Transcript Highlights:

• Local government authority and police powers should be used in that way.
• government authority to prohibit... ...to short-term rentals and vacation rentals by limiting local
• It affirms that residential property remains residential property while preserving local authority to
• Importantly, this bill preserves local authority to address legitimate concerns.
• Local government entity.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of local entities. of local entities.
• ,</c><00:08:29.280><c> we</c> our budget that we were authorized, we our budget that we were authorized
• ,</c> engagements across the state, local, engagements across the state, local, tribal<00:10:42.240><
• And then underneath the J3's authority.
• </c> greater communication with local greater communication with local entities.<00:47:15.440><c> um<

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> continue to lease that short bit of road continue to lease that short bit of road to<00:45:15.520
• </c><00:46:31.280><c> to</c> give the select board the authority to give the select board the authority
• </c><00:57:45.359><c> election</c> vendor to program for a local election vendor to program for a local
• Um what is in the local elections.
• </c> accessible voting equipment with local accessible voting equipment with local election<00:59:36.559

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• At that time, the local police will come...
• Curtailing the authority...
• So this is not just a local issue.
• There being 10 ayes and zero nays, we'll send that to local.
• Just there on the side of the road, so JPs are in some high-risk situations.

Bills: HB 1065 , HB2929 , HB2956 , HB3009 , HB3420 , HB3626 , HB3649 , HB4956 , HB4993 , HB5293 , HB5308 , HB5528 , HCR118 , SB36 , HB4023 , SB 36

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: employee classification, private security, misclassification, workforce regulations, Texas Workforce Commission, autism, peace officers, training program, law enforcement, intervention, communication, developmental disability, family violence, central database, criminal offense, registration, public safety, violent offenses, criminal database, Department of Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• As a pregnant mother, I was faced with having to be driven every day to a local supermarket so I could
• And I think that it's also helped educate local government about the need for place-based intervention
• trip—and we take a lot of road trips together—I will inevitably, like, interrupt.
• Every time we take a road trip, and we take a lot of road trips together, I will inevitably interrupt
• So I think that's one way that we balance those interests is through our appellate authority.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• We bond because it's our responsibility to take care of public assets, water projects, local roads and
• They expect safe roads and safe bridges, and they expect clean and safe drinking water.
• We bond because it's our responsibility to take care of public assets, water projects, local roads and
• And it is a local careers issue. There aren't just Twin City pipes.
• ><c> members</c> know, we have heard from local members know, we have heard from local members about<

Summary: House and Senate capital investment leaders held a public discussion focused primarily on lead service line removal and the need for a new bonding bill. Rep. Fue Lee and Chair Jeff Franzen said Minnesota’s existing state and federal lead-line funds will be exhausted by the 2026 construction season, warning that without action there would be no lead removal program in 2027. They framed the issue as a bipartisan public health and infrastructure priority, emphasizing that no amount of lead is safe and that regular capital investment is needed to keep communities moving forward. Testimony from Raquel Vasquez of St. Paul Regional Water Services, Bradley Peterson of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, and Joel Smith of LiUNA Minnesota and North Dakota described the scale of the problem and the progress made so far. Vasquez said St. Paul’s pilot program is working, with costs coming down and about 6,000 of roughly 26,000 local lead service lines expected to be replaced by the end of the season, but warned that 18,000 to 20,000 would remain without more funding. Peterson said there are about 100,000 known lead service lines statewide and more than 200,000 still being assessed, with replacement costs averaging $10,000 to $15,000 per line. Smith stressed that funding gaps would stall momentum, leave at least 90,000 lead pipes in the ground, and cost the state thousands of union jobs. In response to questions, Sen. Sandy Pappas said she supports including $100 million in appropriation bonds for lead service lines in the Senate bonding proposal, while acknowledging the need is closer to $250 million. House leaders said they were discussing the size and contents of the bonding bill and were considering both general fund cash and appropriation bonds, with affordability for homeowners a key concern. The chairs also discussed broader bonding priorities, including other water, sewer, road, and facility projects, and noted that decisions would depend on whether leadership can reach agreement on a final bonding package before the end of session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The author, want to go back to the table?
• It's to urge and request the State Department of Education and local public school governing authorities
• They say, okay, well, great, I just use my local district dollars.
• What if somebody donated the milk to the local school district?
• I think there's still a lot of questions, and we work with the author.

