Transcript Highlights:

• However, we are very concerned that this could also target nonprofits serving immigrants.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 489 really establishes NIL in high school when NIL is named immigrants.

Bills: SB311, SB322, SB304, SB313, SB315, SB316, HB489, SB90

Keywords: electric transmission, public highways, permit processing, economic growth, infrastructure, rural development, condemnation actions, state regulations, community development district, CDD, annexation, municipal annexation, wet municipality, dry county, wet county, Sunday alcohol sales, ABC Board, alcohol licensing, on-premises consumption, golf course

Transcript Highlights:

• It is the one on the University of Law School, setting up an immigration law clinic with a staff attorney

Bills: SB2004, HB1600

Keywords: ethics commission, immunity, conflict of interest, complaints, public officials, transparency, legislative action, criminal prosecution, complaint resolution, HB 1600, immigration law clinic, University of North Dakota, UND Law, law school clinic, legal aid, immigration attorney, student clinic, pro bono, immigration legal services, caseload limit

Summary: The committee reconvened to continue work on water-related appropriations and related bills, with the chair emphasizing the need to move the water bill to conference committee soon because of differences with the House. Members reviewed project funding levels and carryover balances across several water projects, including NAWS, Southwest, Valley City, Cirrus River flood control, Hart River, Redder water supply, municipal and rural water, general water, and discretionary funding. The discussion focused on reduced revenue forecasts, the use of a $150 million line of credit as a working assumption, and concerns about large carryover amounts and piling up cash. No final changes were made to the water funding numbers, but the chair said the committee would revisit the bill after further cleanup of the draft language. The committee then took up House Bill 1600, which would create an immigration law clinic at the University of North Dakota law school. Members agreed the program should be treated as a one-time pilot rather than ongoing general fund spending, so they adopted an amendment changing the $400,000 appropriation to one-time funding from the strategic investment fund. The amended bill passed unanimously, and Senator Meyer was assigned to carry it. House Bill 1417, dealing with parole and probation-related policy, was also amended. The committee removed Section 8, which eliminated the bill’s appropriations language, based on testimony that the referenced funding was already included elsewhere in the budget. The amended bill then passed unanimously. The committee also discussed possible future amendments to water study language, including earlier reporting deadlines and a proposal to require larger new water project requests to go through the Water Topics Overview Committee before being introduced, but no final action was taken on those concepts. Several other bills, including the AI-related House Bill 1448 and law enforcement bonus bill 1193, were left for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• An estimated 94,000 non-immigrant legal permanent residents from COFA Nations currently live in the United

Transcript Highlights:

• give... ...you know the police in this bill give the authority to the police officers to work with immigration

Bills: SB210, SB225, HB280, HB287, HB94, HB88, SB157, HB7, HB8, HB42

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, blood tests, DUI, law enforcement, traffic offenses, chemical analysis, public nuisance, event liability, local government, community health, legal action, transparency, reporting, public safety, regulation, accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of you have worked closely with immigrant communities and understand the hesitation people sometimes
• 31:41.200><c> with</c> Many of you have worked closely with Many of you have worked closely with immigrant
• communities</c><00:31:42.399><c> and</c><00:31:42.799><c> understand</c><00:31:43.679><c> the</c> immigrant
• communities and understand the immigrant communities and understand the hesitation<00:31:44.799><c>
• and people of color, making immigrant and people of color, making them<02:50:06.800><c> especially</

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 792, Senator Lam, Hospitals Immigration Enforcement Action Policy Requirement, favorable
• requires a hospital to adopt a policy describing the protocol of the hospital when there is an immigration
• I like getting criminal illegal immigrants out of the country, but that have committed crimes, particularly
• I I like getting criminal<01:43:28.040><c> illegal</c><01:43:28.360><c> immigrants</c><01:43:28.720><
• illegal immigrants out of the country,<01:43:29.520><c> but</c><01:43:30.080><c> that</c><01:43:30.240

