Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of wages, construction, etc.
• It’s about 900 feet from a Navajo grade school.
• Primarily, construction jobs are on one site.
• Not only is it more common in one big construction site, but it's also more common in multiple construction
• So we actually haven't even gotten into due construction yet.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So on the construction workforce, as we don't have a mature end...
• And so we also looked at known construction workforces for CCGTs.
• At the time of construction, the AP1000 design was not complete.
• EDF is well equipped to finance the construction of reactors with complete and constructed designs because
• And then we provide technical assistance to communities as well.

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to hear a series of presentations on the economics, financing, workforce, and community impacts of advanced nuclear deployment in North Dakota. William Bridge of Nucleon Energy presented the committee’s economic impacts and private-sector financing report, estimating construction and operating job impacts, local spending, and state/local tax effects for hypothetical SMR projects. He said the report assumes first-of-a-kind costs are still high, used a $6 million per megawatt nth-of-a-kind proxy, and estimated peak construction workforces of about 500 for a 200-MW plant and 1,000 for a larger facility, with roughly 100 operating jobs for a 200-MW plant. Committee members questioned security costs, capital cost assumptions, water and transmission siting constraints, and whether the model included fuel and waste; Bridge said the report included initial fuel in capital cost and that waste disposal is funded through existing federal mechanisms. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning efforts. She described declining labor-force participation, retirements, and the need for a much larger future workforce, and said NEI has organized recommendations around career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and nontraditional recruitment. She highlighted tools such as the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, timing for training relative to plant development, and whether advanced manufacturing would reduce staffing needs; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. The committee also heard from Gary Yaco, mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota, who described Prairie Island’s role in his community. He said the plant provides a large share of local property tax revenue, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to emergency preparedness funding and training, and is broadly supported by the city despite periodic protests and public concerns. He emphasized the plant’s security, regular drills with local and federal responders, and the absence of problems with dry cask storage. Later, Benton Arnett of NEI discussed the current financing landscape for advanced nuclear, explaining how tax credits, federal loan support, off-take agreements, and new business models are helping projects move forward. He said early projects face high upfront costs and long lead-time procurement, but that investor confidence is improving as federal policy and regulatory streamlining continue. The committee asked about waste funding, comparisons with natural gas, the effect of political shifts on investor confidence, and whether the market will narrow to a few winning technologies; Arnett said the industry is still sorting that out, but expects clearer winners in the late 2020s and early 2030s. The meeting concluded with an introductory presentation from Julie Kazeraki of DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, who said the office is focused on accelerating nuclear deployment through financing support.

Transcript Highlights:

• or being employed by the school campus.
• So if we have some schools doing written and some schools going online, how does that make it standard
• Mike Lynn, does this include charter schools so that we know what charter school owners, presidents,
• In addition, it has school buses that will come to the school and pick up your child and take them to
• , school district, or charter school.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long minority calendar covering a wide range of bills, with sponsors giving brief descriptions and members frequently raising concerns about constitutionality, cost, federal preemption, and policy impacts. Topics included medical intervention and vaccination/mask prohibitions, state treasurer investment rules, vacant state positions reporting, shooting range closure limits, congressional term limits, audit penalties, cellphone use while driving, procurement restrictions tied to China, air ambulance regulation, hospital immigration-status reporting, SNAP purchase restrictions, school assessment changes, school contract transparency, religious excusals from school, student contact information, fitness reporting, and several property tax, water, and agriculture measures. Members also discussed bills on AI-generated sexual material consent verification, DEI liability, hate-crime sentencing, commercial driver forfeiture tied to immigration status, speed-limiting devices for repeat speeding offenses, PFAS firefighting foam, name changes for sex offenders, abortion-inducing drugs, prisoner transition services, sexual extortion penalties, solar radiation management bans, and cultivated-cell food labeling and sales bans. Several bills drew explicit opposition or requests to pull them from consent, especially those affecting abortion access, immigration-related hospital reporting, school testing, religious release programs, DEI policies, and cultivated-cell foods. Members noted that some measures appeared duplicative, overly broad, or likely unconstitutional, and in multiple cases referenced prior vetoes or prior-year versions of the same bills. Supportive comments were also made on selected bills, including the PFAS foam prohibition, the assistive technology study committee, the digital goods consumer protection bill, and the prisoner transition services extension. The caucus also considered water and infrastructure measures, including brackish groundwater funding and studies, water augmentation authority bonds, Pima County water rates, groundwater transport rules, and HOA drought watering limits. Toward the end, members reviewed election-related memorials and resolutions, including a proposal to limit voting centers, a memorial urging withdrawal from the United Nations, and another urging defunding the IMF; all three were noted as being on consent and were pulled for further discussion. The meeting closed with announcements, including a note about a local missing-person concern and a caucus recognition program called the Affordable Arizona Award.

