Transcript Highlights:

• This will be an opportunity to have bills endorsed by the committee.
• We'll allow you to come present it, and there'll be a vote for a committee endorsement.
• But of course, it's an endorsement. And that is all I have.

Transcript Highlights:

• We endorse the basic approach he is taking. We like it as a non-censorship approach.
• not just the platform and the website. and use everyone's information, and we might move to a full endorse
• to say just on or off platform and may. or may not have been manipulated, we could move to a full endorse

Bills: HB74 , HB175 , HB460 , HB576 , HB2271 , HB2294 , HB2874 , HB3016 , HB3133 , HB3191 , HB3458 , HB3929 , HB4063 , HB4115 , HB4394 , HB74 , HB175

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: Puerto Verde, Port Authority, eminent domain, bonds, tax assessments, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, public welfare, child care, certifications, Texas Rising Star Program, grant program, disability inclusion, family income, affordability, economic impact, state study, cost analysis, government support

Transcript Highlights:

• The following petitions come from the Senate with the endorsement that they had been referred under suspension
• The following petitions come from the Senate with the endorsement that they had been referred under suspension

Summary: The House began with routine ceremonial business, including adoption of resolutions congratulating Judy and Dick Jolin on their 50th wedding anniversary and commending the National Brain Tumor Society for Brain Tumor Awareness Month. The chamber also welcomed guests recognizing Apraxia Awareness Day. A gubernatorial message proposing injured-on-duty compensation for Chelmsford firefighter Nicholas Spinale was filed and referred to the Committee on Public Service. The House concurred in several Senate petitions referred under suspension of Joint Rule 12, including measures on consumer-connected devices, crumbling concrete relief for homeowners, and naming the Hianus Transportation Center. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 for a petition on reporting crimes to law enforcement, and for a quantum science tax incentive petition, which was then referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling placed three House bills on the calendar: the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code, a Holyoke Charter change removing the treasurer as acting mayor, and a Kingston measure raising the maximum retirement age for special police officers to 70. The House then advanced and passed to be enacted three engrossed bills concerning Andover special town meetings, the Plymouth town charter, and an additional all-alcoholic-beverages license for Pembroke. It also passed to be engrossed bills on expanded small property tax abatements in Auburn, validation of the New Salem annual town election, and land acquisition/disposition in Falmouth. Finally, the House adopted an order to adjourn to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• legislation to designate as the official vegetable of the Commonwealth comes from the Senate with the endorsement
• referred under suspension of ...official vegetable of the Commonwealth comes from the Senate with the endorsement

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then concurred with a Senate petition referring legislation to designate an official vegetable of the Commonwealth to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling then reported several local bills for consideration, including measures affecting alcohol licenses in Topsfield and South Hadley, special town meeting procedures in Andover, continued employment for fire officials in Colrain, reserve time for public safety personnel in Salem, and a town charter amendment in Oxford. The House suspended Rule 7A and advanced these bills to third reading. The House also passed to be enacted House Bill 4399, amending the charter of Middleton. Several other bills were taken up on third reading and passed to be engrossed, including a recall election measure for Rutland, a tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a Rehoboth deputy chief, a means-tested senior property tax exemption for Millis, sewer-related funding authority for Falmouth, and a North Adams bill on appointing retired police officers for paid detail work. Two bills involving disability pension and North Attleboro senior tax exemption were amended by substitution before being engrossed, and a Salem parking-space excise bill was amended for wording changes before passage. The House also observed a moment of silent tribute to Stephen Fennell of Falmouth. At the end of the session, the House adopted an order to meet again Monday at 11 a.m. and then adjourned to that time in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• legislation to designate as the official vegetable of the Commonwealth comes from the Senate with the endorsement
• referred under suspension of ...official vegetable of the Commonwealth comes from the Senate with the endorsement

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill will be sent to the House endorsed accordingly.
• The bill will be sent to the House endorsed accordingly. Papers from the House.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• hold a valid instruction permit before applying for a Class G or M driver license or a motorcycle endorsement
• Instruction permit before applying for a Class G or a driver license or a motorcycle endorsement.

