Transcript Highlights:

• A local governing authority would have three options.
• A local governing authority would have three options.
• They're going to call the local governing authority first, and they're going to say, yeah, we have that
• They're going to call the local governing authority first, and they're going to say, yeah, we have that
• I am a subscriber to my local newspaper. I am a subscriber to my local newspaper.

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered several bills, mostly dealing with open meetings, public records, election administration, and local government notice requirements. Senate Bill 1 by Sen. Jenkins would authorize electronic voting under the Open Meetings Law and apply retroactively to validate prior electronic votes; after brief discussion and support from the Louisiana Municipal Association, it was reported favorably. House Bill 1052 by Rep. Spell would exempt certain child advocacy center and multidisciplinary team work product, forensic interviews, and related sensitive records from public records disclosure to protect child abuse investigations; testimony from child advocacy organizations emphasized the need to prevent misuse of records and preserve court-controlled access, and the bill was reported favorably. Senate Bill 289 by Sen. Abraham, concerning confidentiality of certain university records and negotiations, was amended to clarify protections for proprietary research, donor confidentiality, and limited confidentiality for industry negotiations, then reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 218 by Sen. Talbot, allowing alternative certification programs for election officials if approved by the State Board of Election Supervisors, and Senate Bill 220, a technical correction regarding the official journal of the state, were both reported favorably. Senate Bill 161 by Sen. Seaball, repealing a requirement that certain high-salary unclassified state employees register vehicles in Louisiana, was also reported favorably after questions about its scope and purpose. The committee then took up House Bill 1193 by Rep. Sawyer, which authorizes the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to use indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity construction contracts for maintenance and emergency work. CPRA officials said the model would speed small repairs and pre-construction tasks, improve efficiency, and mirror a similar DOTD approach; an amendment narrowed the public-records language and excluded design-build contracting. Members raised concerns about public records transparency and inclusion of minority and small contractors, but the bill was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 249 by Rep. Green, a constitutional amendment creating an independent compensation commission for elected officials and tying adjustments to CPI, drew extensive debate over removing the legislature from setting salaries, the appointment structure, and whether the state could afford automatic increases. After opposition from several members and a roll-call vote, the bill failed to be reported, 6 yeas to 9 nays. Because HB 249 failed, the companion enabling bill, House Bill 248, was deferred. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 997 by Rep. Edmondson, which would let parishes, municipalities, and school boards use their own websites as an alternative to newspaper publication for public notices. Supporters from the Police Jury Association argued the bill would reduce duplicative costs, preserve all existing notice requirements, and simply add a third option alongside newspaper publication and newspaper-hosted digital publication. An amendment narrowed the bill to parishes, municipalities, and school boards, removing other political subdivisions. Members questioned transparency, enforcement, record retention, and whether the change would undermine newspapers; supporters said courts would still enforce notice requirements and that local governments already maintain the records. The bill remained under discussion at the end of the transcript, with no final action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> culverts,</c> culvert repairs, uh enlarging culverts, culvert repairs, uh enlarging culverts, road
• <00:14:03.120><c> repairs,</c> road repairs, road repairs, um<00:14:04.960><c> other</c><00:14:05.520
• </c> putting twice the weight on the roads. putting twice the weight on the roads.
• So, you have the authority to do that if you think it makes sense in the future. Yes.
• So, you have the authority to do that if you think it makes sense in the future. Yes.