Transcript Highlights:

• Immigration enforcement assistance agreements led by local law enforcement.
• So that is why the bill is constructed this way.
• They need construction workers.
• I called the school and I was told there were none. And that was wrong.
• to assist state and local law enforcement agencies.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• tribal schools.
• So to reach high schools and the other middle schools that are not currently being surveyed.
• In 2023, the survey was distributed to 121 middle schools and 99 high schools, with over 12,000 student
• I knew you in high school. Go ahead, Speaker.
• Boyd School of Law at UNLV.

Bills: AB102 , AB108 , AB117 , AB213 , AB220 , AB221 , AB251 , AB259 , AB331 , AB336 , AB375 , AB379 , AB409 , AB475 , AB476 , AB550 , AB575 , AB594 , SB466

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The construction will begin on the new The construction will begin on the new The construction will begin
• . for parking during the construction. for parking during the construction.
• get assistance where veterans can assist get assistance where veterans can assist get assistance to
• Her second year, you know, school. Her second year, you know, school.
• School me on it a little bit. How how do School me on it a little bit.

Bills: HB 200 , HB 541 , HB 1803 , HB 30 , HB 175 , HB 249 , HB 721 , HB 851 , HB 897 , HB 1128 , HB 1904 , HB 1916 , HB 5560 , HB 3071 , HB 5627 , HB 5435 , HB 3913 , HB 2921 , HB 2695 , HB 2688 , HB 3045 , HB 3483 , HB 3673 , HB 4213 , HB 4226 , HB 783 , HB 4373 , HB 4735 , HB 5155 , HB 5057 , HB 4984 , HB 4944 , HB 4813 , HB 5339 , HB 5196 , HB 5033 , HB 4853 , HB 3486 , HB 4211 , HB 74 , HB 4670 , HB 4730 , HB 4743 , HB 4603 , HB 4463 , HB 3892 , HB 4139 , HB 4752 , HB 4520 , HB 4517 , HB 4486 , HB 4437 , HB 4426 , HB 4396 , HB 4263 , HB 3487 , HB 3418 , HB 2284 , HB 2266 , HB 2229 , HB 4912 , HB 2189 , HB 4506 , HB 5269 , HB 5224 , HB 5195 , HB 3317 , HB 4166 , HB 3947 , HB 3358 , HB 3370 , HB 4438 , HB 3745 , HB 3602 , HB 3697 , HB 2001 , HB 1968 , HB 3371 , HB 3909 , HCR 7 , SB 1744 , SB 1364 , SB 1316 , HB 2026 , HB 3302 , HB 3368 , HB 1639 , HB 5652 , HB 4655 , HB 5654 , HB 5658 , HB 5656 , HB 4894 , HB 4996 , HB 5088 , HB 5650 , HB 4464 , HB 3751 , HB 5665 , HB 5661 , HB 1237 , HB 2802 , HB 5437 , HB 2703 , HB 5666 , HB 5667 , HCR 113 , HCR 86 , SB 2196 , SB 463 , SB 856 , SB 1245 , SB 1169 , SB 509 , SB 985 , SB 305 , SB 552 , HB 1535 , HB 123 , HB 1804 , HB 426 , HB 1773 , HB 1871 , HB 2035 , HB 2492 , HB 1411 , HB 4753 , HB 4666 , HB 4529 , HB 1499 , HB 1610 , HB 2028 , HB 1506 , HB 886 , HB 3546 , HB 796 , HB 223 , HB 3556 , HB 2448 , HB 4638 , HB 111 , HB 180 , HB 1027 , HB 1178 , HB 610 , HB 1277 , HB 1615 , HB 1620 , HB 5342 , HB 4885 , HB 4751 , HB 4530 , HB 4488 , HB 2149 , HB 2071 , HB 2282 , HB 2248 , HB 2243 , HB 2522 , HB 2310 , HB 2513 , HB 2300 , HB 1902 , HB 1813 , HB 3719 , HB 4284 , HB 3743 , HB 3778 , HB 5153 , HB 5147 , HB 4877 , HB 4850 , HB 3261 , HB 3005 , HB 3033 , HB 2849 , HB 2967 , HB 3531 , HB 1768 , HB 333 , HB 2914 , HB 2613 , HB 3717 , HB 3704 , HB 2697 , HB 3801 , HB 3099 , HB 3488 , HB 3477 , HB 3466 , HB 3396 , HB 3469 , HB 2594 , HB 2776 , HB 2564 , HB 2298 , HB 5331 , HB 5646 , HB 5247 , HB 5323 , HB 4384 , HB 3896 , HB 4014 , HB 3627 , HB 3594 , HB 2524 , HB 510 , HB 561 , HB 5111 , HB 5446 , HB 1181 , HB 3963 , HB 2785 , HB 1661 , HB 2460 , HB 200 , HB 541 , HB 1803 , HB 30 , HB 175 , HB 249 , HB 721 , HB 851 , HB 897 , HB 1128 , HB 1904 , HB 1916 , HB 5560 , HB 3071 , HB 5627 , HB 5435 , HB 3913 , HB 2921 , HB 2695 , HB 2688 , HB 3045 , HB 3483 , HB 3673 , HB 4213 , HB 4226 , HB 783 , HB 4373 , HB 4735 , HB 5155 , HB 5057 , HB 4984 , HB 4944 , HB 4813 , HB 5339 , HB 5196 , HB 5033 , HB 4853 , HB 3486 , HB 4211 , HB 74 , HB 4670 , HB 4730 , HB 4743 , HB 4603 , HB 4463 , HB 3892 , HB 4139 , HB 4752 , HB 4520 , HB 4517 , HB 4486 , HB 4437 , HB 4426 , HB 4396 , HB 4263 , HB 3487 , HB 3418 , HB 2284 , HB 2266 , HB 2229 , HB 4912 , HB 2189 , HB 4506 , HB 5269 , HB 5224 , HB 5195 , HB 3317 , HB 4166 , HB 3947 , HB 3358 , HB 3370 , HB 4438 , HB 3745 , HB 3602 , HB 3697 , HB 2001 , HB 1968 , HB 3371 , HB 3909 , HCR 98 , HCR 92 , HCR 126 , HCR 7

