Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome, uh, to the State House, right. Welcome, uh, to the uh State House and the Alabama Senate.
• On page 66, House Community Affairs.
• ><c> Representative</c><00:17:20.480><c> Shaw</c> House Bill 259 by Representative Shaw House Bill 259
• </c> enforcement officers that they need. enforcement officers that they need.
• He stated they needed 400 to be operational, and this was the bottom number needed.

Summary: The meeting included a Senate recognition ceremony honoring the Winona High School boys basketball team for winning the 2026 Alabama High School Athletic Association 5A state championship. A resolution was read commending the team for its 101-40 victory over Silicag, noting the team’s record-setting performance, Brendan Davis’s MVP honor, the contributions of other players, and Coach Cedric Lane’s leadership. Senators and the lieutenant governor praised the players’ sportsmanship, the school community, and the team’s historic season, and copies of the resolution were presented to the team, coaches, and administrators. Several guests and school representatives also spoke briefly, including the coach and principal, who thanked the Senate and noted the team’s success and the principal’s retirement after 35 years. After the recognition, the Senate returned to session and adopted the Committee on Rules report setting the special order calendar. The calendar included Senate Bill 99 on the Ten Commandments, Senate Bill 298 on Class 3 municipalities, House Bill 381 on camp safety, Senate Bill 370 on tax increment districts, Senate Bill 363 on the Department of Economic and Community Affairs, House Bill 466 on firefighters, House Bill 95 on elections, House Bill 259 on stablecoin, and Senate Bill 342 on education. The chamber then took up SB 99, sponsored by Senators Kelly and Sessions. Senator Kelly described the bill as requiring local school boards to display the Ten Commandments, together with founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Alabama Constitution preamble, in certain history classrooms and common areas for grades five through 12, using donated displays and funds when available. He said the bill was intended as a historical and educational measure, not religious instruction, and emphasized the inclusion of a disclaimer stating Alabama is not establishing a religion. After extended debate and a petition to close debate from the Rules Committee, the Senate voted on the bill by long roll and passed SB 99, with the recorded vote announced as 30 yeas and 4 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:02.400><c> of</c> this is the the New Hampshire House of this is the the New Hampshire House
• This practice needs to end. If the position is needed, it should be filled.
• </c><04:53:04.920><c> to</c> need as an aging state is is we need to need as an aging state is is we
• Those need to be heard as well.
• Those need to be heard as well.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• If you are trying to look for your location or to be able to provide additional housing needs, I mean
• If you are trying to look for your location or to be able to provide additional housing needs, I mean
• or match housing to the local community's need.
• permanent supportive housing, Getting assessed for permanent supportive housing happens whether or not
• needs... which is insufficient in order for the tribes to be able to meet their housing needs and homelessness

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> it needs. it needs.
• </c><00:30:40.320><c> to</c> role on the back end and the need to role on the back end and the need to
• The transformation needed it most.
• Kids who need constant belief.
• </c> needs and it's done on a weekly basis. needs and it's done on a weekly basis.

Bills: HF4207 , HF4338

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• If you are trying to look for your location or to be able to provide additional housing needs, I mean
• But time and time again, it's that homelessness is a housing problem and that the things that we need
• Really assign housing or match housing to the local need, right, the local community's need.
• permanent supportive housing, Getting assessed for permanent supportive housing happens whether or not
• needs. ...which is insufficient in order for the tribes to be able to meet their housing needs and homelessness

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 met to hear an oversight discussion focused on homelessness, including the state of homelessness in California, state data systems, and the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HAP) program. In opening remarks, the chair emphasized accountability and the need to focus on families and people at the bottom rung, while the vice chair argued that homelessness and affordability problems stem from policy choices and the state should give counties more flexibility rather than top-down mandates. The committee also announced that the one scheduled vote would be postponed and public comment would be taken later. Dr. Ryan Finnegan of UC Berkeley’s Turner Center presented recent homelessness data, saying California’s homelessness remains high at about 187,000 people in the 2024 point-in-time count, with most still unsheltered, though the unsheltered share has declined somewhat. He explained differences between point-in-time counts and the state’s Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS), noted progress in shelter, permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and interim housing capacity, and highlighted declines in youth and veteran homelessness. He also described persistent racial disparities, the large number of chronically homeless people, and risks from federal changes and possible reductions to programs such as Emergency Housing Vouchers and Continuum of Care funding. Members questioned the causes of recent trends, the role of Housing First, Proposition 47, Martin v. Boise, and how funding streams such as HAP and CalAIM are layered together. The California Interagency Council on Homelessness then outlined its data systems and AB 799 implementation. Staff explained that HDIS aggregates HMIS data from all 44 continuums of care and is used to measure outcomes, disparities, and program effectiveness statewide. They said HAP 4 was cost-effective under the State Auditor’s methodology, and that new AB 799 dashboards will provide more public-facing fiscal and outcome reporting by June 2027. Members asked whether the system can better distinguish which interventions work, how self-sufficiency will be measured, how fraud is detected, and whether the council can meet the auditor’s concerns on time. Cal ICH said it has met prior statutory deadlines, that program outcome data already exist, and that fiscal reporting will be built through a web-based tool and aligned with existing departmental reporting systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NEEDED.
• I NEED HELP WITH ENROLLING OR DIS-ENROLLING OR CHANGING PLANS AND I NEED HELP HAVING MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
• AND THEY SELECTED THE OPTION OF I NEED RECIPIENT COMPLAINTS, NOT PROVIDERS.
• THE RESULTS THAT WE NEED TO SEE AND THAT INCLUDES IT THAT AGENCY NEED TO EXPLORE THE LEVERS AVAILABLE
• LIFE OF THE CONTRACT WE ASSESSED DAMAGES FOR LOTS OF VARIOUS REASONS.

Transcript Highlights:

• Where wretchedness will hang its head and joy like a pearl attends the needs of humankind, of such I
• We need you.
• We need you to continue to volunteer to come in and share your knowledge, your wisdom, and read to our
• , and they need that community, that space where adults can look after them.
• Belinda never left the house with her hair and makeup done to perfection.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through several floor recognitions and ceremonial presentations. Senator Perez presented SR 81, declaring March 2, 2026, as Read Across America Day. Senators Choi and Rubio spoke in support, emphasizing literacy, libraries, volunteer reading programs, and the importance of diverse books and student engagement. The resolution passed on a unanimous roll call vote, 37-0, and Perez introduced guests from the California Teachers Association. The chamber then honored the 50th anniversary of the California Conservation Corps, with Senator Laird leading the recognition and several senators praising the Corps’ service, conservation work, disaster response, and job-training role for young adults and veterans. The Senate also welcomed the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Agriculture Leadership Class and the College of San Mateo Bulldogs, including the 2025 state championship football team and a coach from the women’s softball team. Later, the Senate confirmed Dr. Chris Thayer as Director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and Dr. Gina Castro Rodriguez to the Board of State and Community Corrections, both by 29-0 votes. Senator Wahab presented SCR 125 recognizing the beginning of Ramadan, with Senator Becker offering supportive remarks about an iftar dinner and the meaning of the holiday. The resolution was adopted unanimously, 37-0. The Senate then took up several adjournments in memory, including Stephen Cassidy, John Joseph Zoria, Crystal Schoenfelder, and Belinda Baraghani, with multiple senators sharing personal tributes to their public service, community leadership, and mentorship. The session concluded with remarks on Ramadan and the Senate entering recess, with the next floor session scheduled for March 5, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> rooms needed to house people. rooms needed to house people.
• We need more affordable housing.
• to help people be able to differentiate between who needs housing, who needs recovery housing, how much
• We need more affordable housing.
• to help people be able to differentiate between who needs housing, who needs recovery housing, how much

Transcript Highlights:

• Please read the House bill.
• The House bill is here.
• Please read the House bill.
• Sorry, we need to read the House bill a first time since we adopted it.
• The House bill is here.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions recognizing guests, students, advocates, and a resolution honoring the late USF men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim. Senators also observed moments of silence for victims of recent campus violence and for former FSU President John Thrasher. The chamber then moved to special order bills, with several members explaining measures and, in some cases, substituting House companions before final passage. Among the bills passed were measures updating child care and early learning provider regulation; strengthening penalties and cost recovery for false reporting and swatting; extending protections against extraordinary medical debt collection; expanding hazardous walking condition criteria for schoolchildren; creating young adult housing support for foster and homeless students; and requiring private schools participating in the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program to disclose which accommodations they will provide. The Senate also passed a bill adjusting interest rules for trust accounts funding legal aid, after extended debate over the impact on legal aid funding and banking practices, and a transportation package that was heavily amended to address issues such as school bus camera hearings, beach vehicle use for equipment removal, flooded-street wake restrictions, expectant mother parking permits, micromobility regulation, and traffic signal modernization. The chamber also approved public-records exemptions for Agency for Health Care Administration investigators, Judicial Qualifications Commission employees, and appellate court clerks; a municipal water and sewer rate bill affecting Miami-Dade residents near a plant; motor vehicle offenses involving impersonating law enforcement and obscured license plates; trespass penalties at law-enforcement-controlled locations and large ticketed venues; refund requirements for patient overpayments; stem cell therapy authorization with source and consent limits; and insulin administration authority for direct support professionals and relatives in group homes. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including cardiac emergencies, chemicals and consumer products, and motor vehicle manufacturer/franchise dealer legislation. Most measures passed with strong bipartisan support, though the trust fund interest bill drew notable opposition and passed 28-10, and the Family Empowerment Scholarship bill passed 37-1.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House passed House Bill 1510, which permitted electric utilities outside the ERCOT power region to
• Right now, tax is being assessed through fees with a swipe fee process.
• I'm here to support the bill that we need to talk about the car swipes.
• There is a fee that's called a network assessment fee.
• You need to have these secure rails, and that's what it provides.

Bills: SB231 , SB584 , SB600 , SB668 , SB841 , SB986 , SB1003 , SB1244 , SB1625 , SB1960 , SB1963 , SB1964 , SB2026 , SB2056 , SB2368

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• And ensure that we have good housing options for every young person who needs them.
• So housing talks about housing, and young people talk about young people, but we need to talk about young
• people who need housing, and that's an important thing.
• The things that we are learning are that our young adults continue to need barrier funding for housing
• Right now, young people need to exit foster care to receive the housing vouchers.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee held a work session focused on housing and services for youth and young adults, especially those exiting public systems of care. DCYF Assistant Secretary Vicki Ibarra described existing supports, including family reconciliation services and the youth and young adult housing response team, which coordinates with other agencies to help young people ages 12 to 24 avoid homelessness. Office of Homeless Youth Director Casey Hannawer Sutton outlined the office’s role in reducing youth homelessness, citing a 40% reduction since 2016, expansion of services to 37 counties, and ongoing work on prevention and “functional zero” efforts. Treehouse and the Mockingbird Society testified about education, transition, and housing barriers for foster youth and young adults, including funding cuts to Treehouse’s Graduation Success program, eligibility gaps, and the need for peer supports, financial literacy, and housing stability. A health impact review from the State Board of Health on a prior version of the extended foster care housing proposal found the bill would likely improve housing stability, health outcomes, and equity for some young adults in extended foster care. The committee then heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5911, which would stop DCYF from using Social Security benefits of young adults in extended foster care to reimburse the state for care costs. Sponsor Sen. Emily Alvarado said the bill would protect federal benefits that belong to the young person and help them meet basic needs; supporters from Partners for Our Children, TeamChild, Mockingbird Society, and a former foster youth testified that the current practice harms housing, education, and stability and urged the state to end it. Members discussed the need for financial literacy and the federal government’s recent direction discouraging the practice. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5940, a two-year extended foster care housing pilot that would provide rental assistance for up to 50 eligible youth in extended foster care who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, with transition planning required before age 21. Sen. Wilson said the bill is intended to keep young people in care from having to choose between foster care support and housing assistance. Testimony from Mockingbird Society, current and former foster youth, and Communities in Schools supported the bill as a way to reduce homelessness and improve educational and health outcomes. The committee briefly heard Senate Bill 5942, which would rename the DCYF Oversight Board as the DCYF Accountability Board and shift its reporting structure while keeping its oversight role, and Senate Bill 5957, which would expand the Office of Homeless Youth Advisory Committee to include additional members with lived experience and representation from disproportionately affected communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and So, House File 2614, Mr.
• At a time when our state faces both a housing shortage and an affordability crisis, we need to focus
• </c> decided that they all needed new roofs. decided that they all needed new roofs.
• House File 2614 has been approved as amended and is moving on to the Housing Committee.
• And I would move House<01:08:22.480><c> File</c><01:08:22.799><c> 3588</c> House File 3588 House File

Bills: HF2614 , HF3587 , HF3589 , HF3588

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:59.040><c> a</c> fund requires DLNR to assess a fund requires DLNR to assess a transaction
• HCA and our team affordable housing.
• </c><00:08:28.080><c> of</c><00:08:28.240><c> a</c> have assessed the feasibility of a have assessed
• need a car for.
• So, if you really need a car for.

Summary: The joint hearing covered several housing-related measures. On SB 2068, which would create an affordable housing land inventory task force within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to study how to maximize housing on transit-oriented development and other state and county lands, testimony was mostly supportive from agencies and housing groups, with one opposition witness. In response to questions, OPSD said it was already working on a list of potential parcels but could not yet identify unit counts or a timeline, and estimated about $250,000 would be needed for staffing and contractual support. The committees also heard SB 2227 on rental assistance, which would require HPHA to make monthly rent supplement payments, prioritize certain tenants including kupuna, allow agreements with counties and nonprofits, and create a special fund supported by a transaction fee on recordings. HPHA supported the bill, and the Department of the Attorney General said it recommended amending the measure to describe the fee as a tax. Additional testimony included support from elder and community organizations and one opposition witness. For SB 2061, relating to residential condominiums and the 99-year leasehold program, HCDA and the project developer testified in support of amendments intended to preserve owner-occupant requirements while making the project more marketable and financially feasible. Members focused heavily on parking, affordability, and financing. HCDA and the developer said the parking stalls would be unbundled from the units, that the project would be a 99-year leasehold with 60% of units reserved for buyers at or below 140% AMI and 40% market-rate, and that the state’s $15 million equity contribution would cover only part of the parking garage and commercial component. The hearing then moved on to SB 3327, relating to HCDA and complete communities, but the transcript cuts off before that measure was fully discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we need them to do. Appreciate it. we need them to do. Appreciate it.
• She said there are new federal policy regulations and new system upgrades needed for that MNSure needs
• system upgrades needed for that Minsure<00:26:06.000><c> needs</c><00:26:06.280><c> to</c><00:26:06.360
• </c><00:26:07.560><c> We're</c> Minsure needs to implement. We're Minsure needs to implement.
• </c> do our work well and meet meet the needs do our work well and meet meet the needs of<00:57:20.480

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• But do we need fuel depots? If the law says, if you're at 80,000 pounds.
• Yes, that is a fair assessment. The speed question is complicated by...
• You need to go back. You need to go back or find a way to get down to 80,000 pounds.
• Chairman, we'll need to reconvene after our floor session.
• at the pounds that they need to do.

Bills: SB2199 , SB2200 , SB2201 , SB2949 , SB2332

Committee: Senate Border Security

Transcript Highlights:

• So states may need to assess data.
• So states may need to assess whether<00:13:03.920><c> existing</c><00:13:04.320><c> data</c><00:13:04.720
• that we walk with our agents and our faculty on campus through local needs assessment, county plans
• </c><01:03:36.079><c> assessment</c><01:03:36.720><c> county</c> through local needs assessment county
• through local needs assessment county plans<01:03:37.359><c> of</c><01:03:37.599><c> work</c><01:03:

Committee: Joint Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> from the state to individuals who need from the state to individuals who need time<01:12:44.320>
• So, we need to get back to you.
• Assessment.
• </c> assessment, how do we find solutions? assessment, how do we find solutions?
• In this next slide, we show rental housing affordability. Family members in terms of housing.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• to meet the needs of their members.
• A lot that needs to be worked out.
• level of care to support the To our halfway house level of care to support the needs of those folks.
• We also have some recovery houses.
• They feel stuck, not really sure what to do, recognizing that their patient needs support, may need support

Summary: The meeting focused on maternal health and behavioral health services for pregnant and postpartum people in Connecticut. Dr. Fatmata Williams of DSS gave an update on the Husky maternity payment bundle, explaining that it was created in response to worsening maternal and neonatal outcomes and racial disparities. She said the bundle, launched in 2025, shifts payment away from fee-for-service toward prospective case rates, quality measures, and shared savings, while covering services such as doulas and maintaining access to behavioral health and other non-pregnancy-related care outside the bundle. She noted 26 maternity practices are participating, quarterly quality reports have been distributed, reconciliation is planned for 2026, and DSS is considering refinements such as adding newborns, revisiting shared losses, and possibly expanding to FQHCs after further stakeholder review. Shelly Nolan of DMHAS then described the state’s women’s services and recovery continuum, including pregnant and parenting treatment programs, women’s recovery support programs, community transition support with rent subsidies, the Proud program, REACH navigation, recovery houses, and outpatient services. She emphasized that many programs are under capacity and that DMHAS uses a no-wrong-door approach, real-time bed availability, technical assistance, and training to improve access. She also reviewed initiatives tied to substance-exposed pregnancies and safe sleep, secure storage, naloxone distribution, reproductive health integration, breastfeeding support, and upcoming conferences and trainings. She said the department works closely with DCF and community partners to reduce stigma and improve family-centered care. Beth Garrigan presented on the Access Mental Health and Substance Use for Moms program, a statewide consultation service for providers serving pregnant and postpartum individuals up to 12 months after delivery. She said the program offers real-time psychiatric consultation, referral support, and one-time face-to-face assessments, and has provided more than 4,300 consultations and resource/referral support to over 700 individuals since 2022. Members and legislators praised the service and discussed how it helps providers connect patients to care, follow up on referrals, and address barriers such as fit, stigma, and workflow. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with plans for the next meeting on June 8 and a request for Dr. Williams’ slides to be posted online.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, how flexible are you in redesigning, you know, both that would fit our needs?
• So we would do a compatibility assessment prior to designing any vessel for this operation.
• Those are assessments of projects that are proposed.
• We will need to develop a budget to operationalize the program.
• It has various statutory amendments that are needed to implement that program.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met for a work session and public hearing on February 19, 2026. In the work session, Switch Maritime presented a proposal for hydrogen fuel cell ferries for Washington State, including a budget proviso directing the Joint Transportation Committee to study hydrogen propulsion and a lease model for future Washington State Ferries procurement. The company described its Sea Change vessel, said the design could be adapted for Washington routes such as San Juan Islands–Anacortes, and emphasized that hydrogen fueling could be delivered through a mobile supply chain without new charging infrastructure. Senators asked about vessel flexibility, size, hydrogen availability, and terminal compatibility. The committee also received an update from WSDOT on the new public-private partnership program authorized in 2025. Staff said the agency is developing a four-phase implementation process, including consultant selection, a steering committee, a program manual, stakeholder engagement, and candidate project identification, with a report due to the transportation committees on September 1, 2026 and program launch targeted for January 1, 2027. The presentation stressed that the program manual will provide flexibility within the statute and that legislative input is being sought on engagement and project timing. The public hearing was on Senate Bill 6352, an omnibus transportation resources bill that revises and expands provisions from last year’s ESSB 5801. Staff outlined sections covering a mobile driver’s license and ID card program, a reduced-fee ID card for older drivers, changes to alternative fuel and aviation taxes and fees, revised sales tax distributions for ferry and multimodal funding, transit and bicycle education grants, fish passage permitting, clean energy siting on WSDOT right-of-way, toll notice procedures, older driver safety outreach, traffic safety camera revenue sharing, and a delay to the tow-truck indigent impound reimbursement program. The prime sponsor highlighted two priorities: digital driver’s licenses and dedicated ferry funding. Testimony was mixed. Supporters included airlines and aviation groups backing mobile ID and repeal of the luxury aircraft tax, transit and bicycle safety advocates supporting grant flexibility and continued bike education funding, and ferry advocates supporting dedicated ferry revenue. Local governments, including Bellevue, Kenmore, and Tacoma, raised concerns about the traffic camera revenue change, saying the shift from net to gross revenue would reduce local safety funding and could discourage new camera programs. The Association of Washington Cities also warned about unintended consequences in the fish passage and traffic camera provisions. RV dealers sought a delay to the luxury vehicle tax, and peer-to-peer car-sharing platform Turo asked for clarification on documentation requirements. The committee took no final vote and announced it would consider executive action the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is my understanding that there will not be a need.
• I just need to turn the page.
• resources they need.
• And as you move forward, that needs, I would impress upon you, the need to look at that issue.
• I am with Foundations to Freedom, a network of recovery houses, and...

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs heard and advanced several bills and confirmations. SB 1016, on medical assistance eligibility for working persons with disabilities, was amended to remove automatic enrollment and to improve information sharing between AHCA and DCF; supporters said the bill codifies an existing program that helps developmentally disabled adults work without losing Medicaid coverage, and the committee reported the bill favorably. SB 1002, on temporary custody of minor children, was amended to focus on substance abuse as a pathway for court intervention when parental drug abuse creates ongoing risk to a child, and it was also reported favorably. SB 1594, on veteran benefit payments for minor clients in foster care, would ensure military benefits accessed for foster youth are preserved for post-secondary education or aftercare rather than used as reimbursement to agencies; it passed favorably without amendment. The committee also considered SB 1630 on aging and disability services, a broad modernization bill covering long-term care screening, emergency continuity of care, area agency oversight, Alzheimer’s services, home care, and guardianship reforms. Two amendments were adopted, including one on competitive procurement and another allowing area agencies on aging to directly provide core services during emergencies with department approval. Supporters emphasized caregiver navigation, dementia training, and service continuity, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1030 on substance abuse services/recovery residences was taken up with a substitute amendment that narrowed transfer definitions, required faster licensure action for existing providers adding levels of care, and limited credentialing entities’ access to resident medical records; stakeholders said further work was needed, but the committee still reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard the nomination of Robert Astellos to lead the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. He outlined priorities including reducing the pre-enrollment list, improving transparency and family involvement, strengthening customer service, and streamlining agency processes. Several disability and provider organizations appeared in support, and the committee voted to recommend his confirmation. The committee then recommended confirmation of the appointees on tabs 7 through 10 by a single favorable vote, and adjourned at the end of the meeting.