Transcript Highlights:

• Which wants to go first? first? first? Representative<00:15:33.440> Murray.
• Uh, the next big amendment is amending section 120 of House Bill 2, amendment 1294H.
• section 120 of House Bill 2, be amending section 120 of House Bill 2, amendment amendment amendment
• The first being amendment number 1270H, which is the language from House Bill 773 with a couple of department-recommended
• amendment packet uh of amendment 1255H. amendment packet uh of amendment 1255H.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and Charitable Gaming Chief Compliance Officer Kulie Aoyo to review proposed changes in HB 2 and related amendments affecting video lottery terminals, historic horse racing, charitable gaming, and scratch tickets. McIntyre said the late-arriving amendment made revenue estimates difficult, especially because the bill would allow operators to decide when to convert from HHR to VLTs and would change the floor-space rules. He explained that the existing 70/30 floor-space split between machines and table games was negotiated to protect charity revenue, and warned that moving to a 90/10 split could reduce charity revenue, potentially by as much as $17 million, while also changing the character of the facilities. Committee members discussed whether to keep the 70/30 split, and McIntyre said he could provide updated estimates later that day, including net impacts after any offsetting gains or losses under current law. Members also asked about the governor’s proposed operator share versus the Sweeney amendment’s higher operator share. McIntyre said the governor’s 45% figure was based on his own estimate and on comparable rates in other states, and he supported it as a way to maximize revenue for the state and charities. He also described a change to high-stakes tournaments: after speaking with Rep. Sweeney, he said the amendment was clarified to apply only to those tournaments and would lower the house take from 10% to 5% to encourage participation in rare, high-buy-in events. The committee also discussed a separate proposal to raise the maximum scratch ticket price from $30 to $50; McIntyre said the change would take time to implement, would likely increase net state revenue by about $1 million in year two, and was consistent with pricing in neighboring states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. Additional questions covered sports betting and a separate Kino-related estimate. McIntyre said March Madness is the busiest period for sports betting and that the state’s sports betting revenue has exceeded initial expectations. He also said he had estimated that removing a municipal-vote restriction for Kino could cost about $12 million total, with $2 million in the first year and $10 million thereafter. No formal votes were taken during the discussion; the chair indicated the committee would revisit the VLT amendment and other sections later, and McIntyre agreed to send updated revenue estimates to committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• committee amendment. committee amendment.
• And, um, the amendments, um, let's see, I got to match them up myself. >> Thank you. >> So, the first
• That was the first part of the amendment, so they were pushing it back.
• amendments adopted. amendments adopted.
• . amendment. amendment.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer and the pledge, then established a quorum with 27 senators present. The body excused absent senators, approved the previous day’s journal, and allowed bills and committee reports to be introduced throughout the day. The Senate also welcomed guests in the gallery, including Auburn University McCarter School of Building Science students and retired MPD Sergeant Martin Bean. The chamber received multiple House messages and gubernatorial confirmations, referring several local bills and appointments to the appropriate committees. Committee reports included favorable action on Senate Bills 298 and 91 from County and Municipal Government, and House Bills 297, 365, and 436 from Local Legislation. The Senate adopted several resolutions, including recognitions for Tharptown Baptist Church, Tuskegee University Day, Dr. Bradley Heim, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, McGill-Toolen Catholic High School volleyball, and a special order calendar resolution setting priority bills for the 15th legislative day. On local bills, the Senate advanced and gave final passage to a series of county and municipal measures, including SB 301 (Perry County), SB 314 (Morgan County), SB 295 (Montgomery County), SB 312 (Marshall County), HB 371 (Pike County constitutional amendment), HB 386 (Elmore County), HB 330 (Etowah County), HB 409 (City of Alabaster), HB 408 (Shelby County), SB 299 (Barbour County), HB 416 (Cleburne County), and HB 421 (Lawrence County constitutional amendment). HB 337 on Madison County was carried over. The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring Alabama’s record-breaking economic development year, citing major investments and job creation, and heard a lengthy Black History recognition segment on W.E.B. Du Bois, Patricia Roberts Harris, Langston Hughes, and Maya Angelou. The main policy discussion centered on Senate Bill 240 regarding parole hearings, with the sponsor explaining it would allow the Pardons and Parole Board to hear from inmates and victims by phone or video to reduce travel burdens and improve access. The sponsor said an amendment was being worked on and moved to carry the bill over to the call of the chair, while another senator raised questions about whether inmates currently have an in-person opportunity to speak and whether board members would be able to question participants remotely.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the first step: we have to first say and rule that a cemetery is abandoned before work can be