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2023, the construction aggregate grant program was enacted to make up to $20 million available each
• Our most significant construction project right now is the bulkheads.
• Our most significant construction project right now is the bulkheads.
• With the assistance of the Florida Department of Transportation, Tico, and Mosaic, Port Tampa Bay was
• materials sector and providing additional aggregate for road construction throughout the state.

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard SB 356 by Senator Wright, which would create an opt-in framework allowing counties and municipalities to designate certain roads for utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs) under local conditions, including driver licensing, insurance, and speed-limit restrictions below 55 mph. Senator Wright said the bill would give law enforcement clearer authority and mirror the local-option approach used for golf carts. Supporters included a retired Volusia County sheriff and county commissioner, who argued UTVs are safer than golf carts and are already being used on roads, while opponents from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association and Honda warned that UTVs are designed for off-road use, lack federal safety standards, and pose crash and tire-blowout risks on public roads. Several senators raised safety concerns, especially about speed and crash severity, but the committee ultimately voted to report SB 356 favorably. The committee then held a lengthy discussion on seaport infrastructure and funding, beginning with a moment of silence for JaxPort COO and former FDOT employee James Bennett. FDOT presented data showing Florida’s 16 deepwater seaports generate major cargo volume, jobs, and economic impact, and described state funding programs such as FSTED, SPI, and the construction aggregate grant program. Port representatives from Port Everglades, PortMiami, Port Tampa Bay, and the Port of Palm Beach described record cargo and cruise activity, major capital projects, and the need for continued state and federal support for dredging, bulkheads, cranes, rail, and terminal expansion. Senators asked about ROI, trade shifts, intermodal connections, fuel and LNG availability, leverage and reserves, and operational risks such as flooding, sea level rise, and channel depth; port officials emphasized resiliency, private partnerships, and long-term master planning. The committee also confirmed appointees to the Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority and the Tampa Port Authority in one vote, with no objection. Finally, FDOT presented the statewide mapping programs work group report required by SB 1662, explaining that coordinated statewide use of LiDAR and aerial imagery could reduce duplication, improve emergency management and planning, and support insurance and storm-damage assessment. FDOT recommended a formal statewide coordination program, shared procurement and cost-sharing agreements, dedicated staffing, and statutory updates to Chapter 334 to support interagency agreements and recurring funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• Into the school of their choice.
• We were not allowing them to jump from school to school one single time without being punished.
• public schools and communities. ...integrity of high school athletics and support public schools and
• My grandkids are all in Christian school. I understand the value of school choice.
• We've had them in public school, and we've had them in private school.

