Transcript Highlights:

• He was a veteran officer with over 30 years of dedicated service, with 26 of those years spent protecting
• He was also a Marine veteran of the Navy during the Vietnam War and chief of the Dixie Volunteer Fire

Bills: HCR114 , HB137 , HB283 , HB1398 , HB1960 , HB2153 , HB2431 , HB2638 , HB2699 , HB2999 , HB3208 , HB3389 , HB3413 , HB3510 , HB3642 , HB3859 , HB3974 , HB3986 , HB4142 , HB4173 , HB4174 , HB4542 , HB4605 , HB4663 , HB4731 , HB5064 , HB5216 , HB5218 , HB5332 , HB5453 , HB5577 , HB137 , HB283

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Border Patrol agent, and a... ...22-year military veteran.
• We're a national security counterintelligence consultancy firm made up of veterans from tiers one, two

Bills: SB36 , SB2202 , SB 36

Committee: Senate Border Security

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2104 by Blanco relates to the prohibition of military status discrimination to Veterans Affairs
• Senate Bill 2179 by Hagan relates to the termination of a lease agreement for a service member to Veterans

Bills: SCR8 , SCR24 , SCR25 , SB1 , SB65 , SB315 , SB371 , SB372 , SB379 , SB400 , SB402 , SB406 , SB427 , SB487 , SB502 , SB509 , SB535 , SB610 , SB707 , SB740 , SB761 , SB840 , SB875 , SB893 , SB918 , SB925 , SB965 , SB987 , SB990 , SB995 , SB1006 , SB1018 , SB1073 , SB1106 , SB1121 , SB1194 , SB1253 , SB1300 , SB1343 , SB1362 , SB1379 , SB1447 , SB1532 , SB1555 , SJR36 , SJR12 , SJR57 , SCR25 , SCR22 , SCR12 , SCR24 , SCR8 , SB565 , SB372 , SB765 , SB62 , SB666 , SB707 , SB888 , SB687 , SB847 , SB1248 , SB740 , SB14 , SB1006 , SB504 , SB925 , SB1121 , SB995 , SB857 , SB305 , SB296 , SB284 , SB815 , SB1379 , SB1300 , SB1497 , SB1499 , SB1498 , SB65 , SB241 , SB304 , SB402 , SB621 , SB1023 , SB1024 , SB1106 , SB686 , SB112 , SB371 , SB204 , SB400 , SB609 , SB1447 , SB670 , SB502 , SB427 , SB850 , SB854 , SB413 , SB1555 , SB1362 , SB1346 , SB1033 , SB1220 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB987 , SB1539 , SB893 , SB447 , SB875 , SB406 , SB509 , SB985 , SB965 , SB1119 , SB1505 , SB24 , SB1194 , SB1253 , SB1215 , SB1532 , SB1302 , SB856 , SB650 , SB583 , SB673 , SB840 , SB213 , SB681 , SB1172 , SB1252 , SB378 , SB610 , SB918 , SB1343 , SB608 , SB487 , SB955 , SB957 , SB988 , SB990 , SB1019 , SB1021 , SB1120 , SB251 , SB958 , SB535 , SB761 , SB1 , SB541 , SB315 , SB379 , SB1018 , SB1737 , SB266 , SB1415 , SB1527 , SB125 , SB599 , SB1330 , SB53 , SB916 , SB896 , SB1352 , SB973 , SB785 , SB710 , SB472 , SB1450 , SB1502 , SB1566 , SB414 , SB1062 , SB1547 , SB961 , SB1038 , SB513 , SB578 , SB711 , SB746 , SB942 , SB1404 , SB1448 , SB1738 , SB108 , SB8 , SB318 , SB507 , SB533 , SB689 , SB1026 , SB1349 , SB1355 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1596 , SB1403 , SB1198 , SB1146 , SB763 , SB667

Transcript Highlights:

• Robert Mendez, who is also a Navy veteran. So thank you for your service.
• He has 18 employees and is a service-connected disabled veteran.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're a non-resident, you— for a veteran burial. So um most of the for a veteran burial.
• That priority right now for the veteran.
• </c><00:47:09.680><c> If</c> to be a veteran yourself. Okay. If to be a veteran yourself. Okay.
• </c><00:47:37.520><c> throughout</c> for all veteran cemeteries throughout for all veteran cemeteries
• So one is the veteran revenue. So we receive from the VA.

