking participants for their service and the committee voting to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• The next bill on the calendar for today is House File 24. The Chief Clerk will report the bill.
• House File 24 is a very simple bill.
• <00:01:07.720> 2 bill is about again house house File 2 bill is about again house house File
• House File 24, third reading. Discussion.
• House File 24 is not about politics. This is not about partisanship.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• now, there's CEQANet, which is used for people who want to come in and look up CEQA documents in a file
• CEQA Net that's used for people who want to come in and look up CEQA documents in a file, as well as
• No, we had to do it late, so you haven't had much time with them either.
• No, we had to do it late, so you haven't had much time with them either.
• They're currently not planning to get funding out until late '27 and '28.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee heard the Department of Finance’s May Revision overview and the LAO’s budget assessment, then questioned administration officials on several natural resources and transportation proposals. Finance described the state’s improved near-term fiscal picture, but also highlighted continued budget balancing measures, including use of the temporary surplus holding account, climate bond spending, transportation and DMV/CHP augmentations, and changes affecting CEQA filing systems, water programs, CalRecycle, and food and agriculture. The LAO argued the budget still relies heavily on reserves and borrowing, recommended rejecting or delaying many new discretionary proposals, and urged caution about ongoing costs and future-year impacts, especially for the General Fund, Motor Vehicle Account, and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. A major portion of the hearing focused on the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal for Bay-Delta water quality implementation. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Finance officials said the $25 million request would support early implementation of an enforceable program combining environmental flows, habitat restoration, and scientific monitoring, with the State Water Board retaining regulatory authority. The LAO said the proposal was premature because the updated Bay-Delta plan had not yet been adopted and asked for more clarity on the state’s existing commitments and future funding expectations. Several members expressed support for the program as a way to reduce long-running conflict over water policy, while others echoed concerns about timing and fiscal exposure. The committee also examined the proposed $125 million Proposition 4 contribution toward acquisition of the Golden Gate Fields property for a shoreline park and habitat restoration. State agencies said the project had a completed appraisal, was moving through a rolling grant process, and would leverage philanthropic and local funding, while members questioned why it was being elevated ahead of other park and conservation requests and whether it was the best use of limited bond dollars. The hearing then turned to transportation items, including $40 million for Clean California litter abatement, $6.2 million for Caltrans homeless coordinators, $73.4 million in DMV/Motor Vehicle Account requests, and funding for the 2028 Games route network. The LAO generally recommended rejecting or delaying the Clean California and homeless coordinator proposals pending more information, while members debated the need to preserve essential CHP and DMV operations despite the Motor Vehicle Account’s structural imbalance.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in Iowa, in the late 60s, if you had cancer and you were a child, you were living on the pediatric
• And we also help them file claims with the VA for the benefits that they're eligible for.
• We train and accredit, and they use our power of attorney when they file claims with the VA, and then
• Richard Jenskovsky, you were here last night—I remember that late last night. Tyler Sheldon.
• Apologies for being a few minutes late.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken. The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information. The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Apologies for being late, Mr. Schaefer.
• Apologies for being<00:09:21.120> late,<00:09:21.440> Mr.<00:09:21.680> Schaefer.
• <00:09:22.640> Do<00:09:22.800> you<00:09:22.880> think being late, Mr.
• Do you think being late, Mr. Schaefer.
• Thank you all for the late night you spent and the early morning you're having again today.

Bills: HB0143, HB0129

Keywords: health care providers, free speech, discrimination, governmental agencies, civil remedies, physician access, internationally trained physicians, medical licensing, provisional license, healthcare workforce, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I actually am a used car dealer and I buy a lot of salvage and rebuilt vehicles, and I've noticed lately
• prepared, but I think I can keep it down to like three or four minutes. vehicles and I've noticed lately
• that vehicles and I've noticed lately that they're<00:42:35.280> not<00:42:35.599> giving<
• When you say 100%, are we talking like a late-model car, 2023, 2024, 2025, that's got hail damage versus
• Senate Bill 63 was filed as emergency at the request of the legislators. >> Thank you, Mr. Johnson.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Transportation approved the minutes from its September 16 meeting and then heard a presentation from Jason Sawala, deputy state highway engineer with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, on rest areas and truck parking. He described Kentucky’s system of eight welcome centers, 14 rest areas, and four truck havens, and said the Cabinet spent just over $12 million in fiscal year 2025 to operate and maintain those facilities. He also explained that the Cabinet’s truck parking study found truck parking demand has increased 24% since 2012, driven by just-in-time delivery, stricter hours-of-service and electronic logging requirements, and fewer drivers. Sawala said the study looked not only at Cabinet-owned facilities but also private truck stops and lots, and identified unmet parking demand across the state, especially at 1:00 a.m. He noted that 11 sites, mostly existing rest areas, weigh stations, or welcome centers, were identified as promising expansion locations, with estimated project costs in the $30 million to $36 million range in 2022 dollars. He said the Cabinet is working on design and project development for those sites and is seeking federal funding opportunities where available. Members raised concerns about safety, congestion, and trucks parking on ramps or in residential areas, and several asked about funding, charging for parking, and whether autonomous vehicles might reduce future demand. Sawala said the 820 public rest-area spaces are marked spaces only, that he was not aware of any state charging for public truck parking, and that federal programs can help fund some expansions. He also said he was not aware of local-government parking programs offhand but would look into it. Members generally emphasized the importance of truck parking for safety, commerce, and avoiding burdens on local communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:22.400> is recommendation that the House file is recommendation that the House file
• Today I offer House File 3762.
• Today I offer House File uh, sorry. Today I offer House File uh, number<01:03:45.280> 3762.
• House File 3762. House File 3762.
• testify in support of House File 2879. testify in support of House File 2879.

