Transcript Highlights:

• As we look at page number one, you see $5.36 billion in gross revenues.
• They're collecting gross revenues.
• As we're moving to page number two, and page number three, you're going to see gross receipts tax.
• That's been known across the country, so we made... ...those adjustments there.
• made for... ...to continue to operate the program in accordance with the assurances made for the receipt

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Summary: The council opened with a prayer, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received the February 2026 Monthly Revenue Report from Carlos Silva of the Bureau of Legislative Research. He reported gross revenues of $5.36 billion and net collections of $4.5 billion, both above the prior year to date, and said the updated forecast now shows a larger expected surplus. Members asked about declines in some tax categories, natural gas severance fee fluctuations, inflation, and economic development incentives; Silva attributed several changes to timing, refunds, tax cuts, weather, and price volatility, and generally described the state’s revenue trend as positive. The Executive Committee, Administrative Rules, Claims Review, Game and Fish, Higher Education, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Medicaid studies, Occupational Licensing Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and other subcommittee reports were adopted. The Medicaid studies report drew extended discussion about DHS staffing and contract nursing costs at state hospitals and human development centers; DHS officials said they were working on a recruitment and retention plan, reported significant vacancies and turnover, and said the state was not at risk of overspending the contracts. Several members urged reducing reliance on contract labor and moving staff onto state payrolls. The Review Subcommittee report prompted questions about a Department of Public Safety aircraft maintenance item and a Department of Shared Administrative Services contract for Deloitte to implement performance and goals management software tied to the state’s new personnel system. After discussion, the aircraft maintenance item was held briefly and then withdrawn from the hold, while the shared services contract was explained as a one-time integration/configuration project for a system that will support employee evaluations and performance-based pay; the report and the separate contract vote were approved. The Personnel Subcommittee also heard testimony from Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald about reductions in force at the Division of Services for the Blind, which he attributed to funding shortfalls and fiscal mismanagement; members questioned the impact on blind and visually impaired clients, the status of board appointments, and whether federal funds could be at risk. The report was adopted with immediate consideration, and the meeting ended after filing the remaining APER report and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we look at page number one, you see $5.36 billion in gross revenues.
• They're collecting gross revenues.
• As we're moving to page number two, and page number three, you're going to see gross receipts tax.
• That's been known across the country, so we made... ...those adjustments there.
• “To continue to operate the program in accordance with the assurances made for the receipt of the federal

Committee: All ARKANSAS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ALC)

Summary: The meeting began with a prayer, approval of the prior minutes, and a February 2026 revenue report from Carlos Silva of the Bureau of Legislative Research. He reported gross revenues of $5.36 billion and net collections of $4.5 billion, both above the prior year, and said the updated forecast showed a larger expected surplus than before. Members asked about declines in some tax categories, natural gas severance fees, and possible effects of inflation and international conflict; Silva generally attributed the changes to timing issues, prior tax cuts, refund activity, and price fluctuations, and said he could not speculate on future impacts. The committee then heard and adopted several subcommittee reports, including the Executive Committee, Administrative Rules, Claims Review, Game and Fish State Police, Higher Education, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Occupational Licensing Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and APER filings. Most reports were approved without objection. One budget classification transfer for the Commissioner of State Lands was reviewed and failed. The review report also led to discussion of several contracts, including DHS staffing contracts and a Department of Education security contract, with some items held or separated for individual votes. A major portion of the meeting focused on DHS and state staffing contracts for the Human Development Centers, Arkansas State Hospital, and related facilities. DHS officials said the contracts were on track against seven-year projections, but members expressed concern about heavy reliance on contract labor, vacancy rates, and the need to move workers onto state payrolls. Officials said they were preparing a recruitment and retention plan and described staffing levels, vacancies, and turnover. Members also questioned contract projections and federal-state funding matches, and several urged faster action to reduce contract labor costs. The committee also discussed a Department of Commerce reduction-in-force affecting the Division of Services for the Blind and Employment and Training. Secretary Hugh McDonald said the cuts were driven by funding shortfalls, over-obligation of funds, and federal issues, and that 27 positions would be permanently eliminated while furloughed employees would be recalled. Members raised concerns about service impacts, board appointments, and the division’s fiscal management. The meeting ended after the personnel report was adopted and APER was filed as reviewed, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The adjusted taxable estate is the value of the estate after all deductions and adjustments are made.
• Then the applicable exclusion amount is deducted, which is adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price
• This is a very straightforward adjustment to our estate tax.
• In gross substitute Senate Bill, in gross second substitute Senate Bill, 6027 is about allowable uses
• The agreement may include, but is not limited to pooling receipts from the sales and use tax, pledging

