Transcript Highlights:

• We're basically taking some of the rules for the state Board of Public Accountancy and allowing them
• And what that is, is basically a voluntary state option. You don't have to use it.
• A voluntary state option in lieu of bankruptcy.
• We have every year natural disasters that cause problems across the state.
• And this actually put puts state.

Bills: HB59 , SB15 , SB96 , SB104 , SB137

Committee: Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development

Keywords: public accountancy, CPA licensing, board regulations, educational prerequisites, electronic notifications, firm registration, assignment, creditors, insolvency, liquidation, assignee, secured transaction, bankruptcy, state law, voluntary process, distribution of assets, emergency rules, governor certification, state regulations, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, the Sunset staff completed their evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission as directed at the
• Lastly, the Sunset staff completed their evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission as directed at the
• , assessing 37 selected management actions from nine state entities.
• Commission and stakeholders to study the potential regulation of lottery ticket courier companies in
• We are here to find the best path forward to serve our ultimate stakeholders, the people of the state

Keywords: Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Ethics Commission, recommendations, Angelina River Authority, Natchez Valley Authority, public testimony, legislative session

Summary: The meeting of the Sunset Advisory Commission served as a concluding assembly for the current biennium, where various agencies were reviewed. Notably, the Commission focused on staff recommendations and modifications regarding the Angelina and Natchez River Authority, Lower Natchez Valley Authority, and Texas Ethics Commission. After discussing various modifications, the members voted unanimously on multiple recommendations aimed at improving operational efficiency and accountability within these agencies. The Chair emphasized the collaborative effort of the Commission members and staff, acknowledging their hard work throughout the biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're late filing the campaign report, and currently, the Secretary of State is required to send you
• It saves state money for filing a report by Rep. L. State money for filing a report by Rep.
• to prohibit foreign nationals from contributing and having any expenditures in elections within the state

Bills: HB310 , HB363

Committee: House Ethics and Campaign Finance

Keywords: campaign finance, electronic notifications, civil penalties, Fair Campaign Practices Act, Secretary of State, foreign contributions, political parties, electoral integrity, state legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no state agency to enforce the laws.
• He stated publicly, He stated publicly that transgender people are an abomination to God, and that prowling
• in the United States.
• We will now go to tab 6 and take up CS for SB 530 on state lotteries by Senator Simon.
• It increases the maximum bond amount for the lottery retailer and further authorizes the lottery to maintain