Transcript Highlights:

• They lost track of where they were to go after high school. They didn't even finish high school.
• They lost track of where they were to go after high school. They didn't even finish high school.
• high school or as they graduate?
• Construction.
• Rebecca Kirk, Executive Officer for the Office of Public School Construction.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance heard an overview of the governor’s new Career Education Master Plan and related budget items. Labor Secretary Knox described the plan as an effort to reduce fragmentation across K-12, community colleges, workforce boards, and other systems by improving statewide and regional coordination, data sharing, skills-based hiring, career pathways, and wraparound supports such as child care, housing, food, and transportation. Members asked how success would be measured, how the plan would serve disconnected youth and adults, and whether the proposed data integration would rely on Cradle to Career; the secretary said it would. The Department of Finance said it was available to answer questions on the education side. The committee then reviewed existing CTE funding and oversight. The LAO, CDE, and Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office described the major ongoing programs, including CTIG, Perkins, K-12 Strong Workforce, and Community College Strong Workforce, and noted that many programs overlap in purpose and administration. Members repeatedly raised concerns about duplication, annual applications and reporting burdens, lack of clear outcome metrics, and whether funding incentives should be better aligned to regional collaboration. CDE and the Chancellor’s Office said they support alignment and dual enrollment, and Finance and CDE said LCFF/local match dollars are part of the funding structure. The committee also discussed child care as a barrier to participation and the need for better tracking of enrollment, completion, and job outcomes. On the consolidated application proposal, Finance proposed a study directing CDE to examine whether three long-standing CTE grant programs—Specialized Secondary Programs, CTIG, and California Partnership Academies—could be streamlined into a single application and reporting process. The LAO supported reducing administrative burden but noted that the largest programs, CTIG and K-12 Strong Workforce, were excluded from the proposal even though districts most often cite them as burdensome. CDE said it did not oppose the study but warned that statutory differences may limit consolidation. Members said the proposal should better address regional coordination, multi-year funding stability, and outcome measures rather than only simplifying paperwork. Finally, the committee heard a proposal for a $5 million ongoing California Education Interagency Council. GovOps said the council would provide a neutral venue for statewide coordination across education and workforce systems. The LAO opposed the proposal, arguing that existing bodies already provide coordination, the proposal does not change agency incentives, and the council would lack authority to implement decisions. Members expressed mixed views, with some supporting a coordinating body and others questioning whether it would differ from past efforts. No votes were taken during the portions summarized here, and the committee indicated it would hold some items open for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a survivor of the shooting at Santana High School that happened on March 5, 2001.
• I am also a councilmember for the neighboring city where the school shooting happened.
• The School Yard Act, trafficking in school zones, major trafficking, large quantity enhancements for
• In other words, for those that are doing construction, that construction material.
• And that is what intelligent speed assistance is.

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, virtual assistants or chatbots.
• “Schools are trying to figure it out.
• We're really here to assist in the enterprise delivery of AI solutions while also assisting in the unique
• One is construction work in process.
• used during construction, AFUDC?

Committee: Joint Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, establishing its purpose as a study and policy-development body rather than one aimed at producing many bills. Majority Leader Hogue urged members to move quickly, focus on federal and other states’ AI laws, consider possible federal preemption, child protections, and the siting and economic impacts of data centers. Committee leadership echoed that the goal is practical, balanced governance that protects North Dakota while allowing innovation to continue. Legislative Council staff provided a background memo and NCSL presented a detailed overview of AI concepts and the current state legislative landscape. The presentations distinguished narrow AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and theoretical AGI/ASI, and summarized major state policy themes: comprehensive AI laws in states such as Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois; targeted laws on deepfakes, chatbots, health, education, notifications, and digital likeness; and growing use of appropriations and agency inventories. Members asked about Colorado’s repeal and reenactment, Texas’s sandbox and training provisions, oversight structures, and whether AI regulation is bipartisan; presenters said most issues cut across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfakes but more division on broader regulatory approaches. The federal update focused on executive orders, preemption, and congressional activity. NCSL described a White House framework favoring a single federal standard, a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department review of state laws, and possible funding conditions tied to state AI policy, though no formal state-law challenge had yet occurred. The presentation also covered a recent executive order creating a voluntary federal vetting process for advanced frontier models after safety concerns, and congressional proposals including a failed 10-year state moratorium, Senator Blackburn’s child-safety bills, the Kids Online Safety Act, a House-passed children’s digital safety package, a Senate data center moratorium proposal, and a House ratepayer/data-center bill. The committee took no formal action beyond receiving testimony and asking questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• She finished her high school career last Thursday.
• SB 112 is the School Release Time Education Act.
• The court ruled that public schools may allow students to be released during school hours for off-campus
• Okay, and it was more private schools or religious schools that came to the table?
• It's for public schools, but allowing for religious instruction during the school day.