Summary: The Joint Fiscal Committee met on May 15 at 10:00 a.m. and first approved the April 17 minutes. It then took up a consent calendar covering tabs three through seven, with items 089 and 097 removed for separate discussion. The committee approved the remainder of the consent calendar and then adopted item 089, which involved Department of Safety/Homeland Security grant funding for active shooter incident management and school reunification training. Officials said the project is a mandatory Homeland Security grant set-aside, with training for public safety officials and school districts and internal social media used only to promote training schedules; members asked about marketing, outcomes, and how success would be measured. The committee next considered item 097 for the Division of Historical Resources. Agency officials said the request was driven by a decade-long increase in Section 106 and state historic preservation reviews, many tied to disaster-related infrastructure work such as culvert and road repairs, and that the grant would add capacity to handle roughly 1,000 to 1,500 reviews per year. The committee approved the item after brief discussion. Under the regular calendar, the Department of Transportation presented a fuel-related transfer. Members questioned the decline in the highway fund balance, which staff said was being affected by rising expenses, flat-to-moderate revenue, and a rough winter that increased maintenance costs. DOT officials said they were considering toll rate increases and noted the agency pays market wholesale fuel rates; they also discussed prior fuel hedging decisions and said they have authority to hedge again if it makes sense. The committee approved the DOT item, then approved a miscellaneous action item to fill a position at the LBA. Members also asked the chair to remind the Attorney General to appear at a future meeting regarding the YDC claims report. The committee set its next meeting for Friday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m., and adjourned after a brief note of appreciation for recent corrections and changes reported by the liquor commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• Morning, John Ford, Local 1230. John Ford, Local 1230, strongly support.
• Lucas Myers, Local 522, strong in support. Alex Heislinger, Local 5206.
• Magnus Johnson, Local 522, strongly support. Austin, Local 522, strongly support.
• bill is because of the fiscal impact this bill would have on our local authorities and the state as
• 112 and Local 1014.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public safety, labor enforcement, pensions, and workplace safety. AB 1054 would create a voluntary DROP-style retirement option for CHP officers and Cal Fire firefighters to help retain experienced personnel; supporters said it would be cost-neutral and help staffing, while an opponent warned it could affect bond ratings and create pension risk. The bill passed the committee 4-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2129, which would improve Cal Fire compensation to aid recruitment and retention, also passed 4-0 to Appropriations with support from firefighters and no opposition. AB 1383, a broader PEPRA-related measure lowering retirement age and adjusting compensation caps for public safety workers, drew extensive support from firefighters and peace officers and strong opposition from cities, counties, and other local government groups over long-term pension costs; after debate over fiscal impacts, it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee also considered AB 605 on refinery safe staffing during shutdowns, prompted by layoffs and reduced staffing at refineries such as Phillips 66 Wilmington. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers and nearby communities during refinery wind-downs, while petroleum and business groups said closures are not inevitable and opposed the bill’s premise. The bill passed 3-0 to Environmental Quality. AB 1859 would let joint labor-management committees access public works sites to help detect wage theft and safety violations; construction labor supporters backed it as an enforcement tool, while laborers, local governments, and builders raised concerns about duplication, property access, and project disruption. It passed 2-0 to Judiciary, on call. The committee then heard AB 2321, a pilot program allowing county district attorneys in Alameda and Santa Clara to investigate workplace deaths, which supporters said would address Cal/OSHA’s backlog and weak enforcement; employers and safety practitioners opposed it, citing expertise, due process, and overlapping investigations. It passed 2-0 to Appropriations, on call. Finally, AB 2575 began testimony on healthcare AI guardrails, with the author and nurses arguing that AI should support, not replace, clinical judgment and that patient safety requires human oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• authorities.
• </c> application requests to local application requests to local authorities.<00:41:21.160><c> They</
• </c> locals enforce it for us at a local locals enforce it for us at a local level."
• </c> wetland and stream rules and the local wetland and stream rules and the local authorities<00:42:
• </c> local media, we need to support local local media, we need to support local media<01:13:54.040><

Summary: The House met in Annapolis on February 27, 2026, with 128 members present. After a prayer, the chamber adopted the previous day’s journal and recognized a resolution honoring Brunswick High School’s first Tech Challenge team, Minerva’s Mechanics, for winning the FTC Regional Championships and qualifying for the World Championship in Houston. The resolution was read and adopted with applause. The main legislative item was House Bill 355, concerning the Education, Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program and human and sex trafficking; the House adopted the favorable committee report and ordered the bill printed for third reading. The next bill, House Bill 534 on nonpublic school transcripts and prohibiting punitive measures related to student debt, also received a favorable report. Debate then centered on an amendment offered to HB 534 that would have tied school funding to student choice for students in repeatedly one-star-rated schools and allowed parents of habitually violent or disruptive students to consider military boarding school options. The sponsor argued Maryland’s public schools, especially in Baltimore City, were failing students despite heavy spending, citing low literacy, violence, and the book Failure Factory; several members echoed concerns about school performance, bureaucracy, and the need for educational freedom. Opponents and procedural speakers said the amendment was not germane to HB 534, which they described as a narrow bill about transcript access for students leaving nonpublic schools with unpaid fees, often students with disabilities. The floor leader urged the body to resist the amendment and stick to the bill’s actual subject. Despite multiple members explaining their votes in support of school choice and criticizing the Blueprint and school outcomes, the House ultimately took a roll call on the amendment after a voice vote was challenged. The transcript cuts off during the roll call and does not show the final recorded result on the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• driven process already authorized by state law.
• driven process already authorized by state law.
• to invest local dollars in public transportation.
• I believe in local control, and we should have the locals-led process to this issue.
• If I thought the author was doing what the opposition said, my vote would be different, but the author

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• One, it oversteps local planning completely.
• So currently the way a lawsuit works between a local government and a land developer is the local government
• eligibility, allows Live Local projects near airports when approved, and strain. ...trigger Live Local
• The amendment authorizes FDOT to fund up to 100% of airport projects at certain rural airports, authorizes
• As far as transparency and local budgets.