Summary: The caucus reviewed several House bills with Senate amendments and conference committee changes. HB 282 would create the Childhood Cancer and Rare Childhood Disease Research Commission and direct DHS to award grants for pediatric cancer and rare disease research; the sponsor said the bill is intended to better use existing funds and federal or donated money, and the Senate amendment shifts grant-awarding authority to the DHS director and requires at least $5 million in funding. HB 2096 would let WIFA assist counties with cesspool remediation, replacement, or closure; the Senate added water-quality compliance language and definitions, and the sponsor said the bill helps smaller counties address illegal cesspools. HB 2749 would reclassify certain non-dangerous felonies as class 1 misdemeanors when criteria are met; the Senate added exclusions for some offenses and a delayed repeal date, and the sponsor’s concurrence was noted. HB 4001 would establish licensing for alternative nicotine product manufacturers and distributors, add enforcement and penalties for sales to minors, and the sponsor emphasized product tracking, stronger enforcement, and protections against youth-targeted marketing. The committee also discussed conference committee versions of HB 2010, HB 2874, HB 2133, and HB 2003. HB 2010 concerns advertising disclosures for digital goods and prorated refunds; the conference amendment limited refunds to digital goods purchased for $20 or more under specified license terms and increased the annual reduction rate. HB 2874 deals with campaign committee termination statements and penalties for late or missing reports; the conference amendment added public disclosure of committees owing penalties, capped penalties, required termination statements in some cases, and added an emergency clause. HB 2133 requires consent and age verification for publishing sexual material online, including AI-generated material; the conference amendment added exceptions for certain preexisting rated films and TV productions and adjusted definitions. HB 2003 lowers the age for an instruction permit to 15 and extends the permit-holding period for some teen drivers; the conference amendment grandfathered permit holders who are at least 15 and a half years old on November 30, 2026 so they are not subject to the longer waiting period. No votes were taken in the transcript, and the caucus ended after questions and brief explanations from staff and sponsors.

Transcript Highlights:

• asks the AOE to submit a report to the legislature covering three areas: recommending educator endorsement
• Recommending<00:11:08.880><c> educator</c><00:11:10.080><c> endorsement</c> Recommending educator endorsement
• Recommending educator endorsement requirements<00:11:11.640><c> that</c><00:11:11.800><c> balance</c

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, sometime later, it's the night of my endorsement. It was a long night.
• /c><00:03:59.200><c> night</c><00:03:59.480><c> of</c><00:03:59.640><c> my</c><00:03:59.800><c> endorsement
• </c><00:04:00.440><c> It</c><00:04:00.520><c> was</c> it's the night of my endorsement.
• It was it's the night of my endorsement. It was a<00:04:00.720><c> long</c><00:04:01.120><c> night.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• state funds directed to the university or community colleges for payment of student athletes or endorsements
• Any funds in this section can also not be used to pay student athletes or for athletic endorsements.
• Any funds in this section can also not be used to pay student athletes or for athletic endorsements.
• third time, any funds in this section can also not be used to pay student athletes or for athletic endorsements

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first addressed an unintended consequence in the Joint Conference Committee report involving dual and concurrent enrollment funding. Staff explained that a dollar-for-dollar reduction tied to Senate File 81 would have fully funded public school dual/concurrent enrollment while leaving no funds for non-public school students. Senator Salazar moved to strike that provision, the motion was seconded, and it carried. Budget and Fiscal Administrator Don Richards then walked through the conference committee report and the major adopted amendments. He reviewed Senate and House amendments affecting items such as sign language interpreters, rural veterinary education, predator management authorization, petroglyphs and pictographs, senior services, community college funding, school district entitlement payments, the School Foundation Program reserve transfer, a tourism-related rodeo museum change, archaeological work on human remains, a jet airplane reduction, abortion-related language, livestock ear tags, provider rates for developmental disabilities, student-athlete endorsement restrictions, a forensic audit for the Wyoming Business Council, and the Yellowstone tree inscription. He also described several deleted sections and policy changes, including removal of spending-policy provisions, flex authority language, and other budget sections. Richards further summarized new or revised appropriations and conditions, including funding for local cybersecurity, stormwater fees, the Wyoming Natural Resource Trust Fund, lab services, IT modernization, Wyoming Public Television, matching funds, cloud services, and restored governor FTE requests. He noted a compromise on the outdoor trails matching program, a conditional $10 million University of Wyoming operational review appropriation tied to future cost savings, and a stablecoin appropriation. He also explained that the report retained the base-bill reversion language, discussed the remaining general fund balance and statutory reserve, and said the committee would circulate the amendment and signatures for floor action later that day. The meeting then adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• this is a Senate resolution that was requested by Senator McConner and Barry, and it was with the endorsement
• McConner and Barry and it was uh<00:27:45.360><c> with</c><00:27:45.600><c> the</c><00:27:45.840><c> endorsement
• </c><00:27:46.559><c> of</c><00:27:47.039><c> Farm</c><00:27:47.360><c> Bureau</c> uh with the endorsement
• of Farm Bureau uh with the endorsement of Farm Bureau and<00:27:48.080><c> the</c><00:27:48.320><c>

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 17 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members of the committee, I'll just add that this is a Legislative Education Study Committee endorsed
• Chair, members of the committee, I'll just add that this is a legislative education study committee endorsed
• A Legislative Education Study Committee endorsed bill. Thank you so much. Senator, anything else?
• I mean, these are a nonpartisan, diverse group of people that are going to endorse candidates and put