Bills: HR295 , HR296 , HR297 , HR298 , HR299 , HR300 , HR301 , HR302 , HR303 , HR304 , HR305 , HR306 , HR307 , HCR115 , HCR116 , HCR117 , HR286 , HR287 , HR288 , HR290 , HR291 , HR292 , HR293 , HR294 , SCR61 , SCR68 , SB121 , SB250 , SB348 , SB444 , SB485 , HR252 , HR253 , HCR96 , HCR103 , HCR108 , SB268 , SB283 , SB414 , HCR98 , HR179 , HR223 , HR225 , HR274 , HCR89 , HCR26 , HB250 , HB265 , HB339 , HB427 , HB445 , HB463 , HB468 , HB606 , HB639 , HB649 , HB665 , HB746 , HB781 , HB853 , HB861 , HB872 , HB886 , HB916 , HB937 , HB1054 , HB1068 , HB1117 , HB1237 , HB74 , HB108 , HB956 , HB1085 , HB1137 , HB75 , SB39 , SB99 , SB111 , SB112 , SB124 , SB134 , SB174 , SB189 , SB190 , SB201 , SB233 , SB236 , SB258 , SB270 , SB273 , SB288 , SB307 , SB313 , SB320 , SB321 , SB325 , SB326 , SB331 , SB339 , SB341 , SB345 , SB346 , SB347 , SB353 , SB357 , SB359 , SB387 , SB393 , SB401 , SB415 , SB419 , SB422 , SB426 , SB435 , SB437 , SB440 , SB451 , SB464 , SB470 , SB487 , SB488 , SB495 , SB504 , SB505 , SB518 , SB523 , HR84 , HB646 , HB998 , HB1191 , SB78 , SB81 , SB97 , SB100 , SB109 , SB123 , SB125 , SB208 , SB385 , SB479 , SB56 , SB163 , SB197 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HR168 , HCR65 , HCR71 , HB284 , HB302 , HB306 , HB341 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB603 , HB605 , HB614 , HB625 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1240 , HB1255 , SB82 , SB89 , HB134 , HB258 , HB359 , HB782 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB149 , SB382 , SB441