• Until the bill is amended to accomplish this, along with our other suggested amendments, we respectfully
• Until the bill is amended to accomplish this along with our other suggested amendments, we respectfully
• So that is in this bill in the amendment.
• My daughter was expecting our first grandchild.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 1312 by Senator Richardson on abandoned endowed-care cemeteries. Richardson described vandalism, theft, and neglect at abandoned cemeteries and said the bill would define abandonment, create a process for local governments to declare a cemetery abandoned, and allow the Bureau to act as conservator of endowment funds. Support came from Marin County, while county and special district groups opposed or had concerns, arguing the bill could shift burdens to local governments or public cemetery districts without enough safeguards. Members expressed general support but noted the need for further work; the bill was discussed but no final vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up SB 758 by Senator Umberg, which would restrict retail sales of nitrous oxide to curb misuse. Supporters, including the League of California Cities, narcotic officers, counties, pediatricians, and other local governments and health groups, said easy access at smoke shops and convenience stores has fueled recreational abuse and health harms. There was no opposition testimony, and members voiced strong support for a statewide approach over city-by-city bans. The bill was well received, with the author closing in support. Dr. Weber-Pierson presented SB 1094, a health care affordability bill on biosimilars and biologic substitution. The bill would allow pharmacists to substitute biosimilars under certain conditions, require advance notice to providers and patients, and add reporting on savings; the author said amendments would strengthen provider notice and preserve the ability to mark prescriptions “do not substitute.” Supporters from health plans, insurers, pharmacies, labor, business, and some provider groups argued the bill would lower costs and expand access. Opponents, including dermatology and rheumatology groups and biotech interests, warned about non-medical switching, prior authorization delays, and patient harm. After extensive discussion, the committee voted 13-0 to pass SB 1094 to the Committee on Health. The committee also passed SB 849 by Dr. Weber-Pierson, which would bar reinstatement of physicians who surrendered their licenses while a sexual misconduct accusation was pending. The Medical Board and California Medical Association were generally supportive or neutral, and members praised the bill’s patient-protection focus. SB 993 by Senator Ochoa Bogh, which limits routine disclosure of identifying information for mental health professionals in correctional and psychiatric settings while preserving complaint processes, also passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 1002 by Senator Niello, extending the David Hall Act to allow certain patients in remission to continue telehealth care with out-of-state specialists, drew strong patient support but opposition from the Medical Board and CMA over licensure and oversight concerns; the committee voted it out on a split roll with some members not voting. Finally, SB 1263 by Senator McGuire, aimed at protecting wildfire survivors and workers by requiring licensed, trained contractors for post-disaster residential debris removal, received support from labor and the Contractors State License Board, with contractors raising a narrower amendment concern about scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• as amended is passed. as amended is passed.
• I guess the first thing I'd like to do is to adopt the author's amendment, the A1 amendment.
• The delete-all amendment is the A2 amendment.
• >> As<00:45:52.720> amended. >> As amended. >> As amended.
• > as<00:46:02.600> amended, The A2 amendment amendment as amended, The A2 amendment amendment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are several amendments. This way. There are several amendments.
• Bill amendment passes.
• About that amendment because that's not an amendment I have.
• Bill passes or the amendment passes. All... Amendment passes. All right.
• And so it's a friendly amendment. Okay. We have a friendly amendment. Okay.