Bills: SB6114 , SB6244

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: excise tax, definitions, tax law, taxation, fixtures, affixed, tax exemption, agriculture, hazardous substances, crop protection, warehousing

Transcript Highlights:

• The amounts are adjusted for inflation every three years beginning in 2030.
• A fiscal note is available showing indeterminate receipts and expenses and approximately $2 million to
• It's going to, as you heard, adjust penalties and hold bad employers accountable and help businesses
• The amounts are adjusted by for inflation every three years.
• The amounts are adjusted by for inflation every three years beginning in 2030.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. Second Substitute House Bill 2479 would create a wage recovery program within L&I to advance part of unpaid wages to low-wage workers facing immediate hardship, funded by civil penalties, while also increasing and restructuring wage theft penalties and complaint prioritization. Supporters, including the prime sponsor, labor advocates, and employer representatives from the work group, said it would help workers get paid faster and was a consensus proposal; questions focused on how the current complaint process works and whether general fund money would be needed. Engrossed House Bill 1941, as amended, would allow licensed cannabis producers to form agricultural cooperatives, with the striking amendment limiting any cooperative to three producer licenses; supporters said cannabis producers should have the same cooperative tools as other agricultural sectors, while some testimony urged future changes for interstate commerce and warned against consolidation. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2476 would expand the spirits, beer, and wine theater license from 120 to 200 seats per screen and add stronger alcohol-control measures when minors are present; theater operators and LCB supported the change, and committee questions focused on youth access and enforcement. House Bill 1526 would allow snack bar licensees to sell wine by the glass in addition to beer; the sponsor said it simply modernizes the license, and LCB noted a likely fee alignment issue and a small revenue impact. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1155 would void non-compete agreements and expand related notice and non-solicitation rules, with testimony split between labor and worker advocates supporting broader worker mobility and business and health care groups seeking narrower exemptions for executives, physicians, and financial institutions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2303 would prohibit employers from requesting or coercing employees to accept microchip implants, with no testimony offered. Substitute House Bill 2405 would create a three-year pilot for earlier PTSD treatment coverage in workers’ compensation for eligible occupational disease claims, with L&I supporting it as a way to improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The committee also took public testimony on these bills, with strong pro and con positions noted on the wage recovery, cannabis cooperative, and non-compete measures. In executive action, the committee adopted a striking amendment and passed House Bill 1069, narrowing it to Department of Corrections employees and making supplemental retirement bargaining mandatory, despite concerns from one member about the change. The committee also adopted a striking amendment on House Bill 1347 concerning cannabis testing labs, then passed it to Rules; passed Second Substitute House Bill 1701 on liquor licensees sharing property; passed House Bill 291 on employee information for public employers to Ways and Means; passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2229 updating engineer registration provisions; passed House Bill 2264 on unemployment eligibility for workers in employer-initiated layoffs; passed Substitute House Bill 2472 adding enforcement for sprinkler contractors and fitters; and passed Second Substitute House Bill 2345 on paid family and medical leave premium allocation. A striking amendment to Second Substitute House Bill 1128 creating a child care workforce standards board was not adopted, and the bill then passed to Rules. The committee also announced it would hold House Bill 1066 for later action and planned to return the next day for its final executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• receipts and that it's an inequitable tax.
• than gross. ...disagree with that argument.
• than gross.
• But their rates, inflation-adjusted prices, fell. They fell 3 cents per kilowatt.
• But their rates, inflation-adjusted prices, fell. They fell 3 cents per kilowatt.

Bills: SB6061 , SB6234 , SB6170 , SB6176 , SB6182 , SB6335 , SB5647 , SB6047 , HB2367 , HB2606 , SB6129 , SB6228 , SB6231 , HB2235 , HB2272 , HB2340 , HB2543 , HB2554 , HB2632 , HB2464 , HB2619