Summary: The House met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present, and began with prayer, the pledge, leave requests, and several personal privileges recognizing visitors and groups at the Capitol, including early education advocates, a poster contest winner, Entergy’s River Bend Nuclear Station on its 40th anniversary, a Children’s Miracle Network champion, Community Action leaders, and Leadership Tangipahoa participants. The chamber also received Senate messages, enrollment reports, a conference committee report on Senate Bill 149 that was allowed to lie over, and a long list of House resolutions and Senate bills that were either introduced, referred, or set aside for later consideration. Several resolutions were adopted without objection, including measures recognizing Early Education Day, World Preeclampsia Awareness Day, Dora’s Voyager, Tourism Day, and National Mississippi River Day, while House Concurrent Resolution 98 on SNAP grocery delivery fees failed on reconsideration by a vote of 46 yeas to 39 nays. The House then took up a series of Senate bills. Among the measures passed were SB 39 on provisional massage therapist licenses; SB 111 on freshwater recreational fish limits in the Atchafalaya Basin; SB 124 on peer review confidentiality for health systems; SB 134 on child sexual abuse material and sexting involving minors under 17; SB 99 on electronic DEQ notifications; SB 190 on special-focus nursing facilities; SB 201 on juvenile life-without-parole sentencing procedures; SB 233 on a statewide data exchange compact; SB 236 on annual kidney disease reporting; SB 258 on juvenile traffic offenses; SB 270 on medical marijuana use by terminally ill patients in health care facilities; SB 273 on hospice care requirements; SB 307 on educational displays and a Ten Commandments monument on Capitol grounds; SB 320 on CODIS hit tracking; SB 321 on electronic bonds; SB 325 on excluding threatening persons from sports wagering; SB 331 on temporary exceptions to the Scenic Rivers Act for lower Pearl River Basin work; SB 339 on gaming-related background checks; SB 345 on annual OJJ reporting; SB 346 and SB 347 on deepfake misuse in schools and on campuses; SB 357 on judiciary cleanup provisions; SB 359 on hospital district commissioner terms; SB 387 on pharmacy benefit managers; SB 393 on explosives regulation; SB 401 creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board; SB 415 creating the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program; SB 419 on pre-charged pneumatic devices for deer hunting; SB 422 on unsupervised probation for certain repeat DWI offenders; SB 426 on the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority and peer support credentials; SB 435 creating a Commission on Fatherhood Engagement; SB 437 on licensed treatment services in facilities housing judicially referred residents; SB 440 creating a Renaissance District in Rapides Parish; SB 451 on newborn hearing screening and intervention; SB 464 on severe obesity treatment coverage; SB 470 on pregnancy-related rules in correctional facilities; SB 487 on gaming premises rental agreements; and SB 488 creating a school safety drone response pilot program. Several bills were returned to the calendar for later action, including SB 189 on atmospheric releases affecting weather and climate, SB 326, SB 341, SB 353, and SB 495. A number of bills drew debate over policy and fiscal effects. SB 112 on school release time for religious instruction prompted questions about public-school participation, sponsoring entities, and parental consent; SB 189 on prohibiting intentional atmospheric release of substances for climate or weather modification passed 75-21 after questions about aircraft fuel dumping and agricultural exceptions; SB 201 on juvenile sentencing led to discussion of Supreme Court precedent and appellate review; SB 233 raised privacy concerns about interagency data sharing; SB 313 on electronic filing fees in criminal matters was criticized as a possible unfunded mandate and failed 25-68; and SB 451 on newborn hearing screening drew questions about board expansion, Medicaid coverage, and added administrative costs before passing 94-1. Most other bills passed with little or no opposition, and the House repeatedly adopted motions to table reconsideration after final passage votes. The chamber also announced it would stop debate at 5:00 p.m. and continued working through Senate bills as the Natural Resources Committee finished its meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Building Construction and Real Estate Bureau is the division's largest, with 145 full-time positions
• distribution of the lottery's dividend in House Bill 521 of 2024, redirecting five-eighths to the school
• district facilities fund to help school districts pay down school bonds, levies, and plant facility
• Down school bonds, levies, and plant facility levies.
• They assist law enforcement whenever there's a break-in involving a lottery ticket and our inventory.

Summary: The committee first heard a report from the Joint Millennium Fund co-chairs on recommended uses of Millennium Fund dollars. The recommendations included one-time funding for juvenile safety assessment centers and child advocacy centers, ongoing funding for the Upper River Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center, $5 million for a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and $25 million one-time for Medicaid claim payments to reduce the general fund impact in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the Medicaid recommendation because the fund had previously been directed away from Medicaid; the co-chairs said the request was made in light of a revenue downturn and was intended as one-time funding, with any unused balance returned. The report was accepted by unanimous consent. The committee then reviewed the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Legislative staff summarized the division’s consolidation of licensing boards, staffing, fee-balance management requirements, and the governor’s and committee’s budget recommendations, including vehicle replacement and IT hardware requests. Administrator Russ Barron said the division has reduced overall expenditures since consolidation, improved licensing and inspection timeliness, and used fee changes, fee holidays, and board mergers to keep board balances within the target range. Members questioned rising personnel costs, the use of opioid settlement funds for prescriber DEA fees, the continued need for a 10% transfer exemption, vehicle replacement timing, and how complaints and discipline are handled; Barron said complaints drive investigations, boards set fees subject to legislative approval, and a universal discipline bill could improve consistency. Finally, the committee heard the state lottery budget. Staff described lottery revenues, prize payouts, dividend distributions to schools and state buildings, and a small one-time request for replacement computers. Director Andrew Arulenandum said the lottery has reduced management layers, renegotiated major contracts for significant future savings, and is trying to improve performance without relying heavily on paid advertising. Members asked about the role of lottery detectives, the return on advertising spending, and the need for MacBooks and iMacs; he said detectives investigate theft and other lottery-related crimes, advertising results are hard to isolate from jackpot size, and the Apple equipment is needed for in-house design work. The committee concluded its business and adjourned, with a reminder about upcoming budget-setting work sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:01.720><c> public</c> have an executive assistant public have an executive assistant public
• </c> planning design and construction planning design and construction services<00:51:22.520><c> to</
• </c><00:52:48.760><c> projects</c> uh right now for construction projects uh right now for construction
• Then they will construct it after they complete their own design.
• </c><02:09:13.360><c> method</c> efficient uh um construction method efficient uh um construction method