Bills: HB30 , HB120 , HJR1 , SB210 , SB306

Committee: Senate House Education

Keywords: teacher residency, Teacher Residency Act, public schools, teacher preparation, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment, teacher retention, student teachers, apprenticeship, co-teaching, mentor teachers, residency stipend, teacher salary, level one teacher, charter schools, school districts, New Mexico education, teacher workforce, principal stipend, cohort model

Summary: The Senate Education Committee began with announcements about likely upcoming meetings and a reminder that public testimony could be limited if bills drew large crowds. Members also introduced student shadows and briefly recognized them. The committee then took up House Bill 30, which would revise the Teacher Residency Act to strengthen teacher recruitment and retention by tying resident stipends more closely to minimum level-one teacher salaries, increasing support for residents who already hold bachelor’s degrees, and giving residents more flexibility to complete their service in any public school rather than only the sponsoring district. The sponsor and supporters from educator preparation programs, unions, and advocacy groups said the bill would make residency programs more sustainable, help rural districts, and improve teacher preparation. The bill received support from the Public Education Department and several education organizations, and the committee voted due pass. The committee next heard House Bill 120, as amended, which would clarify and limit the use of restraint and seclusion in schools. The sponsor explained that the bill came from a task force and is intended to clarify existing law rather than create a new mandate, with clearer definitions, stronger documentation, family notification, and limits on dangerous practices such as prone, mechanical, or chemical restraint. Supporters included PED, the special education ombuds office, disability rights advocates, teachers’ unions, parents, and civil rights groups, who emphasized student safety, trauma prevention, and better training for staff. One opposition witness from the school superintendents’ association argued the bill could add burdens and that more time was needed to implement current law. Committee members raised concerns about protecting teachers and aides during violent incidents; sponsors responded that the bill is meant to give staff clearer guidance and emergency-response tools, not replace disciplinary procedures. The committee voted due pass. House Joint Resolution 1, a constitutional amendment to create nominating commissions for university regents, was then presented. The sponsor said the goal is to reduce purely political appointments by having nonpartisan commissions recommend regent candidates, while also changing how student regents are selected so students have a direct voice rather than the university president choosing the student regent. AFT New Mexico supported the measure, citing concerns about donor or insider appointments and backing student representation. Committee members questioned how many commissions would be created, who would appoint their members, and how many names would be sent to the governor; the sponsor said those details would be set later in enabling legislation. The committee approved the resolution on a due pass vote, sending it onward in the process. The committee also quickly passed Senate Bill 306, which would align state higher education accreditation language with federal terminology by removing the distinction between regionally and non-regionally accredited institutions and changing reporting and fee requirements for smaller private institutions. Finally, Senate Bill 210, an appropriation for athletic and related facilities at New Mexico Highlands University, drew the most debate. Supporters said the university’s athletic facilities are outdated and inadequate, especially for women’s soccer and track, and that the project would help student-athletes and Title IX compliance. Committee members questioned the $80 million request, noting that only $3 million was currently in the budget for the three Division II schools and expressing concern about priorities amid other education funding needs. The sponsor and university president said the project could be phased and that private fundraising is also being pursued. Despite reservations and some no votes, the committee ultimately voted due pass. The chair closed by reminding members to plan on meeting Monday at 9 a.m. and said the committee was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• it's going to be changed after we vote on it, then I really need to not be able to give a blanket endorsement
• it's going to be changed after we vote on it, then I really need to not be able to give a blanket endorsement

Bills: HB4193

Committee: House State Powers

Keywords: procurement, foreign adversaries, national security, state contracts, compliance

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 4193, authored by Representative Chapman, which is intended to prevent Oklahoma taxpayer dollars from going to foreign adversaries or entities not aligned with state or U.S. interests. Chapman said the bill was still a work in progress and that he had been working with OMES and the State Purchasing Director on possible changes, including shifting more authority to the purchasing office and clarifying the bill’s scope. Members raised several concerns about the draft language. Representative West asked about the provision making a company ineligible to bid on state contracts for 60 months, and Representative Yurek questioned whether allowing a company to bid again after five years undercut the bill’s purpose. Yurek also said he was not comfortable voting on a fluid proposal without seeing the final language or amendments. Chapman and another member explained that the goal was to give the Central Purchasing Office more practical authority to stop contracts with foreign adversaries, while avoiding unintended consequences for state agencies and subdivisions, such as replacing widely used drone technology that could be costly to substitute. In response to the concerns and the fact that the bill was not yet in final form, Chapman agreed to lay the bill over for further work before it would be heard again. No vote was taken, and the committee adjourned after no further business was raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that endorsing something particularly? Well, I would say, yes, it is.
• providing clear enforcement through penalties and Attorney General oversight, it prevents selective endorsements
• The carve-outs and other aspects of it endorse a type of content-based, specific endorsement that is
• The carve-outs and other aspects of it endorse a type of content-based, specific endorsement that is

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Endorsement as we move into the 2026 legislative session.
• This is to give us direction to draft legislation for potential committee endorsement.
• Prioritization and vetting, directing staff to draft legislation for potential committee endorsement,
• So, again, this is providing us with direction to draft legislation for potential committee endorsement
• I would love to see us endorse it and to point out that we'll be working very closely with his staff

Transcript Highlights:

• This will be a voluntary high school diploma endorsement, and so that allows students who have achieved
• have a certain number of their students attain this, they can get a district seal or a district endorsement
• It's just an endorsement that can possibly help them when they're applying for colleges or other things

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• funeral directors, embalmers, direct disposers, and cemetery establishments, including updates to endorsement
• I intend to support it and fully embrace it and endorse it.
• I intend to support it and fully embrace it and endorse it.

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• lot of variables, with some receiving a share of revenue from their school, while others receive endorsements
• concepts like business structures, the consequences of sports betting, disability, loss of value, or endorsement
• I lost my endorsements. I lost my scholarship and chance to play ball. I lost opportunities.
• I lost my endorsements. I lost my scholarship and chance to play ball. I lost opportunities.
• Do you ever talk about the value or, you know, valuation or revenue sharing or endorsements?

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a little problem with the language, as I understand it, that current driver's licenses have an endorsement
• The designation, the motorcycle endorsement designation, there's no, there shouldn't be any appropriation
• Okay, if you do not have a... ...a motorcycle endorsement on your license and you're riding a motorcycle
• There are two ways to get your motorcycle endorsement.
• So it saves money that way for those who want to get their motorcycle endorsement.

Bills: HB2051 , HB2114 , HB2127 , HB2134 , HB2207 , HB2574 , HB2700 , HB2800 , HB2916

Committee: Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: AHCCCS, lactation care, breastfeeding, health services, healthcare access, motorcycle registration, safety fund, education, awareness programs, low-income scholarships, motorcycle training, special license plates, transportation, funding, nonprofits, charitable contributions, critical infrastructure, foreign adversaries, China, communications

Transcript Highlights:

• we're talking the 40% to 50% increase, it would be specifically to the policyholder that chose that endorsement
• And then we would respond to that and decide whether we do fully mandated or not, or any required endorsement
• , which would mean every policyholder would have a choice of what... ...required endorsement, which would
• And then you get into the endorsements, which are your chosen coverages.
• it mandated for all policies, or do we want to say that the insurer has to provide an optional endorsement

Bills: SB154 , SB187 , SB193 , SM3

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Summary: The Senate Conservation Committee first took up Senate Memorial 3, presented by Senator O’Malley on behalf of Senator Bergman and a group of Rio Doso High School students and Wild Friends. The memorial asks state agencies to participate in a no-cost workshop on insect identification, ecology, monitoring, and management, and to help educate the public about insects. Students, conservation specialists, and an entomologist testified that insects are essential to pollination, ecosystems, agriculture, and biodiversity, while also noting declining insect populations and the need for more public understanding. Some senators raised concerns about the memorial’s wording, including whether it should be broadened from insects to arthropods and whether the Department of Agriculture, rather than Game and Fish, should be involved. The committee discussed timing and implementation, and the sponsor agreed to work on amendments. The memorial passed on a due pass motion by a vote of 8-0, with one excused. The committee then heard Senate Bill 154, which would require wildfire-related homeowners coverage to include flood damage caused by post-fire conditions for a five-year period. Senator Duhigg and the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance argued the bill responds to the Ruidoso fires and subsequent flooding, noting that many homes were destroyed by mudslides and that flood insurance is often unavailable or inadequate. Supporters, including Ruidoso officials, affected residents, and attorneys, said the bill would help homeowners recover from cascading wildfire and flood losses. Opponents from the insurance industry and business groups warned the bill would be an outlier, could significantly raise premiums, and might reduce availability of homeowners insurance statewide. Committee members questioned how the mandate would work, whether it should be optional, and how costs would be allocated. The bill passed on a 5-4 vote. Finally, the committee briefly heard Senate Bill 187, which appropriates $202,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Finance Authority’s Water Project Fund for future water projects authorized by the legislature. The Finance Authority said the funding would help address a gap between available money and the 113 recommended projects, totaling about $522 million, including water conservation, flood prevention, storage, wastewater, and watershed projects. Members asked for more detail on the locations and types of projects, and the Finance Authority said it would provide the list from the companion authorization bill. The committee then moved the bill forward on a do pass motion.