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum present and then proceeded through committee reports, largely adopting favorable reports and amendments without objection. Early measures included SB 530, which funds grants for multigenerational social connection programs for older adults; SB 731, clarifying the legal status of the Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council; SB 809, directing a feasibility study on a caregiver infrastructure program; SB 860, creating an Aging Resilience Fund with reporting and budget protections; SB 910, requiring insurance reimbursement for services provided by graduate-level clinical interns under supervision; and SB 972, making several Baltimore City alcoholic beverages licensing changes. Each of these bills was advanced to third reading after committee amendments were adopted. The Finance Committee also advanced SB 555, establishing a Dementia Services and Brain Health Program and a provider resource toolkit for dementia care; SB 757, creating a Maryland Local Sourcing Portal to connect businesses with local sources for tariff-impacted goods; SB 772, creating an employment training and opportunity database to help people qualify for or maintain Medicaid and SNAP; SB 792, requiring hospitals to adopt and train staff on immigration-enforcement policies consistent with Attorney General guidance; SB 869, establishing a workforce training pilot program through Commerce and community colleges; SB 905, creating an advanced manufacturing grant program through TEDCO; and SB 974, changing who may serve as inspector for the Caroline County Board of License Commissioners. Most of these bills were reported favorably with technical or narrowing amendments and then ordered printed for third reading. Budget and Taxation advanced SB 28, which would create binding arbitration for state employee collective bargaining impasses and include a proposed constitutional amendment requiring funding in the Governor’s budget; SB 466, expanding a physician preceptor tax credit and adjusting training-hour requirements; and later SB 704, concerning estate tax treatment for qualified agricultural property transferred to an LLC. SB 557, a gaming-related bill, was laid over until the end of the evening at the majority leader’s request. In the Education, Energy, and the Environment report, the committee advanced SB 35 on a state natural science museum designation, SB 166 on shellfish aquaculture permit sanctions, SB 189 on municipal drainage inlet safety requirements prompted by a child’s death, SB 242 on civil relief for service members and spouses, SB 266 on local regulation of invasive trees and tree-of-heaven, and SB 267 on a corporate rental-property registry and local housing application review process. SB 267 drew a brief question from the minority leader, who asked whether prior opposition remained and how the amended bill differed; the sponsor said the opposition had gone away and described the bill as now focused on a responsible-owner registry and an administrative review process.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also know that there are a number of immigrants who speak different languages within our state.
• and German additions to accommodate non-English-speaking residents, primarily Hispanic and German immigrant
• Hispanic<01:54:45.119><c> and</c><01:54:45.360><c> German</c><01:54:46.080><c> im</c><01:54:46.080><c> immigrant
• </c> Hispanic and German im immigrant Hispanic and German im immigrant populations.<01:54:47.760><c>
• If we put on the ballot measure, let's say we're going to take $400 million from illegal immigrants'

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• supporter of enforcing<00:26:39.720><c> this</c><00:26:39.840><c> nation's</c><00:26:40.200><c> immigration
• </c><00:26:40.720><c> laws</c> enforcing this nation's immigration laws enforcing this nation's immigration
• <c> federal</c> Attorney General to work with a federal Attorney General to work with a federal Immigration
• > and</c><00:26:52.279><c> Customs</c><00:26:52.840><c> Enforcement</c><00:26:53.840><c> in</c> Immigration
• and Customs Enforcement in Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota<00:26:55.000><c> to</c><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And people who ran the money transfers at that time said, quote, Somali immigrants were told the contributions
• Let's talk about the flood of illegal immigrants into our country.
• 01:32:47.720><c> flood</c><01:32:48.160><c> of</c><01:32:48.280><c> illegal</c><01:32:48.600><c> immigrants
• </c><01:32:49.120><c> into</c><01:32:49.360><c> our</c> the flood of illegal immigrants into our the
• flood of illegal immigrants into our country.<01:32:49.920><c> Let's</c><01:32:50.160><c> talk</c><01

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• disabilities, a community advocate, and the board chair of Mungoni Voices, an organization that works with immigrant
• This could unintentionally reduce access to care for families who already face barriers, especially immigrant
• to care for families who already face barriers,<00:46:50.480><c> especially</c><00:46:50.960><c> immigrant
• </c><00:46:51.400><c> families,</c> barriers, especially immigrant families, barriers, especially immigrant