Summary: The Committee on Rules heard a long agenda of growth-management, elections, education, housing, and professional-licensing bills. The first major item was SB 354 on “Blue Ribbon Projects,” a framework for very large planned developments on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area. After adopting a strike-all amendment, senators debated whether the bill adequately protected conservation land, local government authority, neighboring property, concurrency, and multi-county projects. Supporters argued it would create more orderly, master-planned growth and preserve large areas of land; opponents said the reserve areas were too weakly protected and the bill preempted local control. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably on a party-line style roll call, with Chair Pasadomo and Vice Chair Jones voting no. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates to disclose any foreign citizenship and, through amendments, adds a 2026 congressional qualifying framework tied to apportionment and redistricting, including revised petition rules and deadlines. Members discussed disclosure, redistricting, and candidate vetting, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill, was also amended and approved; the amendments addressed My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, firefighter hiring, workforce housing code accommodations, and related financial-services issues. CS/CS/SB 1620, the school board members’ bill of rights, was narrowed by substitute amendment to focus on access to records, fiscal transparency, NDAs, and related rights, and it passed after supportive testimony from school board and superintendent representatives. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” after debate over whether the terminology change could affect the seriousness of the crime or existing case law. SB 1548, a Live Local/affordable housing update, was reported favorably with little debate. Finally, the committee approved the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates, after amending it to require immediate supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Throughout the meeting, many public commenters and senators weighed in on the balance between development and conservation, local control, and the scope of state regulation, with several bills drawing both strong support and strong opposition before final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, I would like to acknowledge and thank the authors of the bill.
• Thank you for your time. >> Are there any questions for the testifier or the bill author?
• Chair. >> How much do you guys actually coordinate with local law enforcement?
• Are we working with our local law enforcement? Thank you, Mr. Chair and Representative.
• We loved all the support we received from my local organizations, but also across the country.

Bills: HF3727 , HF3684 , HF3467

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's just taken are county road.
• So I I use because of roads or whatever.
• I don't think we have the authority, or I don't know whether that's your intent, is to create an authority
• I don't think we have the authority, or I don't know whether that's your intent, is to create an authority
• </c> food for their local communities. food for their local communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Local governments need to provide municipal disposal.
• Taking away this tool for the management of solid waste in one local jurisdiction. We're for 66.
• toll authority or expressway authority, those to other parts of the state for road building and infrastructure
• Florida's beaches are crucial for tourism, local economies and public recreation.
• We can widen roads when populations grow.

Transcript Highlights:

• He was elected twice as president of the Sacramento Area Firefighters, Local 522.
• I met Brian when he was the president of Local 522 and I served on the Sacramento City Council.
• or outside his local.
• When he was president of 522, Local 522 covers West Sacramento.
• , 'Share the road, look twice for motorcycles.'

Transcript Highlights:

• So I just um I understand completely the want for our local entities to have sort of authority over consolidating
• </c> completely the want for our local completely the want for our local entities<00:23:03.039><c> to
• </c><00:23:04.640><c> over</c> entities to have sort of authority over entities to have sort of authority
• But if by chance we are not following those in ways that, you know, local folks can contribute to, or
• And also that criteria is also down in the local level, and that if you look to NSHA, uh, that their.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Roads voted yes.
• Vice Chair Roads voted yes.
• Local governing bodies would have 20 days from June 20th to issue warrants to local officials for civil
• Local governing bodies may, within 20 days from June 20th, issue warrants to local officials for civil
• Vice Chair Roads voted yes.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have concurrent jurisdiction with state and local authorities.
• We do have concurrent jurisdiction with state and local authorities.
• So if we do have anybody on site breaking any state laws, we can call on the local authorities or the
• </c> laws, we can call on the local laws, we can call on the local authorities<04:07:13.520><c> or</c
• c> to</c> authorities or the state authorities to authorities or the state authorities to come<04:07:

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The cost of the new road, sidewalk, stormwater facilities, and a public plaza.
• It was a little like a two-lane country road.
• </c><00:59:34.400><c> school</c> going towards their local school going towards their local school district
• </c> I'm not going to be captive to the local I'm not going to be captive to the local market<01:25:44.760
• The first section about the bonding authority, the increase in that bonding authority, that wouldn't