Bills: HB288 , HB403 , HB420 , HB783 , HB815 , HB915 , HB927 , HB933 , HB944 , HB962 , HB971 , HR74 , SCR3 , SCR20 , SB5 , SB34 , SB37 , SB190 , SB255 , SB270 , SB273 , SB314 , SB415

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: medical terminology, documentation, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, healthcare, medical records, billing, Department of Children and Family Services, background checks, child welfare, employee screening, safety regulations, criminal history, vital records, death certificates, financial institutions, confidentiality, state registrar, utilization management, prior authorization

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a, and it requires a proclamation, and it requires the local governing authority to act upon that
• You know, that all depends on a DOTD region, what roads would be impacted.
• it and communicate with their respective authorities who would there enforce that.
• The local governing authorities absolutely would, based on a Because that's not LED's role.
• The local governing authorities absolutely would, based on if they're trying to impact a state or even

Committee: Senate Judiciary C

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard House Bill 1033, which expands the definition of critical infrastructure to include airports, heliports, spaceports, aerospace facilities, certain government and military sites, and oil and gas platforms. Supporters said the bill is part of a broader effort to position Louisiana for aerospace and defense investment, while opponents from the Sierra Club warned that repeatedly broadening critical infrastructure could chill protest and free-speech activity. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 1034, which authorizes local officials to declare temporary protection zones for public safety for up to 72 hours, with one extension. The sponsor and the Department of Economic Development said it would be a tool for aerospace and defense projects and other public-safety needs; ACLU testimony raised concerns about notice, property rights, and possible impacts on public waterways. The bill was also reported favorably. The committee next considered several criminal justice bills. House Bill 51, barring post-conviction bail for defendants convicted of aggravated offenses against children, and House Bill 55, limiting public disclosure of juror information to protect juror privacy, both received broad support and were reported favorably. House Bill 635, aimed at protecting Louisianians from transnational repression by foreign governments through penalty enhancements for underlying crimes, was supported by a national security advocate and reported favorably. House Bill 133, increasing penalties for students who commit attacks on teachers or other students, was amended to address juvenile procedure and exceptionalities; teachers testified about serious injuries they suffered, while the ACLU and criminal defense lawyers raised concerns about mandatory minimums and individualized sentencing. The bill was reported with amendments. The committee also heard House Bill 676, which creates the crime of fraudulent patient referrals, or “body brokering,” in the substance-use treatment industry. The sponsor and Blue Cross Blue Shield representatives described schemes that steer vulnerable patients into fraudulent treatment arrangements for profit; the bill was reported favorably. House Bill 159 created a Caddo Parish pilot program for pretrial home incarceration with electronic monitoring to reduce jail overcrowding. The sheriff said the jail is far over capacity and that the program would be limited to nonviolent, non-sex-offense defendants with risk assessments, court approval, and behavioral-health check-ins. Witnesses supported the concept but urged tighter liability language; the committee adopted an amendment and reported the bill with amendments. House Bill 106, dealing with unauthorized administration of melatonin to children in child care settings, was reported favorably. Later, the committee amended and reported House Bill 108, which changes juror qualifications to exclude people convicted of crimes of violence or sex offenses from criminal juries, after opponents argued it would unnecessarily bar citizens from jury service. House Bill 784, a cleanup bill on sex offender registration and notification, was amended and reported with technical changes. Senate Bill 388, which removes a trigger clause tied to a border compact and authorizes review of state contracts for foreign-adversary benefit, was amended and reported. Finally, House Bill 772, a bail-procedure reform requiring accurate mailing and electronic notice information and consolidating notice rules, was presented as a fairness and efficiency measure and had support from the bail industry and prosecutors; the transcript ends before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• They said that place is the best place for KA, and they wanted to do a road from Skyline to Manana Road
• They said that place is the best place for KA, and they wanted to do a road from Skyline to Manana Road
• local to our to our place to to local local to our to our place to to have<01:09:37.640><c> such</c>
• </c><01:16:48.199><c> so</c> sand and make it so that that locals so sand and make it so that that locals
• We do sit on both sides of the road.

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land heard SR 18, which asks DLNR to transfer active agricultural land leases to the Department of Agriculture to support agriculture. DLNR, through Don Chang, opposed the resolution, saying the department has already been transferring parcels by mutual agreement and should not be required to transfer lands it does not consent to. Ranchers and agricultural advocates strongly supported the measure, arguing that the lands are active production areas, that partial transfers would undermine ranching operations, and that water infrastructure built by ranchers must be protected. Testimony from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and others emphasized the importance of preserving agricultural land for food production, wildfire management, and long-term ranch viability. Committee members pressed both sides on acreage, specific parcels, and whether negotiations were still ongoing, with DLNR later clarifying that some parcels remain under negotiation and that some proposed transfers have been narrowed or adjusted. Several specific ranches and parcels were discussed, including Batello, Diamond B, Delo, Nobriga, and Kapala Ranch. Witnesses described the operational importance of water systems, grazing areas, and access routes, and said that losing productive acreage would threaten business viability. Some members expressed concern that the proposal appeared to transfer productive land while leaving less useful land with ranchers, and urged the department to continue transparent negotiations and consider the practical impact on agriculture and conservation. A DLNR representative said some transfers were tied to other needs, such as transportation mitigation, and not to a broader effort to take more land. The Department of Agriculture later stated it supports the intent of the measure, but suggested its concerns would likely be addressed if the resolution were narrowed to the specific parcels at issue. The chair also announced that the related House bill on the same subject remains alive and will be heard by Water and Land on Thursday. After concluding SR 18, the committee moved on to SCR 51 and SR 33, which seek a working group to evaluate establishing and administratively placing an Office of Resilience and Recovery. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development indicated support for the concept, noting the office’s value in Maui wildfire recovery efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• But just to lock it down, this would only be authorized if the local government wants to opt in for this
• While federal and state authorities have initially initiated legal action, local government officials
• I shop in small businesses; we all shop in our local businesses because we believe in local business.
• He thanked the author for taking the time.
• The author confirmed that it was correct.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee heard several bills on consumer protection, privacy, AI, and employment technology. SB 53 by Senator Wiener would require large AI developers to disclose safety and security protocols, report serious incidents quickly, and create CalCompute and whistleblower protections; supporters said it is a transparency-based, narrower follow-up to SB 1047, while industry groups opposed unless amended over concerns about size-based thresholds, trade secrets, and security. SB 766 by Senator Allen would codify FTC car-sales rules and create a three-day cooling-off period for certain used-car purchases; testimony was broadly supportive, and several dealer and industry groups moved from opposition to neutral after amendments. The committee also heard SB 7 by Senator McNerney, which would require notice and human oversight for automated decision-making in employment, and SB 833 by the same author, which would require human review and monitoring for AI use in critical infrastructure; both drew support from labor and consumer advocates and opposition or concerns from business and public-sector groups about scope and compliance. The committee also began hearing SB 11 on AI-generated voice/image/video cloning and nonconsensual deepfakes, with supporters backing consumer warnings and liability rules and opponents seeking narrower language and lower penalties. Members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized the need to balance innovation with safety, with supporters arguing California should act where Congress has not, and opponents urging narrower definitions, stronger trade-secret protections, and more limited enforcement. On SB 53, committee members praised the author’s outreach but noted the bill still needs work; the bill was moved out on a do-pass-as-amended motion with seven votes and held open for absent members. SB 766 received unanimous support after amendments and was reported out 9-0. SB 7 and SB 833 were both advanced on do-pass motions but were left open with only partial vote counts at the time of the hearing. The committee later recessed and returned to continue the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> author that? Thank you. author that? Thank you.
• I believe that a local no newspaper is I believe that a local no newspaper is the<00:48:33.200><c> best
• This would absolutely remove that from our local zoning. Uh, HOAs, private roads.
• </c> this benefit um based on a local vote. this benefit um based on a local vote.
• </c><06:00:23.120><c> I</c> authority in a state agency. I authority in a state agency.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Summary: The Municipal and County Government Committee met in executive session on February 17, 2026, to act on a series of bills. Early in the meeting, members agreed that they could consult the online submission summaries rather than have changing submission counts read aloud. The committee then took up House Bill 1386, which would have allowed citizens in a municipality to vote to require a financial audit of a local school district. Members opposing the bill argued that school districts already have audit authority and reporting requirements under existing law, and that the proposal was unnecessary and potentially burdensome. The committee voted 17-0 to recommend the bill inexpedient to legislate, placing it on the consent calendar. The committee next considered House Bill 1181FN on public hearing notice requirements for zoning board of adjustment appeals. Members who opposed the bill said newspaper publication provides independent third-party verification and archival value, and that removing that requirement would weaken public notice. The committee voted 17-0 ITL and sent the bill to the consent calendar. It also voted 17-0 ITL on House Bill 1327, concerning the definition of commercially zoned land, largely because the sponsor was absent and members said they could not do due diligence without hearing from the sponsor. The committee then acted on House Bill 1473FN, concerning the use of agricultural fairground property, and House Bill 1147, concerning the use of capital reserve funds. In both cases, members cited the sponsor’s absence and the need for more information as reasons to recommend inexpedient to legislate; both votes were 17-0 and both bills were placed on the consent calendar. House Bill 1220, which would have allowed municipal governing bodies to review and approve school budgets, was also recommended ITL by a 17-0 vote after members raised concerns about local control, legal conflicts between separate entities, and technical drafting problems. The committee recommended ought to pass on House Bill 118, which raises the amount of money municipal treasurers may hold before depositing it in the bank, with supporters saying the higher threshold would reduce unnecessary trips to the bank and improve efficiency. It also recommended ought to pass on House Bill 1151, a housekeeping bill correcting statutory references related to conservation commission appropriations, and it approved House Bill 1309 as amended after adopting Amendment 2026-0411H to clarify town meeting warrant language. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1385, prohibiting negative property tax rates in certain municipalities, and recommended ITL by a 17-0 vote after testimony indicated the practice at issue had already ended and that a blanket prohibition could create problems for municipalities with excess revenues. The committee also began work on House Bill 1369, relating to posting warrants for special town meetings, and discussed an amendment to preserve newspaper notice while also allowing website posting where available.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, they have zoning authority, but they also have authority over trash contracts, property taxes
• And in addition to all the authority over paving the roads and which roads to widen and things like that
• And in addition to authority over paving the roads and which roads to widen and things like that.
• You go off to the local dispensary and you hand it to the local person standing at the counter.
• You go off to the local dispensary and you hand it to the local person standing at the counter.