Summary: The Senate opened with ceremonial items, then moved through gubernatorial appointments and a series of floor votes. It confirmed Acacia E. Ingram to the Evergreen State College Board of Trustees, Ashland J. Tibbet and David S. Frockt to the Western Washington University Board of Trustees, and Christine Rolfes to the Olympic College Board of Trustees. Members spoke in support of the appointees’ public service and ties to higher education. The chamber also heard a personal privilege statement honoring a Colfax basketball coach who died of pancreatic cancer, followed by a caucus break. The Senate then considered several bills, passing measures on derelict vessels (SHB 2199), radiologic technologist supervision (HB 2113), nitrous oxide retail sales (ESHB 2532), ambulance transport fund alignment (HB 2531), EMT recertification (HB 2540), affordable housing on religious property (2SHB 1859), factory-built housing standards (SHB 2151), social housing public development authorities (EHB 1687), the Washington Voting Rights Act and voter suppression claims (ESSHB 1750), privacy and data protection reporting and AI use (HB 2606), military family school stability (ESHB 2534), coal-fired utility treatment (HB 2367), and school access to albuterol (SHB 2360). Most passed on strong bipartisan roll calls, though the voting-rights bill and coal-utility bill drew the most debate and partisan division. Several bills were amended on the floor. The Senate adopted changes to the nitrous oxide bill, the factory-built housing bill, the social housing bill, the albuterol bill, and the 3D-printer/firearm-manufacturing bill (ESHB 2320), while rejecting some proposed amendments on the voting-rights and 3D-printer bills. Debate centered on whether the voting-rights bill set too low a threshold for lawsuits and whether the coal-utility bill gave improper treatment to coal generation; supporters framed both as needed protections or transition measures, while opponents warned about litigation and policy overreach. The chamber also discussed tribal consultation in energy siting (SHB 2496), ultimately passing it after a close vote, and later returned to the 3D-printer bill, which advanced after amendments narrowed exemptions for gunsmiths and dealers and clarified the bill’s focus on digital files used to manufacture firearms.

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, Washington's business and occupation tax, or B&O tax, is imposed on the gross receipts
• By way of background, Washington's business and occupation tax is imposed on the gross receipts of business
• By way of background, Washington's business and occupation tax is imposed on the gross receipts of business
• receipts in excess of $1 million.
• Cash receipts are currently unknown.

Bills: HB2730 , HB2713

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: aerospace, tax preferences, effectiveness, economic impact, state revenue, private detention facilities, business tax, occupation tax, financial impact

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2027 and annually thereafter, the bill requires the $1,200 limit to be adjusted for inflation based
• DFI must calculate the inflation-adjusted maximum and publish the information on its website and in a
• Washington has clear guardrails around small loans, and this bill makes a targeted adjustment so that
• Longer interval between adjustments, perhaps biennially or something along those lines.
• Senate Bill 6250 is a simple, reasonable adjustment that will provide... ...in statute.

Bills: SB5976 , SB6111 , SB6250 , SB6257 , SB6289 , SGA9060 , SGA9169 , SGA9265 , SGA9266

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: commercial email, spam regulations, online marketing, privacy, consumer protection, SB 6111, Washington Protecting Children Online Act, online child safety, minor privacy, age verification, parental consent, social media regulation, digital platforms, user-generated content, content moderation, online harms, youth protection, data privacy, geolocation, targeted advertising

Transcript Highlights:

• vehicle-based, and we're going to do research in our system to see what they're reporting and their gross
• sales to us at the department and see what their adjustments are.
• And when they report adjustments, a lot of times businesses will—now, I don't know that we're going to
• land on this—but they'll report those adjustments.
• take any—you came up with a number that would likely be the Missouri's take, the retail that was a receipt

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Summary: The Special Committee on Rural Issues met in executive session first and approved a committee substitute for House Bills 297 and 1905, then voted the substitute do pass by a 10-0 roll call. The committee also voted House Bill 2547 do pass by a 9-1-1 vote. After ending executive session, the committee moved to public testimony on House Bill 2686, sponsored by Representative Knight, which would exempt certain used tangible personal property sold at auction from sales tax. Representative Knight argued the bill would clarify that used goods already taxed once should not be taxed again when sold at auction, especially in estate and consignment settings, and said the current law is confusing and has created inconsistent treatment. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact, the distinction between auctions and garage sales, and how the bill would apply to items such as vehicles, trailers, airplanes, and livestock. The Department of Revenue testified that the bill’s wording creates ambiguity, that the fiscal note is a high-watermark estimate because auction data are limited, and that the department is still analyzing Missouri auction-house data to refine the estimate. Laura Holloway of the Missouri Municipal League testified in opposition, saying local sales tax exemptions continue to erode municipal funding and that more broad tax policy discussion is needed before adding another exemption. Committee members also raised concerns about the lack of hard revenue numbers and the potential loss to schools and local governments. The hearing on House Bill 2686 concluded without further action beyond testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• And he worked closely with Governor Bill Richardson in 2004 to remove the gross receipts tax on food.
• Senate Bill 89, introduced by Senator Tobiasan, an act relating to taxation, providing a gross receipts
• tax holiday deduction for sales of certain firearms... ...taxation, providing a gross receipts tax holiday
• An act relating to taxation, creating a gross receipts tax deduction for the sale of construction materials
• And then we're going to hear SB 13, the health care gross receipts tax deduction, with Senators Figueroa