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and considered a large agenda of bills, most of which were reported favorably after brief sponsor presentations, limited public testimony, and roll-call votes. Early actions included CSSB 1062 creating Florida Speech and Debate Week and the Florida Debate Initiative with a recurring $2.4 million appropriation, and CS for SB 196 establishing the Uterine Fibroid Research Database. The committee also approved the companion public-records bill, CS for SB 864, to keep sensitive fibroid database information confidential. Other health and public-safety measures reported favorably included CS for SB 432, which was amended to address xylazine and restrict recreational nitrous oxide sales by tobacco-permit retailers; CS for SB 646, narrowing drug-paraphernalia testing equipment exemptions to fentanyl, its analogs, and xylazine; and CS for SB 1684 and CS for SB 1686, creating and exempting records for a Parkinson’s Disease Registry at the University of South Florida. The committee also advanced several workforce, regulatory, and local-governance bills. SB 1112 on the Florida Labor Pool Act passed with testimony emphasizing removal of placement fees, annual labor-pool registration, and stronger enforcement to help workers, including returning citizens. CS for SB 524 updated Department of Law Enforcement duties and medical examiner procedures; CS for SB 530 revised lottery operations and security rules; CS for SB 676 expanded animal-cruelty penalties and the public abuser database; CS for SB 1180 created a recall framework for community development district supervisors and updated CDD rules; and CS for SB 800 increased penalties for unlicensed engineering practice after removing a student-loan assistance provision to align with the House version. CS for SB 1404 created a memory-care specialty license for assisted living facilities, with amendments extending rulemaking deadlines and clarifying advertising and resident-choice provisions. SB 1072 created an anti-Semitism task force in the Attorney General’s office, and CS for SB 1630 modernized aging and disability services, guardianship oversight, and dementia-related policy. Two memorialization bills generated the most extended debate and public comment. SB 194 would designate October 14 as Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance, and SB 174 would name a portion of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue. Both drew strong support from some speakers who framed them as recognition of civic engagement and free expression, and strong opposition from others who criticized Kirk’s rhetoric and argued the state should instead honor broader civic values or other figures. A late-file amendment to SB 194 that would have converted it into a general day of remembrance for victims of political violence was withdrawn. Despite the controversy, both bills were reported favorably. The committee adjourned after members requested to be recorded on various bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• to state?
• It obviously enacts a lottery fee. So this is going to be a lottery basis.
• I think it's a $50 lottery fee, and if you're successful in the lottery, $25 of that converts to your
• With that, the lottery is going to be limited to in-state only because we're just rolling this out.
• And so that's all over the state. All over the state. Very good. Thank you. Thank you.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard the FY27 executive budget review for Louisiana Economic Development (LED). House Fiscal outlined a $59.4 million LED budget, with major funding from state general fund, self-generated revenue, federal funds, and a marketing dedication, and explained reductions tied largely to the removal of one-time funding and carryforwards. The Secretary highlighted recent economic development results, including major capital investment announcements, job creation, the high-impact jobs program, Louisiana Fast Sites, and efforts to support existing businesses and small business growth. Members repeatedly asked for clearer public-facing materials on the tax and economic benefits of incentives, the use of the entertainment development fund, the structure of the high-impact jobs and Fast Sites programs, and how LED competes with other states. LED also discussed its Storyteller Initiative, regional project distribution, and the role of major events and film-related incentives. The committee then reviewed Louisiana Works’ FY27 budget of $352.7 million. Staff explained that the budget is driven mainly by federal funds and statutory dedications, with changes largely attributable to the One Door to Work Act and the transfer of workforce functions and positions into the department. The Secretary noted a planned $5 million move for the Louisiana STEM Council and a small request for elevator repairs, and members discussed the unemployment insurance trust fund’s improved balance, which lowered employer tax rates and increased benefits. Questions focused on workforce shortages, coordination with LCTCS and other training partners, the new Louisiana Talent Accelerator and workforce modernization efforts, the need for marketing to attract workers back to Louisiana, and remaining gaps in funding for rehabilitation services and disability employment programs. Finally, the committee took up the Department of Conservation and Energy’s FY27 budget of $201.3 million. Staff described decreases tied to the end of the Solar for All grant, lower orphan well spending as prior balances were drawn down, and reductions in some one-time funding and interagency transfers. The Secretary said the department’s reorganization is now largely complete and emphasized a focus on eliminating duplicative functions, strengthening enforcement and permitting, and using available funds more efficiently. Members questioned the reduction in orphan well funding, the impact of the Solar for All repeal, the use of settlement dollars, and the department’s plans for AI-assisted permitting and modernization of the Sunrise database. They also discussed ongoing work on seismic activity in Red River Parish, commercial fishermen’s claims for gear damaged by energy infrastructure, and efforts to improve financial security requirements for operators so future orphan well liabilities are better covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• The date does not create a state holiday or mandate closures.
• Other things related who are citizens of the State of Florida.
• in the United States.
• We will now go to Tab Six and take up SB 350 on State Lotteries by Senator Simon.
• security and enforcement framework of the state's lottery system.