Bills: HF962, HF3541, HF2936, HF3762, HF2879

Keywords: Capitol security, public safety, emergency management, state buildings, law enforcement, corrections, legislative approval, rule-making, financial impact, jail regulations, expungement, firearm eligibility, criminal records, organized retail crime, retail theft, supply chain theft, theft enterprise, organized theft, cargo theft, shoplifting

Transcript Highlights:

• Any further discussion on Senate File 2689 as amended?
• Any further discussion on Senate File Any further discussion on Senate File 2689 2689 2689 as<00
• <00:36:32.680> 4144, Senate File 4144, Senate File 4144, chemical<00:36:34.920> irritants
• So, we have Senate File 2533 So, we have Senate File 2533 as amended.
• Any further discussion Senate File 4144 as amended.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Apologies for coming in late; I was monitoring outside.
• <00:42:03.800> I<00:42:03.839> was apologies for uh coming in late I was apologies
• for uh coming in late I was monitoring<00:42:04.520> outside<00:42:05.520> uh<00:42:05.680
• the applicability of this, include the language from HP 1056 that provides clarity on electronic filing
• <01:08:56.000> of Clarity on electronic filing of Clarity on electronic filing of applications

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing on a wide range of housing-related bills. HB 295 on Hawaiian homelands drew support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and individual testifiers who described long waits for DHHL housing, while the Department of Hawaiian Homelands offered comments noting that lowering the Native Hawaiian blood quantum from 50% to 25% would require multiple legal and federal review steps. The committee also heard testimony on several Hawaii Public Housing Authority measures, including HB 99, HB 1096, HB 1097, HB 1095, HB 1093, and HB 1094, which generally received agency support and little or no public opposition during the hearing. HB 1094 prompted questions about the handling and sale or donation of seized property, and the agency said it lacked capacity to manage that work directly and would need to consult the Attorney General on liability concerns. The committee then heard HB 1056 and HB 1467, both related to a proposed Hawaii Homes or housing resiliency program. DCCA, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, the Climate Advisory Team, and Hawaii Realtors supported HB 1056, while the Attorney General requested clarification on fund language. The Insurance Commissioner said DCCA was willing to run the program and that strengthening homes would help keep insurance available in Hawaii. For HB 1467, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and Climate Advisory Team also supported the measure, with the Attorney General raising concerns about delegation, the special fund, and extension authority. Testimony on both bills emphasized hurricane retrofits, with some witnesses urging harmonization of the two similar proposals and one witness warning that the bills could conflict with efforts to reduce building-code minimum standards. Other measures included HB 1013 on important agricultural lands, which received support from HHFDC, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, DBEDT, the Agri-Business Development Corporation, and Purple Maiʻa Foundation, with some agencies offering comments. HB 1294 on agricultural workforce housing drew comments from the Attorney General, who said commissions may be established by law rather than by the department itself, along with support from OHA, a council member, and the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus. HB 89 on teacher housing received support from OHA and education groups, while the Attorney General said the bill may have constitutional issues and suggested amendments to set standards for voucher applications. HB 276 on condominiums and HB 528 on residential leases also drew support, with no testimony in opposition. HB 415 on public safety and fire sprinklers generated the most clear split in testimony: the State Fire Council, a fire department representative, and an individual supported the bill, arguing sprinklers improve safety and can prevent major losses, while BIA Hawaii, Pacific Home and Appliance Distribution, NAAP Hawaii, Gentry Holmes, and DR Horton Hawaii opposed it, saying the added cost would worsen housing affordability and that existing codes already address safety. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing; the chair repeatedly closed each bill after testimony and questions, and the hearing moved through the agenda without recorded committee votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• of that nature, and the filing fees for filing lawsuits and responses to lawsuits, et cetera, fund primarily
• I mean, I didn't file this personally against Mr. Duncan.
• Now, we could have filed a bill to combine the courts.
• I filed for the compensation.
• I appreciate your accommodating me a little bit late here.