Transcript Highlights:

• issues in the community, including the expenditure of 140 million dollars in the behavioral health gross
• receipts taxes for programs to aid the most vulnerable... including money that supports crisis triage
• An act relating to taxation providing a gross receipts tax credit against the state.
• Gross receipts tax for taxpayers that received no more than $1 million in gross receipts in the previous
• calendar year, including the amount of gross receipts for which the credit may be applied in a calculation

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's enough time for the staff to do the adjustments that need to occur, but you can't do it in
• So you can't, it's hard to fix the number for a LAG employee. do the adjustments that need to occur,
• do the adjustments that need to occur, but<00:34:37.440><c> you</c><00:34:37.760><c> can't</c><00:34:
• For this, we'll be adopting the DIR recommended amendments to adjust the penalty amount from $1,000 to
• </c> expenditure and related uh receipts. expenditure and related uh receipts.

Bills: SB2119 , SB3131 , SB3069 , SB3180 , SB2137 , SB2993 , SB2778 , SB2672 , SB2014 , SB2967

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: reimbursement, public employees, travel costs, government travel policy, finance management, job title, administrative assistant, executive assistant, state personnel, civil service, modernization, employment standards, DAGS, Department of Accounting and General Services, comptroller, civil service exemption, collective bargaining exemption, public works special project branch, specialized public works, information technology modernization

Transcript Highlights:

• It can be a licensed public insurance adjuster.
• unlicensed adjusters.
• And when you mentioned the adjuster, are you suggesting that you want each individual adjuster that speaks
• Just gross generalizations.
• Just gross generalizations is fine.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on three bills and then moved into a work session on insurance-related topics. House Bill 2428 would require life insurers to send advance written notice of an impending lapse or cancellation, including notice to a designated third party, and to provide proof of delivery; it would also require applicants to be told they may designate such a third party. The prime sponsor and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the bill as a consumer protection measure for older or vulnerable policyholders, while the life insurance industry supported the concept but requested a delayed implementation date and a small technical amendment. The committee then heard House Bill 2399, which would prohibit post-loss assignments of benefits in property insurance. Staff and the prime sponsor described the practice as allowing contractors to step into the policyholder’s shoes and potentially take control of claims, litigation, and settlement, often to the consumer’s detriment. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the Washington State Association for Justice, PEMCO, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau all supported the bill, emphasizing consumer vulnerability after disasters and the risk of fraud or inflated claims. Members asked about steering by adjusters, alternative ways for homeowners to authorize others to help with claims, and the $50,000 per-violation penalty, which would go to the general fund. House Bill 2087 would enact a Washington Travel Insurance Act based on the NAIC model, creating a more detailed statutory framework for travel insurance licensing, travel retailers, travel administrators, disclosures, and prohibited sales practices. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill would expand consumer choice and standardize rules, while the Office of the Insurance Commissioner supported the compromise language but raised a remaining concern about claims being adjusted by unlicensed adjusters. The Attorney General’s Office testified that the bill should not be read to supersede Washington’s anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws, and the sponsor said amendments were being worked on to address that concern. In the work session, OIC and Department of Natural Resources staff presented the wildfire mitigation and resiliency work group report. They said the group reached consensus on several areas, including the importance of community-level mitigation, better data sharing, improved transparency around wildfire-related nonrenewals and cancellations, and a voluntary grant program to help homeowners retrofit to IBHS wildfire-prepared standards. Members asked about leadership for the recommendations, overlap with existing programs, privacy concerns in data sharing, and how the proposals would fit with broader statewide wildfire planning. The committee also received a briefing on flood insurance markets and claims after the December atmospheric flooding event, with staff noting that private flood policies generally offer broader coverage than the federal NFIP, and that Washington had seen about 700 federal claims and roughly $18 million paid out so far.