Committee: Senate Fiscal Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We're increasing some hours here within the state house and moving into the new state house as well,
• The total is $6,252,600, which is part of the 37,500 allocated in the back of the budget for the State
• Amount of interest on our state deposit is standing up a lot of the money we have in the general fund
• year 2025 state general fund appropriation.
• match, $2 million for the Medicaid State match, $2 million for the Medicaid State match, $2 million

Bills: HB186 , HB185 , HB184 , HB183 , HB181 , HB312 , HB405 , HB182 , HB460

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: Alabama budget, general fund appropriations, fiscal year 2026, state budget, appropriations act, HB186, executive branch funding, legislative branch funding, judicial branch funding, debt service, capital outlay, corrections, Medicaid, public health, mental health, transportation, education, law enforcement, tourism, veterans affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is brought on behalf of the state board of chiropractic examiners.
• This bill also modernizes state law...
• That's what it's looked like from other states.
• We were sent some information from other states that have had trial and error finding out a...
• This is just saying the state law does not supersede the local law.

Bills: SB191 , HB84 , HB79 , SB132 , HB108 , HB109 , HB110 , HB114 , HB118 , HB120 , HB122 , HB124 , HB126 , HB128 , HB129 , HB131

Committee: Senate Healthcare

Keywords: postpartum depression, mental health, Medicaid, screening, education, maternal health, Chiropractic, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, license renewal, continuing education, election procedures, off-label, pharmacists, medical treatment, state board of pharmacy, employment protection, SB132, Alabama, controlled substances, Schedule I

Transcript Highlights:

• And the calculation that the state uses assumes a waiver rate already will happen across the state and
• We are also a partner of The Arc of Washington State.
• However, These employers are not the federal government, the state government, state institutions, state
• All that is to say there's a cost to the state health care system and the state when residents of the
• All that is to say there's a cost to the state health care system and the state when residents of the

Bills: SB5834 , SB5835 , SB5883 , SB5905 , SB6151 , SB6163 , SB6177 , SB6173

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: Washington retirement systems, retirement trust funds, interest earnings, public employee retirement system, teachers retirement system, state patrol retirement system, judicial retirement system, judges retirement system, school employees retirement system, public safety employees retirement system, law enforcement officers and firefighters retirement system, PERS, TRS, LERS, legal expenses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, fraud prevention, overpayment recovery, trust fund protection

Transcript Highlights:

• 31 other states.
• As I stated at the start, as state leaders, you have a choice.
• They lower state revenues, and they raise the need for state spending.
• What did the state do?
• What did the state do?

Bills: H5006 , H5007

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: tax revenue, state surplus, taxpayer refunds, budget growth, Massachusetts General Laws, income tax, tax reduction, state law, personal income tax, tax rates

Transcript Highlights:

• us and direct us and guide us for all that they are and what a great service they have given to the state
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• 01:06.720><c> United</c> allegiance to the flag of the United allegiance to the flag of the United States
• 08.760><c> and</c><00:01:08.960><c> to</c><00:01:09.120><c> the</c><00:01:09.240><c> republic</c> States
• of America and to the republic States of America and to the republic for<00:01:10.000><c> which</c><

Bills: SB216 , SB229 , SB216 , SB229

Committee: House Military and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: retired law enforcement, retirement benefits, employment, firemedics, salary cap, released time, religious instruction, elective credit, public schools, K-12 education, school board policy, church-state separation, parochial education, Bible class, faith-based instruction, student release, attendance credit, State Board of Education, local school board, parental consent

Transcript Highlights:

• sure we address that. every other state we have dram shop laws every other state we have dram shop laws
• So when they say 38 states and everybody's doing it, no, a lot of the states are doing that.
• So when they say 38 states and everybody's doing it, no, a lot of the states are doing that.
• So when they say 38 states and everybody's doing it, no, a lot of the states are doing that.
• Now, of course, the Minnesota Lottery also offers lottery and gambling, but they're not interested in

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the State Historian for the Idaho State Historical Society, and I am helping lead the State Task
• As Secretary of State McGrane said, we are... ...and I am helping lead the state task force.
• The biggest one is the Great American State Fair.
• The biggest one is the Great American State Fair.
• Workman for the Idaho Lottery Commission.