Summary: The committee reviewed a handout comparing House Bill 2 to current retirement law and walked through the bill section by section with staff from the retirement system. The discussion focused on vesting, earnable compensation, average final compensation, compensation-over-base limits, special duty pay, normal retirement age, re-retirement, and maximum benefit rules for Group 2/Tier B members. Staff explained that some provisions would restore pre-2011 rules, including counting certain end-of-career payments such as unused sick and vacation time in earnable compensation and reducing the AFC averaging period from five years back to three. They also described how the bill would eliminate the current cap on compensation over base, which mainly affects overtime, and noted that the actuarial cost of the AFC-related changes is interrelated rather than easily broken out by feature. A separate discussion covered the special duty pay limitation, which currently applies to Tier A and would be removed under the governor’s bill for both Tier A and Tier B members after their vested buy date. Staff said the actuary estimated that removing the special duty limitation would increase costs by about $13.9 million. Members also asked about the practical difference between overtime and special duty, with staff explaining that special duty generally involves work for a private third party, often police detail work, while overtime depends more on staffing and scheduling. The committee also reviewed the normal retirement age changes for Tier B and the possibility that some members would need to work longer to reach the new vested buy date. Members raised concerns about an ambiguity in the bill that could allow already-retired Tier B members to return to work, then re-retire and claim the higher benefits, or allow vested deferred members to stop working and wait for the new vested buy date. Staff said the governor’s office did not intend to allow that result and requested clarifying language, noting that the bill as drafted does not expressly prohibit it. The committee also discussed part-time and seasonal work after retirement, with staff explaining that such work generally does not restore membership unless the person takes a full-time position requiring enrollment. Finally, the committee reviewed the maximum benefit provisions and noted that HB 2 in the current year does not change the maximum benefit date or include the 1.5% annual escalator that had been part of the 2023 proposal, making the current bill more costly than the earlier version.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would prefer that vets that are navigating the disability process with the Veterans Administration
• I would prefer that vets that are navigating the disability process with the Veterans Administration
• </c> disability process with the Veterans disability process with the Veterans Administration<01:51:37.240
• If a veteran is disabled, they are not going to be removed from the federal SNAP system.
• If a veteran is disabled, they are not going to be removed from the federal SNAP system.

Bills: HF2136 , HF4195 , HF4548 , HF4432 , HF4174 , HF3024 , HF4389 , HF3773

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• c> seniors,</c><00:26:21.440><c> etc.,</c><00:26:22.240><c> and</c><00:26:22.600><c> loyalty</c> veterans
• , um seniors, etc., and loyalty veterans, um seniors, etc., and loyalty programming.<00:26:24.080><c>
• c> students</c><01:13:17.480><c> and</c><01:13:17.600><c> teachers</c><01:13:18.520><c> that</c> veterans
• and students and teachers that veterans and students and teachers that are<01:13:18.720><c> clearly<
• That's, you know, your veteran discount, your senior discount, what have you.

Bills: HF3794 , HF3408

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• colleagues talk about how this is going to make sure that people make it here, make sure that we have veterans
• That we have veterans that get down and get the health care that they need, that we've got college students
• and what I've seen from the lot of letters that we've gotten, it looks like this line would serve veterans
• They're letters submitted from unions, trade organizations, veterans organizations, Chamber of Commerce
• They're letters submitted from unions, trade organizations, veterans organizations, Chamber of Commerce

Bills: HF1167 , HF1242

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• But unfortunately, the Never Again Act has been referred to the Veterans Committee and laid over on its
• </c> has been referred to the veterans has been referred to the veterans committee<01:17:40.880><c> and
• I know that House File 26 is not indefinitely laid over in the Veterans Committee; it’s being pulled
• I know that House File 26 is not indefinitely laid over in the Veterans Committee; it’s being pulled
• committee it's being pulled the veterans committee it's being pulled back<01:26:03.440><c> into</c><

Transcript Highlights:

• You guys say you care about our veterans, then let's do something about it.
• For $70 billion, we could end veteran homelessness forever, probably seven times over.
• You guys say you care about our veterans, then let's do something about it.
• You guys say you care about our veterans, then let's do something about it.
• We could end veteran homelessness forever, probably seven times over.

