Transcript Highlights:

• But the donations is kind of where you're losing me on here. I mean, what's going on here?
• I just want to point out that the LSU Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and any donations made are
• Now there are allowances for anonymous donations, and I'm sure a lot of people do that.
• If you donate money to those entities, I'm sure LSU has a bevy of entities that you can donate money
• Now, what happens there is people only make anonymous donations, right? But that's also in the law.

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on April 23 and advanced several bills dealing with judicial vacancies, travel reimbursement, election administration, public records, and board transparency. Senate Bill 397 by Chairman Reese was reported favorably without objection; it allows the Supreme Court to reappoint a retiring judge on an ad hoc basis to finish cases or provide urgent coverage, while not changing other laws that prevent a judge from returning to the same seat after retiring or resigning. House Bill 398 by Representative Zerang was reported as amended after the committee adopted a new amendment removing lodging from the bill, leaving only meal reimbursement limits tied to the federal GSA rate. House Bill 1201 by Representative Ilk was also reported favorably; it would create per diem pay for legislators doing legislative business outside session and raise statewide elected officials’ salaries using a formula tied to university president pay. The committee deferred Senate Bill 41, which would have extended the deadline for public bodies to publish open-meeting minutes from 20 to 45 days, after the author said he wanted more time to work with opponents. Senate Bill 289 by Senator Abraham, which would have created public-records exceptions for certain university searches, research, and donor information, drew substantial questioning and testimony from the press and members; after amendments narrowed the scope, the committee ultimately held the bill for further work rather than voting it out. Senate Bill 47 by Senator Mizell, as amended, was reported favorably; it requires public boards and commissions to provide contact information, including at least two contacts, a mailing address, email addresses, a website if available, and a phone number, without requiring public funds for member phones. On election-related bills, Senate Bill 248 by Chairman Miller was reported favorably as amended. It allows precincts with fewer than 20 eligible voters to be consolidated with another precinct at the same polling place when both use the same ballot, with Secretary of State Landry saying it would preserve voter privacy, reduce costs, and be seamless for voters. Senate Bill 210 by Senator Klein-Peter was also reported favorably; it increases the number of election commissioners allowed in closed party primaries to match staffing needs created by the new system. Senate Bill 106 by Senator Klein-Peter, which makes certain crime-scene photos, audio/video recordings, and digital images nonpublic except by court order or clerk access, was reported favorably after a roll-call vote of 8 yeas and 2 nays. House Bill 906 by Representative Billings was reported favorably as amended; the amendments let party state central committees decide whether unaffiliated voters may participate in party primaries, require notice to the Department of State, and make participation rules consistent across the party’s related races, with an effective date of January 1, 2027. The committee also deferred Senate Bills 218 and 220 to the following week before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the donations is kind of where you're losing me on here. I mean, what's going on here?
• Now, there are allowances for anonymous donations, and I'm sure a lot of people do that.
• If you donate money to those entities, I'm sure LSU has a bevy of entities that you can donate money
• Because I think that what Senator Abraham may be after there is someone gives an anonymous donation to
• Now, what happens there is people only make anonymous donations, right? But that's also in the law.

Bills: HB398, HB906, HB1201, SB41, SB47, SB106, SB210, SB218, SB220, SB248, SB289, SB397

Keywords: travel expenses, reimbursement, state officials, US General Services Administration, disaster management, nominating petitions, unaffiliated voters, party primaries, political participation, elections, public meeting minutes, transparency, government accountability, publication deadlines, open meetings, boards and commissions, public records, contact information, email addresses, phone numbers

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee met on April 23 and advanced several bills related to judicial appointments, travel reimbursement, elections, public records, and board transparency. Senate Bill 397 by Chairman Reese was reported favorably without objection after discussion clarifying that it would allow retired or resigned judges to be reappointed ad hoc to finish cases or provide temporary coverage, without changing existing limits on returning to the vacated seat. House Bill 398 by Representative Zerang was amended to remove lodging from the reimbursement cap and instead tie meal reimbursements for state officials and employees to the federal General Services Administration rate; it was then reported as amended. House Bill 1201 by Representative Ilk, which would create per diem for legislative business outside session and adjust salaries for statewide elected officials using a formula tied to university president pay, was also reported favorably without objection. Senate Bill 41 by Senator Allen, which would have extended the deadline for local public bodies to publish meeting minutes from 20 to 45 days, drew concerns about delayed public access and was voluntarily deferred in committee for further work. Senate Bill 289 by Senator Abraham, proposing confidentiality exceptions for university presidential searches, research records, and certain donor information, was heavily debated; opponents argued the donor provisions were unnecessary and could reduce transparency, and the bill was held in committee for further work. Senate Bill 248 by Chairman Miller, allowing precincts with fewer than 20 voters to be consolidated with another precinct at the same polling place and same ballot, was supported by the Secretary of State as a privacy and efficiency measure and was reported favorably as amended. The committee also reported favorably Senate Bill 47 by Senator Mizell, as amended, requiring public boards and commissions to provide contact information, including email and phone access, for members and designated contacts. Senate Bill 210 by Senator Klein-Peter, increasing the number of election commissioners for closed party primaries, was reported favorably. Senate Bill 106 by Senator Klein-Peter, restricting public release of certain crime scene photos, audio, video, and digital images except by court order or clerk of court, was reported favorably after a roll-call vote of 8 yeas and 2 nays. Finally, House Bill 906 by Representative Billings, revising presidential nominating petitions and rules for unaffiliated voters in party primaries, was amended and reported favorably; the committee then deferred Senate Bills 218 and 220 to the following week and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a rabbi who teaches about the lifesaving power of organ donation.
• The rabbi who gave the opening invocation was very inspirational, and he spoke about organ donations.
• And organ donations are done by physicians, by doctors.
• AND HE SPOKE ABOUT ORGAN DONATIONS. AND ORGAN DONATIONS ARE DONE BY PHYSICIANS, BY DOCTORS.
• not only can but will provide diversity in medicine And real medicine, and those necessary organ donations

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation focused on memory, gratitude, and recognizing the unseen people who sustain public life, then approved the prior day’s journal and moved through introductions of guests, including domestic violence advocates, medical scholars, and student advocates. Senator Webb’s Resolution 1633, designating February 23, 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Day, was adopted after remarks describing the scope of domestic violence in New York and the need for more survivor services. The chamber also adopted memorial Resolution 1558 honoring Margaret D. Williams, a vocalist, public servant, and community leader, and Resolution 1630 marking the 20th anniversary of Park and Public Lands Advocacy Day, with comments emphasizing the health and community benefits of parks and green space. The Senate then took up a series of bills on the calendar, passing measures including amendments to the Environmental Conservation Law, Labor Law, Education Law, Administrative Code of New York City, General Municipal Law, Tax Law, Cannabis Law, and Executive Law. Senator Ramos explained her support for the labor bill as the Anti-Waiver of Employment Rights Act, which would prevent employers from forcing workers to waive labor and human rights protections in applications or onboarding documents. Several bills were passed by wide margins, while some were laid aside for the day. The chamber also restored Senate Print 438 to the third reading calendar after reconsideration. A contested amendment to Calendar 234, Senator Comrie’s Executive Law bill, was ruled non-germane by the chair; Senator Walczyk appealed, arguing the amendment addressing the state energy code and all-electric building mandate was relevant to housing costs, but the Senate voted 20 to sustain the chair’s ruling. The underlying bill was then returned to the non-controversial calendar and passed. Finally, the Senate adopted a concurrent resolution electing two members to the Board of Regents, with supporters praising the nominees’ experience and critics objecting to the limited vetting time; the resolution passed 42-15. The Senate then adjourned until Thursday, February 26 at 11:00 a.m.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next policy is the policy on donated time.
• This allows our House staff to donate up to 40 hours to someone who has been out ill for six consecutive
• <00:09:58.680> time next policy is uh policy on donated time next policy is uh policy on donated
• c><00:10:01.399> house<00:10:01.839> staff<00:10:02.560> to<00:10:02.800> donate
• <00:10:03.200> up<00:10:03.360> to allows our house staff to donate up to allows our

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration met with a quorum present and began with member introductions, during which members identified their districts and, informally, their favorite restaurants. The committee then turned to a housekeeping resolution, 2025-P100, covering House policies and administrative procedures. The chair explained that the resolution consolidated routine rules updates prepared by House Research. The committee adopted two amendments to the resolution. The A1 amendment gave members more flexibility in how they receive their postage and digital constituent communications allotment. The A2 amendment corrected titles in the resolution. Staff then reviewed the resolution’s contents, including service awards, donated leave, comp time and time cards, remote work, member business services payments, leadership compensation, expense reimbursement, stationery, postage and digital communications, member communication expenses, alcohol and drug policies, legal fee provisions, photographs and digital images, chaplain pay, the high school page program, and the undergraduate internship program. Members asked several questions during discussion. Representative Long confirmed there were no changes to the legal-fee policy. Representative Hollins asked about the high school page stipend, and staff said it was proposed to increase from $10 to $15 per day. Representative Pursell asked about the 50-mile reimbursement threshold for members’ expenses; the chair said it is derived from IRS tax regulations. She also suggested reviewing how other states handle reimbursement. No members of the public testified. After discussion, the committee renewed the motion and adopted the 2025 resolution as amended. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• What started out as one single donation in October... ...retirement account.
• of donations.
• By the following year, he had donated over 15,000 times, amounting to a total of $449,000.
• who isn't actually processing... ...going in recurring donations is often so small.
• again, not remembering that they had made a donation even an hour earlier.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of elections-related bills. It first approved three consent items: AB 808, AB 1029, and AB 1072. The committee then took up AB 1249, which would require non-Voter’s Choice Act counties to offer at least one Saturday early-voting location before statewide elections and allow in-person return of vote-by-mail ballots at designated county offices or satellite locations. Supporters said it would expand access for working voters and those with transportation barriers; some members raised concerns about ballot verification and added workload for rural counties. The bill passed the committee on a divided vote and was placed on call for absent members. The committee next considered AB 25, a voter ID and election integrity measure that would require citizenship verification, government ID for voting, tighter voter-roll audits, and a 72-hour ballot-counting deadline. The author and supporters argued it would restore public trust and improve election integrity, while opponents from the League of Women Voters, ACLU California Action, labor groups, disability advocates, and others said it would restrict access, burden vulnerable voters, and amount to voter suppression. After extensive debate, the committee voted the bill out on a narrow split and kept it on call. Members also approved AB 1164, which clarifies when voters are entitled to a replacement ballot and updates the Voter Bill of Rights language; AB 1441, which would create an independent citizens redistricting commission in Merced County despite opposition from the county board over cost and local control; and AB 16, which would clarify county election officials’ authority to begin processing vote-by-mail ballots earlier and clean up outdated code. The committee also heard AB 1411, which would require non-VCA counties to prepare voter education and outreach plans and use a Secretary of State template, with the sponsor saying it would improve voter information statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• to candidates were refunded donations to candidates were refunded and<00:56:10.680> we'll<00:
• They key in the control number of each of their donation receipts that they have.
• It will prepopulate the payment that was made, or the donation that was made.
• that was made was made or the donation that was made you<01:02:35.559> will<01:02:35.839>
• He could actually file for that refund, or he could wait until all 60 payments were made, or donations

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know we have a donations prohibition in the Constitution, and what this would do, it would just give
• Because in the Constitution right now, there is a prohibition on what's called donations.
• So the state can't make a donation.
• the lead pipes, if they're replaced on the private side of the street, that not be considered a donation

Bills: HR307, SB228

Keywords: expropriation, redevelopment, New Orleans East, blighted properties, task force, urban development, environmental remediation, property rights, community engagement, economic development, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the fact that she had multiple communications with the convicted fraudsters who had also donated
• /c><00:09:53.120> also convicted fraudsters who had also convicted fraudsters who had also donated
• to her campaign and many other donated to her campaign and many other campaigns,<00:09:56.080> she
• about the people who have been involved and are defendants in Feeding Our Future, who also gave donations
• gave donations gave donations to<00:15:16.120> Congresswoman<00:15:17.200> Ilhan<00

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee debated whether to issue a subpoena to Representative Ilhan Omar for documents and communications related to the Feeding Our Future investigation and the federal U.S. v. Aimee Bock trial exhibits. The chair argued that Omar’s office had been named in trial exhibits, that prior requests for testimony and documents had gone unanswered, and that the committee needed the materials to understand the role of the Meals Act and related communications in creating conditions for fraud. Supporters said the request was part of a broader effort to examine Minnesota’s larger fraud problems and to obtain records they believed were relevant and public despite a court protective order; opponents questioned the timing, the committee’s need for the information, and the precedent of subpoenaing a sitting member of Congress, while also arguing federal authorities could pursue any wrongdoing themselves. Members discussed whether the committee had first requested the materials in April 2026 or earlier, whether the documents could be obtained directly from the court or the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and how the information would be used given that the committee was nearing the end of its work. The chair said staff had tried PACER and the federal court, but that the exhibits themselves were under a protective order binding the parties, not the legislature or Omar. Critics said the subpoena was unnecessary and politically motivated; supporters said it was needed for transparency and accountability in the Feeding Our Future probe and related fraud patterns. A roll call was taken on the motion to issue the subpoena. The committee voted 5-3 in favor, but the chair noted that Minnesota law required a two-thirds vote, so the motion failed and the subpoena was not issued. The chair said she would continue trying to contact Representative Omar’s office and hoped for a response.

Transcript Highlights:

• going to do our annual YWCA clothing drive, and we encourage everyone to start collecting and to donate
• new or gently used professional donate new or gently used professional attire<00:25:51.120> to
• <00:25:54.559> Donations<00:25:55.200> can they enter the workforce.
• Donations can they enter the workforce.
• Donations can be<00:25:55.600> dropped<00:25:56.000> off<00:25:56.240> in<00:25:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, took roll, approved the previous day’s journal, and spent much of the first portion of the meeting recognizing Education Week honorees. Senators introduced students and coaches from the LifeSmarts Consumer Education Competition, including first-place Iolani School, second-place Kahalani High School, and Oahu teams placing third and fourth. The Senate also recognized 2025 Senate Youth Delegate Wilson Chow and thanked staff and community partners for supporting Education Week 2025. The chamber then moved to executive business, adopting standing committee reports 1210 through 1349 and confirming Governor’s Message No. 644, Steven Logan, as Adjutant General of the Department of Defense by unanimous consent. Senators spoke in support of Logan’s military and public safety experience, and he was confirmed with 23 ayes. The Senate also confirmed Governor’s Message No. 645, Mike Lambert, as Director of the Department of Law Enforcement, with senators citing his HPD background, work on homelessness, vice, agricultural crimes, and school enforcement; the confirmation passed with 22 ayes. After the confirmations, the Senate recognized the newly appointed officials and their families and guests. The body then passed House Bill 991, Senate Draft 1, relating to criminal history record checks, on third reading by unanimous consent with 22 ayes. The session concluded with announcements, including a YWCA clothing drive, a personal letter from Representative Gene Ward announcing his resignation from the House effective at the end of the month due to health issues, and a motion to adjourn until Monday, March 24th at 11:30 a.m., which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• financial institution excise tax credit, an insurance premium tax credit, or a utility tax credit for donations
• to eligible rural hospitals, which donations can be used for. hospitals, which donations can be used
• taxed as an electing pass-through entity under this section 40 of the Code. 100% of the qualified donations
• ... the Code. 100% of the qualified donations to the taxpayer made—that's the change.
• Line 254 is upon receipt of the qualified donation, the recipients shall submit to the department certification

Bills: SB1, HB176, HB86, SB1, HB176, HB86

Keywords: workers' compensation, public education, employee injury, insurance trust fund, on-the-job injury, administrative procedures, HB176, Alabama sales tax, use tax, sales and use tax exemption, optical aids, eyeglasses, contact lenses, prescription glasses, vision care, optometrist, ophthalmologist, optician, medical devices, local option tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• this with my own name, where I've given money to others, then I go look for my name, and I know I've donated
• that that maintains for the rest of your campaign year, that would be nice, and that the amount of donations
• from that individual are aggregated when you do each report... ...amount of donations from that individual
• never had any money, and let's say you say you report a zero balance, and then you get all these donations
• These donations over the course of the year, some in greater than 200, some less than 200, and they're

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee resumed discussion of a campaign finance reporting bill and related amendments, focusing on whether the new reporting system should require beginning and ending fund balances for candidate committees and other entities. Representative Koppelman said he supported the modernization and software improvements, such as auto-populating donor information and aggregating contributions, but opposed making running balances mandatory because he viewed them as unnecessary for reporting and potentially burdensome. He also raised questions about language on contributions and expenditures, including whether certain uses of property or deposits were being classified correctly. Secretary of State Mike Lau responded that the questioned language on pages 5 and 6 was existing law, but said the beginning and ending fund balance on page 13 was important to the new system because it would allow amended reports to populate correctly across years. He said removing that requirement would effectively create two separate systems, and that the vendor could implement changes only if required by law. Members discussed whether the balance information could be hidden from the public, whether a zero-start approach would work, and whether an opt-in checkbox could avoid requiring all filers to use the same format. The committee did not take a final vote. Instead, the chair said the bill would go back to the subcommittee, with Representative Steiner and the Secretary of State’s office to continue working on the issue, and Representative Koppelman included in further discussions. The chair indicated the group would meet again later in the week to try to move the bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know we have a donations prohibition in the Constitution, and what this would do, it would just give
• Because in the Constitution right now, there is a prohibition on what's called donations.
• So the state can't make a donation.
• the lead pipes, if they're replaced on the private side of the street, that not be considered a donation

Summary: The Civil Law and Procedure Committee met at 10:15 a.m. on May 26 and established a quorum. The first item was House Resolution 307 by Representative Dana Henry, which would create a task force to study expropriation, acquisition, and related issues tied to economic development in New Orleans East and the Louisiana International Terminal project. The resolution was described as focused on identifying underdeveloped parcels, clarifying ownership, and ensuring due process and safeguards against illegal takings. The chair moved to report H.R. 307 favorably, and it was reported favorably without objection. The committee then considered Senate Bill 228 by Senator Duplessis, a proposed constitutional amendment to allow public funds to be used to replace drinking water utility service lines on private property, specifically to enable use of federal funds for lead pipe replacement on both sides of the water meter. Testimony from the sponsor and Paul Rainwater emphasized that the measure is narrowly tailored, intended to avoid the Constitution’s donation prohibition, and needed to access already-granted federal money. Members discussed why a constitutional amendment was necessary, whether the wording should specify federal funds, and whether the proposal could confuse voters. A draft 6.8A report recommended reporting SB 228 without amendments and noted a possible conflict with House Bill 603 because both measures amend the same constitutional section. The committee adopted the 6.8A report without objection, then approved a motion to report SB 228 without amendments. The meeting adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• In order for the DNR to be able to accept a land donation, they first had to establish this boundary,
• Janette Marath: Now, likely the donation will not be 58 acres.
• deaths because that's when this donation deaths because that's when this donation would<01:07:39.680
• I think your gift is a donation; it is incredibly generous, and I understand the reasoning behind it.
• But I want to reiterate to you two that I appreciate your testimony, I appreciate your donation, and

Bills: HF647, HF2824, HF1249, HF623, HF820

Keywords: water appropriation, aquifer management, potable water, water conservation, environmental policy, fishing regulation, angling, sustainability, biodiversity, game fish, Carley State Park, Minnesota state parks, state lands, park boundary expansion, Wabasha County, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, public lands, land acquisition, park addition

Transcript Highlights:

• And donate they did. And that world-class facility was built.
• So tuition is not a donation from students any more than the donations that you’re getting from, you
• It is self-generated money, as opposed to a donation or private money.
• And donations are not in there.
• Rev share is private donations, network deals, ticket sales, and merchandise.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would think and I would hope that individuals who donate to colleges donate for the strength of the
• I would think and I would hope that individuals who donate to colleges donate for the strength of the
• I would think and I would hope that individuals who donate to colleges donate for the strength of the
• I would think and I would hope that individuals who donate to colleges donate for the strength of the
• I would think and I would hope that individuals who donate to colleges donate for the strength of the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for state employees that to go donate for state employees that to go donate blood.<01:19:11.000>
• assurance deadline for donating eggs.
• assurance deadline for donating eggs.
• line eight, there's the egg donation line eight, there's the egg donation provision<02:10:25.000
• quality assurance deadline for donating quality assurance deadline for donating eggs.<02:10:31.560

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• also prevents public officials from fundraising or using their public office to solicit campaign donations
• Chair Chaney: Next, HB 493 is Living Organ Donation.
• I'm such a huge advocate for kidney or organ donation now that the people have to shut me up when they
• going to be in jeopardy and that they aren't going to lose their paycheck, because most people who donate
• And often people who don't know each other donate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Number four, the use of donated eggs and sperm from outside of the marriage.
• These are rarely donations. These are rarely donations.
• It's not a donation. What would it be? That's a sale. Keep going. Okay.
• Later, with donated eggs and donated sperm, I created two viable embryos.
• They rely heavily on donations because their camper base pays...

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of their donation, they get 85% of that back as a tax credit.
• um the amount of for their donation um the amount of for their donation they<04:41:34.160> um
• <04:41:47.280> goes<04:41:47.600> to of the donation goes to of the donation goes to
• Because they donated $2,350,000 in tax credit of almost 2 million. >> Okay.
• made a donation to the scholarship fund. made a donation to the scholarship fund.

Keywords: 1189, house, all