Bills: LB815A , LB838A , LB912A , LB972A , LB1126A , LB962A , LB1114 , LB921 , LB937 , LB803 , LB803A , LB1032 , LB1032A , LB1075 , LB1075A , LB889 , LB878 , LB933 , LB304 , LB304A , LB1096 , LB1096A , LB1165 , LB1165A , LB958 , LB958A , LB762 , LB1187 , LB966 , LB929 , LB962 , LB753 , LB788 , LB913 , LB1055 , LB1195 , LB429 , LB721 , LB722 , LB727 , LB743 , LB745 , LB749 , LB778 , LB787

Transcript Highlights:

• I recognize the author, Representative Acom. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
• It includes funding for our local roads, township roads, local bridges, and highway railroad grade crossings
• I recognize the author from Hennepin, the author of the bill, Representative Lee, to explain the bill
• Peter is the end of the road.
• Just so you know, we did not cut local government aid at all.

Transcript Highlights:

• And uh going to happen down the road.
• The local control pieces, the innovation pieces, our local school districts, our local school boards,
• </c><00:31:20.880><c> It's</c> much like roads and bridges. It's much like roads and bridges.
• Um the local control for our kids.
• </c><00:31:31.679><c> school</c> local school districts, our local school local school districts, our

Transcript Highlights:

• authority.
• authority.
• authority.
• authority.
• authority.

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• This project involves an intersection that connects State Highway 61, a county road, and a city road.
• We also have many state highways and county roads in our district.
• In state bonding locally since 2021, we've locally bonded $3.4 million through debt levies and. operating
• There's no—it’s a dead-end road.
• In 2010, our city annexed, tripling our residents and roads.

Bills: HF2418 , HF1666 , HF232 , HF344 , HF402 , HF431 , HF468 , HF547 , HF583 , HF1476 , HF1711 , HF2787 , HF2788 , HF3207

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you know, we had a very productive road show.
• With that, we have our LPA program, our local public agency program.
• This is LA 1143 in Cameron Parish, between 1127 and Muria Road.
• LA 82 from Dyson Road. LA 82 from Dyson Road to North Island Road in Cameron Parish.
• We're using those roads as pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists.