Summary: The America 250 and Idaho Advisory Council met with a quorum and approved the April 20, 2026 minutes. Staff gave a financial update showing $68,267.67 unobligated in the commemorative fund, $440,710 spent to date, and $205,852.93 in celebration grants dispersed, with about $35,000 left to distribute. The committee also approved a motion to reallocate $10,000 from a project coordinator travel line to cover higher final production costs for the hanging Declaration of Independence display. Treasurer Ellsworth gave an extensive update on America 250 outreach, highlighting ambassador activity across cities, counties, businesses, schools, and veterans groups; numerous community events; the Revolutionary Spud “take-home” packs and coloring book; the Liberty Bell quarter-drive fundraising effort; the Liberty Bell carriage project; the service challenge nearing $250,000; and the final storybooks and Spuddy Buddies materials moving toward print. Members praised the strong engagement with schoolchildren and local communities, and Ellsworth said the signature collection for the declaration display was complete. Secretary McGrane reported that planning for the July 4 celebration is intensifying, with logistics, volunteers, the Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance, the parade, the Foundations and Freedom Tour, and Capitol displays all being coordinated. Director Gallamore summarized state agency efforts, including a new America 250 license plate, oral history interviews, the Move 250 campaign, educational tiles, the Great American State Fair, and other events tied to the commemoration. Hannah Laurie Hine outlined federal and national America 250 initiatives, including the congressional caucus, oral history efforts, the Great American State Fair, and the extended student art contest deadline. The Idaho Lottery previewed an America 250 scratch ticket going on sale statewide, and the Senate described plans for a Capitol for the Day event with schools and agencies. The committee set its next meeting for Tuesday, May 26, in the afternoon, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the state?
• </c> in other states as well. in other states as well.
• </c> have across the state? have across the state?
• </c> um the lottery process. um the lottery process.
• process</c><01:15:36.159><c> with</c> state flooded the lottery process with state flooded the lottery

Committee: Joint Agriculture

Bills: SB325 , SB370

Committee: House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: AIDT, Alabama Industrial Development Training Institute, Department of Commerce, procurement, competitive bidding, contract review, legislative oversight, economic development, workforce development, Strategic Workforce Plan, state purchasing, state contracts, public procurement, exemption, higher education, universities, community colleges, public hospitals, health care procurement, transportation procurement

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 27 is a constitutional amendment that provides relative to application of non-recurring state
• monies to state retirement system unfunded accrued liabilities.
• Members, what this bill does is I serve on retirement, and in that committee I serve on the State Police
• ... ...a substantial amount of the State Police UAL.
• House Bill 308 requires acceptance of cash for certain transactions at state-owned stadium facilities

Bills: HB27 , HB290 , HB308 , HB311 , HB382 , HB417 , HB575 , HB755 , HB980

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: HB 290, Act 426, sunset law, Department of the Treasury, Louisiana Treasury, re-creation, reauthorization, statutory entities, termination date, sunset review, Title 49, fiscal administration, state finance, agency continuation, legislative authority, insurance premiums, Municipal Fire and Police, dedicated fund, assessments, Louisiana legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• So it is—there are some states that have attained it. There are some states that have attained it.
• Route 87 and State Route 260.
• Look at the difference between State Route 24 at Ellsworth and now State Route 24 at Ironwood.
• And what the state giveth, the state could take it away by the vote of the people.
• of our great state of Arizona.

Bills: SB1024 , SB1032 , SB1059 , SB1062 , SB1064 , SB1097 , SCM1001 , SCR1004

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: roadable aircraft, registration, vehicle title, license plates, aviation safety, corrections oversight, funding, state budget, criminal justice, reform, appropriation, Department of Transportation, right turn lane, traffic improvement, infrastructure funding, transportation funding, authorization, road improvements, intersection safety, transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• So as we all remember last January and Governor Kehoe's inaugural State of the State, he stood on the
• , that states may adopt pay on authorized enrollment, and states may pay prospectively, ...enrollment
• I think the State of the State can speak for itself. I think the language is clear.
• So the transfer of the unclaimed lottery, as far as the lottery, is you going to...
• So the transfer of the unclaimed lottery, as far as the lottery, is you going to... is the state school