Bills: SB256

Keywords: court consolidation, judicial administrative, Orleans Parish, civil district court, criminal district court, court clerk, judicial funding, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:49.399> season was the beginning of tax filing season was the beginning of tax filing
• as you can also see so if you are filing as you can also see so if you are filing for<00:04:27.120
• exempt as would Bank overdraft and late exempt as would Bank overdraft and late fees<00:04:44.199
• one thing the the tax filing one thing the the tax filing modernization<00:52:39.760> account
• here as well so Senate file here as well so Senate file 249<00:55:04.200> um<00:55:05.200

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to hear a presentation from the Commissioner of Revenue on Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s tax proposal, with members told no public testimony would be taken because bill language was not yet available. The commissioner said the proposal would lower the statewide sales tax rate by 0.75 percentage points while expanding sales tax to selected professional services such as legal, brokerage, banking, and accounting, with several carve-outs. He emphasized that the plan would not add business-to-business sales taxes, arguing that taxing business inputs leads to tax pyramiding and higher hidden consumer costs. The commissioner said the rate cut would be the first sales tax rate cut in state history and estimated it at about $95 million annually, while the service expansions would raise about $203 million to $205 million annually, for a net increase of roughly $110 million per year. He said the proposal is part of the governor’s broader budget, which he described as addressing long-term structural deficits and funding other priorities such as an R&D credit, an expanded sustainable aviation fuel credit, fraud prevention, and service-member retention bonuses. He also said the carve-outs and exemptions would be reflected in the revenue estimate. Members questioned whether the proposal was truly a tax cut or instead a tax increase, and several asked for a revenue-neutral rate if all or more services were taxed. One member raised concerns about how pro bono legal work with a fee would be treated, and another asked about possible streamlining issues and whether fees are treated as taxes in statute. The commissioner said a fee would be taxable depending on the arrangement and that the department would review the language carefully once drafted. He also said the department would provide more detailed estimates later, including what the rate would be if the tax were made revenue neutral. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• hasn't had a car late I'm sorry Mr chair hasn't had a car late I'm sorry Mr chair so<01:27:22.480>
• Yes, you can file in both places if you have filed a lawsuit in Superior Court and you file then a claim
• Court and you file then you then file a Court and you file then you then file a claim<06:32:56.680>
• When you file a simple pleading in a docket that's got a bunch of individual cases, you've got to file
• It's also late.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 1912, our goal is 15 minutes. House File 1105, our goal is 10 minutes.
• Then House File 1100, 20 minutes, and then approximately 35 minutes for House File 2057.
• um 1912 our goal is 15 minutes file um 1912 our goal is 15 minutes house<00:01:20.400> file<00
• file file 2057<00:01:32.200> and<00:01:32.640> um<00:01:33.000> with<00:01:33.200
• moves at house file moves at house file 1912<00:14:00.800> before<00:14:01.199> the

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 2149 is our chair, Senator McEwen. Madam Chair. Yes.
• And members of the Senate Labor Committee, Senate File 2149 is before us today.
• I ask that you support Senate file 2149 I ask that you support Senate file 2149 and<00:20:26.680>
• These are the people most affected by Senate File 2149.
• <01:30:29.160> to I could feel like I just I was late to I could feel like I just I was late

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 1233 is a step in the right direction. Thank you.
• House File 1233 is a step in the right direction. Thank you.
• House File 1233 is a step in the right direction. Thank you.
• House File 1233 is a step in the right direction. Thank you.
• <00:24:55.960> in<00:24:56.679> the<00:24:57.679> process late in the process late

Bills: HF1233

Keywords: women's athletics, gender, sports competition, Human Rights Act, biological sex, participation limits, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• When vital components arrive months or even years late, fire departments must keep older equipment in
• the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors authorized affirmative litigation earlier last year, or late
• So we filed an antitrust complaint with the state AG's office.
• Upon further research, we decided to kick it up one notch, and we filed a complaint with the Federal
• take the next step, which is probably the biggest step for a local municipality to do, and that is to file

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I filed it so that we could get, we, the legislature, can get a better sense of the data of what's out
• But each utility files those reports with us annually, what their avoided costs are, and that's how the
• The reason why it's a constitutional amendment is this basically started out in the late 1900s.
• I think it's a 10-Q they file with us, has employees by division or company.
• And he'll have to just file something. Okay. All right. I'll make a motion to defer House Bill 744.