Transcript Highlights:

• When I was in school— I know that for a fact.
• When I was in school, high school in particular, I know the first week of— and this is public, so maybe
• than $150 million in order to finish construction.
• still has construction trailers there.
• The hospital was left by Steward partially constructed.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Summary: The committee heard testimony on H. 3599, a bill concerning access to landlocked Indian lands in Massachusetts. Witnesses, including members of the Mashpee Wampanoag and Herring Pond communities, described long-standing family land access problems, tax assessments they said treated inaccessible parcels as buildable, and a 2016 Supreme Judicial Court ruling that denied easements by necessity on the basis of tribal custom. They said the bill would restore equal treatment under the law and noted support from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and conditional support from the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe, with possible language changes still under discussion. Members asked about the tax impacts and the status of tribal support, and the chair said the committee would review the conditions and written letters before proceeding. The committee then took up H. 5047, authorizing the Commonwealth to take the Norwood Hospital property by eminent domain so the site can be restored as a hospital. Sponsors Rep. Rogers, Sen. Rush, and Rep. Lynch argued that the closure of Norwood Hospital after the 2020 flood and Steward bankruptcy left a regional medical gap affecting more than a dozen towns, major venues, and emergency responders. They said the site should be returned to a not-for-profit operator, that the state would not be asked to fund the hospital itself, and that eminent domain would allow an independent valuation and move the project forward. Several committee members voiced support, while Rep. Davis asked about timing, cost, and whether negotiations with the current owner could still resolve the issue; sponsors said the private owner had delayed too long and that the state needed a contingency path. Testimony from local officials, chamber representatives, nurses, firefighters, EMS leaders, and residents emphasized the hospital’s regional role, the strain on ambulance and emergency room capacity, longer transport times, boarding at other hospitals, and added costs to towns for ambulances and staffing. Speakers also described personal experiences with delayed care and said the hospital had been profitable before the flood. The Massachusetts Nurses Association and the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts supported the bill, stressing the need for inpatient beds, emergency preparedness, and a stable regional health care system. The committee also briefly heard and accepted testimony on S. 2922, an Eversource-backed bill authorizing an underground easement at Magazine Beach in Cambridge for the Greater Cambridge Energy Project, before returning to the Norwood Hospital bill; no votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hello, my name is Jason Owen and I am in high school. school senior with intellectual disability.
• As opposed to my peers at Angleton High School I was fortunate enough to attend a research one school
• of higher education that has programs such as the School of Civic Leadership. via the School of Civic
• Even in my. school.
• As a school school.

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• For construction workers, reckless speeding is an occupational hazard.
• Construction and road work is inherently dangerous enough as it is.
• My name is Benjamin Milstein, and I am from Lake Washington High School.
• My name is Julie Chee, and I am currently a high school senior at Lake Washington High School.
• He could not have left home without assistance.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on February 23, 2026, with a compressed schedule and limited testimony time. Members first heard Second Substitute Senate Bill 5974, which would set eligibility standards for sheriffs, police chiefs, and marshals, require background checks for sheriff candidates through the Washington State Patrol, regulate volunteers and youth cadets, and create a vacancy in office if an elected law enforcement official is finally decertified or fails statutory eligibility requirements. Supporters, including Senator Lovick and several advocacy groups, said the bill promotes accountability and professionalism. Opponents, including the sheriffs of Walla Walla and Spokane counties, argued it imposes unfunded mandates, conflicts with voter sovereignty and recall procedures, and could create problems for rural counties and volunteer use. The committee later took executive action and reported the bill out with a do pass as amended recommendation, 6-2 with one excused. In executive session, the committee also acted on Engrossed Senate Bill 5068, which expands law enforcement hiring eligibility to people legally authorized to work in the United States. A striking amendment clarified that agencies are not liable for employment discrimination claims if hiring is impracticable, allowed applicants who cannot yet possess weapons to apply if they can possess them when hired, and made technical changes. Representative Burnett raised concerns about background investigations, foreign-country vetting, oath of office, and firearm issues, but the committee adopted the striker and then reported the bill out as amended on a 6-2 vote with one excused. The committee also considered Substitute Senate Bill 5855, which prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public except in specified circumstances and creates a civil cause of action. Amendments added an intent section, expanded exceptions for health and safety equipment under OSHA/WISHA, and proposed stronger prosecutorial language, though two amendments were rejected. The bill was then reported out as amended on a 6-2 vote with one excused. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. Engrossed Senate Bill 5890 would expand reckless driving to include driving more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, and 20 miles per hour over in active construction zones when workers are present; law enforcement, prosecutors, traffic safety officials, and construction industry representatives testified in support. Substitute Senate Bill 5936, a Uniform Law Commission proposal on human trafficking, would allow prosecution of businesses that knowingly engage in or profit from trafficking, strengthen victim confidentiality, and improve U and T visa certification procedures; testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with one witness urging caution about unintended consequences for businesses that report trafficking. Finally, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6070 would expand missing-person response tools by allowing certain surveillance devices to be used for community caretaking to locate missing endangered persons, create Ebony and Purple Alerts, transfer the missing persons website to the State Patrol, and add a public records exemption. Testimony strongly supported the alert provisions, especially for people with disabilities, while one privacy advocate objected to the surveillance provisions as an overreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• Within construction management, estimating, scheduling, and the construction design process.
• just in that most two-year schools are commuter schools.
• South Dakota tech schools, and they have some really good tech schools.
• You can see here we serve between 37 and 40 schools, high schools all over the state.
• at that school.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Construction is another critical pillar.
• Construction is another critical pillar.
• Losing up to $300 a month in food assistance, ...and unstable work.
• And so it is critical... ...school indicators.
• They supported health, rental assistance, and food benefits.