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's a state.
• </c> benefit of the state. benefit of the state.
• There were 27 state positions state.
• So the lottery being a self-funded agency, all of their money that they give to the state is net of their
• </c> state agencies into available um state state agencies into available um state office<04:08:27.359

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 met to review revenue estimates and begin working through a side-by-side of the budget. New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre testified that lottery revenues are outperforming prior estimates, projecting a $27 million return to the state this year, up $7 million, and $200 million per year in the next biennium, up $6.5 million per year. He attributed the increase to stronger scratch ticket sales, no negative impact from Massachusetts sports betting, and overall better performance. Members questioned the assumptions behind the higher numbers, including the proposed $50 scratch tickets, the effect of inflation, and whether the projections were conservative enough. McIntyre said the $50 ticket could produce modest growth and that the estimates were intentionally cautious. The discussion also covered gaming revenue assumptions for historical horse racing and video lottery terminals, with McIntyre saying the state market is not yet saturated and that future conversions from HHR to VLTs should be net positive for the state. Members also discussed differences between House and Senate revenue numbers for gaming, including machine counts, daily revenue assumptions, and the tax split. The Senate version used higher machine counts and a 31.25% tax rate, with a quarter-point reserved for responsible gaming and the remainder split between charities and the state. The House had used a 30% rate with a different distribution. McIntyre and committee members also reviewed House Bill 2 items affecting Kino hours and local option games of chance, with McIntyre explaining that the bill would expand playing hours and shift towns to an opt-out model. No votes were taken during the lottery discussion, but the committee indicated it would continue refining the revenue model and circulate the spreadsheet used for the estimates. The committee then moved through the HB 1 detail change sheet, accepting several Senate positions and holding others for later. It agreed to a zero-cost realignment in the Department of Safety moving the international fuel tax agreement function from administration to motor vehicles, and it restored eight passenger motor vehicle inspection positions for later discussion in HB 2. The Department of Corrections reorganization was set aside for a later, more detailed discussion. The committee also accepted no-change positions for the Department of Employment Security and agreed to a technical footnote fix in the Judicial Council section. It discussed a new HB 2 item moving contract counsel for involuntary mental health admissions from the judicial branch to the Judicial Council, funded at $100,000 per year, and noted that the public defender funding issue would be revisited when the overall budget picture is clearer. The meeting ended with the committee continuing its review of the remaining pages of the detail change sheet.

Transcript Highlights:

• The good news for the state is that in this realm, on the state side, on the active employee benefits
• Um and and we're we're the state.
• >> Uh, the state annual comprehensive report. Uh, the state annual comprehensive report.
• </c><01:27:23.760><c> That</c> are bringing to the state. That are bringing to the state.
• </c> uh between the other northeast states uh between the other northeast states like<01:28:40.400><c

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on January 23, 2026, approved the December 19, 2025 minutes, and adopted the remaining items on the consent calendar after noting several withdrawals. The committee then took up Department of Safety item FIS 26007, which involved Homeland Security/FEMA grant funding for equipment and UAS-related activities. Senators asked whether any of the funding would support federal civil immigration enforcement or shared operations with federal agencies, and about privacy protections for drone data. The department said the grant is governed by federal parameters, that the state uses the remaining 20 percent after federally directed uses, and that privacy law in this area is evolving. The item was adopted on an 8-2 vote. The committee next considered Department of Environmental Services item 26003, which had been withdrawn by the Senate. A senator said concerns about using the funds for a different project had been resolved after speaking with the commissioner, and the item was adopted without further debate. The committee then moved to Department of Health and Human Services item 260005, a request for about $700,000 in remaining ARPA-related funds for the Hampstead children’s facility project. Commissioners explained that the project had been funded in stages because the original appropriation was based on estimates and bid assumptions, and that the remaining money would cover alternates and finish the project without using general funds. Senators raised concerns about repeated requests for additional money, the adequacy of security, site-selection costs, and why the project had not been fully funded at the outset. The department said the project had been intentionally structured to proceed in phases and that required security would be provided.