Transcript Highlights:

• Toba's leadership has been on display in many forms, as a United States Air Force veteran who served
• who served in Afghanistan and veteran who served in Afghanistan and later<00:28:54.000><c> headed</c
• In 1972, he and the other Vietnam War aces were awarded the McKay Trophy and the Veterans of Foreign
• These continuum of care dollars support nearly 2,700 beds in my district for families, veterans, and
• I rise today to honor one of Wyoming's remaining World War II veterans, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Military is referred to the Veterans and Military is referred to the Veterans and Military Affairs
• Signed, veterans and military affairs. Signed, veterans and military affairs.
• to provide for certain disabled veterans to provide for certain disabled veterans to be issued tenative
• upon receiving a these veterans upon receiving a these veterans upon receiving a certificate.
• They can be helpful to our veterans who are looking for discharge veterans who are looking for discharge

Transcript Highlights:

• the North Shore near Covington bears his name, continuing his legacy within the local Marine and veteran
• It provides relative to points awarded to veterans in competitive fire and police civil service employment
• Under current law, veterans receive five points on the fire and police civil service exam if they served
• So, to clean it up a little bit, what this does is update it and allow any veteran who has served at
• and the reason why I'll say this, Representative Villio, I'm familiar with it, because a lot of my veterans

Bills: HR153 , HR154 , HR155 , HR156 , HR157 , HR158 , HCR57 , HCR58 , HCR59 , HR133 , HR134 , HR135 , HR136 , HR137 , HR138 , HR139 , HR140 , HR141 , HR142 , HR144 , HR145 , HR146 , HR147 , HR148 , HR149 , HR150 , HR151 , HR152 , SCR28 , SB141 , SB169 , SB206 , SB233 , SB417 , SB421 , SB429 , SB437 , SB477 , SB510 , SB521 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HB55 , HB385 , HB394 , HB396 , HB406 , HB608 , HB622 , HB676 , HB772 , HB897 , HB902 , HB943 , HB1030 , HB1035 , HB1038 , HB1045 , HB1049 , HB1056 , HB1058 , HB1059 , HB1092 , HB1100 , HB1117 , HB1160 , HB1161 , HB1162 , HB1177 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB1216 , HB1239 , HB1240 , SB127 , HB284 , HB1 , HB2 , HB3 , HB312 , HB313 , HB383 , HB314 , HCR3 , HB983 , HB1126 , HB21 , HB24 , HB29 , HB31 , HB39 , HB45 , HB77 , HB136 , HB150 , HB263 , HB273 , HB299 , HB315 , HB376 , HB377 , HB431 , HB444 , HB450 , HB519 , HB533 , HB538 , HB559 , HB562 , HB663 , HB664 , HB715 , HB717 , HB805 , HB822 , HB823 , HB834 , HB864 , HB867 , HB1017 , HB1018 , HB1068 , HB1134 , HB1137 , HB1234 , HB1235 , HB1236 , HB211 , HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB241 , HB244 , HB306 , HB345 , HB366 , HB446 , HB511 , HB514 , HB655 , HB730 , HB743 , HB1027 , HB1037 , HB1043 , HB1082 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1230 , HB1237 , HB1238 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , HB401 , HB51 , HB58 , HB140 , HB982 , HB1010 , HB132 , HB193 , HB635 , HB690 , HB1003 , HB750 , HB911 , HB151 , HB180 , HB192 , HB310 , HB961 , HB1146 , HB977 , HB181 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB9 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB615 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1113

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened in prayer, and led the pledge. The bulk of the early portion of the meeting consisted of personal privileges and recognitions, including ARC Appreciation Day, Teach for America, Film Louisiana, the Child Care Association of Louisiana, Textron Systems, Iberville Parish Day, AARP Louisiana Family Caregiver Day, and several visiting groups and honorees. The chamber also received Senate messages, enrolled and introduced resolutions, and referred a number of Senate bills to committee. The House then took up a long series of bills, many of them local or technical measures, with most passing by wide margins. Among the bills adopted were measures on municipal and teachers’ retirement systems, retired clerk insurance funds, fire and police civil service, a local Cameron Parish insurance program, specialty courts, jury bond filing by paper check, non-compete limits for interns and apprentices, a memorial bridge naming for Lance Cpl. Justin D. McLeese, veteran points in civil service exams, provisional fire/police appointments, special masters in complex litigation, judicial and court-cost funding measures, aerial applicator safety rules, cell-cultured food labeling, wine and spirits container standards, nonprofit eligibility to appoint economic development commissioners, a homeless diversion pilot program in Orleans, animal shelter standards, a Fort Oge police chief appointment change, retirement benefit calculations for divorced firefighters, an alcohol-permit moratorium in Shreveport, waste-collection contract renewal authority, and a backdrop retirement option for certain judges. There was one notable defeat: House Bill 444, which would have added legislative seats to the East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission, failed on a 37-49 vote after debate over whether legislators should appoint themselves to the board and whether the proposal had adequate stakeholder support. House Bill 284 on expropriation also failed earlier by a 48-47 vote and was returned to the calendar. Several other measures were temporarily returned to the calendar or held over, and some bills were referred or received amendments before final passage. Most final votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, and the House repeatedly adopted titles and motions to table after passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you guys that are more veteran than I am here, you know, this got amended in the Senate, and it got
• And you guys that are more veteran than I am here, you know, this got amended in the Senate, and it got
• /c><00:20:01.200><c> that</c><00:20:01.440><c> are</c><00:20:01.800><c> more</c><00:20:02.040><c> veteran
• </c><00:20:02.440><c> than</c> And you guys that are more veteran than And you guys that are more veteran