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• driven process already authorized by state law.
• driven process already authorized by state law.
• I believe in local control, and we should have the locals-led process to this issue.
• If I thought the author was doing what the opposition said, my vote would be different, but the author
• I wish to speak before the author closes.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 220, which would require Los Angeles Metro to submit an expedited governance reform report to the Legislature in light of Measure G and the upcoming creation of a countywide elected executive. Senator Allen said the bill was intended to prompt a locally driven discussion about how Metro’s board should reflect the new county structure, not to prescribe a specific governance plan. Metro and the City of Los Angeles opposed the bill, arguing that local task forces and an ad hoc Metro committee were already studying the issue and that the bill was premature and unnecessary. Several committee members echoed local-control concerns, while others supported keeping the bill alive as a vehicle for further discussion. The bill was moved on a do-pass motion to Appropriations and ultimately recorded at 7-2, with the measure held on call for absent members. The committee then heard SB 667, the California Railway Safety Act, which would require freight railroads to install wayside detector systems at specified intervals, with different treatment for short-line railroads, and would require railroad response plans to be submitted to the CPUC. The author and labor supporters argued the bill would help prevent derailments like the East Palestine disaster by detecting overheated bearings earlier and improving crew notification and inspection protocols. Railroads and business groups opposed the bill, saying the spacing mandate and related requirements would be costly, could slow freight and passenger operations in shared corridors, and might discourage investment in short-line infrastructure. After extensive discussion about safety, preemption, costs, and passenger rail impacts, the committee passed the bill to Appropriations on a 7-2 vote, with the measure also held on call. Finally, the committee took up ACR 71, which designates a portion of State Route 101 in Santa Clara County as the Little Saigon Freeway. The author and numerous supporters described the designation as a recognition of San Jose’s Vietnamese American community, its refugee history, and the cultural and commercial importance of Little Saigon. There was no opposition testimony. Members spoke in support, including comments about the connection between the San Jose and Orange County Vietnamese communities. The resolution was adopted and sent to Appropriations on a unanimous roll call among those present, with 10 votes recorded before the chair returned.

Transcript Highlights:

• You do such an amazing job for our local area. And all that love that you have, for our local area.
• local jurisdictions...
• We all drive on roads, right?
• objects to a local bill for their area, the bill will be removed from the local bill calendar pursuant
• objects to a local bill for their area, the bill will be removed from the local bill calendar pursuant

Transcript Highlights:

• State and local? The local tax, well, the local taxes are also... ...full amount? Correct.
• State and local?
• The local tax, well, the local taxes are also collected by LDR for the authority, and they will collect
• The portion of the local that is derived from or enabled by the authority, naturally, so there are those
• What authority? The Exhibition Hall Authority.

Summary: The committee first received a fiscal status statement and five-year baseline budget update from the Office of Planning and Budget. Members were told there were no changes to the baseline, but several current-year items now require appropriations, including Hurricane Katrina closeout costs under GOSEP, projected Department of Corrections shortfalls for offender medical care and overtime, and a reduction in the minimum foundation program tied to February 1 student counts. After questions about how the five-year percentages and inflation assumptions were calculated, the committee adopted the fiscal status statement. The committee then approved several Facility Planning and Control items, including adding eight higher education deferred maintenance projects to the approved list under Act 751, a $412,993 change order for LSU’s Jesse Coates Building project, a report of four other change orders for informational purposes, and combining two Hornbeck water projects into a single expanded water plant and distribution project. It also approved a two-year extension of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Banner ERP consulting agreement and approved Water Sector Commission recommendations for an additional $5.5 million for the Tencel Water District Association, which included a $100,000 local commitment. A major portion of the meeting focused on a proposed tax increment financing package for a 1,000-room headquarters hotel adjacent to the New Orleans Convention Center. Witnesses described the project as a $550 million private investment supported by state and local tax dedications, with projected benefits including more convention business and improved competitiveness. Members raised concerns about the 45-year term, the use of a 1% state tax dedication, possible cannibalization of existing hotel revenue, and the return on the public incentive. After extensive questioning, the committee deferred the proposal to the next month for further review and requested additional projections. Finally, the committee reviewed contract extensions for Louisiana Economic Development’s marketing vendors and a Department of Education amendment for the Odyssey platform used in the Louisiana Gator program. The education officials explained the contract is based on a per-student amount of $143.50 and that the current amendment is needed to avoid a lapse when the existing term ends June 30. Members discussed whether an RFP should be started for future years to seek a better price, and the department said it would be able to provide academic outcome data after the current testing cycle. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a local issue.
• And yes, a valid point was that we have local folks and local business that can do this.
• The fact of the matter is here, we have a local issue that could be dealt with by local resources, by
• This is a local issue. Let's let the local governments deal with it.
• This is a local issue. Let's let the local governments deal with it.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what is that going to result in down the road?
• And what is that going to result in down the road?
• And what is that going to result in down the road?
• And what is that going to result in down the road?
• There are there have been other road?

Committee: House Ethics

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> authority to operate state government. authority to operate state government.
• </c> um about how much who was authorizing um about how much who was authorizing spending<00:38:25.040
• </c><00:38:35.599><c> during</c><00:38:35.920><c> that</c> would be authorized during that would be authorized
• </c><00:45:12.480><c> police</c> contribution which is for local police contribution which is for local
• </c> responsibility in making these local responsibility in making these local decisions<00:47:48.720

Committee: Senate Finance