Bills: HB744, HR197, SB54, SB79, SB163, SB287, SB375, SB386, SB398, SB469, SCR5

Keywords: public utility, common carrier, regulation, Public Service Commission, New Orleans, constitutional amendment, distributed energy, energy storage, electricity demand, virtual power plants, reliability, hurricane resilience, esthetics, cosmetology, hair services, beauty industry, Louisiana regulation, Louisiana Economic Development, sunset law, legislative authority

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 11, 2026, and first advanced several Senate measures with little or no opposition. It reported favorably Senate Bill 79 recreating Louisiana Economic Development, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 establishing the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, and Senate Bill 375 on Class B firefighting foam, after adopting a technical amendment clarifying use in declared emergency firefighting operations. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 398, which moves manufactured and modular housing regulation under the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board and expands inspection and enforcement provisions, after adopting two sets of mostly technical amendments and hearing testimony that the change would improve consumer safety and increase inspection coverage without adding net cost to locals. It then reported favorably Senate Bill 163 on virtual currency business licensing, after adopting an amendment providing that any future federal licensing law would preempt the state act, and Senate Bill 287 on virtual currency kiosks, which adds refund timelines, disclosure requirements, customer support, and reporting duties; witnesses from the banking and law enforcement community said the bill responds to common fraud complaints and improves consumer protection. The committee also reported favorably Senate Bill 54, which allows estheticians to blow-dry hair after certain services, despite strong opposition from cosmetology board representatives and industry witnesses who argued the service is outside esthetics training, could create scope-of-practice and facility issues, and should instead be addressed by lowering or revising separate blow-dry licensing requirements. The committee then considered House Resolution 197, which urges the Louisiana Public Service Commission to study the feasibility and value of distributed energy generation and storage resources. After adopting technical amendments and a second amendment changing mandatory language to requests and urging the PSC to coordinate with the LSU Energy Institute, the resolution was reported favorably. Testimony from solar and energy industry representatives, the PSC, and LSU focused on how distributed resources, batteries, rooftop solar, and virtual power plants could improve reliability, reduce costs, and help meet rising demand; members also discussed how the study would evaluate market value, avoided costs, and capacity benefits. Questions centered on methodology, grid impacts, and comparisons to Texas’s ERCOT system and Winter Storm Uri, with PSC officials emphasizing that the study would help determine whether such resources benefit ratepayers. Representative Wright presented House Bill 744, a proposed constitutional amendment to transfer regulation of certain New Orleans utilities from the city council to the Public Service Commission. He argued the change could reduce rates through consolidation and eliminate duplicative regulatory costs, while PSC officials explained the city’s authority is a constitutional exception dating back to 1921 and that Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana operate as separate companies with different regulatory environments. After discussion of rate impacts, utility structure, and whether the proposal should instead become a study, the bill was deferred. The committee then began Senate Bill 386, the Louisiana Data Privacy Act, which would give consumers rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of certain uses of personal data; the sponsor introduced the bill and the committee started considering technical and substantive amendments, but the transcript ends before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Behind every bill filed, every constituent call returned, every schedule managed, and every detail that
• So what did you tell me to convince me, because I filed a bill that did standard time, what were the
• So what did you tell me to convince me, because I filed a bill that did standard time, what were the
• And being late for Sunday school in church on Sunday morning. Correct. And so while there is...
• Being late for Sunday school in church on Sunday morning, correct.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal, and a long series of introductions recognizing student groups, interns, visiting families, and guests, including the Tipton Lady Cardinals girls basketball state champions, FCCLA and FBLA students, Missouri Rural Water Association members, and legislative assistants. Members also highlighted Earth Day and National Arbor Day by promoting free tree seedlings from the Department of Conservation. The chamber then considered several committee reports and moved to third reading on House Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bills 3068 and 3049, a broad public safety package. Supporters described it as a vehicle for multiple bipartisan provisions, including driver’s education, human trafficking training for paramedics, psilocybin trials, intoxicated driving accountability, fire and life safety updates, AI restrictions, and protections involving explicit images of children. Opponents objected to anti-trans language and argued the bill was overly broad and constitutionally problematic. The bill passed 117-10 with 17 present. The House also passed Senate Bill 914, dealing with lateral fields and moving from perk tests to soil analysis, by a vote of 108-34 with one present, after supporters said it would help keep sewage out of rivers and drinking water. Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1142, a Secretary of State measure on certificates of good standing for series LLCs doing business in other states, passed 142-0 with one present. Members then took up House Bill 1758, a daylight saving time trigger bill. The sponsor and many supporters argued it would protect Missouri from neighboring states forcing a switch to permanent standard time, help tourism and outdoor recreation, and reduce health and safety problems associated with changing clocks. Opponents favored permanent standard time instead, citing research on circadian rhythms, health effects, school bus safety, and energy use, and some questioned the bill’s federal-law implications and state sovereignty issues. Debate was ongoing when the transcript ended, with no final vote shown on that bill.