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• there have been alarming reports of Chinese nationals and entities exploiting our surrogacy and immigration
• I'm also very concerned about the immigration changes in this bill and have met some wonderful and amazing
• on this bill this afternoon, and some of it in committee, you would have thought that this is an immigration
• It's because of where my parents immigrated from. And I will tell you that... ...of things.
• It's because of where my parents immigrated from.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for former member Chester Clem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum confirmation. Members then adopted the special order report for the day and approved a Rules and Ethics Committee report amending House Rule 15.3 to allow fundraising under certain circumstances during extended or special sessions. The chamber then took up several bills. HB 1405 on a statewide project for missing persons with special needs passed unanimously. CS/CS/CS/SB 290, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, passed 94-10 after debate focused on conservation land surplus procedures and agricultural use of state lands. CS/CS/CS/HB 905, the “Fire Act” on foreign influence, foreign gifts, critical infrastructure, sister city agreements, and related restrictions, passed 80-20 after the House adopted an amendment adding a prohibition on certain surrogacy contracts involving citizens or residents of foreign countries of concern. CS/CS/HB 1197, dealing with information technology procurement and contracting, passed 109-0. HB 1103 on local administration of vessel restrictions passed unanimously. The House also debated CS/CS/CS/HB 399 on land use and development regulations. Supporters said it would limit development fees, standardize compatibility rules, allow manufactured homes in RV parks, and lower voting thresholds for comprehensive plan changes to address housing affordability; opponents argued it would preempt local control, weaken voter-approved urban boundary protections, and risk conservation lands. An amendment to preserve Orange County’s boundary rules failed, while a technical amendment on manufactured homes passed. The bill then passed 71-38. The House also passed several local bills, including measures for the Pace Fire Rescue District, Avalon Beach/Mulat Fire Protection District, East Point Water and Sewer District, Fellsmere Water Control District, and Headwaters Water Control District, with votes ranging from 83-27 to unanimous approval. The transcript also included farewell remarks from Representative Angie Nixon before the House returned to remaining business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Human Services needs to do their job cuz Governor Walz only cares about the illegal immigrants
• Department of Human Services needs to do their job cuz Governor Walz only cares about the illegal immigrants
• :19:17.200><c> about</c><01:19:17.440><c> the</c><01:19:17.520><c> illegal</c><01:19:17.880><c> immigrants
• </c> only cares about the illegal immigrants only cares about the illegal immigrants that<01:19:19.080

Bills: HF3542

Keywords: data privacy, investigative data, welfare system, public funds, transparency, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Parents were afraid with everything that's going on around the topic of immigration.
• Of immigration. They thought, oh, am I under arrest? They were scared.
• teachers' unions actually recruiting their students to go to these walkout protests protesting immigration
• Called 'No Work, No School, No Shopping' strikes to oppose the Trump administration's immigration crackdown
• Palaverte, and University High Schools, closed due to thousands of employee absences protesting immigration

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We support immigration enforcement.
• expect that for each of our neighbors, whether it's someone that you're concerned about there, immigration
• about</c><01:09:54.480><c> there,</c> you're concerned about there, you're concerned about there, immigration
• 56.239><c> or</c><01:09:56.400><c> in</c><01:09:56.640><c> the</c><01:09:56.719><c> highest</c> immigration
• status or in the highest immigration status or in the highest court<01:09:57.199><c> of</c><01:09:57.360

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• social services programs for over 30,000 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, immigrants
• highlight the critical need for better language services, especially now given the current attacks on immigrants
• and social services programs for over 30,000 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, immigrants
• Pacific Islanders, immigrants, and limited English speakers every year in Sacramento and L.A.
• highlight the critical need for better language services, especially now given the current attacks on immigrants