Summary: The Senate Joint Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee received updates from the Department of Transportation and Development on its transformation efforts, including a new project delivery dashboard, key performance indicators, and litter abatement work. DOTD said the dashboard is now live and tied to daily field updates, and reported progress on its T4LA initiatives, including improved project transparency, customer service, and a new highway sponsorship litter program. Members praised the department’s work and asked about litter funding, with DOTD saying last year’s $14.7 million litter pickup effort included the legislature’s supplemental appropriation. The committee also heard detailed progress reports on LTIF 1.0 and 2.0, the Office of Highway Construction’s bridge bundling and roadway projects, the Calcasieu River Bridge project, and the Cameron Ferry. DOTD reported that LTIF 1.0 is about 80% complete and that LTIF 2.0 has encumbered nearly $150 million, with several projects ahead of schedule and some under budget. The Office of Highway Construction said 62 bridge projects are in the bundle, 11 are under construction, and emergency procurement has helped accelerate delivery. DOTD said the Calcasieu River Bridge remains on track for a mid-to-late April groundbreaking, with all federal permits in hand and right-of-way acquisition underway; it also reported that new Cameron Ferry boats are under construction and that a privatization proposal from Labmar Ferry Services will go to the Louisiana Transportation Authority. Members then reviewed the draft 2026-2027 highway priority program, which DOTD said includes $913 million for construction across 302 projects and about $1.2 billion total investment. The committee also received public comment on the statewide flood control program, which recommended six projects expected to reduce flood damage by more than $289 million, and on the airport construction and development priority program, which includes 31 air carrier projects and 99 general aviation projects. DOTD also noted no current projects for the rail infrastructure program but said it expects to request $13 million and has 19 projects in the queue, and it presented three port projects that are not yet funded but will be considered by the Louisiana Transportation Authority. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and LSU’s Center for Analytics and Research presented data on impaired driving, saying impaired driving remains a major factor in fatalities and injuries, with alcohol and drugs together contributing to a large share of crashes and about $700 million in annual economic costs. Members discussed youth driving, marijuana, ignition interlock, DWI courts, and enforcement challenges on waterways; the presenters emphasized education, enforcement, and treatment as part of a broader safety strategy. No formal votes were taken during the meeting, and the committee adjourned after receiving the presentations and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a privilege to be on the roads and not a right to be on the roads.
• </c> fund is only for roads and highways. fund is only for roads and highways.
• We ride road bikes. We ride uh bikes. We ride road bikes.
• road impact or and trail impact as well. road impact or and trail impact as well.
• </c> goals is to get cars off of the road. goals is to get cars off of the road.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• My concern is this will just escalate the cost of doing local business for local municipalities and take
• I'm with Local 3808. Did you state your name again? Yes, Carl Molley. I'm with Local 3808.
• The other thing is, my local is a small local, and we just organized a smaller local.
• to an outside arbitrator who may not be accountable to local taxpayers.
• I'm the director of the law enforcement division for Labor's Local 42.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The committee first heard House Bills 2161, 1830, and 1728 together. Those bills would revise the appointment structure for the St. Charles City-County Library Board so that the four most populous cities in St. Charles County, based on the most recent census, would each appoint one trustee, while the county governing body would continue appointing five members. Sponsors said the change simply codifies an existing informal practice and does not change the board’s total size. St. Charles County supported the measure, and there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard House Bills 3283 and 3306, which were described as identical bills creating timelines and procedures for collective bargaining between public employers and labor organizations. The bills would require bargaining to begin within set timeframes, move unresolved disputes to mediation after 180 days, then to arbitration if mediation fails, and make arbitration decisions binding. Supporters, including labor representatives, firefighters, police, and some local officials, said the bills would curb delay tactics, reduce litigation costs, improve morale and retention, and provide clear rules when contracts expire. Several witnesses described long-running disputes in places such as Cape Girardeau, Robertson Fire Protection District, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood as examples of why deadlines and enforceable procedures are needed. Opponents, led by the Missouri Municipal League, argued that binding arbitration would shift final fiscal authority away from locally elected officials and could limit cities’ ability to respond to budget stress or emergencies. They said the timeline provisions had merit but wanted alternatives to arbitration that would preserve local control and taxpayer accountability. Committee members questioned how good-faith bargaining would be enforced, how arbitrators would weigh municipal budgets, and whether the bills could affect police, fire, and other public employees. No votes were taken, and both public hearings were completed before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• is everything governing all authorities is everything governing all authorities is given by you so again
• we celebrate our local we celebrate our local communities uh you would notice in the communities uh
• Citi citizens this bill best serve local Citi citizens this bill best serve local Citi citizens this
• require the authorization of authorize require the authorization of authorize require the authorization
• the authorize the board to authorize wait a minute read board to authorize wait a minute read board