Transcript Highlights:

• That will give them some time with GSD to make pricing adjustments, which will be necessary for This
• For the tribal gross receipts tax rates that we administer under cooperative agreements, it would set
• And so a taxpayer might have no receipts or we have no income that's taxable in a period, so they don't
• we chose those programs because they are the programs where often a taxpayer won't have taxable receipts

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill does mainly is take away gross receipt tax on natural gas and electricity for catfish
• is,<00:09:34.880><c> uh,</c><00:09:35.040><c> take</c><00:09:35.279><c> away</c><00:09:35.519><c> gross
• </c><00:09:36.000><c> receipt</c><00:09:36.399><c> tax</c><00:09:36.720><c> on</c> is, uh, take away
• gross receipt tax on is, uh, take away gross receipt tax on natural<00:09:37.360><c> gas</c><00:09:37.680

Bills: SB159 , SB159

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: sales tax exemption, use tax exemption, diapers, baby supplies, baby formula, baby bottles, baby wipes, breast pump, breast milk pumping equipment, lactation, nursing bra, nursing pads, maternity wear, pregnancy clothing, postpartum clothing, menstrual products, tampons, sanitary napkins, panty liners, menstrual cups

Transcript Highlights:

• Gross mismanagement and sweetheart deals. And that plan was fixed.
• It is adjusted every year by inflation.
• So at this rate, we'll spend $360 million gross cost in fiscal year 25.
• So just supporting TSEU's work for a cost adjustment is essential. Thank you.
• it has been a long wait to see an adjustment in our annuities.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• bring a per se claim under the Consumer Protection Act, which means the recipient needs only to prove receipt
• In 2027 and annually thereafter, the bill requires the $1,200 limit to be adjusted for inflation based
• Washington has clear guardrails around small loans, and this bill makes a targeted adjustment so that
• time, having a longer interval between adjustments, perhaps biennially or something along those lines
• power. $700 31 years ago would be the equivalent today of roughly $1,500 when adjusted for inflation

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several bills. SB 5976 would revise the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act by narrowing liability for misleading email subject lines and changing damages and Consumer Protection Act claims. Business, retail, hospitality, and e-commerce witnesses supported the bill, saying recent litigation has created uncertainty and exposed routine marketing emails to excessive penalties. Consumer advocates and the Washington State Association for Justice opposed it, arguing the current law protects consumers from deceptive marketing and that the bill would weaken enforcement and class actions. SB 6111 would require age verification and parental consent for minors creating social media accounts, restrict providers’ use of minors’ data, and authorize enforcement by the Attorney General and a limited private right of action. The sponsor and several parents, medical professionals, and advocacy groups supported the bill as a response to social media harms, including addiction, depression, cyberbullying, eating disorders, and exposure to harmful content. Technology and civil liberties witnesses opposed it, warning about privacy, data security, constitutional concerns, and the difficulty of implementing reliable parental consent and age verification. The committee also heard SB 6250, which would raise the maximum small loan amount from $700 to $1,200 and index it to inflation. The sponsor and a lender representative said the change would update an outdated limit and preserve existing consumer protections. Opponents, including legal aid, poverty, housing, labor, AARP, and community advocates, argued the higher cap would increase debt burdens and fees for low-income borrowers and older adults. Staff also briefed SB 6257, which would allow illness-related tolling for trainee real estate appraiser licensing timelines, and SB 6289, which would direct Commerce to create a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan; SB 6289 drew supportive testimony from Commerce, ports, economic development groups, and business interests. The committee also held confirmation hearings for several Gambling Commission and Lottery appointees, who described their backgrounds and service, but no votes or final actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The increase is largely attributed to standard statewide adjustments.
• The decrease is primarily due to an adjustment in federal funding.
• . 8.3 million inflationary adjustment for nursing homes and hospice.
• These changes are primarily due to retirement rate adjustments and market rate adjustments.
• These changes are primarily due to the retirement rate adjustments and market rate adjustments.