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 22 and took up a special order of bills focused largely on prior authorization and utilization management in health care. The chair framed the discussion as part of a broader legislative effort to reduce delays and barriers to care, especially in behavioral health, chronic disease management, cancer treatment, and rehabilitation services. AB 384 by Assembly Member Connolly would prohibit prior authorization for inpatient mental health or substance use emergency admissions and related physician care; supporters said it would prevent dangerous delays in crisis care, while insurers and health plans warned about fraud, abuse, and ambiguity around residential treatment facilities. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and passed the committee on a party-line style vote, with Republicans largely absent or not voting. The committee then heard AB 510 by Assembly Member Addis, which would require health plans, upon request, to provide a peer reviewer of the same or similar specialty when a treating provider appeals a prior authorization denial or modification. Supporters argued that specialty-matched review would make appeals fairer and more clinically informed; opponents said the requirement was too rigid and that timelines and electronic submission rules needed changes. After discussion about the need for timely, specialty-specific review, the bill was approved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. AB 539 by Assembly Member Schiavo would extend prior authorization approvals to one year or the duration of the physician’s prescribed treatment for chronic conditions; supporters cited repeated denials and treatment interruptions, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, fraud, and the need for shorter validity periods. The bill was also passed as amended and placed on call. The committee next considered AB 669 by Assembly Member Haney, which would bar concurrent and retrospective review for the first 28 days of medically necessary substance use disorder treatment and limit prior authorization for related outpatient medications. The bill was presented with a powerful personal story from Ryan Matlock’s mother about her son’s death after an insurer cut off treatment early; supporters said the measure would keep patients in care long enough to stabilize, while opponents argued it would reduce oversight and could allow lower-quality or non-evidence-based care. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. Finally, AB 512 by Assembly Member Harabedian would shorten prior authorization response times to 24 hours for urgent requests and 48 hours for non-urgent requests; supporters said delays can worsen outcomes, while opponents warned the timelines were unrealistic and could increase administrative burdens and safety issues. The bill was approved as amended and placed on call. AB 574 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez was then heard; it would allow up to 12 medically necessary physical therapy sessions for a new episode of care without prior authorization, with supporters emphasizing stroke and neurological recovery and opponents warning of reduced oversight and unnecessary care. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 574, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another problem, as an immigrant, I want to do what is right for me and my family.
• Another problem, as an immigrant, I want to do what is right for me and my family.
• Another problem, as an immigrant, I want to do what is right for me and my family.
• Another problem, as an immigrant, I want to do what is right for me and my family.
• Another problem, as an immigrant, I want to do what is right for me and my family.

Bills: HF2228, HF46, HF856, HF2149, HF2215

Keywords: homeowners insurance, property insurance, commercial property insurance, insurance affordability, insurance market stabilization, reinsurance, catastrophic reinsurance fund, self-insured pool, premium costs, coverage notice, liability reform, climate risk, climate change, housing affordability, multifamily housing, rental housing, common interest communities, cooperatives, small business insurance, Minnesota Commerce Department

Transcript Highlights:

• Holan in terms of getting rid of the criminal illegal immigrants, rapists, murderers, drug dealers that
• Holan in terms of getting rid of the criminal illegal immigrants, rapists, murderers, drug dealers that
• criminal terms of getting rid of the criminal illegal<00:27:25.559><c> IM</c><00:27:26.120><c> immigrants
• </c><00:27:27.120><c> rapist</c><00:27:27.600><c> murders</c> illegal IM immigrants rapist murders illegal
• IM immigrants rapist murders drug<00:27:28.480><c> dealers</c><00:27:28.880><c> that</c><00:27:29.000

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• there seems to be a lack of focus on some of those crimes that are being committed outside the immigration
• requests and need for inspection based upon the amount of calls that we've been receiving regarding immigration
• more than 50 years of experience defending and championing the civil and human rights of Latinx and immigrant
• of this program, this initiative has increased the criminalization of and militarization against immigrant
• of this program, this initiative has increased the criminalization of and militarization against immigrant