Bills: HB441

Keywords: speech-language pathology, licensure, clinical supervision, educational qualifications, healthcare assistant, sessions, 2025-R, 1, 219

Transcript Highlights:

• There are several amendments. This way. There are several amendments.
• Representative Sorrels, you have an amendment. The amendment is KK-1.
• The amendment passes. All... The amendment passes. All right.
• This amendment is RW-1. This amendment is RW-1.
• And so, it's a friendly amendment. Okay. We have a friendly amendment.

Bills: HB445, HB477, SB274, HB441

Keywords: hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, THC, delta-8, delta-9, delta-10, consumable hemp products, psychoactive cannabinoids, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, ABC Board, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, retail hemp sales, wholesale hemp distribution, hemp tax, excise tax, age verification, underage sales, product testing, certificate of analysis

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment. Yes, ma'am. amendment. Yes, ma'am.
• That is all the amendment does. >> Clerk, see the amendment.
• amendment. This is this is a lot. amendment.
• amendment? amendment?
• amendment? amendment?

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe there's an amendment on the bill.
• Clerk, I move to amend Senate Bill 133, page 2, Section 1, line 7. Amendment submitted by Grego.
• Speaker, this amendment simply is... ...recognized to explain the amendment. Mr.
• Representative Fetgatter, you're recognized for a question on the bill as amended. ...as amended.
• Thank you for that question, and you read the bill correctly, but we took that out with the first amendment

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, on the county clerk’s proposed amendment, I was hoping you could address the reasoning
• First of all, on the county clerk’s proposed amendment, I was hoping you could address the reasoning
• First of all, on the county clerk’s proposed amendment, I was hoping you could address the reasoning
• The first one had to do with timeline considerations. Two amendments were requested to...
• I heard Steinmetz first. Any proposed amendments? Seeing none, let's call the roll. Mr.

Bills: SF0028, SF0030, SF0031, SF0032

Keywords: voting, elections, electronic voting systems, transparency, public testing, voter registration, qualified elector, residency requirements, voting rights, mortgage modification, priority, electronic signatures, real property, financial covenants, 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, amendment<00:15:58.360> passes. amendment passes. amendment passes.
• about the A5 amendment. about the A5 amendment.
• What the amendment calls for is if there's, in the first instance, it has to be not just throwing a chapstick
• that is my amendment. that is my amendment.
• The A24 amendment, sorry. The A24 I. The A24 amendment, sorry.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I'm going to either let you talk first or I can take a motion first.
• This is my first time in finance.
• I think one Senator Rosenwell to talk next to her amendment, which is the first three.
• amendment 2042. amendment 2042. Second Second Second adopted. adopted. adopted.
• Eight was the amendment for yours, and then nine was the amendment to suspend. Oh.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• so amended be amended as follows and so amended be referred<00:33:25.279> to<00:33:25.360>
• as follows and so bill 112 be amended as follows and so amended<00:33:30.080> be<00:33:30.240
• Senate Bill 92 is amended, and Senate Bill 77 is amended.
• And there is an amendment at the desk. >> And there is an amendment at the desk. Mr.
• We had a couple of clarifying amendments: Amendment U L001 and Amendment L002.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a technical amendment.
• Any questions on this amendment set? All right, I'm going to go and offer up amendment set 4708.
• It's been amended. It was amended in committee. Say one more time. I couldn't hear you.
• Looks like we got the first.
• I will let the amendment get on. Okay. All right. So is any objection to amendments at 4737?

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on Senate Bill 123, a proposed constitutional amendment to create a legislative process for removing judges for cause. Senator Morris said the bill was needed because of uncertainty in the current Constitution about whether impeachment applies to judges, given the Judiciary Commission’s role in judicial discipline. He argued the measure would provide a clearer, higher-threshold accountability mechanism, and the committee adopted a technical amendment renumbering provisions and later clarified that the bill uses a majority vote in the House and two-thirds in the Senate, consistent with impeachment-style thresholds. Much of the hearing centered on testimony from Anna Carter and her family, who supported the bill after the murder of Jacob Carter in New Orleans. They described his death and other cases they said showed judges releasing dangerous offenders despite repeated violations, missed electronic-monitoring check-ins, and other warning signs. They argued the bill would create a last-resort accountability tool when judicial decisions or supervision failures lead to preventable harm. Several committee members expressed sympathy and said the testimony highlighted serious problems in the justice system, though some also suggested the bill should address district attorneys, electronic-monitoring oversight, or broader systemic issues. Opposition came from members who warned the proposal was overly broad, could become a political tool, and might conflict with existing constitutional provisions governing impeachment and judicial discipline. They argued the Judiciary Commission and Supreme Court already provide a disciplinary framework and that the bill could chill judicial independence or create due-process concerns. The ACLU’s Sarah Whittington also opposed the bill, noting technical inconsistencies in the draft, questioning why impeachment had not been tried first, and arguing the measure singled out judicial discretion while leaving other elected officials’ discretion untouched. The committee took no final vote on the bill during the hearing, but did adopt the technical amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• A first responder can lose his life.
• A first responder can lose his life.
• As amended, the Scrivener Act ensures prosecutors cannot As amended, the Scrivener Act ensures prosecutors
• GTFO, is that the first draft of the name for the bill? Yes. Yes, GTFO. It's the first draft.
• look forward to reviewing the amendments.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• if these amendments are adopted.
• The first is: do these proposed amendments strike the Legislature's...
• [LAO witness continues] The first is: do these proposed amendments strike the Legislature's preferred
• And can I maybe first start with the first point I believe CARB brought up about whether our climate
• So my first question is, how can CARB ensure— So my first question is, how can CARB ensure that investments

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the chair's going to recommend that we pass, uh, with amendments.
• <00:03:04.480> any amendments uh with those amendments any amendments uh with those amendments
• First on our agenda is SB 1364.
• First from the Attorney General's office: Deputy Attorney General Mark Tom.
• First, we'll start with SB 1364.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs met on its 3:15 p.m. reconsideration and hearing agenda. The committee first reconsidered SB 1379 on emergency preparedness and voted to pass it with amendments. The amendments would require HEMA to submit a report to the Legislature on a community readiness centers plan, including public and private sites, funding sources, partnerships, stakeholder coordination, and projected annual funding, due 20 days before the 2026 Legislature convenes. The committee also made technical and fiscal-related changes, including blanking out certain amounts in the bill and committee report while retaining recommended amounts there, and changing the effective date language. The committee then voted unanimously to adopt the amended recommendation. The committee heard SB 1364, which makes emergency appropriations for law enforcement personnel costs. The Department of Budget and Finance supported the bill but said the figures in oral testimony would be slightly higher than those in written testimony and that updated numbers would be emailed later in the week. Because the exact figures were not yet available, the chair deferred decision-making to February 7, 2025. The committee also heard SB 1451 on critical infrastructure, SB 1452 on the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, SB 1149 on hate crimes reporting, SB 1321 on the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, and SB 1341 on energy industry information reporting. For SB 1451, testimony was split, with support from state law enforcement and opposition from the Public First Law Center, which argued the information was already protected under existing law; the committee later adopted a motion to pass the bill with amendments, including a narrower definition of critical infrastructure information and a revised effective date. SB 1452 received support from law enforcement and prosecutors, with a requested cleanup amendment to correct a federal drug-name spelling issue; decision-making was postponed to allow the department to provide language. SB 1149 drew substantial testimony both for and against; supporters emphasized better hate-crime data collection and transparency, while opponents raised concerns about definitions and free speech. The committee adopted amendments and passed the bill, with the chair summarizing the move from the older UCR system to NIBRS and noting a public dashboard expected by September 30, 2025. SB 1321 was passed with amendments shortening the oversight coordinator term from four years to three years, though one senator voted with reservations in favor of a longer term. SB 1341 was passed as is after brief support testimony, and the committee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• member, first term on Finance.
• Amendments to that came up this morning. There's going to be a lot of amendments for House Bill 2.
• there's going to be a lot of amendments there's going to be a lot of amendments for<00:14:04.839
• If you look on the first page, this is all funds; it's the front and back of that first page.
• Oh, but it's still first committee, second committee situation. There'll be first committee bills.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an introductory House Finance Division Two session focused on committee procedures, staffing, and the upcoming budget process. Mickey Landrian, the division analyst, introduced himself and explained that the subcommittee operates more informally than the full committee, does not hold executive sessions or public hearings itself, and makes recommendations back to House Finance. Members were told that public hearings on legislation occur in the full committee, while Division Two will hold work sessions and vote on recommendations such as ought to pass, retain, or ITL. The chair also welcomed new members and a new clerk, and noted that meetings will be recorded and streamed, with microphones required for audio capture. A substantial portion of the meeting covered the division’s workload and schedule. Landrian outlined the agencies assigned to Division Two, including Safety, Fish and Game, Transportation, Education, the Lottery Commission, Police Standards and Training, the University System, and the Community College System. He explained the different fund types the division will handle, especially Education Trust Fund, Highway Fund, and Fish and Game Fund, and reviewed reference materials distributed to members, including agency budget requests, prior recommendation tracking sheets, and surplus statements. He emphasized that the agency budget requests and related handouts are available online and useful for members to review before budget work begins. Members discussed the compressed timeline for the session, with a target date of March 26 for completing Division Two recommendations. Landrian said only a few bills had been referred to Finance so far, none yet to Division Two, but that more bills and amendments were expected, including many amendments to House Bill 2. He noted that the committee would need to move efficiently and frontload meetings. Representative Papich added that Fish and Game may require closer scrutiny than in prior years because of its push for direct general fund appropriations, and members also discussed the importance of getting preliminary budget documents before the governor’s budget is finalized. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported beyond the procedural overview and distribution of materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have the A1 amendment, author's amendment. >> Okay.
• Um to orally amend the oral amendment.
• to the amendment. to the amendment.
• schools first. schools first.
• . amendment. amendment.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Following an amendment, the Secretary read the amendment: Amendment No. 1 by Campbell.
• Hearing none, amendment adopted. Following amendment, Secretary read the amendment.
• On the documentation that you asked for in the first part of your amendment where you ask it won't have
• Are we on the amendment? No, not on the amendment. Okay. Are we on the amendment?
• When was the first time this amendment was circulated generally to the full body?

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, received a House message announcing passage of H.B. 500, and a gubernatorial nomination for the Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority Board. The chamber adopted several resolutions, including SR 409 recognizing Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, SR 402 honoring the discovery of the woolly devil plant at Big Bend National Park, and recognitions for Operation Christmas RGV and Wilson County Day. The Senate also heard an announcement that the Committee on Senate Nominations action report had been placed on members’ desks. The body then took up and passed several bills. SB 2365 was passed to prohibit personal wireless communication devices by public school students during instructional time, with exceptions for health, special education, and safety needs. SB 1869 was passed to reaffirm the DSHS commissioner’s authority over controlled-substance schedule changes without rulemaking or judicial review. SB 1124 was passed to revise criminal discovery procedures in response to the Heath decision, with supporters saying it preserves exculpatory evidence protections while limiting suppression of inculpatory evidence when the defense already knew of it. SB 1758 was passed to create a Grayson County pilot study and temporary permitting hold concerning a cement kiln/quarry near a semiconductor wafer facility, and SB 2078 was passed to regulate composting in certain counties, after a clarifying amendment. The Senate also passed SB 33, barring governmental entities from transactions that support abortion assistance or out-of-state abortion procurement; SB 34, expanding wildfire preparedness measures, studies, equipment databases, and rural fire department funding; SB 1208, increasing the penalty for interference with public duties from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony; SB 1030, removing the maintenance, repair, and overhaul tax for general aviation; SB 505, creating processes to address election irregularities; SB 2411, updating the Business Organizations Code and changing filing-method requirements; and SB 1333, addressing unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, or conveyance of real property. Most measures advanced on voice vote or recorded roll call after motions to suspend the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule, with several members raising questions or objections, especially on the criminal justice, abortion, and public duties bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or an amended amount.
• The first amendment basically, Representative Collins had already been working with our cities and our
• First amendment to replace line 11 on page one with the following: Annual services with exceptions to
• Amendment in your pack. >> Go ahead and offer the amendment. >> I have the amendment.
• I'd have a motion on the<00:50:53.040> amendment. the amendment. the amendment.

Bills: HB185, HB378, SB28, HB400, SB155, HB312, HB185, HB378, SB28, HB400, SB155, HB312

Keywords: appropriation, transportation, judicial system, funding, state budget, Pickens County, local act, vehicle tag fee, registration fee, issuance fee, motor vehicle registration, license plate, replacement tag, transfer tag, renewal fee, county revenue, earmarked funds, ambulance service, emergency medical services, EMS