Summary: The hearing opened the Select Committee on Latina Inequities, hosted in Assembly District 43 at Los Angeles Mission College. Chair Celeste Rodriguez and Assembly Member Mia Bonta framed the committee’s purpose as examining Latina economic status and policy barriers, with this hearing focused on the federal administration’s effects on Latinas, the economy, immigration enforcement, and the social safety net. The chair also highlighted California’s equal pay efforts, including SB 642, and described the hearing as a forum to identify legislative solutions. The first panel, led by HOPE, presented findings from its National Economic Status of Latinas report. Speakers said Latinas are a major economic force in California but face persistent inequities, including the state’s largest wage gap, higher unemployment, high uninsured rates, student debt, and affordability pressures around child care, housing, and education. Testimony emphasized that many Latinas are weighing whether degrees or certificates are worth the cost, that entrepreneurship can be a path to mobility but is limited by lack of capital and technical support, and that policy changes such as SB 642, dual enrollment, financial literacy, mentorship, and access to retirement tools could help. The second panel focused on immigration enforcement and Latina safety in the workforce. Advocates and researchers described ICE raids, racial profiling, detention conditions, and the chilling effect on work, school attendance, health care access, and daily life. Speakers from the ACLU, UCLA LPPI, SEIU Local 99, worker centers, Inclusive Action, and CHIRLA said Latinas and immigrant workers are concentrated in essential sectors such as child care, agriculture, construction, domestic work, and street vending, and that enforcement is causing lost wages, family separation, and trauma. They urged stronger state oversight of detention, more legal services, protections for worker centers and street vendors, cash assistance and rental relief, and continued support for rapid response networks and community-based organizing.

Transcript Highlights:

• steals, 600 rebounds, and 500 assists.
• career development initiative, which specializes in assisting youth in finding careers in the construction
• Louis and Lindbergh High School.
• It's the newest medical school, I think, in the state of Missouri, in the Osteopathic School of Medicine
• To all our legislative assistants, thank you.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the previous day’s journal, and a long series of special guest introductions. Guests included the Tipton Lady Cardinals girls basketball state champions, FCCLA and FBLA students from several districts, legislative interns and family members, Missouri Rural Water Association members for Water Advocacy Day, Kansas City University medical students, and legislative assistants, who were formally recognized for their work supporting the chamber. The chamber then took up committee reports and moved several measures. House Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bills 3068 and 3049, a broad public-safety vehicle containing multiple provisions, drew debate over its contents, including concerns about anti-trans language and a challenge that it was overly broad, but it passed 117-10 with 17 present. Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 914, dealing with lateral field soil analysis/perk testing, passed 108-34 with one present. Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1142, a Secretary of State business filing measure for series LLCs, passed 142-0. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 1758, a daylight-saving-time trigger bill. Supporters argued it would protect Missouri from neighboring states forcing a switch to permanent standard time, preserve tourism and outdoor recreation, and reduce health and safety problems associated with changing clocks. Opponents argued Missouri should instead adopt permanent standard time, citing research on circadian rhythm, health effects, school bus safety, and the state’s prior 1974 experience with permanent daylight saving time. The discussion was extensive and bipartisan in tone, but the transcript ends before any final vote on HB 1758 is recorded.