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard the Legislative Budget Board’s overview of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2026-27 budget, followed by extensive testimony from DPS leadership. The LBB presentation covered funding and staffing changes across driver license services, facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, and border security. The recommendations included added support for customer service staffing and trooper hiring, but did not include several DPS exceptional items such as major driver license staffing and technology requests, new regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio, and other capital projects. Members also discussed proposed rider changes, including a new rider to lapse unused trooper funding and require reporting after recruit schools. Much of the committee’s questioning focused on driver license operations, where senators criticized long call wait times, low call-answer rates, appointment delays, and what they viewed as an overreliance on adding staff rather than improving processes. DPS and LBB witnesses said the agency is pursuing some technology upgrades, including automation, online pre-population of applications, and appointment-system improvements, but acknowledged that the driver license division remains a major problem area. Senators also raised concerns about whether the 2019 efficiency study led to meaningful changes and whether the agency should consider broader process redesign or even a different administrative structure. Colonel Freeman and other DPS officials then defended the agency’s broader law enforcement and border-security work, emphasizing the need for the Williamson County training academy, the 500 additional troopers funded in prior sessions, and continued support for Operation Lone Star. They described DPS’s role in border interdiction, threat-to-life investigations, oilfield theft cases, Capitol and Alamo security, and highway safety, and said the agency is stretched thin by deployments and overtime. Members asked about border reimbursement possibilities, regional staffing differences, pursuit safety, fleet and aircraft replacement needs, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame museum. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that there are more and more immigration detainees there, about 300. >> And that's not something
• We know that there are more<01:07:28.640><c> and</c><01:07:28.760><c> more</c><01:07:29.000><c> immigration
• </c><01:07:29.520><c> detainees</c> more and more immigration detainees more and more immigration detainees

Bills: SCR180

Keywords: wildfire, fire hazard, Lahaina, West Maui, Maui wildfire, vegetation management, fuel reduction, defensible space, fuel breaks, invasive grasses, emergency access, evacuation route, fire lane, state lands, public safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal, community risk reduction, hazard mitigation, brush clearance, wildland-urban interface

Summary: The committee opened by noting it was likely its last hearing of the 2026 session, then took up several resolutions. SCR 54, on appointing a hydrogen fire safety expert and training on hydrogen-related protocols, and SCR 59, on allowing certain health care professionals to practice without a license during a state of emergency, drew no testimony. Members discussed SCR 59 as a response to past emergencies and the need for pre-approved, updated registries of professionals who could be deployed quickly in emergencies. SCR 62 SD1, which asks the 911 Board to form a working group with the disability community to address access issues in emergency and 911 responses, received testimony from disability advocates and the 911 Board. Testifiers said the measure should ensure an integrated system with EMS infrastructure, real-time access for dispatchers and field personnel, and public education about the system; they also noted that Smart911 is no longer being used on Oahu and Maui and that a statewide, integrated approach is needed. Members agreed to work the suggested language into the resolution. SCR 179, urging Maui County to enforce fire code provisions on brush clearance, fuel breaks, roadside vegetation clearing, and emergency access, was noted as having no testimony but continuing to raise important issues. SCR 74, calling for an audit of no-bid contracts issued under emergency proclamations from 2020 through 2025, drew strong support from a late testifier who tied the measure to emergency procurement concerns after the Lahaina wildfire and COVID-era contracting. The witness argued that procurement rules should not be waived in ways that compromise safety, and described concerns about unlicensed contractors and construction problems in a state housing project. Members asked about the scope of the audit and whether it would interfere with criminal investigations; the witness said the audit should cover a broad range of contracts, including nonprofit contracts, and should not be limited to the wildfire period. The committee also heard SCR 28 SD1 on creating a Hawaii Vietnam Veterans Medal, with support from the Department of Defense and veterans advocates, who said the resolution is intended to do the groundwork for a future appropriation and to determine eligibility and distribution procedures. Finally, SCR 60 SD1, requesting updates on the “Breaking Cycles” rehabilitation and restorative justice study, received support from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Correctional System Oversight Commission, and reform advocates. The department asked that reporting be annual rather than quarterly because of the complexity of the OCCC project, and supporters said the measure would promote transparency and help ensure the study’s recommendations are implemented. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.