Bills: HR159 , HR160 , HR161 , HR162 , HR163 , HR164 , HCR60 , HCR61 , HCR62 , HCR63 , HCR64 , HR153 , HR154 , HR155 , HR156 , HR157 , HR158 , HCR57 , HCR58 , HCR59 , SB124 , SB399 , SB441 , SB447 , SB460 , HCR4 , HCR47 , HB59 , HB74 , HB159 , HB175 , HB330 , HB364 , HB414 , HB458 , HB525 , HB568 , HB628 , HB786 , HB909 , HB1008 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1041 , HB1052 , HB1062 , HB1070 , HB1079 , HB1112 , HB1118 , HB1139 , HB1151 , HB1154 , HB1176 , HB1182 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1231 , HB1241 , SB244 , HB1 , HB2 , HB3 , HB312 , HB313 , HB383 , HB314 , HCR3 , HB983 , HB1126 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB241 , HB244 , HB306 , HB345 , HB366 , HB446 , HB511 , HB514 , HB655 , HB730 , HB743 , HB1027 , HB1037 , HB1043 , HB1082 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1230 , HB1237 , HB1238 , HB55 , HB385 , HB394 , HB396 , HB406 , HB608 , HB622 , HB676 , HB772 , HB897 , HB1030 , HB1035 , HB1038 , HB1045 , HB1049 , HB1056 , HB1058 , HB1059 , HB1092 , HB1100 , HB1117 , HB1160 , HB1161 , HB1162 , HB1177 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB1216 , HB1239 , HB1240 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , SB127 , HB51 , HB58 , HB140 , HB750 , HB911 , HB982 , HB1010 , HB151 , HB180 , HB192 , HB193 , HB310 , HB635 , HB690 , HB961 , HB1003 , HB1146 , HB864 , HB977 , HB181 , HB31 , HB664 , HB615 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB9 , HB284 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1113 , HB1234 , HB1236

Keywords: occupational therapy, healthcare, medical professionals, recognition, professional day, property transfer, public records doctrine, bad faith, Louisiana State Law Institute, real estate law, Black Maternal Health Week, maternal health, racial disparities, healthcare access, culturally competent care, Louisiana, community health, motorcycle safety, awareness month, motorcyclists education

Transcript Highlights:

• strengthen the Lemon Law by allowing the return of a car which fails inspection within seven days of receipt
• Would the seven days' receipt of the car help in that situation?
• We'd be happy to follow up with any more details if you'd like. receipt of the car help in that situation
• labor, similar to the 73% gross profit on customer pay labor.
• If steps routinely take longer in real life, time is then adjusted.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard testimony on a wide range of bills involving consumer protection, auto regulation, alcohol licenses, and professional licensure. A major focus was legislation to require a one-hour domestic violence awareness training for salon and cosmetology licensees (H.323/S.200), supported by District Attorney Marion Ryan, law enforcement, and a salon industry witness who described the program’s value in identifying and helping victims. The committee also heard strong support from the Attorney General’s office for auto consumer protection legislation (S.228/H.379) that would expand used-car warranty protections, extend the Lemon Law return period to seven days after receipt of the vehicle, raise the mileage cap to 200,000 miles, and increase dealer surety bonds to $50,000. Independent dealers opposed those changes, arguing they would burden small businesses and that dealer education, not expanded liability, was the better solution. The committee also took testimony on bills related to vehicle financial products and repair information. A trade association supported GAP waiver legislation (H.4188/S.281), saying it would create clear consumer protections and standard disclosures. On right-to-repair and heavy-duty vehicle service information (S.266), engine and truck manufacturers supported an exemption for commercial vehicles, while others argued that releasing service data to the general public could create safety, cybersecurity, and emissions risks. The committee then heard extensive testimony on auto dealer franchise and warranty reimbursement legislation (S.201/H.406), with dealer groups supporting changes to warranty labor reimbursement and manufacturer groups opposing them as costly and unnecessary. Manufacturers from GM, Volvo, Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda, and others said their current time-study and appeals processes already compensate dealers fairly and that the bill would raise costs for consumers. In addition, the committee heard testimony on H.333, which would move auto damage appraiser licensing from the Division of Insurance to the Division of Occupational Licensure. Collision repair advocates supported the change, saying the current board structure leads to repeated dismissals of complaints and lacks accountability, while emphasizing that the bill is intended to protect consumers and ensure proper repair reimbursement. The hearing also included testimony in support of a local alcohol license petition for Westwood and a separate local alcohol measure for a town grant license. At the end of the hearing, the chairs announced that all docketed bills had been heard, noted that a joint poll would be held on H.4184, and the committee voted to adjourn by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• in my last presentation to Revenue Stabilization and Tax last week, I included both the grocery receipts
• You look at some of these counties that don't have the ability to generate gross receipts tax.
• The cap is constitutionally set, and it would be unlikely that we could get that approved for an adjustment
• I did include gross receipts tax and property tax information in my conversation with Revenue Stabilization

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as numbers go down, we will adjust our program.
• These amounts will be adjusted through a cost adjustment based off the be already doing markup for the
• Through charitable bingo in calendar year 2023 adjusted gross receipts from the conduct of bingo.
• For thirty point nine million and net proceeds as a percentage of adjusted gross receipts were fifteen
• So it'll adjust to... Essentially, yes.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII