Video & Transcript : 'IT modernization' :
Page 162 of 500
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, February 3, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- its work.
- Then the House did its<00:30:49.600><c> job.</c> its job. its job.
- The gentleman from Hawaii continued: And until it is, neither it nor its parent entity, the Department
- It it maintains our around the planet.
- We broke it.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- It was.
- part to stop it.
- Is it another number that a person calls? Is it a text?
- So I'm glad Senator filed it and that you're working on it, and it looks like it's going in the right
- It is not policy. It is protection.
Keywords:
legal representation, attorney general, elected officials, defense, legislative acts, judicial review, judiciary, election, judges, 19th Judicial District Court, East Baton Rouge, precincts, coroner, retention, body, mortuary, investigation, missing persons, Amber Alert, Endangered Missing Child Advisory
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- But it is consolidated into multiple programs. It is a lot. It is a lot.
- It is surgical.
- it to DFA.
- ball and ordered it right now, it could be a delay.
- So it could be spent. It could be partially spent.
Keywords:
telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion, rural internet, broadband infrastructure, eligible telecommunications carrier, ETC, tribal consent
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Commerce Mar 23rd, 2026
Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- I buy it and I close on it. I operate in disclosures all the time. I buy it and I close on it.
- At the point that they review it, they can approve it, reject it, modify it, send it back to us.
- At the point that they review it, they can approve it, reject it, modify it, send it back to us.
- Part of what the bill does, it actually modernizes that mobility doctrine and eliminates the substantial
- Part of what the bill does, it actually modernizes that mobility doctrine and eliminates the substantial
Summary:
The committee first deferred several bills, then took up House Bill 468 by Representative A-Bear, which would regulate wholesaling of residential real property by requiring disclosures, a right to cancel within 14 days, and other consumer protections. Representative A-Bear said the bill is meant to increase transparency without banning wholesaling, while committee members and witnesses debated whether the bill should instead focus on proof of funds or other safeguards. The committee adopted an amendment set that added disclosure of assignment fees, required a 1% earnest money deposit, and imposed a civil penalty for violations, then reported the bill favorably after hearing testimony from real estate professionals, title attorneys, and the Louisiana Real Estate Commission, many of whom supported transparency but urged changes to the rescission period and other provisions.
Witnesses on HB 468 generally agreed there are bad actors in the wholesale market, especially in residential transactions involving distressed or unsophisticated sellers, but several argued the bill could interfere with legitimate local investors who close quickly and help move problem properties back into commerce. The Real Estate Commission explained that the bill creates a rebuttable presumption based on marketing activity and that the agency has enforcement tools even against unlicensed actors. Representative Jordan raised concerns about intent, assignability, and whether represented sellers need the same protections, and Representative A-Bear said he would continue working on the bill before floor debate.
The committee then heard House Bill 548 by Representative Bowie, which changes CPA licensing by allowing either a master’s degree or an additional year of experience in place of the current extra undergraduate hours, while keeping the exam requirement the same. The bill also codifies board composition criteria and modernizes CPA mobility/practice privilege rules for out-of-state CPAs. After brief questions about enforcement and mobility, the committee heard support from the Louisiana Society of CPAs and others and reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 848 by Representative DeWitt on motor vehicle dealer licensing and repair facility requirements, adopted technical amendments, and then recessed.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- I buy it and I close on it. I operate in disclosures all the time.
- The sponsor said, in effect, that if you intend to buy it, then buy it.
- It doesn't mean that I still won't accept it.
- I mean, you name it.
- it on him and that he was giving it to him.
Keywords:
engineering, land surveying, construction, state fire marshal, plan review, contracting services, unsolicited contact, homeowners, penalties, regulations, wholesaling, real estate, earnest money, cancellation rights, residential properties, Louisiana Real Estate Commission, certified public accountant, CPA, accounting board, Louisiana State Board of Certified Public Accountants
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- State owns it, and it offers it for free through the ethics commission.
- It is a.
- It creates 1.6 million square feet of state-owned office space across four. modern 100-year life buildings
- But I bet that answers your question, doesn't it? It does, it does.
- Well, is it hundreds? I mean, it doesn't look like a few hundreds. It looks even closer.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- It wouldn't.
- It was.
- to stop it.
- Is it another number a person calls? Is it a text?
- It is not policy. It is protection.
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and heard a series of bills, mostly from the Senate, covering military affairs, courts, veterans’ services, tobacco/vape regulation, and emergency alerts for missing persons with disabilities. Several measures were described as cleanup or modernization bills, including SB 317 adding the House and Senate military committee chairs to the Louisiana Military Advisory Council, SB 357 updating court administration and appellate e-case management provisions, SB 421 modernizing electronic records language, and SB 232 and HB 597 addressing judicial compensation and related funding/commission issues. The committee also heard SB 164, which would add public works employees to the definition of first responders, and SB 510, which would regulate certain licensed establishments that allow on-premises consumption of hemp/THC products and related age restrictions. These bills were generally presented as technical updates or alignment with existing practices, and the committee reported them favorably after brief questions and, in some cases, amendments.
A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 208, which revises Louisiana’s law on services provided to veterans after a prior version was struck down. Senator Kathy and LDVA representatives said the bill is intended to protect veterans from unaccredited “claim sharks” by limiting fees and creating state-level safeguards, while an opponent argued the issue is preempted by federal law and should be left to Congress and the pending appeal. The committee also heard extensive testimony on SB 34, which would create “Bryan’s Call” emergency alerts for missing children and adults with cognitive or developmental disabilities, including wireless alerts and responder training. Family members and disability advocates described fatal risks from elopement and drowning, and supporters said the bill would fill a gap between Amber and Silver Alerts; the committee moved the bill favorably. Another bill, HB 302, sought to restrict vape sales near schools; the sponsor and Alcohol and Tobacco Control discussed possible language changes, and public health testimony supported broader protections for youth. Several bills were voluntarily deferred, including HB 1190, HB 1097, and HB 374-1, and the committee adjourned after reporting the remaining measures favorably.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Feb 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- There it is. Natalie, you got it? Senator Figueroa?
- It modernizes our Metropolitan Redevelopment Code to better reflect today's housing realities.
- It modernizes our Metropolitan Redevelopment Code to better reflect today's housing realities.
- I've got it. You've got it? Okay, because I'm seeing it on page six. About section G.
- was, because it did not work for development.” “...older neighborhoods or wherever it was because it
Summary:
The committee first heard SB 283, a workforce housing bill that would let local governments designate housing shortage areas and use metropolitan redevelopment tools, including property tax stabilization, to encourage construction and preservation of “missing middle” housing. Supporters said it would preserve local control, increase supply, and help teachers, nurses, first responders, and young workers afford housing. Opponents raised concerns about gentrification, redevelopment in neighborhoods, and whether the affordability requirements were strong enough. After questions about local designation, affordability percentages, and the 14-year term, the committee passed the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee substitute for SB 283 on an 8-0 vote.
The committee then considered HB 103, which would keep the residential property tax cap in place when zoning changes occur, so long as the property’s use remains residential. Supporters argued the bill would protect homeowners from tax spikes caused by rezoning and preserve stability for seniors and families. Committee discussion focused on how zoning changes affect valuation, what counts as an upzone, and how assessors currently apply the law. The bill passed on a 6-1 vote.
HB 200, a starter-home incentive bill, was heard next. The bill would provide zero-interest loans through the Mortgage Finance Authority to reduce the cost of newly built starter homes, with higher subsidy amounts in Santa Fe, Taos, and Los Alamos. Supporters said it would help young families, retirees, and first-time buyers and encourage construction of smaller homes. Several senators questioned whether the subsidy would simply raise prices, whether the loan structure was the best tool, and whether the program would work equally well across the state. The committee vote ended in a tie, so the bill was held and placed at the top of the next agenda.
The committee also passed HB 154 and HB 285 by unanimous votes. HB 154 was approved 6-1 after little discussion. HB 285, a veterans property tax cleanup bill, clarifies how exemptions apply when more than one veteran in a household has a disability rating; it passed 7-0. HB 165, which expands the C-PACE program to include certain economic development projects working through industrial revenue bond arrangements, also passed 8-0 after sponsors said the change was an oversight fix. After HB 165, the committee lost quorum and recessed, with remaining items bumped to the next meeting.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator King moves it.
- The paperwork, you almost have to pick it up with a forklift, put it on a pallet, and pick it up with
- It also would provide that if a PEO fails to renew its license on time, its status as an employer of
- from it.
- If it files an update application, it prompts the PUC to review its operating expenses, investments,
Bills:
SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977
Keywords:
utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Labor & Workplace Standards Jan 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It does this by removing the qualifiers in the current law that make it a presumption if the heart problem
- It requires an employer to keep records of notices for three years, and it replaces the definition of
- It is not exact.
- Happy to do it.
- It is the sexy committee. It is. Welcome. Okay, great. Okay.
Summary:
The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee met on January 28, 2026, first hearing staff briefings and then taking executive action on House Bills 1571, 2144, 2191, and 2372. HB 1571 would make heart conditions a presumptive occupational disease for certain firefighters and law enforcement officers; members spoke in support of the bill as a response to the stresses and exposures of those jobs, and it was reported out 8-1 with a do-pass recommendation. HB 2144 would require notice to employees when employers use electronic monitoring for performance evaluations. The committee considered several amendments to a proposed substitute, adopting an amendment clarifying private communications protections but rejecting amendments to broaden emergency exceptions and remove the private right of action. The bill, as amended, passed 6-3.
HB 2191 concerns wages in the construction industry and employer/contractor liability for unpaid wages. The committee considered a proposed substitute and several amendments. Members rejected amendments to include public entities as owners and to extend the right to cure to subcontractors, but adopted amendments removing Attorney General enforcement authority and making additional clarifying changes. Supporters emphasized accountability for unpaid wages and protecting vulnerable workers; opponents raised concerns about the scope of liability. The amended bill was reported out 6-3. HB 2372 would require workers’ compensation time loss benefits to include the full employer health care premium contribution rather than a partial percentage. An amendment to add L&I invoice and notice requirements and bar attorney fees on the health-care-premium portion was rejected, and the bill was then reported out 6-3.
The committee also held public hearings on HB 2563 and HB 2188. HB 2563 would allow the Office of Administrative Hearings to automatically serve unemployment-case notices electronically during a pilot period ending July 30, 2029. OAH testified that the change would reduce mailing costs and improve service, while the Unemployment Law Project warned it would harm claimants with limited digital access and create procedural barriers; no action was taken during the hearing. HB 2188 would require L&I to publish actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates and explain when rate caps shift costs to other classes. Business groups supported the transparency measure, and L&I testified it could provide the information and that the bill would have no fiscal impact; the hearing was closed without action.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House State Government & Tribal Relations Jan 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And as we know, it would not be into law until the president signed it.
- It is simple.
- It can smash. It can smash. It can smash.
- It perpetuates racism and it denies dignity to our community.
- It's unclear how it would impact it.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several bills. HB 1364 would raise from $5,000 to $15,000 the gross revenue thresholds for charitable and nonprofit organizations to conduct bingo, raffles, and amusement games without a gambling license, and would also raise related local tax thresholds; supporters said it is an inflation adjustment that helps volunteer nonprofits, while no opposition was heard before the hearing closed. HB 2632 would replace most uses of “alien” in state law with “non-citizen,” with exceptions for federal-law requirements and non-human uses; the sponsor described it as a dignity and accuracy measure rooted in refugee experience, while supporters and opponents debated whether it is respectful and clearer or instead unnecessary and potentially confusing. HB 2447 would designate the blunt-nosed six-gill shark as Washington’s official state shark; testimony from the sponsor, children, marine advocates, and scientists emphasized education, conservation, Puget Sound ecology, and local pride, and the hearing closed without opposition testimony. HB 2637 would exempt certain personal information from Public Records Act disclosure, including age, address, birthplace, precise location data, government identifiers, and consumer utility data; supporters framed it as privacy and safety protection, while opponents argued it would reduce transparency and could interfere with federal immigration enforcement.
In executive session, the committee took action on three bills. HB 2235, concerning Public Records Act exemptions for concealed pistol licenses and permit-to-purchase firearm applications, was reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation by a 7-0 vote. HB 2401, establishing the Boys and Men’s Commission, was also reported out with a due pass recommendation by a 5-2 vote, with some members supporting the concept but expressing concern about funding. HB 2574, which addresses removal of deceased candidates for nonpartisan office from ballots and related vote-count procedures, was reported out with a due pass recommendation by a 6-1 vote after members discussed the need to clarify election procedures in rare cases. The committee deferred action on HB 2520.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House State Government & Tribal Relations Jan 30th, 2026 at 08:00 am
State Government & Tribal Relations
Transcript Highlights:
- It's tripling it, but— It seems like it's a lot. It's tripling it.
- And as we know, it would not be into law until the president signed it.
- It is simple.
- It can smash. It can smash. It can smash.
- It perpetuates racism and it denies dignity to our community.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Licensing & Administrative Procedures Apr 15th, 2025
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Transcript Highlights:
- Option two, we'd have to sell it to a distributor and buy it back at a 30% markup just to move it 15
- So if nobody can do it, then nobody can do it. That's correct.
- do it?
- a forklift and drive it over or on a dolly and move it over?
- How's it? How's it? Let's stop calling them.
Bills:
HB 1301, HB2278, HB2776, HB2820, HB3848, HB3920, HB4172, HB4215, HB4284, HB4285, HB4463, HB4517, HB4690, HB4765, HB4766, HB4767, HB4768, HB4769, HB4773, HB4830, HB5506
Keywords:
alcohol, beverages, winery permit, restaurant, malt beverages, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, alcohol production, home brewing, family use, craft beverages, massage therapy, licensing, criminal offenses, sexually oriented businesses, public safety, bingo, charitable gaming, operating capital, regulation, funding
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Jan 19th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- to use it.
- We see it on a regular basis. We try to address it as we see it.
- We have to learn how to live with it and use it because it improves life if it's used properly.
- We have to learn how to live with it and use it because it improves life if it's used properly.
- So we don't just rubber-stamp it and sign off on it.
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee began its first meeting of the session by introducing two pages, Emmy Roberts of Lewiston and Cooper Smith of Nampa, who each described their backgrounds and interest in serving. The committee then considered two gubernatorial appointments to the Commission on Pardons and Parole: reappointment candidate Scott Smith and new appointee Dylan Hobson. Both testified about their public service backgrounds and approach to parole decisions, emphasizing public safety, individualized review, rehabilitation, and the importance of prison programming and supervision. Members asked about parole factors, the rider program for sex offenders, the role of politics, workload, and whether the system is working well. The committee did not vote on the appointments at this meeting, noting that votes would be taken at a later meeting.
The committee then took up several Idaho State Police rule dockets. Lieutenant Colonel Russ Wheatley presented rule cleanups for civil asset forfeiture, the Idaho Public Safety and Security Information System (ISLITS), state criminal history records, and the sex offender registry. He repeatedly stated the changes were non-substantive, mostly simplifying language, deleting duplication, or updating the sex offender registry rule to match a new photo-transfer process after DMV system changes. The committee approved each of those rule dockets after brief discussion and no public comment.
The final and most extensive item was the pending Idaho Rules of Administrative Procedure update presented by Chief Administrative Law Judge Brian Nichols. He explained the changes were driven by recent statutory modernization, field testing of the 2024 rules, and a new rule addressing artificial intelligence in administrative contested cases. Nichols said the AI provisions are aimed at transparency, disclosure, and safeguards against misuse, while preserving access for self-represented parties; he also said ALJs themselves are barred from using AI in deciding cases. Members questioned whether avatars should be allowed to present testimony or argument, and some expressed concern about abuse, but the committee ultimately approved the pending rule docket, with one senator stating he would have preferred a stricter prohibition on avatars. The meeting ended after all rule dockets were approved and the committee adjourned.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- I think it is that serious. It is that serious.
- be the ones to regulate it.
- It wouldn't be OSBI, it wouldn't be the Department of Public Safety; it would be able because we're in
- If I read it the way that I think you're reading it, then yes, I could see that that severe.