Bills: SJ0001

Committee: House Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• With me today to testify is George Redis, a United States citizen and Iraq combat veteran.
• George Redis, a United States citizen and Iraq combat veteran, California-raised in Ventura County, who
• I'm a United States citizen and veteran.
• Redis to thank you for your service and to tell you how very sorry I am that as a U.S. citizen, as a veteran
• Redis to thank you for your service and to tell you how very sorry I am that as a U.S. citizen, as a veteran

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• in our area face a challenge in that as we are very close to Fort Hood, we have a very significant veteran
• The really great program that the State of Texas offers provides a property tax exemption for our veterans
• increase in the number of our residents that qualify for total tax exemption because of that disabled veterans
• the revenue for that, but of course we still need to provide all of our residents, including our veterans
• The compounding effect of the loss of revenue from the disabled veterans property tax exemption is significant

Bills: HB17 , HB23 , SB 10

Committee: House Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a father of two and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
• I just want to speak on it basically as a... a veteran, and then speak also to other communities that
• As you know, this is a parentage problem, but it's also a veterans' problem in the sense that there are
• many veterans coming back from overseas.
• I believe this affects many different communities, not just the veteran community, but LGBT and several

Bills: HCR16 , HB782 , HB2159 , HB2288 , HB3281 , HB3819 , HB4656 , HB4696 , HB5494 , HCR16

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Transcript Highlights:

• for individuals with addiction, and then Kentucky adds a final priority population, which are our veterans
• , so service members, veterans, and their family.
• 34.040><c> our</c> priority population which which are our priority population which which are our veterans
• 17:34.840><c> so</c><01:17:35.400><c> service</c><01:17:35.800><c> members,</c><01:17:36.240><c> veterans
• ,</c> veterans, so service members, veterans, veterans, so service members, veterans, and<01:17:36.880

Committee: Joint Health Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I support veterans.
• My sister also is a United States veteran.
• And in fact, one example of that is Arizona law has created the Veterans Donations Fund.
• And in fact, one example of that is Arizona law has created the Veterans Donations Fund.
• And in fact, one example of that is Arizona law has created the Veterans Donations Fund.

Summary: The Senate met, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then handled a series of messages and floor actions. The chamber transmitted a large group of Senate bills to the governor and Senate Concurrent Memorial 1004 to the Secretary of State. It also received House requests to return Senate Bills 1175 and 1198 for reconsideration, which were granted without objection. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several House concurrent resolutions. On H.C.R. 2001, a constitutional referral on election requirements, senators debated a Judiciary Committee amendment and a Hoffman floor amendment that would require voter ID, allow election-day tabulation of early ballots at polling places, and require legislative funding for implementation. Supporters said the measure would improve election security, voter confidence, and speed up results; opponents argued it was vague, could undermine mail voting, and lacked clear implementation details. The amendment was adopted, and after further debate the Committee of the Whole gave H.C.R. 2001 a do-pass recommendation by a 15-12 vote. Later, on third reading, the full Senate passed H.C.R. 2001 by a 16-12 vote and transmitted it to the House. The chamber also considered H.C.R. 2003, a referral on student athletics and biological sex. Senator Ortiz offered a floor amendment to replace the blanket ban approach with rules based on athletic ability and inclusion; supporters said it would preserve fairness while avoiding discrimination, while opponents said it would gut the measure and weaken protections for girls’ sports. The Ortiz amendment failed 11-16, and H.C.R. 2003 then received a do-pass recommendation in Committee of the Whole and later passed third reading. H.C.R. 2044, a referral on prohibiting preferential treatment and discrimination, also received a do-pass recommendation without recorded controversy. The Senate then adjourned after completing the remaining procedural motions and votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> So, the veterans pathway is retained in this bill. Yes. And so that does exist.
• And so we don't participate directly in Troops to Teachers, but we do have a pathway, the veterans pathway
• >> So, the veterans pathway is retained in this bill. Yes. And so that does exist.
• >> So, the veterans pathway is retained in this bill. Yes. And so that does exist.
• The veterans pathway is retained in this bill. Yes. And so that does exist.

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education