- It will be. I can't refer to you exactly what page it's on, but it will be in the bill.
Keywords:
cold case, unsolved homicide, violent crime, case file review, law enforcement, police records, victim family, immediate family member, designated person, forensic testing, witness reinterview, investigative leads, cold case unit, unsolved murder, public safety, Title 21, Oklahoma statutes, sexual assault, evidence kits, DNA testing
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- to use it.
- We see it on a regular basis. We try to address it as we see it.
- We have to learn how to live with it and use it because it improves life if it's used properly.
- We have to learn how to live with it and use it because it improves life if it's used properly.
- So we don't just rubber-stamp it and sign off on it.
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee began its first meeting of the session by introducing two pages, Emmy Roberts and Cooper Smith, who each described their backgrounds and interest in serving. The committee then heard from Scott Smith and Dylan Hobson on their appointments to the Commission on Pardons and Parole. Members asked both nominees about parole decision-making, public safety, the rider program, political influence, workload, and the factors they use in evaluating release. No vote was taken on the appointments; the chair said they would be considered at a later meeting.
The committee then took up several Idaho State Police rule dockets. Lieutenant Colonel Russ Wheatley presented rule cleanups for civil asset forfeiture reporting, the Idaho Public Safety and Security Information System (ISLITS), state criminal history records, and the sex offender registry. The committee also heard from ISP Bureau Chief Leila McNeil, who explained how ISLITS connects law enforcement agencies, how CJIS security policies are set, and why non-criminal-justice data would require legislative authority. Each of these ISP rule dockets was approved by voice vote.
Finally, Chief Administrative Law Judge Brian Nichols presented updates to the Idaho Rules of Administrative Procedure. He said the changes align the rules with recent statutory modernization, add guidance on artificial intelligence in administrative contested cases, and make other adjustments based on experience with the new rules. Committee members questioned the use of AI avatars and AI-generated evidence, with some expressing concern about credibility and misuse, but Nichols said the rules are intended to require transparency, allow scrutiny, and address both accidental and deliberate misuse. The committee approved the pending rule by voice vote, and the meeting adjourned.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Forty Nine - Thursday, April 9
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- it has examined the same and recommends that it do pass.
- They're experiencing it. They're witnessing it.
- They can do it easier. They can do it quieter.
- They can do it easier. They can do it. I believe it does benefit a potential killer.
- They can do it easier. They can do it quieter.
Summary:
The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the previous House Journal by a 101-0 vote, and numerous special guest introductions, including student groups, robotics teams, artists, and a choir. Committee reports from Fiscal Review recommended passage of several bills, including HB 1869, HB 2387/HB 2480, HB 2061, HB 2481, and HB 2885.
The chamber then took up Senate changes to HB 2016, a bill addressing anti-Semitism in educational institutions. Supporters said the Senate amendments clarified that schools should consider context, protected criticism of Israel, added charter schools, and required reporting of all Title VI complaints; opponents argued the bill was redundant, could chill speech, and did not match the state’s broader anti-discrimination rhetoric. After a successful previous-question motion, the House adopted the Senate substitute 101-19 and then gave final passage to the bill 100-17.
Several third-reading bills followed. HB 2481, dealing with SNAP and Medicaid-related verification and program restrictions, drew sharp debate over fraud prevention versus added bureaucracy and harm to low-income Missourians; it passed 95-44. HB 1869, creating a process to repair veteran gravestones damaged by natural causes, passed 137-2. HB 2927, requiring written settlement demands in bad-faith liability claims to remain open for 90 days and reference the statute, passed 90-50. HB 2387/HB 2480, reinstating the presidential primary and moving it to the first Tuesday in March, passed 116-23. HB 2885, redirecting the final $1 million from boat registration fees to fund the water patrol, passed 112-27. HB 2517, a real estate wholesaler disclosure bill, passed 130-6. HB 3107 was moved to the informal calendar. Debate also began on HB 1730, which would legalize firearm suppressors in Missouri; supporters framed it as a freedom, hearing-protection, and economic bill, while opponents warned it would make gun violence harder to detect and could aid criminals, but no final vote on that bill appears in the transcript.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- We think it won't. They're worried it will.
- to it.
- It still says unmute. It still says unmute. It still says unmute.
- it.
- Prove it. Please prove it. Let us fly our flags.
Summary:
The committee first approved the January 21, 2026 minutes by voice vote. It then took up Senate Bill 1240, a major overhaul of Idaho’s guardianship and conservatorship laws. Senator Ruchti, bill drafters, and supporters from Disability Rights Idaho, AARP Idaho, the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, and professional fiduciaries described the bill as a long-studied update that adds alternatives to guardianship, strengthens least-restrictive-means standards, clarifies notice and hearing rights, limits isolation and visitation restrictions, and creates a new short-term protective proceeding. Court counsel said the judiciary had worked on the bill and requested the delayed effective date, though he noted some added workload. One member of the public raised concerns about ambiguity, agency power, and possible overreach, but the bill sponsor said no major opposition remained after stakeholder changes. The committee voted to send SB 1240 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
The committee then considered three cleanup or clarification bills from Senator Lakey. Senate Bill 1248 repealed the obsolete capital crimes defense fund now that the state has taken over public defense; it passed unanimously to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1249 updated a statutory time reference to Mountain Time; it also passed unanimously with a due pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1251 clarified that the Attorney General has statutory authority to seek civil declaratory and injunctive relief to enforce state laws even when a specific enforcement mechanism is not written into a statute. Lakey said the bill was meant as a general civil enforcement clarification, not a mandate or criminal expansion. The main opposition came from Senator Wintrow, who argued the bill gave the AG too broad authority and that enforcement language should be included in individual laws instead; one public testifier also raised concerns about the breadth of state power, though on a different policy example. Despite that objection, the committee voted to send SB 1251 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and then adjourned.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- It works in King County. It works in Pierce County.
- to do it.
- It wasn’t done. Had it been done, we’d still be driving over it today.
- It has far exceeded its safe service life, and replacing it is not optional at this point.
- Does it include everything in neurodivergent? Yes, it does. Okay. Yes, it does. Okay.
Keywords:
transit, community colleges, student transportation, free rides, public transportation, HB 2645, HB2645, Fairfax Bridge, State Route 165, SR 165, Carbon River, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, emergency infrastructure replacement, bridge collapse, bridge closure, transportation emergency, public safety, infrastructure repair, bridge replacement
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Feb 4th, 2026
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It is still good law, and it is the law of the land.
- If it would have been violated in those ways, we'd have known it by now.
- And I've just updated it so that we could have the latest precedent in it.
- I would doubt it that it will.
- We've just dusted it off and cleaned it up and made it for the modern society.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and recognized a doctor of the day, interns, and student groups in the galleries. The main item of business was House amendments to Senate Bill 743, a measure described by the author as a worship protection bill updating an old Oklahoma law. The bill was presented as protecting religious worship services from disruption and obstruction, especially in light of incidents the author said occurred in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Creek County, Oklahoma. Much of the floor discussion focused on whether the bill would affect protest and speech rights on public property, with the author repeatedly saying it would not restrict speech generally, but would create an eight-foot buffer around unwilling listeners and a 100-foot zone near entrances to prevent obstruction of people entering worship services.
Several senators questioned the bill’s constitutional basis and practical effect, especially its reliance on Hill v. Colorado and whether the U.S. Supreme Court might overturn that precedent. Opponents argued the measure could chill peaceful protest, sidewalk counseling, and other First Amendment activity near churches or other religious gatherings, while supporters said it was narrowly aimed at preventing trespass, harassment, and disruption of worship. The author emphasized that the bill was intended to protect congregants, including elderly worshippers, and to preserve access to services without interference. Debate also touched on the distinction between public and private property and whether the bill could apply to religious gatherings at the Capitol or other public places.
After questions concluded, the Senate adopted the House amendments to Senate Bill 743 and then passed the bill on final passage by a vote of 31-15. The emergency clause also passed, 36-9. The chamber then moved to announcements, including a notice that the Energy Committee would meet the next morning, and adjourned until Thursday, February 5, 2026.